Document Document Title
US08043006B2 Axial piston machine with an elongated guide element for a cage segment
An axial piston machine of swashplate construction is provided. The axial piston machine has two pivot bearing parts. In order to improve the guiding of a cage segment mounted within a gap between the two pivot bearing parts, a guide element, in the region of its rotary bearing connected to the cage segment is displaceably connected to the cage segment by an elongated guide in a longitudinal direction. The guide member, in the region of its end region connected to the other pivot bearing part, is rotatable by an associated rotary bearing and rigidly connected in the longitudinal direction to one of the two pivot bearing parts.
US08042998B2 Method for detecting fault of oil temperature sensor for automatic transmission
A method for detecting a fault of an oil temperature sensor of an automatic transmission by using a determining means for detecting the fault of the oil temperature sensor. The method includes any one or more of the steps of 1) determining the fault of the oil temperature sensor by comparing minimum and maximum output values of the oil temperature sensor in every driving mode, 2) determining the fault of the oil temperature sensor by detecting abnormal excessive increase and decrease of the oil temperature for a specific duration, 3) determining the fault the oil temperature sensor in the stuck state in the driving mode when transmission oil temperature increases, and 4) determining the fault of the oil temperature sensor by detecting the oil temperature exceeding a predetermined temperature based on the time when the engine is left at a stopped state.
US08042996B2 Non-contact thermometer
The present invention is drawn to a non-contact thermometer that is operable to emit a first light having a first color to create a spot of a first color at a reference target and to detect the temperature of the reference target. The non-contact thermometer is additionally operable to establish a temperature difference threshold. In use, once a temperature difference threshold is selected and once the temperature of the reference target is detected, the non-contact thermometer may detect a temperature of another target. Further, if the detected temperature of the other target is outside of the temperature difference threshold as compared to the temperature of the reference target, the non-contact thermometer is operable to emit a second light having a second color to create a spot of a second color at the other target.
US08042989B2 Multi-stage cavitation device
A method for processing a fluidic mixture in a multi-stage hydrodynamic cavitation device is disclosed. The fluidic mixture is introduced to an inlet and passed through a flowpath having at least ten cavitation zones. The fluidic mixture is exposed to cavitation inducing features in each of the at least ten cavitation zones to induce cavitation bubbles, which bubbles are then collapsed between every two adjacent of the at least ten cavitation zones. The multi-stage hydrodynamic cavitation device for processing the fluidic mixture has a generally cylindrical housing with an inlet, an outlet, a flowpath therebetween, and a plurality of cavitation zones along the flowpath. Two or more of the cavitation zones along the flowpath comprise a disk multi-jet nozzle having a plurality of through channels disposed across the surface thereof, wherein each channel includes expansions and contractions of its cross-sectional area along its length.
US08042980B2 Vehicle headlamp
A vehicle headlamp is provided with semiconductor-type light sources, lenses, a reflector, light shading members, prism members, and a switching device. When the light shading members are positioned in a first location by means of the switching device, a light distribution pattern LP for low beam, having one or more cutoff lines, is illuminated. In addition, when the prism members are positioned in the first location by means of the switching device, a light distribution pattern HP for high beam is illuminated. As a result, the vehicle headlamp can achieve downsizing, weight reduction, power saving, and cost reduction.
US08042977B1 Troffer luminaire
A troffer luminaire having a continuous appearance when connected in aligned fashion within a suspended ceiling. The luminaire has first and second faux reflector assemblies which pivot from within the housing of the troffer luminaire. The troffer luminaire further comprises a removably connected lamp shield which may come in various designs and which therefore makes the lamp shields interchangeable.
US08042975B2 Plano-fresnel LED lens and LED assembly thereof
A plano-Fresnel LED lens and a LED assembly thereof are revealed. The lens is a Fresnel lens whose optical surface on the forward side thereof is a plano surface having saw teeth with vertical taper (draft with vertical shape) so that the lens in the LED assembly concentrates light emitted from a LED chip to generate light whose peak intensity is an elliptic distribution pattern. Moreover, the lens and the LED assembly thereof satisfy certain conditions. Thereby, light from the LED chip is gathered by a single lens to form a preset specific distribution pattern and is satisfying requirement of the ratio of the luminous flux that is larger than 85%. The plano-Fresnel LED lens and a LED assembly thereof are applied to lights and flashlights in mobile phones or cameras.
US08042971B2 Light emitting device (LED) lighting systems for emitting light in multiple directions and related methods
Lighting systems for emitting light in multiple directions including one or more light emitting devices (LEDs) and a housing configured to receive the one or more LEDs are provided. The one or more LEDs are configured to generate light in a first direction to illuminate a first area proximate to the lighting system. The housing is configured to reflect a portion of the generated light so as to allow a remaining portion of the generated light to pass through the housing in a second direction, different from the first direction, and illuminate a second area proximate to the lighting system. Related methods are also provided herein.
US08042970B2 LED illuminator
An LED illuminator has a seat and multiple LED modules mounted on the seat. The seat has multiple chambers, each of which has two opposite sidewalls, a bottom, two through holes and an opening. The two through holes are respectively defined on the sidewalls and the opening is defined the bottom. The LED modules are respectively mounted on the sidewalls of the chambers on the seat and standing on the seat at an inclined angle to allow lights pass through the openings of the chambers. Therefore, each chamber has two light sources from two opposite sidewalls and the lights of the two lights source pass through the opening of the chamber. The LED illuminator provides a wide illuminating angle.
US08042961B2 Audio lamp
In one embodiment, this invention discloses a device that is a lamp on the one hand, and also a speaker on the other, comprising a light-emitting element, a surface that acts as a sound-emitting element, and a base socket that can fit to an ordinary household lamp socket. The surface can be translucent and act as a lamp cover at the same time. There is also an electronic assembly in the lamp that controls both the light-emitting and sound-emitting elements, as well as communicates with an external host or other devices. In another embodiment, the lamp cover can also couple with an acoustic-wave transducer unit so that the audio lamp device becomes a light and a microphone. Various sensors can also be equipped within the audio lamp, and the results can be sent to the external host through the electronic assembly.
US08042947B1 Information system
The invention relates to an information system comprising a signal detection device (1751) which detects signals reflected back by at least one eye having a retina; a visual field detection device which detects visible light in a visual field associated with the retina, without detecting a ghost image of the retina; an information device; and an output device which co-operates with the information device to provide information according to the detected light and in correlation with the detected signals.
US08042927B2 Melt reservoir housing
An ink storage and supply assembly includes at least one ink reservoir configured to hold a quantity of liquid ink and to communicate the ink to at least one printhead of an imaging device. A housing at least partially encloses the at least one ink reservoir and includes a top, a bottom, and a plurality of side walls extending vertically between the top and the bottom of the housing. The plurality of side walls are spaced from the at least one reservoir to define a first air gap between each of the side walls and the at least one reservoir. At least one the side walls includes an inner wall and an outer wall spaced from each other to define a second air gap therebetween.
US08042926B2 Cartridge for an ejectable compound
A cartridge (11) used as a container for a compound that can be ejected by an ejection device, has two receptacles (12, 16) and a head part (21), each receptacle (12, 16) having a receptacle chamber (13, 17) for components of the compound with the head part (21) having a base plate (22) with an outlet opening (23) for the compound and, at a contact surface (24) of the base plate (22), two guide portions (25, 26) for joining to an end (14, 18) of the corresponding receptacle (12, 16), a guide element for the receptacle (16) arranged adjacent to the guide portion (26) at the contact surface (24) of the head part (21).
US08042925B2 Ink cartridges
An ink cartridge includes a case, an ink supply portion positioned at a front face of the case, a movable member configured to move relative to the case, and at least one resilient member coupled to a rear face of the case and the movable member. The at least one resilient member is configured to expand in an expansion direction and to contract in a contraction direction to move the movable member relative to the case, and a shape of the case in the expansion and contraction directions is unaltered. The entire moveable member is configured to substantially simultaneously move relative to the case when the at least one resilient member expands and contracts.
US08042922B2 Dispenser unit for refilling printing unit
A dispenser unit for dispensing ink to refill a supply of printing fluid in a printing unit includes a body assembly; a plurality of ink outlets provided on a bottom side of the body assembly, the plurality of ink outlets each for engaging with respective ink inlets of the printing unit; a compressible ink storage volume provided within the body assembly, the compressible ink storage volume having a sealed end and an outlet end connected to no more than one of the plurality of ink outlets; a plunger provided within the housing and abutting the sealed end of the compressible ink storage volume; and a compressing actuator for compressing the plunger against the sealed end of the compressible ink storage volume, thereby facilitating a dispensing of ink from within the compressible ink storage volume into the printing unit via the ink outlet to which the outlet end of the compressible ink storage volume is connected.
US08042900B2 Inkjet recording apparatus and inkjet recording method
An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a treatment liquid deposition device which deposits on a recording medium a treatment liquid that insolubilizes or aggregates an ink; a recording head having nozzles which eject the ink; a non-uniformity correction amount storage device storing non-uniformity correction amount data which are prepared with respect to each of the plurality of nozzles and determined according to ejection characteristics of each of the plurality of nozzles; a data acquisition device which acquires density data of an image; a non-uniformity correction amount revision device which revises the non-uniformity correction amount data according to the density data related to another nozzle which ejects the ink that overlaps on the recording medium with the ink ejected by each of the plurality of nozzles, in such a manner that the non-uniformity correction amount data are determined; a non-uniformity correction device which corrects the density data according to the non-uniformity correction amount data; and an image forming device which controls the recording head according to the density data in such a manner that the image is formed on the recording medium.
US08042899B2 System and method for compensating for weak, intermittent, or missing inkjets in a printhead assembly
A system enables surrounding inkjets to be used to compensate for missing, intermittent, or weak inkjets without requiring additional passes of the image substrate or slowing the printing process. The system includes a printhead firing signal generator configured to generate a plurality of inkjet firing signals with reference to a set of predetermined firing signal parameters, and a firing signal adjustment circuit configured to modify at least one predetermined firing signal parameter to increase a first mass of liquid ink ejected by an inkjet proximate a defective inkjet in response to a signal identifying the defective inkjet.
US08042894B2 Apparatus that uses consumable items and a method of managing such apparatus
An apparatus is provided that uses a consumable item, of given type, requiring occasional renewal. The apparatus has a first operating mode in which it only works with a subset of consumable items of the given type; the apparatus also has a second operating mode in which it is not restricted to working with consumable items of the aforesaid subset. The apparatus is changed from its first mode to its second mode following a determination that the apparatus has reached a predetermined time or usage threshold for being in its first mode. The change to the second mode is preferably effected in response to a release code generated either by the apparatus itself or by a remote system following the determination that the predetermined time or usage threshold being reached. Advantageously, the consumable items can be used to pass usage data to a remote system.
US08042892B2 Support arrangement and refrigerator provided therewith
A refrigerator that includes at least one vertical support that has a vertical guiding groove with a recess and a plurality of vertically staggered steps provided therein, and a horizontal support provided with a peg engaged into the recess of the guiding groove. In the interlocked position of the horizontal support, the peg rests on one of the steps and presses against a first wall of the vertical support from which the steps protrude. A contact surface of the horizontal support presses against a second wall of the vertical support, the second wall being arranged opposite to the first wall. The contact surface and the steps are staggered in the direction of the width of the walls, the steps being located in a lower position in the recess than the contact surface.
US08042891B2 Counterbalance assembly for a dishwasher door and associated method
A dishwasher is provided, comprising a door pivotably attached to a body and having a counterbalance assembly coupled therebetween for facilitating pivoting of the door, wherein the counterbalance assembly includes a biasing member coupled to the body and serially engaged with a flexible element coupled to the door, and a guide member secured to the body and including a fixed arcuate member defining a first guide track, and a pulley rotatable about an axis and defining a second guide track, wherein the flexible element is at least partially wrapped about each of the fixed arcuate member and the pulley so as to serially engage the first and second guide tracks, and wherein the first guide track of the fixed arcuate member is offset from the second guide track of the pulley along the axis thereof.
US08042888B2 Wheel position identifying apparatus for vehicle
A wheel position identification apparatus includes: braking force fluctuation generating means controlling the braking force-applying means to generate a braking force fluctuation of the wheel independently. The apparatus further includes response probability obtaining means for obtaining a presence, or an absence, of a response of the wheel relative to the braking force fluctuation based upon a wheel rotational speed fluctuation of the wheel. The wheel rotational speed fluctuation is obtained from a rotation state sensor mounted on each wheel. The apparatus still further includes associating means for associating the wheel with the braking force-applying means respectively. The association is based upon a combination of a presence, or an absence, of the braking force fluctuation at each braking force-applying means and the presence, or the absence, of the response obtained by the response probability obtaining means.
US08042882B2 Truck/trailer brake control system
A braking system for a combined tractor-trailer assembly wherein a leading trailer is coupled to a towing tractor and a trailing trailer is coupled to the leading trailer. All of the wheels of the trailers are provided with brakes which may be applied and released in response to the operation of a brake control pedal operated by a driver in the tractor. The brakes also may be applied to the trailing trailer whenever the latter is parked. The brakes of the trailing trailer normally are maintained in applied condition by a spring assisted mechanism when such trailer is parked. Such mechanism normally is disabled by pressurized fluid when the trailer is in service and the pressured fluid is accessible via a valve which simultaneously enables the parking brakes and service brakes simultaneously to be coupled to and uncoupled from the pressure fluid system.
US08042879B2 Vehicle wheel and method for manufacturing it
The invention relates to a vehicle wheel, in particular a hybrid vehicle wheel, composed of a wheel disc, which is fabricated from lightweight metal as a cast part, and a rim ring, which is made from steel, is connected to the wheel disc in a rotationally fixed fashion and has at least one rim horn and a drop base edge, and a method for manufacturing such a hybrid vehicle wheel. In order to be able to manufacture the hybrid vehicle wheel at low cost and to ensure sufficient force flow between the rim ring and the wheel disc, the wheel disc has, on the disc edge, a contour which is matched to the profile of the rim horn and drop base edge and extends over the distance between them and on which the rim ring bears in the mounted state of the wheel disc and rim ring while clamping the wheel disc between a first pressure zone on the drop base edge and a second pressure zone on the rim horn. Fitting is carried out by folding over or rolling over a rim ring blank onto the edge of the disc.
US08042877B1 Drop shaft
An apparatus for attaching hydraulic cylinders to a vehicle chassis. A plurality of vertical, parallel, spaced apart plates having first apertures through which stub shaft pins are disposed for attaching hydraulic cylinders, and second apertures below the first apertures through which a separate, tubular shaft is disposed. The stub shaft pins may be removed and replaced without removing the rest of the assembly or the tubular shaft from the apparatus or the vehicle.
US08042867B2 Seat pan drop down link
A chair having an adjustable seat pan is disclosed. The chair includes a seat frame having a front end and a rear end, a seat back attached to the rear end of the seat frame, a seat pan pivotally connected to the seat frame, and a seat drop down link having a first end attached to the seat frame and a second end in contact with a catch member located beneath the seat pan so that the seat pan can be raised and lowered from a flat position to approximately a 6° angle with respect to the seat frame.
US08042863B2 Vehicle roof bow assembly
A vehicle roof bow assembly includes a roof bow member and a pair of telescoping mounting brackets. The roof bow member is configured to extend in a lateral side-to-side direction along an underside of a vehicle roof panel. The telescoping mounting brackets each have a first end and a second end with the first end having a side rail attachment flange configured for rigid attachment to a first vehicle roof side rail and a roof panel attachment flange configured for rigid attachment to the vehicle roof panel and the second end being attached to the roof bow member. The telescoping mounting brackets are disposed at opposite ends of the roof bow member.
US08042858B2 Retractable roof and vehicle including the same
A retractable roof includes a roof member 2 including a front roof panel 21, a back roof panel 22, and a linkage mechanism 4 for alternately chaining the position of the roof member 2 between an in-use position and a storage position. The back roof panel 22 is pivotally connected to the front roof panel 21 and a car body side member 42 to function as a first link of a four-bar link constituted by the first link and a second link.
US08042856B2 Compactly stored tri-fold convertible top
A tri-fold convertible top is disclosed that is stowed in a storage compartment with a five bow oriented at an angle of between 30° and 60° relative to the vehicle belt line. The top may be tensioned by a power cylinder and linkage that raises both a one bow and the five bow when the top is initially retracted. A main power cylinder is connected to the top stack and a main pivot bracket that lifts a rear rail above the belt line during the extension and retraction cycle.
US08042850B2 Flexible skewer system for supporting food during cooking
A flexible skewer system for providing versatile cooking upon a grill. The flexible skewer system includes an elongated flexible member, a loop extending from an end of the flexible member and a piercing implement extending from an opposite end of the flexible member. The flexible member is preferably comprised of a stainless steel cable. In use, the user is able to manipulate the shape of the flexible member about other food items on the grill while allowing the loop and piercing implement to be exterior of the grill. Alternatively, a second piercing implement may be utilized instead of a loop.
US08042848B2 Telescopic clipping apparatus
A telescopic clipping apparatus includes a handle, a lever, a telescopic unit, a clipping unit, a reel, a pulley and a cable. The lever is movably connected to the handle. The telescopic unit is connected to the handle. The clipping unit is pivotally connected to the telescopic unit. A reel is located in the telescopic unit. A pulley is connected to the clipping unit. The cable is wound around the pulley, and includes a first end tied to the lever and a second end tied to the reel.
US08042846B2 Door wedge apparatus
A wedge apparatus includes a first wedge member and a second wedge member. A pivot pin is interconnected between a front end of the first wedge member and a front end of the second wedge member. A compressible spring is interconnected between the first wedge member and the second wedge member at a location distal from the pivot pin. The first wedge member can be substantially U-shaped and can include upwardly oriented first flange portions. Similarly, the second wedge member can be substantially U-shaped and can include downwardly oriented second flange portions. The U-shaped second wedge member is nested within the U-shaped first wedge member when the compressible spring is fully compressed between the first wedge member and the second wedge member. Preferably, a quantity of high friction material is bonded to the first wedge member bottom surface, and a second quantity of high friction material is bonded to the second wedge member top surface.
US08042844B2 Profiled section for door or bay frame
A profiled section includes a first surface and a second surface, such that the second surface has an opening to at least partially receive an element of a locking member. The wing is structured and arranged parallel to the second surface. Further, an element is coupled to the first and second surfaces and to the wing. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08042835B2 Belt tensioner for a safety belt system
A belt tensioner for a safety belt system has a drive unit and a power transmission element, which engages on a drive element when the drive unit is activated. The power transmission element is a non-rigid medium.
US08042820B1 Driver's side large vehicle step
A device is added to or built into a subject large vehicle, such as a large motorhome. The device provides for the driver's use either one or two retracting steps to facilitate the driver's entrance into or exit from the subject vehicle. Since these steps retract for travel, they are able to extend far enough beyond the side of the subject vehicle to allow the driver's weight to be directly above each step in stair step fashion rather than vertical ladder fashion. The device makes motorhome driver's side doors safer and more usable for less athletic people and the elderly.
US08042817B2 Adjustable height device for high clearance vehicle
A self-propelled, dirigible agricultural vehicle includes a height-adjustable chassis with an axle and a driven wheel hub. The axle is shiftable between a normal clearance position above the wheel hub and a relatively higher elevated clearance position. The chassis further includes a kingpin and a spacer section that is removably connectable to the kingpin. The axle is in the normal clearance position when the spacer is removed from the kingpin and is in the elevated clearance position when the spacer is connected to the kingpin.
US08042807B2 Transport for printing systems
A transport system for cut sheet media has a first and second cylinder to form a nip, a support subsystem to transport edges of cut sheets having at least one image into and out of the nip, and an array of contact points on each cylinder to make contact with the cut sheets without marking the image. A wheel for a print medium transport system has an outer rim having a series of contact points, an inner hub supporting a means to accommodate a drive shaft, and an internal spring connecting the outer rim to the inner hub. A method of transporting cut sheets in a printing system forms a nip between at least one pair of cylinders, each cylinder having an array of contact points, guides a first edge of a cut sheet into the nip, and uses the arrays of contact points to transport the cut sheets through one of either a fusing or drying process.
US08042806B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a registration roller and a control portion. The registration roller is disposed on an upstream side of an image forming portion in a sheet conveying direction to convey a sheet to the image forming portion. The control portion controls to convey the sheet toward the registration roller at predetermined timing after temporarily stopping the sheet at a plurality of stop positions. The plurality of stop positions is set on an upstream side of the registration roller in the sheet conveying direction. The control portion conveys the sheet at predetermined timing from one of the plurality of stop positions when the plurality of sheets is continuously conveyed to the image forming portion. One of the plurality of stop positions does not become continuously identical.
US08042796B2 Sheet finishing apparatus, sheet punching apparatus and control method
A sheet finishing apparatus includes a moving mechanism to move a puncher for boring punch holes in a sheet between a penetrate position and standby position, a detection section which is disposed upstream of the puncher in a sheet conveyance direction and detects a leading edge of the sheet, and a control section to control a moving mechanism based on a detection timing of the detection section and according to a size of the sheet and a movement speed of the sheet, so that a front corner of the sheet does not coincide with a position of a punching blade of the puncher when the sheet passes through the puncher.
US08042793B2 Solid engine mount
A mounting scheme for attaching a power train to a motor vehicle frame includes a plurality of mounts. At least one of the mounts is a solid engine mount having a metal housing and an elastomeric bushing. The elastomeric bushing contains no voids other than a central bore used to attach the mount to a bracket. The elastomeric bushing includes frustoconical portions, where one end of each of the frustoconical portions is unconstrained by the metal housing. The stiffness of the mount may be tuned to reduce noise and improve handling. The stiffnesses of any of the axes may be adjusted so that the power train roll center aligns with the power train center of gravity.
US08042792B2 Hydraulic engine bearing
A hydraulic engine bearing for motor vehicles has a fluid-filled working chamber (4) surrounded by a rubber-elastic circumferential wall (3). A compensating chamber (7) is provided which is in connection with the working chamber (4) via an overflow duct (6) in a baffle plate (5) between the working chamber (4) and the compensating chamber (7). Another compensating chamber (10) is connected to the working chamber (4) via a bypass duct (9). The additional compensating chamber (10) is formed from an elastic bellows (11), which is surrounded on its outside by a fixed wall (12) and wherein an intermediate space (13) is arranged between the bellows (11) and the wall (12). The intermediate space can be filled with a compressible medium, preferably air, and the medium can be emptied by means of a switching device, wherein the switching device is formed from at least one non-return valve (14) and at least one on-off valve (15). The non-return valve (14) is arranged in a vent duct as a connection path of the intermediate space (13) to the outside of the fixed wall (12) such that only a flow of the medium present in the intermediate space (13) to the outside of the wall (12) is possible. The on-off valve (15) is arranged at a vent duct (17) as an additional connection path of the intermediate space (13) to the outside of the engine bearing and can close or open the vent duct (17).
US08042785B2 Display stand
Display stand for displaying products, which comprises a support structure (2) which extends from a support base (3) with one or more columns (4), each of which is formed by at least two modular profiles (6) which can be assembled together in succession by means of first fixing means (7). Fastening means are envisaged, said means being able to be mechanically associated with the support structure (2) so as to form an overstructure with a configuration which can be modified, where required, in order to support directly or indirectly the products or services to be displayed or publicised. The fixing means (7) comprise at least one male part (13) which is mechanically constrained to a first modular profile (6) and at least one female part which is mechanically constrained to a second modular profile (6), said parts being able to be removably coupled together by means of fast-fit engaging means.
US08042782B2 Loudspeaker box wall holder
Loudspeaker wall holder and method of mounting a loudspeaker box. The loudspeaker wall holder includes a base mountable on a wall surface, an arm coupled to the base, and a holder comprising a clamping device. The holder is mounted on the arm and is structured and arranged to receive a portion of a loudspeaker box. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08042779B2 Article attachment system and device
The present disclosure is directed to a panel for secure display of articles. In one embodiment, a panel is formed of recyclable material and configured to display an article on a holder, the article having a receiving loop integrally formed thereon. The panel includes an internal tab coplanar with the panel and extending into an opening in the panel, the tab having a narrow section defining at least one hook portion extending from the tab, the hook portion abutting an interior edge of the panel, the hook portion cooperating with the interior edge of the panel to allow the loop to be received over the tab and to retain the loop in engagement with the narrow section.
US08042778B2 Flat panel display mounting device
A flat panel display mounting device for securing a flat panel display, such as an LCD or plasma television, to a support surface, such as a wall, is disclosed. The flat panel display mounting device comprises a plurality of members in the form of support panels pivotally connected together and a rotation control mechanism connected thereto so that the flat panel display mounted on the device can be rotated to a desired angle and the center of gravity of the flat panel display during rotation can be maintained as close to the support surface as possible, so as not to generate additional burden to the flat panel display mounting device.
US08042774B2 Control panel mount having one or more strain relief features
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a control panel mount having one or more strain relief features. The mount has a base and a tether. The tether has a first end and a second end. The first end of the tether is rotatably connected to the base. The second end of the tether is adapted to receive a cable tie.
US08042771B2 Method and apparatus for treating fuel to temporarily reduce its combustibility
A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating fuel to temporarily reduce its combustibility, and thereafter restore its combustibility. As used in an aircraft, the method comprises the following steps: (a) treating aircraft engine fuel to substantially reduce its combustibility in open air; (b) carrying the treated fuel in a fuel tank of an aircraft; (c) increasing the combustibility of a portion of the treated fuel, as needed by the aircraft engine; and (d) supplying the increased restored combustibility fuel to the aircraft engine. Using this method, the preponderance of the fuel on board the aircraft is maintained at low combustibility for safety.
US08042762B2 Vertical take-off tilt rotor aircraft
A vertical take-off aircraft having a main power plant at the top of the aircraft to provide lift and an additional power plant to force air to travel in a horizontal direction to counteract the rotational force exerted on the main body of the aircraft by the main power plant. The additional power plant is connected to the aircraft such that tilting of the main power plant relative to the main body of the aircraft is able to cause the additional power plant to move relative to the main body of the aircraft.
US08042757B2 Welding wire guide ring
A wire guiding device includes a base and a guide portion for streamlining the flow of coiled wire from a storage container. Side walls may be included to bridge the distance between the device and the storage container to prevent wire from rising upward around the outside of the wire guiding device. As the amount of wire in the bin decreases, the wire guiding device will float downward maintaining constant downward pressure on the coil of wire. Wire in the storage container will therefore be drawn out in a smooth manner limiting or substantially preventing tangles.
US08042755B2 Bar and groove pattern for a refiner plate and method for compression refining
A refiner plate for a mechanical refining system, the plate including: a refining surface including bars and grooves, wherein the bars have a leading edge defined by an interior angle of between 150 degrees to 175 degrees.
US08042754B2 Laboratory vibration grinding mill having inclined grinding bowls
A laboratory vibration grinding mill comprising a circular oscillating drive that operates in at least two dimensions, at least one support, and a respective elongated grinding bowl held in each support. The grinding bowl has a filling of grinding bodies and is provided with frontal grinding bowl bases. The support for a grinding bowl is configured such that a longitudinal axis of the grinding bowl forms an angle of less than 90° with a plane of movement of the circular oscillating drive such that due to movement paths of the grinding bodies in the grinding bowl caused by the inclined position of the grinding bowl relative to the plane of movement of the circular oscillating drive, the frontal grinding bowl bases are incorporated into a size-reduction process as abutment and grinding surfaces.
US08042750B2 Release agent spray device for a casting machine
1. Release agent spray device for a casting machine.2.1. The invention relates to a release agent spray device for a casting machine, having one or more spray nozzles (1) and discharge means for the controlled discharge of release agent from the respective spray nozzle.2.2. According to the invention, the discharge means comprise at least one dosing unit (3) which is assigned to at least one spray nozzle (1) and which defines, in advance, a release agent quantity to be discharged by the at least one associated spray nozzle in an impending spray burst and which provides said release agent quantity, separated from a release agent supply, for discharge in the impending spray burst.2.3. Use for example for metal pressure-die-casting machines.
US08042746B2 Vehicular air conditioner
When there arises a need to change an air conditioner capability, a vehicular air conditioner capable of easily meeting this need is achieved. Also, even if some of a plurality of air conditioner units break down, a vehicular air conditioner capable of properly air conditioning a vehicular space using other air conditioner units, is achieved.This vehicular air conditioner includes a controller 20 for calculating a total heat supply amount, based on a target temperature and an actual room temperature; at least one heater 5 and/or at least one cooler 6; a controller 20 that sets generated heat amounts of the heater 5 and/or the cooler 6 of each of the air conditioner units 30, based on a calculated total heat supply amount and the number of used air conditioner units 30; and a drive controller that controls operations of the heater 5 and/or the cooler 6, based on the generated heat amounts that have been set.
US08042743B2 IC card comprising a main device and an additional device
The IC Card includes a main device having a microprocessor and a memory unit, and an I/O contact pad for a connection between the main device and a read write device, also referred to as a main interconnection. The IC card also includes additional device connectable to the main device via a secondary interconnection including the I/O contact pad, and a switch control for selectively switching between the main interconnection, for a transmission of data between the read write device and the main device, and the secondary interconnection, for a transmission of data between the main device and the additional device.
US08042741B2 Synthetic barcode system and method
A synthetic barcode module detects the presence of a barcode reader and emits light pulses that emulate light reflected from a scanned barcode. Decoded output from a conventional barcode optical scanner that receives the light pulses will be the same as the decoded output generated by scanning the emulated barcode. One or more light pipes may be utilized to facilitate receipt and transmission of an incident scanning beam to an optical sensor/emitter. A sensor/emitter, which may be an LED, may sense input light and emit light pulses to emulate a scanned barcode. A microcontroller governs sensing and emitting. The module may be programmable to emulate various barcodes.
US08042732B2 Self service coin redemption card printer-dispenser
A method of transferring funds to a personalized portable storage medium using a kiosk, includes the acts of receiving funds comprising a batch of loose mixed coins in a coin receiving area of the kiosk, processing the coins in a coin processing module, determining a total value of the funds using a controller, displaying the total value of the funds to a user of the kiosk, and permitting the user to select a desired graphic from amongst a plurality of available graphic selections using via a user input device. The method also includes the acts of printing, using a printing device, the user-selected graphic on a portable storage medium print area, the portable storage medium comprising a storage medium bearing data to which a value relating to the total value is associated and dispensing the portable storage medium bearing the user-selected graphic to the user, the portable storage medium having a first value relating to the total value.
US08042730B2 Food menu having electronic labels
A food menu having electronic labels is disclosed. The food menu comprises at least one ordering page and at least one electronic label. Each ordering page has at least one product data. The electronic label is installed on the ordering page, and each electronic label includes an IC data, a first sensing unit, a second sensing unit and a fixed pad. The IC data is corresponding to the product data. The fixed pad is provided for fixing the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit, and enabling the first sensing unit to rotate. When the customer rotates the first sensing unit till the first sensing section of the first sensing unit corresponds to the second sensing section of the second sensing unit, the electronic label is triggered to generate a sensing signal for transmitting the IC data of the product so as to select the product data corresponding thereto.
US08042720B2 Device for affixing of tubular medical accessory to a body passage
A device for affixing a tubular medical accessory to a wall of a body passage is disclosed. The said device comprises a handle portion, a barrel portion and a working head portion, said barrel portion is fitted with a pushing rod displaceable along the barrel portion upon actuating the handle portion. The working head portion is fitted with a plurality of wings and levers and said wings are preloaded with a plurality of staples. Upon initial displacement of the pushing rod in a distal direction the wings are swiveled towards the medical accessory such that they abut it and stretch it together with the body passage in a radial direction. Upon still further displacement of the pushing rod the levers are swiveled and cause the staples to exit from the wings such that the staples pierce the accessory and the wall of the body passage and affix the accessory to the body passage.
US08042718B2 Fuel cell actuation mechanism for combustion-powered tool
A combustion nailer includes a tool housing, a combustion source disposed at least partially in the housing and including a valve sleeve reciprocating relative to a cylinder head along a tool axis between a rest position and a pre-firing position, a fuel cell chamber in the housing in operational proximity to the combustion source and dimensioned for accommodating a fuel cell, at least one pivot point associated with the fuel cell chamber transverse to the tool axis for facilitating movement of the fuel cell between a non-activated position and an activated position, and at least one actuator pivotable about the pivot point and engaging the valve sleeve at a point closer to the tool axis than to the fuel cell chamber such that movement of the valve sleeve from the rest position to the pre-firing position causes movement of the fuel cell from the non-activated position to the activated position.
US08042713B2 Aerosol systems and methods for dispensing texture material
An aerosol texturing system for applying a layer of texture material on an uncoated portion of a substrate substantially to match a coated portion of the substrate. The aerosol texturing system comprises an aerosol assembly, texture material, and bi-phase propellant material. The texture material comprises a base portion and a particulate portion, where the particulate portion is made of at least one of urethane foam and melamine foam. The propellant material acts on the texture material to force the texture material out of the aerosol assembly onto the uncoated portion of the substrate such that the layer of texture material on the uncoated portion of the substrate substantially matches the portion of the substrate coated with stucco material.
US08042710B2 Squeeze foamer
The invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing a foam, comprising a manually compressible container (2) for storing a liquid and air, which container comprises an opening (3), a rigid housing to be fitted in or on the opening, the housing comprising an air passage (11) and a liquid passage (9) and a valve body (6) which, in a rest position, covers a mouth of the liquid passage and a mouth of the air passage in a sealing manner (4a, 4c) and which, during dispensing, opens the mouth of the liquid passage and the mouth of the air passage in order to allow mixing of air and liquid to take place in the dispensing passage (13). The invention is characterized in that the housing comprises a first housing part (4) and a second housing part (20), the first and the second housing parts being mountable in several position with respect to each other, the ratio between the amounts of liquid and air to be dispensed upon compressing the container being dependent on the position in which the first and second housing parts are mounted with respect to each other.
US08042708B2 Dispenser and refrigerator including the same
A dispenser for a refrigerator is provided that increases a usable space of a storage compartment of the refrigerator. The dispenser includes a chute which receives contents from an inside of the refrigerator and discharges the contents to an outside through an opening provided on an end of the chute. A cover selectively opens or shuts the opening. A first unit causes the cover to slide relative to the opening so as to open or shut the opening.
