Document Document Title
US08313132B2 Container carrier system
A container carrier system for securing and carrying at least two containers is provided. The container carrier system generally includes a handle and at least two retainer rings. The handle has a carrying portion and at least two attachment portions. A single retainer ring is secured to a single container, and each retainer ring includes at least one handle receiver for receiving and retaining a single attachment portion of the handle. Each attachment portion includes an upper leg-stop transition portion joined to an upper attachment stop. A lower attenuated attachment leg is joined to the upper attachment stop and terminates in a lower attachment stop. Each handle receiver includes first and second resilient jaws that define a receiver mouth and a receiver central opening. The resilient jaws are movable between a minimum retaining position and a maximum receiving position to facilitate securement of an attachment portion to a handle receiver.
US08313128B2 Safety locking mechanism for doors
A door locking device has a central body, locking members, and elongated bands with receiving members extending from the central body. The receiving members can be releasably coupled to the locking members, which are shaped to grasp the receiving members, to secure the apparatus to a door.
US08313120B2 Multi-piece steering-column cover
The present invention generally relates to articles for masking internal components of a motor vehicle steering column from the view of an occupant when the steering wheel is titled, or extended. Some embodiments relate to methods for making or using masking articles, or to methods for masking the internal components of a motor vehicle steering column when the steering wheel is titled, or extended.
US08313116B2 Mobile support assembly
A mobility device includes at least a first front leg and at least a first rear leg connected to the first front leg connected to the first front leg. The first rear leg includes an upper member having a first end a second end and a lower member having a first end and a second end. The first end of the upper member is pivotally connected to the first end of the lower member, and the lower member is preferably pivotal between an extended use position and a folded storage position.
US08313115B2 Stroller
A stroller includes a frame, a seat, two retaining mechanisms, and two retaining seats. The frame has a pair of first side portions. The seat has a bottom plate portion, a pair of second side portions, and a backrest portion. The retaining mechanisms are disposed respectively on one pair of the pair of the first side portions and the pair of the second side portions. Each of the retaining mechanisms includes a resilient pressing portion and a retaining hook. The retaining seats are disposed respectively on the other pair of the pair of the first side portions and the pair of the second side portions. Each of the retaining seats has a retaining groove engaging the corresponding retaining hook. The resilient pressing portions can be pressed to remove the retaining hooks from the retaining grooves.
US08313112B1 Sand sled
A sand sled having a base preferably comprising a polymeric or foam board having a an open ended frame attached thereto with rails extending therebetween. As illustrated the back end of the top rail has a length greater than the bottom rail so that a toddler is in a reclined position while being pulled on the sand sled.
US08313107B2 Rolling boot with transition region
A rolling boot is proposed that has a first fastening region and a fold region with at least a first fold having a first fold peak region and a first fold flank near the first fastening region and, opposite this first fold flank, a second fold flank which is adjoined by a fold trough, wherein a transition region having a base surface is arranged between the first fastening region and fold region, and an angle a having a range from approximately 90° to approximately 140° is formed between the base surface and an outer side of the first fold flank, and the fold trough has a depth T which is, at most, approximately 65 percent of a height H of the first fold.
US08313097B2 Automatic document feeder
An automatic document feeder for automatically feeding a document placed on a document tray includes a paper feed section which includes at least a paper feed roller and a pickup roller and is tilted up and down around a roller shaft of the paper feed roller; and a shutter section including a shutter which is provided on a side plate of the paper feed section, placed at a document restriction position at which a position of the leading edge of the document is restricted before the paper feed section picks up the document, tilted by being pushed by the document to be picked up when the paper feed section picks up the document, and automatically returns to the document restriction position by its own weight after the picked up document has passed under the shutter.
US08313093B2 Portable vise
A portable vise, particularly for use in supporting elongated member, provides a convenient design for safely cutting, drilling, welding, and painting. An elongated member is inserted through an aperture of a vise body. The vise rests upon the ground or other work surface such that one end of the elongated member is supported over the work surface while the other end of the elongated member rests upon the work surface.
US08313091B2 Multi-fuel carburetors and related methods
Multi-fuel carburetors and related methods are provided for a combustion engine. A multi-fuel carburetor can include at least two fuel nozzles for providing fuel from a fuel source to a carburetor barrel to produce a mixture of fuel and air. A fuel control device movable with respect to at least one of the fuel nozzles can be used to selectively adjust the amount of fuel that can be drawn through that nozzle, thereby desirably adjusting the air/fuel ratio of the mixture produced in the carburetor barrel.
US08313085B2 Fluid flow control apparatus
An apparatus for controlling a fluid flow rate includes a main body having a fluid flow passage and a cavity adapted to receive a flow control body having two or more flow channels therethrough. The flow control body may be moved within the cavity to two or more positions, each position corresponding to fluid communication between the flow passage of the main body and a different one of the flow channels of the flow control body. The flow control body may be held in each position by a detent feature that resists movement of the flow control body until a movement force acting upon the flow control body exceeds a threshold.
US08313083B2 Signaling of the active safety position of electropneumatic position regulators
An electropneumatic position regulator for controlling a pressure-medium-operated actuating drive to which compressed air can be applied via a working connection of the actuating drive. Compressed air is made available to the position regulator via a feed pressure connection, and the pressure regulator includes an electronic control unit configured to assume a safety position in the event of a fault. When the electronic control unit assumes a safety position, a downstream signal output unit, which acts as a driver stage, generates at least one binary fault signal which is indicated in an externally perceptible manner (e.g., visually and/or audibly) by at least one signaling device fitted externally to a housing of the position regulator.
US08313081B2 Parallel-acting roller clamp for intravenous administration set
An improved parallel-acting roller clamp is disclosed, for regulating fluid flow through a deformable plastic tube with improved control of fluid flow rate. The roller clamp achieves this improved performance by configuring a tapered relief groove formed in the clamp's bottom wall to have a reduced taper angle in the clamp's low-flow region. This minimizes variations in flow rate over time, due to cold flow, or creep, of the pinched, deformable plastic tube.
US08313079B2 Ceiling formwork system
The invention relates to a ceiling formwork system comprising several formwork elements, the bottom face of which is provided with supports that can be coupled to heads of vertical props. At least some areas of the cross section of said supports are embodied in a C-shaped manner, with two legs extending from a basic section. One of the legs is designed as a supporting surface that is to rest on a head of a vertical prop while the head of a vertical prop is provided with fixing elements which engage into one respective recess of a supporting surface. Said recess is configured so as to selectively couple the support to the vertical prop in two directions that are offset relative to each other by 90° at the end of the supporting surface which faces away from the basic section.
US08313077B2 Shaker deck adjustment apparatus
An apparatus to lift an oilfield machine includes at least one lifting bellows, an alignment assembly extending between at least one lifting bellows and an adapter plate of the oilfield machine, the alignment assembly comprising an inner cylinder to reciprocate within a sleeve of the oilfield machine, and the alignment assembly comprising a top plate at an upper end of the inner cylinder, the top plate configured to transfer forces from the at least one lifting bellows and the inner cylinder to the adapter plate, wherein the sleeve is configured to restrict the inner cylinder to a substantially linear displacements therethrough.
US08313075B2 Lifting column for treatment tables, hospital-and care beds
A lifting column for treatment tables, hospital- and care beds with a casing consisting of three telescopic members (11, 12, 13) with a drive unit located in the hollow of the intermediate member (12). The drive unit comprises a body element (22) with chain wheels (25, 33) and one chain (47) provided with driving rods (50, 51) secured to the two other telescopic members (11, 13). The drive unit further comprises a linear actuator (18) with an electric motor (19), which drives a spindle (21) located within the cross section of the body element (22) and a spindle nut (28) secured thereto for longitudinal displacement of the body element (22) with the chain wheels (25, 33), so that the telescopic members (11, 12, 13) are extended or retracted depending on the direction of rotation of the motor. Thus a compact structure is achieved as the guide is constructed as a casing and the actuator is integral with the body element which has one chain only.
US08313071B2 Micro-adjustable supporting device
A micro-adjustable supporting device includes a mounting seat, a movable unit, and an adjusting unit. The movable unit includes a rotating assembly disposed rotatably in the mounting seat and rotatable about an axis, and a bottom seat assembly disposed under the mounting seat and rotatable about the axis. The adjusting unit includes a pair of spaced-apart first and second tilt-adjusting elements, and an angle-adjusting element. Each of the first and second tilt-adjusting elements extends through the rotating assembly to connect with the bottom seat assembly, and is movable relative to the rotating assembly in a direction parallel to the axis to adjust a tilt angle of the bottom seat assembly relative to the axis. The angle-adjusting element is operable to move relative to the mounting seat to thereby rotate the rotating assembly and the bottom seat assembly about the axis.
US08313069B2 Speaker with monitor mountable stand
A speaker system with a mount pivotally secured to a speaker frame for detachably securing the speaker system to a display monitor is disclosed. The mount pivots relative to the frame so as to allow the display monitor to be operably received between the mount and frame thereby holding the speaker system in place. A securing structure is preferably provided to hold the mount at a desired position, and resilient padding is preferably provided between the frame, mount and display monitor. The mount can also have a substantially planar bottom surface which allows the speaker system to rest on a desktop simply by positioning the substantially planar bottom surface of the mount on the desktop.
US08313067B2 Pole shaft coupling assembly and related method
A pole member for a stand, such as a medical stand, is defined by a first pole section and a second pole section. The first pole section includes a hollow end having a spline disposed therein for engaging a corresponding spline formed on a mating end of the second pole section. The splines are sized to interconnect wherein each spline includes tapering teeth and slots to create locking engagement therebetween and limit lateral play. A locking element engages the hollow end of the first pole section when inserted a predetermined distance therein.
US08313062B2 Extendable deflector for discharging structure-damaging fluids
The invention relates to a deflector for an aircraft, comprising a discharge pipe for leading a fluid to be drained from the aircraft by way of an outlet end to the environment of the aircraft; an actuator, coupled to the discharge pipe, for swinging out, when required, the discharge pipe to at least one activation position, wherein in the activation position the outlet end is arranged so as to be spaced apart from the exterior skin of the aircraft, and the deflector guides the fluid to be drained so that it exits outside a flow boundary layer that is present on the exterior skin. The deflector according to the invention is activated when required and is able to discharge structure-damaging fluids to the environment in such a way that the exterior structure of the aircraft does not become wet, and at the same time the deflector according to the invention, normally accommodated within the contour of the aircraft, does not result in any additional aerodynamic resistance.
US08313057B2 Aircraft
The inventive aircraft with off-aerodrome landing consists of a body (1), a lifting wing (2) and the onboard part of a rope arresting and landing device comprising an arresting hook (5) which is provided with a grip (6). In the preferred embodiment, said aircraft is provided with a propeller (3) arranged in an annular empennage (4). Said arresting hook is arranged in such a way that it is rotatable around the transversal axis (8) of the aircraft situated in a longitudinal spacing of the aerodynamic mean chord of the wing. The aircraft leads for landing with the upwardly deployed arresting hook in such a way that the trajectory (12) of a top pickup point (6) is higher than the trajectory (13) of the highest top point of the aircraft and higher than a cable or rope (14) tensed on a landing area. The trajectory (13′) of the highest point of the aircraft located ahead of the arresting hook passes at a lower level than the cable (14). In said conditions, the grip of the arresting hook holds the cable which has a required effort for drawing it from a stationary arresting device. By overcoming said effort, the aircraft spends a flight kinetic energy and stops being suspended on the cable.
US08313056B2 Engine heat exchanger with thermoelectric generation
A vehicle has a body and a source of a propellant. An engine is carried by the body. The engine reacts the propellant to produce thrust. The engine has a heat exchanger transferring heat from the reaction to at least a component of the propellant and generating electricity thermoelectrically.
US08313050B2 Diamond nozzle
In one aspect of the invention, an abrasion resistant nozzle has at least two sintered diamond bodies having flat, mating, exterior surfaces and a thickness, the surfaces being held against each other under compression. An enclosure is formed between the mating surfaces, at least one surface having a groove forming a portion of the enclosure and the other surface forming a remaining portion of the enclosure. The enclosure connects an entry and an exit formed in at least one side of at least one of the bodies.
US08313048B2 Fuel injector
A fuel injector, in particular for direct injection of fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, has a valve needle, which is situated in a nozzle body and is operable by an actuator, and a valve closing body, which is operatively connected to the valve needle and, for opening and closing the valve, cooperates with a valve seat face formed on a valve seat body, the valve seat body being provided with at least one spray hole. The at least one spray hole has a first cylindrical section having a fuel inlet opening and a second cylindrical section situated downstream from the first cylindrical section and having a fuel outlet opening, the first and the second cylindrical sections not running coaxially to one another.
US08313043B1 Friction clutch for rotor-type sprinkler
A sprinkler includes a riser, an impeller mounted in the riser, and a nozzle rotatably mounted at an upper end of the riser. A drive assembly including a reduction gear train couples the impeller and the nozzle. A friction clutch is located in the drive assembly between an output gear of the reduction gear train and an input gear of the reversing mechanism and provides a positive drive connection under a normal load and slips under an excessive load. An alternate embodiment utilizes the friction clutch in a rotor-type sprinkler in which the nozzle rotates continuously through a continuous 360 degree arc.
US08313038B2 Telecom shelter cooling and control system
A system configured to provide cooling of electronic equipment in a shelter in combination with an air conditioning (A/C) system. The system includes one or more blowers for drawing air into the shelter, a damper arrangement for controlling air exhaust. The system further includes a DC powered controller coupled to the one or more blowers, the damper arrangement, and the A/C system. The controller is configured to receive at least a first analog input signal associated with a shelter-interior temperature, a second analog input signal associated with a shelter-exterior temperature, and a plurality of alarm input signals and to generate the one or more first control signals to control blower rotational speed, the second control signal to open/close the damper arrangement, and a third control signal to inhibit/activate the A/C system based on at least the first analog input signal, or the second analog input signal, or a plurality of alarm input signals, or a combination of these.
US08313034B2 Semiconductor device and RFID tag chip
The present invention provides a reference power supply circuit which does not require trimming and prevents occurrence of deadlock of a band gap reference circuit. An RFID tag chip related to the present invention has a reference power supply including a switch for switching between a band gap reference circuit and a Vth difference reference circuit. A reference potential in band gap reference of the band gap reference circuit and an output of the Vth difference reference circuit are compared by a comparator, and a transistor operating as a switch is controlled, thereby making the reference potential in band gap reference rise, hastening startup of the band gap reference circuit, and preventing occurrence of deadlock in the band gap reference circuit.
US08313028B2 Multiple antenna reading system suitable for use with contactless transaction devices
A multiple antenna reading system suitable for use with contactless transaction devices, the system including at least one reader, at least first and second antennas having at least some inductive coupling therebetween and being coupled to the at least one reader and antenna function disabling circuitry automatically operative upon activation of at least a first one of the at least first and second antennas to disable antenna function of at least a second one of the at least first and second antennas.
US08313021B2 System and method for managing enhancement features assigned to financial presentation devices
A system for managing enhancement features assigned to financial presentation devices such as credit cards. The system includes an accounts database and a feature management module. The accounts database stores account holder data containing assigned enhancement features for associated credit cards. The feature management module is capable of updating and managing the assigned features of an individual credit card independently of other cards so as to provide enhancement features that can be customized for each individual cardholder.
US08313018B2 Mobile ticket virtual sensor for context detection
An apparatus and method for are provided. The method includes determining that a barcode displayed on a mobile terminal has been scanned, retrieving metadata corresponding to the barcode when the barcode has been scanned, and triggering a context-aware action in the mobile terminal based on the barcode and/or the retrieved metadata.
US08313011B2 Systems and methods for applying texture material to ceiling surfaces
An aerosol system for dispensing sprayable material in a desired spray pattern.
US08313006B2 Foil container
A foil container for storing components of a multi-component mass and for being inserted in a receptacle of an ejection device, includes a first foil bag (12) that stores at least one component (16) of the multi-component mass, a second foil bag (22) arranged next to the first foil bag (12) and that stores at least two components (26, 27) of the multi-component mass separately from each other, and a head portion (31) having at least two receiving sections (32, 36) for receiving respective ends (13, 23) of the first and second foil bags (12, 22).
US08313005B2 Plastic coffee container with pinch grip
A plastic container for a particulate product includes a base and a surrounding wall member upstanding therefrom which generally define a container main interior volume. A top connects to the surrounding wall member and includes a large opening sufficient to receive about a 5 inch cylinder therethrough. The surrounding wall member includes a pair of pinch pockets having a lateral opening separation W which is not greater than about 2.5 inches and/or a lateral minimum separation C of not greater than about 2.0. In some embodiment, a thumb receiving cavity is provided above the pinch pockets. The pinch pockets are configured and sized for easy grasping and holding of the container.
US08312994B2 Cylindrical dedusting apparatus for particulate material
A cylindrical dedusting apparatus has an upper material infeed opening to introduce material into a frusto-conical infeed hopper centered over the tip of a conical wash deck supported over an air infeed conduit. Air is blown through slots and openings in the surface of the wash deck to separate dust and debris from the particulate material. The dust-laden air is discharged by passing between the infeed hopper and a cylindrical sleeve to enter into a circular collector for discharge from the apparatus. Flow rate of material over the wash deck is adjusted by vertically moving the infeed hopper within the sleeve relative to the wash deck, the tip serving as a stopper to define the dimension of the gap through which material flows onto the wash deck. Cleaned material passes through a lower discharge opening while dirty air is removed through a radially oriented discharge conduit from the circular collector.
US08312993B2 Container for housing a tray or blister pack
A container is disclosed for housing a tray or blister pack. The container includes a shell (40) with an internal volume for holding the tray or blister pack, and a cover (10) with a base (11), hinge (13), and lid (12) for enclosing the shell (40).
US08312980B2 High speed diverter for baggage conveyor
An apparatus is provided to facilitate the transfer of baggage on conveyor systems at the junction between a sort conveyor and a take-away conveyor. The transfer apparatus includes a sweeper arm that rotates across the sort conveyor to sweep a baggage article thereon toward the take-away conveyor. The sweeper arm translates linearly relative to the sort conveyor so that the baggage remains in continuous contact with the sweeper arm. The rotation of the arm is coordinated with the translation so that the baggage will be fully diverted from the sort conveyor by the time the sweeper arm reaches the end of its translation.
US08312979B2 Workpiece conveying equipment
Workpiece conveying equipment provided with a workpiece conveying traveling body composed of a workpiece support carriage and an auxiliary carriage adjacent to at least one of the front and the rear in a traveling direction of the workpiece support carriage, a first conveying path where the workpiece support carriage and the auxiliary carriage travel integrally, a second conveying path where only the workpiece support carriage travels perpendicularly and horizontally with respect to the traveling direction of the first conveying path, and a carriage diverging means provided at a branching point from the first conveying path to the second conveying path so as to separate the workpiece support carriage from the auxiliary carriage and to diverge the workpiece support carriage into the second conveying path perpendicularly and horizontally.
US08312976B2 High efficiency bicycle hub
A high efficiency bicycle hub for near frictionless free wheeling comprising a hub having a toothed engagement ring, a driver having a retractable engagement member that can engage and disengage from the hub, and a retraction device to facilitate a disengaged configuration. The retraction device comprises a retaining ring having retraction members and the retractable engagement member comprises reciprocal retraction members to “catch” the retraction member to maintain a disengaged configuration. In use, forward rotation of the driver engages the retractable engagement member with the toothed engagement ring of the hub to drive the hub. Reverse rotation of the driver rotates the reciprocal retraction members underneath or behind the retraction member thereby disengaging the driver from the hub.
US08312970B2 Elevator arrangement
A method for installing, securing, or installing and securing at least one rope pulley of an elevator may include: arranging a set of ropes of the elevator and the at least one rope pulley, in a rigged or unrigged state, near an elevator car of the elevator or in a shaft of the elevator; and detachably mounting the at least one rope pulley to the elevator car, a frame structure of the elevator car, or a guide rail of the elevator car using a quick coupling. The elevator may include the ropes, the at least one rope pulley, the elevator car, and elevator car guide rails. The ropes may pass around the at least one rope pulley. The at least one rope pulley may be adapted to detachably mount to the elevator car, the frame structure, or one of the elevator car guide rails using a quick coupling.
US08312968B2 Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission comprises a converter case storing a torque converter, a transmission case storing a transmission mechanism, the transmission case connecting to the converter case at a front thereof and having a rear wall portion to close an end at a rear thereof, a lubricating-oil introduction passage provided at the converter case to introduce lubricating oil, a rear-side lubricating-oil supply passage provided at the rear wall portion to supply the lubricating oil to the transmission mechanism, a lubricating-oil supply pipe extending toward the rear wall portion in the transmission case, an upstream end of which connects to the lubricating-oil introduction passage and a downstream end of which connects to the rear-side lubricating-oil supply passage, wherein the lubricating-oil supply pipe is supported between the converter case and the rear wall portion.
US08312959B1 Vehicle steering system transmission
A vehicle steering system transmission comprising a housing, an input shaft journalled to the housing, an electric motor connected to the housing and coupled to the input shaft, an output shaft journalled to the housing, the input shaft and the output shaft coupled by a first pair of sprockets having a first belt trained therebetween and having a first ratio, the first belt and first pair of sprockets comprising a helical tooth configuration, the input shaft and the output shaft coupled by a second pair of sprockets having a second belt trained therebetween and having a second ratio, and the input shaft and the output shaft coupled by a third pair of sprockets having a third belt trained therebetween and having a third ratio.
US08312952B2 Battery positioning structure of electric vehicle
A battery positioning structure reliably positions battery modules on a vehicle chassis even when battery modules have different sizes and heights. The battery positioning structure includes a bracket having at opposite ends not only check plates which are configured to be positioned on a body of the electric vehicle but also locks at opposite side edges of the bracket, the bracket being configured to be attached to outer surfaces of the battery modules and to unite the battery modules, and bands configured to extend across the bracket, and linked to the locks at opposite ends of the bracket. The battery modules and the bracket are positioned on the body of the electric vehicle.
US08312950B2 Modular vehicle front end with resin overmold bracket and vehicle comprising same
A modular vehicle front end comprising a frame, a cooling unit mounted to the frame, a conduit running through the cooling unit, and a bracket for securing the conduit to the frame. The bracket can comprise an attachment portion configured for attachment to the frame and a retainer overmolded on the conduit. The bracket can further comprise at least one flexible clamp portion configured to receive and retain a second conduit. A vehicle comprising an engine and the modular front end taught herein is also disclosed.
US08312944B2 Percussion hammer bit with a driver sub including a guide sleeve portion
A percussion drilling assembly for boring into the earth. In an embodiment, the assembly comprises a tubular case having a central axis, an upper end, and a lower end. In addition, the assembly comprises a piston slidingly disposed within the tubular case. Further, the assembly comprises a driver sub coaxially coupled to the lower end of the tubular case. The driver sub includes an upper end disposed within the case and a lower end extending axially from the lower end of the case. Still further, the assembly comprises a hammer bit coaxially disposed within the driver sub. The hammer bit including an upper end disposed within the driver sub and a lower end extending from the lower end of the driver sub. The upper end of the driver sub extends axially from the upper end of the hammer bit and is adapted to receive the piston.
US08312943B1 Thermally-stable polycrystalline diamond compact and applications therefor such as drill bits
Embodiments of the invention relate to thermally-stable polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) elements, polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”), and methods of fabricating such PCD elements and PDCs. In an embodiment, a PDC includes a PCD body including bonded diamond grains defining a plurality of interstitial regions. The PCD body includes a first volume having a first portion of the interstitial regions and a second volume having a second portion of the interstitial regions. The second volume is bonded to the substrate. At least one interstitial material is disposed in the first portion of the interstitial regions and a metallic infiltrant is disposed in the second portion of the interstitial regions. The at least one interstitial material exhibits a negative coefficient of thermal expansion.
US08312941B2 Modular fixed cutter earth-boring bits, modular fixed cutter earth-boring bit bodies, and related methods
A modular fixed cutter earth-boring bit body includes a blade support piece and at least one blade piece fastened to the blade support piece. A modular fixed cutter earth-boring bit and methods of making modular fixed cutter earth-boring bit bodies and bits also are disclosed.
US08312934B2 Control line retention and method for retaining control line
A line retention system includes a positionally fixed retainer having one or more recesses therein that are receptive to one or more lines. The system further includes one or more spline recesses in the positionally fixed retainer receptive to one or more position splines and one or more position splines that are receivable in the one or more spline recesses. A method for retaining one or more lines is included.
US08312928B2 Apparatus and methods for the recovery of hydrocarbonaceous and additional products from oil shale and oil sands
Apparatus and methods for recovering hydrocarbonaceous and additional products from nonrubilized oil shale and oil/tar sands. One or more initial condensation steps are performed to recover crude-oil products from the effluent gas, followed by one or more subsequent condensation steps to recover additional, non-crude-oil products. At least a portion of the exhaust gas from a combustor may be routed through a heat exchanger to produce the processing gas, the composition of which may be adjusted so that it contains approximately 1% oxygen or less. The subsequent condensation steps may be carried out in at least one cooled chamber having a sequence of critical orifices maintained at a negative pressure. Carbon sequestration steps may be performed wherein recovered carbon dioxide is delivered down the hole following the recovery of the hydrocarbonaceous products. Various physical parameters may be adjusted to vary the recovery of crude oil or other products or contaminants from the effluent gas.
US08312927B2 Apparatus and methods for adjusting operational parameters to recover hydrocarbonaceous and additional products from oil shale and sands
Apparatus and methods are described for recovering hydrocarbonaceous and additional products from nonrubilized oil shale and oil/tar sands. One or more initial condensation steps are performed to recover crude-oil products from the effluent gas, followed by one or more subsequent condensation steps to recover additional, non-crude-oil products. The effluent gas is maintained under a negative pressure from the hole and through the initial and subsequent condensation steps. This provides numerous advantages, including the adjustment of various physical parameters during the extraction process. Such adjustment allows the ratio of oils types to be varied, the ratio of hydrocarbonaceous products to non-crude products to be varied, contamination control, and other disclosed advantages.
US08312924B2 Method and apparatus to treat a well with high energy density fluid
The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for the subterranean injection of reactive substances like propellants into wellbores and subterranean reservoirs. These methods and apparatuses controls the temperature of a reactive substance for safe handling at surface and controls the decomposition rate of the substances in the subterranean environment. In addition, these methods and apparatuses provide a means for safe dilution of reactive fluids in the event of a leak or spillage of the reactive substance.
US08312923B2 Measuring a characteristic of a well proximate a region to be gravel packed
A gravel pack service tool is lowered into a well. At least one sensor proximate a well region to be gravel packed measures at least one characteristic of the well, where the measuring is performed during a gravel pack operation by the gravel pack service tool. The gravel pack service tool is removed from the well after the gravel pack operation.
US08312922B2 Metal-to-metal seal with travel seal bands
A wellhead seal assembly that forms a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead members. A metal seal ring has inner and outer walls separated by a slot. The exterior surfaces of the outer and inner walls contain a soft metal inlay. A wicker profile with a slick area is located on the outer surface of the inner wellhead member and on the inner surface of the outer wellhead member. An energizing ring is moved into the slot to force the outer and inner walls of the seal into sealing engagement with the inner and outer wellhead members. The soft metal inlays deform onto the slick area on the wellhead members. The wickers on the wellhead members embed into the walls of the seal ring.
US08312919B2 Tray for vacuum deposition apparatus
A tray for a vacuum deposition apparatus includes a base having an upper surface, a number of cooling pipes fixed to the base each having a plurality of alternately arranged cooling portions and conduits, and a number of engaging members. The cooling portions protrude from the upper surface and each has a cooling channel therein. Two ends of the cooling channel communicate with two adjacent conduits. Each of the engaging members each has a hole surrounding a corresponding cooling portion therein.
US08312918B2 Low humidity detection system and method thereof
A system and method for detecting low levels of humidity (i.e. less than 10%) inside an automotive vehicle is provided whereby the total absolute humidity inside the vehicle is determined by multiplying the number of occupants in the vehicle by an absolute humidity factor to obtain a total absolute humidity expelled by the vehicle occupants. The absolute humidity outside the vehicle is added to the total absolute humidity expelled by the vehicle occupants to arrive at a total vehicle cabin absolute humidity.
US08312917B2 Method and apparatus for controlling the formation of crocodile skin surface roughness on thin cast strip
A method of controlling the formation of crocodile skin surface roughness on thin cast strip by forming a casting pool of molten metal of less than 0.065% carbon supported on casting surfaces above a nip, assembling a rotating brush to contact the casting surfaces in advance of contact with the molten metal, and controlling the energy exerted by rotating brushes against the casting surfaces of the casting rolls to clean and expose a majority of the projections of the casting surfaces of the casting rolls by providing wetting contact with the molten metal of the casting pool. The cleaning step is controlled by controlling the energy of the rotating brush against the casting rolls based on the difference between the detected light reflected from the casting surfaces and the light reflected when the casting surfaces are clean, and automating the method.
US08312916B2 Method for casting a composite ingot
Method and apparatus employing a casting mould including a liquid feed end for supplying the casting mould with molten second alloy and an exit end with an outlet for casting molten second alloy downwardly. While continuously moving the mould and an elongated solid first alloy substrate relative to one another, casting molten second alloy passes downwardly through at least one outlet of the mould onto an upper surface of the substrate at a temperature wherein the substrate locally at least partly remelts beginning at a reference point of a remelting zone and mixes at least partly with molten second alloy to form an alloy pool. After remelting the molten alloy pool continuously cools and solidifies at a location away from the reference point and joins the substrate to form composite ingot including at least two separately formed layers of one or more alloys before discharging from the mould.
US08312914B2 Method, mold, and mold system for forming rotors
A mold for forming a plurality of rotors includes a plurality of lamination stacks, wherein each lamination stack defines at least one void therethrough; a tube having a central longitudinal axis, wherein each lamination stack is concentrically spaced apart from the tube to define a channel therebetween; a plurality of washers each having a shape defined by a first diameter and a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter, wherein each washer is configured to concentrically abut the tube and define a feed conduit interconnecting with the channel; and a shell disposed in contact with each lamination stack and concentrically spaced apart from each washer to define a plurality of ducts, wherein each duct is interconnected with the at least one void of at least one lamination stack. A mold system and a method of forming a plurality of rotors are also described.
US08312911B2 Golf cart curtain assembly
A portable golf cart curtain assembly that is able to be installed by one golfer in a matter of minutes on any golf cart and provide a substantial barrier to the elements. Its extensible framework is designed for quick attachment to a plethora of different carts and to remain in place despite the twisting of the golf cart frame and any jostling of the golf cart as it traverses about the course. A set of rubber grommets keeps any movement of the assembly quiet as metal on metal contact is eliminated.
US08312909B2 Device for treating paper webs
Device for treating paper webs or plies, comprising a couple of overlapped rolls (2,3) for compressing a paper web or ply passing between them. Each of said rolls (2,3) features a fixed central shaft (20,300) supported by a corresponding holder (10,83) at its ends, on which shaft a tubular jacket is fitted, with the interposition of low-friction connecting members (21,310) which are positioned on opposite sides with respect to the center line of the fixed central shaft axis, so that said tubular jacket, which is destined to come into contact with the paper webs or plies to be treated, is free to rotate about its longitudinal axis.
US08312894B2 Ambient air backflushed filter vacuum
A vacuum cleaning machine has a cannister with an inlet port and at least two outlet ports. At least two filters are disposed inside of the cannister, one in pneumatic communication through each of the outlet ports. At least two valves are disposed outside of the cannister. Each valve is in pneumatic communication between a vacuum source and an outlet port so as to permit air to be drawn by the vacuum source from the inlet port simultaneously through the filters. A controller operates the valves to switch the filters from the vacuum source to ambient air so as to permit ambient air to be sequentially intermittently drawn through corresponding valves and filters into the cannister. Preferably, the controller includes a timing mechanism for setting the delay time of the sequential valve operation and a timing mechanism for setting the intermittent time of connection of each filter to ambient air.
US08312892B2 Device and method for determining a failure mode of a pneumatic control valve assembly
A control valve assembly is capable of diagnosing malfunctions in the control valve assembly and discerning a location of a control fluid leak in the control valve assembly. The control valve assembly includes a control valve, an actuator and a positioner. The actuator includes an actuator vent in an actuator housing, the actuator vent being connected to a flow switch. By determining a flow condition through the actuator vent, the positioner determines whether a control fluid leak is located in a control line or in a diaphragm.
US08312884B2 Intra-oral apnea and snoring prevention appliance
An intra-oral device used for people that snore or have sleep apnea is designed to move a user's lower jaw forward relative to the user's immovable upper jaw and to prevent the user's mouth from inadvertently opening while sleeping. The device includes upper and lower appliances fitted to the user's respective upper and lower dental arches. The lower appliance possesses a partially embedded bracket. An adjustment element is integrated into the upper portion of the bracket. With the user's mouth closed and the upper and lower appliances positioned over the user's respective dental arches, the adjustment element is moved rearward by worm action into load bearing contact against the forward facing immovable vertical contact wall of the upper appliance. This action moves the lower appliance forward, and thus, the user's lower jaw with its anatomically attached tongue are also moved forward relative to the mouth which in turn opens the user's airway. Also, a forward facing horizontal shoulder positioned at the lowest portion of the vertical contact wall acts against the adjustment element to prevent the user's mouth from opening while sleeping.
US08312882B2 Artificial respiration device for patients suffering from hypoxemia or anoxemia
Disclosed is an artificial respiration device that includes a tubular element, which forms a main channel having an upstream part at the proximal end of the tubular element and a downstream part at the distal end of the tubular element. Auxiliary channels open into the main channel and deflecting means are located internal to the main channel. The deflecting means are configured to deflect jets of respiratory gas injected into the main ckannel through the auxiliary channels so as to converge the gas at a point of convergence inside the main channel. The tubular element also includes at least one lateral safety orifice that extends through a lateral wall of the tubular element at a location sustantially opposite the point of convergence, and which is configured to communicate air from outside the tubular element to the downstream part of the main channel.
