US07681823B2
A positioning rod structure for a single-pull reel which will be positioned upon pulling out of cord from the reel and will restore to its original position if the cord is pulled for a second time. When the cord is pulled for one round, a positioning of the cord is done, and the pulling of the cord provides multi control of the cord, accordingly, the pulling of cord is precisely controlled.
US07681821B2
A fishing reel is provided with an electronic demonstration feature that allows for electronic features of said reel to be activated, but which prevents prospective purchasers from unnecessarily depleting battery life of the device. An on/off switch is provided for selectively closing the circuit. A “try me” switch is also provided for temporarily activating the electronics. The “try me” switch prevents manipulation of the on/off switch into the “on” position but allows for the electronic feature to be temporarily activated. After purchase, the “try me” switch may be is removed to allow the on/off switch to function without interference.
US07681820B2
A method for the disintegration and tribochemical activation of especially inorganic materials having a crystalline structure, wherein the starting materials are comminuted (disintegrated) to a particle size of less than 1 μm by the effect of impacting pressure fronts at a pulse duration of less that 10 μs and a sequence frequency of more than 8 kHz. A conglomerate of activated mixed crystals is then obtained having an increased aptitude for the formation of modified crystals when water is added. The duration of the effect of the impacting pressure fronts continues until the crystal lattice structure of the particles is destroyed. A device for the disintegration and tribochemical activation of said materials is based on rotating disks whereon molded bodies with aerodynamic profiles are arranged, the molded bodies being continuously displaced in a transonic speed range and impacting pressure fronts being produced on the outflow surfaces thereof.
US07681811B2
The invention relates to a nozzle system for a delivery device for liquids, wherein the nozzle system comprises a nozzle and a device which fixes the nozzle in the delivery device. The delivery device, an atomizer, has a liquid reservoir from which a liquid is forced through the nozzle under pressure. The nozzle fixing means may itself be secured by a second fixing, e.g., in the form of a check nut, or the fixing may itself be a check nut. According to the invention the fixing means on the nozzle outlet side has a specific geometry which minimizes the proportion of dispensed liquid deposited on the fixing means. Preferably, the present invention is part of a propellant-free device for nebulizing pharmaceutical liquids.
US07681808B2
A spray device includes an opening gap between a needle-shaped needle tip and a first nozzle hole. The gap is adjusted by a very tiny amount by a needle movement amount adjustment device, and liquid oozes from the first nozzle hole along the needle tip part. The liquid is formed into tiny particles by a first atomization compressed gas flowing through the first atomization compressed gas passage and is exhausted from a second nozzle hole. The exhaust flow passes through a third nozzle hole and is exhausted. The third nozzle's second atomization/eddy flow formation compressed gas collides with this exhaust flow, so the exhaust flow is made into even smaller particles, and swirls and disperses, and is applied to the coated object.
US07681804B2
A temperature-controlled valve allows the flow of water to be terminated automatically when the water flowing through the device reaches a specific temperature. The flow may thereafter be released automatically or manually, depending upon the application. The technology may be used in a variety of contexts, including, for example, stand-alone consumer or commercial valves, embedded applications, and custom-designed valves.
US07681801B2
When an operation-stop instruction is received from an RFID reader/writer, an RFID chip decodes the instruction by a control circuit and conducts the operation-stop instruction. In addition, the RFID chip uses a register which has a write-once function such as an organic memory and does not return to an original state physically if a value is written once as a register which maintains a setting whether there is an operation-stop or not.
US07681795B2
Methods and apparatus for a scanner having a top plate assembly with weight measurement capabilities
Systems and techniques for a scanner having a top plate with an integrated scale. A scanner base mates with a scanner top plate assembly, with the top plate assembly including an integrated scale. The top plate assembly includes a scan window and a scale mechanism. The top plate rests on or is secured to suitable resting points in the scanner base. The top plate suitably receives power, and communicates measurement data to the scanner base, without the use of cables or other connectors whose weight may interfere with accurate reading of weight. A scanner base may be designed so as to accommodate any of a variety of alternative scanner top plate types without reconfiguration, or with a relatively simple reconfiguration of the scanner base.
US07681791B1
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media provide for efficient inventory and information management over a wireless network. A form customized for a specific retail store is received at a wireless data input device. The form is completed and a command to send the completed form to a remote server is received. Stored Global Positioning System (“GPS”) data for the retail store corresponding to the form to be sent is compared to GPS data corresponding to the wireless data input device. If the two GPS coordinates are within a specified threshold distance, the wireless data input device is permitted to send the completed form to the server. If the GPS coordinates are outside the specified threshold distance, the wireless data input device is not permitted to send the completed form.
US07681777B2
In a solder paste formed by blending an alloy powder and a flux, the alloy powder is a powder mixture formed by mixing at least one powder of a Sn—Zn based alloy and at least one powder of a Sn—Ag based alloy. The alloys powders are blended so that the composition of the powder mixture is 5-10 mass % of Zn; 0.005-1.5 mass % of Ag; optionally at least one of 0.002-1.0 mass % of Cu, 0.005-15 mass % of Bi, 0.005-15 mass % of In, and 0.005-1.0 mass % of Sb; and a remainder of Sn.
US07681768B2
A cushioned holder device for holding articles includes an attachment base, configured to be attached to a support structure and a holding member configured to receive and hold an article therein. The holding member is coupled to the attachment base and includes two generally upright arms which collectively define a containment area therebetween. A cushion is associated with the holder at a lower portion of the containment area to provide a cushioned interface between the article and the holder. The cushion includes an upper contact surface and an opposing lower contact surface, with an intermediate riser extending therebetween.
US07681762B2
A device for storing and dispensing fluid substances has at least one container for accommodating fluid substances, at least one outlet tap that is provided on the face of the container, a dispensing element that can be connected with the outlet tap, and a locking element for releasably locking the dispensing element on the outlet tap(s). A guide is provided on the container, in which the locking element is guided in such a manner that it can be transferred, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container, from a first open position in which the dispensing element is released, into a second locking position, in which it surrounds the dispensing element at least in part, to fix it in place on the at least one outlet tap.
US07681757B2
A specially designed flexible tank is installed in a standard 20 foot overseas shipping container or in a standard trucking dry van trailer. A conductive heat serpentine plastic tubing system is also installed underneath the flexible tank allowing heat to liquefy the honey near the bottom discharge location. Nitrogen is introduced through an upper air purging valve and flow is controlled by a regulator allowing tank to stand and not be conducive to cling of product on the roof or the sidewalls and to assist in discharging product without need of a pumping mechanism. Due to the continued shape of the flexible tank there will be very little product loss allowing virtually all product to be expelled. The discharge valve will remain open when the heat is started and this allows the honey to be removed as quickly as it becomes liquid. The method permits bulk shipped honey to be unloaded without substantial increase in HMF levels or air entrainment caused by pumping which could lead to crystallization, and avoids substantial product loss due to clinging on the inside of the tank. The invention also provides substantial labor savings along with freight savings compared to the prior honey industry method of shipping honey in 55 gallon drums.
US07681755B2
A container comprising a snap-in closure disposed between an upper part and a lower part of the container, the snap-in closure having a relatively strong holding or locking force and able to be opened relatively easily. The snap-in closure comprises a snap-in tab constructed out of the wall of one part of the container and detached along three sides, with a snap-in key disposed at the upper free end of the said snap-in closure and able to engage in a coordinated snap-in slit at the opposite container part.
US07681753B2
A pressure container 1 composed of a reinforcing layer 2 and a liner layer 3, with a hydrogen charging pressure of 30 MPa or higher; and a hydrogen absorbing material and a carrier for holding said hydrogen absorbing material (hydrogen absorbing material portion 4) contained in the pressure container 1 are included, and a volume fraction X of the hydrogen absorbing material with αm≧100 kg/m3 with respect to an internal volume of the pressure container 1 is 5(%)≦X≦20(%), where αm denotes a maximum hydrogen absorption amount per unit volume of the hydrogen absorbing material (kg/m3); X=100 ·Vm/Vi (%); Vi is an internal volume of the pressure container (L); and Vm is a volume of the hydrogen absorbing material in the pressure container (L).
US07681752B2
An animal-resistant system for inhibiting access to refuse containers by animals is disclosed. The system comprises at least one latch mechanism, at least one actuation member, at least one shroud member, and a cover defining an opening which permits access to the actuation member. The actuation member communicates with the latch mechanism so as to move the latch mechanism between the latched and unlatched positions. In the latched position, the latch mechanism secures the container lid to the container base, substantially inhibiting access to the container. The access hole and actuation member are dimensioned and positioned on the container in a selected manner so as allow human hands access to the actuation member and unlatch the container while simultaneously inhibiting such access by animals. The shrouds are further configured to inhibit forcible entry into the container when the system is latched.
US07681750B2
The invention relates to a closure for a container that holds a free-flowing product. The container is characterized by the following: a fixed lower part which can be fastened to a container neck that surrounds a container opening in order to seal said neck; a cover comprising a protruding connecting piece that forms a passage for the free-flowing product; a displaceable upper part which can be coaxially displaced on the lower part in and against the direction of the container between an outer resting position and an inner actuating position; a breaker or dish-shaped diaphragm valve which has a base consisting at least of a flexible elastic material and whose upper edge seals the underside of the upper part; perforations in the base of the diaphragm valve which are closed in the testing position of the upper part; and a diameter of the base that is greater than the inner cross section of the connecting piece. The outer end of the connecting piece continuously supports the base of the diaphragm valve, and the latter continuously pre-tensions the upper part in the direction of its resting position in such a way that, when axial pressure is exerted on the upper part in the direction of the container, the diaphragm valve is bent outwards, thus opening the perforations in the base.
US07681737B2
Magnetic separator devices that are useful in separating finely divided solids in the presence of liquids, vapors, and gases that are hazardous, that is, they may be corrosive, flammable, toxic, or a combination of such hazards, and the use of such devices in processes for the manufacture of chlorosilanes.
US07681731B1
A tool box includes a base having a plurality of first recesses and two connection portions are connected on two sides of the base. Each connection portion has an elongate recess defined therein. Two pivotable side portions are pivotably connected to the two connection portions of the base and each side portion has a plurality of second recesses defined therein. The two side portions are sized to cover a top of the base. A space is defined in the base and opens to an end of the base, a slidable portion is slidably received in the space.
US07681727B2
A packet comprises an outer shell (0) and an inner shell (I) connected by a spring member (12). The outer shell (0) defines a cavity for receiving the inner shell (I) and comprises a bottom wall (4B), a front wall (1) and two side walls (3R, 3L) upstanding from respective edges of the bottom wall. The inner shell (I) comprises a front wall (11), a rear wall (7) and two side walls (8R, 8L), the rear wall being connected to the bottom wall of the outer shell. The spring member (12) is hingedly connected by a first hinge (H 1) at a lower portion of the front wall (11) of the inner shell and is hingedly connected by a second hinge (H2) to the inner surface of the front wall of the outer shell. The inner shell (I) is hingedly connected to the outer shell (0) by a third hinge (H3) at the said bottom wall such that the inner shell moves with spring action between closed and open positions.
US07681712B2
In an alignment conveyor apparatus including an input conveyor (1), an output conveyor (2) with a flap sensor (14), a single or a plurality of alignment conveyors (3), a product sensor (12), and a control unit (7), the control unit (7) includes an alignment conveyor controller (71) and an output conveyor controller (72), the alignment conveyor controller (71) includes a product position manager (712), a position correction calculator (713), and a position correction instruction creator (715), the output conveyor controller (72) includes an output conveyor position manager (721).
US07681711B2
A push device, for transferring glass articles from an intermediate supporting plate to an unloading conveyor, has at least one seat for housing an article and which is bounded by at least two flat supporting surfaces converging with each other and forming between them an angle of over 90°; the article being retained close to a convergence area of the flat supporting surfaces by a circuit for feeding compressed air between the flat supporting surfaces.
US07681706B2
The present invention relates to a locking device which has an electromagnet solenoid, and more particularly to a locking device which has an electromagnet solenoid, and which is suitably used in a shift lever lock in a vehicle automatic transmission apparatus. In the present invention the attraction type solenoid is used for controlling the operations of the movable members of the locking device. A locking device is provided in which the movable members of the locking device can be smoothly operated without hindrance, locking and unlocking operations of the locking device are highly reliable, and a harsh operation noise can be prevented by a shock-absorbing member from being produced, and which is simple and compact in configuration, and economical.
US07681705B2
A multiple disc friction clutch comprises a clutch outer for take in power, a clutch hub for take out power, friction plates, a clutch spring pressing a pressing member to the friction plates for connecting the clutch, a spring receiving member supporting the clutch spring, and a coupling hub coupled to the spring receiving member as to be integrally movable. A spline inclined against an output axis is formed in a fitting portion between the coupling hub and a tube shaft, and moves the clutch spring in an axial direction of the tube shaft to a compressing side while relatively rotating the coupling hub against the tube shaft, in the case that an engine drive torque is equal to or more than a predetermined value, thereby increasing a pressing load.
US07681699B2
A self-pumping hydropneumatic vibration damper with internal level control, especially for motor vehicles, has an oil-filled working cylinder under the pressure of at least one gas cushion. The working cylinder is divided into two working spaces by a working piston mounted on a piston rod. A piston pump, which is driven by the sprung movements of the vehicle and thus conveys damping oil from a low-pressure chamber into the working space connected to the high-pressure chamber. The pump cylinder of this piston pump is formed by the hollow piston rod, which connects the working space connected to the high-pressure chamber to the low-pressure chamber. An axially movable stepped pump piston is provided in the pump cylinder.
US07681697B2
An elevator operation control device has a component temperature detecting portion for detecting a temperature of a drive device, and a component-protective operation control portion for restraining an elevator from operating in accordance with the temperature detected by the component temperature detecting portion. Upon detecting a rise in the temperature of the drive device, the component-protective operation control portion changes operation control parameters of the elevator to restrain the elevator from operating and thus stops the rise in the temperature of the drive device before a protection circuit stops the elevator from operating.
US07681684B2
To readily remove on-vehicle components from a vehicle body, suitably reflecting the state of the vehicle or occupant in addition to the will of the operator.The safety confirmation device 11 determines whether or not to permit actuation of the separation actuator 13, that is, whether to set the switch 12 to the ON state to allow an electrical connection from the power supply 14 to the separation actuator 13, based on the signals input from the external input receiving portion 21, the occupant protection device 22, the status quantity sensor 23, and the input portion 24, and outputs a gate signal corresponding to this determination result to the switch 12. Electrification of the separation actuator 13 from the power supply 14 via the switch 12 releases the fixation of an on-vehicle component by disassembling the fixation member that fixes the on-vehicle component to the vehicle body.
US07681681B2
A meter device of a motorcycle decreases wind pressure caused by a travel wind without increased cost or design restrictions. A first portion of the meter device housing is positioned between the indicator portions and is inclined rearwardly upward to be directed above a rider's head. A second portion of the meter device housing is positioned forwardly of the indicator portions and is inclined rearwardly upward to be directed above the rider's head. In this manner, a front wall of the housing is curved in shape such that a central portion thereof in the vehicle width direction is positioned foremost and both sides thereof sweep back to produce a wind protection effect.
US07681680B2
A motorcycle body frame includes a main frame including a head pipe for supporting a front suspension at the front end thereof, a single leading frame portion extending rearwardly from the head pipe, and a rear frame portion for supporting a rear wheel suspension. The rear frame portion extends substantially downwardly from a rear part of the leading frame portion. The main frame, cast from an aluminum alloy, includes two component parts arranged front-to-rear. For example, a front frame portion is provided, and a rear frame portion is fixed to the rear side of the front frame portion. The leading frame portion has a small section portion, where the main frame is smallest in sectional area, disposed substantially centrally in the longitudinal direction thereof. The two component parts of the frame are joined at a coupling portion of the main frame situated in back of the small section portion.
US07681677B2
An intake structure in a fuel cell powered vehicle including a fuel cell using air and hydrogen as fuels, a supercharger for compressing the outside air and outputting the compressed air, a humidifier for humidifying the air compressed by the supercharger, a bypass passage for connecting the supercharger and the fuel cell to each other, and a bypass valve for opening and closing the bypass passage. The bypass valve is disposed on the outside relative to a straight line T1 connecting between the supercharger and the humidifier, and is disposed in the vicinity of the supercharger and the humidifier. With this configuration supercooling of a humidifier can be prevented, while eliminating the need for a warming member for the humidifier. Further, the intake system members can be efficiently arranged in the vehicle, while suppressing the pressure loss in the intake system.
US07681672B2
A cryogenic system is described for boring a small-diameter hole through various materials including rock, soil and stone. It employs a valveless technique in a borehead [3000] where cryogenic fluid [7] fills at least one pulsejet [3100] which has proximal [3001] and distal [3003] ends. The cryogenic fluid [7] is frozen into a plug [8] near the distal end [3003], acting as a valve. Cryogenic fluid [7] just distal to the frozen plug [8] is rapidly heated by thermal units [3510, 3530] causing it to become a rapidly-expanding gas bubble. The rapidly-expanding gas bubble forces any liquid [7] distal to the expanding gas out of the distal end [3003] of each pulsejet [3100] causing it to impact the material [I]. Rapidly repeating this process causes the system to bore a hole through the material [I].
US07681669B2
Polycrystalline diamond inserts are disclosed. For example, a polycrystalline diamond insert may comprise a polycrystalline diamond layer affixed to a substrate at an interface. In addition the polycrystalline diamond layer may comprise: an arcuate exterior surface, a first region including a catalyst and a second region from which the catalyst is at least partially removed. Further, the arcuate exterior surface may be defined by a portion of the first region including the catalyst and a portion of the second region from which the catalyst is at least partially removed. In another embodiment, the polycrystalline diamond layer may include a convex exterior surface for contacting a subterranean formation, wherein at least a portion of a catalyst used for forming the polycrystalline diamond layer is removed from a region of the polycrystalline diamond layer. Subterranean drilling tools (e.g., percussive drill bits) including at least one polycrystalline diamond insert are disclosed.
US07681658B2
A pneumatic impact tool includes a housing, an accumulation chamber, and a piston. The housing defines a longitudinal passageway with a rear end and a front end and a passageway gas port. The accumulation chamber has a accumulation chamber gas port connectable to a gas supply and a inner gas port in fluid communication with the longitudinal passageway. The piston is inserted in the longitudinal passageway and slides between a rest position wherein the piston is juxtaposed to the rear end of the longitudinal passageway and an impact position wherein the piston is juxtaposed to the front end of the longitudinal passageway. The piston moves from the rest position to the impact position when gas is inserted in the longitudinal passageway through the passageway gas port and is propelled therebetween by pressurized gas contained in the accumulation chamber.
US07681653B2
A swelling packer is covered with a material that is preferably in a tubular form and slipped over the swelling element to be shrink fit with applied heat. The material is formulated to break down at temperatures slightly below the expected downhole temperatures so that ideally the packer has about 48 hours of swelling delay which is normally a time period long enough to allow it to be properly located without it swelling so much as to cause it to be damaged by running in. Various polymers can be used to make an imperious covering for run in that on the way starts to break down. Ideally the material for the cover disappears about the time of sealing or shortly thereafter.
US07681652B2
A packer setting device provides a buffered setting mechanism as a substantially incompressible fluid is selectively flowed into a compressible fluid chamber to compress a compressible fluid. This fluid transfer causes movement of a setting sleeve so that an associated packer device is set within a wellbore.
US07681643B2
A process for conditioning of wastewater treatment brines for deep well injection during recovery of heavy hydrocarbon oils in situ. High pressure steam is used to mobilize oil, which is recovered in a mixture of oil and produced water. The produced water is pre-treated by removing residual oil. The remaining water is acidified and steam stripped to remove non-hydroxide alkalinity and non-condensable gases, and is then fed to a crystallizing evaporator, where it is evaporated from a circulating brine slurry to produce (1) a distillate stream having a trace amount of residual solutes, and (2) evaporator blowdown stream containing, as dissolved or suspended solids, substantially all of the solutes from the produced water feed. The distillate stream is used as boiler feedwater, either directly or after polishing. The evaporator blowdown is conditioned to remove substantially all suspended solids and to produce a clear brine solution for deep well injection.
US07681640B2
The present invention provides a screen for a well that utilizes a partial screen wrapping used to advantage with side conduits (e.g., alternate flowpaths), control lines, intelligent completions devices, and the like. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US07681636B2
An expander is provided for radially expanding a tubular element, the expander having an axially forward direction and being provided with thrust means for exerting a thrust force to the expander to move the expander in axially forward direction through the tubular element. The expander comprises an adjustable cone having an expander surface tapering radially inward in the axially forward direction, the adjustable cone being movable between a radially expanded mode and a radially collapsed mode. The expander further comprises adjusting means for moving the adjustable cone from the collapsed mode to the expanded mode by the action of said thrust force exerted to the thrust means.
US07681635B2
An example of a method includes providing a hydrajetting tool in a well bore in a formation; injecting a fluid through the tool into a first region of the formation at a velocity sufficient to form one or more perforation tunnels; maintaining the flow of fluid into the perforation tunnels at a pressure greater than the fracture closure pressure, so as to create one or more fractures in the first region; plugging at least partially the fractures with an isolation fluid; injecting a fluid through the hydrajetting tool into a second region of the formation at a velocity sufficient to form one or more perforation tunnels in the second region; and maintaining the flow of fluid into the perforation tunnels in the second region at a pressure greater than the fracture closure pressure, so as to create one or more fractures in the second region.
US07681629B2
A heat exchange core has a plurality of flat tubes laminated in a thickness direction, each flat tube defining an exhaust gas passage in which the exhaust gas flows. A plurality of coolant flow pass holes are formed in each of the flat tubes, wherein each of the coolant flow pass holes penetrates the flat tube in the thickness direction. The coolant flow pass holes of each flat tube are connected with the coolant flow pass holes of the other flat tubes, in order to respectively form a plurality of coolant flow passages through which liquid coolant flows, and the coolant flow pass holes of each coolant flow passages are communicated with each other in the laminated direction, so that the coolant flow passages are formed to be perpendicular to the exhaust gas passages.
US07681626B2
A continuous casting member causes a final solidification portion to be displaced from a central portion of a cast member to reduce influence of cast defects that may be generated on a plastic worked article. In a continuous casting method for continuously manufacturing a cast member by driving a plurality of rotational molding members disposed to form a casting space, the plurality of rotational molding members are differentiated in temperature. A portion of one of the rotational molding members that starts to come into contact with molten metal can be set to a temperature of [(melting point or liquidus temperature of the metal)×0.35] or more, and the other of the rotational molding members can be cooled.
US07681622B2
A heterogeneous body having ceramic rich cermet regions in a more ductile metal matrix. The heterogeneous bodies are formed by thermal spray operations on metal substrates. The thermal spray operations apply heat to a cermet powder and project it onto a solid substrate. The cermet powder is composed of complex composite particles in which a ceramic-metallic core particle is coated with a matrix precursor. The cermet regions are generally comprised of complex ceramic-metallic composites that correspond approximately to the core particles. The cermet regions are approximately lenticular shaped with an average width that is at least approximately twice the average thickness. The cermet regions are imbedded within the matrix phase and generally isolated from one another. They have obverse and reverse surfaces. The matrix phase is formed from the matrix precursor coating on the core particles. The amount of heat applied during the formation of the heterogeneous body is controlled so that the core particles soften but do not become so fluid that they disperse throughout the matrix phase. The force of the impact on the surface of the substrate tends to flatten them. The flattened cermet regions tend to be approximately aligned with one another in the body.
US07681617B2
A linear multiple feeder for use with an apparatus for automatically positioning surface-mounted devices (SMDs) collected from a tape wound on a reel. The tape has a protective film coating removably attached thereto, for enabling the device to be picked-up. The feeder comprises a support structure, a plurality of reels of tape carrying the device or component rotatably mounted to the structure, motor-driven wheels for retrieving the protective film being detached from the tape to expose those devices or components that are ready for collection, and a plurality of relatively parallel lanes on the support structure. Also provided is a device for forward linear delivery of the tape along the lanes. The lanes are provided with respective elements for separating the film coating entrained axially by the film-retrieving wheels in a direction opposite to that of delivery of the corresponding tape, thereby detaching the film coating from the tape as the latter moves forward.
US07681615B2
A replaceable tow alignment path kit for a tow placement device may include a tow alignment tray to guide a predetermined width of tow along a tow path of a tow placement head. The tow alignment tray may include a channel having a width corresponding to the predetermined width of tow and a connector to releasably engage the tow placement head.
US07681614B2
A run flat support body for a pneumatic tire, including an annular shell and elastic rings, where the elastic rings are composed of a composite elastic material made by compounding reinforcement fillers with an elastic material so as to provide anisotropy to an effect of reinforcement thereof. Additionally, the compressive rigidity of the elastic rings in a radial direction of the tire is made larger than that of unreinforced elastic rings in the radial direction, and the bending rigidity of the elastic rings in an axial direction of the tire is made substantially equal to that of the unreinforced elastic rings in the axial direction. Preferably, the elastic rings include a layered body formed by alternately laminating layers of a composite elastic material in which short fibers are aligned in a circumferential direction and layers of a composite elastic material in which short fibers are aligned in the axial direction.
US07681601B2
An inner casing (10) of a rotating thermal machine, in particular a steam turbine, has essentially the form of a hollow cylinder and is divided in a parting plane (20), which extends through an axis (11) of said casing, into a lower casing part (12) and an upper casing part (13), which casing parts (12, 13) are detachably connected to one another in the parting plane (20). The thermomechanical properties are improved with respect to casings provided with flanges in that the two casing parts (12, 13) have, in the region of the parting plane (20), two overlapping areas (14, 15) which lie opposite one another and in which the two casing parts (12, 13) overlap one another and are detachably connected to one another with overlapping sections (17, 18), in that the two casing parts (12, 13) have a predefined wall thickness (d), and in that the sum of the thicknesses of the overlapping sections (17, 18) is approximately the same as the wall thickness (d) of the two casing parts (12, 13) in the overlapping areas (14, 15).
US07681600B2
The invention relates to a hose made of a thermoplastic polymer comprising a core and a cover provided with a reinforcement, in particular in the form of a multilayer reinforcing structure, wherein each core and cover consists of a thermoplastic polymer and wherein, according to the invention, an intermediate coupling layer is incorporated into the core and/or cover material by welding and is connected in the form of a reinforcement. The appropriated variants of the embodiment of the intermediate coupling layer are also enclosed.
US07681598B2
The disclosure relates to a device for dynamic control of a water flow, including the following items in a body: a feed chamber, a discharge chamber and a piston arranged between the feed chamber and the discharge chamber. The piston can be displaced from a first position, which is offset towards the feed chamber and wherein the piston narrows the flow between the feed chamber and the discharge chamber, and a second position, which is offset towards the discharge chamber and wherein the piston does not narrow the flow between the feed chamber and the discharge chamber.
US07681592B2
Three-way poppet valves having a poppet valve body, first and second poppet valves disposed in a valve guide within the body for motion between first poppet valve open and first poppet valve closed positions, a first poppet valve seat disposed in the poppet valve body so as to have freedom in a plane perpendicular to the poppet valve axis, the first poppet valve, when moving to the closed position, engaging the first poppet valve seat and centering the first poppet valve seat with respect to the first poppet valve, and when in the closed position, holding the first poppet valve seat against the poppet valve body, and a second poppet valve connected with the first poppet valve, the poppet valve body having a second poppet valve seat, the second poppet valve being in the closed position when the first poppet valve is in the open position and being in the open position when the first poppet valve is in the closed position.
US07681591B2
An in-line swivel having a through bore for fluid flow therethrough. In one embodiment, the swivel comprises an inlet member having a first longitudinal axis and an outlet member having a second longitudinal axis. The outlet member is configured to rotate relative to the inlet member. The swivel also comprises a bearing having a third longitudinal axis. The bearing extends through at least a portion of at least one of the inlet member and the outlet member and includes a fluid passage such that the inlet member and the outlet member are in fluid communication through the bearing, and the first axis and the second axis are substantially perpendicular to the third axis.
US07681580B2
A water recirculator in a dishwasher supplies water to spray arms for washing dishes and also purifies contaminated water after washing the dishes. The water recirculator includes a sump for holding water, a water supply pump connected to the sump, a guide passage for guiding a portion of the water pumped by the water supply pump to a spray arm in a washing chamber, a pre-filtering unit for purifying a rest of the water pumped by the water pumped by the water supply pump by means of precipitating contaminants included in the water therein, and a main filtering unit for purifying the rest of the water passed through the pre-filtering unit.
US07681574B2
The functional residual capacity (FRC) value of a subject's lungs determined for each breath is related a volume dilution factor kn and the final FRC value is determined at the point where the volume dilution factor kn reaches a predetermined volume dilution factor value. The determination of the final FRC value can be based on interpolation or extrapolation from a measured breath data series. The volume dilution factor may be normalized value. This is achieved by division of all volume dilution factors with the initially determined volume dilution factor. With normalization, the compartments in which gas concentration change is achieved slowly are referenced with the faster, more effective compartments, thus giving a ventilation profile of the lungs.
US07681569B2
Some embodiments and aspects presented herein provide methods and apparatus for vaporizing and/or mixing medication with air or other gases for oral delivery to a patient. Some methods and apparatus may include breaking liquid medications down to particle sizes no larger than about 1.0 to 3.0 micrometers in diameter. Such small particle diameters can be introduced directly to a patient's bloodstream via the lungs by crossing the alveoli membranes.
US07681562B2
A first current is supplied to a first primary winding of an ignition coil and a second current is supplied to a second primary winding of the ignition coil. A voltage is generated across a secondary winding of the ignition coil and an ignition spark current is generated at a spark plug coupled to the secondary winding. The ignition spark current is based upon the generated voltage and the sum of the first current and the second current.
US07681560B2
The present invention prevents an EGR sensor installed in an engine's EGR path from being soiled by soiling substances in exhaust. A catalyst is positioned upstream of the EGR sensor to purify the soiling substances in EGR gas. The status of the EGR sensor is properly controlled in accordance with the conditions of the catalyst. This ensures the EGR sensor is less likely to be affected by the soiling substances in the exhaust under any circumstances of the EGR path and allows the EGR sensor to avoid a decrease in the accuracy of EGR gas detection. An alternative configuration may be employed such that the EGR gas recirculates from the downstream side of a catalyst installed in a main exhaust path.
US07681556B2
A fuel supply system for supplying a fuel to an engine mounted on an upper frame of heavy construction/forest equipment is provided. The fuel supply system includes a junction tank unit for interflowing a fuel supply line which is connected to a lower end of a primary fuel tank and a fuel supply line which is connected to a lower end of a secondary fuel tank, the fuel supply lines being connected in parallel to each other, a water separator connected to the junction tank unit via a fuel supply line, a fuel supply line for supplying the fuel to an engine from the water separator, and a fuel recovery line for recovering a remaining fuel from the engine to the primary fuel tank.
US07681552B2
An engine ECU executes a program including: the step of increasing a determination value by a correction amount if the number of knock intensities not lower than the determination value is not smaller than a threshold value among knock intensities of a plurality of predetermined number of continuous ignition cycles; and the step of increasing the determination value by a correction amount if the number of knock intensities not smaller than the determination value is not smaller than a threshold value, among knock intensities of a plurality of ignition cycles satisfying the condition that a coefficient of correlation calculated by comparing a vibration waveform and a knock waveform model is not smaller than a threshold value, of the knock intensities of a plurality of predetermined continuous ignition cycles.
