Document Document Title
US07722162B2 Ink jet printing assembly with printhead modules and ink delivery member
An ink-jet printing assembly includes an elongate U-channel member assembly. An elongate ink delivery member is positioned on a floor of the U-channel member assembly and defines longitudinally extending ink delivery channels and a series of holes in fluid communication with each respective ink delivery channel. A plurality of micro-electromechanical inkjet printing modules with ink inlets and printhead integrated circuits are mounted in the U-channel member assembly such that the ink inlets are in fluid communication with respective holes.
US07722156B2 Ink supply system with separate purging reservoir
An ink supply system for purging an inkjet printhead is provided. The ink supply system comprises: (a) a first ink reservoir for supplying printing ink to the printhead; (b) a second ink reservoir for supplying purging ink to the printhead; and (c) a valve having a plurality of configurations, wherein: in a first configuration the valve provides fluid communication between the printhead and the first ink reservoir via a first ink conduit, and in a second configuration the valve provides fluid communication between the printhead and the second ink reservoir via a second ink conduit.
US07722153B2 Method of cleaning a printhead using cleaning liquid
A method of cleaning an ink ejection face of an inkjet printhead is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (i) supplying cleaning liquid to the printhead via an ink conduit in fluid communication with nozzles in the printhead; and (ii) purging the cleaning liquid from the printhead, thereby flooding the face with cleaning liquid.
US07722151B2 Printing apparatus
A printing apparatus is disclosed.
US07722146B2 Printing system having controlled multi-length printhead ICS
Printing system is provided which has a plurality of printhead integrated circuits of different lengths and a controller configured to supply print data to the printhead integrated circuits. The printhead integrated circuits are arranged to define a pagewidth printhead having rows of nozzles formed by adjacent nozzle rows of the adjacent printhead integrated circuits. The nozzle rows of the printhead are configured so that there is at least one row for printing each ink color of a plurality of ink colors. The controller supplies the print data at a rate which is proportional to a ratio of the different lengths of the printhead integrated circuits.
US07722145B2 Ink jet head driving apparatus and ink jet head driving method
An ink jet head driving apparatus for driving an ink jet head having plural nozzles to discharge supplied ink includes actuators provided correspondingly to the respective nozzles and to cause corresponding amounts of ink to be discharged from the nozzles by drive signals, a storage unit to store correction data for equalizing the ink discharge amounts from the respective nozzles, a selection unit to select one drive signal from the plural drive signals based on the correction data, and a drive unit to output the selected drive signal to the actuator at a specified timing, in which the nozzles of the ink jet head are classified into plural groups correspondingly to ink discharge amount characteristics of the nozzles, and the correction data is determined for each of the plural classified groups of the nozzles.
US07722143B2 Ink jet printing apparatus and method of performing a maintenance process
A content (an amount of ink to be suctioned, or the number of times ink is preliminarily ejected) of the maintenance process to be performed after the ink tank replacement is made different depending on the amount of ink so far consumed from a tank which is replaced. This makes it possible to check the color mixture which would otherwise occur after the new ink tank is attached to the printing apparatus, and to concurrently manage an amount of waste ink in order that ink should not be consumed more than necessary in a case where the color mixture is less likely to occur.
US07722142B2 Ink-jet printer
An ink-jet printer including: an ink-jet head in which are disposed a plurality of nozzles that are divided into a plurality of nozzle groups; a plurality of actuators which are provided to respectively correspond to the plurality of nozzles and which are divided into a plurality of actuator groups respectively corresponding to the plurality of nozzle groups; a plurality of drive circuits which are provided respectively for the plurality of nozzle groups and each of which outputs a drive signal used for ejecting an ink, to the plurality of actuators of a corresponding one of the plurality of actuator groups; a controller which controls the ink-jet printer to perform printing such that, by driving any of the plurality of actuators which are determined on the basis of print data, the ink is ejected, toward a recording medium, from any of the plurality of nozzles that correspond to said any of the plurality of actuators; and an adjusting portion which adjusts the drive signal to be outputted from each of the plurality of drive circuits to reduce variation in an ink-ejection property among the plurality of nozzle groups.
US07722137B2 Computer bezel
A computer bezel includes a main body (10), and a cover (30) movably attached to the main body. The cover includes a pair of slideways (31) formed thereon, and a hook (33) defining a slot (335) therein. The main body includes a plurality of shafts (19) extending from sidewalls (12) thereof to engage in the slideways, a channel (151) defined in the main body to slidably receive the hook therein, and a pair of locating members (153) formed in two ends of the channel to selectively engage in the slot of the hooks.
US07722136B2 Computer front bezel assembly with access door
A computer front bezel assembly includes a panel (10) and an access door (30). The panel defines an opening (12) therein. A securing tab (14) protrudes from the panel. The access door is slidably attached to the panel. The access door includes a shielding board (31) and an extending board (32). The access door moves up to cover the opening. A resilient engaging portion (326) is formed on the extending board for engaging with the securing tab. An expansion slot (321) is defined adjacent to the engaging portion for providing resiliency to the engaging portion. When the sliding board slides on the panel, the securing portion urges the engaging portion to deform for engagement/disengagement.
US07722127B2 Pick shank in axial tension
In one aspect of the present invention, a degradation assembly comprises a holder attached to a driving mechanism and comprises a longitudinal central bore. The bore comprises an opening at a distal end from the driving mechanism. A pick comprising a body intermediate a shank and an impact tip is connected to the holder, the shank being disposed in the central bore of the holder and the body extending from the opening of the bore. A tensioning mechanism is disposed within the bore and is adapted to put the shank in axial tension.
US07722122B2 Portable support including a pillow
A portable support for supporting the head of a seated individual including an elongated pillow and a flexible retention member having fasteners enabling the flexible retention member to assume different loop configurations enabling the portable support to alternatively be connected to an upper seat corner or be supported by the individual.
US07722116B2 Acoustic seat vibratory-bone-conduction type
In a seat, a bass acoustic vibration transmission section and a treble acoustic vibration transmission section are arranged distinctively with respect to a seat occupant, such that those two acoustic vibration transmission sections are disposed independently of each other, thereby achieving both of the following two effects: an acoustic performance worthy of acoustic seat; and a seating comfort essentially required as a seat.A vibration conduction unit is provided, which comprises a combination of: one bass speaker; a support plate to which that one bass speaker is secured; and a network cushion member of three-dimensional structure arranged on an anterior surface of the support plate. Such vibration conduction unit is disposed and accommodated in a cut-out region defined in a seat padding to a predetermined extent of covering an area of seat back which corresponds to a lumbar part of seat occupant, whereas on the other hand, a pair of treble speakers are respectively provided in a pair of local areas of the seat padding which correspond respectively to left-side and right-side shoulder portions of seat back, such that each of those two local areas of seat padding has an opening defined therein, wherein the opening lies anteriorly of an output side of each of the two treble speakers.
US07722114B2 Zero gravity wall hugger recliner
A zero gravity wall hugger recliner having a motor drive, seat and backrest assembly that move back and forth on a trolley mounted on the chair base when the seat and backrest assembly move forward with the trolley on the chair base. A bracket attached between the base and seat moves the assembly from an upright to a reclined position. The recliner has a leg rest driven by a control bar attached between the leg rest and bracket for elevation the leg rest when the trolley moves forward and retracts the leg rest when the trolley moves to the rear.
US07722113B2 Interior parts for a vehicle
An interior part for a vehicle including a first rib(s) extending on the side that faces a vehicle body at a time of mounting the interior part to the vehicle body, and a second rib(s) extending to cross the first rib, in which an inserting portion(s) that is inserted into an opening(s) provided in the vehicle body is formed at portion(s) where the first rib and the second rib cross each other and projects toward the vehicle body, and this inserting portion(s) is provided with a third rib(s) that extends toward the vehicle body from the first rib and a fourth rib(s) that extends toward the vehicle body from the second rib.
US07722103B2 Cabriolet
A cabriolet motor vehicle is provided, which comprises a roof constructed from at least two roof segments, which may be brought into an open position, rear roof columns stiffened by an upper roof cross member (“Targa part”), and a rollbar (“Targa bar”) situated in the area between a front frame and the Targa part, and is distinguished in that the at least two roof segments are stackable using a movement mechanism into a roof segment stack situated between the Targa bar and the target part, and the roof segment stack is pivotable into the passenger compartment using at least one connecting rod attached to the upper roof cross member of the Targa part.
US07722102B2 Floating parking brake gap hider
A console housing has a top wall formed with an opening that receives an upwardly extending handle of a parking brake. A gap hider includes a close out insert for closing the gap between the opening and the handle. The close out insert is supported on the top wall for limited floating movement so that it will not interfere with the operation of the parking brake handle.
US07722099B2 Sanitary product disposal
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for hygienic disposal of a sanitary product. The apparatus comprises a biodegradable bag for disposal of the sanitary product. The biodegradable bag comprises a catch clip, a pull stick, and an adhesive strip. The catch clip, affixed at the closed end of the biodegradable bag, seizes the sanitary product into the biodegradable bag. The pull stick holds the biodegradable bag in a predefined position over the seized sanitary product during inversion of the biodegradable bag over the seized sanitary product. The inverted biodegradable bag with the seized sanitary product is then twisted and sealed airtight using the adhesive strip affixed towards the open end of the biodegradable bag. The biodegradable bag prevents the user from coming in contact with the sanitary product, thereby providing hygienic disposal of the sanitary product.
US07722097B2 Surface mounted electric rim strikes
An electric rim strike including a housing having a cavity defined therein; a pivotally rotatable keeper having a front blocking face; a pivotally rotatable locking bar having a rear blocking face; and an actuating mechanism that selectively pivots the locking bar. The keeper, locking bar, and actuating mechanism are disposed within the cavity of the housing. The actuating mechanism being operationally connected to the locking bar and driving the locking bar and the keeper from a first state to a second state. The rear blocking face of the locking bar opposes the front blocking face of the keeper to prevent the locking bar and keeper from freely rotating relative to each other.
US07722080B2 Airbag cushion with a flap vent to optionally vent gas for out-of-position conditions
An airbag cushion is disclosed for use in automotive protective systems. The airbag cushion includes at least one closeable flap vent for re-directing gas out of the cushion when an obstruction is encountered. The airbag cushion also includes a tether for controlling the closeable flap vent.
US07722074B2 Airbag apparatus
An effective technology is provided to intend an improvement of a deploying capability of an airbag apparatus. In one form, a retainer for housing an airbag of an airbag apparatus upon being folded back is constructed with a retainer body whose upper surface and an entire front surface other than left and right supporting portions at a lower portion are open, and a plastic plate serving as a plate having low rigidity closing an opening portion of the retainer body, and the plastic plate is fixed to an inside of the supporting portions of the retainer body, and a front portion of the retainer is formed to be a bending portion capable of being bent forward around a lower portion thereof as a fulcrum by the plastic plate.
US07722069B2 Bicycle suspension system
A bicycle suspension system is provided with a damping unit and a damping control unit to control movement of upper and lower telescopically connected tubes. A damping force adjustment valve selectively adjusts a fluid flow rate of fluid passed a damping piston. The damping piston has a fluid flow port that is axially spaced with respect to a fluid flow passage of a damping lockout mechanism such that a flow path is formed in an axial direction by the fluid flow port of the damping piston and the fluid flow passage of the damping lockout mechanism when the damping lockout mechanism is in a non-lockout mode. A first actuating member operates the damping force adjustment valve and a second actuating member operates the damping lockout mechanism such that the damping force adjustment valve remains in a set position when the second actuating member is being operated.
US07722067B2 Vehicle running step
A vehicle running step formed of an elongate tube, the tube having an opening therethrough with a plurality of spaced apart tread plates mounted within the opening. The spaced apart tread plates form a non-slip self-cleaning step area along the tube. Dirt, debris, snow and ice can pass between the spaced apart tread plates to increase overall safety of the device. Furthermore, the spaced apart tread plates are aesthetically pleasing and relatively simple to manufacture.
US07722060B1 Truck assembly for wheeled recreational device
A truck assembly is used in a wheeled recreational device including a base plate and hanger. The base plate defines a plurality of mounting holes adapted for receiving respective threaded bolts, and further defines a corresponding plurality of fastener retention regions surrounding respective mounting holes. Each fastener retention region includes point-engaging structure adapted for engaging at least two points of a multi-point threaded nut, such that the point-engaging structure substantially prevents rotation of the threaded nut upon mating attachment of a corresponding threaded bolt. The hanger resides adjacent to the base plate, and includes a wheel axle adapted for carrying at least one wheel of the recreational device.
US07722051B2 Seal ring
A seal ring for sealing an annular clearance between two members, which are made rotatable relative to each other. The seal ring is provided with a relief 5 throughout the circumference of a sliding face side to confront the side wall face 72 of an annular groove 71. This relief 5 is set to have a radially smaller width in the vicinity of a separate portion 2 and a radially larger width at a position apart from the separate portion 2, and the portion of the relief 5 to transit from the narrower portion to the wider portion is set to have a gradually changing width.
US07722048B2 Mini-hold 'em games
A playing card wagering game has a player hand compete against another player hand according to three-card poker rank or a player hand compete against a dealer hand. At least one or two players place a first wager on the card wagering game and an optional second side bet wager. The player hand begins with two respective hole cards and all player hands are completed with community playing cards dealt in sets of cards. Relative rank of the players' hands is determined. The first wager is resolved based upon the determined relative rank by determining which player hand(s) wins. The second wager is resolved according to rules that comprise comparing rank of each player's hand to a paytable.
US07722046B2 Casino roulette game
A game apparatus having a roulette wheel with a plurality of wheel sections, a pointer for randomly selecting one of the wheel sections, and a playing surface adapted for placing wagers concerning the randomly selected wheel section. Each of the wheel sections has two separate number representations, such as the faces of a pair of dice, which are summed to represent a summation for the wheel section. The playing surface has a plurality of wager sections corresponding to the summations of the wheel sections on the roulette wheel. The roulette wheel can further include a second plurality of wheel sections having representations of the suits of a deck of playing cards thereon and the playing surface can further include one or more wager sections corresponding to the second plurality of wheel sections.
US07722036B2 Sheet conveying device and image forming system
A sheet conveying device connected between image forming device and post-processing device of which sheet conveying speed is higher than that of image forming device. The sheet conveying device includes: feed-in roller for feeding in a sheet ejected from image forming device; conveying roller for conveying the sheet; ejection roller for ejecting the sheet to post-processing device; conveying path from feed-in roller to ejection roller; and controller for controlling sheet conveying speeds of the rollers, wherein the controller performs control such that: when sheet conveying device feeds in the sheet ejected from image forming device, the conveying speeds of the rollers are the same as conveying speed at which image forming device ejects the sheet; and when image forming device has completed ejection of a trailing edge of the sheet, the conveying speeds of the rollers are the same as conveying speed at which post-processing device feeds in the sheet.
US07722029B2 Sheet feed method, a sheet feeder, and an image forming apparatus incorporating the sheet feeder
A method for use in a sheet feeder having a sheet stacking unit with a bottom plate to support a sheet bundle in which air is blown against a side edge of the sheet bundle near the topmost sheets of the bundle, thereby lifting these sheets from the bundle, and separating the uppermost sheet from the bundle, and conveying this sheet away from the bundle, wherein the lifting of the sheets when the bundle is nearly depleted is assisted by forcing an element situated underneath the bundle to push against the bundle solely when air is blown against the side edge of the bundle. A sheet feeder suitable for applying the present method and an imaging apparatus for incorporating the sheet feeder is also provided.
US07722028B2 Feeder separation technology
A bottom friction feeder comprises a material magazine assembly, a gate assembly including a guide subassembly and a singulation gate subassembly, a back wedge assembly, and a bottom friction belt assembly.
US07722014B2 Surface mount
A surface mount includes a base for receiving a hollow object that is to be secured with the mount to another surface. The interior area includes a movable anchor than can be advanced toward the wall that defines a hollow object receiving area, so that a hollow object is pinched or compressed between the anchor and its respective wall.
US07722011B1 Jack extension system
A jack extension system includes a mechanical jack that has a vertical support and a foot mounted on the vertical support. The foot is moved upwardly or downwardly on the vertical support. The vertical support has an upper end. A bracket is removably attached to the upper end of the jack. The bracket has an opening extending therethrough. A post has a bottom end and a top end. The bottom end comprises a coupler that is removably attached to the foot. The top end comprises a plate. The post extends through the bracket and the plate is abuttable against an object to be lifted.
US07722001B2 Bar clamp assembly
A bar clamp assembly configured to be secured to a structure through a fastener includes a bar clamp, a securing base, and a fastener retention member. The securing base may be integrally formed with the bar clamp, and is configured to receive and retain the fastener. The fastener retention member is within or on the securing base, and is configured to secure the fastener in the securing base. The bar clamp assembly may also include a plurality of braces, clips and other support structures between the bar clamp and the securing base in order to provide a more robust assembly.
US07722000B2 Movable support post
A movable support post is attached to a vessel, such as a large planter's pot. Two or more fasteners are employed to attach the post to the vessel. The fasteners extend through the post and extend into the interior of the vessel. A ballast material, such as concrete, is disposed in the vessel and encases the bolts therein. The ballast material acts as an anchor to stabilize the vessel and the attached post. A removable lid or tray is positioned at the top of the vessel. The tray or lid can function as a birdbath or flowerpot, adding a decorative adjunct to the structure.
US07721999B2 Aerospace vehicle fairing systems and associated methods
Aerospace vehicle fairing systems and associated methods, including fairings that house flap surface drive mechanisms on aircraft, are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with one embodiment, for example, can include adjusting lift distribution across an airfoil. The airfoil includes a first inboard portion and a second outboard portion. The method can include locating a point of maximum curvature of a first fairing at least approximately forward of a trailing edge of the airfoil proximate to the first inboard portion. The method can also include locating a point of maximum curvature of a second fairing at least approximately aft of a trailing edge of the airfoil proximate to the second outboard portion. The locations of the points of maximum curvature for the first and second fairings are based, at least in part, on a target lift distribution.
US07721998B2 Self-powered spacecraft attitude control system and method
A system and method are provided for operating a control moment gyro (CMG) in a spacecraft. The CMG includes a spin motor, and a CMG rotor that is coupled to the spin motor and is configured to rotate about a spin axis. Electrical power from a power source is supplied to the spin motor to rotate the CMG rotor about the spin axis. A determination is made as to whether the power source can supply sufficient electrical power to the spin motor. If the power source cannot supply sufficient electrical power to the spin motor, the spin motor is rotated by the CMG rotor to generate and supply electrical power to the power source.
US07721997B1 Method and system for providing cruciform steered, bent biconic and plasma suppression for maximum accuracy
A system for reducing plasma induced communication disruption utilizes an electrophilic gas injectant, bent reentry vehicle nose shaping and a number of flaps configured to provide 3-axis steering capability. Injecting electrophilic gas injectant into plasma accomplishes reduction of plasma induced communication disruption by removing free electrons in the plasma which causes the communication disruption. For reentry vehicles, a bent biconic nose also reduces plasma effect during reentry. By combining electrophilic gas injection and bent nose shaping, the system reduces and/or eliminates plasma induced communication disruption, such as, GPS communication blackout, for a reentry vehicle during reentry. Furthermore, the 3-axis steering capability renders the reentry vehicle more maneuverable. Performance of the reentry vehicle during reentry, such as, target accuracy, is thus improved.
US07721993B2 Wire-strike defence system
A wire-strike system (1) including; a wire cutter with at least one pair of electrodes (5, 6), electrically insulated from each other and mounted to an outer surface of an aircraft (2). The electrodes (5, 6) being connectable to a power source (11) capable of generating an electrical potential difference between the electrodes (5, 6) and in the event of a wire-strike, supplying a short-circuit current flow through a portion of the wire connecting both electrodes (5, 6).
US07721991B2 Translatable and rotatable passenger seat
A passenger seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back operably coupled to the seat bottom. The passenger seat is translatable fore-and-aft and side-to-side in a horizontal direction, and is rotatable about a vertical axis so as to be oriented in any desired horizontal direction. The passenger seat is movable between an upright seating position and a reclined sleeping position. A passenger seating arrangement consists of a plurality of passenger seats arranged in a column with adjacent passenger seats separated by a privacy divider. A tray table carried by the privacy divider is mounted so as to be selectively raised and lowered and to be rotatable about a horizontal axis. Each passenger seat may include a leg rest operably coupled to the seat bottom and movable between a lowered position and a raised position for use in the upright seating position and the reclined sleeping position, respectively.
US07721988B2 Unmanned helicopter
The invention relates to an unmanned helicopter comprising an internal combustion engine and an associated fuel tank. The unit (1) formed by the internal combustion engine and the gearbox is arranged essentially in a self-supporting housing (2) which is at least partially closed all the way round, and preferably consists of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFK), a nose body (3) being connected to the front of said housing. In this way, a compact structure can be achieved.
US07721987B2 Roller clutch
A roller clutch arranged to transmit rotation in only one direction includes an outer ring, an inner ring, a plurality of rollers, a retainer, a cam surface, and a plurality of spring members. The inner ring is disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring. The rollers are disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring in a circumferential direction and are allowed to frictionally engage the outer and inner rings. The retainer includes a plurality of holding portions disposed among the rollers, and shaft portions that protrude from the holding portions toward the rollers. The cam surface is an oblique surface on the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring and arranged to contact the outer peripheral surface of the rollers. The spring members are disposed on the outer peripheral side of the shaft portions and urge the rollers to frictionally engage the cam surface.
US07721986B2 Fishing spinning reel
A fishing spinning reel of the invention includes a spool wound with a fish line, a rotor rotatable through a pinion gear brought in mesh with a drive gear rotated by a winding operation of a handle, a switch mechanism including a switch lever capable of operating to switch a restricting state of restricting rotation of the spool and a free state of making the spool free, and a return mechanism for returning the switch mechanism brought into the spool free state to the restricting state by the winding operation of the handle. The return mechanism includes a connecting gear brought in mesh with a gear driven by the drive gear, and a kick member rotatably supported centering on the connecting gear, and a center of a mesh portion of the gear and the connecting gear is arranged on a side of the drive gear relative to an axis center of the pinion gear.
US07721980B1 Method and apparatus for vacuum cooling of viscous mixtures
A method and apparatus for vacuum cooling heated viscous and/or high solids mixtures employs at least one cooling tank (1) having inwardly sloping side walls (15) from a top (14) to an opening that is attached to a outlet pump or valve (7) located at the tank bottom, a rotational spreader (8) near the top and at least one vacuum pump (5, 6) to maintain the predetermined vacuum in the tank, and input and output pumps (20, 21). The rotational spreader (8) breaks up the heated viscous and/or high solids mixture (9) and distributes it onto the side walls of the tank to form a film (10) which is cooled as it travels to and slides down the sides to the bottom where the viscous and/or high solids mixture is outputted from the tank by a pump or valve (7, 21, 26). Multiple stages of the apparatus may be employed preferably with progressively greater vacuum pressure in each stage to accomplish even further cooling of the viscous and/or high solids mixtures.
US07721977B2 Vibration reduction pad for hand-held paint spray guns
A pad for handle grips of hand held paint spray guns. Frequent prolonged use of paint spray guns can result in the fatiguing and stressing of operator hands. Fatigue and stress can be aggravated by requiring the operator to hold his or her hand in essentially one position on the handle grip. The pad reduces such fatigue and stress. The pad fits within a recessed region that is molded into the paint spray gun handle where the operator's palm meets the grip. Alternatively, the pad could be attached to existing paint spray gun handle grips that are lacking the recessed region. The pad is made of a material that is less dense than the synthetic resinous material of the spray gun handle grip. Preferably, the material is plastic foam or gel and is attached to the spray gun handle using an acrylic glue. The pad is designed to absorb some of the vibrational energy that is transmitted to the operator's hand in current spray gun handles. This reduction in vibrational energy transmission decreases operator fatigue and stress. The pad is deformable which provides the operator with added comfort by improving the fit between the operator's palm and the spray gun handle grip, thus reducing fatigue and stress. The material of the pad allows for a better grip by the operator on the spray gun handle. In addition, the material of the pad combined with its positioning against the operator's palm acts to distribute heat away from the hand of the operator. The pad is designed to accommodate different hand sizes and shapes without the need to remove and replace hand grip covers or sleeves. The deformability of the pad also allows the operator to modify his or her hand positions during operation which reduces operator fatigue and stress.
US07721974B2 Thermostat device
A thermostat device includes a valve housing with a cooling water passage of an internal combustion engine, a built-in thermally expansive body thermally expanded or contracted by temperature change of cooling water, a piston rod slid by thermal expansion/contraction of the expansive body, and a valve body subjected to opening/closing operation by the piston rod in accordance with volume change of the expansive body. A valve seat shape on downstream side than the valve seat, which is an internal wall face forming the passage is formed in a shape that in valve open condition the cross-sectional area of the passage between an inlet seal of the valve seat and the top face of the valve body gradually decreases with reference to the maximum passage cross-sectional area on upstream side and that the cross-sectional area of the passage at the face perpendicular to the top face gradually increases.
US07721971B2 Image processing system, image processing method and computer readable information recording medium
In an image processing system, in which code data is transmitted between at least one client and a server, the client includes a selecting unit to select a processing function to execute; and a notifying unit to notify the selected processing function to the server. The server includes a selecting unit to select a type of a stream of code data transmitted between the server and the client, based on the notified processing function; and a notifying unit to notify the client of the selected type of stream.
US07721955B2 Secure transaction method and transaction terminal for use in implementing such method
A secure transaction method is provided for publicly-accessible transaction terminals. The method uses quantum key distribution (QKD) between a hand-portable QKD device and a complimentary QKD apparatus incorporated the transaction terminal. After the QKD device has been brought up to the transaction terminal, the QKD device and the complimentary QKD apparatus of the terminal are is used to provide the device and terminal with new secret shared random material. The new secret shared random material is then used to establish a secure classical communication channel between the device and transaction terminal for conducting a transaction. An ATM terminal and POS terminal that use quantum key distribution are also disclosed.
US07721953B1 Cash dispensing automated banking machine diagnostic system
An automated banking machine (10) operates responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader that is operative to read data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. A controller (72) in the machine selectively illuminates light emitting devices (118, 126) for purposes of facilitating user operation of the machine. Sensing devices (128) adjacent a card reader slot (28) on the machine enables the controller to detect the presence of unauthorized card reading devices. Servicing the machine is facilitated through use of a portable diagnostic article (98) which enables the controller to access diagnostic data stored in memory and which provides data indicative of the significance of the diagnostic data.
US07721949B2 Check accepting and cash dispensing automated banking machine system and method
An automated banking machine system and methods includes ATMs which accepts checks and dispense cash to users. The ATMs are operated to acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks to determine the genuineness of checks and the authority of a user to receive cash for such checks. Cash may dispensed to the user from the ATM in exchange for the deposited check. The ATMs dispense cash responsive to communications with a transaction host.
US07721944B2 Whip
A whip comprising a shaft having a first and second end, the shaft being arranged to provide a handle at the first end and a flapper located at the second end. The shaft comprises at least one planar fin located at the second end of the shaft, the fin being at least partially sheathed with the flapper.
US07721942B2 Rigid wrapper for holding packets of cigarettes
Packets of cigarettes (2) sold in multiples are wrapped in a rigid carton (1) with a predominating longitudinal axis (L) that extends parallel to the longitudinal axes (7) of the single packets (2) and presents a prismatic shape of polygonal section.
US07721932B2 Endoscopic stapling devices and methods
Described herein are endoscopic staplers used to apply one or more fasteners to body tissue. In one embodiment, a fastener-applying device, which is preferably a stapler, is passed transorally into the stomach and used to plicate stomach tissue by engaging tissue from inside of the stomach and drawing it inwardly. In the disclosed embodiments, the tissue is drawn inwardly into a vacuum chamber, causing sections of serosal tissue on the exterior of the stomach to be positioned facing one another. The disclosed staplers allow the opposed sections of tissue to be moved into contact with one another, and preferably deliver staples for maintaining contact between the tissue sections at least until serosal bonds form between them. Each of these steps may be performed wholly from the inside of the stomach and thus can eliminate the need for any surgical or laparoscopic intervention. After one or more plications are formed, medical devices may optionally be coupled to the plication(s) for retention within the stomach.
US07721920B2 Ergonomic cap for plastic aerosol container
A cap is provided for coupling with a pressure-resistant container to form an aerosol spray bottle. The cap includes a spray trigger for controlling a valve. The cap can have an outward slant from the cap bottom where the cap couples with the container. The top profile of the cap from a side view can have a convex shape. The cap can have a front side where the substance is expelled that is higher than the back side where the base of a user's finger would be when the user actuates the trigger with a fingertip.
US07721919B2 System for applying a working pressure to a content of a pressure package with the aid of a propellant
A system for applying a working pressure to a content of a pressure package. The system comprises a pressure package configured to hold a content to be delivered, a high-pressure chamber configured to hold a propellant, a pressure controller connected to the high pressure chamber by a feed-through and configured to control the working pressure on the content of the pressure package with the aid of the propellant on the basis of a predetermined reference pressure, and a movable member positionable in at least a control position and a neutral position. The movable member, in the control position, clears the feed-through to enable control of the working pressure. The movable member, in the neutral position, blocks the feed-through, so that control of the working pressure is then impossible. The movable member has a handle for positioning the movable member in the neutral position or in the control position.
US07721915B2 Hybrid inflator with temporary gas generator throttle
A dual stage hybrid inflation device includes a first stage gas source including a liquefied gas stored in a first stage pressure vessel and a second stage gas source including a gas generator having a gas output directed into the first stage pressure vessel. The gas generator is isolated from the first stage pressure vessel by a frangible diaphragm that ruptures when the pressure in the gas generator exceeds the pressure in the first stage pressure vessel by a predetermined amount. The gas generator is also isolated from the first stage pressure vessel by an eroding nozzle that temporarily restricts the flow of gas from the gas generator to the first stage pressure vessel after the frangible diaphragm ruptures. The eroding nozzle initially restricts the flow of gas from the gas generator to the first stage pressure vessel to prevent a sudden pressure drop in the gas generator that would cause the pyrotechnic gas generating material to self extinguish. The nozzle then erodes away to allow an unrestricted flow of combustion products from the gas generator to the first stage pressure vessel.
US07721903B2 Overflow drainage system for floating roof storage tank
A drain cover assembly for sealing a drain pipe that extends vertically from the top surface of the deck of a floating roof on a liquid storage tank includes a circular cover and at least two buoyant members, or pontoons, secured to the underside of the cover for imparting a buoyant force to raise the cover upon the accumulation of excess water on the deck. The pontoons are spaced apart from each other to allow water to pass between them and into the drainpipe.
US07721886B2 Sharps container for “no-touch,” sequential safe storage of used pen needles
A sharps container for safe storage of used pen needles comprises a housing within which is rotatably mounted a used pen needle receiving and ejecting means. Used pen needles are inserted into the receiving means. The receiving and ejecting means is rotated; during the rotation, cam follower means connected to the ejecting means engages cam means within the housing to cause the ejection of the used pen needle into the housing.
US07721885B2 Portable dispensers for articles
Portable dispensers for coiled roofing nails, nail strips, roof staples, sheathing staples, welding rods, welding tools, framing nails and the like. The dispenser has an open top container which may be fastened to the belt of the user.
US07721880B2 Mixing dispenser
A dispenser comprises a container having a first aperture therein and a first closure element for sealingly closing the first aperture wherein the container has a second aperture and a second closure element for closing said second aperture, the second closure element including a pressing element operable to press inwardly towards the second aperture, a blister pack, locating element locating the blister pack to span across the second aperture and sealing element sufficient to ensure the second aperture is sealingly closable against leakage of the intended contents of the dispenser. The construction and arrangement is such that in end use the container holds a first substance and the blister pack holds a second substance and when the pressing element is pushed the blister pack is ruptured enabling the mixing of the contents thereof with those of the container.
US07721879B2 Bar code blocking package
A method and apparatus for blocking a bar code in a package includes a carrier with a plurality of apertures. The carrier is formed with a plastic material containing an absorbing dye and a fluorescing dye so that a bar code on each container is not readable by a bar code scanner.
US07721870B2 Discharge apparatus for a production facility
The invention relates to an apparatus by which finished products or semifinished products, after being processed in a production facility (11), are dischargeable from a processing station of the relevant production facility for removal or other kind of transfer.The discharge apparatus is essentially composed of a work platform (1) and a run-off surface (2) formed on this platform, wherein the work platform (1) is held in an elevated frame (4) of the discharge apparatus, or outer frame enclosing at least parts of a pit. Discharge of the finished products or semifinished products is effected by their movement over the run-off surface (2), the movement being assisted by conveying means (5) disposed on the work platform (1). According to the invention, the work platform (1) is rotatable without changing its position within the outer frame (4) relative to a horizontal axis (1) by 180° between two operating positions, and is lockable in these positions. In the first operating position, the run-off surface (2) faces upward, while in the second position a surface of the work platform opposite the run-off surface (2) faces upward, the surface forming a secure standing surface (3) for a person.
US07721868B2 Method for adjusting a banknote processing machine
The invention relates to a method for adjusting a bank note processing machine by which threshold values of sensors are defined for recognizing the condition of bank notes.The invention starts out from a method for adjusting a bank note processing machine by which threshold values of sensors are defined for recognizing the condition of bank notes, wherebya number of bank notes is processed by means of the bank note processing machine and data of at least one sensor are stored,the condition of the bank notes is recognized by means of the stored data and at least one threshold value,a relation between the recognized condition of the bank notes and the at least one threshold value is determined and displayed,at least one threshold value is changed on the basis of the displayed relation, and at least the condition and the relation are determined again and the relation is displayed again.
US07721867B2 Rotation output device
The present invention has an object of providing a rotation output device, including a lock mechanism employing a movable lock member so as to define the lock position, which is capable of, when the operator operates an output shaft to pivot, preventing the movable lock member from being concomitantly rotated with the output shaft and thus providing a locking function with certainty. The rotation output device according to the present invention includes, between the lock gears 35 and the lock ring 33, a carry plate 37 for retaining the positions of the lock gears 35 in the rotation direction when receiving a rotation force from the center ring 32. Thus, the lock ring 33 which is rotational-fixed is used as a member for preventing the concomitant rotation of the lock gears 35.
US07721864B2 Rotational coupling device with sealed key
A fluid actuated rotational coupling device is provided with improved sealing of fluid passages. The device includes a fluid actuated rotational coupling that is disposed on a rotatable shaft. The coupling defines a fluid port. A key is received within a keyway in the coupling and/or shaft and defines a fluid passage extending therethrough having fluid ports at either end aligned with the fluid port in the coupling and a fluid port in the shaft. The key also defines grooves formed in surfaces of the key and surrounding the fluid ports. Seals are disposed within the grooves in the key. By locating the fluid passage and seals in the key, the seals may be removed and replaced without removing the coupling from the shaft. Further, the seals are less likely to be damaged during installation of the coupling device on the shaft.