US08042706B2 Profile for panels and method for its fastening
A profile (2) comprises a rounded upper portion (6) and a lower portion (7) and is suitable for being fastened onto an edge (3) of a panel (4a) by means of fastening means (5). The lower portion (7) comprises a first wall (7a) suitable for mating with the panel (4a) and a second wall (7b) joining said first wall (7a) to said upper portion (6), thus defining a chamber (8) that is comprised between the first wall (7a) and the second wall (7b) and is suitable to enclose one end (10) of said fastening means (5). Thus, the profile accomplishes an anti-catching function. The present invention also relates to a method for fastening said profile (2) town edge (3) of a panel (4a).
US08042686B2 Merchandise storage container with two pull out holders
A merchandise storage container having a sleeve and a pair of pull out merchandise holders that are both stored in the same sleeve but may be pulled out to extended positions from opposite sides of the sleeve. The sleeve is configured to allow the two holders to be pulled out to their extended positions simultaneously. The sleeve is also configured to allow the holders to be pushed back to their retracted positioned simultaneously without interfering with one another. The sleeve is configured to prevent the holders from jamming during the operation of the container.
US08042674B2 Clutch assembly with a leg spring
A clutch device is described comprising a first clutch element, a second clutch element that is disposed in a coaxial manner in relation to the first clutch element, a first engagement means, a second engagement provided for engaging with the first engagement in a positively interlocking manner for transmitting a torque between the first clutch element and the second clutch element, and a spring biasing the first engagement element and the second engagement element in a circumferential direction against each other. The spring comprises a leg spring with a ring part and two legs, wherein the ring part is disposed in a substantially coaxial relation to the first and second clutch parts and the legs extend in a radially outward direction.
US08042670B2 Selectable one-way clutch with radial integrated forward/reverse rockers
A selectable one-way clutch assembly (SOWC) includes a first race, a second race, a plurality of rockers, and a selector ring. The first race and the second race each surround the first axis. Each of the rockers selectively hold torque in a rotational direction to establish a clutch operating mode. The selector ring defines a plurality of windows and is configured to rotates about the first axis to align at least one of the windows to establish one of the plurality of different clutch operating modes. The SOWC is engaged by rotating the selector ring about the first axis to align at least one of windows in a predetermined manner. Alignment allows at least one of the rockers to engage the second race in a radial direction to hold torque in at least one rotational direction.
US08042669B2 Rocker-type selectable one-way clutch with neutral position
A SOWC for use with a vehicle transmission is provided. The clutch includes outer and inner elements, also referred to as races, with the latter oriented concentrically within the former about an axis of rotation. A selection mechanism, which may be annular plates operatively connected with the side of the races and with one another, is selectively rotatable with respect to the inner and outer elements between different positions. Pivotable rocker elements are positioned between the races and are movable along cammed slots of the annular plates when the annular plates are rotated to establish a forward, a reverse, and a neutral operating mode corresponding with the different positions of the annular plates. In some embodiments, in the neutral operating mode, none of the rocker elements are in contact with the inner race.
US08042660B2 Device for braking the movement of a door, drawer or similar movable member
A rotary damper comprises a casing fixable to a structure and which comprises a wall which surrounds a chamber filled with a viscous fluid and has an inner surface facing the chamber. A cover is mounted and welded on a shoulder surface of the wall of the casing in such a way as to close the chamber in a sealed manner. A rotor which is mounted rotatably on the casing and comprises a disc portion, adapted to rotate within the chamber, and has a shaft portion extending axially from the disc portion and emerging through the cover so as to be operationally associable with a movable member. The cover has peripherally a collar-like protuberance, extending along the entire perimeter of the cover and coupled to the inner surface of the wall of the casing in such a way as to oppose the infiltration of the viscous fluid between the collar-like protuberance and the inner surface of the wall.
US08042659B1 Active force generation/isolation system employing Magneto Rheological Fluid (MRF)
A system for reducing vibrations in a rotating system uses a variable viscosity medium that is redistributed in a housing connected to the rotating system. Specifically, the medium is responsive to a control signal that is generated as a function of rotational speed of the rotational system. The control signal activates a triggering device that promotes a change in viscosity of the medium such that it is distributed within the housing in a manner that reduces vibratory loads.
US08042653B2 Adjustable work platform
An adjustable work platform includes a first ladder section and a second ladder section, each of which is adjustable in height. The platform includes a deck assembly adjustable in length supported by the first and second ladder sections. The deck assembly includes a first deck half and a second deck half that slide relative to each other and fit together. A method for using an adjustable work platform including the steps of extending the height of a first ladder section and a second ladder section. There is the step of sliding a first deck half relative to a second-half that fit together of a deck assembly to a desired length. The deck assembly supported by the first and second ladder sections.
US08042646B2 Stethoscope cover
A cover for a stethoscope to prevent microbes from transferring from a patient to a stethoscope is disclosed. In one embodiment, a stethoscope cover comprises an antimicrobial barrier having a first and second surface, image forming material disposed on the antimicrobial barrier first surface, and an adhesive layer disposed on the second surface of the antimicrobial barrier to attach the antimicrobial layer to a stethoscope. In some embodiments, the image forming material is configured to depict an image of a product. In some embodiments, the image forming material is configured to depict an image of an animal or character to evoke feelings of happiness in a young patient.
US08042640B2 Vehicle-body structure for motorcycle
A vehicle-body structure for a motorcycle which is capable of suppressing the reduction of a contact load of a rear wheel by reducing a load applied to a vehicle-body frame at an application of an excessive load from the front of a vehicle. In a vehicle-body structure for a motorcycle including a head pipe supporting a front wheel in front of a vehicle-body frame, a guide member guides the front wheel obliquely rearwardly during an application of an excessive load to the front wheel. The guide member is disposed rearwardly of the front wheel and at the front portion of the vehicle-body frame.
US08042637B2 Vehicle-mounted battery cooling structure
A vehicle-mounted battery cooling structure of the present invention includes a battery a cooling fan for cooling the battery, a cooling-medium channel connecting the battery and the cooling fan, and mounting areas located at a front seat side and a rear seat side, respectively, in a vehicle compartment. The battery is disposed in one of the mounting areas, and the cooling fan is disposed in the other one of the mounting areas.
US08042632B2 Creep mode propulsion for stop-start hybrid vehicles
A control module including a traffic determination module that determines when a vehicle is in traffic and that selectively generates a traffic signal. The control module also having a creep enable module that generates a creep enable signal based on the traffic signal. The control module further including a power control module that selectively generates an internal combustion engine (ICE) disable signal. The power control module also commands a motor generator unit to produce power based on the creep enable signal as a driver reduces brake pedal pressure.
US08042624B2 System and method for improved depth measurement correction
A method for generating corrected geologic depth information is disclosed. The method includes: estimating a depth of each of a plurality of different locations along a length of a drillstring disposed in a borehole; measuring at least one environmental factor at each of the plurality of different locations and determining a deformation of the drillstring at each of the plurality of different locations from the measured environmental factor; and generating a non-linear model of the deformation along the length relative to a reference point. A system and computer program product for generating corrected geologic depth information is also disclosed.
US08042614B2 Fiber laden energized fluids and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to aqueous oilfield treatment fluids containing a gas component and fibers, wherein the fluids may further include a viscosifying agent and/or proppant. The fluids have good proppant suspension and transport properties as well as excellent gas phase stability. Use of fluids comprising an aqueous medium, a gas component, viscosifying agent, and fibers for hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation, cleanup operations, and gravel packing a wellbore, are also disclosed.
US08042609B2 Method and apparatus for improving vehicle fuel economy
The present invention provides an apparatus for improving the fuel economy of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a transmission having a transmission sump that contains transmission fluid, and a heat exchanger disposed within said sump and at least partially submerged in the transmission fluid. The apparatus also includes an engine having a plurality of engine coolant channels. An engine pump is operatively connected to the engine. The engine pump is configured to transfer engine coolant through the plurality of engine coolant channels and then through the heat exchanger. Heat from the engine coolant is transferred to the transmission fluid when the engine coolant passes through the heat exchanger. The heat transferred to the transmission fluid decreases transmission fluid viscosity such that transmission spin losses are reduced and fuel economy is improved. A corresponding method for improving the fuel economy of a vehicle is also provided.
US08042607B2 Conducting device including a corrugated fin for a heat exchanger
A conducting device, such as a corrugated fin, for a heat exchanger, has at least one surface with an increased microscopic roughness. A method increases the microscopic roughness of at least one surface of a conducting device such as a corrugated fin. A heat exchanger, such as an evaporator for an air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle, has tubes through which a medium flows and between which conducting devices are arranged, the conducting devices having a further medium, such as moist air, flowing around them.
US08042604B2 Temperature regulating member
A temperature regulating member capable of avoiding deterioration in heat dissipation efficiency of a heat-accumulating material, and deterioration in a buffer function thereof, due to ununiformity in heat distribution inside the heat-accumulating material. With the use of a churning flow occurring by disposing one piece of stirrer or plural stirrers inside the heat-accumulating material, and by causing a relative position of the stirrer, inside the heat-accumulating material, to be changed during transportation, it is possible to eliminate ununiformity in heat distribution inside the heat-accumulating material. The temperature regulating member has a feature in that a phenomenon of a peripheral part of the heat-accumulating material being first cooled to be subsequently solidified is avoided, thereby enabling the heat dissipation efficiency and the buffer function to be maintained.
US08042601B2 Side dam with insert
A side dam for use in a continuous twin roll caster system includes a body of refractory material having opposed outer surfaces with one outer surface adapted to contact molten metal and casting rolls in a continuous twin roll caster system and retain molten metal, and an opposite outer surface having fastening portions of refractory material adapted to attach the side dam to a side dam holder to hold the side dam in place during casting; an aperture in the outer surface of the body positioned adjacent a nip of the continuous twin roll caster system and adapted to receive a side dam insert; and a side dam insert of a second refractory material harder than the refractory material of the body having a first surface adapted to contact molten metal and form with the outer surface of the body the outer surface of the side dam.
US08042595B2 Awning case assembly
The invention relates to an awning case assembly including a housing for a winding tube for winding the canvas, a load bar fixed to a front edge of the canvas, and foldable arms hingedly connected to the housing and to the load bar. The load bar including a second longitudinal coupling configuration which can be coupled to a second longitudinal coupling edge of the housing to form a fulcrum line about which the load bar can rotate under the action of a pulling force exerted by the canvas until a first longitudinal coupling configuration of the load bar is coupled to a first longitudinal coupling edge of the housing, the first longitudinal coupling configuration being disposed at a distance from the second coupling configuration and adjacent to a canvas fixing configuration.
US08042591B2 Paper beading apparatus for wallboard corner beads
A paper beading apparatus, includes a hopper having a body defining a chamber for holding a quantity of joint compound, and having an open upper end, an upper rim, and a lower end; a lid pivotally secured to the body for movement between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position, the lid engages the open upper rim, the lid having a releasably sealable air port; and a base configured for and accommodating the hopper lower end, for receiving joint compound, and for applying the joint compound to a corner paper bead.
US08042590B2 Protection mechanism for dry film laminator
A protection mechanism for dry film laminator includes a lower member, and an upper member located above the lower member. The upper member moves downwardly/upwardly relative to the lower member. The upper member has a plurality of through holes defined therein and extending therethrough. An air supply device communicates with the through holes for feeding air into the through holes. A film guide device is disposed above the upper member and includes a supply spool and a take-up spool disposed thereon. A continuous release film movably connected to the film guide device. The continuous release film which is wound on the supply spool is routed from the supply spool to flatly pass between the upper member and the lower member, and is sequentially collected by the take-up spool.
US08042588B2 Multi time and index heat press
A press is described having an upper platen. The press includes a support arm adapted to selectively move the upper platen between an open position, a partially open position and a closed position with respect to a lower platen. An electromagnet is disposed proximate the support arm and configured to selectively secure the upper platen in the closed position. Another electromagnet, which may be disposed proximate a base member, is configured selectively to secure the upper platen in a partially open position.
US08042587B2 Tape cutting device and tape feeder changing carriage
A tape cutting device that cuts off an empty tape, which is discharged from a tape feeder after supplying components to a component mounting apparatus by pitch-feeding a tape containing the components, by opening and closing two cutting blades actuated by a pneumatic actuator driven by a supply of a pressurized air from a pneumatic pressure source controlled by a control valve, comprising: a blade closing mechanism which closes said two cutting blades when the supply of the pressurized air from the pneumatic pressure source to the pneumatic actuator is stopped.
US08042580B2 Apparatus and method for capturing and containing sulphur hexafluoride gas leakage
An apparatus and method are provided for capturing and containing SF6 gas leakage from a gas enclosure. The apparatus includes a portage flexible gas storage container of material which is substantially impermeable to SF6 gas. The container includes a gas inlet which is adapted to be coupled in a sealable manner to a surface surrounding a leakage source thereby capturing the SF6 gas in the container. The container inflates under pressure from the captured gas in order to accommodate up to a predetermined capacity of SF6 gas. The apparatus can be adapted to act as a container for transporting SF6 gas from a gas source to an enclosure.
US08042567B2 Gas meter of gas canister valve
A gas meter is mounted between vertical and horizontal branch tubes of a gas canister valve and has an indication pointer driven by a magnetic block that is movable inside the valve to indicate a residual quantity of gas inside the canister. The gas meter includes a casing that is magnetically non-conductive and forms at a top edge of a back thereof an inverted slope surface, an upper clamp extending from opposite sides of the inverted slope surface in an upward direction to clamp the vertical branch tube, and a side clamp engageable with the horizontal branch tube. The back of the meter casing is recessed at a location opposite to and interfering with an outer top edge of an enclosure for the magnetic block to form a fitting groove that corresponds to the top edge of the enclosure.
US08042566B2 Ex-situ component recovery
Disclosed herein are devices, methods and systems for ex-situ component recovery. The ex-situ recovery can be performed by desorbing or outgassing components of a processing system in a recovery system, rather than in the processing system itself. The recovery system can include a docking station and/or a heated vacuum chamber. The heated vacuum chamber can be used to desorb or outgas components that will be located inside the processing system, while the docking station can be used to desorb or outgas components that will be connected to the processing system. The processing system components can be placed under pressure by the recovery system to desorb or outgas contaminants and remove virtual leaks. The recovery system pressure can include a vacuum roughing pump, a turbomolecular pump, and/or a cryogenic pump to apply a pressure necessary to desorb or outgas the components.
US08042564B2 Fuel cutoff valve
A fuel cutoff valve is furnished with a casing defining a valve chamber, and a float mechanism housed to be able to rise and fall in the valve chamber. The casing is furnished with a closure plate situated in the space above the valve chamber and in a facing arrangement with a connecting passage. The closure plate is furnished with a vent hole that has been formed so as to divert the passage from the connecting passage to a second pipe line, and with a barrier wall that is situated in opposition to a first pipe line and that has been formed so as to divert the passage from the first pipe line to the second pipe line.
US08042560B2 Substrate processing apparatus
A substrate processing apparatus includes a rotary cup disposed outside a substrate holding member to surround a substrate held on the substrate holding member and to rotate along with the substrate holding member, and having a wall portion that receives a process liquid thrown off from the substrate being rotated. Further, this apparatus includes an exhaust and drain cup disposed outside the rotary cup to surround the rotary cup and the substrate holding member, and including an annular liquid receptacle that receives the process liquid thrown off from the substrate being rotated and an inner annular space formed on an inward side from the annular liquid receptacle. An exhaust mechanism is connected to the inner annular space of the exhaust and drain cup.
US08042558B2 High-pressure water cleaning system
A high-pressure water cleaning system includes a cleaning main body, a support frame member having a length which is larger than a width of an object, the support frame member being supported at extended end portions thereof at both sides by bearing units and eccentric rotational shafts such that the support frame member is eccentrically rotatable, the eccentric rotatable shafts being configured to rotate to cause the support frame member to perform rotational motion, a plurality of high-pressure water ejecting nozzles which are arranged on the surface of the support frame member to be equally spaced apart from each other and are directed to face the object, and a drive device configured to cause the eccentric rotational shafts to rotate. The high-pressure water ejecting nozzles are supplied with the high-pressure water and eject the high-pressure water to the object being moved at the constant speed while performing the rotational motion.
US08042557B2 Multitank conveyor-type dishwasher and an operating method for it
Multitank conveyor-type dishwasher (2) for washing items (10) to be washed, comprising at least two wash zones (6, 8) which are arranged in succession in the conveying direction (4); a liquid forward-flow apparatus (26) between in each case two successive wash zones (6, 8) for transferring liquid between these wash zones (6, 8) in a forward-flow direction (28) counter to the conveying direction (4); characterized in that a liquid recirculation apparatus (60) is provided for transferring sprayed liquid of a front wash zone (8), as seen in the conveying direction (4), into a rear wash zone (6) which is arranged downstream of the front wash zone (8), as seen in the conveying direction (4), counter to the forward-flow direction (28).
US08042556B2 Oral hygiene apparatuses
A dental hygiene apparatus for enabling a flossing of teeth. The apparatus can include a dispensing member and an accumulating member. The dispensing and accumulating members can each comprise a ring with an aperture for receiving a finger. Activating switches can selectively enable a dispensing of dental floss from the dispensing member and a retraction of dental floss relative to the accumulating member. A bobbin within the accumulating member can be rotated by a coil spring that can be rewound. The apertures in the rings can be varied. A floss retaining member can alternatively be retained by a ring, an opposed hook arrangement, or any other arrangement coupled to the dispensing member. Dental floss can be dispensed from a distal end of a post. The dental hygiene apparatus can further include as part of a unified system a finger shield arrangement, which can comprise first and second tubular members.
US08042546B2 Nasal assembly
A nasal assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having an integrally formed first connector portion. A nozzle assembly includes a gusset or base portion and a pair of nozzles. At least one inlet conduit is structured to deliver breathable gas into the frame and nozzle assembly for breathing by the patient. A pair of second connector portions are removably and rotatably connected to respective first connector portions of the frame and are in communication with respective inlet conduits, e.g., directly or via angle connectors. A headgear assembly is removably connected to the pair of second connector portions and/or the angle connectors so as to maintain the frame and the nozzle assembly in a desired adjusted position on the patient's face.
US08042540B2 Patient oxygen delivery mask
A mask for delivery of oxygen to a patient is disclosed, including a body having a peripheral portion, a central portion, and bridge portions extending between the central portion and the peripheral portion. The central portion has an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface to be oriented towards the patient's face when the mask is in position, the inner surface of the central portion being provided with a wall circumscribing a base. The wall and base circumscribe a centrally positioned oxygen delivery aperture or oxygen diffuser to direct the flow of oxygen generally towards the patient's nose and mouth when the mask is in use. An element associated with the aperture and the central portion releasably receives and secures in position an oxygen delivery tube.
US08042538B2 Nasal mask assembly
A mask system is provided to fit pre-adult patients, or patients having facial features that are very small or child-like, e.g., patients having dimensions in the lower 5%-10% of the population. For example, the headgear and/or cushion are dimensioned to accommodate this range of patients.
US08042522B2 Fuel rail vent system
A fuel rail vent system for evacuating air from a fuel rail includes a first fuel reservoir and a first fuel line extending between the first fuel reservoir and the fuel rail. A fuel pump is configured in fluid communication with the first fuel reservoir to pump liquid fuel from the first fuel reservoir to the fuel rail through the first fuel line. A second fuel line separate from the first fuel line extends between the first fuel reservoir and the fuel rail. A primer system is configured for fluid communication with the first fuel reservoir to pump liquid fuel from the first fuel reservoir to the fuel rail through the second fuel line. A second fuel reservoir separate from the first fuel reservoir is configured for fluid communication with the fuel rail downstream of the fuel rail to receive any excess liquid fuel and/or fuel vapor upstream therefrom.
US08042520B2 Engine startup fuel pressure control systems and methods
A fuel pressure control system for a vehicle comprises a pressure regulator module and a pressure increasing module. The pressure regulator module regulates a fuel pressure supplied to an engine to a first predetermined pressure during an engine running period. The pressure increasing module selectively increases the fuel pressure to a second predetermined pressure during the engine running period when a counter value is one of greater than and less than a predetermined final value. The second predetermined pressure is greater than the first predetermined pressure, and the counter value is set to the predetermined final value after the engine is started for a first time after being assembled.
US08042519B2 Common rail fuel system with integrated diverter
An internal combustion engine includes a fuel system having a first fuel rail with an integrated diverter portion coupled to a high-pressure pump and separated from a common rail portion by a flow restriction device. The first fuel rail includes a pressure sensor coupled to the diverter portion at one end and a control valve coupled to the common rail portion at the other end of the same fuel rail. In V-engine embodiments, a second fuel rail communicates with the integrated diverter portion of the first fuel rail. In one embodiment, components including the first and second fuel rails, a pressure sensor, and a pressure or volume control valve are externally mounted outside the engine valve cover.
US08042518B2 Multi-component transient fuel compensation
A method adjusts fuel injection to account for fuel puddling in the engine intake. The fuel is adjusted based on the ethanol content of the fuel in the puddle, and the make-up of the various fuel components in the puddle. In this way, it is possible to better account for the effects of these parameters on puddle evaporation.
US08042517B2 Fuel property detector for internal combustion engine
A fuel property detector for an internal combustion engine determines a cetane number with high accuracy even when a high-cetane fuel is used.The fuel property detector includes a cylinder pressure detection device; ignition delay time calculating device for calculating ignition delay time in accordance with the cylinder pressure; a high-cetane fuel judgment device for judging based on the ignition delay time whether the cetane number of an employed fuel is high; an ignition delay time extension device that increases the ignition delay time by correcting a control parameter for the internal combustion engine; an ignition delay time recalculation device for recalculating the ignition delay time based on cylinder pressure after the ignition delay time is increased by the ignition delay time extension device; and a cetane number calculation device for calculating the cetane number of the employed fuel based on the recalculated ignition delay time.
US08042511B2 Method and device for priming a fuel metering device
In a method for priming a fuel metering device for an internal combustion engine with a piston arranged in a combustion chamber and driving a crankshaft that is rotatably supported in a crankcase, with a fuel pump that conveys fuel from a fuel tank to a metering valve that opens into a metering chamber at alternating operating pressure, and with a control unit that calculates and controls timing for the metering valve for metering a fuel quantity corresponding to a load situation of the internal combustion engine, the metering valve is kept open, independent of the calculated timing for the metering valve, for a priming duration in a starting phase of the internal combustion engine when the alternating operating pressure of the metering chamber at the mouth of the metering valve is negative and when a fuel system pressure in the fuel metering device is below a target pressure.
US08042508B2 Camshaft support structure for internal combustion engine
A cylinder head of an internal combustion engine is fitted with rocker arms. Camshafts are disposed so that the rocker arms and cams will be brought into contact with each other. The camshafts are rotatably supported by lower bearings, which supports the camshafts from below, and by upper bearings integrated with a head cover. The head cover is provided with visual observation windows that make it possible to see valve system parts through the head cover. A visual observation window covers for covering the visual observation windows are fixed to the head cover.
US08042500B2 Valve train for internal combustion engine
A valve train of an internal combustion engine is provided with a plurality of camshaft supports arranged on a support member of the engine, and a camshaft is supported on the camshaft supports. The camshaft has valve operating cams thereon for opening and closing engine valves of engine. A torque reducing mechanism is provided to apply a counter torque to the camshaft to suppress torque fluctuation of the camshaft caused by reaction forces applied to the cams by the engine valves. The torque reducing mechanism has a rotating member that rotates together with the camshaft, and a counterforce applying member for applying a counterforce to the rotating member to apply a counter torque to the camshaft. The counterforce applying member is supported on a connecting member connecting adjacent ones of the camshaft supports. The torque reducing mechanism suppresses torque fluctuation of the camshaft, suppresses increase in the weight of the camshaft, and suppresses increase in the size of the engine, ensuring a necessary supporting rigidity for supporting a counterforce applying mechanism included in the torque reducing mechanism.
US08042499B2 Coolant circulation circuit for engine
A coolant circulation circuit for an engine includes a first coolant line through which coolant heated in an engine and circulated in a radiator passes, a second coolant line through which coolant heated in the engine and circulated in additional elements passes, a bypass coolant line through which coolant heated in the engine passes, a coolant outlet where the coolant flows into the engine, a first chamber where the coolant having passed through the bypass coolant line flows in, a second chamber where the coolant having passed through the second coolant line flows in, a partition formed between the first chamber and the second chamber and a thermostat selectively blocking the first chamber from the second chamber.
US08042488B2 Electrostatic coating apparatus
A current sensor for detecting a full return current is connected to a high voltage generator. A leakage current detector including current sensors for detecting a leakage current is provided at the surface of the cover of a coating machine, air passages and a paint passage. Based on current detection values obtained by the current sensors, a high voltage control unit controls a power supply voltage control unit and a high voltage to be output from the high voltage generator can be raised or dropped. By employing the current detection values, the high voltage control unit can identify and provide notification of a location where the leakage current is increased and the insulation is deteriorated, and can request an operator to perform maintenance for the pertinent location. Further, upon occurrence of the insulation being deteriorated, the high voltage control unit can stop the high voltage supply.
US08042487B2 System for coating stents
A system for coating implantable medical devices, such as stents, and a method of coating stents using the system is also disclosed. The system includes a barrier or barriers for isolating an area of the stent on which a composition for coating a stent is applied. Two coating compositions can be applied simultaneously to a stent by separate nozzles on different sides of a barrier. Cross-contamination of the compositions is prevented by the barrier.
US08042484B2 Appliance and method for surface treatment of a board shaped material and floorboard
A device for coating surface portions of a board material with a liquid material. The device includes a wheel which transfers the coating material and compressed air which positions the coating material. A method for surface coating and a floorboard with a finished surface portion.
US08042481B2 Steering unit for small watercraft
A steering unit for a small watercraft, which can positively prevent jolting of a steering shaft relative to a bearing section for allowing smooth rotation of the steering shaft, and makes for improving the installing characteristic of the steering shaft and a collar into the bearing section. A steering shaft is rotatably supported with respect to a watercraft body through a cylindrical bearing section in which the steering shaft is inserted. A plurality of ribs are provided around an inner surface of the cylindrical bearing section and extend in an axial direction of the steering shaft. The steering shaft is rotatably supported by the bearing section with a collar, formed from an elastic material, being provided interposedly between the ribs and an outer surface of the steering shaft. The cylindrical bearing section includes at least three or more ribs are provided.
US08042471B2 Safe and arm device and explosive device incorporating same
A safe and arm (S&A) device is disclosed. The device utilizes a no-fire separation distance and a mechanical configuration of primary explosive/booster explosive and secondary explosive to establish a safe mode. While in safe mode, the device would allow no more than 1 in 1 million detonation transfers to occur from primary to secondary. In armed mode, the no-fire separation distance is taken away, allowing reliable detonation transfer. Two arming environments, which occur after launch and safe separation, are used to move the S&A device to armed mode. The first environment is the release event of the projectiles from their packed state in a dispenser. The second environment is a target sense mechanism. If either arming environment returns to its original state, the mechanism returns to safe mode. The S&A device will not allow inadvertent packing into the dispenser of explosive devices in the armed state.
US08042461B2 Partial control system for a pneumatic waste compressor
A pneumatic compressor for the compression of waste comprising a cylinder (1) with a piston (2), which via a piston rod (4) activates a compression plate (3), which is slidably mounted in a compression chamber (5) which has a top door (6) through which waste paper is thrown into the compressor, and a bottom door (7) through which a finished bale can be taken out, which compression takes place in a series of compression cycles, which each time is charged with a new portion of waste, until the waste offers a counter pressure corresponding to the pressure which the piston (2) can exert at a pressure of 8 bars. In 80-90% of the compression cycles necessary for the compression of a bale, the piston (2) reaches its bottom position in the cylinder, and each time the pressure reaches a pressure of 8 bars in the cylinder (1).
US08042451B2 Hydraulic control apparatus
A hydraulic control apparatus 1 includes a switch valve 11, an adjustment valve 12, and a valve control device 13. The adjustment valve 12 has a fluid chamber 15, a valve body 14, and a back pressure chamber 17. A restrictor is formed between the valve body 14 and a wall defining the fluid chamber 15 and connects the cylinder line 32 to the switch valve line 33. The opening degree of the restrictor changes in correspondence with movement of the valve body 14. When the switch valve 11 is located at a neutral position or a supply position, the valve control device 13 applies the fluid pressure in the cylinder line 32 to the back pressure chamber 17. When the switch valve 11 is located at a drainage position, the valve control device 13 applies a pilot pressure lower than the fluid pressure in the cylinder line 32 to the back pressure chamber 17.
US08042446B2 Pressure-resistant vessel and blasting facility having the same
An object of the present invention is to improve durability of a pressure vessel for blasting an article to be treated such as hazardous substance or explosive therein. The pressure vessel 10, means for achieving the object, has an external vessel 31 and an internal vessel 32 installed in the external vessel 31. The external vessel 31 has a strength for retaining pressure caused by blasting the article. The internal vessel 32 receives fragments of the treated article 100 to protect the external vessel 31 against the fragments. The internal vessel 32 preferably covers almost entire internal surface of the external vessel 31.
US08042433B2 Replacement structure of ratchet wrench
A ratchet wrench includes a parts replacement structure that ensures effort-saved and smooth operation and prevents parts from getting lost. The wrench has a handle having an end forming a head portion that rotatably receives therein a driving collar. A lid plate is fixed to the head portion to retain a pawl member that engages and controls the rotation of the driving collar. The pawl member includes a pusher pad positioned on and movable along a top of the lid plate. A retention block is set at the side of the pawl member opposite to the driving collar to apply a biasing force to the pawl member through a push bar. In this arrangement, the push bar will not get lost when the pawl member disengages from and thus releases the driving collar for replacement.
US08042425B2 Multi-axis robot for high-speed applications
A multi-axis robot for high-speed applications comprises a first and a second guide rail arranged substantially parallel to each other for defining a first axis of motion. A crossbar having a first end and a second end is moveably supported on the guide rails. A carriage is moveably coupled to the crossbar for moving along a second axis of motion. A first drive system having first and second drives and a first belt running along a first H-shaped belt path provides for a movement of the carriage along the first and second axis of motion. Second and third belts extend at least partially along the crossbar and the guide rails. The second and third belts run along different second and third belt paths, with one of the second and third belts entering the crossbar with a right-hand turn and leaving the crossbar with a left-hand turn, and the other one of the second and third belts entering the crossbar with a left-hand turn and leaving the crossbar with a right-hand turn.
US08042423B2 Backlash-compensating gear train for horological mechanism
At least some of the uniformly distributed teeth of one of the antibacklash partner toothed wheel units, of this backlash-compensating gear train for a horological mechanism, have elastic parts (DR) that are flexible in the direction of the respective thicknesses of the teeth. Some of the teeth are capable of temporarily transmitting a torque considerably greater than the normal drive torque. Two adjacent teeth (D1, D2) capable of temporarily transmitting a torque considerably greater than the normal drive torque each comprise one flank (D1a, D2a) integral with a more rigid part (D12), and one flank (D1b, D2b) integral with a more flexible part (D1R, D2R), the two more rigid parts (D12) of the two teeth (D1, D2) being adjacent.
US08042411B2 Small line size vortex flowmeter
A vortex flowmeter and method includes a conduit for process fluid flow and a shedder disposed within the central bore of the conduit. First and second diaphragms are mounted in inner wall portions of the conduit, on opposite sides of the shedder. A sensor is disposed externally to the conduit, and is coupled to each diaphragm with fill tubes. The diaphragms respond to pressure variations generated by vortex shedding, and transmit pulse trains through the fill tubes to a sensor. The pulse trains, which are substantially out of phase with one another, are effectively synchronized with one another by reversing phase of one pulse train.
US08042403B2 Apparatus to control a linearly decreasing force
An apparatus provides a linearly decreasing force. The apparatus includes a plurality of links, which can be referred to as swing, seat, fixed, and input/output links. A spring is coupled to each of the seat links, and a rod is positioned in proximity to each spring and through each of the seat links. A load applied to the input/output link will experience a linearly decreasing resistance.
US08042394B2 High sensitivity microelectromechanical sensor with rotary driving motion
A driving mass of an integrated microelectromechanical structure is moved with a rotary motion about an axis of rotation, and a sensing mass is connected to the driving mass via elastic supporting elements so as to perform a detection movement in the presence of an external stress. The driving mass is anchored to an anchorage arranged along the axis of rotation by elastic anchorage elements. An opening is provided within the driving mass and the sensing mass is arranged within the opening. The elastic supporting and anchorage elements render the sensing mass fixed to the driving mass in the rotary motion, and substantially decoupled from the driving mass in the detection movement. The detection movement is a rotation about an axis lying in a plane. The sensing mass has, in plan view, a non-rectangular shape; in particular, the sensing mass has a radial geometry and, in plan view, the overall shape of a radial annulus sector.
US08042389B2 Adjustable hydrometer
A hydrometer, hydrometer kit, and method of measuring the salinity/density or the salinity/specific gravity of a liquid are provided. The hydrometer may include a box structure comprising side walls and a bottom. At least a portion of one of the side walls may be substantially transparent. A buoyant indicator member may be pivotably disposed about an axis within the box structure. The indicator member may pivot about the axis when the box structure is filled with a liquid. A salinity/density scale or salinity/specific gravity scale may be disposed on a surface of the box structure or a dial member. At least one adhesive member may be removably adhered to the indicator member by a user so that the hydrometer can be calibrated based on a reference solution having a predetermined salinity. The at least one adhesive member may increase or decrease the buoyancy of the indicator member. The kit may include the hydrometer and a container of the reference solution having a predetermined salinity.
US08042382B1 Device for measuring physical characteristics of a porous sample
Device for measuring physical characteristics of a porous sample by performing successive drainage and imbibition phases in the presence of a first electricity-conducting fluid and of a second fluid of lower density than the first fluid, by means of a centrifuge whose speed is successively increasing and decreasing. The sample saturated with the first fluid is placed in a vessel (13) fastened to the end of an arm (9) driven in rotation by a motor (10) and communicating, by means of a rotating electro-hydraulic connector (17), with a stationary measuring signal control and acquisition unit (E) including hydraulic fluid displacement means and an acquisition device connected to a capacitive sonde in the vessel, which delivers signals indicative of the position of the interface between the two fluids. The device can be applied for analyzing rocks taken from an underground reservoir for example.
US08042381B2 Knocking determination apparatus and knocking determination method for internal combustion engine
A knocking judgement method for an internal combustion engine, in which an engine ECU executes a program judging whether or not such ones of integrated values calculated by integrating the output of a knock sensor at every five degrees of a crank angle are larger than a tentative knock judgement value, in vibrations of a fourth frequency band containing the resonance frequency of the engine, tentatively judging that a knocking has occurred, in case the integrated value larger than the tentative knock judgement value is a predetermined number or more, and judging that no knocking has occurred, in case the integrated value larger than the tentative knock judgement value is not more than the predetermined number.