US07681542B2
In an adjustment device for adjusting the phase position of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine which includes a hydraulic system for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the adjustment device for the controlled admission to, and release thereof from, operating chambers of the adjustment device under the control of a control device including a control valve, the operating chambers are in communication with one another via control valves to permit flow of hydraulic fluid from one set of operating chambers to another by the varying torques effective on the camshaft or by controlling fluid supply to the operating chambers from the hydraulic fluid supply system.
US07681540B2
Provided is a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine which controls the internal combustion engine in such a manner as to prevent excessive overshoot of an actual phase angle at a time of phase angle feedback control. The control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes: a unit for detecting an actual phase angle of a camshaft based on a crank angle signal and a cam angle signal; a unit for setting a target phase angle of the camshaft based on an operational state; and a unit for performing phase angle feedback control calculation such that the actual phase angle coincides with the target phase angle, to calculate an amount of operation for the hydraulic pressure control solenoid valve, in which: the phase angle feedback control calculation is started for a first time after a KEY is turned ON with an initial value of an integral term set to a predetermined value; the phase angle feedback control calculation is performed using a control gain obtained by multiplying a control gain at a time of normal control when a control difference is equal to or larger than a preset value during the phase angle feedback control; and the phase angle feedback control calculation is performed using the control gain at the time of normal control when the control difference is smaller than the preset value during the phase angle feedback control.
US07681537B2
A system and method for removing gases from an engine coolant system. In one embodiment, the system includes a fluid system that is operable to collects gas, and a gas collection system coupled to the fluid system. The system also includes a venturi pump system coupled to the fluid system and to the collection system, where the venturi pump system is operable to extract the gas from the fluid system via the collection system.
US07681531B2
A system for quantifying or assigning values to habitats and/or species occurring within a geographic site. In one implementation, for example, a baseline habitat value is assigned to a geographic site prior to the performance of a proposed activity impacting the site, such as development or construction. The baseline habitat value is based at least in part on the specific types of habitats found in the site, the number of species found in the site, and the key ecological functions associated with each species. The baseline habitat value can be adjusted to account for the potential presence of invasive plant species within the site. A future habitat value for the site following the performance of the activity also can be determined. A debit value associated with the proposed activity can be determined by subtracting the future habitat value from the baseline habitat value.
US07681530B2
The invention is a zero edge or infinity aquarium for viewing aquatic life. The design offers unobstructed viewing through a smooth lens of water on the sides and the top. The aquarium is constructed of a transparent material and water is circulated over the top of and along the outside of the sidewall before being collected in a gutter and drain box. The top edge and corners of the aquarium are rounded to aid in the flow of water. The water is then returned to the interior of the aquarium via an infeed. The infeed may comprise a sump, pump, piping, valving, and a return outlet. It offers a unique view of the contents as there appears to be no lid, edge, or structure within the water.
US07681523B2
A method for counting somatic cells or fat droplets in milk on-line during milking by an automated or semi-automated milking system comprising the steps of: flowing milk as milked by the milking system through a measuring chamber (59); illuminating milk that flows through the measuring chamber; and recording multiple two-dimensional digital images of illuminated milk that flows through the measuring chamber, wherein the images are recorded through a lens system (49) to preferably obtain a spatial resolution better than about 5 microns in the images. Finally, a somatic cell or fat droplet count score of the milk is determined from the images by means of digital image processing, preferably including the use of neural networks.
US07681520B2
A functional droplet coating apparatus includes a functional droplet discharge head for discharging a functional droplet, a stage for setting thereon a board to be coated with the functional droplet discharged from the functional droplet discharge head, and a drying unit for covering one or entire part of the board set on the stage, the drying unit for drying the functional droplet ejected from the functional droplet discharge head.
US07681519B2
Embodiments relate to an apparatus for coating a photoresist layer and a photolithography method using the apparatus. In embodiments, the apparatus may include a rotatable wafer support for supporting a wafer to be coated with a photoresist layer, a beam nozzle for performing WEE (Wafer Edge Exposure) with respect to a photoresist layer at an edge of the wafer on the wafer support, and a spray nozzle for spraying an alkali solution onto an edge of the wafer exposed through the beam nozzle.
US07681518B2
A method of depositing a coating to a surface of an inflatable component by providing a vacuum chamber system having an inner chamber positioned within an outer chamber. At least one coating material is introduced into at least one of the inner and outer chambers to deposit a coating onto an exposed surface of the component. This invention also provides methods of masking portions of surfaces of an inflatable component to prevent a coating from being deposited on the masked portion.
US07681516B2
A horn includes a base adapted to be mounted to a bar, and a sound-generating unit. The base includes a support member and an elastic connecting member. The support member has a bottom portion adapted to be placed adjacent to the bar, a top portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion, and a hook protruding from the bottom portion. The elastic connecting member has an annular portion fittingly sleeved over the bottom portion of the support member, and a clamping portion extending from the annular portion and adapted to wrap around the bar and be releasably hooked onto the hook. The sound-generating unit includes a hollow horn body sleeved on the top portion of the support member, and a reed member disposed in the horn body and having opposite ends in fluid communication respectively with the air inside and the air outside the horn body.
US07681511B2
System for loading and unloading of hydrocarbons in waters with varying conditions, comprising an icebreaking vessel (10) moored to a sea bed (12) by a turret buoy (11) and where a tanker (16) by at least one hawser (17) is moored with its bow to the aft end of the icebreaker either at a distance from the icebreaker (10) in situations without influence from ice, or in physical contact with the icebreaker in situation when ice is present. The system further comprises at least one hose (24) and valve system for transferring hydrocarbons from the icebreaker (10) to the tanker (16).
US07681510B2
An embroidery frame holding workpiece cloth for embroidery sewing includes a lower frame receiving a lower side of the workpiece cloth and having a cloth clamping side, an upper frame holding the workpiece cloth in cooperation with the lower frame between the frames and having a cloth holding side, a clamp mechanism pressing the upper frame against the lower frame and retaining the upper frame in a pressing state, and a hold assisting member enhancing hold of the workpiece cloth and detachably attached to the cloth holding side of at least one of the upper and lower frames.
US07681482B1
An apparatus comprising a housing having an opening, a connector unit, a moveable door, and a biasing system. The connector unit is located inside the housing. The connector unit is capable of providing an electrical connection to a complementary connector unit. The moveable door is capable of being moved into an open position and a closed position, wherein the closed position covers the opening. The biasing system is capable of aligning the connector unit with the complementary connector unit and causing the connector unit to engage the complimentary connector unit.
US07681476B2
Replaceable structures for use with a fiber stripping device are disclosed. The structures include a blade including an edge with a semi-circular notch having a diameter of about 0.0096 inches for stripping a tight-buffer cable including fiber with a 125 μm diameter and a surrounding coating with a 250 μm diameter, the buffer of 900 μm bonded to the coating. A centering structure aligns the cable horizontally and vertically with respect to a pair of blades. The centering structure includes a body with an offset protruding portion defining a top contact surface acting as a vertical stop for the cable. An elongate groove at a second end of the body extends from the second end toward the first end and includes an open end toward the second end and a closed end toward the first end, a portion of the groove formed by the top contact surface.
US07681474B2
A system for adjustably positioning foot pedals with respect to a vehicle chassis, such as to improve ergonomics or to appropriately space a vehicle occupant with respect to a vehicle safety system. The system includes first and second electromagnetic actuators, first and second controllers, and a device, which may be a switch disposed on the vehicle chassis, provides a signal to change spacing between the vehicle chassis and the plurality of pedals. The first electromagnetic actuator displaces a first pedal with respect to the vehicle chassis, and the second electromagnetic actuator displaces a second pedal with respect to the vehicle chassis. The first controller operates the first electromagnetic actuator in response to the configuration of the device, and the second controller operates the second electromagnetic actuator in response to the first controller operating the first electromagnetic actuator.
US07681468B2
A testing device for roller coaster tracks has a carriage adapted to move along tracks of a roller coaster and at least one multi-axis robot mounted on the carriage. The robot has at least one testing element. The at least one robot has at least six axes and is rotatably supported on the carriage on an axis that is transverse to a plane of the tracks.
US07681467B2
A sampling apparatus for taking a core sample of dense packed fibrous material including: (a) a generally cylindrical sampling tube open on its distal end, wherein the length of the sampling tube is greater than the sample length; (b) at least one exhaust port outside the sampling length adjacent to its proximate end; (c) a ram rod movable from the proximate end to the distal end of the sampling tube for discharging a sample from the sampling tube; and (d) a drive attached to the proximate end of the sampling tube for aiding in sampling.
US07681466B2
A method and a device for removing high priority samples from a primary conveyor and transferring such samples directly to an analyzer's sampling location even if other samples have been previously removed from the conveyor and are in a queue to be analyzed.
US07681463B2
In an electric power assisting system for a vehicle, a control unit receives an input shaft rotation angle detected by an input shaft rotation angle sensor and an output shaft rotation angle detected by an output shaft rotation angle sensor. The control unit controls rotation of a motor based on the detected two rotation angles. The control unit differently controls the rotation of the motor whether torque is applied from a steering wheel side or from a road surface side.
US07681462B2
A test system for measuring a rotary load comprises a stepper motor drives a gear box that is mounted at one end of a frame. A torque sensor provides a measurement signal transmission. The gear box's output shaft is connected to one of the torque sensor's stubs by means of a universal joint coupling. On the other side of the torque sensor a second universal joint coupling connects the sensor to a stainless steel shaft. A low friction flange bearing is used to provide support for the shaft. An angle encoder is disposed on the end of the shaft distal to the gear box. The gear box's output shaft, the torque sensor's cylindrical shaft hubs and associated couplings are arranged such that they are directly aligned with the shaft. The test system has been designed to take automated torque and angle readings from a shaft capable of rotary motion. The measurement arm configuration with the stepper motor directly connects the torque and angle sensors to a PC based data acquisition card for acquisition and processing of data. The system operates according to a method used to make a true torque measurement of a rotary actuated shaft or wheel in a process where a first data set is acquired with the system unloaded as the shaft or wheel is actuated through the defined travel path. The actuation force applied by the stepper motor is accurately controlled through a computer interface. Torque data is measured at each angular step as the wheel is actuated in a first direction. Torque data is then measured at each angular step as the wheel is actuated in the opposite direction. A load is then placed on the test system. With the load on the system, torque data is acquired/measured at each angular step through the defined travel path. Torque data is then measured at each angular step as the wheel is actuated in the opposite direction through the defined travel path. Ultimately, the true torque, i.e. torque less the effects of friction and the system baseline mechanical profile, is determined by adjusting measurement data to virtually eliminate these two effects.
US07681457B2
A micromechanical pressure sensing device includes a silicon support structure, which is configured to provide a plurality of silicon support beams. The device further includes one or more diaphragms attached to and supported by the support beams, and at least one piezoresistive sensing device, which is buried in at least one of the support beams. The piezoresistive sensing device is arranged to sense a strain induced in the silicon support structure, the strain being induced by a fluid in contact with the one or more diaphragms, to determine the pressure acting on the one or more diaphragms.
US07681455B2
A process and device for the reliable monitoring of the current condition of the protective jacket formed of fireproof material, in particular of a rotary tubular kiln burner lance, during operation of the kiln system. A compressed air ring main and/or an annular metal wire loop forming part of an electrical circuit extending around the circumference of the protective jacket are embedded in the fireproof compound of the protective jacket in the area of the burner tip, in which in the event of burning through of the ring main or metal wire loop, a connected pressure sensor or current sensor generates a monitoring signal.
US07681439B2
A measuring apparatus comprising: a reference member held in fixed position and orientation with respect to a workpiece during measurement; a stylus for scanning a surface of the workpiece while being displaced upward and downward in accordance with unevenness of the surface of the workpiece; a displacement gauge for measuring a displacement of a specific part of the stylus relative to the reference member; and a scanner for causing the stylus to scan the workpiece along the surface; wherein the fixed position and orientation of the reference member with respect to the workpiece are not changed even during the operation of the scanner; the up-and-down displacement of the specific part of the stylus is measured relative to the reference member; a fine shape of the workpiece is detected in accordance with the measured displacement of the specific part of the stylus.
US07681432B2
Concepts presented herein relate to a portable device that includes a frame and a fixture for engaging a mechanical probe to be calibrated. The fixture can be a platform of hard material that receives pushing action of the mechanical probe. A displacement sensor senses position of the platform with respect to the frame. An actuator is coupled to the displacement sensor and a controller is coupled to the actuator. The controller operates the actuator to cause the platform to move to a position (as indicated by the displacement sensor), while the force required to cause the displacement is measured with a force sensor.
US07681428B2
A forging method for upsetting end portions of a raw material as diameter expansion scheduled portions includes: providing an upsetting apparatus having a fixing die, guides each having an insertion passage for inserting and holding an end portion of the raw material in a buckling preventing state, and punches each for axially pressing the end portion of the raw material inserted in and held by the insertion passage; inserting end portions of the raw material with the end portions protruded from the fixing die into the insertion passages; and moving the guides in direction opposite to moving direction of the punches such that length of exposed portion of the raw material becomes equal to or less than buckling limit length at cross-sectional area of the exposed portion of the raw material while simultaneously axially pressing the end portions of the raw material with the punches.
US07681413B2
A jewelry product whose ring shank is strengthened after ring sizing by securing a protective reinforcement plate made of a material to a recess in the ring shank. The ring shank is less susceptible to wear from abrasion than is the ring shank. The ring shank may have a decorative portion facing outwardly located diametrically opposite the recessed portion. An insert may be seated about the decorative portion.
US07681410B1
A system, configured to be disposed in a information technology equipment rack for providing ice thermal storage, includes a tank configured to hold water, a heat exchanger disposed in water in the tank and configured to convey a two-phase liquid and vapor refrigerant and to transfer heat between the water and the refrigerant, a first valve connected to a liquid and a vapor refrigerant line and configured to selectively connect the liquid refrigerant line to a first port and the vapor refrigerant line to a second port in a first mode and to connect the liquid refrigerant line to the second port and the vapor refrigerant line to the first port in a second mode, a thermostatic expansion valve connected to an inlet of the heat exchanger, and a liquid/vapor pump connected to an outlet of the heat exchanger and to the second port of the first valve.
US07681406B2
An ice-making system is adapted to operate within a section of a refrigeration appliance where the ice-making system and the ice made in the ice-making system are exposed to a temperature greater than zero degrees Centigrade. When installed in the fresh food compartment of a refrigerator that also has a freezer section compartment, the refrigeration system furnishes a cooling effect to the freezer compartment sufficient to maintain the freezer compartment at a temperature of zero degrees or less and separately furnish to the ice-making unit a cooling effect sufficient to freeze water for making ice in the ice-making unit of the ice-making system. The ice-making system can include a reservoir that is operatively associated with the ice-making unit of the ice-making system for delivering water to the ice-making unit and for receiving water returned from the ice-making unit.
US07681392B2
A hydraulic drive system for storing and releasing hydraulic fluid includes a high pressure storage device, a low pressure storage device, and a pump-motor operating at a range of pump-motor speeds for converting between hydraulic energy and mechanical energy. The pump-motor is disposed between the high pressure device and the low pressure device. In normal operation, the hydraulic drive system enters a motoring mode where hydraulic energy is released from the high pressure storage device and converted to mechanical energy using the pump-motor. It also enters a pumping mode where mechanical energy is converted into hydraulic energy. A neutral state exists where hydraulic energy is neither stored nor released from the high pressure storage device. An approach for facilitating the application of a clutch when it is not a simple on/off mechanism provides an enhanced interface for the conversion between hydraulic energy and mechanical energy, thereby improving efficiency within the hydraulic drive system.
US07681391B2
The invention relates to a hydrodynamic coupling comprising an impeller (1), which propels a drive machine and a turbine wheel (2), which propels a drive machine. The turbine wheel and its rotationally fixed coupling shell (4) form a coupling housing (5). A centrifugal force valve (6) comprising a valve body (6.1) that is actuated using centrifugal force, is located in the outer peripheral region of the coupling housing, said valve being mounted in an outlet (7) for working medium from the working chamber, in such a way that the valve body essentially or completely seals the outlet when the centrifugal force valve is closed and releases said outlet when the valve is open, allowing the working medium to flow out. The valve body of the centrifugal force valve is supplied with working medium exclusively on its radial inner face and its radial outer face is subjected exclusively to the action of an elastic, mechanical pressure element (6.2), which acts in the closing direction of the centrifugal force valve.
US07681378B2
Method and apparatus for filling bags wherein bags are filled one by one with a filling material and thereafter closed by means of an oscillating structure of an ultrasonic welding device. A parameter for the oscillating behavior of the oscillating structure is determined at no-load between closing two bags.
US07681372B2
A door threshold may include upper and lower members for sandwiching carpet and/or carpet padding therebetween. The threshold may, in certain example embodiments, grip the carpet in order to prevent it from being pulled out from between the upper and lower threshold members. Thus, in certain example instances, the need for tacks (or carpet tack strip(s)) proximate the threshold can be reduced and/or eliminated. In certain example embodiments of this invention, the threshold structure may include a locating bracket that is provided proximate the door frame for frame alignment and security purposes, and/or one or more pans located under the threshold for locating and/or securing purposes. Levelers, shims and/or the like may be used in certain example embodiments in order to compensate for non-level flooring proximate the door.
US07681371B2
Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
US07681366B2
A curtain wall anchor system is provided. The curtain wall anchor system has an anchor assembly comprising an anchor for attaching a curtain wall assembly to a building structure. The anchor system further comprises an enclosure for the anchor, wherein the enclosure defines an area adjacent the anchor. The enclosure also has a removable portion for allowing access to the anchor.
US07681365B2
The invention disclosed herein is directed to a fire retardant head-of-wall assembly configured to seal a linear head-of-wall construction joint or gap when exposed to a heat source such as a building fire. The inventive fire retardant head-of-wall assembly comprises a header track having an elongated intumescent strip affixed lengthwise on at least one of the outer sidewall surfaces of the header track. When exposed to a heat source such as a building fire, the intumescent strip is able to expand so as to at least partially fill the head-of-wall construction joint or gap; and in so doing, retard or prevent the spread of smoke and fire. The inventive fire retardant head-of-wall assembly has been certified as complaint with respect to Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.'s standards set forth in its Tests for Fire Resistance of Building Joint Systems—UL 2079.
US07681363B2
The electrically connectable tile module includes a porous substrate having a top side, a bottom side, and at least two side edges. At least one connector is integrated into the porous substrate allowing adjoining electrically connectable tile modules to be electrically connected to the porous substrate. At least one electrical element is disposed over the top side of the porous substrate and electrically connected to the at least one connector.
US07681361B1
An apparatus for bracing a masonry wall that is bowing or has begun to buckle as a result of hydrostatic pressure and/or other forces as may occur with the foundation or basement wall of a building. The wall restraint system includes a vertically disposed beam, which is positioned against a vertical concrete masonry wall and secured in place by a bottom bracket and a top bracket. The beam reinforces the wall and prevents further bowing, buckling, or potentially collapsing of the wall. One end of the beam is secured to the floor by a bottom bracket. The bottom bracket preferably receives the lower end of the beam. The upper end of the beam is secured against the basement wall by a top bracket or offset connector, which in turn is secured to one of the overhead floor joists. The beam may be offset to avoid piping or the like.
US07681360B2
A sash window includes two window frames disposed in lateral juxtaposition and each including a head member, a sill member and a pair of jamb members connected together into a rectangular configuration, and a pair of upper and lower sashes supported within a respective one of the window frames. A sill nose is mounted to exterior sides of the sill members and extends continuously from an outer end of one sill member to an outer end of the other sill member. Each of the upper sashes is fixed to the respective one of the window frames by attachment members.
US07681358B1
A pot cover with a matte finish is formed from a series of layers laminated together. The layer comprise a biaxially oriented film layer having a heat sealable matte finish skin on one side and is laminated to a corona treated side of a polyethylene film interlayer with a heat sealable layer on the other side thereof. An aluminum foil is then laminated to the heat sealable able layer of the interlayer. This laminated product may then be formed under heat and vacuum using coming molding techniques to a most desirable pot cover for flowers or plants.
US07681357B2
The present invention is directed to, a container, multiple arrangements of container and flat/tray pallets, corresponding container/flat/tray/pallet assemblies, an automated pallet assembly/disassembly system, autonomous pallet assembly transfer units, an autonomous pallet assembly transport train, and an integrated automated production system, for use in a horticultural nursery environment for: substantially reducing labor needed to produce; stabilizing of; collecting and shedding broadcast applications to; reflecting desired sunlight to foliage of; reducing root tip heating of; reducing water consumption in growing; reducing wetting of foliage of; controlling excess root growth of; and, reducing weed growth proximal to; spaced potted plants.
US07681351B2
A hydraulic recoil buffer assembly for a firearm having a receiver and a fixed or collapsible stock assembly including an end cylinder adapted to be secured to the pistol grip or receiver of the firearm and slidably translatable with respect to the extension tube, and a hydraulic shock absorption assembly operative to produce a hydraulic resistance to a rearward movement of the end cylinder during recoil of the firearm. The hydraulic shock absorption assembly has an orifice restricted fluid flow passage and a piston head that compresses a return spring as the end cylinder moves rearward against a recoil coil spring. The recoil buffer assembly stores a portion of the recoil energy through compression of the recoil spring and the return spring, and dissipates a portion of the recoil energy through the resistance provided by fluid flow through the orifice restricted flow passage.
US07681346B2
An advertising apparatus including a body portion adapted to be one or both of connected to or disposed on a support structure accessible for advertising purposes and, an interchangeable and/or replaceable advertising device, the advertising device being adapted to be one or both of connected to or disposed on the body portion.
US07681345B2
A system optionally attaches non-reversible, interchangeable fabric, leather, vinyl or other natural or synthetic covering material logo (or advertisement, signage or art) panels to one or more items, such as articles of furniture or personal gear including clothing, sports equipment, and memorabilia frames. The items may include upholstered or non-upholstered sports stadium chairs or other soft-covered items such as leather jackets or golf bags without detracting from their appearance, even if the panel is removed. The panels can also be applied to vehicle seats, public furniture, office furniture, water coolers, or other domestic furniture. The attachment is inconspicuous and hidden from view. Such a logo panel can also cover an area emblazoned with a permanent different logo. These panels can be embroidered sports memorabilia with spaces for actual team member signatures or performer autographs, or they can be corporate logos or promotional advertising panels.
US07681343B2
The invention relates to an ironing appliance comprising an iron (1) and a portable base (2) provided with a surface (21) for setting down the iron (1), said iron comprising a soleplate (10) on which a body with an integrated handle (11) is mounted. The invention is characterised in the base (2) comprises means for immobilising the iron (1), said means engaging with the body of the iron (1) upstream and downstream of the handle (11) in such a way that the entire ironing appliance can be transported by the handle (11) of the iron.
US07681341B2
A hammerless connector pin assembly is insertable in the aligned connector openings in telescoped ground engaging wear and support members and is releasably lockable therein. The inserted assembly has opposite end portions that block removal of the wear member from the support member. Each of the two end portions has a laterally projecting cam member disposed thereon which is positioned within opposite ones of the two opposed wear member connector openings. As the interior surface of the wear member becomes worn from use and is able to shift further rearwardly along the support member, the cam members may simultaneously be rotationally adjusted to maintain contact with the wear member to prevent forward movement thereof away from its rearward shifted position, and then locked in their rotationally adjusted positions.
US07681339B2
A self-propelled snow remover has a machine body, travel units mounted on the machine body to undergo turning movement and linear movement, and at least one steering member mounted to the machine body and operable to turn the travel units. A snow-removing implement is mounted to the machine body to undergo lifting, lowering and rolling movements relative to the machine body. A lift drive mechanism lifts and lowers the snow-removing implement. A control unit controls the lift drive mechanism by issuing a lift drive instruction to the lift drive mechanism so as to automatically lift the snow-removing implement when a steering condition in which the steering member is turned is determined to be satisfied, and by issuing a lowering drive instruction to the lift drive mechanism so as to automatically lower the snow-removing implement when the steering condition is determined to be no longer satisfied.
US07681329B2
In footwear having a permeable top side, an insole and heel associated with its outer sole, an improved circulation system includes a plurality of perforated air channels tanned in the insole, a compressible pump means having an inlet and an outlet located in a cavity in the footwear's heel, a reciprocal ball piston located below the pump means in the heel so the piston extends beyond the base of the heel when heel is not in contact with a walking surface and is operable to actuate the pump when the heel of the footwear engages a walking surface daring the wearer's ambulatory movement, an air passage connecting the inlet of the pump to the plurality of air channels, a second air passage connecting the outlet of the pump with the atmosphere, and one way check valves in each air passage allowing air to flow in only one direction in its associated air passage whereby the cycling of the piston will circulate air though the footwear.
US07681328B2
A system for uniformly delivering treatment compositions to fabrics in a fabric article drying appliance. The system also provides for efficient delivery of treatment compositions to fabrics in a fabric article drying appliance. A method is also provided for the uniform and efficient delivery of treatment compositions to fabrics in fabric article drying appliances.
US07681326B2
In application of a green-house effect, under such a concept as to collect solar energy passively into the house and to exhaust moist air passively from the house, an all weather passive-type solar Ogako drying house which is available for all day through a year was made up improving an agricultural vinyl-house in which Ogako is dried continuously during carriage on the belt conveyors due to solar energy and auxiliary heat, and then moist air yielded when drying Ogako is exhausted through an insulated cylinder. In this case, Ogako means sawdust or tipped small particles of wood which is raw material in order to produce a woody pellet fuel.
US07681322B1
A vehicle wheel alignment system may include wheel alignment sensors configured to measure toe angles of steerable wheels on the vehicle, a user interface configured to communicate information to a user, and a processing system. The processing system may be configured to cause the user interface to communicate instructions to rotate a steering wheel on the vehicle and to communicate centering information that is pertinent to whether the steering wheel is substantially centered with respect to the steerable wheels based at least in part on the toe angles.
US07681316B2
A folding knife includes a handle element, a blade rotatably coupled to the handle element, and a locking mechanism operatively coupled between the blade and the handle element. The locking mechanism includes first and second pairs of toggles positioned, respectively, on first and second sides of the blade, each pair of toggles being configured to move into a locked position when the blade is rotated to an open position. A handle of the knife may include the handle element and the first and second pairs of toggles.
US07681314B2
According to the present invention, a razor cartridge includes a plurality of skin-engaging elements disposed on a frame. The skin engaging elements include at least two or more substantially blades having a sharpened cutting edge, a first inter-blade guard, and a cap. The two or more blades are disposed on the frame in parallel relation to one another. The first inter-blade guard is disposed on the frame between two (2) blades. A rinse-through gap extends across substantially the entire length of the frame between the first inter-blade guard and the blade aft the first inter-blade guard.
US07681302B2
A system and method are disclosed for improving suspension-to-slider attachment in a hard disk drive. A slider having a number of bond pads on its leading edge and a number of bond pads on its trailing edge is to be coupled to a suspension flexure having a number of leading bond pads and a number of trailing bond pads. The slider is to be coupled to the suspension flexure at the leading bond pads and the trailing bond pads by a method such as gold ball, solder ball, or solder bump bonding.
US07681288B1
A child safety buckle used in a child restraint includes structural support and selected materials to resist deformation or failure when subjected to impact or compressive forces. The buckle may have a child resistant feature that is more tolerant to impact or compressive forces due to the structural support and material selection. The structure may include thickened walls or added arcuate portions or ribs. The material can be impact modified nylon to improve durability while resisting deformation and cracking. The resulting buckle design is more robust in harsh environments, while providing consistent operation for restraining a child.
US07681287B2
Cufflink comprising an elongated central part (1), adapted for being inserted in a cuff-hole, a first end part (2) extending from a first extremity of said central part (1) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said central part (1), and a second end part (3) extending from a second extremity of said central part (1) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said central part (1). At least one of said first and second end parts (2, 3) comprises a mobile locking element (20, 30, 23, 33) connected to it, and having an extended locked position and a retracted unlocked position, said locking element (20, 30, 23, 33) protruding or rotating from said end part (2, 3) beyond the corresponding extremity of said central part (1) in the locked position.
US07681283B2
A hinge assembly comprising a movable member 5 and a fixed member 6 rotatably connected to each other and a coiled spring (not shown) biasing the movable member 5 toward the fixed member 6. A receiving recess 11 is formed in an opposing surface 5b of the movable member 5 facing the fixed member 6. A spherical body 8 is received in the receiving recess 11 such that the spherical body 8 is movable in a circumferential direction of the movable member 5. A first cam portion 13a is formed in an opposing surface of the fixed member 6 facing the movable member 5. Rotation of the movable member 5 in a direction of an arrow causes the cam portion 13a to be abutted against the spherical body 8. The cam portion 13a converts a biasing force of the coiled spring into a rotational biasing force. The rotational biasing force causes the spherical body 8 to be rapidly abutted against a first hitting portion 11a of the receiving recess 11 and thereby to generate a clicking sound.
US07681282B2
A hinge assembly (26) includes a first hinge shoulder (262), a second hinge shoulder (264), a hinge sleeve positioned (266) between the first hinge shoulder and the second hinge shoulder, a hinge (268) pivotably connecting the first hinge shoulder to the hinge sleeve, and a ceramic bushing (269) pivotably connecting the second hinge shoulder to the hinge sleeve.
US07681280B2
A platform mounted drive train for a professional carpet and floor cleaner system, the platform mounted drive train being formed of a rigid platform; a power plant having two spaced apart mounting structures secured to the rigid platform; a vacuum blower having one mounting structure secured to the rigid platform; a rigid structural connector coupled between the power plant and the vacuum blower for rigidly securing the vacuum blower in fixed lateral, angular and rotational alignment with the power plant; and a coupler assembly interfaced between an output drive of the power plant and an input drive of the vacuum blower. The drive train is optionally mounted using one or more vibration isolators.
US07681278B2
An apparatus main body having wheels and configured to run on a floor includes an electrolysis device, which electrolyzes a cleaning water to alkaline water and acid water. A pressurizing pump selectively sucks and pressurizes the alkaline water or acid water obtained by electrolysis by the electrolysis device. A spray nozzle mechanism sprays the cleaning water comprising the alkaline water or acid water pressurized by the pressurizing pump on the floor. A suction nozzle is mounted behind the spray nozzle mechanism in the apparatus main body and is opened to the floor. A suction mechanism sucks the cleaning water sprayed on the floor together with a contaminant. A reservoir tank, which is mounted in the apparatus main body, stores the sucked cleaning water together with the contaminant.
US07681269B2
A unique support surface that provides a controllable inflation system, and a turning bladder structure for turning a patient quickly for the application of a nursing protocol. The support surface includes air cell arrays and turning bladders which are used to turn the patient in either direction under control of the medical practitioner. The air cell arrays can be arranged longitudinally or laterally. The multiple turning bladders are preferably formed with a unique butterfly shape that minimizes the amount of air required to inflate, which then results in high-speed turning of the patient.
US07681258B2
A device for anchoring accessories to a surface of a tub has a fluid injection jet. The device comprises a connector adapted to be connected to an accessory. An anchor is interconnected to the connector, and is adapted to be connected to the fluid injection jet. A fluid passage is formed in the device so as to enable fluid to be injected therethrough and into the tub when the anchor is connected to the fluid injection jet. A method of anchoring accessories is also provided.
US07681255B2
A tactical pair of pants for police, military or other weapon-carrying personnel has a cargo pocket system that functions to store items in several pocket compartments in a normal cargo pocket configuration, or to carry a thigh rig holster for a pistol, in a dedicated position between cargo pocket compartments without blocking access to the pocket compartments.
