Document Document Title
US07836795B2 Power tong device
A power tong (1) device, in which the power tong (1) includes two housing halves (2), pivotable relative to each other, the housing halves (2) being arranged to be pivoted between a closed, active position and an open, inactive position, and in which a radially divided drive ring (6, 8), which is provided with hydraulically activated clamping dies (14) directed towards the centre axis (10) of the power tong (1), is placed in the housing halves, the drive ring (6, 8) being supported and connected to a driving motor (12) for the rotation of the drive ring (6, 8) about said axis (10), the drive ring (6, 8) being provided with at least one locking means (16) which is arranged to interconnect the parts of the drive ring (6, 8) in a releasable manner.
US07836776B2 Micro-electromechanical capacitive strain sensor
A micro-electromechanical capacitive strain sensor. The micro-electromechanical capacitive strain sensor comprises a first bent beam, a second bent beam, and a straight center beam. The first bent beam, second bent beam, and straight center beam are aligned in the X-axis with the straight center beam located between the first and second bent beams. The first bent beam, second bent beam, and straight center beam are disposed between two anchors. The two anchors are aligned in the Y-axis. The first bent beam is bent away from the center beam and the second bent beam is bent towards the center beam to provide a set of differential capacitors with respect to the center beam, wherein the center beam serves as a common reference with respect to the first and second bent beams.
US07836772B2 Method and apparatus for tracking a rotating blade tip for blade vibration monitor measurements
A method and apparatus for monitoring vibrations in a blade structure of a turbine including generating signals from a probe located adjacent to a radial outer edge of the blade structure to provide signals corresponding to vibrations at predetermined locations along the tips of the blades. A leading edge of a blade tip is detected during a blade tracking operation, and a known location along the length of the blade tips is monitored during a vibration measurement operation. The measurement operation may be performed simultaneously with the tracking operation to provide measurements as the axial location of the blades change during transitional modes of operation of the turbine.
US07836769B2 Apparatus and method of measuring acoustical energy applied to a substrate
An apparatus and method for measuring the acoustical energy that will be applied to a substrate during cleaning. A substrate is provided that has placed upon it a piezoelectric member that is capable of sensing the acoustical power that is transmitted. This enables the detection and calibration of transducer assemblies that are used in the cleaning of substrates.
US07836766B2 Method of acquiring an ultrasound image
The present invention relates to a method of acquiring an ultrasound image in an ultrasound imaging system having an array transducer, comprising: a) setting an image point at a predetermined depth on an ultrasound image acquired based on a reference speed of sound for a target object; b) setting a range of speed of sound with reference to the reference speed; c) setting a plurality of speeds of sound in a predetermined interval within the range of speed of sound; d) acquiring ultrasound images at each speed of sound; e) calculating an amplitude of an image point set at a predetermined depth of each ultrasound image; f) determining a real speed of sound in the target object based on the calculated amplitude; and g) acquiring an ultrasound image based on the determined real speed of sound in the target object.
US07836758B2 Deterioration diagnosis system for an air-fuel ratio sensor
A deterioration diagnosis system for an air fuel sensor mounted to an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine. The air fuel sensor determines a mixture ratio of air and fuel fed into the internal combustion engine. In the system, an inclination of an output signal of the air-fuel ratio sensor is calculated; variance of the inclination is calculated; deterioration of the air-fuel ratio sensor is determined based on the variance of the inclination.
US07836750B2 Gas detection system and method
An example of a gas detection system includes a gas chromatograph oven, a gas detector, a sample gas moving device, and a flow detector. An example of a method for detecting gas includes flowing a sample gas from the oven, determining whether the flow rate equals or is less than a minimum, and determining whether the concentration of a first gas of the sample gas, such as a combustible gas, equals or exceeds a maximum. If either the flow rate or the concentration indicates an error condition or is out of bounds, an alarm response is initiated. The alarm response may include shutting off the flow of the first gas to the oven, and flowing a second gas, such as a safe gas, to the oven.
US07836748B2 Chamber sealing valve
According to some embodiments, a test fluid may be provided into a chamber associated with a cooling system for an electronic integrated circuit. Moreover, a valve may be partially inserted into an opening of the chamber to seal the chamber. The valve may include a first sealing portion to seal the chamber at the opening when the valve shaft is inserted the first distance. The valve may then be inserted an intermediate distance, between the first distance and a second distance, to unseal the chamber. Note that the valve may include a second sealing portion, offset from the first sealing portion, to seal the chamber at the opening when the valve is inserted the second distance. The valve may further define a passage, between the first and second sealing portions, to permit a flow of the test fluid when the valve is inserted the intermediate distance.
US07836744B2 Die for forging at high temperatures
Die for high temperature forging of metal components, in particular intermetal components, including and upper an a lower die, characterized in that provided to each die part, at room temperature and with some clearance, is a surrounding reinforcing ring against which each die part is positioned when heated due to its thermal expansion and via which a compressive stress is exerted onto each die part (4).
US07836743B1 System and method for material bending
An improved system and method for material bending comprises first handle 51, second handle 61, pivot rod 70, roller 80, and brace 82.
US07836736B2 Lock mechanism
A lock mechanism to lock two parts relative to each other. The lock mechanism comprises a base plate (30) attachable to one said parts with a pivot pin (26) connected thereto, a keep (38) being defined in the pivot pin. A lock body (24) is also provided and this defines a channel (33) within which the pivot pin locates for rotation of the lock body relative to the pivot pin. A locking arrangement (36) is located within the lock body, and includes a movable bolt (37), which in extended and retracted positions engages with or disengages from the keep (38) to prevent or allow rotation of the lock body relative to the pivot pin. A latch plate (40) may be provided on the other part to cooperate with the lock body. This allows a wide variety of different parts to be secured relative to each other in such a way that they are securely held.
US07836726B2 Piece of jewellery with special aesthetic effects
Piece of jewellery including an outer ring (2) and an inner ring (4) arranged concentrically to the outer ring (2), the two inner (4) and outer (2) rings being able to pivot in relation to each other, the outer ring (2) comprising at least one aperture (6) through which at least one decoration (8), provided on the outer periphery of the inner ring (4), can appear, means being provided for the axial coupling of the two inner (4) and outer (2) rings, this piece of jewellery being characterized in that the axial coupling means include at least one ball (10) arranged in a housing (12) disposed on the external periphery of the inner ring (4) and capable of rolling in the inner periphery of the outer ring (2) and forming a rolling path for the ball (10).
US07836723B2 Air conditioning system
An air conditioning system that includes desiccant compartments for holding a desiccant; a heat exchanger, a blower and a vessel. The heat exchanger can be filled with a heat transfer medium, while the blower blows ambient air by the heat exchanger such that the blown air is cooled and the heat exchanger is warmed such that thermal energy increases and is transferred from the air to the heat transfer medium causing the heat transfer medium to turn into vapor. The vapor is then diffused to one of the desiccant compartments such that the vapor is adsorbed onto the desiccant creating a mixture. Then an energy source is applied to the mixture such that the vapor and desiccant are separated. The separated vapor is transported to the vessel where it is condensed and then sent back to the heat exchanger, such that the system is able to be continuously operating.
US07836722B2 Containers and packagings for regulating heat transfer
A food container includes an upper wall, a lower wall, and a side wall extending between the upper wall and the lower wall. At least one of the upper wall, the lower wall, and the side wall includes a plurality of microcapsules containing a phase change material. The phase change material has a latent heat in the range of 40 J/g to 400 J/g and a transition temperature in the range of 0° C. to 100° C. The phase change material provides thermal regulation based on at least one of absorption and release of the latent heat at the transition temperature.
US07836719B2 Ice supply device
An ice supply device is capable of supplying cubed ice, sliced ice, and grinded ice. The ice supply device is configured to supply cubed ice, sliced ice, or grinded ice based on a speed and direction of rotation of a rotary blade included in the ice supply device.
US07836717B2 Method and system of temperature-control for electronic component
A method and a system of temperature-control for an electronic component are provided, in which a plurality of temperature sensors is disposed in each area of the electronic component. The temperature-control method includes obtaining a plurality of sensed temperature values; looking up a temperature-control table recording the relationship between a temperature-control threshold and a temperature-control operation set for each area; selecting the temperature-control operation corresponding to sensed temperature values greater than the temperature-control thresholds depending on the temperature-control table; and starting the temperature-control operation to make the sensed temperature values being lower than or equal to the temperature-control thresholds.
US07836711B2 Air conditioner having an ice melting operation terminated on the basis of refrigerant temperature and pressure
Based on a result of detection taken by the high-low pressure difference detection means (93, 97) for detecting a difference between a high and a low pressure of a refrigeration cycle, an estimate of whether there is leakage of refrigerant in an expansion valve (52) is made. Based on the result detected by the high-low pressure difference detection means (93, 97), a control means (81) sets a reference temperature (T3) to a value corresponding to the degree of refrigerant leakage in the expansion valve (52).
US07836709B2 Refrigerator, monitoring system having refrigerator and control method thereof
A refrigerator for monitoring the status of another space by means of a display device mounted to the refrigerator, a monitoring system having the refrigerator and a control method thereof. The refrigerator includes a body which is formed with a storage chamber, a door for opening and closing the storage chamber, and a display device which is mounted to a front side of the door, the display device having a receiving part for receiving a monitoring image signal from a predetermined outside signal supply source, an image signal processing part for processing the received monitoring image signal, a display part for displaying the monitoring image signal and a control part for controlling the image signal processing part so that the received monitoring image signal is displayed on the display part.
US07836706B2 Thermal management system for evaporative spray cooling
A thermal management system configured to maximize the potential of single and multiple atomizers to effectively cool microprocessors and other electronic devices. The thermal management system, which may be a heat spreader, provides surfaces that are disposed to increase the effectiveness of impinging coolant droplets, provide additional heat transfer area in some embodiments, and permit the efficient, customized and disparate thermal management of a recipient object of the thermal management.
US07836703B2 Reciprocal cooled turbine nozzle
A turbine nozzle includes first and second vanes joined to outer and inner bands. The vanes include outboard sides defining outboard flow passages containing axial splitlines, and opposite inboard sides defining an inboard flow passage without axial splitline. The two vanes include different cooling circuits for differently cooling the inboard and outboard vane sides.
US07836702B2 Gas turbine combustor exit duct and HP vane interface
An assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor and a vane assembly disposed downstream thereof. A portion of an outer platform of the vane assembly defines an axial sliding joint connection with the combustor, and includes a plurality of depressions located in an outer circumferential surface thereof opposite the combustor. The depressions are disposed in regions of expected higher thermal growth about the circumference of the outer platform such that thermal growth of the entire outer platform is substantially uniform circumferentially therearound.
US07836690B2 Positioning control mechanism for double-acting air cylinder
Between an air source and a first pressure chamber of a double-acting main cylinder having a length measurement sensor for measuring an acting position of a piston, a supply solenoid valve is connected; between the first pressure chamber and the atmosphere, an exhaust solenoid valve is connected; and between a second pressure chamber and the air source, a stop solenoid valve is connected. When a target acting position of the piston is inputted into a controller, the controller moves the piston to the target acting position so that a position measured by the length measurement sensor agrees with the target position by on-off controlling the solenoid valves. Upon reaching the target position, the piston is stopped and held in the stopped state by confining air within the pressure chambers.
US07836687B2 Soot filter regeneration software, methods and systems
One embodiment is a method including maintaining a count based upon an engine operating condition, determining a soot level based upon a characteristic of a diesel particulate filter, and requesting deSoot based upon the count meeting or exceeding a threshold, or the soot level meeting or exceeding a threshold, or both. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the following description and drawings.
US07836682B2 Methods and apparatus for operating a pulse detonation engine
A method for operating a pulse detonation engine, wherein the method includes channeling air flow from a pulse detonation combustor into a flow mixer having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a body portion extending therebetween. The method also includes channeling ambient air past the flow mixer and mixing the air flow discharged from the pulse detonation combustor with the ambient air flow such that a combined flow is generated from the flow mixer that has less flow variations than the air flow discharged from the pulse detonation combustor.
US07836668B2 Method of packing and shipping erosion control blankets
A method of packing and shipping erosion control blankets that maximizes the use of the interior space of a shipping container. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the method relates to packing, handling, storing and shipping of erosion control blankets adapted for delivery to customers in generally cylindrical, rolled configurations.
US07836659B1 Method of repairing concrete floors and system for same
A floor plug (40) is disclosed having an upper portion (41) with a top plate (44) and a neck (48), a lower portion (42) with a bottom plate (51), and post (32) which coupled the two portions together and draws them towards each other sandwiching the floor therebetween. The upper portion is positioned within the bore hole (20) and the lower portion is coupled to the post so as to be threadably drawn against the underside of the floor. Once the adhesive has cured a viscous smoothing compound or concrete floor leveler is poured over the floor plug upper portion and surrounding concrete floor area. If necessary, the concrete floor leveler material is smoothed to provide a generally smooth or level surface.
US07836657B1 Metal stud and bridging member for stud
A combination stud and bridging member for use in a metal wall. The stud includes a web and a pair of flanges with the web including first and second sides and having a depression formed therein. Adapted to engage or extend through the web, the bridging member includes first and second end portions. One end portion includes a concave shaped recess that when disposed adjacent the stud accommodates the depression formed in the web. Disposed on the end portion of the bridging member having the concave recess is a projection receiver. Disposed on the opposite end of the bridging member is a projection. In a wall structure, the bridging members are adapted to extend between the studs. More particularly, the projections of the bridging members extend through openings formed in the web of the studs and into the projection receivers of adjacent bridging members to form an interlocked relationship.
US07836655B2 Bamboo flooring planks with glueless locking system
The present invention provides a 100% bamboo plank with an interlocking system and associated manufacturing methods. In one embodiment, the 100% bamboo plank comprises first, second, and third layers of 100% bamboo, wherein the layers are laminated together. The layers are independently preconditioned to control moisture content therein. Each layer can be preconditioned by alternately elevating and lowering the moisture content in a plurality of sequential cycles before the layers are laminated together. The middle layer is oriented so its grain is substantially perpendicular to the edges of the plank. The plank had joinery portions formed along the edges, and joinery includes an asymmetric upper joinery member and lower joinery member arrangement for, and at least a portion of the upper joinery member and lower joinery member portions are formed in the second layer.
US07836637B2 Valley diverter for a gutter cover
The leading wall of the valley diverter has a convex outer surface and is adapted to be axially aligned with a downwardly extending valley disposed between converging roof slopes. First and second generally straight side walls extend and taper downwardly from opposite ends of the leading wall and define an angle of ninety degrees or less. A support member extends between the leading wall and the side walls and comprises a canopy and an intermediate wall extending between the side walls, or a larger canopy that is coextensive with the side walls, or a mounting flange extending generally horizontally and inwardly from lower ends of the leading wall and the side walls.
US07836629B2 Methods for securing a flexible line
A method for securing a flexible line includes winding a first section of a flexible line from a first end to a second end of a helical coil so that the first section of the flexible line is received between a plurality of first volutes of the helical coil. A second section of the flexible line is then extended from the second end of the helical coil back to the first end of the helical coil. A third section of the flexible line is then wound from the first end of the helical coil to the second end of the helical coil so that the third section of the flexible line is received between the plurality of first volutes. A fourth section of the flexible line is passed between a pair of second volutes of a retaining formation extending from the second end of the helical coil.
US07836628B2 Lure with insertable hook anchor
A fishing lure comprising a resilient soft bodied bait and a hook attaching device, wherein the soft bodied bait includes a first hole extending along the width of the soft bodied bait near its head portion and a second hole extending perpendicularly from the center of the first hole till the exterior of the bait and a slit dividing the head portion and the second hole. The hook attaching device comprises an elongated member adapted to be securely received in the first hole, a stem adapted to be securely received in the first hole and an eyelet on the stem. The stem extends perpendicularly from the center of the elongated member and is substantially of the same length of the second hole. The hook attaching device is inserted in the bait; and the nose portion of the soft-bodied bait is resiliently pushed back to expose the eyelet for inserting a fish hook.
US07836627B2 Foam collar chum dispensing soft plastic swim bait enhancement assembly
Fishing lure apparatus includes a weighted head, a body portion fixable to the head and a foam annulus disposed between the body portion and the head. The foam annulus has a dimension greater than a dimension of the head for enabling expansion thereof upon water impingement thereagainst during movement through a body of water. Expansion of the annulus is dependent upon the velocity of the head through the water body. The foam annulus is formed from a material capable of absorbing and temporarily retaining attractant and the attractant is displaceable by water in order to simultaneous disperse the fix attractant as the head is drawn through the water body.
US07836625B2 Low profile mount and foregrip for firearm
Embodiments include a method and apparatus for mounting one or more accessories to a rail of a firearm. A mounting member may be utilized for attaching the one or more accessories to the rail. Embodiments further include a method and apparatus for protecting a user from a discharging portion of a firearm. Some embodiments include a foregrip having a gripping portion and a guarding portion which may be used for protecting the user. In some embodiments, the guarding portion has a larger outer diameter than the gripping portion so that the guarding portion acts as a stop for the user's body parts.
US07836621B2 Label holder for a merchandise display shelf
A label holder, that can be selectively mounted to an associated merchandise display shelf/includes a front panel and a rear panel. A hinge connects the front panel to the rear panel, creating a pocket between the front panel and the rear panel for receiving an associated label. A retaining member projects rearwardly from the rear panel. A first lip extends rearwardly from the rear panel, in a manner spaced from the retaining member. The first lip engages an angled forward portion of the associated display shelf when the label holder is in an installed position.
US07836619B2 Inflatable flag display
An inflatable flag display includes a shaft having a hollow core and a sealed upper end. An aperture is located in the upper portion of the shaft and penetrates from an outer surface to the hollow core. A supporting base is connected to the shaft. A gas input connection is affixed to the shaft or the base and is in fluid communication with the core. An inflatable flag member is affixed to the shaft, formed of flexible material and has at least one inflatable chamber. The chamber is in fluid communication with the aperture and has an exhaust vent. A compressed gas source is in fluid communication with the gas input connection. A compressed gas modulator controls pressure or duration of gas flow, causing the flag to undulate. A variant includes means for rotating the shaft as the flag is inflated. Another variant includes an inflatable column replacing the shaft.
US07836615B2 Road machinery blade wear resistors
Wear resistors adapted for use in wear parts comprising steel castings for replaceable attachment to snow plows, road machinery equipment, agriculture, and construction excavator teeth. The wear castings provide a replaceable member for wear affected parts of equipment used for cutting, scraping, digging, plowing, etc. Each replaceable wear part can comprise a hard, impact resistant metal of high shear strength having at least one cavity filled with an abrasion resistant weldment or resistor. The abrasion resistant weldment can be placed proximal to the wear edges or wear surfaces of the expendable and replaceable wear parts.
US07836613B2 Blade adjustment apparatus
A blade adjustment apparatus for a V-plow is provided. A plow tower and a tower adjustment assembly pivotally coupled to the plow tower serve to maintain a lower edge of at least one V-plow blade in a substantially horizontal relationship to a working surface.
US07836612B2 Ski boot
A ski boot is provided that includes an outer shell, an inner liner disposed within the outer shell and a functional shoe insertable into and removable from the inner liner by means of a rearforward to forward manner.
US07836584B2 Jig for fastening bolt
A jig for tightening a bolt includes: a support unit standing on the floor of a work place and extending toward the bottom side of a car body which is conveyed by an overhead hanger; a movable unit connected to the support unit so as to be movable in a transverse direction, a longitudinal direction, and a height direction of the car body; a fastening part disposed in the movable unit to fasten chassis components to the bottom side of the car body; a load compensating part compensating load of the fastening part when the fastening part ascends/descends toward/from the bottom side of the car body; a tilting part adjusting a position of the fastening part; and a reaction force regulating part sustaining reaction force that is generated while the fastening part is operated.
US07836577B2 Method for making an antenna structure
A method for making a feed structure for an antenna may include providing a polarizer body having a polarizer sidewall extending longitudinally between spaced apart ends. A portion of the polarizer sidewall is deformed to provide at least one polarizing structure that extends radially inwardly along an interior of the polarizer sidewall relative to adjacent portions of the polarizer sidewall. The method thus can be utilized to produce an antenna structure.
US07836564B2 Reversible attachment mechanisms
Mechanically interlocking releasable fastener systems include a reinforced shape memory polymer for forming one of the interlocking components. The reinforced shape memory polymer includes a filler material in the form of a fiber and/or platelet. The filler can include an electrically conductive filler, a thermally conductive filler, a dielectric fillers, and mixtures thereof. Also disclosed herein are processes for using the releasable fastener systems.
US07836560B2 Fastener for straps
A fastener includes a frame, a handle and a reel inserted through the frame and handle so that a strap can be reeled when the reel is rotated. Two bushings are connected to the frame for protecting the reel from the handle or the frame. Two ratchet wheels are connected to the reel. A first detent is movable on the frame for engagement with the ratchet wheels. A second detent is movable on the handle for engagement with the ratchet wheels.
US07836559B2 Teething holder
A teething holder for use with a child's teething item, and more particularly a teething device having a flexible and elastic loop, a lock for releaseably locking the loop around a teething object, such as a biscuit, and an attachment element, for attaching the teething device, such as to a baby's bib or chair.
US07836556B1 Motorcycle battery carrying apparatus
The motorcycle battery carrying apparatus provides for the unique demands of handling, installing, and removing motorcycle batteries and batteries in other personally-sized vehicles which are equipped with motorcycle type batteries. The apparatus handles such batteries without extending beyond the dimensions of existing batteries, excepting above. Provided in both rigid and pliable handle embodiments, the apparatus attaches to the same terminals as do the battery cables of the vehicle. By attaching to the terminals of the battery without extending beyond the width or depth of the battery, the apparatus is assured of fitting the battery within existing tolerances. Dependant upon the given application and desire, the apparatus can remain on the battery or be removed and used repeatedly.
US07836552B2 Hold-down support structure of hinge
A hold-down support structure is coupled to a stem of a pintle to form a hinge, and includes a support board and a sleeve. The support board has a support section forming a support face. The sleeve includes first and second brackets. When the sleeve is mounted to the support board, a stem receiving space is defined by by the support board and the first and second brackets. The stem is inserted into the stem receiving space and an outer circumferential surface of the stem is subject to constraint by the support face of the support board and the resilient retention forces respectively applied by the first and second brackets symmetrically in directions toward the support face so that a predetermined rotational friction is induced between the outer circumferential surface of the stem and the inside surfaces of the first and second brackets.
US07836549B1 Multi-directional hinge
A hinge providing multi-directional motion to a hinged object. In one embodiment, the hinge includes a first hinge member having at least one first outwardly-protruding mounting projection and a second hinge member defining a recess for movably receiving the projection. In one embodiment, the recess and mounting projection are complementary configured for non-rotational linear movement of the projection in a first portion of the recess, and for rotational movement of the projection in a second portion of the recess. A preferred embodiment includes a pair of spaced-apart recesses and projections. The hinged object may be squarely slid into engagement with a supporting unit or frame via the first portion of the recess, yet rotated or pivoted via the second portion to provide access to the supporting unit. The supporting unit or frame in one embodiment may be part of a module in an active antenna array.
US07836546B2 Dust collecting unit for vacuum cleaner
A dust-collecting unit for a vacuum cleaner is provided which detachably connected with a cleaner body of the vacuum cleaner. The dust-collecting unit includes a dust receptacle which is disposed under a dust separator disposed in the cleaner body, for collecting dust separated from air by the dust separator and dropping down from the dust separator, a dust receptacle ascending/descending part which is disposed under the dust receptacle and is pivoted in a direction or a reverse direction to ascend or descend the dust receptacle and to press-lock or unlock the dust receptacle to or from the dust separator, and a handle which extends from one side of the dust receptacle ascending/descending part along a lengthwise direction of the dust receptacle and has a gap with respect to a circumferential surface of the dust receptacle.
US07836544B2 Bare floor cleaner
A bare floor cleaner for wet and dry bare floor surfaces comprises a base with wet and dry suction nozzles and a handle pivotally connected to the base. A diverter mounted in the working air conduit between each of the dry suction nozzle and the wet suction nozzle to a recovery tank is movable by movement of the handle between a dry suction position and a wet suction position for selectively at least partially blocking working air flow from the wet suction nozzle and the dry suction nozzle, respectively, to the recovery tank.
US07836540B2 Broom with particle capture sheet
Applicant discloses a broom that comprises at least one particle capture sheet. In various embodiments, the particle capture sheet can comprise a nonwoven material, a woven material, a knitted material, or a synthetic polymeric membrane. The particle capture sheet can be air permeable or air impermeable, and can comprise an electret material and/or an adhesive.
US07836536B2 Vehicle for passenger entry and exit
A floor section is formed at the rear of a vehicle body, at one side of the vehicle body. A lifting floor device having a floor body lifted and lowered by a lifting drive device is placed above the vehicle body. The floor body has a cutout at the left side of the floor body, at the rear half thereof. The right side of the floor body is used as a passage for a physically handicapped person. A stairway device is provided between the floor body and the floor section as a passage for an able-bodied person, on the floor body side in the cutout, and the stairway device is pivotable in a vertical plane. A lifting table is placed behind the vehicle body, on the left side thereof so that the lifting table can face the rear end of the passage for a physically handicapped person.
US07841015B2 Method for determining a dopant concentration in a semiconductor sample
A method is described for determining a dopant concentration on a surface and/or in layer region lying close to the surface of a semiconductor sample using an atomic force microscope, whose leaf-spring tip is brought into contact with the semiconductor sample, forming a Schottky barrier, wherein an electric alternating potential is applied between the spring-leaf tip and the semiconductor sample in the region of the Schottky barrier in such a way that a space charge region inside the semiconductor sample defining the three-dimensional extension of the Schottky barrier is excited and begins to oscillate within the confines of its spatial extension, said oscillations are transmitted to the leaf-spring, are detected and form the basis for determining the dopant concentration.
US07841009B1 System and method for defending against reverse engineering of software, firmware and hardware
A method for defending a software against reverse engineering in a target environment includes acquiring information from the target environment, encrypting the software to be protected with the acquired information, sending the encrypted software with the acquired information to an execution environment, acquiring information from the execution environment, comparing the information from the execution environment with the acquired information from the target environment to authenticate the execution environment as the target environment, and if the two set of information match, decrypting the software to be protected, and if two set of information do not match, destroying said software.
US07841007B2 Method and apparatus for real-time security verification of on-line services
A unique combination of several functions achieves a system by which consumers can validate the actual security status of a website before they decide to trust it, and therefore transact with it. In one example implementation, a security system includes a scanning engine that periodically and thoroughly scans the network and connected components of an on-line service such as a website. The results are stored and perhaps reported back to the service via alerts and the like. The website includes a “bug” which visitors can click on. The visual appearance of the “bug” can be altered (e.g. made invisible) in accordance with a determined level of security for the website. By clicking on the “bug,” the visitors can also be displayed web pages showing the security status of the website. Based on their review of such web pages, visitors can then decide whether to trust the website for further transactions.
US07841005B2 Method and apparatus for providing security to web services
Method and firewall architecture system for providing security to web services. A firewall architecture can determine whether data in a web service message is valid and then can determine whether the source of the web service message is authorized to pass through the firewall architecture. If it is determined that the web service message is authorized to pass through the firewall architecture, the web service message is forwarded to its destination.
US07841004B1 Child identity monitor
An identity monitoring system notifies legal guardians of potentially fraudulent activity associated with their children's identities. The monitoring system may determine if credit files for respective enrolled minors exist and monitor any credit files of the enrolled minors, such as via periodic requests for credit data and comparison of certain returned credit data, in order to determine if potentially fraudulent activity associated with the minor has occurred. The monitoring system provides periodic notifications, such as via email and/or Internet-accessible user interfaces, regarding potentially fraudulent use of their children's identities. In one embodiment, the monitoring system also provides legal guardians with useful information and resources for how they can further protect the identity of their children.
US07841002B2 Method for detecting a behavior of interest in telecommunication networks
The application describes a method for detecting a behavior of interest in a surrounding including at least one telecommunication network, by using approach of Immune Engineering. The method comprises steps of analyzing the behavior of interest by building a characterizing data string called DNA which comprises two or more data sub-strings characterizing fragments of the behavior of interest and called genes. Further, there are selected two or more data fragments called detectors and being substantially close to the genes, and the detectors are applied to identify similar to them data fragments if appearing in information concerning real time activity in the surrounding. Based on the identification results, the method detects whether the behavior of interest is present in the newly incoming information.
US07840991B2 In-theatre interactive entertainment system
In-theater interactive entertainment system. A game server generates video content in digital form and is displayed on a digital display in a theater. A telephony system is connected to the game server enabling a group of individual game participants in the theater to exchange data wirelessly with the game server so that the game participants can interact with video content on the display. It is preferred that at the display is a reflective screen illuminated by a digital projector.
US07840986B2 Intelligent system and methods of recommending media content items based on user preferences
A system and method for making program recommendations to users of a network-based video recording system utilizes expressed preferences as inputs to collaborative filtering and Bayesian predictive algorithms to rate television programs using a graphical rating system. The predictive algorithms are adaptive, improving in accuracy as more programs are rated.
US07840985B2 Multistream video communication with staggered access points
A system and method that provide reduced latency in a video signal processing system. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise transmitting a first video information stream representative of a unit of video information. For example, the transmitted first video information stream may correspond to a video channel. A second video information stream representative of the unit of video information may be transmitted simultaneously with the first video information stream. The second video information stream may also, for example, correspond to the video channel. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise receiving a plurality of simultaneously transmitted video information streams. A video information stream of the plurality of received video information streams may be identified that, when processed, is expected to result in the lowest latency in presenting the unit of video information to the user. The identified video information stream may then be so processed.
US07840983B1 Method and apparatus for wireless digital audio/video playback for computers
A computer-based digital wireless audio and video system for consumer audio, home theater and recording studio applications is disclosed. The system distributes synchronized 2-channel stereo and multi-channel home theater video and audio digital signals via wireless broadcast to a closed network including a personal computer, a display, and one or multiple digital active loudspeakers or headphones. Each loudspeaker has a separate digital amplifier dedicated to each transducer within it. The system provides a data link capable of sending an all-digital, full-bandwidth signal from the original digital source material to each separate transducer in the system without using sound degrading lossy data compression. This system is designed to read, broadcast, and reproduce with accurate audio and video channel synchronization in the effort to maintain the integrity of the entire audio and video signal.
US07840978B2 Device and method for updating function in digital broadcasting signal receiver
A device and a method of updating a function in a digital broadcasting signal receiver. The device includes a storage section storing data for executing various functions provided to a digital broadcasting receiving section; a program specific information/service information (PSI/SI) extraction section extracting PSI/SI from a received digital broadcasting signal; and a function realization section identifying a supported function from the digital broadcasting signal according to the PSI/SI and searching the data for executing the identified function from the storage section so that the identified function can be executed in the digital broadcasting receiving section.
US07840975B2 System and method for encouraging viewers to watch television programs
Described are methods and apparatus for encouraging viewers to pay attention to television programs, commercials in particular, by offering viewers some incentive to watch. In one embodiment, viewers are notified that they can receive frequent-flier miles for answering one or more simple questions at the conclusion of the commercial. To verify that the viewer paid attention to the commercial, the answer to the question may be based on the content of the commercial. A sponsor might ask, for example, that the viewer identify the name of the sponsor or the color of an announcer's shirt. A correct answer indicates that the viewer watched the commercial, and that the viewer is therefore entitled to some reward. For example, viewers who watch the commercial may be entered in a prize drawing, or may receive prize points, such as frequent-flier miles. In other embodiments, viewers may verify that they watched a given program by selecting an icon or pressing a button on a remote control.
US07840965B2 Selective generation of an asynchronous notification for a partition management operation in a logically-partitioned computer
A logically-partitioned computer, program product and method utilize a flexible and adaptable communication interface between a partition and a partition manager, which permits optimal handling of partition management operations such as state change operations and the like over a wide variety of circumstances. In particular, a partition is permitted to indicate, in connection with a request to perform a partition management operation, whether an asynchronous notification should be generated or suppressed in association with the performance of the partition management operation by a partition manager. As a result, asynchronous notifications are selectively generated in association with the performance of partition management operations based upon indications in the requests made by partitions for such operations.
US07840962B2 System and method for controlling switching between VMM and VM using enabling value of VMM timer indicator and VMM timer value having a specified time
In one embodiment, a method includes transitioning control to a virtual machine (VM) from a virtual machine monitor (VMM), determining that a VMM timer indicator is set to an enabling value, and identifying a VMM timer value configured by the VMM. The method further includes periodically comparing a current value of a timing source with the VMM timer value, generating an internal event if the current value of the timing source has reached the VMM timer value, and transitioning control to the VMM in response to the internal event without incurring an event handling procedure in any one of the VMM and the VM.
US07840961B1 Method and system for installing software on multiple computing systems
Method and system are disclosed for providing multiple installations of a software application. The method/system creates an installation template from a single correct or “golden” installation of the software application and uses the installation template to produce additional installations of the software application. In one embodiment, any references to a specific host or computing system in the files or directories of the installed software application are replaced with a temporary variable in the installation template. The installation template may then be stored on a designated server and uploaded to any computing system needing a new installation of the software application. Once uploaded, the variable is replaced with system-specific references to complete the new installations. Since the installations are produced from the installation template and not from floppy disks or CD-ROMs, the process takes significantly less time.
US07840959B2 Analyzing relationships between authorization and installation information for a software product
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that analyzes relationships between authorization and installation information for a software product. During operation, the system receives a set of authorization information that is associated with a transaction for a software product from a point of sale system at a retail location. The system also receives installation information for the software product from a computer system. The system determines whether the authorization information and the installation information are associated by checking whether the two sets of information share a common set of identifying information. If so, the system analyzes the associated authorization information and installation information to determine a relationship between the transaction and the associated installation of the software product.