US08042375B2 Press die cushion controller
A die-cushion controlling device includes: a position-command-signal outputting section for outputting a position command signal of a die-cushion pad; a position detecting means for detecting a position of the die-cushion pad; a position comparing section for outputting a position deviation signal corresponding to a deviation between the target position value based on the position command signal and a position detection value based on a position detection signal; a position controlling section for outputting a position-speed command signal based on the position deviation signal; a speed controlling section for outputting a motor-current command signal based on the position-speed command signal from the position controlling section; a servo amplifier for generating a current corresponding to the motor-current command signal; and an output switching section that, based on a press signal output when a slide has reached a bottom dead center, switches the position detection signal from the position detection means to the position command signal from the position command signal outputting section.
US08042365B2 Compact security device for systems and peripherals
A security device includes a cable securing member defining a slot between an open first end and a closed second end. A channel is provided in the slot and a rib adjacent the channel protrudes into the slot. The open first end includes a tab receiver and a lock receiver. The tab receiver engages a tab attached to a chassis. A cable extending through the channel is not removable due to a lock inserted into the lock receiver and blocking the open first end.
US08042364B2 Washing machine with improved waterway system
The present invention has disclosed a washing machine with improved waterway system, said waterway system is comprising softening-electrolysis waterway, modifier-liquid waterway and ion-exchange-resin regeneration waterway, when this washing machine is at work, modifier-liquid combined with alkaline-electrolysis water could replace detergent for washing; meantime, said ion-exchange-resin regeneration waterway could greatly prolong the service life of softening-electrolysis system, and avoid the refluence of wastewater to cause pollution in the washing machine in prior art.
US08042362B2 “Kibol's module” plant for producing inorganic fibers of rocks
A plant for producing inorganic fibers from rocks includes a furnace for obtaining a melt connected to a feeder, working aperture and a warmed feeder with draw dies located below a working aperture. A transition chamber is installed on the feeder exit, the transition chamber intended for creation of a thin layer melt flow. An enclosure contains the working aperture. The transition chamber has a heater, a threshold installed at an entrance of the transition chamber and a plate rigidly fixed to an adjustable damper located over the threshold and adapted to move up and down together with the adjustable damper, with the plate surface being parallel to the bottom of the transition chamber. The plant is intended for obtaining the melt flow of a desired thickness and quality.
US08042353B2 Refrigerator door having a splash guide
A refrigerator door is provided. The refrigerator door has an outer case forming a shape of the refrigerator door, an inner case provided within the outer case to configure a backside of the refrigerator door wherein a space between the inner case and the outer case is charged with a foaming liquid, an ice making unit provided to one side of the inner case to make ice, a fixing unit provided to the space charged with the foaming liquid between the inner case and the outer case and fixing the ice making unit to the refrigerator door, and a dispenser provided to one side of the outer case to discharge the ice supplied by the ice making unit.
US08042351B2 Systems and methods for providing air conditioning to an electronic component in a satellite antenna installation
An air conditioning system provides air to an enclosure associated with a satellite antenna that houses an amplifier or other electronic component. The air conditioning system supplies conditioned air to the bottom of the enclosure and receives return air from the top of the enclosure for improved airflow. Various implementations may also provide redundancy through the use of common supply and return plenums, or other features. In some embodiments, the air conditioning system may be conveniently retrofit onto existing satellite antenna installations to provide improved efficiency and redundancy.
US08042348B2 Cooling system, control device, and control program
A cooling system is provided in which an integrated controller 10 controls the compressor for compressing a refrigerant and at least one constituent device which is a separate device from the compressor and that constitutes a refrigerant circulation circuit together with the compressor. The integrated controller 10 has a control data generation unit 16 that controls the compressor using a compressor sensor for detecting a first physical value, which is a physical value of the refrigerant at the time of normal operations, and an abnormality detection unit 13 for detecting an abnormality of the compressor sensor. The control data generation unit 16 controls the compressor using a constituent device sensor for detecting a second physical value that is a physical value having a close correlation with the first physical value in place of the compressor sensor when the abnormality was detected by the abnormality detection unit 13.
US08042347B2 Compressor inlet pressure estimation apparatus for refrigeration cycle system
A compressor inlet pressure estimation apparatus for a refrigeration cycle system is disclosed. An electronic control unit 14 uses Tefin_lag(N) as an actual corrected temperature Tefin_AD(N) during a period Tp1 included in the timing t1 to t2. During a period Tp2 included in the timing t1 to t2, Tefin_fwd(N) is used as the actual corrected temperature Tefin_AD(N). Thus, a highly accurate corrected temperature Tefin_AD(N) can be determined over the on period (t1 to t2) of a compressor 2. In addition, Tefin_fwd(N) is used as the actual corrected temperature Tefin_AD(N) during the off period (t2 to 3) of the compressor 2. As a result, a highly accurate corrected temperature Tefin_AD(N) can be determined over the whole period including the on and off periods of the compressor 2. In this way, a highly accurate estimated value Ps_es(N) of the refrigerant inlet pressure of the compressor 2 can be determined.
US08042344B2 Automatic ice making machine and operation method therefor
To restrict the deposition of stain on an ice making unit, and prevent damage to resin components or the like. The above problems are solved by the followings. Ice making water is supplied to the front surface of an ice making plate cooled by refrigerant supplied to an evaporation tube during an ice making cycle to produce ice blocks. During a deicing cycle, deicing water is supplied by opening a water feed valve WV to the rear surface of the ice making plate to be heated by hot gas supplied to the evaporation tube. When a water feed time has elapsed, the water feed valve WV is closed to temporarily stop deicing water supply. After the water feed time elapsed, a cycle, in which the water feed valve WV is opened as much as an intermittent water supply time every time an intermittent stopping time has elapsed to intermittently supply deicing water, is repeated until a deicing cycle completes.
US08042342B2 Engine assembly for aircraft comprising an engine as well as a device for locking said engine
An aircraft engine assembly including an engine and a mount device for the engine. The mount device can be positioned between a wing of the aircraft and the engine, and includes a rigid structure and a mechanism to mount the engine on the rigid structure, the mounting mechanism including a first attachment and a second attachment. The first attachment includes two side semi-attachments each fixed to a fan case of the engine, and the second attachment is fixed onto a forward part of a central case of the engine.
US08042338B2 Atmospheric temperature difference power generator
This invention consists of a process for utilizing the atmospheric temperature variation with height to produce useful energy. It is accomplished by the use of a lighter than air condensable fluid or mixture of fluids circulating between heat exchangers at different altitudes, with a two phase flow return.
US08042328B2 Exhaust gas purifier
The present invention provides an exhaust gas purifier capable of appropriately purifying harmful components discharged even from an internal combustion engine or a combustion instrument operated mainly in excess-air conditions. Particularly, the exhaust gas purifier is capable of appropriately removing nitrogen oxides, particulate matters including soot, etc. and in addition, capable of maintaining its purification capability without reduction. the exhaust gas purifier has, in the exhaust passage (2) of an internal combustion engine (1), a nitrogen oxide adsorbent (4) for temporarily adsorbing nitrogen oxides and desorbing the adsorbed nitrogen oxides in a temperature-increased environment or a reducing environment, an adsorbed substance desorbing means (3) being disposed on an exhaust gas upstream side of the nitrogen oxide adsorbent (4), the adsorbed substance desorbing means (3) heating the exhaust gas or air or converting the exhaust gas or air into a reducing atmosphere, a combustion apparatus (5) being disposed on an exhaust gas downstream side of the nitrogen oxide adsorbent (4), the combustion apparatus (4) including air supply means (15), fuel supply means (6), and ignition means (7); and a filter apparatus (40) being disposed on an exhaust gas downstream side of the combustion apparatus (5) to be able to capture a particulate substance contained in the exhaust gas.
US08042327B2 Exhaust purification device of internal combustion engine
An engine with an exhaust passage in which a catalyst purifying NOx and an NOx adsorbent adsorbing NOx in an exhaust gas are arranged successively from the upstream side. After engine startup until the catalyst is activated, the NOx in the exhaust gas is adsorbed at the NOx adsorbent. NOx adsorbed at the NOx adsorbent is removed by dissolution by supplying a solvent from an injector. After the catalyst is activated, the solvent containing the NOx removed by dissolution is sprayed from an injector and the NOx contained in the sprayed solvent is purified by the catalyst.
US08042326B2 Intake air heater for assisting DPF regeneration
An apparatus and a method for enhancing diesel engine performance is provided. At low engine load and cold ambient temperatures, an intake air heater increases the engine load via an engine alternator, which in turn, enables the engine to burn more fuel by the process of combustion. The combusted fuel elevates exhaust gas temperatures, which thereby accommodates cold start, controls white smoke, and aids DPF regeneration.
US08042322B1 Single shaft driven multiple output vehicle
A vehicle comprising a frame with an electric power source secured to the frame. The vehicle further comprises an electric motor driven by the electric power source and secured to a deck and having at least a first side and a second side formed opposite the first side. The vehicle has a first shaft located within the electric motor housing and driven by the electric motor, the first shaft has a first end, which extends from the electric motor housing first side, and a second end, which extends from the electric motor housing second end. The vehicle further comprises a first output assembly driven by the first end of the first shaft and a second output assembly driven by the second end of the first shaft.
US08042319B2 Vacuum packaging system
A vacuum packaging system includes a vacuum room, a delivery apparatus, a discharge device, a second heating apparatus. The delivery apparatus transport the pre-packaged container into the vacuum room. The discharge device discharges a sealing material to seal an exhaust through hole of the pre-packaged container. The discharge device includes a vessel configured for containing sealing material, a transport pipeline, a first heating, and a controlling element. The first heating apparatus softens the sealing material into viscous liquid. The second heating apparatus is mounted on the inner wall of the vacuum room between the second hatch and the transport pipeline.
US08042307B2 Head curtains for dock shelters or dock seals
Head curtains for dock shelters or dock seals are disclosed. An example head curtain assembly for a vehicle loading dock includes a retractable curtain stiffened by a resiliently compressible foam panel that is more flexible about a horizontal axis than about a vertical axis. The difference in directional flexibility can be created by sewing the foam panel to a pliable cover using a series of parallel horizontal thread lines. The thread lines create in the foam a series of compressed indentations that run horizontally across the curtain so that the curtain tends to bend more easily along those lines. The relative stiffness in the horizontal direction enables the curtain to exert an appreciable sealing force against two lateral dock seal members, and the vertical flexibility makes the curtain easy to retract to accommodate vehicles of various heights. Touch-and-hold fasteners make many of the individual components of the head curtain readily replaceable.
US08042302B2 Window pane for a motor vehicle
A window pane for a motor vehicle including plastic for closing a pane opening of a motor vehicle and which is moveable with a window lifter out of the pane opening includes a pane element enclosed by an outer edge and a device provided on the pane element for coupling the window pane to an adjusting mechanism of the window lifter. For coupling the window pane to the adjusting mechanism of the window lifter, a guide region is formed on a surface of the pane element via which the window pane is engageable with a guide device of the adjusting mechanism, displaceable in a direction of adjustment. The guide region forms at least one stop, which counteracts a pivoting of the window pane about an axis extending perpendicular to a plane of the window pane.
US08042301B2 Flap drive
A drive train for a pivotable flap of a motor vehicle includes a holding device which can hold the flap in at least one open position, a first element which can be driven by a drive motor, and a second element connected to the pivotable flap to pivot the flap in response to movement of the first element. When the second element is moved along a path of motion relative to the first element counter to a specific spring force, a sensor generates a signal indicating relative motion of the elements, and a control device releases the holding device in response to the signal, whereby the flap can be moved manually by applying a force counter to the spring force.
US08042295B2 Underwater gun comprising a barrel adapter including a barrel seal
An apparatus and method for sealing the barrel of an underwater gun between firings is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an adapter that attaches to the barrel and includes a physical adaptation that is capable of sealing the barrel. In some embodiments, the physical adaptation is actuated to un-seal the barrel via combustion gases from firing of a round.
US08042276B2 Folding knife with thumb release opening
A folding knife with thumb release opening includes a knife blade, a first liner plate, a second liner plate, a first handle plate and a second handle plate. The knife blade includes a cutting edge and a point formed on a first end. A second end of the knife blade is pivotally retained by a first end of first and second liner plates. A push button is retained in the knife blade. A liner lock is formed in the second liner plate. A lock pin is pressed into an end of the liner lock and a lock hole is formed in the second end of the knife blade to receive the lock pin. The first and second handle plates cover the first and second liner plates. The push button may be replaced with a thumb disc. A second embodiment includes spring assisted opening and a third embodiment includes automatic opening.
US08042275B2 Scoop and blade guard for hedge trimmer
A blade guard for a hedge trimmer that can cut trimmings from a hedge includes a cutting arm member with a first set of the cutting blades that extends laterally from the cutting arm member. The blade guard generally includes a first housing member and a second housing member movable between an open condition and a closed condition. A connecting member on the blade guard member that is operable to releasably couple to the cutting arm member. The first housing member and the second housing member in the open condition establish an opening between the first housing member and the second housing member. The blade guard in the open condition is operable to catch the trimmings in the opening between the first housing member and the second housing member. The blade guard in the closed condition is operable to cover the first set of the cutting blades.
US08042272B2 Method of aligning a thrust bearing
A thrust bearing assembly includes an upper thrust bearing and a lower thrust bearing for an engine assembly of a vehicle and which, are preferably, identically configured. The thrust bearings each include an arcuate bearing shell with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface, and each includes a pair of axially spaced flanges extending radially outwardly of the bearing shells. The flanges may be formed as one piece with the bearing shell, and one flange is thicker than the other flange. The thicker flanges are load bearing and preferably contoured, whereas the thinner flanges are not. The bearings are installed with the thick flange of each bearing matched radially opposite the thin flange of the companion bearing to minimize fatigue and failure normally attributed to repeated seating and unseating of bearing assemblies having flanges of equal thickness caused by changing bending loads imparted by a shaft.
US08042269B2 Method of manufacturing a component for droplet deposition apparatus
A nozzle plate component manufactured by forming a layer of photoresist on a substrate and selectively exposing and removing material to define an array of distinct bodies. Nickel is then electroformed around the bodies to form a plate, with nozzles subsequently formed by ablation through the photoresist. The process can essentially be repeated to form a guard structure around each nozzle.
US08042261B2 Method for fabricating embedded thin film resistors of printed circuit board
A method for fabricating the embedded thin film resistors of a printed circuit board is provided. The embedded thin film resistors are formed using a resistor layer built in the printed circuit board. In comparison with conventional discrete resistors, embedded thin film resistors contribute to a smaller printed circuit board as the space for installing conventional resistors is saved, and better signal transmission speed and quality as the parasitic capacitive reactance effect caused by two contact ends of the conventional resistors is also avoided. The method for fabricating the embedded thin film resistors provided by the invention can be conducted using the process and equipment for conventional printed circuit boards and thereby saving the investment on new types of equipment. The method can be applied in the mass production of printed circuit boards and thereby reduce the manufacturing cost significantly.
US08042260B2 Methods of forming inductors on integrated circuits
The claimed invention pertains to methods of forming one or more inductors on a semiconductor substrate. In one embodiment, a method of forming an array of inductor core elements on a semiconductor substrate that includes integrated circuits is disclosed. A first set of spaced apart metallic core elements are formed over the substrate. Isolation sidewalls are then formed on side surfaces of the core elements. Afterward, a second set of metallic core elements are formed over the substrate. The first and second sets of core elements are substantially co-planar and interleaved such that only the isolation sidewalls separate adjacent core elements. Particular embodiments involve other processing operations, such as the selective electroplating of different types of metal to form core elements and/or the deposition and etching away of an isolation layer to form isolation sidewalls on the core elements.
US08042258B2 Method for producing superconducting acceleration cavity
A method for producing a superconducting acceleration cavity having a stabilized quality, by which production cost is reduced by reducing the number of welding points. A dumbbell-shaped dumbbell cell (3) is formed by forming a recessed iris portion (3b) around the central part of a cylindrical pipe made of a superconducting material, a cup-shaped half cell (2) is formed by enlarging one opening and reducing the other opening of the cylindrical pipe made of a superconducting material, a plurality of dumbbell cells (3) are coupled by welding, and the each half cell (2) is welded to the opposite ends of the plurality of dumbbell cell (3), thus producing a superconducting acceleration cavity (1).
US08042253B2 Method of manufacturing a golf club head, of the wood type, by assembling welding, and finish grinding the weld joints
A club head manufacture method has steps of: (a) providing a sole base, a crown cover and a striking face plate; (b) assembling a club head; (c) fore-welding the club head; (d) post-welding the club head; and (e) grinding an outer surface of the club head. When the club head is fabricated, the sole base and the crown cover are respectively mounted on the striking face plate and aligned precisely to save the fabricating time of the club head and increase fabricating accuracy. Therefore, the method can save manufacturing cost. Furthermore, it can increase the accuracy and constancy for the manufacturing processes.
US08042250B2 Method for subsequent reinforcement of injection-molded transport means
A method subsequently reinforces injection-molded transporters such as plastic pallets, which have support feet disposed on their underside, at least at the corners, and a groove for inserting a reinforcement profile between two support feet that stand diagonally opposite one another, and the two ends of the groove are formed by pockets shaped to correspond to the profile cross-section, disposed in the region of the support foot assigned to the groove end, in each instance. After completion of the pallet, the distance between the two pockets is increased via elastic deformation of the pallet. Afterwards, the reinforcement profile is laid into the groove, and one end of the profile is laid into one of the pockets. Thereafter, the deformation is canceled out and the pallet returns to the relaxed original state, and in this connection the other end of the reinforcement profile also dips into the corresponding pocket.
US08042227B2 Block and tackle window balance with bottom guide roller
Disclosed are apparatus for a block and tackle window balance to be incorporated in single and double hung window assemblies. In one embodiment the block and tackle window balance includes a roller secured within a bottom guide to increase range of travel of a window sash.
US08042226B2 Caster with weight transferring tab
The invention consists of a caster comprises a yoke having a weight transferring tab and a wheel with groove for receiving the tab. Preferably, the yoke and wheel are made out of plastic, and in some embodiments two different types of plastic. A tab and groove helps transfer the weight of the load on the castor away from the arms of the yoke and onto the wheel. In a preferred embodiment the plastic wheel is molded so as to include a shaft on either side that snap into receiving holes in the yoke, thus avoiding the need for separate axel and rivets.
US08042225B2 Grommet
The present invention relates to a grommet for sealing a conduit to be passed through an opening against said opening. The grommet comprises a sealing body defining an opening therethrough for receiving the conduit as well as at least one sealing collar radially surrounding said sealing body in an unfolded state. The grommet further comprises a retaining means, which is configured for fixing said sealing collar in a folded state.
US08042223B2 Air-powered rotary rake
The air-powered rotary rake is an attachment for a leaf blower or the like, providing the user with air-powered rotary blades to dislodge or agitate debris which, ordinarily, could not be moved easily with air blowing alone. The air-powered rotary rake includes a housing defining an open interior region and having opposed open front and rear ends. The rear end is adapted for releasable attachment to the leaf blower. An internal wall is mounted within a front portion of the housing and divides the housing into an upper passage and a lower passage. A spindle is rotatably mounted within the upper passage and a plurality of vanes are mounted on the spindle. When the pressurized air is diverted into the upper passage, the pressurized air impinges upon the vanes mounted on the spindle, causing the spindle to rotate and driving rotation of a plurality of blades also annularly mounted thereto.
US08042217B2 Toothbrush and method of making the same
A toothbrush that provides enhanced cleaning and oral care to a user. The toothbrush has a head with cleaning elements that create a contoured cleaning profile. The cleaning elements have different depths of insertion relative to a reference plane to define a contoured cleaning profile without post-fixing trimming of the cleaning elements. Accordingly, tapered bristles can be used to define a contoured cleaning profile. Alternatively, tapered bristles of different lengths can also be used to form a contoured cleaning profile.
US08042212B2 Manufacturing system for assembled shoe with shock-absorbing insert in the heel
The present invention relates to a manufacturing system of an assembled shoe or moccasin. The system incorporates a shock-absorbing insert inserted in a space obtained inside a false-heel. The false heal is formed by a special rigid frame that basically includes a horseshoe collar.
US08042205B2 Compact foundation unit kit and method of making same
A compact foundation unit kit and a method of making a foundation unit from the kit. The kit comprises at least three elongated, generally flat truss rails, four generally flat end caps and a plurality of generally flat cross slats, with the truss rails, end caps and cross slats oriented together with their longitudinal dimensions aligned in a generally parallel orientation and with their flat sides in contact. A binding maintains the truss rails, end caps and cross slats in that orientation. The method includes providing the kit, opening the kit and orienting the truss rails in a parallel, spaced position, then affixing one of the end caps to each end of the truss rails, inverting the partially formed foundation, and affixing the last two end caps to opposite ends of the truss rails, then finally affixing the cross slats to the truss rails in a spaced, parallel orientation. The foundation can then be finished in a conventional fashion.
US08042200B2 Wave generating apparatus
The wave-generating apparatus in accordance with the invention has a pool (11) having a deeper area (12) surrounding a substantially central area (13); a pool edge (15) bounding the pool; a body (16) having a wave-generating shaped surface (22) located within the pool adjacent the pool edge and moveable along the pool edge relative thereto to generate a wave (17) in the water in the pool, and impeller means (18) generating a current in the water in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the body.
US08042199B2 Swimming goggles
Swimming goggles are provided which have a frame unit, buckle units and a head strap assembled on the buckle units. The frame unit includes a left frame and a right frame respectively around a user's eyes, a connecting member detachably connecting the left frame and the right frame, and lenses assembled on the left frame and the right frame. First connecting portions are provided on sides of the left frame and the right frame. Each buckle unit includes at least a base, and a second connecting portion for engaging to or disengaging from the first connecting portion. The base defines directing holes therein for guiding the head strap. The connecting member, the first connecting portions and the second connecting portions are able to be assembled and disassembled such that the connecting member and the buckle units are assembled to or disassembled from the left frame and the right frame.
US08042196B1 Camouflage for hunter or soldier or the like
Camouflage apparel for a hunter or solder or the like comprising a cape or sheet composed of camouflage material. The cape may be separate or attached to a pouch or hood of camouflage material. The cape and hood may be separate or attached to a portion of a vest which extends across the back of the neck of the wearer thereof such that the cape is receivable in the hood for stowage and such that the cape may be removed from the hood to drape across the front of the wearer. The vest has a seat which is stowably securable to the rear of the vest by straps which are fastened by buckles which are manipulatable at locations in front of the vest.
US08046842B2 Methods, systems, signals and media for encouraging users of computer readable content to register
A method and system for encouraging users of computer readable content to register. The method involves embedding in the computer readable content, instruction codes operable to direct a processor circuit to automatically establish a connection to a server, when the content is in use by the processor circuit, to transmit registration information to the server and operable to control further use of the content by the processor circuit in response to a key received from the server.
US08046835B2 Distributed computer network security activity model SDI-SCAM
A distributed multi-agent system and method is implemented and employed across at least one intranet for purposes of real time collection, monitoring, aggregation, analysis and modeling of system and network operations, communications, internal and external accesses, code execution functions, network and network resource conditions as well as other assessable criteria within the implemented environment. Analytical models are constructed and dynamically updated from the data sources so as to be able to rapidly identify and characterize conditions within the environment (such as behaviors, events, and functions) that are typically characteristic with that of a normal state and those that are of an abnormal or potentially suspicious state. The model is further able to implement statistical flagging functions, provide analytical interfaces to system administrators and estimate likely conditions that characterize the state of the system and the potential threat. The model may further recommend (or alternatively implement autonomously or semi-autonomously) optimal remedial repair and recovery strategies as well as the most appropriate countermeasures to isolate or neutralize the threat and its effects.
US08046829B2 Method for dynamically and securely establishing a tunnel
A system and method is disclosed for dynamically and securely establishing a tunnel for a mobile device. In the preferred embodiments, the system and method operate to dynamically assign one or more tunnel endpoint addresses to a client which is not on the same IP-link as an authentication agent depending on an authentication result based on using an authentication protocol source port number in order to address communications.
US08046814B1 Systems and methods for formulating and delivering video having perishable information
A system and method for dynamically formulating and delivering a video program that includes perishable information is provided. The system includes a video server that creates a video program using one or more recent video segments in combination with other video segments. The recent video segments are typically generated in a studio, whereas the other video segments are obtained from a variety of sources, including databases and live feeds. An audio system stores pre-recorded audio and is used to create audio for certain video segments. The video server enables an organization to deliver more customized video programs to more users and to update those video programs more frequently without requiring additional studio time or resources.
US08046809B2 Multicast services control system and method
A multicast services control system is provided for Internet protocol television transport. The system includes a service distribution platform, at least one service concentration platform, and at least one set-top box. The service distribution platform has a multicast table. The service distribution platform is configured to receive channels from an Internet protocol video source and the multicast table is configured to include an entry for each of the channels. The at least one service concentration platform communicates with the service distribution platform for forwarding “leaves” and receiving “joins” with the service distribution platform. The at least one set-top box includes a receiving port and is configured to generate “leaves” and forward the “leaves” to one or more of the at least one service concentration platform wherein the “leaves” are snooped by portals and concentrators and wherein the set-top box is further configured to receive “joins” from one or more of the at least one service concentration platform. A method is also provided.
US08046801B2 Interactive television program guide with remote access
An interactive television program guide with remote access is provided. The interactive television program guide is implemented on interactive television program guide equipment. A remote program guide access device is connected to the interactive television program guide equipment by a remote access link to provide a user with remote access to program guide functions. An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc.
US08046798B1 Profiling and identification of television viewers
Profiling a television viewer by monitoring and processing, locally at a television viewing environment, the viewer's interactivity (e.g., via a remote control unit) with the television viewing environment. Generating one or more profiles for each viewer based on one or more of the multitude of interactions of each viewer and on, in general, the viewing habits and preferences of the viewer. Automatically and reliably, detecting or inferring at a particular time, which specific individual or individuals, are actually interacting with the TV in household comprising more than one individual. Such viewer identification and profile generation can be used to facilitate the delivery of targeted content, including targeted advertising.
US08046795B2 Method and system for directing the generation of a video media event in a generation system based on a media event protocol file such that the video media event remains visible at a predetermined location in a second web page while a user navigates from a first web page to the second web page which does not refer to the video media event
A system and method for controlling a media generation system where a media event may be selected via a stateless software module, the system receiving a media event protocol file corresponding to the selected media event. The media generation system generates the media event based on the received media event protocol file.
US08046793B2 Favorites program selection
The selection of favorites for a video presentation system.
US08046785B2 Objective lens actuator and a disc apparatus applying the same therein
An objective lens actuator comprises a lens holder for attaching an objective lens thereon, a piece of focusing coil, being wound along side surface of the lens holder around the objective lens, and three magnets, being disposed opposing to two surfaces each having a normal line perpendicular to both a focusing direction and a tracking direction, among four side surfaces of the lens holder, wherein the three magnets are aligned, continuously, along the tracking direction, differing a polarity thereof from one another, and width of the magnets on both outsides is wider than width of the magnet inside, or alternately, one magnet, being disposed opposing to two surfaces each having a normal line perpendicular to both a focusing direction and a tracking direction, among four side surfaces of the lens holder, wherein the magnet is magnetized into three poles along the tracking direction, and among the three poles, width of the poles on both outsides is wider than width of the pole inside.
US08046781B2 Optical disc drive
An optical disc drive suitable for reading a data in an optical disc is provided. The optical disc drive includes a housing, a tray suitable for carrying the optical disc, and a panel. The housing has a first opening, and the panel is disposed at the first opening. The tray is disposed in the housing. The tray has a blocking plate. The blocking plate is disposed on a front edge of the tray, and multiple protrusions are disposed on an upper edge of the blocking plate. Furthermore, the panel has a second opening, and the second opening has multiple notches corresponding to the protrusions. The tray is suitable for exiting out of the housing through the second opening, and the protrusions are suitable for passing through the notches.
US08046768B2 Apparatus and method for detecting resource consumption and preventing workload starvation
In an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus and method for detecting resource consumption and preventing workload starvation, are provided. The apparatus and method perform the acts including: receiving a query; determining if the query will be classified as a resource intense query, based on a number of passes by a cache call over a data blocks set during a time window, where the cache call is associated with the query; and if the query is classified as a resource intense query, then responding to prevent workload starvation.
US08046760B2 Lock contention pinpointing
One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of finding lock contention in an application with concurrent threads. Status data is retrieved by periodically sampling status of said threads. The periodically-sampled status data is accumulated, and the lock contention is statistically found from the accumulated status data. The status data may include location information that is usable to pinpoint the lock contention.
US08046752B2 Dynamic prefetching of hot data streams
A method and system for creating and injecting code into a running program that identifies a hot data stream, and prefetching data elements in the stream so they are available when needed by the processor. The injected code identifies the first few elements in a hot data stream (i.e. the prefix), and prefetches the balance of the elements in the stream (i.e., the suffix). Since the hot data stream identification code and prefetch code is injected at run time, pointer related time-dependencies inherent in earlier prefetch systems are eliminated. A global deterministic finite state machine (DFSM) is used to help create conceptual logic used to generate the code injected into the program for prefix detection.
US08046751B1 Structuring unstructured regions in a control flow graph
A control flow graph may be generated from a model. The control flow graph may be restructured by converting at least one unstructured region of a control flow graph into a structured region. The restructuring may include locating at least one block between two merge nodes in the control flow graph, moving the located block to a different section of the control flow graph, and creating the structured region by surrounding the moved code block with a test of a guard variable.
US08046749B1 Analysis of a sequence of data in object-oriented environments
A tool for analyzing a sequence of data in an object-oriented environment is disclosed. In an embodiment, the sequence of data may include time-indexed sequence of data (“time series data”). The tool may enable a user to generate a time series object for encapsulating the time series data in the object-oriented environment. The user may construct the time series object from data or mathematical expressions using a command line interface. The time series object may include a sequence of objects implementing APIs that supply an interface for analyzing the times series data in the time series object. The user may analyze the time series data encapsulated in the time series object using the APIs of the time series object.
US08046744B1 System and method for measuring latency in a continuous processing system
The present invention provides a system and method for measuring latency in a continuous processing system. The invention involves generating “tracer” messages that are specifically designed for measuring latency. A tracer message is configured to pass through and be outputted by each primitive in the tracer message's path regardless of the function of the primitive and without changing the state of the primitive. Tracer messages are not filtered by filter primitives or delayed by time-delay primitives. Tracer messages are detected and discarded within loops. These rules provide for predictable behavior of tracer messages, thereby making them reliable indicators of latency and liveness in the continuous processing system. A tracer message is inserted into the continuous processing system at a desired start point for measuring latency. At a desired end point for measuring latency, latency is measured by calculating the amount of time the tracer message took to travel from the start point to the end point.
US08046732B2 Distribution of data changes in pattern configurations
A method, computer program product, and system for distributing changes to an application are disclosed. A graphical application modeling tool is provided for displaying a model of a pattern of the application. The model has a plurality of elements, where each element is linked to another element via a port. Each port representing a class that contains information about the pattern qualities of that port as related to the element. A change that is applied to a first element of the plurality of elements of the model is propagated to a second element of the plurality of elements via linked ports associated with the first and second elements.
US08046728B2 Integrated circuit design method applied to a plurality of library cells and integrated circuit design system thereof
A first library cell and a second library cell each includes a plurality of metal layers, and a metal track direction of the odd metal layers of the first library cell is perpendicular to that of the odd metal layers of the second library cell. An integrated circuit design method applied to these library cells includes the steps of rotating the second library cell to cause the metal track direction of the odd metal layers of the second library cell to be parallel to that of the odd metal layers of the first library cell, and placing the first library cell and the second library cell in an identical integrated circuit design.
US08046722B2 Method for correcting a mask pattern, system for correcting a mask pattern, program, method for manufacturing a photomask and method for manufacturing a semiconductor device
A computer implemented method for correcting a mask pattern includes: predicting a displacement of a device pattern by using a mask pattern to form the device pattern and a variation of a process condition; determinating an optical proximity correction value so that the displacement falls within a displacement tolerance of the device pattern; and correcting the mask pattern using the optical proximity correction value.
US08046721B2 Unlocking a device by performing gestures on an unlock image
A device with a touch-sensitive display may be unlocked via gestures performed on the touch-sensitive display. The device is unlocked if contact with the display corresponds to a predefined gesture for unlocking the device. The device displays one or more unlock images with respect to which the predefined gesture is to be performed in order to unlock the device. The performance of the predefined gesture with respect to the unlock image may include moving the unlock image to a predefined location and/or moving the unlock image along a predefined path. The device may also display visual cues of the predefined gesture on the touch screen to remind a user of the gesture.
US08046718B2 System for extending the file system API
A computing system and computer readable medium storing computer instructions are disclosed, which when the computer instructions are executed, enables a computer system to manage data using a file name on a computer system having a graphical user interface and a file system storing files with a file hierarchy. The computer instructions comprise, in part, entering a command from an application to create a file; displaying the file hierarchy; allowing a user to select at least one folder; saving data in a first file having a file name in one selected folder; in each of the other selected folders, creating a shortcut file having the same file name and containing a pointer to the first file; and creating a hidden file in the folder containing the first file, the hidden file containing a list of pointers to the shortcut files.
US08046711B2 Virtual cubic display template for search engine
A graphic rendering of searchable fields of a database, which rendering simulates a geometric solid having a plurality of facets. Each facet, which has its own thematic identity, can accept search inquiries and display results. Virtual manipulation of the geometric solid will expose a succeeding facet to direct view, which succeeding facet may reflect both data uncovered from a prior search inquiry and also related data which was not directly requested. The facets enable the user to organize data according to the various thematic identities of basic facts. The geometric solid assists in enabling the user to intuitively grasp how best to retrieve and interrelate data from the database. Subsidiary geometric solids more limited in content than the original geometric solid may be generated and displayed.
US08046703B2 Monitoring and integration of an organization's planning processes
A planning monitor and control system is provided for use with an enterprise computing system. The system generates a user interface planning visual display that includes a list view area containing a list of planning projects predefined to be included in a list of planning projects of interest to a user. At least one of the listed planning projects includes an electronically linked electronic planning document that is created and maintained in an application software program module of the enterprise computing system that is separate from the planning monitor and control system. Planning information is generated in the linked planning document as part of the listed planning project to which the planning document is associated. The planning visual display also includes a planning project details view area in which non-final content from the linked planning document is displayed for the associated planning project included in the list view.