US07721859B2 Rotary force controlling apparatus and image forming apparatus including the same
A rotary force controlling apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the same are provided. The rotary force controlling apparatus includes a clutch device having a shaft, and a rotary body mounted at one end of the shaft. A housing receives and rotates together with the shaft. A power transferring member is rotatably mounted in the housing and selectively rotates the housing by a clutch inserted between the housing and the power transferring member. A positioning unit protrudes from the periphery of the housing and positions a stop location of the rotary body. A solenoid unit is spaced apart from the clutch device and is selectively turned on and off. The positioning unit includes a first positioning unit that positions an initial location of the rotary body when the solenoid unit is turned on; and a plurality of second positioning units that are separated from the first positioning unit and stop the rotary body at a predetermined location when the solenoid unit is turned off. Since the solenoid unit is turned off when the rotary body is stopped, the solenoid unit is prevented from being overheated.
US07721857B2 Arrangement related to a swing damper
The present invention relates to an arrangement and to a method relating to a swing damper (1) for carrying a tool (5) that hands from a crane arm (2) or the like. The swing damper (1) includes an upper part (11) that is connected to the crane arm (2), and a lower part (12) that carries a working implement (5) or the like either directly or via a rotator (4), for instance. The upper part (11) and the lower part (12) are pivotally connected to one another via a pivot joint (13). The swing damper (1) also includes a brake arrangement (50). The brake arrangement (50) includes a brake unit (60) that has discs (70, 80) which are pivotal about the pivot shaft (14) of the swing joint (13), wherein at least one (70) of said discs is secured against rotation relative to the upper part (11), and wherein at least (80) of said discs is secured against rotation relative to said lower part (12). The arrangement also includes a tensioning element (90; 110; 130) which functions to press the discs (70, 80) together in a braking operation. The brake unit (60) is situated in a space (200) between two pivot hearings (46) between the upper part (11) and the lower part (12).
US07721854B1 Assured running clearance caliper
A brake mechanism fixed to a member allowing limited reciprocal motion and providing a restorative force to the movable member in one direction of movement thereof. A brake mechanism includes a rotor fixed to and wheel about an axle axis has a caliper assembly spanning the rotor with inboard and outboard friction members supported on either side of the rotor for selectively engaging the rotor and braking the wheel. A piston is fixed to the caliper of the inboard friction member for moving the inboard friction member toward the rotor and including a piston seal which, upon removal of fluidic pressure from the cylinder, resiliently urges the inboard friction member away from the rotor. A bracket is fixed to the vehicle supports the caliper on a pair of generally cylindrical guide pins fixed to one of the anchor bracket and caliper assembly and is movable within a pair of generally cylindrical guide pin bores of the anchor bracket and caliper assembly. A pair of central cylindrical shells and an end engaging a pin shoulder to provide the restorative force and a radially outer portion of reduced rigidity such as a plurality of fins frictionally engaging the aperture.
US07721848B1 Safety shield
The present invention provides a safety shield for installation in an aerial bucket. The safety shield provides an adjustable panel which may be extended to a variety of positions to protect a user from unintentional contact with harmful surfaces such as electrical wires.
US07721842B2 Articulated work vehicle steering system with controlled steering cushioning and associated method
A steering system is provided for a work vehicle comprising articulated first and second vehicle sections. The steering system comprises a controller adapted to: determine from a speed-request signal if a requested steering speed requested for the first vehicle section relative to the second vehicle section about an articulation axis toward an end of an end region of a position range of the first vehicle section is at least a predetermined steering speed; determine from a position signal if the first vehicle section is positioned in the end region of the position range; and, if the requested steering speed is at least the predetermined steering speed and the first vehicle section is positioned in the end region, signal that an actual steering speed of the first vehicle section be lower than the requested steering speed. An associated method is disclosed.
US07721840B2 Creep steering control system operable from rearward-facing position
A creep steering control system for a utility vehicle is operable from a rearward-facing position. The creep steering control system includes a pivotable actuator alongside a rearward-facing seat that provides electronic output based on the position of the actuator. A linkage is provided between the pivotable actuator and steering wheel behind the seat.
US07721834B2 Prevention of inadvertent inertial engagement of a transfer case clutch
A method for controlling operation of a transfer case in a motor vehicle driveline that includes by an engine controlled by a throttle having a variable position, and a transmission driveably connected to the engine for producing multiple ratios of the speed of a transmission input relative to the speed of a transmission output. The transfer case transmitting rotating power in response to an electric signal applied to a clutch. The method includes determining that the engine throttle position is less than a first reference throttle position during a period of predetermined length; determining that a speed of the vehicle speed is in a predetermined range; determining that the transmission is operating in a speed ratio greater than a reference speed ratio; determining that the engine throttle position is greater than a first reference throttle position; and increasing the torque capacity of the clutch for a predetermined period.
US07721832B2 Walking beam suspension
The invention relates to a vehicle suspension system. There is a need for a stable walking beam suspension system where the beam can oscillate and move vertically. Such a suspension system includes a support fixed to the vehicle frame and having first and second ends. A swing arm has a first end pivotally coupled to the first end of the support via a pair of spaced apart pivot pins. Air bags are coupled between the frame and the second end of the swing arm. A walking beam has opposite ends coupled to left and right wheel support assemblies. The walking beam is pivotally coupled to the swing arm. A damping cylinder is coupled between the frame and the second end of the swing arm. Resilient bumper members are engagable with the walking beam and are mounted on an end of the swing arm and fixed to an end of the support.
US07721827B2 Rock bit having a seal gland with a conical sealing surface
A drill bit includes a bit head and a rotating bit cone. A sealing system for the drill bit includes a seal gland and a seal retained within the seal gland. The seal gland is defined by a radial cone surface, a head sealing surface and an opposed cone sealing surface. At least one of the head sealing surface and opposed cone sealing surface is not cylindrical (i.e., the surface is conical and not parallel to an axis of rotation for the cone). Additionally, the radial cone surface may be conical (i.e., the surface does not extend perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cone). The seal is radially compressed between the head sealing surface and the opposed cone sealing surface. The use of one or more conical surfaces in the gland is provided to bias the compressed seal into a preferred dynamic sealing zone.
US07721820B2 Buffer for explosive device
A buffering device for use in conjunction with a downhole tool string, wherein the tool string includes a ballistics device. The buffering device includes a mandrel attached within a tool string and proximate to the ballistics device. An anchor is disposed on the mandrel and a disk plate is coaxially placed on the mandrel that is slideable thereon. The disk plate is proximate to the ballistic device. A resilient member, such as a spring, is coaxially placed on the mandrel between the disk plate and the anchor. The pressure wave produced by activation of the ballistic device pushes the disk plate toward the anchor and compresses the spring there between. Since the disk plate extends outward into sealing contact with casing lining the wellbore, compression of the spring dissipates energy waves produced by activation of the ballistic device.
US07721798B2 Wireline entry sub
A wireline entry sub includes a body for connection with a wellbore string of tubulars. An opening on the body extends a depth from a body outer surface to at least the longitudinal center axis. A wireline passage extends though the body from the opening to a lower end. A wireline pulling device is mounted on the sub body to apply pulling force to a wireline. The wireline pulling device ma be driven by a motor mounted on the wireline cut sub or by a to drive of a drilling rig.
US07721796B2 Heat exchanger for multiple cooling loops
A heat exchanger, including first and second collecting tanks with an inlet, an outlet, and an opening through a wall of the first tank. At least one row of tubes extends between the collecting tanks, and the tubes and tanks carry a first medium and a second medium flows through the spaces between the tubes. A first partition divides the first collecting tank and defines an opening therethrough, and a second partition divides the second collecting tank, with the first and second partitions defining separate loops for the first medium when the first partition opening is closed. A discharge device selectively either simultaneously opens both the first collecting tank opening and the first partition opening for emptying or simultaneously closes both the first collecting tank opening and the first partition opening for operation.
US07721791B2 Heat exchanger with side plate having pipe near bridge portion
A heat exchanger that can prevent damage to joints of tubes and side plates at core plates and is easy to produce which has side plates enabling stable brazing of the tubes and fins with the side plates, that is, a heat exchanger provided with a plurality of tubes through a heat exchange medium passes, a plurality of fins alternately stacked with the tubes and increasing the heat transfer of the heat exchange medium, core plates to which the two ends of the tubes are connected, and side plates arranged at the outsides in the stacking direction from the end fins arranged at the outermost sides in the stacking direction of the fins and connected to the core plates, wherein at least one of the side plates has a plurality of bridge portions at intermediate locations in the longitudinal direction, and at least one location of the bridge portions has a slit provided by cutting after the brazing of the tubes and the fins.
US07721788B2 Cooling jacket
A cooling jacket for cooling a heat-generating element through transmitting heat-generation into a coolant flowing within an inside of the cooling jacket, which is mounted within an electronic apparatus, and includes a base portion, and a cover portion. The base portion includes a heat-transfer surface in proximity to a surface of the heat-generating element, and a plurality of wall portions. Each wall portion is defined to extend into a direction perpendicular to the heat-transfer surface, thereby defining flow passages for the fluid coolant between the wall portions. The cover portion is attached on the base portion surrounding a periphery of the base portion, thereby defining a passage for guiding the fluid coolant into the base portion. The base portion builds up the sector-shaped flow passages and a summit portion at a central portion of the base, and has a configuration that is thermally isotropic to the heat-generating element.
US07721787B2 Refrigeration-type dryer apparatus and method
A drying device includes an air/air heat exchanger and an air/refrigerant heat exchanger. The air refrigerant heat exchanger includes a phase change material.
US07721772B2 Protective devices for aircraft fuel filler ports
Protective devices are provided subjacent to the filler port within an aircraft's wing fuel tank so as to protect the lower wing skin from being struck by a nozzle associated with refueling equipment. When inserted into the filler port, the nozzle is brought into contact with the protective device which serves to deflect the nozzle in laterally (e.g., in an inboard direction) to thereby prevent the nozzle from striking the lower wing skin. Thus, when initially inserted into the filler port in a generally perpendicular orientation relative to a horizontal plane, the terminal end of the nozzle will contact with the arcuately concave inner surface of the device such that continued insertion of the nozzle into the filler port will cause the nozzle to assume an angularly canted condition in an inboard direction (i.e., a direction toward the aircraft's fuselage).
US07721765B2 Power steering system frequency suppressor
A frequency suppressor for a hydraulic system is shown and described. The frequency suppressor comprises a housing that contains a substantially fixed mass of a compressible substance. The volume of the compressible substance is varied to dampen frequency disturbances in the hydraulic system.
US07721760B2 Device and valve combination for reversing the flow of flowing media
In a device for reversing the flow of flowing media including two multi-way valves (21) which are fluidically interconnected and mounted on an adapter plate (32), the two valves are identical and are fluidically connected with one another by being pushed one into the other via rotationally symmetrical sealing members that seal in the radial direction.
US07721758B2 Valve with increased dynamic response
A valve (1) comprises: a body (2); a bushing (3) slidably mounted on said body; a valve spool (4) slidably mounted on said bushing; said bushing and spool having respective control edges (5) that are adapted to cooperate with one another as a function of the relative position between said bushing and spool to vary the size of a control opening therebetween; a first drive (11) operatively arranged to controllably move one of said bushing and spool relative to said body; and a second drive (12) operatively arranged to controllably move the other of said bushing and spool relative to said body; whereby said first and second drives may be selectively operated to move said bushing and spool simultaneously in opposite directions to increase the dynamic response of said valve.
US07721755B2 Valve for controlling the flow of fluids
A valve assembly to dispense fluid from fluid containers including a member that is rotatably slideable in a tube between open and closed positions. The valve assembly utilizes sealing beads to provide seals so that fluid cannot be dispensed from the assembly when the assembly is in the closed position. The valve assembly also includes a tamper evident indicator to show a user whether or not the valve assembly has been previously actuated. The tamper evident indicator may include a tab that is broken when the valve assembly is first actuated. The tamper evident indicator may also include a skirt that either detaches from a knob or fractures when the valve assembly is first actuated.
US07721754B2 Tapping tee assembly with cap assembly
A tapping tee assembly and method for tapping a conduit and fluidly connecting to the conduit include a body defining a conduit recess for receiving the conduit and further defining a main passage with a cover disposed therein. The main passage has a first end adjacent the conduit recess and a second, open end spaced apart from the first end. The second end is closed by a cap. The body of the tapping tee assembly is secured to the conduit with the conduit received in the conduit recess. The cutter is advanced along the main passage toward the conduit without removal of the cap from the body to tap the conduit and fluidly connect the conduit and the main passage.
US07721752B2 Pressure relief valve for a packaging container
The invention relates to a pressure relief valve, comprising a base body, which is covered by a valve membrane. The base body which is located on the inner face of a packaging container, permits the escape of excess pressure from the packaging container into the atmosphere by means of passages and perforations that are configured in the wall of the packaging material. The inventive pressure relief valve thus responds particularly well. i.e. allowing particularly low opening pressures, by means of the special configuration of its base area.
US07721750B2 Modified heat pipe for activation of a pressure relief device
A heat pipe is disclosed, the heat pipe capable of transferring heat to actuate a pressure relief device by heat transfer through either capillary action involving a wicking material and a working fluid, or by a consumable fuse in the case of leakage of the working fluid from the heat pipe.
US07721749B2 Prefabricated shelter
A prefabricated shell for forming a shelter (14) has a groundsheet (30) and a cover (32) having a gas impermeable inner layer (24) and at least one outer layer. The outer layers are each formed by a layer of cloth that has been impregnated with a water-settable material, e.g. cement. The shell is steeped in water to wet the cement and then the cover is pneumatically inflated to form a space between the cover and the groundsheet. The shelter is then left until the cement has set and is able to support the cover. The shelter can easily be constructed to provide a durable shelter, especially in emergency areas.
US07721748B2 Pole brace and ballasting device
A pole brace and ballasting device having at least one or more releasably connecting weight containers adapted to retain and discharge a dry or fluid load bearing material therein of adequate length and sufficiently ridged to brace a pole. A hand activated clamp or clamps for attachment to a variety of pole dimensions both angular and round, while allowing for the closing of the tent's outer protective cover; with the capacity to selectively suspend the ballasting load to prevent it from coming at rest with the ground for an increase in its effectiveness.
US07721732B2 Respiratory heat exchanger
A heat exchange module comprising a number of substantially parallel and spaced apart heat exchange elements is provided. One or more surfaces of the heat exchange elements may be coated with a dessicant. The module can be manufactured so that first and second surfaces of the module are curved. The module may be used as part of a face mask or other garment that positions the module within the respiratory air stream of a user. The module may be inserted in a mesh sleeve provided as part of the garment. The module may also be used as part of other forms of clothing that protect the face and in protective helmets, or as part of outdoor or survival equipment.
US07721730B2 Liquid ejection apparatus
An ejection apparatus for ejecting droplets of liquid includes a loading portion, a reader, and a judging unit. The loading portion detachably loads therein a liquid cartridge container for containing liquid, and a liquid ejection cartridge having an ejecting portion for ejecting liquid separately, or as a combined kit. The reader reads information attached to at least one of the liquid cartridge container and the liquid ejection cartridge. The judging unit judges, based on the information read by the reader, whether each of the liquid cartridge container and the liquid ejection cartridge loaded in the loading portion is appropriate, or whether a combination of the liquid cartridge container and the liquid ejection cartridge is a predetermined combination. The ejection apparatus allows a user to relatively readily and accurately carry out ejection of appropriate liquid by an appropriate ejection unit.
US07721728B2 Oven
An oven, effectively and rapidly cooling a door by passing a sufficient quantity of cooling air through the door, is disclosed. The oven includes an outer case, an inner case, a door opening and closing the inner case, and a blower chamber having a cooling fan and provided at the upper side of the inner case. The door includes an inner plate and a frame to form an opened lower end. The frame has holes formed in the upper side to flowing air discharged by the cooling fan between the inner plate and an outer plate. A vent hole communicating with the blower chamber is provided in the upper end of the cooking chamber to pass hot air of the cooking chamber through the vent hole. Around the vent hole, a partition member is provided for preventing the hot air from being mixed with air discharged by cooling fan.
US07721722B1 Water-powered toy guns and method
A toy gun is operated by water under pressure, supplied from a conveniently available source of water under pressure, such as a garden hose connected to a municipal water supply, a household water supply, or a similar source of water under pressure, to launch a projectile, such as a water-filled balloon, along, and preferably through, the barrel of the gun. The projectile is coupled with a firing chamber, preferably by being placed in the firing chamber, adjacent the barrel, and water under pressure is admitted to an actuator for actuating an air compressor which, in turn, creates compressed air that is accumulated in an air chamber and then selectively released to the firing chamber to launch the projectile from the barrel.
US07721711B2 Engine control system including means for learning characteristics of individual fuel injectors
An engine control system includes an fuel injector for each cylinder of the engine, an air-fuel ratio sensor disposed in an exhaust manifold and an electronic control unit to which signals from various sensors are fed. Operation of the engine is controlled by the electronic control unit. An air-fuel ratio deviation among cylinders is calculated based on output signals of the air-fuel ratio sensor, and injection amount errors of each injector are calculated from the deviation of air-fuel ratio among cylinders. An injection characteristic of each injector is learned from the injection amount errors, and a right amount of fuel is supplied to each cylinder based on the learned injection characteristic. In this manner, the injection amount errors are effectively adjusted, and the air-fuel ratio deviation among cylinders due to external disturbances is surely adjusted.
US07721709B2 Fuel injection control apparatus and method for internal combustion engine
A fuel injection control apparatus and method for an internal combustion engine are provided for appropriately controlling the amounts of fuel supplied from an in-cylinder fuel injection valve and a port fuel injection valve to a cylinder in a simple control approach while satisfactorily reflecting a fuel transport behavior as a whole cylinder. An ECU calculates a required in-cylinder injection amount and a required port injection amount, calculates an in-cylinder injected fuel behavior parameter of a fuel from the in-cylinder fuel injection valve and a port injected fuel behavior parameter of the fuel from the port fuel injection valve, a net in-cylinder injection amount in accordance with the in-cylinder and port injected fuel behavior parameters based on the required in-cylinder injection amount, and a net port injection amount in accordance with the in-cylinder and port injected fuel behavior parameters based on the required port injection amount.
US07721708B2 Control system for general-purpose engine
In a system for controlling a general-purpose air-cooled internal combustion engine having two cylinders each equipped with a throttle valve and a fuel injector, and a cooling fan that selectively directs air onto the cylinders, a throttle driver selectively drives the respective throttle valve of each cylinder to open or close. The system also includes an injector driver that selectively drives the respective injector of each cylinder to open, and a controller that controls operation of the throttle driver and injector driver in such a way that the throttle opening and an amount of fuel to be injected are different for each cylinder, such that an engine speed becomes substantially constant, thereby enabling the engine to obtain desired output characteristics.
US07721702B2 Spark plug having separate housing-mounted electrode
A spark plug arrangement for an exhaust treatment device is disclosed. The spark plug arrangement may have a body, and a center electrode extending from an end of the body. The spark plug arrangement may further have a mounting member with a bore configured to receive the body, and a grounded electrode extending proximal the center electrode.
US07721691B2 Variable valve mechanism for internal combustion engine
A worm gear is connected to an actuator and a worm wheel is connected to a control shaft. The worm wheel has teeth formed only on a predetermined angular range thereof. The above-referenced angular range includes a required rotational range of the control shaft. The worm wheel is formed to be brought out of mesh with the worm gear outside the predetermined angular range.
US07721680B2 Link type seismic tie for boilers
A link-type seismic tie is provided between a steel structural support and a buckstay, and includes two horizontally arranged, parallel, and spaced apart link members, which are connected at their ends to large vertical pins. Each of the link members includes two horizontally arranged and parallel longitudinal outboard stringers and a horizontally arranged and parallel longitudinal center stringer centered between the two outboard stringers. Each link member further includes finger plates standing upright and spaced apart from each other relatively perpendicular to the longitudinal stringers. The finger plates are held between each of the outboard stringers and the longitudinal center stringer. A gusset plate connects the outboard stringers to a pin plate, which is connected to a large pin at the buckstay. The other end of the link members is connected to a large pin at the steel structural support via the ends of the outboard stringers.
US07721664B2 Feed direction change assembly for sewing machine
The purpose of this invention is to change the direction of the feed so that the user/operator can now use the free arm of the sewing machine to the optimum advantage. The conventional domestic free arm sewing machine has, heretofore, been limited to sewing in a lateral direction across the free arm. The use of this invention allows the machine to be used so that tubular shaped garments can travel along and around the free arm of the sewing machine this sewing can be accomplished with any outside seams, something, heretofore, impossible with a conventional free arm sewing machine.
US07721662B2 Applicator system and method for the agricultural distribution of biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials
The applicator system is designed to distribute agriculturally beneficial matter across a field. The system includes a supply reservoir and an agitator assembly that grates and abrades matter in the supply reservoir until the abraded matter precipitates out of the supply reservoir and onto a supply conveyor. The supply conveyor conveys the matter to a distribution device. The distribution device meters the matter onto at least two lateral distribution conveyors. At the end of each of the distribution conveyors the matter is funneled downwardly into an open trench created by a trenching device associated with each distribution conveyor. After the matter is deposited into the trench, a trench closing assembly directs soil back into the trench and compresses the soil surface.
US07721657B2 Pivotable table
A pivotable table has a lower housing and a table top which can be moved from a storage position, in which the table top is arranged substantially perpendicularly in the lower housing, into a use position, in which the table top is arranged substantially horizontally above the lower housing and is carried by the lower housing. The table includes at least one carrying arm that has an end region which is connected pivotably to the table top and a remote end region which is connected to the lower housing via a carrying arm guide. The table also includes at least one supporting arm, the two end regions of which are connected in each case to the table top and to the carrying arm, at least one of these two connections being of displaceable configuration via at least one supporting arm guide.
US07721656B2 Monorail vehicle
A monorail vehicle includes a cabin for housing a driver, passengers and/or load and also includes one or more driving assemblies, the driving assemblies being suitable for running within a guiding duct on the ground, the cabin being connected to at least one driving assembly by an elongated elevation structure. The elongated elevation structure is actuated in order to vary the elevation of the cabin with respect to the ground during regular travel of the vehicle.
US07721653B1 Combined subway wall and door assembly and associated method
A combined wall and door assembly includes a static wall assembly including a segmented support frame with a rectilinear shape. The static wall assembly further includes a plurality of transparent fiberglass panels directly coupled to the support frame and spaced along an entire longitudinal length of the support frame. The assembly further includes a mechanism for automatically biasing the access doors between open and closed positions when the subway train arrives and leaves a train terminal respectively such that passengers are prohibited from premature ingress and egress of the subway train during a schedule stop.
US07721645B2 Device for keeping a mold plate square, perpendicular and driving for a food product molding machine
A belt drive system for a reciprocating mold plate in a food product molding machine. The invention relates to a belt drive system having a belt tensioning device configured to tension a drive belt of an indexing motion food product molding machine. The invention provides ease of service and/or replacement of components of the drive system. The invention provides a manifold configuration to balance the flow and pressure of the food product over a wide fill area.
US07721642B2 Sliding member
To provide a sliding member that exhibits excellent durability and is free of lead. A swash plate for a compressor as the sliding member of the invention contains a base material having on the surface thereof a sliding layer constituting at least a sliding surface, on which shoes slide. The sliding layer contains a first layer that contains an amorphous hard carbon (diamond-like carbon) film containing Si (DLC-Si film) and is formed on the base material, and a second layer that is formed on the first layer and contains polyamideimide (PAI) containing a solid lubricant such as MoS2.
US07721638B2 Slicing machine, and method of use and components thereof
An ergonomically designed food slicing machine including a rotatable blade for slicing bulk food product, a motor operably connected to the rotating blade, and a base portion located below the rotatable blade which defines a food slice receiving area. The machine may be provided with a sliced food receptacle operably connected to a scale, a visible indicia correlating to the distance between the gauge plate and rotatable blade, a blade sharpening assembly, a sled for securing the food product and an operator adjusted optimum stroke setting system for automatic operation of the slicing machine.
US07721637B2 Knife and cutting wheel for a food product slicing apparatus
A cutting wheel using knives with slice thickness gauging surfaces defining, with the knife cutting edges, a thickness dimension of sliced food products and a throat dimension measured perpendicular to the wheel cutting plane between each knife cutting edge and the terminal edge of the adjacent gauging surface, wherein the knives each have a single primary bevel extending practically tangent to the cutting plane on the side of the knife facing towards the cutting plane and a smooth transition area on the opposite side of the knife, and the ratio of throat dimension to slice thickness dimension is 1 to 1.7.
US07721636B2 Hole puncher
A hole puncher has a base, multiple cutter brackets, multiple cutters, multiple springs, a linkage, an activating member and a handle. The base has two ends. The cutter brackets are mounted on the base. The cutters are mounted slidably through the cutter brackets. The linkage connects pivotally to one end of the base. The activating member connects pivotally to the linkage. The handle connects pivotally to the other end of the base and selectively pivots the linkage down. With the linkage and the activating member, the hole punch is effort-saving.
US07721624B2 Automatic transmission and running range switching device
An automatic transmission that includes a case; and a range shift device that includes: a housing with an opening portion on one side, a motor that produces a driving force based on a signal from a manually operated shift operating device, and a mechanical transmission that transmits the driving force of the motor to a manual valve, wherein the range shift device shifts a running range in accordance with a shift position of the manual valve, and the case has a joining portion that closes the opening portion of the housing.
US07721617B2 Heat-treated rack bar
A method of heat-treating a rack bar includes a step of continuously conveying a rack bar provided with a rack teeth portion and a ball screw portion by a quenching means, and a step of sequentially applying a quenching treatment to each circumferential surface of the rack teeth portion and the ball screw portion. The quenching treatment is preferably and sequentially applied to each entire circumferential surface of the rack teeth portion and the ball screw portion.
US07721611B2 Composite riser with integrity monitoring apparatus and method
An integrity monitoring system for monitoring degradation in a composite riser string. The system includes composite riser structures incorporating strain and vibration sensors to measure changes in the stiffness strain on a first orientation and on a second orientation. The system can also include monitoring modules attached to each individual riser and devices to transfer the data from the monitoring module to the surface controller. Additionally, the monitor system can provide for an alarm when predetermined warning limits are exceeded.
US07721608B2 Tray for handling devices to be tested
The problems inherent with connecting a DUT to a test station have been solved by the use of a tray designed to allow a wide variety of different DUTs to be physically connected individually to a test station using a universal test station connector. The tray allows for the association therewith of a personality module which serves to provide the proper physical connections and to electrically condition the test station to the electrical characteristics of the DUT. The tray allows for sealed environmental testing of the DUT without impacting any physical connections between the DUT and the test station. The tray also allows for the DUT to be vibrated from externally applied motion without interfering with either the sealed environment around the DUT and without imparting motion to the physical connection between the DUT and the test station.
US07721605B2 Mechanical oscillator activated or deactivated by a predetermined condition
The present invention is a mechanical oscillator for detection and measurement of corrosive foreign materials. The elements include a mechanical oscillator that is mechanically excited, wherein the mechanical oscillator has a resonant frequency, f, and a quality factor, Q. A fuse fixed to the oscillator to change oscillator amplitude to and from essentially zero to resonance amplitude. In a preferred embodiment, the mechanical oscillator has the shape of a tuning fork where one region is compatible with the service fluid and the other region is incompatible with the service fluid or other contaminant. The sensor alarms when a measured amount of the incompatible material has been removed or the physical strength of the material has been compromised.
US07721604B2 Micromechanical inertial sensor having reduced sensitivity to the influence of drifting surface charges, and method suited for operation thereof
A micromechanical inertial sensor having at least one seismic mass which may be deflected relative to a substrate, and at least one electrode surface which in terms of circuitry, together with at least portions of the seismic mass forms at least one capacitor having a capacitance which is dependent on the deflection of the seismic mass. At least one additional auxiliary electrode is included which is located outside the region which forms the capacitor and which may be set at a potential that deviates from the potential of the seismic mass.
US07721602B2 Filling level sensor
In the case of a filling level sensor (1) for detecting a fuel filling level in a fuel tank (2), a lever arm (7) which secures a float (6) has a guide part (14). The guide part (14) interacts with an installation opening (3) in the fuel tank (2) and deflects the lever arm (7) in a designated direction. This avoids the filling level sensor (1) being damaged during installation in the fuel tank (2).
US07721601B2 Hydrogen storage tank and method of using
A hydrogen storage tank for containing solid-state hydrogen storage media, and method for determining the hydrogen fill level in the tank. The tank has at least one compartment for storing the storage media, passages for transporting hydrogen gas to and from the compartment, and a heat distribution system for establishing a substantially uniform temperature in the storage media. A look-up table is generated for the tank that relates hydrogen pressure changes in the tank versus hydrogen fill levels in the tank as a function of temperature. The tank is filled to full capacity by adsorbing hydrogen on the storage media. Thereafter, hydrogen is released from the storage media for a time period during which there is a substantially constant demand on the tank, the change in pressure of the released hydrogen gas is measured, and the look-up table is applied to determine the hydrogen fill level in the tank.
US07721599B2 Reduced resistance thermal flow measurement device
Conventional thermal flow measurement devices lack consideration for automobiles in severe environments. A detection element of the thermal flow measurement device according to the present invention is structured by the provision of a planar substrate made of a material having good thermal conductivity, such as silicon or ceramic, with a thin-walled portion (diaphragm). On the surface of the thin-walled portion, the detection element comprises a heat element as a heater heated to a temperature being different to a predetermined extent from the temperature of the air flow to be measured, temperature-detecting resistors as temperature-detecting means on both sides of the heat element, wiring portions formed of electrical conductors that draw signal lines from the heat element and the temperature-detecting resistors and that have a melting point of 2000° C. or higher, and pads.
US07721594B2 Apparatus and method to monitor slurries for waste re-injection
A method to inject a slurry into a subterranean formation includes measuring characteristic data from a well in communication with the subterranean formation, estimating downhole properties of the slurry using the measured characteristic data, measuring surface properties of the slurry with a measurement apparatus, determining optimal surface properties for the slurry from the estimated downhole properties, comparing the measured surface properties with the determined optimal surface properties, modifying the slurry until the measured surface properties are within tolerance values of the determined optimal surface properties, and injecting the modified slurry into the subterranean formation through the well.
US07721585B2 Integrated sheet metal forming, assembly and inspection system
An integrated forming, assembly and inspection system includes a plurality of robotic material conveyors. The integrated system also includes a forming subsystem including sheet metal drawing apparatus, a roller hemming subsystem, and an inspection subsystem. The plurality of robotic material conveyors are operable to convey assembly workpieces to and from the subsystems.
US07721583B1 Pipe bending shoe
A pipe bending shoe including a support frame, a pipe channel defined by a first bending frame connected with the support frame and by a second bending frame connected with the support frame, and a plurality of flexible straps spaced along the pipe channel and spanning the pipe channel transversely between the first bending frame and the second bending frame in order to provide a transversely segmented pipe sling, wherein the pipe sling maintains a constant convex longitudinal sling profile during bending of a pipe using the pipe bending shoe.
US07721579B2 Cold roll forming apparatus
A cold roll forming mill for the manufacture of hollow flange seam welded beams from a single strip of metal comprises a forming station (1), a seam guide and welding station (2) and a shaping station (3). Either or both of the forming and shaping stations (1, 3) comprise independently supported side engaging roll combinations (7, 12) adapted, in use, to roll either or both of opposite sides of the strip. Adjacent transverse pairs of side engaging roll (7, 12) combinations are selectively movable relative to each other in a transverse direction perpendicular to a direction of travel of said strip through said mill. At least some of the side engaging roll combinations (7, 12) are driven. Drive rolls (6) spaced within the forming and shaping stations (1, 3) engage the strip between opposite edges thereof.
US07721576B2 Lock cylinder opening system and method
A lock cylinder opening system comprising: a lock cylinder body housing with a direction of elongation defining an axial direction for the system, having a first and a second end, and having a first and a second axial bores; a rotatable first cylindrical plug in the first bore, the first plug having an axially extending key slot from the first end of the lock cylinder; a rotatable second cylindrical plug in the first bore, the second plug extending to the second end; a rotatable opening shaft in the second bore, the opening shaft extending at the first and second ends of the lock cylinder; and a selector unit positioned at the second end, having a mechanical connection with the second plug and receiving the opening shaft, the selector unit adapted to selectively enable and disable rotation of the second plug by rotation of the opening shaft.
US07721575B2 Socks
An object of the present invention is to provide a sock which offers a fit, and does not cause fatigue, blood congestion, or the like if worn for a long period of time. The sock has a length from a toe to at least an ankle, and is knitted from a knitting yarn. The sock has a base knit structure knitted at an inside half region of an arch part of the sole from an upper thread and under thread, and has an auxiliary thread further inserted together with the upper thread, so as to form a knitted part which is contracted and reduced in extensibility.
US07721571B2 Clothing jewelry
The clothing jewelry is formed from a plurality of short chains removably attached to an article of clothing to form a plurality of vertically extending retainer loops, and an elongated decorative member supported by the retainer loops and encircling a portion of the clothing, e.g., a pant leg, a jacket or blouse adjacent the cuff, a skirt adjacent the hemline, and similar clothing articles. The elongated member may be a jewelry chain formed into a continuous or endless loop, a ribbon formed into an endless loop, or other decorative loops. The short chains have fasteners, e.g., a pin and back fastener, at both ends for removable attachment to the article of clothing.
US07721566B1 Collapsible interconnected panels of phase change material
An apparatus having a plurality of phase change material-containing wall panels. The wall panels have a thickness and sides. The wall panels define an inner major surface and an outer major surface. The sides of the wall panels are hingedly interconnected to define a closed structure. Two diametrically opposed hinge interconnections are proximate the inner major surface. The remaining hinge interconnections are proximate the outer major surface.
US07721559B2 Multi-type air conditioner and method for controlling the same
Multi-type air conditioner including a plurality of compressors, a plurality of temperature sensors mounted in the plurality of compressors for sensing temperatures in the compressors respectively, and an equalizing pipe in communication with the plurality of compressors, for uniform distribution of oil among the plurality of compressors according to the temperatures sensed at the plurality of temperature sensors respectively, thereby distributing oil among the compressors uniformly at an exact time point at which the oil is distributed among the compressors non-uniformly, not only to permit improvement of the performance of the compressors, but also to permit improvement performance of the air conditioner having the compressors.