US08312880B2 Adaptable demand dilution oxygen regulator for use in aircrafts
A system and method of automatic delivery of appropriate flow rate of oxygen to a person flying in a pressurized aircraft cabin is disclosed. In one embodiment, an adaptable demand dilution oxygen regulator for use inside a pressurized aircraft cabin, includes an oxygen initiation and demand regulation system adapted to be responsive to differential gas pressure in a first altitude range based on a pulmonary capacity of a person flying in the pressurized aircraft cabin and to control flow of pressurized oxygen to a breathing outlet during the first altitude range. The adaptable demand dilution oxygen regulator further includes a cabin air dilution and delivery system, coupled to the oxygen initiation and demand regulation system, adapted to be responsive to differential gas pressure in a second altitude range and to output progressively enriched mixture till 100% pressurized oxygen into a breathing apparatus during the second altitude range.
US08312877B2 Modular medical care system
A modular medical care system, housing a plurality of different modules providing different functions used in delivering healthcare to a patient, includes a plurality of different modules including: (a) a patient monitoring module for acquiring and processing signals derived from sensors suitable for attachment to a patient; and (b) a patient treatment module for delivering treatment to the patient. A processor processes signals derived from the plurality of different modules. A communication interface provides bidirectional communication between the processor and the plurality of different modules via a network.
US08312872B2 Outdoor gas heater
An outdoor gas heater used in the field is provided. The outdoor gas heater includes a primary combustion net having a dual net structure. A wind-proof cover is provided to protect a thermocouple. Fuel gas is concentrated into a fuel gas discharge hole formed in the wind-proof cover so that an initial ignition performance is improved. A support is provided to support the outdoor gas heater from the top surface of a gas container. A fuel gas inlet tube is vertically installed between a head unit and a safety valve while being spaced apart from an adjustment handle, and a fire extinguishing safety device is provided behind the fuel gas inlet tube, so that the fire extinguishing safety device is hidden by the fuel gas inlet tube, thereby minimizing a volume of the gas heater without degrading aesthetic appearance of the gas heater.
US08312870B2 Apparatus and method for utilizing loader for paintball marker as a consolidated display and relay center
Among other things, methods and apparatus regarding collection, dissemination and display of information concerning paintball loaders and markers are disclosed. A loader includes a heads-up display, electronic devices for gathering, storing and disseminating information, and an antenna for sending and receiving data. Wireless voice communications among paintball players is possible via associated headsets.
US08312868B2 Method, device, and system for operating an internal combustion engine
A device and a method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder and a tank ventilation system with a line designed to provide pneumatic communication between the tank ventilation system and the at least one cylinder. The line has at least one sensor for determining a hydrocarbon content of a gas flow. A determination, as a function of a measurement signal from the sensor, of a hydrocarbon content of a gas flow flowing from the tank ventilation system to the at least one cylinder is performed. At least one characteristic variable for a fuel quantity to be metered is determined as a function of the determined hydrocarbon content. A metering of fuel into the cylinder is determined as a function of the at least one determined characteristic variable.
US08312860B2 Extension of the application of multiple injection HCCI combustion strategy from idle to medium load
A method for controlling an internal combustion engine includes monitoring an engine operating state and selectively operating the engine in a multiple-injection, multiple-ignition combustion mode comprising three injection events based upon the engine operating state. The selective operation includes controlling a first injection during a recompression period of the combustion cycle, controlling a second injection event effective to establish a homogeneous fuel charge prior to a main combustion, and controlling a third injection late in the compression phase of the combustion cycle.
US08312856B2 Forged piston, internal combustion engine, transportation apparatus and method of making the forged piston
A method of making a forged piston includes the steps of providing a workpiece made of an aluminum alloy, a magnesium alloy or a titanium alloy; and forging the workpiece with stress applied thereto in a predetermined direction (forging direction). The method further includes, before the step of forging, the step of working the workpiece such that fiber flows of the workpiece are nonparallel to the predetermined direction.
US08312848B2 Engine block assembly for internal combustion engine
An engine block assembly for an internal combustion engine comprises a cylinder portion having a plurality of cylinder walls disposed therein. A water jacket, having opposed side walls, extends about the plurality of cylinder walls to define a coolant flow path. A coolant inlet in fluid communication with the water jacket delivers coolant thereto and a coolant outlet in fluid communication with the water jacket removes coolant therefrom. Opposed sealing shoulders extend into the coolant flow path from the water jacket side walls and a longitudinally extending coolant baffle is disposed in the water jacket adjacent to the sealing shoulders. The coolant baffle includes a baffle sealing face configured to engage the opposed sealing shoulders to direct the coolant entering the water jacket in a single direction around the cylinder walls of the cylinder portion.
US08312842B2 Feeder apparatus with elastic securing member
A bird feeder apparatus, which utilizes an elastic member to removably secure a removable bottom end portion to a feed storage chamber of the feeder apparatus. In one embodiment, the removable bottom end portion is a feed tray and in another embodiment the removable bottom end portion is a bottom end cap of the feed storage chamber.
US08312839B2 Mixing frequency at multiple feeding points
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to obtaining a substantially uniform plasma distribution within a large area processing chamber. For large area processing chambers that utilize RF voltages, standing waves can lead to deposition and/or etching non-uniformities. By applying RF voltage in at least two separate locations at two separate, but close frequencies with or without phase modulation, the wave interference pattern moves across the electrode. By moving the standing wave across the electrode, the plasma generated in the chamber can, over time, be substantially uniform.
US08312831B2 Hydrofoil boat stabilizer
A hydrofoil boat stabilizer having a cross-sectional area with the configuration of a true hydrofoil is provided. The hydrofoil includes a slip-on yoke designed to compressively fit on a cavitation plate of a boat motor lower drive unit. The wings of the hydrofoil include at least one angle of attack, and preferably, a plurality of angles of attack. The hydrofoil is shaped to reduced drag and minimize cavitation. A low-drag surface is included on at least a portion of the outer surface of the hydrofoil.
US08312829B2 Boat hatch wind deflector system
A ventilator wind scoop system is disclosed for attachment to a boat deck hatch having a hinged hatch cover which opens to uncover the hatch opening whereby the scoop system communicates through such opening with the boat's below deck space. The scoop system has a deflector unit formed of wind-resistant fabric. The deflector, which is anchored to the inner face of the hatch cover and to supports inside the lower deck, is positioned as desired. The opposing portion of the deflector is anchored within the lower deck, preferably to the ceiling or sides to allow air flow to be forced to the front of the boat or in any direction needed. The wind scoop system is easily customized to fit a wide variety of hatch sizes and when not is use folds into a compact size for easy storage.
US08312820B2 Mount for use with a desk or work station
A mount for carrying a display and like devices. The mount includes a base and a support pivotally coupled to the base. The support includes a mounting surface to carry at least one device. At least one rail constrains movement of the base along a horizontal plane. A pivot actuator is configured to pivot the support between a vertical position and a horizontal position. The mounting surface is substantially orthogonal to the horizontal plane in the vertical position. In the horizontal position, the mounting surface is substantially parallel to the horizontal plane.
US08312816B2 Carrying case with selective object positioning
Handbag or carrying case includes a retaining compartment for retaining objects which is defined by structure having a plurality of apertures extending from the compartment to an exterior thereof, and at least one snap fastener which snaps into a respective aperture to thereby be secured to the compartment defining structure. An object may be coupled to the snap fastener such that the object is secured to the structure defining the compartment. The position of the object is variable depending on which aperture the snap fastener snaps into, with the user selecting where to locate the object by selecting the location at which the snap fastener connected thereto will engage with the compartment defining structure.
US08312812B2 Reloadable training ammunition
A reloadable munition having a reusable shell base having a hollow cavity on a bottom face to accept a propulsion system reload and a reusable projectile inserted into a top portion of the shell base, and a mechanical retainer for the propulsion system reload in the shell base to provide reloading and reusing of the munition by hand.
US08312800B2 Pneumatic system for a vitrector
A system for providing pneumatic power to a vitrector includes first and second output ports, an output valve, an isolation valve, and three manifolds. The first and second output ports provide pressurized gas to power a vitrector. The output valve alternately provides pressurized gas to the first and second output ports. The isolation valve provides pressurized gas to the output valve. Two manifolds fluidly connect the output valve to the first and second output ports. A third manifold fluidly connects the isolation valve to the output valve. When the isolation valve provides pressurized gas to the output valve, the output valve operates at a high rate of speed to alternately provide pressurized gas to the first and second output ports thereby powering the vitrector.
US08312794B2 Ratcheting wrench
A ratcheting wrench having ratchet structure, a ratchet body, a socket wheel, and a ratchet clutch. The ratchet body is received into the ratchet structure and is rotatable about a first axis. The socket wheel is received in an aperture in the ratchet body and includes a plurality of tool members that are spaced circumferentially apart from one another about a second axis that intersects the first axis but is not coincident with the first axis. The ratchet clutch is configured to control relative rotation between the ratchet structure and the ratchet body about the first axis.
US08312790B2 One touch combination structure of knob for automatic transmission
A one touch combination structure of a knob for an automatic transmission may include the knob which is provided with an operation button, an insert which is interposed inside the knob, a lever pipe which is housed in the insert and a lower end portion of which is hingedly supported to regulate shift speeds, and an operation rod which is slidably inserted into the lever pipe and elastically supported therein so as to vertically move according to an operation of the operation button, wherein a first fitting protrusion and a second fitting protrusion having different width and length are provided at an inner circumference of the insert, and a first cut groove and a second cut groove respectively responding to the first fitting protrusion and the second fitting protrusion are formed at an upper end portion of the lever pipe.
US08312780B2 Sampling device and method
An in situ autosampling method and associated sampling device for capturing a material sample from a vessel. Methods of the present invention make use of a sampling device having an extendable sample capture element with a concave sample capture pocket located near a distal end thereof. The sample capture pocket is adapted to capture a known volume of material when the sample capture element is extended into said material. The material sample remains trapped in the sample capture pocket upon sample capture element retraction. Ports in the sample capture pocket may be placed in communication with corresponding material transfer channels extending through the sample capture element to allow for the in situ processing of a material sample, and the subsequent discharge of the sample to an analyzer or another downstream location.
US08312779B2 Force sensor for the detection of a force vector
The invention makes it possible to determine a force vector that is applied to a tip of a minimally invasive surgical instrument. The force acts upon the housing, is directed to the base, and causes a deformation there in special beam structures. Said deformation is detected by tension-sensitive/extension-sensitive resistors whose changes are a measure for the applied force vector. The inventive measuring element comprises special mounting elements so as to be integrated into tube-type instruments such as guiding wires, fastening zones for additional components, an overload protection, and a head shape that is adapted to the treatment process.
US08312777B2 Test device
Shear test apparatus for gold and solder balls of a semiconductor substrate comprises a support element (21) on which is provided a piezo-electric crystal (24) in the direct shear load path. The crystal (24) may have a shield (25). The interface between shield and crystal, and crystal and support element may include an epoxy resin layer to distribute force and retain the components as a unit.
US08312773B2 Laser ultrasonic device
A laser ultrasonic device is disclosed. The laser ultrasonic device comprises an ultrasonic generation system capable of generating ultrasonic waves on a surface of a sample, said system comprising a first collection of optical fiber output ends arranged in a first pattern.
US08312741B2 Cleaving method for a glass film
In a cleaving apparatus for a glass film, an initial crack, which is formed at a leading end portion of a preset cleaving line of a glass film, is propagated along the preset cleaving line by a thermal stress generated in the glass film through localized heating performed along the preset cleaving line and cooling of a heated region resulting from the localized heating. At this time, a resin sheet having higher flexibility than the glass film is arranged in a cleaving region, and the resin sheet is floated by blowing a gas on a lower surface of the resin sheet by a floating unit. Then, a preset cleaving portion of the glass film including the preset cleaving line is lifted and supported while being covered with the floated resin sheet from below, and in this state, the glass film is cleaved.
US08312740B2 Thermal reflow of glass and fused silica body
Disclosed are synthetic silica glass body with a birefringence pattern having low fast axis direction randomness factor and glass reflow process. The glass reflow process comprises steps of: providing a glass tube having a notch; and thermally reflowing the glass tube to form a glass plate. The process can be advantageously used to produce fused silica glass plate without observable striae when viewed in the direction of optical axis. Also disclosed are optical members comprising the fused silica glass body and a process for reflowing glass cylinders.
US08312727B2 Vibration damper
Fuel injector assemblies with frictionally damped fuel supply members, including fuel feed strips. More particularly, the invention provides friction dampers and/or assemblies that frictionally damp movement of fuel supply members in at least one direction as a function of frequency. Accordingly, low frequency vibration can be undamped, while vibration above a prescribed frequency can be damped. Some of the embodiments provide a friction damper that is easily serviceable, and can be installed after final assembly of a fuel injector. Aspects of the invention are applicable to other components of fuel injectors and gas turbine engines in addition to fuel supply members.
US08312723B2 System for injecting a mixture of air and fuel into a turbomachine combustion chamber
A system for injecting a mixture of air and fuel into a turbomachine combustion chamber is disclosed. The system includes a fuel injector and a Venturi with an interior surface delimiting a premixing chamber. The Venturi includes an internal annular airflow cavity which is connected by air outlet ducts to the premixing chamber. The air outlet ducts open onto the interior surface of the Venturi so as to prevent to deposition of soot and the formation of coke on this surface.
US08312718B2 Control strategy for decreasing resonance in a turbocharger
A method for operating a turbocharged engine includes adjusting turbocharger rotational acceleration or deceleration in response to one or more resonant frequencies. Additionally in some examples, the method may further include increasing turbocharger rotation in response to one or more resonant frequencies during a first condition, and increasing turbocharger deceleration in response to one or more resonant frequencies during a second condition, the second condition different from the first condition. In this way, it is possible to enhance the useful life cycle of the turbocharger and associated engine by limiting the operating time in a resonant frequency band.
US08312715B2 Hydraulic output drive shaft generator
The invention relates to a mobile machine having a traction drive and working hydraulics. The drive unit has a radial piston pump which is driven by a drive set and supplies working hydraulics. The radial piston pump is arranged on the axis of the output drive shaft of the drive set, between the drive set and a gearbox which is connected thereto via the output drive shaft. The drive set, the radial piston pump and the gearbox in this case form a compact drive unit.
US08312711B2 Exhaust purification device of internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine wherein an HC treatment catalyst (12) having the function of adsorbing the HC in the exhaust gas is arranged upstream of the NOx selective reducing catalyst (14), an urea aqueous solution fed from the reducing agent feed valve (15) is arranged upstream of the HC treatment catalyst (12), urea, and NOx contained in the exhaust gas, and HC adsorbed on the HC treatment catalyst 12 are reacted with each other to form intermediate products having cyano groups, oximes, and amino groups, and these intermediate products are sent to the NOx selective reducing catalyst (14).
US08312710B2 Cold-start reliability and reducing hydrocarbon emissions in a gasoline direct injection engine
A method for starting an engine of a motor vehicle, the engine having an intake manifold, an intake throttle controlling admission of air into the intake manifold, and a plurality of combustion chambers communicating with the intake manifold, the method comprising providing a reduced pressure of air in the intake manifold prior to delivering fuel or spark to the engine, the reduced pressure of air responsive to a temperature of the engine; delivering fuel to one or more of the plurality of combustion chambers in an amount based on the reduced pressure of air; and delivering spark to the one or more combustion chambers to start the engine.
US08312704B2 High pressure field emitter, photoionization, plasma initiation and field devices
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a propulsion device that ionizes a portion of a medium and ExB drifts the ionized portion providing thrust where the ionized portion is created using high pressure field emitters comprising: a substrate layer; a gate layer; a field emitter tip; and a cover layer, wherein the field emitter tip is configured to emit electrons in a region when there is a potential difference between the gate layer and the field emitter tip, where the cover layer separates an ambient environment at a pressure from the region, and where a substantial portion of the electrons pass through the cover layer.
US08312701B1 Decoring mechanism with mechanized harvester
A mechanical harvester for harvesting produce with a core planted in a field is provided. The mechanical harvester includes a chassis, a positioning apparatus, a decoring device, and a transport assembly. The positioning apparatus is connected to the chassis and configured to position the produce in the ground for harvesting and decoring. The decoring device is connected to the positioning apparatus and configured to sever the core of the produce while the produce is in the ground. The transport assembly is connected to the chassis and configured to lift the cut produce from the ground and transport the cut produce to a processing unit or a storage container.
US08312698B2 Envelope inserting apparatus
An inserting apparatus for inserting documents into envelopes comprising an envelope holder for holding an envelope in a document inserting position, wherein a first upstream end of the envelope is in an open position for receiving the document, a document displacement arrangement for displacing the document along a document inserting path into the envelope, wherein the apparatus further comprises a document steering arrangement arranged opposite to an envelope crease line provided between an envelope flap and an envelope body. The arrangement comprises steering elements spaced apart along a central axis that in use is substantially aligned with the envelope crease line. The steering elements are interconnected such that in use the respective steering elements are rotatable about the central axis in a similar direction with a similar speed during a similar time interval.
US08312690B1 Pervious concrete system and method of forming pervious concrete
Various embodiments of a system and method of forming a decorative pervious concrete system are generally described. In some embodiments, the pervious concrete system comprises a coarse pervious layer, a binder layer, a decorative pervious layer and a decorative layer sealer. In some embodiments, the decorative pervious layer comprises a decorative aggregate which may be at least partially exposed.
US08312688B2 Glazing comprising a reinforcement element
The present invention relates to a glazing unit comprising a glazed element (10) provided with a peripheral frame or with peripheral elements made of plastic overmolded onto said glazed element (10), said peripheral frame or said peripheral elements incorporating at least one element (13′, 14′, 15, 16, 17, 18′, 19′, 19″, 20) for reinforcing the glazed element, this reinforcing element being connected to said peripheral frame or said peripheral elements by an overmolding plastic (9) and consisting of a profile comprising a web part (11) that is arranged parallel or substantially parallel and close to the glazed element (10) and bears at least one projecting part (12) distal to the glazed element, characterized in that the projecting part or parts (12) does not or do not form a pocket that is open in the direction of the glazed element (10).
US08312683B2 Method for constructing precast sandwich panels
The present disclosure is directed to a concrete sandwich panel. The sandwich panel may comprise a first reinforced concrete panel; a second reinforced concrete panel; an insulating panel sandwiched between the first reinforced concrete panel and the second reinforced concrete panel; a tie comprising a generally triangle wave-shaped pattern having a period defined by peaks spaced at a regular interval and a peak-to-peak amplitude greater than the thickness of the insulating panel; wherein the insulating panel has a plurality of generally linear slots defined at the regular interval of the tie for receiving the tie such that opposing ends of the tie terminate adjacent to the insulating panel, and the plurality of generally linear slots are filled utilizing an insulating material upon insertion of the tie to reduce thermal bridging; and wherein the peaks of the tie mechanically join the first and second reinforced concrete panels to the insulating panel.
US08312676B2 Shutter panel having louvers aligned along a single plane
A shutter panel having multiple louvers that may be opened or closed in unison and which provide a flat, non-overlapping surface when placed in the closed position. Each louver is provided with a pivot post and a drive post, and the drive posts of each louver are interconnected to one or more control rods hidden within the stiles of the shutter panel. Each louver is beveled to encourage movement between the open and closed positions, and to assist with the formation of a substantially flat surface when the louvers are placed in the closed positions. The substantially flat surface formed when the louvers are closed may include an aesthetic design applied thereon or engraved therein.
US08312645B2 Material elements incorporating tensile strands
An article of footwear or other product may include a material element having a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, and at least one strand. The second layer is positioned between the first layer and the third layer, and the second layer is formed from a thermoplastic polymer material. The strand is located between the first layer and the second layer, and the strand lies substantially parallel to the second layer for a distance of at least five centimeters. In this configuration, the thermoplastic polymer material may join the first layer and the third layer to the second layer. The thermoplastic polymer material may also join the strand to the second layer.
US08312638B2 Multiple laundry treating machine
A multiple laundry treating machine, in which an auxiliary laundry treating device (120) is coupled to a general laundry treating device (110), is disclosed. The multiple laundry treating machine includes a main laundry treating device (110) for washing or drying laundry contained in an interior of the main laundry treating device (110), an auxiliary laundry treating device (120) arranged at one side of the main laundry treating device (110), the auxiliary laundry treating device (120) having a volume and a height respectively smaller than a volume and a height of the main laundry treating device (110), and having a laundry container (121) formed in an interior of the auxiliary laundry treating device (120), and a connecting unit (300) for connecting the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices (110, 120), to enable communication or control operations between the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices (110, 120). In accordance with the multiple laundry treating machine, it is possible to achieve a convenience in use and to save energy because a small amount of clothes or shoes can be dried by the auxiliary laundry treating device (120), without driving a laundry treating device (120) having a relatively-large capacity.
US08312637B2 Alignment tool for replacement of ultrasonic welder horn
An alignment tool determines the parallelism between the anvil face of an anvil of an ultrasonic welder and the horn faces of a replacement horn mounted on the welder by a rotary mount. The tool includes a tool base having a face plate contacting with the anvil face and a clamp for clamping the tool base on the anvil. A plate member is mounted on the tool base for swiveling movement and contacts the horn faces. Springs urge the plate member into contact with the horn faces while the replacement horn is rotated relative to the anvil. Transducers sense the relative positions between the face plate and the plate member so that the repairman can determine that the replacement horn has been rotated to the desired position in which the horn face has become parallel with the anvil face. Then the replacement horn can then be tightened against further rotation.
US08312634B1 Positioner and method of use
A positioner and method of use thereof, wherein the positioner is comprised of a positioner first and second side. A flap having a flap first and second side may be hingedly mounted to the positioner. Both the positioner first and second sides and flap first and second sides may be fashioned with grids, wherein an aperture may be positioned at each node of each grid, and wherein one indicator corresponds to each apertures. The positioner may be used to easily and accurately position markings adjacent window frames, sills, or other structures having right angles thereon.
US08312629B2 Method of making a tubular support bar for a dashboard support
In a method of making a tubular support bar for a dashboard support, a sheet metal blank is placed in a first forming tool and pressed in a first shaping step by a ram into a U-shaped cavity of a first bottom die to form a U-shaped member. While remaining in the first bottom die, the U-shaped member is provided with connecting elements in the form of weld nuts by a automated placement device. Subsequently, the U-shaped member is transferred to a second forming tool and undergoes a second shaping step between a top die and a second bottom die to form a slotted tube. The longitudinal edges of the slotted tube are then joined together to form the support bar.
US08312621B2 Stabilizer device for through-hole electrical jacks
A handheld tool device to facilitate maintenance and installation of hollow through-hole audio input jacks on electrical guitars and other electronic musical devices. The tool has an expandable tip that can be placed inside the hollow opening of the through-hole audio input jack, and then be expanded by the operator. The device enables the operator to hold the audio input jack in a fixed position while a nut or other jack fastening device is tightened. Other applications for the device include stabilizing a large variety of different through-hole connectors, embedded in a wide variety of different surfaces.
US08312608B2 System and method for toilet unit installation and removal
An installation and removal system for a toilet unit is provided. The system includes a base having floor engaging wheels coupled thereto. At least one of the floor engaging wheels is adjustable to maintain the base substantially level relative to the floor. An actuator is disposed on the base. A pair of spaced apart support elements are coupled to the actuator and adapted to engage an underside of the toilet unit. An angle of the support elements relative the base is adjustable. The system includes a retaining system coupled to the spaced apart support elements and adapted to couple with the toilet unit. The retaining system militate against an undesired movement of the toilet unit relative the support elements. A kit and method for using the system are also provided.
US08312600B2 Quick release apparatus for an SCBA frame
A quick release apparatus for rapid disconnection of a rescue worker's waist belt from a self-contained breathing apparatus support frame. The apparatus includes a belt connection apparatus for connection to a wearer's waist belt, an SCBA frame connection apparatus connected to the SCBA frame, and a coupling apparatus including at least one pullable rapid release member that moves in a first direction to couple the belt connection apparatus to the SCBA frame connection apparatus and in a second direction to rapidly decouple the belt connection apparatus from the SCBA frame connection apparatus in such a manner that the SCBA frame is disconnected from the waist belt and the wearer can entirely remove the SCBA from his or her body while leaving the waist belt and any accoutrements attached thereto in place and on his or her person.
US08312595B2 Castor wheel construction for furniture pieces
A castor wheel construction for furniture pieces and the like comprises a hub including an annular supporting element supporting a cylinder having two end portions thereon two wheels are respectively mounted, one for each cylinder portion, the annular supporting element also including a vertical attachment portion for receiving a peg element integral with the furniture pieces, to allow the castor wheel construction to turn about a vertical axis, each wheel comprising a cylindric portion operating as a tread, coupled to a flange portion, the wheels being fixedly coupled to the cylindric portion.
US08312591B1 Wall-mountable vacuum cleaner and bracket combination
A new wall-mountable vacuum cleaner and bracket combination provides easy locking. Both the vacuum cleaner and the bracket have mounting rims. When the vacuum cleaner is on the bracket, a support surface on a proximal end of one of the two mounting rims engages a terminal edge of the other of the two mounting rims. The vacuum cleaner can be secured in place by moving a movable arm from an extended position to a retracted position in which the vacuum cleaner is locked in place. To accommodate the required movement of the movable arm, the bracket has a deflectable locking edge that moves between a rest position and a deflected position. In the rest position, the distance between the locking edge and the terminal edge of the bracket mounting rim exceeds the distance between the terminal edge of the vacuum mounting rim and the base surface, but is less than the distance from the terminal edge of the vacuum mounting rim to the part of the vacuum cleaner that lies directly beneath the locking edge when the vacuum cleaner is stored on the bracket.
US08312586B2 Device for holding cleaning implements
A device for holding and manipulating compressible cleaning implements is disclosed wherein the cleaning implements may be made from a compressible material and may have a compressible portion. The device may include a handle. A blade may be attached to the handle. An outer blade edge may surround the blade. An opening through the blade may be defined by an inner blade edge. A channel may pass through the blade and may extend from the inner blade edge to the outer blade edge, and may be defined by a first channel edge and a second channel edge. The compressible portion of the cleaning implement may be passed through the channel into the opening and may be held in the opening by engagement with the inner blade edge. Each of the first and second channel edges may respectively define first and second circumferentially directed points configured to poke into the compressible material.
US08312583B2 Swimming pool cleaner discs with pockets
Discs having recessed areas, or pockets, in their undersides are detailed. The pockets allow provision of increased suction in localized regions, especially useful when the body of an associated cleaner pivots from side to side. Downwardly-extending wear surfaces may be present as well within the pockets.
US08312573B2 Inflatable chamber-pot
The invention provides an inflatable receptacle which may easily be brought along, and which in the inflated state may serve as a stable seat with comfortable seat height for a person. This is achieved by an inflatable receptacle which is peculiar in that the inner membrane side and the outer membrane side are interconnected by at least one membrane joint, preferably by welding the two membrane sides at the centre part of the receptacle, where the at least one membrane joint extends partially or entirely between the lower and upper ends of the receptacle.Great stability is achieved hereby, as optimal possibility for transferring an action of force applied to the upper end of the receptacle in parallel with the support face is created in order to absorb the action of force in a large part of the support face placed upon the base. This improved ability of transferring actions of force to the base arises because shear forces by disc action are transferred along a membrane joint according to the invention between the partial air chambers produced by establishing the membrane joint.
US08312566B2 Training garment
A training garment (10) for developing an athlete's inspiratory muscles, comprises a resistance band (12) and adjustment means (13). The resistance band (12) is configured such that when the training garment (10) is in use during the performance of aerobic exercise, the resistance band (12) embraces the athlete's thorax and imparts a resistive load thereto. The adjustment means (13) enable the athlete to vary the applied resistive load. The training garment (10) resists the expansion of the athlete's thorax during the performance of aerobic exercise, but without restricting the athlete's range of motion.
US08316454B2 Method and system for protection of user information registrations applicable in electoral processes
The present invention describes a method and system for protecting the integrity and authorship of a piece of registration information of the user, applicable in voter information registration, by means of biometric techniques. To that end, after a first stage of entering a piece of registration information, a second stage of protecting the integrity of the registration information is implemented. In this second stage, an item of integrity proof of said information is generated and said item of integrity proof is displayed to the user who wishes to protect it. In a third stage of generating an item of non-repudiation proof of the registration information, an item of biometric proof of the user which contains the item of integrity proof displayed is obtained, an item of non-repudiation proof is constructed from said item of biometric proof, and finally the item of non-repudiation proof is stored.The invention also includes optional stages which allow verifying the pieces of registration information from the items of non-repudiation proof, as well as verifying the authenticity and uniqueness of the items of non-repudiation proof.
US08316452B2 Computer network storage environment with file tracking
A method and system for operating a network server to discourage inappropriate use are disclosed. The method provides for altering files on the server in such a way so as essentially not affect acceptable, desired file types in any noticeable way, and to substantially corrupt undesirable file types. The method may be applied to every file copied to or from a memory of the server. In the alternative, the method may be applied only to selected files or types of files on the server. In particular, the files corrupted by altering according to the invention are executable software files and compressed files, that are generally not fault-tolerant. Fault tolerant files, such as uncompressed text and graphics files in common Internet-compatible formats, are not noticeably affected. The network server will therefore no longer be useful for storing or transferring undesirable files, and such use will be discouraged. According to a related embodiment of the invention, a system comprises a server having an application that performs one of the embodiments of the method according to the invention.
US08316442B2 Preventing secure data from leaving the network perimeter
Secure data is prevented from leaving the perimeter of a network such as an enterprise network or corporate network (“corpnet”) by an arrangement in which a hash of the secure data is periodically computed, and the hashes are pushed out to an edge device on the network such as a firewall where they are stored for later access. The edge device is configured so that it has access to all traffic that flows between the enterprise network and an external network, such as the Internet, that is located outside the enterprise network perimeter. Whenever a user attempts to send data to the external network, a process running on the edge device computes a hash for the outbound data and compares it against the stored hashes associated with the secure data. If a match is made between the hash for the outbound data and a stored hash for secure data, then the edge device blocks the outbound data from leaving the network perimeter.
US08316440B1 System for detecting change of name-to-IP resolution
Detection for pharming attacks and specifically for changes in name-to-IP resolutions on a computer system using rules is described. The DNS settings and the Hosts file on a computer system are monitored and their modification information is saved as a part of the historical data over time. When an IP address is determined for a host name, various rules are applied to the IP address in connection with the saved historical data, such that each rule produces a score based on various criteria. Different rules may have different weights assigned to their scores. The scores of all the rules are summed up to produce a final score. If the final score is above a predefined value, then there is a suspicious change in the IP address, and an alert is sent. Otherwise, the host name and the IP address are saved as a part of the historical data.
US08316437B2 Method for protecting the access to an electronic object connected to a computer
An electronic object carries out at least one operation on one element of an application installed in a computer. The method includes transmitting a random value of the electronic object to the computer, when such operation is completed, while maintaining in the electronic object the right of access to the electronic object by the user; storing the random value in the computer; giving access to the electronic object by the application and, in the case of a new access to the electronic object by the application; transmitting the random values stored in the computer to the electronic object; comparing, in the electronic object, the random value received from the computer with the random value previously transmitted to the computer; and, in case the random values are matching, re-establishing the previously acquired rights in the electronic object and thereby giving the application the access to the electronic object.
US08316435B1 Routing device having integrated MPLS-aware firewall with virtual security system support
An MPLS-aware firewall allows firewall security policies to be applied to MPLS traffic. The firewall, which may be integrated within a routing device, can be configured into multiple virtual security systems. The routing device provides a user interface by which a user specifies one or more zones to be recognized by the integrated firewall when applying stateful firewall services to the packets. The user interface allows the user to define different zones and policies for different ones of the virtual security systems. In addition, the user interface supports a syntax that allows the user to define the zones for the firewall by specifying the customer VPNs as interfaces associated with the zones. The routing device generates mapping information for the integrated firewall to map the customer VPNs to specific MPLS labels for the MPLS tunnels carrying the customer's traffic.
US08316429B2 Methods and systems for obtaining URL filtering information
A host computer system is categorized according to uniform resource locator (URL) information extracted from a digital certificate purportedly associated with said host. Thereafter, a secure communication session (e.g., an SSL session) with said host may be granted or denied according to results of the categorizing. If granted, messages associated with the secure session may be tunneled through a proxy without decryption, or, in some cases, even though the secure communication session was authorized messages may be decrypted at the proxy.
US08316405B2 Presence information sharing apparatus, presence information sharing method, presence information sharing program and presence information sharing system
A presence information sharing apparatus is provided which includes a video acquiring unit for acquiring predetermined video contents from a content distribution server, a status information notifying unit for transmitting presence information containing acquisition source information on video contents acquired from the content distribution server to a presence server via a communication network, a status information acquiring unit for acquiring presence information transmitted by at least one another user from the presence server, a presence video acquiring unit for acquiring a video of video contents being viewed by the another user as a presence video from the content distribution server based on the acquisition source information contained in the presence information received by the status information acquiring unit, and a display controlling unit for displaying the video contents being acquired by the video acquiring unit and the presence video being acquired by the presence video acquiring unit on a display.
US08316404B2 Multimedia playback control apparatus and method
A multimedia playback control apparatus and method for a mobile terminal are provided and include an apparatus and method for determining whether a fast forward (FF) command or a rewind (REW) command is input while replaying multimedia content, displaying, if a fast forward command or a rewind command is input, reference frames of the multimedia content, determining whether a release command is input while displaying the reference frames, and restarting the playback of the multimedia content from a playback position corresponding to an instant at which the release command is input.
US08316402B2 System for selecting a video or audio path
A communication system where an input port on a transmitter or receiver is configured to receive input data that is either audio data or video data. A processor in the transmitter or the receiver is configured to detect if the input data is either audio data or video data. The processor selects an audio path if the input data is audio data. If the input data is video data, the processor selects a video path. The selected audio path or video path sends audio output data or video output data to an output port. The output port is configured to send the audio output data or video output data.