US08046702B2 Screen editing apparatus, screen editing method, and computer program product
An attribute storing unit stores a type attribute indicating a type of a selection component for defining how a selection component having a plurality of options is to be displayed and a display attribute indicating a display status of an operation component representing each of the options. A display attribute modifying unit modifies a value of the display attribute according to an operation from a user. When the display attribute of any of the options is changed, a type attribute modifying unit modifies the type attribute of the selection component having the option to a value according to number of the options whose display attributes are set to be displayed.
US08046701B2 Peer to peer gesture based modular presentation system
A peer-to-peer modular presentation system is disclosed for providing improved presentations. The system includes a plurality of displays. Each display is associated with an input device, processor and input/output port. The plurality of displays may include static or mobile wherein each display is aware of the displays immediately surrounding it or of the displays in a remote site during a teleconference. A propagation direction may be configured for at least two of the displays in the system. Propagation may be initiated for multiple displays by generating a gesture input at one display. The gesture input will cause content to be presented in the particular display, and initiate propagation of content along the configured direction in neighboring displays. Content may be fed to a particular display through a stack or other memory that is associated with the display.
US08046700B2 System for managing encounters in a virtual world environment
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for providing information for avoiding specific users of an immersive virtual environment. Generally, a primary user may specify other users to be avoided in a blacklist. The blacklisted users may be specified to be avoided at all times, or may be specified to be avoided in certain situations. In one embodiment, a user may be added to the blacklist during a specific situation, resulting in the characteristics of the situation being automatically stored in the blacklist. Subsequently, the blacklist may be used to determine the locations of the blacklisted users matching the current situation. The primary user may then avoid the locations having the greatest probability of encountering blacklisted users.
US08046699B2 Method and software for enabling N-way collaborative work over a network of computers
Method, software, and system for efficiently enabling n-way collaborative work using common software over a network of computers. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each participant in a collaborative session starts up a common software application, which includes a collaboration component. This collaboration component is used to establish a common session that includes all interested parties. The collaboration component replicates operations performed on any one instance of said application to all other instances participating in the same session, so the effect is as if all members of the session were sharing a single instance of the application on a single computer. In one aspect, the collaboration component also supports broadcast of audio and video over a computer network, to enable session participants to see and/or hear each other, and further includes other features that support collaborative work.
US08046697B2 System and method for customizing an interface related to accessing, manipulating and viewing internet and non-internet related information
A system and method are disclosed for accessing, generating, presenting and manipulating Internet and non-Internet related information, data and content, including information netcast over the Internet. The system is also capable of controlling operatively connected, privately networked devices. A number of graphical user interfaces are utilized to facilitate user access, manipulation and control of information, data and content and networked devices. Some of the graphical user interfaces are time and topic oriented, are customizable by the user, and allow for the manipulation of information, data, content and operatively connected networked devices from the graphical interfaces themselves. The system is preferably enhanced through the use of an intelligent, dynamically updated user profile that is fully integrated with the system.
US08046694B1 Multi-server control panel
Some embodiments of the invention provide a graphical user interface for receiving a server configuration (e.g., receiving a new configuration or a modification to an existing configuration). The graphical user interface (UI) includes several UI control elements for defining components of the server configuration. It also includes a display area for displaying graphical representations of the defined components of the server configuration. Examples of control elements in some embodiments include control elements for adding, deleting, and modifying servers. In some embodiments, at least one control element is displayed when a cursor control operation is performed on the UI. The cursor control operation (e.g., a right hand click operation) in some embodiments opens a display area that shows the control element. In some embodiments, at least two different components in the server configuration correspond to two different layers (e.g., a web server layer and a data storage layer) in the server configuration. The display area of some embodiments includes multiple tiers, where each tier is for displaying graphical representation of components in a particular layer of the server configuration. At least two tiers in some embodiments are displayed simultaneously in the display area.
US08046693B2 Obtaining user feedback on displayed items
User feedback regarding a displayed item, such as a web page, is obtained by providing a first and second transport-control elements, such as back buttons, that have the same effect for moving within or between displayable items but which have different associated semantic information. Upon activation of one of the transport-control elements, not only is the required movement effected, but data is output or stored indicative of the semantic information associated with the activated transport-control element. Thus, for example, the semantic information associated with one transport-control element can relate to a good user experience of the currently-displayed item whilst the semantic information associated with the other transport-control element can relate to a bad user experience of the displayed item. Related server arrangements and page and program code are also envisaged.
US08046692B2 User interface mapping modules to deployment targets
An interactive user interface for displaying mappings between modules of a distributed application and deployment targets in a distributed environment. The user interface represents module items, deployment target items, and correlation items that represent various mappings of module items to deployment target items. In some cases, the manner in which each of these items is displayed may be altered in response to user input. The correlation itself may also be potentially altered in response to user input. Multiple solutions may be displayed in which there are different mappings of modules to target solutions.
US08046691B2 Generalized interactive narratives
A multimedia system specifies a multimedia experience stream by a narrative definition that defines a narrative presentation having sub-narratives. Each sub-narrative may incorporate multiple streams of different types of media with each stream defining a “path” through content of that media type. The multimedia system directs the presentation of the sub-narratives by interfacing with presentation components for each media type through a custom interface component for that media type that implements a common application interface. When a user pauses a presentation, the user can manually navigate around the content of a stream from the current location at the time of the pause to another location. When the user resumes the presentation, the multimedia system automatically transitions from the navigated-to location to the current location at the time of the pause to resume the presentation from where it was paused.
US08046690B2 Display apparatus and control method thereof
A display apparatus which has a display unit includes: a communication unit which communicates with an external source supplying a image signal including a plurality of still images; an image processor which processes the image signal; and a controller which controls the image processor to perform a slide show function sequentially displaying the supplied still images on the display unit in every predetermined display cycle if the still images are supplied from the external source.
US08046688B2 System for and method of adjusting tempo to match audio events to video events or other audio events in a recorded signal
The system and method herein adjust tempo of an audio recording to match audio events to video events or other audio events in an audio-visual recording. The process of fitting an audio segment to a video or audio segment can include receiving a reference indicating a location in a recorded signal where the reference indicates a desired audio tempo change location in the recorded signal and providing a tempo for an audio recording to be at least partially included in the recorded signal. The tempo is provided to fit the audio recording to a section of the recorded signal marked by the reference.
US08046684B2 Method and apparatus for processing data, program, and storage medium on which a computer-readable program is stored
In an information processing apparatus including a printer driver, when outputting of data generated by executing an application is requested, an output mode selection is performed to select a first output mode in which to output the data generated by the application without data indicating an revise date/time and a second output mode in which to output the data generated by the application together with the data indicating the revise date/time of the data generated by the application. In accordance with the selection, the printer driver controls outputting of data to a printer in the first output mode in which the data generated by the application is output to the printer without the data indicating the revise date/time or in the second output mode in which the data generated by the application is output to the printer together with the data indicating the revise date/time. This allows the revise date/time to be easily reflected in a printed matter produced by the printer.
US08046681B2 Techniques for inducing high quality structural templates for electronic documents
Techniques are disclosed herein to automatically learn a template that describes a common structure present in documents in a training set. The structure of the template is compared to the structure of the documents (or at least a part of each document) in the training set, one-by-one, and generalized in response to differences between the template and the document to which the template is currently being compared. If the structure of any particular document is considered too dissimilar from the structure of the template, then the template is not modified. Various generalization operators are added to the template to generalize the template. One such generalization operator is an “OR”, which indicates that only one of “n” sub-trees below the “OR” operator in the template is allowed at the corresponding position in a document.
US08046678B2 Employing partial evaluation to provide a page
A web page is generated by applying a partial evaluation technique. In one embodiment, at design time, a page designer enables a dynamic version of a page specification program to be generated, such as by way of a page customization interface. This dynamic version can be executed during the design process, with page customization choices evaluated in a dynamic manner. The parts of the page specification that can be evaluated to static form at design time are identified, and the program is partially evaluated, with the identified parts transformed to static form. The remaining dynamic parts of the page specification program are executed at request time, resulting in a generation of the page to be provided for display over the network. In general, different parts of a page specification program may be selected for evaluation at different times, and there may be more than two phases of evaluation.
US08046675B2 Method of creating graph structure from time-series of attention data
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and computer program products for generating search results comprising web documents with associated expert information. One embodiment of a method for generating such search results includes receiving one or more search queries, selecting one of the one or more search queries, determining one or more categories of web documents responsive to the selected search query and crawling a web graph of linked web documents to identify one or more web documents tagged as within the one or more categories responsive to the selected search query. The method further includes generating a result set of the one or more web documents identified as within the one or more categories responsive to the selected search query, ranking the result set and generating a list of ranked search results responsive to the selected search.
US08046672B2 Method and system for delivering technology agnostic rich media content within an email, banner ad, and web page
The present invention plays rich media presentations included in an email, banner ad, and web page. Rich media presentations may be automatically played within an email, banner ad, and web page. When a video banner (Vbanner), video email (Vmail), or video page (Vpage) is included in a requested page, the requesting device receives the necessary rich media presentations, including a virtual player, presentation packages, and media packages, necessary to play the presentation. When the banner ad is downloaded, the rich media presentation begins to automatically play within the page on supported devices. Many options may be set controlling the operation of the Vbanner, Vmail and Vpage. A virtual player is created that includes code to play media files. A presentation package is created that sets the presentation attributes for the multimedia experience. A media package is created that instructs the virtual player what multimedia content to play.
US08046666B2 Combined DC restoration double detection and loops
A method of double detection in a perpendicular magnetic read channel is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating an intermediate signal by performing a first detection on an input signal of the perpendicular read channel, the first detection having a first error rate, (B) generating a statistics signal based on the intermediate signal, the statistics signal conveying noise statistics that depend on data in the input signal and (C) generating an output signal by performing a second detection on the input signal using the noise statistics to reduce a second error rate of the second detection compared with the first error rate, wherein the first detection is independent of the second detection.
US08046664B2 Information processing apparatus and program for controlling the same
An information processing apparatus is configured to be backed up by a battery so that information in a main memory of the apparatus can be retained when a power supply for the apparatus is stopped. The apparatus stores kernel information in a kernel information table at a time of an initial program loading so that the kernel information stored in the kernel information table can be delivered to a kernel for restarting a program. The program can be started by receiving the kernel information from the kernel information table without retrieving the program from a memory medium or re-generating the kernel information. The apparatus with an operating system that has a relocation function for use in a vehicle can thus have a reduced system startup time.
US08046663B2 Semiconductor memory device and method for driving the same
A semiconductor memory device includes: a first bank and a second bank; one or more first data input/output pads disposed at one side of the first bank and used in access to data of the first bank; one or more second data input/output pads disposed at one side of the second bank and used in access to data of the second bank; a first cyclic redundancy code (CRC) generation circuit for generating a first CRC using a plurality of data output from the first bank and outputting the generated first CRC through the first data input/output pads; and a second CRC generation circuit for generating a second CRC using a plurality of data output from the second bank and outputting the generated second CRC through the second data input/output pads.
US08046660B2 System and method for correcting errors in non-volatile memory using product codes
A product code encoder for non-volatile (NV) memory includes a first encoder that encodes data in codewords in a first dimension that is stored in the NV memory. The product code encoder also includes a second encoder that encodes data in codewords in a second dimension that is stored in the NV memory. A product code codeword is based on the codewords in the first dimension and the codewords in the second dimension.
US08046659B1 Erasure forecasting and error-correction strategies
A system including a forecasting module, a decoder module, and an error detecting module. The forecasting module is configured to forecast a number of erasures in an input signal, where the erasures include information about errors in the input signal due to a burst error. The decoder module is configured to decode codewords received in the input signal based on the erasures in response to the number of the erasures being less than or equal to a predetermined threshold. The decoder module is configured to not decode the codewords based on the erasures in response to the number of the erasures being greater than the predetermined threshold. The error detecting module is configured to (i) detect the burst error and (ii) decode the codewords in response to the decoder module not decoding the codewords due to the number of the erasures being greater than the predetermined threshold.
US08046658B2 Method and device for decoding blocks encoded with an LDPC code
A method is for decoding a succession of blocks of data encoded with an LDPC code. The method includes storing the blocks temporarily and successively in an input memory before decoding the blocks successively in an iterative manner, the input memory having a memory size for storage of at least two blocks, and defining a current indication representative of a threshold number of iterations for decoding a current block. The method includes decoding the current block until a decoding criterion is satisfied or so long as a number of iterations performed for decoding the current block has not reached the current indication while at least one of a first subsequent block and a part of a second subsequent block are stored in the input memory, and updating the current indication for decoding the first subsequent block as a function of the number of iterations performed for decoding the current block.
US08046643B2 Transport subsystem for an MBIST chain architecture
An apparatus including a controller configured to present one or more commands and receive one or more responses, a plurality of transport circuits configured to receive one of the commands, present the responses, and generate one or more control signals, and a plurality of memory-controlling circuits, each coupled to a respective one of the plurality of transport circuits and configured to generate one or more memory access signals in response to the one or more control signals, receive one or more memory output signals from a respective memory in response to the one or more memory access signals, and generate the responses in response to the one or more memory output signals. Each respective memory may be independently sized. The controller generally provides a common testing routine for each respective memory that may be adjusted for the size of each respective memory by the memory-controlling circuits.
US08046642B2 TCAM BIST with redundancy
A method of providing redundancy in a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM), the method including detecting a defective entry in building block in a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM), configuring a failover logic to redirect a software query toward a spare building block and away from the building block with the defective entry, and avoiding in using the building block with the defective entry.
US08046641B2 Managing paging I/O errors during hypervisor page fault processing
In response to a hypervisor page fault for memory that is not resident in a shared memory pool, an I/O paging request is sent to an external storage paging space. In response to a paging service partition encountering an I/O paging error, a paging failure indication is sent to the hypervisor. A simulated machine check interrupt instruction is sent from the hypervisor to the shared memory partition and a machine check handler obtains control. The machine check handler performs data analysis utilizing an error log in an attempt to isolate the I/O paging error to a process or a set of processes in the shared memory partition. The process or set of processes associated with the I/O paging error, or the shared memory partition itself, may be terminated. Finally, the shared memory partition may clear or initialize the page associated with the I/O paging error.
US08046627B2 Server failover control method and apparatus and computer system group
Computer systems forming the computer system group each have a plurality of servers, a plurality of I/O devices, a plurality of servers, and one or more I/O switches coupled to the plurality of I/O devices, and it is possible to change the combination of the servers and I/O devices in each of the computer systems. If a fault has occurred in one of the current servers, firstly, it is judged whether or not there exists a spare server capable of taking over processing in a computer system including the server which has generated the fault. If the judgment result is negative, then a server switching process is carried out by searching another computer system capable of constructing a particular combination corresponding to the combination of the faulty server and the I/O devices allocated thereto.
US08046621B2 Method and system for generation of signals up to extremely high frequencies using a delay block
Aspects of a method and system for generation of signals up to extremely high frequency using a delay block are provided. In this regard, a first signal may be delayed, via at least a portion of a plurality of delay elements and via a variable capacitance, to generate a second signal that is 90° out of phase relative to the first signal. Additionally, the first signal and second signal may be mixed to generate a third signal, wherein a frequency of the third signal is twice a frequency of said first signal. The portion of the delay elements utilized for delaying the signal may be controlled via one or more switching elements. In this regard, one of the plurality of delay elements may be selected to output the second signal. Moreover, the portion of the delay elements utilized for delaying the signal may be programmably controlled.
US08046613B2 Power control system
A power mode designating unit of a main system outputs an operation mode designating signal to a sub system. Upon shifting from the normal operation mode to the power-saving mode, a control unit of the sub system outputs a power-saving mode shift enable signal indicating that shifting to the power-saving mode is possible to a power control unit of the sub system. When the operation mode designating signal designates the power-saving mode and the power-saving mode shift enable signal indicates that shifting to the power-saving mode is possible, the power control unit supplies a power-saving mode voltage to the control unit.
US08046603B2 Network real-time electricity monitoring system
A network real-time electricity monitoring system has at least one power line communicating and AC power monitoring device, a power line network device and a monitoring computer. The power line communicating and AC power monitoring device is connected to a power line of a corresponding target device to retrieve and transform statuses of an AC power in the power line into network packets and sends the network packets out through the power line. The power line network device is connected to the power line to retrieve the network packets and sends the network packets to a local monitoring computer or a remote monitoring computer based on Internet protocol address of the monitoring computer installed in the power line network device.
US08046600B2 Collaborative power sharing between computing devices
A plurality of power budgets are sent to a corresponding plurality of power consumers by a power management point, wherein a total power budget managed by the power management point includes a sum of the plurality of power budgets and an available power budget not assigned to the plurality of power consumers. An additional power request having a power increase amount is received from a first power consumer of the plurality of power consumers. The additional power request is approved when the power increase amount does not exceed the available power budget. The available power budget is decreased by the power increase amount. An approval of the additional power request is sent to the first power consumer.
US08046596B2 Reset-tolerant authentication device
An authentication device comprises a processor having a reset input, a trigger source coupled to the reset input of the processor, and interface circuitry for outputting codes generated by the processor. The trigger source may comprise, for example, a trigger button having an associated switch that when actuated supplies a reset to the reset input. The processor is configured to analyze a given reset applied to the reset input to determine if the reset is an inadvertent reset or a reset generated by the trigger source. The processor generates a code responsive to the reset if the reset is determined to be a reset generated by the trigger source. The code may be supplied to a host device which communicates the code to an authentication server for authentication.
US08046595B2 Method of controlling operating clock frequency of hard disk drive, recording medium, and hard disk drive
A method and apparatus to control an operating clock frequency of a hard disk drive. The method includes analyzing a command workload, and changing the operating clock frequency of the hard disk drive based on an analysis result. Alternatively, the method includes measuring a time taken to receive a predetermined number of write/read commands and controlling the operating clock frequency of the hard disk drive based on a result of a comparison of the measured time with at least one reference value. An operating clock frequency control block included in the hard disk drive executes the method.
US08046586B1 Method and system for determining the compliance of encrypted and non-encrypted display outputs
A method and system are implemented for verifying connection status information associated with a specific display attachment location. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method, which includes the steps of receiving a first signature representative of a first set of connection states tracked by a graphics subsystem associated with the display attachment location, authenticating whether the integrity of a content path including the display attachment location is maintained based on the first signature, and deciding whether to continue sending the content to the display attachment location so that requirements associated with protecting the content are satisfied.
US08046585B2 Verifying authenticity of an attribute value signature
A method and apparatus for verifying authenticity of a digital signature for an attribute value. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a message including an attribute value of an attribute from a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) repository entry and a digital signature, and verifying that the digital signature authenticates the attribute value.
US08046584B2 Message authentication device
Method for checking the signature of a message. The message, signature, and a certificate are sent by a signer having a public key to a recipient having a message storage device. The certificate is checked by a protected device connected to the message storage device and a checking result data element is sent for checking to a display device connected to the protected device. When the certificate is verified, a reduction of the message is calculated in the protected device and the message is recopied onto the display device. The signature is decrypted using the public key in the protected device, and the decrypted signature is compared with the reduction carried out. According to the comparison, a message is sent from the protected device to the display device indicating whether the signature conforms or does not conform to the message or to the public key of the signer put forward.
US08046581B2 Method and apparatus for secure immediate wireless access in a telecommunications network
A wireless telephone and messaging system provides Secure Immediate Wireless Access (SIWA) to wireless telephones onto existing wireless networks. The SIWA protocol uses existing wireless network messaging to exchange information between wireless devices and a network server, referred to herein as an Intelligent Service Manager (ISM). The ISM acts as a gateway between wireless devices and wireless service provider, and provides the wireless devices with an immediate limited or unlimited access to the wireless network. The ISM can also deny access to the wireless network from unauthorized wireless devices.
US08046577B2 Secure IP access protocol framework and supporting network architecture
A protocol framework for a Secure IP Access (SIA) method, and supporting components deployed on IP hosts and IP networks. Using this method, an IP host can establish a secure data channel within an IP network over an insecure shared link while requesting IP address and networking configuration parameters from the IP network. A system administrator can implement strong access control against various attacks that an edge IP network may have to face, such as a denial-of-service attack that exhausts assignable IP addresses. This is a lightweight, scalable, and backward-compatible solution that can improve security performance for public and corporate LANs having open access such as wireless access points and Ethernet jacks.
US08046576B2 Offloading the processing of a network protocol stack
A computer system is partitioned during a pre-boot phase of the computer system between a first partition and a second partition, wherein the first partition to include a first processing unit and the second partition to include a second processing unit. An Input/Output (I/O) operating system is booted on the first partition. A general purpose operating system is booted on the second partition. Network transactions are issued by the general purpose operating system to be performed by the I/O operating system. The network transactions are performed by the I/O operating system.
US08046571B1 System-on-a-chip (SoC) security using one-time programmable memories
Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer programs comprise: a processor; a test interface that is in communication with the processor only when the test interface is enabled; a first one-time-programmable (OTP) memory; and a non-volatile memory to store boot code for the processor, wherein when the processor is booted, the boot code causes the processor to test the first OTP memory; wherein the boot code causes the processor to enable the test interface when the first OTP memory has not been programmed; and wherein the boot code causes the processor to disable the test interface when the first OTP memory has been programmed.
US08046566B2 Method to reduce power consumption of a register file with multi SMT support
A method for reducing the power consumption of a register file of a microprocessor supporting simultaneous multithreading (SMT) is disclosed. Mapping logic and associated table entries monitor a total number of processing threads currently executing in the processor and signal control logic to disable specific register file entries not required for currently executing or pending instruction threads or register file entries not meeting a minimum access threshold using a least recently used algorithm (LRU). The register file utilization is controlled such that a register file address range selected for deactivation is not assigned for pending or future instruction threads. One or more power saving techniques are then applied to disabled register files to reduce overall power dissipation in the system.
US08046563B1 Virtual architectures in a parallel processing environment
An integrated circuit includes a plurality of processor core. Processing instructions in the integrated circuit includes: managing a plurality of sets of processor cores, each set including one or more processor cores assigned to a function associated with executing instructions; and reconfiguring the number of processor cores assigned to at least one of the sets during execution based on characteristics associated with executing the instructions.
US08046559B2 Memory rank burst scheduling
A method, device, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes grouping multiple memory requests into multiple of memory rank queues. Each rank queue contains the memory requests that target addresses within the corresponding memory rank. The method also schedules a minimum burst number of memory requests within one of the memory rank queues to be serviced when the burst number has been reached in the one of the plurality of memory rank queues. Finally, if a memory request exceeds an aging threshold, then that memory request will be serviced.
US08046558B2 File system having predictable real-time performance
A file system that permits predictable accesses to file data stored on devices that may have a variable access latency dependent on the physical location of the file on the physical storage device. A variety of features that guarantee timely, real-time response to I/O file system requests that specify deadlines or other alternative required quality-of-service parameters. The file system addresses needs to accommodate the file systems of storage devices such as disks that have an access time dependant on the physical location of the data within the storage device. A two-phase, deadline-driven scheduler considers the impact of disk seek time on overall response times. Non real-time file operations may be preempted. Files may be preallocated to help avoid access delay caused by non-contiguity. Disk buffers may also be preallocated to improve real-time file system performance.
US08046534B2 Managing snapshots in storage systems
Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for managing snapshots in storage systems. One method includes logically linking a plurality of snapshots to a logical disk in a storage network; and splitting the snapshots from the logical disk to form a snapshot tree that includes the snapshots split from the logical disk.
US08046533B2 System and method for sector remapping
Disclosed herein is an improved sector remapping method that maps logical sectors into physical sectors in storage disks such as SATA (Serial ATA) drives without reducing either storage capacity or I/O performance efficiency. Under this sector remapping method, logical sectors of data can be written into the physical sectors of a storage device through control frames having padded data or information associated with the padded data, as well as data frames having real data to be stored. With the padded data to be added to the real data, the frames provide multiple physical sectors to be transmitted into the storage device in a single write operation. The sector remapping method can be implemented in a storage bridge coupled to a storage device such as SATA drives.
US08046528B2 Data writing method for flash memory, and flash memory controller and storage device thereof
A data writing method for a block of a multi level cell NAND flash memory including upper page addresses and lower page addresses is provided, wherein a writing speed at the lower page addresses is higher than that at the upper page addresses. The data writing method includes receiving a writing command and determining whether an address to be written with new data in the writing command is the upper page address of the block. The method also includes copying old data previously recorded on the lower page addresses of the block as an old data backup when the address to be written in the writing command is the upper page address of the block and then writing the new data to the address to be written. Thus, old data may be protected while writing data to the upper page address of the multi level cell NAND flash memory.
US08046525B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device with advanced multi-page program operation
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device for an efficient program of multilevel data includes a memory cell array having a plurality of banks and a cache block corresponding to each of the plurality of banks. The cache block has a predetermined data storage capacity. A page buffer is included which corresponds to each of the plurality of banks. A programming circuit programs all of the plurality of banks except a last of said banks with page data. The page data is loaded through each page buffer and programmed into each cache block such that when page data for the last bank is loaded into the page buffer, the loaded page data and the page data programmed into the respective cache blocks are programmed into respective corresponding banks. Accordingly, the time taken in programming can be reduced without increasing a unit of program in a multilevel flash memory, thereby improving performance in a multilevel program of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device.
US08046516B2 Cache coherent switch device
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a switch device to be coupled between a first semiconductor component and a processor node by interconnects of a communication protocol that provides for cache coherent transactions and non-cache coherent transactions. The switch device includes logic to handle cache coherent transactions from the first semiconductor component to the processor node, while the first semiconductor component does not include such logic. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08046514B2 Broadcasting data across a bus in which data transmission can be delayed if a snooping device is not ready to receive
A system and method of broadcasting data to multiple targets across a system bus, such as the peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus, that does not normally support broadcast transfers, in which one target responds to the bus transaction and the remaining targets listen in on the bus transaction to receive data from the system bus. The responding target stalls the bus transaction when any of the listening targets communicate to the responding target that they are temporarily unable to accept the data on the bus.
US08046506B2 FIFO system and operating method thereof
FIFO systems and operating method thereof are provided to transfer data between a first device and a second device. In the FIFO system, a memory controller serves as an interface to access a memory device for storage of the data, and a CPU processes instructions to control the data transfer. Two data FIFOs serve as data buffers for data transactions to and from the first and second devices, and two status FIFOs serve as an instruction buffers for status transactions between the first, second devices and the CPU. A data controller connects the memory controller and the two data FIFOs for direct data delivery therebetween.
US08046505B2 Systems for implementing SDRAM controllers, and buses adapted to include advanced high performance bus features
A memory controller including an address incrementer and a page crossing detect logic. The address incrementer may be configured to generate a next address in a burst from a current address in the burst. The page crossing detect logic may be configured to determine whether the burst will cross a memory page boundary based on the current address and the next address. The memory controller may be configured to automatically split bursts crossing page boundaries.
US08046504B2 Content-aware digital media storage device and methods of using the same
A content-aware digital media storage device includes a host device interface for exchanging digital information with a host device, a memory array for storing digital information received from the host device via the host interface, a peripheral module configured to communicate the digital information stored in the memory array to a receiver located remote from the digital media storage device, and a controller communicatively coupled to the host device interface, the memory array and the peripheral module and configured to interpret directory information associated with the digital information stored in the memory array so as to selectively access said digital information and communicate such accessed digital information to the peripheral module for transmission to the remote receiver. Digital images stored in the memory array may be transmitted to a remote host via a wireless network access point with which the peripheral module of the storage device is associated.
US08046499B2 Method for transferring data via a fieldbus of the process automation technology
In a method for transmitting data over a fieldbus of process automation technology with a field device in which a first application program for a first fieldbus protocol runs, the data of a second application program for a second transmission protocol are mapped onto the first fieldbus protocol and transmitted as fieldbus telegrams.
US08046490B1 System and method for enhancing network security
A method of transmitting data via a network of computers comprises receiving, at a first node of the network and from a second node of the network, first suggested routing information to a destination node, where the first suggested routing information defines at least one node through which data will be transmitted to the destination node. First data is sent to the destination node via the first suggested routing information, and a processor associated with the first node determines whether the first data was received at the destination node. Further second data may be received at the first node of the network, where the second data is intended to be sent to the destination node, and the second data may be sent to the destination via the first suggested routing information depending on the determination of whether the first data was received at the destination.
US08046488B2 Dynamically modulating link width
Systems and methods of managing a link provide for receiving a remote width capability during a link initialization, the remote width capability corresponding to a remote port. A link between a local port and the remote port is operated at a plurality of link widths in accordance with the remote width capability.
US08046485B2 Method and system for implementing URL scheme proxies on a computer system
A method and system for implementing URL scheme proxies. Embodiments of the invention allow URL schemes that are not natively supported by a computer to be supported via proxy, e.g., using a URL scheme that is native to the computer to forward the non-native transport. More specifically, embodiments of the invention allow a first computer system to support a first URL scheme by encapsulating its transport information into another URL scheme that is natively supported by the first computer. The encapsulated information is then forwarded to a second computer system or server which can provide support for the first URL scheme transport. For instance, if the first computer supports http but does not support ftp, then an ftp transport can be encapsulated inside an http transport and then forwarded to an ftp server which can then extract and process the ftp transport. The ftp response can be handled in an analogous fashion. The invention increases the native URL scheme capabilities of a computer system by proxy. In one embodiment, a system registry is used in order to determine which helper code to use for a particular URL scheme. The selection of helper code and whether native or proxy support is selected are tasks that are transparent to the application. The invention can allow a device with no Internet access to act, transparently, as if it has Internet access.
US08046479B2 Media channel management
A method of managing a unicast-based media session is disclosed. A user terminal having access to channel identifiers of media channels available at a media server compiles a SIP-based channel request comprising a channel identifier of one of the available media channels and a port identifier of at least one media input port of the terminal. This message is sent to a network node for initiating delivery of media data of selected media channel to the announced media input port. The SIP-based data signaling also allows switching between unicast-based media channels and switching between unicast-bast and multicast/broadcast-based media channels during the ongoing media session.
US08046478B1 Providing a presentation on a network having a plurality of synchronized media types
A presentation system and method is disclosed for presenting a presentation via a communications network. The presentation system includes one or more client nodes structured to receive presentation data. One or more leader stations of the presentation is structured to control content of the presentation data at the one or more client nodes, and one or more content server sites is structured to provide the presentation data to the one or more client nodes. The presentation system further includes one or more content managers structured to manage the delivery of the presentation data to the one or more content server sites and verify that the presentation data is operable to being presented at the one or more client nodes.
US08046473B2 Maintaining session states within virtual machine environments
Sessions states within virtual machine (VM) environments are maintained. Each VM environment hosts a guest operating system (OS) and one or more application programs running. The guest OS and the application computer programs of each VM environment constitute a session. A connection broker maintains a state machine as to states of the sessions and permits transitions among the states in response to messages, commands, and internal decisions. Different types of agents may send the messages, and the commands. The states of the sessions may include a pending state and a number of other states. The pending state is an interim state that indicates a session is being transitioned from one of the other states to another of the other states. These other states may include an offline state, an online-down state, an online-up state, a suspended state, an active state, an idle state, a disconnected state, and a failed state.
US08046468B2 Process demand prediction for distributed power and resource management
Methods and systems for allocating resources in a virtual desktop resource environment are provided. A method includes making a prediction on the future demand for processes running on a distributed environment with several hosts. The prediction is based on the process demand history and includes the removal of historic process demand glitches. Further, the prediction is used to perform a cost and benefit analysis for moving a candidate process from one host to another, and the candidate process is moved to a different host when the cost and benefit analysis recommends such move. In another embodiment, the predictions on future process demand are used for distributed power management by putting hosts in stand-by mode when the overall demand decreases or by adding hosts to the distributed environment when the load increases.
US08046461B2 Methods, systems and program products for delivery of web services using categorical contracts
Web services may be provided by creating an electronic record of a contract for a service provider to provide web services meeting a web service category definition at a web services hub of a service domain, and providing a web service to a service requestor from the service domain responsive to the electronic record of the contract. A plurality of ports operative to provide web services meeting the service category definition may be identified at the web service hub, and the web service may be provided to the service requester responsive to identification of the ports. For example, a plurality of ports may be identified by polling at least one web services node subordinate to the web services hub to identify at least one service provided by the node, and updating a description of a service category, e.g., a WSDL document, responsive to the polling. A plurality of levels of web services nodes may be polled using a coordinated polling interval scheme to create an updated service view for the service hub.
US08046460B1 Automatic server deployment using a pre-provisioned logical volume
According to one embodiment, a server is automatically deployed using a pre-provisioned logical volume LV. A first world wide name WWN1 is associated 320 with a logical volume LV1 associated with a disk array controller 260. A second world wide name WWN1, which is assigned to a server S1, is received 335 at the disk array controller 260. If 340 the first world wide name WWN1 is the same as the second world wide name WWN1, the server S1 is enabled 350 to access the logical volume LV1. The first and second world wide names are not required to be assigned to any server S1, S2 at the time that the first world wide name is associated with the logical volume.
US08046459B2 Method, device and system of obtaining network information using device as service credential
Method, device and system of obtaining the network information using the device as the service credential, which use the device without power supply and display, in which presetting the configuration files containing the information connected to the network, after connecting the device with the online data process device, establishing the information interacting channel between the data process device and the information server to obtain, download the related information. The device as the service credential can be used to store the information, or display, print and output the special network service information by the data process device, and the device can be used as the service object of the special information network and take the voucher function of service.
US08046458B2 Method and system for balancing the load and computer resources among computers
A method and system for balancing the load of computer resources among a plurality of computers having consumers consuming the resources is disclosed. After defining the lower threshold of the consumption level of the resources and obtaining the consumption level of the resources for each of the consumers and for each of said computers, the consumption level for each of the computers is compared during a period with its associated lower threshold. Whenever a computer having a consumption level of the resources higher than the lower threshold is identified, a new layout of computer resources for each of the consumers is determined. Consumers are then shifted from their current location in the computer to a corresponding location in another computer according to the layout, so that the consumption level of the resource(s) for a computer may be reduced.
US08046455B2 Correlating subjective user states with objective occurrences associated with a user
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: acquiring subjective user state data including at least a first subjective user state and a second subjective user state; acquiring objective context data including at least a first context data indicative of a first objective occurrence associated with a user and a second context data indicative of a second objective occurrence associated with the user; and correlating the subjective user state data with the objective context data. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US08046454B2 Identifying and recommending potential communication states based on patterns of use
Techniques for identifying potential communication uses of various systems are disclosed. Identifying potential communication uses of a computing system can improve the manner in which the computing system is used by allowing more intelligent decisions and better choices to be made regarding its communication use. By way of example, communication applications (or tasks or services) that are likely (or more likely) to be used by a person in a particular situation can be identified as potential communication use of a particular device. Such potential uses can, for example, be made more assessable (or more readily available) and/or effectively recommended (or automatically initiated), thereby allowing a person to more conveniently use the device. By way of example, identifying communication applications or tasks that are likely to be used by a person in a particular situation for various reasons (e.g., preferences and/or habits of a person in a particular situation) as potential communication use of a system (e.g., computing and/or communication device) allows making the communications applications, tasks, or services more assessable and/or effectively recommending them for use in a particular situation.