US07681253B2
This present invention is for cooling the forehead, face and armpit of a person or imparting cool feeling.The cooling member comprises a water-absorbing material sheet sandwiched between a flexible planar material provided with a ventilation means, having an adequate hardness, and capable of holding its shape, capable of being bent in a predetermined direction and in the reverse direction a plurality of times, and having a curvature in the predetermined direction and backing cloth having a similar area and a means for dividing the water-absorbing material sheet into parts each having an adequate area corresponding to a vent in such a way that water absorbed in the water absorbing material sheet does not flow out easily into adjacent parts and is used for cooling by allowing the water absorbing material sheet to absorb water and by using its heat of evaporation to cool the surroundings.The cooling member constitutes a brim portion of a hat, a sun visor or the like, or a pad portion for the forehead, face or armpit of the person and provides a means for imparting a cool feeling to each heat generating portion of the human body.As preparation for use, the cooling member is dipped into water and bent by applying a force reversely to the curvature in the predetermined direction. Consequently, excess water and water drops are squeezed out easily and uniformly with only the cooling member without wetting the hand of the person.
US07681252B1
A continuous loop, elastomeric band for encircling a portion of a user's head, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises a main body including a center hub and a plurality of curved fins, each fin having a curved shape tapering to an outer tip and at least one pair of adjacent fins cooperatively defining a moisture-collecting channel. Each fin includes a convex side and opposite thereto a concave side. The moisture-collecting channel being defined by the convex side of one fin and the concave side of an adjacent fin.
US07685641B1
A method for producing a copy-protected audio compact disc containing a plurality of symbols within error-correction codewords, representing audio data samples of an audio signal is provided. The method includes the steps of selecting at least one audio data sample of the audio signal (1415); locating the data symbols representing audio data sample (1420); overwriting symbols with erroneous symbols (1440); locating the error-correction codewords associated with the data symbols and disabling the error-correction of said error-correction codewords (1455).
US07685636B2
A protected content distribution system utilizes media-based copy protection to support online distribution of protected content in a secure and legitimate fashion. Using a media-based copy protection scheme based on broadcast encryption, the protected content distribution system realizes online distribution of protected content such as, for example audio files, movies, etc, authorizing consumption of unlicensed content by transfer of a unique encrypted key to the protected media. This transaction is fast, involving the transfer of an encrypted binding key rather than the protected content. Content is enabled through a unique encrypted key on protected media accessed through a device separate from the media driver.
US07685635B2
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a multi-level virtualizer that is designed to remove much of the intercept-related functionality from the base-level virtualizer (that exists outside of each partition) and, instead, incorporate much of this functionality directly into each partition. For several of the embodiments, certain intercept handling functions are performed by an “external monitor” that runs within a partition and responds to specific intercept events, and the base-level virtualizer installs these external monitors within each partition and thereafter manages the external monitors for both single-partition and cross-partition intercept events. This distributed approach to intercept handling allows for a much less complex virtualizer and moves the intercept functionality up into each partition where each external monitor uses the resources of the corresponding guest operating system in that partition to resolve the intercept event.
US07685629B1
A method of authenticating users to reduce transaction risks includes indicating a desire to conduct a transaction and determining whether the transaction requires access to protected resources. Moreover, the method determines whether inputted information is known, determines a state of a communications device when the inputted information is known, and transmits a biometric authentication request from a server to an authentication system when the state of the communications device is enrolled. Additionally, the method includes validating the communications device, capturing biometric authentication data in accordance with a biometric authentication data capture request with the communications device, biometrically authenticating the user, generating a one-time pass-phrase and storing the one-time pass-phrase on the authentication system when the user is authenticated, comparing the transmitted one-time pass-phrase against the stored one-time pass-phrase, and granting access to the protected resources when the transmitted and stored one-time pass-phrases match.
US07685628B2
An access path management method for a storage network system where a plurality of paths are formed between a data storage system and a host computer which uses the data storage system, an integrated management server monitors port resources constantly. When a port overloads or when a failure occurs in a port, a previously unavailable port is made available and then an access path passing through this port is created to thereby secure a necessary bandwidth. When the load on a port is reduced, an access path that passes through this port is deleted to free a part of the bandwidth, and then the port that is currently in use is invalidated. A license management server for managing how the ports are used, charges by counting in only the length of time during which the port is in use.
US07685615B2
According to the invention, in the method of receiving broadcast television signals: a main component (C1) is received (E6) in a multimedia receiver terminal (T); a secondary component (C2) is acquired (E5) in the multimedia receiver terminal (T) via a remote computer network (R), main time stamps (TSFCS1) referenced to a predetermined reference time (TSFCS10) being inserted beforehand into the main component (C1), and secondary time stamps (TSFCS2) referenced to said predetermined reference time (TSFCS10) being inserted into the secondary component (C2) prior to reproduction, the time stamps marking content reproduction advance; and the received main component (C1) and the acquired secondary component (C2) are reproduced (E6) on the multimedia receiver terminal (T) in compliance with the chronology of the secondary time stamps and the main time stamps, to reproduce for the user a coherent audiovisual content made up both of the main component (C1) and of the secondary component (C2).
US07685612B2
To provide a disk apparatus including a disk guide for guiding movement of a disk in a disk insertion direction; wherein the disk guide includes a platy guide member, a convex portion provided in vicinity of opposite ends of a platy guide member, and an engagement portion disposed on the same surface as the convex portion of the guide member. By engaging and fixing the engagement portion to a platy disk guide fixing member, which is disposed in a chassis of the disk apparatus, and bringing into contact with the convex portion on this platy disk guide fixing member, the disk guide is inclined in a direction far from the disk fixing member with an inclined angle increased from the center part of the guide member toward respective ends and the disk guide brings into contact with only an outer circumferential portion of the disk in inserting.
US07685605B1
In a workstation environment, several applications operate concurrently and it is desirable to communicate between applications. The present invention provides an apparatus for communicating between applications by using an extensible communication protocol with a graphical user interface. The user transmits an interest object associated with an event from a second application to a server, which forwards the interest object to a first application. When the first application practices the event, information concerning the practice of the event is transmitted from the first application to the second application without going through the server.
US07685604B2
A method for capturing and converting legacy applications into a Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) model supporting a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), the method comprising: starting a recorder for recording the legacy applications; mapping the plurality of variables of the legacy applications to a plurality of fields and to a plurality of sub-fields of the BPEL model; highlighting and identifying the plurality of fields and the plurality of sub-fields; identifying and generating partner links; identifying additional input variables of the legacy applications; mapping the additional input variables of the legacy applications to arbitrary variables; repeating the previous steps until an end result is generated; and ending the recorder.
US07685603B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for selecting client adapters. A client abstraction layer identifies one or more selection data elements in a client request and selects an adapter to communicate with the client based on the selection data elements, wherein each selection data element specifies an adapter type, a client type, or data describing the client. The adapter can be selected based on a multi-stage selection process that involves performing an adapter-request process for selecting an adapter based on the selection data elements that specify the adapter type; if the adapter-request process fails to select an adapter, performing a client-identification process for selecting an adapter based on the selection data elements that specify the client type; and if the client-identification process fails to select an adapter, performing a client-description process for selecting an adapter based on the selection data elements that specify data describing the client.
US07685598B1
Systems and methods of providing a desktop framework. The desktop framework may include an application framework component that includes a set of core libraries that provide desktop applications access to data and services, a download component that maintains versions of the desktop applications and core libraries installed on a computer, and a license component that tracks data use and access. The application framework exposes APIs to provide the desktop applications with access to the data and services. The application framework serves as a platform upon which the desktop applications share common data and logic.
US07685591B2
An integrated application setup enables the implementation of application customizations through patch technology. A customization patch extends a typical patch file format such that the customization patch serves as a container for application customization data useful for customizing an application using different underlying technologies. The contents of the customization patch can include transforms, cabinet files, and XML content containing customization information.
US07685586B1
Global escape analysis using instantiated type analysis (ITA) is applied to a method of an object-oriented application to analyze control flow beginning with an invocation of the method. The instantiated type analysis methodology (inter-procedural control flow analysis) tracks instantiated objects, following both the flow of execution and the flow of these objects throughout the method invocations and field instances of the software, ultimately determining which instantiated objects do not escape. Not all method invocations must be followed and therefore a closed system is not required. This ITA algorithm has been enhanced for the purposes of escape analysis, so that is well-suited for runtime environments in which classes are loosely specified, or in circumstances in which a subset of a program is unavailable.
US07685584B1
A system and method for the analysis of putative switch tables in position-independent binary code. The method includes defining a block of data as a potential switch table by computing one or more switch targets. The switch targets are computed by, determining the reference address (point) of the switch table, determining the size of the entry in the switch table and determining the target address by adding the value of the entry to the reference address wherein said reference address and said target address define a selected block of data. The method also includes evaluating the selected block of data as a potential switch table and determining the best value and the best split for a selected block of data. The method also includes determining the best list of switch tables from a selected block of data.
US07685582B2
A system and method for providing looping constructs to an object model where the looping construct is contained within a child object of a parent object. The system and method further provides for an enumerator to map between indexes representing a collection of objects to a child object comprising a looping construct, and thereby enabling iterations for each variable of the collection of objects.
US07685575B1
A method for analyzing an application involving obtaining a thread dump of a plurality of threads executing the application, analyzing the thread dump to obtain a result using an aggregation mechanism, and determining a potential error location in source code of the application using the result.
US07685571B2
Described herein are methods and systems for interactively configuring and producing a data domain for various data structure elements of a computer program. A domain configuration manager is described which interactively receives domain configuration information corresponding to a data structure element, reads a reflection of the program and produces a data domain according to domain configuration information. The domain configuration manager is capable of producing a data domain for a data structure element according to such domain configuration information such as an explicit expression, inheritance or domain generation technique. The reflection of the computer program exposes the methods and functions of the program to be used in the explicit expression regardless of the visibility rules. Also, predicates and conditions can be used with domain generation techniques to further narrowly configure the data domains.
US07685568B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing services by an application server, the method including collecting a request from a consumer software component for a service from a provider software component, and checking the request against a set of semantic descriptions in a manifest of methods provided by objects in the provider software component.
US07685565B1
Systems, methods, and computer program products for reconfiguring computer instructions to accelerate a given instruction set. At run time, during the loading of a class (in the context of objected oriented programming, for example), method invocations that have arguments that meet certain conditions are replaced by faster processing methods, which are made available in a support class that replaces the originally invoked class. In one embodiment, conditions to be met by arguments include that an argument refer to a constant value, be at a specified position in an argument list, or exhibit a pre-determined pattern, form, or type (e.g., be an alpha-numeric string only, an integer in a given range, or a specific integer).
US07685555B1
Within an Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tool, a method of macro inference can include translating a hardware description language (HDL) template into a macro template and translating a circuit design into a format corresponding to the macro template. The method further can include matching a portion of the translated circuit design with the macro template and replacing the portion of the circuit design matching the macro template with a macro associated with the macro template. The resulting updated circuit design is then output, e.g., to a user, a computer file, or another EDA tool.
US07685540B1
As circuit sizes have increased, designs have become increasingly hierarchical. It is common for designs to have large numbers of macro blocks; many of these blocks are “soft,” and may have variable width and height. The present invention provides an alternate method to handle designs with large numbers of blocks. Rather than approaching them as expanded floorplanning, the problems are re-cast as traditional mixed size placement, and many macro blocks are treated as standard cells. Using existing mixed size placement tools, the superior reported are obtained. First, an effective “standard block design” methodology is provided. Second, new mixed size placement legalization algorithms that are more robust than the widely-used mixed-size Tetris algorithm is presented.
US07685514B1
A web browser application program provides graphical print techniques, which allow the user to control how a web page is presented. The data processing system, under instruction of a program, responds to an instruction by the user to present a selected portion of a first document by creating a new document from the first document including the header, trailer, and the selected portion. The data processing system responds to an instruction by the user to change the font size of a selected portion of the first document by creating a copy of the first document and modifying or inserting font tags within the copy of the document. The data processing system responds to an instruction by the user to present the first document with page break indicators by creating a copy of the first document and inserting page break indicators within the copy to be presented to the user. The graphical print techniques may also be used together.
US07685510B2
In a system and method for grouping data, a processor may, with reference to metadata identifying relationships between sets of data to be displayed in columns of a table, generate a display template from the identified relationships, the template defining that related columns of data are presented adjacent to each other in groups and defining which types of graphical demarcations to display, may search among records corresponding to rows of the table to be displayed for records that satisfy a search criterion, and may display a table according to the display template, rows of the table arranged to display the records that satisfy the search criteria in a group separate from the other records.
US07685507B2
Editing query conditions, calculations, formulas and equations, or any other parts of a form includes providing a hyperlink for an element in the form to indicate to a user that a control is available for the element. Upon a selection of the hyperlink by the user, the control is presented for user interaction. Upon completion of user interaction with the control, the element is replaced with a new element responsive to user action. The control can be a list of choices, such as a pull-down menu, a dialog box, or a text entry field. The hyperlink can be color coded and underlined.
US07685502B2
An LDPC decoder has a determined number of processing units operating in parallel. Storage circuitry contains first words having a juxtaposition of a first type of message. The storage circuitry also contains second words having a juxtaposition of a second type of message. A message provision unit provides each processing unit with the messages. A message write unit may write words into the storage circuitry in a way that depends on the contents of the words. The message provision unit may provide data in a way that depends on the contents of the words.
US07685495B2
An apparatus and method for interleaving systematic bits and parity bits to generate an output sequence that can be transmitted in multi-slot packets from a base station to a remote station in a wireless communication system. The apparatus comprises a memory element and a control element coupled to the memory element, wherein the control element is configured to demultiplex the systematic bits and parity bits into sequences, wherein the systematic bits and parity bits are sequentially distributed among the sequences. The control element is further configured to reorder the sequences based on an index set, to group the sequences into segments and to interleave each of the segments forming matrices having elements. The control element is also configured to modulate the elements of the matrices, and to truncate the modulated elements of each matrix, so as to produce the output sequence which comprises truncated modulating elements from each matrix of the matrices.
US07685494B1
An error rate sensitive error correction (ERSEC) system that applies a level of error correction that is inversely related to susceptibility to error as indicated by a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) profile of a channel. The SNR profile is estimated, detected or retrieved from an external source. The ERSEC system can be used with any channel for which the SNRs vary spatially, temporally or both.
US07685487B1
Various embodiments of methods and systems for simultaneously testing multiple cores included in an integrated circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit may include two or more logic cores. The IC may also include structural scan test hardware coupled to the cores. This structural scan test hardware may be capable of inputting scan test vector data into scan registers associated with each of the logic cores, simultaneously executing a scan test on the logic cores included in the IC, and outputting the results of the scan tests for multiple cores to automated test equipment (ATE) simultaneously. In one embodiment, elements of the results of testing for multiple cores may be interleaved on a single output line such that an element of test result data from each core is present on an input channel to the ATE during each strobe window.
US07685482B2
An integrated circuit comprising: at least one test input for receiving test data; test control circuitry between the at least one test input and circuitry to be tested; wherein the test data is clocked in on a rising clock edge and a falling clock edge.
US07685471B2
A method for detecting software defects includes selecting from a target program comprising a plurality of modules a first module for evaluation and isolating the first module. The method also includes iteratively performing the following steps until the first module has been reduced such that a validation program is able to determine whether the first module contains a defect: generating an environment surrounding the first module, the generated environment preserving at least one external constraint on the first module; reducing the size of the first module; and reducing the number of program states associated with the first module.
US07685455B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit is provided in which the timing margin for fetching data is prevented from being reduced even in the case where the duty ratio of a clock signal is different from 50%. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a clock input terminal for receiving a clock signal; a data input terminal for receiving a data signal; internal clock generating circuits for generating an internal clock signal which is switched at an intermediate timing between the i-th (i: an integer of 1 or larger) switch timing and the (i+1)th switch timing of the clock signal; and a latch circuit for latching the data signal synchronously with the internal clock signal. An internal clock signal which is switched at an intermediate timing between the i-th switch timing and the (i+1)th switch timing of the clock signal is generated, and the data signal is fetched synchronously with the internal clock signal.
US07685450B2
A system and method for monitoring usage of peripheral devices and placing a second peripheral device in a low power state when the usage indicates that a second peripheral device is not being used. For example, if a computer system detects that a user's current typing rate indicates the user probably has both hands on a keyboard, the computer system may generate a signal to the computer mouse to enter a low power state. The computer system may use prior usage for a user to determine when current usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not being used. After the second peripheral device is placed in a low power state, the computer system may generate a signal to the second peripheral device to return to a normal power state when the computer system determines that the user no longer has both hands occupied.
US07685449B2
A disclosed communication device performs bidirectional serial communication by using a clock line and a data line. The communication device includes a starting condition detecting unit configured to detect a communication starting condition based on levels of the clock line and the data line and generate, in response to detecting the communication starting condition, a wake up signal for waking up another circuit in the communication device from a standby status; a clock sending/receiving unit connected to the clock line and configured to send/receive a clock signal; and an output control unit configured to fix the clock line at a predetermined level by using the clock sending/receiving unit so as to suspend the bidirectional serial communication after the wake up signal is received from the starting condition detecting unit and until a standby status cancel instruction indicating that the other circuit has woken up from the standby status is received from the other circuit. The bidirectional serial communication is performed with another communication device via the clock line and the data line after the other circuit has woken up.
US07685438B2
A tamper-resistant packaging approach protects an integrated circuit (100) from undesirable access. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, data is encrypted as a function of the state of a plurality of magnetically-responsive circuit elements (130-135) and then decrypted as a function of the state (130-135). A package (106) is arranged to prevent access to the integrated circuit and having magnetic particles (120-125) therein. The magnetic particles (120-125) are arranged to cause the magnetically-responsive circuit elements (130-135) to take on a state that is used to encrypt the data. The state of these elements is again accordingly used to decrypt the data (e.g., as a key). When the magnetic particles are altered, for example, by removing a portion of the package, the state of one or more of the magnetically-responsive circuit elements is changed, thus rendering the state incapable of being used for decrypting the data.
US07685437B2
A client-server relational database system includes a client computer connected to a server computer via a network. Data from the client computer is encrypted by the client computer and hosted by the server computer. The encrypted data is operated upon by the server computer to produce an intermediate results set. The intermediate results set is sent from the server computer to the client computer where it is operated upon by the client computer and then returned to the server computer where it is further operated upon by the server computer before being sent again from the server computer to the client computer in order to produce actual results.
US07685436B2
A security processor performs all or substantially all security and network processing to provide a secure I/O interface system to protect computing hardware from unauthorized access or attack. The security processor sends and receives all incoming and outgoing data packets for a host device and includes a packet engine, coupled to a local data bus, to process the incoming and outgoing packets. The processor further comprises a cryptographic core coupled to the packet engine to provide encryption and decryption processing for packets processed by the packet engine. The packet engine also handles classification processing for the incoming and outgoing packets. A modulo engine may be coupled to the local data bus.
US07685434B2
The invention relates to a network interface system for interfacing a host system with a network. The network interface system includes a bus interface system, a media access control system, and a security system. The network interface offloads IPsec processing from the host processor. According to the invention, the security system includes two processors for encrypting and authenticating the outgoing data. Outgoing data packets are sent alternately to one or the other processor, whereby transmission processing can be accelerated relative to receive processing.
US07685431B1
System and method for determining crackability of a password in real time. The system and method include and involve a server system that serves a software package, and a client system that is coupled to the server system. The client system is configured to receive the software package. The software package includes a password entry facility permitting a user to enter a password candidate string one character at a time, and a strength determination facility configured to communicate with the password entry facility and to determine the crackability of the password candidate in real time repeatedly as each character of the password candidate string is entered into the password entry facility.
US07685425B1
A server computer storing computer files, each computer file having an associated unique digital signature, receiving requests for access to one or more such computer files, only allows access to the or each computer file if their associated digital signatures are valid. Thus, if a computer file has been tampered with by an unauthorized third party, the digital signature associated with that computer file will prove to be invalid when checked and the server computer will not serve the computer file at all. In this way, a computer file that has been tampered with can never leave the server computer, much improving the security of the stored computer files.
US07685422B2
An information processing apparatus has an authentication/key exchange unit, a round trip time measuring unit, a common key transmitter, a contents key transmitter and a contents transmitter. The round trip time measuring unit sends a round trip time measuring request generated to the communication apparatus through the first communication connection to measure the round trip time, and check whether the measured round trip time is within a predetermined time and whether a transmitting source of the round trip request response is the communication apparatus sharing the first key. The common key transmitter encrypts a second key used for contents transmission by using the first key and transmits the encrypted second key through the first communication connection when the round trip time measuring unit succeeds in the checking. The contents transmitter encrypts the contents requested by the communication apparatus by using the second key and sends the encrypted contents to the communication apparatus through the second communication connection.
US07685420B2
Methods and apparatus for improving the resilience of wireless packet-switched networks to Layer-2 attacks is provided via a lightweight mechanism for detecting spoofed frames. The mechanism enables a receiving node to detect spoofed frames from information contained in cookies sent with frames. A first cookie, containing initial information, is sent to the receiving station from the transmitting node along with the first frame of a frame set. For each received frame, spoofing detection includes applying a function to information received via a corresponding cookie received with the subject frame, the result of which function is compared with information received via a previous cookie. The validity of the subject frame is asserted if the result of applying the function to information received in the corresponding subject cookie correlates with previous or initial information received in a previous or the first cookie, respectively. An exemplary implementation includes using a one-way hashing function. Advantages are derived from a low computational overhead in effecting spoofed frame detection and from an ability of the proposed solution to co-exist with other standardized security mechanisms.
US07685407B2
The present invention is to provide a semiconductor device that can correctly switch endians on the outside even if the endian of a parallel interface is not recognized on the outside. The semiconductor device includes a switching circuit and a first register. The switching circuit switches between whether a parallel interface with the outside is to be used as a big endian or a little endian. A first register holds control data of the switching circuit. The switching circuit regards the parallel interface as the little endian when first predetermined control information, that is unchanged in the values of specific bit positions even if its high-order and low-order bit positions are transposed, is supplied to the first register, and regards the parallel interface as the big endian when second predetermined control information, that is unchanged in the values of specific bit positions even if its high-order and low-order bit positions are transposed, is supplied to the first register. Whatever the endian setting status, the control information can be correctly inputted without being influenced by the endian setting status.
US07685406B2
A technique for reducing stack pointer adjustment operations when stack dependent operations, which correspond to stack dependent instructions, are encountered includes setting a stack pointer to an initial value for a stack. A number of bytes associated with the stack dependent operation is determined. A stack pointer delta is then modified based upon the number of bytes associated with the stack dependent operation. A current location in the stack is determined based on the stack pointer and the stack pointer delta.
US07685402B2
A register system for a data processor which operates in a plurality of modes. The register system provides multiple, identical banks of register sets, the data processor controlling access such that instructions and processes need not specify any given bank. An integer register set includes first (RA[23:0]) and second (RA[31:24]) subsets, and a shadow subset (RT[31:24]). While the data processor is in a first mode, instructions access the first and second subsets. While the data processor is in a second mode, instructions may access the first subset, but any attempts to access the second subset are re-routed to the shadow subset instead, transparently to the instructions, allowing system routines to seemingly use the second subset without having to save and restore data which user routines have written to the second subset. A re-typable register set provides integer width data and floating point width data in response to integer instructions and floating point instructions, respectively. Boolean comparison instructions specify particular integer or floating point registers for source data to be compared, and specify a particular Boolean register for the result, so there are no dedicated, fixed-location status flags. Boolean combinational instructions combine specified Boolean registers, for performing complex Boolean comparisons without intervening conditional branch instructions, to minimize pipeline disruption.
US07685396B2
A method for managing the allocation of memory to one or more applications. The method includes allocating a variety of fixed size memory blocks to a requesting application, each of the fixed size memory blocks being free of header information to maximize memory usage. Free, or unused blocks of data of the same fixed size are maintained in a freelist having a number of block roots corresponding to the number of differently fixed size memory blocks. Each block root stores a root pointer to an unused memory block previously allocated to the application. To conserve memory, each unused memory block will store branch pointers to other identically sized unused memory blocks, thereby forming a sequential chain of unused memory blocks with the block root. Therefore, applications requesting the same sized memory block can re-use previously allocated fixed size memory blocks.
US07685394B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed in which a storage device controller is arranged to use a set of sequential physical block addresses on a storage device as a single logical block address.
US07685390B2
A storage system where storage devices themselves have WORM functionality that can be set at any time. The storage system includes storage devices, and a controller for controlling data transmission between the storage devices and an information processor. Each storage device has a storage cell and a fuse at a midpoint on a write control line, and the controller applies a voltage to the fuse to blow it to set WORM for the storage cell.
US07685378B2
In a storage system implementing journaling for data backup and restore, users are able to easily determine information regarding amounts journal data generated over specified periods of time. Flexible and automatic adjustment of the journal area is enabled by providing the user with the information on the relationships between the amounts of journal data generated over periods of time. Also dynamic allocation of storage capacity from free space may be applied to the journal volume on an as-needed basis, and may be used to minimize the size of the journal volume when certain journal entries are determined to be no longer needed. Thus, users are able to determine an appropriate size of a journal area in accordance with requirements for predetermined preservation periods for backup data. Thereby, management of the journal area is simplified and the costs to manage the journal area are reduced.
US07685376B2
A method and apparatus is described herein for supporting heterogeneous local memories. A resource affinity table includes an entry for each local memory mapped into an address space. Each entry associating the corresponding local memory with a logical distance, such as a domain number. During runtime thread scheduling, memory operations, and other tasks are potentially assigned to the local memory devices based on the logical distance associated with each memory in the resource affinity table. As a consequence, heterogeneous memory types or homogeneous memories with different access times may be efficiently combined in a system to achieve large amount of memory at a smaller cost without sacrificing performance by allowing an operating system to make intelligent scheduling choices based on logical distances/access times of the aforementioned memories.
US07685374B2
A solid-state storage subsystem, such as a non-volatile memory card or drive, includes multiple interfaces and a memory area storing information used by a data arbiter to prioritize data commands received through the interfaces. As one example, the information may store a priority ranking of multiple host systems that are connected to the solid-state storage subsystem, such that the data arbiter may process concurrently received data transfer commands serially according to their priority ranking. A host software component may be configured to store and modify the priority control information in solid-state storage subsystem's memory area.
US07685368B1
Methods and apparatus for removing data from a cache are disclosed. The data may be one or more objects that are stored in a first cache. Each object stored in the first cache has an associated reference that is stored in a second cache. Each such reference has an associated timer. As a program accesses an object stored in the first cache, the timer associated with its reference is reset. A harvester process parses through the second cache over a period of time, locking a section of the second cache and determining if any timers associated with references therein have timed out. The harvester process removes any such timed-out timers from the second cache. A garbage collection process parses through the first cache, removing any objects therein that do not have an associated reference in the second cache.
US07685367B2
A method for caching data may be practiced, for example, in a computing environment including a server system that provides data to client systems. The server system includes a number of caches for storing data. The method allows a least expensive cache to first cache data or return data requested by a client. The method includes receiving data to be cached at a cache. The method further includes determining that the data has not been previously cached at a preceding cache. If the data has not been previously cached at a preceding cache the data is cached at the cache. Alternatively, requests for data may be received at a first cache. If the data is at the first cache, the first cache returns the data. If the data is not at the first cache, the request for data is forwarded to a subsequent cache.
US07685364B2
Systems, among other embodiments, include topologies (data and/or control/address information) between an integrated circuit buffer device (that may be coupled to a master, such as a memory controller) and a plurality of integrated circuit memory devices. For example, data may be provided between the plurality of integrated circuit memory devices and the integrated circuit buffer device using separate segmented (or point-to-point link) signal paths in response to control/address information provided from the integrated circuit buffer device to the plurality of integrated circuit buffer devices using a single fly-by (or bus) signal path. An integrated circuit buffer device enables configurable effective memory organization of the plurality of integrated circuit memory devices. The memory organization represented by the integrated circuit buffer device to a memory controller may be different than the actual memory organization behind or coupled to the integrated circuit buffer device. The buffer device segments and merges the data transferred between the memory controller that expects a particular memory organization and actual memory organization.
US07685360B1
Methods and structures for appending metadata with recorded data in a dynamic mapped storage device. In a dynamically mapped storage device in which all user supplied logical blocks are dynamically mapped by the storage device controller to physical disk blocks, features and aspects hereof allow presently unused physical space to be used for storing additional metadata associated with recorded data. As the current capacity ratio of the storage device increases, appending of metadata may cease and previously recorded data including metadata may be re-recorded (migrated) to eliminate the appended metadata. The appended metadata may be used for enhanced diagnosis and analysis of characteristics of the operating storage device and may be used to restore the content of the storage device to an earlier state. The metadata may include, for example, track following position of the read/write head, temperature, head flying height, and time of day.
US07685356B2
Chronological identification information is composed of a plurality of cyclic numbers with priorities. For generating new chronological identification information, the chronological relation is compared in order from cyclic numbers with the highest priority to extract the newest chronological identification information in the chronological relation; when the newest chronological identification information in the chronological relation is extracted, a cyclic number with a priority as a comparison target in the extraction of the extracted chronological identification information is determined to be a cyclic number with the priority in the newly generated chronological identification information. When the cyclic numbers with a priority compared as comparison targets in the chronological identification information all are equal, no further extraction is carried out and the cyclic number subsequent to the cyclic numbers is determined to be a cyclic number with the priority in the newly generated chronological identification information.
US07685354B1
A multiple-core processor providing flexible mapping of processor cores to cache banks. In one embodiment, a processor may include a cache including a number of cache banks. The processor may further include a number of processor cores configured to access the cache banks, as well as core/bank mapping logic coupled to the cache banks and processor cores. The core/bank mapping logic may be configurable to map a cache bank select portion of a memory address specified by a given one of the processor cores to any one of the cache banks.
US07685352B2
A method for managing the protocol of read/write messages in a PCI Express communication link is disclosed. The method comprises maintaining queues of write requests and read requests associated with each of a plurality of request identifications that are contained in a message header, wherein the read requests associated with a request identification are held in abeyance until such time that write requests associated with the request identification are completed.
US07685347B2
An interrupt controller efficiently manages execution of tasks by a multiprocessor computing system. The interrupt controller has inputs for receiving service requests for invoking service routines. The service routines have higher priorities than the tasks executed on the processors. Associated with each processor is a register for storing the priority of the task executing on the processor. A comparator coupled to the processors determines the processor executing the task having a lower priority among the priorities of the tasks executing on the processors. For each service request received, a distributor generates an interrupt request for invoking the service routine of the service request on the processor with the lower priority. The register with the lower priority is set to the higher priority of the service routine in response to the interrupt request. For each processor, the interrupt controller has an output for transmitting the interrupt request to the processor.
US07685345B2
A modification of rank priority arbitration for access to computer system resources through a shared pipeline that provides more equitable arbitration by allowing a higher ranked request access to the shared resource ahead of a lower ranked requester only one time. If multiple requests are active at the same time, the rank priority will first select the highest priority active request and grant it access to the resource. It will also set a ‘blocking latch’ to prevent that higher priority request from re-gaining access to the resource until the rest of the outstanding lower priority active requesters have had a chance to access the resource.
US07685336B2
A keyboard-mouse-video (KVM) switch has a server interface, a client interface, a switch circuit and a digital video overlapping circuit. The server interface is connected to plural computers, and the client interface is connected to plural sets of manipulation and display devices. The switch circuit routes paths between the computers and the sets of manipulation and display device. The digital video overlapping circuit overlaps a digital video overlapping image onto a digital video signal received from one of the computers through the server interface. The overlapped digital video signal is then transmitted to one of the sets of manipulation and display device through the client interface.
US07685328B2
A USB device, integrated circuit, smart card and method are disclosed. A USB transceiver is connected to a data interface and operable at a respective low speed and full speed configuration. A processor as a USB device controller is operatively connected to the low speed USB transceiver and full speed USB transceiver and operable for transmitting a different device descriptor to a USB host for performing an enumeration depending on whether a low speed or high speed operation is chosen.