US08316401B2 Method for processing broadcast program information and broadcast receiver
A method for processing program information and a broadcast receiver are disclosed. The method includes selecting a program from a service guide screen, identifying a group to which the selected program belongs, and displaying a group list of programs included in a signaling table that signals information of the identified group.
US08316400B1 Method and system for transfer of subscription media
A method of receiving media content at a networked media viewing device at a first location includes receiving a request to establish a roaming profile session at the networked media viewing device at the first location. A request to establish the roaming profile session with a source device at a second location capable of transmitting media content to the first location is provided to a central authority. Content from the second location is received via a content link established with the source device at the second location.
US08316394B2 Interactive media guidance application with intelligent navigation and display features
Methods and systems are disclosed that allow a user to efficiently navigate media selections in an interactive media guidance application and easily identify media for viewing. The disclosed methods and systems provide an environment wherein video assets are displayed according to a user preference on a mosaic page with multiple cells. A subset of the assets appropriate for display in a particular cell is determined based on the user preference. Relevance scores of the assets meeting the user preference are computed, and the asset having the greatest relevance for the user is selected and displayed the corresponding cell. The relevance scores can be computed based on the user's historic viewing habits, user interaction with a media guidance application, or on specific user input.
US08316391B2 Video signal processing apparatus and set top box
This video signal processing apparatus includes a first resolution conversion portion, a first analog video output portion, a digital video output portion and a control portion. The control portion is so formed as to make the first resolution conversion portion convert a video signal to a digital video signal of high definition and make the digital video output portion output the digital video signal of the high definition when recognizing that connection between the digital video output portion and a display is in an on-state, also in a case where a broadcast signal includes a signal for restricting output of the video signal of the high definition.
US08316381B2 Graphics for end to end component mapping and problem-solving in a network environment
An example of a solution provided here comprises receiving as input at least one event (chosen from an event generated by an application probe, and an event generated by a component probe), and providing graphical output based on the inputs, whereby a user correlates a component problem with a performance problem affecting an application. Methods connected with graphics for end to end component mapping and problem-solving in a network environment, systems for executing such methods, and instructions on a computer-usable medium, for executing such methods, are provided.
US08316378B2 Data flow control in wireless communication systems
A method includes receiving data in a first data processing module, and enabling a second data processing module when at least one signal time slot of the received data comprises data that complies with a first data transmission standard. The method also includes exchanging signals between the first data processing module and software executing in a processor, and determining that a software configuration of the second data processing module has been completed. The method also includes processing the data in the second data processing module for the at least one signal time slot, and enabling a third data processing module upon a completion of processing at least one data block in the second data processing module, and determining that a software configuration of the third data processing module has been completed, the at least one data block comprising multiple signal time slots.
US08316371B2 Task hierarchy in an event-driven communication system
A hierarchy of project and personal tasks is maintained for users associated with multiple projects. The hierarchy is maintained using a computer server machine having a processor and network connection to a client machine having a computer display. A user-task list is obtained. The user-task list includes a first-project task having an initial first-project task score, wherein the first-project task is associated with a first-project, the first-project having a first-project task list including the first-project task The user-task list also includes a second-project task having an second-project task score, wherein the second-project task is associated with a second-project, the second-project having a second-project task list including the second-project task. The user-task list also includes an initial user-task hierarchy ranking the first-project task and second-project task based on the initial first-project task score and the second-project task score.
US08316370B2 Method and apparatus for accessing a shared data structure in parallel by multiple threads
A method of accessing a shared data structure in parallel by multiple threads in a parallel application program is disclosed. A lock of the shared data structure is granted to one thread of the multiple threads, an operation of the thread which acquires the lock is performed on the shared data structure, an operation of each thread of the multiple threads which does not acquire the lock is buffered, and the buffered operations are performed on the shared data structure when another thread of the multiple threads subsequently acquires the lock. A corresponding apparatus and program product are also disclosed.
US08316366B2 Facilitating transactional execution in a processor that supports simultaneous speculative threading
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that executes a transaction on a simultaneous speculative threading (SST) processor. In these embodiments, the processor includes a primary strand and a subordinate strand. Upon encountering a transaction with the primary strand while executing instructions non-transactionally, the processor checkpoints the primary strand and executes the transaction with the primary strand while continuing to non-transactionally execute deferred instructions with the subordinate strand. When the subordinate strand non-transactionally accesses a cache line during the transaction, the processor updates a record for the cache line to indicate the first strand ID. When the primary strand transactionally accesses a cache line during the transaction, the processor updates a record for the cache line to indicate a second strand ID.
US08316365B2 Computer system
In scheduling shared processing that has a higher priority than LPAR processing, giving precedence to physical CPUs running idle LPARs prevents prolonged hold-up of LPAR processing. In a system is comprised of multiple physical CPUs, multiple LPARs to which these physical CPUs are allocated and which execute programs under their guest OSes, and a management program managing these LPARs, a few additional units are introduced: a guest OS monitoring unit that can grasp the states of guest OSes running on these LPARs and a dispatcher unit that allocates one of these physical CPUs to shared processing requested by the management program, which has a higher priority than LPAR processing. When a request for shared processing arises, the dispatcher unit interrogates the guest OS monitoring unit and, based on the information obtained from it, gives priority of allocation to the physical CPU processing an idle LPAR.
US08316364B2 Peer-to-peer software update distribution network
A software package of interest is identified, and information about a latest version of the package is retrieved. Then, data corresponding to the latest version are downloaded from a peer-to-peer network, and the downloaded package is installed. Alternative methods and systems for use in particular environments are also described.
US08316351B2 Utilizing a schema for documenting managed code
A schema is provided that supports documenting API elements that is flexible and captures current technologies as well as evolves without interfering or breaking the definitions of the existing elements. The schema utilizes a flexible and extensible element that can be used to define various elements of the APIs and can be extended to define new technology when it is introduced.
US08316349B2 Deployment script generation and execution
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to deployment scripts. In aspects, in conjunction with creating a package for deploying software to a target, an installation script is also created. The installation script includes instructions for deploying the software in the package to one or more targets. The installation script is human-readable and readily modifiable. A software development tool may provide a seamless interface that allows a software developer to view, edit, execute, and debug the installation script on a local or remote target.
US08316346B2 Method and system for selecting a software architecture for implementing service integration
A method and system for selecting a technology to implement a service integration. Functional and non-functional service requirements are received. Technology preference relative weights for a pre-defined set of technologies and requirement relative weights for the requirements are received. Responses are received. The responses are associated with the requirements and with the requirement relative weights in a one-to-one correspondence. The responses are associated with the technology relative weights in a many-to-one correspondence. Each response indicates a characteristic that satisfies a requirement. A technology for implementing the service integration is selected from the pre-defined set of technologies based on the technology preference relative weights and the requirement relative weights.
US08316343B2 Self-describing device module and system and computer-readable medium for the production thereof
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for generation of a controlled device Module are provided. Various components are provided to a Module designer for selection, and the designer defines the interface APIs specifying the component functionalities. The designer may specify custom commands or events for the Module including Commands, Properties, and Parameters, and custom components corresponding to the custom commands are generated. A self-describing capabilities component is then generated for each component, and a composite capabilities component may then be generated from the capabilities components of each of the components. The completed Module package is then produced by an integrated development environment station.
US08316337B2 Method and system for optimally placing and assigning interfaces in a cross-fabric design environment
A system for connecting an interface of an electronic device between first and second fabrics includes a constraint generator that associates first and second conditions with the interface, a first equation solver that solves one or more first equation to select a first plurality of connectors in the first fabric and a second plurality of connectors in the second fabric that satisfy the first condition based on an optimality criterion for the interface; and a second equation solver that solves one or more second equation to select one of the first plurality of connectors in the fabric and one of the second plurality of connectors in the second fabric that satisfy the second condition based on the optimality criterion for the interface.
US08316325B2 Mobile terminal and method for controlling screen thereof
A mobile terminal capable of allowing a user to rapidly and easily recognize a list of multi-tasks being executed is provided. The mobile terminal includes one or more bodies, an input unit performing a key input or a touch input, a display unit displaying a task execution screen and a controller displaying a list of tasks being executed when the mobile terminal is in a preset operation mode set by operating the body or the input unit.
US08316316B2 Color and symbol coded visual cues for relating screen items to each other
Described is a system and a computer program product for visually delineating a relationship between diverse, but related graphical objects in a graphical user interface. An icon that has specified color scheme is associated with the diverse, but related but graphical objects. When one of the related graphical objects is displayed, the icon is displayed within the displayed graphical object. The persistence of the icon with the specified color scheme in the displayed graphical objects allows them to be recognized as related. In a particular instance, the icon is displayed with each graphical object in a series of graphical objects that represent an evolution of progression of development.
US08316313B2 Method for selecting shapes in a graphical display
A selector shape may serve as the background to a configurable composite shape and may include one or more expressions that are evaluated to select between several composite shape definitions via links to the definition. Each selector shape includes an animation expression and a lookup table converter to select an identifier of the composite definition to be loaded and displayed. When the value of the animation expression changes, the value may be matched to the name of a new composite definition using the lookup table, and the new definition may be displayed. The previously-used composite definition may then be marked for removal by a caching system, and removed. These selector shapes also enable the same graphic element to be used in displays designed for different types of display devices, such as display devices having large display screens, standard computer screens and very small display screens.
US08316310B2 System and method for human identification proof for use in virtual environments
A system, method and computer program product for verifying an avatar owner as a human user of an avatar in a virtual world environment in which users interact through avatars via client devices in network communication with a server device. A request for challenging an avatar in the virtual world environment is received to determine whether that avatar is controlled by an application program user (bot). A user client device associated with a challenged avatar is identified and a Human Identification Proof (HIP) message for detecting a human user versus a bot controlling the challenged avatar is generated and communicated, for receipt at the identified user client device. It is determined from the response, whether the user is a bot or a human user. If a challenged avatar is determined to be a bot, then the server device prevents the challenged avatar from further interaction in the virtual world environment.
US08316290B2 Safe threshold-detection device for a railway system
A device for the safe threshold-detection of state information from an analog signal including a decision component and at least two acquisition diversity channels including in series a safe adaptation circuit, an electronic analog-to-digital conversion circuit, and a unit for comparing the digital output signal of the analog-to-digital conversion circuit with a reference signal is provided.The device comprises a fault detection circuit for the mutual comparison of digital output signals from the conversion circuits and supplies a consistency result.The output of the decision component is a function of the consistency result supplied by the fault detection unit and of the comparison results from the comparison units associated with the respective acquisition channels.
US08316286B2 System and method for rate matching to enhance system throughput based on packet size
A system and method for rate matching to enhance system throughput based on packet size is provided. A method for transmitting information includes encoding a block of N bits, where N is an integer, demultiplexing the encoded block of N bits into at least one subblock of systematic bits and at least one subblock of parity bits, and permuting the at least one subblock of systematic bits and the at least one subblock of parity bits to generate at least one permuted subblock. The method also includes forming at least one output block from the at least one permuted subblock, computing a starting position of a redundancy version for a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) transmission based on a relationship between N and a threshold, and transmitting the redundancy version. The redundancy version begins at the computed starting position and ends when a specified number of bits has been transmitted.
US08316285B2 Pipeline architecture for maximum a posteriori (MAP) decoders
Methods and apparatus for performing error correction of data bits are disclosed. A forward metric calculation may be performed during a first window to generate a first group of calculated data. The first group of calculated data from the forward calculation may be stored in a memory location. A forward metric calculation may be performed during a second window to generate a second group of calculated data. The first group of calculated data may be read from the memory location and the second group of calculated data may be stored in the same memory location. The first group of calculated data may be used to calculate reverse metrics.
US08316283B2 Hybrid error correction code (ECC) for a processor
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for generating a hybrid error correction code for a data block. The hybrid code, which may be a residual arithmetic-Hamming code, includes a first residue code based on the data block and a first parity code based on the data block and a Hamming matrix. Then the generated code along with the data block can be communicated through at least a portion of a datapath of a processor. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08316274B2 Systems and methods for message encoding and decoding
Presented herein are systems and methods for checking the integrity of data transmissions between or within one or more digital processing systems by identifying a data characteristic that is likely to change if there is an error in transmission. According to one embodiment, data messages are modified to achieve a selected characteristic according to a predetermined protocol, and changes to the data are recorded in a longitudinal check code (LCC) word, which is used by the receiver to decode the data message and restore the original data.
US08316273B2 Driving circuit for driving reading operation of optical drive and method for reading information from optical data storage medium
The invention provides a method for reading information of an optical data storage medium. First, one sector of the optical data storage medium is obtained. The sector is then decoded to check if the sector is reliable. When the sector is not reliable, a data rescue process referring to spec-defined or pre-defined information of the physical specification of the sector is performed in order to obtain disc fundamental information of the optical data storage medium.
US08316272B2 Error-correction decoder employing multiple check-node algorithms
In one embodiment, an LDPC decoder has a controller and one or more check-node units (CNUs). The CNUs generate check-node messages using a scaled min-sum algorithm, an offset min-sum algorithm, or a scaled and offset min-sum algorithm. Initially, the controller selects a scaling factor and an offset value. The scaling factor may be set to one for no scaling, and the offset value may be set to zero for no offsetting. If the decoder is unable to correctly decode a codeword, then (i) the controller selects a new scaling and/or offset value and (ii) the decoder attempts to correctly decode the codeword using the new scaling and/or offset value. By changing the scaling factor and/or offset value, LDPC decoders of the present invention may be capable of improving error-floor characteristics over LDPC decoders that use only fixed or no scaling factors or fixed or no offsetting factors.
US08316270B2 Apparatus and method for supporting synchronous hybrid automatic repeat request in broadband wireless communication system
An apparatus and a method for supporting an HARQ scheme in a wireless communication system are provided. In a method for operating a base station, whether a resource used for a system of a different standard and a resource used for one of an HARQ reply and an HARQ retransmission packet by a synchronous HARQ scheme collide with each other is estimated. A collision packet ID is allocated to an HARQ subburst corresponding to one of an HARQ reply and an HARQ retransmission packet estimated to collide, and an offset of the one of the HARQ reply and the HARQ retransmission packet is changed. A MAP message including at least one of the collision packet ID, and changed offset information is generated. The MAP message is transmitted.
US08316268B2 Data transmission apparatus controlling data retransmission and data transmission method controlling data retransmission
A transmission apparatus receives information used to identify data unsuccessfully received by a reception apparatus. Then, the transmission apparatus determines whether the data corresponding to the received identification information should be retransmitted based on whether the reception apparatus has a function of displaying the display area of the data corresponding to the identification information by using data having the display area corresponding to the data corresponding to the identification information.
US08316263B1 Predicting disk drive failure at a central processing facility using an evolving disk drive failure prediction algorithm
A method of predicting disk drive failure at a central processing facility using an evolving drive failure prediction algorithm (DFPA) is disclosed. A set of quality metric values are transmitted from each of a plurality of remote disk drives to the central processing facility. The DFPA is executed at the central processing facility in response to the quality metric values to detect an impending failure of at least one of the remote disk drives. The DFPA is evolved at the central processing facility in response to a reference data base of quality metric values and a corresponding failure indicator. The processes is repeated so as to improve the accuracy of the DFPA over time.
US08316258B2 System and method for error detection in a data storage system
A system and method for error detection in a data storage array includes one or more storage medium interconnected with a controller through a network. A data integrity engine in the controller applies a first error detection process to a data object to create one or more data blocks and associated parity codes. First and second error detection processes are applied to detect and repair errors in the data object.
US08316256B2 Method and system for supplying output voltage to graphics processing unit
The present invention sets forth a method and a system for powering a graphics processing unit (GPU) with a power supply subsystem. In one embodiment, the method includes generating an offset in response to an operating voltage need of the GPU; and applying the offset to information associated with a first operating voltage of the GPU; wherein the offset causes the first operating voltage to change to a second operating voltage of the GPU.
US08316252B2 Distributed clock gating with centralized state machine control
A method, computer program product, and system are provided for controlling a clock distribution network. For example, an embodiment of the method can include programming a predetermined delay time into a plurality of processing elements and controlling an activation and de-activation of these processing elements in a sequence based on the predetermined delay time. The processing elements are located in a system incorporating the clock distribution network, where the predetermined delay time can be programmed in a control register of a clock gate control circuit residing in the processing element. Further, when controlling the activation and de-activation of the processing elements, this activity can be controlled with a state machine based on the system's mode of operation. In controlling the activation and de-activation of the processing elements, the method described above can not only control the effects of di/dt in the system but also shut off clock signals in the clock distribution network when idle, thus reducing dynamic power consumption.
US08316248B2 Virtual PC management method, virtual PC management system, and virtual PC management program
The virtual PC management system includes: a unit which acquires a power on/off state of a virtual machine from a computer via the network and stores it in a storage; a unit which acquires a power on/off state of a computer from the computer via the network and stores it into the storage; a unit which receives a start-of-use request for a virtual machine from the client machine and searches stored data of the storage unit for a computer which is in a power-on state and to which a virtual machine is not allocated, as an allocation candidate; a unit which allocates the virtual machine in accordance with the start-of-use request to the computer of the allocation candidate; and a unit which notifies, via the network, the computer of the allocation candidate of an instruction to turn on the power of the virtual machine.
US08316244B1 Power failure system and method for storing request information
A system and method are provided for storing request information in separate memory, in response to the detection of a power failure. This is accomplished by detecting the power failure and, in response, storing the request information in separate memory utilizing a secondary power source. By this feature, the request information is safely stored during a period of power failure. To this end, in various embodiments, the request information may be stored for later use in satisfying corresponding requests when power is restored.
US08316242B2 Cryptoprocessor with improved data protection
The invention relates to an electronic circuit comprising: a first random-access data storage element, a processing module designed to delete the first storage element, and an access terminal which is connected to the processing module and receives a first power signal supplied by a first power source external to the electronic circuit. The circuit also includes a second random-access storage element in which a key is stored, said key being used to encrypt the data and a second power source which is built into the electronic circuit and supplies a second power signal to the processing module. The processing module is designed to detect an unauthorized access attempt by comparing the first and second power signals and to delete the key when the processing module is powered by the second power source.
US08316235B2 Method and device for manipulation-proof transmission of data
A method for the manipulation-proof transmission of data from a transmitter to a receiver, a test part being generated in the transmitter from the data using a secret key and communicated together with the data to the receiver, where a verification test part is generated from the received data using the same secret key and is compared to the received test part. Before the generation of the test part, the data are nonlinearly compressed using at least one feedback shift register. In addition, a device for the manipulation-proof transmission of data.
US08316223B2 Powered device classification in a wired data telecommunications network
In a wired data telecommunication network power sourcing equipment (PSE) coupled to a powered device (PD) carries out an inline power discovery process to verify that the PD is adapted to receive inline power, then a plurality of classification cycles are carried out to convey a series of inline power classes back to the PSE. The series of inline power classes may all be the same, in which case the PD is legacy equipment and is adapted to receive the power level corresponding to that class. If they are not all the same, information is thus conveyed to the PSE which may, for example, correspond to a specific power level to be applied or to other information.
US08316222B2 Method of providing data access in an industrial automation system, computer program product and industrial automation system
In an industrial automation system comprising a plurality of industrial control devices connected to an industrial communication network, control and/or supervision functions of the industrial automation system are provided by services implemented by computer-based objects in industrial control devices. A computer-based object is assigned a first qualifier enabling the computer-based object to be accessed and/or modified during configuration of the respective service and/or a second qualifier enabling the computer-based object to be accessed and/or modified during runtime of the respective service. Upon a request for access to a computer-based object by a service consumer, the service consumer's operational state is determined. Depending on a set first and/or second qualifier of a computer-based object and depending on a determined operational state of a service consumer, access to the computer-based object is granted to the service consumer.
US08316212B2 Translation lookaside buffer (TLB) with reserved areas for specific sources
In an embodiment, a TLB is partitioned into regions. The TLB may be set associative, and each section may include a portion of the locations in each way of the set associative memory. The TLB may reserve at least one of the sections for access by a subset of the request sources that use the TLB. For requests from the subset, the reserved section may be used and a location in the reserved section may be allocated to store a translation for a request from the subset that misses in the TLB. For requests for other request sources, the non-reserved section or sections may be used. In one embodiment, each way of the reserved section may be assigned to a different one of the request sources in the subset.
US08316210B2 Dividing a logical memory space into ranges and sets for address translation
The invention provides a data storage device. In one embodiment, the data storage device comprises a storage medium, a random access memory, and a controller. The storage medium stores a plurality of link tables. The random access memory comprises a plurality of storage units respectively corresponding to a plurality of logical address ranges. The controller receives a target logical address from the host, determines a target link table corresponding to a logical address set comprising the target logical address, determines a target storage unit corresponding to a logical address range comprising the target logical address, determines whether the target storage unit has stored the target link table, and when the target storage unit has stored the target link table, determines a target physical address mapped to the target logical address according to a mapping relationship stored in the target link table, and accesses data stored in the storage medium according to the target physical address.
US08316205B2 Storage system, copy method, and primary storage apparatus
A storage system having a primary storage apparatus for storing data from a host computer in a primary logical volume, and a secondary storage apparatus connected to the primary storage apparatus, for providing a secondary logical volume for storing a copy of the data, the storage system comprising: a search unit for checking whether or not data exists in each primary slot area formed by partitioning a storage area in the primary logical volume into predetermined storage areas; a transmission unit for sending, if no data is held in the primary slot area, a notice indicating no data stored to the secondary storage apparatus; and a data write unit for writing, when the notice is received from the primary storage apparatus, zero data in the secondary slot area.
US08316199B2 Data processing control method, information processing apparatus, and data processing control system
In a system which realizes to prevent leakage/loss of secret information by prohibiting a write operation to a secondary storage apparatus and a write operation to an external medium, an automatic collection of secret data to a server is executed, an existing application mode of PC is not damaged, and then an update of OS and an application is executed. The present invention places a secondary storage apparatus write control driver on the lower level than a file system, and redirects a write operation to the secondary storage apparatus, setting up a memory to be a primary cache, and cache data file on a cache server of a network destination to be a secondary cache. Thereby, the write operation to the secondary storage apparatus is not executed, and difference data is stored on the cache server, so that the automatic collection of secret data to the server can be realized.
US08316194B2 Mechanisms to accelerate transactions using buffered stores
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for executing a transactional memory (TM) transaction in a first thread, buffering a block of data in a first buffer of a cache memory of a processor, and acquiring a write monitor on the block to obtain ownership of the block at an encounter time in which data at a location of the block in the first buffer is updated. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08316187B2 Cache memory including a predict buffer
Disclosed is a cache memory, design structure, and corresponding method for improving cache performance comprising one or more cache lines of equal size, each cache line adapted to store a cache block of data from a main memory in response to an access request from a processor; and a predict buffer, of size equal to the size of the cache lines, configured to store a next block of data from said main memory in response to a predict-fetch signal generated using at least one previous access request.
US08316177B2 Partial block data programming and reading operations in a non-volatile memory
Data in less than all of the pages of a non-volatile memory block are updated by programming the new data in unused pages of either the same or another block. In order to prevent having to copy unchanged pages of data into the new block, or to program flags into superceded pages of data, the pages of new data are identified by the same logical address as the pages of data which they superceded and a time stamp is added to note when each page was written. When reading the data, the most recent pages of data are used and the older superceded pages of data are ignored. This technique is also applied to metablocks that include one block from each of several different units of a memory array, by directing all page updates to a single unused block in one of the units.
US08316175B2 High throughput flash memory system
There is disclosed a memory system and method. The memory system may include a plurality of memory planes including two or more data memory areas, and a memory controller adapted to controlling reading, writing, and erasing of the plurality of memory planes. When any one of the data memory areas is occupied with one of a write operation and an erase operation, the controller may reconstruct data stored in the one occupied data memory area by reading parity information and data stored in the plurality of memory areas other than the one occupied data memory area.
US08316173B2 System, method, and computer program product for analyzing monitor data information from a plurality of memory devices having finite endurance and/or retention
A method according to one embodiment includes gathering monitor data information from a plurality of memory devices having finite endurance and/or retention, the monitor data being data of known content stored in dedicated memory cells of known write cycle count; analyzing the monitor data information; and taking an action relating to at least one of the devices based on the analyzing. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also disclosed.
US08316172B2 Interruption facility for adjunct processor queues
Interruption facility for adjunct processor queues. In response to a queue transitioning from a no replies pending state to a reply pending state, an interruption is initiated. This interruption signals to a processor that a reply to a request is waiting on the queue. In order for the queue to take advantage of the interruption capability, it is enabled for interruptions.
US08316169B2 Physical to hierarchical bus translation
In an embodiment, a translation of a physical bus number to a hierarchical bus number is written to a south chip. The south chip receives a configuration write command that comprises a physical bus number. The south chip sends the configuration write command to a device via the bus identified by the physical bus number, and the device stores the physical bus number in the device. In response to a received message from a device that comprises the physical bus number, the south chip replaces the physical bus number in the message with the hierarchical bus number. The south chip sends the message to a north chip via a point-to-point serial link. Both the physical bus number and the hierarchical bus number identify a bus with which the device connects to a bridge in the south chip.
US08316167B2 Hard disk drive integrated circuit with integrated gigabit ethernet interface module
A system including a network interface module, a first processor, a hard disk control module, and a second processor. The network interface module is configured to communicate with a network. The first processor is configured to (i) communicate with the network interface module, and (ii) perform processing related to communication of a hard disk drive with the network via the network interface module. The hard disk control module is configured to (i) communicate with the first processor, and (ii) control operation of the hard disk drive. The second processor is configured to (i) communicate with the hard disk control module, and (ii) perform processing related to storing data on the hard disk drive. The second processor and the hard disk control module are configured processes packets communicated via the network interface module using a hyper-text transfer protocol, a peer-to-peer sharing protocol, and an Internet protocol-based small computer system interface standard.
US08316165B2 Direct secondary device interface by a host
A device has a controller and a function module configured to be in communication with the controller as a result of the controller receiving a pass-through vendor specific command. In some embodiments, the controller is configured to receive the pass-through vendor specific command from an application software module of a host through an interface that is configured in accordance with a standard that does not allow communication to occur between the controller and the function module.
US08316161B1 Techniques for indicating a passive path state for a device
Described are techniques for indicating a state associated with a device. A request is received over a path for information about a device. A response to the request is sent. The response indicates a state regarding the device on the path. The response has a response status of good and a payload of a varying size. The payload is truncated at a location prior to that at which a device identifier for the device is expected. In accordance with the response, a state regarding the device on the path is determined.
US08316159B2 Demand-based DMA issuance for execution overlap
A method, apparatus, and program product retrieve data for a task utilizing demand-based direct memory access (“DMA”) requests. The method comprises, prior to the execution thereof, analyzing a first portion of a task to determine whether data required for execution thereby is stored in a local memory, and, in response to determining that the data required for execution by the first portion of the task is not stored in the local memory, proactively issuing a first DMA request for the data required for execution by the first portion of the task. The method further comprises, in response to determining that the first DMA request is not complete, determining whether to proactively analyze a second portion of the task prior to the execution thereof for a determination whether data required for execution thereby is stored in the local memory.
US08316149B2 Information communication system, server, content holding device, content receiving device, information processing method, and program
A server includes a request information receiving section which receives request information, a correspondence information storage section which stores correspondence information indicating the correspondence of a plurality of content holding devices with content information including fragment content information held by each of the plurality of content holding devices, a specifying section which specifies two or more content holding devices and a plurality of fragment content information elements included in the content information held by the two or more content holding devices, using the correspondence information, so that a series of content information elements requested in the request information can be configured by the plurality of fragment content information elements, and an instruction information transmitting section which transmits instruction information, instructing that specified fragment content information be transmitted to the content receiving device, to a specified content holding device.
US08316138B2 Plug-and-show USB portable disk
A plug-and-show USB portable disk, applied to a wireless presentation system including a computer, a wireless gateway wireless networking with the computer and a display apparatus connected with the wireless gateway, includes an image capturing and analyzing program and a plug-and-show program. The computer, further having a screen and a USB transmission port, is to transmit at least a presentation frame data to the screen for displaying respective presentation frame image. The image capturing and analyzing program is to capture and analyze the presentation frame data transmitted from the computer to the wireless gateway and to generate and forward an analysis result of the presentation frame data to the wireless gateway through the computer. The plug-and-show program is to control the computer to execute the image capturing and analyzing program as the USB portable disk engages with the USB transmission port.
US08316128B2 Methods and system for creating and managing identity oriented networked communication
A software application for managing routing of communiqués across one or more communication channels supported by a data-packet-network includes one or more workspaces for segregating communication activity; one or more unique user identities assigned per workspace; and one or more contact identities assigned to and approved to communicate with a workspace administrator of the one or more workspaces using the assigned user identities. In a preferred embodiment the application enforces a policy implicitly defined by the existing architecture of the workspaces and associated user and contact identities.
US08316126B2 Stitching transactions
A first transaction attribute is received from a first monitoring agent. The first transaction attribute includes a plurality of identifiers and is associated with a transaction. A second transaction attribute is received from a second monitoring agent. The second transaction attribute is associated with the transaction. The transaction is monitored through a plurality of application environments by associating at least a portion of the first transaction attribute with at least a portion of the second transaction attribute.
US08316120B2 Applicability detection using third party target state
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to detecting needed updates. In aspects, an update agent receives a request to scan for updates for a target. The target may include a virtual or non-virtual device. The request may include one or more rules that indicate resources to check to determine attributes of the device. The update agent utilizes a resource accessor to access the resources indicated by the rules. The resource accessor maps resource names indicated by the update agent to corresponding resource names of the target. The update agent may provide results of evaluating the rules to an update source in a multi-pass protocol designed to eliminate irrelevant updates.
US08316095B1 Computer-implemented system and method for facilitating conversation within a group through heterogeneous message delivery
A computer-implemented system and method for facilitating conversation within a group through heterogeneous message delivery is provided. A conversation thread including messages shared by recipients collectively formed into a group is identified. The messages from one recipient are queued in an intermediate format pending delivery through type-specific message interfaces to the other recipients. A message type corresponding to each other recipient is determined. An identifier is formatted and each message's content is structured from the intermediate format into the message type for the other recipients. The delivery of each message within the group is managed. First, the message is sent to the other recipients via the message interface corresponding to the message type of the other recipient. The delivery of the message is tracked by monitoring an acknowledgement of a receipt of the message. Last, an alternate message type is selected upon non-acknowledgment of message receipt by the other recipient.
US08316091B2 Content management for wireless digital media frames
System(s) and method(s) are provided for management of content(s) directed to a wireless digital media frame (WDMF). Management is facilitated by a service provided by a mobile network platform. A service subscription allows a subscriber to establish femto cell coverage in a location that host a subscribed WDMF(s); determine content(s) delivery preferences; and extend the service to a group of auxiliary subscribers. Various sources of content such as a mobile station, a non-mobile device, or a content server associated with a service platform (e.g., an internet service provider) can deliver content(s) and signaling. Integrity of content(s) and signaling is provided through access protocol(s) that exploits credentials associated with a source of content. Content(s) are managed through a content interface that conveys available content(s) in a source of content and an intended WDMF. Various alarm(s) can be delivered to a WDMF as a part of the content management service.
US08316075B2 Multiprocessor node control tree
Control messages are sent from a control processor to a plurality of attached processors via a control tree structure comprising the plurality of attached processors and branching from the control processor, such that two or more of the plurality of attached processor nodes are operable to send messages to other attached processor nodes in parallel.
US08316069B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit with a random number generation circuit wherein the rise and all times are variably controlled
The invention reduces unnecessary electromagnetic radiation noise associated with a step pulse of an output signal. A random number control register is a register for controlling start, standby, stop, timing or the like of output of random number data from a random number generation circuit. Random number data outputted by the random number generation circuit is stored in a rise/fall time variable data register. The data stored in the rise/fall time variable data register is replaced by random number data sequentially generated by the random number generation circuit. An output circuit is a circuit for outputting a signal from an internal circuit of a microcomputer to an external device, and the rise/fall times of the output signal from the output circuit are variably controlled in response to the random number data stored in the rise/fall time variable data register.
US08316067B2 Decimal computing apparatus, electronic device connectable decimal computing apparatus, arithmetic operation apparatus, arithmetic operation control apparatus, and program-recorded recording medium
A decimal calculation apparatus, which performs multidigit decimal calculation with the number of calculation digits set in a calculation instruction, includes a multidigit memory section which stores values with greater numbers of digits than the number of digits of a predetermined digit unit in a plurality of memory areas, a calculation-instruction memory section which stores the calculation instruction having the number of calculation digits and a type of calculation set therein, and a decimal calculation section which performs decimal calculation of sequentially calculating numerical values of corresponding digit units respectively stored in the plurality of memory areas of the multidigit memory section, digit unit by digit unit in the number of calculation digits set in the calculation instruction stored in calculation-instruction memory section, in decimal calculation according to type of calculation set in the calculation instruction stored in calculation-instruction memory section, and sequentially writing calculation results in the plurality of memory areas of the multidigit memory section digit unit by digit unit.
US08316064B2 Method and apparatus for managing data objects of a data storage system
Techniques for managing data objects of a data storage system are described herein. According to one embodiment, a perfect hash function is generated for data objects stored in a data storage system. For each of the data objects, a hash operation is performed using the perfect hash function to indicate whether the respective data object is alive. Resources associated with the respective data object is reclaimed if it is determined that the respective data object is not alive based on a result of the hash operation using the perfect hash function, where the reclaimed resources are released back to the data storage system as free resources. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08316062B1 Shared distribution lists for distribution of audio content using mobile telecommunication devices
A method and system for automatically populating contact information using an voice message addressed to a distribution list. In one example method, a new distribution list is identified that contains the telephone numbers or other contact information of a group of intended recipients. The contact information for the recipients is identified, and the contact information databases at least one of the recipients is automatically populated with the contact information of the other recipients and/or the distribution list information.