US08046452B2 Inter-network address translator that is separately addressable from address alias assignment process
Communication between a network device in a first network and a network device in a second network is provided, where the first network operates in accordance with a first communication protocol and the second network operates in accordance with a second communication protocol. An alias is assigned to a target network device in the first network, the alias being compatible with the communication protocol of the second network The assigned alias is translated to an address for a target network device, the translated address being compatible with the communication protocol of the first network. Apparatus, for assigning the alias and for translating it are separately addressable in one or both of the networks, and the assigned alias corresponds to an address of the translating apparatus, such that, when a network device in the second network sends one or more communication(s) using an address including the assigned alias, each communication is routed to the translator, whereupon the translator translates the alias into the address of the target network device in the first network and sends the communication(s) into the first network.
US08046450B1 Associating network ports of a computer system with network ports of a network device
Network ports of a computer system are associated with network ports of a network device. Network ports of the computer system are configured to operate as part of a switch. A discovery agent discovers network ports of the network device to which the network ports of the computer system are coupled. Associations are created between the network ports of the computer system and the network ports of the network device.
US08046449B2 Contents management system and contents management method
A system includes a contents management server that manages the locations of contents, a contents server that manages contents, a client terminal that receives or stores contents, and a network. The client terminal sends a contents sending request message to the contents management server. The contents management server, which has received the request from the client terminal, detects the network to which the client terminal belongs, instructs the contents server, which manages the network, to stream the contents. After that, the contents management server checks if there is a client terminal related to the client terminal that has sent the contents sending request. If there is a related client terminal, the contents management server instructs the contents server, which manages a network to which the related terminal belongs, to store the contents.
US08046445B2 Methods and systems for managing network elements
A system for managing networks includes a gateway capable of receiving a first TARP request from a requesting node and generating a second TARP request based on the first TARP request. The second TARP request includes an NSAP address of the gateway. The gateway is further capable of transmitting the second TARP request to a destination node. The gateway is also capable of receiving a first TARP response from the destination node and generating a second TARP response based on the first TARP response. The second TARP response includes the NSAP address of the gateway. The gateway is further capable of transmitting the second TARP response to the requesting node.
US08046443B2 Rapid deployment remote network monitor
A method and apparatus for imaging a network monitor. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving information concerning a customer network to be monitored by a network monitor, and selecting a bootable image for the network monitor using the network information. The bootable image contains network monitoring software and an operating system, and can be booted on any computing device of the customer network. The method further includes providing the bootable image of the network monitor to a requester, and then receiving a fixed IP address of the network monitor from a computing device on the customer network that is designated to host the network monitor.
US08046438B2 System and method of restoring data and context of client applications stored on the web
An improved system and method for supporting web system services is provided for storing data and context of client applications on the web. A client application may include a web system services interface for invoking web system services to support web applications to operate over the web using different devices that may store data and context of web applications as a web application document onto a web server. A web application document may be represented by components that may include view information, content, and context information. The application may also include a web system services user interface for providing a graphical user interface for a user to invoke web system services that may include a new document system service, a store document system service, and a restore document system service. A schema for context scope may be implemented for collecting context information relevant to the web application document.
US08046434B2 Data communication apparatus and method, data communication system, information-processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program
In an AV-data transfer system, AV data stored in a RAID embedded in an AV server is supplied to a client personal computer connected to a network such as the Internet or an intranet by way of the network, and AV data output by the client personal computer is transmitted to the AV server through the network to be stored in the RAID. The AV server makes accesses to the RAID to write and read out data into and from the RAID. In addition to the AV server, the AV-data transfer system also includes another personal computer for exchanging AV data with the client personal computer and receiving a variety of commands from the client personal computer by way of the network in accordance with an FTP (File Transfer Protocol). As a result, it is possible to fast handle access requests made by a larger number of client personal computers.
US08046433B2 Method and apparatus for enhancing discoverability and usability of data network capability of a mobile device
In a technique for enhancing discoverability and increasing usage of a web browser in a mobile device on a wireless network, a server system coupled to the wireless network receives a signal representing initiation of a voice call from the mobile device. In response, the server system performs a lookup to determine whether a website is associated with the telephone number being called. If a website is associated with the telephone number being called and the mobile device has the capability to access and display the website, the server system sends an Alert to the mobile device, causing the mobile device to notify its user about the website. The user may then input a selection to either access the website instead of completing the call or to proceed with the voice call.
US08046431B2 IP address assignment method and apparatus for providing IP service in a ZIGBEE network system
A ZIGBEE® network system and a method for assigning an Internet Protocol (IP) address in a ZIGBEE® network system are provided. The ZIGBEE® network system includes a client device for joining a ZIGBEE® network and being assigned an IP address used for transmitting and receiving data; a server device for assigning the IP address to the client device; and a ZIGBEE® coordinator for forming the ZIGBEE® network, storing server profile information for each server device that has joined the formed ZIGBEE® network, receiving client profile information for the client device from the client device, and determining a server device that will assign an IP address to the client device, using the received client profile information.
US08046425B1 Distributed adaptive network memory engine
Memory demands of large-memory applications continue to remain one step ahead of the improvements in DRAM capacities of commodity systems. Performance of such applications degrades rapidly once the system hits the physical memory limit and starts paging to the local disk. A distributed network-based virtual memory scheme is provided which treats remote memory as another level in the memory hierarchy between very fast local memory and very slow local disks. Performance over gigabit Ethernet shows significant performance gains over local disk. Large memory applications may access potentially unlimited network memory resources without requiring any application or operating system code modifications, relinkling or recompilation. A preferred embodiment employs kernel-level driver software.
US08046424B2 Systems and methods for the utilization of metadata for synchronization optimization
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to synchronization utilizing one or more optimizations through the utilization of metadata. For several embodiments of the present invention, one method for optimizing synchronization is to reduce the overhead required for said synchronization by having each peer only tracking changes for itself and other peers within its change community (or communities) (a.k.a., “Intra-Community-Only Change Tracking Optimization”). For certain embodiments of the present invention, another method for optimizing synchronization is to not create synchronization overhead until required. For numerous embodiments of the present invention, yet another method for optimizing synchronization is to minimize redundant use of a partner's unique global ID—a large and cumbersome number—and to instead maintain a table that cross-references each partner (and its unique global ID) with a smaller and much less cumbersome partner key.
US08046418B1 Electronic communication reminder technology
Techniques are described for providing reminders for electronic communications. For instance, response patterns of a user are determined by communication type based on monitoring past response behavior of the user and the response pattern data is stored for the user by communication type. After storing the response pattern data for the user by communication type, a particular communication that is for the user and that is initiated by a first sender is received. A type of the particular communication is determined and response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication is accessed. A response reminder time for the particular communication is set based on the accessed response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication.
US08046415B2 Throttling of mass mailings using network devices
A system and method that effectuates dynamic mass mail throttling utilizing an upstream network device. The system and method includes intercepting messages from sending mail server, determining whether the message relates to mass mailing advertising emails, and based the determination automatically and dynamically directing upstream network devices to gradually retard communications between the sending mail server and the upstream network devices.
US08046408B2 Virtual reality systems and methods
Virtual reality system facilitating the setup and conduction of a virtual reality episode by receiving virtual reality data captured by virtual reality environment (VRE) user equipment, and transmitting the virtual reality data via a network to other virtual reality components capable of presenting the virtual reality data. The setup and conduction of the virtual reality episode occurs in real-time, such that a user can participate in an episode that represents events presently occurring in an environment. The VRE user equipment includes wireless devices such that one or more mobile users at a plurality of locations may simultaneously participate in a virtual reality episode.
US08046402B2 Signal processing method and signal processing apparatus
A signal processing method and apparatus reducing distortion using divided signals differing in only amplitude by weighting an input signal by first weights ki (i=1 to 4) to obtain divided signals, performing the same signal processing f(x) on the divided signals, weighting the signal processed divided signals by second weights l1 (i=1 to 4), and adding the divided signals Vout1 to Vout4 weighted by the second weights. The first weights are k1=t, k2=−t, k3=1, k4=−1, while the second weights are l1=−1, l2=1, l3=t3, l4=−t3. Here, t=b/a (where a and b are different positive integers).
US08046401B2 Canonical signed digit multiplier
A multiplier is able to multiply an input data value by a selected constant value in CSD form. The selected constant value has a plurality of pairs of bits, and the multiplier includes multiplexers, each controlled by a respective pair of bits of the selected constant value. Each of the multiplexers has a plurality of inputs, and is connected to receive the input data value, the inverse of the input data value, and all zeros on said inputs, and it is controlled such that it outputs either the input data value, the inverse of the input data value, or all zeros, depending on the values of the respective pair of bits of the selected constant value. Variable shift blocks are each connected to receive an input from a respective one of said multiplexers, and are each adapted to shift their received input by a first bit shift value or a second bit shift value, depending on the values of the respective pair of bits of the selected constant value, wherein the first bit shift value and the second bit shift value differ by 1. The multiplier also includes combination circuitry, for receiving the outputs from the plurality of shift blocks, and for combining the outputs from the plurality of shift blocks and applying further bit shifts, to form an output value equal to the result of multiplying the input data value by the selected constant value.
US08046395B2 Normalization processing apparatus
A normalization processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can calculate all of normalization processing output values, that is, the output value of the size of a region, the output value of the lowest value in the region, the output value of the number of non-output bits, and an output bit string, at the same time using a shift amount and the prefix and suffix of the output bit string. The shift amount is calculated using an input value of the size of the region. The prefix and the suffix are calculated using an input value of the lowest value in the region and an input value of the number of non-output bits.
US08046392B2 Storage system and information transfer method for the same
Before transferring a file, a CPU executes the following processing based on a transfer processing program: obtaining the directory tree structure of a transfer-source storage device; dividing the directory tree into directory trees so that each divided directory tree is structured within the full path length of a directory tree that can be handled by a transfer-destination storage device; associating the divided directory trees with each other; and then storing the associated directory trees in a volume of the transfer-destination storage device.
US08046391B2 Storage apparatus and its file control method and storage system
Decrease in the write speed is prevented even when overwriting the entire file. When a NAS apparatus receives a file size change request from a computer as an access request source for changing the size of a file, the NAS apparatus creates a new file related to the file in a file system with a processing performance that is higher than a file system containing the file as an entity of that file, associates the new file and the foregoing file, deletes the file on the condition that the new file and the file has been associated, and executes data write processing of writing data into the new file on the condition of subsequently receiving a data write request from the access request source for writing data into the file.
US08046390B2 Feedback for unavailable content
A particular method includes searching a database associated with a content provider. The database includes content items available from the content provider as well as content items that are not available from the content provider. The database is searched based on a search query received from a set-top box to generate a list of content items. The list of content items includes at least one entry corresponding to a particular content item that is unavailable and includes a feedback control. The method further includes receiving a request that the content provider make the particular content item available and automatically determining to acquire rights to provide access to the particular content item based at least in part on the request.
US08046381B2 IMS network access using legacy devices
A communication network is described that allows legacy devices to access an IMS network. The communication network includes a switching system, an IMS network, and a non-IMS network. The switching system includes a subscriber database that is pre-provisioned with identities of IMS subscribers using legacy devices. When in operation, a calling party places a call through a legacy device. The switching system receives the call and accesses the subscriber database based on a calling party identifier (e.g., a phone number, URL, etc) to determine if the calling party is an IMS subscriber. If the calling party is an IMS subscriber, then the switching system routes the call to the IMS network. If the calling party is not an IMS subscriber, then the switching system routes the call to the non-IMS network.
US08046375B2 Geo targeted commerce
A user query has values for attributes that specify features of a desired item is received and processed in a computer system in a network. A database is searched for an item having attribute values that satisfy at least a subset of the values for attributes from the user query. Once an item is found in the database, a location where the item will be supplied along with a set of suppliers for the item in proximity to the location is determined.
US08046373B2 Structured parallel data intensive computing
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for performing structured parallel data intensive computations. A SQL-FCF framework that defines a SQL construct based interface for performing the computations is provided. The computations within an application are coded as table valued functions (TVFs). Data for the application is partitioned into data partitions to co-locate and load balance the data partitions and corresponding computations. The TVFs are invoked and applied to corresponding ones of the data partitions in a structured order defined by function control forms (FCF).
US08046371B2 Scoring local search results based on location prominence
A system may identify a first document associated with a geographic location within a geographical area and identify a second document associated with a geographic location outside the geographical area. The system may also assign a first score to the first document based on a first scoring function and assign a second score to the second document based on a second scoring function.
US08046362B2 Statistical record linkage calibration for reflexive and symmetric distance measures at the field and field value levels without the need for human interaction
Disclosed is a system for, and method of, calculating parameters used to determine whether records and entity representations should be linked. The system and method use a symmetric and reflexive function to allow for linking records and entity representations whose field values differ. The system and method apply iterative techniques such that parameters from each linking iteration are used in the next linking iteration. The system and method need no human interaction in order to calibrate and utilize record matching formulas used for the linking decisions.
US08046353B2 Method and apparatus for searching a hierarchical database and an unstructured database with a single search query
Techniques for searching a hierarchical database and an unstructured database with a single search query are described herein. In one embodiment, a single search query is received that has syntax identifying an unstructured search string within a structured search query to automatically cause a search of the inverted index and use of the result to automatically search the hierarchical database. The unstructured search string is extracted from the single search query and an inverted index is searched according to the unstructured search string, wherein the inverted index includes virtual documents created from data stored in the hierarchical database, wherein each virtual document includes a unique identifier from the hierarchical database used to designate the data in the hierarchical database from which that virtual document was created, wherein a result of the inverted index search includes the unique identifiers of the virtual documents that meet the search. For each of the unique identifiers in the result, a separate search query is generated from the single search query by replacing the unstructured search string in the structured search query with that unique identifier and the hierarchical database is searched according to the separate search query. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08046351B2 Method and system for selecting search engines for accessing information
A method and system for access to information using search engines is provided. A search engine is selected for executing a query based on search engine characteristic information and the query. The characteristic information for each search engine includes information representing searching capabilities of each search engine. Selecting a search engine further involves determining a similarity between the query and the characteristic information for each search engine, and selecting a search engine based on the similarities such that a search engine with the highest similarity may be selected for executing the query and returning search results.
US08046344B2 Method for automatically searching for information and video apparatus using the same
An automatic search method and a video apparatus using the method are provided. According to the automatic search method, the video apparatus deletes characters satisfying specific conditions from additional information which is received, and generates keywords. Therefore, a user may acquire search results without needing to directly input keywords, and it is possible to prevent undesired information from being displayed as a search result.
US08046327B2 Partially replicated distributed database with multiple levels of remote clients
A method of and system for collecting, storing, and retrieving data in a data base management system. The database management system includes a master database server (4), at least one workgroup server (315), and a plurality of workgroup user clients (310). The workgroup server (315) is interposed between the master database server (4) and said workgroup user clients (310). The method creating a transaction in a local database resident on one of the workgroup user clients (310), entering the transaction into a transaction log resident on the workgroup user client (310), and creating a transaction file corresponding to the transaction in an outbox of said workgroup user client (310). Next, the transaction file is copied to an inbox identified to the workgroup user client (310) and updating the transaction file into a workgroup database (305) resident on the workgroup server (315). The workgroup database (305) includes a transaction log.
US08046322B2 Methods and framework for constraint-based activity mining (CMAP)
A method of mining data to discover activity patterns within the data is described. The method includes receiving data to be mined from at least one data source, determining which of a number of specified interests and constraints are associated with the mining process, selecting corresponding mining agents that combine search algorithms with propagators from the specified constraints, and finding any activity patterns that meet the specified interests and constraints.
US08046316B2 Cyclic combinatorial method and system
The cyclic combinatorial method and system includes an optimizing programming method embodied in a computing machine in order to provide the capability to solve cyclic optimization problems. The method can be used to solve optimization problems having cyclic 0-1 matrices, such as network problems and cyclic workforce scheduling. The method identifies cyclically distinct solutions by enumerating cyclically distinct combinations of basic dual variables. The method can determine how many cyclically distinct combinations of m (m≦n) objects can be selected, given n cyclic objects. The method integrates partition and cyclic permutation operations in order to generate cyclically distinct selections (solutions). After cyclically enumerating all dual solutions, rules are described for recognizing the set of dominant solutions. A class of problems, which includes cyclic labor scheduling, can be efficiently solved using the cyclic combinatorial method and system.
US08046315B2 Relational Bayesian modeling for electronic commerce
The present invention provides a language, method and system to formulate and evaluate relational Bayesian networks in an e-commerce environment. The present invention employs a specific language for constructing synthetic variables used to predict events in the Bayesian networks. The present system and language allow for efficient and accurate representation, inference, and discovery of the synthetic variables used to model web visitor behavior.
US08046314B2 Apparatus, method and system for stochastic workflow in oilfield operations
The invention relates to a method for performing an oilfield operation. The method steps include obtaining oilfield data sets associated with oilfield entities, generating a stochastic database from the oilfield data sets based on an artificial neural network of the oilfield data sets, screening the oilfield data sets to identify candidates from the oilfield entities, wherein the screening is based on the stochastic database, performing a detail evaluation of each candidates, selecting an oilfield entity from the candidates based on the detail evaluation, and performing the oilfield operation for the selected oilfield entity.
US08046308B2 Method of processing postal items with account being taken of extra expense due to wrong delivery
A method of processing postal items in which an image is formed of each item, the image including address information (1), and on the basis of the image of the item and a reference address base (6), OCR is used to perform automatic recognition of the destination address information (8, 9), is characterized in that during automatic recognition of destination address information, use is made (10) of a database (11) in which there are organized ordered lists of delivery points for delivery rounds in such a manner as to take account of an estimated extra cost for destination error associated with processing the item should the item be delivered to an erroneous delivery point.
US08046307B2 Managing future career paths
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for using competency-related information for individuals to provide a variety of benefits is described. In some situations, competency-related information is used to assist members of an organization in managing future career paths within the organization. An organization member can specify a starting position type and a target future position type, and one or more possible career paths leading from the starting position type to the target future position type (possibly through one or more intermediate position types) are identified. Competency gaps for the member relative to the position types along the career path can be identified, and actions to reduce those competency gaps can be identified for possible inclusion in a future action plan for the member.
US08046305B1 Gateway to transaction processing network
A method and apparatus for processing credit card transactions over the Internet includes an application program interface (API) that converts a simple ASCII transaction message from the merchant to the message spec required by the transaction processor. The API also encrypts the transaction message so that the transaction is secure over the Internet and manages the message traffic between the merchant and transaction processor. In a second preferred embodiment, a merchant sends a simple ASCII transaction message via a SSL (secure sockets layer) Internet connection. In preferred embodiments, redundant connections are set up between the merchant and the transaction processor, allowing a transaction to continue being processed if one of the connections fails.
US08046304B2 Franking method and mail transport system with central postage accounting
In a franking method and a mail transport system, a franking image is calculated before generation thereof on a mail piece. The franking image includes a franking image key, and for each new franking image, the franking image key therefor is derived from a predecessor franking image key according to a first crypto-algorithm. An integrity check code is also generated based on the new franking image key, a key generation number, an apparatus identifier of the franking device, and a second crypto-algorithm. The franking image includes at least the device identifier, the key generation number and the integrity check code. Upon transport of the mail piece to a sorting center, the franking image is scanned and fees for billing are generated based thereon.
US08046301B1 Systems and methods to modify a negotiable instrument
When the deposit of a negotiable instrument, such as a check, is done electronically by using a digital image of the negotiable instrument rather than the negotiable instrument itself, during the process, at least two negotiable instruments may exist: the physical negotiable instrument and the digital image of the negotiable instrument. To change the physical negotiable instrument to a non-negotiable instrument, a bank or other financial institution may send a transmission to modify the appearance of the negotiable instrument, thus effectively “voiding” the physical negotiable instrument. The negotiable instrument may have various inks or mechanisms that facilitate the modification of the appearance through the application of a stimulus, such as heat or light. The financial institution may cause the application of the stimulus to modify the appearance of the negotiable instrument.
US08046298B1 Systems and methods for facilitating the flow of capital through the housing finance industry
A computerized mortgage loan data processing system comprises a loan cost analysis engine which compares data pertaining to loan pricing for a mortgage loan with loan pricing standards to evaluate whether the loan pricing is in compliance with the loan pricing standards. An interface is configured to provide an indication regarding whether the loan pricing is in compliance with the loan pricing standards prior to closing of the loan or prior to sale of the mortgage loan in the secondary mortgage market. The indication may be provided to a mortgage loan advisor or to a secondary mortgage market purchaser.
US08046295B1 Private capital management system and method
A computer-implemented data processing system comprises capital management logic accessible to a plurality of users by way of a communication network. The plurality of users include companies, institutional investors, individual investors, and exchanges. The capital management logic is configured to facilitate pre-financing and post-financing interactions between the companies, the institutional investors, the individual investors, and the exchanges throughout one or more rounds of financing of the companies.
US08046294B2 Bidding in online auctions
The invention is directed to systems, methods, and an apparatus for bidding in online auctions. Bids for advertising include an amount that is a function of an expected value-per-click and a fraction of a budget already spent for advertising slots.
US08046290B2 IOI-based block trading systems, methods, interfaces, and software
In the financial-services industry, there are online centers that help brokers to match sellers and buyers of stock based on indications of interest (IOIs). However, at least some of these centers are not only limited in the types of IOIs that they provide, but also in the ways how they allow IOI senders to control IOI usage. Accordingly, to facilitate trades, one exemplary system provides an IOI which is associated with an online negotiation capability. Some versions of this system provide mechanisms for users, such as broker-dealers, to define different IOI response privileges for recipients of their IOIs. To reduce the market risks of failed negotiations, some versions provide automated features for comparing confidential information from traders and initiating online negotiations for stock transactions contingent on favorable comparisons.
US08046274B2 Method for digital color grading of gems and communication thereof
A method of color grading gems by a user by their inherent properties of shape, hue, tone and saturation. Each of the properties is variable over a practical range derived from a database. The database is created by digitally coding gem shapes, hues, tones and colors from digital photographs of gems of different, shapes, hues, tones and saturation. The variable properties are displayed on a screen and the user selects the best matching respective shape, hue, tone and saturation in comparison to the particular gem being graded. Upon receiving the user's selections, an image of the a gem having the shape, hue, tone and saturation selected by the user is displayed on the screen and translated into alpha-numeric code which can be communicated to any other user of the same system, enabling remote discussion and evaluation of the same target gem.
US08046272B1 Systems and methods for facilitating real-time product inquiries during online shopping
In accordance with a method for facilitating real-time product inquiries during online shopping, a request may be received from a potential buyer of a product for real-time inquiry about the product. In response, a previous customer of the product who has enrolled to participate in a real-time inquiry program may be identified. Real-time communication may be established with the previous customer.
US08046269B2 Auction based procurement system
A method and system for performing an auction by determining a request for an item based on at least one of (i) an item to purchase, (ii) a performance specification of the item to purchase, and (iii) a term of a request for the item to purchase. The method and system include sending, through a network, the request for the item to an auctioneer machine server. Performance information is collected for each seller. Notice is provided that a performance evaluation has been received for a specific seller, and is on record with the provider of the information. Additional transaction costs may be captured and included as a separate line item in an auto-rebid auction environment.
US08046267B2 User interface for a complex order processing system
The method and apparatus of the present invention include generating a list of orders associated with an account. The list of orders comprises orders that are open. Selection of one of the orders is detected. A request to change the selected order is detected. Changes in the open and pending orders to reflect the future state of an asset are applied. A quote based on the future state of an asset is generated. A user is allowed to change the configuration of the future state of the asset, and the change is incorporated in the quote.
US08046266B1 Customizing gift instrument experiences for recipients
Personalizing a gift instrument by customizing the presentation and redemption for a gift instrument recipient. A gift instrument purchaser or other data source associates customization information such as redemption recommendations, restrictions, or other content with the gift instrument based on the gift instrument recipient. The customization information is presented to the gift instrument recipient upon redemption of the gift instrument. In an embodiment, information about the redemption by the gift instrument recipient is provided to the gift instrument purchaser.
US08046261B2 EMV transaction in mobile terminals
A mobile terminal is enabled to conduct an EMV transaction. A wireless access node in the EMV card-reader terminal is provided for connecting a mobile terminal to the card-reader terminal. An EMV-proxy module executing in the card-reader terminal facilitates communication between the mobile terminal and the card-reader terminal. The EMV-proxy module lets the mobile terminal function in essentially the same way as a regular EMV chip card with respect to the card-reader terminal. The card-reader terminal may then conduct EMV transactions on behalf of the mobile terminal without requiring new software and/or hardware at the EMV issuer. EMV data is stored in the mobile terminal in the form of secure dynamic data objects. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
US08046256B2 System and method for using loyalty rewards as currency
The present invention involves spending loyalty points over a computerized network to facilitate a transaction. With this system, a loyalty program participant is able to use an existing transaction card to purchase an item over a computerized network, while at the same time offsetting the cost of that transaction by converting loyalty points to a currency value credit and having the credit applied to the participant's financial transaction account. Currency credit from converted loyalty points may also be applied to stored value cards, online digital wallet accounts and the like. Further, currency credit may also be applied to other accounts to effect a gift or donation.
US08046243B2 Automatic insurance adjustments using real world awareness
An electronic product code information service (EPCIS) interface is provided that allows accessing applications residing on a variety of systems to receive EPC-related data. In setting up an insurance policy, the EPC-related data may be used to determine objects covered by the insurance policy and to valuate the covered objects. An insurance premium may be generated for the insurance policy based on this valuation. In addition, changes to the covered objects may be detected based on the EPC-related data and may be used to automatically adjust the insured value and/or insurance premium.
US08046240B2 Medical image diagnostic system for creating order information
In issuing an order, a medical image diagnostic system acquires order issuance support information on the basis of a reference report or a reference image, which an order issuer uses as a basis of order creation. The medical image diagnostic system classifies the order issuance support information on the basis of a table and presents the order issuance support information using a predetermined order issuance support screen. For example, the order issuer selects desired conditions from the order issuance support screen presented to perform order issuance based on the reference report or the like.
US08046237B1 Method, medium, and system for tag forum interaction in response to a tag score reaching a threshold value
Creation and placement of tag forums for tags enables a user to discuss aspects of both tags and elements associated with the tags, and further enables a user to view discussions from other users. The tag forum may be generated and/or placed based in part on user interaction or other factors related to the elements and the tags. Tag forums may be placed on, for example, selective tag web pages or associated element web pages within a website, among other possibilities.
US08046233B2 Methods and systems for local, computer-aided translation using remotely-generated translation predictions
A method for local, computer-aided translation using remotely-generated translation predictions includes the step of receiving, by a remote translation memory, at least one portion of a document in a source language for translation into a target language. The remote translation memory determines, prior to receiving a request from a translator for a translation of a second portion of the document, that a translation of the at least one portion is useful in translating the second portion, or in translating a portion of a second document. A local machine receives the translation of the first portion and an identification of the utility of the translation. A translation agent on the local machine generates a translation through reuse of the translation of the first portion of the document, responsive to the received identification of the utility of the translation of the first portion of the document.
US08046207B2 Digital effects analysis in modeling environments
An analysis tool analyzes a model to determine the digital effect of the model in a modeling or programming environment. With the analysis tool, a user can determine minimum hardware functionality needed to execute the software generated from the model. The hardware functionality may include the word size of the microprocessor that executes the software appropriately. The hardware functionality may also include the execution speed of the microprocessor executing the software. The hardware functionality may further include the functionality of other hardware elements, such as the word length of an Analog to Digital converter. The analysis tool enables a user to produce a system at a low cost while achieving necessary performance criteria.
US08046206B1 Method and system using subgraph isomorphism to configure hardware resources
A method of defining a configuration of hardware resources, using a subgraph isomorphism process. The method executes a subgraph isomorphism process to discover possible resources in a hardware resource space that are suitable to implement a function. The hardware resource space may be defined by a target graph and the function may be defined by a subgraph. Next, the target graph is annotated to establish configuration settings for selected resources of the possible resources. The configuration settings may be established based on the subgraph mapping to the target graph. The target graph may also be annotated to specify parameters for the selected resources. This annotation may be performed in response to receiving parameters for the function.
US08046200B2 Nonlinear function approximation over high-dimensional domains
An algorithm is disclosed for constructing nonlinear models from high-dimensional scattered data. The algorithm progresses iteratively adding a new basis function at each step to refine the model. The placement of the basis functions is driven by a statistical hypothesis test that reveals geometric structure when it fails. At each step the added function is fit to data contained in a spatio-temporally defined local region to determine the parameters, in particular, the scale of the local model. The proposed method requires no ad hoc parameters. Thus, the number of basis functions required for an accurate fit is determined automatically by the algorithm. The approach may be applied to problems including modeling data on manifolds and the prediction of financial time-series. The algorithm is presented in the context of radial basis functions but in principle can be employed with other methods for function approximation such as multi-layer perceptrons.
US08046199B2 System and method for computing parameters for a digital predistorter
Digital predistortion system, methods and circuitry for adapting a predistortion system linearizing a non-linear element. The system is a multiply partitioned architecture that addresses long or “memory” effects, and separately addresses shorter duration effects. In a preferred method, the non-linear element is first modeled in software as a nonlinearity and a linearity in cascade form, preferably a Wiener model. The model is validated and adapted to minimize an observed error between the model and the non-linear element. The software model of the non-linear element is then used first to model a predistortion block that addresses short duration effects, and second to separately model a predistortion block that addresses longer duration effects. The models are software executable by an external processor in real time. Periodically the models are executed and used to update the adaptive parameters of the predistortion system without interrupting the system operation.
US08046198B2 Methods for determining susceptibility to developmental disorders due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors
The present invention discloses a novel method for identifying an individual who may be susceptible to develop a developmental disorder. In one particular example, an individual is identified who is genetically susceptible to becoming schizophrenic. In addition, the present invention discloses a novel method for identifying individuals who are genetically susceptible to have offspring with a developmental disorder. Methods of diagnosing, preventing and treating developmental disorders such as schizophrenia are also provided.
US08046196B2 Modular networked sensor assembly
In a network sensor assembly, network environmental monitor, and associated fabrication methods, a network sensor assembly comprises a panel configured for mounting on a surface, a plurality of addressable sensors coupled to the panel that sense environmental conditions at the surface, a memory device that stores configuration information associated with the plurality of addressable sensors, and a bus. The bus is communicatively coupled to the plurality of addressable sensors and the memory device and is configured for communicatively coupling the network sensor assembly to a network node for communicating data associated with the sensed environmental conditions in a network.
US08046188B2 Temperature sensor and temperature measuring method
A temperature sensor for measuring temperature in accordance with a time-of-life of a fluorescent light that is produced by a fluorescent material, and is provided with a light source for imaging an excitation light, a fluorescent material for producing fluorescent light by the excitation light, a photoreceptor element for detecting the fluorescent light and outputting a fluorescent light signal in accordance with the fluorescent light intensity, and a signal processing circuit for calculating a temperature based on the fluorescent light signal from the photoreceptor element, where the signal processing circuit calculates integral values for the fluorescent light signals in the respective intervals A through C that have identical time durations, and then, based on the integral values, for two intervals, calculates a difference value, and then calculates a ratio of two difference values, to be a variable that varies in accordance with the temperature, and then references the relationship between the temperature and the ratio between difference values, stored in advance, to convert the calculated variable into the temperature.
US08046185B1 Oscillator calibration for motor controller
Systems, methods, and apparatuses including computer program products for oscillator calibration include, in at least one implementation, a storage device including: a system including a first clock source, a second clock source, and a motor controller, the motor controller including calibration circuitry configured to calibrate the second clock source according to the first clock source in response to the first clock source operating as expected, and configured to provide to the system the calibrated second clock source as a timing reference instead of the first clock source as the timing reference in response to the first clock source not operating as expected, a head actuator configured to communicate with the motor controller, and a spindle disposed within the system.
US08046173B2 Method for identifying sub-sequences of interest in a sequence
The present technique provides for the analysis of a data series to identify sequences of interest within the series. The analysis may be used to iteratively update a grammar used to analyze the data series or updated versions of the data series. Furthermore, the technique provides for the calculation of a minimum description length heuristic, such as a symbol compression ratio, for each sub-sequence of the analyzed data sequence. The technique may then compare a selected heuristic value against one or more reference conditions to determine if additional iteration is to be performed. The grammar and the data sequence may be updated between iterations to include a symbol representing a string corresponding to the selected heuristic value based upon a non-termination result of the comparison. Alternatively, the string corresponding to the selected heuristic value may be identified as a sequence of interest based upon a termination result of the comparison.
US08046166B2 Display method and system for a vehicle navigation system
Traffic information, including traffic flow information and traffic incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be presented to a user on a user display in the vehicle. The traffic information may be presented to the user in several circumstances, either as cued by the user, or automatically presented by the traffic management system. The user display may also automatically display traffic flow and traffic incident information for the direction that the user is traveling or along a route calculated by the navigation device. Further, a window displaying information about an upcoming traffic incident such as distance to the incident and incident details may automatically appear in the user display. Alternately, the user may select a roadway, freeway, or area for which traffic information is desired.
US08046163B2 Interactive pedestrian routing method
The present invention's network-based directions-provision methodology typically features the establishment of two ranking schemes that reversely parallel each other. The “personal” ranking scheme ranks all permitted persons in terms of the degree of access permission with respect to the variously ranked regions of a facility; the lower the personal rank, the fewer the regional ranks to which the person is permitted access. The “regional” ranking scheme ranks all accessible regions in terms of the degree of access permission with respect thereto by the variously ranked permitted persons; the higher the regional rank, the fewer the personal ranks that are permitted access to the region. According to typical inventive practice, a permitted person logs in to request directions, within the facility, from an original location to a destination location; the directions given (textual and/or graphical) are the optimal directions that are consistent with the personal rank of the requestor.
US08046159B2 Programming airplane systems based on instructions
A method of receiving an instruction by an airplane from a control system includes facilitating, by the airplane, a user of a system of the airplane in accepting or rejecting the instruction. The instruction may be received by the airplane via a data link between the control system and the airplane system. If the instruction is accepted, the method may further include loading, by the airplane, the instruction into the airplane system and/or adjusting, by the airplane, at least one airplane control to correspond to the instruction.