US07685326B2
The invention provides a control device and a controlled device capable of reducing a management burden on a manufacturer by means of an easy-to-use method. A TV is a control device which controls a DVD recorder, including: a device ID acquisition unit which requests the DVD recorder to transmit a device ID, and receives the device ID from the DVD recorder; a device ID determination unit which determines whether or not the device ID is an initial value; a device ID generation unit which generates a new device ID in the case where the device ID is determined to be the initial value; a device ID update unit which requests the DVD recorder to update to the new device ID; a device ID/attribute information storing unit which stores the new device ID as the device ID of the DVD recorder; and a connected device control unit which controls the DVD recorder by using the device ID stored in the device ID/attribute information storing unit.
US07685319B2
A high performance computer system has compute nodes interconnected by an inter-node communication network. The compute nodes include local packetized interconnects. Shared memory between compute nodes is emulated by tunneling packetized interconnect packets between the compute nodes. A memory region on one of the compute nodes is used as a window into a memory region in another compute node. Special registers may be provided to expedite remote operations on small amounts of data.
US07685316B2
Disclosed are device managers, systems and methods for coordinating the configurations of devices on a network. An exemplary system having devices and/or device managers in accordance with embodiments can include at least two devices coupled to a network where the devices are able to parse data in a meta or common information format, such as Extensible Markup Language (XML). The network may be a Virtual Private Network (VPN), for example. An exemplary method in accordance with embodiments can include: connecting first and second devices to a network; configuring the first device; generating the first device configuration in its native command format and the second device's configuration as meta data; applying the meta data to a suitable parser in the second device; and generating readable configuration commands to configure the second device.
US07685309B2
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention establish a virtual network on top of current IP network naming schemes. The virtual network uses a separate layer to create a modification to the IP packet format that is used to separate network behavior from addressing. As a result of the modification to the packet format, any type of delivery method may be assigned to any address or group of addresses. The virtual network also maintains secure communications between nodes, while providing the flexibility of assigning delivery methods independent of the delivery addresses.
US07685300B2
A method is presented for obtaining information from a client for the benefit of a server using a particular communication protocol that the server does not implement. A primary server receives a client-generated request, and the primary server sends a first request to a secondary server as part of the processing of the client-generated request. While processing the first request, the secondary server determines a need for data obtainable from a client application that supports user interaction using a communication protocol for which the secondary server is not configured to implement. The secondary server sends a second request to the primary server for obtaining data that results from using the communication protocol. The secondary server subsequently receives the resulting data and continues to process the first request using the resulting data, after which the secondary server returns a response for the first request to the primary server.
US07685295B2
A wireless network for supporting mobile unit traffic segmentation for a plurality of mobile units to associate each mobile unit with virtual networking services (VNS). The wireless network includes a plurality of radio units and access controllers. Each radio unit is adapted to initiate the connection of a mobile unit to the network by transmitting and receiving communication data to and from the mobile unit. Each access controller is adapted to receive communication data from each radio unit during the connection of a mobile unit. Based on the communication data transmitted to the radio unit during connection of the mobile unit, access controller is able to discover VNS factors for the mobile unit communication session and to establish a communication session based on the VNS factors discovered during the connection process such that the mobile unit is connected to the network on the basis of the characteristics defined by the virtual networking services.
US07685292B1
Described are techniques to establish an on-demand, secure, point-to-point tunnel between a source device of a source network to a target device of a target network. The target network may not be visible to the source network. The target network includes a tunnel client and a tunnel server may be a perimeter device of the source network. The tunnel client may send a first message to the tunnel server. Data may be transmitted from the source to target device by including the data in a return message in response to the first message. The first message and the return message may be sent over one or more “heartbeat” connections which are continually established and torn down to transmit data between the two networks, and the source and target devices therein.
US07685290B2
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for reliably handling Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) multi-homed connections across multiple translation (e.g., NAT devices), such that messages sent between endpoints, which include one or more multi-homed devices, reach their intended destination. In one embodiment, a method for handling SCTP multi-homed connections across multiple translation devices is disclosed. When an SCTP association between two hosts is being established through a particular translation device, multi-homing information for one or both of the hosts is communicated from the particular translation device to one or more other translation devices which are associated with the particular translation device. This is done so that the one or more other translation devices can store the received multi-homing information and when data is received at the one or more translation devices for the established SCTP association between the two hosts, the data is then caused to be sent to its intended destination based on the stored multi-homing information. The multi-homing information is also stored for the particular translation device. When data is received at the particular translation device for the established SCTP association between the two hosts, the data is caused to be sent to its intended destination based on the multi-homing information.
US07685286B2
A client may be configured to access a network by identifying a network bandwidth configuration setting to be used by the client in accessing a networked content source, enabling the client to access the content source using the network bandwidth configuration setting, monitoring client access to the content source, comparing client access metrics to metrics associated with the network bandwidth configuration setting, determining, based on the comparison, whether to adjust the network bandwidth configuration settings for the client, and adjusting the network bandwidth configuration setting if appropriate.
US07685284B2
When a communication malfunction occurs in the transmission line between routers, and operation is carried out by a backup system control device, IP telephone terminals can connect to the backup system control device through the use of an IP address that is previously acquired from the address management device and saved. When the transmission line has been restored, the IP telephone terminals reconnect to the address management device so that operation can be carried out using an IP address under the control of the address management device. In a system that is operated by DHCP, it is thereby possible to construct a network that can be operated without installing a DHCP server at each remote station.
US07685279B2
A system includes an interface to receive network geolocation information associated with a first party to a network session between the first entity and a second entity, coupled via a network. The network geolocation information is determined utilizing a network address of the first entity. The system further includes a decision logic module to obtain supplemental information concerning the first entity by harvesting the supplemental information locally at the first entity. The decision logic module is further to generate an assessment regarding compliance with a geolocation policy defined in connection with access to the second entity, the assessment being generated utilizing the network geolocation information and the supplemental information.
US07685272B2
A backend server process monitor operates application servers accessing resources on backend servers. The monitor tracks failures, latency and errors at an interval. A method includes monitoring a plurality of resource requests from the application sever to a backend server and determining whether each of the plurality of resource requests was completed successfully and within a specified latency by the backend server. Errors on a server are tracked and the method includes notifying an application on the application server that a problem exists with the backend server.
US07685266B2
Presented herein are embodiments of techniques to manage a plurality of tape-out tools each executing on a plurality of computing devices. The tape-out tools designed to process circuit design data to physical mask data which describes the physical layout of a circuit. The techniques including management of resources used by a tape-out tool and real-time feedback from a tape-out tool.
US07685265B1
Methods and systems for managing notifications. A web service embodying aspects of the invention is responsive to requests structured according to an extensible messaging framework and extracts request information, including at least a content provider identifier and a topic identifier, from the request to execute a selected notification management function.
US07685259B2
Displayed content of signage at a distal location is at least partially controlled by a processor and database that directs signage display from a distal location. A central location processing system collects information on local, area wide, national or international conditions, events or changes in status and directs local signage to display appropriate information. The central location itself collects information, samples information, and evaluates general information to determine what specific information may be appropriately or desirably displayed at local signage. The display may be relevant to seasonal events such as holidays, sports events, actual changes in season, school year beginnings or endings, political events and the like, or independent events or conditions such as weather changes, severe weather, sales events, consumer alerts, public alerts, special event days. Information displayed locally can consider evaluation of local response to a range of potentially displayed information.
US07685256B2
For cooking data provided via a communication network, use track records of the cooking data corresponding with their actual use status are accurately managed. When receiving a request for transmission of cooking data from a terminal (S11), a server transmits the cooking data to the terminal (S12, S13), and at this time receives use history data with a microwave oven for previously transmitted cooking data (S14). The server manages use track records of the cooking data based on use history data received from terminals.
US07685255B2
A system and method for prefetching one or more embedded objects marked uncacheable using a buffer on a prefetch cache to temporarily store the uncacheable object. The buffer is allocated to a socket that is established between the prefetch cache and a server subsequent to the establishment of an initial connection. A prefetch caching process retrieves one or more embedded objects from the server using the socket based on the preconfigured set of rules. The prefetch caching process determines whether the embedded object is uncacheable, and if so loads the object into the buffer. The prefetch caching process waits a predetermined time period for client request for the object. If the request is received prior to expiration of the time period, the prefetch caching process sends the object to the client. Otherwise, the process “flushes” the buffer, thereby discarding the object, and then closes the socket.
US07685245B1
A digital notification and response system utilizing an administrator interface to transmit a message from an administrator to a user contact device. The system comprises a dynamic information database that includes user contact data, priority information, and response data. The administrator initiates distribution of the message based upon grouping information, priority information, and the priority order. The message is transmitted through at least two industry standard gateways simultaneously to groups of user contact devices based upon priority information. Once the message is received by the user contact device, the user contact device transmits a response through the industry standard gateways back to the dynamic information database.
US07685243B2
The present invention relates to a mail server, a mail reception device and the like of a mail system for mutually performing transmission and reception of a mail between mobile devices or personal computers (PCs) through mediation of a mail server, which construct a mail system for significantly alleviating labor for a user on changing a mail address and for reducing network traffic. The mail server receives a change of the mail address of a user device and manages history of the mail address of the user device, receives a mail destined to a destination device from a mail transmission side device, and attaches the history of the mail address of the mail transmission side device to the received mail so as to transmit the mail having the history attached thereto to the destination device.
US07685242B2
A system for policying an unsolicited e-mail communication. The system has a plurality of clients, each coupled together using a wide area network of computers, such as the Internet or an internet. Each of the clients is adapted to send an indication of an unsolicited e-mail message through an e-mail device for a display. The system also has a policying server coupled to each of the plurality of clients through the wide area network of computers. The policying server is adapted to receive the indication from at least one of the clients. The e-mail device comprises an SPAM icon on the display The SPAM icon is adapted to send the indication from the client to the policying server.
US07685241B2
A system and method are directed towards mapping a first user ID, such as an alias game ID, which may be used by multiple users, to a second user ID, such as a portal messenger ID. A user registers with an intermediary service, such as a game data aggregation service, and provides both the first user ID and the second user ID. The aggregation service detects when the first user ID is being used by one or more users in a first service, such as an online game service. The aggregation service also detects when a client probe reports to a second service, such as a portal messenger service, that the second user ID is participating in the same service. The aggregation service determines whether one instance of the first user ID from the first service corresponds to the second user ID from the second service.
US07685234B2
An interactive, computer network based system presents consumers with multimedia brand information via a browser-based interface called the GraffitiWall™. Consumers can use the GraffitiWall™ to modify and display a sponsor's brand information in any way desired. Consumer modifications are immediately communicated to the other member consumers and the advertiser/sponsor. Consumers can rate the GraffitiWall™, or portions thereof, and email the GraffitiWall™. An archive of GraffitiWalls™ is maintained by the system. Consumers participate in online focus groups, one-to-one interviews and discussions, as well as games and promotions pertaining to the brand. Interaction with consumers through focus groups, one-to-one interviews, discussions, games and promotions allows the hosting company to reinforce brand equities; speak directly to their target audience; test new and updated products and services; and encourage participation to a brand via purchases and signups by rewarding the participant with coupons, samples, gift certificates, and the like. An ongoing dialogue between business and consumer, as well as consumer-to-consumer, nurtures customer participation, loyalty and satisfaction, and builds a community housed within the company's brand.
US07685233B2
A mobile communications device including a processor operable to conduct with a wireless packet data service network a PDP context associated with a first application running on the mobile communications device. The processor is further operable to release the PDP context associated with the first application and establish with the wireless packet data service network a PDP context associated with a second application running on the mobile communications device responsive to a first input received from a user of the device. The processor is further operable to reestablish the PDP context associated with the first application responsive to a second input received from the user.
US07685216B2
Recursive digital filter circuitry which avoids persistent unstable conditions therein provides a serial clock signal, a synchronization signal, and a serial data input to corresponding inputs of a 3-wire serial interface circuit to produce a serial clock output signal, a synchronization output signal, and a parallel data output signal which are applied to corresponding inputs of a recursive digital filter. The serial clock signal and the synchronization signal are input to an auto-reset circuit which detects a fault associated with the synchronization signal or the serial clock signal and produces a reset signal in response to detection of the fault for resetting the recursive digital filter.
US07685212B2
A method for a fast full search motion estimation with SIMD merge instruction. The method of one embodiment comprises loading a first line of K data elements for a current macroblock. A first set of L data elements and a second set of L data elements for pixels in a search window are loaded. A shift right merge operation is performed on the first and second sets of data elements to generate a second line of K data elements. A first sum of absolute differences value between said first line and said second line is calculated. The first sum of absolute differences value is accumulated to a first total for a first reference macroblock.
US07685210B2
A media player monitors user playback control actions, such as skip commands, during a playback experience associated with a playlist. Based on these actions, the media player sets one or more media files to an inactive state. The media player defines a subgroup, or modified playlist excluding the inactive media files for further processing.
US07685196B2
Methods and systems for a computer-implemented method for managing service requests from a customer by a business entity are provided. The method includes generating a project folder relating to a first service request received from the customer by a first user, searching a plurality of information sources using keywords relating to the customer request, storing working documents responsive to the search request in the project folder that is accessible by at least one of the first user and a second user, and organizing the project folder in a database with meta data to describe the task content such that at least one of the first user and the second user can later locate the working documents during a subsequent search for a second service request similar to the first service request using the project folder such that an amount of time to answer the similar service request is facilitated being reduced.
US07685195B2
Systems and methods are provided for identifying candidates for new search terms that may be purchased from a search engine company. Candidate search terms are identified from a session log, such as by analyzing the presence of the candidate search terms in relation to data stored in the session log.
US07685194B2
Fine-grained access control for querying a database with low overhead and safety plans. In a view placement approach, base relations of the query expression are replaced by views that are appropriate for the particular user. Information leakage via UDF pushing, exception processing, and error messages can be prevented by generating safe plans. An existing query optimizer can be modified to perform redundancy removal and safe plan implementation. Subsumption testing available in materialized view matching can be exploited by the query optimizer. Authorization inference is exploited to generate safe plans.
US07685192B1
A method and system for displaying interest space user communities. A method may include detecting a request to access a given online content source, where the request is generated on behalf of a given user, where the given online content source is one of a number of online content sources included within an interest space, and where the interest space is identified dependent upon indications of user navigation activity among the online content sources. The method may further include displaying to the given user a representation of the interest space in response to detecting the request, where the representation includes respective indications of at least a subset of the content sources included within the interest space, and for a given content source within the subset, displaying to the given user respective indications of users on whose behalf a respective previously-generated request to access the given content source has been detected.
US07685190B2
The present invention is embodied in an online-like transaction processing method and system for processing account information contained in batch process files, the method including: reading at least one batch file containing a plurality of records, each of the plurality of records being related to an associated one of a plurality of accounts; identifying which of the plurality of records relate to same ones of the plurality of accounts; identifying one of the accounts; and, processing all of the records identified as relating to the one of the accounts together and independent of processing any of the records relating to any other of the plurality of accounts.
US07685189B2
Application data associated with an application program located on a storage device is restored utilizing tracked changed blocks of the storage device. The changed blocks of the storage device are tracked as the application program modifies the application data. When a system failure has occurred, file change data is generated for each file of the application data as a function of tracked changed clocks of the storage device and file system metadata of the storage device. Additionally, a file difference record for each changed file is generated to indicate changes between the application data and the last backup. The file difference record is applied to the application data such that application data corresponds to the state of last backup.
US07685187B2
One embodiment of a data recovery management system includes prompt logic operable to prompt a user to provide information describing impact that an extended interruption of a project tracking system would have on an work unit that uses the project tracking system to perform a particular workflow process; a database coupled to the prompt logic, operable to store feedback received from the user in response to answering questions proposed by the prompt logic; and organizational logic operable to compile information stored in the database for each work unit that utilizes the project tracking system to perform a particular workflow process. Other systems and methods are also provided.
US07685183B2
An exemplary method and/or exemplary embodiment of the present invention synchronizes an asset over a multi-tiered network. An asset may represent network and/or application components (e.g., data, objects, applications, program modules, etc.) that may be distributed among the various resources of the network. Synchronization addresses the restoration of asset coherency in a distributed system, i.e. bringing changes made to assets on one distributed node into harmonization with changes made to assets on another distributed node. In an embodiment, a synchronization call having a data argument and an asset type is received, an adapter associated with the asset type is selected, and the data argument is passed to the adapter. The asset type is determined, as well as a table associated with the asset type. A synchronization information object is retrieved from a target environment on a target node, and a synchronization asset is created based on the synchronization information. A connection is established between the target node and the asset's original source node, and the synchronization asset is sent from the target node to the source node.
US07685172B2
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for enabling the restoration of in-flight file descriptors during a checkpoint operation. Responsive to a checkpoint operation being initiated on a process in a workload partition, in-flight file pointers in an in-flight file queue on a socket bound to the process are identified. A file descriptor is instantiated in the process file table of the process for each identified in-flight file pointer in the in-flight file queue. After completion of the checkpoint operation, the in-flight file queue on the socket may be reconstructed in a restore operation using the instantiated file descriptors.
US07685165B2
A policy-based resource management system provides an infrastructure that uses high-level definitions of data-types along with desired policy rules to manage legacy data. In particular, relevant legacy data is identified as well as the characteristics of storage devices where the legacy data resides. The storage management system determines what if any of the legacy data is stored in a manner that is non-compliant with the policy rules and corrects any violations. It generates corrective action plans, and then uses existing data migration software to migrate the data. Accordingly, the legacy data may be managed in a policy-based manner without requiring typical storage management software.
US07685164B2
Provided are implementations for improved access to information stored on a storage device. A plurality of first nodes and a second node are coupled to one another over a communications pathway, the second node being coupled to the storage device for determining meta data including block address maps to file data in the storage device, and the first nodes being configured for accessing file data from the storage device using said meta data, wherein at least one first node caches data including meta data for a file accessed by said first node. A file application on said first node is configured to get requested file data by accessing said cached data for the file. A file notification system sends a file change notification to said first node indicating changes affecting the cached data, wherein the file application on the first node inspects the change notification to determine whether to get the requested file data directly using said cached data, whereby file accesses may be effected for an extended time with data locally cached at first nodes of the system.
US07685157B2
A method of extracting information from a structured document includes the steps of assigning a partial tree identifier inclusive of a tag identifier to a selected partial tree wherein the tag identifier includes a name of a tag corresponding to a root of the selected partial tree, a name of at least one format attribute of the tag, and a value of the at least one format attribute, arranging names of format attributes in a predetermined order in the tag identifier if the at least one format attribute of the tag includes two or more format attributes, and identifying a partial tree having a partial tree identifier identical to the partial tree identifier of the selected partial tree from a list of partial tree identifiers of partial trees that exist in the structured document after updating thereof.
US07685152B2
One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for transferring data from a specified spreadsheet, having a name, rows and colunms, to a relational database table. The method includes the steps of receiving the spreadsheet at a given location, assigning a name to the relational database table that is derived from the spreadsheet name, and creating names for colunms of the table from the contents of a first row of the spreadsheet. Data types for respective colunms of the table are derived from the contents of a second row of the spreadsheet. After creation of the table, data is loaded into locations of the table from respectively corresponding cells of the specified spreadsheet.
US07685150B2
Optimization is provided for database statements involving XML data, e.g., XPath and XQuery, which operate over views that use aggregate set operators, e.g., UNION ALL. As part of a “view merge” stage of query transformation, the query that operates over the view is merged with a query that defines the view. One or more expressions (e.g., operators, predicates, virtual table constructs) from the query that operates over the view are then “pushed down” to operate on the individual underlying XML data constructs. “Branch elimination” is performed based on the structure of the view and the query acting over the view, based on which it is possible to determine whether any of the sub-queries, if executed, would result in the return of zero rows. If so, then such branches are eliminated from the transformed query, leaving a reduced set of data containers on which to execute the query.
US07685147B2
In an autonomic management method for self-configuring a subject entity in a data processing system, the subject entity retrieves, from a set of rules published by an authority entity, one or more rules corresponding at least one category of the subject entity. Each rule defines a desired state for a category, and at least one retrieved rule includes at least one formal parameter defining a correlation with at least one further category. For each retrieved rule, the subject entity resolves each formal parameter included in the retrieved rule by associating each further category specified in the formal parameter with at least one further subject entity belonging to the further category. The subject entity also applies the retrieved rule to configure the subject entity according to the desired state specified in the retrieved rule.
US07685143B2
A unified logging service is provided which may be employed across a variety of applications, allowing collected information to be stored, aggregated, and accumulated; presenting a more complete view, than previously available, related to those applications. The unified logging service provides a generalized centralized web services based service with the capability of accepting and collecting a variety of log formats containing a variety of logged events. These events may originate from clients using differing log formats or types in a heterogeneous distributed computing environment. Acknowledgement of receipt of log files may be provided to the originating clients. A log routing capability is also provided as well as a central repository for storing and forwarding log messages flowing throughout the system. These services may be accessed locally or remotely via published web services interfaces.
US07685142B2
A method and apparatus for addressing problems associated with the implementation of directory services, such as X.500 and LDAP, in a SQL environment, particularly problems associated with interrogating database provided to implement directory services in the SQL environment. According to the disclosed method and apparatus, the system is based on the use of tables that may be arranged to have a plurality of columns, so that they support a variety of functions in order to implement directory services, such as X.500 and LDAP. In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of creating one or more SQL commands corresponding to a directory service. In another aspect, the present invention provides a many examples of tables and their function. Many examples of an implementation of directory services using SQL based technology are disclosed.
US07685127B2
A method for accessing a database is provided. The method includes creating in a design environment a file that defines a metadata. The metadata relates at least one business object and at least one query. The method also includes communicating the file to a mobile device, storing the file on the mobile device, and transforming the file into a binary structure at an initial run of a computer application running on the mobile device. The binary structure is adapted to be read by the computer application. The method also includes recording the binary structure in a memory of the mobile device. A method for providing database access for a plurality of files with a limited number of database access channels is provided. A method for is provided for accessing a database in a computing environment for a plurality of recordsets. Each of the plurality of recordsets is associated with a database access channel for fetching records of the plurality of recordsets from the database upon occurrence of a preselected event. A method of fetching data for a plurality of active file from a database having a limited number of database connections is provided. A computer readable medium is provided which stores instructions executable by a computer. The instructions include a method for providing database access for a plurality of files with a limited number of database access channels. A device for accessing a database is provided. A system for updating a database access program is provided.
US07685125B2
A method for a provider to provide and prove an association between a first data value A and a second data value B, including: computing evidence E of the form E=H(A∥B)k*(p−1)/q modρ, where H is a secure hash function, E is an evidence of an association between A and B; ensuring that the verifier has A, B and E; and running an interactive proof with the verifier to convince the verifier that the evidence is valid and that the provider knows the value of k without disclosing the value of k to the verifier.
US07685106B2
A method and system for sharing full text index entries across application boundaries in which documents are obtained by a shared, platform level indexing service, and a determination is made as to whether the received documents are duplicates with regard to previously indexed documents. If a document is determined to be a duplicate, the index representation of the previously indexed copy of the document is modified to indicate that the document is also associated with another application or context. If a document is not a duplicate of a previously indexed document, the document is indexed to support future searches and/or other processing. The index representation of a document includes application category identifiers associating one or more applications or contexts with the document. When a document is indexed, one or more category identifiers are generated and stored in association with that document. The category identifiers for an indexed document may, for example, represent an application that received, stored, or otherwise processed that document. The application category identifiers enable category specific searching by applications sharing a common search index. A software category filter may be provided to process search results from the shared search index, so that only documents associated with certain categories are returned. Accordingly, one or more search categories may be determined for a given search query, based on an application generating the search query, or some other context information, and then used to filter the search results provided from the shared search index.
US07685102B2
Methods and apparatus for operating on a non-text (voice or fax) message include for each of a number of voice messages, searching each voice message for signal samples having one of a plurality of sets of pre-defined characteristics (such as any seven or ten digit number which is then assumed to be a telephone number). For each signal sample found to have one of the sets of pre-defined characteristics, the found signal sample is associated with an equivalent text string and this text string is stored in an envelope for the message. Based on a user input, the messages may be searched for a given text string and on finding a message envelope containing the given text string, such message may be operated upon.
US07685091B2
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to online information analysis. In general, in one implementation, a system includes a collection engine configured to accumulate document information retrieved from publicly accessible network resources according to predefined subjects, and an analysis engine configured to analyze the accumulated document information to identify change over a time period in general discussion of a topic within a selected subject of the predefined subjects, the analysis engine further configured to normalize the identified change over the time period based on change in a total number of documents found for the selected subject during the time period.
US07685090B2
The invention concerns a detection of duplicate tuples in a database. Previous domain independent detection of duplicated tuples relied on standard similarity functions (e.g., edit distance, cosine metric) between multi-attribute tuples. However, such prior art approaches result in large numbers of false positives if they are used to identify domain-specific abbreviations and conventions. In accordance with the invention a process for duplicate detection is implemented based on interpreting records from multiple dimensional tables in a data warehouse, which are associated with hierarchies specified through key—foreign key relationships in a snowflake schema. The invention exploits the extra knowledge available from the table hierarchy to develop a high quality, scalable duplicate detection process.
US07685089B2
An embodiment includes a prediction system for initiating a data transfer to a decision system. The prediction system is configured to identify a decision, the decision being a result of a computation of the decision system according to a set of predefined rules and input data. The prediction system is further configured to identify predicted input data representing a portion of the input data and to initiate a transfer of the predicted input data to the decision system prior to the computation of the decision.
US07685077B2
Method, apparatus and system are described to perform a feature eliminating method based on a support vector machine. In some embodiments, a value for each feature in a group of features provided by a training data is determined. At least one feature is eliminated from the group by utilizing the value for each feature in the group. The value for each feature in the group is updated based upon a part of the training data that corresponds to the eliminated feature.
US07685076B2
The present invention provides an automated invoice vetting, negotiation and payment system that automatically collects goods and labors hour data, sets a reasonable pricing structure for each such good and service, dynamically analyzes the price data to adjust for market changes and provides a automatic negotiation and settlement feature for bill payment. The present invention readily accommodates the above features over electronic networks such as the Internet. The present invention therefore provides a method of payment of invoices of vendors by purchasers, comprising providing a settlement authority with invoice information from a vendor, comparing the invoice charges to a predetermined range of values for the charges, accepting the charges that are within a predetermined sub-range for the charges, adjusting the charges that are greater or less than that the predetermined sub-range for the charges and paying the accepted charges and the adjusted charges.
US07685075B2
A costing system. The costing system includes a costing model and a costing engine. The costing model records parent-child relationships between a plurality of stages of a production line, and at least one valuation type for each stage. The costing engine retrieves a group of valuation type combinations corresponding to the parent stages of the target stage from the costing model, and combines the target valuation type corresponding to the target stage with valuation type combinations corresponding to the parent stages, thereby generating a cost identification, and costing results accordingly.
US07685059B2
A method and system exchanges assets defined as digital automated equities which are objects instantiated with attributes of an asset. Digital automated equities are registered on a common system exchange as offeror mediary objects and matched by comparing their attributes. Capital exchange offer objects define desired matches by identifying a digital automated equity associated with an exchange offer, a exchange price for the exchange and one or more conditions associated with the exchange. A match use case compares attributes of capital exchange offers to determine matches based on the closeness of the capital exchange offers and a negotiate transaction use case supports communication between owners associated with close capital exchange offers to alter attributes in response to a match. Once a transaction is complete, a settle transaction use case exchanges the digital automated equities. Digital automated equities may include a variety of assets, including intellectual property such as patents and trademarks, business plans, stock and confidential information. Further, the present invention provides a secure format for exchange of confidential information in stages.
US07685058B2
The computerized bidding method matches hospitality facility data and meeting requirement data, permits the posting of offers and responsive bidding by both hospitality facility vendors and meeting planners, and facilitates the exchange of data. In a simplified system, meeting planner requirement data (at least meeting planner contact data, facilities requirement data, date range data and price data) is matched to hotel or hospitality vendor data (at least vendor contact data, location data, room quantity data, date available range data, and meeting room data), and the system sends planner offer data to matching hospitality vendors without disclosing the planner contact data. Thereafter, the hotel vendors respond and the responses are sent to the meeting planner posting the offer. The presentation to the planner may be in spread sheet form, sorted by pre-set criteria.
US07685057B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a system, method, process, software and standards that enable a unified trading and control process utilized by sponsoring organizations and asset managers (money managers) for sub advised or externally managed investment portfolios as to increase control over the trading process by a sponsoring organization, enhance regulatory compliance, substantially lower trading costs and improve investment performance on a recurring basis for the shareholders and beneficiaries investing in registered and non registered mutual funds and institutional investment portfolios.
US07685056B2
Software implemented guarantee valuation engine and methodology that enable a mutual fund that is continuously offered; always fully invested in traditional assets that correlate to a benchmark and which is subject to a guarantee with respect to net asset value on a specified future date to be re-priced on a daily basis and to have the effect of such re-pricing in the reported NAV of the fund.
US07685047B2
A financial product. The financial product includes a cash component, an alpha engine component, a private equity component and a beta component. The cash component includes an investment in a liquid portfolio. The alpha engine component includes an investment in an alpha-generating portfolio. The private equity component includes an investment in the private equity portfolio. The beta component is structured to track a total return of one or more indices.
US07685042B1
A system and method are provided for chart pattern recognition and analysis. In one embodiment, a graphical interface is provided to enable a trader to select a portion of a chart to be used in the chart pattern analysis. The pattern of the selected portion of the chart could then be used to find one or more similar chart patterns in a user-defined timeframe, such as any future time period or a time period in the past. When a reoccurring chart pattern is found in any future time period, an alert signal can be generated to alert a user of a possibility of the chart pattern reoccurrence. Alternatively, chart pattern matches can be found in a time period in the past, and a set of studies can be applied to the found matches to generate a set of reoccurring indicator values. The reoccurring indicator values can be used in combination with the chart pattern to detect any similar chart patterns in the future.
US07685035B2
A network system is provided that connects, on the network, a plurality of devices having document processing functions, a plurality of clients instructing the devices on necessary job executions, and a server. The server includes a collection recorder that collects information of a job executed by a device to record the information as job data, and a count processor that counts jobs according to count parameters set by a client. A browser installed to the client can select a count parameter, direct the count process, and view the count results generated by the count process.
US07685030B1
Systems and techniques for operating on data representing an account include posting an activity record representing account activity. The systems and techniques may involve setting an activity date for an activity having an accounting impact, determining a balance value, setting an accounting impact date, and setting a journal activity date. The balance value may correspond to the net sum of activity for the activity date. The accounting impact date may correspond to the latest accounting impact date among all journals affecting the balance value. The journal activity date may correspond to the latest accounting impact date among all journals affecting the sum of activity for prior processing dates applied on the date. In some cases, the activity record may be posted to a specific period.
US07685021B2
The invention, referred to herein as PeaCoCk, uses a unique blend of technologies from statistics, information theory, and graph theory to quantify and discover patterns in relationships between entities, such as products and customers, as evidenced by purchase behavior. In contrast to traditional purchase-frequency based market basket analysis techniques, such as association rules which mostly generate obvious and spurious associations, PeaCoCk employs information-theoretic notions of consistency and similarity, which allows robust statistical analysis of the true, statistically significant, and logical associations between products. Therefore, PeaCoCk lends itself to reliable, robust predictive analytics based on purchase-behavior.
US07685018B2
The present invention relates to a payback system and a payback method for calculating a payback value to a customer receiving a service by using a product provided (for free or payment) from a product manufacturer or a middleman, or to the middleman. The payback value is calculated based on the use results of the service (including a service on a network) by a product user.