US08316057B2 Restoring deduplicated data objects from sequential backup devices
Provided are computer program product, system, and method for restoring deduplicated data objects from sequential backup devices. A server stores data objects of extents having deduplicated data in the at least one sequential backup device. The server receives from a client a request for data objects. The server determines extents stored in the at least one sequential backup device for the requested data objects. The server or client sorts the extents according to an order in which they are stored in the at least one sequential backup device to generate a sort list. The server retrieves the extents from the at least one sequential backup device according to the order in the sort list to access the extents sequentially from the sequential backup device in the order in which they were stored. The server returns the retrieved extents to the client and the client reconstructs the requested data objects from the received extents.
US08316051B1 Techniques for adding multiple security policies to a database system
Techniques for managing access to data in a database allow several policies to be applied simultaneously to the same row in a database table, and provide a pluggable module in the form of the database package that allows one or more access control security policies to be added to a common database server without taking the database server off line. Techniques include registering one or more packages of routines with a database management system. An access mediation routine in a first package is invoked for determining whether to allow operation on data in a first table associated with a first policy. Other techniques include, for each operation in an operation set, determining whether to perform the operation on a row of the table based on a set of labels associated with the row. The set of labels correspond to a policy set associated with the table.
US08316050B2 Identification and authorization system
An identification and authorization system is provided that utilizes a national ID database and a number of application-specific databases. The national ID database contains unique individual ID numbers linked to unique biometric codes. The application-specific databases contain an applicable portion of the same unique individual ID numbers that are contained in the national ID database. To complete a transaction, a credential such as an ID card is scanned and a biometric scan of the individual is completed. The transaction information and the individual ID number is sent to the appropriate application-specific database. Verification of identity is completed at the national ID database, which compares the biometric code of the biometric scan with the biometric code linked to the unique individual ID number. A response from the application-specific database and a response from the national ID database is sent to the scanning location.
US08316038B2 Collecting and analyzing user activities on mobile computing devices
A mechanism for collecting and analyzing user information available on a mobile computing device is described. Information is retrieved from different components of the mobile computing device and analyzed for relationships therein. Metrics and rules are applied to the information to generate results. The results are displayed or exported to one or more components of the mobile computing device or external devices.
US08316029B2 Document scoring based on traffic associated with a document
A system determines an extent to which advertisements are presented or updated within a document, a quality of an advertiser associated with an advertisement provided within the document, whether an advertisement in the document relates to an advertising document that has more than a threshold amount of traffic, and/or an extent to which an advertisement provided within the document generates user traffic to an advertising document related to the advertisement. The system generates a score for the document based, at least in part, on the extent to which advertisements are presented or updated within the document, the quality of the advertiser associated with the advertisement provided within the document, whether the advertisement relates to an advertising document that has more than the threshold amount of traffic, and/or the extent to which the advertisement generates user traffic to the advertising document. The system ranks the document with regard to at least one other document based, at least in part, on the score.
US08316022B2 Information processing apparatus and information processing method
Automatic sorting reflecting a user's intention is performed without prompting the user to perform a complicated sorting criterion setting operation. Images are sorted into groups in accordance with user's sorting operations. For each group, statistics of feature values of the sorted images are calculated. On the basis of the result of statistics, a feature value satisfying a predetermined criterion is determined as an automatic sorting criterion. The determined automatic sorting criterion is displayed. Thereafter, a plurality of contents are automatically sorted into the respective groups on the basis of the automatic sorting criterion.
US08316017B2 Apparatus and method for the detection of and recovery from inappropriate bus access in microcontroller circuits
An inappropriate-access module is incorporated in a computer system along with other computer system modules. The inappropriate-access module is connected to a read address decoder and controlling logic located within various other modules. The inappropriate-access module detects inappropriate read accesses or the occurrence of the inappropriate access during operations performed on related sensitive system resources in accompanying computer system modules. The inappropriate-access module produces an inappropriate-access flag, made available to the rest of the system, which invokes responses in the accompanying modules such as a halt in processing and protective measures for system resources. Additionally, a related logic block is able to detect the inappropriate access and produce an inappropriate-access trigger which causes a halt to processing within the logic block as well as in related system modules.
US08316011B2 Non-parametric measurement of media fingerprint weak bits
A value is computed for a feature in an instance of query content and compared to a threshold value. Based on the comparison, first and second bits in a hash value, which is derived from the query content feature, are determined. Conditional probability values are computed for the likelihood that quantized values of the first and the second bits equal corresponding quantized bit values of a target or reference feature value. The conditional probabilities are compared and a relative strength determined for the first and second bits, which directly corresponds to the conditional probability. The bit with the lowest bit strength is selected as the weakbit. The value of the weakbit is toggled to generate a variation of the query hash value. The query may be extended using the query hash value variation.
US08315998B1 Methods and apparatus for focusing search results on the semantic web
Methods and apparatus for searching Semantic Web structured resources and presenting the search results to a user can increase the likelihood that the search can produce meaningful results. An index database can be constructed by parsing literal values from statements from the resources to obtain component words of the literal values, with the index relating the component words to the statements from which they were parsed. A search engine can obtain component words from the database that match search terms in a query prepared by the user and can obtain the related statements for the matching words. A servlet or other application using the search engine and database can obtain predicates, instances, types of said instances, and full literal values of said instances for the related statements. The search results can be presented to the user as a summary of the predicates, instances, types, and full literal values.
US08315996B2 Efficient management of customized functionality within shared data objects
A method, system and computer program product for configuring an application instance. A first path by which an application instance is configured to access a version of a resource is determined. Additionally, a determination is made as to whether a configuration associated with the application instance exists in a shared resource area. If the configuration does not exist, a base version of the resource is modified to generate a customized version. A second path is determined, and the customized version is stored thereat. If the configuration exists, the second path is determined such that the resource included in the configuration can be accessed thereat. A symbolic link having an origin of the first path and a destination of the second path is created. Using the present invention, multiple application instances can efficiently share customized versions of resources.
US08315985B1 Optimizing the de-duplication rate for a backup stream
A method and apparatus for optimizing a de-duplication rate for backup streams is described. In one embodiment, the method for optimizing data de-duplication using an extent mapping of a backup stream includes processing a backup stream to access an extent mapping associated with a plurality of data files, wherein the plurality of the data files are arranged within the backup stream and examining the extent mapping to identify at least one extent group within the backup stream, wherein the plurality of the data files are de-duplicated using at least one location of the at least one extent group.
US08315976B2 Data transfer and synchronization system
A data transmission system is disclosed which optimizes transfer and updates of information between systems by providing difference information between the systems. The system transmits data packages having instructions for manipulating user data. The data packages include a header identifying the respective packages, as well as transaction objects for effecting a change to user data on a device having object instructions.
US08315974B2 Provision of data for data warehousing applications
A computer network architecture for making procurement-related information that has been generated on a transaction level available to data warehousing techniques is described. The network includes a transaction processing layer with at least one accounting component with a general ledger data base for centrally storing information contained in accounted-related data sets, a data warehousing layer and an additional data sourcing layer. A duplicator receives the data sets that will be or have been stored in the general ledger data base and delivers duplicates of those data sets that fulfil a predefined criteria in a procurement context. A source data base stores the duplicated data sets on a data line level. An extractor of the data sourcing layer interfaces with the data warehousing layer and selectively moves data contained in data lines or sets of data lines from the source data base to the data warehousing layer.
US08315965B2 Method for object detection
A method for object detection from a visual image of a scene. The method includes: using a first order predicate logic formalism to specify a set of logical rules to encode contextual knowledge regarding the object to be detected; inserting the specified logical rules into a knowledge base; obtaining the visual image of the scene; applying specific object feature detectors to some or all pixels in the visual image of the scene to obtain responses at those locations; using the obtained responses to generate logical facts indicative of whether specific features or parts of the object are present or absent at that location in the visual image; inserting the generated logical facts into the knowledge base; and combining the logical facts with the set of logical rules to whether the object is present or absent at a particular location in the scene.
US08315959B2 Learning transportation modes from raw GPS data
Described is a technology by which raw GPS data is processed into segments of a trip, with a predicted mode of transportation (e.g., walking, car, bus, bicycling) determined for each segment. The determined transportation modes may be used to tag the GPS data with transportation mode information, and/or dynamically used. Segments are first characterized as walk segments or non-walk segments based on velocity and/or acceleration. Features corresponding to each of those walk segments or non-walk segments are extracted, and analyzed with an inference model to determine probabilities for the possible modes of transportation for each segment. Post-processing may be used to modify the probabilities based on transitioning considerations with respect to the transportation mode of an adjacent segment. The most probable transportation mode for each segment is selected.
US08315956B2 System and method using hidden information
A method and system for use in describing a phenomenon of interest. The method and system computes a decision rule for use in describing the phenomenon of interest using training data relating to the phenomenon of interest, labels for labeling the training data, and hidden information about the training data or directed distances obtained from the hidden information, as inputs.
US08315951B2 Identity verification for secure e-commerce transactions
A method and apparatus are provided for providing authentication of an e-commerce server to a user engaging in e-commerce transactions. When the user begins an e-commerce session, the e-commerce server requests an authentication token from an authentication proxy with which it has registered. If the authentication proxy recognizes the e-commerce server, the authentication proxy generates an authentication token in the form of a simple image, and sends the authentication token to the e-commerce server over a trusted path. The e-commerce server sends the authentication token to the user. The authentication proxy also sends a copy of the authentication token to the user over a second trusted path to a second device or application accessible by the user. The user can then see that the authentication token presented by the e-commerce server matches the authentication token presented by the authentication proxy. Since the user has received the two authentication proxies over separate channels, one of which is typically secure, the user can be assured that the e-commerce server has been authenticated by the authentication proxy, and that the e-commerce server is therefore legitimate.
US08315941B2 Automated loan risk assessment system and method
An automated loan risk assessment system and method are described. The system is adapted to receive information about a loan or an insurance application requesting insurance to cover same. The system calculates a risk score for the loan based on a plurality of risk factors including at least two of a fraud risk factor, a credit risk factor and a property valuation risk factor. The risk score can be used by a loan service provider in deciding whether or not to fund or insure the loan.
US08315916B1 Method and system to distribute online video
An online video distribution network includes an online video portal and an online video merchant. In one embodiment, when the consumer orders a video, the merchant provides a pick-up ticket to the consumer. The portal uses the merchant identity in the pick-up ticket to connect to the merchant, and the merchant uses a product identity in the pick-up ticket to retrieve and send the video to the portal. In another embodiment, the portal provides the consumer with a drop-off ticket, which is provided to the merchant. The merchant connects to the portal using the portal identity in the drop-off ticket, and sends the video and a customer identity in the drop-off ticket to the portal. The portal determines a consumer record associated with the consumer identity and stores the video in the consumer record. The consumer can then easily access the video at the portal.
US08315911B2 Mortgage and real estate data integration and presentation system
A method of presenting real estate data is provided. A plurality of property listings can be presented, and a selection of one of the presented property listings may be received from a user. The user may be associated with a financial profile, which may be specified via user input. In response to receiving the selection by the user, at least one loan offer corresponding to the property listing may be automatically presented, for example, together with the property listing. The loan offer may be at least partially based on the financial profile, and may also be based on a property corresponding to the selected property listing. For example, the property listing and the financial profile may be automatically transmitted to one or more loan providers in response to receiving the selection by the user of the property listing, and in response loan offers may be received from some of the loan providers.
US08315910B2 Auction methods, auction systems and servers
Auction methods, auction systems and servers which can satisfy requirements other than the price for a client are provided. An auction client selects a desired one from time slide schemes from a terminal, and enters a due date in an associated entry field. For example, a due date advance scheme is a scheme in which a person who offers the soonest possible trading date from a due date is determined as a successful bidder. Also, specific details (paying-in, delivery and so on) on the trading date for a payment or delivery of an article, requested to a partner, are specified. These bid condition data are transmitted to the server through a network, and the server collects participants in a bid on a home page. The server receives trading dates offered from terminals of participants, and determines a participant who offers the trading date that most satisfies the trade due date condition offered by the client as a successful bidder.
US08315903B2 Method for cross-promoting communications services
A method to promote use of one communication service by associating it with another service and offering incentives to use the first service in return for use of the second service. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08315899B2 Method of scheduling
A method and apparatus for scheduling are disclosed. The apparatus applies tests to microscope slides, where the slides are loaded in trays. Each tray is treated as a batch, and batches may be interleaved to reduce the total running time of testing all slides in up to three batches. The batches of slides have protocols that define the application of reagents such as primary antibodies. The protocols define open times, where no common resources are used, and use times, where common resources are used. The scheduler operates to ensure that the use times between batches does not overlap, without leaving the next step in the protocol for an excessive period of time.
US08315895B1 Method and system for obtaining review updates within a review and rating system
A method and system for obtaining review and rating updates within a review and rating system whereby a review and rating system is provided and a given review or rating associated with a given business, service, product, or other content is submitted to the review and rating system. Contact information associated with the user submitting the given review or rating is also obtained and then upon the occurrence of one or more events, the user submitting the original review or rating is contacted and asked to update the original review or rating and/or to provide additional data. Once the user's update to the original review or rating, and/or any additional data, is/are obtained, the given review or rating is transformed to reflect the update to the original review or rating, and/or any additional data.
US08315893B2 Method and system for selective deployment of instruments within an assessment management system
A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, instruments may deployed selectively to a variety of different recipients. The selected group of recipients may be based on, for example, demographic, course, program, institution, section, education experience, and section-related criteria.
US08315883B2 Examination-item-selection device, an examination-item-selection method, and an examination-item-selection program
An examination-item database storing a plurality of types of examination items capable of examining a predetermined disease and attributes of these examination items so as to correspond to one another is prepared, the degree of risk for the predetermined disease is calculated based on individual physical information, a criterion for selection of an examination item for examining the predetermined disease is generated in accordance with the calculated degree of risk, and an examination item having an attribute meeting the selection criterion is searched out from the examination-item database. In addition, the calculated degree of risk and the examination-item database are displayed so as to correspond to the predetermined disease. This makes it possible to perform the optimal examination for each individual in accordance with the degree of risk, thereby improving the efficiency of detection of a disease. Moreover, reduction of superfluous examinations makes it possible to reduce physical and psychological burdens imposed on a patient by examinations.
US08315879B2 Attaching audio generated scripts to graphical representations of applications
A computer implemented method, a computer program product, and a data processing system attach audio generated scripts to graphical representations of applications. A mobile device records an audio instruction. The mobile device then converts the audio instruction into a command script and associates the command script with a document identifier. The mobile device then forwards the document identifier and the associated command script to a target location. The command script can then be utilized at the target location to make changes to a document identified by the document identifier.
US08315858B1 Method for digitally recording an analog audio signal with automatic indexing
A method for digitally recording an analog audio signal with automatic indexing, having the following steps: (a) an analog audio signal containing audio information and signal pauses is read in, (b) the analog audio signal is converted into digital audio data comprising audio information data and signal pause duration data, (c) the audio information data are stored as information data blocks and the signal pause duration data are stored as signal pause data blocks in a memory, (d) the stored data blocks are read sequentially and an index table is produced, any succession of information data blocks which is not interrupted by a signal pause with a predetermined duration being detected as one cohesive audio information data sequence whose start and end are stored in the index table.
US08315846B2 Design data merging apparatus and design data merging method
A design data merging apparatus includes a merging determining unit that determines, for a plurality of design data of which each has product name information and has a same identifier for uniquely identifying a product, whether the product name information given to the plurality of design data are the same, and a merged data creating unit that merges the plurality of design data when it is determined by the merging determining unit that the product name information given to the plurality of design data are the same, and creates merged data obtained by merging a plurality of design data.
US08315841B2 Methods and systems for managing facility power and cooling
Systems and methods are provided for determining data center cooling and power requirements and for monitoring performance of cooling and power systems in data centers. At least one aspect provides a system and method that enables a data center operator to determine available power and cooling at specific areas and enclosures in a data center to assist in locating new equipment in the data center.
US08315837B2 Computer-aided method of obtaining a ply model of a composite component
A computer-aided method of obtaining a preliminary ply model of a composite component to be used in the manufacture of industrial parts by stacking and joining a plurality of plies of composite materials, comprising the following steps: a) obtaining from stress calculations a ply stacking sequence for the component subdivided into panels; b) automatically generating a stacking table containing the ply sequence for each different zone (defined by its ply sequence); c) automatically generating a grid table; d) optimizing said stacking table; e) performing the plies drop-off distribution by means of a tool that allows carrying out said distribution automatically according to a predetermined staggering rule; f) obtaining an output table containing the data required for representing the ply model in a CAD program.
US08315836B2 Radiation measuring device and diagnostic method thereof
A radiation measuring device includes a computing unit that receives an input of a count value of a count portion configured to receive an input of a digital pulse from a pulse height discriminator and count the digital pulse in a fixed cycle and an integrated value of an adder-subtractor accumulation portion configured to add the digital pulse and subtract a feedback pulse and finds a first current rate on the basis of the count value and the integrated value and a second count rate on the basis of the integrated value, so that soundness of the adder-subtractor accumulation portion is diagnosed and outputted by comparing the first count rate with the second count rate. A radiation measuring device of a simple configuration and a diagnosis method thereof enabling a high-accurate self-diagnosis online on the count rate measurement that is the keystone of the radiation measurement can be thus obtained.
US08315831B2 Method for determining analog input field values, loop statuses, and diagnostics using multiple processing devices and related system
A method includes receiving multiple measurements of an analog signal, where the measurements are taken using multiple measuring devices. The method also includes identifying whether any of the measurements are valid. In addition, the method includes, if at least one of the measurements is valid, generating a final measurement of the analog signal based on the at least one valid measurement.
US08315828B2 Battery management system and driving method for the same
Disclosed are a battery management system that uses a source file for sensing of the cell voltages of battery cells by changing only declaration information of a header file using an MCU even when the number of battery cells is changed, and a driving method for the same. The battery management system is connected to a battery including at least one battery pack in which a plurality of battery cells are contained. includes a sensor including an AD converter connected to the battery cells, the sensor configured to sense cell voltages of the battery cells, a storage configured to store source data generated using an input external signal, and a controller configured to generate a source signal corresponding to the source data and forward the source signal to the sensor, the sensor being configured to sense the cell voltages of the battery cells according to the source signal.
US08315815B2 Computational methods and systems for suggesting modulators of CYP450 as treatment options
Computational methods and systems are described which accept input, identify one or more CYP450-family enzymes, identify one or more modulators of the CYP450-family enzymes, and communicate treatments to at least one system user, wherein the treatments include one or more of the identified at least one modulator.
US08315812B2 Method and system for patient-specific modeling of blood flow
Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.
US08315795B2 Map display system, map display, and map display method
Even if a detailed map being displayed is continuously scrolled, the place of the detailed map being displayed is kept to a wide-area map. A map display system having a map display for displaying a plurality of maps and an information distribution server which is connected to the map display through a communication means and distributes map data to the map display comprises a display means for displaying a first map capable of being scrolled and a second map including the scope of the first map, a scroll control means for scrolling the first map, a condition judging means for judging whether or not to control the display form of the second map according to the result of the scroll of the first map by the scroll control means and a condition for controlling the display form of the second map set in advance, and a reduced scale control means for controlling the display form of the second map. The reduced scale control means controls the display form of the second map according to the result of the judgment of the condition judging means.
US08315791B2 Method and apparatus for providing smart zooming of a geographic representation
An approach is provided for custom zooming of geographic representation. A custom zooming application determines an input specifying a level of zoom for rendering a geographic representation presented at a device, the geographic representation including a plurality of objects. The custom zooming application determines respective degrees of relevance of the plurality of objects based, at least in part, on the device, a user of the device, related context information, or a combination thereof. The custom zooming application determines to render one or more of the plurality of objects with at least one different level of visibility with respect to other ones of the plurality of objects based, at least in part, on the respective degrees of relevance, the level of zoom, or a combination thereof.
US08315780B2 High pressure fuel pump control apparatus for internal combustion engine
There is provided a high pressure fuel pump control system for an internal combustion engine which enables fuel pressure control with high precision without being restricted by the number of cylinders of the internal combustion engine or the number of phase sensor signals and the number of cam noses which vertically drives a plunger of a high pressure fuel pump even when a camshaft phase varies by a variable valve timing mechanism by using the high pressure fuel pump with a solenoid valve. The control system has a means which changes an effective stroke by driving the solenoid valve in the high pressure fuel pump, and has a means which changes the drive timing of the high pressure fuel pump based on a cylinder recognition value of the internal combustion engine with the cam angle detecting means as an origin.
US08315770B2 Motorized wheelchair
A motorized wheelchair includes left and right drive wheels, left and right motors, rate-of-turn sensor, first and second speed sensors, and controller arranged to combine signals from the sensors in a manner that detects drift. Alternatively, the motorized wheelchair includes left and right drive wheels, left and right motors, first and second rate-of-turn sensors, and controller arranged to combine signals from the sensors in a manner that compensates for voltage offset errors. In another arrangement, the motorized wheelchair includes left and right drive wheels, left and right motors, first and second rate-of-turn sensors, input device, and controller arranged to combine signals from the sensors and input device in a manner that controls the motors using an integrated turn rate error. Several methods for controlling each wheelchair configuration are also provided. These methods process signals associated with desired, expected, or actual turn rate to determine if the wheelchair is off course.
US08315751B2 Methods, program products, and systems for controlling braking in a hybrid vehicle
A method for controlling braking in a hybrid vehicle includes the steps of determining a value of a variable pertaining to operation of the hybrid vehicle and applying regenerative braking based at least in part on the value of the variable. The variable comprises a speed of the hybrid vehicle, a steering angle of the hybrid vehicle, or a rate of change of the steering angle.
US08315750B2 Efficiency optimizing propeller speed control for ships
The invention relates to a method for improving the propulsion efficiency of vessels. The improvement is obtained by utilizing wave induced variations in propeller inflow, i.e. the speed of water flowing towards the propeller. The wave induced water speed variation is used to calculate the propeller speed in a way so that the propeller speed is optimal with respect to the total propulsion efficiency. The optimal propeller speed is determined by solving an optimization problem formulated as the maximization of the ratio of energy delivered by the propeller and the energy delivered to the propeller. The method may be used for vessels with one or more propellers.
US08315749B2 Innovative optimal spacecraft safing methodology
A system and method are disclosed for an innovative spacecraft (S/C) safing methodology. The system and method use wheel momentum to perform a rotisserie rotation so that the spacecraft can slew at a fast rate in a controlled fashion in order to keep the spacecraft power safe and maintain telemetry and command (T&C) coverage. The system and method involve a reaction wheel system and a spacecraft control processor (SCP). The SCP is in communication with the reaction wheel system. The SCP is operable to determine a rotisserie axis, and take the cross product of the rotisserie axis and a momentum vector to result in a unit vector. The SCP is further operable to slowly slew the spacecraft about the unit vector through an angle until the rotisserie axis aligns with the momentum vector, and rotate the spacecraft about the rotisserie axis to keep the spacecraft power safe.
US08315748B2 Altitude measurement apparatus and method
Provided is an altitude measurement apparatus and method that may measure an altitude of an aircraft without using a separate altimeter. The altitude measurement apparatus may include a camera unit being provided to a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft to collect an image of a circular mark formed on the ground, and a calculation unit to calculate an altitude of the VTOL aircraft based on the collected image. Accordingly, the altitude measurement apparatus may measure the altitude using a simple structure such as the circular mark formed on the ground, and be configured at inexpensive costs.
US08315747B2 Electronic device comprising fuel cell power system
In an electronic device whose source of electric power is a fuel cell and which has a heat radiator that radiates heat by evaporating water generated in accordance with electric power generation of the fuel cell, there are provided a use condition detector that detects use condition of the electronic device, a heat radiation suppression discriminator that discriminates whether to suppress heat radiation by the heat radiator based on use condition detected by the use condition detector, and a heat radiation suppression controller that controls to suppress heat radiation by the heat radiator as a result of the discrimination by the heat radiation suppression discriminator.
US08315741B2 High fidelity integrated heat transfer and clearance in component-level dynamic turbine system control
A system comprises a rotary apparatus, a control law and a processor. The rotary apparatus comprises a rotor and a housing forming a gas path therebetween, and the control law controls flow along the gas path. The processor comprises an output module, a plurality of temperature modules, a thermodynamic module, a comparator and an estimator. The output module generates an output signal as a function of a plurality of rotor and housing temperatures defined along the gas path, and the temperature modules determine time derivatives of the rotor and housing temperatures. The thermodynamic module models boundary conditions for the gas path, and the comparator determines errors in the boundary conditions. The estimator estimates the rotor and housing temperatures based on the time derivatives, such that the errors are minimized and the flow is controlled.
US08315736B2 Method and apparatus for picking/packing applications
A system for picking and packing applications is provided. The system includes a plurality of robots and a plurality of robot controllers. Each robot controller includes a load re-balance subsystem, a load balance subsystem, a robot state change detector subsystem, a communicator subsystem, and a motion control subsystem. Each of the robot controllers is interconnected and in communication with one another via the communicator subsystems. Each of the robots has a workload that may be selectively balanced. A method for balancing the workloads of the robots using built-in processors which run motion control is also provided.
US08315733B2 Apparatus and method for marketing products, distributing product samples and capturing consumer personal data
An apparatus for distributing at least one product to consumers includes a housing and a plurality of belt conveyors for storing a predetermined quantity of such product. A serving tray is positioned externally to the housing for incrementally receiving one of the predetermined quantity of such product. Another belt conveyor is provided for incrementally obtaining such one of such product and for delivering it to the serving tray. A controller for selectively operating storage and delivery conveyors. A manually operable switch activates the controller to operate the delivery conveyor in order to deliver such one of such product. The apparatus is capable of capturing consumer personal data. Various methods contemplate use of these devices for delivering targeted marketing information, distributing product samples and for cross-marketing products.
US08315728B2 Component mounting condition determination method
Provided is a component mounting condition determination method of a component mounter (200) that can improve a throughput of a whole production line. The method determines a mounting condition of the component mounter (200) that mounts components on boards, for use in a production line including the component mounter (200) including transportation lanes aligned parallel to each other. The method includes determining the mounting condition so that a line tact ratio among the transportation lanes approximates a predetermined ratio (S204 to S210).
US08315725B2 Method and apparatus for controlling content reproduction, and computer product
Appropriate content is determined from among multiple content items, and is reproduced. Content reproduction terminal devices having the content items recorded therein are connected with a content reproduction controlling apparatus. An acquiring unit acquires content information from each content reproduction terminal device, information indicative of the subject matter of the content items. A determining unit determines the content items to be reproduced, i.e., reproduction content based on the acquired content information. An extracting unit extracts the reproduction content from the content reproduction terminal device that has the reproduction content recorded therein. A reproducing unit reproduces and outputs the extracted reproduction content.
US08315722B1 Advanced fantasy sports competition having user-drafted and system-generated fantasy teams
A system and method for playing fantasy sports that replicates league competition for an individual user by competing in a simulated league against a plurality of system-generated teams, followed by competing in an elimination round and a plurality of tournament rounds against other users. The user can field more than one team, but each team competes in a different system-generated simulated league. The user selectively drafts a roster based on real players in a sport and the system randomly generates a plurality of rosters to complete a league schedule congruent with the sport season. At the conclusion of the schedule, at least a designated percentage of users having the best win record compete in a pool against each other in an elimination round. A plurality of top scoring users in the elimination round win a berth in a championship tournament using single elimination rounds to determine a champion.
US08315719B2 Decentralized system and architecture for remote real time monitoring of power transformers, reactors, circuit breakers, instrument transformers, disconnect switches and similar high voltage equipment for power plants and electric power substations
“DECENTRALIZED SYSTEM AND ARCHITECTURE FOR REMOTE REAL TIME MONITORING OF POWER TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS, CIRCUIT BREAKERS, INSTRUMENT TRANSFORMERS, DISCONNECT SWITCHES AND SIMILAR HIGH VOLTAGE EQUIPMENT FOR POWER PLANTS AND ELECTRIC POWER SUBSTATIONS”, remarkably consisting of intelligent sensors of the IED type that make concerning measurements in the high voltage equipment, interconnected through a communication network to a monitoring central computer, allowing user's remote access to the measurements and diagnosis of the equipment condition as well as emitting automatic alarms should any abnormality appear in it.
US08315714B2 Burr hole caps and methods of use
In one embodiment, a kit, for securing a lead or cannula within a burr hole, comprises: a base structure to be positioned immediately adjacent to or partially within the burr hole; a lead securing member for securing the lead within the burr hole, the lead securing member comprising a first arm structure and a second arm structure, at least one spring loaded structure adapted to exert a force to bring the first arm structure and the second arm structure together; and a positioning tool having a distal end adapted to be inserted within the lead securing member; wherein when the distal end of the positioning tool is positioned within the lead securing member, the distal end holds the first and second arm structures a sufficient distance apart to receive a lead or a cannula between the first and second arm structures.
US08315711B2 Resonant muscle stimulator
A method and apparatus use resonant pulses to treat diabetes, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and other maladies by applying a stimulating signal to promote and manipulate blood flow. The stimulating signal may include a resonant sequence that includes at least three pulses, where the pulses of the resonant sequence are spaced relative to one another such that each pulse subsequent to a first pulse in the sequence is effective to progressively stimulate and create tension in a musculature that includes the muscle inwardly from the electrodes and towards the center of the musculature while maintaining the tension created in at least a portion of the musculature by each preceding pulse in the resonant sequence.
US08315697B2 Classification of supraventricular and ventricular cardiac rhythms using cross channel timing algorithm
A system and method for classifying cardiac complexes sensed during a tachycardia episode. A first cardiac signal and a second cardiac signal are sensed, where the first cardiac signal has a voltage. A first cardiac complex and a second cardiac complex of a cardiac cycle are detected in the first and second cardiac signal, respectively. A predetermined alignment feature is identified in the second cardiac complex. A datum is defined, or positioned, at a specified interval from the predetermined alignment feature of the second cardiac complex. Voltage values are then measured from the first cardiac complex at each of two or more measurement intervals from the datum. The voltage values are then compared voltage values measured from NSR cardiac complexes to classify the first cardiac complex is either a ventricular tachycardia complex or a supraventricular tachycardiac complex.
US08315691B2 Radiosurgical ablation of the myocardium
The invention provides a non-invasive system and method for treatment of the heart. In a first aspect, a method for treatment of an anatomical site related to arrhythmogenesis of a heart of a patient comprises creating a target shape encompassing the anatomical site, directing particle beam radiation or x-ray radiation from outside the patient toward the target shape wherein one or more doses of radiation ablates the target shape and disregarding at least one orientation of cardiac motion while creating the target shape or directing the particle beam or both.
US08315689B2 MRI surgical systems for real-time visualizations using MRI image data and predefined data of surgical tools
MRI-Surgical systems include: (a) at least one MRI-compatible surgical tool; (b) a circuit adapted to communicate with an MRI scanner; and (c) at least one display in communication with the circuit. The circuit electronically recognizes predefined physical characteristics of the at least one tool to automatically segment MR image data provided by the MRI scanner whereby the at least one tool constitutes a point of interface with the system. The circuit is configured to provide a User Interface that defines workflow progression for an MRI-guided surgical procedure and allows a user to select steps in the workflow, and wherein the circuit is configured to generate multi-dimensional visualizations using the predefined data of the at least one tool and data from MRI images of the patient in substantially real time during the surgical procedure.
US08315685B2 Flexible medical sensor enclosure
A sensor is provided that includes a flexible wrap enclosure which is folded about the sensor. The flexible wrap includes primary flaps and at least one reinforcement flap. The reinforcement flap may be used to enclose areas of the sensor not enclosed by the primary wrap and/or may be used to provide reinforcement of the enclosure to prevent tearing of the flexible wrap enclosure. The sensor may be placed on a patient's finger, toe, ear, and so forth to obtain pulse oximetry or other physiological measurements.
US08315681B2 Method for noninvasive measurement of glucose and apparatus for noninvasive measurement of glucose
A method for noninvasive measurement of glucose in a tissue of a subject, including the steps of bringing an adaptation device, which has a shape similar to a measurement probe, into contact with a skin part of a subject for stretching the skin part of the subject under a pressure that is higher than a pressure per unit area applied by the measurement probe during the noninvasive measurement, maintaining the contact for a predetermined period of time followed by relieving the contact, bringing the measurement probe into contact with the stretched skin part of the subject for the noninvasive measurement, collecting signals emitted from the subject, and estimating a glucose concentration based on the collected signals.
US08315672B2 Portable electronic device and method of controlling same
A method of controlling a portable electronic device that has a touch screen display includes providing a graphical user interface on a touch screen display, detecting a touch event at a first location on the touch screen display, providing a navigation indicator in the graphical user interface in response to detecting the touch event at the first location, and in response to detecting movement of the touch event from the first location to a second location while touch contact is maintained on the touch screen display, changing the position of the navigation indicator in the graphical user interface by a distance that is greater than a distance of movement of the touch event on the touch screen display, a direction of change of position of the navigation indicator is based on a direction of movement of the touch event on the touch screen display.
US08315661B2 Enhanced power headroom reporting
Method and system for power headroom reporting in a mobile device capable of supporting multiple radio transmissions via different channels. The available maximum power variation of a second channel is estimated based on power usage in radio transmission of a first channel. A plurality of measures related to radio transmission via the second channel are them computed. Whether one or more conditions for power headroom reporting of the second channel are met is tested in accordance with a configuration with respect to power headroom reporting. The power headroom is computed based on the estimated power variation relating to the first channel and the radio transmission measures relating to the second channel. A power headroom report is then generated based on the computed power headroom and such a report is then transmitted, typically from the mobile device to a base station.
US08315658B2 Method of allocating radio resources in a wireless communication system
A method of allocating radio resources in a wireless communication system is disclosed. A method of allocating radio resources from a network of a wireless communication system in accordance with a plurality of scheduling modes comprises transmitting first scheduling information to a user equipment to allocate radio resources to the user equipment in accordance with a first scheduling mode, the first scheduling information including a first user equipment identifier, and transmitting second scheduling information to the user equipment to allocate radio resources to the user equipment in accordance with a second scheduling mode, the second scheduling information including a second user equipment identifier.