US08046149B2 Brake apparatus for vehicle, and methods of using same
A brake apparatus includes first, second and third solenoid valves (hereinafter SOL1, SOL2 and SOL3) respectively disposed in a first branch pipe, a second branch pipe, and a main pipe connecting a master cylinder and a brake caliper. The brake apparatus also includes first, second and third pressure sensors (hereinafter P1, P2 and P3) respectively disposed between the master cylinder and the SOL3, between the SOL1 and a fluid loss simulator, and between the SOL2 and the hydraulic pressure modulator. The brake apparatus further includes a control unit for detecting output values of P1, P2 and P3. A resolution of P2 is set at a value greater than resolutions of P1 and P3. With SOL1 in an opened state, when detected output value of P2 is less than a predetermined value, the control unit stores output values from the respective pressure sensors as reference values.
US08046148B2 Traveling safety device for vehicle
A traveling safety device for a vehicle of the present invention includes a brake device, a brake operation detecting device, a storage device, a present vehicle position detecting device, a vehicle state detecting device, a road shape recognizing device, a proper vehicle state setting device, a comparing device, a brake assist control device, a brake assist control device. The brake assist control device calculates an initial brake assist pressure based on a comparison result of the comparing device, and changes a brake assist pressure in proportion to the brake operation of the driver when a change in the brake operation by the driver has been detected after start of brake assist control based on the initial brake assist pressure.
US08046147B2 Method and driving dynamics control system for stabilizing a car-trailer combination
When swaying motions of a trailer or semi-trailer of a car-trailer combination are encountered, input signals which are taken into consideration to calculate a reference signal frequently include also oscillation components, due to which driving dynamics control for stabilization of the car-trailer combination can become very unreliable. To enhance the reliability of driving dynamics control of this type, a method is disclosed in which an input signal (Y) is sensed that includes signal oscillations which are due to a swaying motion of the trailer or semi-trailer and are superimposed on a base component (YBasis) of the input signal (Y). A reference signal is calculated from the input signal (Y), in which case the calculation is executed in such a way that the reference signal by approximation corresponds to a reference signal which is determined from the base component (YBasis) of the input signal (Y). A correcting variable for influencing the driving behavior of the towing vehicle of the car-trailer combination is then determined depending on a deviation between the reference signal and a detected actual signal. Furthermore, the invention discloses a driving dynamics control system which is appropriate to implement the method.
US08046143B2 Automatic gear control device
An ECU executes a program including: a step of detecting a turbine revolution speed, a step of detecting an engine torque TE, a step of detecting a speed change ratio, a step of setting a range an enlarged slip region when a slip region enlargement condition is satisfied, and a step of enlarging the slip region toward a lock-up region side (high-load side).
US08046141B2 Automatic gear shifting control device of vehicle
An automatic gear shifting control device of a vehicle can execute an automatic gear shifting control in response to a larger rotational speed. The automatic gear shifting control device includes a gear shifting control instruction part that executes an automatic gear shifting operation of an AMT in response to at least vehicle-speed information. First and second sensors detect rotational speed of front and rear wheels. A rotational-speed-difference detector detects the difference in rotational speed between the front and rear wheels based on information from the first and second sensors. The control part is configured to execute an automatic gear shifting control in response to the vehicle-speed information calculated based on the larger rotational speed out of the rotational speed of the front wheel and the rotational speed of the rear wheel when the difference in rotational speed is detected by the rotational-speed-difference detector.
US08046140B2 PTO overspeed protection strategy
An exemplary embodiment includes a method of operating a drivetrain. The drivetrain includes a PTO and a transmission having multiple speed ratios. The PTO includes a PTO output member and a PTO input member. The method includes monitoring a speed value representative of a rotational speed of a PTO component, comparing the speed value to a preselected PTO overspeed value, reducing the rotational speed of the PTO component, and overriding a manual command to increase the rotational speed of the PTO component above the preselected PTO overspeed value.
US08046139B2 Method for controlling agricultural machine systems
For controlling several agricultural machine systems during operation on a territory, based on a reference line, an optimized route for working the territory is determined for the particular machine system, and the particular machine system is driven along this route. The reference line is determined by recording a reference path that was driven along with a first machine system, and the first machine system is controlled based on this reference line with consideration for the working conditions of the first machine system. This reference line is also transmitted by the first machine system to at least one second machine system, which is controlled based on this reference line of the first machine system and with consideration for the working conditions of the second machine system. A corresponding control system for controlling several agricultural machine systems during operation of a territory is also described.
US08046137B2 Microcontroller, control system and design method of microcontroller
Two data processing units having the same function, one of which is used for a master and the other for comparison, are provided, control of a circuit unit is performed by the master, the master data processing unit and the circuit unit are operated in synchronization with a first clock signal, the second data processing unit is operated in synchronization with a second clock signal having the same cycle and different phase from the first clock signal, and processing results of both the data processing units are compared in a comparison circuit. Flip flops are disposed on a signal path from the circuit unit to the comparison data processing unit and on a signal path from the master data processing unit to the comparator, and both the first and second clock signals are used for latch clocks of the flip flops in accordance with input signals thereof.
US08046119B2 Method of indicating the lateral manoeuvre margins on either side of the flight plan path of an aircraft
The parts of the flight plan of an aircraft corresponding to lateral trajectories at low altitude can comprise passages with limited lateral freedom of deployment because of risks of collision with the ground, or because of obstacles on the ground. The method makes it possible to signal them for the attention of the crew, so that said crew should redouble their attention. To do this it uses the display, on an onboard navigation screen, of a vertical profile of margin of maneuver relating to the navigation band widened to the right and to the left by lateral margins of maneuver, superimposed on the vertical navigation profile relating only to the navigation band.
US08046111B2 System and method for controlling multiple facts
Disclosed are a system and method with a cooperative control algorithm that can appraise voltage stability of a power system in cooperation with a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)/emergency management system (EMS) for cooperative control on multiple parallel flexible alternating current transmission systems (FACTS) to enhance voltage stability, and that can calculate individual operation points of the FACTS.
US08046101B2 Cleaning robot system and method of controlling same
Provided is a cleaning robot system and a method of controlling the same for economically cleaning, with high workability, plate-shaped members, such as solar cell panels and reflecting mirrors used in photovoltaic power generation and solar thermal power generation systems. A cleaning robot system (1) for cleaning planar or curved plate-shaped members (4a), (4b) that are panels for photovoltaic power generation or reflecting mirrors for solar thermal power generation includes: a large number of cleaning robots (2) each having a function to travel on each of the plate-shaped members (4) which are to be cleaned and a function to clean the plate-shaped members (4); and an arranging robot (3) having a conveying function to move any of the cleaning robots (2) from a first one (4a) of the plate-shaped members to a second one (4b) of the plate-shaped members. Each of the cleaning robots (2) has a suction mechanism for performing cleaning while attaching onto one of the plate-shaped members (4), and the large number of cleaning robots (2) and a smaller number of the arranging robots (3) than that of the cleaning robots (2) cooperate together to clean the plate-shaped members (4) placed in a photovoltaic power generation or solar thermal power generation plant.
US08046097B2 Region-based supports for parts produced by solid freeform fabrication
Methods for generating supports (30) for parts (50) produced by solid freeform fabrication (“SFF”) are disclosed. The method includes defining a plurality of layers (L) that make up the part, and for each layer, determining those regions (R) that require support. The method also includes merging the regions for the different layers (L) into one or more common regions that require support, and providing at least one support for each of the one or more common regions. The result is that fewer supports are used as compared to conventional SFF fabrication methods.
US08046089B2 Apparatus and method for model predictive control (MPC) of a nonlinear process
A method includes obtaining a nonlinear process model modeling a nonlinear process to be controlled. The method also includes obtaining an objective function defining how the process is controlled. The method further includes obtaining a control model defining a dynamic feasible region associated with a controlled variable, where the controlled variable is associated with the process. In addition, the method includes controlling the nonlinear process by solving a control problem that includes the process model, control model, and objective function. The dynamic feasible region defined by the control model could represent a funnel region. The objective function could include terms for minimizing and optimizing adjustments to one or more manipulated variables associated with the process. Controlling the nonlinear process could include performing simultaneous control and optimization, where adjustments to the one or more manipulated variables are chosen to meet the control objectives and possibly to optimize and minimize the adjustments.
US08046087B2 Electronic controller for power converter and motor drive circuit
The electronic controller fetches an external signal and performs an input process such as A-D conversion. Upon receipt of processing results for executing operations according to a predetermined program, an output process is performed for sending a signal to the outside board on operation results, a timer outputs at least two of an input process start signal for starting the input process, an output process start signal for starting the output process, and an operation start signal for starting the operation.
US08046086B2 Methods and systems for batch processing and execution in a process system
A system and method for implementing a control process within a process control system and resolving inconsistencies during execution of the control process includes loading the logical structure of the control process, loading a plurality of instantiation objects or processes when the control process is instantiated, using the instantiation objects to instantiate a procedural element of the control process as the control process calls for the procedural element during execution, executing the procedural element as part of the control process, and deconstructing the procedural element as execution of the procedural element is completed during execution of the control process. Resolution of inconsistencies includes executing a first model of an entity in a controller, executing a second model of the entity in an execution engine, detecting a difference between the models, generating a prompt and receiving an operation instruction to continue the process or abort the process.
US08046072B2 Prioritization of communications from medical devices
Device data is generated at each medical device in a system including a plurality of medical devices. Priority information is dynamically assigned to the device data at each medical device based on the character of the device data. The device data and the priority information are transmitted from each medical device. Interfering communications of device data and priority information from multiple medical devices are processed successively based on the priority information.
US08046067B2 Methods and apparatus for detecting ventricular depolarizations during atrial pacing
AV synchronous, dual chamber pacing systems are disclosed having improved sensing of ectopic ventricular depolarizations or PVCs coincidentally occurring at or shortly following delivery of an A-PACE pulse. A first ventricular sense amplifier that is blanked during and following delivery of an A-PACE pulse is coupled to active and indifferent ventricular pace/sense electrodes defining a ventricular sense vector for sensing natural ventricular depolarizations and declaring a V-EVENT. A far field PVC sense amplifier coupled to a far field PVC sense electrode pair defining a PVC sense vector detects such PVCs while the ventricular sense amplifier is blanked. A PVC declared during the ventricular blanking period by the far field PVC sense amplifier is employed to deliver a VSP pulse upon time-out of a VSP delay, if the VSP function is provided and programmed ON, and/or to halt time-out of an AV delay.
US08046039B2 Mobile terminal and case for mobile terminal
A case of a mobile terminal includes a user input unit, a controller for manipulating an input signal, an interface for transmitting the manipulated input signal and protects a mobile terminal. As the case of the mobile terminal provides an additional user input, this allows a user to control each function of the mobile terminal with user friendly manner, or to input data efficiently, and to improve a design quality of the mobile terminal.
US08046031B2 Mobile communication terminal and method for controlling broadcast program
A mobile communication terminal and method of controlling a broadcast program are disclosed, by which the inability to view or record a reserved broadcast program is prevented and by which information related to the availability of a reserved broadcast program for viewing or recording with reference to a battery capacity can be provided to a user in real time.
US08046030B2 Methods, devices and computer program products for operating mobile devices responsive to user input through movement thereof
A mobile device having first and second modes of operation is operated responsive to detection of a predefined localized movement of a housing of the mobile device using a sensor associated therewith. The detected predefined localized movement is associated with first and second functions of the mobile device responsive to a user input assigning the detected predefined localized movement thereto. A first device function is performed responsive to detection of the predefined localized movement in the first mode of operation, and a second device function is performed responsive to detection of the predefined localized movement in the second mode of operation. A predetermined delay time may also be associated with the predefined localized movement, and the first and/or second functions may be performed at the predetermined delay time after detecting the predefined localized movement.
US08046028B2 Mobile station transmitting feedback signals
A mobile communication apparatus that utilizes multiple base station/mobile station antennas and a mobile communication method performed therein are provided. The mobile communication apparatus includes a base station having at least two antennas and at least two mobile stations having at least one antenna, respectively. The base station restores weight information and channel status information from feedback signals received from the mobile stations, determines downlink investigation information that results in maximum transmission channel capacity based on the restored weight information and channel status information, selects mobile stations for simultaneous transmission based on the downlink investigation information, and processes data to be transmitted to the selected mobile stations based on the downlink investigation information.
US08046026B2 Portable communications terminal having camera assembly with two cameras
A first camera equipped for a video telephony and a second camera configured for capturing still or video images are combined into one assembly. The assembly is interconnected with a flexible printed circuit board then assembled into and connected with a portable communications terminal body. The assembly is configured for efficient integration with the terminal and saves assembly time and manufacturing costs.
US08045995B2 Centralized location broker
A centralized location system includes a location update application programming interface (API) to receive varying types of location inputs for a user from at least one location-providing application. A memory stores a location of the user and the location inputs, wherein the location update API periodically updates in the memory the location inputs when location updates are received from the at least one location-providing application. A location export API, upon request from a location-based service application, processes the location inputs to estimate a location of the user, which location estimate replaces the stored location in memory and is sent to the location-based service application. A user interface enables the user to specify a location granularity for at least one of the at least one location-providing application and the location-based service application.
US08045991B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving common channel in a cellular wireless communication system supporting scalable bandwidth
A method is provided for transmitting a common channel in a cellular communication system that supports a scalable system bandwidth and uses multiple access technology. The transmission method includes determining a system bandwidth of a cell by comparing a reception bandwidth of User Equipments (UEs) located in the cell with the system bandwidth; mapping a first synchronous channel (SCH) sequence to a central band of a system band, which has a bandwidth which is greater than or equal to a minimum bandwidth required for detecting an SCH; if the system bandwidth is greater than twice the reception bandwidth, additionally mapping second SCH sequences to bands having the minimum bandwidth, each of which is spaced from the central band by a predetermined interval; and transmitting to the UEs located in the cell a signal in the frequency domain to which at least one of the first SCH sequence and the second SCH sequences is mapped.
US08045990B2 Maintenance of channel usage in a wireless communication system
Data is accessed from a network via a wireless communication link. A determination is made as to whether payload data has been received from a subscriber's terminal. If so, then a request is sent for a first set of traffic channels, and the payload data is transmitted over the first set of traffic channels.
US08045987B2 Radio network controller peer-to-peer exchange of user equipment measurement information
A drifting wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) has an associated drift radio network controller (D-RNC) and an associated servicing radio network controller (S-RNC). The D-RNC sends a request message to the S-RNC requesting measurements of the drifting WTRU. The S-RNC receives the request message and sends an information message with the requested measurements to the D-RNC. The D-RNC receives the information message.
US08045978B2 Apparatus and method for managing tool kit menu of portable terminal in roaming condition
Provided are an apparatus and method for managing a tool kit menu of a portable terminal in a roaming condition. The method includes updating, by a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) tool kit module, location information based on broadcast information from the roaming network, creating, by the SIM tool kit module, a location event status based on the location information, providing, by the SIM tool kit module, the location event status to a SIM card module, updating, by the SIM card module, the tool kit menu based on the location event status, and providing the tool kit menu, by the SIM card module, to the SIM tool kit module.
US08045974B2 Method and system for mobile IP-nodes in heterogeneous networks
A method for establishing an optimized communication link between mobile network nodes. An interface management module of a first mobile network node checks the mobile network node for available network interfaces and establishes a look-up table with the available network interfaces. Based on the look-up table at least one signalling channel is set up for configuration data with communication parameters and/or security parameters via one of the available network interfaces with a second mobile network node. Based on the look-up table with the communication parameters and the security parameters at least one data channel is established between the first mobile network node and the second mobile network node. Both the at least one signalling channel and the at least one data channel are able to be set up via one or more network interfaces.
US08045958B2 System and method for application program operation on a wireless device
Embodiments described herein address mobile devices with non-secure operating systems that do not provide a sufficient security framework. More particularly, the embodiments described herein provide a set of applications to the device for providing security features to the non-secure operating system.
US08045951B2 Dual-LO mixer and radio
A dual-LO mixer is disclosed. The dual-LO mixer receives an input signal, a first reference signal of a first reference frequency, and a second reference signal of a second reference frequency, and performs a frequency translation to convert the input signal into an output signal, wherein the frequency difference between the input signal and the output signal is a sum or a difference of the first reference frequency and the second reference frequency.
US08045950B2 Mixer circuit, receiving circuit, transmitting circuit, and method for operating a mixer circuit
A mixing circuit is provided that includes a charge circuit, an oscillating circuit inlet step which is connected to a circuit which feeds an oscillating signal, and a signal inlet step. The oscillating circuit inlet step comprises at least two bipolar-transistors and the emitters thereof are connected to a constant potential which is independent from the oscillating signal. The mixing circuit is used, preferably, in a base station or a mobile radio device of a cellular radio network.
US08045948B2 Receiving apparatus, program and receiving method
A receiving apparatus includes a receiving portion to receive a radio signal generated based on one baseband signal of a baseband signal having a prescribed frequency band and a baseband signal having a partial frequency band being a part of the prescribed frequency band, a signal processing portion to generate the baseband signal by converting a frequency of the radio signal, a filter portion to output a plurality of partial signals, each having a frequency component of each partial frequency band extracted from the baseband signal generated by the signal processing portion, and an analysis portion to analyze characteristics of each partial signal of the plurality of partial signals output from the filter portion.
US08045934B2 Support plate and mobile communication terminal having the same
A support plate includes a plate body, which has a shape of a flat plate with predetermined width and length and made of metal, and a radio coverage area member, which is provided at one of opposite ends of the plate body so as to be located adjacent to a radio coverage area of an antenna and made of plastic. Further, a mobile communication terminal has the support plate that supports a mobile communication terminal body on which at least one antenna is installed and transmits and receives radio waves through the antenna.
US08045930B2 Tag frequency control
A communication system comprising one or more transceiver units of a first type and one or more transceiver units of a second type capable of communicating with the transceiver units of the first type; each transceiver unit of the first type comprising: a frequency comparison unit for comparing the frequency of a signal received from a transceiver unit of the second type with a reference frequency; a feedback signal generator for generating a feedback signal dependent on the result of that comparison; and a transmitter for transmitting that signal to the transceiver unit of the second type; and each transceiver unit of the second type comprising: a local frequency reference unit on which the frequency of signals transmitted by it are dependent; and a frequency adjustment unit for receiving the feedback signal and adjusting the local frequency reference unit in dependence on the feedback signal.
US08045925B2 Wireless communication system and intermediate frequency signal loss compensation circuit thereof
An exemplary intermediate frequency (IF) signal loss compensation circuit for an outdoor unit of a communication system includes a sending circuit, a detection circuit, a receiving circuit, and a control circuit. The detection circuit detects in substantially real-time the loss of signal transmitted via a cable from the indoor to the outdoor unit, and transmits loss signal to the control circuit. The control circuit compares the loss signal with a pre-stored signal to determine the loss and then, the control circuit gives loss signals of the sending circuit a variable gain compensation according to the loss. The control circuit also gives loss signals of the receiving circuit a variable gain compensation in advance. The IF signal loss compensation circuit can detect the IF signal loss in substantially real-time, giving the IF signal a variable gain compensation for the loss.
US08045913B2 Fastening device for optional tray of an image forming apparatus, an optional tray, and an image forming apparatus
An optional tray fastening device of an image forming apparatus, for providing a fastening connection between an optional receiving tray moving in and out with respect to a main body of the image forming apparatus and the main body when mounting the optional tray to a lower part of the main body, includes a fastening depression formed at a lower part of the main body; a connection boss that protrudes from an upper part of the optional tray to be inserted in the fastening depression; and a key member that restrains escape of the connection boss from the fastening depression.
US08045901B2 Sealing member, toner accommodating container and image forming apparatus
A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a main body for containing toner, a toner discharging portion having an opening, and a coupling member. The coupling member includes an extended portion. The extended portion includes an engaging projection. The engaging projection is configured and positioned to displace in an inward direction with the extended portion as the engaging projection enters a hollow cylindrical driving member of an assembly of the image forming apparatus, and is also configured and positioned to engage with a slot of the hollow cylindrical driving member when the extended portion elastically restores in an outward direction. The engaging projection includes a tapered surface portion configured and positioned to receive a force for displacing in the inward direction with the extended portion as the engaging projection enters the hollow cylindrical driving member, and a side surface portion.
US08045900B2 Developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus that house a developing agent for forming an image
A developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus, have transport members with screw and shaft portions, transporting developer within the device in a longitudinal direction of a circulation path. A supply supplies new carrier to the device. A discharge aperture in a transport path wall of one transport member discharges developer outside the circulation path, when a surface of the developer transported by the one transport member exceeds a predetermined height. A bias path aperture in the transport path wall upstream of the discharge aperture has a bottom at a higher level than a bottom of the discharge aperture, and diverts developer at a level higher than the bottom of the discharge aperture to another transport member. An area in the longitudinal direction of the one transport member has no screw portion, and the discharge aperture is disposed opposite the area and has a length smaller than the area.
US08045885B2 Processing unit for image forming apparatus
According to an embodiment of the invention, slide rails guided by guide rails of a body frame are provided on an EPU frame. A slidable bolt is provided on a belt unit frame. When the belt unit is attached to or removed from the body frame, the bolt is fitted into an insertion port of the EPU frame and the EPU frame is connected with the belt unit frame. The slide rails of the EPU frame are used to integrally attach and remove the belt unit and the EPU to and from the body frame.
US08045883B2 Photosensitive-member unit and image forming apparatus
A pressing member applies a pressing force to a trailing end in a direction which intersects a predetermined reference direction, allowing the pressing force to have both a first component in the predetermined reference direction and a second component perpendicular to the predetermined reference direction. A trailing end is pressed in the predetermined reference direction by the first component. In the mounted state, the leading end is in contact with the reference member at two contact surfaces including a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The first contact surface defines a first positioning direction being perpendicular to the first contact surface and intersecting the predetermined reference direction. The second contact surface defines a second positioning direction being perpendicular to the second contact surface and intersecting both the predetermined reference direction and the first positioning direction, allowing the photosensitive-member unit to be positioned with respect to the main body.
US08045872B2 Image-forming apparatus containing electrophotographic system and image-forming method
An image-forming apparatus includes: an optical sensor that includes a light source unit which applies light having a light-emission main wavelength λ to a peripheral face of an image-supporting member, and a light-receiving unit which receives a reflected light thereof, so as to optically detect a toner pattern formed on a peripheral face of the image-supporting member, wherein the image-supporting member has at least one thin-film layer formed on the peripheral face thereof, and the thickness of an outermost surface thin-film layer is set so as to allow a reflectance function R(d) that indicates the relationship between a reflectance R of the peripheral face of the image-supporting member to light having a light-emission main wavelength λ from the light source unit and a thickness d (nm) of the outermost surface thin-film layer of the image-supporting member to satisfy: R(d)≧0.75×{Rmax(d)−Rmin(d)}+Rmin(d).
US08045868B2 Recording material determination apparatus and image forming apparatus
A recording material determination apparatus includes a first detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a surface condition of a recording material based on a captured image of a surface of the recording material, a second detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a grammage of the recording material based on an ultrasonic wave detected via the recording material by irradiating the recording material with an ultrasonic wave, and a conveyance unit configured to convey the recording material. The first detection unit and the second detection unit are located opposite each other with respect to the conveyance unit.
US08045866B2 Hard imaging methods, liquid marking agent monitoring methods, and hard imaging devices
Hard Imaging Methods, Liquid Marking Agent Monitoring Methods, and Hard Imaging Devices are described. According to one embodiment, a hard imaging method includes forming a plurality of latent images using a hard imaging device, using the hard imaging device, developing the latent images using a liquid marking agent, wherein bubbles are present in the liquid marking agent during the developing, calibrating the hard imaging device, and reducing bubbles present in the liquid marking agent during the calibrating compared with the bubbles present in the liquid marking agent during the developing. Additional embodiments are described in the disclosure.
US08045857B2 Optical switching device, optical access network, optical switching method, program, and recording medium
In an optical access network using an optical switching device, a 2×1 optical splitter in the uplink and downlink directions is eliminated to extend the transmission distance between the OLT and the ONU. An optical switching device includes a downlink optical switch element for switching a downlink optical signal sent by an OLT, an uplink optical switch element for switching an uplink optical signal sent by a plurality of ONU, an O/E for converting a downlink optical signal to a first electrical signal, an E/O for converting the first electrical signal to a downlink optical signal and inputting the downlink optical signal to the downlink optical element, an O/E for converting an uplink optical signal output from the uplink optical switch element to a second electrical signal, and an E/O for converting the second electrical signal to an uplink optical signal and sending the uplink optical signal to the OLT.
US08045856B2 Polarization mode dispersion compensation and polarization demultiplexing systems and methods for optical transmission systems
The present disclosure provides polarization mode dispersion compensation (PMDC) and polarization de-multiplexing systems and methods for polarization multiplexed (PolMux) optical transmission systems. The PMDC detects an error signal before a polarization splitter in PolMux systems for controlling polarization controllers (PC) and/or DGDs in the PMDC for return-to-zero (RZ) differential m-phase shift keying (DmPSK) signals. For bit-aligned PolMux systems, the error signal could be the level of clock frequency at one, two, or more times of the baud rate at one polarization. For bit-interleaved PolMux systems, the error signal could be the level of clock frequency at two times of the baud rate at one polarization. The PMDC can operate in PolMux systems with any arbitrary time offset between the two polarizations. The polarization de-multiplexer utilizes error detection at both output arms of a polarization splitter to mitigate PDL impact on any PolMux type of signal.
US08045854B2 M×N wavelength selective optical switch
A M×N wavelength selective optical switch (WSS) for switching K wavelength channels is disclosed. The WSS has two MEMS micromirror arrays, a M×K array and a 1×N array, for switching any wavelength channel from any input port to any output port, provided that any output port receives optical signals from only one input port. The WSS can be used to build fully reconfigurable, colorless and directionless node of an agile optical network.
US08045843B2 Method for recording a digital broadcast program and time-based playback of a recorded broadcast program and apparatus therefor
A method and apparatus for receiving and recording a digital broadcast program and reproducing a recorded digital broadcast program with time-based trick play features. While recording a broadcast program on a storage medium, the apparatus creates an index file regarding random access points of the program. Receiving a request for a jump or trick play operation given in terms of time, the apparatus detects the time interval between each of the random access points based on the created file. Referring to the time interval, the apparatus determines the position to be reached by the jump and begins playback from the position or determines the number of access points to be skipped for the trick play and begins the requested trick play by skipping random access points by the number, thereby providing a user-friendly interface having time-based trick play features.
US08045838B2 Video viewing apparatus, video play back control method, and recording/play back program
According to one embodiment of the present invention, an instructor's exercise image data is compared with a user's exercise image data. A personal video of a viewer who is viewing a master video is acquired by an imaging module. An image motion period determination module determines a series of image motion periods of the master video and the personal video. A motion characteristic amount acquisition module acquires motion characteristic amounts from image motion parts. A motion characteristic amount comparison module compares a motion characteristic amount of the maser video with that of the personal video. A storage module stores information corresponding to a frame having a large difference in motion characteristic amount. A disclosure module reproduces the frames of the master video and the personal video based on the stored information at the time of play back and outputs the reproduced frames.
US08045834B2 Silica-on-silicon waveguides and related fabrication methods
True time delay silica waveguides and related fabrication methods are disclosed. Also disclosed are true time delay silica waveguides comprising wedged silica structures.
US08045831B2 Two dimensional fiber collimator array with high return loss
A lens system includes a body member holding at least one micro lens array. The micro lens array has a first surface with a plurality of micro lenses arranged in a row and a second surface opposing the first surface. The second surface is under an angle towards the first surface. Furthermore the lens system comprises either: (i) a plurality of ferrules enclosing end-portions of light waveguides, or (ii) a plurality of light waveguides without ferrules, wherein the ferrules or light waveguides are adhesively fastened in a spaced relationship from each other to the second surface of the micro lens array preferably by means of an adhesive, by bonding or by welding.
US08045828B2 Apparatus for processing images, and method and computer program product for detecting image updates
The address calculating unit calculates a virtual address of a page for each pixel of a rectangular region of a predetermined size that is included in a screen. The acquiring unit acquires a physical address in correspondence with the virtual address of each pixel of the image information for which writing is requested, in accordance with a conversion table. The writing unit writes the image information for which writing is requested at the acquired physical address. The detecting unit detects an updated portion of the image information the content of which does not match before and after the writing, in units of pages. The compressing unit compresses the image information of the updated portion that is detected.
US08045827B2 Image downsampling during processing
A method of preparing a document for printing may include determining a preferred image resolution for an image on a document. An electronic file may be received. The electronic file may comprise data representing a first embedded image having a nominal resolution. A job may be received. The job may comprise one or more operations to be performed on the electronic file. A computing device may determine an effective resolution for the first embedded image based on the nominal resolution and the one or more operations. It is determined whether the effective resolution for the first embedded image is greater than the preferred image resolution. The first embedded image may be downsampled based on a scaling factor. A printing device may process the job using the downsampled first embedded image.
US08045817B2 Method for improving image quality, and image signal processing apparatus and AV device using the same
A method for improving image quality, and an image signal processing apparatus and an AV device using the same are provided. In the method for improving image quality, processing image signals relating to improving the image quality can be adaptively performed based on the amount of movement of an input movie-image so that the image quality of the movie-image can be improved without breaking the image.
US08045813B2 Image encoding and decoding method and apparatus using motion compensation filtering
Provided are an image encoding method and apparatus for encoding image data, in which compression efficiency is further improved by filtering motion-compensated image data, thereby reducing errors with respect to original image data, and an image decoding method and apparatus for decoding encoded image data. A filter is generated using previously decoded surrounding pixels of a current frame and surrounding pixels of a reference frame, and prediction data is then filtered using the generated filter. Therefore, it is possible to decrease a size of residual data to be encoded.
US08045812B2 Method and system for initializing templates of moving objects
A method for tracking a moving object in a sequence of images is provided, comprising: partitioning each of said images of said sequence into blocks, identifying blocks which have moved between consecutive images of said sequence, grouping adjacent blocks, which have moved in a same direction by a same distance, into a first group of blocks, initializing an initial template for said moving object with said first group of blocks and tracking said template in said sequence of images. A corresponding system for tracking moving objects is presented as well.
US08045809B2 Image forming apparatus
In an image forming apparatus includes a quantization threshold value to convert input image data of an N value to output image data of an M value based on random dither processing. A flag to designate addition of a non-periodic component to a quantization threshold value can be set for each quantization threshold value and a threshold value that has a non-periodic component is added to the quantization threshold value based on a relation between a large and a small quantization threshold value in different threshold value levels with respect to any target pixel in the quantization threshold value.
US08045806B2 Method and device for identifying material boundaries of a test object
A method and a device determine material interfaces in a test object. The novel method generates three-dimensional image data of the test object or uses already existing three-dimensional image data of the test object. Image values of the image data are, or were, obtained by invasive radiation. An evaluation line for evaluating the image data relative to the test object is determined, a location of a material interface of the test object is determined by evaluating the image data of image values along the evaluation line so that the value of the first partial derivative of the image values in the direction of the evaluation line has a local maximum at the location of the material interface.
US08045796B2 Image processing device and image processing method performing color conversion processing using a lookup table
An image processing device that performs color conversion processing using a lookup table (LUT) includes an acquiring unit that acquires an emulation LUT for applying emulation of a gamut to a target device from a device in use, the emulation LUT being generated using a device-in-use LUT for performing correction corresponding to input and output characteristics of the device in use and a target device LUT for performing correction corresponding to input and output characteristics of the target device, and a converting unit that performs gamut conversion in performing the emulation using the emulation LUT acquired by the LUT acquiring unit.
US08045793B2 Stereo matching system and stereo matching method using the same
A stereo matching system and a stereo matching method using the same. Here, a Sum of Edge Differences (SED) method as a disparity estimation method utilizing edge information is added to a disparity estimation method utilizing a local method to perform stereo matching. As such, it is possible to correct false matching in a non-texture region generated when stereo matching is performed using only a local method, thereby enabling good stereo matching.
US08045792B2 Method and apparatus for controlling dynamic depth of stereo-view or multi-view sequence images
A method and an apparatus for controlling a dynamic depth of stereo-view or multi-view images. The method includes receiving stereo-view or multi-view images, generating a disparity histogram by estimating the disparity of two images corresponding to the received images and measuring the frequency of the estimated disparity, determining the disparity control amount of the stereo-view or multi-view images by convoluting the generated disparity histogram and a characteristic function, and rearranging stereo-view or multi-view input images by controlling parallax according to the control amount of parity.
US08045787B2 System for analyzing mask topography and method of forming image using the system
Provided are a system for analyzing a mask topography, which can reduce calculation time and increase calculation accuracy in consideration of a mask topography effect, and a method of forming an image using the system. The system and method simultaneously obtains a first electric field using a Kirchhoff method without considering a pitch formed on a mask and obtains a second electric field using an electromagnetic field analysis method considering the pitch, and then determines a third electric field on a pupil surface of a projection lens by combining the first electric field and the second electric field of forming an image, so as to calculate the image of an optical lithography system which includes an illumination system and a projection optical system and to which the projection lens belongs.
US08045783B2 Method for moving cell detection from temporal image sequence model estimation
A computerized robust cell kinetic recognition method for moving cell detection from temporal image sequence receives an image sequence containing a current image. A dynamic spatial-temporal reference generation is performed to generate dynamic reference image output. A reference based object segmentation is performed to generate initial object segmentation output. An object matching and detection refinement is performed to generate kinetic recognition results output. The dynamic spatial-temporal reference generation step performs frame look ahead and the reference images contain a reference intensity image and at least one reference variation image.
US08045771B2 System and method for automated patient anatomy localization
A method of imaging comprises performing a scout image of an object and aligning major regions of interest within the object by comparing the scout image with a pre-determined atlas image. In a further embodiment, a method of imaging using a computed tomography (CT) scanner is provided and comprises performing a scout image of a subject and aligning major anatomical regions of interest within the subject by comparing the scout image with a pre-determined atlas image. Further, an imaging system for us with a computed tomography (CT) imaging device is provided and comprises a processor configured to perform aligning major anatomical regions of interest within a subject by comparing a scout image with a pre-determined atlas image, and wherein the major anatomical regions are used for automated localization for Scan Range and/or Exam split.