US07721558B2 Multi-air conditioner and group-unit control method thereof
Disclosed herein are a multi-air conditioner and a group-unit control method thereof, wherein a plurality of indoor units can be controlled on a group basis. The method comprises the step of grouping the indoor units into a plurality of groups, the step of if an air conditioning operation condition of a specific one of the indoor units is changed, sending, by the specific indoor unit, the changed operation condition to all the other indoor units according to a predefined communication protocol, and the step of by each of the indoor units, receiving an air conditioning operation condition sent from a different one of the indoor units in the same group and performing an air conditioning operation based on the received operation condition. According to the invention, the plurality of indoor units can be more efficiently controlled on a group basis through inter-indoor unit data communication. Further, the group-unit control is not restricted by whether a controller is used or not. Moreover, it is easy to add or change an object to which the group-unit control is to be applied.
US07721550B2 Aircraft engine exhaust flap curved strut slot
An aircraft engine nozzle assembly includes an adjustable flap portion that is movable about a pivot for changing the size of an exhaust exit area. A bracket having a curved slot establishes a range of possible movement of the flap portion. A link includes a guide member portion that is received in the curved slot for guiding the movement of the flap portion. The link is connected to a static engine structure and the bracket is movable with the flap portion. The curved slot establishes a range of possible movement of the flap portion along a direction of the curved slot.
US07721538B2 Hydraulic circuit for construction machine
A hydraulic circuit for a construction machine is disclosed, which can prevent an energy loss of a hydraulic system by automatically reducing revolution of an engine when a working device such as a boom is not driven. The hydraulic circuit includes first to third hydraulic pumps, a first switching valve, a second switching valve, a third switching valve, a confluence switching valve, a first shuttle valve selecting any one of a pressure of a first signal line in which a signal pressure is formed when the third switching valve for working devices connected to the third hydraulic pump is shifted and a pressure of a second signal line in which a signal pressure is formed when a switching valve for traveling devices is shifted, and a second shuttle valve selecting any one of the pressure selected by the first shuttle valve and a pressure of a third signal line in which a signal pressure is formed when switching valves for the working devices connected to the first and second hydraulic pumps are shifted.
US07721532B2 Method and system for regeneration of a catalyst
The disclosed embodiments relate to a method and system for regeneration of a catalyst. The system includes an engine that creates an exhaust stream and a fuel supply adapted to supply a fuel stream to the engine. A reactor includes a catalyst and is in fluid communication with the engine to receive the exhaust stream. A sensor senses a system parameter and produces a signal corresponding to the system parameter. A controller receives the signal and directs at least a portion of the exhaust stream or at least a portion of the fuel stream to the catalyst to control a regeneration operation based on a value of the system parameter sensed by the sensor.
US07721512B2 Automated solid pharmaceutical product packaging machine
A fully automated pharmaceutical product packaging machine is capable of selectively depositing one or more different solid pharmaceutical products into an individual cavity for each of a plurality of individual patient product package cavities. The system employs a plurality of solid pharmaceutical product dispensing canisters which are capable of selectively dispensing a pre-designated number of solid pharmaceutical products. The machine fills a template containing temporary storage cavities and the template is automatically positioned over a sheet of clear plastic material containing a plurality of cavities corresponding to the cavities in the template. A barrier between the cavities in the template and the sheet of clear plastic material is moved and the pharmaceuticals in the template cavities drop into the corresponding cavities in the clear plastic sheet of material. The clear plastic sheet of material is then maneuvered into subsequent product packaging stations and the template is returned to beneath the canister region.
US07721494B2 Strengthening device to increase strength of grout layer
Provided is a strengthening device to increase the strength of a grout layer. In the strengthening device, clamp members are interconnected and clamped to surround a grout layer on a concrete base, on which an upper structure is installed, so as to increase the strength of the grout layer. Connection members are provided to edges of the clamp members to connect the clamp members. Fastening means is fastened between the connection members in order to enable the clamp members to clamp the grout layer. This strengthening device acts as a mold to facilitate easy construction when grout is placed, and surrounds the grout layer to increase the strength of the grout layer after grout is cured, thereby effectively preventing and minimizing failure of the grout layer caused by loads transferred from an upper structure such as a column member or a bridge bearing.
US07721491B2 Method and system for storing water inside buildings
The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and system to conserve resources, particularly rain water, by providing for water storage within building walls and other structural components. The building water storage allows reuse of water at that location that in the past has generally flowed to storm drains as runoff. Besides allowing reuse, another advantageous effect is that the structure may become a well insulated unit.
US07721488B1 Flashing apparatus for external use on structures
A flashing apparatus for external use on structures is described. The flashing apparatus essentially serves as an accessory for fiber cement siding and is designed to provide a certain level of water resistance in the seams between the ends of the sections of the siding. The flashing apparatus has a forward projecting flange and comes in various heights to accommodate different sizes of fiber cement siding that may be used in constructing a structure.
US07721485B2 Leech trap
A leech trap consisting of a location marking float and an enclosure having a removable lid and a first plurality of holes through the surface of the enclosure to allow entry of leeches into the enclosure. The lower end of the enclosure is weighted and contains a second plurality of smaller holes for rapid drainage of water without loss of the trapped leeches.
US07721476B2 Breakaway sign support system
A breakaway sign support system that is useful for supporting ground mounted signs located within zones that are vulnerable to vehicular impacts. A bracket assembly containing a combination of mounting plates and reinforcement plates bolted together is used to attach a sign post to a sign stub. The sign support system can be fabricated in the field without having to send measurements to a fabricator. The bracket assembly keeps the sign post stable but also allows for a clean break away upon impact.
US07721466B2 Shoe sole and insole structure
A shoe sole and insole structure is disclosed. The sole comprises an upper sole and a lower sole; the lower sole has a plurality of through-holes thereon and includes a plurality of lock plugs inserted respectively inside the through-holes; the upper sole has the same number of lock bars on its undersurface. The upper sole directly laminates over the lower sole by inserting the lock bars into the through-holes and then securing the lock bars with lock plugs by inserting the lock plugs into the through-holes. The insole has a plurality of groove rings on its undersurface, each groove ring being disposed with a small through-hole, and further comprises a plurality of ladle discs respectively glued in the groove ring to form an insole with a plurality of air pockets.
US07721465B2 Shoe having an inflatable bladder
An article of footwear including a sole and an upper with an exterior and interior surface, and one or more bladders which comprises at least one of the exterior or interior surfaces of the upper. The bladder comprising sheets of polyurethane or polyester film attached together to form an airtight seal. The article of footwear also includes a inflation mechanism for selectively introducing air in the one or more bladders. The inflation mechanism is located under the foot of the wearer to be activated by the normal action of the wearer to inflate the one or more bladders. The article of footwear may also include an assembly for connecting several tubes to one under foot inflation mechanism. The article of footwear may also include inflatable laces that are inflated by an underfoot inflation mechanism.
US07721463B2 Oven
An oven includes a conveying interior for moving produce through the oven and a gas fired heat source for cooking the produce conveyed through the oven. The conveying interior preferably comprises a rotating drum with a conveying spiral extending inwardly from an inner wall of the rotating drum. The rotating drum may further be sloped downward to facilitate progress of the produce through the oven, and the time spent in the oven may be controlled by controlling the rotating rate of the drum. The gas fired heat source may comprise a thermostatically controlled burner residing under the drum.
US07721458B2 Level adjusting device for a cutter head of a jointer/planer machine
A level adjusting device for a cutter head of a jointer/planer machine, includes a front support frame for supporting a front anti-friction bearing unit that holds a front journal segment of the cutter head, a rear support frame including left and right base abutments, a height-adjustable carrier for receiving a rear anti-friction bearing member that holds a rear journal segment of the cutter head, left and right lugs respectively having inner tubular threaded surfaces, and left and right adjusting screws respectively having threaded segments which are threadedly and respectively engaged with the inner tubular threaded surfaces, and abutting ends which are in frictional engagement with the base abutments, respectively, and which are turnable to move the respective lugs relative to the adjusting screws so as to raise or lower the carrier, thereby enabling level adjustment of the cutter head.
US07721451B2 Razor equipped with several rotating shaving heads
A razor that includes a handle having an axis, at least a first and a second shaving head, and a drum that includes the first and second shaving head. The drum is pivotally mounted onto the handle about an axis substantially perpendicular to the edges of the blades, the pivoting of the drum allowing at least a first configuration in which the first shaving head projects at a front end of the handle to allow shaving while the second shaving head is at least partly covered by the handle. In a second configuration, the positions of the first shaving head and second shaving head are reversed.
US07721443B2 Method for producing a vehicle axle
Method and apparatus for providing a hollow, elongated construction element, for example for use as a vehicle front axle. The method includes (1) directing a first blank through a furnace (2) for heating the blank to a working temperature. The blank is directed between a pair of rollers (3, 4) having profiled surfaces, the blank being preformed in one or more steps to form an intermediate product having a predetermined profile along its longitudinal extent. The blank is fed to a forging press having a number of cooperating die pads, the blank being worked in a plurality of steps (5, 8, 11) to form a substantially finished product, having a cross section substantially in the form of a hat profile of predetermined varying height, width and material thickness along its length. A second blank (14), having essentially the same profile as the hat profile of the first blank in the dividing plane of the cooperating die pads, is placed in connection with the hat profile. In a later step (15), the first (1) and the second blank (14) are joined together, at least along their respective edges, to form a composite hollow construction element (18). One embodiment of the disclosed invention is also the construction element that is produced according to the above-described method.
US07721441B2 Method of fabricating a printhead integrated circuit attachment film
A method of fabricating a film for attachment of one or more printhead integrated circuits to an ink supply manifold is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an adhesive polymeric film having a protective liner; (b) depositing photoresist onto the protective liner; (c) photopatterning the photoresist to define a plurality of openings positioned for etching supply holes through the film; (d) etching the plurality of ink supply holes through the film, the photoresist acting as a mask for the etch; and (e) removing the protective liner having the photoresist deposited thereon.
US07721438B2 Assembling method using marked information and assembly assembled by said assembling method
An assembling method for an assembly is provided: the assembly comprising a cell structure (1) housed and held in a metal vessel (5) via a compressible material having a cushioning property (7) by arranging it between outer periphery of the structure (1) and the vessel (5) in a compressed state with applying a mounting pressure to the structure (1) via the material (7) to hold the structure (1) in the vessel (5). Information regarding outside dimension of the structure (1) and/or inside dimension of the vessel (5) being marked on their surfaces prior to the start of assembly, and the information is read, and a cell structure (1) and a metal vessel (5) are selected based on read information in assembly to achieve a proper holding condition therebetween. Regardless of variations in external dimension of the structure, etc. constituting the assembly, the minimization thereof, and proper holding state may be achieved easily without causing a fracture of the structure, etc.
US07721436B2 Method of manufacturing a metal injection moulded combustor swirler
A combustor swirler for a gas turbine engine and method of manufacturing by metal injection molding an inner component and an outer cylindrical component. Indentations are molded in one of the inner and outer components and sealed by the engagement of the components together to form a series of fluid flow passages. The inner and outer components are molded with interlocking features for ensuring proper alignment of the components during assembly.
US07721434B2 Methods and apparatus for replacing objects on horizontal shafts in elevated locations
An apparatus for stabilizing a shaft in an essentially horizontal position while an anchoring object at one end of the shaft is replaced without removal of an object at the opposite end of the shaft that would otherwise tend to destabilize the shaft from its essentially horizontal position includes a half-spool member configured to clamp above and around the shaft to resist torque around the rotor, under supports configured to attach to the half-spool member and clamp an underside of the shaft below the half-spool member, and a hydraulic or mechanical brake configured to resist torque on the shaft when the brake is engaged.
US07721431B2 Method of making a piston
An engine piston is manufactured by assembling an outer shell, comprising a crown and tubular side wall in which a ring groove region and skirt are defined, with a plate-like mounting member and bonding them together by brazing or welding. The mounting member is located within the tubular side wall displaced axially from the crown and is bonded near, but displaced radially from, its centre to the crown and at its periphery to the side wall at the end of the ring groove region. The mounting member carries gudgeon pin boss means facing away from the crown. The outer shell is formed by extrusion or the like that permits minimal wall thickness and the bonded structure is of light weight but great strength and stiffness, particularly in the ring groove region. A combustion bowl formed in the crown facilitates bonding to the mounting member and defines with the mounting member an annular cooling chamber adjacent the ring groove region and crown.
US07721428B2 Method for making an electrode assembly
An electrode assembly for use in a vacuum interrupter is made by joining a first side of a substantially disk-shaped structure to an end of a substantially cylindrical coil segment, and joining an electrical contact to a second side of the disk-shaped structure. The disk-shaped structure has a higher resistivity than a resistivity of the coil segment.
US07721419B2 Tool for assembling a taper roller
A full complement taper roller bearing consists of an inner ring or cone having an inner track on its radially outer conical surface, and an outer ring or cup having an outer track on its radially inward conical surface and one or more rows of taper rollers having a contact angle of less than 30 degrees freely disposed between the inner and outer rings and guided between said tracks. Each row of rollers is axially located within a recess on the inner track defined by a shoulder abutment disposed at least at the edge of the inner track having the greatest diameter and each of the rollers is in contact with the inner track over the entire length of the taper roller in the axial direction of the bearing. A method of assembly is also enclosed.
US07721416B2 Method for installing a magnet valve
A magnet valve is installed by a method in which the fully machined valve member is locked in a receptacle of a fixed installation device. A magnet plate and a spacer plate are mounted on a receiving mandrel. The magnet plate, spacer plate and valve member are pressed against the receptacle, then the magnet plate and the spacer plate are displaced relative to the valve member, and the armature is secured to the receiving mandrel of the valve member in such a way that the armature then rests on the magnet plate.
US07721414B2 Method of manufacturing 3-D spiral stacked inductor on semiconductor material
A method of manufacturing a 3-D spiral stacked inductor is provided having a substrate with a plurality of turns in a plurality of levels wherein the number of levels increases from an inner turn to the outer turn of the inductor. First and second connecting portions are respectively connected to an inner turn and an outermost turn, and a dielectric material contains the first and second connecting portions and the plurality of turns over the substrate.
US07721409B2 Cold formed differential housing with integrated ring gear
A method for making a differential housing having a ring gear integrally formed therein includes the steps of providing a differential housing having an annular rim integrally preformed therein; supporting the differential housing between upper and lower halves of a rotatable holding tool such that the annular rim extends radially outwardly from the holding tool for movement therewith; providing a thickening tool having a tool surface engagable with the annular rim during rotation of the holding tool to form a thickened lip; and providing a gear forming tool engagable with the thickened lip during rotation of the holding tool, whereby a plurality of teeth are formed along the lip to form the ring gear.
US07721405B2 Joining method for operating a fastening tool
In a method for joining at least two plate-shaped workpieces by a fastening tool and a device for operating the fastening tool, the fastening tool comprises a punch for exerting a punch force to perform a joining operation and a clamp for exerting a clamping force upon the workpieces at the joining area. During the joining operation the punch exerts a high punch force to perform the joining operation and the clamp exerts substantially no clamping force to allow for free material deformation in the joining area. After the joining operation both the punch and the clamp exert high forces at the same time to reduce any material deformations of the workpieces and to provide for compression of the workpieces in the joining area. Preferably the invention is used in a riveting tool for setting self-piercing rivets; as an alternative it may be used in a clinching tool.
US07721395B2 Automatic container coupling tool
An automatic container coupling tool is disclosed, such coupling tool includes a coupling platform, a bottom engager and a top guiding protrusion oppositely extended from the coupling platform, the bottom engager has an engager neck, a pair of projecting lug extended from the engager neck to form a pair of holding cavity between the coupling platform and the projecting lugs, once the bottom engager is inserted into a corner fitting housing of a lower container, the bottom engager is rotated allowing the ceiling wall inserted into the holding cavity. The top guiding protrusion has a front guiding slope and a rear retaining shoulder, such that after the bottom engager is interlocked with the lower container, an upper container is perched onto the coupling tool, the opening edge of the bottom corner housing of the upper container will bias against the front guiding slop thus rearwardly shift the top guiding protrusion to snap onto the corner housing so as to couple the upper container onto the coupling tool as well.
US07721388B2 Door hinge
Provided is a door hinge. The door hinge includes a fixing member, an activating member, a guide pin, and a guide frame. The fixing member is installed at a door frame. The activating member is installed at a door, and connects with the fixing member by a hinge, and opens and closes the door. The guide pin is fitted into guide holes provided at both sides of the activating member, and elastically moves up/down along the guide hole by a tension force of a spring installed inside the activating member. A guide frame is combined to the guide pin, and connects at its lower end with the fixing member by a pin, and rotates about the pin depending on an operation of the activating member. The guide hole is round (R) shaped at its center, and has a curved shape in entirety.
US07721387B1 Track assembly for an overhead door
A track assembly for an overhead door (10) includes a generally vertically positionable track segment (14) and a generally horizontally positionable track segment (15). The track segment (14) includes a curvilinear portion (17) at one end thereof which telescopically receives a curvilinear portion (21) of the track segment (15). The curvilinear portion (17) of the track segment (14) has a smaller radius of curvature than the curvilinear portion (21) of the track segment (15). In one embodiment, a bracket (30) has tabs (40) which are received in a slot aperture (42) in the curvilinear portion (17) to attach it to the bracket (30), and the bracket (30) has a lug (41) which is received in a slot (44) in the curvilinear portion (21) to attach it to the bracket (30). In another embodiment, the track segment (14) is carried by a bracket (51), and the track segment (15) is carried by a bracket (52) with the telescopic relationship being the only connection between the track segments (14, 15).
US07721383B2 Disinfecting device utilizing ultraviolet radiation
A disinfecting device is presented having a UV light source for radiation of a cleaning medium to eradicate the medium of infestation agents such as molds, viuses, bacteria and dust mites. The device enhances the disinfection of the medium by providing mechanisms for enhanced penetration of the UV light into the cleaning medium. The device also offers enhanced heat dissipation to promote effective use of the device. Also provided are safety mechanisms to promote the safe and advantageous use of the UV device.
US07721381B2 Cleaning pad
A cleaning pad is adapted to be releasably retained on a cleaning implement which includes on its cleaning head either multiple strips of pile-type fastener material or a plurality of attachment structures. The cleaning pad includes a top layer constructed of polyethylene and a bottom layer constructed of rayon. The top and bottom layers are affixed together along their peripheries by a bond line so as to define an enclosed pocket therebetween which is sized and shaped to receive a middle layer constructed of wood pulp paper. Multiple strips of hook-type fastener material are secured on the top layer and are adapted to releasably engage complimentary strips of pile-type fastener material on the cleaning implement. One or more mounting tabs are secured on the bottom layer and are adapted to releasably engage complimentary attachment structures on the cleaning implement. Each mounting tab can be disposed between a retracted, or folded, position and an extended, or unfolded, position.
US07721378B2 Combined extendable pole and counterbalance system for washing the windows of a building
A combined extendable pole and counterbalance system for washing the windows of a building includes an elongated pole including a handle portion adjacent the lower end thereof and a window cleaning utensil adjacent the upper end. The handle portion is adapted to be grasped by a workman while standing on the ground. An elongated flexible line is suspended from the roof or some other an upper part of the building above the windows to be washed. The line extends downwardly toward the ground and is connected to the pole. A spring driven drum biases the line upwardly thereby lifting part of the weight of the pole. The line is preferably connected to the pole adjacent the handle portion thereof but passes around and is guided by a pulley located adjacent the upper end of the pole so as to stabilize the upper end of the pole to prevent it from falling from side to side.
US07721375B2 Drainage structure cleaning tool
A tool for cleaning a drainage structure comprises a rod having a center longitudinal axis, a barrel housing having a proximal opening and a distal opening, the barrel housing having a center longitudinal axis and coupled coaxially to the rod, the barrel housing having an outside dimension that can be accommodated within the drainage structure, the distal opening of the barrel housing having a sinusoidal tearing contour. The tool further comprises a plurality of cutting implements radially coupled to and between the rod and the barrel housing, the cutting implements having a distal cutting edge and being angularly oriented to facilitate sweeping debris in a selected direction, and the barrel housing and cutting implements operable to rotate about the center longitudinal axis of the rod to dislodge and loosen debris inside the drainage structure.
US07721369B2 Transition board apparatus for a passenger bridge and a spring leaf thereof
The invention provides a transition board apparatus for a passenger bridge and a spring leaf thereof. A transition board apparatus includes a transition board and a spring leaf, wherein the transition board comprises a hinged end, a free end and the transition portion between them. The hinged end hinges on the end of the first tunnel bottom plate. The spring leaf is provided with the holding portion, which is secured on the sidewall of the first tunnel, and the bearing portion, which is used to raise the transition board up. Thus, there is a clearance between the free end and the bottom plate ornament laid on the second tunnel bottom plate. Therefore, when the second tunnel is moving back and forth relative to the first tunnel, the friction between the transition board and the bottom ornament can be avoided in order to protect the bottom plate ornament.
US07721364B2 Remote indoor kitchen
A remote indoor kitchen coupled to existing water and drainage resources where the water and drainage lines may be uncoupled utilizing quick-connect couplers and the remaining fast remove portion of the line is removed. Water leakage is prevented through shutoff valves upstream and downstream of the fast remove portion. Optionally, couplers containing integrally disposed, one-way valves in the female members, are located at either end of the fast remove portion of the line to prevent water leakage. Preferably, the supply tubing is resilient and predisposed to coil making removal simpler. Water drainage is accomplished through valveless couplers and preferably by assisted by pump. The kitchen assembly includes a frame with preferably collapsible lower legs, at least one sink, a planar surface, storage drawers, a faucet, a spray nozzle, a backsplash with an electrical outlet. Optionally the sink includes a garbage disposal, mounted oven, and a protective plastic overlay.
US07721362B2 Sink with removable divider
A sink according to the present invention includes a sink basin having a bottom surface and a top surface with at least one side wall extending therebetween. The sink includes a divider that may be inserted into or removed from an interior area of the sink for selectively dividing the basin into multiple smaller compartments. An electromagnet is positioned beneath the bottom surface of the sink and is attracted to a ferrous material on the bottom of the divider for holding the divider securely when actuated. Channels defined by the sink side wall and other sealing components establish a watertight seal between compartments when the electromagnet is actuated. The electromagnet may be connected to the residential power source and may be activated by a user or, automatically, by a sensor. When the divider is removed, the larger single basin may be used for washing larger items.
US07725941B1 Method and system for antimalware scanning with variable scan settings
A system, method and computer program product for scanning an executable file for malware presence, the method comprising: (a) detecting an attempt to execute a file on a computer; (b) identifying whether the file is known or unknown; (c) if the file is a known file, performing a signature malware check; (d) if the file is an unknown file, performing risk analysis and risk assessment for the file; (e) based on the risk analysis and the risk assessment, identifying which malware detection algorithms need to be used for the file, in addition to signature detection; (f) performing the malware detection algorithms on the file; and (g) if no malware is detected, permitting execution of the file. The risk analysis is based on file source, file origin, file path, file size, whether the file is digitally signed, whether the file is a download utility, whether the file is packed, whether the file was received from a CDROM.
US07725932B2 Restricting communication service
In response to a command to start restrictions on a communication service of a computer, the communication service is restricted by a countermeasures apparatus which replaces the communication address of a second computer, which has been stored in a first computer, with the communication address of the countermeasures apparatus, and replaces a communication address of the first computer, which has been stored in the second computer, with the communication address of the countermeasures apparatus. Accordingly, the countermeasures apparatus acquires a packet from the first computer to the second computer and determines whether or not this acquired packet is to be transmitted to the second computer.
US07725929B2 Systems and methods for free demonstration of online premium content prior to purchase
Key-limited use applications are maintained at a central service where the central service can receive requests from a remote computing device for access to the key-limited use applications. The key-limited use applications include publicly available portions and a locked portions accessible with a key. The central service can provide a key to the remote computing device associated with a key-limited use application for complete access. The key can be stored in a memory device associated with the remote computing device. A digital signature can be assigned to the key to prevent operation of the key in a second computing device. Unauthorized or unlicensed computing devices are prevented from using the applications.
US07725919B1 Manage content in a short-term content buffer with content identifiers
A short-term content buffer maintains segments of audio and/or video content and the content segments are identified with segment identifiers which enables management and playback of the content segments. In an embodiment, independent video content segments corresponding to a particular broadcast channel can be identified by associated content segment identifiers and the video content segments can be recorded together to generate a single recording of the content.
US07725917B2 Method for delivering non-anonymous user metadata using an soap operation in TV anytime metadata service
The present invention relates to a method or an operation for providing a personalized TV-Anytime metadata service. According to the present invention, there is provided a method of transmitting non-anonymous user metadata to a TV-Anytime service agent using a SOAP operation, comprising the steps of a) defining a SOAP operation which transmits user metadata and is capable of identifying transmission of non-anonymous user metadata, b) the service agent identifying a user, c) a client loading user metadata about the identified user on an element of the SOAP operation defined at step a) and transmitting the element with the user metadata to the service agent, and d) the service agent identifying the element of the SOAP operation transmitted at step c) and extracting the user metadata included in the element of the SOAP operation therefrom.
US07725912B2 Method for implementing a remote display system with transcoding
An apparatus and method for effectively implementing a wireless television system may include a communications processor and a transmitter device that combine at least one of a local-area network interface, a wide-area network interface, and one or more television data interfaces for effectively performing a wireless network transmission process. A transmitted stream from the wireless television system may be received via wireless network processing for viewing local-area network data, wide-area network data (such as Internet data), or television data by flexibly utilizing various electronic devices such as a notepad personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a handheld TV remote control device.
US07725904B2 Method and system for accessing externally-defined objects from an array-based mathematical computing environment
When a method is invoked from a computing environment, techniques presented herein automatically compare array input parameters with data-types accepted by methods defined within the object-oriented environment. Based on this comparison, the invention selects a method that best accepts the input arrays. The invention, therefore, allows a user to easily invoke methods from external objects, such as Java objects, directly from the technical computing environment of the mathematical tool.
US07725903B2 Method for providing event to application, and electronic device using this method
An event obtaining unit 121 obtains an event generated in an event generation unit 110 and outputs the event to the event providing unit 122. When an operation mode is mode A, the event providing unit 122 refers to an event table T1 and provides the event to an application corresponding to the event. If the event is provided to a communication AP 131, the communication AP 131 is launched prior to providing the event. On the other hand, when the operation mode is mode B, the event providing unit 122 provides the event to a Java runtime environment 140. In addition, the event providing unit 122 changes the operation mode when a switching button CB is pressed.
US07725902B2 Finer grained point-to-point event propagation
A method and apparatus for propagating and managing data, transactions and events either within a database, or from one database to another is provided. In one embodiment, messages are propagated from a source to a first queue and a second queue with the queues associated with the same database. The connection from the source to each queue maintains its own propagation job. This method could also be employed with cluster databases.
US07725888B2 Systems and methods for dynamically linking application software into a running operating system kernel
The present invention provides systems and methods for dynamically linking modules into a running operating system kernel. Systems and methods described herein have the following advantages: (1) they permit an application programmer to write, compile, execute, and terminate application code that is to be loaded into a kernel as if the application code was an ordinary application program, (2) they allow a standard programming environment to be used to encapsulate application software in a familiar environment, and (3) they permit automatic cleanup of errors and freeing of program resources when the application terminates.
US07725886B2 Merger of tables storing protocol data unit related data
In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a method of determining if a first query for data related to a protocol data unit in a first table is a query to a table merged into a combination table formed from multiple tables. If so, the method can generate a second query for the first query for data stored by the combination table.
US07725880B2 Method and system of remote diagnostic, control and information collection using a dynamic linked library
A system for monitoring a user's usage of a target application on an application unit. Such a target application can, as examples, be a software program running on a computer or a workstation, an image forming device, an appliance, etc. The application unit includes a user interface with a plurality of commands which a user can select. In the example of the target application being a software program, the commands may be icons displayed on a computer screen which a user can point to with a mouse pointer and then click on. In the case of the application unit being an image forming device or an appliance, the interface may be an operation panel with buttons, a touch pad, etc. which a user can press. The present invention monitors the user's usage of such interfaces and logs data of the user's usage of such interfaces. The logged data can then be communicated by the sending unit to a designated location.
US07725877B2 Graphical program which includes an I/O node for hardware abstraction
A system and method for creating a graphical program utilizing one or more input/output (I/O) nodes. An I/O node may be displayed in a first graphical program, where the I/O node may include associated generation code for programmatically generating execution-time code associated with the I/O node in the first graphical program. First input may be received to select a first I/O source or target corresponding to the first I/O node, e.g., from various supported hardware resources, and the associated generation code may be executed to programmatically generate or modify the execution-time code, e.g., at compilation or prior to execution of the first graphical program, to provide I/O to or from the first I/O source or target.
US07725876B2 Original contents creation apparatus, derived contents creation apparatus, derived contents using apparatus, original contents creation method, derived contents creation method, and derived contents using method and verification method
Disclosed is an original contents creation apparatus realizing a protection of original contents and derived contents in a derived contents distribution by any number of secondary providers. An original contents creation apparatus includes a limitation rule acquisition unit for acquiring a limitation rule of a case of inserting additional secondary contents into original contents, and a joining/signature unit for joining the limitation rule and a first operation rule to the original contents, the first operation rule defining an operation of a case of having detected an insertion of secondary contents violating the limitation rule, and giving an electronic signature to the original contents to which the limitation rule and the first operation rule are joined.
US07725871B1 SAT-based technology mapping framework
Valid implementations of functions with programmable logic blocks are efficiently determined by creating an approximation of a hardware configuration of programmable logic blocks to quickly screen out configurations unlikely to provide a valid results. If a configuration passes this first phase, the approximation is refined to search for valid function implementations with the hardware configuration. The approximation and refinement may use a partitioning of function input variables to logic blocks to reduce the search space. Additional conflict clauses may be used to further reduce the search space. Implementations of sample functions or other previously considered functions may be analyzed to identify conflict clauses that are reusable for analyzing other functions. A representation of potential implementations of a function can be subdivided into subsets and analyzed separately. The intersection of the solutions from each subset are valid implementations of the function.
US07725870B2 Method for radiation tolerance by implant well notching
A logic book for a programmable device such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) achieves improved radiation tolerance by providing notches in an implant well between adjacent transistors and fills the notches with complementary well regions that act as a barrier to charge migration. For example, a row of n-type field effect transistors (NFETs) is located in a Pwell region, while a row of p-type transistors is located in an Nwell region with portions of the Nwell region extending between the NFETs. More complicated embodiments of the present invention include embedded well islands to provide barriers for adjacent transistors in both rows of the book.
US07725856B1 Method and apparatus for performing parallel slack computation
A method for designing a system on a target device is disclosed. Domains and sub-domains in the system are identified. Chunks are identified from the domains and sub-domain. Slacks for the chunks are computed in parallel. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07725846B2 Conversion of a three-dimensional wire harness representative to a two-dimensional orthogonal wire harness representative
A method and system are described that allow conversion of a three-dimensional representation of a wire harness to a two-dimensional representation. In one aspect, the three-dimensional representation of the wire harness is converted to a two-dimensional orthogonal representation with branches in the wire harness arranged perpendicularly. In another aspect, when more than four branches enter a single node in the wire harness, one or more of the branches are placed within a predetermined angle to the perpendicular lines. The orthogonal representation allows simplified detection of disconnects in the wire harness that are otherwise difficult to visualize in three dimensions.
US07725829B1 Media authoring and presentation
A system and method for facilitating non-linear viewing of media is provided. The system facilitates non-linear viewing of media by providing a scene selector that scans a digitized media and selects a scene in the digitized media and a metadata generator that produces metadata associated with the scenes and relates the metadata to the selected scene. With the scenes annotated with metadata, a playlist generator can generate a playlist of related scenes based on user inputs like queries and a playlist updater can adapt the playlist based on user reaction to the displayed scenes. The scenes can be displayed on a variety of devices exhibiting various levels of intelligence. The displays can be distributed as can the system.
US07725828B1 Application of speed effects to a video presentation
Some embodiments provide a method of specifying speed effects for playing a video clip. The method defines a set of speed effects for the video clip. It then displays in real-time a presentation of the video clip that accounts for the set of speed effects defined for the video clip. In some embodiments, this method represents the playback speed of a video clip in terms of a graph that is part of a graphical user interface (“GUI”). This graph is defined along two axes, with one axis representing the playback time, and the other axis representing the content-time (i.e., the time within the video clip). In these embodiments, a user can change the playback speed of the video clip by using a set of GUI operations to select and modify the graph. For instance, a user can select and adjust the graph at different instances in time in order to change the playback speed of the video clip at these instances. Different embodiments use different types of graphs to represent playback speed. For instance, some embodiments use a deformable line bar that is superimposed on a rectangle that represents the video clip.
US07725820B2 Method of generating a display for a directed graph and a system for use with the method
A data processing system readable medium can have code to generate a display for a directed graph, wherein the code is embodied within the data processing system readable medium. The code can include an instruction to generate a table corresponding to a row element. The table can include a first row, at least one second row, a third row, and columns, wherein a number of the columns corresponds to the number of columns associated with the row element. The code can also include an instruction to generate lines to illustrate a set of parallel columns for the row element, and an instruction to display elements associated with the row element. In another embodiment, a method can include transmitting any or all of the instructions to a browser application in order for the browser application to execute the instructions.
US07725813B2 Method for requesting and viewing a preview of a table attachment on a mobile communication device
A process is set forth for previewing a table attachment on a mobile communication device, and upon identifying table content of interest viewing and/or retrieving the entire table from an attachment server. In one embodiment, a small 4×4 row/column preview is presented on the device of every table found in a document attachment, with the cell content textual information limited to the requesting device display capabilities. This limitation avoids any requirement to download large amounts of individual cell content to the device. Thus, the user is able to quickly identify which tables are of interest and then request a full table download from the attachment server in an on-demand fashion. In this regard, the preview table itself preferably also functions as a link to the full table stored at the server to facilitate easy retrieval to the device for viewing in a spreadsheet view.
US07725810B2 Decoding of multiple data streams encoded using a block coding algorithm
A system implemented for example in the form of an SoC comprises a first demodulator for generating a first data stream to be decoded, and a second demodulator for generating a second data stream to be decoded, and a block decoder. The block decoder comprises an input memory for storing blocks of data from the first data stream and blocks of data from the second data stream, and a block decoding unit for processing, from the input memory, the blocks of data from the first and second data streams.
US07725808B1 System and method for representing compressed information
The present invention provides a system and method for storing re-synchronization, error correction and/or error detection data within an existing communication protocol, while still maintaining full compliances to a standard, such as the MPEG-2 AAC standard. By doing so, data information can still be passed from an encoder to a decoder via a channel using an existing and well known standard transport protocol. However, the existing well known transport protocol can now include the data necessary for synchronization of the decoder to the received raw data, along with error detection and error correction by the decoder.