US08315642B2 Integrated circuit for controlling radio communication
Provided is a radio communication device which can prevent interference between SRS and PUCCH when the PUCCH transmission bandwidth fluctuates and suppress degradation of CQI estimation accuracy by the band where no SRS is transmitted. The device includes: an SRS code generation unit (201) which generates an SRS (Sounding Reference Signal) for measuring uplink line data channel quality; an SRS arrangement unit (202) which frequency-multiplexes the SRS on the SR transmission band and arranges it; and an SRS arrangement control unit (208) which controls SRS frequency multiplex so as to be uniform in frequency without modifying the bandwidth of one SRS multiplex unit in accordance with the fluctuation of the reference signal transmission bandwidth according to the SRS arrangement information transmitted from the base station and furthermore controls the transmission interval of the frequency-multiplexed SRS.
US08315641B2 Method of controlling uplink synchronization state at a user equipment in a mobile communication system
A method of controlling uplink synchronization state at a user equipment in a mobile communication system is disclosed. The method of controlling an uplink synchronization state at a user equipment in a mobile communication system comprises receiving control information associated with controlling uplink synchronization state of the user equipment from a network, releasing uplink resources allocated from the network if the uplink synchronization state is shifted from a synchronization state to an asynchronous state based on the control information.
US08315633B2 Uplink soft handoff support in UMTS TDD systems for efficient uplink power and rate control
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate supporting uplink soft handoff in a UMTS TDD wireless communication environment. A virtual active set (VAS) for each user device can be generated at the network side of the communication environment, and sectors listed in each VAS can be informed of their respective listings. Sectors in a user device's VAS can be provided with a scrambling code and resource assignments from a nominal sector serving the user device, which information can be employed to attempt to receive and demodulate uplink signals from the user device at all base stations in the VAS thereof. Additionally, such resources can be employed to transmit power control and reverse activity commands to the user device on the downlink.
US08315624B2 System and method for communicating over a data network or the PSTN using a hybrid cordless telephone device
A hybrid cordless telephone system allows a user to place or receive a call over either a data network or a PSTN network. In one aspect, a system router and PSTN unit are coupled with a communications manager to avoid extensive redesign of router components and PSTN components while providing a wireless user with data network and PSTN connectivity. In another aspect, the system router of the hybrid cordless telephone system includes a communications manager configured to provide termination of data network calls or PSTN calls at the system router. Accordingly, a plurality of handsets can each access the system router to place or receive calls from the data or PSTN networks.
US08315619B1 System and method for managing mobile communications
A device to automatically provide differing information levels according to a predetermined social hierarchy includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores social templates corresponding to unique social signatures and being selectable to provide, for each level of the predetermined social hierarchy, a corresponding differing amount of information to each member of the predetermined social hierarchy and/or a social networking service. The processor receives sensor data from a sensor set which detects sensor data related to an environment of a communication device, creates a detected social signature from the received sensor data, determines which of the social signatures of the social templates has the greatest correspondence with the created social signature, retrieves from the memory the determined one social template having the greatest correspondence, and provides only as much information as allowed in the retrieved social template.
US08315600B2 Method and device for setting user-side white list and paging user equipment
The present invention discloses methods and devices for setting user-side white list and paging UE, and relates to the field of communication. To solve the problem that the user-side white list is inconsistent with the network-side white list, the method for setting a user-side white list includes: Acquiring and storing information of CSG to be deleted from a user-side white list; receiving a second NAS message originated from a UE; and sending the UE a response message of the second NAS message, so that the UE deletes CSG specified by the information of the CSG from the user-side white list. To solve the problem that the MME may fail to pages the UE through the network-side white list when the user-side white list is inconsistent with the network-side white list, the method for paging UE includes: acquiring and storing information of CSG to be deleted from a user-side white list; and sending a UE paging message to CSG specified by the information of the CSG. The embodiments of the present invention can be applied to a mobile network accessed through an HeNB.
US08315599B2 Location privacy selector
A wireless device capable of being located over a network by a requesting party comprises a phone, and a display to display a visually-continuous location privacy slider having at least five stops. Each of the at least five stops corresponds to a given combination of settings within the phone relating to a privacy of reporting of location of the wireless device to a requesting device.
US08315597B2 “I am driving/busy” automatic response system for mobile phones
A cell phone system which has been modified by the addition of software and hardware to determine the speed of at least phones to which incoming text messages are directed and determine whether or not to send an automated text message response to the sender indicating the user to which the text is directed cannot respond immediately. If such a response message is to be sent, automatically generating and sending said text message. If not, forwarding the text message to the cell phone to which it is directed.
US08315590B2 Emergency information notification system
An emergency information reporting method, wherein a broadcast equipment (CBC) transmits an emergency information reporting message including a distribution area and emergency information to a switching center (MME) corresponding to the distribution area, the switching center (MME) generates an emergency information reporting message including cell identification information and transmits the message to a wireless base station (eNB) which manages the cell corresponding to the distribution area included in the received emergency information reporting message, and the wireless base station (eNB) broadcasts the emergency information included in the received emergency information reporting message to the cell corresponding to the cell identification information included in the emergency information reporting message.
US08315585B2 Method and circuit for a fast reduction in voltage of a DC component and low-frequency components at a mixing circuit output in a receiver of a UHF transceiver
A difference between an output current signal (mos) of the mixing circuit (MC) and a current from a controlled current source (CCS) is conducted to an input of an operational amplifier (A). A control voltage (cv) for said current source is a voltage at the output of the operational amplifier (A) being filtered by a low-pass filter, whose limiting frequency equals a low frequency limit of the modulation signal in the received signal (rs). The method is speeded up in that the limiting frequency of the low-pass filter is increased by two to three orders of magnitude at the beginning and is gradually lowered to said value. A rather short time duration of the transient process is achieved so that the working point with a low voltage of the DC component and low-frequency components is set at least five times faster than so far.
US08315584B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit and broadcast receiver
A semiconductor integrated circuit for broadcast receivers, which integrates an RF circuit, a mixer, an IF circuit, and an intermediate-frequency signal processing circuit onto a single chip, additionally includes a second RF circuit whose input terminal is grounded through an impedance equivalent to or almost the same as the output impedance of an antenna circuit, and a second mixer downstream of the second RF circuit. The second RF circuit and the second mixer each has an input impedance equivalent to that of the received signal subsystem; therefore, a spurious component equivalent to the spurious component contained in the output signal of the received signal subsystem is detected in the second RF circuit and in the second mixer, and cancels out the spurious component contained in the output signal of the received signal subsystem. Accordingly, the effects of noise due to spurious can be effectively reduced.
US08315581B2 Transmitter with hybrid closed loop power control
Systems and method for implementing a transmitter with hybrid closed loop power control in a communication device.
US08315577B2 Multiband high-frequency circuit, multiband high-frequency circuit device and multiband communications apparatus comprising same
A multiband high-frequency circuit comprising a first switch SPDT1 for switching the connections of a multiband antenna to transmitting circuits 11bg-T, 11a-T and receiving circuits 11bg-R, 11a-R of first and second communications systems, and a transmitting/receiving circuit BLT-TR of a third communications system, a diplexer circuit Dip1 for branching a high-frequency signal to 11a-R and 11bg-R or BLT-TR and a diplexer circuit Dip2 for branching a high-frequency signal to 11bg-T and 11a-T, both of which are disposed downstream of SPDT1, each diplexer circuit Dip1, Dip2 comprising a lower-frequency-side filter and a high-frequency-side filter, a bandpass filter BPF1 being disposed downstream of the lower-frequency-side filter of the diplexer circuit Dip1, and a second switch SPDT2 being disposed downstream of the bandpass filter BPF1.
US08315567B2 Method and system for wireless communication with an integrated circuit under evaluation
A method and apparatus are provided for wireless communication between an integrated circuit device and a monitoring station. Each integrated circuit device has one or more antennas that permit wireless communication with an external monitoring station. A signal destined for an integrated circuit device is transmitted by the monitoring station using an associated antenna. An antenna associated with the destination integrated circuit receives the transmitted signal. The antenna(s) may be embodied, for example, as pins that are external to the integrated circuit device, or printed or etched on the integrated circuit device itself. Greater bandwidth can be achieved, if necessary, by pooling the bandwidth of several antennas.
US08315564B2 Short-range wireless communication
The present specification describes techniques and apparatus that enable wireless devices to communicate effectively at short ranges. In one implementation, the transmit power of a transmitting device is reduced to permit a receiving device to demodulate a signal.
US08315558B2 Relaying system and method with partner relays and selective transmission
Partner relay systems and methods are provided in which relaying is performed by a pair of partner relays. Signals received from a base station are translated by a first of the pair of partner relays to a different transmission resource for communication between the pair of partner relays, and then upon reception by a second of the pair of partner relays, the signal is translated back to the original transmission resource and re-transmitted towards the receiver.
US08315541B2 Image forming apparatus using cleaner-less system
An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member; a charging device for electrically charging the photosensitive member; a developing device for developing with toner an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member electrically charged by the charging device; a transfer device for transferring a toner image from the photosensitive member onto an image-receiving member; and an auxiliary charging device for electrically charging untransferred toner on the photosensitive member to a normal charge polarity before the photosensitive member is electrically charged by the charging device; wherein effective widths WPM, WCD, WDD, WTD, and WACD of the photosensitive member, the charging device, the developing device, the transfer device, and the auxiliary charging device satisfy: WPM>WCD>WACD≧WTD>WDD.
US08315540B2 Compact image forming apparatus having pivotally attached scanning unit
An image forming apparatus to be placed on a desktop includes a first body, a second body which is pivotally mounted above the first body, a light emitting unit disposed in the second body, an image forming unit disposed in the first body so as to form a C-shaped paper feeding path, a first power supply unit and a second power supply unit disposed on a bottom surface of the first body, a controlling board disposed on a first side wall of the first body, and a power transmission unit disposed on a second side wall of the first body.
US08315537B2 Image-forming device having cleaning unit for removing developer
A plurality of photosensitive bodies is juxtaposed in a conveying direction, in which a recording medium is conveyed, with confronting the conveying unit. Each of a plurality of developing units is configured to move between a first position where the developing unit is capable of supplying developer to the corresponding photosensitive drum and a second position where the developing unit separates from the corresponding photosensitive drum. A cleaning member is configured to move between a third position where the cleaning member is capable of collecting a waste developer deposited on the conveying unit and a fourth position where the cleaning member separates from the conveying unit. A receptacle is slidably supported on one of the developing units and accommodates the collected waste developer. The cleaning member moves integrally with the receptacle. The receptacle and the one of the developing units are integrally detachably mounted on the main casing.
US08315536B2 Image forming apparatus having cover and lock that regulates closure of cover
An image forming apparatus includes a cover configured to open/close with respect to an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, a pullout unit, a locking member configured to lock the pullout unit according to an operation of inserting the pullout unit into the apparatus main body, and an abutting member movable between a position where the abutting member regulates the closure of the cover by abutting against the cover and a position where the abutting member does not regulate the closure of the cover. When the locking member does not lock the pullout unit, the abutting member is positioned at the position where the abutting member regulates the closure of the cover.
US08315533B2 Developing device and image-forming apparatus
A developing device comprises a developer unit that contains a developer including a color material and a magnetic powder, the color material being used to develop an electrostatic latent image held by an image holding member; a collecting unit that collects a part of the developer contained in the developer unit via a passage; and a measuring unit that measures a concentration of the color material included in the developer based on a magnetic property of the developer moving through the passage.
US08315530B2 Fixing device and image forming device
A fixing device includes a heating roller that is internally provided with a heat source member and is rotated by a drive unit; an endless fixing belt that is entrained around the heating roller and heated thereby, and is provided with a surface layer that contacts a recording medium, and the yield stress of a material forming the surface layer is varied according to the temperature of the material; a pressure member that is provided facing the heating roller and presses the recording medium, on which a toner image has been formed, against the fixing belt; a travel direction alteration member that contacts the fixing belt and changes the direction of travel of the fixing belt by bending the fixing belt; and a drive control section that operates the drive unit and rotates the heating roller after the heating roller has been heated such that the endless fixing belt is heated by the heating roller to a predetermined temperature where the yield stress of a material forming the surface layer of the fixing belt is larger than the stress acting on the surface layer when the travel direction of the fixing belt is altered by the travel direction alteration member.
US08315527B2 Passive optical network system and optical line terminal
A transmission speed of a protection (backup) line using 1G-OLT unit and 1G-ONU unit is set to be lower than a transmission speed of a working (primary) line using 10G-OLT unit and 10G-ONU unit. A priority and band of each communication service in ONU are preset individually and separately every LLID for a working (primary) line and a protection (backup) line. When bands are allocated to the protection (backup) line, the band allocation is performed so as to secure a minimum number of bands of each communication service. A monitoring controller refers to a predetermined band information table according to an operation state of the working (primary) line or the protection (backup) line with respect to a downstream signal packet.
US08315523B2 Communication system, terminating apparatus, and PON virtualization method for use therein
When a frame is received from one of PON ports 12a to 12c of ONUs 1a to 1c, an OLT 3 compares VPIDs contained in Preamble/SFD regions A of the received Ethernet® frame with VPIDs assigned to LAN ports 31 and 32 of the OLT 3. Upon coincidence, a PON MAC process is started. When a frame is received from a PON port 33 of the OLT 3, each of the ONUs 1a to 1c compares a VPID contained in a Preamble/SFD region of the received Ethernet® frame with VPIDs assigned to the ONUs 1a to 1c. Upon coincidence, a PON MAC process is started.
US08315522B2 Wavelength routing system
A wavelength routing system includes a plurality of nodes (1, 2, 3, 4) and an array waveguide grating (40) having a routing property and optically connected to the plurality of nodes. Each of the nodes has a plurality of light sources (TLS) outputting lights at different wavelengths to the array waveguide grating, respectively, and a wavelength demultiplexer (125, 225, 325, 425) having a periodic property, demultiplexing a light output from the array waveguide grating, and outputting demultiplexed lights. The wavelength demultiplexer is set a channel period which is different from that of the array waveguide, and which is more than or equal to a number of output ports of the wavelength demultiplexer.
US08315516B2 Signal transmitter, signal receiver, and signal transmission system
A signal transmitter includes: a main transmission line-transmitting portion that transmits optical signals through main transmission lines; a backup transmission line-transmitting portion that transmits the optical signals through backup transmission lines paired with the main transmission lines; a selector that selects a transmission line to be used for transmitting the signals from any of the transmission lines through which the signals are transmitted by the main transmission line-transmitting portion and the backup transmission line-transmitting portion; and a controller that, when a fault occurs on at least one main transmission line, outputs a switching command to the selector based on information identifying the main transmission line with the fault, thus causing the main transmission line-transmitting portion to stop transmitting the signals to the main transmission line with the fault, while causing the backup transmission line-transmitting portion to transmit the signals being transmitted to the main transmission line with the fault to the backup transmission lines.
US08315514B2 Image capture apparatus and method
An image capture apparatus comprises: a moving unit configured to move a focus position of a photographing lens relative to an image sensor at a predetermined amplitude by changing a distance in an optical axis direction between the photographing lens and the image sensor; detection unit configured to detect a focus state of an image obtained from the image sensor; and defocus correction unit configured to perform defocus correction on the image obtained from the image sensor during motion performed by the moving unit, based on the focus state detected by the detection unit, so that the focus state of each image for display on the display device at least approaches the focus state for an in-focus image.
US08315510B2 Light emitting type heat treatment apparatus
A light emitting type heat treatment apparatus includes relatively low rated power density filament lamps and relatively high rated power density filament lamps, in which a heat treatment including a temperature raising heat process for raising a work piece quickly to a predetermined heat treatment temperature by light emitted from the filament lamps, and a constant temperature heating process succeeding the temperature raising heating process in which the work piece is heated while the predetermined heat treatment temperature is maintained, and a control unit which controls lighting state of the filament lamps so that while at least filament lamps with relatively high rated power density are lighted in the temperature raising heating process, in the constant temperature heating process, only filament lamps with relatively low rated power density are lighted.
US08315509B2 Video player for digital video server
A system for playing digital video at varying playback speeds can include a fetcher module configured to retrieve encoded pictures from a data store and an allocator module configured to selectively delete encoded pictures from an input cache. The system further can include a decoder module and an output cache module. The decoder module can decode pictures received from the input cache. The output cache module can store a plurality of decoded pictures and provide selected ones of the pictures as output. Pictures are processed within each of the modules according to a priority corresponding to each picture.
US08315506B2 Home telepresence with content insertion
A provisioning device intercepts program content from a video client or another multimedia device, where the program content includes copy-protection encryption, and receives additional content from a local router or another networked device, where the additional content is Internet protocol (IP) content. The provisioning device removes the copy-protection encryption from the program content and combines the additional content with the program content. The provisioning device also adds copy-protection encryption to the combined additional content and program content, and sends the copy-protected combined content to a display device.
US08315498B2 Fiber management panel
A telecommunications termination panel includes a housing having a top, a bottom, a first side and a second opposing side defining a front opening and a rear opening. The housing defines a cable entry adjacent the rear opening and a cable exit adjacent the rear opening, wherein the rear opening is adjacent the first side. A tray is pivotably mounted within the front opening of the housing, pivoting about a vertical axis located adjacent the first side and including a cable entry and a cable exit adjacent the vertical pivot axis and a plurality of connection locations. A cable path is defined between the rear opening of the housing and the tray, the cable path defined by a cable guide defining a channel for receiving cables, the cable guide including a slidable structure configured for pushing cables into the channel defined by the cable guide.
US08315496B2 Optical element
Disclosed is an optical element which includes a support substrate and a thin plate of single crystal stacked on the support substrate through a thermoplastic adhesive, having the advantages of easily regulating the phase of light waves and restoring the regulated state to the original state. The optical element includes a support substrate 4 and a thin plate 1 of single crystal stacked on the support substrate 4 through a thermoplastic adhesive 3. The optical characteristics of the optical element are regulated by applying stress within an elastic limit to at least a part of the thin plate in a state where the thermoplastic adhesive is softened by heating the optical element, forming a concavo-convex part 10 in the thin plate, and then cooling the optical element to fix the concavo-convex part.
US08315494B2 Optical fiber
An optical fiber includes a center core portion; an inner core layer formed around an outer circumference of the center core portion, a refractive index of which is less than that of the center core portion; an outer core layer formed around an outer circumference of the inner core layer, a refractive index of which is less than that of the inner core layer; and a cladding portion formed around an outer circumference of the outer core layer. A refractive index of the cladding portion is substantially equal to that of the inner core layer. At a wavelength of 1550 nm, an effective core area is equal to or larger than 130 μm2 and a bending loss is equal to or less than 100 dB/m when the optical fiber is bent with a diameter of 20 mm. A cable cut-off wavelength is equal to or less than 1530 nm.
US08315490B1 Port array topology for high port count wavelength selective switch
An optical apparatus can include an optical port array having an M×N array of fiber collimator ports. The array of ports is configured such that there is a gap within each column of ports located between two rows of ports. The gap is wide enough to permit a hitless beam switching trajectory to pass between the two rows of ports from one side of the array of ports to an opposite side.
US08315480B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program to execute the image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes a sensor unit configured to include a plurality of line sensors to read image data having a plurality of channels; a correcting unit configured to correct the image data read by the sensor unit to obtain a plurality of frames of image data in which reading positions on an original image by adjacent line sensors among the plurality of line sensors are shifted by less than a pixel in a main scanning direction or/and a sub-scanning direction; and a high-resolution converting unit configured to perform interpolation by using the plurality of frames of image data obtained by the correcting unit so as to obtain monochrome image data having resolution higher than resolution of the line sensors.
US08315473B1 Variably fast and continuous bilateral approximation filtering using histogram manipulations
A system and method for performing integral histogram convolution for filtering image data is disclosed. The method may include applying a filter window to a first portion of an image, wherein the filter window includes an interior region and a border region. The method may include generating a plurality of histograms for the pixels in the filter window. The method may include generating spatial weight coefficients for the pixels in the border of the filter window. The method may include generating a plurality of color weight coefficients for the pixels in the filter window. The method may include performing a filtering operation on the pixels in the filter window by applying a respective spatial weight coefficient and a respective color weight coefficient to the values in the plurality of histograms for each respective pixel in the filter window. The methods may be implemented by program instructions executing in parallel on CPU(s) or GPUs.
US08315472B2 System and method for reducing dimensionality of hyperspectral images
A method for reducing dimensionality of hyperspectral images may include receiving a hyperspectral image having a plurality of pixels. A basis vector set including a number of members may then be established, wherein each of the members comprises a basis vector. For each of the plurality of pixels, a spectral vector for the pixel may be read and decomposed with the members of the basis vector set to derive a residual vector for the pixel. A basis vector for the pixel may then be added to the members of the basis vector set if the residual vector for the pixel has a magnitude exceeding a predetermined threshold, and the basis vector set may then be optimized to eliminate one of the members of the basis vector set, whereby the optimized basis vector set includes the number of members. A system configured to perform the method may also be provided.
US08315468B1 Apparatus for block-selected encoding of a digital video signal
An image encoding apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an encoding engine coupled to a source of a block of pixel data, the encoding engine enabled to encode the block of pixel data to a quality level, the encoding engine coupled to a network interface; and a state sequencer, the state sequencer enabled to obtain an indication of scan block persistence, build state information and encoding parameters to control the quality level.
US08315462B2 Apparatus and method for character string recognition
An apparatus and a method for character string recognition for correctly recognizing a character string placed on a medium, even in a recognition process system in which a plurality of formats are handled. An image processing area is set on a medium. The image processing area is divided in a placement direction of character strings so as to make up a plurality of segments. An image data projection in a direction of character strings is calculated for each segment. The number of character string lines for each segment is calculated according to the image data projection. The number of character string lines is determined for the image processing area as a whole, according to the number of character string lines for each segment, and it is judged whether or not the character strings are predetermined character strings.
US08315460B2 Method for recognizing text from image
Disclosed is a method of recognizing a text from an image. The method includes dividing the image into a predefined number of regions through a clustering technique; setting a certain area of the regions as a background region; identifying the outer peripheral pixel and inner peripheral pixel of each region except for the background region of the divided regions; setting a region identified as having one of its outer peripheral pixel and its inner peripheral pixel corresponding to a pixel of the background region, as a boundary region; and setting a region identified as having any of its outer peripheral pixel and its inner peripheral pixel not corresponding to a pixel of the background region, as a center text region, and excluding the boundary region from a binary-coding object of the text.
US08315453B2 Defect classification with optimized purity
A method for defect analysis includes identifying single-class classifiers for a plurality of defect classes, the plurality of defect classes characterized by respective ranges of inspection parameter values. Each single-class classifier is configured for a respective class to identify defects belonging to the respective class based on the inspection parameter values, while identifying the defects not in the respective class as unknown defects. A multi-class classifier is identified that is configured to assign each defect to one of the plurality of the defect classes based on the inspection parameter values. Inspection data is received, and both the single-class and multi-class classifiers are applied to the inspection data to assign the defect to one of the defect classes.
US08315452B2 Method and device for obtaining a volume data set of a mobile tissue or organ of a patient
A method and a device for obtaining a volume data set of a mobile tissue or organ of a patient by a C-arm X-ray device are provided. An electromagnetic sensor of a position detection system is arranged indirectly on the tissue or organ. The X-ray device obtains a plurality of X-ray projections from the tissue or organ from various projection directions. A first method consists of reconstructing a volume data set from the X-ray projections, in which the electromagnetic sensor adopts a position characterizing a displacement phase of the tissue or organ. A second method consists of reconstructing a volume data set from the X-ray projections captured when the electromagnetic sensor was located in a position characterizing a displacement phase of the tissue or organ. A third method does not capture an X-ray projection for the reconstruction if the electromagnetic sensor is located in a position characterizing a displacement phase.
US08315438B2 Displaying images related to a selected target point on an electronic map based on azimuth and view angle information
An image reproduction apparatus for displaying images of image files including an image of a target point to be observed by using image files located adjacent to the target point. A method of reproducing an image of an image file on an electronic map including the image file so that position information of the image file matches position information on the electronic map includes: (a) selecting a target point to be observed on the electronic map and obtaining position information of the target point; (b) setting a search range of image files on the electronic map; (c) searching for image files including an image of the target point within the set search range; and (d) displaying images of the found image files on the electronic map.
US08315432B2 Augmented reality method and devices using a real time automatic tracking of marker-free textured planar geometrical objects in a video stream
The invention relates to a method and to devices for the real-time tracking of one or more substantially planar geometrical objects of a real scene in at least two images of a video stream for an augmented-reality application. After receiving a first image of the video stream (300), the first image including the object to be tracked, the position and orientation of the object in the first image are determined from a plurality of previously determined image blocks (320), each image block of said plurality of image blocks being associated with an exposure of the object to be tracked. The first image and the position and the orientation of the object to be tracked in the first image define a key image. After receiving a second image from the video stream, the position and orientation of the object to be tracked in the second image are evaluated from the key image (300). The second image and the corresponding position and orientation of the object to be tracked can be stored as a key image. If the position and the orientation of the object to be tracked cannot be found again in the second image from the key image, the position and the orientation of this object in the second image are determined from the plurality of image blocks and the related exposures (320).
US08315428B2 Automatic line identification and pairing for nuclear imaging collimator vector map characterization
A method for measuring a SPECT collimator's hole orientation angles includes obtaining a set of stepped radiation line images of a line radiation source by scanning/stepping the line radiation source across a first collimator in a first direction; obtaining a second set of stepped radiation line images of the line radiation source across the first collimator in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction; and obtaining two sets of stepped radiation line images for a second collimator, wherein one of the two collimators is a reference collimator and the other is a collimator being measured. Calculating the collimator hole orientation angles requires determining offset distances along the two directions for each pair of lines between the reference collimator's line images and the measured collimator's line images by identifying and pairing the lines from the reference collimator line images and the measured collimator line images. The method provides an automated way of identifying and pairing the lines.
US08315424B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program product
An image processing apparatus configured to embed embedment information in image data includes an embedment information acquisition unit configured to acquire embedment information to be embedded in the image data, an information embedment manner determination unit configured to determine an information embedment manner to embed the embedment information according to one of the acquired embedment information and image data to be generated by embedding the acquired embedment information in the image data, and an information embedment unit configured to embed the acquired embedment information in image data according to the information embedment manner determined by the information embedment manner determination unit.
US08315418B2 Sound receiver
A sound receiver includes a casing having multiple cavities which house multiple microphones and through which sound waves are received. A first sound wave is directly received by microphones. A second sound wave is reflected by an inner wall of the cavities and changes in phase corresponding to the material of the inner wall. The material of the inner wall differs for each cavity, thereby effecting a different change in phase of the second sound wave at each of the inner walls.
US08315400B2 Method and device for acoustic management control of multiple microphones
An earpiece (100) and a method (640) for acoustic management of multiple microphones is provided. The method can include capturing an ambient acoustic signal from an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) to produce an electronic ambient signal, capturing in an ear canal an internal sound from an Ear Canal Microphone (ECM) to produce an electronic internal signal, measuring a background noise signal, and mixing the electronic ambient signal with the electronic internal signal in a ratio dependent on the background noise signal to produce a mixed signal. The mixing can adjust an internal gain of the electronic internal signal and an external gain of the electronic ambient signal based on the background noise characteristics. The mixing can account for an acoustic attenuation level and an audio content level of the earpiece.
US08315389B2 Geosecurity methods and devices using geotags derived from noisy location data from multiple sources
In a geo-security system, a device receives RF signals from multiple distinct classes of RF communication systems and extracts location-dependent signal parameters. A current geotag is computed from the parameters by fuzzy extractors involving quantization of the parameters and Reed-Solomon decoding to provide a reproducible unique geotag. The current geotag is compared with a stored geotag, and a geo-secured function of the device is executed based on the result of the comparison. The use of multiple signal sources of different types, combined with special fuzzy extractors provides a robust geotag that allows both lower false rejection rate and lower false acceptance rate.
US08315387B2 System and method for data transmission over arbitrary media using physical encryption
Apparatus and method for a secure communication network using AlphaEta quantum encryption is provided. A polarization insensitive optical receiver based on a 90 degrees hybrid coupler is used for the detection and digitization of optically encrypted signals. Once digitized, such signals can be decrypted, stored, or re-transmitted over arbitrary media such as using RF wireless means. Alternatively, the signal can be generated directly for transmission over RF wireless nodes. The system may include nodes for retransmitting the signal without decrypting it, allowing for secure communication among specific users.
US08315386B2 Method and apparatus for performing VoIP-based communication using bio keys
A method for performing an encrypted voice call between a first terminal and a second terminal supporting a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)-based voice call. In the method, the first and second terminals generate and store a bio key using biographical (bio) information of a user in advance before performing a voice call, the first terminal sends a request for a voice call to the second terminal and establishing a session, the first and second terminals exchange and store a bio key stored in each terminal, and the first and second terminals generate a session shared key using the exchanged bio key and starting a Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP) session, and a restored bio key by acquiring bio information from received data. User authentication is then performed by comparing the bio key with the restored bio key.
US08315379B2 Single transducer full duplex talking circuit
A full duplex talking audio circuit uses a single transducer ZT which, even when various characteristics including the strength of a transmission signal change from moment to moment, enables the adequate operation of an echo canceling function and sufficiently compensates for the deterioration of the frequency characteristics of the transmission signal due to the acoustic transfer characteristics of the human body.
US08315374B2 Customer-controlled recording
A recording system has an interface enabled to monitor interaction between an agent of an enterprise and a second person, recording apparatus enabled to record the interaction and to store the recording in a data repository, and software stored in and executing from a machine-readable medium, the software providing functions for controlling the recording apparatus. The software responds to inputs from the second person to control the recording apparatus.
US08315371B2 Automatic key programming
Methods are disclosed for programming shortcut keys on a computing device, such as a digital telephony device. One method comprises extracting user context information for a user from a server in communication with the digital telephony device. Key feature grouping information can be created based on the user context information. A key mapping layout can be generated for the digital telephony device by applying rules to designate an order in which selected groups in the key feature grouping information are assigned to selected keys on the digital telephony device to generate a key mapping layout. The keys on the digital telephony device can be programmed using the key mapping layout.
US08315370B2 System for scheduling routing rules in a contact center based on forcasted and actual interaction load and staffing requirements
A system for scheduling resources and rules for routing includes a server connected to a network, a scheduling application executable from the server, and at least one programmable software agent for scheduling routing rules. The scheduling application receives statistics about forecast arrival rates for incoming interactions and current resource availability data and schedules resources and routing rules according to the forecast requirements the software agent propagating the portion of scheduling relative to the routing rules.
US08315366B2 Speaker identification and representation for a phone
A system and method for determining a speaker's position and a generating a display showing the position of the speaker. In one embodiment, the system comprises a first speakerphone system and a second speakerphone system communicatively coupled to send and receive data. The speakerphone system comprises a display, an input device, a microphone array, a speaker, and a position processing module. The position processing module is coupled to receive acoustic signals from the microphone array. The position processing module uses these acoustic signals to determine a position of the speaker. The position information is then sent to other speakerphone system for presentation on the display. In one embodiment, the position processing module comprises an auto-detection module, a position analysis module, a tracking module and an identity matching module for the detection of sound, the determination of position and transmission of position information over the network. The position processing module comprises a position display module and a position translation module for receiving position information from the network and generating a user interface for display. The present invention also includes a method for determining speaker position and presenting position information.
US08315362B2 Systems and methods for voicemail avoidance
Systems and methods for voicemail avoidance are shown and described. The method can include issuing an invitation to an audio communications session to a first one of the end-points, receiving, in response to the invitation to a first one the end-points, an indication that the first end-point is available for the audio communication session and that the invitation to the first one of the end-points did not terminate with a voicemail service associated with the first one of the end-points, and issuing, in response to the indication, an invitation to join the audio communications session to a second one of the end-points.
US08315357B2 Radiation therapy inverse treatment planning using a regularization of sparse segments
A method of reducing a total number of beam segments in a dose distribution for a radiation therapy field is provided. The method includes providing a multiobjective radiation therapy treatment plan using a suitably programmed computer, where the multiobjective radiation therapy treatment plan includes a radiation beam dose performance objective and a fluence map sparsity objective in a given fluence function domain, and providing a Pareto frontier of tradeoff criteria between the beam dose performance and a total number of radiation segments (or sub-fields) of the multiobjective radiation therapy treatment plan using the suitably programmed computer, where an achieved set of radiation beam dose distributions associated with efficiency points of the Pareto frontier are evaluated using a clinical acceptance criteria, where a clinically acceptable radiation beam dose distribution having a smallest number of the multileaf collimator segments is a final solution for the multiobjective radiation therapy treatment plan.
US08315354B2 Dynamic radiographing system
A dynamic radiographing system enables determination of an evaluation value of the heart function of a subject by plain radiography. The dynamic radiographing system comprises a radiographing apparatus, an image processing apparatus, and a console for diagnosis. The radiographing apparatus dynamically radiographs the heart of a subject and creates radiographs in plural time phases (Step S1). The image processing apparatus calculates an evaluation value of the heart function by using the radiographs in plural time phases (Step S4). The console for diagnosis displays information on the calculated evaluation value on the display section (Step S5).
US08315352B2 System and method of spectral calibration and basis material decomposition for X-ray CT systems
An imaging system includes an x-ray source that emits a beam of x-rays toward an object, a detector that receives high frequency electromagnetic energy attenuated by the object, a data acquisition system (DAS) operably connected to the detector, and a computer operably connected to the DAS. The computer is programmed to compute detector coefficients based on a static low kVp measurement and a static high kVp measurement, capture incident spectra at high and low kVp during fast kVp switching, compute effective X-ray incident spectra at high and low kVp during fast kVp switching using the captured incident spectra, scan a water phantom and normalize the computed detector coefficients to water, adjust the computed effective X-ray incident spectra based on the normalized detector coefficients, compute basis material decomposition functions using the adjusted X-ray incident spectra, and generate one or more basis material density images using the computed basis material decomposition functions.