US07685012B2
The present invention is a method for improving resource allocation comprising the steps of identifying at least one criteria; Identifying sets of information wherein each set of information includes a unique unit of analysis (UOA-ID), a calendar/clock time (CCT), a CATVAR and a VAR Value; grouping each UOA-ID into an appropriate specific population (Type); identifying a Start Time wherein each UOA-ID has met said at least one criteria; forming at least one prospective or retrospective Cohort time segment for each UOA-ID based on their Start Time; placing the UOA-ID into the appropriate time segment; calculating an eligibility score for each UOA-ID for each time segment; calculating an Eligible Adjusted Variable Value; and generating at least one Output Expression.
US07685007B1
An insurance program that provides improved health care and longevity by emphasizing health improvement and maintenance. After a predetermined waiting period from the time health insurance is purchased, during which the health status of the insured is maintained or improved, the insured may link the health insurance policy with one or more other types of insurance policies, such as; life, disability, nursing home, etc. Throughout the life of the policy, portions of the premiums may be deposited in an escrow account, provided that the health of the insured is maintained or improved, which may be utilized to pay or help pay for the linked insurance and may also be utilized for retirement benefits.
US07685004B2
A system, pharmacy management software, and related methods of enhanced pharmaceutical operations in patient care facilities are provided. The pharmacy management software, for example, can include instructions that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the operations of providing instructions to pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts positioned at various patient care facilities according to patient specific prescription requirements, receiving dispensing data from each of the carts, and providing separate billing records including billing data indexed by reimbursement provider for each patient at the patient care facilities. The operations can also include consolidating the billing data by patient, by patient care facility, by remote pharmacy, and/or consolidating billing data by reimbursement provider, and submitting separate consolidated reimbursement claims electronically to each respective reimbursement provider.
US07685003B2
An apparatus for communicating health care data from a sender to a receiver is provided. The apparatus has a first computer system, a second computer system, and a rules engine. The first computer system has health care data stored therein. The second computer system is in operable communication with, and is configured to extract the health care data from, the first computer system. The rules engine normalizes the extracted health care data to a predefined format.
US07685002B2
A computer implemented method, system, and computer program product are provided for processing professional and technical billing records relating to medical care provided to patients at a medical facility. The method includes (a) providing at a computer system a mapping of a set of professional billing codes and corresponding technical billing codes; (b) receiving at the computer system a professional billing record provided by a professional medical provider relating to medical services provided by the professional medical provider to a patient, the professional billing record comprising one or more professional billing codes; (c) identifying one or more technical billing codes corresponding to the one or more professional billing codes received in step (b) using the mapping, and providing the one or more technical billing codes to a user entering technical charges to a technical billing record to facilitate entry of technical charges relating to the medical care provided to the patient; (d) receiving at the computer system the technical billing record provided by the user, the technical charges comprising one or more technical billing codes; and (e) automatically reconciling the professional billing record and the technical billing record at the computer system to facilitate identification of errors or omissions in the one or more technical billing codes or the one or more professional billing codes.
US07684996B2
A user information item is associated with a data set selected by a user for delivery over an electronic network. The user's present and previous data selections are analyzed to identify a user information category related to at least one of these data selections, and the user information item is chosen from the identified user information category. User information items can be combined or associated with a video, animation or multimedia data set selected by a user for delivery over an electronic network.
US07684990B2
A method for multiple value confirmation and correction in spoken dialog systems. A user is allowed to correct errors in values captured by the spoken dialog system, such that the interaction necessary for error correction between the system and the user is reduced. When the spoken dialog system collects a set of values from a user, the system provides a spoken confirmation of the set of values to the user. The spoken confirmation comprises the set of values and possibly pause associated with each value. Upon hearing an incorrect value, the user may react and barge-in the spoken confirmation and provide a corrected value. Responsive to detecting the user interruption during the pause or after the system speaking of a value, the system halts the spoken confirmation and collects the corrected value. The system then provides a new spoken confirmation to the user, wherein the new spoken confirmation includes the corrected value.
US07684983B2
When a voice input is detected as being applied to a directional microphone, sounds output from selected loudspeakers from among a plurality of loudspeakers, which otherwise would obstruct the speech recognition process, are attenuated, and sound signals supplied to the selected loudspeakers are combined with sound signals supplied to the other loudspeakers, and the combined sound signals are supplied to the other loudspeakers.
US07684980B2
For the transmission of a secondary information flow between a transmitter and a receiver, the secondary information flow is inserted at a parametric vocoder of the transmitter which generates a main information flow. The main information flow is a speech data flow encoding a speech signal and is transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver. Bits from the secondary information flow are inserted into only some of the frames of the main information flow, these frames being selected by a frame mask which is known to the transmitter and the receiver, and/or into a determined frame of the main information flow, by imposing a constraint on only some of the bits of the frame, these bits being selected by a bit mask known to the emitter and the receiver.
US07684977B2
In an interface unit, an input section obtains an input signal of user's speech or the like and an input processing section processes the input signal and detects information relating to the user. On the basis of the detection result, a response contents determination section determines response contents to the user. While, a response manner adjusting section adjusts a response manner to the user, such as speech speed and the like, on the basis of the processing state of the input signal, the information relating to the user detected from the input signal, and the like.
US07684970B2
In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure includes a method for executing application software during a simulation that models a processor for which the application software was developed. The method may include capturing results of the simulation to produce a simulation history. The method may also include providing a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes one or more cross-linked packet-centric views of the simulation history for packets operated on by the application software during the simulation. The cross-linked packet-centric views may include a packet status list GUI, a packet event list GUI, a packet dataflow GUI, a thread list GUI, and a thread history GUI. Of course, many alternatives, variations and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.
US07684966B1
A system and method for providing hazardous incident decision support and training includes a user interface component that receives situation definition data, a hazard assessment component and a decision aid. Decision support advice and decision prompts are presented by the system in response to the situation definition interface and hazard assessment. The hazard assessment and expert advice of the system are updated with elapsed time. In another embodiment of the present invention, graphical user interfaces are provided to display a set of menu entries wherein individual menu entries represent a hazardous incident characteristic. The user may select one or more of the menu entries to create a situation definition. Such definitions may be used, for example, to identify a hazardous agent based upon user-inputted signs and symptoms data.
US07684965B2
Abnormal values of an objective variable are removed. A degree of association between an objective variable and a plurality of explanatory variables is calculated. A plurality of explanatory variables having a high degree of association are extracted. A degree of independence between the explanatory variables is calculated. A plurality of candidates of explanatory variables with a high possibility of having a great effect on the objective variable are selected based on the degree of association and the degree of independence. An explanatory variable having a high rate of contribution to the objective variable is selected from among the candidates, based on the cumulative contribution rate, and a regression equation is calculated to estimate a value of the objective variable. The same processing is repeated, using the difference as a new objective variable and explanatory variables except the explanatory variable used to obtain the difference as new explanatory variables.
US07684961B1
Described is an electronics system having an individually replaceable electronics module installed therein. The individually replaceable electronics module includes a component, a light-emitting device (LED) disposed near the component, a processor module for performing diagnostics on the component and producing a message based on results of the diagnostics, and a microcontroller in communication with the processor module to receive the message produced by the processor module. The microcontroller determines whether the component is faulting based on the message. A DC power source is coupled to supply power to the microcontroller after the individually replaceable electronics module is electrically disconnected from the electronics system so that the microcontroller can illuminate the LED if the received message indicates that the component is faulting.
US07684959B2
The stability index objectively reflects system reliability and yet intuitively reflects the user experience on the system while also providing an understanding of how/when/why problems began.
US07684957B2
A counting device includes a counting unit, period measuring unit, frequency distribution unit, representative value unit, and correction value unit. The counting unit counts signals input during an interval. The signals have a single frequency when the physical quantity is constant. The period measuring unit measures the period of a signal interval. The frequency distribution unit generates the frequency distribution of signal periods from the measurement result. The representative value unit calculates the representative value of the distribution of periods from the frequency distribution. The correction value unit obtains a total sum Ns of frequencies in a class not more than a first predetermined multiple of the representative value and a total sum Nw of frequencies in a class not less than a second predetermined multiple of the representative value from the frequency distribution, and corrects the count result on the basis of the frequencies Ns and Nw.
US07684943B2
A method for appropriately managing the quality and distribution of a probe carrier. Probe carriers manufactured by a probe carrier manufacturing apparatus having ejecting portions for ejecting probe solutions, each containing a probe, which can be specifically coupled with a target substance, for applying the probe solution on a carrier, and a plurality of probe tanks storing mutually different probe solutions for supplying ejecting portions. Each probe tank is labeled with the bar-code. The labeled bar-code is read by the bar-code reader. On the basis of the read bar-code, the probe solution stored in the probe tank is identified. On the other hand, the probe tank is mounted on the ejecting portion.
US07684941B2
A battery management system to estimate a state of charge of a battery and a driving method thereof includes a sensing unit and a micro control unit. The sensing unit measures a battery voltage. The MCU measures a first time and a second time, detects first and second battery voltages that respectively correspond to the first and second times from the battery voltage, estimates an open circuit voltage by the first and second voltages, and establishes the SOC that corresponds to the OCV.
US07684939B2
A method for designing an absorbent article. The steps of the method are generating a physical spatial map of saturation of a fluid within an absorbent in a physical test environment, generating a virtual spatial map of saturation of a fluid within an absorbent in a virtual test environment, identifying absorbent-fluid interaction properties for the absorbent such that the virtual spatial map of saturation approximates the physical spatial map of saturation, inputting the absorbent-fluid interaction properties into a virtual model of the absorbent article to produce a representation of at least one feature of the absorbent article, evaluating the virtual model of the absorbent article to determine the performance of the at least one feature of the absorbent article, modifying the design of the absorbent article in response to the performance of the at least one feature of the absorbent article determined from the virtual model of the absorbent article.
US07684936B2
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for determining a future time associated with a component, where the future time can be indicative that some action can be taken with respect to the component. In some embodiments, the future time can be indicative of a component's remaining useful life or time until maintenance is required. The future time can be determined as a function of a health indicator and a material constant. In some embodiments, the functional relationship between the future time, the health indicator and the material constant can be based on the functional relationship of Paris' law for fatigue crack growth.
US07684935B2
A device is disclosed for continuously cutting a fiber cable into sections, as well as a process for operating this device. The device includes a rotary knife carrier fitted with a plurality of knife blades, against which the fiber cable is pressed via a compression wheel. Wear and break of the knife blades are sensed by one or more structure-borne noise sensors. In addition, a characteristic parameter is formed from the signal from the structure-borne noise sensor(s) and compared with a comparison value. Deviations from the comparison value are recognized as disturbances.
US07684934B2
A method for reproducibly analyzing mass spectra from different sample sources is provided. The method deconvolutes the complex spectra by collapsing multiple peaks of different molecular mass that originate from the same molecular fragment into a single peak. The differences in molecular mass are apparent differences caused by different charge states of the fragment and/or different metal ion adducts and/or reactant products of one or more of the charge states. The deconvoluted spectrum is compared to a library of mass spectra acquired from samples of known identity to unambiguously determine the identity of one or more components of the sample undergoing analysis.
US07684933B2
A method and system to blend components to form a lubricant having a predetermined characteristic. The method includes determining the characteristic from a model that relates that characteristic as a function of the amount of its components and properties of the components. These predetermined characteristics include KV (kinematic viscosities), CCS (cold cranking simulator), HTHS (high temperature, high shear viscosity), Noack Volatility, MRV (mini-rotary viscometer), Brookfield Viscosity, Soot-Dispersancy, Oxidation, Deposit, Wear, Sulfur, Phosphorus, Base Number, Color, Ash Content, Aniline Point, Acid Number, Viscosity Index, Turbidity, Demulsibility, Foam Stability, Acute Toxicity, Biodegradability, Nitrogen, and Detergency.
US07684926B2
An electronic control apparatus such as an ECU of a motor vehicle contains first and second microcomputers, with the first microcomputer having a substantially higher data receiving performance than the second microcomputer. Data for updating a ROM of the second microcomputer, transmitted to the first microcomputer from an external apparatus at a relatively high data rate, are temporarily stored in RAM by the first microcomputer and then transmitted to the second microcomputer at a rate which is appropriate for the receiving performance of the second microcomputer.
US07684918B2
The invention relates to a PTO brake control system. There is a need for an improved and safe PTO brake control system. A PTO may be put into a driven and a non-driven condition an is braked by a PTO brake. A PTO brake control system includes a vehicle speed sensor and an ECU for controlling the PTO brake. The ECU deactivates the PTO brake when the vehicle is stationary and the PTO is not driven. This allows the PTO to be manually rotated to facilitate coupling of the PTO to an implement.
US07684915B1
A control module operates a ramp in coordination with a powered sliding door. The control module couples to the OEM network and includes at least one microprocessor, a connector array coupled to at least one microprocessor, and interface circuitry. The microprocessor produces data sequences to keep the network busy, thereby preventing other modules on the OEM network from entering a low power mode. The connector array is adapted to receive daughter boards, plugs, plug-in modules, or wire jumpers for patches. The control module includes a display and a microprocessor is programmed to diagnose the operation of the ramp and provide the results of the diagnosis on the display.
US07684913B2
A method (60) for adjusting the zero point of a vehicle seat weight sensing system (10) includes the step of determining a zero point error (64) of the seat weight sensing system. The method (60) also includes the step of adjusting the zero point error (68) in response to determining that the zero point error was influenced by an object on the vehicle seat.
US07684900B2
A protection setting determiner (118) adaptively updates settings of protection functions in memory of a protection device (106) that protects a machine (102) that provides power to a power system (104), wherein the settings are updated based at least in part upon sensed data acquired during operation of the machine (102). A physical parameter determiner (110) receives the sensed data, which includes three-phase voltage and three-phase current values at the terminals of the machine (102), and uses any suitable real-time or off-line parameter estimation technique (such as Kalman Filtering for an augmented state) to determine physical parameters of the machine (102) and the power system (104). The protection setting determiner (118) uses the physical parameters to update the protection settings.
US07684898B2
A method for calibration of a working point (TCP) for tools on industrial robots with a calibration device includes the use of at least two light barriers with an azimuth angle (α) greater than zero at an angle to each other and intersecting at an intersection point. The method includes fixing set TCP positional coordinates for a set working point for the tool, relative to a tool reference point and a TCP coordinate system relative to the working point, moving the tool to the set working point with relation to the TCP coordinate system through the light barriers, such that the tool tip interrupts the light barriers, recording actual TCP positional coordinates determining the difference between the set TCP positional coordinates for the interruption of the light barriers for a set working point and the corresponding recorded actual TCP positional coordinates for the actual working point, calculating the actual working point from the set working point for the number of levels of light barriers from the differences and the known position and azimuth angles (a) of the light barriers.
US07684897B2
A work model (or an image) is displayed on an image plane of a robot simulator (201), and a measuring portion and a measuring method are designated (202, 203) and a work shape and a work loading state are designated (204), and then it is judged whether or not the measuring portion and the measuring method are good (205). When the measuring portion and the measuring method are good, a program is generated and the processing is completed (207, 208). When the measuring portion and the measuring method are not good, an alarm is given (206), and the continuation (207) or the repetition (201) of the processing is directed. At the time of analyzing the program, the loading (101), the analysis and display of the measuring portion and the measuring method (102, 103) and the work information (104) are designated, and then it is judged whether or not the measuring portion and the measuring method, which have been analyzed, are good (105). When the measuring portion and the measuring method are good, the processing is finished (107). When the measuring portion and the measuring method are not good, an alarm is given (106), and either the completion of the processing (107) or the correction of the program (201) is selected. Due to the foregoing, a burden imposed for raising and maintaining the visual sensor robot system can be reduced.
US07684892B2
A method for generation of a control code set for a manufacturing process includes generating a list of sequences of operations with an automatic sequence of operations generator, selecting an optimized sequence of operations from the list of sequences of operations, and utilizing the optimized sequence of operations to generate the control code set.
US07684891B2
The present invention provides a system and method for tool use management wherein a CNC machine retains information identifying the tools associated with the machine as well as their current locations (if any), and executes an algorithm for determining the source tools needed by a part program and matching the source tools with the available tools.
US07684888B2
In one aspect a factory automation system for a wafer fab is provided. The factory automation system is adapted to facilitate cross-AMHS transfers of wafer lots within a semiconductor foundry. The factory automation system may include a first MCS and an associated first AMHS; a second MCS and an associated second AMHS; and a third MCS and an associated third AMHS. The system may also include a first bridge connecting the first AMHS and the second AMHS to allow a FOUP to travel between the first AMHS and the second AMHS. The system may also include a second bridge connecting the second AMHS and the third AMHS to allow a FOUP to travel between the second AMHS and the third AMHS. The system also includes a unified control unit in communication with the first, second, and third MCSs, the unified control unit for coordinating transfers of FOUPs between the first, second, and third AMHSs.
US07684882B2
A gaming system includes a central server or controller operable to communicate a plurality of different commands to a plurality of gaming machines to provide non-tournament game play and to provide tournament game play on the same gaming machines.
US07684874B2
A gaming system includes a central server or controller operable to communicate a plurality of different commands to a plurality of gaming machines to provide non-tournament game play and to provide tournament game play on the same gaming machines.
US07684872B2
A medical device for implantation within a patient comprising a lead body including a conductor within the lead body and a transducer supported by the lead body. The conductor is electrically coupled to the transducer by a conductive fluid, paste or gel. The conductive fluid, paste or gel may be contained within a well in the lead body. The transducer may be a MEMS chip and/or an integrated circuit and may perform any of a variety of functions such as sensing physiological data.
US07684866B2
Systems and methods for neural stimulation may include a stimulus unit; a first electrode assembly having a first set of contacts; and a second set of contacts. The stimulus unit can be an implantable pulse generator including a first terminal that can be biased at a first signal polarity and a second terminal that can be biased at a second signal polarity. The first electrode assembly includes a support member configured to be placed at the stimulation site, the first set of contacts carried by the support member, and a first lead configured to be attached to the first terminal of the implantable pulse generator for biasing the surface contacts at the first polarity. The second set of contacts is detached from the surface electrode assembly. The second set of contacts can be one or more conductive elements fixed to or forming portions of the implantable pulse generator, or a separate electrode array.
US07684865B2
Method and apparatus for treating obesity by use of transesophageal delivery of energy to interrupt the function of vagal nerves. The energy, which may be highly focused ultrasound energy or other types of energy is delivered through the wall of the esophagus by a device placed in the esophagus. The energy delivered is sufficient to ablate a vagal nerve on the outer wall of the esophagus.
US07684860B2
An implantable medical device includes a housing and a circuit board provided within the housing. The circuit board includes a plurality of electronic components electrically coupled thereto. At least one non-functional component is provided on the circuit board and formed from a material that has an electromagnetic permeability configured to reduce the amount of image distortion caused by at least one of the plurality of electronic components when the device is subject to a magnetic field during an MRI scan.
US07684857B2
The invention concerns a device for ocular delivery of an active principle by peroperative intraocular iontophoresis or electroporation comprising a reservoir (7) for receiving a solution comprising the active principle, means for diffusing (8, 6) the active principle connected to the reservoir, means for injecting (4) the solution into the reservoir, and means (5) for exerting suction of the content of the reservoir during an injection of the solution therein by the injection means.
US07684851B2
According to a body cavity interior observing apparatus of the present invention, a non-tracked region to be displayed can be switched between a first non-tracked region and a second non-tracked region which is larger than the first non-tracked region, and in a search for an affected area in which it is preferable to track a treating instrument in order to consistently align the position of treating instrument to the central part of the screen, the first non-tracked region having a smaller non-tracked region is selected, while in a treatment of an affected area in which a treating instrument is moved in a wide range of area, the second non-tracked region having a larger non-tracked region is selected, thereby an appropriate monitor screen can be provided in searching for an affected area and in treating an affected area.
US07684845B2
A physiological measurement display comprises: a strip having: at least one conductive portion at an inner side thereof; an electronic device connected to the conductive portion; the electronic device having at least one physiological measure unit; and a display panel at an outer side of the electronic device for displaying physiological data from the physiological measure unit. The electronic device is installed with a level meter, or alarm lights or a speaker. The display panel is pivotally installed to the electronic device and is turnable for viewing. Two ends of the electronic device have buckling grooves and two ends of the strip have buckles engageable to the buckling grooves. The buckles and buckling grooves are conductive. The electronic device is installed with an auxiliary conductive portion or a conductive rubber.
US07684839B2
Connecting structure for magnesium diboride superconducting wire and a method of connecting the same
A magnesium diboride superconducting wire has excellent conduction property and stability. The superconductive connection of the magnesium diboride superconducting wire covered with a superconducting coating layer and a same or different kind of another superconducting wire are connected in a metal tube filled with a solder by way of the superconductive coating layer.
US07684834B2
The invention relates to a method of monitoring battery characteristics in a radio terminal equipment arrangement. The method comprises measuring battery characteristics of a battery of one or more secondary units communicating with radio terminal equipment; establishing a low-power radio frequency (LPRF) connection between radio terminal equipment and a secondary unit of the radio terminal equipment arrangement. The method also comprises receiving, in the radio terminal equipment, the measured battery characteristics of the one or more secondary units via the established LPRF connection; and giving an indication, by the radio terminal equipment, relating to the battery characteristics of the one or more secondary units.
US07684833B2
Novel power-management chips (PMCS) and a related method to increase the flexibility of power-management chips and to disburden a main controller of mobile electronic devices, such as e.g. a mobile phone, have been achieved. Key of the invention is to implement a microprocessor system on a power-management chip. This microprocessor, having a flash-memory and a RAM has either no or minimum interaction with a main controller of the mobile electronic device since the microprocessor on the PMC is controlling all power supply requirements of the mobile electronic device. The novel PMC is more flexible; since it is free programmable and customers can adapt their PMC more efficiently to the specific purposes of their application.
US07684832B2
To achieve a shortening of the initial synchronization time and/or extension of the stand-by time with a method of connecting an UMTS mobile radio to a network, the UMTS mobile radio receives and stored in one or more time-limited RF receive windows the signals that are subsequently evaluated when the HF receiver is switched off.
US07684831B2
A signal processing device includes: a speaker amplifier for amplifying a reception voice; a reception voice attenuator for attenuating the reception voice inputted to the speaker amplifier during a voice transmission mode; a reception voice detection circuit for detecting the reception voice outputted from the speaker amplifier; a microphone amplifier for amplifying a transmission voice inputted to a microphone; a transmission voice attenuator for attenuating the transmission voice outputted by the microphone amplifier during a voice reception mode; a transmission voice detection circuit for detecting the transmission voice outputted by the microphone amplifier; and a discriminator for discriminating the mode to be operated among the voice transmission mode and the voice reception mode on the basis of detection outputs from the reception voice detection circuit and the transmission voice detection circuit.
US07684825B2
The invention provides a method of selecting a modem carrier type for data transmission over a wireless communication system. An incoming call is received from a mobile vehicle and then an initial carrier tone is sent to a mobile vehicle in response to the incoming call. A modem response signal is received from a vehicle modem in response to the initial carrier tone. The modem response signal is determined to be either an analog modem response signal or a digital modem response signal, and then the call is connected to either the analog modem or digital modem based on the modem response signal determination.
US07684823B2
A cellular mobile radio network having at least one base station integrated into a facility supplied via a power supply network and being connected to an assigned base station controller. The at least one base station includes a module for exchanging radio frequency signals with mobile radio devices; a first transceiver module configured to couple the at least one base station to the power supply network; and a control device configured to control the facility. The control device is connected to the facility via the power supply network or directly, and includes an identification module and a module for communicating with a central unit, the control device being identifiable by the central unit based on the identification module.
US07684822B2
A mobile terminal including a first body, a second body covering at least a portion of the first body, and a hinge module disposed to be eccentric to one of upper left and right sides between the first and second bodies and configured to the allow the second body to be horizontally rotatable with respect to the first body.
US07684819B2
A CDMA base station is disclosed that prevents significant increase in the amount of interference within an entire cell even when there exist in the cell mobile stations that perform high-speed packet communication. The CDMA base station comprises a noise estimation circuit, a noise comparator and a TPC bit generating circuit. The noise comparator receives noise power N1 estimated by the noise estimation circuit, compares the noise power N1 with a threshold N2 for interference supplied from packet communication circuit 1 and outputs the result of comparison N3 to the TPC bit generating circuit. The TPC bit generating circuit sets TPC2=0, outputting TPC command TPC2 to direct a TPC multiplex circuit to reduce the transmission power, without using TPC command TPC1 from a SIR estimation circuit when the increase in the transmission power of a mobile station that is performing high-speed packet transmission within a fixed period of time has exceeded the threshold for the increase or when the amount of interference in the entire cell has exceeded the threshold for the amount of interference.
US07684813B2
A radiotelephone method includes detecting other mobile stations and identifying possible relay candidates among the other mobile stations. The method then includes communicating information about the candidates to a base station. Communication with a second mobile station is requested of the base station at a first mobile station. If the first mobile station and the second mobile station are physically close, the base station instructs the first mobile station and the second mobile station to establish direct communication.
US07684805B2
In instant communications over a wireless network, a user from a private organization sends the request for instant communications communication through a private server controlled by the private organization. The private server sets up a private account with the wireless carrier and the user communicates via the private account.
US07684803B2
An unlicensed wireless service is adapted to generate the interface protocols of a licensed wireless service to provide transparent transition of communication sessions between a licensed wireless service and an unlicensed wireless service. In one embodiment, a mobile station includes level 1, level 2, and level 3 protocols for licensed wireless service and an unlicensed wireless service. An indoor base station and indoor network controller provide protocol conversion for the unlicensed wireless service into a standard base station controller interface of the licensed wireless service.
US07684802B2
One implementation provides a novel station-to-station handoff using an adaptive or directional antenna. The directional antenna generates a plurality of directional search beams to search for pilot signals from new base stations. The search beams are scanned one beam at a time to obtain the relative direction of all new base stations detected. From the detected base stations, a new base station with the strongest signal strength is selected and compared to the currently used base station. If the new base station has stronger signal strength than the current base station, then a communication handoff from the current base station to the new base station is initiated. In one feature of the present invention, two directional beams are used to communicate with the current and new base stations. Once a communication link is established with the new base station, the directional beam to the current base station is terminated.
US07684797B2
A telecommunications system includes an infosphere having a mobile telephone. A first telecommunications device may request to be added to the infosphere by sending a request to a registry server. In response to the request, the registry server adds the first telecommunications device to the infosphere by creating a network address for the first telecommunications device, the network address being related to the telephone number of the mobile telephone. In some embodiments of the telecommunications system, the registry server may require authorization from a second telecommunications device in the infosphere before adding the first telecommunications device to the infosphere.
US07684796B2
A mobile communication system includes a management agent, server, and temporary server. The management agent manages the destination of a mobile node. The server serves as a communication partner of the mobile node. The temporary server has a network function equivalent to that of the server. The management agent includes a position registration unit which registers position information of the destination of the mobile node when the mobile node moves, and a server function relocation unit which sets the temporary server as the communication partner of the mobile node instead of the server. A management agent apparatus and server function moving method are also disclosed.
US07684795B2
A mobile communication system includes a home location register that transmits an inquiry to the visitor location register about services supported by the visitor location register in response to receiving a location update message, receives a reply from the visitor location register, determines the services supported by the visitor location register based on the reply received from the visitor location register and transmits information to the visitor location register on services that, according to the information stored in the home location register, are available to the subscriber and that are supported by the visitor location register. Similarly, the visitor location register receives the inquiry about the services from the home location register, transmits the information to the home location register on the services supported by the visitor location register in response to the inquiry, and receives the transmitted information.
US07684794B1
Performing management operations for a mobile node present in a foreign network includes performing an address management operation and a mobility management operation. The address management operation includes receiving an address request message at a home address server of a home network of the mobile node, assigning a fixed home address to the mobile node, and sending an address acknowledgment message communicating the fixed home address. The mobility management operation includes receiving a registration request message requesting registration for the mobile node, and registering the mobile node in response to the registration request message.
US07684793B2
A system for controlling traffic between a Home Public Mobile Network (HPMN) and a Visiting Public Mobile Network (VPMN) of a roaming mobile station is provided. The system includes a TR probe for detecting a traffic redirection (TR) attempt for the roaming mobile station, by observing exchange of at least one registration message between the VPMN and the HPMN. The system further includes an anti-TR unit for thwarting the TR attempt by sending one or more registration response messages in response to the at least one registration message received from a switch.
US07684790B2
An advertising technique includes communicating messages to a mobile device that are rendered on the mobile device for the purpose of advertisement. The advertisement is rendered based on the occurrence of an advertisement event, such as an inbound telephone call, the elapse of time, entering a pre-defined geographic area, or the like.
US07684778B1
Systems and techniques relating to image cancellation in received communications signals are described. In one aspect, a received communications signal can include a desired signal and an image signal. A leakage tracing signal can be generated, and the image signal can be removed from the communications signal using the leakage tracing signal mixed with the communications signal. Implementations can include generating a first channel signal and a second channel signal, generating a first filter using the first channel signal and the leakage tracing signal, and generating a second filter using the second channel signal and the leakage tracing signal. Removing the image signal from the communications signal can include filtering the first channel signal using the second filter to obtain a first filtered signal, filtering the second channel signal using the first filter to obtain a second filtered signal, and subtracting the second filtered signal from the first filtered signal.
US07684767B2
A voice data and RF integrated circuit (IC) includes a driver that generates an RF signal to a power amplifier module from an up-converted signal. A modulation controller provides a first modulation signal to the driver for modulating the up-converted signal when a modulation control signal has a first value and provides a second modulation signal to the power amplifier module for modulating the RF signal when the modulation control signal has a second value.
US07684764B2
A duplexer includes two surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters having different center frequencies; a phase matching circuit that matches phases of the two SAW filters; a package in which the SAW filters and the phase matching circuit are housed, the package being composed of multiple layers; and a line pattern provided between at least one of the SAW filters and at least one of a transmit terminal and a receive terminal of the duplexer. The line pattern runs on at least two of the multiple layers within a range defined by peripheral ground patterns provided in the package.
US07684763B2
A transceiver circuit includes a transmission path and also at least two reception paths, which in each case contain a frequency conversion device with a local oscillator input. A first, a second and a third oscillator circuit, and also a programmable frequency divider circuit are furthermore provided. The outputs of the oscillator circuits are connected to a respective input of the programmable frequency divider circuit. The frequency divider circuit contains three outputs connected in each case to a local oscillator input of the transmission path and the two transmission paths. According to one example of the invention, the frequency divider circuit is designed for frequency division of a signal present at an input and for outputting the frequency-divided signal to one of the three outputs. With the programmable frequency divider circuit, signals at the three inputs of the frequency divider circuit can thus be divided arbitrarily in terms of their frequency and be output at the outputs in a manner dependent on the desired operating mode of the transceiver circuit.
US07684762B2
A method of transmitting feedback information in a wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, the method comprises a mobile station (MS) which determines whether to transmit feedback information to a base station (BS) without solicitation from the BS. After determining to do so, the MS transmits a request message to request the BS to allocate an uplink resource for transmitting at least one unsolicited header and thereafter receives the uplink resource allocation from the BS. Lastly, the MS transmits the at least one unsolicited header via the allocated uplink resource.
US07684760B2
An apparatus for controlling transmission power of a mobile communication terminal. The apparatus comprises a central processing unit for measuring a power level of a received signal and determining a power amplification mode in response to the measured power level of the received signal and a power preset table, a driver amplifier for amplifying a transmission signal to produce an output signal, the driver amplifier has operating conditions chosen in accordance with the power amplification mode, a voltage converter for outputting a preset voltage value in accordance with the power amplification mode, and a power amplifier for amplifying the output signal of the driver amplifier in response to the outputted preset voltage value.