US07725795B2 Load generating apparatus and load testing method
A load generating apparatus for applying a load on a bus of a test target system, has a mode setting register to which an operation mode is set, a data size register to which a data size of one data transfer is set, a register group to which a base address which is a first access target address, an address interval for every stride executed by a stride function, and a number of strides are set, and an access part configured to access a memory space within the test target system based on the data size set in the data size register and information set in the register group, depending on the operation mode set in the mode setting register. The access part includes a mechanism to change the access target address to the memory space at the address interval, and a mechanism to generate a data pattern depending on the address interval and the data size, with respect to the memory space of the access target.
US07725792B2 Dual-path, multimode sequential storage element
A dual-path, multimode sequential storage element (SSE) is described herein. In one example, the dual-path, multimode SSE comprises first and second sequential storage elements, a data input, a data output, and a selector mechanism. The first and second sequential storage elements each have an input and an output. The data input is coupled to the inputs of both sequential storage elements and is configured to accept data. The data output is coupled to the outputs of both sequential storage elements and is configured to output the data. The selector mechanism is configured to select one of the sequential storage elements for passing the data from the data input to the data output. In one example, the first sequential storage element comprises a pulse-triggered storage element and the second sequential storage element comprises a master-slave storage element.
US07725784B2 Integrated circuit chip with communication means enabling remote control of testing means of IP cores of the integrated circuit
The present invention relates to the testing of functional or IP cores forming part of a system on chip, SoC. The invention is implemented using a testing means and a communication means to test at least one functional or IP core. The testing means comprises a wrapper in which the core is embedded, this wrapper implements preferably the IEEE P1500 standard architecture but can also implement other standard architectures. The testing means can be extended to a Simple Network Management Protocol, SNMP, the widely adopted TCP/IP management protocol. The communication means comprises a test bus connected to the communication network. The proxy agent can implement the SNMP protocol, among others.
US07725783B2 Method and apparatus for repeatable drive strength assessments of high speed memory DIMMs
The present invention assesses memory (DIMM) strength by calculating frequency content of a radiated field which is collected by an apparatus, such as a dipole antenna. Radiated field is created by accelerated charge, which is a function of the slew rate or DIMM strength. Radiated power is directly proportional to the frequency at which bits are driven. By separating the radiated field from the near field or stored field, the DIMM strength content is isolated from other functional DIMM issues, such as tRCD latency, refresh cycles, addressing mode, etc. By examining the radiated power, the disadvantages of the prior art, such as by probing the DIMM's contacts, are avoided.
US07725780B2 Enabling memory redundancy during testing
Methods and apparatuses for enabling a redundant memory element (20) during testing of a memory array (14). The memory array (14) includes general memory elements (18) and redundant memory elements (20). The general memory elements (18) are tested and any defective general memory elements (18) are replaced with redundant memory elements (20). The redundant memory elements (20) are tested only when they are enabled.
US07725776B2 Method for displaying pair state of copy pairs
The present invention is to provide a method for displaying a copy pair in which a distinction can be made between change of pair state performed intentionally by a user and change of pair state performed not intentionally by the user. When a backup instruction for PVOL is transmitted from the task server to the storage subsystem, the subsystem records, on a table, backup execution condition information including an ID of a copy pair having the PVOL. The monitoring program acquires the pair state of each copy pair and the backup execution condition information from the subsystem, and displays the pair state of the copy pair having the ID contained in the backup execution condition information, and the pair state of other copy pair, in different display modes.
US07725774B2 Methods, systems, and media to correlate errors associated with a cluster
Methods, systems, and media for correlating error events of a cluster are disclosed. Embodiments may identify systems of a cluster potentially impacted by an error and identify one or more error events associated with those systems. Then, embodiments may select one of the identified error events based upon data associated with the identified error event, disregarding other identified error events generated for the same error or errors symptomatic of the error, to report the error to a maintenance provider via a single error event. Many embodiments may identify one or more error events potentially resulting from the same error by identifying error events within a specified time period of the event that triggered the correlation. Several embodiments correlate the error events in an environment that is substantially independent of the cluster. Further embodiments obtain data that describes system interconnections of the cluster and generate a topology based upon the data.
US07725773B2 Method, apparatus and program storage device for extending dispersion frame technique behavior using dynamic rule sets
A method, apparatus and program storage device for providing control of statistical processing of error data over a multitude of sources using a dynamically modifiable DFT rule set is disclosed. The dispersion frame technique is extended in the present invention to provide dispersion frame rules with user-defined parameters thereby creating a dynamically modifiable rule set.
US07725768B1 System and method for handling a storage resource error condition based on priority information
Various embodiments of systems and methods are disclosed for using priority information when handling error conditions for a storage resource. In some embodiments, a method involves detecting an error condition, which is associated with a storage resource, and selecting an error-correcting action in response to detection of the error condition. Selection of the error-correcting action is based on priority information. The priority information identifies respective priorities of several applications. At least one of the applications uses the storage resource when accessing application data.
US07725767B2 Apparatus including an operating manager and a switch for disconnecting the operating manager from a bus
In the system which connects an operation apparatus and a standby apparatus through a bus, the operation apparatus includes a controller which controls the operation of the operation apparatus, operation manager, and the switch. The operation manager monitors the operation of the controller and notifies the standby apparatus through the bus that the controller operates normally. The switch disconnects the operation manager from the bus except when the operation manager notifies the second apparatus that said controller is operating normally through the bus.
US07725765B2 Method and apparatus for encryption with RAID in storage system
The described methodology provides users with the ability to specify flexible encryption options in a storage system using RAID technology. The users can use the system to achieve a configuration which achieves a desired balance between security and system load/performance. Specifically, one aspect of the methodology enables the user to enable or disable the encryption of the redundant parity information. Change of the data causes change of the parity information and, when parity is not encrypted, a close analysis of parity change may enable one to reconstruct the all or some of the encrypted data. Therefore, when a user chooses the encryption of the parity information, it becomes more difficult to reconstruct the plain data from the encrypted data. The described storage system also provides a function for monitoring and reporting the current or projected utilization of various computer resources including processor and memory utilization, which assists the user in selecting the proper security option.
US07725748B1 Low power subsystem for portable computers
An embedded subsystem is coupled to a shared database is synchronized with the notebook and has access to the hard drive. The subsystem is in operation when the notebook is in low power mode.
US07725741B2 Computer system and power supplying method thereof
A computer system and a power supplying method thereof in which noise due to switched power mode is reduced for a user's convenience. The computer system comprises a mode determiner to generate a mode signal comprising a predetermined part corresponding to one among a plurality of power modes; a power supply to supply power having a level of voltage corresponding to the mode signal to a central processing unit; and a mode controller to maintain or convert the predetermined part of the mode signal corresponding to one among the plurality of power modes to lower a difference in the level of voltage when the power mode is switched from a first level of voltage to a second level of voltage, wherein the second level of voltage is higher than the first level of voltage.
US07725737B2 System and methodology providing secure workspace environment
System and methodology providing a secure workspace environment is described. In one embodiment, for example, in a computer system, a method is described for creating a secured workspace within an existing operating system for allowing users to run applications in a secured manner, the method comprises steps of: creating a policy for configuring the secured workspace, the policy specifying how information created during operation of the applications may be accessed; hooking particular functions of the operating system in order to obtain control over the information created during operation of the applications; during operation of the applications, encrypting the information to prevent unauthorized access; in response to a request for access to the information, determining whether the request complies with the policy; and if the request complies with the policy, satisfying the request by providing access to a decrypted copy of the information.
US07725730B2 Cryptographic methods and apparatus for secure authentication
Secure authentication protocols, particularly well-suited for use in authenticating mobile communications devices having limited computational resources, are disclosed. In an illustrative embodiment, a network-based communication system includes a client device and at least two servers. First and second shares are generated from a first password associated with the client device, and stored in respective first and second servers. The client device submits additional information associated therewith to at least one of the first and second servers. Each of the first and second shares has the property that it is infeasible to determine solely therefrom correspondence of the additional information with the first password. The first and second servers then utilize the respective first and second shares to collectively determine said correspondence of the additional information with the first password.
US07725724B2 Digital signature method based on braid groups conjugacy and verify method thereof
The present invention discloses a digital signature scheme based on braid group conjugacy problem and a verifying method thereof, wherein a signatory S selects three braids xεLBm(l), x′εBn(l), aεBn(l), and considers braid pair (x′,x) as a public key of S, braid a as a private key of S; Signatory S uses hash function h for a message M needing signature to get y=h(M)εBn(l); generating a braid bεRBn−1−m(l) randomly, then signing M with a and b to obtain Sign(M)=a−1byb−1a; a signature verifying party V obtains the public key of S, calculating the message M by employing hash function h, obtaining the y=h(M); judging whether sign(M) and y, sign(M)x′ and xy are conjugate or not, if yes, sign(M) is a legal signature of message M; the present invention reduces the number of braids involved and the number for conjugacy decision without reducing security, thereby improving the operation efficiency of signature.
US07725723B2 Data certification method and apparatus
An apparatus and method for signing electronic data with a digital signature in which a central server comprises a signature server (110) and an authentication server (120). The signature server (110) securely stores the private cryptographic keys of a number of users (102). The user (102) contacts the central server using a workstation (101) through a secure channel which is setup for the purpose. The user (102) supplies a password or other token (190), based on information previously supplied to the user by the authentication server (120) through a separate authentication channel. The authentication server provides the signature server with a derived version of the same information through a permanent secure channel between the servers, which is compared with the one supplied by the user (102). If they match, data received from the user (102) is signed with the user's private key.
US07725717B2 Method and apparatus for user authentication
The invention provides for secure end-to-end user authentication by a remote server communicating with a communication device. The communication device further communicates with an authentication device, which provides a user authentication message to the communication device for forwarding to the remote server. The authentication device comprises a data store for storing user authentication credentials. A user authentication processor performs a local authentication of a user of the authentication device in response to a user input. An authentication processor generates the authentication message if the user authentication is valid. The authentication processor implements a cryptographic function based on the user authentication credentials. A transmitter then transmits the authentication message to the at least one communication device.
US07725707B2 Server, VPN client, VPN system, and software
When forming an L2VPN, each VPN server is required to decrypt data received from a VPN client using the source VPN client key and encrypt the data using the destination VPN client key. The loads of the encrypting and decrypting processings are high, thereby the VPN server through-put is lowered.In order to solve the above problem, according to the present invention, the destination address of an IP packet sent from the VPN client is used as a multicast address, then data is encrypted according to the security association of the multicast address distributed from the VPN server. The encrypted IP packet is encapsulated with the IP address of the VPN server and sent to the VPN server. Receiving this IP packet, the VPN server determines the destination VPN client according to the multicast address of the encapsulated IP packet, then encapsulated with the IP address of the destination VPN client and sent to the VPN client.
US07725698B2 Operation apparatus having sequencer controlling states of plurality of operation units and operation apparatus control method therefor
An operation apparatus includes a plurality of operation device units; a configuration memory storing setting information provided for each predetermined state of the plurality of operation device units; and a sequencer controlling the plurality of operation device units by outputting transition destination addresses designating relevant information from configuration information comprising the setting information provided for each state of the operation device units stored in the configuration memory, wherein the sequencer carries out operation based on task information previously loaded and a change-over condition signal output from the plurality of operation device units, and generates the transition destination address to output to the configuration memory.
US07725697B2 Symmetric multiprocessor operating system for execution on non-independent lightweight thread contexts
a multiprocessing system, including a multithreading microprocessor and a multiprocessor operating system (OS), is disclosed. The microprocessor includes a plurality of thread contexts (TCs) configured as an array, each having a program counter, a general purpose register set for executing a thread, and a register for storing an index of the respective TC within the array. The OS maintains a table of entries, each the entry for storing a CPU-unique value for a respective one of the TCs. The OS comprises a respective thread configured to execute on each of the respective TCs and to read the index from the register of the respective one of the TCs and to read the respective CPU-unique value for the respective one of the TCs using the index.
US07725685B2 Intelligent SMT thread hang detect taking into account shared resource contention/blocking
Monitoring is performed to detect a hang condition. A timer is set to detect a hang based on a core hang limit. If a thread hangs for the duration of the core hang limit, then a core hang is detected. If the thread is performing an external memory transaction, then the timer is increased to a longer memory hang limit. If the thread is waiting for a shared resource, then the timer may be increased to the longer memory hang limit if another thread or, more particularly, the thread blocking the resource has a pending memory transaction. Responsive to detecting a hang condition, instructions dispatched to the plurality of execution units may be flushed, or the processor may be reset and restored to a previously known good, checkpointed architected state.
US07725664B2 Configuration definition setup method for disk array apparatus, and disk array apparatus
A system creates a configuration definition table to be used for accessing a physical disk according to a host I/O request, to decrease a memory size of the configuration definition table even if common firmware is used for models with different scales. For this, a model correspondence table to show the definition of each model is provided in a configuration setup processing module, the maximum values of this model are recorded in a memory based on this content, and a memory area for each item is secured. And the actual content of the configuration definition is developed on the secured memory. Therefore even for a diversity of models, the memory size of the configuration definition table can be decreased to a size matching the model, with common firmware regardless the model.
US07725661B2 Data-aware cache state machine
Management of a Cache is provided by differentiating data base on attributes associated with the data and reducing storage bottlenecks. The Cache differentiates and manages data using a state machine with a plurality of states. The Cache may use data patterns and statistics to retain frequently used data in the cache longer. The Cache uses content or attributes to differentiate and retain data longer. Further, the Cache may provide status and statistics to a data flow manager that determines which data to cache and which data to pipe directly through, or to switch cache policies dynamically, thus avoiding some of the cache overhead. The Cache may also place clean and dirty data in separate states to enable more efficient Cache mirroring and flush.
US07725653B2 Method for enabling a memory as a function of estimated power source capacity
Memory parameters are controlled. A power source capacity estimate is determined. Based on the power source capacity estimate, an amount of cache to enable is determined and is enabled.
US07725645B2 Dual use for data valid signal in non-volatile memory
In some types of non-volatile memory devices, the same signal from a memory device may be used for two purposes: During a read operation, the signal may be used by a memory controller to latch the data that is being received from the memory device. During a block erase operation and/or a block write operation, the signal may be used to notify the memory controller that the operation has been completed by the memory device.
US07725642B2 Method and program for partitioning a physical computer into logical partitions
This invention provides a program product for a virtual computer that partitions a physical computer into a plurality of logical partitions through a hypervisor and runs an OS on each of the logical partitions, the program product including: a procedure (S1) of detecting an exception or an interruption occurring in the physical computer; a procedure (S2) of identifying an OS on a logical partition where the detected exception or interruption occurring; a procedure (S4) of copying a given storage area that contains an instruction that is the subject of the exception or interruption from a storage area where the identified OS is stored to a storage area that is managed by the hypervisor; a procedure (S6) of replacing, in the copied storage area, the exception or interruption subject instruction with an instruction that substitutes for the exception or interruption subject instruction; and a procedure (S7) of moving a location where the physical computer executes an instruction to the copied storage area.
US07725638B2 Application processor circuit incorporating both SD host and slave functions and electronic device including same
An application processor circuit has SD-compatible interface protocols and can perform both host and slave functions. The circuit includes SD bus interface logic for realizing SD interface signals defined in SD-compatible interface protocols; system bus interface logic for performing the interface function on the system bus side; a data buffer for adjusting the data transfer rate difference between the SD bus interface and the system bus interface; a data buffer controller for controlling access to the data buffer; and a configuration unit for configuring the circuit to work in the host mode or slave mode. The SD-compatible interface protocols include MMC/SD/SDIO protocol, high speed MMC/SD/SDIO protocol, and CE-ATA interface protocol. The SD host logic and slave logic are incorporated in a single module to support both the SD host and slave functions, so as to achieve more convenient data transfer between electronic devices.
US07725628B1 Direct secondary device interface by a host
A storage system having a storage device in communication with a host and including one or more function devices for communicating with application software modules, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Said application software modules issuing vendor specific commands to access said function devices, said function devices remaining unknown to said host and recognizing said vendor specific commands for acting thereupon, wherein said storage device causing said application software modules to access said function devices to increase the security of said storage device.
US07725620B2 Handling DMA requests in a virtual memory environment
An apparatus includes a virtual memory manager that moves data from a first block to second block in memory. When the virtual memory manager is ready to transfer data from the first block to the second block, a third, temporary block of memory is defined. The translation table in a DMA controller is changed to point DMA transfers that target the first block to instead target the temporary block. The virtual memory manager then transfers data from the first block to the second block. When the transfer is complete, a check is made to see if the DMA transferred data to the temporary block while the data from the first block was being written to the second block. If so, the data written to the temporary block is written to the second block. A hardware register is preferably used to efficiently detect changes to the temporary block.
US07725614B2 Portable mass storage device with virtual machine activation
A portable mass storage device is used to store large files such as digital pictures, movies and music. The mass storage device has firmware with security mechanisms that limit access to read write operations to ensure reliable operation of the device to prevent unwanted copying or storing of secure content such a copyrighted material. Although the security mechanisms generally limit access, the firmware is operable to work with a virtual machine and allows the virtual machine to access the secure content and work in conjunction with the firmware to read and write data to the mass storage memory, if the virtual machine is present. The virtual machine is either loaded but not activated at the time of manufacture, or is downloaded and activated post manufacture. Any royalty for the virtual machine is paid for only if and when the virtual machine is both present and activated in the device.
US07725613B2 Device installation with host controller consideration
A system for installing an electronic device connected to a host device with consideration given to the host controller that enables the connection mechanism is provided. Information about the electronic device and the host controller is determined. An identifier that identifies the electronic device and the host controller is created based on the determined information. The identifier is used to search for a device driver for the electronic device that is specific to the host controller.
US07725611B2 Method and apparatus for verifying data in a storage system
A method for verifying data in a storage system is disclosed. A host computer transmits area management data to a storage controller. The area management data specifies a range of a storage area in a storage device to be used by an application program having a mechanism for verifying data suitability. Upon receipt of an input/output request transmitted from the host computer, the storage controller performs verification, which is usually performed by the application program, of the data that is to be processed according to the data input/output request and to be input/output to/from the storage area, which is specified in accordance with the received area management data.
US07725610B2 Data processing apparatus that transmits and receives moving image data to and from an external device through a transmission path
A data processing apparatus transmits and receives moving image data to and from an external device through a transmission path. A first pipe used for transferring the moving image data and a second pipe used for transferring timing information relating to the processing timing of the moving image data are provided on the transmission path. The moving image data is being transferred to the external device through the first pipe in parallel with the timing information relating to the moving image data being transferred through to the external device through the second pipe.
US07725593B2 Scalable video coding (SVC) file format
The currently existing ISO/AVC file format is modified by providing extensions to store and access video content currently being defined by the SVC standard. Specifically, extensions to the AVC file format are made to provide a new SVC file format that enables the storage and access of scalable video data. The scalable video data is stored as a single track within a media data section of the SVC file format. New extensions are defined for description entries and boxes within a metadata section of the SVC file format. These extensions provide means for extracting sub-streams or layers from the single track of scalable video data stored in the media data section.
US07725588B2 Switching method and switch device
A switch device has an object ID rewrite unit and a file access control unit. The object ID rewrite unit, when an original object ID is contained in a reply to be transferred, rewrites the original object ID to an information entraining object ID by inserting server identification information into the original object ID, while when the information entraining object ID is contained in a reply to be transferred, restores the information entraining object ID to the original object ID. The file access control unit includes a table for managing a combination of address information of a server and server identification information, estimating address information of a server corresponding to server identification information contained in an information entraining object of a request to be transferred with reference to the table, and determines a destination of the request on the basis of the address information.
US07725587B1 Deep packet scan hacker identification
Securing an accessible computer system typically includes receiving a data packet that includes a payload portion and an attribute portion, where the data packet is communicated between at least one access requestor and at least one access provider. At least the payload portion of the received data packet typically is monitored, where monitoring includes scanning the payload portion for at least one predetermined pattern. When the payload portion is determined to include at least one predetermined pattern, access by the access requestor to the access provider may be controlled. Monitoring the data packet may include scanning the payload portion while handling the data packet with a switch. Controlling access may include denying access by the access requestor to the access provider.
US07725586B2 Method for advance negotiation of computer settings
A method to negotiate computer settings in advance is presented. A prediction is made to determine if the computer setting will be needed, and if needed, whether a value outside of a normal range of values will be needed. A value for the computer setting that is outside of the normal range of values is determined and the value is set to the outside value. A value within the normal range of values is used if it was predicted that there is no need for a value outside of the normal range of values.
US07725583B2 System and method for providing advanced reservations in a compute environment
A system and method are disclosed for dynamically reserving resources within a cluster environment. The method embodiment of the invention comprises receiving a request for resources in the cluster environment, monitoring events after receiving the request for resources and based on the monitored events, dynamically modifying at least one of the request for resources and the cluster environment.
US07725579B2 Computer readable medium and system for remote activity monitoring
A computer readable medium and system for remotely monitoring activity includes generating first server heartbeat information at a first server at a local site, and storing the first server heartbeat information in a first primary site disk at the local site. The method also includes sending the first server heartbeat information from the first primary site disk, to a first secondary site disk at a remote site. The method further includes receiving information from a 10 second secondary site disk at the local site, and determining if the information received from the second secondary site disk includes updated heartbeat information.
US07725577B2 Method and system to adaptively manage the quality of service of interactions between smart item networks and enterprise applications
A quality of service parameter associated with message traffic transmitted from a smart items infrastructure through a middleware message routing engine to one or more enterprise applications is monitored. In response to the monitored quality of service parameter, a number of parallel message processors that route messages from the plurality of smart items to the message routing engine is controlled.
US07725573B2 Methods and apparatus for supporting agile run-time network systems via identification and execution of most efficient application code in view of changing network traffic conditions
Methods and apparatus for supporting agile run-time network systems via identification and execution of most efficient application binary code in view of changing network traffic conditions. Under one embodiment of the method, respective application binaries are compiled for each of a plurality of profiled system states for a network system, wherein each profiled system state corresponds to a respective workload scenario for the network system. During ongoing run-time operations, the current workload condition for the network system is monitored, and an application binary from amongst the multiple application binaries that is most efficient for the current workload condition is identified, loaded and executed.
US07725572B1 Notification architecture and method employed within a clustered node configuration
A monitoring system and method are described which simplify the management of complex, multi-tiered networks such as those used in large enterprises. One embodiment of the system is implemented across a cluster of application servers which are communicatively coupled together on a network to serve applications over the network to a plurality of client. Each application server is comprised of a plurality of server nodes. Each of the server nodes is assigned its own dedicated management bean (“MBean”) server and each of the MBean servers are associated with a plurality of MBeans for monitoring specified system resources. In addition, one embodiment of the invention includes notification logic which generates cluster-wide notifications on certain specified events associated with certain server node resources. The cluster-wide notifications are accessible from any one of the server nodes within the application server cluster. Thus, a client communicatively coupled to any server node within the cluster will be provided with a comprehensive view of all cluster-wide notifications.
US07725565B2 System and method for detecting, collecting, analyzing, and communicating event related information
A system and method involves detecting operational social disruptive events on a global scale, assigning disease event staging and warnings to express data in more simplistic terms, modeling data in conjunction with linguistics analysis to establish responsive actions, generating visualization and modeling capabilities for communicating information, and modeling disease propagation for containment and forecasting purposes.
US07725564B2 Nested exception roles
A method and apparatus for managing a nested EXCEPTION role in a directory server is described. In one embodiment, a plurality of entries is defined in the directory server. At least one of the plurality of entries possesses a role. An entry is queried to determine its possessed role. A nested EXCEPTION role possesses at least two roles. An entry possesses the nested EXCEPTION role by possessing none of the roles within the nested EXCEPTION role.
US07725562B2 Method and system for user enrollment of user attribute storage in a federated environment
A computer system is presented for facilitating storage and retrieval of user attribute information within a federated environment at entities that manage such information as a service. Through enrollment processes, certain domains inform online service providers of identities of attribute information providers that may be used to retrieve user attribute information for a particular user. When performing a user-specific operation with respect to a requested resource, e.g., for personalizing documents using user attribute information or for determining user access privileges for the resource, an e-commerce service provider requires user attribute information, which is retrieved from an attribute information provider that has been previously specified through an enrollment operation. The e-commerce service provider may store the identity of the user's attribute information providers in a persistent token, e.g., an HTTP cookie, that is available when the user sends a request for access to a resource.
US07725549B2 System and method for hunting out mail recipients in order to obtain a response
The present invention discloses a method, system and computer program to be executed on a sender side of a mail management application, for automatically hunting out electronic mail recipients for whom a response is expected when no response is received within a predefined period of time.
US07725546B2 System and method for granting deposit-contingent e-mailing rights
An Email guarantee deposit method, system, and program product, with the method comprising in one embodiment, the steps of: receiving from a sender a request to send to a recipient an Email; receiving a deposit or an authorization to obtain a deposit of something of value; sending the Email to the recipient only if a deposit of authorization for a deposit is received; determining if the recipient has accepted the deposit; and if the recipient has accepted the deposit, then facilitating the disposal of the deposit. In an important alternate embodiment, a deposit can be required before an Email with a auditory or visual enhancement is provided, or before routing to a designated type of device occurs.
US07725544B2 Group based spam classification
An e-mail filter is used to classify received e-mails so that some of the classes may be filtered, blocked, or marked. The e-mail filter may include a classifier that can classify an e-mail as belonging to a particular class and an e-mail grouper that can detect substantially similar, but possibly not identical, e-mails. The e-mail grouper determines groups of substantially similar e-mails in an incoming e-mail stream. For each group, the classifier determines whether one or more test e-mails from the group belongs to the particular class. The classifier then designates the class to which the other e-mails in the group belong based on the results for the test e-mails.
US07725538B2 Method and interface for multi-threaded conversations in instant messaging
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing multi-threaded conversations in an instant messaging system. The present invention provides a menu option to allow the start of a new topic of discussion within the current instant messaging session. When a new topic is selected, a new thread of conversation is created within the messaging window that is segregated from previous topics of discussion. This new thread of conversation may be created at all other locations for all of the parties involved in the instant messaging session. In this manner, each party to a messaging session containing multiple conversations may be able to understand which response is related to which thread of conversation. In addition, a menu option may be provided by the instant messaging application to allow a user to merge one or more of the threaded conversations into a single conversation.
US07725532B2 System and method for providing flexible context-aware service
Provided are a system and method for determining whether to provide service and a content of the service based on ubiquitous-based context information. The method includes the steps of registering at least one context-aware service (CAS); determining whether sensors associated with the CAS are registered; when all the sensors are registered, checking all contexts associated with the CAS; upon receipt of a CAS request, receiving context information from the sensors and determining whether the context information satisfies the contexts; and providing the CAS if the context information satisfies at least one of the contexts. With the flexible engine determining whether to provide service corresponding to a current context even though all context information constituting the CAS is not collected, information is quickly provided upon receipt of a service request from a user.
US07725531B1 Single use server system
A system and method for processing a client request using single use virtual servers. The method: receives the client request from a network; passes the client request to a new virtual incoming client request server; passes an application request from the virtual incoming client request server to a new virtual application server; destroys the virtual incoming client request server; passes an application result from the virtual application server to a new virtual outgoing client result server; destroys the new virtual application server; passes the application result from the new virtual outgoing client request server to the network; and destroys the virtual outgoing client request server.
US07725518B1 Work-efficient parallel prefix sum algorithm for graphics processing units
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for computing a parallel prefix sum using one or more cooperative thread arrays (CTA) within a graphics processing unit. The prefix sum input list is partitioned and distributed to each CTA. Within each CTA, the input list is further partitioned for processing by individual threads in a way that avoids access conflicts to memory. Each list partition within the CTA is assigned to one of a plurality of concurrent threads, which executes a prefix sum operation the partition. The final values of the prefix sum operations form a list that is then subjected to a second prefix sum operation. Each element of the second prefix sum operation is added to each element of the subsequent partition, completing the prefix sum operation within the CTA. This technique may be extended to prefix sum operations that span two or more CTAs.
US07725513B2 Minimum processor instruction for implementing weighted fair queuing and other priority queuing
The present invention provides techniques for efficiently determining a minimum or maximum of a plurality of values and the index of the minimum using registers of a processor. The present invention also provides for various processor instructions for determining the minimum/maximum and index of two or more values. The present invention finds particular benefit in implementing heaps and in systems utilizing Weighted Fair Queuing (WFQ).
US07725512B1 Apparatus and method for performing multiple exclusive or operations using multiplication circuitry
An apparatus and method for performing multiple exclusive OR (XOR) operations using standard binary multiplication circuitry to create multiple XOR expressions simultaneously. The method and apparatus include a multiplication circuit to generate a product result by performing a multiplication between a multiplier and a multiplicand. A selection circuit is then used to break down the product result into a plurality of partial product sub-expressions. An XOR gate is provided to generate a final expression from one or more of the plurality of partial product sub-expression. The present invention is suited for performing calculations involving a large number of XOR operations with various combinations of product terms, such as cyclical redundancy check calculations.
US07725506B1 Defragmentation in a virtual environment
Defragmentation of a file system. Multiple files within the file system may be fully or partially defragmented with respect to the physical storage system containing the physical file system. The defragmented files include at least one file that represents a virtual storage system. That virtual storage system file contains a number of sub-files that represent files (i.e., virtual files) of the virtual storage system. These virtual files are not files managed by the physical file system, but are files recognized by a virtual file system managed by a virtual machine running on the physical machine. The defragmentation of the virtual files occurs using knowledge of the unordered nature of the allocation segments that make up the virtual storage system file. Accordingly, after defragmentation, the files of the physical file system and the virtual file system are more defragmented with respect to the physical storage system, while not requiring a shut down of the virtual file system.
US07725505B2 System and method for measuring memory consumption differences between objects within an object-oriented programming environment
A computer-implemented system and method are described for measuring the memory consumption difference between two objects in an object-oriented programming environment. For example, one embodiment of a method comprises: analyzing relationships between objects within a network of objects to determine an object network structure; generating object graph data representing the object network structure, the object graph data including nodes representing objects and arcs representing relationships between objects; removing all incoming arcs to each of two nodes; building resulting sub-graphs for each of the two nodes; summing the memory consumed by each of the sub-graphs of the two nodes; and subtracting the memory amounts consumed by each of the sub-graphs to determine the memory consumption different between the two nodes.
US07725499B1 Semantic architecture for managing information through structured storage and retrieval
A unified system for the structured collection, management, translation, and publication of multi-lingual information that is based on industry standards for information structures. Self-contained information units are stored in a single source and mapped onto a multiple dimensional data matrix in which the axes represent information types, objects, variants, and language. Linking through the matrix to a unique storage location for information facilities data entry, editing, access control, quality control, and automated publication of stored information.
US07725498B2 Techniques for identifying mergeable data
A system, method and article of manufacture for identifying mergeable data in a data processing system and, more particularly, for identifying correlated columns from one or more database tables. One embodiment comprises determining correlation attributes for a first column and a second column from one or more database tables. The correlation attributes describe for each column at least one of the column and content of the column. The correlation attributes from the first and second column are compared and similarities between the first and second column are identified on the basis of the comparison. Then, on the basis of the identified similarities, it is determined whether the first and second columns are correlated. Only if the columns are determined to be correlated, the first and second columns are merged.
US07725492B2 Managing information about relationships in a social network via a social timeline
A system, method, and computer program for generating a social timeline is provided. A plurality of data items associated with at least one relationship between users associated with a social network is received, each data item having an associated time. The data items are ordered according to the at least one relationship. A social timeline is generated according to the ordered data items.
US07725488B2 System and method for receiving and loading fare and schedule data
A system for loading data to a search system configured to process requests and present data meeting criteria specified in the request. A first server is configured to monitor a second server for the availability of a new data set, to request a transfer of the new data set when the second server indicates that the new data set is available, and to store the new data set. A third server is in communication with the first server and is configured to transfer the new data set from the first server and simultaneously store an old data set and the new data set. A fourth server is in communication with the third server and is configured to simultaneously operate a first search process and a second search process. The first search process processes requests searching the old data set and the second search process processes requests searching the new data set.
US07725484B2 Scalable object recognition using hierarchical quantization with a vocabulary tree
An image retrieval technique employing a novel hierarchical feature/descriptor vector quantizer tool—‘vocabulary tree’, of sorts comprising hierarchically organized sets of feature vectors—that effectively partitions feature space in a hierarchical manner, creating a quantized space that is mapped to integer encoding. The computerized implementation of the new technique(s) employs subroutine components, such as: A trainer component of the tool generates a hierarchical quantizer, Q, for application/use in novel image-insertion and image-query stages. The hierarchical quantizer, Q, tool is generated by running k-means on the feature (a/k/a descriptor) space, recursively, on each of a plurality of nodes of a resulting quantization level to ‘split’ each node of each resulting quantization level. Preferably, training of the hierarchical quantizer, Q, is performed in an ‘offline’ fashion.
US07725480B2 Method, system, and program for accessing calendar information for shadowed users from a database
Provided is a method, system, and program for accessing calendar information of users in a database for presentation by a personal information manager. Scheduled event records for users are maintained within the database. Further maintained in the database is information on a current location of wireless devices of users in the database, wherein one user is associated with each wireless device. Scheduled event records and the current location of a wireless device for a shadowed user are provided from the database to a device operated by a shadower user in the database.
US07725479B2 Unique person registry
A computer-based method is provided for registering a person in a person registry. The method includes: if a unique person identifier is not received, searching an address book for a match to the person using a search criteria input by a user; and if no match to the person is found, receiving person data input by a user and determining whether the person data satisfies a minimum data requirement, wherein the person data is representative of the person, if it is determined that the minimum data requirement is satisfied, determining whether there is a shared entity that represents the person, and if it is determined that no shared entity represents the person, based on an outcome of a non-shared entity-shared entity reconciliation, either defining a shared entity to represent the person in the address book, transforming a non-shared entity into a shared entity, or transferring data from a non-shared entity to a shared entity.
US07725472B2 Distributed monitoring system providing knowledge services
A de-centralized, or distributed, monitoring system provides for data collection across a broad range of remote sources, collecting explicit data (which may be input directly by a user in the form of recommendation, comment, or vote) and/or implicit data (which may be collected by the system according to the user's browsing activity). Data may be monitored locally at the client side, and subsequently transmitted to a central database. Data may be aggregated at the server, having been collected on the client side from multiple remote sources. During the aggregation process, data collected by the distributed monitoring system are categorized and organized in a central database for convenient retrieval. Implementation of the collected data includes both transmitting explicit data on demand as well as utilizing explicit data, implicit data, or a combination of both explicit and implicit data, in an open recommendation system which facilitates customization and personalization of the information retrieval process. A user may be provided with the option of turning off, or “deselecting,” the implicit data collection functionality of the system.