US08315342B2 Method and apparatus for simplified expected symbol value computation and interference cancellation in communication signal processing
A computationally-simplified approach to expected symbol value determination is based on classifying soft bit information corresponding to symbols in a received communication signal as being reliable or unreliable, and computing expected symbol values for the symbols based on the classified soft bit information. Classification can be carried out by “quantizing” the soft bit information to coarsely indicate whether individual symbol bits are known with high or low probability. Using quantized soft bit information greatly simplifies expected symbol value calculation, yet the calculated values still reflect a scaling corresponding to the underlying reliability of the soft bit information. Where the expected symbol values are computed for interfering symbols in a composite signal that also includes desired signals, preserving the underlying reliability knowledge in this manner effectively scales the amount interference cancellation applied to the composite signal in dependence on the reliability to which the interfering signal values are known.
US08315336B2 Systems and methods of RF power transmission, modulation, and amplification, including a switching stage embodiment
Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
US08315334B2 DTV transmitting system and method of processing DTV signal
A digital television (DTV) transmitting system is provided that includes an encoder, a group formatter, a packet formatter and a transmission unit. The group formatter forms data groups where the plurality of second known data sequences are spaced 16 segments apart within at least one of the data groups that includes a transmission parameter inserted between the first known data sequence and the plurality of second known data sequences and the first known data sequence has a first M-symbol sequence and a second M-symbol sequence, the first M-symbol sequence and the second M-symbol sequence have a first pattern, each of the plurality of second known data sequences has a second pattern other than the first pattern, and the second pattern is positioned from a last symbol to a previous N symbol in each of the plurality of second known data sequences.
US08315329B2 Low-rate feedback to enhance transmission using multi-rank beamforming
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for applying successive multi-rank beamforming strategies (e.g., successive precoding strategies) for the design of precoders over a set of parallel channels. Successive beamforming is applied to a narrow band channel model and is also applied for finer quantization of a single beamforming vector (e.g., recursive beamforming). A first embodiment provides the optimal approach with high complexity. An alternative embodiment provides successive beamforming for near optimal precoding selection with medium complexity. A low complexity method for precoder selection is also provided wherein a channel representative matrix for the set of parallel channels is determined and successive beamforming on the calculated channel representative is applied.
US08315325B2 Method for transmitting/receiving multiple codeword in a multiple input multiple output communication system
A method for transmitting a multiple codeword (MCW) in a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) communication system is disclosed. A method for transmitting a multiple codeword (MCW) in a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) communication system includes performing a channel coding and modulation process for each codeword of the multiple codeword (MCW), multiplying the channel-coded-modulated result by a rotation matrix decided by either a spatial multiplexing rate or a layer (R), and performing a codeword permutation (CP) on the multiple codeword (MCW), performing a MIMO encoding on the multiple codeword (MCW), and transmitting the multiple codeword (MCW) via a multi-antenna.
US08315323B2 Successive transmit beamforming methods for multiple-antenna orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems
An improvement in a method of transmit beamforming between a transmitter and a receiver in an OFDM wireless system having a plurality of subcarriers for a time varying fading channel comprises performing successive beamforming for each of the plurality of subcarriers using less than complete knowledge of the previous fading blocks for the subcarriers by beamforming an adaptive codebook, C=(C1; . . . ; c2N}, of a current fading block for the subcarriers by correlating inter-frame and/or inter-subcarrier signals among the plurality of subcarriers.
US08315316B2 Digital broadcasting transmission/reception system utilizing mull packet and TRS code to improve receiving performance and signal processing method thereof
A digital broadcasting transmission and/or reception system having an improved reception performance and a signal-processing method thereof. A digital broadcasting transmitter comprises a TRS encoder for to TRS-encode a MPEG-2 transmission stream having null data for inserting a Known data and a TRS parity at predetermined positions, randomizer to input and randomize data stream from the TRS encoder, a null packet exchanger to replace the null data for inserting the Known data to the known data, and an encoder for encoding a data streams to which the Known data is inserted. Accordingly, the present invention detects the known data from a signal received from a reception side and uses the detected known data for synchronization and equalization and further uses the TRS parity for correcting error of the received signal, so that the digital broadcasting reception performance can be improved at poor multipath channels.
US08315310B2 Method and device for motion vector prediction in video transcoding using full resolution residuals
A transcoder and methods of encoding inter-prediction frames of a downsampled video wherein the downsampled video is a spatially downsampled version of a full-resolution video. Full-resolution motion vectors are downscaled and a weighting factor is calculated for each downscaled motion vector based upon the transform domain residual coefficients associated with that full-resolution motion vector. A motion vector prediction is made based on the weighted average using the downscaled motion vectors and their weighting factors.
US08315308B2 Video coding with fine granularity spatial scalability
The disclosure is directed to video coding techniques that support spatial scalability using a generalized fine granularity scalability (FGS) approach. Various degrees of spatial scalability can be achieved by sending spatially scalable enhancement layers in a generalized FGS format. Spatially scalable enhancement bitstreams can be arbitrarily truncated to conform to network conditions, channel conditions and/or decoder capabilities. Coding coefficients and syntax elements for spatial scalability can be embedded in a generalized FGS format. For good network or channel conditions, and/or enhanced decoder capabilities, additional bits received via one or more enhancement layers permit encoded video to be reconstructed with increased spatial resolution and continuously improved video quality across different spatial resolutions. The techniques permit spatial scalability layers to be coded as FGS layers, rather than discrete layers, permitting arbitrary scalability. The techniques may include features to curb error propagation that may otherwise arise due to partial decoding.
US08315307B2 Method and apparatus for frame prediction in hybrid video compression to enable temporal scalability
The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for providing temporal scaling frames for use in digital multimedia. The method involves using a removable unidirectional predicted temporal scaling frame communication along with intra-coded frames and/or inter-coded frames. The method involves the ability to selectively remove the temporal scaling frame(s) from being transmitted or decoded in order to satisfy, for example, power limits, data rate limits, computational limits or channel conditions. Examples presented include encoders, transcoders and decoders where the decision to drop the removable temporal scaling frames could be made.
US08315304B2 Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding transform coefficients
A method of encoding transform coefficients and a transform coefficient encoding apparatus, and a method of decoding transform coefficients and a transform coefficient decoding apparatus are provided. The method of encoding the transform coefficients includes reading transform coefficients in a current block, determining whether a first transform coefficient having an absolute value greater than a predetermined threshold value exists in the transform coefficients in the current block, generating first flag information indicating whether the first transform coefficient exists, dividing the first transform coefficient from information of a second transform coefficient that is remaining transform coefficients excluding the first transform coefficient, and encoding the first transform coefficients and the second transform coefficients separately, thereby more efficiently using a correlation between each of the transform coefficients.
US08315303B1 Phase pre-emphasis for a serial data transmitter
Apparatus and methods apply pre-emphasis to the phase rather of a signal than to the amplitude of a single. This approach can provide superior pre-emphasis performance than the conventional amplitude pre-emphasis techniques in certain situations, such as when a non-linear slicer is present in the signal path. For example, electrical-to-optical (E/O) and optical-to-electrical (O/E) converters can effectively slice a signal.
US08315302B2 Pulse width modulator using interpolator
A modulator using a polynomial interpolator is described herein. In a simple circuit implementation of the modulator, coefficients of a representative polynomial are generated with interpolation filters in the polynomial interpolator. Crossing points may be identified for each sampling period by incorporating a virtual carrier waveform with the representative polynomial to generate a switching output control. Among other applications, the described modulator may be used in a Class-D amplifier. The described implementations may further confer benefits such as micro-power low voltage operation, low sampling rate, and low harmonic distortion.
US08315301B1 Feedforward equalizer for DFE based detector
A transceiver including an equalizer, and a control circuit. The equalizer includes i) a unity tap comprising a coefficient input configured to receive a coefficient equal to 1, ii) a first plurality of taps including a first plurality of coefficient inputs—each configured to receive a respective one of first coefficients, wherein the first plurality of taps generate a first output signal based on an input, iii) a second plurality of taps including a second plurality of coefficient inputs—each configured to receive a respective one of second coefficients, wherein the second plurality of taps are configured to filter the first output signal to generate a second output signal. The control circuit is configured to limit a sum of the first coefficients and the second coefficients to a first predetermined range based on the coefficient of the unity tap.
US08315300B2 Enhancement of transition region equalization in a decision feedback equalizer
A decision feedback equalizer includes an input path for receiving a bitstream with inter-symbol interference, and a feedback signal path is coupled to the input path for correcting a sampled value of an incoming bit of the bitstream based on inter-symbol interference of a preceding bit. The feedback signal path includes a controllable delay circuit for receiving the preceding bit. A feedback path controller is coupled to the controllable delay circuit to regulate a delay introduced to the preceding bit. The delay is a function of an accumulated value of data of early-late events of a sampling instant of the bitstream for different data pulse patterns.
US08315299B2 Time-domain equalization for discrete multi-tone systems
A multiple carrier communication system includes a primary impulse shortening filter that receives an output signal of an analog to digital converter and accepts coefficients. A secondary impulse shortening filter receives the output signal of the analog to digital converter, outputs an output signal, and passes coefficients to the primary impulse shortening filter. A reference signal generator outputs a reference signal. A comparator compares the output signal and the reference signal and outputs a resulting error signal. An adaptive processor computes coefficients for the secondary impulse shortening filter based on the error signal.
US08315297B2 Method, device and computer program for classifying a received signal
An embodiment of the invention provides a method for classifying a received signal. The method includes determining a covariance matrix of signal values of the received signal, and determining an eigenvalue matrix of the covariance matrix. The eigenvalue matrix includes the eigenvalues of the covariance matrix. A first function is determined from at least one eigenvalue of the eigenvalues of the covariance matrix. A second function is determined from at least one eigenvalue of the eigenvalues of the covariance matrix, wherein the second function is different from the first function. Dependent from a comparison between a value of the first function and a value of the second function, the received signal is classified into a signal comprising data or into a noise signal.
US08315288B2 Solid-state dye laser
To reduce the laser threshold by efficiently exciting a light-emitting body in a solid-state dye laser with light having high density, thereby facilitating emission of laser beams, and to miniaturize a solid-state dye laser including an excitation light source. A solid-state dye laser capable of emitting laser beams by efficiently introducing light from an excitation light source to a light-emitting body incorporated in an optical resonator structure and exciting the light-emitting body with light with high density, is realized.
US08315278B2 Network synchronization method
At least some exemplary embodiments of the invention enable a node to transmit synchronization information to other near-by nodes in a cognitive radio network during a transmission period. In one exemplary embodiment, an internal clock is compared to received synchronization information, a length of a next transmission period is set as a function of the comparing, and synchronization information is transmitted only once during the next transmission period.
US08315277B2 Integrated access device, associated modem box and splitting module
The present invention concerns a modem box, a splitting module, and an integrated access device. The modem box comprises upside communication means for coupling with central equipments through central signals, the latter being modulated for at least one of the central equipments, downside communication means coupling the modem box with terminal equipments through terminal signals, transfer means between the upside and downside communication means, and modem means for doing transformation between the modulated central signals and demodulated signals among the terminal signals. The modem box comprises an outer contact surface receiving a splitting module, which does transformation between the central signals and grouped signals formed with a multiplexing of the latter, and the upside communication means comprise at least one connection element arranged with that contact surface, in contact with at least one respective connection element of the splitting module.
US08315266B1 Extending a local area network
A set top box including a network extender and a media player in communication with the network extender. The network extender is connectable to a residential gateway of a local area network through a wired connection. The media player includes a computing processor executing instructions to format a signal received from the network extender for use by a media device. The set top box also includes at least one wireless transceiver in communication with the network extender.
US08315258B2 Routing messages
This invention relates to a method of routing for a message via an IMS system is disclosed. A message is received at an ICSCF. Address information is obtained for one of an application server, server or gateway for which said message is intended. The message is sent to said application server, server or gateway in accordance with said address information.
US08315256B2 State-based filtering on a packet switch appliance
A packet switch appliance includes a plurality of ports. One of the plurality of ports is configured to operate as a network port connected to a packet-switching network. Another of the plurality of ports is configured to operate as a first instrument port connected to a network instrument. To filter packets, one or more packets or copies of packets received through the first network port are examined prior to the packets or copies of packets being sent out the first instrument port to determine a current state of a state-based protocol, which includes a plurality of potential states. A filter is created or modified for the first network port or the first instrument port based on the determined current state of the state-based protocol.
US08315253B2 Systems and methods for providing customer support
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing sales or customer support using a telephone having a camera to capture at least a partial image of a product or service; wherein the at least partial image is used to select a database updated by one or more knowledgeable persons on the product or service.
US08315226B2 Power control and handoff with power control commands and erasure indications
Techniques for performing power control and handoff are described. In an aspect, power control (PC) is supported with multiple PC modes such as an up-down PC mode and an erasure-based PC mode. One PC mode may be selected for use. Signaling may be sent to indicate the selected PC mode. If the up-down PC mode is selected, then a base station estimates the received signal quality for a terminal and sends PC commands to direct the terminal to adjust its transmit power. If the erasure-based PC mode is selected, then the base station sends erasure indications that indicate whether codewords received from the terminal are erased or non-erased. For both PC modes, the terminal adjusts its transmit power based on the power control feedback (e.g., PC commands and/or erasure indications) to achieve a target level of performance (e.g., a target erasure rate for the codewords). The erasure indications may also be used for handoff.
US08315224B2 Methods and systems for reuse of radio resources in medical telemetry networks
Methods and systems and computer program products for reusing radio resources in a medical telemetry networks are provided. The method receives at a server, traffic information for a plurality of mobile transceivers, from a plurality of distributed receivers. The method identifies time slot assignments and frequency channel assignments of the plurality of mobile transceivers based on traffic information. The method then updates one or more time slot assignments and/or one or more frequency channel assignments based, at least in part, on traffic information. Finally, the method broadcasts updated instances of the time slot assignments and updated instances of frequency channel assignments.
US08315223B2 Mobile station, base station and radio communication method
A mobile station that receives multibeam data in precoding Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) from a base station, using a plurality of antennas, includes: a code book that includes contents identical to contents of a code book installed in the base station and that includes information of beam selection for precoding; and a control unit that determines a weight for carrying out optimum beam selection for precoding at time of searching information in the code book, based on a state of a beam in each resource block of received data that is divided into a plurality of resource blocks in a radio communication band, to transmit the weight as feedback information to the base station.
US08315216B2 Radio access network (RAN) capacity/resource determination
A device receives code division multiple access (CDMA) capacity/resource information via a first direct interface with a radio network controller (RNC) associated with a CDMA radio access network (RAN), and determines, based on the CDMA capacity/resource information, a capacity associated with the CDMA RAN. The device also determines, based on the CDMA capacity/resource information, a resource availability associated with the CDMA RAN, and determines, based on the capacity and the resource availability associated with the CDMA RAN, a CDMA RAN resource allocation.
US08315211B2 Method and system for location based configuration of a wireless access point (WAP) and an access device in a hybrid wired/wireless network
Aspects of the invention provide a method and system for location based configuration of a wireless access point and an access device in a hybrid wired/wireless network. A method for providing location based configuration in a hybrid wired/wireless network may include identifying a location of a network device within the hybrid wired/wireless network. Configuration information corresponding to the determined location of the network device may be determined. The determined configuration information may be communicated to the networking device in order to facilitate location based configuration of the network device. The network device may include, but is not limited to, an access device, an access point and a switching device.
US08315210B2 ARQ system with status and packet acknowledgement
A communication system includes a downlink indicator channel for the transmission of an indicator signal indicating that a data packet is scheduled to be transmitted on a downlink data channel from a primary station to a secondary station. In response to detection of the indicator signal, the secondary station transmits a status signal, for example a negative acknowledgement signal, on an uplink channel to the primary station immediately before transmission of a positive or negative acknowledgement signal to indicate the status of the received data packet. By providing the primary station with two chances to detect the case where the secondary station fails to detect the indicator signal, peak power requirements of the uplink channel can be reduced, thereby reducing system interference levels.
US08315209B1 VoIP application for a loyalty program
A method and system for providing voice based host services with CRM data without an end user's phone number for loyalty program is disclosed herein. A VoIP application is resident on a mobile communication device of an end user. The VoIP application allows the end user to control how the loyalty program will identify the end user (without the end user's phone number) when the end user requests loyalty program services from the loyalty program using the end user's mobile communication device.
US08315206B2 Proxy mobile IP system, access gateway and method for determining the order of registration notification messages used therefor
A proxy mobile IP system comprises: a mobile terminal including a time management/notification unit; the time management/notification unit alerting time information, managed by the mobile terminal itself, to an access gateway at the time of access authentication in proxy mobile IP (Internet Protocol) communication; the access gateway; the access gateway including a time information acquisition/management unit alerting the time information, received from the mobile terminal, to a mobility anchor, at the time of performing proxy mobile IP registration in the proxy mobile IP communication, as the time information received from the mobile terminal is carried on a registration notification message; and the mobility anchor; the mobility anchor including a time information acquisition/management unit alerting the registration notification message including the time information to a proxy mobile IP registration unit responsible for performing proxy mobile IP registration.
US08315200B2 Transmission device, transmission method, reception device, and communication system
A communication system includes: a transmission device configured to transmit predetermined information; and a reception device configured to receive the predetermined information; wherein the transmission device includes an encoding unit configured to encode the information such that the error rate of the information in the case of a signal-to-noise ratio being greater than a first signal-to-noise ratio is at or below a predetermined value, and the error rate in the case of a signal-to-noise ratio being smaller than a second signal-to-noise ratio becomes 1/2; and wherein the reception device includes a decoding unit configured to decode the information subjected to encoding by the encoding unit.
US08315194B2 Method and user equipment apparatus for radio resource management in a mobile communication system
A method and a UE apparatus for radio resource management in a mobile communication system. When a discontinuous reception period or an inactivity period of a UE exceeds a threshold, an ENB releases resources for uplink control information transmission allocated to the UE, and the UE recognizes the release of the resources and stops transmitting the uplink control information through the resources. This reduces the explicit reconfiguration procedure through an RRC message, which is otherwise necessary whenever the UE enters a new discontinuous reception mode.
US08315192B2 Method and system for configuring a media access control header to reduce a header overhead
A method and system for configuring a media access control header to reduce a header overhead is provided. The method includes establishing a connection between a transmitter and a receiver. The method also includes determining a size of a length field in the MAC header of a MAC protocol data unit (PDU) of the connection based on one or more parameters. The method further includes transmitting the MAC PDU to the receiver. The system includes a transmitter to determine a size of a length field of the media access control (MAC) header based on one or more parameters and to transmit a MAC protocol data unit (PDU) having the MAC header to a receiver. The system also includes the receiver to receive the MAC PDU and to determine the size of the length field in the MAC header based on a connection identifier in the MAC header.
US08315191B2 Timing acquisition and mode and guard detection for an OFDM transmission
Techniques for detecting mode and guard length and estimating timing offset for an OFDM transmission are described. Multiple hypotheses for different combinations of mode and guard length that might have been used for the OFDM transmission are evaluated. For each hypothesis, correlation is performed on received samples for a hypothesized guard interval to obtain correlation results. The energy of the hypothesized guard interval is determined. A first metric is derived based on the correlation results and the energy. The first metric may be filtered, e.g., averaged. Noise is estimated, e.g., based on a set of elements for the filtered first metric at locations determined by an estimated timing offset for the hypothesis. A second metric is derived based on the filtered first metric and the estimated noise. The second metric for all hypotheses may be used to determine the mode, guard length, and timing offset for the OFDM transmission.
US08315187B1 Dynamic head of line allocation
A dynamic HOL allocation module that supports, dynamically configurable classes of service, virtual output queues that support dynamically configurable HOL blocking factors, and dynamically configurable queue assignment schemes, is described. A user may define classes of service assigned to a source port within a network switch and may configure each class of service with a set of virtual output queues, or queue set. Each queue set may be configured to include a user configured number of virtual output queues based on an HOL blocking factor, e.g., 1:1, 1:24, etc., selected by the user for the class of service. Further, the assignment scheme used to assign packets received on a source port to a class of service and the assignment scheme used to assign packets assigned to a class of service to a virtual output queue may be dynamically configurable based on day, day/time, traffic load, alarm events and/or other factors.
US08315179B2 System and method for authorizing threshold testing within a network
A system and method for authorizing test traffic over a network. A request is received to perform a throughput test. A state of the network is determined. The throughput test is authorized in response to the determined state of the network being acceptable for performing the throughput test. The throughput test is terminated in response to the determined state of the network being unacceptable for performing the throughput test.
US08315168B2 Priority-based hierarchical bandwidth sharing
Methods and apparatus for communicating data are disclosed. The example method includes allocating tokens to a first token bucket of a first two-rate, three-color meter (trTCM) at a first rate and allocating tokens to a second token bucket of the first trTCM at a second rate. The example method further includes allocating tokens to a first token bucket of a second trTCM at a third rate and allocating tokens to a second token bucket of the second trTCM at a fourth rate. The example method also includes reallocating tokens allocated to the first token bucket of the first trTCM to the first token bucket of the second trTCM when a token count of the first token bucket of the first trTCM exceeds a first capacity and reallocating tokens allocated to the second token bucket of the first trTCM to the second token bucket of the second trTCM when a token count of the second token bucket of the first trTCM exceeds a second capacity.
US08315164B2 Controlling packet transmission
A method, program and apparatus for estimating a bandwidth of a channel from a transmitter to a receiver. The method comprises: receiving a packet stream at the receiver from the transmitter; receiving from the transmitter an indication of data transmitted from the transmitter to one or more other recipients than said receiver between packets of said packet stream; and determining at the receiver, using said indication, an estimate of the bandwidth of said channel. The estimate may enable transmission of packets from the transmitter to be controlled.
US08315162B2 System and method for determining that a maximum number of IP sessions have been established
Systems and methods for determining that a maximum number of IP sessions have been established are provided. There are instances when the mobile device transmits a request to the wireless network. According to an aspect, in the event that the maximum number of IP sessions is already established for the mobile device, the wireless network transmits a response indicating that the request cannot be fulfilled. The mobile device determines based on the response that the maximum number of IP sessions is already established, which allows the mobile device to determine the maximum number of IP sessions that can be supported so that IP sessions can be managed accordingly.
US08315158B2 Methods and apparatus for decentralized rapid recovery for Ethernet rings
A telecommunications system including a plurality of switches defining an Ethernet ring; a plurality of virtual local area networks defined on the Ethernet ring, defining a number of virtual local area networks (VLANs) equal in number to the number of links; and a ring recovery system configured to recover from a link failure by rerouting traffic to a destination on the Ethernet ring via a VLAN not including a failed link.
US08315151B2 Radio communication system
A transmitting station (TS), for transmitting a plurality of symbols of a data signal in a communication system, comprises a process module (PM) arranged for adding subset of the symbols of the data signal to symbols of a predetermined signal prior to proceed to transmission of the data signal.
US08315147B2 Multilayer optical recording medium having three or more recording layers with reduced interlayer crosstalk
In a multilayer optical recording medium having at least three recording layers, an influence of interlayer crosstalk due to unnecessary light is suppressed. Each of the recording layers includes an information recording area, and the recording layers other than the nearest recording layer and the farthest recording layer when viewed from a light incident side include a first annular area having uneven patterns formed thereon, and a second annular area having uneven patterns formed thereon, the first annular area being adjacent to an inner side of the information recording area, the second annular area being adjacent to an outer side of the information recording area.
US08315145B2 Adaptive writing method for high-density optical recording apparatus and circuit thereof
An optical recording medium is provided, the optical recording medium including a plurality of zones configured to store data corresponding to an adaptive write pulse, the adaptive write pulse including a first pulse, a last pulse, and a multi-pulse train, the adaptive write pulse being different for each of the plurality of zones, the plurality of zones being reflected by a grouping table, the grouping table being configured to generate an adaptive write pulse waveform by varying a position of a rising edge of a first pulse of a mark to be written according to a length of the mark to be written and a leading space, the adaptive write pulse waveform being generated without regard for a trailing space of a present mark being written using the adaptive write pulse waveform, the adaptive write pulse being configured to correspond to the adaptive write pulse waveform, and store rising edge data of the first pulse of the adaptive write pulse waveform varying according to corresponding stored values of lengths of marks to be written. A width of the first pulse is varied by varying the position of the rising edge.
US08315144B2 Small form factor optical disc drive for use in mobile electronic device
A small form factor disc drive is structured to hold and play an optical data storage disc measuring approximately 32 mm in diameter and containing 1 GB of data per layer. The disc drive contains a blue wavelength laser, an objective lens having a numerical aperture in the range of 0.70-0.78 and conventional DVD-compatible controller electronics. This unique combination of elements allows a full-length movie or a video game to be displayed with DVD-quality on a cell phone or other portable hand held device.
US08315133B2 Controlling an optical-disc reader using surface marks
An optical-disc player having a reader and a controller. The reader derives out-of-band information from surface marks of an optical disc, where the controller controls operations of the reader based on the derived information. The controlled operations may involve the reading and rendering of embedded data of the optical disc. For example, a person writes the words “Spanish” and “widescreen” on the surface of a DVD with a marker and inserts the DVD in a DVD player. The DVD player scans the surface of the DVD and sends the resulting image data to an optical character recognition (OCR) module. The OCR module outputs a text file containing the words “Spanish” and “widescreen” to a controller (e.g., Microsoft HDi runtime). In response, the controller sets the playback language to Spanish and the screen format to widescreen.
US08315130B2 Objective lens, optical pickup and optical disc apparatus
An objective lens is made of a resin material and focuses incident rays, which have a wavelength of 410 nm or less and are emitted from a light source, on an optical disc at a numerical aperture of 0.8 or more, wherein when a lens tilt sensitivity is defined as an amount of a 3rd-order coma aberration caused per a lens tilt of 1 degree which is an angle formed between an optical axis of the objective lens and a system optical axis of an optical system including the objective lens at 0° C., the lens tilt sensitivity is 130 mλrms/degree or less.
US08315126B2 Antenna device, reception device, and radio wave timepiece
An antenna device includes an oscillating body capable of oscillating at a predetermined natural frequency, and being displaceable by external magnetic field, and a converter for converting motion of the oscillating body to an electrical signal. When a radio wave signal of a frequency band at which the oscillating body resonates comes, the oscillating body resonates with a magnetic field component of the radio wave signal, and the converter converts the motion to the electrical signal, whereby an electrical signal corresponding to the radio wave signal is outputted.
US08315113B2 Non-volatile semiconductor memory circuit with improved resistance distribution
Disclosed is a non-volatile semiconductor memory circuit with an improved resistance spread characteristic distinguishing set data and reset data. The non-volatile semiconductor memory circuit includes a memory cell array, and a read/write circuit block configured to differentiate the current drivability based on the mode of operation, wherein the current drivability is provided in response to a bias signal based on set or reset state of data.
US08315108B2 Memory interface circuit
According to one embodiment, a differential circuit receives, as differential inputs, a readout signal read out from a semiconductor storage element and a reference voltage. An equalizing circuit controls, taking into account a state of a past input signal output from the differential circuit, the potential of the present differential signal output from the differential circuit. A sense amplifier detects a state of the differential signal output from the equalizing circuit. A state holding circuit holds a past state of the differential signal detected by the sense amplifier and supplies the state to the equalizing circuit.
US08315105B2 Method of erasing in non-volatile memory device
An erasing method of post-programming in a nonvolatile memory device. The method includes post-programming dummy memory cells; verifying whether threshold voltages of the dummy memory cells are greater than or equal to a first voltage; post-programming normal memory cells; and verifying whether threshold voltages of the normal memory cells are greater than or equal to a second voltage. The first voltage is different from the second voltage.
US08315099B2 Techniques for providing a direct injection semiconductor memory device
Techniques for providing a direct injection semiconductor memory device are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a direct injection semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array of rows and columns. At least one of the plurality of memory cells may include a first region coupled to a respective bit line of the array and a second region coupled to a respective source line of the array. At least one of the plurality of memory cells may also include a body region spaced apart from and capacitively coupled to a respective word line of the array, wherein the body region may be electrically floating and disposed between the first region and the second region. At least one of the plurality of memory cells may further include a third region coupled to a respective carrier injection line of the array and wherein the respective carrier injection line may be one of a plurality of carrier injection lines in the array that are coupled to each other.
US08315076B2 Circuit arrangement having a dual coil for producing an alternating voltage or an alternating current
The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for producing an alternating voltage or an alternating current from a unipolar direct current source having an inverter relating to a neutral conductor. The direct current source is connected to an inverter which converts the unipolar voltage of the direct current source into a bipolar intermediate circuit voltage that is stored in a buffer circuit (C1, C2) which is connected to the inverter. The inverter comprises a clocked switch (So) and an energy converting unit which is configured as a dual coil (DR1,DR2) having two windings (W1,W2) which are closely coupled to each other.
US08315071B2 Composite 24-pulse AC to DC power converter having a main rectifier and multiple auxiliary rectifiers
A 24-pulse composite AC-to-DC converter is a converter using two or more conversion methods in parallel. The converter may include a main rectifier receiving at least a portion of an input AC signal, an autotransformer having an output voltage with lower amplitude than the input AC signal, and a plurality of auxiliary bridge rectifiers, each receiving the output from each leg of the autotransformer. In one embodiment of the invention, the main rectifier may receive a substantial portion of the load current, allowing each of the auxiliary bridge rectifiers to be generally smaller than the main rectifier.
US08315066B2 Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board (PCB) includes a top layer, a memory controller, two gaps, and two connectors. The memory controller is located on the top layer. A number of golden fingers are respectively set on the top layer near each gap and electrically connected to the memory controller. Each connector includes a first slot to hold the gold fingers near a corresponding one of the gaps and a second slot to hold a number of gold fingers of a corresponding one of two memory chips. The first slot is electrically connected to the second slot. Each memory chip and the PCB are coplanar.
US08315053B2 Aircraft electronics cooling apparatus for an aircraft having a liquid cooling system
The invention relates to an improved aircraft electronics cooling system for an aircraft having a liquid cooling system (2), the aircraft electronics cooling system providing a thermal coupling between an electronic device (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 42, 44) to be cooled and the liquid cooling system (2) of the aircraft. A coolant delivered by the liquid cooling system (2) may flow through a board of the electronic device (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d), through a heat sink on which the electronic device (42) is arranged and/or through a housing in which the electronic device (44) is arranged. The coolant may be permanently in the liquid state in a cooling circuit. The coolant may vaporize at least partially while cooling the electronic device.
US08315051B2 Portable electronic device having interceptor for foreign substance
Disclosed is a portable electronic device having an interceptor for cutting off foreign substances such as water, dust or the like from being entered between the coupling surfaces thereof. The portable electronic device includes: a first case; a second case to be joined with the first case; and an intercepting part integrally formed with at least one of the first case or the second case, wherein the intercepting part is sealingly engaged with the coupling surface of the first case or the second case to prevent foreign substances and waterproof the device thereof.
US08315049B2 Cover latch of a blade server
A cover latch is provided for coupling a blade server cover to a blade server when the cover latch is in a locked state. Embodiments include a locking surface at one end of the cover latch; a user interface at an end of the cover latch opposite from the end with the locking surface; wherein when the cover latch is in the locked state, the locking surface engages a locking surface enclosure of the blade server cover; wherein when the cover latch is in an unlocked state, the user interface is rotated into the blade server and the locking surface is rotated outward from the blade server, wherein when the locking surface is rotated outward from the blade server, the locking surface is disengaged from the locking surface enclosure of the blade server cover; and a rotational limiter hole in the cover latch that surrounds a peg of the blade server, wherein the rotation of the locking surface and the user interface is limited by the rotational limiter.
US08315040B2 Protective enclosure for model vehicle
The present invention provides for a protective enclosure comprising a base comprising a first continuous mating surface and at least one conveyance aperture, a cover comprising a second continuous mating surface, wherein the second continuous mating surface is configured to form a seal with the first continuous mating surface, and a clamp, wherein at least a portion of the clamp is coupleable to the base, wherein a mouth of the clamp is configured to be offset from the aperture when the clamp is coupled to the base, wherein the clamp comprises a first sealing layer, and wherein the clamp is configured to seal the aperture against contaminants. The protective enclosure may be configured for use in a remotely controllable model vehicle to protect a control module.
US08315038B2 Thin-film capacitor and electronic circuit board
A thin-film capacitor has a high insulation resistance value with high reliability. The thin-film capacitor includes a dielectric thin film and electrodes opposing each other through the dielectric thin film, the dielectric thin film containing a perovskite-type composite oxide having a composition expressed by (1), Mn, and at least one kind of element M selected from V, Nb, and Ta; wherein the dielectric thin film has an Mn content of 0.05 to 0.45 mol with respect to 100 mol of the composite oxide; and wherein the dielectric thin film has a total element M content of 0.05 to 0.5 mol with respect to 100 mol of the composite oxide: AyBO3  (1) where A is at least one kind of element selected from Ba, Sr, Ca, and Pb, B is at least one kind of element selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, and Sn, and 0.97≦y≦0.995.
US08315035B2 Multilayer capacitor and method of manufacturing same
A multilayer capacitor which can prevent chattering noises from occurring and improve the packaging density and packaging yield, and a method of manufacturing a multilayer capacitor are provided. Even when an electrostrictive vibration is generated in this multilayer capacitor upon voltage application, a joint surface of a metal terminal can flex, so as to mitigate the electrostrictive vibration, thereby preventing chattering noises from occurring. The joint surface is formed with a cutout and thus can fully secure its flexibility. In this multilayer capacitor, a step formed by a terminal connecting surface, a substrate connecting surface, and the joint surface is positioned within an area overlapping a capacitor element body as seen in the laminating direction of dielectric layers. Therefore, solder fillets do not protrude out of the capacitor element body, whereby the packaging density on a mounting substrate K can be improved. The state of solder fillets is easy to see from the outside, and a connection yield can also be secured.
US08315029B2 ESC high voltage control and methods thereof
A plasma processing system for processing a wafer is provided. The system includes an electrostatic chuck (ESC) positioned inside a plasma processing chamber and configured to support the wafer. The ESC includes a positive terminal for providing a first force to the wafer and a negative terminal for providing a second force to the wafer. The system also includes a first circuit arrangement configured to measure at least a first voltage for determining a value of a positive load current applied to the positive terminal. The system further includes a second circuit arrangement configured to measure at least a second voltage for determining a value of a negative load current applied to the negative terminal. The system yet also includes circuitry configured to adjust a bias voltage using the values of the positive load current and the negative load current for balancing the first force and the second force.