US07840952B2 Method and system for generating object code to facilitate predictive memory retrieval
A method and system are described for generating reference tables in object code which specify the addresses of branches, routines called, and data references used by routines in the code. In a suitably equipped processing system, the reference tables can be passed to a memory management processor which can open the appropriate memory pages to expedite the retrieval of data referenced in the execution pipeline. The disclosed method and system create such reference tables at the beginning of each routine so that the table can be passed to the memory management processor in a suitably equipped processor. Resulting object code also allows processors lacking a suitable memory management processor to skip the reference table, preserving upward compatibility.
US07840949B2 System and method for data transformation using dataflow graphs
A system and method for managing data, such as in a data warehousing, analysis, or similar applications, where dataflow graphs are expressed as reusable map components, at least some of which are selected from a library of components, and map components are assembled to create an integrated dataflow application. Composite map components encapsulate a dataflow pattern using other maps as subcomponents. Ports are used as link points to assemble map components and are hierarchical and composite allowing ports to contain other ports. The dataflow application may be executed in a parallel processing environment by recognizing the linked data processes within the map components and assigning threads to the linked data processes.
US07840943B2 Method and apparatus for transferring data in a distributed testing system
A system and method for testing a software product in a distributed testing system is provided where the distributed testing system includes a main server component system and at least two client component systems. The method includes generating at least one data object to be locally stored in a memory of the first client component system and registering a location of the data object with the main server component system. Thereafter, the method includes transferring the data object from the first client component system to the second client component system in response to the second client component system requesting the data object from the first client component system through the main server component system.
US07840936B2 Support of a platform-independent model including descriptions of modeling language entities
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for supporting a model including descriptions of modeling language entities in a visual modeling environment. A method includes providing a visual modeling tool and modeling language entities being entities of a language of expressing applications designed in a visual modeling language environment, receiving input defining an application in the visual modeling language environment, and generating a platform-independent model of the application based on the input and the modeling language entities. In that method, the modeling language entities have a corresponding syntactic description that can be in accordance with the language, the input defines the application as a selection of the modeling language entities and a configuration of the selection, and the platform-independent model includes the selection, the configuration, and a syntactic description of the modeling language entities in the selection.
US07840931B2 Loop manipulation if a behavioral synthesis tool
Methods and apparatus for optimizing memory accesses in a circuit design are described. According to one embodiment, a method comprises identifying a subset of variables from a multi-variable memory space that are accessed by a plurality of loops, storing the subset of variables in a separately accessible memory space, and accessing one of the stored subset of variables to recover a stored value of the one of the stored subset of variables for use by at least one of the plurality of loops during synthesis. According to another embodiment, a method comprises identifying at least a first loop and a second loop, determining whether a dependency exists between the first loop and the second loop, and merging the first loop and the second loop into a single merged loop, wherein the merging comprises mapping a plurality of memory accesses from the first loop to a sliding window.
US07840924B2 Apparatus, method, and program for verifying logic circuit operating with multiple clock signals
A verification apparatus that can verify a circuit in a shorter time while taking possible metastability into consideration. A clock domain crossing (CDC) detector finds CDC paths between circuit elements operating with different clocks in the circuit. A delay generator inserter produces a delay-insertable version of the circuit by embedding a delay generator into each found CDC path. When activated, those delay generators give a signal delay to the corresponding CDC paths. A simulator simulates the behavior of the delay-insertable circuit by using a specified simulation pattern while deactivating the embedded delay generators. A delay pattern generator creates a delay pattern from simulation results, which activates or deactivates delay generators individually so as to produce signal delays that could affect output signals of the circuit. A verifier verifies the circuit by applying the delay pattern to each delay generator in the circuit.
US07840923B2 Methods and apparatuses for designing integrated circuits using virtual cells
Methods and apparatuses for analyzing and/or designing integrated circuits using virtual transparent cells disclosed. Some embodiments comprise calculating model values for virtual transparent cells or elements of an integrated circuit design varying a transparency variable in modeling equations, and allowing replacement of the cell with a wire based upon the calculations. Varying the value of the transparency value for the calculations may allow the virtual transparent cells to be continuously modeled between a wire and a conventional version of the cell. Some embodiments may comprise a cell library with one or more modeling formulas for one or more virtual transparent cells and a response module to calculate different model values of the modeling formulas.
US07840913B1 Restricting state diagrams with a set of predefined requirements to restrict a state diagram to a state diagram of a moore or mealy machine
The present invention provides a user of a state diagramming environment with the ability to specify if the user wants to develop a Moore machine or a Mealy machine. To achieve this, a set of predefined requirements is provided that restricts the state diagram semantics to either semantics of a Moore or Mealy machine. When a user provides a state diagram that does not conform to the set of requirements, the state diagram is identified as non-conforming and the user is notified of the non-conformance. The user is given information describing what aspects of the state diagram do not conform, thereby, allowing the user to quickly identify any errors that have been made. As a result of the present invention, the burden placed on the user is reduced and the time spent debugging is minimized.
US07840908B2 High resolution display of large electronically stored or communicated images with real time roaming
A video display system, which enables users to navigate (by panning and zooming) throughout very large digital images. The digital images are stored on a disk drive in a proprietary file format (which is optimized for speed) and then viewed via a VGA connection. The system enables a user's ability to navigate throughout the entire image seamlessly. Instead of requiring a large amount of memory to display these images, the images are essentially transferred directly from the disk drive to video memory.
US07840904B2 Execution target structure node for a graphical program
System and method for creating a graphical program (GP) having portions that execute on different targets. A GP including a plurality of interconnected nodes visually indicating functionality of the program is created in response to user input, including a first graphical code portion with a first execution context specifying execution of the first graphical code portion on a first target. A second execution context indicating a second target for execution of a second graphical code portion of the GP is established in response to user input, e.g., by displaying a context structure indicating the second execution context and associating the second graphical code portion with the context structure in response to user input. During execution of the GP, the first graphical code portion executes on the first target using the first execution context, and the second graphical code portion executes on the second target using the second execution context.
US07840897B2 Inducing desired behavior with automatic application of points
Each of a plurality of desired behaviors is associated with a corresponding positive point value, and each of a plurality of undesired behaviors is associated with a corresponding negative point value. A behavior tracking manager tracks behaviors performed by a subject over a defined period of time. The behavior tracking manager automatically calculates a point total based on the behaviors performed by the subject during the defined time period. The behavior tracking manager, in a subsequent defined period of time, automatically allocates consequences to the subject based on the point total earned during the previous period of time. Each of a plurality of levels can be associated with a corresponding point cost, and the behavior tracking manager can automatically assigning an appropriate level to the subject, based on the point total earned during the previous period of time.
US07840891B1 Method and system for content extraction from forms
A method for presenting content in a form including extracting, from an open format for rendering the form, a plurality of elements on the form, wherein the plurality of elements represent the content in the form, identifying a plurality of contextual relationships between the plurality of elements, wherein identifying the plurality of contextual relationships that includes identifying a first attribute of a first element of the plurality of elements, identifying a second attribute of a second element of the plurality of elements, and relating the first element with the second element when a difference between the first attribute and the second attribute is within a predefined threshold, generating a representation of the form, wherein the representation that includes information about the plurality of contextual relationships, and presenting the content in the form based on the representation.
US07840888B2 Architecture and methodology of redirection for dynamic new URL links
An architecture and methodology of redirection for dynamic new URL Links uses a first server device to get information flow content from a second server device. By inserting an application into the information flow content retrieved from the second server device, the first server device replaces the web objects, which may generate dynamic new URL links, with the redirect functions in the code and sends the content to the browser. The browser will execute the code automatically. Whenever the browser generates new dynamic new URL links, it would call the provided redirect functions, and thus redirect them and retrace back to the first server device.
US07840881B2 Communication system
A communication system comprises a transmitting device and a receiving device. The transmitting device includes means for connecting an addition bit string containing at least one bit 1 to information data, means for generating a CRC code corresponding to a remainder at a polynomial ring on a Galois field defined modulo 2 based on a predetermined generator polynomial of the information data connected with the addition bit string, means for transmitting the information data connected with the CRC code. The receiving device includes means for receiving the data, means for performing an addition of the data received and the addition bit string at a polynomial ring on a Galois field defined modulo 2, means for making a decision as to the presence or absence of a transmission error by determining the remainder at the polynomial ring on the Galois field defined modulo 2 based on the generator polynomial of data.
US07840879B2 Wireless mobile device
A wireless mobile device comprising a tuner for converting a received radio frequency signal to a base band signal or intermediate frequency signal and providing the base band signal or intermediate frequency signal to a receiver, wherein the receiver is arranged to provide received data associated with the base band signal or intermediate frequency signal to an application processor for storage in memory, wherein the application processor is arranged to extract the data from memory in an interleaved form and perform error correction on the interleaved data.
US07840875B2 Convolutional coding methods for nonvolatile memory
Data are encoded using convolutional coding prior to storage in a nonvolatile memory array, so that errors that occur when the data are read may be corrected even where there is a large number of such errors. Coding rates of less than one increase the amount of data to be stored but allow correction of large numbers of errors.
US07840873B2 Partial CRC insertion in data packets for early forwarding
In an embodiment, a node comprises a packet scheduler configured to schedule a packet to be transmitted on the link, the packet comprising a command and associated packet data. Coupled to the packet scheduler and configured to transmit the packet on the link, and interface circuit is configured to generate error detection data covering the packet. The interface circuit is configured to transmit the error detection data covering the packet at an end of the packet, and is further configured to insert at least one partial error detection data within the packet. The partial error detection data covers a portion of the packet that precedes the partial error detection data. A receiver is configured to receive the data and forward the data based on partial CRC check.
US07840870B2 Apparatus for accessing and transferring optical data
An apparatus for accessing and transferring optical data has a memory supporting the page-mode function, an accessing device used to access an error correction block from the optical storage medium and store it into the memory to make the portion of data in the same column of the error correction block stored in a particular locality greater than the portion of data in the same row of the error correction block stored in the particular locality, and an error correction decoder used to access the data of the error correction block to perform the error correction process. The apparatus uses the feature of the DRAM, such as page-mode function, and the data arrangement of the memory to improve the access efficiency of the memory. The apparatus can thus increase the access speed of the error correction decoder and improve the accessing efficiency.
US07840869B2 Forward error correction scheme for data channels using universal turbo codes
A method of providing forward error correction for data services uses a parallel concatenated convolutional code which is a Turbo Code comprising a plurality of eight-state constituent encoders wherein a plurality of data block sizes are used in conjunction with said Turbo Code. A variation uses the method in a cellular radio system. Another variation uses the method in both forward and reverse likes of a cellular radio system.
US07840864B2 Functional frequency testing of integrated circuits
A method and circuits for testing an integrated circuit at functional clock frequency by providing a test controller generating control signals that assure proper latching of test patterns in scan chains at tester frequency and propagation of the test pattern through logic circuits being tested at functional clock frequency.
US07840852B2 Method and system for environmentally adaptive fault tolerant computing
A method and system for adapting fault tolerant computing. The method includes the steps of measuring an environmental condition representative of an environment. An on-board processing system's sensitivity to the measured environmental condition is measured. It is determined whether to reconfigure a fault tolerance of the on-board processing system based in part on the measured environmental condition. The fault tolerance of the on-board processing system may be reconfigured based in part on the measured environmental condition.
US07840849B2 Methods and apparatus for debugging software including divisions of an execution history of a debuggee program
In a computing system environment, methods and architecture relate to debugging software programs. The programs, regardless of size, are culled for substantially all memory and register writes (and flow control). An indexing and compression occurs so that upon a later query, and decompression (and display), a user can find and diagnose defects in the software program. To efficiently reconstruct the contents of any memory location or register, backwards tracing of events is comprehensively known for all time, not just select periods. Efficiencies in the indexing function include bunching, replacing actual memory locations with pattern(s) representative of same and dividing an execution history of the software program into manageable sections. Nuances for memory or register effects are also contemplated. Still other embodiments contemplate stand-alone computer program products (on computer-readable media or as a download, or other) or those working in conjunction with other debugging programs.
US07840848B2 Self-healing cache operations
A method, apparatus and program storage device for performing a self-healing cache process is described. At least one error affecting a cache is detected. The cache may have a matching address tag for a fetching operation. Based on the type of error, a self-healing cache process is performed based.
US07840838B2 Rapid regeneration of failed disk sector in a distributed database system
A technique for read error failover processing in a mirrored disk system such as a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) system, where individual disk units perform Logical Block Address (LBA) remapping. A read error causes a disk controller to report an “unrecoverable” read error to a RAID controller. After receiving this report of an unrecoverable read error, rather than simply switching over to a mirror, the RAID controller first checks to see whether the disk that caused the error can successfully reassign an LBA. In particular, the RAID controller can retrieve the data that was associated with the failed LBA from the mirror, and then write that data to the offending disk. Only if this process does not succeed is the offending disk then treated by the RAID controller as having failed sufficiently to require failover to the mirror.
US07840825B2 Method for autonomous dynamic voltage and frequency scaling of microprocessors
A method for autonomous dynamic voltage (v) and frequency (f) scaling (DVFS) of a microprocessor, wherein autonomous detection of phases of high microprocessor workload and prediction of their duration is performed (PID). The microprocessor frequency (f) will be temporarily increased (LUT) to an appropriate safe value (even beyond its nominal frequency) consistent with technological and ambient constraints in order to improve performance when the computer system comprising the microprocessor benefits most, while during phases of low microprocessor workload its frequency (f) and voltage (v) will be decreased to save energy. This technique exploits hidden performance capabilities and improves the total performance of a computer system without compromising operational stability. No additional hardware such as service processors is needed for contemporary computer systems supporting performance counters and DFVS already. The invention allows significantly increasing the total computer system performance with only minimal impact on power (PMAX, PACTUAL) consumption.
US07840799B2 Transmission of secure electronic mail formats
A method and system for providing e-mail messages to a receiving e-mail application. The e-mail messages as sent from a sending e-mail application being secure and in opaque signed format. The opaque signed e-mail messages being converted to clear signed e-mail messages by decoding extracting message content and digital signatures. The clear signed e-mails being sent to a receiving e-mail application.
US07840798B2 Method for data transfer in a network
First transmission data of a first device is received within a lower network layer and is processed, generating first intermediate layer data of an intermediate network layer. The first intermediate layer data is processed, generating higher layer data of a higher network layer. The higher layer data is processed, generating second intermediate layer data of the intermediate network layer. The second intermediate layer data is processed, generating second transmission data received by a second device. The processing the first intermediate layer data or the processing the higher layer data includes a security function. The first transmission data, the first intermediate layer data, the higher layer data, the second intermediate layer data, or the second transmission data includes a command or an action that allows to control the second device by the first device or vice versa. The security function includes a blocking or a modification of the command or action.
US07840795B2 Method and apparatus for limiting access to sensitive data
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for sharing sensitive data. A trusted operating system is configured to securely execute boot instructions for one or more hardware component. A virtual operating system in communication with the trusted operating system is configured with one or more security policies defining access rights associated with the one or more hardware component.
US07840793B2 Method of fast booting for computer multimedia playing from standby mode
A method of fast booting for multimedia playing from a standby mode is provided, including installing at least a first operating system, a second operating system and the kernel of the second operating system in the hard disk of the computer. An event signal generating unit is connected to the computer. When the computer completes the booting process with the first operating system, a memory region for the kernel of the second operating system is established in the system memory, and the kernel of the second operating system kernel is loaded into the memory region. When the user shuts down the computer, the computer enters a standby mode. If the user operates the event signal generating unit when the computer is in the standby mode, the computer awakes and starts executing the second operating system kernel in the memory region and the computer enters the multimedia playing mode.
US07840785B1 Transparent concurrent atomic execution
Executing a block of code is disclosed. Executing includes receiving an indication that the block of code is to be executed using a synchronization mechanism and speculatively executing the block of code on a virtual machine. The block of code may include application code. The block of code does not necessarily indicate that the block of code should be speculatively executed.
US07840784B2 Test and skip processor instruction having at least one register operand
A processor may execute a test and skip instruction that includes or otherwise specifies at least two operands that are used in a comparison operation. Based on the results of the comparison, the instruction that follows the test and skip instruction is “skipped.” The test and skip instruction may specify that the operands used in the comparison include (1) the contents of two registers, (2) the contents of one register and the contents of a memory location, or (3) the contents of one register and a stack value. In the second mode (an operand being from memory), a register is specified in the test and skip instruction that contains a value from which a pointer may be calculated. The calculated pointer preferably points to the memory location. If a stack value is used in the execution of the test and skip instruction, the instruction may include a reference to a register that points to the top of the stack. Further, the stack pointer may be adjusted automatically if the stack is used to provide an operand for the instruction. Embodiments may include apparatus and methods.
US07840779B2 Line-plane broadcasting in a data communications network of a parallel computer
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for line-plane broadcasting in a data communications network of a parallel computer, the parallel computer comprising a plurality of compute nodes connected together through the network, the network optimized for point to point data communications and characterized by at least a first dimension, a second dimension, and a third dimension, that include: initiating, by a broadcasting compute node, a broadcast operation, including sending a message to all of the compute nodes along an axis of the first dimension for the network; sending, by each compute node along the axis of the first dimension, the message to all of the compute nodes along an axis of the second dimension for the network; and sending, by each compute node along the axis of the second dimension, the message to all of the compute nodes along an axis of the third dimension for the network.
US07840773B1 Providing memory management within a system management mode
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for managing memory within a system management mode (“SMM”). According to the method, a memory management program is executed within the SMM. The memory management program is operative to maintain a singly linked list having one or more descriptors for identifying allocated regions of system management random access memory (“SMRAM”). In particular, each descriptor identifies a region of SMRAM that has been allocated by the memory management program by storing an indication of the base memory address of the allocated region, an indication of the ending memory address for the allocated region, and a pointer to the next descriptor.
US07840769B1 Method and system for play-only media player
A method and system for play-only media player is disclosed. The player includes a controller, a recording interface, and a non-removable storage. In recording content onto the media player, media signals are received through the recording interface. The media signals are stored in a media file on non-removable storage. When a controller receives a disable recording indication, it permanently disables the recording capabilities of the media player. The media file now is not accessible except for the purpose of playing the media file. To play the media file, a play indication is received by the controller. The controller then retrieves the content from the media file and sends the content to an output interface. In this manner, the media player only plays pre-loaded media content. The digital right for the content is protected against unauthorized copying while maintaining user friendliness of the media player.
US07840763B2 Methods and systems for achieving high assurance computing using low assurance operating systems and processes
A computing system contains and uses a partitioning microkernel (PMK) or equivalent means for imposing memory partitioning and isolation prior to exposing data to a target operating system or process, and conducts continuing memory management whereby data is validated by security checks before or between sequential processing steps. The PMK may be used in conjunction with an Object Request Broker.
US07840759B2 Shared cache eviction
Methods and systems for shared cache eviction in a multi-core processing environment having a cache shared by a plurality of processor cores are provided. Embodiments include receiving from a processor core a request to load a cache line in the shared cache; determining whether the shared cache is full; determining whether a cache line is stored in the shared cache that has been accessed by fewer than all the processor cores sharing the cache if the shared cache is full; and evicting a cache line that has been accessed by fewer than all the processor cores sharing the cache if a cache line is stored in the shared cache that has been accessed by fewer than all the processor cores sharing the cache.
US07840756B2 RAID storage system with tandem operation using multiple virtual profiles
An improved RAID storage system adapted to selectively and automatically store the same data “in tandem” using two different storage profiles. In one embodiment, a first store operation occurs in accordance with first storage profile and, if a flag in the first storage profile is set, a second store operation automatically occurs in accordance with a second storage profile but with the same data as stored in the first store operation. The first and second storage profiles are stored sequentially in profile registers within a controller in the storage system. To speed the tandem operation, the data may be held in a re-readable FIFO buffer in the controller. The buffer is sized to hold the minimum size of data that can be stored to the physical disks in the storage system. Preferably, the size of the buffer is substantially equal to the minimum size.
US07840753B1 Hard disk drive as hybrid drive
A hard disk drive (HDD) controller comprises a channel module and a control module. The channel module reads and writes data to a magnetic medium. The control module defines non-overlapping first and second areas of the magnetic medium, receives a write request containing first data for a first address in the first area, and caches the first data at a second address in the second area before storing the first data at the first address.
US07840741B2 System for transmitting data between two bus systems
An interface for transmitting messages between two bus systems including a receiver device for receiving a message from the first bus system, a classification device for classifying the message received from the first receiver device according to one of several predetermined classes, a translation device for translating the message based on a predetermined rule for each class into a message for transmission on the second bus system, and a transmitter device for transmitting the translated message on the second bus system.
US07840740B2 Personal media device docking station having an accessory device detector
Systems and methods include a circuit for detecting the insertion of a component into a docking station, e.g., an audio plug. When the component is inserted into the docking station, an electronic switch can be opened. When the switch is opened, a detector (e.g., monostable multivibrator) for detecting a change in state of the switch can be activated. Responsive to the detected change in state, the detector can issue a signal to a control device. Responsive to the signal, the controller can look to a resistive identification circuit and, based on its resistance, determine whether the component has just been inserted or removed from the docking station.
US07840735B2 Can system
A CAN system includes a plurality of CAN modules and a CAN bus connecting the CAN modules. In at least one embodiment, a filter device is mounted between at least one CAN module and the CAN bus, by which CAN messages transported via the CAN bus and destined for the at least one CAN module can be filtered.
US07840733B2 Power optimized dynamic port association
A method, device, system, and computer readable medium are disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes dynamically associating a newly active port in a computer system with a first host controller. The first association happens when a total number of currently active ports in the computer system is less than a maximum capacity number of ports for the first host controller. The method also includes dynamically associating the newly active port in the computer system with a second host controller. The second association happens when the total number of currently active ports in the computer system is greater than or equal to the maximum capacity number of ports for the first host controller. In this method, each port, the first host controller, and second host controller all utilize the same protocol.
US07840732B2 Stacked card address assignment
Stacking of electronics modules, boards or cards, hereinafter referred to as cards is described. Each card in a stack is connected logically to a host via a single physical bus slot, and can detect its relative position in the stack on initial power on and make use of that information to grab an appropriate resource pool. In one embodiment, a top most card is used as a reference and the rest of the cards in the stack derive a relative address with respect to the top most card. A few lines are dedicated between neighboring cards through which the cards can share their relative address information with succeeding cards and automate resource allocation based on the address information.
US07840724B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing program
Object data representing an image object extracted from image data is stored. A display unit displays the image object or the contour of the image object in accordance with the display mode designated by a user.
US07840722B2 Method for receiving data over an SDIO interface and device using the same
A method for receiving data with a secure digital input/output (SDIO) interface, which is utilized for providing a data transmission connection between a master device and a slave device, starts with receiving a first packet of the data from the slave device. The first packet is transferred with a plurality of data blocks. A first data block of the plurality of data blocks has reception information of a second packet. The method then generates a control signal to receive the second packet from the slave device according to the reception information of the second packet, which is a next packet of the first packet in the data.
US07840720B2 Using priority to determine whether to queue an input/output (I/O) request directed to storage
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for using priority to determine whether to queue an Input/Output (I/O) request directed to storage. A maximum number of concurrent requests directed to a storage is measured. The measured maximum number of concurrent requests is used to determine a threshold for a specified priority. Subsequent requests of the specified priority directed to the storage are allowed to proceed in response to determining that a current number of concurrent requests for the specified priority does not exceed the determined threshold for the specified priority. Subsequent requests directed to the storage having a priority greater than the specified priority are allowed to proceed. Subsequent requests directed to the storage having the specified priority are queued in a queue in response to determining that the current number of concurrent requests for the specified priority exceeds the overall threshold.
US07840718B2 Processing of data to suspend operations in an input/output processing log-out system
A computer program product, an apparatus, and a method for processing communications between a control unit and a channel subsystem in an input/output processing system are provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes: sending a Process Log-out (PRLO) message from the control unit to the channel subsystem, the message requesting suspension of input/output operations between the control unit and the channel subsystem for a period of time, the period of time being defined by the PRLO message; responsive to the PRLO message, suspending by the channel all input/output operation messages for the period of time, wherein suspending comprises stopping input/output operation messages during the period of time; and responsive to an expiration of the period of time, sending a Process Log-in (PRLI) message from the channel subsystem to the control unit to re-initiate an operating environment between the channel subsystem and the control unit.
US07840717B2 Processing a variable length device command word at a control unit in an I/O processing system
A computer program product, apparatus and method for processing a variable length device command word (DCW) at a control unit configured for communication with an input/output (I/O) subsystem in an I/O processing system. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes receiving a DCW at the control unit from the I/O subsystem. The DCW specifies one or more I/O operations and includes a command, a control data count, and control data having a varying length specified by the control data count. The control data is extracted in response to the control data count. The command is then executed in response to the extracted control data to perform the specified one or more I/O operations.
US07840716B2 Communication method for storage devices on the basis of file access
A communication method for storage device on the basis of file access is provided. When a storage controller is added with a nonstandard control function, a command file and a response file are virtually produced in the memory as the communicating interface with an application program. The virtual files can then be read and written using the standard storage control protocol. This avoids modifying the communicating interface between the driver program and the application program for the newly added nonstandard control protocol.
US07840709B1 Multi-speed serial interface for media access control and physical layer devices
A network device comprises a data translator that receives a first data stream at a first data rate and that includes a data sampler that selects one of X data symbols that are received, wherein the one of the X data symbols includes (M+N) bits, and that outputs a second data stream at a second data rate and a data remover that removes N of the (M+N) bits and that outputs a third data stream including symbols with the M bits at a third data rate. A physical layer device receives the third data stream.
US07840705B2 System and program product for replicating message status changes across messaging systems
The present invention provides a method, system and program product for replicating message status changes across messaging systems. Specifically, under the present invention, when a status of a message for a user is changed on a messaging system, the status change is entered into a log associated with the user along with a clock time of the messaging system. The status change is then replicated to a replica messaging system along with the clock time of the original messaging system. Upon receipt, the replica messaging system will ensure that the status change is the most recent activity for the message. If so, the status change will be entered into a log of the replica messaging system along with the clock time of the original messaging system and a clock time of the replica messaging system.
US07840689B2 Dynamically modifying the display of a computing device to provide advertisements
A geographic-based communications service system has a mobile unit for transmitting/receiving information, and access points connected to a network. The access points are arranged in a known geographic locations and transmit and receive information from the mobile unit. When one of the access points detects the presence of the mobile unit, it sends a signal to the network indicating the location of the mobile unit and the information requested by the mobile unit. Based on the signal received from the access point, the network communicates with information providers connected to the network and provides data to the mobile unit through the access point corresponding to the location of the mobile unit.
US07840676B2 Method and system for shedding load in physiological signals processing
A method for shedding signal load in a network having a plurality of devices is disclosed herein. The method comprises computer-implemented steps of (a) issuing a load-shedding policy, where the policy includes (i) fraction f of the signal to be discarded; (ii) device D where fraction f of the signal is to be discarded; and (iii) pattern P of discarding fraction f of the signal; (b) transmitting the issued load-shedding policy to device D; and (c) discarding portions of the signal at device D according to pattern P until fraction f of the signal is discarded.
US07840675B2 Multi node server system
A server system has, in addition to extensibility of scale-out type of a braid server system, extensibility of scale-up type by making SMP coupling among nodes. Each node has a unit for SMP coupling to other nodes. A module management unit responds to system configuration information to switch between a mode in which the node operates singularly as a braid server and a mode in which the node operates as a constituent module of an SMP server. Links among individual nodes are laid through equidistant wiring lines on a back plane and additionally a loop wiring line having a length equal to that of the inter-node link on the back plane is also laid in each node, thereby setting up synchronization among the nodes. Synchronization of reference clocks for SMP coupled nodes can be is also established.
US07840664B2 Automated characterization of network traffic
Automated characterization of network traffic. A method may include compiling and/or receiving network traffic data based on the network traffic, preparing a network traffic characterization based on the network traffic data, and generating outgoing network traffic scripts based on the network traffic characterization. A method may also include capturing network traffic and generating test network traffic based on the scripts. A system on which the method may be executed may include one or more chassis and/or computing devices, each having one or more network cards. The chassis and/or computing devices may be connected to one or more networks and to one another. The networks may include a production network and a test network. A system may include a data collector, a characterization engine, and a script generator, and may also include a traffic generator.
US07840662B1 Dynamically managing a network cluster
In one aspect, a method of dynamically adding a new node includes determining if the new node is included in a list of nodes belonging to a network cluster, notifying the leader node if the new node is not included in the list, adding the new node to the list and notifying the new node that it is a member of the network cluster. In another aspect, a method of dynamically removing a node includes determining if the node is functioning and if not, removing the node from a list of nodes belonging to a network cluster. In a further aspect, a method of dynamically managing a network cluster includes determining if a twin of a node is malfunctioning, removing the twin from a twin state of the node, removing the twin from a leader candidate list and adding a new node to the leader candidate list.
US07840661B2 Creating and editing media objects using web requests
A computer-readable medium, apparatus, and interface are provided for constructing an edit decision list that specifies media content to be included in a composed media object. The edit decision list is constructed by generating at least one media portion specifier, wherein the at least one media portion specifier identifies at least a portion of at least one first media object, and generating the edit decision list, where the edit decision list includes a network address and the at least one media portion specifier, and the edit decision list is in the form of a network resource locator string, such as a URL, suitable for transmission in a network request to the network address to cause the composed media object to be generated. The edit decision list may be transmitted in a single Hypertext Transfer Protocol request to the network address.
US07840660B1 System, method, and computer program product for determining whether a process identified utilizing a first proxy is associated with an additional proxy
A method, system, and computer program product are provided for determining whether a process identified utilizing a first proxy is associated with an additional proxy. In use, a process is identified, utilizing the first proxy. Further, it is determined whether the process is associated with the additional proxy. In addition, an action is conditionally performed based on the determination.
US07840654B2 Method and apparatus for processing web service with management information
The present invention provides service processing used in a computer system comprising a plurality of computers, each of which receives a message and executes a Web service on the basis of the message and then outputs a message generated from the result of the execution. The computer system realizes a Web service by transmitting and receiving the message among the computers. A message including first information about the execution of the service, and second information about notification of progress information in the service, is received. The service is executed according to the first information, and then the second information is analyzed. After that, on the basis of the execution result of the service, a message is generated according to the second information, and the message is then transmitted to the computer that is identified by a destination of progress information notification included in the second information.
US07840646B2 Learned upload time estimate module
A learned upload time estimate is derived from historical uploading information. This involves reviewing historical uploading information for previous uploads. To determine if there is a match or likeness between information of files presently selected for uploading and the historical uploading information for any of the previous uploads, the size of these files is combined to produce an upload size. The size and timestamp of the current upload is compared against the size and timestamp of each of the previous uploads. If a match with a previous upload is found its actual time is used as the learned estimate upload time. If a match or likeness is not found, an average transfer rate is computed from the historical uploading information for the previous uploads. From the average transfer rate and upload size a learned upload time estimate is derived and provided to a client for display to a user.
US07840633B2 Communicating messages between components in a client/server environment using an object broker
In one embodiment, a method for communicating messages between components in a client/server environment comprises initiating, in response to a request from an application on a server system, a process for receiving messages from one or more first components associated with a client system, the process initiated using a generalized architecture for communicating messages between components in a client/server application. The method includes registering with the process one or more second components associated with the application, receiving at the process associated with the application a message intended for a second component on the server system, the message initiated by a first component on a client system. The method includes unpacking at least a portion of the received message, determining the second component associated with the server system for which the message is intended, and initiating the second component for which the message is intended in response to the message.
US07840627B2 Digital signal processing circuit having input register blocks
An integrated circuit that includes a digital signal processing element (DSPE) having a first and a second register block coupled to a first arithmetic logic unit (ALU) circuit; a middle DSPE adjacent to the top DSPE having a third and a fourth register block coupled to a second ALU circuit, where the third register block is coupled to the first register block, and the fourth register block register block is coupled to the second register block; and a bottom DSPE adjacent to the middle DSPE having a fifth and a sixth register block coupled to a third ALU circuit, where the fifth register block is coupled to the third register block and the sixth register block register block is coupled to the fourth register block.
US07840624B2 Digital low pass filter
Over-sampled data is filtered by receiving a word of over-sampled data including sample bits for each of a plurality of data bits, detecting a sample bit having one logic value and, on either side of it, bits having the opposite logic value and, upon such detection, outputting the received word with the sample bit having the one logic value inverted.
US07840623B2 Interpolator and designing method thereof
Interpolation of signed values A and B is efficiently performed by simple circuitry. To calculate an interpolated value C based on a 4-bit values A (bits a3a2a1a0) and B (bits b3b2b1b0) expressing a negative number by twos complement notation and a 4-bit interpolation rate D (bits d3d2d1d0) consisting of only a decimal part, a basic expression of C=(1−D)*A+D*B is transformed into an expression composed of an unsigned part that includes a sum of products with a bit di or a logically inverted value ei of the bit di (i=0, 1, 2, and 3), and indicates an absolute value of the interpolated value C, and a signed part indicating a sign of the interpolated value C. Then, 7 bits of bits c6 through c0 are generated from an arithmetic operation of the unsigned part, and logic judgement of the signed part is performed by considering a carry from the digit of the bit c6 of the arithmetic operation of the unsigned part to generate a bit c7. Significant digits of the obtained 8-bit value (bits c7 through c0) are outputted as an interpolated value.
US07840618B2 Wide area networked file system
Traditional networked file systems like NFS do not extend to wide-area due to network latency and dynamics introduced in the WAN environment. To address that problem, a wide-area networked file system is based on a traditional networked file system (NFS/CIFS) and extends to the WAN environment by introducing a file redirector infrastructure residing between the central file server and clients. The file redirector infrastructure is invisible to both the central server and clients so that the change to NFS is minimal. That minimizes the interruption to the existing file service when deploying WireFS on top of NFS. The system includes an architecture for an enterprise-wide read/write wide area network file system, protocols and data structures for metadata and data management in this system, algorithms for history based prefetching for access latency minimization in metadata operations, and a distributed randomized algorithm for the implementation of global LRU cache replacement scheme.