US07725465B2 Document date as a ranking factor for crawling
A flexible and extensible architecture allows for secure searching across an enterprise. Such an architecture can provide a simple Internet-like search experience to users searching secure content inside (and outside) the enterprise. The architecture allows for the crawling and searching of a variety of sources across an enterprise, regardless of whether any of these sources conform to a conventional user role model. The architecture further allows for security, recency, or other attributes to be submitted at query time, for example, in order to re-rank query results from enterprise resources. The user query also can be transformed to provide for dynamic querying that provides for a more current result list than can be obtained for static queries.
US07725463B2 System and method for generating normalized relevance measure for analysis of search results
A system and related techniques permit a search service operator to access a variety of disparate relevance measures, and integrate those measures into idealized or unified data sets. A search service operator may employ self-learning networks to generate relevance rankings of Web site hits in response to user queries or searches, such as Boolean text or other searches. To improve the accuracy and quality of the rankings of results, the service provider may accept as inputs relevance measures created from query logs, from human-annotated search records, from independent commercial or other search sites, or from other sources and feed those measures to a normalization engine. That engine may normalize those relevance ratings to a common scale, such as quintiles, percentages or other scales or levels. The provider may then use that idealized or normalized combined measure to train the search algorithms or heuristics to arrive at more accurate results.
US07725462B2 Applying segment conditions to measure results
Techniques for applying segment conditions to measure results are presented. Row and column segment data is acquired from a database according to row and column definitions. A measure calculation is applied against the intersecting row and column segment data. Next, one or more combinations or conditions derived from the row and column definitions are used as a filter to produce filtered results.
US07725461B2 Management of statistical views in a database system
A method, computer program product, and system for managing statistical views in a database system are provided. The method, computer program product, and system provide for collecting data relating to optimization and execution of a workload in the database system and automatically generating a set of one or more statistical views based on the collected optimization and execution data.
US07725456B2 Item management with data sharing and synchronization
Systems and method for accessing and providing item management functionality with synchronization relationships that share data using a feed that may itself contain synchronization and item information are disclosed. Such systems and methods may enable an endpoint to use item management functionality provided by an item management module to generate or update a feed.
US07725440B2 Restoring a database using fuzzy snapshot techniques
A method and device are provided for taking a database snapshot using a fuzzy snapshot. In one example, the method includes starting and maintaining a transaction log of the database, starting and maintaining a fuzzy snapshot of the database without applying any hindering locks to the database, and restoring the database by applying the transaction log to the fuzzy snapshot.
US07725431B2 Method and apparatus for the synchronization and storage of metadata
Aspects of the invention described herein provide a method and apparatus for the synchronization of metadata across various metadata repositories. According to the invention, upon synchronization of a local metadata repository and at least one remote metadata repository, metadata values are stored in a local collection or mediator database. The mediator database facilitates conflict resolution across metadata repositories. The invention further provides a repository-specific metadata memory to enable the storage of repository-specific metadata histories to further enhance management and synchronization of the metadata.
US07725426B2 Lot/serial engine for a warehouse management system
A novel method for configuring an item specific user-definable lot or serial attribute. The method also provides for grouping one or more attributes into an time specific context. The method also provides for capturing, maintaining and querying attribute data values according to the item specific context.
US07725419B2 Proactive user interface including emotional agent
A proactive user interface, installed in (or otherwise control and/or be associated with) any type of computational device. The proactive user interface actively makes suggestions to the user, based upon prior experience with a particular user and/or various preprogrammed patterns from which the computational device could select, depending upon user behavior. These suggestions could be made by altering the appearance of at least a portion of the display, for example by changing a menu or a portion thereof; providing different menus for display; and/or altering touch screen functionality. The suggestions could also be made audibly.
US07725417B2 Method and system to analyze rules based on popular query coverage
There are provided methods and systems to analyze rules. The system may analyze the rules by applying the rules to a most popular query. The most popular query may be identified as such by containing a particular keyword. Specifically, a most popular query may contain a keyword that appears more often than other keyword in a sample of queries received over a period of time. Next, the system applies the rules to the most popular query to determine a percentage of coverage of the rules for the most popular query. For example, a particular rule may evaluate TRUE, if the rule identifies a keyword in the query. Next the system generates a percentage of coverage based on a count of the rules that evaluated TRUE and the total number of rules that were applied to the most popular query.
US07725415B2 Process and heuristic statistic for prospect selection through data mining
Method, system, and article of manufacture for selecting prospects for a product promotion though data mining. An initial set of prospects in a customer database is identified, by data mining, as initially identified prospects based on predetermined selection criteria. The number of initially identified prospects is compared to a target number of prospects. When the number of initially identified prospects matches the target number of prospects, the initially identified prospects are utilized as the final selection of prospects. When the number of initially identified prospects mismatches the target number of prospects, the final selection of prospects is determined by performing a culling process or an augmenting process to reduce or increase, respectively, the initial set of prospects using a heuristic measure H, until the number of prospects in the initial set of prospects matches the target number of prospects.
US07725414B2 Method for developing a classifier for classifying communications
A computer assisted/implemented method for developing a classifier for classifying communications includes roughly four stages, where these stages are designed to be iterative: (1) a stage defining where and how to harvest messages (i.e., from Internet message boards, ews groups and the like), which also defines an expected domain of application for the lassifier; (2) a guided question/answering stage for the computerized tool to elicit the user's criteria for determining whether a message is relevant or irrelevant; (3) a labeling stage where the user examines carefully-selected messages and provides feedback about whether or not it is relevant and sometimes also what elements of the criteria were used to make the decision; and (4) a performance evaluation stage where parameters of the classifier training are optimized, the best classifier is produced, and known performance bounds are calculated. In the guided question/answering stage, the criteria are parameterized in such a way that (a) they can be operationalized into the text classifier through key words and phrases, and (b) a human-readable criteria can be produced, which can be reviewed and edited. The labeling phase is oriented toward an extended Active Learning framework. That is, the exemplary embodiment decides which example messages to show the user based upon what category of messages the system thinks would be most useful to the Active Learning process.
US07725411B2 Method, apparatus, mobile terminal and computer program product for providing data clustering and mode selection
An apparatus for providing data clustering and mode selection includes a training element and a transformation element. The training element is configured to receive a first training data set, a second training data set and auxiliary data extracted from the same material as the first training data set. The training element is also configured to train a classifier to group the first training data set into M clusters based on the auxiliary data and the first training data set and train M processing schemes corresponding to the M clusters for transforming the first training data set into the second training data set. The transformation element is in communication with the training element and is configured to cluster the second training data set into M clusters based on features associated with the second training data set.
US07725400B2 Method for managing viewing of a particular content recorded on an information recording medium
A DVD player 11 reads disc control information recorded on a DVD medium M and causes a display 12 to display a start menu screen, thereby prompting a viewer to perform authentication (1). The viewer uses a remote controller 11a to display a first viewer authentication screen (2). Then, an acquisition code is indicated and an input of a password is requested. Here, the viewer uses a mobile telephone 13 to access the website indicated by an URL shown on the first viewer authentication screen (substantially, a server computer 2) and inputs a user ID and an acquisition code, thereby acquiring a password required for viewing the content of the DVD medium M ((3) and (4)). The viewer inputs the acquired password into the first viewer authentication screen (5). While a program recorded on the DVD medium M is executed, the DVD player 11 authenticates the password which has been input. If the password is judged to be valid, reproduction of the specified content is started.
US07725394B2 Method and system for conducting transactions with oligopolistic entities
A method for conducting a business transaction using a payment processing network is disclosed. The method includes sending an authorization request message including an authorization request to an issuer, where the authorization request message originates from a business consumer purchasing goods or services from an oligopolistic business entity. The issuer sends an authorization response message indicating that the authorization request is approved or not approved. Economic incentives associated with the business transaction are provided to the oligopolistic business entity or the business consumer for conducting the business transaction, wherein the incentive would not be available in a transaction between a non-oligopolistic business entity and the business consumer. A method for encouraging use of electronic payment methods is also disclosed, wherein an oligopolistic entity and a group of business consumers in an industry vertical are identified based on sales information, and an economic incentive is provided to the oligopolistic business entity after it agrees to accept electronic payment transactions for conducting business with the group of business consumers.
US07725393B2 Application service provider and automated transaction machine system and method
A plurality of ATMs of different financial institutions include ATM software that enables them to individually selectively access different ATM applications through network communication with a remote server of an application service provider (ASP). The ATM software also allows the ATMs to carry out transaction responsive to instructions included in ATM application accessed from the ASP server. The ASP server uses a thin client model or remote windowing to execute individual ATM application sessions for each ATM connected to the server. The ATMs run limited capability thin client software to serve as portals to the ATM sessions executing on the ASP servers. The right to access ASP server side ATM applications is provided to the financial institutions in exchange for payment to the ASP. Server software can cause charges to be assessed on a time basis, a per ATM basis, or a per transaction basis.
US07725389B1 Clearing house settlement system
A clearing house settlement system including a central host that manages information received from a number of institutions participating in a clearing house exchange. The host system receives presentment information from the institution participating in the clearing house exchange, processes the information, provides settlement calculations, provides various reports and information to the participating institutions regarding the exchange and provides communication between the participating institutions regarding the exchange. The host system being a web based system for communicating information over the Internet thus enabling participating institutions to access the central host to provide and retrieve information regarding the exchange on demand.
US07725388B2 Verification of electronic financial transactions
Techniques are provided for verifying an electronic financial transaction. In certain implementations, verifying an electronic financial transaction includes generating a user interface including a security code, the user interface associating different portions of the code with different parts of a user input device, and associating at least one code portion with a user input device part having visual indicia dissimilar to the visual representation of the code portion. Verifying an electronic financial transaction also includes detecting activation of the user input device in a manner that generates a code, and determining whether the generated code corresponds to the security code.
US07725386B2 Method for offering representation and warranty insurance for mortgage loans
An insurance program for entities in the mortgage industry that provides coverage for financial loss as a result of material inaccuracies in the financial information provided by or on behalf of the borrower. The insurance program preferably includes the initial insurance application and establishment of an insurance agreement, periodic issuing of individual insurance coverages for particular loans handled by the lender, training and consulting on improved controls for lenders, maintaining an ineligible database of entities and a database of loan information, and handling of claims. The insurance program preferably in exchange for an insurance premium will in the event of a financial loss which is caused by a financial inaccuracy of information provided by the borrower or by third parties on the borrower's behalf at the time of funding and not by in whole or in part a breach of certain guidelines by a lender's participation, the insurer will pay the deficiency between 1) the mortgage balance plus the cost of foreclosure, resale, and any interest charges that have accumulated and 2) the net proceeds received upon disposition of the loan. The payment preferably is capped at a coverage limit amount for the particular insurance agreement.
US07725381B2 Trader counterpart precondition in anonymous trading system
An anonymous trading system that enables users to select counterparty requirements. Each user has an interface to add trader preconditions regarding available counterparties. Those trader preconditions include an expression of the user's willingness to trade with selected counterparties. The added trader preconditions are collected from the users and combined into a trader matrix. The trader matrix is used to determine matching criteria for orders sent in by users. An anonymous trading system and a terminal for sending orders to an anonymous trading system are also provided.
US07725376B2 Systems, methods and computer program products for modeling demand, supply and associated profitability of a good in an aggregate market
A method is provided that includes defining a plurality of independent component markets for a good. In accordance with the method, each component market can be defined a respective price sensitivity distribution of a unit purchase of the good, as well as a market potential distribution of a number of units of the good. The demand and/or supply in the aggregate market can thus then be modeled based upon the price sensitivity distributions and market potential distributions of the component markets. The method can further include modeling cost and/or profitability of the good in an aggregate market. Profitability can be modeled based upon the demand model and the cost model for the aggregate market.
US07725374B2 Asset analysis according to the required yield method
A method, computer system, and computer program product for performing an asset analysis for at least one asset, using the Required Yield Method (RYM). The method provides first economic data relating to a first economy. The economic data includes a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita growth rate for the first economy. The economic data may further include an expected inflation rate for the first economy over a time interval. At least one asset characteristic (e.g, asset valuation) of each asset of the least one asset is computed. The at least one asset characteristic is a function of a portion of the economic data. The computing is in accordance with the RYM. The computed at least one asset characteristic is transferred to a tangible medium. The at least one asset may include an equity index, a bond, gold, a currency, a derivative, etc.
US07725373B2 Timing mechanism and direct messaging for electronic trading platform
A system and interface for trading financial instruments includes an intermediary computer system that is operable to communicate with one or more trader terminals. The intermediary computer system includes one or more processors and storage media, and it communicates with trader terminals and displays to the trader terminals a listing of financial instruments, and information related to such financial instruments, that are available for trading. The intermediary computer system periodically updates the option adjusted price of financial instruments to provide traders with a time period in which the price will remain stable and during which time the traders can confidently execute orders based on the then available price. A timer, which is constantly visible to traders, displays the amount of time remaining until the displayed adjusted prices will be updated.
US07725366B1 Supply-chain management system
An Internet-based computer-assisted supply-chain management system (SCMS) replaces the archaic commerce systems presently in use. It coordinates just-in-time distribution of items purchased by consumers from a plurality of merchants whereby the inventory in the distribution pipeline is reduced to inventory in transport. It uses regional distributions centers and neighborhood order aggregation facilities for an efficient transfer of items to consumers. Consumers can pick up aggregated orders at an order aggregation facility or have them delivered at a residence. The SCMS phases out conventional checkout registers in favor of web browsers with automatic transaction execution. Retailers can operate with little or no inventory. Window shops facilitate promotion of items and help consumers make selections and decisions with respect to purchases they may be contemplating. The SCMS provides real-time consumption monitoring and forecasts, significantly reduces supply-chain costs and retail prices, promotes economic growth, and minimizes undesirable cyclic economic fluctuations.
US07725364B2 Part catalog creating system
In a part catalog creating system, a part table containing design change numbers respectively set for parts, and header numbers, part numbers, and quantity of the parts, each of which corresponds to the design change numbers, is created, and product number data that contains design change number of part used for manufacturing each product is created, and information that coincides with the product number data is selected from the part table, thereby creating a product number list. The product number list and images of parts corresponding to the product number list are combined and the part catalog data for each product number is output. Thus, the part catalog can be easily created without errors.
US07725358B1 System and method for providing multiple real-time pricing quotes based on optional consumer variables
A method and system for providing multiple real-time pricing quotes based on optional consumer variables is disclosed. A user accesses a web site and is provided with a web page enabling the user to choose a product with multiple optional features. Upon selection of the product and desired features, the user is provided with pricing information for the selected products and features and provided with the option to modify the product be selecting different features. Upon selection of the modification, the user is provided with a web page simultaneously displaying the original selection and associated feature prices and the modification and associated feature prices.
US07725352B2 Method and system for enterprise-wide migration
Disclosed are a method, system and computer program for collecting inventory data about a group of machines at an office. This method comprises the steps of running an inventory tool on each of the machines, and the tool presenting dialogue displays on each of the machines, filling in or changing data in the dialogues presented by the tool, and submitting the collected information to a server. Also disclosed are a method, system and computer program for customizing an inventory data collection tool for a plurality of logical groups of users. Each of the logical groups of users is provided with a copy of the inventory data collection tool and with a first copy of a common control file. Each of the groups of users uses the first copy of the common control file to customize the tool for the group of users.
US07725351B1 Point of sale system interface for processing of transactions at a secondary transaction payment network
An interface for an integrated POS solution that allows a merchant to process card payment transactions through a secondary transaction payment processing network. The interface of the present invention expands the functionality of POS system by expanding the scope of use of a secondary port in the POS system. A primary POS port connects to a primary transaction payment processing network and a secondary POS port connects via an interface to an Internet payment gateway and then to a secondary transaction payment processing network. The interface converts the secondary port message formats into a message format for processing through an Internet payment gateway and secondary transaction payment processing network. The interface also performs additional reasonability and security checks typically not performed by a secondary port on cardholder track data. The improved processing of track data results in fewer declines so that transactions are processed more efficiently and accurately.
US07725341B2 System and method for a planner
A planning system and method is disclosed. The planning system includes at least one business rule remote from at least one client, a meeting editor, and at least one tracker communicatively connected to the meeting editor, wherein the at least one tracker tracks at least two data items selected from the group consisting of invitees to at least one of the at least one meetings, respondents to invitations to the meeting, at least one speaker of the meeting, at least one host of the meeting, finances of the meeting, and a venue of the meeting, and wherein the at least one tracker communicates the at least two data items with the meeting editor.
US07725330B2 Systems and methods for automated extraction and processing of billing information in patient records
Systems and methods for automated processing of medical information in electronic patient medical record databases, wherein billing information (e.g., diagnosis codes, procedural codes) is automatically extracted from electronic patient medical records through comprehensive analysis of clinical information included in the patient medical records using a knowledge base of domain-specific criteria. The extracted billing information can be automatically processed for purposes of, e.g., medical claims correction, medical claims billing, quality assurance of recorded billing information, or claim reimbursement tracking.
US07725325B2 System, computer program product and method of correlating safety solutions with business climate
A system, computer program product and method of correlating safety solutions implemented in a facility with the facility's business climate are provided. The system, computer program product and method are used for designing safety solutions for a facility. While doing so, a user such as a security consultant, may derive a plurality of variables from the safety solutions. The variables are used to calculate a business climate index and a safety level from which a value for a safety/climate coefficient may be calculated. The value of the coefficient indicates whether the threat level is greater than the security level, or whether the security solutions are adequate or too intrusive.
US07725324B2 Constrained filter encoding of polyphonic signals
Signals of different channels are combined into one mono signal. A set of adaptive filters, preferably one for each channel, is derived in a respective filter adaptation unit. When an adaptive filter is applied to the mono signal it reconstructs the signal of the respective channel under a perceptual constraint. The perceptual constraint is a gain and/or shape constraint. The gain constraint allows the preservation of the relative energy between the channels while the shape constraint allows more stability by avoiding unnecessary filtering of spectral nulls. The transmitted parameters are the mono signal, in encoded form, and the parameters of the adaptive filters, preferably also encoded. The receiver reconstructs the signal of the different channels by applying the adaptive filters and possibly some additional post-processing.
US07725315B2 Minimization of transient noises in a voice signal
A voice enhancement system is provided for improving the perceptual quality of a processed voice signal. The system improves the perceptual quality of a received voice signal by removing unwanted noise from a voice signal recorded by a microphone or from some other source. Specifically, the system removes sounds that occur within the environment of the signal source but which are unrelated to speech. The system is especially well adapted for removing transient road noises from speech signals recorded in moving vehicles. Transient road noises include common temporal and spectral characteristics that can be modeled. A transient road noise detector employs such models to detect the presence of transient road noises in a voice signal. If transient road noises are found to be present, a transient road noise attenuator is provided to remove them from the signal.
US07725293B2 System and method for equipment remaining life estimation
A method to predict remaining life of a target is disclosed. The method includes receiving information regarding a behavior of the target, and identifying from a database at least one piece of equipment having similarities to the target. The method further includes retrieving from the database data prior to an end of the equipment useful life, the data having a relationship to the behavior, evaluating a similarity of the relationship, predicting the remaining life of the target based upon the similarity, and generating a signal corresponding to the predicted remaining equipment life.
US07725283B2 Methods and apparatus for a virtual test cell
A method for calibrating a physical test cell includes the steps of: determining a set of inputs to be provided to the physical test cell based in part on a set of historical test data; providing the inputs to the physical test cell and receiving a set of outputs associated therewith, wherein the providing includes implementing a sequential space filling sampling procedure to substantially cover a region defined by the set of historical values; creating a virtual test cell comprising one or more response surfaces based on the set of outputs; and interrogating the virtual test cell to determine a calibration relationship between at least one of the inputs and at least one of the outputs. Smooth Kriging may be used to determine the virtual test cell.
US07725279B2 System and a method for motion tracking using a calibration unit
The invention relates to motion tracking system (10) for tracking a movement of an object (P) in a three-dimensional space, the said object being composed of object portions having individual dimensions and mutual proportions and being sequentially interconnected by joints the system comprising orientation measurement units (S1, S3, . . . SN) for measuring data related to at least orientation of the object portions, wherein the orientation measurement units are arranged in positional and orientational relationships with respective object portions and having at least orientational parameters; a processor (3, 5) for receiving data from the orientation measurement units, the said processor comprising a module for deriving orientation and/or position information of the object portions using the received data and a calibration unit (7) arranged to calculate calibration values based on received data and pre-determined constraints for determining at least the mutual proportions of the object portions and orientational parameters of the orientation measurement units based on received data, pre-determined constrains and additional input data. The invention further relates to a method for tracking a movement of an object, a medical rehabilitation system and an animation system.
US07725278B2 Method for failure analysis and system for failure analysis
After completion of an arbitrary device process, an apparatus for micro-sample extraction extracts a part of a wafer as a micro-sample of a size equal to or larger than a repetition pattern with a probe and places the extracted micro-sample to a micro-sample storage, and the micro-sample storage is stored into an apparatus for micro-sample storage. The wafer is subjected to a post process and an observation desired position is determined in response to a failure analysis requirement. After that, the micro-sample is unloaded from the micro-sample storage by an apparatus for additional processing of the micro-sample and is placed onto an observation sample holder. By performing an additional process in the observation desired position, a failure analysis sample is prepared, and analysis information obtained by an apparatus for failure analysis is output.
US07725274B2 Method and apparatus for identifying a region of interest of transient vibration data requiring analysis
A method and apparatus identifies a region of interest of transient vibration data needing analysis and provides context and construction for analytical plots. The method provides transient data, determines a region of interest of the transient data, specifies a construction mode corresponding to a derived graphical display of the transient data, and specifies one or more construction parameters corresponding to the specified construction mode. The method also processes the transient data to produce at least one derived plot based on the transient data, the region of interest, the specified construction mode, and the specified construction parameters. This method may be performed by a graphical tool having a hardware module and a software module. The hardware module including a processor, a memory, a display, and a communicator, and the software module including a plotting module and a plot control module.
US07725272B2 Methods and devices for monitoring fluid of an implantable infusion pump
Methods and devices are described for monitoring reservoir fluid in an implantable infusion pump. Such methods and devices can be used when the infusion pump has a temperature-dependent component. For example, a method of monitoring reservoir fluid can include obtaining measurements from the reservoir that include corresponding data related to the amount of fluid and temperature in the reservoir. A pair of measurements can be used to monitor the fluid level, or flow rate out of, the reservoir when the corresponding temperatures of the measurements are within a temperature tolerance value. In such an instance, a measured amount difference can be calculated based on the fluid amounts corresponding to the pair of measurements. Other variations of fluid monitoring methods, and implantable infusion pump systems that can perform fluid monitoring, are also described.
US07725268B2 Sensing module and method for gas concentration measurement
Method and sensing module for sensing pollution of outside air. The sensing module (1) comprises an electro chemical sensing element (3), and a processor (2). A sensing module output signal is provided based on the measurement signal and a baseline signal level. The baseline signal level is adapted depending on two threshold levels (13-15). A pollution concentration value is determined from the measurement signal and a classification level of air pollution is provided as sensing module output signal. A classification level is determined using a plurality of classification threshold values and the pollution concentration values. The plurality of classification threshold values are dynamically adjustable.
US07725267B2 Synthetic microfluidic microvasculature network
The present invention is a synthetic microfluidic microvasculature network and associated methods. The synthetic microfluidic microvasculature network mimics the structure, fluid flow characteristics, and physiological behavior of physiological microvasculature networks. Computational methods for simulating flow and particle adherence in synthetic and physiological microvascular systems and methods for determining parameters influencing particle adhesion and drug delivery are also described. The invention has many uses including the optimization of drug delivery and microvascular treatments and in describing disease mechanisms that affect the microvasculature such as inflammation, diabetes and hypertension.
US07725257B2 Method and system for navigation of an ummanned aerial vehicle in an urban environment
A method and system for navigation of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in an urban environment are provided. The method comprises capturing a first set of Global Positioning System (GPS)-tagged images in an initial fly-over of the urban environment at a first altitude, with each of the GPS-tagged images being related to respective GPS-aided positions. The captured GPS-tagged images are stitched together into an image mosaic using the GPS-aided positions. A second set of images is captured in a subsequent fly-over of the urban environment at a second altitude that is lower than the first altitude. Image features from the second set of images are matched with image features from the image mosaic during the subsequent fly-over. A current position of the UAV relative to the GPS-aided positions is calculated based on the matched image features from the second set of images and the image mosaic.
US07725254B2 Navigation device used for a route search
Route search is performed considering the fact that traffic conditions differ according to lane even for the same road. A navigation device performs route search, using link costs (link travel times) classified by lane. For example, the navigation device searches for a route having the lowest total cost to the destination, using link data that determine cost for each lane of a component link of a road on a map. A cost of a lane on which a vehicle runs to move to a next link, being the cost of any lane of the link, is used as a cost of a link on a route.
US07725253B2 Tracking, auto-calibration, and map-building system
A navigation or motion tracking system includes components associated with particular sensors, which are decoupled from a tracking component that takes advantage of information in the sensor measurements. The architecture of this system enables development of sensor-specific components independently of the tracking component, and enables sensors and their associated components to be added or removed without having to re-implement the tracking component. In a software implementation of the system, sensor-specific software components may be dynamically incorporated into the system and the tracking component is then automatically configured to take advantage of measurements from the corresponding sensors without having to modify the tracking component.
US07725251B2 Systems and methods for compensation for a dynamic axle load transfer
The present invention proposes an improved method for at least partially compensating for the dynamic transfer of an axle load when part of a motor vehicle load dips over at least one front wheel. A demand for a drive moment is applied and thus a time-limited virtually maximum drive moment is produced for the purposes of compensating for the transfer of the axle load. Moreover, for the first time, the present invention proposes a microprocessor and also a control device for carrying out this method in accordance with the invention. Furthermore, a motor vehicle drive is indicated which is equipped with such a control device or such a microprocessor. Finally, software is designated for carrying out the method. A motor vehicle is presented which is equipped with such a control device or such a microprocessor for the execution of the software for carrying out the method in accordance with the invention.
US07725249B2 Method and apparatus for congestion management
A scheduling system and method for moving plural objects through a multipath system described as a freight railway scheduling system. The scheduling system utilizes a cost reactive resource scheduler to minimize resource exception while at the same time minimizing the global costs associated with the solution. The achievable movement plan can be used to assist in the control of, or to automatically control, the movement of trains through the system. Deadlock is avoided by controlling the entry of trains into congested areas, and may be automatically implemented by the use of traffic flow analysis algorithms.
US07725248B2 Method for operating an internal combustion engine
The procedure is used for the operation of an internal combustion engine (1) with several cylinders (2, 3, 4, 5) into each of which fuel is injected. For a current operating point (15), the current correction factor (KM) for the injection into one of the cylinders (2, 3, 4, 5) is determined. Using the current correction factor (KM) at least some of the grid correction factors (KGA) which are stored in a correction factor characteristic map (13) for discrete operating points (16) of the internal combustion engine (1) are adapted. Here, a distance between the current operating point (15) and the discrete operating point of the grid correction factor (KGA) currently to be adapted is taken into account during the adaptation of the grid correction factors (KGA). Using updated grid correction factors (KGN) which are stored following adaptation in the correction factor characteristic map (13), an updated correction factor (KMN) is determined for the current operating point (15) and used for the injection.
US07725237B2 Control apparatus
A control apparatus which is capable of ensuring both high-level stability and accuracy of control and reducing manufacturing costs thereof and computation load thereon, even when controlling a controlled object having extremal characteristics or a controlled object of a multi-input multi-output system. The control apparatus is comprised of an onboard model analyzer and a cooperative controller. The onboard model analyzer, based on a controlled object model defining the relationships between an intake opening angle and an exhaust reopening angle, and an indicated mean effective pressure, calculates first and second response indices and indicative of a correlation therebetween, respectively. The cooperative controller calculates the intake opening angle and the exhaust reopening angle with predetermined algorithms such that the indicated mean effective pressure is caused to converge to its target value, and determines the increasing/decreasing rate and the increasing/decreasing direction of the aforementioned angles according to the first and second response indices.
US07725215B2 Distributed and recoverable digital control system
A real-time multi-tasking digital control system with rapid recovery capability is disclosed. The control system includes a plurality of computing units comprising a plurality of redundant processing units, with each of the processing units configured to generate one or more redundant control commands. One or more internal monitors are employed for detecting data errors in the control commands. One or more recovery triggers are provided for initiating rapid recovery of a processing unit if data errors are detected. The control system also includes a plurality of actuator control units each in operative communication with the computing units. The actuator control units are configured to initiate a rapid recovery if data errors are detected in one or more of the processing units. A plurality of smart actuators communicates with the actuator control units, and a plurality of redundant sensors communicates with the computing units.
US07725213B2 Sortation conveyor apparatus and methods
Sortation conveyor apparatus and methods for selectively diverting articles from a primary conveying surface onto branch lines are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises assigning memory cells to first and second articles based upon the location of the articles along the primary conveyor, and determining if the second article is to be diverted to the same location as the first article, and if so, assigning the trailing cell assigned to the trailing end of the first article to other than the first article.
US07725205B1 Apparatus and methods for providing a homogenous I/O interface for controlling a heterogenous mixture of hardware I/O systems
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for controlling a heterogeneous mixture of hardware devices in a variety of semiconductor process equipment. In general, a generic Input and Output (I/O) interface is provided between a process management module for specifying control operations and the actual hardware devices of a particular process tool. The process management module generally includes high level processes and/or user interfaces for controlling one or more process tool(s) by interacting with a set of generic device objects that are abstractions of actual hardware devices of such tool(s). The I/O interface translates interactions with the generic device objects into interactions with the different hardware devices. The process management module utilizes one or more of these generic device objects to specify operation, in a generic manner, of hardware devices and the I/O interface translates such operations into operations that are specific to the different hardware devices. As a result of this interface that manages and separates the interactions with the generic device objects from interactions with the hardware, both the process management module and the generic device objects can remain unchanged when changes occur to the hardware configuration or to an individual hardware device.
US07725200B2 Validation of configuration settings in an industrial process
An automation control system can be efficiently developed and maintained as a hierarchical arrangement of configured components that pass process control parameters received from a control component and return reports back to the control component. In particular, control components compare a current configuration to a validated, saved configuration in order to report a configuration status as to whether a process can be conducted as validated. Yet, changes to the configuration of the automation control system that do not affect a validated portion do not preclude continued validated processing.
US07725199B2 Framework for generating model-based system control parameters
A control framework generates control parameters for controlling operation of a physical system, and includes one or more embedded models each producing a model output corresponding to a different operating parameter of the system as a function of one or more system operating conditions and/or a number of solution parameters, objective logic producing a scalar performance metric as a function of the number model outputs and of one or more system performance target values, objective optimization logic determining a number of unconstrained solution parameters in a manner that minimizes the scalar performance metric, and solution constraining logic determining the number of solution parameters from the number of unconstrained solution parameters in a manner that limits an operating range of at least one of the unconstrained solution parameters. The control parameters may correspond to one of the number of unconstrained solution parameters or to the number of solution parameters.
US07725198B2 Implantable medical lead assemblies with delivery tether
Implantable lead assembly including a lead body, an elongated conductor, a coiled electrode, and a tether line. The lead body maintains the conductor. The electrode is coupled to the conductor, defining proximal and distal ends. The tether line defines a trailing segment and a leading segment terminating in a leading end. The tether line is coupled to the coiled electrode at a point proximal the distal end, and the leading end extends distal the distal end. With this configuration, a pulling force applied to the leading segment is transferred to the electrode at a point proximal the distal end as a pushing force, thereby minimizing an opportunity for overt stretching of the coiled electrode during implantation. The lead assembly can further include a needle connected to the tether line.
US07725195B2 RFID-based apparatus, system, and method for therapeutic treatment of obstructive sleep apnea
Provided is an implantable RFID-enabled micro-electronic neurostimulator system for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising an implant having a top and a bottom layer, the bottom layer serving as an attachment mechanism such that the bottom layer of the implant encompasses the hypoglossal nerve and attaches to the top layer of the implant; a printed circuit board (PCB) attached to the top layer of the implant, the PCB having a first and a second opposing sides; a neural interface attached to the second side of the PCB; a core subsystem (CSS) attached to the first side of the PCB and electrically connected to the neural interface; and a radio frequency (RF) interface attached to the first side of the PCB and electrically connected to the CSS, wherein the implant is powered and controlled by an external programmable controller.
US07725188B2 Electrical stimulation treatment of hypotension
Methods and devices for treating hypotension, such as in cases of shock, including septic shock and anaphylactic shock, wherein the treatment includes providing an electrical impulse to a selected region of the vagus nerve of a patient suffering from hypotension to block and/or modulate nerve signals that regulate blood pressure.
US07725187B1 Motion detection for sensors sensitive to motion induced noise
Provided herein are implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, for estimating a level of noise in a signal produced by an implantable sensor that is sensitive to motion induced noise. Sample data is obtained that is representative of a window of a signal produced by the implantable sensor that is sensitive to motion induced noise. Such sample data includes a plurality of samples each having a magnitude (e.g., amplitude). Each of at least some of the samples is assigned to one of a plurality of bins based on the magnitude of the sample, wherein each bin corresponds to a different range of magnitudes. The plurality of bins includes at least a low bin defining a lowest magnitude range and a high bin defining a highest magnitude range. A level of motion induced noise in the sensor signal is estimated based on a distribution of the samples to the bins.
US07725185B2 Cardiac stimulation at high ventricular wall stress areas
An apparatus and method for reversing ventricular remodeling with electro-stimulatory therapy. A ventricle is paced by delivering one or more stimulatory pulses in a manner such that a stressed region of the myocardium is pre-excited relative to other regions in order to subject the stressed region to a lessened preload and afterload during systole. The unloading of the stressed myocardium over time effects reversal of undesirable ventricular remodeling.
US07725182B2 Power distribution system for a medical device
A medical device includes a pulse generator that selectively generates pulses. A control module selectively controls the pulses A power distribution system supplies power to said medical device. The power distribution system includes N batteries, where N is an integer greater than one, a common node, and N protection modules. The N protection modules communicate with the control module, selectively connect a respective one of the N batteries to the common node based on control signals from the control module, and monitor current provided by the respective one of the N batteries. The control module generates the respective control signals based upon the current.
US07725180B2 Method and apparatus for testing an alternating current power source for defibrillation compatibility
A device tests a circuit that is a source of alternating current by measuring at least one electrical parameter of the circuit to determine whether the circuit is able to provide adequate energy for defibrillation by an external defibrillator. The device may test the circuit by applying a load to the circuit, and measuring one or more electrical parameters when the load is applied to the circuit. The device may be the external defibrillator itself, or a separate testing device. In some embodiments in which an external defibrillator tests a circuit, the defibrillator modifies a value of at least one therapy delivery parameter for a subsequent delivery of one or more defibrillation pulses based on the measured electrical parameter value measured. By modifying a therapy delivery parameter, the defibrillator may deliver defibrillation pulses at an energy level that is supportable by the circuit.