US07684748B2
A unit drawing mechanism according to the invention is adapted for installation in a main unit. The mechanism includes a first and a second units, a plurality of supports, and a load-applying member. The first unit is movable along a first direction toward front of the main unit, to be drawn out thereof. Mounted in the first unit, the second unit is movable, with the first unit drawn out of the main unit, along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, to be drawn out of the first unit. The supports are arranged at different positions along the second direction, for supporting the first unit movably along the first direction. The load-applying member is mounted in the first unit in such a manner that center of gravity of the first unit along the second direction is located between the supports whether the second unit is retracted in, or drawn out of, the drawn-out first unit.
US07684737B2
The developing agent is selected to have a distribution of adhesive force to the surface of an image carrier, which is configured such that the ratio of the developing agent having an adhesive force which is not less than 2.5 times as high as an average value of a distribution of adhesive force is 3% by weight or less based on an entire weight of the developing agent.
US07684734B2
In a tandem type image formation apparatus, a drum drive unit which always simultaneously drives respective photoreceptor drums, is assembled such that it is possible to synchronize cycles of rotational speed fluctuations of the respective photoreceptor drums in assembling. In this manner, the photoreceptor drums rotate so as to synchronize the cycles of rotational speed fluctuations of the photoreceptor drums even after assembling. Therefore, a phase difference in the cycles of rotational speed fluctuations of the photoreceptor drums is determined, and the photoreceptor drums are assembled so as to be shifted by the phase difference.
US07684732B2
An image forming apparatus includes at least a latent image carrier, a latent image forming mechanism, a developing mechanism and a charger. The latent image carrier bears a latent image. The latent image forming mechanism forms the latent image on the latent image carrier. The developing mechanism develops the latent image on the latent image carrier with toner. The charger includes a conductive member supplied with a bias voltage while contacting a surface of the latent image carrier, and charges at least one of the surface of the latent image carrier and a toner adhering to the surface thereof through the conductive member. A tensile strength of the conductive member at break is no less than 10 MPa and no more than 40 MPa, and a contact pressure between the conductive member and the latent image carrier is no less than 4 kN/m2 and no more than 15 kN/m2.
US07684730B2
An intermediate transfer unit of an image forming apparatus is provided between a plurality of developer containers for containing developer and a plurality of developing devices. The intermediate transfer unit includes an intermediate transfer unit for secondarily transferring primarily transferred developed images from the plurality of image carriers onto a paper, an intermediate transfer unit driving mechanism for driving the intermediate transfer unit, and a housing for supporting the intermediate transfer unit driving mechanism. One end of the housing includes a plurality of developer inlet ports positionally corresponding to the developer supply ports of the developer containers respectively, a plurality of developer outlet ports positionally corresponding to the developer receiving ports of the developing devices respectively, and a plurality of developer supply paths connecting between the developer inlet ports and the developer outlet ports respectively.
US07684728B2
An image forming unit includes a process unit including image carrier holder units arranged in one direction and held in the process unit and developing cartridges provided in correspondence with the image carrier holder units and configured to be removably mounted in the image carrier holder units. Each image carrier holder unit includes an image carrier, a charger configured to charge the image carrier, a pair of side frames disposed to hold the image carrier therebetween, a center frame disposed between the side frames, the center frame being configured to support the charger, and a first support portion disposed on the center frame. Each developing cartridge includes a developer frame, a developer carrier provided in the developer frame, and a supported portion provided in the developer frame and configured to face the center frame when the developing cartridge is mounted in the image carrier holder unit.
US07684718B2
An image recording apparatus capable of correctly determining a color shift value between recording heads of different color. The image recording apparatus has each recording head print two types of patches as patterns on a conveyance belt and has a reflection intensity detection unit read reflection intensities of the two patches to determine the color shift value and correct the color shift value so as not to include a position shift value between a reference position and a position where the actual reading has started. The image recording apparatus for recording a pattern to a color image conveyance medium and reading the recorded pattern comprises a feeding unit that feeds the color image conveyance medium along a feeding path, a first image forming unit that records the pattern to the color image conveyance medium in a first color, a second image forming unit that records the pattern to the color image conveyance medium in a second color, a reflection intensity detection unit that reads a reflection intensity of the pattern, an image formation control unit for calculating from the reflection intensity a color shift value of the second image forming unit with respect to the first image forming unit, wherein the first image forming unit records a first pattern of a first interval and the second image forming unit records a second pattern of a second interval overlapping the first pattern so that a first patch having the first pattern and the second pattern overlapped is formed, and wherein the first image forming unit records a third pattern of the second interval and the second image forming unit records a fourth pattern of the first interval overlapping the third pattern so that a second patch having the first pattern and the second pattern overlapped is formed.
US07684709B2
A FAWNA that allows high-speed mobile connectivity by leveraging the speed of optical networks. Specifically, SIMO FAWNA, which comprises a SIMO wireless channel interfaced with a fiber channel through wireless-to-optical interfaces. Received wireless signal at each interface are sampled and quantized prior to transmission. The capacity of the FAWNA approaches the capacity of the architecture exponentially with fiber capacity. It is also shown that for a given fiber capacity, there is an optimal method of operating wireless bandwidth and number of interfaces. An optimal method to divide the fiber capacity among the interfaces is shown, which ensures that each interface is allocated a rate so that noise is dominated by front end noise rather than by quantization distortion. A method is also presented in which, rather than dynamically changing rate allocation based on channel state, a less complex, fixed rate allocation may be adopted with very small loss in performance.
US07684708B2
Embodiments of the invention pertain to remote optical control of holding beam-type, optical flip-flop devices, as well as to the devices themselves. All-optical SET and RE-SET control signals operate on a cw holding beam in a remote manner to vary the power of the holding beam between threshold switching values to enable flip-flop operation. Cross-gain modulation and cross-polarization modulation processes can be used to change the power of the holding beam.
US07684706B2
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for traffic distribution in an optical network is provided. In a particular embodiment, a traffic distribution module in a passive optical network (PON), includes a filter configured to receive downstream traffic in a first set of one or more wavelengths and a second set of one or more wavelengths from an optical line terminal (OLT), direct the traffic in the first set of wavelengths to a primary power splitter, and direct the traffic in the second set of wavelengths to a first connector. The traffic distribution module also includes a primary power splitter and a plurality of secondary power splitters. The primary power splitter is configured to receive the traffic in the first set of wavelengths and distribute the traffic in the first set to the plurality of secondary power splitters coupled to the primary power splitter such that optical network units (ONUs) in the PON receive the traffic in the first set of wavelengths. The traffic distribution module also includes a first connector configured to couple to a first module connector of a pluggable module and to forward the traffic in the second set of wavelengths to the pluggable module via the first module connector. The traffic distribution module also includes a plurality of second connectors configured to couple to a plurality of second module connectors of the pluggable module, receive the traffic in the second set of wavelengths from the pluggable module via the associated second module connectors, and forward the traffic in the second set to the plurality of secondary power splitters for distribution to particular ONUs in the PON.
US07684704B2
A method, apparatus and system for the communication of services in an optical access network includes transmitting services to customer premises using a passive optical downstream link and receiving services from said customer premises using an active optical upstream link. In an embodiment of the present invention, services from a central office are communicated to customer premises using a passive means for splitting an optical signal, and services from customer premises intended for the central office are communicated to the central office using active components including at least one receiver, a switch and a transmitter.
US07684701B2
A photon emitter including a photon generator configured to generate photons having a first polarization state or a second polarization state, the first polarization state being orthogonal to the second polarization state; and a time delay device which delays photons having the second polarization state with respect to those having the first polarization state.
US07684699B2
The invention concerns a transceiver module for an optical data network, comprising an optical interface for connection with an optical transmission line and an electrical interface for connection with a host board, wherein the electrical interface is suitable for providing the transceiver module with payload data to be sent on the optical transmission line and for providing the host board with payload data read from the optical transmission line, and further comprising monitoring means for monitoring the optical transmission line, which the transceiver module comprises an analyzing means for processing measuring data provided by the monitoring means in a statistical manner, and where the analyzing means is connected to the electrical interface for providing processed measuring data to the electrical interface. The inventive transceiver module is easy to install, and only a small amount of monitoring data needs to be transferred.
US07684694B2
A camera support assembly including an elongated support, such as a extensible support, which support extends between a base assembly and a handgrip, whereby a user of the camera may secure a camera to the base assembly and, while holding the handgrip, position the camera a distance away, which may be greater than arms length, to capture a still or moving image of the user, of an obstructed scene, or of hard to reach and/or unsafe areas.
US07684686B2
A system and method for capturing and distributing digitized photographic images via an electronics communications network are provided. A subject is provided with a portable identification wireless transmitter. A digital camera coupled with a wireless receiver creates a digital photographic document and includes the identification of the user in a formatted electronic message. The document may also retain information identifying the time and locale of the creation of the image. The document is made accessible to the electronic communications network, in association with a data structure. The data structure and/or the document may be associated within an independent or additional identifier of the subject or of a third party. Information associating the subject and locale related to the origination of the image are inserted into an available data field of a standard digital image format, such as a JPEG, MPEG of GIF format.
US07684682B2
A fan speed control circuit is used for controlling rotation speed of a fan. The fan speed control circuit receives a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal from a system and comprises a programmable control unit and a current control unit. The programmable control unit receives the PWM signal, is connected to a Hall element for receiving a voltage signal therefrom, and provides a control signal. The current control unit takes the control signal to control current flowing through a stator coil unit of the fan so as to control the speed of the fan. The programmable control unit has a program written for the PWM signal, and when the fan speed control circuit is used in another system with a different PWM signal, the programmable control unit can be given a new program for the different PWM signal for controlling the speed of the fan.
US07684680B2
A recording apparatus of this invention detects the state of management information, which pertains to a recording address of an image signal, and which is reproduced from a disk-like recording medium having a first area for the image signal and a second area for the management information. On the basis of the detection result, management data is reproduced from the first area of the disk-like recording medium. On the basis of the management data reproduced from the first area, the management information reproduced from the second area is modified. A modify unit records the modified management information in the second area.
US07684674B2
An apparatus and a method for reproducing a recording medium which requires input of a code number only once when the code number is required to be input to both a directory and a PlayList for reproduction. A plurality of directories, such as DVR, DVR1, DVRn and the like, are formed on a disk. One directory DVR has a flag DVR_protect_flag (first control information) set therein for controlling reproduction of information belonging in the directory. Also, a file associated with the PlayList, which is one piece of information in the directory DVR, has a playback_control_flag (second control information) set therein for controlling reproduction thereof. In a case where the DVR_protect_flag is 1, reproduction is allowed only when a correct code number is input. In a case where the DVR_protect_flag and the playback_control_flag are both 1, input of the code number for the playback_control_flag is omitted when the correct code number has already been input for the DVR_protect_flag.
US07684672B2
A broadcast storage system is disclosed which is easily controllable by the user for setting programs for timer recording and playing back recorded programs. The broadcast storage system has one or more slave apparatus and a master apparatus. The master apparatus grasps programs set for timer recording by each of the slave apparatus. When a program to be recorded is determined by the user or an automatic timer recording process, the master apparatus selects an apparatus to record the program such that a plurality of timer recording settings are not made at one time in one apparatus, and instructs the selected apparatus to set the program for timer recording. When instructed to set the program for timer recording, a slave apparatus sets the program for timer recording, and records the program at the time when the program is broadcast.
US07684671B2
A DTV operating screen is displayed on the CRT display screen of a DTV which is the controlling apparatus of a network. In the event that the user selects the DVHS from the buttons displayed on the DTV operating screen, data corresponding to the DVHS operation screen is input to the DTV, and a DVHS operation screen is displayed on the CRT display screen 61. The user operation executed regarding the DVHS operation screen are notified from the DTV to the DVHS, so the DTV can execute control corresponding to the operations of the user, without transmitting commands for directly controlling the DVHS.
US07684669B2
A splice tray arrangement including a tray and a splice chip. The splice chip includes a plurality of arms that define channels for holding splice elements. The arms include retaining structure for retaining a splice element in both of either one of an upper region and a lower region of a channel. The splice tray arrangement also includes a mounting arrangement for securing the splice chip to the tray at a mounting location. The mounting arrangement includes sliding interlock guides disposed on each of the splice chip and the tray. The mounting arrangement further includes flexible tabs arranged to prevent lateral movement of the splice chip when positioned at the mounting location.
US07684665B2
Methods and systems relating to solid state light sources for use in industrial processes.
US07684662B2
An AD converter is provided. The AD converter includes a light source unit which provides an optical signal, at least one waveguide unit which consists of a photonic crystal and transmits the optical signal, a modulation unit which applies a RF signal to the at least one waveguide unit, thereby modulating an optical signal output from the at least one waveguide unit, and a digital conversion unit which converts the modulated optical signal to a digital signal. Accordingly, a compact-sized AD convert can be realized.
US07684651B2
A search includes comparing a query image provided by a user to a plurality of stored images of faces stored in a stored image database, and determining a similarity of the query image to the plurality of stored images. One or more resultant images of faces, selected from among the stored images, are displayed to the user based on the determined similarity of the stored images to the query image provided by the user. The resultant images are displayed based at least in part on one or more facial features.
US07684650B2
In an image-frame processing method, the image frame is outputted from and image sensor by an image processor via the buffering of a memory buffer. The method includes the following steps of: defining at least two storage spaces in the memory buffer; dividing the image frame into a plurality of image portions, each of which has a size corresponding to the size of one of said at least two storage spaces; sequentially storing the image portions into the storage spaces in turn; and sequentially processing said image portions stored in the memory buffer. This method is applicable to processing the image frame with the use of a small-sized memory buffer.
US07684647B2
A method and apparatus compares in-treatment X-ray images of a volume with pre-treatment reference images of the volume and determines a combined similarity measure. A combined registration search space is searched to maximize the combined similarity measure and to jointly register the in-treatment X-ray images with the pre-treatment images.
US07684643B2
A method for multiple image restoration includes receiving a plurality of images corrupted by noise, and initializing a reduced noise estimate of the plurality of images. The method further includes estimating a probability of distributions of noise around each pixel and the probability of the signal, estimating mutual information between noise on the plurality of images based on the probabilities of distributions of noise around each pixel and the joint distribution of noise, and updating each pixel within a search range to determine a restored image by reducing the mutual information between the noise on the plurality of images.
US07684632B2
Methods, machines, systems and machine-readable instructions for processing an image are described. In one aspect, the image is divided into a population of image blocks. Frequency domain vectors are generated from respective ones of the image blocks. Each of the frequency domain vectors includes a respective set of values corresponding to a set of transform coefficients. Preliminary estimates of quantization parameter values are determined from frequency distributions of the transform coefficient values in a set of the frequency domain vectors corresponding to a variable sample of the population. The variable sample is determined at least in part by at least one threshold. Values of quantization parameters are estimated from the preliminary estimates.
US07684626B1
A method for image decoding is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) receiving from a medium (1) an encoded signal and (2) transform data comprising at least one of (i) encoding statistics embedded in the encoded signal, (ii) encoding information and (iii) pre-processing information, wherein (a) the encoding statistics are created by an encoder in encoding an intermediate input signal to create the encoded signal, (b) the encoding information is producible by the encoder in the encoding and (c) the pre-processing information is producible by a pre-processor in converting an image input signal into the intermediate input signal, (B) generating an intermediate output signal by decoding the encoded signal and (C) generating an image output signal by processing the intermediate output signal in response to the transform data.
US07684621B2
A method and system for identifying multiple questionnaire pages. An embodiment of a method includes receiving a set of coordinates from a capture device, the set of coordinates indicating shapes made on multiple pages of a questionnaire without the use of a graphical user interface, and mapping each shape to a questionnaire answer on a different page. The method enables a processor to accurately and quickly determine which answers were entered on each questionnaire page attached to the capture device, without relying on the user to do so. Exemplary applications include a field survey and inventory.
US07684620B2
The image particulars of a document image or a part thereof are analyzed and the image particulars of the image are determined according to the outcome of the analysis. Then, the analyzed image particulars of the image are converted to the determined image particulars. Additionally, the analyzed image is divided into component images contained in the image. The image particulars of the image are converted as a result of these processes so that information of the component images for making them as objects of easy viewing with an appropriate data size are output.
US07684619B2
Providing text flow in or around an irregular container, such as a non-rectangular graphic, is disclosed. In the case of flow around a container, the intersection, if any, between a proposed text rectangle and the irregular container is determined. A valid rectangle, if any, that is not within the bounds in the x-direction of an area of intersection between the proposed text rectangle and the graphic is identified as a valid text area within the proposed text rectangle. In the case of flow around a container, one or more difference areas, if any, in which a proposed text rectangle is present but the container is not present are found. A valid rectangle, if any, that is not within the bounds in the x-direction of any of said one or more difference areas is identified as a valid text area within the proposed text rectangle.
US07684616B2
A method of representing a group of images comprises determining the values of one or more dominant colors for the group of images and deriving a dominant color representation expressing the group of images in terms of one or more of said dominant color values.
US07684615B2
A signal correcting method includes: obtaining multiple types of signals at each of a plurality of points; extracting a point with signal values corresponding to the multiple types of signals, which have a predetermined relationship to signal values of the multiple types of signals at a target point; and correcting the multiple types of signals at the target point based upon the signal values corresponding to the multiple types of signals at the target point and the signal values corresponding to the multiple types of signals at the extracted point.
US07684610B2
An inspection system is provided. The system includes a rotating prism having a first end and a second end. The first end receives a first image area, such as a circular view, and rotates about a center point so as to cover a field of view area that is larger than the first image area, such as a larger circle that is defined by the smaller circle of view as it rotates around the center point. The second end remains centered on the center point and provides a viewing area that does not change in dimension. An image data system at the second end of the rotating prism generates image data as the prism rotates so as to generate two or more sets of image data that are contained within the field of view area.
US07684608B2
A tape and reel inspection system is provided with OCR testing of devices, network retrieval of device lot information, and automatic teaching of image patterns. Each device lot is typically accompanied by a travel sheet, which includes a history for the device lot. The travel sheet may include a bar code to allow the system to receive the device lot number while reducing the possibility of human error. The system performs OCR on a first device. The system communicates with a database to obtain lot information. The system combines lot information and package information to form marking information. The system then compares the contents of the markings with line information obtained from the marking information. Once a first device passes the OCR test, the system trains an image of the first device. Image training may be done automatically without intervention from the operator. If a subsequent device fails the image test, the inspection system automatically performs OCR on the failed device.
US07684601B2
Method and apparatus for imaging tissue by upstream illumination and downstream dual filtering of the exiting light for separation of ballistic photons rays from stray rays. Dual filtering includes spatial filtering via a pinhole and spatial filtering operated by a fast gate. A processor synchronizes flashes of illumination with the fast gate to command opening for passage of the ballistic photons rays and closure to exclude the stray rays. An image detector downstream of the fast gate collects the ballistic photons rays for processing by the processor and display on a monitor as a shadowgram. Illumination flashes have one or more wavelengths and the image detector is adapted to match the selected wavelengths of the illuminating flashes.
US07684598B2
A method and an apparatus are for the loading and postprocessing of three-dimensional digital volume data, in particular from the medical field. Layer images are usually acquired by CT or MR devices and combined to form a volume data record. These combined data are fed to one or more postprocessing methods, such as e.g. the VRT, MIP and/or MPR technique. These postprocessing methods can already be used for a portion of the loaded data directly after the beginning of the loading operation.
US07684595B2
An original image of a target is provided. The original image is guidedly perturbed into a first plurality of recognizable uniquely perturbed images, each of the first plurality of recognizable uniquely perturbed images being recognizable as representing the target and distinguishable from the original image. The first plurality of recognizable uniquely perturbed images is guidedly perturbed into a second plurality of unrecognizable uniquely perturbed images, each of the second plurality of unrecognizable uniquely perturbed images being unrecognizable as representing the target. A contour is generated between the first plurality of recognizable uniquely perturbed images and the second plurality of unrecognizable uniquely perturbed images.
US07684583B2
An earphone with adjustable volume of a front chamber between a speaker and a housing is provided, which includes a speaker unit, a housing and a movable element. The speaker unit is disposed within the housing, and the housing includes an earplug formation formed in front of the speaker unit. A chamber within the earplug formation has a volume, and the movable element is disposed on the housing and moves correspondingly with the chamber, so as to adjust the volume of the chamber. Therefore, the frequency response of the sound sent by the speaker unit varies depending upon the variation of the volume of the chamber.
US07684573B2
Fader operators operable manually and automatically are provided in corresponding relation to a plurality of channels. For each of the channels, a setting section can set a fade operation mode of the channel to either a first mode where a fade is enabled or a second mode where the fade is disabled. Upon receipt of a crossfade execution instruction, a corresponding fader operator is automatically operated in such a manner that each channel set in the first mode is faded in or faded out. When the fade operation mode of a given channel, which is undergoing a fade process, has been changed to the second mode, the fade process for the given channel is ceased, and the corresponding operator is changed to a predetermined operating state, e.g., state immediately before the start of the crossfade. According to another example, when a crossfade cease instruction has been given (e.g., by manual operation of the fader operator) for a particular channel which is undergoing a fade process, the process for the particular channel is ceased with the operator for the particular channel kept in the current operating state.
US07684572B2
A plurality of music apparatus 10 to 30 such as an electronic musical instrument and a microphone apparatus are connected by wireless to a mixer apparatus 40. A Bluetooth module is adopted as wireless communication means to construct a piconet with mixer apparatus 40 functioning as a master and music apparatus 10 to 30 functioning as slaves. Audio signals and MIDI data from music apparatus 10 to 30 are transmitted by wireless to mixer apparatus 40 through isosynchronous communication procedure using Bluetooth modules 11, 21, 31, 41. In mixer apparatus 40, with regard to the MIDI data, music tone signals based on the MIDI data are produced, whereafter the produced music tone signals and the aforesaid audio signals transmitted by wireless are mixed. Wiring by means of cables between a plurality of music apparatus and a mixer apparatus is abolished, thereby eliminating the cumbersomeness of wiring and the restrictions accompanying the wiring.
US07684571B2
A method of generating an audio signal comprises receiving a plurality of input audio signals from a plurality of microphones forming a microphone array, the plurality of input audio signals being representative of a set of sound sources within the auditory field of view of the microphone array at a given instant in time; receiving a motion input signal from a motion sensor, the motion input signal being representative of the motion of the microphone array; and manipulating the received plurality of input audio signals in response to the received motion input signal to generate an audio output signal that is representative of a set of sound sources within the auditory field of view of a virtual microphone, the apparent motion of the virtual microphone being independent of the motion of the microphone array.
US07684570B2
An interface device for interconnecting fixed controls of a vehicle to electronic devices. The interface device is capable of receiving control signals from fixed controls, such as steering wheel controls, backseat controls, handlebar controls, and the like, and then transmitting corresponding control signals to the electronic devices. In one aspect, the device is programmable such that the interface device emits signals corresponding to the same signals that would be emitted from a handheld remote control sold in conjunction with the different electronic devices. In one embodiment, the device is an interface between the fixed controls and a replacement stereo receiver. In another embodiment, the device is capable of recognizing spoken voice commands and generating corresponding IR signals in order to control the electronic devices. In still another embodiment, the device is an interface between the fixed controls and multiple electronic devices, such as an audio and video component.
US07684561B2
A portable electronic device including a first section, a second section and a connecting section. The first section has a user input section and a first tubular housing member. The first tubular housing member forms a majority of opposite exterior lateral sides of the first section. The second section has a display and a second tubular housing member. The second tubular housing member forms a majority of opposite exterior lateral sides of the second section. The connecting section movably connects the second section with the first section. The first tubular housing member at least partially houses the user input section. The second tubular housing member at least partially houses the display.
US07684560B2
An earset including a main housing with a microphone and an ear speaker mounted therein; a cover rotatably connected to the main housing and rotating along a first hinge axis to expose or close the ear speaker, the ear speaker being exposed with rotation of the cover and rotating along a second hinge axis to be protruded out from the main housing and fitted into the ear of a user; and first and second hinge devices providing the first and second hinge axes, respectively, and rotatably connecting the cover and the ear speaker to the main housing.
US07684559B2
In a hands-free mode of speech communication, a loudspeaker produces acoustic energy of a distant signal from a far-end talker and a microphone produces a near-end signal containing a speech component representing the speech activity of a near-end talker or an acoustic echo component, or both. An echo replica is produced from the distant signal and a residual echo representing the difference between the near-end signal and the echo replica. The residual echo is used as a feedback signal to produce the echo replica. Using one of the near-end signal and the residual echo as a first input signal and the echo replica as a second signal, an estimate of the acoustic echo is produced when the speech activity of the near-end talker is low or zero. Using the acoustic echo estimate, the spectrum of the first input signal is shaped to produce a local signal for transmission to the far-end talker.
US07684553B2
The present invention proposes a method for transmitting data in a communication network, said communication network comprising at least one call control entity (CSCF) for controlling calls to be established from a subscriber (A, B) to a communication destination (B, A), a service control entity (SCP) for controlling services provisioned in said network for a respective subscriber, and a detection entity (DP) adapted to detect at least one of a plurality of predetermined conditions occurring in said network; said method comprising the steps of: forwarding a signaling message from said subscriber (A) to said at least one call control entity (CSCF) for being further forwarded to said destination (B), said signaling message comprising a message header and a message body, said message header including information descriptive for a content carried in the message body, detecting the occurrence of said at least one predetermined condition, and in case the occurrence of said predetermined condition has been detected, sending information concerning the content carried in the message body of said signaling message to said service control entity (SCP). Also, the present invention proposes a communication system comprising a call control entity (CSCF) controlling calls to be established from a subscriber (A, B) to a communication destination (B, A), a service control entity (SCP) controlling services provisioned in a network for a respective subscriber, wherein said system is adapted to operate according to the above method, and also a call control entity and a service control entity as such.
US07684552B2
A system and method for postponing and managing outgoing calling tasks for on or off-site retrieval are presented. More precisely a system and method are presented to compile a list of pending calling tasks, transfer a task to a calling device and prompt a user to make a call. Optionally the list may contain synchronized sublists, one sublist on a personal computer and a second sublist an a mobile calling device. At the completion of a calling task or other event, the list is automatically updated.
US07684549B2
A system and method are disclosed for managing messages in a packetized voice environment. A system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone. The VoIP telephone may include an interface for communicatively coupling with a broadband network access device. The VoIP telephone may also include an answering machine module that is capable of initiating the answering of an incoming VoIP call, the playing of a recorded announcement to a calling party, and the saving of a message from the calling party. In some embodiments, the answering machine module may be integral with the VoIP telephone and the saved message may be stored on a local memory.
US07684542B2
When recording an image sequence, it is possible to deviate from passing through a perfect curve path. There is described how an alternative curve path can be determined. An envelope is determined, a point is determined, which is the center point of the region of interest and then the detector is moved such that it is at right angles in each instance to a line which emanates from the point and simultaneously touches the envelope tangentially. As a result, the region of interest is mapped as optimally as possible in the image sequence so that as good a 3D reconstruction as possible can be obtained.
US07684536B2
The present invention attempts to reduce an amount of a contrast medium or a patient dose and improve diagnostic efficiency. The conditions for a main scan are designated so that a first scan of scanning a subject with a tube current of a first tube current value fed to an X-ray tube will be performed in order to examine the blood flow in a subject's blood vessel into which a contrast medium is injected. Moreover, the conditions for a main scan are designated so that a second scan of scanning the subject with a tube current of a second tube current value fed to the X-ray tube will be performed in order to image the subject's blood vessel into which the contrast medium is injected. Images of the subject are constructed based on projection data items produced by scanning the subject under the sets of conditions for a main scan.
US07684534B2
A receiver for a serial link port that is enhanced by a clock-data-recovery loop connected to the forwarded clock signal lane. The receiver includes a phase interpolation means controlled by a phase position logic which gets its update signal from local phase update signals of the clock-data-recovery loop via a digital low pass filter. The receiver also provides a global phase update source selection logic to control which clock-data-recovery loop is distributing phase update information, and which clock-data-recovery loop is receiving phase update information based on the clock analysis block.
US07684532B2
A programmable logic device (“PLD”) is augmented with programmable clock data recover (“CDR”) circuitry to allow the PLD to communicate via any of a large number of CDR signaling protocols. The CDR circuitry may be integrated with the PLD, or it may be wholly or partly on a separate integrated circuit. The circuitry may be capable of CDR input, CDR output, or both. The CDR capability may be provided in combination with other non-CDR signaling capability such as non-CDR low voltage differential signaling (“LVDS”). The circuitry may be part of a larger system.
US07684531B2
A data recovery method includes the steps of: (a) oversampling data that have been transmitted serially in sync with a first clock of frequency f1, using a multiphase clock generated by shifting a phase of a second clock of frequency f2 at a prescribed interval, the second frequency f2 of the multiphase clock being at or below the first frequency f1; (b) extracting f1/f2 bits on average from the oversampled data; and (c) recovering the extracted bits to restore the received data.
US07684529B2
The effects of interference are mitigated in a wireless system by estimating spatial characteristics of an interfering signal, and using those characteristics in the formation of a spatial equalizer.
US07684520B2
A method and apparatus for bus repeater tapering. The sizing of repeaters on a portion of one transmission line is chosen to propagate a signal transition at a particular rate. The sizing of repeaters on a substantially parallel portion of another transmission line, is chosen to propagate a second signal transition at a different rate. Thus, the worst-case capacitance coupling factor between the two transmission lines may be reduced.
US07684517B2
Embodiments include a time-sharing detector that is designed to enable comparison of a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage against the serial data transmission in a specified pattern. In many embodiments, the pattern is pre-defined and, in some embodiments, the pattern includes an overlap period. During the overlap period both the first and the second reference voltages are compared with the data transmission to determine if valid data can be detected. Upon detecting a valid bit based upon one of the reference voltages, an output signal is generated to indicate that the data transmission includes a valid data signal. Advantageously, alternating between the comparisons can reduce power consumption. In many embodiments, the power reduction can be, for example, 50%, depending upon the specified pattern.
US07684508B1
The invention relates to a transmission diversity detecting apparatus and method. The transmission diversity detecting apparatus is applied in a Wideband Code-Division Multiple-Access (WCDMA) system having a CIPCH channel and a synchronization channel for detecting an antenna diversity of a cell. The transmission diversity detecting apparatus includes an antenna diversity detecting unit for determining the antenna diversity; and a quality indicator generator, electrically connected to the antenna diversity detecting unit, for generating a quality indicator utilized for indicating the reliability of the antenna diversity determined by the antenna diversity detecting unit.
US07684505B2
A method and apparatus for encoding data for wireless transmission. The invention includes multi-level coding in which data is partitioned between two encoders, one for encoding Most Significant Bits (MSBs) and the other for encoding Least Significant Bits (LSBs). By partition bits separately for the MSBs and LSBs, the complexity of the decoder may be reduced. The MSBs and LSBs are interleaved such that each MSB is a function of just one LSB, simplifying branch metric selection during Viterbi decoding. This also allows parallel de-interleaving by the receiver, which reduces the interleaving latency of the receiver. A block interleaver jointly optimizes the symbol hamming distance of the symbols and the bit hamming distance of each constituent encoder for the MSBs and LSBs.