US07840615B2 Systems and methods for interoperation of directory services
Systems and methods according to the present invention may include providing a first directory service program, a second directory service program, and a directory service access program for handling client application information requests. The directory service access program may direct and manage the client application information requests to either the first directory service program if the requested information is associated with the first directory service program or the second directory service program if requested information is associated with the second directory service program. The present invention may also include providing a data service synchronizer that replicates certain information from the first directory service program to the second directory service program; monitors the first directory service program for changes; and updates the second directory service program with changes from the first directory service program such that the first and second directory service programs may interoperate with one another.
US07840607B2 Data mart generation and use in association with an operations intelligence platform
Some embodiments include determination and storage of a plurality of relational database tables based on class model representing tag-based data and non-tag-based data and on a plurality of objects instantiated based on the class model. Also included are reception of a selection of one object of the objects as a dimension of a logical model, reception of a first indication of a first plurality of members of the selected object to be associated with dimension data of the logical model, reception of a second indication of a second plurality of members of the selected object to be associated with fact data of the logical model, to create a dimension table associated with the selected object and including columns corresponding to the first plurality of members, and creation of a fact table including a foreign key column corresponding to the dimension table and including a column corresponding to each of the second plurality of members.
US07840601B2 Editable table modification
In a computing system, a communication that includes contents retrieved from a data repository and configured to be organized in a table is received from a second device. The received contents are displayed in the table on a user interface. The table includes multiple rows, one of which is configured to remain empty while the table is displayed to indicate a possibility of adding a new row to the table. While the table is displayed, a user input that indicates the empty row and is configured to trigger the new row to be added to the table is received. The new row is added to the table without first communicating with the second device regarding the addition. The new row is configured so that new contents entered into the new row are to be added to the data repository in a subsequent communication to the second device.
US07840595B1 Techniques for determining an implemented data protection policy
Described are techniques for determining an implemented data protection policy. One or more recovery points corresponding to each of one or more storage objects are determined. A data protection method determined in accordance with a facility and replication type associated with said each recovery point is selected for each of said one or more recovery points. A data protection category for each of said one or more recovery points is determined in accordance with said data protection method, a recovery point type, and a recovery point location associated with said each recovery point. A data protection policy indicating an implemented data protection policy for each of said one or more storage objects for at least one data protection category is stored.
US07840593B2 Program, information processing method and device, and data structure
The present invention relates to a program, an information processing method and apparatus, and a data structure with which connection can be formed reliably between apparatuses having different capabilities. A service that can be provided to another party is represented by five dimensional parameters, namely, Access Method, Link Speed, X scale, Y scale, and Audio Codec. The values of the parameters are all represented by integer values. Access Method is represented by number 1 in the case of RTSP/TCP+RTP/UDP, and by number 2 in the case of HTTP tunnelling. Link Speed is normalized by kbps as a base unit, and X scale and Y scale are normalized by 16 pixels as a base unit. Audio Codec supports predetermined methods represented by numbers 0 to 6. The present invention can be applied to a personal computer.
US07840592B2 Estimating a number of rows returned by a recursive query
A number of rows that a recursive query will retrieve from a table is estimated by recursively probing an index associated with the table. A recursive query includes a seed and a recursive predicate, each of which is associated with a respective column in the table. If the index has a leading column that matches the table column associated with the seed, and the index has a secondary column that matches the table column associated with the recursive predicate, then the index is recursively probed until a threshold depth of the recursive probing is reached or until all nodes of the index have been examined. The estimated number of rows that the recursive query will retrieve is then calculated based on either the number of rows examined in the index or based on the threshold depth, a cardinality of the secondary column, and a cardinality of the primary column.
US07840583B2 Search device and recording medium
A device composed of structures and access methods for providing search functionalities is proposed. The structure includes a presence/absence information unit that stores bit-level items grouped in blocks. Other structures included are, a character string list that is used to store keys composed of character strings and a file specification unit that uniquely identify files from multiple files. Each element of the 2 former structures has a uniquely assigned identification number. The presence/absence information items associated with each file are ordered according to the identification numbers stated previously. The elements of the former 2 structures are many-to-many associated through the presence/absence information items, using a combination of identification numbers. An obtaining unit for search keys is provided, together with the output unit that produces file identifiers specified by the file specification unit.
US07840579B2 Mobile device retrieval and navigation
In one general aspect, information is presented to a user by receiving a first input from a user and structuring the first input as a first stem. A separator is received designating subsequently-received input as a second input. The second input is received and the second input is structured as a second stem. The first stem and the second stem are related to a library of candidates. One or more results are rendered in response to relating the first stem and the second stem to the library of candidates and the user is enabled to select from among the one or more results.
US07840562B2 System and method of reconciling human resource database
A system and method to reconcile Human Resource databases, including payroll, accounting, tax and travel databases, are provided. The system and method may include a database aggregation component that automatically gathers and stores a plurality of databases in a corporation business information system wherein these databases may be logically related to each other and a database reconciliation component that is capable of querying a database for retrieving data entries based on user instructions or on requests automatically generated according to preset conditions. The reconciliation method may further compare data from logically related databases. If discrepancies exist in a comparison result, the method may provide a drill-down step where data at next level of detail may be retrieved according to automatically generated queries. This reconciliation process of comparison and drill-down for more detail may continue until a preset condition is satisfied or there is no further detail to retrieve. The system may produce a report relating to the reconciliation results.
US07840561B2 Retrieving hierarchical data
Hierarchical data may be provided. First, first data may be received corresponding to a first item. The first item may correspond, for example, to a web site. Next, a first cache may be created corresponding to an ancestry of the first item. In creating the first cache, information may be included configured to define a hierarchy of the first item. The first item may correspond to a child web site and the information in the cache may correspond to a plurality of parent web sites higher in the hierarchy and being related to the child web site. The first cache may include the plurality of parent web sites in a parent-relative fashion. Then, the received first data corresponding to the first item may be stored in a database. In addition, the first cache may be stored in the database as a property of the stored first item.
US07840555B2 System and a method for identifying a selection of index candidates for a database
A system and method for identifying a selection of index candidates for a relational database. The system includes a Predicate Analyzer for examining database queries in workload and recording column and predicate information; a Search Engine for performing a combinatorial search of index candidates; an Index Emulator for emulating the existence of a set of candidate indexes by making necessary “fake” entries into the relational database management system data dictionary; and a Query Optimizer for estimating the cost of a given query within a given index configuration. In accordance with the method, data indicative of a workload comprising one or more queries is received, and predicates are then analysed and organized into column groups for each basic predicate type. Statistics are collected on each of these groups. Non-predicate portions of each query are scanned to obtain additional covering columns. A combinational search is performed on the column groups to identify covering and non-covering candidates. These are then used in conjunction with collected statistics and baseline costs are calculated to perform a cost bases analysis of the candidates and generate index candidate recommendations.
US07840552B2 Cost-based subquery correlation and decorrelation
Techniques are provided that determine that a query includes at least one subquery that may be correlated or decorrelated. An internal representation of the query that represents the subquery in both correlated and decorrelated form is generated, wherein the internal representation includes at least one virtual table.
US07840546B2 Method and apparatus for conducting data queries using consolidation strings and inter-node consolidation
Query inefficiencies are improved and entity-interrelational blindness is overcome by employing two ideas: Consolidation Strings and Inter-Node Consolidation. These ideas can be typically employed in law-enforcement records systems (such as COPLINK systems), but is certainly not limited to such an application. Consolidation Strings represent key pieces of information that are in a text/character format, and may be encrypted/hashed. A system's hierarchy of consolidation rules automatically determine if two different rows in a database actually refer to the same real-world object. These rules are NOT statistical or probabilistic in nature, thus enhancing the confidence and reliability in the results. Three general classifications of Consolidation Strings are encompassed: Those based on positive identifiers, those based on demographic information, and those based on associative information that spans multiple-entity types. Inter-Node Consolidation provides a means to facilitate the communication of updated consolidation information between data-source nodes in order to leverage the advantages of Consolidation Strings.
US07840537B2 System and method for storing redundant information
A method and system for reducing storage requirements and speeding up storage operations by reducing the storage of redundant data includes receiving a request that identifies one or more data objects to which to apply a storage operation. For each data object, the storage system determines if the data object contains data that matches another data object to which the storage operation was previously applied. If the data objects do not match, then the storage system performs the storage operation in a usual manner. However, if the data objects do match, then the storage system may avoid performing the storage operation.
US07840534B2 Integration of a digital asset management system with a network sales system
The disclosure relates to integration of a digital asset management system with a network sales system. The digital asset management system may comprise digital asset storage, search and retrieval functionality. Each digital asset may comprise one or more versions of the asset, properties of the asset, and conditions on its use. By way of the integration with the network sales system, a digital asset or digital asset version may be assigned a product identity to facilitate sale of the digital asset or digital asset version.
US07840533B2 System and method for performing an image level snapshot and for restoring partial volume data
The present invention relates to a method for performing an image level copy of an information store. The present invention comprises performing a snapshot of an information store that indexes the contents of the information store, retrieving data associated with the contents of the information store from a file allocation table, copying the contents of the information store to a storage device based on the snapshot, and associating the retrieved data with the copied contents to provide file system information for the copied contents.
US07840527B2 Platform for feeds
Techniques for detecting, managing, and presenting syndication XML (feeds) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a web browser automatically determines that a web site is publishing feeds and notifies the user, who can then access the feed easily. In another embodiment, a browser determines that a web page or feed is advertising relationship XML, and displays information about the people identified in the relationship XML. In yet another embodiment, a browser determines that a file contains a feed and enables the user to view it in a user-friendly way. In yet another embodiment, feed state information is stored in a repository that is accessible by applications that are used to view the feed. In yet another embodiment, if a feed's state changes, an application notifies the repository, and the state is updated. In yet another embodiment, a feed is parsed and stored in a structured way.
US07840515B2 System architecture and process for automating intelligent surveillance center operations
The intelligent, automated surveillance system collects the interactions between the security personal and the surveillance system during the handling of an alarm. Each alarm is modeled as a “transaction” and each operation/action that a security personal executes modeled as an “event” within the transaction. The collected events within the transaction are in partial order. Furthermore, the system provides a scoring system for a security manager to evaluate the performance of the security guard. The score of the sequence of actions that the security guard performed manually and the system performed automatically for each set of dependent alarms are used to decide future sequence of operation. Security guards can overwrite the automatic sequencing of actions with manual sequence of operations.
US07840510B2 Method for inferring the state of a system
An apparatus, and a method, comprising: computing a measure of goodness for each of at least two dimensions of a system linked to a first state of the system and a second state of the system; computing a weighting for each of at least two dimensions linked to a studied system, the weightings describing the differences of said at least two dimensions in relation to said first state and said second state; and inferring the state of the studied system based on said measures of goodness and said weightings.
US07840506B1 System and method for geodesic data mining
In various embodiments, geodesic mining systems and methods are disclosed. For example, a method for forming and adapting a geodesic adaptive network may include embedding a set of rules into a two-dimensional adaptive network having N-rows and M-columns with rule independent variables embedded in a first column of the two-dimensional adaptive network and rule dependent variables embedded in the last column of the two-dimensional adaptive network, where N and M are positive integers greater than two, and repetitively selecting a pair of rows of the two-dimensional adaptive network having common dependent attributes using a random process, then adapting the two-dimensional adaptive network based on the selected pair of rows.
US07840495B2 System and method for the payment and accounting of petty disbursements
A system and method for the payment of petty cash disbursements is disclosed wherein a tree structure of linked purchasing cards is constructed according to a real-life organizational structure of persons able to authorized the expenditures of the petty cash. A central computer facility is used to maintain the structure and to facilitate the modification of the expenditure limits for the purchasing cards and the movement of cash between a master account and the accounts of each of the purchasing cards to cover purchased made thereby.
US07840487B2 Digital content encryption and decryption method and workflow system using digital content
Disclosure of information is controlled selectively depending on users such that a plurality of users having different roles bearing no inclusive relation with one another can access the same area. Content is divided into a plurality of areas. For each of the areas obtained by division, secret keys (encryption/decryption keys in symmetric-key cryptography) are generated. The generated keys are encrypted using public keys in public-key cryptography, which are set in advance for the users depending on their respective roles. In the case where the content is to be disclosed to a plurality of users having different roles, the encryption of secret keys is performed separately for each user. These encrypted contents and encrypted secret keys are used to generate encrypted text.
US07840482B2 Method and system for high speed options pricing
A high speed technique for options pricing in the financial industry is disclosed that can provide both high throughput and low latency. A parallel/pipelined architecture is disclosed for computing an implied volatility in connection with an option. Parallel/pipelined architectures are also disclosed for computing an option's theoretical fair price. Preferably these parallel/pipelined architectures are deployed in hardware, and more preferably reconfigurable logic such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) to accelerate the options pricing operations relative to conventional software-based options pricing operations.
US07840480B2 Network-based trading system and method
A network based trading system and method are provided which combine economies-of-scale enjoyed by institutional investors and mutual funds with direct ownership of securities to permit individual investors to participate in the bond market in a cost effective manner. Through team investing, institutional economies-of-scale are created for individuals by allowing groupings of individuals to buy and sell bonds as a “team,” thereby executing one cost-efficient trade in the institutional market rather than many smaller trades in the inefficient retail market. Also, through customer-to-customer (C2C) trading, customers are allowed to negotiate a trade directly with one another as an alternative to selling in the inter-dealer market. The system and method also incorporate an automatic risk assessment and trade approval routine for evaluating a proposed trade of a financial instrument which was received from a customer in an electronic form.
US07840473B2 On-line reinsurance capacity auction system and method
A system and method of selling reinsurance includes identifying a reinsurance product and a capacity of the reinsurance product to be sold and calculating a fair risk price for the reinsurance product. The reinsurance product is then offered to potential buyers via an electronic auction, wherein a minimum bid in the electronic auction is determined, at least in part, by the fair risk price. Bids are received from the buyers for portions of the capacity of the reinsurance product and are ranked in accordance with a calculated profitability value and/or time of receipt. Buyers are notified of a status of their respective bids, and particularly, whether bids have been tentatively accepted, partially accepted, or excluded, i.e., rejected. Upon notification of bid status, buyers are given the opportunity to modify bid parameters in an attempt to have their bids ranked at higher a level, thereby increasing the chance of the bid being accepted.
US07840456B2 System and method for categorizing credit card transaction data
A system and method employs a categorized list of business names to identify a category corresponding to transaction information, such as credit card transaction data.
US07840453B2 Equipment management system
The invention is a system and method of managing equipment. The system incorporates a tagging device to attach identification tags to each piece of equipment. A scanning device is used to read the identification tags and relay this information to an equipment server. An input device is used to input information to the equipment server. The equipment server runs the equipment management program. The system flags a potential asset assigned to an asset creating individual. Equipment is designated an asset after use in an asset creating event.
US07840442B2 Method and computer storage medium for search scoring
A method and apparatus for generating search results with higher relevancy. The present invention exploits the fact that users' choices on each given search term tend to converge to several products from several merchants, and all of the results are very relevant to the search term. In one embodiment, these results are used to decide the order of merchants for each search term. By learning the users' choices, especially from purchasing and/or clicking information, highly relevant and most popular products can be assigned a higher score or rank over text relevant only products.
US07840440B2 Computerized transaction bargaining system and method
A method and system for automated bargaining by testing non-equal values in rounds for satisfaction of a condition. If the condition is not satisfied in the normal rounds, power round values may be tested for satisfaction of a power round condition. If, in any round, the condition is satisfied, a binding bargained payment is calculated.
US07840428B2 Method, system and apparatus for measuring and analyzing customer business volume
A method, system and computer product for analyzing and monitoring business volume is provided. A database is linked with a database management utility. Business data is loaded on the database. The business data include data related to accounts, hierarchical account/product relationships, and hierarchical account/customer relationships. The database support relational data queries to the business data. A plurality of threshold changes is defined regarding the business data, and is associated with the database A plurality of threshold tests for detecting changes throughout a selected set of the business data is performed in accordance with the threshold change values. The results of the tests are combined to obtain a classification of data that produces business volume data. The business volume data permits the analysis and monitoring of flows of business into, out of and among account, customer and products groups of a business. The business volume data also provide customer behaviour data.
US07840424B2 Systems and methods for retaining or shifting prescription market share
Systems and methods are provided for retaining or shifting prescription market share. The systems and methods may include receiving a claim from a pharmacy computer, where the claim is associated with a drug requested by a customer, routing the claim to an adjudication engine for benefits processing, and receiving, from the adjudication engine, coverage information for the claim, where the coverage information indicates an amount payable by the customer. The systems and methods may further include determining whether a discount or payment is available to reduce the amount payable by the customer, where the discount or payment is associated with funding by a pharmaceutical manufacturer. If the discount or payment is available, the systems and methods may include transmitting at least a notice of availability of the discount or payment to the pharmacy computer, or automatically adjudicating the claim back to the pharmacy with the reduced amount payable by the customer.
US07840419B1 System and method for reducing the placebo effect in controlled clinical trials
A method and system for performing a clinical trial having a reduced placebo effect is disclosed. The method includes randomizing study participants into three or more treatment groups and performing a first phase of testing on the groups. In a typical embodiment, the first phase of testing includes administering an active treatment to a first group, and administering a placebo to a second group and to a third group. Responders and non-responders are determined for each group. A second phase of testing is then performed. The second phase of testing includes administering the placebo to non-responders in the first group, administering the active treatment to non-responders in the second group, and administering the placebo to non-responders in the third group. The data from the first phase of testing and from the second phase of testing is pooled and analyzed to determine response rates to active treatment and placebo.
US07840417B2 Medical information providing apparatus, control method, control program, and computer readable recording medium recorded with control program
A medical information providing apparatus is provided which can increase the number of doctor side terminals to be destinations of program distribution, acquire market information extended in detail, positively creates circumstances in which a doctor desires to make contact with an MR, and promptly transmits information about a doctor who desires to make contact with the MR to him/her. A medical information providing apparatus can communicate with a doctor side terminal and a representative side terminal, in which the representative terminal can register doctor information on the medical information providing apparatus, and a medical information program is provided to registered doctor information. Before providing a medical information providing program, a basic questionnaire is done to efficiently provide the program, and a final questionnaire is done to obtain the effect to view the program after provided. Furthermore, a contact request questionnaire is done based on the results of these questionnaires. The doctor information and the answer for the basic questionnaire are collectively managed in an individual doctor information storing module for each doctor, and a reference individual doctor information storing module which discloses data to a representative is also formed.
US07840415B2 Method and platform for providing an interactive internet computer-driven/IP based streaming video/audio apparatus
A method and platform for providing an interactive interne computer-driven IP based streaming video/audio webcam meeting and interview apparatus, intended for the process of job searching, employer recruiting and the selection of candidates both nationally and internationally, for national and international employment opportunities.
US07840413B2 Method and system for integrating idea and on-demand services
A method and system is provided having a webpage for posting ideas integrated with on-demand customer relationship management. The website associated with the page may be stored in a tenant area of a multitenant database to facilitate maintaining multiple websites for different tenants. A webpage may be sent to a client that includes a plurality of sections, each including at least one idea related to an improvement of a product. Votes may be received for at least one of the plurality of sections. A determination may be made of a Total Qualitative Management Criterion (TQMC) for each section of the website, by applying an increasing function of time to newer votes to enable relative weightings of older votes to diminish over time without requiring computing a decaying time function to determine weightings for each vote. A product modification may be determined based on the TQMC for each section.
US07840409B2 Ordering recognition results produced by an automatic speech recognition engine for a multimodal application
Ordering recognition results produced by an automatic speech recognition (‘ASR’) engine for a multimodal application implemented with a grammar of the multimodal application in the ASR engine, with the multimodal application operating in a multimodal browser on a multimodal device supporting multiple modes of interaction including a voice mode and one or more non-voice modes, the multimodal application operatively coupled to the ASR engine through a VoiceXML interpreter, includes: receiving, in the VoiceXML interpreter from the multimodal application, a voice utterance; determining, by the VoiceXML interpreter using the ASR engine, a plurality of recognition results in dependence upon the voice utterance and the grammar; determining, by the VoiceXML interpreter according to semantic interpretation scripts of the grammar, a weight for each recognition result; and sorting, by the VoiceXML interpreter, the plurality of recognition results in dependence upon the weight for each recognition result.
US07840407B2 Business listing search
A method of operating a voice-enabled business directory search system includes receiving category-business pairs, each category-business pair including a business category and a specific business, and establishing a data structure having nodes based on the category-business pairs. Each node of the data structure is associated with one or more business categories and a speech recognition language model for recognizing specific businesses associated with the one or more businesses categories.
US07840406B2 Method for providing an electronic dictionary in wireless terminal and wireless terminal implementing the same
A method and wireless terminal for providing an electronic dictionary function in the wireless terminal having the electronic dictionary are provided, in which a word is searched in the electronic dictionary, which corresponds to characters input through a character recognition mode, when the wireless terminal is in a word search mode; when more than a threshold number of words are found, a voice recognition mode is executed; and a word is searched through the character recognition mode, which corresponds to voice input through the voice recognition mode.
US07840405B1 Generation of speech recognition grammars for conducting searches
Various processes are disclosed for conducting database searches by voice. One such process enables a user to efficiently submit a search query by partially spelling the search query (either on a telephone keypad or via voice utterances) and uttering the full search query. Also disclosed are various processes for generating speech recognition grammars for interpreting utterances of search queries. In one such process, search queries are selected from a search query log for incorporation into a speech recognition grammar. The search query log may include or consist of search queries specified by users without the use of voice.
US07840400B2 Dynamic natural language understanding
Methods and systems for dynamic natural language understanding. A hierarchical structure of semantic categories is exploited to assist in the natural language understanding. Optionally, the natural language to be understood includes a request.
US07840399B2 Method, device, and computer program product for multi-lingual speech recognition
A method of multi-lingual speech recognition can include determining whether characters in a word are in a source list of a language-specific alphabet mapping table for a language, converting each character not in the source list according to a general alphabet mapping table, converting each converted character according to the language-specific alphabet mapping table, verifying that each character in the word is in a character set of the language, removing characters not in the character set of the language, and identifying a pronunciation of the word.
US07840395B2 Systems and methods for predictive monitoring including real-time strength and security analysis in an electrical power distribution system
A system for performing real-time failure mode analysis of a monitored system is disclosed. The system includes a data acquisition component, an analytics server and a client terminal. The data acquisition component is communicatively connected to a sensor configured to acquire real-time data output from the monitored system. The analytics server is communicatively connected to the data acquisition component and is comprised of a virtual system modeling engine, an analytics engine and a machine learning engine.
US07840392B2 Stabilizing solutions to output feedback pole placement problem with parameter drift and automated alerting of system parameter changes
Output feedback pole placement problems with parameter drift are solved with stabilizing solutions. Changes in system parameters trigger alerts in an automated manner. A representative method includes determining a set of solutions for an output feed pole placement problem, based on parameters of a physical system. The solutions are stable and well-conditioned for monitoring changes to the parameters of the physical system. The physical system is adjusted, or controlled, based on the solutions determined. Updated parameters of the physical system are acquired. A set of updated solutions for the output feedback pole placement problem are determined based on the updated parameters. The physical system is then adjusted, or controlled, based on the updated solutions determined. A system manager may also be notified of the updated parameters and/or the updated solutions. Furthermore, changes within the system may be monitored, and/or potentially critical changes within the system may be detected.
US07840388B2 Engineering device
An engineering device includes a drawing builder for generating a general-purpose part formed by combining functional parts, and a general-purpose part managing section for registering the general-purpose part thus generated in a database and quoting the general-purpose part thus registered in the drawing builder to utilize as a general-purpose part object. The engineering device further includes a reuse section for referring to a general-purpose part object, an operation thereof having been confirmed, within a drawing builder and registers the general-purpose part object in the general-purpose part management section.
US07840381B2 Method and apparatus for determining the operational state of a navigation system
A method of determining an operational state of a navigation system of a platform is provided. The method comprises testing at least a portion of hardware in the navigation system. Additionally, a measurement of at least one navigation variable from an inertial sensor is combined with a measurement of another navigation variable. A plurality of residuals for the measurement of at least one navigation variable and the measurement of another navigation variable are determined with a blending filter. An error for the measurement of at least one navigation variable is estimated based on the plurality of residuals. The method also predicts an error for the measurement of at least one navigation variable while the navigation system is in route. A determination is made as to whether the navigation system meets operational standards based on testing at least a portion of hardware, estimating an error for the measurement of at least one navigation variable, and predicting an error for the measurement of at least one navigation variable. Finally, one of a first state and a second state of the navigation system is output, the first state indicating that the navigation system does meet operational standards and the second state indicating that the navigation system does not meet operational standards.
US07840376B2 Risk-based design and maintenance systems and methods
A method for determining an optimal inspection schedule for a structure is described. The method includes determining a crack size distribution table for the structure, determining a plurality of risk values, each risk value for a different estimated usage hours of the structure and based on said crack size distribution table, estimating a first inspection interval based on a predetermined risk value threshold, and determining a second inspection interval based on analyzing the rate of increase of risk value and probability of detection of a crack in said first inspection interval.
US07840374B2 Method and device for measuring an object for measurement
The invention relates to a method and device for measuring an object for measurement, comprising at least one reference structure for the definition of an object coordinate system, fixed with relation to the object, by means of a measuring system, which comprises at least one sensor system for recording a contour of the object for measuring in a measurement coordinate system. According to the invention, the object for measurement is placed in a measuring position in the recording region of the sensor system, the position of the object coordinate system is fixed by means of the reference structure, the object coordinate system is linked to the measurement coordinate system, the sensor system is turned about a rotation axis relative to the object for measurement, in order to determine contour data and a processing of the contour data carried out in an analytical unit, taking into account the position of the object coordinate system. The invention further relates to an application for contour determination.
US07840372B2 Self-calibration method and apparatus for on-axis rotary encoders
A self-calibration method and apparatus for on-axis rotary encoders comprising the steps of: receiving output signals from a detector during a spindle-free response period, the signals including a plurality of data sets wherein each data set comprises the periods between sampling events occurring in one revolution of the encoder at an angular speed, selecting a data set pair from the output signals, wherein the data set pair contains two linearly uncorrelated data sets; defining a model of the angular distances between each sampling event occurring in one revolution of the encoder as a function of one or more damping coefficients and the periods between each sampling event as contained in the data set pair; solving the model for the angular distances for the data set pair using circular closure and dynamic reversal techniques; and establishing an encoder error map using the selected solved angular distances from the model.
US07840365B2 Integrated circuit arrangement for current regulation
An integrated circuit arrangement for current regulation of an electromagnetic load, especially an electric motor, generator, solenoid valve, or the like, with a coil, a power switch element, and a freewheeling diode is disclosed. In one embodiment, the circuit arrangement has an integrated measurement resistor for measuring the coil current. The measurement resistor is arranged in a freewheeling path of the circuit arrangement in series between the freewheeling diode and the power switch element, and has a digital processing means connected after a voltage measurement device assigned to the measurement resistor for at least partial compensation of resistor manufacturing variations and/or temperature fluctuations in the voltage signal and/or an error due to analog voltage signal processing.
US07840362B2 Method and apparatus for assessing the residual life of a sensor unit
The life of a sensor unit is very strongly dependent on the loading of the sensor unit during use. The life of a sensor unit is generally specified in a number of loading cycles, however, which does not take into consideration the loading of the sensor unit. The invention therefore specifies a method and apparatus for assessing the residual life of a sensor unit which takes into consideration the actual loading of the sensor unit and therefore the residual life of the sensor unit can be estimated more precisely by virtue of a damage factor (S) being determined for the loading of a loading cycle (B) and the loading cycle (B) being weighted therewith.
US07840361B2 Method for calculating environmental load, program for calculating environmental load, and method for converting units
A technology is provided in which it is not necessary to modify a system on a production side, and in which man-hours required for registering an environmental load value on a supplier side are not increased, in cases of an item having a mismatch between units, in a process of adding up the environmental load values of a post-production product. The technology includes generating correction information for calculating the environmental load that is registered by the supplier at design time, and calculating the environmental load value at design time by using the correction information. In cases of calculating the environmental load value of a product actually produced from a designed product, the environmental load value is calculated using the correction information generated at design time.
US07840357B2 Method of evaluating chromosome state and evaluation system
A method of evaluating a cell state based on information of an image taken of a cell containing a chromosome territory is provided. This method includes extracting the chromosome territory from the image (S20), standardizing a positioning state of the chromosome territory and then quantifying the positioning state (S22), and evaluating the cell state based on the quantified positioning state of the chromosome territory (S26).
US07840354B2 Method and device for automatically triggering a vehicle deceleration
A method and a device for automatic triggering of deceleration of a vehicle for preventing a collision, which is accomplished by the fact that a variable, which represents a probability of collision with another vehicle, must exceed a predefinable threshold value, and the threshold value is variable as a function of the driver's response, the current driving situation, or the ambient situation. To determine the change in the threshold value, signals from a steering angle sensor, a brake pedal sensor, an accelerator pedal sensor, a device for determining the speed of the vehicle, a device for determining the uphill or downhill slope of the road, a device for determining the vehicle yaw rate, a device for determining the vehicle float angle or a device for detecting stationary and moving objects in the vicinity of the vehicle, in particular in the area in front of the vehicle, are analyzed.
US07840352B2 Method and system for autonomous vehicle navigation
A method and system are provided for autonomous vehicle navigation. In the method and system, one or more Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors, one or more inertial sensors, and one or more image sensors are provided on an autonomous vehicle. During operation of the autonomous vehicle, one or more GPS measurements, one or more inertial measurements, and one or more image measurements are obtained from the respective GPS sensors, inertial sensors, and image sensors. Each of the GPS measurements, inertial measurements, and image measurements are integrated together to estimate a position of the autonomous vehicle over time.
US07840350B2 Software based driving directions
A method for electronically generating driving directions from a starting location to an ending location. The method including: indicating the ending location; indicating one or more preferences for the directions to include less than all steps that would otherwise be generated if not for the one or more preferences; and generating driving directions based on the starting location, ending location, and one or more preferences.
US07840349B2 Navigation system and method
A navigation system has a display device for displaying a predefined maximal number of graphic driving lane objects. A control device is operatively configured such that the actual number of driving lanes of a street or road is determined, and only a maximal number of graphic driving lane objects is displayed on the display device when the maximal number is smaller than the actual number of driving lanes.
US07840336B2 Control system for gas turbine aeroengine
In a gas turbine aeroengine control system, in Ch-A (first control channel), a first CPU monitors the operation of a second CPU and the second CPU monitors the operation of the first CPU; in Ch-B (second control channel), third and fourth CPUs similarly monitor each other, and when the operation of at least one of the first and second CPUs in Ch-A is found not to be normal, the output sent to an FCU (fuel control unit) is switched from the output of one or the other of the first and second CPUs of Ch-A to the output of one or the other of the third and fourth CPUs of Ch-B, thereby achieving improved CPU failure detection and realizing high redundancy and high reliability.
US07840322B2 Method and system for implementing vehicle personalization
The present invention provides a method for providing vehicle settings to a telematics unit in a mobile vehicle that includes receiving a vehicle settings update signal at a call center from the telematics unit and sending vehicle settings from the call center to the telematics unit. The method may additionally include implementing the vehicle settings in the mobile vehicle. The method may further include sending an update flag signal from the call center to the telematics unit. The method may additionally include receiving at least one user preference at the call center via a web portal interface. The step of receiving at least one user preference may further include sending an update flag signal from the call center to the telematics unit responsive to receiving the at least one user preference at the call center via the web portal interface.
US07840321B2 System of control devices in a motor vehicle with protected diagnostics access points and method of using the system
A system of control devices communicate by way of one or more databuses of a motor vehicle. The system exhibits at least two diagnostics access points, by way of which the state of at least one of the control devices is diagnose˜ on the basis of a diagnostics request message; in particular, an error memory entry of a control device is requested by way of one of the diagnostics access points and is transmitted to the outside. A diagnostics request message, which is fed to the system by way of the first diagnostics access point, is recognized as such by an identification and forwarding system and is transmitted to a checking system. The checking system checks at least the authenticity of the diagnostics request messages and, optionally, forwards it to that control device, for which the diagnostics request message is intended.
US07840318B2 Boat and control system for a boat
A control system for a boat including a first hierarchical control module which receives command signals from sensors connected to a throttle control member to emit a command signal corresponding to the required acceleration and sensors connected to a steering control device to emit a command signal corresponding to the required direction of travel. A second hierarchical control module is arranged to execute operating routines for power units including at least a propulsion motor and a servo device for a direction of travel setting device, where the operating routines generate operating signals for the power units in response to input data in the form of externally received target value signals generated by a third hierarchical control module in response to operating conditions of the boat, and a boat having such a control system.
US07840317B2 Method and system for controlling a hijacked aircraft
A method and apparatus for controlling the flight of an aircraft in the event of an in-flight emergency is disclosed. The apparatus includes: (a) a remote flight control, located separate and apart from said aircraft, for remote flight control of said aircraft by a remote human pilot; (b) an onboard manual flight control on the aircraft for manual flight control of the aircraft by an onboard human pilot; (c) an onboard autopilot on the aircraft for automatic flight control of the aircraft; (d) a device for detecting an in-flight emergency on board the aircraft, when the onboard pilot is incapable of properly manually flying said first aircraft due to an attack upon the aircraft or its occupants, including its onboard human pilots, or due to any other incapacity of the onboard human pilots, and producing an in-flight emergency signal in response thereto; and (e) an onboard remote piloting device on the aircraft for receiving the in-flight emergency control signal and control signals from said remote flight control device and allowing the control of the aircraft by the remote human pilot and preventing flight control by any person on board the aircraft.