US07725176B2 Method and system for regulation of endocrine and exocrine glands by means of neuro-electrical coded signals
A method to regulate the endocrine and exocrine glands generally comprising generating at least one glandular function waveform signal that substantially corresponds to at least one waveform signal that is generated in the body and is operative in the regulation of an endocrine or exocrine gland and transmitting the generated glandular function waveform signal to the subject's nervous system.
US07725170B2 Breast carcinoma detector
The breast cancer detector of the invention comprising a transparent breast pressing member 1 having a pressing face 4 which is pressed to a breast of a subject that makes it possible to observe the breast pressed to the body from the opposite face to the pressing face 4, a light source means 2 for irradiating light of a designated wavelength with respect to the breast in an area to which the pressing face 4 is pressed and an image pickup means 3 sensitive to light from the breast derived from irradiated light of the light source means 2 and obtaining the breast image through the breast pressing member 1, wherein breast cancer is detected from the breast image obtained by the image pickup means. Therefore, the breast is pressed to the body by using the breast pressing member 1 to keep the breast thin, thus making it possible to irradiate uniformly the light emitted from the light source 2 to an area of the breast to which the pressing face 4 is pressed. The light from the breast derived from the irradiated light is obtained from the image pickup means 3 to detect breast cancer in the breast from the thus-obtained image.
US07725169B2 Contrast enhanced spectroscopic optical coherence tomography
A method of forming an image of a sample includes performing SOCT on a sample. The sample may include a contrast agent, which may include an absorbing agent and/or a scattering agent. A method of forming an image of tissue may include selecting a contrast agent, delivering the contrast agent to the tissue, acquiring SOCT data from the tissue, and converting the SOCT data into an image. The contributions to the SOCT data of an absorbing agent and a scattering agent in a sample may be quantified separately.
US07725166B2 Image-assisted shockwave therapy installation
An installation for image-assisted shockwave therapy has a C-arm x-ray unit that is orbitally movable around an isocenter, and that carries an x-ray imaging system thereon. The installation also has a shockwave head and a carrier device for the shockwave head that is disposed stationarily relative to the x-ray C-arm. A boom that extends toward the x-ray C-arm is carried by the carrier device, the boom having a free end at which the shockwave head is mounted. The boom is movably guided by the carrier device so that the shockwave head is arbitrarily movable to any position and can be arbitrarily aligned to the isocenter within a minimum range of 180° delimited by the top table position and the bottom table position of a patient table.
US07725162B2 Surgery system
A surgery system comprising at least one smart instrument, a computer system, and a sensor system adapted to wirelessly sense the position of the at least one smart instrument and to transmit position information to the computer system, wherein the sensor system includes a sensor array and the sensor array includes at least three linear CCD cameras and at least one infrared transceiver.
US07725157B2 System and method for interventional procedures using MRI
An imaging and interventional system and methods are provided. The system comprises an imaging device for acquiring volumetric image data for an anatomical region of interest, a catheter for acquiring electrophysiological (EP) measurements of the anatomical region of interest, the catheter having at least one tracking coil for detecting signals indicative of a position of the catheter, and, a processor coupled to the catheter for receiving the EP measurements and signals indicative of the position of the catheter. The position of the catheter and EP measurements are combined and superimposed on a resultant image. The method comprises acquiring volumetric image data for an anatomical region of interest, acquiring position data for a catheter inserted in the region of interest, obtaining electrophysiological (EP) measurements for the region of interest and combining the image data, position data and EP measurements into a resultant image for use in the interventional procedure.
US07725155B2 Apparatus and method for delivering ablative laser energy and determining the volume of tumor mass destroyed
An apparatus and method for determining a volume of tumor mass destroyed. The present invention includes a temperature probe and a laser probe having a temperature sensor. The laser probe and temperature probe are inserted to measure a temperature of the tumor mass and a temperature of tissue mass surrounding the tumor mass. By determining the volume of tumor mass destroyed, a graphical representation of the volume of tumor mass destroyed is provided whereby real-time visual monitoring of the destruction of the tumor mass is achieved.
US07725151B2 Apparatus and method for near-field imaging of tissue
Using pulsed or continuous-wave sources, broadband electromagnetic energy generally in the 10 MHz to 300 GHz range is applied through one or a plurality of near-field antennas such as coaxial probe tips. The electromagnetic energy reflected from the surface or transmitted through the near surface of the object (e.g. surface of skin or other tissue or cells) is detected, and the ratio of the test measurement to that from normal tissue is recorded and presented to determine the degree of dielectric contrast, hence inhomogeneity. This degree of contrast is used both on its own and in conjunction with simultaneously acquired optical images to map the boundary of an organ inhomogeneity such as a tumor. The bundle of antennas may be scanned over a surface of the object on a pixel-by-pixel basis to determine the spectra of the sample on a pixel-by-pixel basis, allowing a two dimensional display of the absorption spectra to be provided.
US07725143B2 Spring loaded sliding cover for mobile phone or PDA
A cover mounted on a top surface of either mobile phone or PDA includes a top member; a bottom member fixedly mounted on the top surface and including two inner slide members on both sides; an intermediate member fixedly secured to the top member and partially disposed on the bottom member, the intermediate member including two outer slide members on both sides; and an elastic assembly including left and right elastic members including a triangular section at one end secured to the bottom member, a U-shaped intermediate section, and a straight section at the other end secured to the intermediate member. Pulling the top member will slide the intermediate member away from the bottom member by moving the outer slide members on the inner slide members by expanding the elastic assembly. Releasing the top member will elastically return the intermediate member to its original position.
US07725139B2 Power consumption control apparatus in pda phone
A power consumption control apparatus and a method thereof in the PDA phone comprise: transiting the PDA phone from an idle mode to a sleep mode automatically after a certain amount of time or by user's input signal; transiting the PDA phone from a called mode to the sleep mode automatically after a certain amount of time or by user's input signal; transiting the PDA phone from a calling mode to the sleep mode automatically after a certain amount of time or by user's input signal; and transiting the PDA phone from an in-call mode to the sleep mode automatically after a certain amount of time or by user's input signal, so that the power consumption control apparatus and the method thereof in a personal digital assistant (PDA) phone in accordance with the present invention can reduce power consumption of the PDA phone by transiting the PDA phone from a called mode, an in-called mode and a calling mode to a sleep mode, and cope with the circumstances which may occur in every state of the PDA phone.
US07725136B2 Information processing apparatus
In a cellular phone applicable as an information processing apparatus of the invention, an audio data transfer control unit controls streaming transfer of encoded audio data to a headset through wireless communication, and a hands-free control unit controls hands-free communication with the headset through wireless communication. Furthermore, a transmitting/receiving unit transmits/receives data to/from the headset in the streaming transfer of the encoded audio to the headset through the wireless communication or in control over hands-free communication with the headset through wireless communication, and a retransmission control unit controls the retransmission of the data to be transmitted to the headset through the transmitting/receiving processing unit.
US07725129B2 Cell phone based vehicle control system
A cell phone based vehicle control system includes a vehicle having an electronic network for the vehicle's electrical devices. A data interface module is serially connected to a central processing module and the electronic network. A transceiver module is serially connected to the central processing module and the data interface module. A cellular telephone communicates wirelessly with the transceiver module. The central processing module includes at least one analog connection for use with non-electronic network equipped vehicles. The data interface module provides data translation between the vehicle's electronic network and the central processing module. The transceiver module and cellular telephone include compatible data encryption/decryption units. The transceiver module includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit capable of identifying the location of the vehicle. The cellular telephone operates systems including remote locking, arming/disarming of an alarm system, engine start, panic mode, remote driver specific vehicle adjustments and remote auxiliary command functions.
US07725128B2 Integrated instant messaging and web browsing client and related methods
An integrated web browser, instant messaging system is presented. The system operates on mobile devices and other types of embedded devices. The system is an integrated instant messaging and web browsing application controlled by an embedded application on a mobile device. Today most web browsers, instant messaging, and other programs are separate or discrete applications that are executed on an either/or type of situation. The present system provides an integrated application environment that is a single application that shares data between instant messaging and web broswer sub-modules, which allows users to simultaneously message and browse. The system may also be deployed as part of an overall method for enhancing safety and producing revenue for communications networks.
US07725127B2 Hand-held device
A hand-held device that provides communication services and symbol processing is described. The device includes a case having a front side comprising a display and a lid having a transparent portion through which the display can be seen in a lid-closed state. In one version, the hand-held device comprises a QWERTY keyboard including an arrangement of digits as in a touch-tone telephone keypad arrangement. In another version, the display includes a handwriting area for data entry using a stylus or other screen data entry device. In a closed position, the lid extends over the display and the keyboard, leaving another user input device physically accessible to touch for receiving input wherein the device performs processing responsive to receiving input from the physically accessible user input device in the lid closed state.
US07725125B2 Audio management in a dual processor environment
In a dual processor mobile device one processor is a radio processor and one processor is an application processor, the mobile device further including a polyphonic audio chip, a method and apparatus for audio control, the method having the steps of: connecting the polyphonic audio chip between the controller and a highly integrated audio codec; connecting the radio processor to the highly integrated audio codec; controlling the highly integrated audio codec from the radio processor; and coordinating between the application processor and the radio processor to allow the radio processor to control the highly integrated audio codec through the radio processor.
US07725118B2 Multi-radio wireless communication device and method for coordinating communications between potentially interfering radios
Embodiments of a multi-radio wireless communication device having a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) radio module and a Bluetooth (BT) radio module and methods for communicating are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, a WiMax active signal is asserted by a coexist controller of the WiMax radio module during receipt of a downlink subframe, and the BT radio module aligns a BT slot boundary of either master-to-slave or slave-to-master slot based on timing information conveyed by the WiMax active signal. The WiMax active signal may be de-asserted by the coexist controller during transmission of an uplink subframe by the WiMax radio module.
US07725116B2 Techniques for combining voice with wireless text short message services
Combining speech with existing text wireless Short Message Service (SMS) to create a multimodal SMS service. A user of standard SMS text service is provided with a link within each message that allows adding or retrieval of a voice message associated with an SMS text message. A speech server in the wireless network may be used for recognition of voice commands, rendering of text into speech, and recording or playing back voice recordings. The messages may be retrieved or sent using any wireless handset. Additional services that may be used include message lists, prerecorded messages, integration with voicemail systems, image and video messages, cross-functional applications with Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) and Enhanced Message Services (EMS), and extensions of the combination of voice with text SMS to other computing devices such as PDAs and PCs.
US07725114B2 Wi-Fi, GPS and MIMO systems
Video and data cross-correlated in-phase and quadrature-phase processed and filtered baseband signals and location finder signals are quadrature modulated and transmitted in systems having two or more than two antennas. Signals used in Wi-Fi networks using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) modulated signals are also transmitted in the two or more than two antenna transmit system. Data and OFDM signal is used in a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or Video over Internet Protocol (ViIP) network and video cross-correlated modulated signal is used in ViIP wireless networks and in cellular systems.
US07725105B2 Mobile site management system
Tasks of a contents provider are supported, and construction or change of a mobile site, which is accompanied with replacement or correction of contents, is easily executed. In a mobile site management system that manages a site of a portable terminal in a system that provides contents of the site to the portable terminal through a network from a contents provider, the mobile site management system includes an application server providing the contents of the site of the portable terminal; and an operation management server operating and managing the site handled by the application server. The operation management server includes first processing means for preparing the site of the portable terminal; second processing means for executing a test of the prepared site by accessing a predetermined related line; and third processing means for reporting information related to the site to the application server to open a site suitable for the test according to the second processing means onto the network.
US07725100B2 Method and system for indicating reception of an incoming call by a wireless device
A method and a system indicate to a wireless device user that an incoming call has been received by the wireless device. The user can, for example, configure the wireless device to “shuffle” or select a different incoming call indicator, such as a ring tone, from a defined group of incoming call indicators, with each call received.
US07725097B2 Charging in a communication system
A method and system for charging for services in a communication system comprises a charging entity and at least two connection support entities for providing resources to support a connection in the communication system. Various steps include detecting initiation of a connection by the connection support entities; generating a charging identity for identifying the connection; determining a first charge for supporting the connection by the first connection support entity; determining a second charge for the support of the connection by the second connection support entity; transmitting a first charging message from the first connection support entity to the charging entity, the message specifying the first charge and including the charging identity; and transmitting a second charging message from the second connection support entity to the charging entity, the second charging message specifying the second charge and including the charging identity.
US07725084B2 Apparatus, and associated method, for communicating communication data in a multiple-input, multiple-output communication system
Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating communication of communication data upon a communication channel susceptible to distortion. Both diversity techniques and spatial multiplexing techniques are utilized to compensate for the distortion introduced upon the data during its communication. Separate parts of the communication data are mapped pursuant to separate mapping schemes. The mapping schemes are selected to exhibit different properties. When the communication data is communicated upon the communication channel and delivered to a receiving station, a decoder decodes the data to recover the informational content of the data.
US07725081B2 Communication apparatus
A communication apparatus has an A/D converter which converts an analog signal which was received, into a digital signal, a converter which converts a reception signal so as to enable handling of phase information, a carrier detector which detects presence or absence of the reception signal, a synchronous circuit which extract synchronization timing from the reception signal, an equalizer which corrects the reception signal so as to cancel influence of a transmission path, a transmission path estimator which estimates a state of a power line transmission path, and a judging unit which judges the reception signal, which was amended by the equalizer, by use of a threshold value.
US07725080B2 Mote networks having directional antennas
A mote network having and/or using one or more directional antennas.
US07725069B2 Image forming apparatus and process unit for effectively applying lubricant and cleaning an image carrier
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier configured to carry an image on a surface thereof, a cleaning unit including a cleaning blade and configured to remove residual toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier with the cleaning blade, and an application unit including a brush roller having a modified cross-section fiber and configured to use the brush roller to scrape molded lubricant into scraped lubricant and apply the scraped lubricant to the image carrier. A process cartridge is provided to the image forming apparatus and integrally includes the image carrier, the cleaning unit, the application unit, and at least one of a charging unit and a developing unit in a single unit.
US07725068B2 Electrophotographic fixing member and manufacturing method thereof, fixing apparatus, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
An electrophotographic fixing member is provided, which is excellent in toner releasability and hard to change in rubber elasticity of a silicone rubber elastic layer. The fixing member is laminated with a substrate, a cured silicone rubber layer, a cured silicone rubber adhesive layer and a fluorine resin layer, wherein when infrared light absorption strength ratios (1020 cm−1/1260 cm−1) at 1020 cm−1 and 1260 cm−1 determined by sampling the portions of 5 μm and 20 μm from the outer surface of the cured silicone rubber layer are taken as α(5) and α(20), respectively, a relationship of α(5) and α(20) satisfies 1.03≦α(5)/α(20)≦1.30 and α(20) is 0.8 or more and 1.2 or less.
US07725057B2 Image forming method and image forming apparatus
Disclosed is an image forming method, containing a development step of developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic image supporting material using a toner formed on a development sleeve in the from of a thin layer to form a toner image, wherein a ten-point average roughness Rz on the surface of the development sleeve is from 3.0 to 5.7 μm, a volume average particle size of toner particles is from 6.0 to 8.0 μm, the content of a volume average particle size of the toner particles of 5.0 μm or less is from 2.2 to 11.0% by volume, a shape coefficient SF-1 of the toner particles that is measured by an image-analyzing apparatus satisfies the relation: 115≦SF-1≦155, and a shape coefficient SF-2 of the toner particles that is measured by an image-analyzing apparatus satisfies the relation: 112≦SF-2≦150.
US07725046B2 Image forming apparatus with ion generator
Ions generated by the ion generating section are discharged from a paper sheet conveyer belt nozzle and an intermediate transfer belt nozzle, so that (i) a toner image transferred from a photosensitive drum onto an intermediate transfer belt and having yet to be transferred from the intermediate transfer belt onto a recording paper sheet and (ii) a paper sheet conveyer belt are charged. This makes it possible to more appropriately transfer a toner image onto a recording paper sheet from a photosensitive drum in an image forming apparatus, including a conveyer belt for conveying a recording paper sheet, in which a toner image formed on an image carrier is transferred onto an intermediate transfer body and the toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer body onto a recording material; and to simultaneously prevent an increase in size of the image forming apparatus.
US07725040B2 Wavelength division multiplexing transmission device
In an optical transmission device, when wavelength division multiplexed light formed from signals of a plurality of wavelengths are received, an optical signal of one wavelength comprised in this wavelength division multiplexed light is planarized and non-signal light of the same wavelength is reproduced. The reproduced light is modulated with a transmission data string, an optical signal is generated, and a wavelength division multiplexed light comprising the generated optical signal is transmitted.
US07725032B2 Optical transmission apparatus
An optical transmission apparatus includes an optical add drop multiplexer (OADM) that adds/drops an optical signal to/from a transmission path. The optical transmission apparatus further includes a pump light multiplexer and a dispersion compensation fiber that are located downstream of the OADM on the transmission path. The optical transmission apparatus is configured to house a pump light source connectable to the pump light multiplexer to Raman amplify an optical signal in the dispersion compensation fiber.
US07725028B1 Method for flexible multiple broadcast service delivery over a WDM passive optical network based on RF block-conversion of RF service bands with wavelength bands
A system and method for simultaneous delivery of a plurality of independent blocks of 500 MHz digital broadcast television services, stacking a plurality of RF blocks on a plurality of spectrally sliced WDM optical bands. The method for delivering a plurality of video blocks to a user terminal serviced by a remote node comprises the steps of receiving, by a first WDM, a broadband signal from a broadband signal source, separating, by said first WDM, said broadband signal into a plurality of optical bands, modulating each of the plurality of optical bands with a composite signal representing data in a plurality of independent RF blocks to form a plurality of modulated signals, forwarding said plurality of modulated signals to a second WDM to form a combined broadcast signal, transmitting said combined broadcast signal over feeder fiber to a remote node, selecting a RF block for distribution over a distribution fiber to a conventional satellite set-up box at a user's site and forwarding said selected RF block to said user's site. A novel method and system for reducing spontaneous beat noise is also described.
US07725027B2 Multi-unit wavelength dispersive device
The multi-unit wavelength switch enables multiple independent wavelength switching of a plurality of incoming multiplexed optical beams simultaneously on the same optical platform. The different units can have similar functionality or provide disparate functionality, e.g. any one or more of switching, dynamic gain equalization, wavelength blocking, and power monitoring.
US07725026B2 Phase responsive optical fiber sensor
The location of a physical disturbance along an optical waveguide is determined by measuring different propagation times for the resulting phase variation to propagate to phase responsive receivers at ends of bidirectional signal paths. Each receiver can have a coupler that functions as a beam combiner and as a beam splitter inserting the opposite signal. On each receiving end, the coupler provides one or more detectors with signals from which phase related independent variable values are taken, processed and mapped to phase angles. Relative phase angle versus time is derived for each opposite signal pair and correlated at a time difference, i.e., a difference in propagation time from which the location of the disturbance is resolved. Polarization sensitive and polarization insensitive examples are discussed with various optical fiber arrangements.
US07725025B2 Switchable fiber termination
An apparatus, system and method are provided for a switchable fiber termination (SFT) incorporated into an optical network device that responds to a test signal received via an optical network carrying data. The test signal may be a part of a multiplexed signal carrying data and is separated from the data by a wavelength division multiplexer. The SFT may be used to determine the characteristics of an optical network, including the operational status of optical network devices.
US07725018B2 Focus control apparatus, image sensing apparatus and focus control method
A range in which a focus lens is to be moved is set; the focus lens is moved within the set range; an in-focus state is determined based on output signals from an image sensing unit which are obtained in association with the movement of the focus lens within the range; and the focus lens is driven so that an object image is brought into focus. When a difference between the positions of the focus lens, at which the plurality of images are brought into focus, is equal to or lower than a preset threshold, the range will be set to be wider than a range in the case where the difference exceeds the threshold.
US07725016B2 Liquid zoom lens
Disclosed herein is a liquid zoom lens. The liquid zoom lens comprises a cylindrical body including glass lenses respectively coupled at upper and lower openings to the body, an auto-focus lens part including a first liquid insulating layer and a first electrolyte layer stacked at a lower portion of the body to form an interface therebetween, and an optical zoom lens part including a second liquid insulating layer and a second electrolyte layer stacked on the first electrolyte layer to form an interface therebetween and a lens positioned in the second liquid insulating layer and fixed to the body with an outer peripheral surface of the lens closely contacting an inner peripheral surface of the body. The liquid zoom lens enables an auto-focus function and an optical zoom function to be performed simultaneously by means of a single liquid lens having a variable curvature.
US07725007B2 Recording medium for storing information for still picture, recording and/or reproducing method and apparatus therefor
A recording medium for storing information for still pictures, and a recording/reproducing method and apparatus therefor, stores data for a plurality of still pictures and audio data added thereto in one file or a space having a logically one-dimensional order, rather than in each file, and still picture group information for separating the still picture data into a predetermined maximum number of groups in order to manage the still pictures at a group level. The still picture group information includes general information for still picture groups, and information for still pictures in each still picture group. The general information for each still picture group includes the start position of a first still picture in each still picture group, and the information for still pictures in each still picture group includes the sizes of video data and audio data for each still picture.
US07725006B2 Record carrier carrying a video signal and at least one additional information signal
A record carrier is described carrying a video signal and at least one additional information signal, such as graphics or audio. The at least one additional information signal is meant to be reproduced simultaneously with said video signal. The record carrier further carries scheduling information indicating in which order parts of the at least one additional information signal or video signal have to be read from said record carrier. The scheduling information enables a reproducing device according to the invention to read parts of the video signal and the additional information signals such that no buffer overflow or underflow occurs. The size of the buffers in the apparatus can be reduced by means of the scheduling information.
US07725004B2 Information recorder, information recording medium, and information recording method
An information recording device for recording a content in an information recording medium. A controller includes a creating unit for creating a time sequence index information group and a reverse time sequence index information group based on plural index information items extracted from time series data, and a recording unit for recording the index information groups in an area different from an area where the time series data are recorded.
US07725000B2 Method for effective refractive index trimming of optical waveguiding structures and optical waveguiding structures
A method for trimming an effective refractive index of optical waveguiding structures made for example in a high refractive index contrast material system. By compaction of cladding material in a compaction area next to patterns or ridges that are formed in the core material for realizing an optical waveguiding structure, the effective index of refraction of the optical waveguiding structure can be trimmed. Thus, the operating wavelength of an optical component comprising such an optical waveguiding structure can be trimmed. An optical waveguide structure thus obtained is also disclosed.
US07724985B2 Device storing vector image with embedded image style identifier, and methods and utilities for formatting a device image with image style attributes
In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method retrieves a vector image from a device that is a target of an image request. The vector image illustrates at least a portion of the device. A first image style identifier, associated with a first set of style attributes for the vector image, is located within the vector image. A search is conducted for a second set of style attributes for the vector image, the second set of style attributes being stored apart from the vector image, and the second set of style attributes being given a higher priority than the first set of style attributes for the vector image. If the second set of style attributes is found, the vector image is caused to be formatted using at least the second set of style attributes. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US07724981B2 Adaptive contrast control systems and methods
A method of operating on an image of a document includes, for an electronic file that includes a representation of the document, portioning the representation of the document into non-overlapping areas. Each area includes a matrix of pixels and each pixel has an initial grayscale value and a position in the matrix. The method also includes, for each area, determining a black point value and a white point value. The method further includes, for each pixel in each area, determining a revised pixel grayscale value for the pixel using the pixel's grayscale value, the pixel's position in the matrix, the black point value for the area comprising the pixel, the white point value for the area comprising the pixel, the black point value for at least one area adjacent to the area comprising the pixel, and/or the white point value for at least one area adjacent to the area comprising the pixel. The method also includes producing the image of the document using the revised grayscale values for each pixel.
US07724966B2 Recording medium having recorded thereon coded information using plus and/or minus rounding of images
A recording medium having recorded thereon information related to coded data of an image sequence; wherein the information related to coded data of an image sequence is a set of coded frame information of a plurality of frames of an image sequence; wherein the coded frame information includes: information related to a difference image between an image of a current frame and a prediction image of the current frame, the prediction image being synthesized by performing motion compensation, information related to motion vectors estimated in performing the motion compensation, and rounding method information specifying either a positive rounding method or a negative rounding method for interpolating intensity values of pixels in performing the motion compensation when the input image is coded as a P frame, wherein no rounding method information is included in the coded frame information when the input image is coded as an I frame.
US07724959B2 Determining regions of interest in photographs and images
An algorithm for finding regions of interest (ROI) in images and photos based on an information driven approach in which sub-blocks of an image are analyzed for information content or compressibility based on the discrete cosine transform. The sub-blocks of low compressibility are grouped into ROIs using a morphological technique. Unlike other algorithms that are geared for highly specific types of ROI (e.g. face detection), the method of the present invention is generally applicable to arbitrary images and photos. A center-weighted variation of the algorithm can produce better results for certain photo applications. The algorithm can be used with several other image applications, including Stained-Glass collages and Pan-and-Scan presentations.
US07724951B2 Signal processing method, signal processing apparatus, and image reading apparatus
Upon processing a visible light image signal and infrared image signal respectively obtained by illuminating a transparent document with light beams coming from a visible light lamp for mainly emitting visible light and an infrared lamp for mainly emitting infrared light, and photoelectrically converting optical images of the transparent document, a histogram is generated on the basis of the infrared image signal, a threshold value is calculated based on the histogram, and infrared image signal components equal to or smaller than the threshold value are extracted by comparing the calculated threshold value and infrared image signal components. Visible light image signal components corresponding to the extracted infrared image signal components are interpolated using surrounding visible light image signal components.
US07724950B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, computer program, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus configured to detect an image region indicating a poor color tone of eyes from candidate regions includes: a first determination unit configured to perform a determination relating to an evaluation amount with respect to the poor color tone based on a predetermined color component in a target candidate region, and the evaluation amount in a peripheral region of the candidate region, a second determination unit configured to update the candidate region based on the first determination result, and to perform a determination relating to the evaluation amount or a predetermined color component with reference to pixels in an updated second candidate region, and a third determination unit configured to update the second candidate region based on the second determination result, and to perform a determination relating to a characteristic amount of a peripheral region with reference to pixels in a peripheral region of an updated third candidate region. A calculation amount of the third determination is greater than a calculation amount of the first or second determination.
US07724944B2 Image retrieval method and image retrieval device
Each of an image retrieval method and an image retrieval device in accordance with the present invention is provided with a means for extracting a color layout feature quantity, a dominant color feature quantity, a region division feature quantity, and a shape feature quantity from a query image which is a key of retrieval, and a means for specifying a region of interest of the image by carrying out mutual use of the above-mentioned feature quantities.
US07724941B2 Defect analysis place specifying device and defect analysis place specifying method
A defect analysis place specifying device for specifying defect analysis places from an inspection result of produced printed wiring boards in an electronic part mounting device for mounting parts on the printed wiring boards through plural steps, including an accepting unit for accepting plural printed wiring boards as inspection targets every predetermined unit, a defect mode specifying unit for specifying a defect mode having a predetermined frequency or more on the basis of the defect modes of the printed wiring boards and the occurrence frequencies thereof in the last step of the plural steps every unit accepted by the accepting unit, an extracting unit for extracting a combination having the same abnormal phenomenon causing the defect mode specified by the defect mode specifying unit in the other steps than the last step in the plural steps, and an output unit for outputting the combination extracted by the extracting unit.
US07724939B2 Method and apparatus for inspecting reticles implementing parallel processing
Disclosed is an apparatus for analyzing a plurality of image portions of at least a region of a sample. The apparatus includes a plurality of processors arranged to receive and analyze at least one of the image portions, and the processors being arranged to operate in parallel. The apparatus also includes a data distribution system arranged to receive image data, select at least a first processor for receiving a first image from the image data, select at least a second processor for receiving a second image from the image data, and output the first and second image portions to their selected processors.
US07724934B2 Gradation conversion processing
In gradation conversion of a radiographic image, a pixel value range in an object area as a pixel value width, a representative pixel value of the object, and a curved line of the gradation conversion such that the pixel value width is adjusted to a predetermined width and the representative pixel value is adjusted to a predetermined pixel value, are extracted, and a gradation converting step is performed, of performing conversion on the image, based on the curved line of the gradation conversion.
US07724929B2 System and method for myocardium segmentation in realtime cardiac MR data
A method for cardiac segmentation includes providing a plurality of digitized medical images, each image comprising a plurality of intensities corresponding to a domain of points on an 2-dimensional grid, the plurality of images forming a sequence of cardiac images acquired at different time points, filtering noise from the sequence of images, approximating the endocardium with a first circle, approximating the epicardium with a second circle, finding candidate points for the endocardium, finding candidate points for the epicardium, and interpolating gaps between points of the endocardium and between points of the epicardium wherein the myocardium is segmented.
US07724927B2 Large-area biometric specimen comparison with small-area biometric sample
Methods and systems according to the invention may compare a large-area biometric specimen and a small-area biometric sample. For example, a large-area plain surface fingerprint image may be stored in a fingerprint database as a specimen, and then a small-area plain surface fingerprint image may be acquired as a sample. The small-area image sample may be submitted to a fingerprint matching system for comparison with a large-area image specimen from the database. A determination may be made as to whether the small-area image matches a portion of the large-area image.
US07724926B2 Foster care monitoring and verification device, method and system
In some embodiments, system, devices and methods for monitoring and verifying foster care placement and processes are provided, the system and devices including a fingerprint scanner configured with limited function keys to limit data tampering opportunities for users, with the fingerprint scanner having a capability to associate fingerprint images within categories including clients, staff and providers, and also having the capability to group fingerprint images into visitation sets of data, and software for monitoring the visitations by staff members with providers and clients using fingerprint images obtained using the fingerprint scanner.
US07724917B2 Apparatus, method, and program product for detecting digital watermark
A digital watermark detection apparatus detects a watermark value from a motion image in which a topological invariant is embedded as the watermark value. The digital watermark detection apparatus includes a watermark component extracting unit which extracts each watermark component from the motion image; an average value computing unit which computes an average value of component values of pixels included in the watermark component; an identified watermark component determination unit which determines whether or not the watermark component is an identified watermark component to be utilized in identifying an arrangement unit of a plurality of watermark components based on the average value; a watermark component identifying unit which identifies the watermark component except for the identified watermark component; and a watermark value computing unit which computes the watermark value based on the identified watermark component and the watermark components except for the identified watermark component.
US07724912B2 Speaker assembly
A speaker assembly includes a rigid, structurally stable and self supporting housing within which at least a first driver is mounted and enclosed. The housing including a first aperture formed in a first wall of the housing. The first driver includes a cone coupled to a driver magnet for generating sound. The driver magnet is seated within the first aperture exposing a portion of the driver magnet to an exterior of the housing. The driver magnet is encircled by a foam gasket member, the foam gasket member being shaped and dimensioned to permit airflow about the magnet.
US07724908B2 System and method for programming a hearing aid
A system for providing a talk-over functionality from an attendant to a hearing aid user comprises a hearing aid (4), a link device (5) connected to the hearing aid (4), a computer (7) with a talk-over microphone (9), and a communications link (6) linking the computer (7) to the link device (5), the hearing aid user, the hearing aid (4), and the link device (5) being positioned in a sound-proof box (1). The computer (7) is adapted for receiving signals from the microphone (9), and for executing audio processing software for processing the microphone signals for converting them into compressed, digital audio signals and transmitting these signals via the communications link (6) to the link device (5). The link device (5) is adapted for decompressing the received signals and converting them into audio signals to be served to the hearing aid (4) in real-time. The system enables an attendant or a hearing aid fitter to talk to a hearing aid user via the communications link (6). This may, for instance, be useful when the hearing aid user is acoustically isolated from the fitter during fitting of the hearing aid (4). The invention provides a system and a method for providing a talk-over functionality.
US07724900B2 Method, apparatus, and program for processing information
An information processing apparatus decrypts stream data encrypted according to a first encryption method using a key encrypted according to a second encryption method. In the apparatus, an update instructing unit identifies the update timings of decryption keys and issues an update command. A decryption key output unit outputs a first decryption key before receiving the update command and outputs a second decryption key generated subsequent to the first decryption key after receiving the update command. An update instruction control unit determines whether the second decryption key has been generated before the first decryption key is updated to the second decryption key. When the second decryption key is generated, the update instruction control unit considers the second key generation point in time to be the update timing from the first decryption key to the second decryption key so as to control the update instructing unit to issue the update command.
US07724898B2 Cryptography using finite fields of odd characteristic on binary hardware
A cryptographic method is described. The method comprises storing binary data representing at least a portion of a field element of an odd-characteristic finite field GF(pk) in a register, p being an odd prime number, the field element comprising k coefficients in accordance with a polynomial-basis representation, the binary data comprising plural groups of data bits, wherein each group of data bits represents an associated one of the k coefficients and processing the binary data in accordance with a cryptographic algorithm such that the plural groups of data bits are processed in parallel. An apparatus comprising a memory and a processing unit coupled to the memory to carry out the method is also described.
US07724895B2 Cordless telephone apparatus
A cordless telephone apparatus includes: a battery which is rechargeable with a direct current based on an electric energy supplied from an outside of the cordless telephone apparatus; a constant current circuit which limits the direct current charged into the battery to a constant current; a voltage-dividing resistor which divides a direct voltage inputted into the constant current circuit; an A/D converter which converts a value of the direct voltage divided by the voltage-dividing resistor into digital data; a charging-state acquiring portion which acquires a charging state of the battery based on the digital data from the A/D converter; and a charging-state informing portion which informs the charging state of the battery acquired by the charging-state acquiring portion.
US07724891B2 Method to reduce acoustic coupling in audio conferencing systems
A method to reduce acoustic coupling in an audio conferencing system having a loudspeaker and a plurality of microphones, comprising detecting the presence of one of either a source of near-end signal or a source of far-end signal source relative to the audio conferencing system, and in the event of detecting a source of near-end signal then processing the near-end signal with high directivity towards the near-end source, and in the event of detecting a source of far-end signal or double-talk then processing the far-end signal with high coupling characteristics between the loudspeaker and microphones.
US07724882B2 Method for providing call intermediation services and system therefore
Disclosed is a method and system for providing call intermediation services. The method for providing the call intermediation services allows a user to automatically make a call with a company if a user inputs only the telephone number on the web. After confirming the company profile of the Internet portal site, a user can speak by telephone with a person in charge of a company without a waiting time for call connection, and the user can rapidly acquire necessary information by means of query and response.
US07724881B2 Communication device having advanced and pluggable telephony features
A communication device includes one or more programmable modules for receiving and selectively handling a telephone call including pre-specified caller identification information. The programmable module includes a registry of caller identification information and instructions on how to handle a particular telephone call when the telephone call includes caller identification information specified in the registry. The communication device includes several programmable modules, each configured to provide different functionality for selectively handling a telephone call. The programmable modules are inserted and removed from ports included with the communication device for providing functionality as needed. The communication device includes a web engine for configuring the programmable modules utilizing a web browser. The communication device includes functionality for announcing caller identification information to a user upon receipt of a telephone call.