US08045769B2 Planar angular visualization of the bronchial tree
A system (20) an image acquisition device, an image workstation, computer-readable medium and method for visualizing an anatomical tree structure is disclosed. The anatomical tree structure is segmented from a three-dimensional image set of at least a portion of a body. A planar angular visualization of the anatomical tree structure is then determined. The planar angular visualization of the anatomical tree structure is then displayed. Since the displayed anatomical tree structure has no occlusions or intersections of segments, the anatomical tree is much easier to read which facilitates subsequent automated or manual diagnosis of the tree for anomalies.
US08045762B2 Surveying method, surveying system and surveying data processing program
There are provided a step of acquiring a main point cloud data on a predetermined measurement range by a laser scanner, a step of detecting a range with no data acquired, a step of acquiring a supplementary image data of the range with no data acquired by an auxiliary image pickup device, a step of preparing a stereoscopic image based on the supplementary image data obtained by the auxiliary image pickup device, a step of acquiring supplementary point cloud data from the stereoscopic image, and a step of supplementing the range with no data acquired of the main point cloud data by matching of the main point cloud data and the supplementary point cloud data.
US08045758B2 Conduct inference apparatus
In a conduct inference process, feature points are extracted from a capture image. The extracted feature points are collated with conduct inference models to select conduct inference models in each of which an accordance ratio between a target vector and a movement vector is within a tolerance. Among the selected conduct inference models, one conduct inference model in which a distance from a relative feature point to a return point is shortest is selected. Then, a specific conduct designated in the selected conduct inference model is tentatively determined as a specific conduct the driver intends to perform. Furthermore, based on the tentatively determined specific conduct, it is determined whether the specific conduct is probable. When it is determined that the specific conduct is probable, an alarm process is executed to output an alarm to the driver.
US08045751B2 Information outputting device, information outputting method, computer readable recording medium, and image projecting system
Provided is a device that records or outputs information, which acquires a first image to be a display target, judges whether at least a part of the acquired first image is a preset non-target image, and determines whether the acquired first image is an image to be recorded or output. When it is determined that the acquired first image is the image to be recorded or output as a result of the determination, the device records or outputs the acquired first image.
US08045750B2 Card identifying apparatus
A card identifying apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention has a light-receiving portion that reads a card on a pixel basis of a predetermined area as a unit including color information having brightness, RAM that stores image data comprised of a plurality of pixels read by the light-receiving portion, an image data thinning processing section that makes the number of read pixels lower in another direction than in one direction to vary the number of pixels of the image data when the reading means reads the card, and an judgment processing section that identifies authentication of the card based on the image data varied by the image data thinning processing section.
US08045749B2 Embedding location data in video
Digital watermarking or steganographic data hiding is used to convey location data in video. A digital watermark or steganographic signal may associate geovector or geolocation information with video, video objects or areas depicted in the video. Other implementations and combinations are provided as well.
US08045744B2 Door speaker enclosure with integral water barrier and hardware attachment
A door speaker box includes an enclosure member and speaker operatively attached thereto, such that they define an acoustic volume, into which the speaker communicates. The enclosure member and speaker are configured to be installed as a speaker box unit in the vehicle door, such that speaker box unit seals the door against moisture passage into the vehicle interior. A flange integrally formed in the enclosure member extends substantially around a portion thereof and is configured to seal against such moisture passage. A hardware mounting surface may be integrally formed in the enclosure member, and configured to receive and support a door hardware component. The flange may further define and enclose the acoustic volume, and may be configured to seal multiple access holes in the inner panel, such that the door is characterized by an absence of rain paper or other dedicated water barrier.
US08045743B2 Seat electroacoustical transducing
An acoustic device, including an acoustic enclosure and a first electroacoustical transducing apparatus comprising a motor structure providing mechanical vibration, the vibration having a direction of vibration, mounted in the acoustic enclosure. The acoustic device is constructed and arranged so that first pressure waves are radiated from a first radiation point and second pressure waves are radiated from a second radiation point and so that the first pressure waves and the second pressure waves destructively interfere at observation points relatively equidistant from the first and second radiation points. The acoustic device is further constructed and arranged to be structurally combined with a seating device so that the first radiation point is relatively close to the head of an occupant of the seating device and so that the second radiation point is relatively far from the head of the occupant. The acoustic device is further constructed and arranged to transmit the mechanical vibration to the seat back.
US08045742B2 Audio headphone provided with device to prevent audio feedback
An ear muff used with a headset containing two ear muffs. Both of the ear muffs are provided with a loudspeaker and a microphone for sensing ambient noise. An active noise reduction (ANR) circuitry is utilized to cancel the ambient noise. An immobile or inflexible disc is provided within each ear muff for preventing the change of dimensions of an enclosure which includes the loudspeaker and microphone, thereby preventing audio feedback.
US08045741B2 Boundary microphone
A boundary microphone, comprising: a base made of a metal; a cover made of a metal having a plurality of holes for introducing sound waves; and internal components including a microphone unit that is disposed in an internal space enclosed by the base and the cover; a first metallic part disposed on one side of the upper and lower sides of the internal components; and a second metallic part, which is disposed on other side of the upper and lower sides of the internal components and which encloses the internal components along with the first metallic part from all directions, are provided, wherein the base, the cover, the first metallic part, and the second metallic part are alternately overlapped at their peripheral portions, and wherein at least one of the first metallic part and the second metallic part is made of a metallic mesh.
US08045713B2 Cryptographic key update management method and apparatus
A method and apparatus is provided for consolidating cryptographic key updates, the consolidated update information enabling, for example, a returning member of a secure group who has been offline, to recover the current group key, at least in most cases. The unconsolidated key updates each comprise an encrypted key, corresponding to a node of a key hierarchy, that has been encrypted using a key which is a descendant of that node. The key updates are used to maintain a key tree with nodes in this tree corresponding to nodes in the key hierarchy. Each node of the key tree is used to store, for each encrypting key used in respect of the encrypted key associated with the node, the most up-to-date version of the encrypted key with any earlier versions being discarded. The key tree, or a subset of the tree, is then provided to group members.
US08045709B2 Digital broadcasting conditional access terminal and method
A mobile communication terminal for efficient digital broadcasting conditional access and a method of the mobile communication terminal. The mobile communication terminal includes a digital broadcasting receiver for receiving a scrambled digital broadcasting transport stream, a Subscriber Identify Module (SIM) card unit for generating a decoding key for descrambling the scrambled digital broadcasting transport stream, a multimedia unit for extracting from the scrambled digital broadcasting transport stream broadcasting viewing restriction information and broadcasting viewing entitlement information and descrambling the scrambled digital broadcasting transport stream using the decoding key generated by the smart card unit, and a controller for transmitting to the smart card unit the broadcasting viewing restriction information and broadcasting viewing entitlement information extracted by the multimedia unit in a digital broadcasting reception mode to control the smart card unit to generate the decoding key and transmitting the decoding key generated by the smart card unit to the multimedia unit.
US08045702B2 Multi-path active hybrid circuit
A hybrid circuit for a full-duplex transceiver includes a two-to-four wire ratio converter (50, Z1, Z2) for forwarding a transmitted signal TX′ on a transmission line (41) in response to an input signal TX. The ratio converter also produces a signal RXA in response to a received signal RX arriving on the transmission line, wherein signal RXA includes an echo of input signal TX. A passive filter (H1) and a first active filter (H2) each filter input signal TX to generate signals TXA and TXB summed with the RXA signal to form a signal RXB at the input of an amplifier (52, Z3, Z4) producing an output signal RXC. A second active filter (H3) filters input signal TX to generate a signal TXC summed with the RXC signal to produce the output signal RX. The impedance of the passive filter is designed so that when the transmission line has a target impedance, such as the impedance of an ideal twisted pair, the TXA output signal of the passive filter adequately offsets the TX signal echo in RXA. A control circuit monitors the residual echo in the output signal and, when the transmission line impedance varies from its target value so that the passive filter alone cannot provide adequate echo cancellation, the control circuit turns on the first and/or second active filters to provide additional echo cancellation. The frequency responses of the active filters are adjustable to accommodate a variety of transmission line impedances.
US08045697B1 Method and apparatus for interfacing a customer with a call center
A method and apparatus for interfacing a customer with a call center allows information obtained from a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag to be transmitted to the call center to provide additional information about the customer and allow the session to be routed within the call center more accurately. The call center may be accessed by telephone, computer, or via another type of customer premises equipment over a voice or data network. The RFID tag may be an identification tag provided to the customer for access to the call center or may be a tag associated with the customer and not specific to the call center. The call center may route calls based on routing information contained in the RFID tag information, customer identity and previous sessions with that customer, personal and demographic information and statistical support records for other sessions involving customers with similar personal and demographic information, and according to agent statistical support records.
US08045695B2 System for determining active copresence of users during interactions
A system is described for determining the active copresence of users during interactions. The system may include a processor, a memory, and an interface. The memory may store a degree of active copresence. The interface may communicate with a user. The processor may identify a primary interaction of the user. The processor may determine whether the user engages in a secondary interaction while the user is engaged in the primary interaction. The processor may determine the degree of active copresence of the user during the primary interaction based on a quality score of the primary interaction and a quality score of the secondary interaction. The degree of active copresence may represent the level of engagement of the user during the primary interaction. The processor may provide the degree of active copresence to the user via the interface.
US08045689B2 Method and system for call screening
A method of screening a call from a calling party to a called party, the calling party being connected to a communication network through a first line, the called party being connected to said communication network through a second line, includes sending a notification to a screening terminal which is connected to the communication network through a third line other than the second line when a voice message is being recorded by the calling party in a voice mailbox associated with the called party.
US08045686B2 System and method for providing a backup-restore solution for active-standby service management systems
The preferred embodiments described herein include a system and method for providing a backup-restore solution for active-standby service management systems. In one embodiment, a telecommunication system is disclosed having first and second service management systems (SMS), a storage device shared by the first and second SMSs and circuitry operative to provide backup/restore functionality. This provides system redundancy in that the second SMS can perform the same functions as the first SMS in the event that the first SMS is unavailable due to, for example, system failures, a scheduled maintenance, or an upgrade process. Other embodiments are provided, and each of the embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.
US08045674B2 Method and system for use of TSPC logic for high-speed multi-modulus divider in PLL
Aspects of a method and system for use of true single phase clock (TSPC) logic for a high-speed multi-modulus divider in a phase locked loop (PLL) are provided. A fractional-N PLL synthesizer may comprise a divider that generates a divider signal from a VCO output reference signal. The divider may comprise at least one divider stage that utilizes true single phase clock (TSCP) logic D flip-flops. The first divider stage may operate at substantially the same frequency as that of the VCO signal. The divider may also re-synchronize the VCO signal and the divider signal by using at least two re-synchronization stages that utilize a TSCP logic D flip-flop and a stage for adjusting duty-duty cycle of the divider signal. The TSCP logic D flip-flops circuitry may be integrated with a two-input NAND gate or a three-input NAND gate to speed up the operation of the divider.
US08045667B2 Deserializer and data recovery method
A deserializer including a plurality of registers, a sync detector, and a lost bit storage unit. If there is a phase difference between an external input data packet and a recovery clock signal transmitted together with the data packet, the sync detector generates an activated sync detect signal. The lost bit storage unit detects a data bit of the data packet corresponding to an activation point of the sync detect signal. The deserializer recovers the data packet by combining the detected data bit with the data packet.
US08045664B2 Clock data recovery device
A clock/data recovery device 1 comprises a sampler 10, a detector 20, an offset determination part 30, a clock output part 40, and a DA converter 50. The phases of clock signals CK and CKX are adjusted so as to match with the phase of an input digital signal. An offset amount (±Voff) added in the sampler 10 is adjusted so as to match with a peak time of a data transition time distribution of a first signal in a case where a value D(n−1) is HIGH level, and is adjusted so as to match with a peak time of a data transition time distribution of a second signal in a case where the value D(n−1) is LOW level. Either of the clock signals CK and CKX is outputted as the recovered clock signal. Time series data of a digital value D(n) is outputted as the recovered data.
US08045661B2 System and method for blind identification of multichannel finite impulse response filters using an iterative structured total least-squares technique
A system for, and method of, blind identification of multichannel finite impulse response filters. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a decomposition generator configured to construct, from noisy symbols containing data, a block-Hankel structured matrix and a decomposition thereof, (2) an iterative matrix re-estimator coupled to the decomposition generator and configured iteratively to re-estimate singular vectors corresponding to a scalar that satisfies the block-Hankel matrix until a sufficient convergence occurs, (3) a structured low-rank estimate matrix generator coupled to the iterative matrix re-estimator and configured to generate a block-Hankel structured low-rank estimate matrix related to the block-Hankel structured matrix and (4) an STLS channel estimator coupled to the structured low-rank estimate matrix generator and configured to obtain STLS channel estimates from the block-Hankel structured low-rank estimate matrix.
US08045660B1 Wideband digital spectrometer
A method for reducing interference, comprising receiving a wideband signal, having at least one large amplitude component; adaptively modifying the wideband signal with respect to at least one high intensity component without substantial introduction of non-linear distortion, while reducing a residual dynamic range thereof; digitizing the modified wideband signal to capture information describing at least the high intensity signal at a sampling rate sufficient to extract modulated information present within the wideband signal at an upper limit of the band. The system analyzes a spectral characteristic of the wideband signal; and extracts adaptation parameters for the adaptive filtering. The system therefore provides both large net dynamic range and wideband operation. Preferably, the digitizer and filter, and part of the spectral characteristic analyzer is implemented in using superconducting circuit technology, with, for example low temperature superconducting digital signal processing components, and high temperature superconducting analog filtering components.
US08045647B2 Low power, high speed receiver circuit for use in a semiconductor integrated circuit
A receiver circuit according to the invention includes a first phase transmission unit that is synchronized with a first clock, detects input data according to a plurality of detection levels, and transmits a first output signal, a first discharging control unit that controls a second phase transmission unit in response to the first output signal and adjusts the transmission speed of the second phase transmission unit by changing a node potential where an output of the second phase transmission is determined, and the second phase transmission unit that is synchronized with a second clock, detects the input data according to an output of the first discharging control unit, and transmits a second output signal.
US08045646B2 Apparatus for estimating phase error and phase error correction system using the same
Provided are an apparatus for estimating a phase error and a phase error correcting system using the phase error estimating apparatus. The apparatus includes: a probability value estimating unit for estimating a negative log probability value for each transmission symbol by transforming a soft output information transferred from the outside to a log A posterior probability ratio (LAPPR) value; an APP value calculating unit for calculating a posterior probability (APP) value by applying a negative exponential function to the transmission symbol; an average value deciding unit for deciding an average value for each transmission symbol using the probability information entirely, partially, or selectively according to a probability information type; and a symbol phase estimating unit for estimating a phase of a symbol based on the decided average value.
US08045644B2 Mobile terminal, radio communication apparatus and radio communication method
A radio communication system that uses multiple antennas to transmit signals to a plurality of mobile terminals, and that measures the reception quality of each signal that is transmitted from each antenna on a transmitting side and received by the mobile terminal, determines a main antenna based on that reception quality for real-time communication, calculates multi-dimension correlation between the main antenna and other antennas, selects resources where the multi-dimension correlation is lower than a set value, feeds back data to the transmitting side indicating the main antenna, low correlation resources and reception qualities, designates antennas having resources of low correlation as diversity antennas, and performs diversity transmission from the transmitting side of signals to the mobile station using those diversity antennas and the main antenna.
US08045640B2 Two-level demodulation method and device
The invention relates to a method for demodulating information emitted by amplitude modulation with two levels by a reader (2) to a transponder (4), comprising a step to determine if this symbol is identical to or is different from the previous symbol, after each symbol.
US08045633B2 Estimation of length of channel impulse response
In a receiver for processing OFDM encoded signals, wherein the OFDM encoded digital signals are transmitted by means of a symbol in each of subcarrier frequency channels, with at least some of said subcarriers containing user data symbols, an initial estimate of a channel frequency response is formed from magnitudes of user data symbols received in those subcarriers. Then, a correlation function of a channel impulse response is estimated by performing an inverse Fourier transform on the initial estimate of the channel frequency response, and the length of the channel impulse response is estimated by examining peaks in the estimated correlation function of the channel impulse response.
US08045627B2 Method for reducing the crest factor
The invention relates to a method for reducing the crest factor of a data symbol to be transmitted in a multi-carrier data transmission system, in which the data symbol to be transmitted is a function of a multiplicity of signals provided within a predetermined data frame and each of these signals is allocated to a carrier, each carrier occupying in each case at least one frequency from a transmit data spectrum, at least one carrier being reserved which is not provided for the data transmission and the predetermined data frame exhibiting the data symbol and a prefix which is derived from a part of the data symbol, in which peak values within the prefix are also taken into consideration for reducing the crest factor.
US08045620B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method and computer readable medium
According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a vector calculation module, a major vector detection module, and an interpolation frame generation module. The vector calculation module calculates motion vectors of pixel blocks of a frame of moving picture data. The major vector detection module detects as a major vector, motion vectors with the same direction and the same magnitude which have the ratio of the number of the motion vectors with the same direction and the same magnitude to the number of the motion vectors of the frame, the ratio being greater than a predetermined value. The interpolation frame generation module generates an interpolation frame inserted between a processing frame and a preceding frame preceding the processing frame. The motion vector calculation module calculates the motion vectors based on the major vector corresponding to the preceding frame.
US08045618B2 Method and apparatus for MPEG-2 to VC-1 video transcoding
A method for transcoding from an MPEG-2 format to a VC-1 format is disclosed. The method generally comprises the steps of (A) decoding an input video stream in the MPEG-2 format to generate a picture; (B) determining a mode indicator for the picture; and (C) coding the picture into an output video stream in the VC-1 format using one of (i) a VC-1 field mode coding and (ii) a VC-1 frame mode coding as determined from the mode indicator.
US08045608B2 Adaptive equalization employing pattern recognition
In described embodiments, an adaptive equalizer employed by a receiver in a communication channel, such as Fibre Channel, employs pattern recognition. When a repeating pattern, such as an IDLE or ARBFF pattern, is employed by a standard to, for example, maintain a communication link, an equalizer of the receiver might adaptively set its equalizer parameters based on characteristics of the signal energy of the repeating pattern rather than adaptively set its equalizer parameters based on characteristics of the signal energy of generally random user data carried on the link. Pattern recognition by the receiver allows for maintaining adaptive equalizer parameters at settings preferred for data detection of the typical random data, improving data detection performance of the receiver when the channel transitions from a preset or synchronization repeating pattern to a user random data pattern.
US08045594B2 Surface-emitting external cavity laser device
A surface-emitting extended cavity laser with intracavity frequency conversion is provided with at least one surface-emitting laser element with multiple layers to obtain laser light at a fundamental frequency, reflector means, spaced from the laser element to form an external cavity, a frequency conversion device, arranged within the external cavity to generate light at a second frequency and tunable optical band-pass filter means, arranged within the external cavity and detector means, where said optical band-pass filter means are tunable upon a signal, which is obtained by the detector means to enable a frequency control at the fundamental frequency.
US08045593B2 Method of controlling a frequency-converted laser source comprising an external optical feedback component
A method of controlling a frequency-converted laser source is provided where the laser source comprises a laser cavity, an external optical feedback component, a wavelength selective component, and a wavelength conversion device and the method comprises driving a gain section of the laser cavity with a gain signal that comprises a data component and a modulation component. The modulation component of the gain signal comprises a gain modulation amplitude IMOD that is sufficient to shift the available cavity modes in the spectral domain such that lasing at several different cavity modes sequentially is established as the gain signal is modulated.
US08045578B2 Method for controlling event and reporting status of cable modem and apparatus thereof
Provided is a method and apparatus for controlling an event of a cable modem and reporting a status of the cable modem, the method including: determining whether to periodically allocate a transmission bandwidth of a CM-STATUS message with respect to an event occurrence of the cable modem; setting an event control encoding that includes information regarding whether to periodically allocate the transmission bandwidth; and generating a MAC Domain Descriptor (MDD) message containing the event control encoding to transmit the generated MDD message.
US08045574B2 Contention protocols for wireless medium access in communication networks
Wireless medium access in a communication network having a number of terminals is controlled by defining protocol message units for transmission by a given terminal which units correspond to operational states of at least one of the terminal and the medium. A number of time slots are allocated for transmission of packets from each terminal, and a number of contention opportunities are defined at the beginning of each time slot. Priority and backoff mechanisms are defined and applied at each terminal during the contention opportunities in the slots. Packets are then transmitted by the terminal within the slots while (1) minimizing the occurrence of empty slots at times when packets are available for transmission, and (2) minimizing the number of slots during which two or more packets are detected on the medium simultaneously at the terminal.
US08045573B2 Bit ordering for packetised serial data transmission on an integrated circuit
An on-chip integrated circuit interconnect 16 uses a serialization technique to divide a transaction to be transmitted into a sequence of transmission packets which are serially transmitted over a narrower connection. The order in which bits of the transaction are allocated to transmission packets is selected such that higher priority bits required by a receiving slave device in order that it can commence processing the transaction are sent first. This reduces the latency of the system.
US08045570B2 Extended private LAN
A virtual private network is provided across a Provider Link State Bridging (PLSB) network between a first node connected to a private LAN and a second node connected to a roaming device. The roaming device is authenticated. A successful authentication results in a Service Identifier for the VPN being sent to the second node. Connectivity between members of the VPN service instance is maintained as part of the PLSB Link State process for forwarding table maintenance, rather than by any form of explicit signalling. A single Customer Virtual Bridge/Virtual Switch Instance can be located at the first node to provide point-to-point connectivity to each roaming device. A virtual Residential Gateway function can be combined with the Customer Virtual Bridge/Virtual Switch Instance.
US08045569B1 Mechanism to verify packet data network support for internet protocol mobility
An access router includes a wireless network interface, an address assignment module, and an availability module. The wireless network interface establishes a wireless link with a wireless terminal. The address assignment module determines a list of packet data networks for use by the wireless terminal. The availability module determines a mobile internet protocol availability for each packet data network in the list of packet data networks and generates an availability signal based on each mobile internet protocol availability. The address assignment module transmits an address assignment message that includes the availability signal to the wireless terminal.
US08045567B2 Intermediary network system and method for facilitating message exchange between wireless networks
Network System and Method for facilitating message exchange between mobile subscribers belonging to the same or different public land mobile networks, possibly incorporating different standards. Message exchange between two subscribers of the same or different networks may involve one or more lookups on subscription data, zero or more message transformations, one or more routing decisions including application of costing functions, and, storage and propagation of the message in one or more Core or Intermediary networks. The messages may be of type, among others, SMS (Short Message Service), MMS (Multimedia Message Service), or EMAIL.
US08045559B2 Datagram relaying apparatus with load distributing function
A datagram relaying apparatus includes a plurality of protocol terminating units, and a destination determining processor. The destination determining processor includes a path selecting section which determines a transfer destination route for a stream of packets received from any of the protocol terminating units. The path selecting section determines whether or not transfer of the received stream of packets to the transfer destination route is in an inhibition state, and selects another transfer destination route when the transfer of the packet to the transfer destination route is in the inhibition state.
US08045556B2 Apparatus and method for sending multicast packet in mobile digital broadcast system
Apparatus and method for sending a multicast packet in a mobile digital broadcast system are provided. The mobile digital broadcast system includes a broadcaster for indicating the designated recipient in an Internet Protocol (IP) header of a multicast packet and including a temporary IP address of the recipient in the IP header when multicasting data of a designated recipient; a receiver for providing the received multicast packet to an application program for outputting a digital broadcasting when the receiver joins a group of the multicast packet and the recipient is designated to the receiver upon receiving the multicast packet; and an IP allocating server for allocating a temporary IP address when the receiver requests to allocate the temporary IP address, storing the allocated temporary IP address and ID information of the receiver, and sending the allocated temporary IP address and the ID information of the receiver to the broadcaster.
US08045555B2 Method and apparatus for tunnel packet optimization
A method and apparatus for tunnel packet optimization is provided. A method for communications node operation where the communications node is at a beginning of a tunnel includes receiving a message from a communications device at an end of the tunnel, processing a packet having a first source address and a first destination address, and encapsulating the packet with an outer header having a second source address and a second destination address, thereby producing a tunnel packet. The message includes a flow label related to the first source address and the first destination address. The method also includes compacting the tunnel packet based on a tunnel optimization (TO) state, and transmitting the tunnel packet towards the second destination address. The second destination address includes an address of the communications device at the end of the tunnel.
US08045554B2 Method of and apparatus for processing virtual local area network tag frame
Provided are a method of and apparatus for processing a virtual local area network (VLAN) tag frame. The apparatus includes a filtering data base (FDB) for storing a VLAN tag frame which is created by a gigabit passive optical network (GPON) master; an uplink processing unit for removing by referring to the FDB a VLAN tag from the VLAN tag frame which is received from the GPON master, and transmitting a data frame to an Ethernet switch; and a downlink processing unit for inserting by looking up the FDB a VLAN tag into the data frame which is received from the Ethernet switch, and then transmitting the data frame to the GPON master. According to the present invention, port identification (ID) information that is lost in a GPON master may be provided to a switch above the GPON master by using a VLAN tag frame processing technology.
US08045528B2 Feedback method for performing a feedback by using a codebook in MIMO system
A feedback method for performing a feedback by using a codebook in Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) system includes receiving, by the mobile station, a MIMO mode type information, generating feedback information by using the codebook selected according to the MIMO mode type information, and transmitting the feedback information to the base station. The codebook includes a SU-MIMO codebook and a MU-MIMO codebook, and the MU-MIMO codebook is formed by extracting codebook elements from the SU-MIMO codebook. As a result, the method maximizes a system throughput simultaneously while effectively reducing an amount of feedback information.
US08045527B2 Load estimation for a cell in a wireless network
The invention is directed towards a method of estimating the load on a cell in a wireless network as well as to a cell load estimating device. According to the invention a 5 determination (46) is made of a value (R) indicative of the degree of use, by a mobile station provided in a set of mobile stations connected to a cell, of a communication link provided for this mobile station during a communication session. Based on this value an adjusted link quality value (L-ADJUST) is provided (54) for the mobile station, which is then used when determining the cell load.
US08045526B2 Method for use of azimuth and bearing data to select a serving sector for a mobile station
A method for selecting a wireless coverage sector to serve a mobile station, such as in response to a handoff request that designates a sector-identifier that represents two or more possible sectors. A serving radio access network (RAN) may identify potential sectors in the region and may then select the sector whose azimuth is closest to the geographic bearing of the mobile station from the sector's base station. Further, in the event of a tie between two or more sectors or in other circumstances, the RAN may also take into consideration how close the mobile station is to various base stations, such as selecting the sector to whose base station the mobile station is closest. In a system that uses neighbor lists to govern handoff, the invention can help to facilitate handoff in a scenario where a mobile station requests handoff to a sector not listed in the mobile station's neighbor list.
US08045525B1 Handover data integrity in a wireless data network
Provided is a method and apparatus for handover data integrity of a mobile station in a wireless data network with a plurality of wireless network service areas. The method and apparatus includes initiation of a handover by a mobile station, identifying at least one target access network (ASN) for handover from a serving ASN that services wireless data communications with the mobile station. When at least one target ASN is identified, receiving a data integrity capability from the at least one target ASN. With the received data integrity capability, determining whether a direct data delivery mode is available as a data integrity mode based upon the received data integrity capability. When the direct data delivery mode is available as a data integrity mode, direct data delivery if performed with the data associated with the service flow from the serving ASN to the at least one target ASN. When the direct data delivery is accomplished, the mobile station handover is completed from the serving ASN to one of the target ASNs.
US08045516B2 Base station, mobile communication system, and mobile communication control method
A target base station transmits a traffic assignment signal a plurality of times to a control station for notifying a traffic amount of downlink data that can be processed by the target base station, after a notified cell change timing in which the mobile station changes a communicating base station.
US08045506B2 Sparsed U-TDOA wireless location networks
In an overlay, U-TDOA-based, Wireless Location System, LMUs typically co-located with BTSs, are used to collect radio signaling both in the forward and reverse channels. Techniques are used to compensate for sparse LMU deployments where sections of the U-TDOA service area are uplink demodulation or downlink beacon discovery limited.
US08045503B2 Method for establishing HRPD network packet data service in 1x network
A method for an Access Terminal (AT) in a 1x network to establish an High Rate Packet Data (HRPD) network packet data service includes: initiating, by the AT, a session establishment request to a target Access Network/Packet Control Function (AN/PCF) of an HRPD network; establishing, by the target AN/PCF, an HRPD session with the AT after obtaining session information of an existing HRPD session; performing, by the target AN/PCF and the AT, session configuration based on the obtained session information, and establishing a data connection for the packet data service. In the present invention, an AT in the 1x network can establish a packet data service with an HRPD network when there is an existing packet data session in the HRPD network. The present invention is advantageous for seamless service handoff between the 1x network and the HRPD network, thereby realizing complement of the two networks and improving user experience.
US08045496B2 Wireless communication systems
A wireless communication method in a system in which subscriber stations are each operable for communication with a base station is provided. The base station is capable of performing simultaneous communications with a plurality of the subscriber stations simultaneously by exchange of packets each conforming with a layered protocol of said system. The packets include a first portion for defining physical layer (PHY) parameters and a second portion for defining media access layer (MAC) parameters. Furthermore, communications between the subscriber stations and the base station are performed wholly or partly through at least one relay station. In this system, the method includes, in the relay station, receiving a plurality of packets from the subscriber stations, detecting the second portion of each of the packets, combining the detected second portions to form a second portion of at least one new packet, and transmitting the new packet to the base station.
US08045488B2 Using spanning tree protocol (STP) to enhance layer-2 network topology maps
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) data is obtained via network switch (SNMP) queries to enhance identification of switch-to-switch links in Layer-2 mapping. In particular, by analyzing the STP data, ambiguity in determining switch uplink ports may be reduced. Specifically, the STP data can be used in conjunction with other topography data to provide Layer-2 connectivity for nodes on a network topology. Layer-2 address mapping tables are collected from a topology mapping, and STP data is collected, along with address translation tables (ARP) tables. Using this information, switches are identified using Layer-2 address tables. The STP data can be correlated by comparing data in switches, identifying switch ports directly connected to other switch ports, and eliminating direct switch-to-switch port connections from consideration for further Layer-2 node mappings.
US08045487B2 Method for implementing multicast in rapid spanning tree protocol ring network
The present invention discloses a method for implementing multicast in RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol) ring network. In the method, the port mode of a program is configured to a fixed port mode, a root port binding mode or an upper layer querier port following mode; a multicast module on access equipment traverses a program table on receiving a root port switching message, updates the corresponding port of each program whose mode is configured to the root port binding mode as the changed root port; or on receiving an IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) QUERY packet from a port which is different from a recorded global querier port, the multicast module updates the global querier port as the port receiving the IGMP QUERY packet, traverses the program table, and updates the corresponding port of each program whose mode is configured to the upper layer querier port following mode as the port receiving the IGMP QUERY packet.
US08045485B2 Monitoring technique of a device connected to a network
The invention provides a technique improving the reliability of acquisition of management information from a network device. A monitoring apparatus has a network device identifier extraction unit configured to extract a network device identifier to identify a network device in the network from communication data sent over the network by the network device, the network device identifier assigned to the network device being changeable over time; an individual identification information acquiring unit configured to acquire an individual identification information from a specific network device that is identified by the network device identifier, the individual identification information uniquely and universally identifying the network device; a monitoring subject determination unit configured to determine whether the specific network device is a monitoring subject device that is subject to monitoring, based on the individual identification information; and a management information acquiring unit configured to acquire a management information from the specific network device when the specific network device is determined to be a monitoring subject device, the management information being an information relating to the specific network device and changing over time.
US08045480B2 Intelligent provisioning of DSP channels for codec changes
A communication system in which a profile of codecs is loaded at the originating end. The originating end sends the profile of codecs to the terminating end and receives in return an indication of which codec to use. The originating end and the terminating end create a reduced profile that includes the codec identified by the terminating side and its peers. The peers are codecs that use the same amount of resources as the selected codec or that use less resources than the selected codec. Even though the reduced profile includes more than one codec, packets are coded and decoded using only the codec identified by a bit map that is available to the DSP channel at both the originating end and the terminating end. At a later time a change can be made to a different codec in the reduced profile by changing the bitmap and without closing and re-opening the channel.
US08045472B2 Credit management when resource granularity is larger than credit granularity
In one embodiment, a receiver on a credit-based flow-controlled interface is configured to free one or more data credits early when a data payload is received that incurs fewer unused data credits within a buffer memory that is allocated at a coarser granularity than the data credits. In another embodiment, header credits and data credits are dynamically adjusted based on actual packet data payload sizes.
US08045464B1 SIP-based VoIP traffic behavior profiling method
With the widespread adoption of SIP-based VoIP, understanding the characteristics of SIP traffic behavior is critical to problem diagnosis and security protection of VoIP services. A general methodology is provided for profiling SIP-based VoIP traffic behavior at several levels: SIP server host, server entity (e.g., registrar and call proxy) and individual user levels. Using SIP traffic traces captured in a production VoIP network, the characteristics of SIP-based VoIP traffic behavior in an operational environment is illustrated and the effectiveness of the general profiling methodology is demonstrated. In particular, the profiling methodology identifies anomalies due to performance problems and/or implementation flaws through a case study. The efficacy of the methodology in detecting potential VoIP attacks is also demonstrated through a test bed experimentation.
US08045460B2 Detection of routing loops based on time-to-live expiries
A method and system for detecting routing loops and time-to-live (TTL) expiry attacks in a telecommunications network are disclosed. The detection of routing loops and TTL expiry attacks can be achieved based on the comparison of TTL expiries occurring on two or more routers in the network. A quantity of TTL expiries associated with a router can be summed. Additionally, a quantity of TTL expiries associated with other routers that are operatively coupled to the router can be summed. A difference between the sums can be calculated and a determination of whether a routing loop exists can be made in response to the difference.
US08045459B2 Packet processing method for wireless communications
A packet processing method used in a wireless communication is disclosed to have the packet data not to contain the identification code of the transmitter and to let the receiver read out the correct identification code of the transmitter and verify the effectiveness of the data, assuring excellent confidentiality of the data, reducing packet size, maintaining packet data integrity, extending wireless communication distance and saving power consumption. Under the fix bit error rate, the invention effectively reduces the chance of erroneous data and lowers the current loading to the battery of each of the transmitter and the receiver.
US08045455B1 Location based services in a situational network
A method of providing location based service information in a situational network includes establishing the situational network linking a plurality of individuals in response to an indication of an occurrence of a situation. Information related to availability of a service at a plurality of service locations affected by the situation is received, where the service is provided by one or more of a plurality of service providers An individual location associated with each of the plurality of individuals is determined. The available service locations that are in closest proximity to the individual location of the respective individuals is transmitting to each of the individuals based on the availability of the service.