US07840314B2 Computer peripheral device method and apparatus
A vehicle peripheral device system comprising a first peripheral state manager that manages a persistent connection between a computing device and a vehicle and a second peripheral state manager that manages on-demand connections between the computing device and the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is presented to a user of the computing device as a persistent peripheral device when either the persistent connection or the on-demand connection is available, wherein at least some on-demand connections are initiated by the computing device requiring access to the vehicle device.
US07840309B2 Gait generating device of legged mobile robot
When a new desired gait of a robot is generated, it is determined, on the assumption that the trajectory of an acting force between the robot and an object at a predetermined time point in the future changes to a trajectory different from a desired trajectory, whether a predetermined dynamical restrictive condition can be satisfied when a desired gait after the predetermined time point is generated. If the condition cannot be satisfied, then a moving schedule for the object is corrected, the desired trajectory or the like of the acting force between the robot and the object is re-determined, and a new desired gait is generated using the re-determined desired trajectory. With this arrangement, the gait of the robot to cause the robot to perform an operation for moving the object is generated such that the stability of the posture of the robot can be secured even if an acting force between the robot and the object in the future deviates from a desired value.
US07840305B2 Abrasive articles, CMP monitoring system and method
The disclosure relates to abrasive articles useful in chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP), the articles including a substrate with opposite major surfaces, an abrasive material overlaying at least a portion of at least one of the major surfaces, and at least one of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a RFID tag reader, or a sensor for providing CMP information to a transmitter positioned near the substrate, the transmitter positioned near the substrate and adapted to wirelessly receive CMP information and wirelessly transmit the CMP information to a remote receiver. The disclosure also relates to a CMP pad conditioner for wirelessly communicating CMP information to a remote receiver, a CMP process monitoring system for wirelessly communicating CMP information to a remote receiver, and a method for conditioning a CMP pad using a CMP process monitoring system for wireless communicating CMP information to a remote receiver.
US07840304B2 Embroidery data processing apparatus and embroidery data processing program recorded on computer-readable recording medium
An embroidery data processing apparatus and an embroidery data processing program that creates embroidery data usable by an embroidery sewing machine to sew an embroidery pattern that includes a plurality of partial patterns. The embroidery data processing apparatus and program store a maximum sewing region; set a plurality of unit embroidery regions; and modify a size of each of the plurality of unit regions based on the size of the maximum sewing region and a position and a size of each of the plurality of partial patterns contained within the plurality of unit embroidery regions. The embroidery data processing apparatus and program create the embroidery data of a part or a whole of the embroidery pattern being contained within the modified plurality of unit embroidery regions and output the embroidery data.
US07840297B1 Dynamic control system for manufacturing processes including indirect process variable profiles
Methods, apparatuses and systems that facilitate the design, production, control and/or measurement tasks associated with manufacturing and other processes. In one implementation, the present invention facilitates or enables the use of indirect process variables for use in manufacturing or other processes that yield articles or parts. For example, it enables determining a desired value profile for an indirect process variable based on the operating target, the lower operating limit and the upper operating limit for the predictor characteristic, and observations of the process. In one implementation, the present invention facilitates qualifying articles resulting from the process by comparing the desired versus observed value profiles for an indirect process variable. In another implementation, the present invention facilitates controlling a direct process variable based on the observed versus desired values of an indirect process variable.
US07840296B2 Services portal
An apparatus for monitoring performance of an industrial process includes a service portal for collecting, transmitting and analyzing parameter data from process field devices that includes a network connection that connects to a process control system of the industrial process, a remote collector that collects parameter data from process field devices, a processor that identifies, sorts, and stores the collected parameter data and a communications module for transmitting the stored parameter data to a remote monitoring station for analysis.
US07840285B2 Sequence of events recorder facility for an industrial process control environment
A sequence of events (SOE) recorder facility in a process control network environment is described herein. The SOE recorder facility is hosted by a networked node that receives digital signal status change (event) data from a networked controller. The sequence of events recorder facility receives a configured set of digital data signals from the controller, temporarily buffers the events in chronological order according to timestamps assigned to the events by their sources (e.g., fieldbus modules). The data is thereafter copied/removed from the buffer and provided to multiple destinations including: a process database that maintains an archival copy of the received event data for rendering event reports, and an SOE client user interface for rendering event logs to printers and/or graphical user interface displays.
US07840284B2 Information processing system and associated methodology of surveillance event monitoring
An information processing apparatus performs a monitor processing based on sensor data. A first sensor obtains sensor data of a first format, the first format being video. A second sensor obtains sensor data of a second format, the second format being different from the first format. Surveilled features of an object are extracted from the sensor data obtained and compared to determination parameters in order to determine whether a surveillance event has occurred. When a surveillance event is determined to have occurred, message data reports the surveillance event to a further information processing apparatus. A decision signal is received from the further information processing apparatus, and a switch individually turns ON or OFF each of the first and second sensors according to the decision signal based on an instruction transmitted from the further information processing apparatus.
US07840282B2 Method and apparatus for retaining medical implants within body vessels
A retention device for anchoring a medical device within the vasculature is described. The device may include expandable member coupled to an intravascular medical device and proportioned for receipt within a vessel. At least a portion of the expandable member is expandable to radially engage a vessel wall and to thereby retain the medical device within the vessel. The system is suitable for a variety of intravascular devices, including but not limited to ICD's, pacemakers, and intravascular drug delivery systems.
US07840277B2 Emergency management system
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for: 1) displaying all vital central station (CS) information and controls on a single screen; 2) linking peripheral central stations (pCSs) to a master central station (mCS); 3) operating the system disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 10/460,458, without medical professionals (MPs) in the mCS or without any mCS; 4) linking a remote controlled defibrillator (RCD™) unit to an arrest sensor; 5) operating an RCD unit in a motor vehicle and linking an RCD unit to a vehicle communications system; 6) linking an RCD unit to a CS through a network of: a) non-vehicle-based stationary units (SUs), b) vehicle-based SUs/vehicle communication systems, or c) non-vehicle-based SUs and vehicle-based SUs/vehicle communication systems; 7) using an RCD unit with a chest compression device; 8) using the network of RCD units and MPs for disaster monitoring; and 9) monitoring and treating hospital patients and motor vehicle passengers.
US07840275B2 In-home remote monitor with smart repeater, memory and emergency event management
A remote patient monitoring system is provided including an implantable medical device (IMD) capable of collecting and storing medical data and multiple, networked external monitoring devices adapted for wireless communication with the IMD. The networked monitoring devices may be configured such that one device is the master and remaining devices are repeater units wherein the master monitoring device coordinates communication between the networked devices and the IMD based on maximizing the received transmission signal strength between the IMD and the monitoring device network. The system may further include a data communications network coupled to at least one of the multiple external monitoring devices to allow data to be transferred to a database or other communication medium. Likewise, data may be received by the monitoring device network from a database or other communication medium to be transferred to the IMD.
US07840271B2 Stimulus regimens for cardiovascular reflex control
Devices, systems and methods by which the blood pressure, nervous system activity, and neurohormonal activity may be selectively and controllably reduced by activating baroreceptors. A baroreceptor activation device is positioned near a baroreceptor, for example a baroreceptor in the carotid sinus. A control system may be used to modulate the baroreceptor activation device. The control system may utilize an algorithm defining a stimulus regimen which promotes long term efficacy and reduces power requirements/consumption.
US07840258B2 Imaging device, method thereof, and program
To realize an imaging device, imaging method and program capable of improving image quality. This invention controls light sources so as to irradiate a body with irradiation light of a luminance level higher than that in the air arriving at the body, adjusts the imaging sensitivity of a solid imaging element for performing photoelectric conversion on pattern scattered light obtained through the inside of the body, and masks the luminance level deterioration region of a pattern image obtained from the solid imaging element to treat the masked image as an image to be composed with a reference image.
US07840248B2 Online source reconstruction for eeg/meg and ecg/mcg
In one embodiment, the present invention includes an EEG system comprising of sensors which are utilized to gather an electromagnetic signal from a patient; a signal processing system; and a computer system. The computer system is configured to support multiple threads of execution. The computer system initiates a first thread of execution, a measurement module, where the data is filtered and in some cases averaged. Typically, the data is filtered for a particular latency period. Once the data has been filtered and averaged, the result is given to a second thread of execution, the source reconstruction module, which then proceeds to generate a source reconstruction for the trial. The measurement module then acquires and processes new electromagnetic data from a new trial while the source reconstruction is being performed on the most recent trial.
US07840247B2 Methods of predicting musculoskeletal disease
Methods of predicting bone or joint disease in a subject are presented. The method may include determining one or more micro-structural parameters, one or more macroanatomical parameters or biomechanical parameters of a joint in the subject. At least two of the parameters are combined to predict the risk of bone or articular disease. Additionally, methods of determining the effect of a candidate agent on any subject's risk of developing bone or joint disease are presented.
US07840241B2 Sliding module for portable terminal
Disclosed is a sliding module for a portable terminal having a first housing, and a second housing slidably assembled to the first housing to be opposed to the first housing through the sliding module, thereby partially opening or closing the first housing. The sliding module includes a sliding guide mounted on one of the first and second housings; a pair of stopper members mounted on the sliding guide at the opposite ends of the sliding guide, respectively; a pair of sliding members mounted on the other of the first and second housings, the sliding members being slidably engaged with the sliding guide; and a pair of ground members engaged with the sliding members to wrap the sliding members, respectively. When the second housing is located at a position of opening or closing the first housing, the ground members contact the stopper members, thereby being electrically connected with the stopper members.
US07840238B2 Methods, systems, and products for timed ring suppression
Systems and methods for timed ring suppression are disclosed. After a communications device receives an incoming call and the ringer is activated to produce an initial audible alert, the ringer of the communications device may be silenced for subsequent audible alerts until the calling party hangs up or until the call is further processed.
US07840237B2 Enabling user interface elements based on short range wireless devices
A system and method for enabling user interface elements to be displayed on a display device is disclosed. The technology includes a method for enabling user interface elements to be displayed on a display device. The method includes accessing location information corresponding to a first short range wireless device coupled with the display device wherein the location information identifies the location of the first short range wireless device with respect to a viewing surface of the display device. The method also includes enabling a first contactless user interface icon to be displayed on the viewing surface of the display device wherein the contactless user interface icon is displayed on the viewing surface proximate the location of the first short range wireless device.
US07840233B2 Wireless communication system, wireless communication method and wireless communication apparatus
One end of a balanced line is connected to a base station. A transmitting and receiving antenna is connected to the other end of the balanced line. The balanced line not only transmits a signal sent from the base station to the transmitting and receiving antenna and at the same time leaks a part of the transmitted signal as the radio waves, but also transmits the received signal at the transmitting and receiving antenna to the base station. In a room where the balanced line is laid, wireless communication terminals are provided. The wireless communication terminals transmit and receive radio waves to or from either the balanced line or the transmitting and receiving antenna.
US07840230B2 Communications using a distributed mobile architecture
A method is disclosed that includes receiving telephony data from four or more mobile communication devices at a communication apparatus. The communication apparatus includes a wireless transceiver and a computer readable storage medium. A mobile switching center (MSC) module is embedded in the computer readable storage medium. The MSC module includes an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) module configured to support generation of call detail records at the communication apparatus. A base station controller (BSC) module and a group call program are also embedded in the computer readable storage medium. The method also includes providing, via the group call program, a group call between the four or more mobile communication devices.
US07840225B2 Radiolocation in a wireless network using time difference of arrival
A method and an apparatus for radiolocation using time differences of arrival. The method includes receiving transmit timestamps from a set of wireless stations of a wireless network. Each station transmits at least once. The transmit timestamp uses a local timestamping clock to indicate when a station transmitted a packet. The method further includes receiving sets of timestamped captured samples from each station that receives one of the transmitted packets. The times of arrival of each packet at each station are determined from the received sets of timestamped captured samples, and, the relative positions of the stations are determined from the determined times of arrival and the received transmit timestamps. The transmitting by the stations is in a round robin manner one station after the other, and several round robins may be used to mutually calibrate local clocks. Also an apparatus for inclusion in a station of a wireless network. The apparatus includes a buffer subsystem and a timestamping subsystem, such that the station can capture and timestamp a set of samples of a received signal, and send the captured timestamped samples to a processing entity for time difference of arrival location determination.
US07840223B2 Portable telephone, image converter, control method and program
Simple pseudo gradation conversion technique suitable for implementation in portable devices such as mobile phones employing a relatively low-speed processor. Target image is represented with 2Cn gradation levels for n kinds of color components (where Cn is a natural number for each color component, and n is a natural number) per pixel. Image information acquisition unit (51) acquires image information representing an original image subjected to conversion from camera front end (40) and modulation/demodulation unit (61). Color space conversion unit 55 converts luminance color difference information, if the original image is represented thereby, into color component information. Quantization unit (54) quantizes the color component information into (2(Cn+1)−1) gradation values for each color component. Color determination unit (56) determines one-half of the quantized value as a target value, if the quantized value is an even number, and if an even number, one of the two integers preceding and following that half value is determined as a target value according to a pixel position so that those integers are arranged checkerwise.
US07840220B1 Variable rate forward error correction regulation system and method based on position location information
A communications system utilizes a forward error correction (FEC) regulation system in transmitting data to a mobile client. The FEC strength is regulated as a function of a mobile client location and channel statistics for the location. The communications system includes a server for providing the FEC, a channel statistics database for storing channel data for locations of the mobile client, and a map database. The FEC strength is based on mobile client position and channel performance statistics measured by the mobile client over a period of time and sent to the server or optionally on previously collected and stored channel statistics measurements for the mobile client position or predicted position. The collection of channel statistics is made with an automated system to create a channel statistics measurement database. The FEC strength is varied by modifying packet payload redundancy, packet time spreading, interleave characteristics and error coding rates.
US07840203B2 Process and system for automatically transmitting audio/video content from an electronic device to desired recipient(s)
A method and apparatus for the automatic acquisition and transmission of audio-video content by a portable wireless communications device, such as a cellular telephone, is provided. The transmission of audio-video content can be initiated locally by a user of the device, or remotely. Upon initiation, audio-video content is automatically captured, such as via a digital video camera circuit. The content is then automatically transmitted to one or more recipients. The content can be transmitted through the periodic transmission of emails, each containing an attachment with a segment of audio-video content, or via video streaming connections.
US07840201B2 Communication module having tuner units that are separated and isolated from each other, and method of manufacturing the same
A communication module is provided in which its characteristic of separation between its first and second tuner units is improved. The module is equipped with a circuit board having a first main surface, and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface; a first amplifier arranged on the first main surface, for amplifying a first signal; a first mixer arranged on the first main surface, for converting a signal supplied from the first amplifier to an intermediate-frequency signal; a second amplifier for amplifying a second signal; and a mixer for converting a signal supplied from the second amplifier to an intermediate-frequency signal, both arranged on the second main surface of the circuit board.
US07840199B2 Variable-phase ring-oscillator arrays, architectures, and related methods
Embodiments of the present disclosure allow for a linear phase progression between adjacent elements in array by providing a symmetric ring configuration of tuned amplifiers and a single phase shifter. This ring topology is coupled to a single phase locked loop (“PLL”) that allows for direct modulation and demodulation of arbitrary waveforms without using RF up/down converting mixers. In addition, the PLL distributes the transmit waveforms to all antenna elements in the transmit mode and combines the received waveforms in the receive mode without any complicated power distribution network.
US07840197B2 Highly linear and very low-noise down-conversion mixer for extracting weak signals in the presence of very strong unwanted signals
A highly linear and very low-noise down-conversion mixer for extracting weak signals in the presence of very strong unwanted signals is disclosed. Aspects of an embodiment may include a source follower circuit in a transmitter front end of a mobile terminal. The source follower circuit may receive RF signals prior to the RF signals being amplified by a power amplifier for transmission. The RF signals may comprise in-phase and quadrature components. The source follower circuit may generate output RF voltage signals, and communicate the output RF voltage signals to a switching circuit via a coupling capacitor. The switching circuit may down-convert the communicated output RF voltage signals to generate differential baseband signals. The capacitance of the coupling capacitor may be changed to change gain and/or linearity of the differential baseband signals. Each of the differential baseband signals may be low-pass filtered to attenuate higher frequencies.
US07840195B2 Multifunction-RF-circuit
A multifunction RF circuit on a single semiconductor chip. The multifunction RF circuit includes a power amplifier circuit, a mixer circuit forming an integral part of the power amplifier circuit and a low-pass filter circuit. The power amplifier circuit may include two amplifier circuits.
US07840194B2 Transmitting circuit, receiving circuit, interface switching module and interface switching method for SATA and SAS interfaces
A transmitter circuit, a receiver circuit and an interface switching module for SATA or SAS interface are provided. The invention uses transistors as elements with different impedance and also provides impedance modulating method in coordination with the exterior circuit and the layout design so as to develop an auto-switching mechanism between SATA and SAS interfaces, thereby integrating two transmission interfaces in a single system.
US07840193B2 Transmitter and communication apparatus
A modulator 23 corrects an amplitude signal Rd by adding thereto an offset value α and generates, based on the corrected amplitude signal Rd, an amplitude signal Ra for amplitude-modulating a radio-frequency signal. The modulator 23 includes: an offset voltage measurement section 109 operable to measure an offset voltage V2cal of the amplitude signal Ra; a correction value calculation section 110 operable to obtain a difference value ΔV2cal between the offset voltage V2cal measured by the offset voltage measurement section 109 and an initial value of the offset voltage V2cal and operable to calculate, based on the difference value ΔV2cal, a correction value VODAC for correcting the offset voltage V2cal; and an addition section 106 operable to add the correction value VODAC calculated by the correction value calculation section 110 to a signal processed until the amplitude signal Ra is generated from the amplitude signal Rd.
US07840190B2 Frequency source synchronization and redundancy
A system and method for ensuring proper synchronization of a plurality of frequency sources used in reception diversity-based radio reception. The frequency sources are concatenated in a synchronization loop, through which one frequency source having a high performance oscillator is configured as a master source. Through its oscillator, the master provides an internal synchronization signal that synchronizes all other sources, which have lower performance oscillators and are configured as slaves. Upon a failure in the master oscillator or in the synchronization loop, a slave source takes over as an alternative master source and provides its internal oscillator signal as an alternative synchronization signal to all other frequency sources.
US07840183B2 Short-range wireless communication device
A short-range wireless communication device is disclosed that is able to ensure QoS of a communication and reduce power consumption by controlling allocation of a period occupied by the communication and by controlling a communication rate within the period occupied by the communication. The short-range wireless communication device receives or transmits beacons in a beacon period, allocates a communication-occupied interval in a super-frame between two adjacent beacon periods, and carries out a communication in the communication-occupied interval in conformity with a predetermined protocol. The short-range wireless communication device includes a control unit that dynamically sets and changes a communication rate in the communication-occupied interval and a number of slots constituting the communication-occupied interval.
US07840176B2 Information distribution and processing system
An information distribution and processing system contains a sender and a plurality of processing units. The sender delivers a set of digital data, without receiving a request signal, to the plurality of processor units. The set of digital data contains a first set of displayable data, a second set of displayable data, at least one non-displayable symbol, and at least one linking reference associated with the second set of displayable data. If desired, a user can select the second set of displayable data. The associated linking reference is sent to a database. The database contains additional information. The associated linking reference is used by the data to search for the additional information, and returns the requested information to the user.
US07840172B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes at least one paper feeding section, a plurality of image forming sections, a plurality of paper output sections, a main transport path, and a plurality of paper output paths. The paper feeding section stores a recording medium therein. Any one of the image forming sections selectively forms an image on a recording medium fed from the paper feeding section and being transported on the main transport path. Each of the paper output sections receives a recording medium bearing an image formed in any one of the image forming sections. The main transport path leads from the paper feeding section and runs through the image forming sections. The paper output paths branch from an end of the main transport path into the respective paper output sections.
US07840169B2 Transfer roll and image forming apparatus
A transfer roll including a metal shaft, one or more elastic layers provided around the periphery of the metal shaft, and a surface layer including a foam-containing layer provided around the periphery of the one or more elastic layers.
US07840167B2 Toner container including a gear which is at least partially exposed to an exterior
The toner bottle exchangeably used in an image forming apparatus. The toner bottle includes a bottle body having a substantially cylindrical shape and configured to contain toner, a gear configured to rotate a part of the toner bottle, a cap attached to the bottle body and including an opening arranged in a circumferential surface of the cap and configured to output toner to a development apparatus of the image forming apparatus, a toner conveyance mechanism arranged in the bottle body and configured to convey the toner to the opening.
US07840166B2 Device and method for dosing toner material in an electrophotographic printer or copier
In a method or device for dosing toner material in an electrophotographic printer or copier, toner material is introduced into at least one bucket chamber rotatably arranged in an opening at a bottom of a toner reservoir. The bucket chamber has a paddle wheel which seals the opening of the toner reservoir. As the paddlewheel rotates, toner material in the bucket chamber is conveyed into a region. The toner material conveyed from the paddlewheel is further conveyed with a screw conveyor. Also a toner reservoir is provided having a toner removal opening shaped to accommodate at least a portion of a paddlewheel.
US07840155B2 Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device facing an image carrier and including a developer carrier, a developer flying control member, and a development-noise control member. The developing device develops an electrostatic image formed on the image carrier by causing the developer to fly from the developer carrier to the image carrier upon an application of an alternating-current bias to the developer carrier. Noise produced by the development-noise control member vibrated by an oscillating electric field of the alternating-current bias is smaller than a noise produced by the developer flying control member vibrated by the oscillating electric field.
US07840153B2 Image forming apparatus with a supplemental power supply unit
An image forming apparatus having (1) a main power supply unit (PSU), which converts an AC power source into an AC power and a first DC power, provides the AC power to a fusing unit, and provides the first DC power to a plurality of DC-powered units in the image forming apparatus, (2) a supplemental power supply unit, which accumulates the AC power source and provides a second DC power to the plurality of DC-powered units for a predetermined period, and (3) a controller, which increases or decreases the AC power to be provided to the fusing unit and selects the DC power source from the main PSU and the supplemental PSU by detecting that the supplemental PSU can provide the DC power to the plurality of DC-powered units or not. When the supplemental power supply unit can provide DC power to the Plurality of DC-powered units, the controller increases the AC power from the main power supply unit to the fusing unit and shortens the recovery time.
US07840149B2 Enhancing image permanence by fusing media multiple times
According to various illustrative embodiments, a system and method for enhancing image permanence are described. In one aspect, the method includes applying an image to a sheet of a medium using a system including at least one photoreceptor, at least one fuser, at least one inverter, and at least one duplex path loop operatively connecting an output of the at least one fuser with an input to the at least one photoreceptor. The method also includes fusing the sheet of the medium at least twice using the at least one fuser before any other image is applied to the sheet of the medium.
US07840136B1 Low-latency switch using optical and electrical proximity communication
Embodiments of a switch are described. This switch includes input ports configured to receive signals (which include data) and output ports configured to output the signals. In addition, the switch includes switching elements and a flow-control mechanism, which is configured to provide flow-control information associated with the data to the switching elements via an electrical control path. Note that the electrical control path is configured to use proximity communication to communicate the flow-control information. Furthermore, the switching elements are configured to selectively couple the input ports to the output ports via optical signal paths based on the flow-control information.
US07840134B2 Bit error rate based system and method for optimizing communication system performance
A system (50) includes a communication path (170) and transmits data on a network (103, 106). A transmitter (101) transmits data on the network and a receiver (112) receives data from the network. A component (102, 114) in the communication path has a transfer characteristic (C1, C2, C3) adjusted in response to errors in data transmitted over and received from the network in order to reduce the error rate.
US07840132B2 Display device for storing various sets of configuration data and method for controlling the same
A display device for storing various sets of configuration data and a method for controlling the same are provided. The device includes an input unit and first and second controllers. Upon receiving a command to record specific image data through the input unit, the first controller determines a set of configuration data associated with the specific image data and stores the specific image data and the set of configuration data in association with each other. Upon receiving a command to reproduce stored specific image data, the second controller reads a set of configuration data associated with the specific image data and reproduces the specific image data according to the read set of configuration data. Thus, the stored specific image data can be reproduced in a display environment desired by the user without requiring the user to memorize and repeatedly input the desired set of video and audio configuration data.
US07840130B2 Mesh communication wireless camera system and method
A system includes a camera and a monitoring system that are capable of wireless communication. The camera is operable to send a message to the monitoring system via a plurality of wireless communication paths. The message includes information relating to an operational status of the camera. The camera may generate and analyze a video signal and the message may include information relating to the analysis of the video signal. The camera may be one of a plurality of cameras capable of generating video signals. The system may further include an intermediate node capable of wireless communication with the cameras and the monitoring system. The intermediate node may multiplex the video signals from the cameras to the monitoring system.
US07840122B1 Medicine vaporizer with crimped conductive pins
A medicine vaporizer for an inhaler includes a metal louver. The metal louver has a first end and an opposing second end, and defines a louver thickness. The medicine vaporizer also includes first and second electrically conductive pins that define a pin thickness greater than the louver thickness. The first electrically conductive pin includes a first crimping region that is attached to and crimped over the first end. The second electrically conductive pin includes a second crimping region that is attached to and crimped over the second end.
US07840121B2 Recording medium having data structure for managing reproduction of multiple graphics streams recorded thereon and recording and reproducing methods and apparatuses
The recording medium includes a data area storing at least multiple graphics streams in at least one portion thereof. The multiple graphics streams are multiplexed, and each graphics stream is a transport stream stored as one or more packets. Each packet has a packet identifier, and the packets of the same graphics stream have the same packet identifier.
US07840109B2 Factory spliced cable assembly
A telecommunications cable including a main cable having a central buffer tube enclosed within a cable jacket and a ribbon stack positioned within the buffer tube. The main cable includes a cut region where a slot has been cut through the cable jacket and the buffer tube to provide access to the ribbon stack during manufacture of the telecommunication cable. A tether branches from the main cable at the cut region. The tether includes an optical fiber that is optically coupled to an optical fiber of the ribbon stack.
US07840106B1 Etched surface gratings fabricated using computed interference between simulated optical signals and reduction lithography
An optical apparatus comprises a set of diffractive elements on a substrate. They are arranged: (i) to receive an input signal propagating from an input port as a diffraction-guided optical beam, (ii) to diffract a portion of the received input signal as an output signal, (iii) to route the output signal to propagate to an output port as a diffraction-guided optical beam, and (iv) to exhibit a positional variation in diffractive amplitude, optical separation, or spatial phase over some portion of the set. The arrangement of the diffractive elements corresponds to an interference pattern derived from computed interference at a surface of the substrate between a simulated design input and output optical signals. Each diffractive element comprises at least one trench segment positioned along a path defined by a constant-phase contour of the interference pattern. Each trench segment is substantially rectangular or trapezoidal in transverse cross section.
US07840089B2 Image sharpening apparatus and method thereof
An image sharpening apparatus for sharpening an original image is disclosed. The image sharpening apparatus includes a low-pass filter, a high-pass filter, an edge detector, a sharpening parameter generating unit and an operating unit. The low-pass filter, the high-pass filter and the edge detector receive the original image and respectively output a low frequency image, a high frequency image and several edge detecting values. The sharpening parameter generating unit receives the edge detecting values and outputs corresponding sharpening parameters, respectively. The operating unit adjusts the high frequency image according to these sharpening parameters, outputs an adjusted high frequency image, and combines the adjusted high frequency image with the low frequency image to obtain an edge-sharpened output image.
US07840078B2 Methods and systems for image processing control based on adjacent block characteristics
Embodiments of the invention comprise systems and methods for managing and combining layers in a multi-layer bitstream of data encoded predictively and scalably by encoding data in one layer of the bitstream in with reference to data in at least one other layer of the bitstream.
US07840074B2 Method and apparatus for selecting an object in an image
A boundary in an image is identified by identifying a search region within the image. The process continues by determining image gradients in the search region and determining multiple color regions within the search region. An active contour representing the boundary is created based on the image gradients and the multiple color regions.
US07840069B2 Methods and systems for alternative, complexity-based process selection
Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for image complexity estimation and selective complexity-based image processing.
US07840068B2 System and method for video processing by image segmentation
Video data is segmented by representing the pixel location, RGB values and other features such as motion vectors, as points in a multidimensional segmentation space. Initialized segments are represented as locations in the segmentation space and segment membership then determined by the distance in segmentation space from the data point representing the pixel to the location of the segment. The distance measure takes into consideration the covariance of the data, for the segment or for the picture.
US07840067B2 Color matching and color correction for images forming a panoramic image
A method for color matching a first image and a second image, wherein a first region of the first image and a second region of the second image overlap, includes removing overlapping pixels in the first and the second regions that have pixel values are too different, generating a first histogram of the first region, generating a second histogram of the second region, determining corresponding pixel values in the first and the second histograms, determining parameters of an optoelectronic conversion function that matches the corresponding pixel values, and color matching the second image to the first image by applying the optoelectronic conversion function with the determined parameters to the second image.
US07840065B2 Method for deriving consistent color measurements
A method for measuring a color value such as brightness or intensity of a sample which comprises: measuring color values for a plurality of color standards using a reference color measurement device to obtain a matrix Y that contains the measurements of the color standards as measured by the reference color measurement device; measuring the same plurality of color standards with a field color measurement device to obtain a matrix X that contains the measurements of the color standards as measured by the field color measurement device; calculating a color correction matrix B based upon the equation Y=BX, measuring the color value for the sample with the field color measurement device, and applying the color correction matrix B to the reading of the sample color to obtain a sample color value that approximates that sample color value that would be obtained using the reference measurement device.
US07840060B2 System and method for machine learning using a similarity inverse matrix
A system and method of machine learning that uses an inverse matrix of a reference similarity matrix as a transformation matrix. The reference similarity matrix relates a reference set of objects to themselves using a distance metric such as an image edit distance. The transformation matrix is used to improve the performance of query vectors in classifying or identifying digital representations of an unknown object. The query vector is a measure of similarity between the unknown object and the members of the reference set. Multiplying the query vector by the transformation matrix produces an improved query vector having improved similarity scores. The highest improved similarity score indicates the best match member of the reference set If the similarity score is high enough, the unknown object may either be classified as belonging to the same class, or recognized as being the same object, as the best match object.
US07840059B2 Object recognition using textons and shape filters
Given an image of structured and/or unstructured objects we automatically partition it into semantically meaningful areas each labeled with a specific object class. We use a novel type of feature which we refer to as a shape filter. Shape filters enable us to capture some or all of shape, texture and appearance context information. A shape filter comprises one or more regions of arbitrary shape, size and position within a bounding area of an image, paired with a specified texton. A texton comprises information describing the texture of a patch of surface of an object. In a training process we select a sub-set of possible shape filters and incorporate those into a conditional random field model of object classes. That model is then used for object detection and recognition.
US07840057B2 Simultaneous computation of multiple points on one or multiple cut lines
Methods, and program storage devices, for performing model-based optical proximity correction by providing a region of interest (ROI) having an interaction distance and locating at least one polygon within the ROI. A cut line of sample points representative of a set of vertices, or plurality of cut lines, are generated within the ROI across at least one lateral edge of the polygon(s). An angular position, and first and second portions of the cut line residing on opposing sides of an intersection between the cut line and the lateral edge of the polygon are determined, followed by generating a new ROI by extending the original ROI beyond its interaction distance based on such angular position, and first and second portions of the cut line. In this manner, a variety of new ROIs may be generated, in a variety of different directions, to ultimately correct for optical proximity.
US07840055B2 Computer aided tube and tip detection
A computer aided tube and tip detection method for a radiographic image. Radiographic image data is obtained, and a region of interest in the image is determined. The image is processed to provide edge enhancements forming an edge-enhanced image. Edge segments in the edge-enhanced image are detected. Connected lines from the edge segments are formed to obtain a set of connected lines. A tube structure is identified by pairing one or more pairs of connected lines that are separated by a width dimension in a predetermined range. A tip is detected for the tube structure according to the convergence or divergence of paired connected lines.
US07840054B2 Ultrasound image enhancement and speckle mitigation method
A method for enhancing an ultrasound image is provided, wherein the ultrasound image is segmented into a feature region and a non-feature region, while sufficiently utilizing features contained in the ultrasound image, in particular including some inconspicuous features. The enhanced image according to present invention is not susceptive of the image segmentation and avoid dependence of the enhancement effect on the segmentation template, so as not to produce an evident artificial boundary between the feature region and the non-feature region but to highlight some special information in the image and to remove or mitigate invalid information. Thus the enhanced ultrasound image is particularly suitable for the visual system of the human beings.
US07840052B2 Restoration of the nuclear medicine 2D planar image by iterative constrained deconvolution
A medical imaging system (10) includes at least one radiation detection head (16) disposed adjacent a subject receiving aperture (18) to detect radiation from a subject. The detected radiation is reconstructed into at least one initial 2D projection image (μ). Resolution in each initial 2D image (μ) is restored by using the extended iterative constrained deconvolution algorithm by incorporating different estimates of the system response function which estimates correspond to different distances between the detection head and the origins of the detected radiation. Measured response functions are used to restore a series of images. The optimal image is determined by automatic searching with the figure of merit, by user's observation, or by using blind deconvolution for a concurrent estimating of the system response function and updating the original image.
US07840051B2 Medical image segmentation
A method of automatically segmenting a patient's colon in a medical image data set is provided. The method comprises two main stages. The first stage is to classify voxels in the data set as not belonging to the colon based on their radiodensities and/or positions within the volume data set. In taking account of the voxels' positions in the data set, account may be taken of their positions relative to other voxels. For example, this may include determining whether voxels are within connected groups of voxels of similar characteristics, i.e. within connected regions or domains. Subsequent to the first stage of classifying voxels as not belonging to the colon, a second stage is performed in which all remaining voxels are classified as belonging to the colon. Thus the method allows for automatic segmentation of the colon without needing any particular voxel, such as a seed voxel for region growing, to first be positively identified as being within the colon.