US07724877B2 Radiographic imaging system
A radiographic imaging system comprises: a grid located opposite a surface of a radiographic image data detector to remove scatter radiation occurring when a radiation penetrates the subject; a grid moving mechanism for moving the grid at least in a direction; control means for acquiring first radiographic image data with the radiographic image data detector in a preset imaging time while moving the grid with the gird moving mechanism; and anomaly detection means for calculating a displacement of a grid image in the first radiographic image data based upon a position in which the grid is located and a displacement of the grid effected by the grid moving mechanism during the preset imaging time and detecting a defect in the first radiographic image data having a length agreeing with the calculated displacement of the grid image.
US07724869B2 Detector array and device using the same
Disclosed is a detector array comprising a first linear array for detecting a first ray and a second ray which penetrate through a first plurality of parts of the inspected object to acquire first values and second values for the first plurality of parts, wherein the second ray is alternately emitted with the first ray; and a second linear array arranged parallel to the first linear array for detecting the first ray and the second ray which penetrate through a second plurality of parts of the inspected object to acquire third values and fourth values for the second plurality of parts, wherein the first plurality of parts is partly identical to the second plurality of parts. With the detector array, the efficiency and material discrimination accuracy can be improved in the scanning inspection of the inspected object by use of alternate dual-energy rays.
US07724858B2 Techniques to manage latency for multiple receivers
Method and apparatus to manage delay for multiple receivers for a wireless system are described.
US07724848B2 Predictive signal cancellation for extracting 1 Mb/s MIL-STD-1553 component from composite high performance 1553 signal
Method and apparatus for maximizing the usable bandwidth for High Performance 1553 terminals operating concurrently on the same physical bus with legacy 1 Mb/s MIL-STD-1553 terminals. More specifically, the method and apparatus provides implementation for predictive cancellation by synthesizing an estimate of the 1 Mb/s MIL-STD-1553 component of a composite 1 Mb/s plus High Performance 1553 input signal using either of two different techniques: (1) a combination of digital and analog techniques; and (2) an all digital technique. The synthesized signal is then subtracted from the composite signal. Both techniques employ an algorithm for minimizing the effects of clock skew between 1 Mb/s 1553 transmitting clocks and the local High Performance 1553 sampling clock. Both techniques also incorporate an adaptation algorithm for developing and maintaining digital models of 1 Mb/s 1553 signals received from multiple 1 Mb/s 1553 terminals on a bus.
US07724841B2 Method and apparatus for iteratively calculating channel response estimates
Channel response and impairment correlation estimates are iteratively determined. According to one embodiment of performing channel estimation for use in received signal processing, a channel response estimate is calculated based on an initial impairment correlations estimate and a measured channel response derived from a received signal. A revised impairment correlations estimate is calculated using a parametric approach based on the channel response estimate and the channel response estimate is recalculated based on the revised impairment correlations estimate. According to one embodiment of a wireless communication device, the device comprises a parameter estimation unit configured to iteratively calculate a medium channel response estimate based on a parametric impairment correlations estimate and a measured net channel response derived from a received signal. The wireless communication device also comprises circuitry configured to control how many times the parameter estimation unit calculates the medium channel response estimate.
US07724840B2 RF transmitter with predistortion and method therefor
An RF transmitter (10) includes a linear predistorter (22) and a nonlinear predistorter (24) which together drive analog transmitter components (14). The linear and nonlinear predistorters (22, 24) are implemented using a collection of adaptive equalizers (30). A feedback signal (20) is developed by downconverting an RF communication signal (16) obtained from the analog components (14). The feedback signal (20) are used in driving tap coefficients (34) for the adaptive equalizers (30′, 30″) in the nonlinear predistorter (24). An intermodulation-product canceller (94) uses signal cancellation to cancel intermodulation products from the feedback signal (20) and generate an intermodulation-neutralized feedback signal (96). The intermodulation-neutralized feedback signal (96) is used along with a modulated convergence factor (43) in driving tap coefficients (34) for the adaptive equalizer (30) in the linear predistorter (22).
US07724834B2 System and method for maximum likelihood decoding in multiple out wireless communication systems
A system and method for a simplified Maximum Likelihood (ML) decoding (203) for MIMO systems is provided. The full ML decoding gives the lower bound of the decoding for CC coded MIMO systems. However, the computation cost is too high to be implemented in real system. Many alternative methods have been proposed for the decoding. Among them, weighted Zero Forcing (WZF) is one that can give affordable performance with reasonable computation complexity but there are several dB of performance gap for the WZF decoding and ML decoding. This present invention discloses a decoding system and method having improved performance over WZF decoding with affordable implementation complexity.
US07724831B2 Method and apparatus for detection of load impedance modulation in a transformer circuit
A method and apparatus for detection of load impedance modulation as a result of communication of data from the secondary to the primary side of a transformer are presented. The load impedance on the secondary of the transformer barrier is modulated differentially using data to be communicated across the barrier. A detection circuit on the primary side isolates the load current from the magnetizing current in the primary. The load current is subsequently integrated over two consecutive Manchester periods and the integrated value from the first Manchester period is compared against that of the second period thereby recovering the receive data.
US07724828B2 Signal compressing system
A multi-scanner scans a signal according to several different patterns. A scanning pattern selector determines which scanning pattern produced the most efficient coding result, for example, for runlength coding, and outputs a coded signal, coded most efficiently, and a selection signal which identifies the scanning pattern found to be most efficient.
US07724825B2 Video data processing method by calculating a DCT of the concatenated data set
A method and an arrangement for processing data in a digital input image include a decoder configured to decode encoded data. A detector is configured to detect the decoded data and a correction device is configured to correct the detected data. A predicted maximum frequency is calculated based on first and second data sets transformed by first and second transform, respectively. A real maximum frequency is calculated based on data transformed by an overall transform of a data set corresponding to the concatenation of the first and second data sets. A grid is determined by comparing the real and predicted maximum frequencies for a portion of the digital input image.
US07724822B2 Signal compressing system
A multi-scanner scans a signal according to several different patterns. A scanning pattern selector determines which scanning pattern produced the most efficient coding result, for example, for runlength coding, and outputs a coded signal, coded most efficiently, and a selection signal which identifies the scanning pattern found to be most efficient.
US07724821B2 Signal compressing system
A multi-scanner scans a signal according to several different patterns. A scanning pattern selector determines which scanning pattern produced the most efficient coding result, for example, for runlength coding, and outputs a coded signal, coded most efficiently, and a selection signal which identifies the scanning pattern found to be most efficient.
US07724811B2 Delay circuit, jitter injection circuit, and test apparatus
There is provided a delay circuit that delays and outputs a given input signal. The delay circuit includes a first delaying section that delays the input signal, a second delaying section that further delays the input signal delayed by the first delaying section, and a delay setting section that sets a time delay in the second delaying section at a timing delayed by a predetermined time to a timing setting a time delay in the first delaying section.
US07724806B2 Interferer diversity
Providing interferer diversity is disclosed. A received wireless signal is processed to obtain a first processed signal in which a desired information is translated to a first frequency in a first Nyquist zone. The received wireless signal processed to obtain a second processed signal in which the desired information is translated to a second frequency in the first Nyquist zone. The second frequency is different than the first frequency.
US07724802B2 Radar apparatus
A radar apparatus includes a transmission section, a delay device, a reception section, a switch control section, a switching frequency detection section, and a relative distance calculation section. The transmission section transmits a signal wave, which is spectrum spread by using a spread code. The delay device gives delay to the spread code. The reception section receives a wave reflected by an object and spectrum despreads the reflected wave with using the delayed spread code to output a despread signal. The switch control section switches at a switching frequency an operation of at least one of the transmission section, the reception section, and the delay device. The switching frequency detection section detects the switching frequency from the despread signal. The relative distance calculation section calculates a distance to the object based on a detection result provided by the switching frequency detection section and an amount of the delay.
US07724800B2 Power scaleable thin disk lasers
A thin disk laser includes a thin disk of a host material incorporating a laser gain medium. The disk has opposite first and second surfaces, at least one of which is non-planar. The first surface is coated with a high reflectivity coating. The second surface has an anti-reflection coating thereon. The shape and mounting of the laser is such that mismatch of the coefficients of thermal expansion between the disk laser and the mount does not affect scaling of the laser to larger size disks for higher power lasers.
US07724794B2 Semiconductor laser device
A semiconductor laser device includes an active layer, a pair of guiding layers sandwiching the active layer, and a pair of cladding layers sandwiching the active layer and the pair of guiding layers. The pair of guiding layers are InGaAsP lattice-matched to GaAs. The pair of cladding layers are AlGaAs. The Al composition ratios of the pair of AlGaAs cladding layers are 0.4 or less. The Al composition ratios are set such that the refractive indices of the pair of AlGaAs cladding layers do not exceed those of the pair of InGaAsP guiding layers.
US07724793B2 Nitride semiconductor laser element and fabrication method thereof
At each side of a ridge stripe 110, a trench is formed as a region carved relative to a wafer surface so that, at the time of cleaving, a surface irregularity that develops at a mirror facet near an active layer is prevented from reaching the ridge stripe 110.
US07724786B2 Process and apparatus for a wavelength tuning source
An apparatus and source arrangement for filtering an electromagnetic radiation can be provided which may include at least one spectral separating arrangement configured to physically separate one or more components of the electromagnetic radiation based on a frequency of the electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus and source arrangement may also have at least one continuously rotating optical arrangement which is configured to receive at least one signal that is associated with the one or more components. Further, the apparatus and source arrangement can include at least one beam selecting arrangement configured to receive the signal.
US07724782B2 Interval centroid based watermark
An interval centroid-based watermark encoder encodes a watermark into a packet flow. Intervals are defined for the packet flow. Some of the intervals are selected as group A intervals while other intervals are selected as group B intervals. Group A and group B intervals are paired and assigned to watermark bits. A first or second value may be encoded by increasing the relative packet time between packets in either the group A (for the first bit value) or group B (for the second bit value) interval(s) of the interval pair(s) assigned to the watermark bits that are to represent the first or second bit value and the beginning of the same group interval(s). The relative packet times may be measured by a decoder and used to calculate a centroid difference for each interval pair. The centroid differences may be used to reconstruct the watermark.
US07724762B2 Efficient transmission of packets within a network communication device
Systems and methods for efficient transmission of packets within a network communication device are described herein. Some illustrative embodiments include a network communication device that includes a plurality of ports (each port configured to communicate with one or more network devices), and a bus coupling the plurality of ports to each other (the bus providing a shared path for one or more bus transfers originated by a first port of the plurality of ports, and the one or more bus transfers including information). The bus includes a plurality of port map bits, a port map bit of said plurality of port map bits corresponding to a second port of the plurality of ports. The second port is configured to forward the information to the one or more network devices if the port map bit is asserted.
US07724758B2 Data forwarding
Transactions are received through at least two input channels, each transaction comprising one or more data packets. The data packets are placed in a single data queue. When a first transaction received through one input channel comprises more than one data packet, a data packet of a second transaction received through another input channel is permitted to be placed in the single data queue between data packets of the first transaction. A block of space in a data output queue is assigned to each transaction. Each data packet is placed in the block assigned to its transaction.
US07724747B2 Methods and apparatus for creating addresses
In a first aspect, a first method is provided for creating a media access control (MAC) address for a device. The first method includes the steps of (1) obtaining one or more identifiers; (2) obtaining a first MAC address; and (3) creating at least a second MAC address based on the one or more identifiers and the first MAC address. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US07724744B2 Method and system for a unicast endpoint client to access a multicast internet protocol (IP) session
Unicast endpoint clients on an IP Unicast network are provided access to Multicast sessions on an IP Multicast network through a Multicast-Unicast gateway server. The server obtains information about sessions on the Multicast network and makes such information available to a Unicast client on the Unicast network upon request by the client. Upon being presented with a list describing the subject matter of each session, the user at the Unicast client selects the session to which he or she wants to join, which causes the Multicast-Unicast server to join the appropriate session on behalf of the requesting client. All packets then received by the server from the Unicast client are address-translated to the appropriate Multicast session address and vice versa. The Unicast client is then able to participate in the Multicast session as both a sender and receiver of packets to and from other Unicast and Multicast clients which are active.
US07724738B2 Packet-level multicasting
Packet-level multicasting may be used to avoid the cell header and the memory size problems. One or more multicast control cells may be appended before one or more data cells of a multicast packet to carry multicast bitmap information. The control cell may be stored at the cell memory. This approach is suitable for a multi-plane, multi-stage packet switch.
US07724733B2 Interconnecting network for switching data packets and method for switching data packets
The interconnecting network for switching data packets, having data and flow control information, comprises a local packet switch element (S1) with local input buffers (I(1,1) . . . I(1,y)) for buffering the incoming data packets, a remote packet switch element (S2) with remote input buffers (I(2,1) . . . I(2,y)) for buffering the incoming data packets, and data lines (L) for interconnecting the local and the remote packet switch elements (S1, S2). The interconnecting network further comprises a local and a remote arbiter (A1, A2) which are connected via control lines (CL) to the input buffers (I(1,1) . . . I(1,y), I(2,1) . . . I(2,y)), and which are formed such that they can provide that the flow control information is transmitted via the data lines (L) and the control lines (CL).
US07724725B2 Method and system for efficient utilization of transmission resources in a wireless network
A method and system for efficient utilization of transmission resources in a wireless network includes requesting retransmission of an unsuccessfully received radio frame up to an allowed number of times. In response to at least unsuccessfully receiving the frame from the allowed number of retransmissions, a signal is generated for transmission to a device transmitting the frame. The signal is operable to prevent the device from transmitting a set of remaining frames for a packet to which the frame belongs.
US07724724B2 Radio communication apparatus
In order to realize such communication control as to reliably reconstruct communication information transmitted from a plurality of ANs at a plurality of ATs even when a BCMCS flow is added or deleted, a radio communication system includes a transmitter for transmitting control information necessary for the ATs to receive the communication information from a radio communication system at intervals of a predetermined period, and a controller for controlling to transmit a plurality of pieces of communication information to the ATs at intervals of a constant cycle and in synchronism with a transmission period of the control information.
US07724710B2 Methods to utilize multiple protocols in a wireless communication system
A wireless communication system is adapted for compatible inter-operation of a plurality of devices operating in accordance with a plurality of protocols. The wireless communication system includes a first group of one or more subscriber stations that interface with a base station in accordance with a first protocol and a second group of one or more subscriber stations that interface with the base station in accordance with a second protocol. The base station includes a protocol processor that identifies transmissions from the first and second groups of subscriber stations and routes transmissions from the first group of subscriber stations to a first processor operating in accordance with the first protocol and routes transmissions from the second group of subscriber stations to a second processor operating in accordance with the second protocol.
US07724709B2 High-speed cell search system for CDMA
In a high-speed search system for CDMA, plural (M) symbols which are subjected to spread frequency coding with a spreading code called as a short code are prepared when synchronization of the spreading code is established before synchronization of carrier is established in a mobile station used in a CDMA cellular system, data which are obtained by forming an orthogonal code with the polarities of the M symbols are set as a down signal, and when the orthogonal code concerned is detected, coherent integration is performed by a correlator having combinations of the polarities which can be possibly taken by the code over the plural symbols (of M) constituting the code.
US07724707B2 Network for a cellular communication system and a method of operation therefor
A network for a cellular communication system comprises access points (105-109) supporting cells within a region (113). Each access point (105-109) has an individual proxy address of a proxy address space which is a local address space of an address proxy (101) and a common network address of a network address space which is a network wide address space. A gateway access point (103) covers an entry point to the region (113) and detects a remote station entering the region. It then determines an access point (105) in the region to which the remote station is handed over and transmits a binding message to the address proxy (101) with an indication of the access point (105). In response to receiving the binding message, the address proxy (101) establishes a binding between the common network address and the proxy address of the access point (105). Data for the remote station is then forwarded to the access point (105) using the binding.
US07724698B2 Modulation and coding adjustment based on slant range characteristics for satellite downlinks
A satellite communications system adjusts a modulation and coding format for a downlink based on the slant range distance from the satellite to the receiving ground terminal. Modulation and coding formats are each associated with different sets of slant range distances. An estimated slant range from a satellite to a receiving ground terminal for a time period is determined, and the modulation and coding format associated with that slant range distance is identified. Data may then be transmitted by the satellite to the receiving ground terminal using the identified modulation and coding format for the time period. Additional factors may be considered in identifying the applicable modulation and coding format to be used.
US07724693B2 Network dependent signal processing
A system processes signals exchanged between a near end terminal and a far end terminal over a communication path. The system selects the processing characteristics of a near end terminal based on characteristics of the communication path. The communication path may include the near and the far end terminal and their respective codecs, and the networks. The system may select processing characteristics of the near end terminal based on characteristics of the communication path. Selecting the processing characteristics may include selecting a predetermined operation. The system may adapt a selected operation based on a real time analysis of the communication path.
US07724682B2 Method and system for generating transport stream packets
In accordance with a specific aspect of the present invention, a compressed video stream, such as an MPEG-2 video stream, is received by a transport demultiplexor, synchronized, parsed into separate packet types, and written to buffer locations external the demultiplexor. Adaptation field is handled by a separate parser. In addition, primary elementary stream data can be handled by separate primary elementary stream parsers based upon the packet identifier of the primary elementary stream. Video packets can be parsed based upon stream identifier values. Specific packets of data are stored in one or more system memory or video memory buffers by an output controller based upon allocation table information. Private data associated with specific elementary streams or packet adaptation fields are repacketized, and written to an output buffer location. In specific implementations, the hardware associated with the system is used to acquire the data stream without any knowledge of the specific protocol of the stream. In another embodiment, the hardware is used to implement a splicing of streams of data. A method and system for generating a transport stream for testing such a system is disclosed using a data record specifying a packetized elementary stream payload portion, a transport packet portion, and an adaptation field portion. A text data record is used to generate specific transport stream data to test demultiplexer systems.
US07724671B2 Architecture for resource management in a telecommunications network
An architecture for resource management in a telecommunications network includes two or more nodes connected over a logically direct path in a peer-to-peer manner. At each node, local events typically trigger the node to transmit a broadcast to every other node. Broadcast information comprises a status of the local node's resources. Remote nodes receive the local node's broadcast and independently transmit their own broadcasts with similar information. Each node stores the received broadcast information in a local storage for future retrieval. When a session is desired with a remote node, the local node simply retrieves the remote node's resource status information from its local storage and determines if a session can occur. In this manner, every node of the network is aware of the nodal addresses of the other nodes, remote node's resource status, and can quickly retrieve, from its own local storage, the availability of the remote node's resources.
US07724666B1 Credit-based flow control over unreliable links
A fabric request controller implements flow control for data cells to a network or switch fabric. The fabric request controller issues request messages to the fabric switch and receives back corresponding grant messages. The fabric request controller includes a credit counter for metering the number of allowable outstanding requests. A fake request vector component periodically issues fake requests to compensate for information loss on the switch fabric.
US07724665B2 Common channel flow control method and system
A flow control method includes a step of receiving individual data of each session from a network in an individual trunk apparatus and transmitting the received individual data as a transmission side common channel data to a common buffer, a step of temporarily storing data of plural sessions received from the individual trunk apparatus all at once and monitoring the congestion of the common channel according to the common buffer use amount, and upon detection of a congestion level, a step of stopping or limiting transmission of individual data of a session corresponding to a QoS class having a low priority from the individual trunk apparatus to the common buffer.
US07724661B2 Scalable, high-resolution asynchronous transfer mode traffic shaper and method
An ATM network traffic shaper is implemented in hardware. The traffic shaper shapes transmit data on one or more virtual circuits (VCs) according to the specified quality of service (QoS) parameters. Thus, the traffic shaper provides for the delivery of associated data cells in accordance with the specified QoS parameters. The traffic shaper is scalable in that the number of supported VCs can be increased with a relatively small increase in the size of the device and associated logic gates. The traffic shaper supports constant bit rate (CBR), variable bit rate (VBR), and unknown bit rate (UBR) service types and generates cell transmit requests with zero cell delay variation (CDVT). The traffic shaper also provides very high resolution in terms of bit rate specification. Varying shaping resolutions are achieved by varying a shaping interval time (SIT) generated by a SIT counter.
US07724659B2 Network-based autodiscovery system for MAC forwarding dispatcher
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for detecting a connection configuration of a network system. An embodiment includes acquiring first and second network data flowing in the network system; determining whether the contents of the first network data are identical with those of the second network data, and whether a destination address of the first network data is identical with a source address of the second network data; and providing output indicating that a load balancing apparatus is set to have the source address of the second network data, and that a cluster node is set to have a destination address of the second network data, in response to a determination that there is a coincidence in the above-mentioned determining step. The embodiment makes it possible to grasp a logical connection relationship of a current network, without relying on memory of a system administrator.
US07724657B2 Systems and methods for communicating a lossy protocol via a lossless protocol
The present invention is generally directed towards a remote access architecture for providing peer-to-peer communications and remote access connectivity. In one embodiment, the remote access architecture of the present provides a method for establishing a direct connection between peer computing devices via a third computing device, such as a gateway. Additionally, the present invention provides the following techniques to optimize peer-to-peer communications: 1) false acknowledgement of receipt of network packets allowing communications via a lossless protocol of packets constructed for transmission via a lossy protocol, 2) payload shifting of network packets allowing communications via a lossless protocol of packets constructed for transmission via a lossy protocol, 3) reduction of packet fragmentation by adjusting the maximum transmission unit (MTU) parameter, accounting for overhead due to encryption, 4) application-aware prioritization of client-side network communications, and 5) network disruption shielding for reliable and persistent network connectivity and access.
US07724652B2 Method of reducing network congestion
In a method of reducing network congestion between a source computer and a destination computer, a receiving router receives a source quench message and determines whether originator of the source quench message is the destination computer or an intermediate router. If the receiving router determines the originator to be the destination computer, the receiving router forwards the source quench message to the source computer. If the receiving router determines the originator to be an intermediate router, the receiving computer determines if there is an alternative route from the receiving router to the destination computer. If the receiving router determines there is no alternative route from the receiving router to the destination computer, the receiving router forwards the source quench message to the source computer. If the receiving router determines there is an alternative route to the destination computer, the receiving router does not forward the source quench message to the source computer, and, going forward, routes packets to the destination computer by the alternative route.
US07724651B2 Redundant far-end pseudo-wire connectivity
Providing a network service is disclosed. A data associated with the service is received. It is determined whether a local context associated with the service is in an active state with respect to the service. The data is redirected to another chassis, via an inter-chassis backup connection, if it is determined that the local context is not in an active state with respect to the service.
US07724643B2 Recovery of duplex data system after power failure
A duplex data system performs a recovery process normally even in the event of an abrupt abnormal power failure. The duplex data system has a first storage device, a second storage device, and a control unit for duplicating data by storing the data in the first storage device and the second storage device. For duplicating the data, the control unit first writes the data into the first storage device and, after having completed the writing of the data into the first storage device, writes the data into the second storage device.
US07724642B2 Method and apparatus for continuous operation of a point-of-sale system during a single point-of-failure
A computer network includes servers, controllers, and a plurality of workstations. The servers and controllers are coupled by Ethernet and secondary communication links. The workstations are serially coupled with the controllers. In this network, each server and controller acts as a failsafe and is adapted to assume the functionality of another server or controller in response to failure in that server or controller. In this manner, the secondary communication link assumes functionality of the Ethernet link in response to failure in the Ethernet link. A method of eliminating interruptions in a computer network due to a single point-of-failure includes assuming functionality of a server or controller by another server or controller in response to failure in the server or controller, and assuming functionality of an Ethernet link by a secondary communication link in response to failure in the Ethernet link.
US07724641B2 System and method for utilizing direct user signaling to enhance fault tolerant H.323 systems
An H.323 client terminal (102) according to an embodiment of the invention employs primary and secondary H.323 control units or state machines (110a, 110b). The primary control unit (110a) sends signaling messages to a primary gatekeeper (108a) and triggers the secondary control unit (110b) to send a message with an appropriate correlation identifier directly to a second client terminal. The primary control unit (110a) establishes a call per standard H.323 protocols. The secondary control unit (110b) also establishes a direct signaling connection to the second client terminal as back up. However, no media channels are established for this backup signaling. The secondary control unit (110b) checks the status of the call with the primary control unit (110a). If the call signaling on the primary control unit (110a) is proceeding normally, no further action is taken. If the call signaling with the primary gatekeeper (108a) fails, the secondary control unit (110b) takes over the signaling communication via the direct signaling channel.
US07724637B2 Method and apparatus for controlled spectrum multi-carrier modulation
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for generating a controlled spectrum of modulated energy. A single data stream is splintered into substreams. Each substream is used to modulate a portion of the modulated spectrum. Each substream is transformed into a numerical phase and amplitude representation of a portion of the spectrum to be modulated. The combined numerical representations are then converted to a time-domain representation and filtered to eliminate undesired side-lobes.
US07724636B2 Asymmetry compensator for partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) decoder
An asymmetry compensator for a partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) decoder, which is utilized to remove and eliminate the asymmetric component of the regenerating signal read from the optical recording medium, thereby effectively solving the problem of the asymmetry of the optical disk regenerating signal. The compensator includes an offset controller and a gain controller. The offset controller determines the central level of the regenerating signal thus to adjust the offset of the regenerating signal while the gain controller is arranged to adjust the gain of the regenerating signal.
US07724634B2 Optical pickup apparatus with temperature compensation
An optical pickup apparatus, comprising: a light source to emit a light flux; a light converging system including an objective lens to converge the light flux emitted from said light source onto an optical information recording medium; a first diffraction element placed within an optical path up to the optical information recording medium; a light flux splitting element that is placed within the optical path from said light source up to the optical information recording medium and that splits an incident light flux emitted by the light source; a monitor element that receives a light flux split by said light flux splitting element and outputs a signal according to a received light amount; a second diffraction element placed between said light flux splitting element and said monitor element; and a control section that controls the drive of said light source according to the signal from said monitor element.
US07724632B2 Optical pickup device
An optical pickup device includes a liquid crystal element having transparent electrodes, one of which has a plurality of areas divided in a concentric manner. The liquid crystal element can compensate for a spherical aberration that is generated when information is reproduced or recorded on two types of optical recording media. When one of two light beams supporting the two types of optical recording media having a larger value of an effective diameter is a first light beam and the other having a smaller value is a second light beam, parts of areas located inside an effective diameter of the second light beam and areas located outside the same to which the same voltage is applied for compensating for a spherical aberration generated in the first light beam are connected electrically to be the same potential.
US07724631B2 Reflective holographic storage media with control information in underlying DVD reflective layer
A holographic storage media incorporates a holographic recording layer for storing holographic data and a DVD reflective layer for storing control information. The DVD reflective layer is positioned within the holographic storage media relative to the holographic recording layer to enable individual optical access to the holographic recording layer via a data laser light for processing the holographic data and individual optical access to the DVD reflective layer via an information laser light for processing the control information. The holographic recording layer and the DVD reflective layer may be physically separated by one or more intermediate reflective layers. The data laser light and the information laser light may differ in one or more optical characteristics. The holographic recording layer and the DVD reflective layer may be optically accessed by the respective laser lights through different light transparent faces of the holographic storage media.
US07724630B2 Optical disc device and disc determining method
The number of recording layers of the loaded disc is determined using the blue laser light. If the number of recording layers is two, drawing is performed in the recording layer on the near side when seen from the laser light entering side, and demodulation is performed with the HDDVD decoder. If demodulatable, the disc is determined as a disc in which two HDDVD layers are arranged. If not demodulatable, determination is made on whether or not the data of the recording layer is demodulatable with the DVD decoder. If demodulatable with the DVD decoder, the laser light is switched to the red laser light and the number of recording layers is determined. If two recording layers are detected in this determination, the disc is determined as a disc in which two DVD layers are arranged. On the other hand, if one recording layer is detected, the disc is determined as a hybrid HDDVD in which one HDDVD layer and one DVD layer are arranged.
US07724616B2 Optical recording/reproducing apparatus, medium, and method and controlling apparatus, medium, and method therefor
An optical recording/reproducing apparatus, medium, and method and a controlling apparatus, medium, and method thereof. The recording/reproducing apparatus includes an optical pickup actuator including a holder formed on a base, a blade connected to the holder with a plurality of elastic supporters, a pair of focus coils for operating the blade in a focus direction, track coils for operating the blade in a tracking direction, magnets, a memory for storing a lookup table for the height of the blade according to electric current, a lookup table for the tilt of the blade according to the electric current supplied to the focus coils, a lookup table for the actual tilt of an optical disk according to the height of the blade, and a controller for computing a tilt difference between the optical disk and the blade and controlling the electric currents supplied to the focus coils to compensate for the tilt difference.
US07724613B2 Apparatus and method to store information in a holographic data storage medium
A method is disclosed to store information in a holographic data storage medium. The method supplies a holographic data storage medium and provides information. The method defines an Active storage portion for the holographic data storage medium and establishes a threshold access interval. The method determines if the information was last accessed within the threshold access interval. If the information was last accessed within said threshold access interval, the method then stores that information as one or more holograms encoded in said Active storage portion of the holographic data storage medium.
US07724612B2 System and method for providing aiding information to a satellite positioning system receiver over short-range wireless connections
Systems and methods for obtaining corrected time information in a GPS-enabled device connected to a mobile handset via a short-range wireless network, such as a Bluetooth™ Piconet™. The mobile handset includes a GPS time and a network clock synchronized with a network clock in a short-range wireless network interface in the GPS-enabled device. The GPS-enabled device may send requests for time information to the mobile handset. The mobile handset receives the request and latches the network clock time and the GPS time. The captured network clock time and GPS times are sent to the GPS-enabled device in response to the request. The GPS-enabled device subtracts the captured network clock time from its own network clock time and adds the difference to the captured GPS time to obtain a corrected GPS time.
US07724608B2 Passive reflective imaging for visualizing subsurface structures in earth and water
A system and method is provided that uses signals from a plurality of seismic sensors to define an acoustic lens for subsurface imaging. More specifically signals provided by an array of sensors/geophones may be utilized to form an acoustic lens that can be focused on a subterranean point by properly adjusting the signals recorded at each sensor prior to summation of those signals. To form such an acoustic lens, each of the seismic sensors is moved onto a hypothetical acoustic lens surface (e.g., spherical surface) having a focal point located on the subterranean point of interest in order to calculate a time delay for each signal. Once the signals for each sensor is time-delayed, information in the time-delayed signals, which is received from the point of interest, may be temporally aligned. Accordingly, the time delayed signals may be combined to generate reflection information for the point of interest.
US07724600B1 Electronic fuse programming current generator with on-chip reference
An integrated circuit includes an electronic fuse (“E-fuse”) cell having a fuse link and an E-fuse programming current generator. The fuse link has a width (FLw) and a thickness (FLT) and is fabricated from a layer of link material. An E-fuse programming current generator includes a reference link array having a plurality of reference links. Each of the reference links has the fuse link width and the fuse link thickness, and is fabricated from the layer of link material.
US07724593B2 Memories with front end precharge
Methods, apparatuses and systems of operating digital memory where the digital memory device including a plurality of memory cells receives a command to perform an operation on a set of memory cells, where the set of memory cells contains fewer memory cells than the device as a whole and where the device performs the operation including selectively precharging on the front end of the operation, in response to the received command, only a set of bit lines associated with the set of memory cells.
US07724592B2 Internal data comparison for memory testing
Memory devices having a normal mode of operation and a test mode of operation are useful in quality programs. The test mode of operation includes a data comparison test mode. The data comparison test mode systematically searches for addresses of defective columns by comparing a sensed data value to an expected data value at various levels of decoding. Upon detection of a defective column, the address value for each level of decoding is stored and can be used in redundancy selection to replace the defective columns with redundant columns. The comparison is internal to the memory device such that the test mode is independent of external testers and can be run after fabrication, even by an end user, thus allowing repair after fabrication and installation. The comparisons are facilitated by compare logic inserted into the data path.
US07724586B2 Implementing local evaluation of domino read SRAM with enhanced SRAM cell stability with minimized area usage
A method and circuit for implementing domino static random access memory (SRAM) local evaluation with enhanced SRAM cell stability, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. A SRAM local evaluation circuit enabling a read and write operations of an associated SRAM cell group includes true and complement bitlines, true and complement write data propagation inputs, a precharge signal, and a precharge write signal. A respective precharge device is connected between a voltage supply VDD and the true bitline and the complement bitline. A first passgate device is connected between the complement bitline and the true write data propagation input. A second passgate device is connected between the true bitline and the complement write data propagation input. The precharge write signal disables the passgate devices during a read operation. During write operations, the precharge write signal enables the passgate devices.
US07724581B2 Discharge order control circuit and memory device
A discharge order control circuit includes a pool circuit a delay circuit and a discharge unit to control a discharge order of internal power supplies. The pool circuit stores electric charges provided from a potential of an external power supply. The delay circuit operates on the electric charges stored in the pool circuit and delays a discharge signal generated when potential of the external power supply is lowered to a predetermined potential level. The delay circuit includes an inverter array having a plurality of stages each containing an inverter. The plurality of stages include a final stage that outputs the delayed discharge signal. Only the inverter of the final stage generates an RC delay.
US07724578B2 Sensing device for floating body cell memory and method thereof
A memory device includes a memory array and a sense amplifier. The memory array includes a floating body cell configured to store a bit value. The sense amplifier includes a bit output configured to provide an output voltage representative of the bit value and a reference source configured to provide a reference voltage. The sense amplifier further includes a current mirror configured to provide a current to the first floating body cell based on the reference voltage, and a differential amplifier circuit configured to determine the output voltage based on the reference voltage and a voltage across the floating body cell resulting from application of the current to the floating body cell.
US07724570B1 Adaptive programming of memory circuit including writing data in cells of a memory circuit
Adaptive programming methods and supportive device architecture for memory devices are provided. Methods include partitioning words into variable length segments. More particularly, methods include receiving a word of data, parsing the word into a plurality of write-subsets, where the size of the write-subsets depends on values of the data and constraints that are specific to the memory circuit, and writing the data in cells of the memory circuit, one write-subset at a time. A memory device includes a digital controller capable of parsing words into a plurality of write-subsets, where the length of write-subsets are depending on values of the data and constraints that are specific to the memory device.
US07724567B2 Memory device and method of refreshing
A content addressable memory includes a first plurality of search lines, a second plurality of search lines, a first match line, and a storage location. Each search line of the first plurality of search lines receives a corresponding high voltage level or low voltage level during a match detect operation, and each search line of the second plurality of search lines to receive a corresponding high voltage level or low voltage level during the match detect operation. The storage location of the content addressable memory includes a plurality of CAM cells, each CAM cell a first thyristor and second thyristor.