US07684504B2
A channel estimator (150) is provided that comprises: an extension circuit (410) configured to receive a pilot signal (510), and add front and back extension signals (620, 630) to a front and back of the pilot signal, respectively, creating a first signal (610), the front and back extension signals being extension of a first and last symbol, respectively, in the pilot signal; an IDFT circuit (420) configured to perform an IDFT function on the first signal, generating a second signal (710); a signal processing element (430, 440, 470, 480) configured to perform one or more operations on the second signal, generating a third signal (910); a DFT circuit (450) configured to perform a DFT function on the third signal, generating a fourth signal (1010); and a reduction circuit configured to cut off front and back ends of the fourth signal, generating a channel estimation signal (1110).
US07684502B2
A communication network system sets communication parameters which enable an operation under a maximum possible communication rate in a situation where a transmission path has cyclic noise/impedance fluctuations. A transmission/reception apparatus transmits training packets for checking the state of the power line at two distinct points in time. A transmission/reception apparatus analyzes SNR at each carrier frequency, and stores an SNR evaluation result. The transmission/reception apparatus compares two SNR evaluations results which are obtained through two instances of a channel estimation algorithm, selects an SNR evaluation result which dictates a faster PHY rate, and transmits it to the transmission/reception apparatus. The transmission/reception apparatus changes modulation/demodulation rules based on the received SNR analytical result.
US07684500B2
A method for transmitting data in the form of at least one pulse sequence included in a transmitted signal. The method includes calculating at least one detection value representative of an amount of power carried by the pulse sequence by performing integration over a tunable time duration, and comparing the detection value to at least one predetermined threshold value.
US07684497B2
To reflect advantages of a constant phase modulation waveform, the invention provides a pulse amplitude modulated PAM waveform that is a superposition of Q0≦2L−1 PAM component pulses in each symbol interval such that a significant portion of signal energy over each symbol interval is within the Q0 PAM component pulses. The present invention distributes most signal energy in one pulse and progressively lower energies in the remaining Q0−1 pulses of a symbol interval. The Laurent Decomposition is a special case of the present invention, but the present invention exhibits the energy distribution of the Laurent Decomposition in non-binary CPM waveforms and in multi-h (binary and non-binary) CPM waveforms, where h is a modulating index. All energy is distributed among only Q=2L−1 pulses in each symbol interval, though only Q0
US07684496B2
Methods and systems for transmitting a discrete information over a communication path comprising analogue communication lines and a pulse-code modulation (PCM) channel are considered, which methods and systems allow to increase the data transfer rate over the entire path up to the data transfer rate in the PCM channel irrespective of the quality of analogue communication lines really employed. In this case, the spectrum of signal being transmitted over the analogue communication line is selected such that the information transfer rate over this analogue communication line is equal to the information transfer rate over the PCM channel, and the number of quantization levels for samples being transmitted over the analogue communication line is the least possible for this analogue communication line. During the conversion of the analogue signal into the PCM channel signal, the sampling rate of this signal is decreased in proportion to the ratio of the number of quantization levels for samples being transmitted over the PCM channel to the number of quantization levels for samples being transmitted over the analogue communication line.
US07684495B2
A scalable layered video coding scheme that encodes video data frames into multiple layers, including a base layer of comparatively low quality video and multiple enhancement layers of increasingly higher quality video, adds error resilience to the enhancement layer. Unique resynchronization marks are inserted into the enhancement layer bitstream in headers associated with each video packet, headers associated with each bit plane, and headers associated with each video-of-plane (VOP) segment. Following transmission of the enhancement layer bitstream, the decoder tries to detect errors in the packets. Upon detection, the decoder seeks forward in the bitstream for the next known resynchronization mark. Once this mark is found, the decoder is able to begin decoding the next video packet. With the addition of many resynchronization marks within each frame, the decoder can recover very quickly and with minimal data loss in the event of a packet loss or channel error in the received enhancement layer bitstream. The video coding scheme also facilitates redundant encoding of header information from the higher-level VOP header down into lower level bit plane headers and video packet headers. Header extension codes are added to the bit plane and video packet headers to identify whether the redundant data is included.
US07684491B2
Encoding or decoding digital video frames in intra-prediction mode by selecting column reference data locations for blocks adjacent a current block from a column reference data buffer storing column reference data samples for no more than two macro blocks of the frame. In some cases, the column reference data buffer may include a storage size for samples of a first column of data of blocks of one macro block of luminance samples. Encoding and decoding may also include selecting row reference data locations for blocks adjacent a current block from a row reference data buffer storing row reference data samples for at least one row of macro blocks of the frame. In some cases, the row reference data buffer may include storage for samples of a first row of data of fourteen successive blocks spanning two rows. The concept can be applied to various video processing components and standards.
US07684481B2
The present invention provides a equalizer processing module operable to cancel interference associated with received radio frequency (RF) burst(s). This equalizer processing module includes a first equalizer processing branch and an optional second equalizer processing branch. The first equalizer processing branch is operable to be trained by applying a recursive DMI process such as a Levison algorithm, based upon known training sequences and equalize the received RF burst. This results in soft samples or decisions which in turn may be converted to data bits. The soft samples are processed with a de-interleaver and channel decoder, where the combination is operable to produce a decoded frame of data bits from the soft samples. This allows interfering signals to be cancelled and more accurate processing of the received RF bursts to occur.
US07684480B2
A system (10) and method (50) of equalizing an audio signal from an existing radio or head unit (30) using an interface unit (10) between the radio or head unit and a replacement load (34) can include the steps analyzing (64) an existing equalization to provide a measure of an existing frequency response, generating (66) a substantially inverted frequency response to the existing frequency response, and applying (74) the inverted frequency response to the replacement load to provide a desired response. Such as system can include an interface unit (12) having an automatic input level control unit (14), an analog to digital converter or digitizer (16), a DSP (18) providing an output to a DAC (20), a level booster unit (22) and a processor such as a microcontroller unit (24).
US07684479B2
Methods and systems for reconfigurable soft-output bit demapping, reconfigurable for different modes of operation (i.e., different transmitter/receiver configurations) and for different modulation schemes are provided. In an embodiment, a reconfigurable soft-output bit demapping system includes a mode/modulation independent equalizer, a plurality of mode/modulation independent soft-slicers coupled to the outputs of the equalizer, a plurality of mode/modulation independent post-scalers coupled to the outputs of the soft-slicers, and a mode-dependent coefficient calculator. The coefficient calculator generates parameters for configuring the equalizer, the soft-slicers, and the post-scalers according to the used mode of operation and modulation scheme.
US07684478B2
A sequence of K voltage samples of a transmitted data signal is generated by sampling, digitizing, and storing voltage samples of the data signal with an imbedded sample clock on an IC having an unknown period TS. The K voltage samples are plotted against a time base of K sequential times TB[K] normalized so all samples fall within one cycle of the data clock used to generate the data signal or a unit time of 1. The time base is generated by estimating the sample clock period TSE to be some multiple of 1/P where P is greater than K. Eye diagrams are analyzed for time jitter wherein only the minimum value of jitter is saved. TSE is incremented by 1/P until TS is greater than one half the data clock period. The eye diagram at the TSE with the minimum time jitter is used to analyze the data channels.
US07684470B2
In a remote unit of a wireless communication system, the speed of acquisition, or reacquisition, of a pilot signal by a search engine is increased. PN space is divided into segments and a coarse search of each segment is performed using a set of “fast” search parameters. A set of peak signal strengths, along with their corresponding PN offsets, is saved for each segment of PN space. Following the search of all segments of PN space, the peak signal strengths which were saved during the coarse acquisition are evaluated. Coarse acquisition search results are used by the remote unit to determine fine search window parameters for subsequent searches performed by the remote unit search engine. The fine search parameters concentrate searching efforts on portions of PN space most likely to contain a viable base station pilot signal.
US07684469B2
A code division multiple access communication system has a base station with a plurality of transmitting antennas. From each transmitting antenna of the base station, a pilot signal is transmitted having a different chip sequence than the other transmitting antenna. At a user equipment, the transmitted pilot signals are received from each transmitting antenna. A weight adjustment is derived in response to the received transmitted pilot signals. The user equipment transmits the weight adjustment to the base station. The transmitted weight adjustment is received from the user equipment. A data signal is processed to produce a plurality of versions of the data signal. At least a portion of each processed data signal has a different chip sequence than the other processed data signal version. At least one processed data signal version is weighted by a weight value adjusted in response to the received transmitted weight adjustment. From each transmitting antenna, a different one of the data signal versions is transmitted and the transmitted data signal versions are received at the user equipment.
US07684467B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving data corresponding to a portion of an incoming radio frequency (RF) spectrum, determining a set of estimates including one or more pairs of a channel frequency estimate and a symbol rate estimate from the data via a linear spectrum analysis, and determining a refined set of estimates from the set of estimates via at least one non-linear spectrum analysis.
US07684466B2
A wired spread spectrum communication device, a method for communication thereof and a wired spread spectrum communication system capable of enabling easy establishment of synchronism are disclosed. In a transmitter unit of the wired spread spectrum communication device, a spreading code generator generates spread spectrum signals that are based on specified spreading codes, a strobe signal generator and a timing gate output the spread spectrum signals as sync signals at specified timings, and an adder superposes the sync signals to the spread information signals, while the adder further sends the information signals that have been superposed with the sync signals as transmitting signals to transmission paths.
US07684451B2
An optical transmitter module includes a semiconductor laser for outputting forward outgoing light and backward outgoing light, a temperature control device for controlling a temperature of the semiconductor laser, a beam splitter plate for receiving incidence of the backward outgoing light and outputting split light, which is reflected part of the backward outgoing light and transmitted light, which is part of the backward outgoing light, a first photoelectric conversion element for converting the split light into an electric signal. The beam splitter plate includes an anti-stray-light structure for preventing the transmitted light reflected by an incident surface of a wavelength filter from entering the first photoelectric conversion element through a side end surface portion of the beam splitter plate.
US07684448B2
A method for data interleaving and data de-interleaving against periodical position interference, the process of data interleaving includes: multiplexing data of different transport channels, interleaving the data multiplexed, and outputting the data interleaved; the process of data de-interleaving includes: receiving the data interleaved, de-interleaving the data received, and de-multiplexing the data de-interleaved into different transport channels; performing a randomized operation in the process of the data interleaving and an inverse operation of the randomized calculation in the process of the data de-interleaving to make the outputted position of the data of different transport channels after the interleaving be random. It may be avoided by applying the present invention that all synchronization interference signals in a wireless channel are concentrated in the data of the same transport channel.
US07684444B2
A system and method for providing a minimum burst duration in accordance with a regional standard and/or requirement. One embodiment comprises a first interface (204) configured to receive data to be communicated, a memory (208) configured to store a value corresponding to a regional minimum duration, a processor (202) configured to generate a frame, configured to compare a duration of the generated frame with the regional minimum duration, configured to add at least one padding symbol to the generated frame to generate a second frame, the second frame having a duration at least equal to the regional minimum duration, and a second interface (206) configured to communicate the second frame onto a communication channel.
US07684442B2
A method and circuitry for detecting a pattern in received data such as the A1A2 boundary in a SONET frame after deserialization. Two consecutive pluralities of bytes of incoming data are stored and compared with the A1 and A2 values (or bit shifted versions of the A1 and A2 values) until the boundary is detected. The data are then bit shifted so that every byte on the bus is either A2 or A1. A new aligned data bus is then formed such that the last A1 bit occurs on the data bus for a given clock cycle and the first A2 bit occurs on the data bus during the next clock cycle.
US07684430B2
Frame-based aggregation and prioritized channel access for traffic over wireless local area networks
A method comprises receiving by a MAC layer of a content server a transmission frame from an upper layer of the content server, the transmission frame being associated with a given access class of multiple access classes, the given access class being associated with a primary priority level, the transmission frame including content being associated with a secondary priority level; setting MAC layer parameter values based on the primary priority level, a given one of the MAC layer parameter values being based on the primary and secondary priority levels; and contending for access to a wireless medium using the MAC layer parameter values. The given one of the MAC layer parameter values may include AIFS, CWmax, CWmin, or TXOP. The method may further comprise generating the transmission frame by a hierarchically divided encryption protocol, e.g., MPEG, being resident in at least one of the upper layers of the content server.
US07684422B1
A system selectively drops data from a queue. The system includes queues that temporarily store data, a dequeue engine that dequeues data from the queues, and a drop engine that operates independently from the dequeue engine. The drop engine selects one of the queues to examine, determines whether to drop data from a head of the examined queue, and marks the data based on a result of the determination.
US07684412B2
There is provided a device connected to a network to which nodes are connected. The device is provided with a first storage unit in which information is registered, a request unit configured to transmit a request for device information concerning a name and an address of a node to the nodes, a reception unit configured to receive device information transmitted from the nodes as responses to the request, and a registration unit configured to register the device information received by the reception unit into the first storage unit.
US07684408B2
A communication mode which should be set to a mobile communication terminal having a function of switching between an autonomous mode and a scheduling mode is determined based on an amount of interference in each of the communication modes in the cell of a base station, and/or communication characteristics of each of the communication modes, and a signal indicating an amount of communication data notified from the mobile communication terminal. The base station then notifies the determined communication mode to the mobile communication terminal.
US07684405B2
The present invention discloses a high-capacity broadband access method, comprising: a broadband subscriber initiating an access request to an access unit; the access unit sending the subscriber authentication information to a control unit via a route switching unit; the control unit authenticating the subscriber with an internal or external authentication, authorization and accounting server, returning the authentication result to the access unit via the route switching unit, and sending the configuration information to the accessed subscriber; the route switching unit and the access unit accomplishing configuration of the subscriber information, allocating corresponding resource to the subscriber, and establishing a data channel for network access of the subscriber. The present invention also discloses a high-capacity broadband access device and a system thereof.
US07684402B2
A method for fast look-up in a connection-oriented communication includes generating a connection associated information according to peer information of a first peer and a second peer, storing the connection associated information into the first peer and the second peer, and building a connection between the first peer and the second peer according to the connection associated information. Generating the connection associated information includes generating an index and a way.
US07684400B2
Classification of network data packets includes a determination sets of one or more filter-identifiers where each set is associated with a respective data-packet classifier field. A result-set of filter-identifiers may be derived based on an intersection of the filter-identifier sets.
US07684394B1
A mechanism for dynamically performing Network Address Translation that allows external devices to contact internal host systems that would otherwise be hidden behind a NAT device is discussed. The dynamic NAT mechanism of the present invention maps internal host system addresses to external network addresses and reconfigures the NAT configuration of the network firewall to account for the new mapping on demand. Domain Name Service (DNS) lookup requests for an authorized internal system serve as a trigger to create a new mapping between the internal host system and the external network address. The new mappings may have a lifecycle controlled by dynamic leases that are created for each new mapping.
US07684388B2
A multi-grained network includes edge modules that switch high-variance multi-rate data traffic, and independent core modules that switch paths having different granularities. The core may include core modules that switch fixed-size data blocks, core modules that switch channels or bands of channels, core modules that switch entire links, and core modules that cross-connect channels or links. To simplify the control functions, the core modules operate independently from each other. Direct link, band or channel connections may be established for selected ingress-egress edge module pairs, if traffic volumes warrant. The use of graded granularity in the core simplifies the control function and reduces network cost.
US07684384B2
A method and a gateway provide for down speeding the data rate at the circuit switched side of a call being translated in the gateway if the packet switched side does not have sufficient bandwidth capabilities for matching the circuit switched data rate. The gateway compares the bandwidth of the circuit switched and packet switched sides of a call after establishing the connection. If the packet switched side of the call is connected at a lower rate than the circuit switched side, e.g., because of insufficient capabilities of the packet switched endpoint, the gateway initiates a down speeding procedure at the circuit switched side. The down speeding procedure disconnects a number of B-channels of the circuit switched connection to make the call rate equal or lower than the call rate of the packet switched side of the call.
US07684364B2
A method for implementing a virtual line channel in a packet switched network includes reserving a virtual line channel associated with a first station and establishing a communication session between the first station and a second station over the virtual line channel. The reservation of the virtual line channel is maintained while the communication session is active. The communication session may be transferred to a different channel associated with a third station. The reservation of the virtual line channel is maintained while the communication session is active despite the transfer of the communication session. When the communication session has terminated, the reservation of the virtual line channel is released.
US07684353B2
In a network which includes at least a transmission-side apparatus having a plurality of logical plugs and a reception-side apparatus having a plurality of logical plugs, correspondence between transmission-side logical plugs (e.g., P2 to P4) and reception-side logical plugs (e.g., P4 to P6) is established. The reception-side apparatus stores therein plug data Splug (P2) representing one of the transmission-side logical plugs, plug data Dplug representing a logical plug corresponding to the plug data Splug, among the plurality of reception-side logical plugs, and connection number Nconn representing the number of logical plugs to be connected. The transmission-side apparatus adds to control data a plug number PluNO (P3) representing the logical plug which has output the control data and transmits the control data. The reception-side apparatus determines whether to receive the control data, on the basis of PluNO, Splug, and Nconn, and specifies a logical plug (P5) which receives the control data, on the basis of PluNO, Splug, and Dplug.
US07684348B2
The present invention discloses a method for ensuring service classes of packet services, which includes limiting the rate of services with different service classes uploaded to a ringlet from an RPR station in accordance with the RPR physical packet lengths; monitoring, in real time, the rate of non-class A0 services uploaded to the ringlet from the RPR station and forwarded by the RPR station in accordance with the RPR physical packet lengths, and when the rate of the non-class A0 services exceeds the un-reserved rate of the RPR network, reporting a congestion message and adjusting the rate of the non-class A0 services uploaded to the ringlet from the RPR stations in the congestion domain. A method of rate limitation is also disclosed, by which rate limitation is conducted based on a Token Bucket according to the total length of the sent packet after encapsulation. The methods, by means of rate limitation and rate monitoring of the services uploaded to the ringlet from each RPR station according to the RPR physical packet length, can effectively overcome the shortcoming that the reserved bandwidth in the RPR can not be ensured because forwarded services unexpected occupy the bandwidth of the services uploaded to the ringlet at a downstream RPR station due to the physical layer encapsulation overhead.
US07684347B2
This is invention comprises a method and apparatus for Infinite Network Packet Capture System (INPCS). The INPCS is a high performance data capture recorder capable of capturing and archiving all network traffic present on a single network or multiple networks. This device can be attached to Ethernet networks via copper or SX fiber via either a SPAN port (101) router configuration or via an optical splitter (102). By this method, multiple sources or network traffic including gigabit Ethernet switches (102) may provide parallelized data feeds to the capture appliance (104), effectively increasing collective data capture capacity. Multiple captured streams are merged into a consolidated time indexed capture stream to support asymmetrically routed network traffic as well as other merged streams for external consumption.
US07684342B2
A media independent trigger model for multiple network types is disclosed. A change in communication environment trigger is communicated from a media dependent interface to an upper media independent application. The communication environment trigger may be from a local event detected by the interface or may be a remote trigger received from another device. The upper media independent application adjusts operations according to the communication environment trigger.
US07684333B1
A method and system for allocating bandwidth of a wireless channel to different types of traffic includes partitioning the bandwidth of the wireless channel into a plurality of contention periods. Traffic flows are associated with access categories, and one or more of the access categories are assigned to each contention period. During at least one of the contention periods, traffic flows associated with a proper subset of the access categories contend for access to the wireless channel.
US07684329B2
A system (100) and various methods and apparatus for efficient communications of data across various protocol layers are disclosed. A control and transceiver system (1400) configured for determining a data rate control (DRC) value and for transmission a maximum number of time slots allowed for transmission of a physical layer packet of data (510). After detecting a normal termination of transmission, the decoding thresholds (401, 402) are adjusted for decoding a positive acknowledgment message, and repeating decoding of acknowledgment channel (340) with the adjusted thresholds (401, 402). Retransmitting the physical layer packet of data at least one more time after based on whether the repeat of decoding of the acknowledgment channel (340) produces a negative acknowledgment message. The retransmission may be conditioned upon a throughput level of communications between the base station and the mobile station.
US07684326B2
Methods and structure for standardized, high-speed serial communication to reduce memory capacity requirements within receiving elements of a high-speed serial communication channel. In an exemplary SPI compliant embodiment of the invention, the semantic meaning of the STARVING, HUNGRY and SATISFIED flow control states is modified to allow the transmitting and receiving elements to manage buffer storage in a more efficient manner to thereby reduce memory capacity requirements while maintaining the integrity of flow control contracts and commitments. The methods and structure further provide for generation of storage metric information to dynamically update the flow control status information asynchronously with respect to data packet transmissions.
US07684324B2
The present invention provides a system and method for prioritizing delay-sensitive packets relative to each other for transmission from a router in a network, based on a delay variation estimated for each delay-sensitive packet by a quality of service monitor. In accordance with the present invention, late delay-sensitive packets are assigned a higher priority than, and are transmitted before, other delay-sensitive packets, thereby reducing the level of jitter and improving the quality of the packet streams that comprise late delay-sensitive packets.
US07684320B1
A method is provided to classify network traffic flows in real-time using spectral analysis techniques to extract regularities inside the network traffic flows. In one embodiment of the invention, subspace decomposition on power spectral density feature vectors and minimum coding length criterion are utilized for training traffic flows of different classifications. Experimental results are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the invention.
US07684316B2
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a multicast join message at a node having a plurality of interfaces, identifying the interface at which the join message was received, and selecting one or more of the interfaces to transmit the join message based on whether the join message was received on a ring interface. If the join message was received on one of the ring interfaces, the join message is transmitted on another of the interfaces. If the join message was not received on one of the ring interfaces, the join message is transmitted on both of the ring interfaces. The method further includes receiving multicast data and transmitting the multicast data on the interface at which the join message was received.
US07684315B1
A cable modem termination system (CMTS) provides for ordered switchover of the cable modems it serves when a primary module of the CMTS fails. When the primary module in the CMTS fails, a backup module takes over service of the cable modems. The backup module restores the service flows of the cable modems based on a restoration order determined by session recovery priorities that are related to quality of service levels required by the service flows. In particular, service flows that are engaged in VoIP “911” calls are restored first. Service flows engaged in other VoIP calls are next restored. Lastly, service flows engaged in regular data sessions are restored.
US07684311B2
There is provided an equalizer that includes: a first extracting circuit extracting a plurality of pilot symbols from an inputted signal; an inverse Fourier transform circuit inversely Fourier transforming the extracted plurality of pilot symbols, and computing a complex gain per path; a second extracting circuit extracting a plurality of paths by using the complex gains; a Fourier transform circuit Fourier transforming the extracted paths; and an equalization computing circuit extracting phase components of the Fourier-transformed paths, and carrying out multiplication by using the inputted signal and the extracted phase components.
US07684306B2
There is provided an optical pickup apparatus that can obtain a stable servo signal by reducing stray light generated by diffraction in a recording layer other than a recording layer on which light is condensed. A hologram element provided in an optical pickup apparatus for recording information onto a recording medium and/or reproducing information on the recording medium by use of light includes fourth and fifth divisions where at least first-order diffracted light among diffracted light beams obtained by reflection and diffraction on a recording layer other than a light-condensed recording layer on which light is condensed by an objective lens so as not to be directed toward first and second light-receiving elements for detecting focus position information and third to eighth light-receiving elements for detecting track position information.
US07684302B2
The present invention enables a recording condition closer to an optimum to be obtained even for media unknown to a drive. The present invention provides a method that is especially effective for the case where it is applied to a code identification scheme, such as PRML in which code identification is performed on the basis of information on the amplitude of an RF signal. A condition for a recording pulse comprised of a top pulse, an intermediate pulse and a last pulse is configured in a predetermined order, that is, a reference condition is first determined by a test recording involving an examination of recording quality and changes in conditions for a power and a pulse width, then a condition for the last pulse is determined by a test recording using the reference condition, and subsequently a condition for the intermediate pulse is determined using the reference condition and the last pulse. A phase shift is corrected by a test recording using the recording pulse obtained by configuring the above conditions.
US07684292B2
A method of recording data and an apparatus for recording data having a writing/reading unit to read control information and record a main data to a recording medium. The control information including at least one information unit for a specific writing speed and recording layer, wherein the information unit includes write strategy parameters for first write strategy type to be used for the writing speed and recording layer, the first write strategy type being one of an n−1 write strategy type and an n/2 write strategy type, where n is a length of mark and each type represents a number of write pulse to form a corresponding mark. A controller, operatively coupled to the writing/reading unit, controls the writing/reading unit to record the main data on the recording layer using write strategy parameters for the first write strategy type included in the information unit, at the specific writing speed.
US07684287B2
A disc changer is provided which can perform a disc check in a short time which involves checking whether or not each disc loaded in the disc changer is reproducible in loading CDs on the changer. File system data is selected from management data of a selected disc and reproduced by a file system data selector. The selected file system data is analyzed by a file system data analyzer, and a condition of the analysis is monitored by a reproducible file detector. When a reproducible file is detected, the analysis is suspended, a result of a disc check is generated, and a next disc may be checked.
US07684285B2
The invention concerns a power reserve indicator mechanism for a timepiece of the type comprising: a mainspring (14), a power reserve indicator moving between two end positions, a differential gear (18), and an intermediate wheel set (32) including first and second parts respectively kinematically coupled to the differential gear (18) and to the indicator and a coupling member coupling said parts, which rotate conjointly while the winding of the mainspring (14) is comprised between its end positions, Said coupling member includes a friction mechanism arranged such that the first part can move with friction in relation to the second when the indicator has reached its first end position, and an elastic element arranged so as to be able to be cocked when the indicator has reached its second end position, by the movement of the first part with reference to the second part.
US07684282B2
A standard non-destructive testing probe (4) may be coupled with a localization system (10) according to the invention so as to determine the position of the apparatus (4) on the surface to be analyzed (1) at any moment.The localization system (10) comprises an ultrasonic emitter (12) and two ultrasonic receivers (14, 16) coupled with means for determining the distance between the emitter (12) and the receivers (14, 16), each of the components being able to be moved freely relative to each other. The coupling between the emitter (12) and the probe (4) allows the position of the latter to be determined by triangulation.A localization and mapping method is also described.
US07684278B1
Method and apparatus for implementing first-in-first-out (FIFO) memories using time-multiplexed memory in an integrated circuit are described. A block random access memory (BRAM) circuit embedded in the integrated circuit is provided. The BRAM includes at least one port responsive to a respective at least one BRAM clock signal. FIFO logic is configured to implement a plurality of FIFOs in the BRAM having a plurality of interfaces. Multiplexer logic is configured to selectively couple the plurality of output interfaces of the FIFO logic to the at least one port of the BRAM circuit responsive to at least one FIFO clock signal. Each of the at least one BRAM clock signal has at least twice the frequency of a respective one of the at least one FIFO clock signal.
US07684275B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a first memory cell array that comprises first memory cells arranged in a matrix of first rows and first columns; a second memory cell array that comprises second memory cells arranged in a matrix of second rows and second columns; a row decoder that is configured to select and activate one of the rows of the first and second cell arrays in response to a row address; a sense amplifier that may be disposed between the first memory cell array and the second memory cell array; a switch that is configured to selectively connect the sense amplifier to the first memory cell array and the second memory cell array; and a switch controller that is configured to control the switch to connect the sense amplifier to one of the first and second memory cell arrays based on the row address.
US07684269B2
A semiconductor memory device is capable of measuring internal voltages via a shared pad to reduce a chip size. The semiconductor memory device includes a selector and a monitoring pad. The selector is configured to select one of a plurality of internal signals in response to a test signal and output the selected internal signal. The monitoring pad is configured to output an output signal of the selector to an outside of the semiconductor memory device.
US07684267B2
An apparatus for redundancy of a memory array includes a primary memory array including a plurality of memory cells, one or more of which are defective. A redundant array includes a CAM array that includes a plurality of memory cells. The CAM array is addressed by the address of a defective memory location within the primary memory array and provides a match identification and a resource identification. The redundant array also includes a translation array wherein an offset to configure an input/output multiplexer is stored. The redundant array also includes a redundant data array including a plurality of memory cells wherein one or more memory cells of the redundant data array are used instead of one or more defective memory cells of the primary array.
US07684266B2
A serial system and method for blowing antifuses are disclosed. One embodiment of antifuse system includes a plurality of latch devices connected in series from input to output. The system also includes a plurality of antifuses. The antifuses are configured to receive an output signal from a corresponding one of the latch devices. The plurality of latch devices includes a plurality of D flip-flops connected in series. Each of the D flip-flops is configured to receive an output signal from an immediately previous D flip-flop in the serial data flow and to provide an output signal to an immediately subsequent D flip-flop in the flow. In addition, the serial system provides self-detective antifuses, thus creating reliable electrical paths while saving antifuse blowing current resources and time.
US07684265B2
A redundant cross point switching is achieved by mapping a redundant column/row of point cells and enabling at least one of the switching devices which is associated with each column/row to define an alternate path around the defective point cell which replicates the function of the switching location of the defective point cell.
US07684261B2
In a semiconductor apparatus, a power supply voltage generating circuit (21) and an internal circuit (22) using a power supply voltage generated by the power supply voltage generating circuit are supplied with different internal circuit preset signals (PRESET 1 and PRESET 2) optimized for the power supply voltage generating circuit and the internal circuit, respectively.
US07684257B1
Disclosed is an accumulation memory circuit for providing a fast read, modify, and write operation in a single clock cycle time. The memory circuit is configured to read data stored in the memory device at an address. The memory circuit includes a reconfigurable adder unit generating read, accumulate and write output in a single clock cycle. The memory circuit is further configured to minimize data overflow. A high speed accumulation method comprises resetting a memory circuit; reading from an address of the memory circuit; performing internal addition within the memory circuit and rewriting into the address of the memory circuit in a single clock cycle.
US07684253B2
A flash memory device has a precharging section for precharging adequately in advance internal data lines included in an Y-decoder section whenever a process of inputting data into page buffer is performed, error in a second process of inputting data may be reduced by preventing the maintenance of data loaded to data lines in a first process of inputting data prior to the second process.
US07684241B2
Methods of executing a multi-page copyback program in a non-volatile memory device are provided, where the non-volatile memory device includes a memory having a plurality of memory blocks. A page of data of the memory block having a first address is replaced responsive to a generated multi-page copyback program command. It is determined if the first address of the page of data is the same as a stored address of the page at which the failure was detected. The first address is incremented if it is determined that the first address and the stored address are not the same. The pages of data are replaced, the addressed are compared and the addresses are incremented until it is determined that the incremented address and the stored address are the same. Related devices and systems are also provided herein.
US07684240B2
An embodiment of a flash memory device comprises a cell array including memory cells coupled to bit lines, a decoder configured to decode successive logical column addresses into physical column addresses that are arranged non-sequentially, and a gate circuit to partially select the bit lines in response to the decoded addresses. Physically adjacent bit lines may be activated so that electrical coupling effects are eliminated by non-successively activating the bit lines.
US07684237B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices, modules, and systems for reading non-volatile multilevel memory cells. One method includes receiving a request to read data stored in a first cell of a first word line, performing a read operation on an adjacent cell of a second word line in response to the request, determining whether the first cell is in a disturbed condition based on the read operation. The method includes reading data stored in the first cell in response to the read request by applying a read reference voltage to the first word line and adjusting a sensing parameter if the first cell is in the disturbed condition.
US07684230B2
A semiconductor memory device, including a memory cell including a flip-flop, and a memory cell power supply circuit for supplying a cell power supply voltage to the memory cell, wherein the memory cell power supply circuit supplies a cell power supply voltage in a first period and a different cell power supply voltage in a second period.
US07684225B2
An array of non-volatile memory cells arranged in logical columns and logical rows, and associated circuitry to enable reading or writing one or more memory cells on a row in parallel. In some embodiments, the array of memory cells may include a phase change material. In some embodiments, the circuitry may include a write driver, a read driver, a sense amplifier, and circuitry to isolate the memory cells from the sense amplifier with extended refresh. In some embodiments, the circuitry may further include shift registers and one or more arithmetic logic units to provide a video memory.