US07840035B2 Information processing apparatus, method of computer control, computer readable medium, and computer data signal
An image processing apparatus includes: an image pickup unit that images an image of a face; a first extraction unit that extracts a first image pattern as a correct solution pattern based on a sample image of the race; a second extraction unit that extracts a second image pattern as a counterexample pattern based on the sample image; a learning unit that learns a pattern recognition of the target part based on the first image pattern and the second image pattern; an identification unit that identifies a face area from the image of the face, the face area being an area where the face is shown; and a detection unit that detects a position of the target part from the face area based on the pattern recognition of the target part.
US07840034B2 Method, system and program for authenticating a user by biometric information
Upon registration, a client extracts plural feature points and information (identification information) by which each of the feature points can be identified, from a user's fingerprint, and randomly generates a transformation parameter for each feature point to transform the coordinates and direction. The transformed identification information (template) is transmitted to an authentication server and stored in a memory. The identification information and transformation parameters of the feature points are stored in a memory medium of the user. Upon authentication of the user, the client extracts feature points from the user's fingerprint, and identifies the feature points by the identification information in the memory medium. The client transforms the identified feature points by reading the corresponding transformation parameters from the memory medium, and transmits the transformed information to the authentication server. The server verifies the received identification information against the template registered in advance, to authenticate the user.
US07840033B2 Text stitching from multiple images
A reading machine has processing for detecting common text between a pair of individual images. The reading machine combines the text from the pair of images into a file or data structure if common text is detected, and determines if incomplete text phrases are present in the common text. If incomplete text phrases are present, the machine signals a user to move an image input device in a direction to capture more of the text.
US07840032B2 Street-side maps and paths
The claimed subject matter relates to a computer-implemented architecture that can generate a map. The map can be a hybrid between an orthographic projection map and street-side images, thus including useful aspects from both types of representations. For example, an orthographic projection map is very effective at presenting global relationships among the features of the map, but not effective at presenting local detail. In contrast, street-side images show excellent detail, but do not convey the global information of an orthographic projection map. The hybrid map can thus provide a richer set of information than conventional maps, and can also display objects/features of the hybrid map in multiple perspectives simultaneously on a single representation that is printable.
US07840031B2 Tracking a range of body movement based on 3D captured image streams of a user
A computer-implemented method, system, and program product includes a movement processing system for capturing a first three-dimensional movement of a user and capturing at least another three-dimensional movement of the user, wherein the three-dimensional movement is determined using at the at least one image capture device aimed at the body of the user. A projected movement system predicts a movement baseline based on the first three-dimensional movement of the user and predicts at least one subsequent movement range based on the at least another three-dimensional movement of the user. Based on a comparison of the movement baseline with the at least one subsequent movement, the projected movement systems predicts a projected movement of a user for tracking changes in a range of body movement of a user.
US07840025B2 Loudspeaker damper and method of mounting loudspeaker damper
A loudspeaker damper including: an outer damper; and an inner damper; wherein the outer damper and the inner damper configured to damp a vibrating portion relative to a fixed portion of a loudspeaker, wherein the outer damper supports the outer periphery of a voice coil of the vibrating portion, and supports the outer periphery of the voice coil relative to the fixed portion, wherein the inner damper supports the inner periphery of the voice coil, and supports the inner periphery of the voice coil relative to the fixed portion.
US07840015B1 Thermal feedback for switch mode amplification
A thermal sensor at the output of a switching amplifier senses heat dissipation at the output switch. If an overheating condition is sensed, gain of the digital input signal is lowered to reduce output power of the audio output signal.
US07840004B2 Split-key key-agreement protocol
This invention relates to a method for generating a shared secret value between entities in a data communication system, one or more of the entities having a plurality of members for participation in the communication system, each member having a long term private key and a corresponding long term public key. The method comprises the steps of generating a short term private and a corresponding short term public key for each of the members; exchanging short term public keys of the members within an entity. For each member then computing an intra-entity shared key by mathematically combining the short term public keys of each the members computing an intra-entity public key by mathematically combining its short-term private key, the long term private key and the intra-entity shared key. Next, each entity combines intra-entity public keys to derive a group short-term Si public key; each entity transmitting its intra-entity shared key and its group short term public key to the other entities; and each entity computing a common shared key K by combining its group short term public key (Si), with the intra-entity shared key ( Xi), and a group short term public ( Si) key received from the other entities.
US07839998B2 Transcoding CableCARD
A CableCARD device for manipulation of a stream of data has an inband data input for receiving a stream of video data from a host, the stream of video data being encrypted and encoded according to a first coding. A decrypter decrypts the encrypted data. A transcoder transcodes the stream of video data to convert the stream of video data to a second coding, producing a transcoded data stream. An encrypter encrypts the transcoded data stream. An inband data output sends the encrypted transcoded data stream back to the host. This abstract should not be considered limiting, since other embodiments may incorporate more, fewer or different elements that those described in this abstract.
US07839994B1 Class A-B line driver for gigabit Ethernet
A system and method for transmitting information includes a first driver circuit configured to generate a first component signal of a differential signal at a first polarity. The system includes a second driver circuit configured to generate a second component signal of the differential signal at a second polarity. The first and second component signals are biased to form biased first and second component signals. A differential amplitude of a combination of the biased first and second component signals is less than a corresponding differential amplitude of the differential signal. The system includes an offset signal circuit in communication with the first and second driver circuits. The offset signal circuit is configured to generate an offset signal for offsetting the biased first and second component signals. A combination of the offset and biased first and second component signals forms the differential signal.
US07839989B2 Intermediary device based callee identification
Methods, systems, and products for informing a caller of a callee identity are disclosed that include: detecting a call receipt condition from a destination device at a trusted telephone network; brokering a connection between said destination device and an external server enabled to perform a callee identity authentication service; and responsive to receiving, from said external server, an authenticated callee identity of a callee utilizing said destination device, transferring said authenticated callee identity to an origin device, such that a caller initiating said call at said origin device is informed of an identity of a party answering said call.
US07839985B2 System and method for visitor reception service in absence
The present invention discloses a system and a method for a visitor reception service in absence. The present invention is applied to the system including a central server (HNSN) controlling devices and delivering their control statuses in being connected to the mobile network, and a gateway which interconnects with said HNSN through network and has connections with a plurality of devices, characterized in that the above gateway includes a Tel-Box (7) including a ring signal detection part detecting the number of sounding times of ring signal in the case that a call connection is requested from outside for a call path switching, an on/off hook detection part detecting on/off hook with an indoor telephone (12, 13, 14). According to the present invention, the convenience capable of doing reception for a visitor everywhere at once, irrespective of the place where the user having mobile station is can be provided.
US07839982B2 Systems and methods for routing emergency communications
In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a remote device configured to receive an emergency communication from a subscriber device, a Public-Switched Telephone Network (“PSTN”) switch, and a remote access device connected to the remote device and the PSTN switch. The remote device is configured to forward the emergency communication to the remote access device when the remote device is in Emergency Standalone (“ESA”) mode. The remote access device is configured to form a connection between the remote device and the PSTN switch such that the emergency communication is sent to the PSTN switch. The PSTN switch is configured route the emergency communication to an emergency service application.
US07839978B2 Device for generating X-rays and use of such a device
Device for generating X-rays, comprising: a field emission cathode (10) configured to emit electrons when an electrical field is applied to the cathode (10); and an anode (20), the anode being configured to generate X-rays as a result of receiving electrons from the field emission cathode (10); wherein the cathode (10) comprises an electron emission surface (S) extending opposite the anode (20), the cathode (10) being configured to emit electrons substantially from the electron emission surface (S) during use.
US07839976B2 X-ray device
The X-ray device comprises an X-ray source and a high-voltage generator for supplying the X-ray source with voltage, wherein the high-voltage generator has an intermediate circuit voltage generator and a high-voltage generator, the high-voltage generator is connected to the X-ray source, and the intermediate circuit voltage generator is connected to the high-voltage generator, wherein the intermediate circuit voltage generator and the high-voltage generator are structurally separate and the high-voltage generator is structurally positioned near the X-ray source, thereby keeping the high-voltage line to the X-ray source short.
US07839975B2 X-ray computerized tomography apparatus, breathing indication apparatus and medical imaging apparatus
An X-ray computed tomographic apparatus includes a gantry 100 including an X-ray tube 101 which generates X-rays and an X-ray detector 103 which detects X-rays transmitted through a subject to be examined, a reconstruction device 114 which generates tomogram data on the basis of an output from the X-ray detector, a breath detector 203 which detects a respiration waveform representing a temporal change in respiration index value associated with the subject, a regular respiration waveform generating unit 207 which generates a respiration waveform with a regular respiration cycle which originates from the detected respiration waveform, and a gantry mount display 201 which displays the generated regular respiration waveform.
US07839971B2 System and method for inspecting containers for target material
A method for automatically inspecting a container for a target material using a computed tomography (CT) scanning system includes performing an initial radiographic scan of the container. Based at least partially on projection data generated during the initial radiographic scan, at least one location within the container is identified that requires CT inspection. A dual energy CT scan of the at least one identified location within the container is performed based on a single energy algorithm or a dual energy algorithm. The dual energy CT scan includes a low energy scan of the at least one identified location and a high energy scan of the at least one identified location. Based on dual energy scan information generated during the dual energy CT scan, a determination is made to confirm or clear an alarm corresponding to the at least one identified location within the container.
US07839969B2 Device and method for detecting deposition on an inner surface of a pipe
A method and device for detecting mercury or other material deposits on an inner surface of an enclosed passage are provided. The device includes a detection unit that is adapted to be transported through the passage, and the detection unit includes a radiation source and an x-ray fluorescence detector. The radiation source is configured to emit a radiation emission toward the inner surface of the passage to excite a portion of the inner surface, and the x-ray fluorescence detector is configured to detect a resulting x-ray emission from the portion of the inner surface to identify a material deposit on the inner surface. The detection unit can identify material deposits at successive positions along a length of the passage and thereby generate a plurality of data points, each data point providing an indication of a material deposit existence for a corresponding position along the length of the passage.
US07839961B2 Communication timing changing method and device
The invention aims at providing communication timing changing method and device which are capable of changing timing of communication for setting control parameters used to determine operations of analog devices in the analog devices, respectively, over to another one not impeding any of the operation of the analog devices. An interface decoder decodes a control parameter communication signal outputted from a CPU, converts the resulting signal into control parameters, and preserves the resulting control parameters in a register. Interface encoders perform timing management based on a synchronous signal received from a synchronous signal generating circuit, read out the control parameters to be set in analog devices such as an image sensor driving circuit, a sample and hold circuit, and an ADC from a register, and communicate with the analog devices at good timing during a blanking period to set the control parameters in the analog devices, respectively.
US07839959B2 Joint space-time optimum filters (JSTOF) for interference cancellation
A filter for reducing co-channel interference within a communications receiver may include a multi-channel, space-time filter circuit that filters n signal parts that have been split from a communications signal by jointly estimating space-time filter weights and multi-channel impulse responses (CIRs). The filter may further include a multi-channel, matched filter circuit that receives multi-channel signals from the multi-channel, space-time filter circuit and has a filter response that is provided by a channel impulse response estimation from the space-time filter circuit.
US07839950B2 Digital television transmitting system and receiving system and method of processing broadcast data
A digital television receiving system includes a first known data detector, a second known data detector, and a selector. The first known data detector detects a location of a first known data sequence in a broadcast signal by calculating a first correlation value between the broadcast signal and a first reference known data sequence. Similarly, the second known data detector detects a location of a second known data sequence in the broadcast signal by calculating a second correlation value between the broadcast signal and a second reference known data sequence. The selector selects the location information detected by one of the first and second known data detectors with a greater correlation value.
US07839949B2 Peak suppression method, peak suppression apparatus and wireless transmission apparatus
The present invention provides a peak suppression method, including a first step for detecting characteristic information of a peak part of a transmission signal; and a second step for changing a suppression method for the peak part based on the characteristic information.
US07839948B2 Time slicing techniques for variable data rate encoding
The disclosure is directed, to a multi-channel encoder. The multi-channel encoder is configured to generate an encoded data stream. The multi-channel encoder includes a plurality of channel encoders, and a processor configured to allocate time slots in the encoded data stream to each of the channel encoders to vary the rate of data provided by each of the channel encoders into the encoded data stream.
US07839943B2 Method of frame synchronization
A method of frame synchronization includes: inserting synchronous pilots including odd synchronous pilots and even synchronous pilots in a frame; transmitting first signals on the odd synchronous pilots, and transmitting second signals of inverse values of the first signals transmitted on the odd synchronous pilots on the even synchronous pilots; synchronizing the frame according to the odd synchronous pilots and the even synchronous pilots. With the method provided by embodiments of the present invention, complexity of the frame synchronization may be decreased and delay of the frame synchronization may be reduced.
US07839937B2 Method and circuitry for processing data
Circuitry for processing data includes a plurality of filters arranged in parallel. Input data is stored. The input data is applied to the plurality of filters to provide at least two parallel results. An operation is carried out with respect to the results.
US07839935B2 Method of selecting a reference picture
In one embodiment, the method includes determining reference picture index numbers in a reference picture list. The reference picture index numbers increases for reference pictures having a decreasing display order with respect to a picture including the macroblock. The reference picture index numbers increases for reference pictures having an increasing display order with respect to the picture including the macroblock, and the reference picture index numbers of the reference pictures having a decreasing display order are greater than the reference picture index numbers of the reference pictures having an increasing display order. The embodiment further includes reordering the reference picture index number allocated to each reference picture in the reference picture list, obtaining a field reference picture index associated with the current field macroblock, determining a frame reference picture index based on the field reference picture index and the reference picture index numbers, and selecting a field reference picture having a parity equal to a parity of the field macroblock if the field reference picture index is an even value.
US07839927B2 Motion graphics keying in the compressed domain
Motion graphics keying in the compressed domain may be accomplished by receiving a compressed video stream comprising one or more source macroblocks, receiving a keyed graphics stream, determining which of the one or more source macroblocks overlaps with the keyed graphics stream, decoding only the one or more overlapping macroblocks to create one or more decoded macroblocks, combining the keyed graphics stream with the one or more decoded macroblocks to create a composited video stream, encoding the composited video stream to create an encoded composited video stream, and restoring the encoded composited video stream in the compressed video stream in place of the one or more overlapping macroblocks.
US07839920B2 Method and system for adjusting digital subscriber line transmitting power level
A method and system for adjusting Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) transmitting power level are disclosed, and the method includes: acquiring a current noise margin according to a predetermined value of DSL transmitting power level; calculating a current power reduction value according to the current noise margin and a predetermined noise margin; determining an adjusted DSL transmitting power level for adjusting DSL transmitting power level according to the current power reduction value and the predetermined value of DSL transmitting power level. In the method of the present invention, the DSL transmitting power level may be farthest reduced; and the power consumed by the driver circuit may be farthest reduced; the resource waste and the heat introduced by consuming powers also may be reduced.
US07839919B2 Adjusting transmit power spectra of transceiver devices in a communications network
A UPBO is performed based on an attenuation of a first VDSL-cable connecting a first VDSL-CPE and a first VDSL-CO, and also based on an attenuation or electrical length of cable pieces between said first VDSL-CO and a further distant second VDSL-CO. Further, an extended DPBO for the first VDSL-CO is described not only regarding ADSL-cables originating from an ADSL-CO but also VDSL-cables from the further distant second VDSL-CO.
US07839911B2 Semiconductor laser device
A semiconductor laser device 100 having a ridge stripe structure comprises: an n-type clad layer 105 having a protrusion; and an n-type current block layer 107 covering the clad layer, except the upper surface of the protrusion. When the width of the upper surface is W, the distance between front and rear cleavage planes is L, the width of the upper surface at the front cleavage plane is Wf, and the width of the upper surface at the rear cleavage is Wr. In a range where a distance from the front cleavage plane is shorter than or equal to L/2, an area Sc of the upper surface is in a range of L/8×(3Wf+Wr)
US07839908B2 Mode control waveguide laser device
Provided is a device capable of oscillating a plurality of oscillation modes within a laser medium for obtaining a fundamental wave output which is easy in output scaling and high in luminance, thereby enabling a second harmonic conversion which is high in efficiency. The device includes: a laser medium (5) that is planar, has a waveguide structure in a thickness direction of a cross-section that is perpendicular to an optical axis (6), and has a cyclic lens effect in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis (6) and the thickness direction; a clad (4) that is bonded onto one surface of the laser medium (5); and heat sink (3) that is bonded onto one surface side of the laser medium (5) through the clad (4), and in the device, a laser oscillation includes a laser oscillation that oscillates in a waveguide mode of the laser medium (5), and a laser oscillation that oscillates in a plurality of resonator modes that are generated by a cyclic lens effect of the laser medium (5).
US07839904B1 Monoblock laser systems and methods
Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide monoblock lasers that may provide improved performance and/or reduce manufacturing costs. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a monoblock laser includes a gain block to generate the light at the first wavelength and a Q switch to receive and polarize the light from the gain block and provide pulsed light that is polarized and at the first wavelength, with the monoblock laser configured in an internal OPO configuration. The monoblock laser may include a film between the gain block and a common substrate and/or include various techniques for aligning various optical elements within the monoblock laser.
US07839902B2 Fibre laser system
A fibre laser system is disclosed comprising an optical fibre, a part of which is doped with a rare earth to form an optical gain medium; at least one laser diode; means for applying pump radiation from the laser diode to the optical gain medium and for generating a laser beam and delivery fibre means for delivering a laser beam to a workpiece, wherein the fibre laser is provided with at least one means for protecting one or more components from damage caused by errant radiation. Several different means of protection are disclosed.
US07839901B2 High power fiber laser system with cladding light stripper
A powerful fiber laser system is configured with at least one gain block. The gain block includes an input fiber guiding a pump light, a multiclad active fiber receiving the pump light so that a major portion is absorbed in the core of the active fiber while a minor portion of the pump light propagates in the inner cladding of the active fiber, and a multiclad output fiber. The multiclad output fiber is configured with a core, guiding a signal lased by the core of the active fiber upon absorption of the major portion of the pump light, an inner cladding receiving the minor portion of the pump light and an outer cladding. The inner and outer claddings of the multiclad output fiber have respective refractive indexes which are selected so that the refractive index of the outer cladding is higher than that one of the inner cladding. The configuration of the output fiber allows for the removal of substantially the entire light from the inner cladding of the output fiber before the signal is emitted through the downstream end of the output fiber.
US07839898B2 Apparatus, method, receiver, and computer readable medium for time synchronization offset compensation
Provided are an apparatus, a method, a receiver, and a computer readable recording medium for time synchronization offset compensation. The apparatus includes an average time synchronization offset calculator, a reference clock frequency difference calculator, and a time synchronization offset compensator. The average time synchronization offset calculator calculates an average time synchronization offset between a phase reference symbol of a time-synchronization acquired frame and phase reference symbols of frames subsequent to the time-synchronization acquired frame. The reference clock frequency difference calculator calculates a reference clock frequency difference between a transmitter and a receiver. The time synchronization offset compensator compensates a time synchronization offset.
US07839895B2 Methods and systems for start code emulation prevention and data stuffing
Methods and systems provide approaches to start code emulation prevention at a granularity higher than the bit level. By operating at a level other than the bit level, processing capability requirements on both the encoder and decoder side can be reduced. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a start code emulation prevention method looks for data patterns relative to fixed-size data portions larger than single bits. When a particular pattern is found, start code emulation prevention data is inserted to prevent start code emulation. The inserted data is larger than a single bit and, in some embodiments, comprises a byte. When a decoder decodes data that has had start code emulation prevention data inserted, it can easily identify legitimate start codes and then can remove the start code emulation prevention data to provide the original data that was protected. In addition, a data stuffing method is described which allows payload data to be rounded up in size to an integer number of byte sizes, and then allows filler data to be added in a manner which is easily detectable by a decoder.
US07839885B2 Connection memory for tributary time-space switches
A method of switching a plurality of tributaries disposed among a plurality of time slots in a frame is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) buffering the frame, (B) switching the tributaries among the time slots in response to a read address and (C) generating the read address in response to a plurality of identifications in a connection map, the connection map defining (i) at most one of the identifications for each of the tributaries and (ii) one of the identifications for each of the time slots carrying other than the tributaries.
US07839882B2 Resource allocation in a wireless communication system
Method and apparatus for scheduling transmissions in a wireless communication system using historical information and usage patterns of remote users in the system. Usage patterns for users within a system are stored and analyzed to optimize transmissions and resources in the system. In one embodiment, the user patterns are used to predict travel routes and transmissions scheduled accordingly. In another embodiment, the system is an ad-hoc system or a hybrid system, wherein the usage patterns are used to determine the source-to-destination paths.
US07839877B2 Method for operating an automation device and automation device
A method is specified for the operation of an automation device provided for the receiving of telegrams together with such an automation device, which is distinguished by the fact that the automation device manages a resource pool for telegrams which are arriving or received, that the automation device distinguishes between active and new communication relationships with a remote communication participant and that for each new communication relationship a free resource is selected from the resource pool and thereafter is used for this communication relationship, which thereby becomes an active communication relationship.
US07839875B1 Method and system for an efficient transport loopback mechanism for TCP/IP sockets
A method for data transfer using a TCP loopback connection, involving establishing a TCP connection between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, determining whether fusing of the first endpoint with the second endpoint is permitted, if fusing of the first endpoint with the second endpoint is permitted assigning the first endpoint to a serialization queue, allocating the serialization queue for the second endpoint, fusing the first endpoint with the second endpoint, and transferring data from the first endpoint to the second endpoint.
US07839866B2 Extended virtual user-to-network interface with ATM network
Communication between a source and a destination is dynamically established. A connection request is received. The connection request is based on a request transmitted over a best-effort path from the source. A network connection is established having a specified quality of service (QoS) based on the request between the source and the destination. Data for a first application is transmitted over the network connection and data for a second application is transmitted over the best-effort path.
US07839865B2 Dynamically controlling fair access to a system packet interface attached switch enclosure
A method for maintaining configurable and dynamically adjustable per-channel local port/bypass port access ratios in the multiple SOCs within an SPI-attached frame-based switch enclosure to improve the access fairness of devices upstream from the destination device is disclosed. A frame-based switch enclosure may include multiple SPI-attached SOCs, each SOC containing a plurality of ports, with one or more devices connected to each port and one virtual channel assigned to each port. Given a frame-based switch enclosure with N SOCs, the local port/bypass port access ratio for a particular SOC and a given virtual channel, where the particular SOC is M hops away from the SOC having a port corresponding to the given virtual channel and M>0, is 1:(N−M−1), while the local port/bypass port access ratio for the SOC (and the given virtual channel) having the port corresponding to the given virtual channel (i.e. the SOC for which M=0) is 0:0.
US07839860B2 Packet based video display interface
A packet based display interface arranged to couple a multimedia source device to a multimedia sink device is disclosed that includes a transmitter unit coupled to the source device arranged to receive a source packet data stream in accordance with a native stream rate, a receiver unit coupled to the sink device, and a linking unit coupling the transmitter unit and the receiver unit arranged to transfer a multimedia data packet stream formed of a number of multimedia data packets based upon the source packet data stream in accordance with a link rate between the transmitter unit and the receiver unit.
US07839857B2 Packet forwarding apparatus with function of limiting the number of user terminals to be connected to ISP
A packet forwarding apparatus for connecting a plurality of user terminals to an ISP management server has a management table indicating the relationship between a connection port identifier and specific header information in association with the MAC address of each of the user terminals so that, in a communication protocol procedure executed between each of the user terminals and the ISP management server prior to communication with a wide-area network, the packet forwarding apparatus discards a packet for the user terminal when it is determined that the specific header information cannot be assigned to the user terminal based on the management table.
US07839852B2 Apparatus and method for radio transmission of real-time IP packets using header compression technique
The present invention provides an apparatus and method of radio transmission of real-time IP packets using header compression technique. In the present invention, the size of a compressed header of an RTP packet can be adapted to length types required by the system by adding a radio link adaptation unit to the existing PDCP entity. The method comprises header-compressing the RTP packets, to obtain header-compressed RTP packets having a plurality of different header compression lengths; pre-configuring header compression lengths and length types required by the system; and PDU-size adapting the plurality of different header compression lengths of the header-compressed RTP packets, so as to comply with said lengths and length types required by the system.
US07839851B2 Method and apparatus for opportunistic multicasting with coded scheduling in wireless networks
A method, apparatus and system for opportunistic multicasting are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus for use in a wireless multicast system comprises: a storage to store channel state and/or rate information received from the plurality of receivers; an optional encoder to generate encoding blocks from the original multicast/broadcast content; a transmitter to broadcast information over a broadcast channel to receivers in the plurality of receivers for each transmission time slot; and a controller coupled to the storage and the transmitter to adapt transmission rates of the transmitter to cause the transmitter to transmit at different rates for different transmission time slots, wherein the controller determines a transmission rate of the transmitter that broadcasts the encoded information, based on the channel state information associated with the broadcast channel and received from the plurality of receivers and based on a subset of receivers in the plurality of receivers targeted to reliably receive a broadcast transmission over the broadcast channel during said each transmission time slot.
US07839848B2 Method, device and system for message transmission
The present invention discloses a message transmission method, a message transmission device, and a message transmission system. In an embodiment of the present invention, a message transmission device is provided. When a message is transmitted to the device, the device is responsible for message parsing, routing, and sending. In the case of communication between processes on the same communication node, the device communicates in shared memory mode; in the case of communication between processes in different hosts, the device establishes a TCP channel and communicates with TCP protocol. In addition, the present invention also provides a method and a system for message communication, which utilize the same idea to solve the problem of low efficiency of communication between processes. In conclusion, with the present invention, working efficiency of process and communication quality may be improved.
US07839844B2 System and method for dynamically determining retransmit buffer time
A packetized data transmitter notes packet transmission times and the times, if any, of retransmission requests from a receiver. Based on the period between original transmission and retransmission of a dropped packet, the transmitter establishes a packet discard period, essentially a transmitter packet buffer length.
US07839842B2 Method and system for a range reduction scheme for user selection in a multiuser MIMO downlink transmission
Various aspects of a method and a system for a range reduction scheme for user selection in a multiuser MIMO downlink transmission are presented. Aspects of a system for range reduction may comprise a range reduction processor that determines a plurality of channel measurements corresponding to a plurality of signals. The range reduction processor may compute a plurality of channel capacities based on the channel measurements corresponding to a subset of the plurality of signals having channel gain that is greater than a remaining portion of the plurality of signals. Aspects of a method may comprise determining a plurality of channel measurements corresponding to a plurality of signals, and computing a plurality of channel capacities based on said channel measurements corresponding to a subset of the plurality of signals having a channel gain that is greater than a remaining portion of the plurality of signals.
US07839829B2 Method for transmitting response information in mobile communications system
A method for transmitting radio resources in a mobile communication system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a random access channel (RACH) preamble from a plurality of UEs and transmitting response information associated with the received preambles over a common channel wherein the plurality UEs can access the common channel and receive corresponding information. If a HARQ scheme is used when a UE transmits data to the eNode-B using uplink radio resources allocated over the RACH, the eNode-B does not pre-allocate uplink radio resources required for re-transmission and performs allocation of radio resources for a first transmission of HARQ. If the re-transmission is required, the eNode-B allocates the radio resources required for the re-transmission with the NACK signal. If re-transmission is not required, the present invention can reduce an amount of wasted radio resources.
US07839827B2 Method for determining handoff in a mobile communication system, and system supporting the same
A method for determining a handoff of a mobile station (MS) in a mobile communication system. In the method, a serving base station (BS) measures a level of a first uplink signal by monitoring an uplink to the MS. The serving BS receives a level of a second uplink signal, measured and reported by at least one neighbor BS. The serving BS determines a handoff for the MS considering the level of the first uplink signal and the level of the second uplink signal.
US07839820B2 Mobile station and method for implementing variable bandwidth service on demand
A mobile station for communicating with a wireless network comprising a plurality of base stations. The mobile station comprises: 1) a first receive path capable of receiving data on a first carrier; and 2) a second receive path capable of receiving data on a second carrier, wherein the mobile station is capable of receiving a first control message from the wireless network assigning the mobile station to receive data on the first carrier and assigning the mobile station to receive data on the second carrier.
US07839815B2 Triggering migration of a network access agent associated with an access terminal
A method is provided for triggering migration of call session state information. The method includes determining whether to migrate a network access agent associated with an access terminal in a wireless communication system based on at least one of mobility information associated with the access terminal and status information associated with the wireless communication system.
US07839812B2 Method for transmitting and receiving packet in mobile communication system
The present invention relates to a packet reception method. In a packet reception method applied to a mobile communication system, in which data transmission is performed by repeating at least two interlaces by a predetermined cycle, the present invention includes the steps of receiving a broadcast/multicast packet from a base station, receiving a broadcast overhead message including information of a reference multiplex burst length and information about multiplexes, each having a burst length different from the reference multiplex burst length, and decoding the received broadcast/multicast packet using the information included in the broadcast overhead message. Accordingly, the present invention can efficiently transmit the broadcast overhead message required for the packet data decoding.
US07839808B2 Apparatus and method for eliminating noise contained within usable frequency band of a mobile communication terminal
Disclosed are an apparatus and method for removing noise contained within a usable frequency band of a mobile communication terminal. The apparatus includes a multiplier for multiplying a main clock of the mobile communication terminal by a predetermined integer to generate a reference signal; a multiplexer for multiplexing parallel signals, the parallel signals being transmitted to a peripheral device inside the mobile communication terminal, using the reference signal, and converting the parallel signals into serial signals; a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the serial signals to convert the serial signals into parallel signals; and a frequency divider for recovering the reference signal of the serial signals transmitted from the demultiplexer into the main clock.
US07839800B2 Multiple I-service registration protocol (MIRP)
In one embodiment, a method associated with a multiple I-service registration protocol (MIRP) includes receiving into an 802.1ah I-component an MVRP TCN from an 802.1ad component. The TCN may be received, for example, from an 802.1ad bridge. The TCN may identify an affected service using an S-VID. Therefore, the example method may include identifying the S-VID specified by the TCN. The method may also include identifying I-SIDs related to the S-VID. The I-SIDs may be identified by consulting an S-VID to I-SID translation table associated with the 802.1ah I-component. The method may also include providing an 802.1ah MIRP PDU to another 802.1ah component. The MIRP PDU may be based on the MVRP TCN and on the I-SID.
US07839798B2 Seamlessly switching overlay network relay trees
Technologies for switching a set of nodes in an overlay network from one relay tree configuration to another without duplicate packets or packet loss at any of the nodes. A commander node calculates a new relay tree as well as a media stream set configuration for each node in the overlay network, each media stream set corresponding to the new relay tree. Media stream sets include a unique version number or the like that identifies the specific relay tree configuration of which they are a part. Also provided are technologies for associating a media stream with a particular relay tree configuration and the corresponding media stream set of each node in the overlay network.
US07839797B2 Event-driven flow control for a very high-speed switching node
A method for controlling the flows of data packets that are switched or routed at nodes of high-speed communication networks is disclosed. According to the invention, resource metering units are assigned to resources shared between devices of the switch or router e.g., shared memories or link bandwidths. When the occupancy of a shared resource reaches a predetermined threshold, an event is generated and transmitted to devices sharing this resource. Furthermore, a periodic refresh of the overall flow control information is performed so that lost events are, however, eventually acted on. Thus, a new device may become active without perturbing the active flows after having gathered enough flow control information.
US07839794B2 System and method for determining whether DOCSIS-enabled devices in a HFC cable network are co-located
A system and method for determining if DOCSIS-enabled devices connected to an HFC cable network are co-located. Subscriber account data is acquired to determine the DEDs associated with a subscriber account. The MAC address of a DED is used to obtain the MAC domain to which the DED is assigned and a ranging offset value associated with the DED. An alert is issued if multiple DEDs associated with a subscriber account are associated with different MAC domains. The alert signifies that DEDs associated with the account are not co-located. Where DEDs associated with an account are associated with the same MAC domain, the normalized ranging offset values associated with the subscriber's DEDs are compared to determine if the difference in any two ranging offset values exceeds a predetermined threshold. If the difference in any two ranging offset values exceeds a predetermined threshold, an alert is issued. The alert again signifies that DEDs associated with the account are not co-located.
US07839793B2 Method and apparatus for estimating collision probability in a wireless network
A method for estimating packet collisions within a wireless network, comprising: for each transmit packet an Access Point (AP) of the network records statistics transmission information; based on this statistical information the AP computes: Total number of slot times generated during this transmission, n; Total number of deferrals, m; and Total number of unsuccessful transmissions, Q s; and using a sequence (m,n,Q) of statistics for each access category (AC), the AP computes the probability of collision for unsuccessful packets, p.
US07839791B2 Systems and methods for network routing
Systems and methods are provided for routing data through a network. In one system, a first node is enabled to overhear packet transmissions from a second node. The cost of transmitting packets from the first node to the second node is updated based on each overheard packet transmission. In another system, when the cost of transmitting packets from a source to an overhearing node to a destination is less than the cost of transmitting packets from the source to the destination, an advertisement is sent to the source causing the packet transmissions to be routed from the source to the destination through the overhearing node. In yet another system, using a safe-sequence tag that is attached to any packet transmitted by any node and updated when it is received by another node, along with stored histories of best metric advertisements, predetermined rules are applied to maintain loop freedom.
US07839790B2 Network congestion analysis
Application messages are segregated into message paths, and the delays of the transmitted packets associated with each message path are independently analyzed to distinguish propagation, bandwidth, congestion, and protocol delays. To further distinguish the congestion delays, all of the paths of the application messages are assessed to identify delays induced by the application, including self-congestion delay, corresponding to pre-congestion delays caused by attempting to send data from a source device faster than the bandwidth of the channel allows, and cross-congestion delay, corresponding to post-congestion delays caused by varying delays beyond a bottleneck link in the channel. The remaining congestion delay is identified as network congestion delay, corresponding to delays caused by network devices other than the source device. After identifying each of the components of delay, the effect of each component on the overall delay is determined to identify where improvements can best be made.