US07724561B2 Ferroelectric memory device, its driving method and electronic apparatus
A ferroelectric memory device includes: a plurality of bit lines; a plurality of memory cells connected to each of the plurality of bit lines, and each storing “0” data with a smaller amount of readout charge or “1” data with a greater amount of readout charge according to a polarization state; a plurality of data lines; a plurality of charge transfer circuits that connect the plurality of bit lines to the plurality of data lines, respectively, based on a potential on each of the bit lines; a capacitor connected to each of the plurality of data lines for storing negative charge; a positive charge canceling circuit that pulls out positive charge corresponding to the amount of “0” data readout charge from each of the plurality of bit lines; and a sense amplifier that judges data read out from the memory cells.
US07724553B2 DC-to-DC converter with improved transient response
A DC-to-DC converter with improved transient response, accuracy and stability is disclosed. The DC-to-DC converter includes a comparator, a driver, at least one switch and a stability circuit. The stability circuit receives a voltage signal based upon sensing one of the at least one switch. The configuration with elimination a current sensing resistor can create a simpler solution for the DC-to-DC converter.
US07724551B2 Step-up circuit and portable device using it
According to the invention, as an input voltage of a certain step-up unit of a plurality of stages of step-up units, a stepped-up output of a step-up unit in a stage preceding the certain step-up unit is inputted. This makes it possible to increase the level of a voltage stepped up by each step-up unit, and reduce the number of units. Furthermore, according to the invention, when an output voltage of a step-up unit that performs stepping-up operation according to a reference constant current is lower than a reference voltage, a reference constant current is produced; when the output voltage thereof exceeds the reference voltage, the reference constant current is stopped. This makes it possible to provide stable output of an output voltage at a predetermined level, and reduce an inrush current during start-up to a predetermined current level.
US07724546B2 Converter
A converter capable of suppressing an instant voltage variation and outputting a desired DC power with high precision. The converter includes a power conversion unit that conducts power conversion on a supplied power, a smoothing filter that smoothes the power that has been converted in power, a voltage detector that detects a voltage of the smoothed power, and control unit that outputs a pulse signal for controlling a conduction ratio of a switching element within the power conversion unit so that an output voltage from the voltage detector becomes a desired voltage value. The control unit temporarily stops the power supply when the output voltage increases up to a first given voltage and restarts the power supply when the output voltage decreases down to a second given voltage.
US07724541B2 Self-assembled electrical networks
Techniques for self assembly of macro-scale objects, optionally defining electrical circuitry, are described, as well as articles formed by self assembly. Components can be joined, during self-assembly by minimization of free energy, capillary attraction, or a combination.
US07724539B2 Holder for a small-sized electronic part
According to the present invention, there is provided a holder having a pressure flange not to be easily disengaged from a small-sized electronic part in pressing and accommodating the holder having the small-sized electronic part in a mounting recess. A holder includes a projecting portion protruding from a pressing flange toward a cylinder axis of a holding portion, formed in a portion having a predetermined length of an inner edge of the pressing flange. With this construction, when the holder accommodating a small-sized electronic part is mounted to a casing of an apparatus, even if the pressing flange is rolled up and about to be disengaged from the small-sized electronic part, the projecting portion engages with the small-sized electronic part, thereby preventing the pressing flange from being rolled up.
US07724537B1 Lock down device
A lock down device is disclosed that provides lateral stability and rigidity to at least one elongated item in relationship to a support structure. The lock down device may comprise a securing mechanism for use securing the device to the support structure. A receiving port, optionally strengthen with a brace, may be included to enable liquid cooled boards to be used in conjunction with the device. Seating channels, along either the first and/or second side retain and support the item and, at the proximal end, an L-shape may be used to provide additional support. A bridge notch may be placed in the first and/or second sides to enable the locking device to seat properly when a bridge is used to connect two boards. The lock down device may be secured through locking tabs having receiving holes for screws V-shaped tabs, button tabs, or any other applicable mechanism.
US07724533B2 Electronic apparatus
A removable unit is designed to enjoy a change of attitude relative to an apparatus body. The apparatus body is received on the surface of a desk at first rubber pads. The removable unit has a pair of second rubber pads on its bottom surface located at a position adjacent to the bottom surface of the apparatus body. The bottom surface of the electronic apparatus is in this manner spaced from the surface of the desk. When a piece of paper is inserted between the second rubber pad and the surface of the desk, the change of attitude of the removable unit allows the other second rubber pad to contact the surface of the desk. The removable unit absorbs the difference of elevation based on the change of attitude. The removable unit allows the second rubber pads to contact. The electronic apparatus suffers from less rattling.
US07724530B2 Thin multi-chip flex module
A multichip module comprises a multilayer substrate circuit having conductive patterns on its surface(s) to which microelectronic device(s) are attached. A part of the substrate is flexible and bifurcated. Two rigid members are attached lengthwise, one on either side of the substrate, and the free ends of the bifurcation are reflexed respectively about these members and bonded to them. Electrodes are located on the bifurcations so that they will be exposed outwardly and/or downwardly after reflexing. The module may further be provided with protective heat spreading covers. The electrodes and rigid members may be configured to engage a mating socket or they may be solderable to a printed circuit board.
US07724525B2 Heat sink clip and assembly
A clip includes a body, a moveable fastener and an actuating member. The body includes a pressing part, a flat portion and a latching leg. The movable fastener includes a connecting portion, a pivot axis connected at a top end of the connecting portion and an engaging portion. The connecting portion extends through the flat portion. The actuating member defines a guiding groove therein. The guiding groove angles outward to form a height difference along a longitudinal axis of the actuating member between a topmost end and a bottommost end thereof. The actuating member is above the flat portion and connected to the pivot axis of the moveable fastener. The actuating member is levelly moveable relative to the movable fastener so that the pivot axis can slide along the guiding groove to render the moveable fastener vertically moveable between a locked position and a released position.
US07724509B2 Display housing for computing device
An improved housing for a computing device is disclosed. The improved housing can have one or more of the following aspects. One aspect of the invention pertains to a computing device provided with an internal antenna. One aspect of the invention pertains to a stiffener for a computer housing so as to increase the rigidity and strength of the computer housing. One aspect of the invention pertains to a lid for a computing device, such as a portable computer, that is provided with a translucent housing.
US07724501B2 Electrolytic capacitor
An electrolytic capacitor having a low impedance characteristic, having a high withstand voltage characteristic of 100V class, wherein the electrolytic capacitor provides an excellent high temperature life characteristic and an excellent leakage characteristic. The electrolyte solution containing the aluminum tetrafluoride salt is used. The electrolytic capacitor of the present invention has a low impedance characteristic, a high withstand voltage characteristic, and an excellent high temperature life characteristic. Moreover, the aforementioned electrolyte solution is used, and a foil showing noble potential at least in the electrolyte solution than the electrode potential of the cathode tab, or a cathode electrode foil subjected to chemical treatment is used as the cathode electrode foil, so as to obtain an excellent leakage characteristic.
US07724500B2 Nanoscale manganese oxide on ultraporous carbon nanoarchitecture
A composite concerning a porous carbon structure having a surface and pores and a coating of MnO2 on the carbon surface, wherein the coating does not completely fill or obstruct a majority of the pores, and wherein the coating is formed by self-limiting electroless deposition.
US07724495B2 Rolled film capacitor
A rolled film capacitor is disclosed which includes a first dielectric film and a second dielectric film, which are wound along their length dimension to form alternating turns of the winding. A plurality of first conductive segments are arranged on a first surface of the first dielectric film along the length dimension of the first dielectric film, and a plurality of second conductive segments are arranged on a surface of the second dielectric film along the length dimension of the second dielectric film, or on a second surface of the first dielectric film along the length dimension of the first dielectric film. The first conductive segments can have a progressively increasing length along the length dimension of the first dielectric film, and the second conductive segments have a progressively increasing length along the length dimension of the first or second dielectric film. The number of the first and/or second conductive segments per turn of the winding can be equal to or more than one.
US07724490B2 Magnetic disk degaussing device and degaussing method
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a degaussing device and a degaussing method capable of efficiently degaussing a magnetic disk, especially, a magnetic disk of the perpendicular magnetic recording system, without resorting to a magnetic field of a high intensity. Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a degaussing method of degaussing a magnetic disk not yet installed in a magnetic disk drive by applying an external magnetic field to the magnetic disk by a degaussing device. In accordance with one embodiment, the method includes disposing the magnetic disk in the degaussing device such that the direction of an external magnetic field is inclined at an angle to the axis of easy magnetization of the magnetic disk.
US07724482B2 Parallel HTS transformer device
A superconducting transformer system is configured to be included within a utility power grid having a known fault current level. The superconducting transformer system includes a non-superconducting transformer interconnected between a first node and a second node of the utility power grid. A superconducting transformer is interconnected between the first node and the second node of the utility power grid. The superconducting transformer and the non-superconducting transformer are electrically connected in parallel. The superconducting transformer has a lower series impedance than the non-superconducting transformer when the superconducting transformer is operated below a critical current level and a critical temperature. The superconducting transformer is configured to have a series impedance that is at least N times the series impedance of the non-superconducting transformer when the superconducting transformer is operated at or above one or more of the critical current level and the critical temperature. N is greater than 1 and is selected to attenuate, in conjunction with an impedance of the non-superconducting transformer, the known fault current level by at least 10%.
US07724476B1 Coined headlift with formed rail offset for a disk drive head suspension component
A disk drive head suspension headlift formed from a single piece of stainless steel includes a beam region, lift tab and offset region between the beam region and lift tab. The beam region has a major surface and formed side rails. The lift tab is a coined, trough-shaped member at a z-height spaced from the major surface of the beam region. The offset region has a major surface and side rails that transition in height between the side rails of the beam region and the lift tab.
US07724475B2 Conductive member, disk drive using same, and conductive member fabricating method
Embodiments of the present invention provide a conductive member, in which electric characteristics can be improved by matching impedance all the way from a conductive wire to a pad. In one embodiment, a conductive member comprises: a back side metal layer; an insulating layer formed on the back side metal layer; a conductive wire formed on the insulating layer; and a pad formed on the insulating layer and electrically connected to the conductive wire; at least one opening and at least one supporting structure being formed at a position corresponding to the pad on the back side metal layer.
US07724474B2 Thin-film magnetic head comprising contact pad including portions of closure and substrate and magnetic recording apparatus comprising the head
A thin-film magnetic head that shows stable read and/or write performances, maintaining the reliability over time by suppressing the wear of the head sufficiently, is provided. The head comprises: a substrate having an element-formed surface and an opposed-to-medium surface; a magnetic head element; an overcoat layer formed on the element-formed surface so as to cover the magnetic head element; a closure provided on the overcoat layer, a surface of the closure being in contact with the upper surface of the overcoat layer; and an element contact pad formed in a sliding-side surface of the head and having a contact surface including a part of the opposed-to-medium surface, a part of an end surface of the overcoat layer and a part of an end surface of the closure, one end of the magnetic head element reaching the contact surface.
US07724472B2 System and method for cleaning a tape drive
A system, a method, and article of manufacture are employed to clean the input/output transducers on tape drives, verified by the tape drives reading alphanumeric information from data tracks and servo tracks of a cleaner tape. An aggressive cleaning frontcoat section of the cleaner tape can be used to provide additional cleaning action, and the cleanliness of the data read elements, data write elements, and the servo heads. A less-abrasive cleaning section may be used to clean less difficult types of contaminants. In this manner, the cleanliness of the data read elements, the data write elements, and the servo heads can be verified. A cleaning section may also be used as a leader section of a self-characterization section. Alternatively, a magnetic data tape section may be included for self-characterization.
US07724470B2 Thermally assisted recording of magnetic media using an optical resonant cavity and nano-pin power delivery device
The media heating device of the magnetic head includes an optical resonant cavity and a nano-pin that produces a high intensity near-field optical beam of sub-wavelength dimension adjacent to the write pole. The cavity is fabricated as a planar thin film structure in layers that are generally parallel to the magnetic pole thin film layers of the magnetic head, such that a principal axis of the resonant cavity is parallel to the air bearing surface (ABS). Optical energy is coupled into the resonant cavity through a waveguide that is placed proximate the cavity, and optical energy is coupled out of the cavity through a nano-pin that is disposed between the resonant cavity and the ABS.
US07724467B2 Storage device, control circuit for storage device, and servo-write-mode identifying method
A servo-mark search control unit detects in a magnetic disk a servo mark matching a servo mark selected by a servo-mark candidate selecting unit. In this case, according to an instruction from a servo-mark search control unit, a non-volatile memory managing unit writes servo-write-mode identification information corresponding to the detected servo mark in a servo-write-mode identification-information storage unit of a non-volatile memory. In this manner, a magnetic disk device can recognize by itself a servo write mode with which servo patterns were written in a magnetic disk included in the magnetic disk device.
US07724463B2 Disk drive device and method for removing adhesion on a head
Embodiments of the present invention help to effectively remove adhesion on a head slider. In an embodiment of the present invention, a hard disk controller/multiprocessing unit (HDC/MPU) raises the temperature on the surface of a head slider with a heating element on the head slider to remove adhesion on the head slider while an actuator stays on a ramp. The HDC/MPU varies the amount of heat in accordance with the temperature sensed by a temperature sensor. This achieves removal of the adhesion on the head slider, maintaining reliability.
US07724462B2 System, method and apparatus for direct head-disk clearance measurement by slider vibration and fly height calibration
A method models and calibrates the fly height of a slider above the disk for disk drives. The calibration scheme uses the Wallace spacing loss equation and laser doppler velocimetry to predict fly height and detect the actual fly height of the slider. The slider is vibrated at selected resonances, such as by capacitive coupling to the disk, and the fly height is gradually reduced. In one version, contact between the slider and disk may be detected using an arm electronics sensor. The amplitude of mean-to-peak, vibration detection is used as an indication of the actual fly height and to calibrate the modeled fly height.
US07724461B1 Determining head non-linearity in a disk drive
Disclosed is a disk drive that determines dynamic fly height (DFH) head non-linearity. A processor of the disk drive controls operations in the disk drive including: estimating a first and second set of head media spacing (HMS) actuation data for a DFH head at a first and second data frequency by commanding the application of power to the DFH head across a pre-defined power range; determining a first and second HMS value based upon the first and second sets of HMS actuation data; calculating a difference value between the first and second HMS values; determining whether the difference value exceeds a threshold.
US07724456B2 Multidirectional simultaneous observation optical system, image reading device, image reading method, and multidirectional simultaneous observation combined optical system
A multidirectional simultaneous observation optical system is composed of, as shown in FIG. 2, side image acquiring prism systems (145A, 145B) and so forth for acquiring side images of an object (11) and bottom image acquiring prism system (185F) for acquiring a bottom image. The prism system (145A) and so forth include optical path direction changing prisms (14A, 14B, 18F) and so forth respectively. An open space for acquiring the top image is defined directly above the object (11). The optical paths of the light beams emerging from the prism system (145A) and so forth extend upward from the object (11), and are so disposed as not to be blocked by the other prism systems. As a result, the object can be accurately observed from various directions simultaneously.
US07724453B2 Vacuum cell for optical components
A moisture sensitive optically nonlinear crystal is enclosed in a hermetically sealed elongated vacuum cell. The vacuum cell has an input window at one end and an output window at an opposite end providing optical access to the crystal by a laser beam. The windows are attached to the cell by cold-formed, indium-metal ram-seals. In an example of the cell in which the crystal is arranged to generate UV radiation from the laser beam, the output window is located at a sufficient distance from the crystal that the flux of UV radiation incident on the output window is below the damage threshold of the window for the UV radiation.
US07724448B2 Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus equipped with same
A zoom lens has, in order from the object side thereof, a positive first lens unit G1, a negative second lens unit G2, a positive third lens unit G3, a fourth lens unit G4, and an aperture stop S disposed closer to the image side than the second lens unit and closer to the object side than the lens surface closest to the image side in the third lens unit, wherein during zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, the distance between the first lens unit G1 and the second lens unit G2 is larger at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end, the distance between the second lens unit G2 and the third lens unit G3 is smaller at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end, the distance between the third lens unit G3 and the fourth lens unit G4 changes, and the first lens unit G1, the third lens unit G3 and the aperture stop S move in such a way that they are located closer to the object side at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end. The zoom lens satisfies prescribed conditional expressions.
US07724447B2 Zoom lens system and imaging optical device employing the same
The present zoom lens system comprises a plurality of lens units including at least: a front lens unit having negative optical power; and a rear lens unit having positive optical power, arranged on the image side of the front lens unit, and composed of a plurality of lens elements; wherein magnification change is performed by changing an interval between the individual lens units, wherein the rear lens unit comprises: a rear A lens unit capable of moving in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis; and a rear B lens unit that is arranged on the image side of the rear A lens unit and that can move in an optical axis direction in such a manner that an interval relative to the rear A lens unit in the optical axis direction is changed, and wherein focusing adjustment during variation of the object distance is achieved by changing the interval between the rear A lens unit and the rear B lens unit.
US07724441B2 Light guide optical device
The invention provides an optical device, including a light-transmitting substrate, optical means for coupling light into the substrate by total internal reflection, and a plurality of partially reflecting surfaces carried by the substrate, characterized in that the partially reflecting surfaces are parallel to each other and are not parallel to any of the edges of the substrate.
US07724439B2 Lens, a lens array and imaging device and system having a lens, and method of forming the same
A lens, a lens array and imaging device and system containing a lens, and a method of forming a lens array and an imaging device and system containing a lens. Each lens has varying reflection indices in a radial direction.
US07724434B2 Reflective polarizer and display device having the same
A reflective polarizer suitable for use in a display device is disclosed herein. The reflective polarizer comprises: a multilayer optical film comprising alternating layers of first and second polymeric layers that reflects light of a first polarization state and transmits light of a second polarization state, wherein for normally incident light of the second polarization state, the reflective polarizer has an internal percent transmission of at least 95% at 410 nm, and at most 25% at 380 nm. Also disclosed herein is a display device comprising the reflector polarizer.
US07724433B2 Composition for multi-color display material and manufacturing method thereof, and optical device and displaying method thereof
A composition for multi-color display material, including a periodic structure having a void structure inside that communicates with the outside, and a mobile particle that is selectively disposed inside or outside of the void structure of the periodic structure.
US07724427B2 Stereoscopic microscope with high numerical aperture
A telescope-type stereomicroscope which is outfitted with an objective and two magnification changers arranged downstream of the objective. In this telescope-type stereomicroscope, the light from an object that is being examined enters the objective. Two light bundles of the light re-exiting from the objective, which are oriented parallel to one another, enter the magnification changers. The optical axes of the magnification changers are arranged at a fixed distance from one another. Each magnification changer has an entrance pupil for the light bundle associated with it. The entrance pupil has a diameter DEP that depends on the respective selected magnification, where the condition DEP>B/1.06 is met at the maximum selected magnification. Optionally, the stereomicroscope meets the condition tan(ω)≧0.16 with respect to the angle ω at which the light coming from an extra-axial point P at the object enters the magnification changers at the lowest possible magnification setting.
US07724426B2 Laser scanning microscope and microscopic observing method
To provide a laser scanning microscope including a laser beam source for stimulation that emits a laser beam for stimulation for applying photostimulation to a sample, a scanner that performs scanning with the laser beam for stimulation, a control device that controls the scanner, and an objective lens that condenses the laser beam for stimulation used for scanning by the scanner to the sample. The scanner has at least one acoustooptic device arranged on an optical path of the laser beam for stimulation. The control device determines a plurality of frequencies on the basis of the position and the range of a photostimulation region, and simultaneously applies the high-frequency signals of the determined plurality of frequencies to a vibrator attached to the acoustooptic device.
US07724420B2 Frequency modulation structure and method utilizing frozen shockwave
A system and method for modulating the frequency of electromagnetic radiation utilizes a frozen shockwave in a photonic band gap structure. The structure provides a discontinuity in lattice constant that functions as a shockwave, and that does not shift its position within the structure. In addition the modulation device or structure includes an acoustic pulse generator, such as a piezoelectric transducer coupled to one end of the photonic band gap structure. The acoustic pulse generator may be driven to produce a periodic pulse in the photonic band gap structure. The frozen shockwave, a defect or discontinuity in the photonic band gap structure, is used to hold incoming electromagnetic radiation in place. The acoustic pulse passing through the photonic band gap structure Doppler shifts the frequency of the radiation. The frequency-shifted radiation is then ejected out of the frozen shockwave portion of the photonic band gap structure.
US07724417B2 MEMS switches with deforming membranes
MEMS switches are formed with membranes or layers that are deformable upon the application of a voltage. The MEMS switches may comprise compliant terminals and/or contact conductors to produce contact swiping.
US07724410B2 Optical beam scanning apparatus, method of manufacturing optical beam scanning apparatus, image forming apparatus and method of manufacturing image forming apparatus
In an image forming apparatus according to the invention, an optical beam scanning apparatus of an overillumination scanning optical system includes a laser, a pre-deflection optical system, a polygon mirror, and a post-deflection optical system, wherein the post-deflection optical system includes at least one optical element configured by allowing a resin to flow into a molding die through a gate opening provided in advance to the molding die and then molding the resin into a prescribed shape; and in the optical element, a side corresponding to a side of the gate opening through which the resin flows is provided to a light incidence side where the luminous flux enters into the polygon mirror.
US07724397B2 Method for compensating for induced artifacts on an image to be printed
A method for compensating for induced artifacts on an image to be printed includes processing the image to be printed. An image region of the image susceptible to at least one artifact is identified. An imaging process is modified to reduce an effect of the at least one artifact on the image region. The image is printed.
US07724386B2 Image formation system
A method and apparatus are provided for printing using mixed printing devices. Images are formed by separating jobs, in a predetermined page order of the job, with color pages printed by a color MFP and black/white pages are printed by a black/white MFP. Thereafter, it is displayed that each sheaf of sheets is set in which bin of a collator. The collator mixes color pages with black/white pages. Further, each MFP prints bar codes representing job information. The collator reads the bar codes to mix the color pages with the black/white pages. Further, in mixing sheets corresponding to different plural jobs into one group, images outputted from a computer are printed by an MFP and images outputted from another computer are printed by another MFP. The collator reads the bar codes and mixes sheaves of the printed images into a group of the sheets.
US07724379B2 3-Dimensional shape measuring method and device thereof
It is possible to measure a 3-dimensional shape by using a projector and an imaging device without requiring calibration in advance. A pattern light is applied from a projector to an object and this is imaged by an imaging device to capture an image as an input. An in-camera parameter, an in-projector parameter, a parameter of positional relationship between the camera and the projector are estimated. By using the estimation results, a 3-dimensional shape of the object is measured. When a laser pointer is attached to the projector and a laser is applied to the object for capturing an image as an input, scaling of the object shape can also be estimated. Moreover, when measuring a plurality of objects or measuring the same objects a plurality of times, the accuracy of the 3-dimensional shape respectively obtained can be increased by simultaneously processing the inputs. Moreover, when one of projector and the camera is fixed and the other is moved while measuring the same object a plurality of times, the accuracy of the 3-dimensional shape obtained as a result can be increased by performing bundle adjustment.
US07724371B2 Device for examining a fluid by uniform illumination using a configured light guide
An optical device for examining a fluid including a measuring space including a compulsory passage for the fluid to be examined, at least one source delivering a selected light to an optical illuminator serving to collect at least part of the light having traversed the compulsory passage and to deliver the selected light to analyze the collected light so as to deliver signals representing data borne by the collected light. The optical illuminator includes a first light guide including one end, opposite the source, and configured to deliver the light, derived from the source, in accordance with a selected geometry to illuminate the compulsory passage in a substantially uniform manner and under a substantially constant intensity.
US07724370B2 Method of inspection, a method of manufacturing, an inspection apparatus, a substrate, a mask, a lithography apparatus and a lithographic cell
Each target used in a method of measuring overlay using a scatterometer includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion has features varying only in a first direction and the second portion has features only varying in a second direction. The first and second directions are orthogonal, thus eliminating cross talk between the directions, and improving the accuracy of overlay error calculations.
US07724359B2 Method of making electronic entities
Many electronic entities such as integrated circuits and discrete power devices have contact pads formed from successively deposited layers of nickel and a second metal such as gold. The resulting pad structure is used to make external electrical connection such as solder connection. Problems associated with failure of such connections are avoidable by inspecting the surface of the nickel layer for excessive small particle formation.
US07724354B2 Laser-system
A laser-system comprises master-oscillator/power-amplifier (51) whereby the master-oscillator comprises a pulsed diode (3) and a pumped active optical fiber power-amplifier (9). Substantially all guides of laser light (5, 9, 31, 29, 33, 25, 35, 39, 45) are optical fibers. The pulsed diode (3) is not temperature stabilized. To reduce nevertheless amplified spontaneous emission generated in the optical fiber amplifier (9), a narrow band-pass filter unit (29) is used. Filter unit (29) has a central wavelength with a temperature dependence which is matched to the temperature dependent wavelength shift of the pulsed diode (3).
US07724350B2 Immersion exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An immersion exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system, a first supply unit, and a second supply unit. The projection optical system projects exposure light from an original onto a substrate. The first supply unit forms a first liquid film in a space formed between the projection optical system and the substrate by supplying first liquid. The space includes a light path of the exposure light. The second supply unit forms a second liquid film around the first liquid film by supplying second liquid that is different from the first liquid.
US07724339B2 Liquid crystal display with electrical connector
An exemplary liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel (10), a light guide plate (12) located below the liquid crystal panel, an illuminator (16) located adjacent a side of the light guide plate, and an electrical connector (15) attached to a side of the light guide plate and receiving the illuminator therein. The illuminator is mechanically attached to the electrical connector, and contact points of the illuminator are in direct physical and electrical connection with corresponding contact points of the electrical connector.
US07724337B2 In-plane switching LCD apparatus having parallel uniform pixel and common electrode extensions having a principal portion and a specific portion
A pixel region between a common electrode and a pixel electrode is composed of a principal portion in which the direction of extension of the common electrode and the pixel electrode is parallel with the initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules, and a specific portion not parallel with the initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules. In the specific portion, the distal portion of the pixel electrode and the basal portion of the common electrode are mutually parallel and inclined by a prescribed angle with respect to the initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules. When voltage is applied across the common electrode and the pixel electrode to generate a horizontal electric field, the horizontal electric field will be perpendicular to the initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules within the principal portion that occupies a major part of a column, whereas the field will not be perpendicular within the specific portion. The principal portion occupies the major part of the column.
US07724336B2 In-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device having first and second common electrode connection lines and first and second pixel electrode connection lines being formed on the same layer
An in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate; a gate line disposed in a first direction on the first substrate; a data line disposed in a second direction on the first substrate, the data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region; pixel electrodes and common electrodes disposed in the first direction in the pixel region, the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes generating an in-plane electric field within the pixel region; first and second common lines disposed parallel to the data line at right and left sides of the pixel region; a first common electrode connection line connecting at least two common electrodes and forming a first common electrode overlapping region by overlapping the first common line; and a second common electrode connection line connecting at least two other common electrodes and forming a second common electrode overlapping region by overlapping the second common line, wherein the first common electrode overlapping region and the second common electrode overlapping region have substantially the same area.
US07724333B2 Liquid crystal display and method of fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display (LCD) comprises a first substrate comprising a pixel electrode comprising one or more first domain-forming features and further comprising a first vertical alignment film disposed on the pixel electrode; a second substrate facing the first substrate and comprising a common electrode which comprises one or more second domain-forming features and further comprises a second vertical alignment film disposed on the common electrode; and a liquid crystal compound interposed between the first and second substrates, wherein the liquid crystal compound comprises liquid crystal molecules, ultraviolet (UV) hardening monomers and UV hardening initiators, and the liquid crystal molecules are pre-tilted to form an angle greater than 88 degrees but less than 90 degrees with respect to the first substrate when no driving power is applied to the pixel and common electrodes. Fast response time is provided in some embodiments.
US07724332B2 Transflective liquid crystal display devices and fabrication methods comprising first and second alignment layers on a first substrate, wherein pre-tilt angles and orientations of liquid crystal molecules on the first and second alignment layers are different
Transflective liquid crystal display devices and fabrication methods thereof. A single cell gap transflective liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate with a reflective region and a transmissive region. A second substrate opposes the first substrate. A liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first and second substrates. A reflective structure is disposed on the first substrate, thereby forming a recess at the transmissive region. A first alignment layer is conformably formed on the first substrate covering the reflective structure, thereby forming a second recess at the reflective region. The second recess is filled with a second alignment, wherein the first and second alignment layers provide different orientations and pre-tilt angles for the liquid crystal layer.
US07724326B2 Liquid crystal display device comprising a shading conductive layer formed at least near an opening or cut of an electrode
The liquid crystal display device of the invention has a plurality of pixels, each including a first electrode 111, a second electrode 131 and a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer 120 interposed between the first and second electrodes. The first electrode has at least one opening 114 or cut 113 formed at a predetermined position in the pixel. At least one shading conductive layer 116 electrically connected to the first electrode is formed at least near the at least one opening or cut. In each of the plurality of pixels, a plurality of regions in which the directions of tilt of liquid crystal molecules are different from one another are formed when at least a predetermined voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer.
US07724318B2 Electronic equipment with display panel and protective plate
Electronic equipment of the present invention having a display panel includes a protection plate that is opposed to an opposite surface of a display surface of the display panel and is substantially parallel to the opposite surface of the display surface of the display panel. According to this configuration, when a pressure is applied to the display panel from outside, the display panel can be suppressed from being deformed, whereby the strength of the display panel with respective to an external pressure can be enhanced.
US07724317B2 Liquid crystal display device with a main support frame having slide groove portions therein and a first upper cover having slide protrusions therein inserted into the slide groove portions, and method of fabricating thereof
Disclosed is an improved LCD device for preventing moisture infiltrating into the LCD device, including: A liquid crystal panel; A backlight assembly provided with a lamp and a reflection sheet for supplying light to the liquid crystal panel; a main support frame for receiving the liquid crystal panel and the back light assembly therein, and having slide grooves portions therein; a lower cover formed at an opened side of the main support frame where a lamp of the back light assembly is disposed; and a first upper cover for covering one side of the main support frame and having slides protrusion portions therein, wherein the slide protrusion portions are coupled to the slide groove portions formed in the main support frame.
US07724309B2 Multichannel quadrature modulation
A multichannel television access control system is disclosed wherein processing of the broadband signal is performed by gated coherent RF injection on a plurality of channels, thereby effecting selective descrambling of an arbitrary subset of channels in a channel group. The system provides for a closed loop injection signal phasor control so as to maintain substantially constant relationship between the television signals and the injected signals. The combined signals are supplied to subscribers enabling the use of their cable ready equipment.
US07724307B2 Method and system for noise reduction in digital video
Aspects of noise reduction in digital video may comprise monitoring at least one of memory usage and memory bandwidth usage of memory utilized to process video data. The aspect may further comprise adaptively adjusting filtering of the video data according to the monitoring. At least one of impulse filtering, temporal filtering, and spatial filtering may be utilized for the filtering of the video data. At least one of the impulse filtering, the temporal filtering, and the spatial filtering may be adaptively adjusted based on the monitoring. Furthermore, at least one of motion information and edge information may be estimated from the video data for utilizing in at least one of the impulse filtering, the temporal filtering, and the spatial filtering. At least one of the estimated motion information and the estimated edge information may be adaptively adjusted based on the monitoring.
US07724302B2 Opening structure for an imaging device
An opening structure of image device comprises a body, at least a sliding track, at least a sliding sleeve, and a shield, wherein the sliding sleeve slide on the sliding track in order to drive synchronously the shield to achieve opening or closing status. Furthermore, the image device is entirely enclosed into the shield so as to prevent the image device from dust pollution and unexpected damage when the shield is at closing status. Meanwhile, the shield can be designed to be a special look, which will bring to user a fashionable feeling.
US07724300B2 Digital camera with a number of photographing systems
A digital camera comprises two photographing systems which are independent of and substantially identical to each other, and each of which includes a photographing optical system and an image pickup device. The photographing optical system is configured to include a photographing lens, a focusing lens and an aperture stop. The focusing lens of one of the photographing systems is driven stepwise from a first predetermined position at which it is to be located when a focusing position lies at an infinite distance, toward a second predetermined position at which it is to be located when the focusing position lies at the closest distance, while the focusing lens of the other photographing system is driven stepwise from the second predetermined position toward the first predetermined position every step width. The contrasts of images formed by the respective photographing systems are evaluated while the two focusing lenses are being moved, and a position corresponding to the maximum value of the contrasts is determined as the focusing position.
US07724297B2 Imaging device having a display to display images captured by a plurality of image sensors with different display regions
An imaging device comprises a photographing lens, a first imaging sensor for taking a subject image formed by the photographing lens, a second image sensor for taking a subject image formed by the photographing lens, an optical path switching section for selectively switching subject light that has passed through the photographing lens to either one of the first image sensor or the second image sensor, a display section for displaying an image taken by the second image sensor, and a display region storage section for storing information representing a region for display on the display section from a region where imaging by the second image sensor is possible. The display section controls the display region based on the information stored in the display region storage section.
US07724294B2 Sub-sampling with higher display quality in image-sensing device
An image-sensing device includes a driver and an array of pixels. The driver controls the array of pixels to output a combined image signal that is a combination of at least two image signals for at least two aligned pixels in at least two rows, for reducing vertical resolution in the sub-sampling mode. In addition, a mixing circuit further averages the resulting combined signals for M consecutive odd or even columns for reducing horizontal resolution in the sub-sampling mode.
US07724283B2 Electronic camera
An electronic camera includes: an image capturing unit that captures a subject image; an image compression unit that executes a specific type of compression processing on image data obtained by the image capturing unit; and a decision-making unit that makes a decision as to whether or not a camera-shake has occurred based upon first compressed image data resulting from the compression processing executed by the image compression unit on first image data obtained by capturing an image following a photographing instruction and second compressed image data resulting from the compression processing executed by the image compression unit on second image data captured prior to the photographing instruction.
US07724281B2 Device facilitating efficient transfer of digital content from media capture device
A method facilitating the transfer of information from a media or data capture device to a larger device while providing valuable feedback about the transfer is described. A transfer device including a simple user interface that can be easily implemented on a media or data capture device provides feedback about the transfer operation, enabling the user to take action when necessary. For example, the user is advised if the transfer is complete or, alternatively, that the transfer has failed and needs to redone. Feedback is provided by visual signals and may also be accompanied by audible signals. All necessary transfer functionality is included on the media capture device, thereby avoiding the requirement for dedicated software on a host (or pipeline) device, such as a cellular phone. This expands the number of pipeline devices that can be utilized with particular media capture devices. As long as there is a correct interface between the data capture device and the pipeline device, all the necessary transfer functionality can be included in the data capture device.