US08315025B2 Circuit arrangement for protection against electrostatic charges and method for dissipation thereof
A circuit arrangement for protection against electrostatic discharges comprises an shunt device, which is connected between a first and a second terminal of the circuit arrangement and has a control input, via which the conduction of the shunt device can be controlled. In addition there is a trigger element, which has a trigger output for issuing a trigger signal in dependence on a voltage between the first and the second terminal of the circuit arrangement. The circuit arrangement additionally comprises an interruption unit that can be controlled via a deactivation input by means of a sendable deactivation signal and which is connected on the input side to the trigger output and on the output side to the control input. In addition, a method for shunting electrostatic discharges is shown.
US08315019B1 Method and system for providing an improved magnetoresistive structure utilizing an oxidation buffer layer
A method and system for providing a magnetic transducer is described. The method and system include providing a magnetoresistive structure having a plurality of sides. At least one oxidation buffer layer covers at least the plurality of sides. The method and system also include providing at least one oxide layer after the oxidation buffer layer is provided. The oxide layer(s) reside between the sides and the oxidation buffer layer(s).
US08315018B2 Magnetic recording medium, method of manufacturing magnetic recording medium, and magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium capable of effectively and reliably removing foreign materials on the surface of a magnetic recording medium, preventing a mask layer from remaining on the surface of the magnetic recording medium, and forming the pattern of a magnetic layer with high productivity. The method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium includes: a step of forming a magnetic layer on a non-magnetic substrate; a step of forming a mask layer on the magnetic layer; a step of patterning the mask layer to form a mask pattern; a step of forming a magnetic recording pattern on the magnetic layer using the mask pattern; a step of burnishing the surface of the mask pattern with an abrasive; and a step of removing the mask pattern.
US08315007B1 Flying height measurement
Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a disk drive system comprising a disk drive system comprising a disk having a track upon a surface of the disk, the track including a first data-storing sector and a second data storing sector, and a servo sector located between the first data-storing sector and the second data-storing sector, the servo sector including a first flying height (FH) field having a predetermined pattern. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08314988B2 Polarization insensitive optical circuit
One embodiment contemplates a polarization insensitive optical circuit constructed of an input/output signal separator, such as an optical circulator or a 1×2 or 2×2 coupler or N×M coupler, a polarization sensitive operator, and a polarization rotator reflector. In an alternate embodiment, the invention contemplates a polarization insensitive optical circuit including a polarization rotator reflector, and a polarization sensitive operator which may include, for example, a first polarization rotator, an operator/coupler, and a polarization beam combiner. Preferably, at least one of the components in the optical circuit is constructed integrally from the substrate upon which the optical circuit is based. For examples the polarization rotator and/or polarization sensitive operator may be monolithic.
US08314978B2 Halftone independent device characterization accounting for colorant interactions
A model-based halftone independent method for characterizing a printer equipped with a plural of halftone screens comprises: printing a target set of basic patches comprised of a fundamental binary pattern independent of a halftone screen; measuring true color printer response from the target set; modeling a halftone independent characterization of the printer with the mathematical transformation using the measured response; modeling a first halftone dependent characterization of the printer with the mathematical transformer to generate a first predicted result using a selected halftone screen; comparing a measured response of the printer using the halftone screen with the predicted result to define a correction factor corresponding to the halftone screen; and modeling a halftone dependent characterization of the printer using a predicted response of the fundamental binary pattern and the correction factor.
US08314975B2 Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus
A first main-scanning-position correction unit divides a surface to be scanned into first areas in a main scanning direction into areas, sets a separate clock-pulse timing for first area, and corrects a main-scanning position error. A second main-scanning-position correction unit divides the surface into second areas in the main scanning direction based on first-scanning-position correction data, sets a separate clock-pulse timing for each second area, and corrects the main-scanning position error.
US08314972B2 Image processing program, image processing apparatus, and image processing method for suppressing see-through photo-optical appearance
An image processing apparatus includes: a quadrangular or polygonal area setting unit that sets a quadrangular or polygonal area that surrounds a group of pixels that has predetermined characteristics for image data; a background setting unit that measures frequency distribution of tone values outside the quadrangular or polygonal area, measures a brightest tone value B in a margin range, which is a range of tone values in which the image data is distributed significantly, measures a most frequent value M in the margin range, and sets a background range, which is a range that includes the most frequent value M as a median point and further includes the brightest tone value B as one end of the range; a black edge statistics unit that measures frequency distribution of tone values of black edge inside the quadrangular or polygonal area and measures a greatest brightness value b in a black edge range, which is a range of tone values in which the black edge is distributed significantly.
US08314970B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image forming apparatus, image forming method, and recorded material
An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, includes an image input unit which inputs main image information defined by first, second and third color component information corresponding to at least three colors, a modulation unit which modulates a color difference grid pattern by sub information, a superposing unit which superposes the modulated color difference grid pattern on each of the first, second and third color component information after the modulated color difference grid pattern and each of the first, second and third color component information are rotated relative to each other through a predetermined angle, and a composition unit which composites the first, second and third color component information to generate color image information.
US08314968B2 Image processing controller and printing apparatus
The present invention discloses an image processing controller includes: a pixel number determining unit determining the number of print pixels included in the pixel block based on a gradation of a pixel of the pre-conversion image data; a print pixel location unit filling the pixel block with the print pixels in the rows or columns and executing a first location mode where the print image becoming a fraction in the row or column is drawn in a random direction or a second location mode where the print image becoming the fraction in the row or column is drawn near to the circumjacent pixel block having a larger number of print pixels; and a switching unit switching between the first and second location modes to be executed by the print pixel location unit based on predetermined information possessed by the pre-conversion image data.
US08314948B2 Image forming system utilizing network camera
When a client PC receives a request for printing output data, an imaging apparatus captures an image of a user. The image data of the user captured by the imaging apparatus and the output data is transferred to a management server. The management server performs predetermined image processing on the acquired image data, calculates a characteristic amount of the image data of the user, and registers the calculated characteristic amount and the output data by associating with each other. When the user requests printing of the output data from an image forming apparatus, image data of the user captured by the imaging apparatus is transferred to the management server. The management server calculates a characteristic amount of the acquired image data of the user, compares the calculated characteristic amount with the characteristic amount in the management server, and transfers the output data to the image forming apparatus.
US08314941B2 Cartesian coordinate measurement for rotating system
In a measurement device for measuring a peripheral position in a Cartesian coordinate system, a rotating laser source is configured to emit a laser beam along a radius of a rotator. A reflector is configured to reflect the laser beam in a direction orthogonal to a path of the laser beam, and a scale having a pattern of transparent and reflective areas is positioned at a peripheral position of the measurement device. A detector is configured to provide a sequence of pulses by detecting a reflex or transmission of the rotating laser beam while the laser scans over the scale. The sequence of pulses correspond to Cartesian coordinates of the system.
US08314940B2 Probe microscope
A probe microscope includes a cantilever having a probe for contact with an object, first and second displacement detection optical systems, and an object lens. The first displacement detection optical system includes a first light source and a first displacement detecting section that detects displacement of the cantilever. The second displacement detection optical system includes a second light source and a second displacement detecting section that detects displacement of the object. The object lens is provided between the cantilever and the first light source and between the cantilever and the second light source. The object lens has a focal position for the light that is emitted from the first light source and has a first wavelength at the position of the cantilever and has a focal position for the light that is emitted from the second light source and has a second wavelength at the position of the object.
US08314939B2 Reference sphere detecting device, reference sphere position detecting device, and three-dimensional-coordinate measuring device
A reference sphere detecting device used for a reference sphere position detecting device comprises an optical unit having a laser light source, a collective lens for collecting light from the laser light source and irradiating the light to a reference sphere positioned at or near a front focal position, a first image pickup device for receiving and detecting reflected light from the reference sphere, the first image pickup device being disposed at a rear focal position of the collective lens; driving units for rotationally moving the optical unit about a reference point; and a control unit for controlling the driving units on the basis of the position at which the reflected light is received and rotationally moving the optical unit so that the reflected light reaches a predetermined reference position of the first image pickup device.
US08314933B2 Optofluidic microscope device with photosensor array
Embodiments of the present invention relate to techniques for improving optofluidic microscope (OFM) devices. One technique which may be used eliminates the aperture layer covering the light detector layer. Other techniques retain the aperture layer, reversing the relative position of the light source and light detector such that light passes through the aperture layer before passing through the fluid channel to the light detector. Another technique adds an optical tweezer for controlling the movement of objects moving through the fluid channel. Another technique adds an optical fiber bundle to relay light from light transmissive regions to a remote light detector. Another technique adds two electrodes at ends of the fluid channel to generate an electrical field capable of moving objects through the fluid channel while suppressing rotation. These techniques can be employed separately or in combination to improve the capabilities of OFM devices.
US08314930B2 Inspection device and inspection method
An inspection device for inspecting defects of an inspection object including a light source for irradiating a luminous flux to the inspection object; an optical system for guiding reflected light from the inspection object; a photoelectric image sensor having a plurality of photoelectric cells arranged, for converting the light guided to detection signals; a detection signal transfer unit having channels each constituted by a signal correction unit, a converter and an image formation unit, and corresponding to each of a plurality of regions formed by dividing the photoelectric image sensor, respectively; and an image synthesis unit for forming an image of the surface of the object by synthesizing partial images outputted; the inspection device inspecting defects of the object by processing the synthesized image; whereby it becomes possible to correct a detection signal from said photoelectric cell close to a predetermined reference target value.
US08314929B2 Method and its apparatus for inspecting defects
A defect inspection apparatus is capable of inspecting an extremely small defect present on the top and edge surfaces of a sample such as a semiconductor substrate or a thin film substrate with high sensitivity and at high speed. The defect inspection apparatus has an illumination optical system, a plurality of detection optical units and a signal processor. One or more of the detection optical units receives either light diffracted from an edge portion of the sample or light diffracted from an edge grip holding the sample. The one or more of the detection optical units shields the diffracted light received by the detection optical unit based on a signal obtained by monitoring an intensity of the diffracted light received by the detection optical unit in order to inspect a sample portion located near the edge portion and a sample portion located near the edge grip.
US08314925B2 Fiber-optic based thrust load measurement system
A fiber-optic based thrust load measurement system is coupled to a bearing housing. The measurement system includes at least one fiber optic sensor configured to detect one or more parameters related to the bearing housing. An optical coupler is configured to regulate light signals emitted from a light source and light signals reflected from the fiber optic sensor. A detector system is configured to receive light signals from the optical coupler. A processor is configured to receive an output from the detector system and to determine a thrust load on a thrust bearing based on the detected one or more parameters related to the bearing housing.
US08314924B2 CMOS three-dimensional image sensor detectors with assured non collection of late arriving charge, more rapid collection of other charge, and with improved modulation contrast
A CMOS-implementable TOF detector promptly collects charge whose creation time can be precisely known, while rejecting collection of potentially late arriving charge whose creation time may not be precisely known. Charges created in upper regions of the detector structure are ensured to be rapidly collected, while charges created in the lower regions of the detector structure, potentially late arriving charges, are inhibiting from being collected.
US08314922B2 Telecentricity corrector for microlithographic projection system
A telecentricity corrector is incorporated into a microlithographic projection system to achieve telecentricity targets at the output of the microlithographic projection system. The telecentricity corrector is located between an illuminator and a projection lens of the projection system, preferably just in advance of a reticle for controlling angular distributions of light illuminating the reticle.
US08314921B2 Exposure apparatus
An exposure apparatus for producing exposed structures in a photosensitive layer arranged on an object is provided. An object carrier and an exposure device, which can be moved relative to one another in an advance direction, enable exposure spots to be produced on the photosensitive layer in a position-controlled manner. The exposure device has at least one exposure unit with a series of radiation exit regions which are arranged successively in a series direction and from which exposure beams emerge, by means of each of which, passed through an imaging optical system, an exposure spot can be produced on the photosensitive layer and each of which can be deflected by a deflection unit in a deflection direction running transversely to the series direction, such that each exposure beam can produce exposure spots that at least partly overlap one another in a multiplicity of successive positions in the deflection direction.
US08314918B2 Display
A display includes a display device having a first polarizer and a second polarizer or a reflector, and a display layer disposed between the first polarizer and the second polarizer or the reflector. A liquid crystal layer is disposed between the display layer and one of the first polarizer and the second polarizer or reflector. The liquid crystal molecules of at least one region of the liquid crystal layer are switchable between a first state in which the display has a first display mode with a first viewing angle range and a second state in which the display has a second display mode having a second viewing angle range smaller than the first viewing angle range. In the second state, liquid crystal molecules of the at least one region are tilted with respect to the normal axis of the display over at least a portion of the thickness of the liquid crystal layer, and lie substantially parallel to a plane defined by the normal axis of the display and the transmission axis or absorption axis of the first polarizer or one of the first and second polarizers.
US08314915B2 Liquid crystal display panel
A liquid crystal display panel includes a pair of substrates having a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. One of the substrates includes a plurality of scanning lines and signal lines which are arrayed on a display region so as to form a matrix shape, a common wiring formed on a peripheral area surrounding the display region, an interlayer film, pixel electrodes, an inter-electrode insulating film, and a common electrode that is electrically connected to the common wiring. On the surface of the common electrode, or between the common electrode and the inter-electrode insulating film, a conductive layer, which is composed of a material of a conductivity superior to a conductivity of the transparent conductive material composing the common electrode, is formed at locations overlapped with locations at which the plurality of scanning lines and the signal lines are formed.
US08314914B2 Liquid crystal display and exposure mask for manufacturing liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate facing a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates, a first electrode disposed on the first substrate and being planar, and a second electrode disposed on the first substrate with branch electrodes overlapping the first electrode. The branch electrode includes boundary regions disposed at opposing ends thereof and at least two main regions disposed between the boundary regions. The main regions include a first main region adjacent to a second main region. A first angle, formed by the branch electrode in the first main region with respect to a first direction, is different from a second angle formed by the branch electrode in the second main region with respect to the first direction. A third angle, formed by the branch electrode in the boundary regions with respect to the first direction, is larger than the first and second angles.
US08314908B2 Liquid crystal display device with quarter plates and birefringent layers and liquid crystal having substantially vertical alignments in black state
A liquid crystal display device that has a higher contrast ratio in a wide viewing angle and that can be easily produced at low cost. The liquid crystal display device may include polarizers and multiple birefringent layers. A first birefringent layer (I) can have an in-plane slow axis forming an angle of about 45° with an absorption axis of the first polarizer; the second birefringent layer (I) can have an in-plane slow axis substantially orthogonal to the in-plane slow axis of the first birefringent layer (I).
US08314902B2 Transparent display device
Disclosed is a transparent display device that includes a LCD panel; a light source at one side of a lower portion of the LCD panel to emit light; a first polarizing plate polarizing light emitted from the light source; a light guide plate at a lower portion of the LCD panel to totally reflect the light polarized to an axis by the first polarizing plate to a lateral surface and supply to the LCD panel, and transmit natural light from a lower direction; a second polarizing plate at an upper portion of the LCD panel to control the amount of polarized light passing through the LCD panel; and an optical sheet at a lower portion of the light guide plate to change the polarized state of a first polarized light from the light guide plate and reflect the light, and transmit a second polarized component from the lower portion therethrough.
US08314901B2 Backlight unit and display device
Disclosed are a backlight unit and a display device. The backlight unit includes a bottom cover including first and second longer sides and first and second shorter sides, a light emitting module disposed on at least one of the first and second longer sides and the first and second shorter sides in the bottom cover, a light guide plate having at least a part disposed on the light emitting module in the bottom cover, an optical sheet on the light guide plate, a support member connected to the bottom cover and having at least a part disposed on the optical sheet, and a top cover disposed on the support member and connected to the bottom cover.
US08314891B2 Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data in digital broadcasting system
A digital broadcast receiving system and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving a broadcast signal having mobile service data and main service data multiplexed therein, extracting transmission parameter channel (TPC) signaling information and fast information channel (FIC) signaling information from a data group within the received mobile service data, wherein the FIC signaling information includes a current/next (C/N) indicator, and wherein the TPC signaling information includes FIC version information, and detecting ensemble configuration information of a current MH frame.
US08314869B2 Image sensor with improved black level calibration
An imaging system capable of black level calibration includes an imaging pixel array, at least one black reference pixel, and peripheral circuitry. The imaging pixel array includes a plurality of active pixels each coupled to capture image data. The black reference pixel is coupled to generate a black reference signal for calibrating the image data. Light transmitting layers are disposed on a first side of a pixel array die including the imaging system and cover at least the imaging pixel array and the black reference pixel. A light shielding layer is disposed on the first side of the pixel array die and covers a portion of the light transmitting layers and the black reference pixel without covering the imaging pixel array.
US08314866B2 Imager with variable area color filter array and pixel elements
A color pixel array includes a plurality of micropixels. Each micropixel includes a photosensitive element and a color filter optically aligned with the photosensitive element to filter incident light prior to reaching the photosensitive element. The micropixels are organized into a repeating pattern of triangular macropixels each having a triangular shape within the color pixel array.
US08314862B2 Filter circuit, image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, image processing method, and computer program
A filter circuit includes: a first weight-coefficient calculating unit calculating first weight coefficients concerning pixel levels in a first pixel and second pixels surrounding the first pixel; a first weight-coefficient adjusting unit replacing, when the first weight coefficients of a pair of the second pixels symmetrically arranged across the first pixel are different from each other, the first weight coefficient of the second pixel having a larger one of the first weight coefficients of the pair of the second pixels with the first weight coefficient of the second pixel having a smaller one of the first weight coefficients; a third weight-coefficient calculating unit integrating the first weight coefficients and second weight coefficients concerning positions of the pixels to calculate third weight coefficients of the pixels; and a correction processing unit correcting the pixel level of the first pixel using the third weight coefficients and the pixel levels of the pixels.
US08314851B2 Image processing apparatus, method for processing image, and storage medium
When calculating the amount of color blur suppression based on gradient values at edge portions of image data, the degree of color blur suppression has been different between a non-addition readout method and an addition readout method even with an identical subject. To solve this problem, there is provided an image processing apparatus that calculates a suppression coefficient so as to suppress color blur when a gradient value exceeds a threshold value, and sets up the threshold value so that the gradient value range required for color blur suppression when an image sensor is driven by the addition readout method to generate image data is wider than the gradient value range required when the image sensor is driven by the non-addition readout method.
US08314847B2 Automatic tone mapping curve generation based on dynamically stretched image histogram distribution
An apparatus, method, computer useable medium, and processor programmed to automatically generate tone mapping curves in a digital camera based on image metadata are described. Rather than having a static tone mapping curve for all images, the curve can be varied automatically based on, e.g., the brightness histogram of the image. In one embodiment, a certain percentage of the least bright pixels and a certain percentage of the brightest pixels can be disregarded, while the remaining pixels can be linearly stretched to encompass the original range of brightness values. Based on the distribution of the resultant stretched brightness histogram, slopes for the low end (S0) and high end (S1) of the tone mapping curve can be independently determined, and the tone mapping curve can be automatically generated. The improved, automatically generated tone mapping curve may be able to lift shadows more aggressively and/or increase the dynamic range of the image.
US08314841B2 Image stabilizer and related imaging module and related electronic device
An exemplary image stabilizer includes a stationary supporting frame, a moveable frame, a driving assembly and a resilient assembly. The moveable frame is moveably received in the stationary supporting frame and spaced from the stationary supporting frame. The driving assembly includes a first magnetic member and a second magnetic member. The first magnetic member is positioned on the stationary supporting frame. The second magnetic member is positioned on the moveable frame. The driving assembly is configured for driving the moveable frame to rotate relative to the stationary supporting frame through interaction between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member. The resilient assembly interconnects the stationary supporting frame and the moveable frame and is configured for counter-rotating the moveable frame relative to the stationary supporting frame.
US08314839B2 Concealments for components of a covert video surveillance system
A concealment (10) for equipment (13) including imaging devices, audio equipment, and sensors. The concealment comprises a frame (12) which, when assembled, forms the outline of a naturally occurring or manmade object. A covering (22) fits over the assembled frame. An outer surface (24) of the covering has a texture and finish that passes for the outer surface of the natural or manmade object the concealment represents. The frame provides a mounting for the equipment installed within the concealment, with the equipment being positioned to provide surveillance of an area (A) within which the concealment is located. The frame and covering are both made from materials which do not interfere with the transmission of signals from the equipment to a monitoring site, nor the reception of signals from the monitoring site to the equipment installed within the concealment to control operation of the equipment.
US08314838B2 System and method for collecting media associated with a mobile device
A mobile device (104) interacts with a media collection system (102). The media collection system has a communication nodes (106) placed at various locations in a region, area, or facility where the mobile device may be carried by a user. The mobile device interacts (306) with the media collection system over a short range radio link (206) to request media collection service. The media collection system then uses media collection devices (107) in the same region, area, or facility as the communication nodes to record media, thereby producing a record of the user's experiences in the region, area, or facility. The collected media is stored on a database (112) which accessible by the user using an access identifier.
US08314811B2 MIP-map for rendering of an anisotropic dataset
Mip-map construction is provided for three-dimensional rendering from an anisotropic dataset. One or more mip-map levels are generated by down sampling in the world space rather than texture space. The down sampling may be by an arbitrary scale factor rather than a power of two. For example, the voxels may be down sampled along one dimension by less than half (e.g., 16 to 12). The scale factors may be different along different dimensions. This non-uniform reduction in voxels may result in the mip-map being more isotropic than the anisotropic dataset.
US08314805B2 Control method and computer system for switching display between OSs
The present invention provides a control method for switching display between a plurality of OSs as well as a computer system. The method comprises: detecting that the currently displayed guest operating system (GOS) is required to be switched from a first GOS to a second GOS; determining whether the first GOS satisfies a preset switching condition, and switching the currently displayed GOS to the second GOS if the preset switching condition is satisfied, and otherwise, prohibiting the switching from the currently displayed GOS. With the method and the computer system, it is possible to avoid picture distortion or blurring or system collapse in switching display between a plurality of OSs.
US08314801B2 Visual state manager for control skinning
Embodiments described herein are directed to automatically generating an animation for a transition between a current state and a new state. In one embodiment, a computer system accesses state properties of a visual element corresponding to a current state the visual element is in and a new state the visual element is to be transitioned to. The state properties include visual properties and transition description information. The computer system determines the differences between the visual properties of the current state and the new state and automatically generates an animation based on the determined differences between the visual properties for the current state and the new state, such that the animation is playable to transition the visual element from the current state to new state.
US08314794B2 Apparatus and method for representing a scanned surface
Disclosed is a method for generating a digital representation of a surface of an object from point data indicative of coordinates of points on the surface. The method comprises receiving a point data item indicative of coordinates of a point in a first one of a plurality of sub-volumes of a volume to be scanned; determining whether a first predetermined trigger condition is fulfilled for the first sub-volume; and if the first trigger condition is fulfilled, computing a local surface representation associated with the first sub-volume from received point data items associated with at least the first sub-volume; determining whether a second predetermined trigger condition is fulfilled; and if the second trigger condition is fulfilled, computing a surface representation of the surface of the object from a set of computed local surface representations associated with respective sub-volumes.
US08314790B1 Layer opacity adjustment for a three-dimensional object
Computer-implemented methods for automatically adjusting an opacity of layers in a three-dimensional (3D) object are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request to display data for a 3D object having a plurality of layers, and providing, for display, data for a view of the 3D object. An opacity of each of the layers of the 3D object in the view is adjusted based on a position of the view of the 3D object. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
US08314787B2 Display device
Driver IC 1 including a built-in charge pump power supply is mounted on display panel 5. Among wirings connected to driver IC 1, the width of FPC mounting pad 4 of connection wiring 3 leading to a driver built-in power supply is widened as compared with pads 4 of other wirings 2. In addition, a portion of terminal intervals of a terminal array of FPC mounting pad 4 is widened as compared with other terminal intervals so that a wiring path from pad 4 to driver IC 1 is reduced. Similar terminal widths and terminal intervals are adopted for terminal 6 on the side of flexible substrate 7 electrically connected to FPC mounting pad 4 by pressure bonding.
US08314786B2 Wireless control system and method in an illumination network
The present invention proposes a wireless control system and method which may be mainly used in illumination networks. The wireless control system and method of the invention distributes data signals to be transmitted at a control terminal in different time slots of different frequencies for transmission, while each node in the system will only receive its corresponding data signal in a predetermined time slot of a predetermined frequency. Thus a high operating rate can be obtained at the control terminal while maintaining the operating rate of the node unchanged. This helps to greatly reduce the cost of the wireless transceiver of each node, thereby correspondingly reducing the cost of the whole system and realizing a high expansibility.
US08314785B2 Plasma display device
A plasma display device includes a plasma display panel, a chassis base and circuit board assemblies mounted on the chassis base. The plasma display panel includes: a front substrate, a rear substrate, and a plurality of electrodes between the front and rear substrates; and an electrode pattern formed on the rear substrate and separate from the plurality of electrodes. The chassis base is adjacent the rear substrate. The electrode pattern is configured for transmitting power and signals utilized to drive the plurality of electrodes from at least one of the plurality of circuit board assemblies.
US08314767B2 Methods and systems for reducing view-angle-induced color shift
Elements of the present invention relate to systems and methods for generating, modifying and applying backlight array driving values. In some embodiments, color ratios are used to determine backlight array driving values that reduce color shift at side-view angles. In some embodiments, backlight color values may be adjusted to also reduce color shift from side-view angles.
US08314766B2 Liquid crystal display panel
A liquid crystal display panel includes a display area, a wiring area, and an external circuit area, wherein the wiring area is between the display area and the external circuit area. The liquid crystal display panel includes many pixel structures, external pads and wiring sets. Each wiring set includes a plurality of upper-layer main wires disposed on one plane and lower-layer main wires disposed on another plane, wherein the two planes are parallel. In addition, each upper-layer main wire corresponds to one lower-layer main wire and the shadow which the upper-layer main wire vertically projects on the surface overlaps a part of the corresponding lower-layer main wire. The light leakage around the display area can be eliminated by proper arrangement of main wiring sets, and therefore the display quality is improved.
US08314758B2 Display device
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a display device. In an embodiment, the display device includes a scanning signal line for transferring a scanning signal, a data line crossing the scanning signal line and transferring a data voltage, a switching transistor connected to the scanning signal line and the data line, a driving transistor connected to the switching transistor, a first transistor connected between the driving transistor and a driving voltage terminal, and a light-emitting element connected between the driving transistor and a common voltage terminal. The first transistor operates in a saturation region, and the driving transistor operates in a linear region. In this way, display characteristics may be improved by reducing deviation of a driving current due to deviation of characteristics of a driving transistor or a driving voltage.
US08314756B2 Pixel driver circuits comprising a thin film transistor with a floating gate
This invention relates to pixel driver circuits for active matrix optoelectronic devices, in particular OLED (organic light emitting diodes) displays. We describe an active matrix optoelectronic device having a plurality of active matrix pixels each said pixel including a pixel circuit comprising a thin film transistor (TFT) for driving the pixel and a pixel capacitor for storing a pixel value, wherein said TFT comprises a TFT with a floating gate.
US08314752B2 Display device and related driving method using low capacity row buffer memory
In a method for driving a display device, an address counter is used for generating a plurality of address variables corresponding to data of a scan line. Next, an address mapping circuit generates a first target address by data-mapping an address variable, and generates a second target address by data mapping data stored in an address look-up table memory. Subsequently, a row buffer memory accesses data corresponding to a first scan line based on the first target address, and accesses data corresponding to a second scan line based on the second target address.
US08314745B2 Reflector antenna, method of feeding same, and communication system
A reflector antenna includes a reflector, a primary radiator, an arm, and a feed unit (a coaxial cable and a coaxial connector). The reflector has a reflecting surface for reflecting a radio wave, and the reflecting surface is shaped as a paraboloid of revolution. The primary radiator is arranged on a focus side of the reflector, and radiates a radio wave from the focus side toward the reflecting surface. The arm is arranged to extend from the reflecting surface side to the focus side of the reflector, and supports the primary radiator so as to be rotatable with respect to the reflector. The feed unit feeds the primary radiator via the arm so that the direction of the arm and the direction of polarization of the radio wave radiated from the primary radiator are perpendicular to each other.
US08314743B2 Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes a circuit board and an antenna coil installed on the circuit board. The antenna coil includes a magnetic core and a coil wound at either side of an unwound portion. The winding direction of the coil is changed at either side of the unwound portion. When the length of the magnetic core is defined as X and the distance between two intersecting points at which a virtual line formed by projecting the central line of the magnetic core onto the circuit board intersects the outer periphery of the circuit board is defined as Y, the antenna coil satisfies Y≧X≧0.8Y.
US08314736B2 Determining the position of a mobile device using the characteristics of received signals and a reference database
Some embodiments use scanning devices to characterize radio signals received at a number of locations within a geographical area of interest. The signal characteristics along with the location information associated with the characteristics are stored in a centralized reference database. A mobile device characterizes signals it receives at a certain location and compares the characteristics with the signal characteristics stored in the reference database to obtain accurate location information of the certain location.
US08314734B2 Receiver for radio positioning signals
A GPS, GLONASS or Galileo receiver for radio positioning signals wherein at least a part of the computing of position related data based on radio signals received from a plurality of space vehicles is carried out by a graphics or sound processor. The receiver thus makes use of available computing resources, thus achieving a lower bill of material.
US08314733B1 Adjustment of radar parameters to maintain accelerating target in track
A radar system tracks targets, and for each target determines the maximum acceleration of the target which can be tracked. The target acceleration is compared with the maximum acceleration that the radar can maintain in track, and if the decision is that the radar cannot maintain track, the radar data rate is increased, at least for that target. In at least some cases in which the target acceleration is such that the target can be maintained in track, the data rate for that target is decreased.
US08314730B1 Collection of meteorological data by vehicles
Methods and mobile platforms are disclosed for using vehicles to gather meteorological data. A method identifies a location that is relevant to a particular meteorological model based on modeling parameters of the particular meteorological model. Meteorological data is collected aboard a vehicle. The meteorological data is indicative of a meteorological condition in an area within sensor range of the vehicle. At least a portion of the meteorological data is transmitted to a modeling station remote from the vehicle in response to determining that the vehicle is proximate the location.
US08314729B2 Remote control
A remote control having a touch-sensitive key pad, an energy store, a transmitter, two plates joined together on which these are arranged, and a position sensor which provides an on/off function depending on its position or orientation.
US08314726B2 Time stamp generation
A circuit and method for providing a digital output indicative of the time at which an event occurred is disclosed. In one aspect, the circuit includes a fine timing circuit configured to determine in which sub-interval of a clock period the event occurred, and a correction circuit configured to correct an erroneous offset between a first and second clock signals in the fine timing circuit. The correction circuit includes a synch circuit configured to determine in which half of the clock period the event occurred so as to correct for erroneous offset in the fine timing circuit.
US08314725B2 On-die digital-to-analog conversion testing
In one embodiment, an analog-to-digital conversion in an integrated circuit is evaluated by an on-die testing circuit. For example, the on-die test circuit 370 can characterize one or both of the linearity and monotonicity of the digital-to-analog conversion. The value of a conversion output for a digital input code may be compared to the value of a prior conversion output of a prior step to provide digital difference values for each step of a sweep of digital input codes. Digital difference values may be compared to one or more predetermined limits to provide one or more pass/fail tests on-board the die. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08314723B2 Ghost key detecting circuit and related method
A ghost key detecting circuit includes at least first and second scan lines, at least first and second return lines, a plurality of switch elements, and a level detecting circuit. The level detecting circuit is used for performing level detection upon measured voltage values at the first and second return lines. When a measured voltage value at a return line is greater than or equal to a reference voltage value, the level detecting circuit generates a logic signal for indicating that a switch element corresponding to the return line at a current scan line is turned off. When the measured voltage value is smaller than the reference voltage value, the level detecting circuit generates a logic signal for indicating that the switch element is turned on.
US08314717B2 Network address field for nodes within a meter reading wireless mesh network and associated system
A meter reading system includes a meter reading wireless mesh network having wireless meter reading nodes in communication with an access point. Each wireless meter reading node has an address associated therewith. The meter reading wireless mesh network is configured to establish a network address field for each wireless meter reading node based upon a length field and a value field of a respective address, and communicate within the wireless mesh network using the network address fields.
US08314716B2 Use of OLED technology in HVAC sensors
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display panel for a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) sensor used for building automation controls. The OLED display will transmit information to the building occupant relating to heating ventilation and air conditioning outputs.
US08314705B2 Method and system for storing, retrieving, and managing data for tags
This invention relates generally to a method and system for storing, retrieving, and managing data for tags that are associated in some manner to any type of object. More particularly, the present invention writes data to these tags, reads data from these tags, and manages data that is written to and/or read from these tags.In addition, the invention accesses and/or stores data associated with tags from or into repositories, constructs and maintains data structures from these repositories and responds to queries using the data structures.
US08314702B2 Methods and systems for activating a proximity information device
A proximity information device includes a body, a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) supported by the body, and a threshold detector coupled to the RFID IC. The RFID IC is operative to transmit a response message in response to an interrogation signal if the threshold detector indicates that a detected magnetic and electric field and the relative strength of magnetic field compared to the electric field satisfy a predetermined threshold.
US08314689B2 Vehicular vision system
A vehicular vision system includes a CMOS photosensor array including a plurality of photosensor elements. The photosensor array is disposed at an interior portion of a vehicle and has a forward field of view to the exterior of the vehicle through the windshield of the vehicle at a windshield area that is swept by the windshield wipers. The photosensor array has a field of view forward of the vehicle that is generally in line with the vehicle's primary direction of forward travel. A control includes an image processor that processes image data captured by the photosensor array. The control may analyze image data captured by photosensor elements where an object exterior of the equipped vehicle is determined to be present more than the control analyzes image data captured by other photosensor elements where the determined object is not present.