US07839788B2 Systems and methods for load balancing storage system requests in a multi-path environment based on transfer speed of the multiple paths
Methods and systems for distributing I/O requests from a computer system to a storage system over multiple paths having non-homogeneous transfer speeds. A large I/O request is partitioned into a plurality of smaller I/O operations between a computer system and a storage system. The I/O operations are distributed over a plurality of communication paths coupling the computer system and the storage system. The distribution attempts to balance the load over the multiple paths based on the transfer speed of each path. In one embodiment, operations are distributed only to the highest speed paths presently operable. In another embodiment, an estimated completion time for an operation is determined for each path and a path with the lowest estimated completion time is selected to transfer the next operation.
US07839785B2 System and method for dropping lower priority packets that are slated for transmission
A method and system for dropping lower priority packets for transmission over a communication medium is provided. A cable modem termination system receives one or more packets to be transferred to one or more data providers, each packet having a priority. Then, based on the priority, a media access controller stores each of the packets in one or more priority queues in a fixed shared memory space in such a way as to maintain the order in which the packets were received in each of the priority queues. The media access controller monitors the number of packets in each of the priority queues and signals an interrupt when a packet threshold is exceeded in one or more of the priority queues. The media access controller then drops lower priority packets in the fixed shared memory space based on the order received to guarantee that there is enough memory to store higher priority packets in the fixed shared memory space.
US07839784B2 Virtual circuit connectivity verification insertion for packet loss control in pseudowire
A method includes inserting a virtual circuit connectivity verification packet into aggregated traffic of m packets transmitted over multiple pseudowires in a network path, replying to the transmitted m packets with a virtual circuit connectivity verification packet with a packet loss indication when at least one packet loss is detected in an m packet group, and adjusting a rate of transmitting the aggregated m packets responsive to the packet loss indication. In the preferred embodiment the multiple pseudowires are one of constant bit rate and variable bit rate and the adjusting of the rate includes rate adjustment of variable bit rate pseudowires.
US07839781B2 Service curve mapping
A method for configuring service curves for managing the output port of a networking device includes the following steps. A multitude of traffic classes is defined, each traffic class being characterized by a bandwidth and a delay priority. A multitude of traffic service curves is computed, each of the plurality of traffic service curves is associated with a different one of the multitude of traffic classes. At least one of the multitude of traffic classes service curves is characterized by a shifted two-piece linear function shifted such that the service curve limits service to during a nonzero time period prior to the start of the two-piece linear function.
US07839774B2 Data processing circuit wherein data processing units communicate via a network
A data processing circuit on an integrated circuit and an associated method of processing data in the data processing circuit is provided, the data processing circuit comprising a network operable in successive time-slots; a plurality of data processing units interconnected by the network, and arranged to send streams of messages concurrently through the network, each stream comprising messages that occupy shareable resources in the network in a periodically repeating selection of successive time-slots, a period of repetition (P) being the same for all the streams; node circuits in the network arranged to forward the messages along multi-node paths through the network, each particular stream being assigned a respective stream specific path along which the node circuits forward all messages of the particular stream, the node circuits being arranged to decide whether to forward or discard each message dependent on a measure of seniority of the message in its particular stream.
US07839767B2 Path reroute in a computer network
In an example embodiment, a method is provided that receives a first label from an area border routing device. Here, the first label is associated with a first routing device, which is an immediate downstream neighbor of the area border routing device. The first label is then associated with a second label that is associated with a second routing device. In an example, the first label is received from the area border routing device along a path. Data that includes the second label subsequently is received and the second label in the data is replaced with the first label upon a failure of the area border router. The data then is encapsulated in an alternate path to the first routing device.
US07839760B2 Transmitting and receiving systems for increasing service coverage in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing wireless local area network, and method thereof
The present invention relates to an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing wireless local area network (LAN) transmitting/receiving system for providing expanded service coverage, and a method thereof. A first OFDM modulation is performed for an even-numbered time, and a second OFDM modulation is performed for an odd-numbered time. A transmitting frame including a plurality of signal fields according to the first and second OFDM modulation is transmitted. The receiving system determines whether a signal field is repeatedly generated in the frame. If the signal field is not repeatedly generated, corresponding demodulation is performed. If repeatedly performed, the signal field is demodulated by using first bit allocation information and second bit allocation information having a ½ value of the first bit allocation information. A data field is demodulated according to the demodulated signal field.
US07839752B2 Optical disc drive and objective lens for the same
There is provided an optical disc drive for recordation/reproduction for three types of optical discs by selectively using one of three types of light beams. The optical disc drive comprises an objective lens. The objective lens has a step structure which gives an optical path length difference to an incident beam at each step. When the third laser beam passes through the objective lens, the objective lens produces normal diffraction order light converging to a recording surface of the third optical disc and undesired diffraction order light converging to a point deviating from the recording surface of the third optical disc. A distance from a point to which the normal diffraction order light converges to a point to which the undesired diffraction order light converges is larger than or equal to twice a pull-in range of a focus error signal obtained when the third optical disc is used.
US07839729B2 Optical drive servo with a servo processor receiving photodetector signals
An optical disk drive is provided that includes: a plurality of photodetectors for receiving reflected light from an optical disk, each photodetector providing a photodetector output signal; an analog-to-digital converter for converting versions of the photodetector output signals into digital signals; and a digital signal processor configured to receive the digital signals, the digital signal processor being further configured to determine a focus error signal (FES) and a tracking error signal (TES) from the digital signals, the digital signal processor being further configured to process TES and FES through servo algorithms to produce tracking and focus control signals.
US07839726B2 Timepiece including optical guide which performs the function of a crystal
A timepiece (40) includes optical means for forming a decorative pattern, in the form of a figurative image, in response to user action. The optical means forming a figurative image include an optical guide (1, 51) having two large faces (10, 11) and at least one lateral face (12). Optical extractors (19), each having at least one light reflective surface (20), are arranged in at least one of the large faces (11). A light source (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) is arranged so as to emit light in the direction of the reflective surfaces (20), via the lateral face (12) of the optical guide. Thus, each of the reflective surfaces causes a reflected light beam to form in a well defined direction, and the set of light beams forms a figurative image in that direction, which can typically be selected as the normal with respect to the mid-plane of the watch.
US07839718B2 Device and method for generating a beam of acoustic energy from a borehole, and applications thereof
In some aspects of the invention, a device, positioned within a well bore, configured to generate and direct an acoustic beam into a rock formation around a borehole is disclosed. The device comprises a source configured to generate a first signal at a first frequency and a second signal at a second frequency; a transducer configured to receive the generated first and the second signals and produce acoustic waves at the first frequency and the second frequency; and a non-linear material, coupled to the transducer, configured to generate a collimated beam with a frequency equal to the difference between the first frequency and the second frequency by a non-linear mixing process, wherein the non-linear material includes one or more of a mixture of liquids, a solid, a granular material, embedded microspheres, or an emulsion.
US07839712B2 Semiconductor memory arrangement
A semiconductor memory arrangement includes a substrate, a first control device disposed on the substrate and adapted to receive command and address signals, a second control device, and a plurality of memory units. The second control device is adapted to receive the command and address signals from the first control device and to transmit the command and address signals to the memory units of the plurality of memory units.
US07839705B2 Semiconductor memory device and operation method of the same
A semiconductor memory device has a timing margin for internal operations. The semiconductor memory device can activate an internal control signal for controlling an external address sooner than an internal control signal for controlling an external command to secure a sufficient time for data access. The semiconductor memory device includes a command decoding circuit configured to decode an external command to output an internal command signal for an internal operation corresponding to the external command, a control circuit configured to generate a strobe signal for controlling the internal operation in response to the internal command signal and an internal address signal by decoding an address signal received from outside such that the internal address signal activates sooner than the strobe signal, and a column decoding circuit configured to generate a data access signal when both the internal address signal and the strobe signal are activated.
US07839702B2 Three-dimensional non-volatile register with an oxygen-ion-based memory element and a vertically-stacked register logic
A non-volatile register includes a memory element. The memory element comprises a first end and a second end. The non-volatile register includes a register logic connected with the first and second ends of the memory element. The register logic is positioned below the memory element. The memory element may be a two-terminal memory element configured to store data as a plurality of conductivity profiles that can be non-destructively determined by applying a read voltage across the two terminals. New data can be written to the two-terminal memory element by applying a write voltage of a predetermined magnitude and/or polarity across the two terminals. The two-terminal memory element retains stored data in the absence of power. A reference element including a structure that is identical or substantially identical to the two-terminal memory element may be used to generate a reference signal for comparisons during read operations.
US07839696B2 Method of programming and erasing a p-channel BE-SONOS NAND flash memory
A programming method for a p-channel memory cell, the memory cell includes a source, a drain and a gate. The gate is applies with a first voltage, which results in Fowler-Nordheim (−FN) hole injection, thereby causing the memory cell to be in a programmed state.
US07839692B2 Soft program method in a non-volatile memory device
A soft program method in a non-volatile memory device for performing a soft program step so as to improve threshold voltage distribution of an erased cell is disclosed. The soft program method in a non-volatile memory device includes performing a soft program for increasing threshold voltages of memory cells by a given level, wherein an erase operation is performed about the memory cells, performing a verifying operation for verifying whether or not a cell programmed to a voltage more than a verifying voltage is existed in each of cell strings, and performing repeatedly the soft program until it is verified that whole cell strings have one or more cell programmed to the voltage more than the verifying voltage.
US07839690B2 Adaptive erase and soft programming for memory
An erase sequence of a non-volatile storage device includes an erase operation followed by a soft programming operation. The erase operation applies one or more erase pulses to the storage elements, e.g., via a substrate, until an erase verify level is satisfied. The number of erase pulses is tracked and recorded as an indicia of the number of programming-erase cycles which the storage device has experienced. The soft programming operation applies soft programming pulses to the storage elements until a soft programming verify level is satisfied. Based on the number of erase pulses, the soft programming operation time is shortened by skipping verify operations for a specific number of initial soft programming pulses which is a function of the number of erase pulses. Also, a characteristic of the soft programming operation can be optimized, such as starting amplitude, step size or pulse duration.
US07839686B2 Semiconductor memory device capable of executing high-speed read
A plurality of memory cells are arranged in a memory cell array. The plurality of memory cells are connected to a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines. A plurality of source lines are disposed along the plurality of bit lines. The plurality of source lines are connected respectively to sources of the plurality of memory cells at a time of data read.
US07839678B2 NAND type flash memory and write method of the same
A NAND type flash memory includes first to third memory cell transistors having current paths connected in series between one end of a current path of each of first and second selection transistors, and each having a control gate and a charge storage layer, the first and second memory cell transistors being adjacent to the first and second selection transistors, the third memory cell transistor being positioned between the first and second memory cell transistors, the third memory cell transistor holding data having not less than three bits, the first memory cell transistor holding 2-bit data in which middle and upper pages is written by skipping a lower page, and a lower page verify voltage being set when writing the middle page, and a middle page verify voltage is set when writing the upper page, changing a position of a threshold distribution of the first memory cell transistor.
US07839677B2 Nonvolatile memory, verify method therefor, and semiconductor device using the nonvolatile memory
Provided is a nonvolatile memory that realizes a high-speed verify operation. During verify writing/erasing, the writing/erasing and reading are performed at the same time. As to a circuit that performs a verify operation, for instance, there is obtained a construction where the output from a sense amplifier (102) that performs reading is connected to a switch which switches an operation voltage applied to a memory cell in accordance with a verify signal Sv, and the verify operation is finished concurrently with having the verify signal Sv switched. By obtaining such circuit construction and simultaneously performing writing/erasing and reading, it becomes possible to perform high-speed verify writing/erasing.
US07839676B2 Magnetic memory device
A magnetic memory device includes a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines arranged to intersect with the word lines, an MRAM cell array including a plurality of magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cells arranged at intersection portions between the word lines and the bit lines, a read current source which supplies a read current to the MRAM cells in a read mode, a sense amplifier which detects terminal voltages of the MRAM cells generated by the read current to generate a detection output signal, a latch circuit which latches the detection output signal to output read data, and a data write circuit which supplies a write current to the MRAM cells depending on write data in a write mode to perform writing and which supplies the write current to the MRAM cells depending on the read data in the read mode to perform rewriting.
US07839673B2 Thin-film memory system having thin-film peripheral circuit and memory controller for interfacing with a standalone thin-film memory
An electronic system includes at least one reduced-complexity integrated circuit memory coupled to a memory controller. By reducing the complexity of each integrated circuit memory and concentrating the complexity within the memory controller, overall system costs may be greatly reduced and reliability improved.
US07839664B2 AC to DC power supply having zero frequency harmonic contents in 3-phase power-factor-corrected output ripple
An AC-DC power supply circuit utilizing an output stage configuration designed to achieve no output ripple at the power line frequency. To eliminate the ripple formed, each separate processing output stage corresponding to a respective ac voltage source phase which provides a 120 Hz ripple, is stacked, in a series connection, and due to their respective ripple phase shifts of 120° degrees, achieves ripple cancellation at the output.
US07839661B2 Power supply control circuit having controllable switch and liquid crystal display using the same
An exemplary power supply control circuit (200) includes a first port (201), a second port (202), a third port (203), a controllable switch (280), and a control circuit (270). The first and second ports are configured to receive a power supply voltage signal. The second and third ports are configured to output the power supply voltage signal to a load circuit. The controllable switch includes a control member (281) and a switch member (282). The control circuit is configured to control a working state of the control member. When the load circuit stops working, the control circuit controls the control member to control the switch member to be disconnected, so as to cut off the power supply voltage signal from outputting to the load circuit. A liquid crystal display (400) using the power supply control circuit is also provided.
US07839655B2 Peg and hole press fit plastic housing
A key fob includes an upper housing and a lower housing that are attachable by way of a snap fit. A pin on the upper housing interfaces with the lower housing and can be selectively filled with an accessible material to bond and substantially permanently affix the upper housing to the lower housing such that any attempts at disassembly results in evident destruction of the either the upper housing or the lower housing.
US07839649B2 Circuit board structure having embedded semiconductor element and fabrication method thereof
A circuit board structure with an embedded semiconductor element and a fabrication method thereof are disclosed according to the present invention. The circuit board structure comprises: a carrier board having a first surface, a second surface, and at least one through hole penetrating the carrier board from the first surface to the second surface; a first semiconductor element received in the through hole and having an active surface and an inactive surface, the active surface having a plurality of electrode pads; at least one second semiconductor element mounted on the carrier board; a first encapsulation layer formed on the first surface of the carrier board to block one end of the through hole; and a second encapsulation layer formed on the second surface of the carrier board.
US07839646B2 Handheld computing device
A handheld computing device includes an electronic component assembly including at least one user interface component, and an enclosure formed from an extruded tube. The extruded tube defines an internal lumen between open ends, and has a substantially uniform cross section along a longitudinal axis thereof. The extruded tube includes a front face, a back face, side portions connecting the front face and the back face, at least one access opening provided on the front face, and a pair of guide rails formed in the lumen along the side portions in parallel with the longitudinal axis, the guide rails slidably guiding and receiving the electronic component assembly. The guide rails support the electronic component assembly and provide a reference surface for positioning the electronic component assembly relative to the front face such that the user interface is placed right behind the access opening to provide user access therethrough.
US07839636B2 Image processing apparatus, fan control method, and energy-saving control device
An image processing apparatus includes an image processing unit, a main control unit, a fan, a fan control unit, and an energy-saving control unit. The energy-saving control unit includes a fan-rotation maintaining unit that maintains rotation of the fan for a predetermined time after the operating state of the image processing apparatus is shifted to the energy-saving state, and then turns off the power supply to the fan control unit.
US07839634B2 Micro thrust cooling
One embodiment of the present invention uses plasma-driven gas flow to cool down electronic devices. The cooling device may comprise micro heat sink fins assembly, micro plasma actuators assembly, and magnetic circuit assembly. The plasma actuator assembly comprises electrodes and dielectric pieces. Voltages are applied to electrodes to drive the plasma gas flow. A magnetic circuit assembly may be used to provide the magnetic field to couple with plasma actuators to induce the plasma gas flow to cool down the heat sink fins and heat source.
US07839631B2 Computer enclosure with airflow-guiding device
A computer enclosure includes a chassis and an airflow-guiding device mounted to the chassis. A receiving slot is defined in the chassis. An elastic receiving portion is formed around the receiving slot. One side of the airflow-guiding device is detachably fixed on the chassis. A first resilient securing member is formed on another side of the airflow-guiding device corresponding to the receiving slot. A wedge is formed on the first securing member to slide over the receiving portion and insert into the receiving slot.
US07839630B2 Heat dissipation device and computer using same
A heat dissipation device includes a fin unit, a heat spreader and a heat isolation layer. The heat spreader contacts the fin unit and transfers heat to the fin unit for dissipation. The heat isolation layer is coated on an outer surface of the heat dissipation device. The heat isolation layer is polyurethane foam.
US07839627B2 Portable electronic apparatus
Provided is a portable electronic apparatus. The portable electronic apparatus includes a casing, an operation portion, and a finger placement portion. The casing includes a front surface and a back surface. The operation portion is disposed at a first position on the front surface and is operated with a first finger of a user for an input. The finger placement portion is disposed at a second position on the back surface. The second position corresponds to the first position. The finger placement portion guides a second finger of the user to be capable of being placed thereon.
US07839613B2 Electrostatic discharge protection circuit protecting thin gate insulation layers in a semiconductor device
An electrostatic discharge protection circuit protects the internal circuits of a semiconductor. The electrostatic discharge protection circuit includes a first electrostatic protection unit connected to a power source supply pad. The first electrostatic protection unit discharges an ESD current into the power source supply pad when an ESD is introduced into the input/output pad, and generates a first driving voltage by utilizing the ESD current flow through a voltage-drop unit. A driver driven by the first driving voltage generates a second driving voltage by an ESD current. A second electrostatic protection unit discharges the introduced ESD current into the power source supply pad by the second driving voltage such that a voltage applied to a gate of the first NMOS transistor is reduced.
US07839611B2 Programmable logic controller having micro-electromechanical system based switching
A programmable logic controller is disclosed. The programmable logic controller includes control circuitry integrally arranged with a current path and at least one micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed in the current path. The programmable logic controller further includes a hybrid arcless limiting technology (HALT) circuit connected in parallel with the at least one MEMS switch facilitating the opening of the at least one MEMS switch. The programmable logic controller also may include a MEMS switch and a voltage sensor for measuring the voltage across the MEMS switch. The MEMS switches are arranged to transmit or receive logic signals.
US07839606B2 Magnetic head having oxidized read sensor edges to reduce sensor current shunting
A magnetic read head of either CIP or CPP configuration is disclosed having a read sensor having oxidized non-conductive regions. The read sensor has a front edge, a rear edge, a left-side edge and a right-side edge. For a CIP configuration, the front edge and the rear edge are oxidized to form non-conductive regions. For a CPP configuration, the left-side edge, the right-side edge, the front edge and the rear edge are oxidized to form non-conductive regions. Also disclosed are a disk drive including a read sensor having oxidized non-conductive regions, and a method of fabrication for a read sensor having oxidized non-conductive regions.
US07839598B2 Balanced linkage actuation of tape head
In one embodiment, first and second levers of a tape head actuator are balanced using first and second masses carried on first and second sides, respectively, of the first and second levers. The first and second levers are linked with a link member of the first mass which further includes a tape read/write head supported by the link member. In the illustrated embodiment, the levers are linked by the pivotally connected link members to form a four member linkage. The tape read/write head may be carried by the link member. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07839597B2 Information access device
A difference value between a gain control value when a head comes into contact with a recording medium and a gain control value when the head floats with respect to the recording medium by a target floating amount is stored in advance. When the information access device is actually operated, supply power to a heater is adjusted to once bring the head into contact with the recording medium, a first gain control value adjusted by a gain control section when the head comes into contact with the recording medium is obtained, a second gain control value to be adjusted by the gain control section when the head floats from the recording medium by the target floating amount is obtained from the first gain control value and the difference value, and the supply power to the heater is adjusted such that the second gain control value is supplied to a gain variable amplifier by the gain control section.
US07839591B1 Disk drive comprising index spiral track identified by change in sync mark
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk and a head actuated over the disk. The disk comprises a plurality of spiral tracks, wherein each spiral track comprises a high frequency signal interrupted by a sync mark at a sync mark interval. A first spiral track comprises a first sync mark from an outer diameter of the disk to a reference radial location and a second sync mark from the reference radial location toward an inner diameter of the disk. A second spiral track comprises the second sync mark from the outer diameter of the disk to the reference radial location and the first sync mark from the reference radial location toward the inner diameter of the disk. The first sync mark is different than the second sync mark.
US07839587B2 Color wheel
A color wheel has one or a plurality of color filter segments made from a first material, typically glass, having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially different from a carrier, which is made from a second material, typically aluminum. An intermediate washer or coating is disposed in between the segment(s) and the carrier, and has a coefficient of thermal expansion either equal to the segment(s) or in between that of the segment(s) and the carrier. The segment(s) is/are adhered to the washer or coating via a rigid or strong adhesive capable to withstand the strong centrifugal forces associated with rotating the color wheel and the filter segments at high speed.
US07839586B2 Lens driving module
Provided is a lens driving module including a housing that has a lens barrel housing portion provided in the central portion thereof, the lens barrel housing portion having a bearing coupling portion and a guide coupling portion provided therein, and a through-hole formed in one corner thereof where the guide coupling portion is formed; a lens barrel that has a bearing contact portion and a guide portion formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof and is mounted in the lens barrel housing portion of the housing such that the bearing contact portion and the guide portion correspond to the bearing coupling portion and the guide coupling portion of the lens barrel housing portion, respectively; a piezoelectric motor that is mounted in the through-hole formed in one outer corner of the housing, which corresponds to the guide portion of the lens barrel, among the outer corners of the housing; a power connection member that is attached on the outer surface of the piezoelectric motor and of which only a predetermined portion connected to a power supply exhibits conductivity; and a power connection member that surrounds the outer surface of the housing and includes a corner-bent surface having a cross-shaped pad formation portion and a pair of through-holes formed in both sides of the pad formation portion, the through-holes reducing tension.
US07839585B2 Voice coil motor type focusing actuator
A voice coil motor type focusing actuator, which includes a fixed unit, the fixed unit comprises a receiving chamber, a slide fitting channel, a first coil, and a magnet. A movable unit, the movable unit is received inside the receiving chamber of the fixed unit, having a first magnetic conducting flange being affected by the first coil and magnet of the fixed unit, a lens receiving means, a slide fitting rail, the movable unit is movable relative to the fixed unit to define an axial line.
US07839584B2 Device for vibration-free mounting of a spindle in a stand of a surgical microscope
A device for mounting a drive shaft driven by a drive motor is described, in which device a carriage is driven via the drive shaft. The drive motor is embodied as a stepper motor (1), and the drive shaft (6) is joined to the carriage (8; 9) via an elastomeric damper (3).
US07839583B2 Cam follower for lens barrel and lens barrel
A lens barrel has a first group frame, cam followers each having a shaft portion having a straight hollow hole and a slidably contacting portion integral with the shaft portion, which are fixed to the first group frame and a rotating frame having a cam groove with which the cam followers are in slidable contact, which moves relatively to the first group frame. The hollow hole of the cam follower reaches the inside portion of the slidably contacting portion. The shaft portion is press-fit fixed in the shaft hole of the first group frame when an impact force is applied to the lens barrel, the possibility of damaging the frame member is little.
US07839582B2 Optical element
An optical element includes a transparent substrate, a first light-blocking film attached to at least one surface of the transparent substrate and having a first circular opening, and a first lens portion disposed on the at least one surface of the transparent substrate, the first lens portion being composed of ultraviolet curable resin and having a first lens-functioning surface. The first lens portion is disposed such that the first lens-functioning surface covers the first opening and overlaps an area of the first light-blocking film that surrounds the first opening.
US07839580B1 Compact imaging lens assembly
This invention provides a compact imaging lens assembly comprising, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens element with negative refractive power having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface; a second lens element with positive refractive power, at least one of the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric; and an aperture stop disposed between the second lens element and an image plane; wherein there are two lens elements with refractive power in the compact imaging lens assembly; and wherein the compact imaging lens assembly satisfies the relations: 0.401.5. Such an arrangement of optical elements can effectively improve the image quality of the system, reduce the total track length of the lens assembly while maintaining a sufficient back focal length, and achieve a wide field of view.
US07839574B2 Head-up display optical film, head-up display, and vehicle
A head-up display optical film includes: a first optical layer configured to convert the polarization plane of incident light by 90 degrees; a second optical layer configured to convert the polarization plane of incident light by 90 degrees; and an intermediate optical layer sandwiched between the first optical layer and the second optical layer and having a refractive index that is different from the refractive index of the first optical layer and from the refractive index of the second optical layer.
US07839559B2 Controller and driver features for bi-stable display
An interference modulator (Imod) incorporates anti-reflection coatings and/or microfabricated supplemental lighting sources. An efficient drive scheme is provided for matrix addressed arrays of IMods or other micromechanical devices. An improved color scheme provides greater flexibility. Electronic hardware can be field reconfigured to accommodate different display formats and/or application functions. An IMod's electromechanical behavior can be decoupled from its optical behavior. An improved actuation means is provided, some one of which may be hidden from view. An IMod or IMod array is fabricated and used in conjunction with a MEMS switch or switch array. An IMod can be used for optical switching and modulation. Some IMods incorporate 2-D and 3-D photonic structures. A variety of applications for the modulation of light are discussed. A MEMS manufacturing and packaging approach is provided based on a continuous web fed process. IMods can be used as test structures for the evaluation of residual stress in deposited materials.
US07839552B2 Optical scanning device and image display apparatus using the same
An optical scanning device, which comprises a light source unit, a scanning unit for scanning a scanning surface with a light from the light source unit in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and an optical unit for guiding the scanning light onto the scanning surface. The scanning unit has a deflection surface which sine-wave-drives in the first direction. The optical unit has an optical surface whose arbitrary cross section in the first direction has a shape where a second order derivative of the function representing a shape of the cross section changes so as to diverge a light stronger as toward the periphery from the center. And the optical surface is configured by arranging the shape of each cross section in the first direction in the second direction.
US07839551B2 Holographic microscopy of holographically trapped three-dimensional structures
A method and system for performing three-dimensional holographic microscopy of an optically trapped structure. The method and system use an inverted optical microscope, a laser source which generates a trapping laser beam wherein the laser beam is focused by an objective lens into a plurality of optical traps. The method and system also use a collimated laser at an imaging wavelength to illuminate the structure created by the optical traps. Imaging light scattered by the optically tapped structure forms holograms that are imaged by a video camera and analyzed by optical formalisms to determine light field to reconstruct 3-D images for analysis and evaluation.
US07839546B2 Security device using parallax movement to view front and rear layers
A security device including a surface relief microstructure which, in response to incident radiation, replays a hologram viewable within a viewing zone, the hologram including at least a first holographic image element in an image plane spaced from the surface of the microstructure. The device exhibits at least one further image in a plane spaced from the image plane of the first holographic element. On tilting the device, the first holographic image element exhibits apparent movement relative to the further image, which when expressed in radians, a rate of parallax movement per radian equals the spacing between phones and the product of the rate of movement and the included angle of the viewing zone defining a distance at least 20% of the dimension of the device in the direction of movement of the first holographic image element.
US07839545B2 Image reading apparatus correcting noise in image data
An image reading apparatus includes, with the purpose of accurately correcting noise in an image due to dust on a platen, three line sensors spaced from each other in a sub scanning direction to scan an original in the sub scanning direction, a platen between the original and the three line sensors, a moving mechanism for moving the platen, a noise detection processor detecting a noise pixels from each of multiple data output from the three line sensors, a selector selecting one of a plurality of search ranges defined with reference to the noise pixel, and a corrector extracting a reference pixel for correcting the noise pixel from the selected search range to correct the noise pixel based on the value of the extracted reference pixel.
US07839544B2 Facsimile apparatus and method of mode switching and memory control to maintain the continuous printing of facsimile data
A facsimile apparatus is provided with a receiver that receives facsimile data, a storage unit including a data memory region that stores therein the facsimile data, a printing unit that prints an image based on the facsimile data, and a printing controller that controls the printing unit, during receipt of the facsimile data, to alternately operate in a standby mode in which a printing action is suspended and allowing the facsimile data corresponding to a plurality of pages to be stored in the storage unit, and in a continuous mode in which the facsimile data corresponding to the plurality of pages stored in the storage unit is continuously printed out by the printing unit.
US07839543B2 Document imager, document stillness detection method, and computer program product
A computer program product executed by a computer connected with a document imager that uses an imaging section to image an original document mounted on a document bed plate on which the original document is mounted and which has a specific pattern formed on a surface thereof and outputs an image of the original document allows a CPU to execute a judging step of judging stillness of the original document mounted on the document bed plate from at least one of a discontinuity of the pattern at an outer peripheral portion in a document bed plate image obtained by the imaging section and a change in the document bed plate image.
US07839523B2 System and method for resolving a hardware identifier to a network address of networked device
A printing system is provided having a plurality of networked printing devices, each printing device of the plurality of printing devices having a communication port for operatively communicating with another printing device of the plurality of printing devices via a network. Each of the printing devices of the plurality of printing devices is assigned a respective network address for use when communicating via the network. A first printing device of the plurality of printing devices includes a first communication device having circuitry for being sensed by a second printing device of the plurality of printing devices independently of the network. The second printing device includes a second communication device having circuitry for sensing the presence of the first communication device of the first printing device independently of the network, and a processor for executing application software for determining the network address of the sensed first printing device via the network.
US07839522B2 User identification based image processing system
An image processing system includes an image processing device including at least one of an image reading unit which reads an image and generates image data representing the image and an image printing unit which prints an image represented by image data; and a service supply unit provided on a network to be accessible from the image processing device using location information indicating a location on the network, and configured to execute a service regarding at least one of image data generated by the image reading unit and image data representing an image to be printed by the image printing unit in response to a request from the image processing device.
US07839520B2 Program, information processor and preview method
A preview system utilizing an operating system standard spooler for spooling intermediate data converted from print data supplied from an application, including a print processor for implementing a print thread process and a preview thread process and a previewer for executing preview based on a bit map produced based on the above described spooled intermediate data, wherein the preview thread process of the above described print processor is started in accordance with commencement of a print process to start up the above described previewer, and the print thread process of the above described print processor is started up in the case where there is any job which has already finished undergoing preview or any job which has not yet undergone preview settings.
US07839505B2 Optical rotating power measurement method and optical rotating power measurement apparatus
An optical rotating power measurement method comprising: an optical rotating power data acquisition step of starting measurement of the optical rotating power of the sample in a measurement apparatus during a temperature changing process where a controller controls the temperature of the sample such that the temperature reaches the predetermined temperature and of obtaining temperature data and optical rotating power data of the sample as time passes during the temperature changing process; and a data processing step of obtaining a straight line relationship data between the temperature data and the optical rotating power data, by using the fact that the optical rotating power of the sample is proportional to a measurement temperature; wherein the optical rotating power data of the sample at the predetermined temperature or the temperature dependence data of the optical rotating power of the sample is determined based on the straight line relationship data.
US07839487B2 Optical system for increasing illumination efficiency of a patterning device
A system and method form illumination that efficiently illuminates target areas of an object. For example, target areas can be transmission areas of a diaphragm and/or active areas of a patterning device. A plurality of beams formed by a field defining element are directed onto respective entrance faces of a plurality of rods using a relay of first and second lens arrays. The rods process the beams to form illumination that impinges substantially only within a boundary of the target areas, e.g., the transmission areas and/or the active areas. The rods are arranged in number, configuration, and cross-sectional shape corresponding to a number, configuration, and a cross-sectional shape of the target areas, e.g., the transmission areas and/or the active areas. Thus, substantially all the illumination falls within the boundary of the target areas, increasing illumination efficiency.
US07839486B2 Environmental system including vacuum scavenge for an immersion lithography apparatus
A lithographic projection apparatus includes a liquid confinement structure extending along at least a part of a boundary of a space between a projection system and a substrate table, the space having a cross-sectional area smaller than the area of the substrate. The liquid confinement structure includes a first inlet to supply liquid, through which the patterned beam is projected, to the space, a first outlet to remove liquid after the liquid has passed under the projection system, a second inlet formed in a face of the structure, the face arranged to oppose a surface of the substrate, and located radially outward, with respect to an optical axis of the projection system, of the space to supply gas, and a second outlet formed in the face and located radially outward, with respect to an optical axis of the projection system, of the second inlet to remove gas.
US07839484B2 Exposure apparatus and exposure method, and method of manufacturing electrical wiring board
This invention provides: an exposure apparatus and exposure method based on a maskless exposure technique which uses a two-dimensional optical modulator, in which maskless exposure technique, the exposure apparatus and exposure method employ a first irradiation source optics for drawing a pattern based on exposure pattern data, and a second irradiation source optics for irradiating an energy ray onto a desired area of space on a region inclusive of a region in which the pattern has been drawn; and a method of manufacturing a wiring Substrate (Board); thus, highly accurate pattern forming based on the exposure pattern data is achieved at high throughput and at low costs.
US07839483B2 Lithographic apparatus, device manufacturing method and a control system
A capillary passage is formed between a substrate holder and an edge structure. Along the capillary passage are arranged a plurality of electrodes which, when charged, become liquidphilic. The electrodes may be used to split droplets of liquid and pump the liquid along the capillary passage.
US07839459B2 Flat panel display device including electrostatic discharge prevention units
A flat panel display device includes a plurality of data lines spaced apart from each other on a substrate, power supply lines, and scan lines crossing the data lines and supply lines. First and second thin film transistors are each formed on the substrate and include a semiconductor layer, a gate insulation film, a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. At least one capacitor has a first electrode and a second electrode, and the first electrode is connected to the source or drain electrode of the first or second thin film transistor. An organic layer includes at least a light-emitting layer coupled to the second thin film transistor. An electrostatic discharge prevention unit is installed at an end the plurality of scan lines.