US08045450B1 Transmit diversity technique based on channel randomization for OFDM systems
A physical layer module includes a mapping module and a plurality of gain modules. The mapping module maps a plurality of coded data streams to a plurality of transmit antennas, in which each transmit antenna is associated with a respective radio frequency channel of a plurality of radio frequency channels. Each gain module is associated with a respective radio frequency channel of the plurality of radio frequency channels, and is configured to apply a complex gain to the coded data stream mapped to the respective radio frequency channel associated with the gain module. The complex gain applied by the gain module differs relative to that applied by other gain modules, and corresponds to the transmit antenna associated with the respective radio frequency channel.
US08045444B2 Method of controlling movements of a position of a microscanner
The invention relates to a method of controlling movements of a positioner of a micro-scanner, the method comprising: determining the vibration resonance frequency ranges of the positioner, and performing a main scan by a controlled movement of the positioner.
US08045443B2 Optical pickup apparatus
An optical pickup apparatus comprising: a laser-light source that selectively emits first and second laser lights parallel with each other; a diffraction grating that includes a plurality of periodic structures joined to be different in phase from each other in a direction optically corresponding to an optical-disc-tracking direction, and generates 0th-order and ±1st-order-diffracted lights by diffracting the first or second laser light; an objective lens that focuses the 0th-order and ±1st-order-diffracted lights generated from the diffraction grating on the same track of the disc; and a photodetector to which reflected light of the 0th-order and ±1st-order-diffracted lights focused on an optical disc is applied through the objective lens, and which generates a differential-push-pull signal, a direction of a straight line connecting light-emitting points of the first and second laser lights in the laser-light source being inclined relative to the direction optically corresponding to the optical-disc-tracking direction in the diffraction grating.
US08045441B2 Optical disc and optical disc device
In a multilayer optical disc having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, because the type of each information layer is not recorded in the other information layers, in read and write operations by a compatible optical disc device conforming to a plurality of optical disc standards, every time the information layer being accessed changes, it has been necessary to read the type of the information layer and select a method of generating a tracking error signal adapted to the type of information layer, so access has taken time. In order to solve the above problem, in the optical multilayer disc according to the present invention, having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, in an area in one of the information layers, information about the other information layers is recorded. The time required to access the other information layers can be reduced by using this information to select a tracking error signal generating method.
US08045435B2 Optical disc apparatus and method for writing data using laser beam
When an optical disc apparatus of the present invention writes to an optical disc, it detects the level of the drive voltage for its laser drive circuit and, based on the detected level, adjusts the drive voltage for its laser diode so as to adjust the drive voltage for the laser drive circuit to a level within an appropriate range. Further, the write speed is also adjusted in accordance with the above adjustment of the drive voltages for the laser drive circuit and the laser diode.
US08045433B2 Coil controlling for optical pick-up
A pickup apparatus including: at least a coil constituting an actuator, a signal to be sent to the coil being obtained by calculation using an algorithm on the basis of at least one of a focus error signal and a tracking error signal.
US08045432B2 Optical disc device
Light emitted from a radiation light source 1 passes through a diffraction grating 3a and is separated into transmitted light a and +1st/−1st order diffracted lights b, c. These lights are collected through an objective lens 7 on tracks of an optical disc 8 in a partially overlapped state. Light reflected by the tracks passes through the objective lens 7 and is incident upon light diverging means 13a. Subsequently, light corresponding to the transmitted light “a” diverges into two light beams that are respectively incident upon light detection regions A1, A2, light corresponding to the diffracted lights “b” and “c” respectively diverges into two light beams that are respectively incident upon light detection regions B1, B2, and C1, C2. A tracking error signal associated with the tracks of the optical disc 8 is generated by combining signals detected in the light detection regions A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2.
US08045429B2 Control apparatus and method for content reproducing
In a content reproducing system (1), which includes: a program judging unit (31) that judges whether or not a BD-J program being executed is a continuing program when an eject operation for a BD is detected during reproduction control in which reproduction of a content is controlled by execution of the BD-J program; and a reproduction control management unit (21) that causes the reproduction control performed by the BD-J program to be stopped if the BD-J program is not the continuing program and performs switching to the reproduction control for the content based on any one of media excluding the BD (41), the reproduction control based on execution of the continuing program is continued if the BD-J program is the continuing program.
US08045427B2 Apparatus for optical pick-up
An optical pickup includes a light source configured to emit light, a beam splitter configured to transmit or reflect light, an object lens configured to condense the light transmitted by the beam splitter onto an optical storage, and a diffraction grating having a first grating pattern and a second grating pattern. The first grating pattern is configured to diffract and divide the light reflected by the optical storage into a main beam and two sub beams. The second grating pattern is configured to diffract the light along a different diffracting direction than the first grating pattern. A condensing lens is configured to generate astigmatism to the light diffracted by the first grating pattern, and a light sensor is configured to receive the light via the condensing lens and detect a tracking error signal.
US08045423B2 Search method
A search method of efficiently retrieving information is provided.A search light 21 is generated from a search condition (S1). The search light is irradiated onto a hologram 104a recorded in a hologram recording layer 104 (S2). When the search light interferes with the hologram and a reproduction light is generated, address information of the hologram from which the reproduction light is generated is identified using an address light 23 that reads the address information. The identified address light is recorded (S3). When the search light does not generate the reproduction light from the hologram, the search light is irradiated onto another hologram 104b recorded in the hologram recording layer.
US08045413B2 High speed DRAM architecture with uniform access latency
A Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) performs read, write, and refresh operations. The DRAM includes a plurality of sub-arrays, each having a plurality of memory cells, each of which is coupled with a complementary bit line pair and a word line. The DRAM further includes a word line enable device for asserting a selected one of the word lines and a column select device for asserting a selected one of the bit line pairs. A timing circuit is provided for controlling the word line enable device, the column select device, and the read, write, and refresh operations in response to a word line timing pulse. The read, write, and refresh operation are performed in the same amount of time.
US08045406B2 Latency circuit using division method related to CAS latency and semiconductor memory device
A latency circuit for use in a semiconductor memory device includes a latency control clock generator generating an m-divided division signal from an external clock and at least one latency control clock from the m-divided division signal, wherein m is a natural number greater than or equal to 2. The latency circuit also includes a latency signal generator generating a latency signal in response to the at least one latency control clock, a latency control signal and an internal read command signal, wherein the latency control signal is generated from a column address strobe (CAS) latency and the internal read command signal is generated in response to a received read command.
US08045404B2 Semiconductor memory device capable of preventing damage to a bitline during a data masking operation
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells coupled between a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit line pairs, a bit line selection circuit configured to transmit data between a selected bit line pair and a local input/output line pair in response to a column selection signal, a local global input/output gate circuit configured to transmit data between the local input/output line pair and a global input/output line pair in response to a local global input/output selection signal, and a controller configured to drive the word lines, output the column selection signal having a first voltage level to the bit line selection circuit, and output the local global input/output selection signal having a second voltage level that is lower than the first voltage level to the local global input/output gate circuit, in response to an external address signal and an external command.
US08045403B2 Programming method and memory device using the same
A programming method applied to a memory is provided. The memory includes a number of memory cells. The method includes the following steps. A target cell of the memory cells is programmed in response to a first programming command. The target cell is programmed in response to a second programming command.
US08045402B2 Assisting write operations to data storage cells
A data store and method of storing data is disclosed that comprises: an input for receiving a data value; at least one storage cell comprising: a feedback loop for storing the data value; an output for outputting the stored data value; the feedback loop receiving a higher voltage and a lower voltage as power supply, the data store further comprising: a voltage supply for powering the data store, the voltage supply outputting a high voltage level and a low voltage level; write assist circuitry arranged between the voltage supply and the at least one storage cell, the write assist circuitry being responsive to a pulse signal to provide a discharge path between the high voltage level and a lower voltage level and thereby generate a reduced internal voltage level from the high voltage level for a period dependent on a width of the pulse signal, the reduced internal voltage level being lower than the high voltage level, such that when powered the feedback loop receives the reduced internal voltage level as the higher voltage for a period determined by the pulse width and the high voltage level at other times; and pulse signal generation circuitry for generating said pulse signal.
US08045400B2 Circuit and method for controlling read cycle
A circuit for controlling the read cycle includes plurality of shift stages configured to sequentially shift read signals; and an activating unit configured to activate a read cycle signal which represents a read cycle, by performing logical operation for output signals of the plurality of the shift stages, wherein the plurality of the shift stages are configured to sequentially shift the read signals for a period corresponding to burst setting information.
US08045391B2 Non-volatile memory and method with improved sensing having bit-line lockout control
In sensing a group of cells in a multi-state nonvolatile memory, multiple sensing cycles relative to different demarcation threshold levels are needed to resolve all possible multiple memory states. Each sensing cycle has a sensing pass. It may also include a pre-sensing pass or sub-cycle to identify the cells whose threshold voltages are below the demarcation threshold level currently being sensed relative to. These are higher current cells which can be turned off to achieve power-saving and reduced source bias errors. The cells are turned off by having their associated bit lines locked out to ground. A repeat sensing pass will then produced more accurate results. Circuitry and methods are provided to selectively enable or disable bit-line lockouts and pre-sensing in order to improving performance while ensuring the sensing operation does not consume more than a maximum current level.
US08045385B2 Methods of operating nonvolatile memory devices to inhibit parasitic charge accumulation therein
Methods of operating a charge trap nonvolatile memory device include operations to erase a first string of nonvolatile memory cells by selectively erasing even-numbered nonvolatile memory cells in the first string and then selectively erasing the odd-numbered nonvolatile memory cells in the first string, which may be interleaved with the even-numbered nonvolatile memory cells. This operation to selectively erase the even-numbered nonvolatile memory cells may include erasing the even-numbered nonvolatile memory cells while simultaneously biasing the odd-numbered nonvolatile memory cells in a blocking condition that inhibits erasure of the odd-numbered nonvolatile memory cells. The operation to selectively erase the odd-numbered nonvolatile memory cells may include erasing the odd-numbered nonvolatile memory cells while simultaneously biasing the even-numbered nonvolatile memory cells in a blocking condition that inhibits erasure of the even-numbered nonvolatile memory cells.
US08045370B2 Memory self-reference read and write assist methods
A magnetic tunnel junction memory apparatus and self-reference read and write assist schemes are described. One method of self-reference reading a magnetic tunnel junction memory unit includes applying a first read current through a magnetic tunnel junction data cell to form a first bit line read voltage, then applying a first magnetic field through the magnetic tunnel junction data cell forming a magnetic field modified magnetic tunnel junction data cell, and then applying a second read current thorough the magnetic field modified magnetic tunnel junction data cell to form a second bit line read voltage. The first read current being less than the second read current. Then comparing the first bit line read voltage with the second bit line read voltage to determine whether the magnetic tunnel junction data cell was in a high resistance state or a low resistance state. Methods of applying a magnetic field to the MTJ and then writing the desired resistance state are also disclosed.
US08045368B2 Phase-change memory device
A phase-change memory device performs a buffer program operation in response to a buffer program command sequence. The phase-change memory device includes a page buffer unit configured to store a plurality of input data corresponding to a word count value of a buffer program command sequence and selectively output the stored input data in response to a selection signal, and a page buffer control unit configured to generate the selection signal determined by counting a value representing the word count value.
US08045367B2 Phase change memory
A phase change memory with a primary memory array, a reference memory array, and a comparison circuit is provided. The electrical characteristic curve of the recording layers of the primary memory units is different from the electrical characteristic curve of the recording layers of the reference memory units. The primary memory array includes at least one primary memory unit to generate at least one sensing signal, wherein each of the primary memory units includes at least one recording layer can be programmed to a first resistance and a second resistance. The reference memory array includes at least one reference memory unit to generate at least one reference signal, wherein each of the reference memory units includes at least one recording layer can be programmed to change its resistance. The comparison circuit compares the sensing signal and the reference signal to generate a comparison result.
US08045362B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array in which memory cells each containing a variable resistive element and a rectifier element connected in series are arranged at intersections of a plurality of first wirings and a plurality of second wirings; and a control circuit for selectively driving said first wirings and said second wirings; wherein said control circuit applies a first voltage to said selected first wiring, and changes said first voltage based on the position of said selected memory cell within said memory cell array to apply a second voltage to said selected second wiring, so that a predetermined potential difference is applied to a selected memory cell arranged at the intersection between said selected first wiring and said selected second wiring.
US08045357B2 Semiconductor memory device
A memory includes a memory cell array including destructive read-out type memory cells; a decoder selecting a cell; a sense amplifier configured to detect the data; and a read and write controller controlling a read operation and a write operation, wherein the read and write controller outputs a logical value of a write enable signal at the start of the read operation in a first period and makes the write enable signal invalid after the read operation starts during the first period, on the basis of the write enable signal and a restore signal keeping an activated state during the first period, the write enable signal being a signal allowing the write operation, the first period being a period from when the read operation starts to when a restore operation for writing the data back to the memory cell is completed.
US08045356B2 Memory modules having daisy chain wiring configurations and filters
Examples described include memory units coupled to a controller using a daisy chain wiring configuration. A filter located between a first memory unit and the controller attenuates a particular frequency, which may improve ringback in a signal received at the memory units. In some examples, a quarter-wavelength stub is used to implement the filter. In some examples, signal components at 800 MHz may be attenuated by a stub, which may improve ringback.
US08045355B2 Semiconductor memory device including a reference cell
A semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of cell arrays, each cell array including a plurality of mutually parallel word lines, a plurality of mutually parallel bit lines disposed to cross these word lines, and a plurality of cells connected to the intersections of these word lines and bit lines, respectively, one portion of the cell arrays forming a memory cell array that has the cells as memory cells, and another portion of the cell arrays forming a reference cell array that has the cells as reference cells. A cell selection circuit is operative to select from the memory cell array a memory cell whose data is to be read, and to select from the reference cell array a reference cell at a position corresponding to a position of the memory cell selected in the memory cell array. A sense amplifier circuit is operative to detect and compare a current or a voltage of the selected memory cell with a current or a voltage of the selected reference cell, and thereby read data of the memory cell.
US08045353B2 Integrated circuit capable of operating at different supply voltages
A chip configuration for dual board voltage compatibility comprising ballast I/O pads, regulator control block and VDDCO pad. If 1.8V is available on board, all 1.8V pads are connected to the package pins and the VDDCO pad is double bonded with one 1.8V package pin. This ensures that the regulator is in operation providing 1.2V supply to the core. If 1.2V is available on board, all 1.2V pads are bonded to the package pins and VDDCO pad is left unbonded. A weak pulldown ensures that the regulator is inoperational and the gate voltage of ballast transistor is pulled up. Now 1.2V pads directly get supply from the board through package pins and is provided to the core without suffering IR drop.
US08045350B2 N-phase active bridge circuits including N-channel field effect transistors with active gate drive
An n-phase transistor active bridge circuit (BC) connectable between at least two input lines (103, 105, 1051, 1053, 1055) and a pair of output lines (134, 136, 1057, 1059). The BC comprises a plurality of field-effect transistors (FETs) of the same channel type. The FETs (102, 104, 106, 108, 1010, 1012, 1014, 1016, 1018, 1020) are connected to convert an n-phase AC waveform (402, 1102, 1104, 1006) to a DC waveform (502, 1302). The n-phase AC waveform is applied to BC by a voltage source (101, 1002, 1004, 1006) coupled to the input lines. Gate drive circuits (170, 172, 174, 176, 1001a, 1001b, 1001c, 1003a, 1003b, 1003c) supply a voltage to gates (139, 143, 147, 151, 1024, 1034, 1044, 1054, 1064, 1074) of the FETs for switching the FETs to their “on” states or “off” states at predetermined times.
US08045349B2 Charge pump-type DC/DC converter
A charge pump-type DC/DC converter is provided that steadily operates even when boosting reference voltage is low. A PMOS transistor for short-circuiting an output terminal of a charge pump of an initial stage with a booster reference voltage is provided to eliminate the influence of a parasitic diode of a PMOS transistor within the charge pump of the initial stage during build-up. The PMOS transistor is controlled by the voltage of another charge pump and the short-circuit described above is released by the increase of the output voltage of the other charge pump.
US08045346B2 Modular multi-pulse transformer rectifier for use in asymmetric multi-level power converter
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a system having multiple modular transformers each including a primary winding coupled to an input power source and phase-shifted secondary windings each coupled to a power cell. The system further includes different phase output lines coupled to a load. These lines may include first, second and third phase output lines.
US08045344B2 Regulating output current from a primary side power converter by clamping an error signal
An inductor current flows through an inductor of a flyback converter. In a constant voltage mode, the pulse width of an inductor switch control signal is adjusted to maintain a constant output voltage of the flyback converter. The inductor switch control signal controls a switch through which the inductor current flows. In a constant current mode, a comparing circuit, a control loop and a clamp generator circuit are used to maintain the peak level of inductor current. The comparing circuit generates a timing signal based on the ramp-up rate of the inductor current. The control loop uses the timing signal and a feedback signal to generate a time error signal. The clamp generator circuit uses the time error signal to generate a clamp signal that adjusts the pulse width of the inductor switch control signal to clamp the peak current output by the flyback converter in the constant current mode.
US08045332B2 Multi-direction wedge clamp
A circuit card clamp (300) including a base member (316), at least one first wedge member (446), and a thermally conductive membrane (350). The base member has an elongated shape configured for insertion in a circuit card chassis slot (106). The first wedge member is movable relative to the base member in response to a first actuator (304) for engaging the circuit card chassis slot. The thermally conductive membrane is coupled to the base member and the first wedge member. The thermally conductive membrane has slack for permitting the first wedge member to move relative to the base member between a first clamped position and a second unclamped position. The thermally conductive membrane defines a thermal conductive path (206) between a circuit card (104) and the chassis slot for releasably securing a circuit card in the circuit card chassis slot.
US08045330B2 Method and apparatus for providing an alternative power source for a graphics card
A method and apparatus for providing an alternative power source for a graphics card are disclosed. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method, which includes the steps of laying a set of gold fingers on a printed circuit board according to an industrial standard bus interface, positioning a wire in a middle layer of the printed circuit board, attaching a first end of the wire to a specific gold finger, and attaching the alternative power source to a second end of the wire, wherein the second end of the wire is an electroplated contact protruded external to the printed circuit board.
US08045323B2 Lid member and electronic device using the same
An electronic device has an opening in a case, a lid member that includes a first lid member having a pair of first engaging sections for putting a lid on the opening at its both ends, a second lid member that has a pair of second engaging sections engaging with the first engaging sections and slides on a main surface of the first lid member, and a projection disposed at an end of the sliding direction of the second lid member. The case has an engaging hole engaging with the projection disposed on the second lid member.
US08045321B2 Resin-coated aluminum alloy sheet material for aluminum electrolytic capacitor case, case for aluminum electrolytic capacitor, and aluminum electrolytic capacitor
A resin-coated aluminum alloy sheet material for an aluminum electrolytic capacitor case includes a resin layer that contains wax composed of at least one of polyethylene wax and carnauba wax, and has a thickness falling within a range from at least 2 μm to at most 22 μm. A total of lengths of wax particles, defined when the wax particles are cut along a straight line of 100 μm optionally drawn on the surface of the resin layer, is at least 10 μm. A number of the wax particles, featured by a cross-sectional shape having a size of at most 80% of the thickness of the resin layer and of at least 0.1 μm, is from at least 3 to at most 50. A number of the wax particles, featured by a cross-sectional shape featured by a major axis extent having a size of more than 80% of the thickness of the resin layer is less than 10.
US08045319B2 Controlled ESR decoupling capacitor
Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for providing controlled equivalent series resistance (ESR) decoupling capacitor designs having broad applicability to signal and power filtering technologies. Such capacitor designs provide characteristics for use in decoupling applications involving both signal level and power level environments. Controlled equivalent series resistance (ESR) is provided by providing extended length tab connections to active electrode layers within the device.
US08045313B2 Solenoid controls, systems, and methods of use for obtaining optimum battery life
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for controlling energy consumption in a system having a battery and including a controller and one or more solenoids. In accordance with the disclosure, the controller provides a controlling mechanism, such as a control algorithm, that will provide the necessary power to operate the one or more solenoids throughout the range of battery voltage in a manner that optimizes the voltage discharge from the battery and simultaneously maximizes battery life. Further power conservation measures are implemented by using a controller and an associated control algorithm to operate a solenoid throughout the range of battery voltage in a manner that places the discharge of the battery in reduced power consumption operating modes as the capacity of the battery is reduced.
US08045309B2 Magnetic energy recovery switch having protective circuit
In order to protect Magnetic Energy Recovery Switch (MERS) against an overvoltage and an overcurrent a voltage detection unit is provided for detecting the capacitor voltage of the MERS and control means is provided to control so as to turn ON the switch of the discharge circuit connected in parallel with the capacitor to make the capacitor discharge the electric charge thereof when the output of the voltage detection unit exceeds a predetermined value. Moreover, a current detection unit is interposed between the AC power supply and the load for detecting the current flowing to the load, and the current limiting is carried out by making the duty ratio of the ON/OFF of the pulse of the gate control signals of the MERS switches smaller than 0.5, when the output of the current detection unit exceeds a predetermined value.
US08045307B2 Faulted phase decision method between current and voltage based delta phase selectors
A method of identifying fault conditions in a three phase power system includes monitoring the changes of both the current and voltage properties on a three phase power network. A maximum phase change value of both the current and voltage is determined. Either the voltage or the current values are selected, whichever includes the largest maximum phase change. Thereafter, the selected set of measurements is analyzed to determine whether a fault condition exists on any phase of the three phase power.
US08045303B2 Building service ground fault interrupter
A ground fault interrupter to be used by utility company while effecting repairs to the electrical service for a building is positioned to interrupt the power supply to the building in case of a detected ground fault and utilizes a sensor for detecting the fault current at the service entrance to a building; a contact switch, selectively movable between open and closed positions, mounted for temporary use in series with said power supply to the building; and a microprocessor based circuit for measuring and evaluating fault current detected by the sensor and controlling the selective movement of the contact switch between its open and closed positions.
US08045300B2 Tunneling magnetic sensing element and method for producing same
A free magnetic layer has a laminated structure in which a first magnetic sublayer composed of Co—Fe or Fe and a second magnetic sublayer composed of Co—Fe—B or Fe—B are formed, in that order, on an insulating barrier layer composed of Mg—O. This effectively improves the rate of change in resistance (ΔR/R) compared with the related art.
US08045298B2 Three terminal magnetic sensing device having a track width defined in a localized region by a patterned insulator and methods of making the same
A three terminal magnetic sensing device (TTM) having a trackwidth defined in a localized region by a patterned insulator, and methods of making the same, are disclosed. In one illustrative example, one or more first sensor layers (e.g. which includes a “base” layer) are formed over a collector substrate. A patterned insulator which defines a central opening exposing a top layer of the one or more first sensor layers is then formed. The central opening has a width for defining a trackwidth (TW) of the TTM. Next, one or more second sensor layers are formed over the top layer of the one or more first sensor layers through the central opening of the patterned insulator. The one or more second sensor layers may include a tunnel barrier layer formed in contact with the top layer of the one or more first sensor layers, as well as an “emitter” layer. Various embodiments and techniques are provided.
US08045292B2 Perpendicular magnetic recording head with the return yoke layer having gradually increasing the width
A perpendicular magnetic recording head is provided capable of suppressing the magnetic field attributable to the edge write phenomenon and improving resistance to an external magnetic field. The perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a magnetic layer that has a main magnetic pole on a surface facing a recording medium; a return yoke layer that is disposed on the magnetic layer with a nonmagnetic layer disposed therebetween and has a large width in the direction of the main magnetic pole; and a coil layer for applying a recording magnetic field to the magnetic layer. The return yoke layer is provided with such a shape that as seen in the plan view, the return yoke layer is exposed from the medium facing surface with a width not greater than the width in the track width direction of a protrusion region of the return yoke layer that covers the coil layer and the width of the return yoke layer gradually increases in the height direction from the medium facing surface.
US08045290B2 Tape head layout having offset read and write element arrays
A tape head assembly for writing data to and reading data from a tape includes a tape head member having an engagement surface that is configured to engage the tape as the tape moves past the tape head member. A plurality of arrays of interactive elements are supported on the engagement surface. Each array is longitudinally offset from each other array. Each individual array includes a read group having only read elements and a write group having only write elements. Each read group is laterally offset from each write group within each array.
US08045288B2 Tape drive with cartridge thickness detecting sensors
The present invention is directed to provide a tape drive capable of securely pressing and holding a thin-type or a thick-type loaded tape cartridge being different in case thicknesses, so as to be vertically immovable.The tape drive D accommodates within it a loading frame 28 for receiving and supporting each tape cartridge 40A, 40B being different in case thicknesses and a holder 29 for holding the tape cartridge 40A, 40B by pressing the cartridge. The side wall 31 of the loading frame is provided with a pair of upper and lower sensors 34, 35 for identifying the thin-type and the thick-type loaded tape cartridges. The holder 29 is displaced to a height position matching with the loaded tape cartridge 40A, 40B based on the tape cartridge size detected by the sensors 34, 35.
US08045276B2 Compact zoom lens with three lens groups and design method thereof
A compact zoom lens with three lens groups and a design method thereof. Along the optical axis from the object side to the image side, the compact zoom lens with three lens groups includes a negative power first lens group having a negative power first lens and a positive power second lens, a positive power second lens group having a positive power third lens, a negative power fourth lens leaned with the third lens and a positive power fifth lens, and a third lens group having a positive power sixth lens. The zoom lens matches requirements of optical properties for aberration correction. Minimum change of the distance between the first lens of the first lens group and the image forming plane from the WIDE position to the TELE position is used as the objective function of optimization.
US08045275B2 Zoom lens and image pickup device having the same
A compact wide-angle zoom lens and an image pickup device having the same. The zoom lens includes a first lens group having a negative refractive power and a second lens group having a positive refractive power in an order from an object side to an image side, performs zooming by varying a distance between the first and second lens groups, and performs focusing by using a first lens closest to the object side in the second lens group.
US08045267B2 Optical element that enables recording and reproduction of a stereoscopic image as a hologram
An optical element having a set of a plurality of three dimensional cells. Each cell with a specific amplitude and a specific phase are defined and which has optical characteristics such that when a predetermined incident light is provided to the individual cell, an emitted light, resulting from changing the amplitude and the phase of the incident light in accordance with the specific amplitude and the specific phase defined for the cell is obtained.
US08045265B2 Three-dimensional image recording medium
An object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional image recording medium in which three-dimensional information of a recorded material is recorded precisely and observed more naturally. The linear images of plural parallel-projection images from different directions A to E divided into rectangles are recorded sequentially to divisional recording units of the linear image recording units M1 to M8 and in addition, the linear images of divided parallel-projection images from the same direction are recorded sequentially to each divisional recording unit arranged in the same position relative to a lens width direction of each lenticular lens unit L1 to L8 corresponding to each linear image recording unit M1 to M8 to thereby reproduce a three-dimensional image by combining the linear images of plural parallel-projection images.
US08045264B2 Projection backwall apparatus and system
A collapsible projection backwall system utilizes a short throw projector and a collapsible framework to create a display usable in a small amount of space. The framework is specifically configured to support and appropriately position a flexible screen member so that distortion is avoided. This is particularly significant in situations where a relatively large screen is utilized, which creates the need to maintain appropriate tension upon the flexible screen member. The framework is specifically configured to be slightly canted when in its extended configuration to thereby introduce natural tension forces which will cooperate with the screen fabric to maintain the necessary configuration for the screen. This canted configuration is achieved by configuring a set of corner hinge assemblies and any central hinged assemblies to maintain this natural cant. By maintaining the desired forces on the display screen fabric a more efficient and functional display screen is created.
US08045262B2 Laser scanning microscope
The present invention relates to a laser scanning microscope that can generate an arbitrary control signal without depending on the configuration of the hardware. A memory 64 has a bit width wider than a bit width of drive data based on a drive table for generating a drive signal X for driving a scanner, which is driven by a drive circuit 66X, to scan a designated scanning area at a designated speed, and stores the drive table, and a controller 61 sets a control signal for controlling a predetermined operation in a predetermined mechanism that has a strict time relationship with the scanning based on the drive data, in bits in the bit width of the memory 64X, excluding the bits used by the drive data, and these mechanisms perform the predetermined operation based on the control signal that is read simultaneously when the drive data is read from the memory 64X. The present invention can be applied to a confocal laser scanning microscope that observes a sample by performing scanning with laser light.
US08045261B2 Reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA), RSOA module having the same, and passive optical network using the same
A Reflective Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (RSOA) for compensating for light loss in an optical link, an RSOA module for improving polarization dependency using the RSOA, and a Passive Optical Network (PON) for increasing economical efficiency and practical use of a bandwidth using the RSOA are provided. The PON includes a central office comprising a plurality of optic sources transmitting a downstream signal and a plurality of first receivers receiving an upstream signal; at least one optical network terminal (ONT) including a second receiver receiving the downstream signal and an RSOA which receives the downstream signal, remodulates the downstream signal into the upstream signal, and transmits the upstream signal in loopback mode; and a remote node interfacing the central office with the ONT. The upstream signal and the downstream signal are transmitted between the remote node and the ONT via a single optical fiber. The remote node includes an optical power splitter at its port connected to the ONT.
US08045258B2 Method for regulating OSNR in a fiber optic communication line using Raman amplification
A method for selecting a relation between a gain Gf of a Forward Raman Amplifier (FRA) at a transmitting end of a fiber optic transmission line and an optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) at a receiving end of the fiber optic transmission line satisfying limitations for real long transmission lines. The method comprises selecting the relation using a regulation function ROSNR obtained either in the form of a simplified equation, or in the form of one or more linear approximations of the function for practical ranges of the FRA gain.
US08045257B2 Nonlinear harmonic generation and devices in doubly-resonant Kerr cavities
A nonlinear harmonic generation system is provided. The nonlinear harmonic generation system includes a waveguide channel receives and propagates electromagnetic signals. A resonant cavity is coupled to the waveguide channel. The resonant cavity structure includes a plurality of resonant modes into which electromagnetic energy is coupled during the operation of the system. One of the resonant modes includes a resonant frequency that changes during operation of the system to reach either an input-signal frequency or a harmonic frequency for a majority of the time in which harmonic generation is occurring. Both reflected and harmonic fields are emitted back into the waveguide channel so as to allow efficient harmonic generation at a specified critical input power.
US08045247B2 Post-objective scanning beam systems
Scanning beam systems, apparatus and techniques in optical post-objective designs with two beam scanners for display and other applications.
US08045240B2 Imaging apparatus having a document planar member that displays scan operation related indicia
An imaging apparatus includes an image capturing system. A controller is communicatively coupled to the image capturing system. A scanner body has a scanner opening. The image capturing system is located adjacent the scanner opening. A document planar member is positioned across the scanner opening. The document planar member is communicatively coupled to the controller. The document planar member has a transparent state wherein the document planar member is clear and having a translucent state wherein the document planar member is translucent. The controller executes program instructions to control the document planar member to display scan operation related indicia formed by controlling a first portion of the document planar member to be in the transparent state and controlling a second portion of the document planar member to be in the translucent state.
US08045223B2 Image formation with prevention of tracing pattern from being noticeable on edges of stacked media
An image forming apparatus to carry out image forming on a recording medium by adding a specific pattern to image data inputted, having a mask creation section to create a mask area where addition of the specific pattern is prohibited and a control section to carry out image forming in a way that addition of the specific pattern is prohibited in the mask area.
US08045222B2 Image processing method, image processing apparatus, computer program product, and recording medium for image processing
An image processing apparatus converts an input color signal into a color signal which falls within a color reproduction range of an image output device. The image processing apparatus includes a representative color setting unit that sets plural representative colors, a first hue setting unit that sets hue for an equi-hue line connecting the representative color and black, a hue correcting unit that corrects hue of the input color signal referring to the first hue setting unit, and a mapping unit that maps the input color signal after whose hue is corrected to a color signal within a color range of the image output device.
US08045216B2 Media storage apparatus and image forming apparatus configured to operate with regular-sized recording media and irregular-sized recording media
A media storage apparatus includes a media storing body that stores recording media, a guide member slidably provided in the media storing body for guiding the recording media, a first positioning portion that positions the guide member at a predetermined position where the guide member guides regular-sized recording media, and a second positioning portion that positions the guide member at a position where the guide member guides irregular-sized recording media. The first positioning portion and the second positioning portion have different shapes.
US08045213B2 Automated production control method
In a method for operating at least one machine with a computer, it is possible for at least one task for the production of a printed product to be stored in the computer, which task is processed on the machine. Parameters for setting the machine are stored as parameter sets in templates and relate to one or more production steps. For the purpose of job-specific adaptation, the settings in the templates must be modified. On account of settings which have not been tried and tested and not proven worthwhile, costs arise in terms of quality; in addition the settings can be made only by specialized personnel. To increase quality and to allow less qualified personnel to operate the machines, a parameter set based on rough entered data is compared with templates and that a most similar template be used to set the production step or steps.
US08045207B2 Image processing apparatus, method, and computer program product extracting information from operation history and registering workflow
An image processing apparatus, in which an operator can register a workflow with an easy operation, the usage of a routine task function can thus be facilitated, and the work efficiency of the operator can be improved. A plurality of functions for an image processing are provided with the image processing apparatus capable of executing a process including a combination of the plurality of the functions as a workflow. An operation unit receives an operation by an operator for the image processing apparatus. A storing unit stores the operation, which is received by the operation unit, by the operator as an operation history. An extracting unit extracts operation information for causing the workflow to be executed from the operation history stored in the storing unit. A registering unit registers the operation information extracted by the extracting unit.
US08045202B2 Information processing apparatus and print device control method
An information processing apparatus, which can be connected to a print device which has a function of saving a print job and combining a plurality of saved print jobs, spools an accepted print job. The apparatus adds first identification information indicating a print job to be combined to the print job to be combined of a plurality of spooled print jobs. The apparatus transmits the print job added with the first identification information to the print device as a save job to be saved on the print device side. The apparatus designates the print device to combine save jobs added with the first identification information. By designating to print the combined save job according to the combining designation, an interrupt of another print job is prevented in print processing of a plurality of print jobs.
US08045198B2 System and method for processing a change history of a PDF file
A printer includes a file input section that receives an input PDF file that holds change history; a change history extraction section that extracts the change history from the input PDF file; and a print processing section that prints the extracted change history.