US07684213B2
An EMI shield apparatus for connecting to a CRU frame, a memory unit emitting EMI through a periphery of the CRU frame, the EMI shield apparatus comprising a shield base, a plurality of sides bordering the shield base for blocking EMI emitted from a portion of the periphery of the CRU frame, and a plurality of tabs connected to at least one of the plurality of sides for blocking EMI emitted from the corners of the periphery of the CRU frame when the plurality of sides are in a compressed condition.
US07684212B2
The disclosure describes a printed circuit board (PCB) for use in an electronic device. The PCB comprises: a top side; a bottom side; an edge between the top side and the bottom side; a cavity from the top side to the bottom side; a region on the top side for mounting an electronic device; and a connector for receiving connections from the electronic device. In the PCB, the connector is located on either the bottom side or the edge of the side of the PCB. The electronic device can be a display module.
US07684211B2
An add-in card fastener is provided. The fastener includes a base, a pressing part, a latch and a supporting part. The base is fixed on an inner surface of a computer case. The pressing part is pivotally connected to the base. The pressing part has a pin located on a first surface of the pressing part to press an add-in card on a motherboard. The supporting part is connected to the base. The latch is located on one side of the supporting part and presses a second surface of the pressing part when the pressing part presses the add-in card. The second surface of the pressing part is opposite the first surface of the pressing part.
US07684207B2
A composite electronic component includes a multilayer wiring block having a plurality of insulating layers and a wiring pattern, and a chip-type electronic component built-in multilayer block having a plurality of insulating payers and a wiring pattern and including a first chip-type electronic component. The multilayer wiring block and the chip-type electronic component built-in multilayer block are electrically interconnected and arranged on substantially the same plane.
US07684199B2
A system and method for connecting supply power to motor control components includes use of a motor control center subunit with moveable supply power contacts. After a motor control center subunit is secured into a motor control center compartment, the supply power contacts may be advanced to engage supply power buses. For disconnection, the supply power contacts may be retracted and isolated from the buses before physical removal of the subunit. A free wheeling mechanism prevents supply power contacts from advancing and retracting past a preset travel range.
US07684194B2
Systems and methods for cooling electronic devices via enhanced thermal conduction in the gap separating an electronic device from a heat sink are provided. In one embodiment, a system for cooling an electronic device comprises: a heat sink spaced from the integrated circuit by a gap; and a bubbler and an atomizer configured to feed a mixture comprising an atomized liquid and a carrier gas to the gap.
US07684186B2
The present invention relates to a security mechanism of a base, which is substantially a base. One side surface of the base is provided with a plurality of connecting ports for peripheral devices. The base is provided thereon with a trough and a retaining strip. The trough is provided therein with a connecting port. The retaining strip is disposed above one side of the trough so as to form a guard, thereby increasing the safety of the base and the performance of the computer host.
US07684159B2
A lower shield layer and an upper shield layer are formed to have a planar shape, and a detecting element is provided between the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer. End faces of the upper shield layer may extend farther in a depthwise direction from a surface facing a recording medium than end faces of the lower shield layer. A lower conductive electrode may be disposed directly adjacent to a facing inner surface of the lower shield layer. An upper conductive electrode may be disposed adjacent to a portion of the upper shield layer. Therefore, the lower shield layer and the upper conductive electrode may be insulated from each other.
US07684150B2
The present invention relates to a head having an air bearing surface for confronting the surface of a storage medium. The head includes a first pole that is spaced apart from a second pole. At least one non-magnetic spacer is positioned between the first pole and the second pole such that the first pole is magnetically decoupled from the second pole. In a further aspect, one or both of the first pole and the second pole can be elliptical in shape.
US07684149B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic head which assures an improved format efficiency without increase in the magnetic field intensity applied at a read element. In one embodiment, a magnetic head incorporates a write head having a main pole and an auxiliary pole, and a read head having a read element between reader shields. An auxiliary shield as a magnetic body is provided between the main pole and reader shields or on the opposite side of the main pole with the reader shields between the main pole and the auxiliary shield.
US07684148B2
A magnetic head includes a wafer substrate and a conductive underlayer formed directly on the substrate. An insulating layer is formed above the conductive layer. A reader and/or writer thereof is formed above the insulating layer. Another magnetic head includes a substrate and an insulating underlayer formed above the substrate. A conductive underlayer is formed above the insulating underlayer. An insulating layer is formed above the conductive underlayer. At least one device is formed above the insulating layer, the at least one device being selected from a group consisting of readers, writers, and combinations thereof. Tape drive systems and methods for forming such heads are also presented.
US07684134B2
A confocal microscope lens arrangement is provided. The confocal microscope lens arrangement includes a lens assembly housing which has a lens assembly, and an exterior housing including a distal end and a proximal end. The exterior housing is configured to allow the lens assembly housing to be placed therein, and translated between the proximal end and the distal end of the exterior housing to focus the lens assembly. The exterior housing has an aperture formed through a distal end thereof. The arrangement also includes an immersion media filling the volume of area between the exterior housing and the lens assembly housing.
US07684131B2
The disclosure generally relates to methods, devices, systems and components configured to position an element in a lens assembly, such as a lens assembly for microlithography, in which the element to be positioned is moved from an actual position to a target position via at least one actuator, and in which at least the positioning movement of the actuator is superimposed with an oscillating movement.
US07684123B2
A lens structure includes a first barrel, a second barrel, a third barrel, a first lens module and a second lens module. The first and the second barrel respectively have a first guiding-groove and a second guiding-groove. The third barrel has a first portion and a second portion. The first and the second portion respectively have a plurality of third guiding-grooves and a plurality of fourth guiding-grooves. The first and the second guiding-groove encircle the first and the second portion, respectively. The first and the second lens module respectively have a plurality of first guiding-portions and a plurality of second guiding-portions. The first guiding-portions are disposed in sliding way in the corresponding third guiding-groove and connected in helically sliding way into the first guiding-groove. The second guiding-portions are disposed in sliding way in the corresponding fourth guiding-groove and through the second guiding-groove.
US07684119B2
A device for homogenizing light contains at least one optically functional surface through which light to be homogenized can pass and a plurality of concave and convex cylindrical lenses which are disposed in an alternating fashion one next to the other on the at least one optically functional surface. The device further has at least one first embodiment and at least one second embodiment, different from the at least one first embodiment, of transitions between the concave and the convex cylindrical lenses. Wherein the transitions between the concave and the convex cylindrical lenses are configured such that partial beams of the light to be homogenized, which have passed through different embodiments of the transitions between the concave and the convex cylindrical lenses, have an optical path difference with respect to one another, which contributes to the reduction of interference effects in the homogenized light.
US07684105B2
A microblind system has an array of overhanging stressed microblinds, each having an anchor portion attached a substrate and a mobile portion. The microblinds are responsive to electrostatic forces to mutate between a deployed configuration wherein the mobile portion obscure the substrate and a curled configuration wherein the mobile portion exposes the substrate. A transparent conductive layer permits the application of an electric field to the microblinds.
US07684102B2
An oscillator device includes a supporting base plate, a supporting member, a movable plate supported by the supporting member for oscillating motion relative to the supporting base plate, a first functional device having a first function, a second functional device having a second function, a first wiring connected to the first functional device and formed on a first surface of the supporting member, and a second wiring connected to the second functional device and formed on a second surface of the supporting member different from the first surface thereof where the first wiring is formed, such that the width of the wirings on the supporting member can be made wide.
US07684095B2
A scanning apparatus includes a scan bar configured to generate image data to reproduce a document scanned by the scanning apparatus. The scan bar includes a light source and a plurality of light sensors. The light source and the plurality of light sensors define at least one ultraviolet light channel and at least one visible light channel. The light source may emit visible light and ultraviolet light. The plurality of light sensors may be configured to allow the scanning apparatus to distinguish between the visible light and the ultraviolet light.
US07684094B2
An object is to provide an imaging optical system having a very simple structure that can read image while maintaining excellent image quality without suffering from significant asymmetrical aberrations. An imaging optical system for image reading is adapted to form an image of image information on a surface of an original onto a line sensor while changing a relative position of the original surface and the line sensor to allow the line sensor to read the image information. The imaging optical system includes two off-axial reflecting surfaces, and the two off-axial surfaces are a plus deflecting surface and a minus deflecting surface, or a minus deflecting surface and a plus deflecting surface disposed in the mentioned order from the original surface side, where an off-axial reflecting surface that deflects a reference axis beam clockwise is defined as a minus deflecting surfaces and an off-axial reflecting surface that deflects the reference axis beam anticlockwise is defined as a plus deflecting surface.
US07684092B2
There is provided a writing circuit of an electro-optical device having a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of pixels disposed to correspond to intersections between the plurality of scanning lines and the plurality of data lines. Here, each pixel comprises: a pixel capacitor having a pixel electrode and a common electrode opposed to the pixel electrode; and a switching element for electrically connecting the corresponding data line to the pixel electrode when the corresponding scanning line is selected. The writing circuit comprises an inversion circuit for maintaining a voltage between a potential of the data line and a predetermined potential for a predetermined time, and inverting the maintained voltage with respect to a reference potential and applying the inverted voltage to the data line after the lapse of the predetermined time, in a period of time when one scanning line of the plurality of scanning lines is selected.
US07684087B2
A bitmap based trapping method that extends the dot pattern of a lighter color into a darker color is disclosed. For selected pixels with the darker color and not the lighter color, correspondingly located pixels in neighboring halftone cells are identified. If any of these correspondingly located pixels contains the lighter color and not the darker color, the lighter pixel is added to the selected pixels.
US07684086B2
Apparatus are provided, including a document application and a bleed creation mechanism. The bleed creation mechanism includes an image extender to automatically determine non-blank extended image information based on a location of a blank perimeter area of a page description language (PDL) file. The image extender further populates the blank perimeter area with the non-blank extended image information.
US07684085B2
Methods and apparatus for reconstructing digitized images are provided that include an image reconstruction path that receives a digitized image and provides a processed RGB or CMYK image that may be printed or stored in memory. The image reconstruction path is configured to operate in either a multiple scan or single scan environment if the source of the digitized image is a scanner. A plurality of optional functional units in the reconstruction path can be controlled by user or internal controls. These functional units perform preliminary color adjustment, automatic deskew, background and dust removal, descreen, text detection and enhancement, color conversion, scaling, and color manipulation.
US07684082B2
An algorithmic method is identified for compensating for thermochromaticity errors in insitu spectral color measurements of a color printing device. A difference is mapped between spectral measurements of a printed color generated by the color printing device measured at a first or hot temperature and at a second or cool ambient temperature where the mapping comprises a referenceable characteristic of the color printing device. The spectrophotometric measurement of a hot color is compared with colors obtained with thermochromaticity compensation matrix to assess if the measured color corresponds to the desired color which will result when cooled to ambient temperature.
US07684079B2
An image forming engine has color shifting amount storage units C, M, Y, and K (black) which store actual shifting amounts relative to ideal scan directions on image carriers C, M, Y, and K in image forming units C, M, Y, and K. Color shifting correction amount arithmetic units calculate color shifting correction amounts for respective color components to base on the stored color shifting amounts. Color shifting correction units C, M, Y, and K perform color shifting correction by converting coordinates upon reading out image data from bitmap memories C, M, Y, and K on the basis of the calculated color shifting correction amounts, and then perform tone correction. Data after tone correction undergo halftone processing by halftone processors. C, M, Y, and K to suppress moire. PWM processors C, M, Y, and K generate PWM signals for scanning, and output them to exposure units C, M, Y, and K of the respective image forming units.
US07684075B2
The present invention provides a communication device that reduces waste in paper, toner, and the like that are used for printing error reports, by eliminating the output of an error report when a user has noticed the occurrence of a communication error. The communication device may not print out an error report when a communication error occurs due to the failure to establish a connection with a recipient. An error report will be printed only when a user has not confirmed the occurrence of a communication error within a predetermined time period from the time the communication error occurred. Thus, output of an error report can be prohibited whenever a communication error occurs, and thus waste in paper, toner, and the like which are used for printing error reports can be reduced.
US07684063B2
Main actual color is reproduced unsatisfactory in some cases according to prior art. An image processing method is provided in which the component values of hue, saturation and lightness of an image represented by image data are independently changed. The hue change amount is made different at each hue angle, the saturation change amount is made different for each hue angle and each saturation value, and the lightness change amount is made different at each hue angle.
US07684061B2
An electronic component mounting apparatus includes a beam projector for projecting a laser beam, a beam receiver which is placed in opposition to the beam projector and which receives a laser beam projected from the beam projector, a light-reception-sensitivity setting unit for adjusting light-reception sensitivity of the beam receiver, a projection-side orifice provided in the beam projector to narrow a projection spot diameter of the laser beam, and a reception-side orifice provided in the beam receiver to narrow a light-reception spot diameter, where the light-reception sensitivity of the beam receiver is improved. As a result, an electronic component mounting apparatus capable of accurately detecting height size of small components by using a relatively inexpensive photoelectric sensor can be provided.
US07684057B2
A linear measurement apparatus includes a measuring unit including at least one first noncontact distance measuring sensor and one second noncontact distance measuring sensor supported at a frame and aligned on opposite sides of a measured object. The measuring unit measures a plurality of first gap distances to a plurality of first object positions in a plurality of parallel first measurement lines and a plurality of second gap distances to a plurality of second object positions in a plurality of parallel second measurement lines. A distance calculator calculates a plurality of candidate object lengths on the basis of the first and second gap distances, each candidate object length being a distance between one of the first object positions and one of the second object positions. A maximum selector selects a maximum object length from among the plurality of candidate object lengths.
US07684051B2
A dual cantilevered beam structure is attached to a silicon frame. An optical fiber extends from a borosilicate wafer bonded to the bottom of the frame. A second borosilicate wafer is bonded to the top of the frame. The bottom borosilicate wafer is bonded to the optical fiber with a bonding agent having an index of refraction between the refractive index of the fused silica optical fiber and the refractive index of the borosilicate wafer. In an embodiment, the bonding agent has a refractive index substantially similar to optical cement. Light is reflected into the optical fiber from the beam structure for measuring seismic changes.
US07684050B2
A shape measuring method for measuring a surface shape of a measurement target includes dividing light from a light source into measurement light and reference light, the measurement light being obliquely incident upon a surface of the measurement target, the reference light being incident upon a reference mirror, introducing the measurement light reflected by the measurement target and the reference light reflected by the reference mirror to a photoelectric conversion element, detecting interference light formed by the measurement light and the reference light by the photoelectric conversion element while moving the measurement target, and measuring the surface shape of the measurement target based on an interference signal obtained from the measurement light that has been reflected at the same position on the surface of the measurement target.
US07684044B2
It has been requested to enhance sensitivity of a surface plasmon resonance sensor in a frequency region from a millimeter wave band to a terahertz band, from 30 GHz to 30 THz. Then, the present invention provides a sensor whose sensitivity is further improved by an analyte holding portion being equipped with a semiconductor and a medium.
US07684041B2
A color inspection system capable of making a determination on pass or failure with accuracy equivalent to that for the case of a visual inspection even in the case of inspecting various textile products as measurement targets, such as raised cloth, cloth with printed patterns such as a marbled pattern, moire pattern and detailed pattern is provided. With the color inspection system, an illuminant is set to shine a light on the surface of a textile product placed on the top surface of a measuring platform to thereby make measurements from a direction at an angle of 45 degrees from the surface of a measuring region of the textile product by use of a spectroradiometer of a measuring unit. The spectroradiometer is provided with a wide range lens attached thereto to thereby expand a measuring region. The results of measurement by the spectroradiometer are inputted to an information processor of a determination unit. The information processor computes color values for the whole measuring region to be compared with standard color values stored in a memory to thereby make a determination on pass or fail.
US07684040B2
An overlay mark is described, wherein the overlay mark is used for checking the alignment accuracy between a lower layer defined by two exposure steps and a lithography process for defining an upper layer, including a part of the lower layer and a photoresist patter. The part of the lower layer includes two first x-directional, two first y-directional bar-like patterns. The first x-directional and first y-directional bar-like patterns are defined by one exposure step to define a first rectangle. The second x-directional and second y-directional bar-like patterns are defined by another exposure to define a second rectangle, wherein the second rectangle is wider than the first rectangle. The photoresist pattern, which is formed by the lithograph process, is disposed over the part of the lower layer and is surrounded by the bar-like patterns.
US07684036B2
A method is disclosed for monitoring the curing status of a dental resin through the inherent fluorescence of the dental resin under a curing light. The method requires no sample preparation and is fast enough for real time cure monitoring.
US07684035B2
A film for surface enhanced raman scattering may be utilized for chemical and biological sensing. The film includes a polymeric layer, and a metallic nanoparticle having a cross-section, the metallic nanoparticle being embedded in the polymeric layer. The polymeric layer has a thickness less than a largest straight line through the cross-section of said metallic nanoparticle. The polymeric layer is selected from a group of absorbing media and amplifying media, and the metallic nanoparticle may be gold. The metallic nanoparticle may also be a shape selected from a group of spheroids and rods.
US07684031B2
This visual inspection apparatus has a macro-inspection section and a micro-inspection section. In the micro-inspection section, a inspection stage and a microscope are loaded into a loading plate. The inspection stage can be moved in any directions of the X, Y, and Z directions, and can also be rotated in the θ direction. Moreover, a peripheral edge inspection section that acquires an enlarged image of a peripheral edge of wafer W is fixed to the loading plate. The peripheral edge inspection section is arranged so as to image the peripheral edge of wafer W held by the inspection stage.
US07684030B2
An apparatus for an enclosure of a linear inspection system for the inspection of products that uses at least one camera and at least one laser. The enclosure is placed in a production line environment as to allow the passage of the products to pass through an aperture of the enclosure. More specifically, the enclosure allows to shelter cameras and lasers that are oriented towards an inspection zone through a translucent surface of the enclosure. Furthermore, in another aspect of the invention, the cameras and lasers are fixed to mounting stations in the enclosure. The mounting stations are positioned as to orient the cameras and lasers towards an inspection zone through the translucent surface of the enclosure.
US07684022B2
A system and method for determining a brightness factor associated with a window shade fabric is disclosed. The brightness factor incorporates the openness factor of the fabric, visible light reflectance of the fabric and visible light transmission of the fabric. The brightness factor helps to determine the optimum window shade fabric for a particular room, building or other location. The brightness factor information may be used to select the correct fabric based on desired interior function, light level, the relative surface brightness, and/or any other desired interior characteristic. The fabric selection may affect the building envelope by, for example, facilitating the optimization of daylighting, reduction of artificial electric lighting needs, and minimization of glare conditions.
US07684019B2
The invention relates to a frequency-shifted feedback radiation source, equipped with an element for increasing the beat intensity of the emission frequency component.
US07684014B2
A lithographic apparatus is presented. The lithographic apparatus includes a beam splitter configured to split a radiation beam into a plurality of radiation beams; a substrate stage configured to support a substrate; a beam combiner adapted to redirect and combine at least a portion of the plurality of radiation beams to form an interference pattern on the substrate; and a control unit in communication with the substrate stage and a radiation source configured to output the beam of radiation, the control unit configured to synchronize a motion of the substrate stage with a repetition rate at which the beam of radiation is output by the radiation source.
US07684009B2
A lithographic apparatus and method in which an illumination system supplies a projection beam, a patterning system imparts to the beam a pattern in its cross section, and a projection system projects the patterned beam onto a target portion of a substrate. The projection system comprises an array of lenses spaced from the substrate such that each lens in the array focuses part of the patterned beam onto the substrate. A displacement system causes displacement between the lens array and the substrate. A particle detector detects particles on the substrate which are approaching the lens array. A free working distance control system increases the spacing between the lens array and the substrate in response to detection of a particle. The lens array is moved away from the substrate as the detected particle passes the lens array. Thus damage to the lens array can be avoided.
US07684006B2
A chip on glass type liquid crystal display device and a method for fabricating the same are provided in which a surface of a pad electrode for attaching a flexible printed circuit film is embossed to increase an adhesive force between a pad electrode and a flexible printed circuit film, thereby ensuring contact between the pad electrode and the flexible printed circuit film. Unit pixels in an active region contain thin film transistors formed at intersections of gate lines and data lines. A pad electrode is formed in an inactive region. An embossing pattern is formed on the pad electrode. An adhesive is provided on the pad electrode including the embossing pattern and an external drive circuit part is connected to the pad electrode by the adhesive.
US07684001B2
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel is provided. A photo-alignment layer is formed on a first substrate. Patterned pixel electrodes including intersected electrodes and stripe electrodes are formed on a second substrate. A liquid crystal layer is formed between the photo-alignment layer and the patterned pixel electrodes. Each intersected electrode has a first directional portion and a second directional portion interlacing thereto. The stripe electrodes with silts connect the first and/or the second directional portions. When an electric field between the first and the second substrates is substantially zero, liquid crystal molecules near the photo-alignment layer are arranged at a pre-tilt angle, while those disposed at another side near the second substrate are substantially perpendicular to the second substrate. As the liquid crystal layer is driven, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are substantially arranged along an extending direction of the slits.
US07683994B2
A liquid crystal display device with a liquid crystal material layer (414) includes a common electrode layer (406) proximate the liquid crystal material layer (414), a patterned metal oxide layer (408) arranged opposite the common electrode layer (406), where the liquid crystal material layer (414) is arranged between the common electrode layer (406) and the patterned metal oxide layer (408). The liquid crystal display device includes a thin, optically clear insulating coating (410) applied to a surface of the patterned metal oxide (408), and a patterned metal oxide mask (412) applied to a surface of the optically clear dielectric coating (410), where the patterned metal oxide mask (412) is electrically coupled to the common electrode layer (406). The liquid crystal display device controls where the electrical field is seen by the liquid crystal material by creating intentional shorts across it where it is not intended to switch.
US07683991B2
A system for displaying images is disclosed. A display panel having a multi-domain pixel structure comprises a plurality of electrodes that are physically separated form one another, each defining a domain within pixel, and a capacitance element, electrically connecting the electrodes.
US07683988B2
In a transflective liquid crystal display having a transmission area and the reflection area, the transmissive electrode is connected to a switching element to control the liquid crystal layer in the transmission area, and the reflective electrode is connected to the switching element via a separate capacitor to control the liquid crystal layer in the reflection area. The separate capacitor is used to shift the reflectance in the reflection area toward a higher voltage end in order to avoid the reflectance inversion problem. In addition, an adjustment capacitor is connected between the reflective electrode and a different common line. The adjustment capacitor is used to reduce or eliminate the discrepancy between the gamma curve associated with the transmittance and the gamma curve associated with the reflectance.
US07683986B2
The invention aims at providing a display which can improve viewing angle dependency of contrast ratio in a wide azimuth without changing design of a basic structure of a display element, impairing display quality in a direction showing large contrast ratio and being limited to a state of displaying white or black. The aim is attained by a display comprising: a display element having viewing angle dependency of contrast ratio; and an anisotropic scattering film having an anisotropic scattering layer, wherein the anisotropic scattering film has a scattering central axis approximately parallel to a direction showing the largest contrast ratio of the display element and is located on a viewing screen side of the display element.
US07683984B2
A liquid crystal display in which image quality is enhanced by reducing coupling noise with adjacent wiring or element and noise entering therefrom, and redundancy is imparted even when short circuit of wiring takes place in a pixel and a defect can be treated as if it is not a defect. Display pixels are provided, respectively, at the intersections of a plurality of vertical signal lines (15) and a plurality of horizontal signal lines (17), each of the vertical signal lines (15) and the horizontal signal lines (17) is provided with a shield wire (3) and the potential of the shield wire (3) is set at such a level as to display the display pixel in black.
US07683982B2
Provided are an optical device, in particular, large active reflective polarizer and a liquid crystal display (LCD) employing the same. The optical device includes: a magnetic material layer having a plurality of magnetic particles and an insulating medium to substantially prevent agglomeration between the magnetic particles; and a magnetic field generating unit applying a magnetic field to the magnetic material layer.
US07683978B2
A metal electrode also serving as a black matrix is so formed as to cover the periphery of an ITO pixel electrode. A region where the pixel electrode and the metal electrode coextend also serves as an auxiliary capacitor. Since the auxiliary capacitor can be formed by using a thin insulating film, it can have a large capacitance. By virtue of the structure in which the black matrix also serves as the auxiliary capacitor, it is not necessary to provide an electrode dedicated to the auxiliary capacitor, thereby preventing reduction in aperture ratio. Further, the black matrix can completely shield a source line and a gate line from light.
US07683970B2
A method for comparing pixels may comprise determining at least one polarity difference for at least one pair of neighboring pixels selected from a plurality of adjacent pixels, which are from different fields. A number of subsequent polarity changes may be calculated for the pair of neighboring pixels based on the determined polarity of difference. The adjacent pixels may be selected from a plurality of woven fields. A portion of the selected adjacent pixels may include pixels in neighboring fields. A portion of the selected adjacent pixels may include vertically adjacent pixels, horizontally adjacent pixels, and/or diagonally adjacent pixels. At least one pixel in the plurality of adjacent pixels includes a corresponding horizontally, vertically or diagonally located adjacent pixel in a different field.
US07683964B2
An image capturing apparatus which keeps down an increase in the amount of processing at the time of exposure determination and at the same time enables effective utilization of the improved photometry resolution for back light detection, an which has a luminance calculation unit dividing image data output from an image capturing device into a plurality of regions and measuring the luminance of each and an exposure control unit generating and grouping a plurality of intermediate regions from the object luminances output from the luminance calculation unit, generating an exposure evaluation value from the luminances of the intermediate regions, and suitably controlling the exposure for image capture in accordance with the measured luminances, and an image capturing method used for the same.
US07683963B2
A method of distance estimation is to be implemented using a digital camera, and includes: selecting a pre-established reference dimension corresponding to a target whose distance is to be estimated; enabling operation of the digital camera to capture a clear image containing the target; obtaining a focal length corresponding to the captured clear image; calculating an image dimension for each of predetermined distance values with reference to the selected reference dimension and the focal length; and showing the distance values on a display unit at positions based on proportions of the calculated image dimensions. The distance of the target can be estimated as one of the distance values corresponding to a dimension of the target image contained in the clear image and shown on the display unit.
US07683962B2
Camera using multiple lenses and image sensors in a rangefinder configuration to provide a range map
An electronic camera for producing an output image of a scene from a captured image signal includes a first imaging stage comprising a first image sensor for generating a first sensor output and a first lens for forming a first image of the scene on the first image sensor, and a second imaging stage comprising a second image sensor for generating a second sensor output and a second lens for forming a second image of the scene on the second image sensor, where the lenses have different focal lengths. A processing stage uses the sensor output from one of the imaging stages as the captured image signal and uses the images from both imaging stages to generate a range map identifying distances to the different portions of the scene.
US07683949B2
A defective pixel specifying method and a defective pixel specifying system for a semiconductor device having a defective pixel are provided. Also provided are an image correcting method and an image correcting system for making a defective pixel inconspicuous on the screen when a read image is displayed. The present invention determines whether or not there is a defective pixel for each pixel and specifies the coordinate of the defective pixel using image signals obtained by reading a plurality of images. The image signal of the defective pixel is set based on the image signals of the pixels adjacent to the defective pixel to correct the image of the subject read.
US07683944B2
Original image data has original luminance data and color difference data. The original luminance data is separated into first luminance data and second luminance data. The second luminance data undergoes low-pass filter process so as to produce the third luminance data. The first luminance data and the third luminance data are synthesized. Due to this, the soft focus picture image, which consists of the synthesized luminance data and the difference luminance data, is generated.
US07683941B2
As to an image signal of a solid-state image pickup device, an average value calculating unit calculates average values of pixel values of individual color components constituting an image of each frame. A gain calculating unit calculates, for the number of frames in one cycle of flicker generation, maximum values of the average values of the pixel values of the individual color components of the image, which average values are calculated by the average value calculating unit; calculates, according to the maximum values, gains for adjusting to a maximum range the average values of the pixel values of the individual color components constituting other images; and outputs the gains as gains of the individual color components to be supplied to a signal amplifying unit. The signal amplifying unit amplifies all pixels of color components of the image according to the gains of the individual color components supplied.
US07683934B2
A system and method are provided for automatic camera health monitoring, such as for a camera in a video surveillance system. The system preferably provides substantially continuous monitoring and detection of camera malfunction, due to either external or internal conditions. Camera malfunction is detected when a computed camera health measurement exceeds a malfunction threshold. The camera health measurement is computed based on a comparison of a current camera health record to a plurality of stored camera health records obtained in a learning mode, which characterize known states of normal camera operation. Aside from monitoring camera health, methods of the present invention can also be used to detect an object being added to or removed from a scene, or to detect a change in lighting in a scene, possibly caused by a defective light fixture.
US07683931B2
A method for performing a video quality measurement which includes performing a video quality test on a frame of a user observed video clip to provide a video quality score, generating a weighted error matrix for the frame, and updating the video quality score based upon the weighted error matrix to provide a weighted video quality score is disclosed.
US07683927B2
An electronic endoscope apparatus, comprising a media drive unit for recording image data, which is given digital processing, in a recording medium, judges a recordable amount of images by the detection of a free space of the above-mentioned recording medium, and displays a message, prompting the replacement of the recording medium in a monitor when this recordable amount becomes zero. Then, when the recording medium is replaced during the examination of the same patient, the electronic endoscope apparatus automatically creates a folder for a patient in this recording medium, and records remaining image data in this folder for a patient. In addition, also when the recordable amount becomes zero after the examination end switch was pushed, the electronic endoscope apparatus automatically creates a folder for the patient in a replaced recording medium, and records remaining image data in this folder.
US07683921B2
The present invention provides a method of controlling a thermal head which is capable of maintaining high image sharpness even in high-speed printing. In the method of controlling a thermal head according to the present invention, resistors constituting the thermal head is energized and non-energized, thereby realizing an image with a predetermined gradation. Further, one line period includes one energizing period in which energization is performed and one non-energizing period in which non-energization is performed, and the resistors are energized during the energizing period after the non-energizing period in the one line period.
US07683918B2
A scrolling user interface comprises proportional scrolling responsive to contact in a proportional zone of a scrolling strip and multi-mode scrolling in response to contact in a multi-mode zone of the scrolling strip. Multi-mode scrolling can include proportional scrolling, continuous scrolling, or stepped scrolling.
US07683915B2
An image displaying apparatus and method thereof for displaying on a monitor an original image generated based on image data of an object acquired through an image radiography apparatus together with posture data for the original image that is acquired at a radiography time. The image displaying apparatus and method includes a function unit and/or a function configured to rotate the original image centering on an axis in order to dissolve a displacement between a first (reference) posture data that is acquired based on the image radiography apparatus and/or a bed unit for supporting the object, and actual posture of the original image. The function unit further displays a second (actual) posture data that is acquired by the rotation of the original image by replacing the first (reference) posture data.
US07683912B2
An image display apparatus in which image signals of a plurality of primary colors are transformed by an image processing section into color space that includes lightness and chromaticity. When the chromaticity (color vividness) in this color space is being corrected, the correction method is changed in accordance with the optical modulation state of the display apparatus. If optical modulation is performed, then correction is made to lower the chromaticity, while correction is made to raise the chromaticity when there is no optical modulation.
US07683904B2
A method for a computer system includes receiving and storing a first model of an animation asset in a first version location of the animation asset, providing a link between a named version of the animation asset to the first version location of the animation asset, wherein a name of the named version is specified by a first user, thereafter receiving and storing a second model of the animation asset in a second version location of the animation asset, providing the first model of the animation asset from the first version location of the animation asset in response to a specification of the named version of the animation asset by a second user, and providing the second model of the animation asset from the second version location of the animation asset in response to a specification of the animation asset by the second user.