US07839450B2 Image sensor device, apparatus and method for optical measurements
The invention relates to an apparatus and processes for optical measurement and detection with real-time closed-loop controls, which enable higher levels of performance. The invention is especially suitable for applications such as spectroscopy; microscopy; biochemical assays; processes and reactions on miniaturized formats (such as those involving micro-/nano-plates, micro-formats & micro-arrays, chemistry-on-chip, lab-on-chip, micro-channels and micro-fluidics, where dimensions are on micron scale and columns are in the sub-nanoliter range). Such “intelligent sensing” allows higher data quality and reliability, higher measurement and analysis throughput and lower cost. The invention uses fast real-time adaptive digital signal processing and controls directly at the point where data is sensed. Through real-time adaptive control of sensors, chemical/opto-mechanical/opto-electronic processes and other components during the measurement process, consistently higher quality results and higher reliability are achieved. This invention furthermore includes an improved image sensor architecture that enables very intra-array dynamic range at fast frame rates and low noise performance.
US07839446B2 Image capturing apparatus and image display apparatus including imparting distortion to a captured image
An image-capturing apparatus has an optical system imparting distortion to an image of an object to be captured so that the distortion is imparted so that a central portion of the image is magnified and a peripheral portion is reduced; an image-processing circuit for compensating the distortion in the initial image data having first perspective angle established to the same initial image data and the distortion in the initial image data having second perspective angle which is different from the first perspective angle; and generating first image and second image that do not include the distortion corresponding to the first and second perspective angles; a finder for displaying at least one of the first and second images; and a display-control circuit having a simultaneous display mode which can display the first and the second images in a view in the finder simultaneously.
US07839444B2 Solid-state image-pickup device, method of driving solid-state image-pickup device and image-pickup apparatus
A solid-state image-pickup device includes a pixel array unit including pixels that include photoelectric transducer two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix and a driving unit for reading out pixel information corresponding to a number of pixels less than the number of pixels included in the pixel array unit as monitoring image information and reading out pixel information corresponding to a predetermined region in the pixel array unit at a cycle shorter than the display cycle of the monitoring image as autofocus image information.
US07839435B2 Image sensing apparatus and image sensing method
An object of this invention is to allow quickly, reliably confirming an in-focus state with a simple arrangement. To achieve this object, an image sensing apparatus includes an image sensing element which photoelectrically converts an object image, a first image generation unit which generates a first image obtained from the image sensing element, a second image generation unit which generates a second image of a predetermined region from the image obtained by the image sensing element, and an exposure control unit which controls exposure so as to set the second image to appropriate brightness.
US07839430B2 Autostereoscopic reproduction system for 3-D displays
What is described is a position-adaptive autostereoscopic 3-D reproduction system for generating 3-D images or scenes, having a flat image screen (1) with colour subpixels (R, G, B) lying side by side, a raster screen (2), a coding unit (6, 9) and a processor unit (3) for generating perspective images. According to the invention, the coding unit (6, 9) is controllable and the raster screen (2) is dimensioned and arranged such that first and second mutually interlaced subpixel strips appear on the image screen (1) and from these, first and second image strips are generated, which appear to the two eyes of an observer to be disjoint for a defined viewing region in front of the image screen (1), whereby a constant sequence of colours of the subpixels is maintained in the first (second) subpixel strips.
US07839427B2 Multi-beam image forming apparatus configured to perform droop correction
A multi-beam image forming apparatus is disclosed in which a semiconductor laser array including plural semiconductor laser elements serves as an optical beam generation unit. The apparatus includes a printing ratio counting unit that counts printing ratios of the semiconductor laser elements in plural printing areas divided in a scanning direction based on image data transmitted from a host unit; and a light amount control unit that controls emission light amounts of the semiconductor laser elements based on a result from the printing ratio counting unit. The light amount control unit calculates droop correction values corresponding to the printing areas from the printing ratios of the semiconductor laser elements based on the printing ratios in the printing areas counted by the printing ratio counting unit so as to correct the light amounts of the semiconductor laser elements.
US07839424B1 Horizontal strip column-first two-dimensional scaling
A system is provided for scaling image data comprising a Direct Memory Access (DMA) engine adapted to read the image data from a horizontal pixel strip in a column-by-column format, a scaling block adapted to scale the image data read by the read DMA engine into scaled column output data, and a buffer memory for storing the scaled column output data for the horizontal pixel strip. A method is also provided for scaling an image comprising reading pixel values from a pixel strip in a column-by-column manner across the pixel strip and scaling the pixel values for each column to produce scaled column output data. The scaled column output data for a plurality of columns is then read and the scaled column output data is scaled from the plurality of columns to produce scaled row output data for a row of pixels.
US07839409B2 Acquisition of extended display identification data (EDID) using inter-IC (I2C) protocol
In a VESA standard compliant display controller having a processor arranged to process executable instructions and associated data, a memory device arranged to store EDID and the executable instructions and associated data, a number of data ports coupled to the memory device by way of an I2C data bus each coupled to a host device, a method of transferring EDID from the memory device over the I2C data bus to a requesting one of the data ports while servicing a processor memory access request without clock stretching.
US07839404B2 Systems and methods of direct volume rendering
A method and system of increasing the speed of a ray-casting algorithm for producing direct volume rendering images in the melt-through interaction mode. Since the viewing direction is not changed during a melt-through interaction, it is possible to reuse the samples calculated along each ray from one frame to another. The samples along each ray are partitioned into different groups, and the samples within each partition can be composited to generate an RGBA-tuple (Red Green Blue and Alpha, which is an opacity factor) for the partition. The associative property of the composition operation allows computation of the final RGBA value for each ray by compositing the RGBA-values of the partitions, instead of compositing the RGBA-values of each sample along the ray.
US07839395B2 Flat display apparatus and picture quality controlling method based on panel defects
A flat panel display device may improve picture quality by compensating a panel defect by use of a circuit and a picture quality controlling method.A flat panel display device includes a display panel. A memory stores a location information and a compensation value for a panel defect location on the display panel. A first converter calculates a brightness and color difference signals from red, green, blue video signals to be displayed in the display panel. The first converter expands the number of data bits of the brightness signal to generate the expanded brightness signal. A compensating part generates a compensated brightness signal by increasing or decreasing the expanded brightness signal of the video signal to be displayed in the panel defect location. A second converter calculates the red, green, blue signals from the color difference signal and the compensated brightness signal, and generates the compensated video signal by reducing the number of bits of the calculated red, green, blue signals. A drive circuit drives the display panel by use of the compensated video signal and the uncompensated video signal.
US07839391B2 Segmented touch screen console with module docking
A segmented touch screen overlies the display or displays of a console having an operating system and display controller for the display. A touch screen controller is continuously connected to each of the touch screen segments and separate touch position information is obtained for each touch screen segment. The console operating system can be supplied with separate position information for each segment or with a single touch position for combined segments. A number of docking module ports near the display optionally receive docking modules that cover segments of the touch screen and display. A module, including tactile elements such as push button switches, can be docked at any port. When a module is detected, the touch screen segment under the module is disabled and the display under the module is switched to display module specific information.
US07839389B2 Information processing equipment and method for determining the priority of input keys thereof
Information processing equipment which changes the priority for operations executed in response to simultaneous manipulation of multiple keys in accordance with the operational stage in an application wherein the simultaneous manipulation is performed. Thus, an operation more suitable for the operational stage can be performed even if a user simultaneously manipulates multiple keys by mistake.
US07839374B2 Liquid crystal display device and method of driving the same
Disclosed herein are a liquid crystal display device, in which a bi-directional internal gate drive circuit is used to cut the number of data lines in half, and a method of driving such liquid crystal display devices. The liquid crystal device includes a pixel array having a plurality of pixels on a lower substrate. The pixels are configured such that two pixels horizontally adjacent to each other are paired to share the same data line. First and second gate drive circuits are housed in the left and right sides of the lower substrate so as to be independently operated in the left and right side of the pixel array. The first gate drive circuit is formed of first to nth odd shift registers, and the second gate drive circuit is formed of first to nth even shift registers.
US07839349B1 Tunable substrate phase scanned reflector antenna
In some embodiments, a reflector antenna may include one or more of the following features: (a) a reflector having a tunable reflective surface, (b) a reflector feed having tunable substrate materials, and (c) a sub-reflector.
US07839346B2 Ruggedized multi-layer printed circuit board based downhole antenna
The specification discloses a printed circuit board (PCB) based ferrite core antenna. The traces of PCBs form the windings for the antenna, and various layers of the PCB hold a ferrite core for the windings in place. The specification further discloses use of such PCB based ferrite core antennas in downhole electromagnetic wave resistivity tools such that azimuthally sensitivity resistivity readings may be taken, and borehole imaging can be performed, even in oil-based drilling fluids.
US07839340B2 Collapsable portable wireless unit
A collapsable portable wireless unit (100) comprises an upper case (101) and a lower case (102) coupled through a hinge member (103) to open/close freely. A planar conductor (105) is arranged on the upper case (101). First and second power supply sections (111, 112, 103) are arranged on the planar conductor (105) at a specified interval. A harmonic signal distributor (120) is arranged on a circuit board (110) provided in the lower case (102) and distributes a harmonic signal to the first and second power supply sections (111, 112, 103). A phase shifter (121) sets the exciting phase of the harmonic signal in the second power supply sections (112, 103) at a value different from that of the exciting phase of the harmonic signal in the first power supply sections (111, 103).
US07839335B2 Antenna and wireless network device having the same
An antenna applied to a wireless network device comprises a base, a pair of embedded portions, and an antenna portion. The base has two sides opposite to each other. Each of the embedded portions has a side wall portion and a locking wing portion. The side wall portion is substantially vertical to the base and connected to the sides of the base, while the locking wing portion is connected to the side wall portion, substantially parallel to the base, and spaced apart from the base with a first height. The antenna portion is provided with a ground member, a radiation member, and a signal member. The ground member is substantially vertical to the base, connected to one of the two sides of the base, and spaced apart from the embedded portion with an interval. The radiation member is connected to the ground member, substantially parallel to the base, and spaced apart from the base with a second height. The signal member is connected to the radiation member, substantially vertical to the base, and formed with a free end separated from the base. When the antenna is positioned in at least one slot formed on a substrate of the wireless network device, the radiation member is spaced apart from the substrate with a height difference between the second height and the first height.
US07839329B2 Positioning system and method thereof
The invention provides a positioning system. In one embodiment, the positioning system comprises a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) module, a dead reckoning module, a Geographic Information System (GIS) module, and an calculating module. The GNSS module generates a first positioning data according to satellite communication. The dead reckoning module estimates a second positioning data according to a sensor's measurement data, the first positioning data, and a feedback positioning data of a previous epoch. The GIS module fits the first positioning data to a map to generate a third positioning data taken as a final output of the positioning system. The calculating module integrates the third positioning data and the second positioning data according to predetermined weights to obtain the feedback positioning data of a current epoch, which is recursively fed back to the dead reckoning module for a next estimation.
US07839325B2 Positioning device and method for measuring the distance between multiple positioning devices
A positioning device includes an antenna, a receiving module, a processing module and an output module. The receiving module receives positioning signals transmitted from positioning satellites and a position signal of another positioning device transmitted from a ground monitoring system using the antenna. The processing module determines a position of the positioning device according to the positioning signals, and calculates a distance between the positioning device and another positioning device according to the position signal of the position device and the position signal of the another positioning device. The output module outputs the distance. A method for measuring the distance between the positioning devices is also provided.
US07839321B2 Radar cable detection system
Ground clutter is effectively separated from true signals echoed by a cable in the flight path of an aircraft, by encoding a transmitted pulse wave in a radar system with at least one transmit (TX) coding sequence, so that received signals echoed by the cable on which the pulse is incident and associated ground clutter are orthogonal or separable from one another. The TX coding sequence is altered into two receive (RX) coding sequences one of which corresponds to the cable and the other to the ground clutter. The two RX coding sequences are then correlated with the received signals, thereby separating the true signals echoed by the cable from the associated ground clutter.
US07839320B2 Measurement amplification device and method
Measurement amplification methods and devices for detecting a monopolar input signal (UE) by integrating A/D conversion. Before being digitized, the input signal (UE) is inverted according to the so-called Chopper principle and converted into a bipolar intermediate signal (UZ). A reference voltage (Uref) used in A/D conversion undergoes polarity changes synchronized with the polarity changes of the intermediate signal (UZ). Offset and drift are eliminated by totaling an even number of individual measurements.
US07839318B2 Current mode pipelined analog-to-digital converter
A pipelined analog-to-digital converter includes a plurality of stages each including a sample-and-hold circuit configured to output an analog signal having a current and a current mode analog-to-digital converter configured to compare the current of the analog signal output by the sample-and-hold circuit to current generated by a plurality of current sources and output a digital representation of the analog signal.
US07839311B2 Architecture for multi-stage decoding of a CABAC bitstream
Techniques for optimizing the Context-based Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding (CABAC) bitstream decoding are disclosed. In one configuration, a device has a first processing circuit operative to decode a Context-based Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding (CABAC) bitstream into an intermediate signal having a CABAC decoded standard format and a decoded order. A second processing circuit decodes the intermediate signal using a non-CABAC decoding standard. A buffer is provided between the first and second processing circuits to improve processing speeds.
US07839310B2 Extended turbo interleavers for parallel turbo decoding
A first grouping of memory space addresses is generated for systematic bits of a received codeword; a second grouping of memory space addresses is generated for a first set of coding bits of the received codeword, wherein the first set of coding bits comprises an ascending order; and a third grouping of memory space addresses is generated for a second set of coding bits of the received codeword, wherein the second set of coding bits comprises an interleaved order. A sub-codeword of the received codeword is decoded in parallel by accessing the first set of coding bits using the addresses in the second grouping of memory spaces. In turn, another sub-codeword of the received codeword is decoded in parallel by accessing the second set of coding bits using the addresses in the third grouping of memory spaces. Apparatus and a memory storing a computer program are also detailed.
US07839302B2 Vehicle parking assistance electronic timer system and method
An electronic timer system includes a first unit. The first unit includes a memory device configured to store predetermined parking rule data, a timer device configured to determine at least one of a day, a date and a time of day, and an alert device configured to emit an alert in accordance with the predetermined parking rule data and based on at least one of the day, the date and the time of day determined by the timer device. A method includes storing predetermined parking rule data in a memory device, determining at least one of a day, a date and a time of day, and emitting an alert in accordance with the predetermined parking rule data stored in the storing step and at least one of the day, the date and the time of day determined in the determining step.
US07839293B2 Sound generating device for use by people with disabilities
The invention disclosed herein describes a device allowing even people with severe disabilities (physical and/or mental) to control the generation of sound and music, using controls adapted to their capabilities. The device is to be used primarily in therapeutic, educational and training contexts. The device comprises of pressure-sensitive controls, a programmable control device and a sound/music output mechanism.
US07839292B2 Real-time driving danger level prediction
Systems and methods are disclosed to predict driving danger by capturing vehicle dynamic parameter, driver physiological data and driver behavior feature; applying a learning algorithm to the features; and predicting driving danger.
US07839291B1 Water safety monitor systems and methods
Systems and methods are disclosed to monitor a body of water. For example in accordance with an embodiment, a system includes a first camera having a long wave infrared (LWIR) sensor to provide an image data stream of a body of water; means for analyzing the image data stream to determine if a person in the body of water is submerged; and means for providing an alert signal if the person is submerged for more than a specified period of time.
US07839288B2 Sealing detection mechanism using RFID tag for container
Disclosed is a sealing detection mechanism for detecting sealing of a closure fastened to a container having a top open end. The sealing detection mechanism includes a RFID tag mounted at a selected position of the closure, at least one operable tear portion formed at the closure, and at least one conductive unit electrically connected to the RFID tag and extended from the RFID tag to the closure to form a conductive circuit loop across the operable tear portion of the closure. A sealing guarantee device mounted is selectively mounted between the top open end of the container and the closure, which includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a middle portion connected between the upper portion and the lower portion. The lower portion of the sealing guarantee device is provided with an annular flange protruding downward from the lower portion and a hollow portion between the lower portion and the flange.
US07839287B2 Near-field miniature coupler
A near-field coupler for a RFID system is provided. The coupler is configured to selectively communicate with a targeted transponder from among a group of multiple adjacent transponders. The coupler includes a conductive strip terminated by a load. The load is for matching an input impedance of the coupler to a source impedance of a transceiver. The conductive strip is based on a quarter wavelength of the center operating frequency. The conductive strip may have a substantially constant width and a length substantially equal to the quarter wavelength. Or the conductive strip may have a variable width defining a tapered profile and a length less than the quarter wavelength. The tapered profile may be an exponential profile or a Klopfenstein profile. Due to the overall size of the coupler to a typical transponder, the center of the coupler and the center of the transponder may be offset during coupling.
US07839284B2 Monitoring of shopping cart bottom tray
A detection device is provided for alerting a cashier to the presence of an object located on the lower tray of a shopping cart. The detection device uses a combination of a weight sensor and a presence sensor to trigger a signal, all of which are mounted on the cart. The signal is positioned so as to be visible by the user of the cart and store personnel.
US07839275B2 Methods, systems and computer program products for controlling a climate in a building
Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for controlling a climate in a building. Sensed data is received at a local processor in the building. The sensed data is associated with the climate in the building, weather outside the building and/or occupants of the building. The received sensed data is compared at the local processor with corresponding predictive data associated with the climate in the building, weather outside the building and/or occupants of the building. One or more parameters associated with the climate of the building is adjusted at the local processor based on a result of the comparison of the received sensed data and the predictive data.
US07839270B2 Vehicle monitoring system and transponder thereof
A vehicle monitoring system which may easily identify information transmitted from each of detecting devices without registration of identification information of the detecting devices and a transponder thereof are provided. A display is disposed in a distal end of the transponders all connected in series through a cable. Each of the detecting devices detects conditions in a predetermined portion of a vehicle and transmits vehicle information including measurement results, its own identification information and the number of transmissions. Each of the transponders determines whether the vehicle information transmitted from the detecting devices is received or not based on the identification information of the detecting devices registered in advance, and transmits the vehicle information to the transponder connected to the transmitting side or the display, when it determines that the vehicle information is to be received. Also, the each transponder receives the vehicle information transmitted from the transponder connected to the receiving side, updating the number of transmissions included in the vehicle information and transmits the vehicle information to the transponder connected to the transmitting side or the display.
US07839267B2 Method for starting an operating system of a handheld device
A method for starting an operating system of a handheld device includes: setting an alarm time of an alarm clock as T seconds after a current system time of the handheld device when the handheld device is in a standby mode; monitoring the current system time of the handheld device until the current system time reaches a time that is N seconds before the set alarm time; repeating the setting step and the monitoring step, until the handheld device is turned off; determining whether the current system time is equal to the alarm time of the alarm clock when the handheld device is turned on; if yes, starting the operating system of the handheld device without executing boot-strap programs and making the operating system go to the standby mode directly; otherwise starting the operating system of the handheld device by executing boot-strap programs.
US07839266B2 System and method for managing point of care assignments
A portable, battery-powered per-patient device automatically detects and logs patient encounters with items, such as medical equipment, drug containers, caregivers, visitors and other patients, in a healthcare facility. A separate per-patient device is assigned to each patient in the facility. The per-patient device is intended to remain with the patient during the patient's stay. The device may be attached to the patient's bed, wheelchair, walker or the like. If the patient is ambulatory, the patient may carry the device. RF-ID or other suitable tags are attached to items that a patient may encounter. Each per-patient device automatically detects and logs RF-ID-tagged items, including the patient, that come within a range of the device. The device also detects and longs when an item is no longer within range of the device, such as because a caregiver leaves the patient's room or a medical device is removed from the patient's room. The per-patient device also detects and logs when an item is reunited with a patient. Information, such as a time and date on which an RF-ID tag is detected or ceases to be detected, may be included in the log. The logged information may be used to obtain status or location information about the items. In addition, if an item or a patient is found to be infected, all the people or items that encountered the item or patient can be listed by querying the log.
US07839264B2 Detection of unplanned waste stream diversion using RFIDs
Unplanned waste stream diversions are detected through the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags. Input bulk material coming into the facility is laced with multiple RFID tags, which are suspended in a colloidal state in the input bulk material. Incoming RFID tags are counted, and then re-counted as they leave the facility, either as part of a known waste material stream or as part of a finished product. If the incoming and outgoing counts differ, then a conclusion is reached that some of the incoming RFID tags are within an unplanned waste stream diversion.
US07839263B2 System and method of training in a transmit/receive system
A radio frequency transmitter is configured to send radio frequency messages to activate a remote system. Each message includes an encrypted counter value and a transmitter identifier. The transmitter is configured to send at least two of the messages having sequential encrypted counter values in response to a single user input.
US07839259B2 Mounting structure for temperature switch
A structure for mounting a temperature switch on a compressor of a vehicle air-conditioner is disclosed. The switch has a cylindrical metal container and a thermally responsive element disposed on a container bottom. The structure includes a housing recess for housing the switch, a fixing cover including an upper cover and one or plural band-shaped legs downwardly extending from a peripheral edge of the cover and housed in the recess with the switch, and one or plural claws formed on the fixing cover legs. When the switch is housed in the recess, the claws are engaged with an inner surface of the recess to be locked. An adhesive is interposed between the switch and the recess when the switch is housed in the recess. The legs are constructed so that parts of the legs are buried in the adhesive when the switch is housed in the recess.
US07839258B2 Fuse assembly with a capability of indicating a fusing state by light
A fuse assembly capable of indicating whether the fuse is blown or not includes a fuse body formed therein with an accommodating space. The accommodating space is provided with two conductive terminals connected to each other via a metallic fuse. A light-emitting diode is inserted into an accommodating hole of the fuse body, thereby electrically connecting two electrodes of the light-emitting diode to the two conductive terminals. By the above arrangement, the light-emitting diode can be lighted up when the fuse body is blown.
US07839257B2 Overvoltage protection with status signalling
The present invention teaches an overvoltage protection device that includes at least one non-linear resistance element and a single cut-off device coupled with the at least one non-linear resistance element to disable the at least one non-linear resistance element when the at least one non-linear resistance element reaches a pre-determined temperature. The single cut-off device may include stranded wire, a first solder having a first melting point connecting the stranded wire to the at least one non-linear resistance element, and a second solder having a second melting point, higher than the first melting point, connecting the stranded wire to the at least one non-linear resistance element. The single cut-off device may further include a shifting part that shifts when the at least one non-linear resistance element heats the first solder to the first melting point. In other particular embodiments, the overvoltage protection device may further include a status indicator configured to be moved by the single cut-off device to indicate one of at least two conditions of the at least one non-linear resistance element. The status indicator may include a lever, and the single cut-off device moves the lever to indicate the one of at least two conditions of the at least one non-linear resistance element.
US07839254B2 Transformer with high voltage isolation
A high-voltage isolation transformer utilizing balun cores for transferring an alternating current signal from a first circuit to an output circuit, and a high voltage generator, such as a Cockcroft-Walton multiplier to apply a high direct current voltage bias with a high degree of voltage isolation between the first circuit and the output circuit. Multiple balun core transformers can be used in order to reduce the voltage rise between each individual transformer.
US07839250B2 Transformer with leakage inductance
A transformer includes a bobbin and a core assembly. The bobbin includes a pair of first winding portions to wrap primary winding coils thereon and a second winding portion between the pair of first winding portions to wrap secondary winding coils thereon. The core assembly includes a first core and a second core. At least one gap is formed between the first core and the second core at opposite sides of the second winding portion to adjust leakage inductance of the transformer. The gaps and the winding coils of the second winding portion are positioned in a same magnetic circuit, the magnetic circuit generating the leakage inductance of the transformer.
US07839247B2 Magnetic force profile system using coded magnet structures
An improved field emission system and method. The invention pertains to field emission structures comprising electric or magnetic field sources having magnitudes, polarities, and positions corresponding to a desired spatial force function where a spatial force is created based upon the relative alignment of the field emission structures and the spatial force function. The invention herein is sometimes referred to as correlated magnetism, correlated field emissions, correlated magnets, coded magnetism, or coded field emissions. The magnetic field sources may be arranged according to a code having a desired autocorrelation function. In particular, a high peak to sidelobe autocorrelation performance may be found desirable. Specific exemplary embodiments are described with magnetic field sources arranged in a ring structure. Exemplary codes are described and applied to magnetic field source arrangements. Specific codes found by the inventors are described.
US07839244B2 System and method for disabling a field emission structure
An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function.
US07839240B2 Reflection-type banpass filter
Provided is a reflection-type bandpass filter for ultra-wideband wireless data communication. The filter includes a substrate including a dielectric layer and a conducting layer layered on the top and bottom surfaces thereof, and a center conductor provided within the dielectric layer and serving as a strip line. A width distribution of the center conductor is non-uniform in a length direction of the center conductor.
US07839230B2 PLL oscillation circuit, polar transmitting circuit, and communication device
Provided is a PLL oscillation circuit that can reduce the variability of modulation sensitivity of a VCO 101 and obtain a desired output amplitude quickly with high precision. An amplitude detector 103 detects an output amplitude of the VCO 101. An amplitude controller 105 controls a current value of a variable current source 109 so as to have an output amplitude of the VCO 101 detected by the amplitude detector 103 to be a desired amplitude. A LPF 108 is connected between the amplitude controller 105 and the variable current source 109. A switch 107 connects or disconnects the LPF 108 between the amplitude controller 105 and the variable current source 109. The amplitude controller 105 is connected to the variable current source 109 through either the LPF 108 or the switching switch 107.
US07839225B2 Direct digital interpolative synthesis
A clock synthesis circuit includes a delta sigma modulator that receives a divide ratio and generates an integer portion and a digital quantization error (a fractional portion). A fractional-N divider divides a received signal according to a divide control value corresponding to the integer portion and generates a divided signal. A phase interpolator adjusts a phase of the divided signal according to the digital quantization error to thereby reduce noise associated with the fractional-N divider.
US07839222B2 Systems and methods using programmable fixed frequency digitally controlled oscillators for multirate low jitter frequency synthesis
The disclosure provides systems and methods for programmable fixed frequency digitally controlled oscillators for multirate low jitter frequency synthesis. The present invention utilizes a digital control element, such as a complex programmable logic device (CPLD) or field programmable gate array (FPGA), to monitor the frequency offset of a DCO with respect to one or more timing module (TM) references. The frequency offset is measured by aligning the phase of a DCO feedback divider to the phase of a reference divider, and then counting the number of pulses in the DCO between the falling edges of the feedback to determine a frequency error. Falling edge detection is used to determine a sign of the error. The digital control element then calculates a frequency correction based on a linear scaling factor to send a new control word to the DCO to reduce the frequency error.
US07839217B2 High-frequency amplifier, high-frequency module, and mobile wireless apparatus using the same
A high-frequency amplifier with high linearity is provided that is easy to integrate and is resistant to variations in transistor characteristics due to process variation. The high-frequency amplifier includes a bias circuit to bias an amplifying element that amplifies high frequencies. The bias circuit has a feedback circuit including a feedback loop in which a circuit with low pass characteristics and having a capacitor one end of which is grounded is inserted. A stable bias voltage is thus provided, which makes it possible to improve the linearity of the high-frequency amplifier.
US07839205B2 Step-down circuit, semiconductor device, and step-down circuit controlling method
A step-down circuit is connected between a power supply node for supplying a supply voltage and an internal power supply line for supplying a power to the object circuit and steps-down the supply voltage, and supplies the stepped-down voltage to the object circuit through the internal power supply line. The step-down circuit includes a comparison circuit that compares a reference voltage with the voltage of the internal power supply line, and a driver that adjusts a current flowing between the internal power supply line and the power supply node according to the comparison result of the comparison circuit. The activity level of the driver is controlled so as to rise in a predetermined rising period synchronously with an activated operation of the object circuit and to fall in a predetermined falling period that comes after the rising period.
US07839198B2 Semiconductor integrated device
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor integrated device including: a level-shifting circuit including: a first and a second input nodes; and a first and a second output nodes; a first current mirror circuit connected with the first output node; a second current mirror circuit connected with the second output node; a first switch circuit series-connected with an input-side of first current mirror circuit; a second switch circuit series-connected with an input-side of the second current mirror circuit; a fifth switching element parallel-connected with the input-side of the first current mirror circuit; and a sixths switching element parallel-connected with the input-side of the second current mirror circuit.
US07839197B2 Level shift circuit
A level shift circuit includes an input stage and an output stage coupled to each other by two nodes. The input stage changes the voltages on the nodes according to an input signal, and the output stage determines an output signal according to the voltages on the two nodes. In a transition state, the input stage provides a large current to charge or discharge the first node or the second node so as to quickly change the voltage thereon. In a steady state, the input stage lowers the current so as to reduce power consumption.
US07839189B2 Voltage detector device and methods thereof
A voltage detector device is disclosed that includes a coarse-range voltage detector and a fine-range voltage detector. The fine-range voltage detector is configured to remain inactive, so that it consumes a relatively small amount of power, while a monitored voltage is outside a first specified range. In response to determining that the monitored voltage is within the first specified range, the coarse-range voltage detector activates the fine-range voltage detector so that it can monitor the voltage. In response to the fine-voltage monitor determining the voltage falls within a second specified range, the fine-range voltage detector provides a signal to a functional module of an electronic device so that the functional module can provide a defined response, such as executing an interrupt routine.
US07839186B2 Preset circuit of audio power amplifier
A preset circuit of an audio power amplifier includes an inverter and a voltage drop device. The inverter receives an input signal to output an output signal, and includes a first switch and a second switch. The first switch is controlled with the input signal, and has a first terminal coupled to a power voltage and a second terminal for outputting the output signal. The second switch is controlled with the input signal, and has a third terminal for outputting the output signal and a fourth terminal coupled to a low reference voltage. The voltage drop device is coupled between the first terminal of the first switch and the power voltage and configured to lower the power voltage. The output signal is kept at a low level when the voltage drop device and the first switch are de-actuated due to the power voltage having a level below a first threshold.
US07839185B2 Method and circuit arrangement configured for driving a field-effect-controlled transistor
A method and circuit arrangement including driving a field effect controlled transistor. One embodiment provides a first load terminal, a second load terminal and a control terminal. The control terminal is driven, at least during a Miller plateau phase of the transistor, with a pulse-width-modulated control signal whose period duration is shorter than the duration of the Miller plateau phase.
US07839183B2 Circuit for discriminating output of squelch circuit and circuit for regulating sensivity of the same
A circuit for discriminating a ‘Noisy’ state of an output of a squelch circuit is disclosed. A circuit for resolve the ‘Noisy’ state of the output of the squelch circuit is also disclosed which uses the output identification circuit. The output of the squelch circuit and a clear signal are input into a first AND gate. The output of the first AND gate is input into a first flip-flop. An inversed signal of the output of the first AND gate is input into a second flip-flop. The outputs of the first and second flip-flops are input into a discriminating unit including a second AND gate. The ‘Noisy’ state is identified by the output of the second AND gate. Based on the identification result, sensitivity of the squelch circuit is regulated.
US07839181B1 Glitch-suppressor circuits and methods
Circuits and methods of suppressing signal glitches in an integrated circuit (IC). A glitch on a signal entering a clock buffer, for example, is prevented from propagating through the clock buffer. In some embodiments, a latch is added to an input clock path that detects a transition on the input signal, and then ignores any subsequent transitions for a time delta that is determined by a delay circuit. In some embodiments, a multiplexer circuit is used to select between the input clock signal and the output clock signal, with changes on the input clock signal not being passed through the multiplexer circuit unless the time delta has already elapsed. In some embodiments, the delay is programmable, pin-selectable, or self-adapting.
US07839180B2 Noise filter circuit, noise filtering method, thermal head driver, thermal head, electronic instrument, and printing system
A noise filter circuit includes a latch circuit that receives an input signal. The latch circuit includes first and second logic circuits (e.g., NAND circuits). The first and second NAND circuits are configured so that the capability of a P-type transistor that receives a set signal or a reset signal is lower than the capability of an N-type transistor that receives the set signal or the reset signal and the capability of an N-type transistor connected in series with the N-type transistor that receives the set signal or the reset signal (total capability). The noise filter circuit may include a waveform adjusting circuit that receives an output signal from the latch circuit.
US07839178B2 High speed digital phase/frequency comparator for phase locked loops
An apparatus and method for detecting a phase difference between an input signal and a reference signal in an all-digital phase locked loop (PLL) are provided. In a preferred embodiment, an N-stage tapped delay line and N-bit parallel latch are used to create a snapshot of the input signal by latching the output of the tapped delay line using the reference signal to clock the latch. An edge detector and encoder circuit translate the latched snapshot into a numerical phase difference value. A difference between this phase difference value and a desired phase difference is calculated and then added to an accumulator. The result in the accumulator is a numerical phase error value that can be fed to a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO). The output of the NCO can, in turn, be fed back into the phase/frequency comparator as the input signal, thus forming a fully-digital PLL.
US07839172B2 Bidirectional buffer circuit and signal level conversion circuit
A bidirectional buffer circuit includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a first output buffer to which a signal from the first terminal is input and which outputs the signal to the second terminal, a first one-shot buffer control circuit outputting a first control signal according to an earlier arriving signal out of a signal from the first terminal and a signal from the second terminal, a first one-shot buffer temporarily driving the second terminal by the first control signal, a second output buffer to which a signal from the second terminal is input and which outputs the signal to the first terminal, a second one-shot buffer control circuit outputting a second control signal according to an earlier arriving signal out of a signal from the first terminal and a signal from the second terminal, and a second one-shot buffer temporarily driving the first terminal by the second control signal.
US07839171B1 Digital level shifter and methods thereof
A digital level shifter is disclosed that receives an input voltage from a first voltage domain, and provides an output voltage to a second voltage domain. The level shifter includes transistors configured in parallel with input transistors of the level shifter in order to place the output of the level shifter in a determinate state when one of the voltage domains is placed in a low power state. Further, the level shifter includes output transistors configured to equalize a rise time slew rate and fall time slew rate, improving the reliability of the level shifter as the voltage in each voltage domain varies.