US08314688B2 Method and apparatus for low power modulation and massive medium access control
An ultra low power, low complexity, low collision, deterministic modulation method that also works as a massive medium access mechanism for communication systems is based on positioning data in a communication resource space, such as time and frequency, such that the position of a symbol in that space determines its value and its access to the medium. The number base of the symbol is determined by the size of the subset of the resource space it is positioning itself in and, thereby, a few sparsely located symbols can convey a large value, while the remainder of the space can be simultaneously and massively used by other sparsely resource using members of the network.
US08314686B2 Radio controlled safety stop system for forklift trucks with RFID
A security system including an RFID subsystem for detecting entry of an RFID tag within a monitored area; an RFID token associated with a person accessing the monitored area; and an indicator system for providing an indication when the person enters into the monitored area.
US08314685B2 Data detector for UHF RFID tags
A method of detecting a signal in radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder (FIG. 1) is disclosed. The method includes receiving a signal (FIG. 7) having a first time in a first logic state (high) and having a second time in a second logic state (low). A weight (700, 702) is determined in response to the first time and the second time. An output signal (from A2D) is produced in response to the weight and one of the first and second logic states.
US08314668B1 Meter disconnect relay having silver refractory materials contacts
In one aspect, a meter disconnect relay is described that is comprised of a base, an actuator, a shuttle and one or more disconnect switches. The shuttle is operably connected to and moved by a plunger of the actuator. The one or more disconnect switches can be opened or closed by movement of the shuttle, wherein each disconnect switch is comprised of a rigid, conductive bridging section comprising at least two contacts; a conductive source portion having a source contact and a conductive load portion having a load contact, wherein one or more of the source contact, the load contact and the at least two contacts of the bridging portion are at least partially comprised of silver refractory materials.
US08314666B2 Resonator, elastic wave transmission element and fabrication method thereof
A resonator, an elastic wave transmission element and a method for fabricating the transmission element are provided. The elastic wave transmission element has a first side and a second side. The elastic wave transmission element includes a plurality of structures sequentially arranged along a direction from the first side toward the second side. Each of the structures has a different defect which is different to each other. The impedance of the structures decreases gradually along the direction. As such, the elastic wave transmission element has an impedance match function.
US08314654B2 Multi-band high-efficiency Doherty amplifier
The present invention relates to a Multi-Band Doherty amplifier. Embodiments of the present invention provide an amplifying structure including a main amplifier configured to amplify a first signal, a peak amplifier configured to amplify a second signal, a tunable impedance inverter configured to perform impedance inversion to modulate a load impedance of the main amplifier, and a combining node configured to receive the amplified second signal from the peak amplifier and an output of the tunable impedance inverter. The tunable impedance inverter includes a tuner configured to tune the impedance inversion over at least one broad frequency band. The tuner is (i) at least one capacitor, (i) at least one varactor, or (ii) at least one open stub shunted by a diode.
US08314652B2 System and method for RC calibration using phase and frequency
An RC filter is calibrated to a desired cutoff frequency by initializing the filter with a cutoff frequency. An input signal is filtered by the RC filter to provide a filter output signal having phase and frequency values. The cutoff frequency of the RC filter is adjusted based on the phase and frequency values of the filter output signal if the phase and frequency values do not satisfy a predetermined condition. The filtering and adjusting are repeated until the phase and frequency values of the filter output signal satisfy the predetermined condition. A calibration apparatus has a frequency generator, a resistor-capacitor (RC) filter, a phase comparator, a frequency detector, and a state machine. The phase comparator, frequency detector, and state machine are configured to calibrate the RC filter to a cutoff frequency specified by the reference signal based on a filter output signal of the RC filter.
US08314651B2 Internal voltage generator
An internal voltage generator includes: a detection unit configured to detect a level of an internal voltage in comparison to a reference voltage; a first driving unit configured to discharge an internal voltage terminal, through which the internal voltage is outputted, in response to an output signal of the detection unit; a current detection unit configured to detect a discharge current flowing through the first driving unit; and a second driving unit configured to charge the internal voltage terminal in response to an output signal of the current detection unit.
US08314650B2 Reference voltage generating circuit and receiver circuit
Disclosed is a reference voltage generating circuit including a constant current circuit which comprises: a first resistive element and a bipolar transistor connected in series between a supply voltage terminal and a constant potential point; a first MOS transistor having a gate connected to a node connecting the first resistive element with the bipolar transistor; a second resistive element connected in series between a source of the first MOS transistor and the constant potential point; a second MOS transistor connected between a drain of the first MOS transistor and the supply voltage terminal; and a third MOS transistor forming a current mirror in conjunction with the second MOS transistor, wherein a constant current generated by the constant current circuit or a current proportional to the generated constant current is converted to a voltage as a reference voltage.
US08314649B1 Semiconductor apparatus
Provided is a semiconductor apparatus including a divided voltage generation circuit that includes a first resistor element and a first transistor connected in series between a first power supply and a second power supply and generates a divided voltage by dividing a voltage difference between the first power supply and the second power supply with a resistance ratio of the first resistor element and the first transistor specified according to a level of a first current flowing to the first transistor, and a current control circuit that includes a second transistor that is connected in a mirror configuration to the first transistor and determines the level of the first current by a control current flowing from a first terminal to a second terminal, and increases and decreases the control current according to an increase and decrease in a voltage difference between the first power supply and a ground power supply.
US08314646B2 Signal reproducing device
The purpose is to detect minute electrical signals embedded in noise with a simple device configuration and easily reduce the area of the device by utilizing a semiconductor device in particular. This signal reproducing device (1) includes: N FETs (61 to 6N) each receiving a common input signal (VIN) at a gate terminal and having a bias voltage (VDD) applied to a drain terminal; and an adder circuit (4) connected to source terminals of the FETs (61 to 6N), for combining currents between the drain terminals and the source terminals of the FETs (61 to 6N) and outputting the resulting current, wherein the FETs (61 to 6N) and the bias voltage (VDD) are set so that a voltage at the gate terminal having the common input signal (VIN) applied thereto falls within a subthreshold region of voltages less than a threshold voltage of the FETs (61 to 6N).
US08314640B2 Driver circuit
A driver circuit drives a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller. The driver circuit includes an enabling circuit, a power supply input control circuit, a stabilizing circuit, and a discharge circuit. The stabilizing circuit is electrically connected to the PWM controller. The power supply input control circuit is electrically connected between the enabling circuit and the stabilizing circuit. The discharge circuit is electrically connected between the stabilizing circuit and the ground. In response to the driver circuit working in normal operation, the enabling circuit enables the power supply input control circuit to output a working voltage to the stabilizing circuit, and in response to the process of the driver circuit restarting, the enabling circuit enables the power supply input to stop outputting power supply to the stabilizing circuit. The discharge circuit leads a residual voltage of the stabilizing circuit to the ground, during the process of the driver circuit being restarted.
US08314632B1 Method and system for placing integrated circuits into predominantly ultra-low voltage mode for standby purposes
A core logic portion of a clocked digital circuit is switched to be powered by a standby mode power voltage lower than a normal mode power voltage when the circuit is switched into a low power standby mode (LPSM). The standby mode power voltage is too low relative to normal ground to deterministically drive a transition logic portion of the circuit. However, a special ground bus (GNDx) is provided in the transition logic portion and that special ground bus (GNDx) is pulled down to a negative voltage below normal ground when the circuit is switched into the low power standby mode (LPSM).
US08314631B2 Testing system and testing method
The invention discloses a testing system and a testing method. The testing system includes a testing platform and a fetching device. The testing platform includes a metal base plate, a DUT board, a testing stand and a metal wall. The DUT board is disposed on the metal base plate. The testing stand is disposed on the DUT board. The metal wall is disposed on the metal base plate and surrounds the testing stand. The fetching device is movably disposed above the testing platform and used for placing a DUT on the testing stand. A metal covering plate of the fetching device corresponds to the metal wall of the testing platform. When the fetching device places the DUT on the testing stand, the metal covering plate cooperates with the metal wall and the metal base plate of the testing platform to form an isolated space, so as to isolate the DUT.
US08314629B2 SAS interface output signal detecting apparatus
A serial attached small computer system interface (SCSI) (SAS) interface output signal detecting apparatus includes an SAS female connector, an SAS male connector, and two subminiature version A (SMA) connectors. Each of the SAS female and male connectors includes first and second groups of data pins and a group of power pins. The power pins of the SAS female connector are connected to the power pins of the SAS male connector. The SMA connectors are connected to two data output pins of the second or first group of data pins of the SAS female connector in response to the first group of data pins of the SAS female connector being connected to the first group of data pins of the SAS male connector or the second group of data pins of the SAS female connector being connected to the second group of data pins of the SAS male connector.
US08314625B2 Built-in compliance in test structures for leakage and dielectric breakdown of dielectric materials of metallization systems of semiconductor devices
In a test structure for determining dielectric breakdown events of a metallization system of semiconductor devices, a built-in compliance functionality may allow reliable switching off of the test voltage prior to causing high leakage currents, which may conventionally result in significant damage. Consequently, further failure analysis may be possible after the occurrence of a dielectric breakdown event.
US08314618B2 Magnetic resonance method for quantification of transverse relaxation times
Apparatus and methods for quantification of transverse relaxation times (T2) using steady-state free precession sequences (generally known as fast imaging sequences) and their sensitivity to a quadratic increase of the RF pulse phase, also known as RF spoiling. Using at least two image acquisitions with different partial RF spoiling increments, T2 can be assessed with high precision and with short acquisition times in the limit of large excitation angles being independent on the longitudinal relaxation time (T1) and magnetization transfer effects as compared to other SSFP based quantitative T2 methods. This invention is not restricted to any kind of target and may be applied in 3D as well as in 2D.
US08314614B2 PROPELLER MRI with phase correction
A device for MRI of a body (7) placed in an examination volume includes a main magnet (2) for establishing a substantially homogeneous main magnetic field in the examination volume. Gradient coils (3, 4, 5) generate switched magnetic field gradients superimposed upon the main magnetic field. An RF antenna (6) radiates RF pulses towards the body (7). A control system (12) controls the generation of the magnetic field gradients and the RF pulses. A demodulator (10) receives and samples MR signals. A computer (14) forms MR images from the signal samples. The computer (1) is arranged to generate a series of MR signals by subjecting at least a portion of the body (7) to an MRI sequence, to acquire the MR signals as a plurality of k-space blades according to the PROPELLER scheme, to compute phase errors from the phase differences of pairs of k-space blades having different rotation angles, to perform a phase correction of the acquired k-space blades on the basis of the computed phase errors, and to reconstruct an MR image from the acquired and phase-corrected MR data set.
US08314611B2 Magnetic particle inspection apparatus and method
A magnetic particle inspection (MPI) apparatus is disclosed that includes a chordal field coil pair and a radial field coil pair. The chordal field coil pair includes first and second chordal field coils configured to produce a chordally oriented magnetic flux about a test article.
US08314606B2 Current sensing and measuring method and apparatus
A method can include obtaining a voltage across a first transistor as an obtained voltage. The method can also include multiplying the obtained voltage by a predetermined multiple M to yield a multiplied voltage. The method can further include applying the multiplied voltage to a second transistor, wherein the second transistor is N times smaller than the first transistor. The method can additionally include providing an output current of the second transistor as an M/N scaled estimate of an output current of the first transistor.
US08314589B2 Battery pack
A battery pack is constructed with a rechargeable battery, a protection circuit part that protects the battery when the battery is charged and discharged, and a switching unit that turns on or off a power source of the protection circuit part. Also, the battery pack may be constructed with a rechargeable battery, a protection circuit part that protects the battery when the battery is charged and discharged, and electric wiring lines constructed so that the power source of the protection circuit part may be turned on and off. When the battery pack is not connected to a charger or a load by the switching unit or the electric wire lines, the power source of the circuit is blocked to prevent the battery pack from being shorted and to reduce the idle power. When the battery pack is connected to the charger or the load, the power source is applied to the circuit so that the circuit operates.
US08314583B2 System, method and program product for cable loss compensation in an electrical submersible pump system
An electrical submersible pumping (ESP) system can include a pump located in a wellbore, a motor attached to the pump, a power source located at the surface, a cable electrically coupling the power source and the motor, and a current sensor. The ESP system can also include a controller communicating with the current sensor to calculate a voltage drop associated with the cable responsive to an impedance of the cable. The controller can also control a power source output voltage responsive to the calculated voltage drop. For example, the controller can adjust the power source output voltage to minimize a cable current while maintaining a minimum motor voltage. The controller can also control a motor shaft speed by changing a power source output voltage frequency to compensate for changing slip and adjust the power source output voltage to minimize the cable current while maintaining a minimum motor voltage.
US08314579B2 Sensorless motor control device
A sensorless motor control device includes a magnetic pole position estimating unit that does not use a sensor to detect a magnetic pole position of a motor having a salient rotor, and overlays a high-frequency current on the motor to estimate the magnetic pole position of the rotor of the motor; and a high-frequency current control unit for changing a magnitude of the high-frequency current based on a magnitude of one of a torque and a current of the motor.
US08314573B2 Discharge lamp lighting circuit
A discharge lamp lighting circuit facilitates carrying out re-ignition and addresses a problem than can arise due to an influence of a capacitor in an auxiliary lighting circuit. A driving voltage generating portion supplies an AC driving voltage to a discharge lamp to be a driving target. An auxiliary lighting circuit is provided on a terminal side of the discharge lamp. An auxiliary lighting capacitor, an auxiliary lighting resistor and a switch are provided in series between the terminal of the discharge lamp and a fixed voltage terminal. A control circuit controls a conducting state of the switch. The switch is brought into an ON state before the discharge lamp is turned ON, and is brought into an OFF state after the discharge lamp is turned ON.
US08314570B2 High pressure discharge lamp light source device
A high pressure discharge lamp light source device is provided having a quartz glass discharge vessel enclosing two opposed electrodes that are spaced apart by at most 2.0 mm, each electrode having a projection formed at a tip end thereof, at least 0.20 mg/mm3 of mercury and a halogen; and a power supply device for supplying alternating current to the lamp, The power supply device is adapted to switch between a nominal electric power lighting mode and a low electric power lighting mode having a defined current value in a range of 40 to 70% of a nominal electric power consumption. In the low power mode, the power supply alternately supplies a base current in a range between 100 Hz and 5 kHz a boost current having a higher current value than that of the base current.
US08314567B2 Display apparatus
A circuit for controlling illumination means in a display includes illumination means arranged in a series-connection that are supplied with an essentially constant current. For individually controlling the illumination means, switches are provided for bypassing individual illumination means, maintaining the essentially constant current in the series-connection. The switches are floating with respect to a ground potential. A coupling means is thus provided for proper control of the switches. In a development of the invention a floating local power supply is provided with each illumination means and switch for operating the switch. The local power supply is, in one embodiment, powered by the control signal that is used for controlling the bypass switch. In another embodiment provision is made for supplying power to the floating local power supply. A driving method according to the embodiments of the circuit is also described.
US08314560B2 Plasma processing apparatus
An induction coil composed of n pieces of identically shaped coil elements (where n is equal to or greater than two), which are rotation-symmetrically arranged with respect to an axis normal to the surface of an object to be processed, is provided above the object, the coil elements being electrically connected in parallel. Each of the coil elements of the induction coil encircles the aforementioned axis, with the ground end and the feed end located at the same position on a projection plane on the object with the ground end under the feed end. Each coil element has a bottom portion shaped like an arc having a predetermined width and a central angle of 360°/n, with the ground end at one end thereof, and a feed portion shaped like an arc having a predetermined width, with the feed end at one end thereof, the feed portion being located above the bottom portion and electrically connected to the same bottom portion. It is also possible to assemble a plurality of coil elements so that the ground end of each coil element is located immediately below the feed end of another coil element.
US08314557B2 Light source device, discharge lamp and its control method
At an initial stage of a discharge start, a shield electrode is connected to a ground potential via a bidirectional voltage trigger switch. Thereafter, when an electrical charge within the shield electrode flows to the ground potential, by being triggered with this potential, both terminals of the bidirectional voltage trigger switch are disconnected therebetween. Thus, at an initial stage of discharge, charging of the shield electrode is suppressed to suppress a decline in discharge, and in a sustained discharge, destabilization due to an unwanted discharge from the shield electrode to the anode can be suppressed, and using such an electrode automatically allows improving the lighting performance of a discharge lamp.
US08314548B2 Light-emitting element, light-emitting device, and electronic device
The light-emitting element of the present invention includes a light-emitting layer and a layer for controlling movement of carriers between a pair of electrodes. The layer for controlling movement of carriers includes a first organic compound having a carrier transporting property and a second organic compound for reducing the carrier transporting property of the first organic compound, and the second organic compound is dispersed in the first organic compound. The layer for controlling movement of carriers is provided in such a manner, whereby change in carrier balance with time can be suppressed. Therefore, a light-emitting element having a long lifetime can be obtained.
US08314538B2 Dielectric barrier discharge lamp with a retaining disc
A dielectric barrier discharge lamp (1) with a discharge vessel, which has an outer tube (2), which surrounds a discharge space (4) filled with a discharge medium, an outer electrode (6), which is arranged on the outer side of the outer tube (2), an elongate inner electrode (7), which is arranged axially within the outer tube (2), at least one retaining disk (8) with an axial bore, through which the elongate inner electrode (7) runs, the retaining disk (8) extending substantially from the inner electrode (7) up to the inner side of the outer tube (2), as a result of which the inner electrode (7) is centered at least indirectly within the discharge vessel. The retaining disk (8) is supported on both sides loosely in the direction of the longitudinal axis by means of a supporting means (9a-9c) on the left-hand side and a supporting means (10a-10c) on the right-hand side.
US08314535B2 Piezoelectric multilayer component
A piezoelectric multilayer component has a stack of green piezoceramic layers arranged one on top of the other. A first electrode layer is applied onto a piezoceramic layer and contains a first metal. A structured sacrificial layer is applied onto a further piezoceramic layer, adjacent to the first electrode layer in the stacking direction, and contains a higher concentration of the first metal than does the first electrode layer. When the intermediate product is sintered, the first metal diffuses from the structured sacrificial layer to the first electrode layer and in the process leaves cavities which form a weak layer.
US08314532B2 Drive device
A drive device includes a stator; a rotatably provided drive member; a piezoelectric element, which is nipped between the stator and the drive member in a tangential line direction of a rotation locus circle of the drive member, and expands and contracts in the tangential line direction at an expansion speed at the time of the expansion and a contraction speed at the time of the contraction, respectively, the expansion speed and the contraction speed different from each other; and a rotor provided concentrically with the drive member to touch the drive member with a pressure.
US08314528B2 Motor
An armature includes an insulator component with a wiring member arranged in a wiring fixing groove positioned outside of an outer wall portion of the insulator component. When a lead wire is wound around the insulator component, a winding start portion and a winding end portion of the lead wire are arranged to intersect with each other in a radial direction to define an intersection portion. The winding start portion is pressed by the winding end portion toward the outer wall portion. A lead wire escape portion spaced from a radially outer end portion of a coil is defined in the outer wall portion. This contributes to preventing the outer wall portion from being deformed by being pressed by the lead wire at the intersection portion, thereby preventing difficulty in arranging the wiring member on the insulator component.
US08314526B2 Engine generator
An engine generator is disclosed in which an engine drives a generator and causes a cooling fan to rotate to cool the generator. The generator includes an intake duct having an intake port provided in a lower portion thereof and oriented downward. Moisture-containing outside air sucked through the intake port impinges on a barrier plate disposed in the intake duct. The barrier plate is located above the intake port and faces the intake port. The moisture adheres to the barrier plate in the form of water droplets, which then fall toward the intake port after having separated from the outside air.
US08314520B2 Lens driving motor and elastic member of the same
Provided are a lens driving motor and an elastic member of the lens driving motor. The elastic member of a lens driving motor, the elastic member includes a first spring and a second spring. The second spring is different from the first spring and disposed together with the first spring on one side of a carrier to support the carrier. A first lead line of a coil and a first external power source are connected to the first spring, and a second lead line of the coil and a second external power source are connected to the second spring to supply power to the coil. Since the carrier can be assembled to other part after a (+) lead line and a (−) lead line of the coil are connected to the first and second springs, respectively, using solder, a process is simple and convenient.
US08314519B2 Electromechanical linear actuator
An Electromechanical linear drive with a housing (10) and with at least one piston rod (16) protruding on one side form the housing (10), extending through an opening on the end face housing lid (11), supported by a push element (15) arranged for longitudinal movement in the interior of the housing (10), wherein the push element (15) for its movement is supported by a drive shaft driven by a drive and the piston rod (16) is arranged eccentric to the drive shaft, is characterized in that the push element (15) supporting the at least one piston rod (16) is guided relative to the housing (10) with a force transmitting twist protection formed as interlocking guiding elements arranged at the housing (10) and the push element (15).
US08314508B2 Method and apparatus for wind energy system
The present invention relates to generating power using wind energy. According to some aspects, the invention uses a passive device to capture wind, and accelerate the wind toward off-the-shelf turbines and other fan blades to generate power in a confined structure. The passive devices to capture wind can have active electronic or mechanical controls to control the amount of wind flowing in the structure to generate power.
US08314507B2 Hydro unit retrofit and method of performing same
A turbine replacement unit for replacement of at least one double runner horizontal submersible installation for a hydroelectric plant including at least one submerged coupling and at least one submerged bearing supported by a submerged bearing pedestal in which each of the two runners discharge a flow into a common draft tube. The replacement unit includes a single runner positioned to replace each of the two runners, the single runner receiving a flow and discharging the flow into the existing common draft tube. A dry pit assembly is positioned to surround the submerged pedestal and define an air space around the submerged pedestal and an oil-flooded bearing is positioned on the pedestal to replace the submerged bearing. A shaft supports the runner for rotation and is at least partially supported for rotation by the oil-flooded bearing. A generator is coupled to the shaft and is operable to produce an electrical power in response to rotation of the shaft.
US08314502B2 Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same
To provide a technique capable of positioning of a semiconductor chip and a mounting substrate with high precision by improving visibility of an alignment mark. In a semiconductor chip constituting an LCD driver, a mark is formed in an alignment mark formation region over a semiconductor substrate. The mark is formed in the same layer as that of an uppermost layer wiring (third layer wiring) in an integrated circuit formation region. Then, in the lower layer of the mark and a background region surrounding the mark, patterns are formed. At this time, the pattern P1a is formed in the same layer as that of a second layer wiring and the pattern P1b is formed in the same layer as that of a first layer wiring. Further, the pattern P2 is formed in the same layer as that of a gate electrode, and the pattern P3 is formed in the same layer as that of an element isolation region.
US08314498B2 Isolated bond pad with conductive via interconnect
An integrated circuit for use, for example, in a backside illuminated imager device includes circuitry provided on a first side of a substrate, a first conductive pad connected to the circuitry and spaced from the first side of the substrate, a second conductive pad spaced from a second side of the substrate, an electrically conductive interconnect formed through the substrate to interconnect the first and second conductive pads, and a dielectric surrounding the second conductive pad and at least a portion of the interconnect. Methods of forming the integrated circuit are also described.
US08314497B2 Surface depressions for die-to-die interconnects and associated systems
Stacked microelectronic dies employing die-to-die interconnects and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a stacked system of microelectronic dies includes a first microelectronic die, a second microelectronic die attached to the first die, and a die-to-die interconnect electrically coupling the first die with the second die. The first die includes a back-side surface, a surface depression in the back-side surface, and a first metal contact located within the surface depression. The second die includes a front-side surface and a second metal contact located at the front-side surface and aligned with the first metal contact of the first die. The die-to-die interconnect electrically couples the first metal contact of the first die with the second metal contact of the second die and includes a flowable metal layer that at least partially fills the surface depression of the first die.
US08314496B2 Semiconductor device and inductor
A semiconductor device and an inductor are provided. The semiconductor device includes a top level interconnect metal layer (Mtop) pattern. A below-to-top level interconnect metal layer (Mtop−1) pattern is disposed directly below the top level interconnect metal layer pattern. A first via plug pattern is vertically disposed between the top level interconnect metal layer pattern and the below-to-top level interconnect metal layer pattern, electrically connected to the top level interconnect metal layer pattern and the below-to-top level interconnect metal layer pattern. The top level interconnect metal layer pattern, the below-to-top level interconnect metal layer pattern and the first via plug pattern have profiles parallel with each other from a top view.
US08314493B2 Method for manufacturing a package-on-package type semiconductor device
Bump electrodes (conductive members) bonded onto lands disposed at a peripheral portion side than terminals (bonding leads) electrically coupled to pads (electrode pads) of a microcomputer chip (semiconductor chip) are sealed with sealing resin (a sealing body). Thereafter, the sealing resin is ground (removed) partially such that a part of each of the bump electrodes is exposed. The step of protruding the part of each of the bump electrodes from a front surface of the sealing resin is performed, after the grinding step.
US08314484B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
In a structure of a semiconductor device, a Si chip and a metal leadframe are jointed by metallic bond via a porous joint layer made of high conductive metal, having a three-dimensional network structure and using Ag as a bonding material, and a film containing Zn oxide or Al oxide is formed on a surface of a semiconductor assembly contacting to a polymer resin. In this manner, by the joint with the joint layer having the porous structure mainly made of Ag, thermal stress load of the Si chip can be reduced, and fatigue life of the joint layer itself can be improved. Besides, since adhesion of the polymer resin to the film can be enhanced by the anchor effect, occurrence of cracks in a bonding portion can be prevented, so that a highly-reliable Pb-free semiconductor device can be provided.
US08314477B2 Deposited semiconductor structure to minimize N-type dopant diffusion and method of making
A memory cell is provided that includes a semiconductor pillar and a reversible state-change element coupled to the semiconductor pillar. The semiconductor pillar includes a heavily doped bottom region of a first conductivity type, a heavily doped top region of a second conductivity type, and a lightly doped or intrinsic middle region interposed between and contacting the top and bottom regions. The middle region comprises a first proportion of germanium, and either the top region or the bottom region comprises no germanium or comprises a second proportion of germanium less than the first proportion. The reversible state-change element includes a layer of a resistivity-switching metal oxide or nitride compound selected from the group consisting of NiO, Nb2O5, TiO2, HfO2, Al2O3, CoO, MgOx, CrO2, VO, BN, and AlN. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08314472B2 Semiconductor structure comprising pillar
A semiconductor structure comprises a substrate and a metal layer disposed over the substrate. The metal layer comprises a first electrical trace and a second electrical trace. The semiconductor structure comprises a conductive pillar disposed directly on and in electrical contact with the first electrical trace; and a dielectric layer selectively disposed between the metal layer and the conductive pillar. The dielectric layer electrically isolates the second electrical trace from the pillar.
US08314465B2 Dielectric layer for semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device comprises a silicate interface layer and a high-k dielectric layer overlying the silicate interface layer. The high-k dielectric layer comprises metal alloy oxides.
US08314461B2 Semicoductor device having a lateral double diffused MOSFET transistor with a lightly doped source and a CMOS transistor
Methods and systems for monolithically fabricating a lateral double-diffused MOSFET (LDMOS) transistor having a source, drain, and a gate on a substrate, with a process flow that is compatible with a CMOS process flow are described.
US08314460B2 Vertical power MOSFET semiconductor apparatus having separate base regions and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor apparatus according to the present invention includes a first semiconductor layer of a first conductive type, a low concentration base region of a second conductive type formed on the first semiconductor layer, a gate electrode formed in a trench with insulating film on an inner surface of the trench that is formed to reach the first semiconductor layer from a surface of the low concentration base region, a source region of the first conductive type formed, contacting the insulating film, on a surface of the low concentration base region, a first high concentration base region, a second high concentration base region provided below and separated from the first concentration base region, and a third high concentration base region of the second conductive type included inside the low concentration base region, provided below and separated from the second high concentration base region.
US08314457B2 Non-volatile memory devices
Non-volatile memory devices are provided including a control gate electrode on a substrate; a charge storage insulation layer between the control gate electrode and the substrate; a tunnel insulation layer between the charge storage insulation layer and the substrate; a blocking insulation layer between the charge storage insulation layer and the control gate electrode; and a material layer between the tunnel insulation layer and the blocking insulation layer, the material layer having an energy level constituting a bottom of a potential well.
US08314454B2 Local interconnect having increased misalignment tolerance
A method is provided for forming an interconnect in a semiconductor memory device. The method includes forming a pair of source select transistors on a substrate. A source region is formed in the substrate between the pair of source select transistors. A first inter-layer dielectric is formed between the pair of source select transistors. A mask layer is deposited over the pair of source select transistors and the inter-layer dielectric, where the mask layer defines a local interconnect area between the pair of source select transistors having a width less than a distance between the pair of source select transistors. The semiconductor memory device is etched to remove a portion of the first inter-layer dielectric in the local interconnect area, thereby exposing the source region. A metal contact is formed in the local interconnect area.
US08314448B2 Transistors with immersed contacts
Embodiments of a semiconductor structure include a first current electrode region, a second current electrode region, and a channel region. The channel region is located between the first current electrode region and the second current electrode region, and the channel region is located in a fin structure of the semiconductor structure. A carrier transport in the channel region is generally in a horizontal direction between the first current electrode region and the second current electrode region.
US08314445B2 Plasmonic device, system, and methods
A thin-film plasmonic device including a layer of a conductive material positioned over an array of electrodes of alternating polarity.
US08314433B2 Flexible thermal energy dissipating and light emitting diode mounting arrangement
A flexible thermal energy dissipating and LED mounting arrangement includes a plurality of LEDs and a flexible thermally conductive sheet. The thermally conductive sheet defines a plurality of openings therethrough each sized to receive and securely hold therein a different one of the plurality of LEDs with the flexible thermally conductive sheet about the opening in physical, thermally conductive contact with the at least one side portion of the encapsulating material. The flexible thermally conductive sheet absorbs thermal energy generated within each of the plurality of LEDs as a result of current flow through the LED circuit and rejects the absorbed thermal energy to an ambient environment surrounding the thermally conductive sheet. The flexible thermally conductive sheet is formable to direct radiation from the plurality of LEDs in multiple directions while securely holding each of the plurality of LEDs within a corresponding one of each of the plurality of openings.
US08314425B2 Field-effect transistor using amorphouse oxide
A field-effect transistor includes at least a channel layer, a gate insulating layer, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a gate electrode, which are formed on a substrate. The channel layer is made of an amorphous oxide material that contains at least In and B, and the amorphous oxide material has an element ratio B/(In+B) of 0.05 or higher and 0.29 or lower.
US08314419B2 Light-emitting element, light-emitting device, display, and electronic equipment
Provided is a light-emitting element including a cathode; an anode; a first light-emitting layer that is disposed between the cathode and the anode and emits in a first color; a second light-emitting layer that is disposed between the first light-emitting layer and the cathode and emits in a second color that is different from the first color; and an intermediate layer that is disposed between the first light-emitting layer and the second light-emitting layer so as to be in contact with these layers and has a function of controlling the migration of holes and electrons between the first light-emitting layer and the second light-emitting layer. The intermediate layer is constituted of a first layer that is in contact with the first light-emitting layer and is constituted of a hole-transporting material serving as a main material and a second layer that is in contact with the first layer and also with the second light-emitting layer and is constituted of a material mixture, serving as a main material, of a material having an acene skeleton and a hole-transporting material.
US08314418B2 Electroluminescent organic semiconductor element and a method for repair of an electroluminescent organic semiconductor element
An electroluminescent organic semiconductor element includes a substrate and a first electrode arranged on the substrate. The semiconductor element additionally contains a second electrode and at least one organic layer, which is arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode. The organic layer is a layer that generates light by recombination of charge carriers. At least one of the first and the second electrode contains a highly conductive organic sublayer.
US08314410B2 Combination laser and charged particle beam system
A combined laser and charged particle beam system. A pulsed laser enables milling of a sample at material removal rates several orders of magnitude larger than possible for a focused ion beam. In some embodiments, a scanning electron microscope enables high resolution imaging of the sample during laser processing. In some embodiments, a focused ion beam enables more precise milling of the sample. A method and structure for deactivating the imaging detectors during laser milling enables the removal of imaging artifacts arising from saturation of the detector due to a plasma plume generated by the laser beam. In some embodiments, two types of detectors are employed: type-1 detectors provide high gain imaging during scanning of the sample with an electron or ion beam, while type-2 detectors enable lower gain imaging and endpoint detection during laser milling.
US08314396B2 Portable radiographic image capturing device
A portable radiographic image capturing device has: an image capturing unit at which is provided a radiation surface onto which radiation is irradiated at a time of capturing a radiographic image, and that captures a radiographic image expressed by radiation irradiated onto the radiation surface, and that incorporates therein a radiation detector that outputs electric signals expressing a captured radiographic image; and a control unit that is connected to the image capturing unit, and that incorporates therein a controller that controls image capturing operations of the radiation detector, and that can be changed between an expanded state in which the radiation surface is exposed to an exterior and a housed state in which the control unit covers the radiation surface.
US08314394B1 System and method for three-dimensional imaging using scattering from annihilation coincidence photons
Systems and methods are described herein for performing three-dimensional imaging using backscattered photons generated from a positron-electron annihilation. The systems and methods are implemented using the pair of photons created from a positron-electron annihilation. The trajectory and emission time of one of the photons is detected near the annihilation event. Using this collected data, the trajectory of the second photon can be determined. The second photon is used as a probe photon and is directed towards a target for imaging. The interaction of the second probe photon with the target produces back scattered photons that can be detected and used to create a three-dimensional image of the target. The systems and methods described herein are particularly advantageous because they permit imaging with a system from a single side of the target, as opposed to requiring imaging equipment on both sides of the target.
US08314389B2 Measuring instrument
A measuring instrument includes a housing, a number of infrared light emitting devices, a number of infrared light receiving devices, at least two light sources, and a controller. The housing includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall substantially parallel to the first sidewall. The infrared light emitting devices are positioned on the first sidewall. The infrared light receiving devices are positioned on the second sidewall and receive infrared lights emitted by the infrared light emitting devices. The controller is electrically coupled to the infrared light receiving devices and the light sources. When one of the infrared light receiving devices does not receive infrared light emitted by a corresponding infrared light emitting device, the controller turns the light sources on.