US07839160B1 Stress programming of transistors
Methods for stressing transistors in order to program the transistors and for determining whether such transistors have indeed been programmed are described herein. The novel methods may include initially stressing a transistor by applying to the transistor a voltage greater than operational voltages of the transistor to create defects in the transistor. A current flowing through the transistor may then be measured to determine whether the transistor has been programmed, the measured current indicative of the presence of the defects.
US07839159B2 ZQ calibration circuit and a semiconductor device including a ZQ calibration circuit
A ZQ calibration command is internally generated from an external command different from a ZQ calibration command so as to automatically perform an additional ZQ calibration operation. A command interval between an inputted command and a next command is effectively employed to obtain a ZQ calibration period. The external command different from the ZQ calibration command is preferably a self-refreshed command. The addition of the ZQ calibration operation shortens intervals between ZQ calibration operations. Thus, it is possible to obtain a ZQ calibration circuit capable of performing a ZQ calibration operation more accurately.
US07839156B2 Method for detecting tip position of probe, alignment method, apparatus for detecting tip position of probe and probe apparatus
An probe tip position detecting method detects tip positions of a plurality of probes by using a tip position detecting device including a sensor unit for detecting tips of the probes and a movable contact body belonging to the sensor unit, the method used in inspecting electrical characteristics of an object to be inspected by bringing the object supported on a movable mounting table into electrical contact with the probes. The method includes a first step for moving the tip position detecting device by using the mounting table to thereby bring the contact the object into contact with the tips of the probes; a second step for further moving the mounting table to thereby move the contact body toward the sensor unit without causing elastic deformation to the probes; and a third step of determining a movement starting position of the contact body as the tip positions of the probes.
US07839154B2 Powered device power classification with increased current limit
A system and method of classifying a high powered device (PD) with an increased current limit includes: connecting a voltage to the PD, measuring current through a classification resistor connected to the PD, and determining a PD classification signature based on the current according to classification steps such that a minimum classification step includes a minimum current of 0 mA and a maximum classification step includes a maximum current beyond a predetermined current limit. The system includes a PSE, voltage source, PD classification resistor, and PD voltage, connected to the P. An alternative embodiment further includes a discrete classification circuit and discrete classification resistor to be used to measure the current for classification purposes instead of the PD classification resistor when the PD and PD classification resistor do not support power classification under the classification scheme. The discrete classification circuit and discrete classification resistor can be located on-chip or off-chip.
US07839152B2 Method and device for dynamic adjustment of network operating voltage
The present invention is to provide a method and device of dynamically adjusting the operating voltage of a network integrated circuit including the steps of detecting and ranking the signal-to-noise ratio of N ports to single out a port for arbitration, dynamically controlling the operating voltage according to the signal-to-noise ratio of the port for arbitration, decreasing the operating voltage by a voltage unit when the signal-to-noise ratio of the port for arbitration is greater than a first threshold, increasing the operating voltage to a default operating voltage when the signal-to-noise ratio of the port for arbitration is smaller than the first threshold, decreasing the operating voltage by a voltage unit when the signal-to-noise ratio of the port for arbitration is greater than a second threshold, and increasing the operating voltage by a voltage unit when the signal-to-noise ratio of the port for arbitration is smaller than the second threshold.
US07839151B2 Solid electrolytic capacitor inspection device and inspection method
A capacitor inspection device includes a substrate made of an insulating material, a first conductor unit and a second conductor unit arranged on the substrate, a signal input unit and a signal output unit attached to the substrate, a network analyzer and a pressurizing unit. The network analyzer has an input port connected to the signal input unit and an output port connected to the signal output unit. The first and second conductor units make contact with an anode and a cathode of a capacitor, respectively. The pressurizing unit presses the anode of capacitor onto the first conductor unit and the cathode onto the second conductor unit.
US07839149B2 Multi-component resistivity logging tool with multiple antennas using common antenna grooves
The disclosure provides a resistivity tool for use in a wellbore, wherein at least two orthogonal antennas are located at the same or substantially the same location of the tool. A single set of vertically aligned grooves is provided for the at least two orthogonal antennas. Each antenna may be configured to operate as a transmitter or receiver. A tool with collocated antennas may be used to provide azimuthally sensitive measurements even if the tool is non-rotating.
US07839147B2 Shimming of electric field for electric properties tomography
A radio frequency coil system (34) used in the context of electric properties tomography (EPT, electrical impedance tomography, EIT, applied potential tomography, APT) generates radio frequency excitation pulses in an examination region (14). The radio frequency coil system (34) includes N coil elements (38) which generate magnetic (H) and electric (E) fields. A weight setting device (54) sets weight factors for input signals for the coil elements (38). A transmitting system (52) creates RF pulses, at least two sets of each with differently weighted input signals, and transmits the at least two sets of RF pulses to the coil elements (38) such that each of the transmitted RF pulse sets generates shifted electric fields (110, 112) having a shifted zero crossing point (120, 122) from each other. An image processor (62) computes electric permittivity maps from resonance induced by the at least two sets of RF pulses with different weighting.
US07839146B2 Magnetic resonance imaging interference immune device
A medical apparatus includes a medical assist device to process signals to relating biological functions. A first lead is operatively connected to the medical assist device, the first lead having a distal end and a proximal end. A second lead is operatively connected to the medical assist device, the second lead having a distal end and a proximal end. The first electrode is operatively connected to the distal end of the first lead, and a second electrode is operatively connected to the distal end of the second lead. A filter circuit is operatively connected near the distal end of the first lead and the distal end of the second lead. A compensation circuit, operatively connected to the first lead, provides a compensation voltage to enable the filter to effectively block changing magnetic fields induced current in the second lead from passing through the second electrode of the distal end of the second lead.
US07839135B2 System for and method of analyzing printed board carrying chassis, printed board carrying chassis structure, program, and recording medium
A structure has a printed board carried by a metal chassis. A printed board carrying chassis analyzing system, a printed board carrying chassis analyzing method, a printed board carrying chassis structure, and a printed board carrying chassis analyzing program are provided to achieve a screw-fastened arrangement for predicting unnecessary radiation frequencies and for reducing unnecessary radiation. An equivalent circuit model including a printed board power and ground plane pair, a pair of confronting surfaces of a printed board and a chassis, and screw-fastened grounding posts is generated and analyzed to predict unnecessary radiation frequencies and unnecessary radiation reductions and to select a screw-fastened arrangement for reducing unnecessary radiation.
US07839130B2 Switching regulator capable of preventing reverse current
A switching regulator includes a first switch, an inductor, a second switch, a control circuit to control a switching operation by switching the first switch and switching the second switch complementally to the first switch, a reverse current protection circuit to shut off a current through the second switch to prevent a reverse current from an output terminal toward the second switch, and a soft-start circuit to cause the control circuit to perform a soft-start operation in which the output voltage is being increased gradually during a time period from a start-up to a predetermined elapsed time. The soft-start circuit causes the reverse current protection circuit to stop a shutoff operation of the current through the second switch when a generation or an indication of the reverse current is detected during the soft-start operation instructed by the control circuit.
US07839126B2 Signal converting apparatus and signal conversion method providing adjusted error signal with modified swing range
A signal converting apparatus is disclosed and includes a swing range converting unit converting an error signal swinging in a first swing range to an adjusted error signal swinging in a second swing range, an oscillator generating a periodic oscillation signal swinging in approximately the second swing range, and a comparator receiving and comparing the adjusted error signal and the oscillation signal, and generating a pulse-width modulated signal in relation to the comparison.
US07839125B2 Apparatus and method for optimization of power flow control between different paths of a high voltage network in dependence of a disturbance in the network
A method for controlling the power flow in an ac transmission line including prompt handling of voltage recovery and only thereafter thermal constraints.
US07839124B2 Wireless power storage device comprising battery, semiconductor device including battery, and method for operating the wireless power storage device
To simplify charging of a battery in a power storage device which includes the battery. Further, to provide a wireless power storage device which can transmit and receive information without the task of replacing a battery for drive power supply, which becomes necessary when the battery depletes over time, being performed. An antenna circuit, a battery which is electrically connected to the antenna circuit via a rectifier circuit, and a load portion which is electrically connected to the battery are provided. The battery is charged when an electromagnetic wave received by the antenna circuit is input to the battery via the rectifier circuit, and discharged when electrical power which has been charged is supplied to the load portion. The battery is charged cumulatively, and the battery is discharged in pulses.
US07839118B2 Powered docking station
A docking station apparatus having a support tray with a support surface between opposing first and second faces and at least partially surrounded by a fence portion; a clamp with a jaw portion extended from a sled portion, the sled portion slidable relative to the support surface of the support tray between a substantially retracted position having the jaw portion substantially adjacent to the first face and a substantially expanded position having the jaw portion substantially spaced away there from; an electrical interface support with a jaw portion extended from a sled portion, the sled portion slidable relative to the support surface of the support tray between a substantially retracted position having the jaw portion substantially adjacent to the second face and a substantially expanded position having the jaw portion substantially spaced away there from; and a novel linkage mechanism mechanically linking the clamp with the electrical interface support.
US07839113B2 Apparatus and method for driving synchronous motor
The synchronous motor driving apparatus including position sensors provided in the synchronous motor, a current polarity detection circuit for detecting the polarities of the currents in the respective phase windings of the synchronous motor, an inverter driving the synchronous motor, a motor speed calculation unit calculating the rotational speed of the synchronous motor depending on the output signals from the position sensors, a speed control unit outputting a first voltage adjusting component (q-axis current command value Iq*) to cause the rotational speed of the synchronous motor to approach a speed command value and a phase control unit outputting a second voltage adjusting component (d-axis current command value Id*) to cause the phase differences between the phases of the position sensor signals and of the currents in the respective phase windings of the synchronous motor to become a predetermined value.
US07839108B2 Electric motor stator winding temperature estimation
A temperature estimation controller and methods are provided for controlling a torque command to prevent overheating of one or more of a plurality of phases of a permanent magnet motor. The temperature estimation controller includes a low speed temperature estimation module, a transition module and a temperature dependent torque command derater block. The low speed temperature estimation module determines a stator temperature of each of a plurality of phases of the permanent magnet motor in response to first thermal impedances measured for each of the plurality of phases with respect to a thermal neutral. The transition module is coupled to the low speed temperature estimation module and outputs the stator temperature of each of a plurality of phases of the permanent magnet motor as determined by the low speed temperature estimation module when a detected speed of the permanent magnet motor is less than a first predetermined speed. The temperature dependent torque command derater block is coupled to the transition module and derates the torque command in response to the stator temperature of one or more of the plurality of phases.
US07839107B2 Method and circuitry arrangement for operating a brushless electric motor
In a method of operating a brushless electric motor, having a permanent magnet rotor and a stator with three windings electrically offset by 120°, provided for example for driving a dental treatment instrument, the zero crossings of a voltage induced by rotation of the rotor in the stator windings is detected by a comparison of a voltage at an inactive stator winding in a monitoring phase with a comparison voltage, and on the basis of the detected zero crossings there is determined the speed of rotation of the motor and/or a suitable commutation point for an intermediate circuit voltage delivered to the stator windings. The comparison voltage is formed by the voltages at the two further, active stator windings in the monitoring phase.
US07839104B2 Motor drive circuit, fan motor, electronic device, and notebook personal computer
A motor drive circuit includes: a pulse generation circuit configured to generate a pulse signal whose duty ratio of one logic level is increased as a drive voltage is increased in accordance with a target rotation speed of a motor; and a drive control circuit that configured to drive the motor with the drive voltage using a duty ratio higher than the duty ratio of the pulse signal when the motor starts rotating from the stopped state, and configured to drive the motor with the drive voltage during a period when the pulse signal is at the one logic level after the motor starts rotating, based on a rotation signal corresponding to the rotation of the motor.
US07839100B2 Front-stage voltage-adjustment inverter
The present invention discloses a front-stage voltage-adjustment inverter, which comprises: a front-stage voltage-adjustment unit, a duty cycle modulation unit, a half-bridge driving unit and a transformer unit. The front-stage voltage-adjustment unit receives an input power, a dimming signal and a feedback signal. The front-stage voltage-adjustment unit varies the voltage of the input power according to the dimming signal and performs a feedback adjustment according to the feedback signal. In the present invention, the cycle signal generated by the duty cycle modulation unit does not vary with the dimming signal and feedback signal. Thus, the half-bridge driving unit can work in a zero-voltage switching state constantly and drive the transformer unit to output a driving power. Thereby, the present invention can decrease the switching loss and increase the service lives of loads and electronic elements.
US07839097B2 System and method for wide-range high-accuracy-low-dropout current regulation
The invention teaches a semiconductor circuit for driving an LED in which the current passing through the LED is regulated by adjusting the NMOS Rdson using a series of digital signals. The circuit maintains a high current accuracy over wide range of current changes while keeping a low voltage drop.
US07839078B2 Organic electroluminescent element having a luminescent layer and a buffer layer adjacent thereto
The present invention provides an organic electroluminescent element comprising a plurality of organic compound layers between a pair of electrodes and comprising at least a luminescent layer and a buffer layer adjacent to the luminescent layer, the luminescent layer comprising at least two host materials and at least one luminescent material, the buffer layer comprising at least one of the host materials and at least one dopant material having a charge trapping function.
US07839076B2 Organic electroluminescent device
An organic electroluminescent device comprising an organic layer is provided. The organic layer is an electron transport layer comprising an electron transport material and a blue emission material. This electron transport layer causes an increase in the blue emission efficiency and lifespan of the organic electroluminescent device while improving efficiency in red and green ranges, a driving voltage, a color coordinate, and the lifespan of the organic electroluminescent device are not changed.
US07839070B2 Lateral field emission device
A field emission device has pixels with cathode and anode provided on the same plane, so that electrons directly penetrate an independently provided fluorescent powder layer to produce light, giving the display the advantages of easy focusing, no dark spots, high brightness, and enhanced light emitting performance. Since the light produced by the fluorescent powder layer is not blocked by the anode, the problem of charge accumulation on the fluorescent powder layer is avoided, and it is not necessary to use expensive light-transmittable conducting glass as the anode. With the cathode and the anode located at the same plane, it is not necessary to use a high precision spacer to maintain a fixed distance between the cathode and the anode, enabling the device to be manufactured at reduced cost and high good yield.
US07839061B2 Plasma display panel and field emission display
To provide a plasma display panel and a field emission display having an anti-reflection function which can further reduce reflection of incident light from an external source. By providing an anti-reflection layer which geometrically includes a plurality of adjacent hexagonal pyramid-shaped projections, reflection of light is prevented. The reflective index changes from a surface side of display screen to an out side (an atmosphere side) due to a physical shape of a hexagonal pyramid. The plurality of hexagonal pyramid-shaped projections can be provided densely without any space remaining, and six surfaces of side of the hexagonal pyramid-shaped projection are each provided at different angles to a base surface. Therefore, light ray can be effectively scattered in many directions.
US07839056B2 Piezoelectric pressure sensor
A piezoelectric pressure sensor includes—an outer housing separated by an annular gap from an inner housing, which inner housing is attached to the outer housing on the pressure side. At least one piezoelectric measuring element is positioned between a diaphragm placed on the pressure side of the inner housing and a base part of the inner housing. The inner housing is provided with a massive cylindrical wall throughout whose wall thickness essentially corresponds to the thickness of the adjacent outer housing. In the annular gap between the outer housing and the inner housing a heat-transfer liquid is contained, or in the space between the base part of the inner housing and an interior shoulder of the pressure sensor a heat-transfer spring or bellows is located.
US07839051B2 Protection device
In an embodiment, a device is provided comprising an accelerometer and an electroactive material. A control circuit is coupled between the accelerometer and the electroactive material.
US07839042B2 Inductor motor and manufacturing method of inductor motor
An inductor motor includes a stator block, a substantially cylindrical excitation coil, and a rotor including two substantially columnar magnet rotors coaxially arranged, and the magnet rotors are individually inserted inside two stator blocks coaxially arranged. The stator is formed of a substantially flat plate-shaped preformed member of a magnetic material having a plurality of protruding pieces circumferentially formed and protruding radially outwardly, and has stator teeth formed by bending the protruding pieces to stand up. The rotor has an intermediate circumferential groove with a smaller diameter than a magnet portion between the two magnet rotors coaxially arranged. A holding plate portion of the stator placed on an axially intermediate side in each stator block is placed around the intermediate circumferential groove of the rotor.
US07839037B2 Electric motor housing with transmission drive unit interface
An electric motor for actuators in a motor vehicle has an armature shaft, which is supported in a pole housing that includes a jacket and a bearing cover on at least on one end face for accommodating a bearing for the armature shaft, and at least one radial recess is formed in the pole housing, which, once the pole housing has been fully assembled, is suitable for engagement by at least one radial fastening segment of a transmission interface in the pole housing, in order to attach the electric motor to the transmission interface.
US07839033B2 Brushless DC motor and manufacturing method thereof
A brushless DC motor includes an embedded memory of a micro computer mounted on a circuit board which can be modified during and/or after a manufacturing process of the brushless DC motor. The circuit board installed on the brushless DC motor includes an IC having the embedded micro computer executing feed back control of the pulse wide modulation and the embedded memory for storing data such as control programs. The circuit board also includes a writing terminal port to which an external memory writer is to be connected. Data is transferred from the external memory writer and stored in the embedded memory by contacting the writing terminal port with a tip end portion of a cable from the external memory writer.
US07839027B2 Frequency responsive charge sustaining control of electricity storage systems for ancillary services on an electrical power grid
Systems, apparatus, and methods are provided for maintaining the state of charge of energy storage devices such as batteries, flywheel, capacitors, or other technologies that are energetically coupled with the electricity grid to support ancillary services. To reliably respond to requests to regulate the grid, the charge on the energy storage device is sustained or restored to a specified range in a manner that optimizes the readiness of the energy storage device to supply ancillary services in light of the condition of the grid. A state of charge (SOC) of the energy storage device and the grid frequency may be monitored. When a request from the operator to regulate the grid frequency is not being serviced, the charge of the energy storage device may be increased or decreased so that the charge may be sustained within the specific range. Once the SOC falls outside of the first range, charge may be added to or removed from the energy storage device when the grid frequency has appropriate values, e.g. if the grid frequency is respectively above a first setpoint or below a second setpoint.
US07839019B2 Multipurpose portable storage and supply system
A portable power storage and supply system having means for AC charging, DC charging, AC discharging and DC discharging wherein any one or any combination of the AC and DC charging and discharging can be carried at one time. The system includes an inverter, one or more battery modules and control means for controlling the AC and DC charging and discharging functions for safe and efficient operation. DC charging can include energy from a renewable energy source. The battery modules are separable from the system for providing DC energy for energizing automotive battery jumper cables or for energizing DC powered devices.
US07839009B2 Buoyant blade free stream tidal power device
Accordingly, the system for extracting power from tidal or other water action in a water region having a bottom surface, comprises: a base assembly positionable on the bottom surface of the water region; a buoyant blade assembly mounted on the base assembly, the blade assembly including at least one buoyant blade member, wherein the blade assembly or the blade member is capable of oscillating through an angle, wherein the buoyant blade member is mounted such that when the base assembly is positioned properly in the water region relative to the direction of the tide or other water action, torque is generated by the oscillating movement of the buoyant blade assembly or the buoyant blade member, and wherein the base assembly includes a power-extracting mechanism responsive to the torque generated by the tide or other action of water or the buoyant blade assembly; and a system for coupling the torque to the power-extracting mechanism.
US07838992B2 Wafer level package having a stress relief spacer and manufacturing method thereof
In a semiconductor device package having a stress relief spacer, and a manufacturing method thereof, metal interconnect fingers extend from the body of a chip provide for chip interconnection. The metal fingers are isolated from the body of the chip by a stress-relief spacer. In one example, such isolation takes the form of an air gap. In another example, such isolation takes the form of an elastomer material. In either case, mismatch in coefficient of thermal expansion between the metal interconnect fingers and the body of the chip is avoided, alleviating the problems associated with cracking and delamination, and leading to improved device yield and device reliability.
US07838980B1 TO263 device package having low moisture sensitivity
A lead frame and package construction configured to attain a thin profile and low moisture sensitivity. Lead frames of this invention may include a die attach pad having a die attachment site and an elongate ground lead that extends from the die attach pad. The lead frame includes a plurality of elongate I/O leads arranged about the die attach pad and extending in said first direction. An inventive lead frame features an “up-set” bonding pad electrically connected with the die attach pad and arranged with a bonding support for supporting a plurality of wire bonds. The lead frame also having a large mold flow aperture in the up-set bonding pad. A package incorporating the lead frame is further disclosed such that the package includes an encapsulant that surrounds the bonding support and flows through the large mold flow aperture to establish well supported wire bonds such that the package has low moisture sensitivity.
US07838975B2 Flip-chip package with fan-out WLCSP
A flip-chip package includes a package carrier; a semiconductor die having a die face and a die edge, the semiconductor die being assembled face-down to a chip side of the package carrier, and contact pads are situated on the die face; a rewiring laminate structure between the semiconductor die and the package carrier, the rewiring laminate structure including a re-routed metal layer, and at least a portion of the re-routed metal layer projects beyond the die edge; and bumps arranged on the rewiring laminate structure for electrically connecting the semiconductor die with the package carrier.
US07838974B2 Intergrated circuit packaging with improved die bonding
Particular embodiments of the present invention provide a leadframe suitable for use in packaging IC dice that enables stress reduction in and around the die, die attach material, die attach pad and mold interfaces. More particularly, various leadframes are described that include recesses in selected regions of the top surface of the die attach pad.
US07838972B2 Lead frame and method of manufacturing the same, and semiconductor device
A lead frame includes a lead frame main body having a plurality of die pad portions each having a chip mounting surface on which a semiconductor chip is mounted, a plurality of lead portions provided to surround the plurality of die pad portions respectively, and a frame portion for supporting the plurality of die pad portions and the plurality of lead portions, an adhesive film pasted on a lower surface of the lead frame main body by pressing, and a first metal film provided on surfaces of the plurality of lead portions and connected electrically to the semiconductor chip respectively, wherein second metal films whose thickness is substantially equal to a thickness of the first metal film are provided to the chip mounting surface of the plurality of die pad portions respectively.
US07838971B2 Method to provide substrate-ground coupling for semiconductor integrated circuit dice constructed from SOI and related materials in stacked-die packages
An apparatus and a method for packaging semiconductor devices. Disclosed are multi-die packaging apparatuses and techniques, especially useful for integrated circuit dice involving insulative substrates, such as silicon-on-insulator (SOI), where grounding of a base layer is not reasonably practical. Disclosed is a means for effectively grounding all layers of an integrated circuit device regardless of whether the device makes direct contact with a die-attach paddle.
US07838963B2 Electrical fuse having a fully silicided fuselink and enhanced flux divergence
A contiguous block of a stack of two heterogeneous semiconductor layers is formed over an insulator region such as shallow trench isolation. A portion of the contiguous block is exposed to an etch, while another portion is masked during the etch. The etch removes an upper semiconductor layer selective to a lower semiconductor layer in the exposed portion. The etch mask is removed and the entirety of the lower semiconductor layer within the exposed region is metallized. A first metal semiconductor alloy vertically abutting the insulator region is formed, while exposed surfaces of the stack of two heterogeneous semiconductor layers, which comprises the materials of the upper semiconductor layer, are concurrently metallized to form a second metal semiconductor alloy. An inflection point for current and, consequently, a region of flux divergence are formed at the boundary of the two metal semiconductor alloys.
US07838922B2 Electronic device including trenches and discontinuous storage elements
An electronic device can include a substrate including a trench having a bottom and a first wall. The electronic device can also include a first gate electrode within the trench and adjacent to the first wall and overlying the bottom of the trench, a second gate electrode overlying the substrate outside of the trench, and a third gate electrode within the trench and adjacent to the first gate electrode and overlying the bottom of the trench. The electronic device can also include discontinuous storage elements including a first set of discontinuous storage elements, wherein the first set of the discontinuous storage elements lies adjacent to the first wall of the trench. Processes of forming and using the electronic device are also described.
US07838909B2 Semiconductor device with trench structure
A semiconductor device includes a common diffusion structure formed in each region of a substrate in which semiconductor components are formed. The diffusion structures are separated into sections by trenches to form semiconductor components. The trenches define sizes of the semiconductor components and isolate the semiconductor components from the surrounding area.
US07838904B2 Nitride based semiconductor device with concave gate region
In FET, a second nitride semiconductor layer is provided on a first nitride semiconductor layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode are each provided to have at least a portion thereof in contact with the second nitride semiconductor layer. A concave portion is formed in the upper surface of the second nitride semiconductor layer to be located between the source electrode and the drain electrode. A gate electrode is provided over the concave portion to cover the opening of the concave portion.
US07838903B2 Compound semiconductor device and the fabricating method of the same
A GaN layer functions as an electron transit layer and is formed to exhibit, at least at a portion thereof, A/B ratio of 0.2 or less obtained by a photoluminescence measurement, where “A” is the light-emission intensity in the 500-600 nm band, and “B” is the light-emission intensity at the GaN band-edge.
US07838901B2 Single-chip common-drain JFET device and its applications
A single-chip common-drain JFET device comprises a drain, two gates and two source arranged such that two common-drain JFETs are formed therewith. Due to the two JFETs merged within a single chip, no wire bonding connection is needed therebetween, thereby without parasitic inductance and resistance caused by bonding wire, and therefore improving the performance and reducing the package cost. The single-chip common-drain JFET device may be applied in buck converter, boost converter, inverting converter, switch, and two-step DC-to-DC converter to improve their performance and efficiency. Alternative single-chip common-drain JFET devices are also provided for current sense or proportional current generation.
US07838890B2 Optical device and method for manufacturing optical device
A method for manufacturing an optical device comprises steps of: (a) laminating a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth semiconductor layers; (b) patterning at least the third, fourth, fifth and sixth semiconductor layers, thereby forming a light emitting device section and a rectification section; (c) forming first and second electrodes for driving the light emitting device section; and (d) connecting the fourth and sixth semiconductor sections between the first and second electrodes in parallel with the light emitting device section so as to have a rectification action in a reverse direction with respect to the light emitting device section, wherein the step (b) includes conducting etching until a portion of a top surface of the third semiconductor layer is exposed.
US07838874B2 Light-emitting device, electronic device, and manufacturing method of light-emitting device
The present invention provides a light-emitting element and a light-emitting device which have high contrast, and specifically, provides a light-emitting device whose contrast is enhanced, not by using a polarizing plate but using a conventional electrode material. Reflection of external light is suppressed by provision of a light-absorbing layer included between a non-light-transmitting electrode and a light-emitting layer. As the light-absorbing layer, a layer is used, which is obtained by adding a halogen atom into a layer including an organic compound and a metal oxide. Further, the light-absorbing layer is formed also over a region in which a thin film transistor for driving a light-emitting element is formed, a region in which a wiring is formed, and the like, and thus light is extracted from the side opposite to the region in which the TFT is formed, thereby reducing reflection of external light.
US07838869B2 Dual band photodetector
A dual band photodetector for detecting infrared and ultraviolet optical signals is disclosed. Aspects include homojunction and heterojunction detectors comprised of one or more of GaN, AlGaN, and InGaN. In one aspect ultraviolet/infrared dual-band detector is disclosed that is configured to simultaneously detect UV and IR.
US07838867B1 Method of fabricating turning mirror using sacrificial spacer layer and device made therefrom
The present invention is a method of fabricating a waveguide using a sacrificial spacer layer. The first step in this process is to fabricate the underlying optical semiconductor structure. A trench is then etched in this structure resulting in an underlying L-shaped structure. A sacrificial spacer layer is deposited in the trench. The waveguide is created in the trench on the sacrificial spacer layer using a mask layer to angle the vertex of the L-shaped structure. User-defined portions of the sacrificial spacer layer are subsequently removed to create air gaps between the waveguide and the sidewalls of the trench in the optical semiconductor.
US07838866B1 Method of fabricating turning mirror using sacrificial spacer layer and device made therefrom
The present invention is a method of fabricating a waveguide using a sacrificial spacer layer. The first step in this process is to fabricate the underlying optical semiconductor structure. A trench is then etched in this structure resulting in an underlying L-shaped structure. A sacrificial spacer layer is deposited in the trench. The waveguide is created in the trench on the sacrificial spacer layer using a mask layer to angle the vertex of the L-shaped structure. User-defined portions of the sacrificial spacer layer are subsequently removed to create air gaps between the waveguide and the sidewalls of the trench in the optical semiconductor.
US07838865B2 Method for aligning elongated nanostructures
A method of depositing elongated nanostructures that allows accurate positioning and orientation is described. The method involves printing or otherwise depositing elongated nanostructures in a carrier solution. The deposited droplets are also elongated, usually by patterning the surface upon which the droplets are deposited. As the droplet evaporates, the fluid flow within the droplets is controlled such that the nanostructures are deposited either at the edge of the elongated droplet or the center of the elongated droplet. The described deposition technique has particular application in forming the active region of a transistor.
US07838864B2 Chalcogenide switch with laser recrystallized diode isolation device and use thereof in three dimensional memory arrays
A three-dimensional memory array formed of one or more two-dimensional memory arrays of one-time programmable memory elements arranged in horizontal layers and stacked vertically upon one another; and a two-dimensional memory array of reprogrammable phase change memory elements stacked on the one or more two-dimensional memory arrays as the top layer of the three-dimensional memory array.
US07838862B2 Phase random access memory with high density
A phase random access memory including a plurality of access transistors, each access transistor including a drain region and a phase-changeable film shared by the plurality of access transistors. The phase-changeable film is connected to a bitline through a first electrode and connected to each respective drain region through at least one of a plurality of second electrodes.
US07838859B2 Fluid overfill probe with thermal stress prevention
A fluid overfill probe is resistant to failure caused by physical stresses resulting from thermal expansion of probe components. A fluid level detector is connected to circuit components that are mounted on a circuit board located in a housing of the probe. The circuit board is located within a tube that is positioned within, and secured to the housing, and the circuit board is secured to an inner surface of the tube along its edges. The tube has a shape and rigidity sufficient to maintain a gap between the circuit components and the inner surface of the tube such that thermal expansion of probe components result in no physical stress to the circuit components.
US07838857B2 Inspection container
The present invention discloses an inspection container, comprising: a bottom and a sidewall, said bottom is coupled to one side of said sidewall to form a space, wherein, there are a plurality of protrudes set on the lower surface of said bottom. The inspection container further comprises a division part, which divides said space into a plurality of subspaces. With the solutions according to the present invention, it is possible to meet the requirement for inspecting a plurality of bottles at one time.
US07838854B2 Method and apparatus for EUV plasma source target delivery
An EUV plasma formation target delivery system and method is disclosed which may comprise: a target droplet formation mechanism comprising a magneto-restrictive or electro-restrictive material, a liquid plasma source material passageway terminating in an output orifice; a charging mechanism applying charge to a droplet forming jet stream or to individual droplets exiting the passageway along a selected path; a droplet deflector intermediate the output orifice and a plasma initiation site periodically deflecting droplets from the selected path, a liquid target material delivery mechanism comprising a liquid target material delivery passage having an input opening and an output orifice; an electromotive disturbing force generating mechanism generating a disturbing force within the liquid target material, a liquid target delivery droplet formation mechanism having an output orifice; and/or a wetting barrier around the periphery of the output orifice.
US07838851B2 Method and device for fabricating nano-structure with patterned particle beam
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for producing a two-dimensional patterned beam, e.g. a two-dimensional patterned and focused ion beam, for fabricating a nano-structure on a substrate with the precursor gas. In comparison with the conventional focused ion beam that is applied for fabricating a dot-like nano-structure the method is more simplified and easy to be achieved.
US07838850B2 External cathode ion source
An ion source is disclosed for use in fabrication of semiconductors. The ion source includes an electron emitter that includes a cathode mounted external to the ionization chamber for use in fabrication of semiconductors. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the electron emitter is employed without a corresponding anode or electron optics. As such, the distance between the cathode and the ionization chamber can be shortened to enable the ion source to be operated in an arc discharge mode or generate a plasma. Alternatively, the ion source can be operated in a dual mode with a single electron emitter by selectively varying the distance between the cathode and the ionization chamber.
US07838844B2 Radiopharmaceutical system and method utilizing radio-frequency identification tags
The invention, in one characterization, may be said to be directed to a radiopharmaceutical system. In some embodiments, the system may include a radioisotope elution component and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to the radioisotope elution component. Other embodiments may include a radiation shielded enclosure having an interior, an exterior, and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) communication transmission passage extending between the interior and the exterior.
US07838841B2 Measuring momentum for charged particle tomography
Methods, apparatus and systems for detecting charged particles and obtaining tomography of a volume by measuring charged particles including measuring the momentum of a charged particle passing through a charged particle detector. Sets of position sensitive detectors measure scattering of the charged particle. The position sensitive detectors having sufficient mass to cause the charged particle passing through the position sensitive detectors to scatter in the position sensitive detectors. A controller can be adapted and arranged to receive scattering measurements of the charged particle from the charged particle detector, determine at least one trajectory of the charged particle from the measured scattering; and determine at least one momentum measurement of the charged particle from the at least one trajectory. The charged particle can be a cosmic ray-produced charged particle, such as a cosmic ray-produced muon. The position sensitive detectors can be drift cells, such as gas-filled drift tubes.
US07838834B2 Image forming method and electron microscope
As an image forming method including comparison between images for three-dimensional image construction or the like and an apparatus for forming such images, there are provided an image forming method and an electron microscope capable of obtaining with high accuracy or efficiency information required for comparison. In the image forming method, an image is formed on the basis of comparison between a plurality of images obtained by applying an electron beam to a specimen at different tilt angles. The method includes obtaining a first transmission image with the electron beam applied in a first direction and a second transmission image with the electron beam applied in a second direction, the second transmission image being formed within a region different from a peripheral blurred region resulting from tilting, and making a search in the first transmission image by using the second transmission image.