US07931862B2
A sample rack transport apparatus for transporting a sample rack holding a container containing a sample is provided with a rack transport mechanism for transporting sample racks, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the transport mechanism. The transport mechanism has actuators, and the samples rack is transported by the operation of these actuators. The control unit is accommodated in a control box. The transport mechanism and control box are supported in a case. The control box is provided below the transport mechanism, and is configured so as to be slidably transferred into and from the case.
US07931853B2
A process for converting precursor objects into a unitary ceramic object produces, for example, a ceramic, optical scan mirror that is formed from at least two pieces. An optical section has at least one optical surface and at least one attachment surface, and a support section has at least one attachment surface and preferably has a mounting area. The optical and support sections are formed as separate pieces from a precursor material, such as graphite, such that a selected support section can receive any of a plurality of optical sections having different sizes, shapes, or orientations. To form the mirror, the attachment surfaces are placed adjacent each other, and then the sections are converted simultaneously to a ceramic material, such as silicon carbide, to form a monolithic scan mirror.
US07931849B2
A method is provided for laser optically marking integrated circuit (IC) packages in a non-destructive manner. The method provides an IC die encapsulated as a package in a compound of glass spheres and epoxy. An acute angle is defined between a laser optical path and an IC package planar surface. The IC package surface is scanned with a laser, and in response to ablating the IC package surface, a legible mark on the planar surface.
US07931844B2
An imprint lithography apparatus is disclosed which has a needle, and a substrate table arranged to hold a substrate to be imprinted, wherein the needle is moveable between a first position and a second position, the first position being such that in use the needle penetrates a layer of imprintable material on the substrate, and the second position being such that in use the needle is disengaged from the imprintable material on the substrate, the substrate table and the needle arranged such that one may be scanned relative to the other.
US07931842B2
A system for making sheets, films, and objects including a reactor-dryer for reacting at least one monomer to produce a polymer melt; a flash melter in communication with the reactor-dryer for heating the polymer melt received from the reactor-dryer; a flash tank in communication with the flash melter for removing volatile compounds from the polymer melt; and a control loop in communication with the flash tank for controlling the pressure of the polymer melt from the flash tank to a die forming unit. Methods of making sheets, films, and objects is further included.
US07931840B2
A screw formed of cortical bone for use in the human body with an implant having a screw hole for receiving at least a portion of a screw therethrough, includes a shaft with a thread along at least a portion of its length. The thread has an outer diameter dimensioned to pass through the screw hole in the implant. The trailing end of the screw is configured to cooperatively engage at least a portion of the screw hole of the implant so as to prevent the screw from linear motion along the mid-longitudinal axis of the shaft in a direction opposite to the direction of insertion when the screw is threaded through the screw hole to attach the implant to a bone portion of the human body. The screw is formed substantially of cortical bone of a single cortical thickness.
US07931836B2
According to aspects of the present invention, metal oxide powder, such as yttria and alumina powder (feed material), is processed using a plasma apparatus. The process generally consists of in-flight heating and melting of the feed material by the plasma apparatus. The plasma apparatus contains a plasma torch with required power supply and cooling systems, a powder feeder, a chamber to collect the powder and a dedusting system. The heated powder forms molten spherical droplets that are rapidly cooled under free fall conditions. The plasma densification process removes some impurity oxides, modifies the morphology of the particle and increases the apparent density of the powder.
US07931834B2
A process for the formation of particles of a target material is disclosed, comprising: (i) introducing the target material into a particle formation vessel, and forming a continuous liquid surface of the target material in the particle formation vessel, and an interface between said liquid surface of the target material and additional gaseous contents of said particle formation vessel; (ii) introducing a stream of cryogenic material including solid particles of cryogenic material into the particle formation vessel and into contact with the target material in a liquid state below the continuous liquid surface; (iii) allowing rapid volumetric expansion of the cryogenic material into a gaseous state while in contact with the target material in a liquid state, and release of the expanded gaseous cryogenic material through the continuous liquid surface, and forming liquid droplet particles of the target material; and (iv) collecting the formed particles of the target material.
US07931832B2
This invention discloses methods and apparatus for providing an ophthalmic lens with media including an energy receptor. In some embodiments, the media includes an insert placed in a cavity formed to cast mold an ophthalmic lens from a reactive mixture.
US07931828B2
A gas turbine engine and method of fabrication includes a gas turbine engine with a structure having movable portions and static portions. At least a portion of the structure includes a composite material having an electrically conductive path formed from carbon nanotubes configured for conducting electrical signals therealong.
US07931821B2
An oxynitride piezoelectric material, which exhibits ferroelectricity and has good piezoelectric properties, and a method of producing the oxynitride piezoelectric material. The oxynitride piezoelectric material includes a tetragonal perovskite-type oxynitride represented by the following general formula (1): A1−xBix+δ1B1−yB′y+δ2O3−zNz (1), where A represents a divalent element, B and B′ each represent a tetravalent element, x represents a numerical value of 0.35 or more to 0.6 or less, y represents a numerical value of 0.35 or more to 0.6 or less, z represents a numerical value of 0.35 or more to 0.6 or less, and δ1 and δ2 each represent a numerical value of −0.2 or more to 0.2 or less, in which the A includes at least one kind selected from Ba, Sr, and Ca and the B and the B′ each include at least one kind selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, Si, Ge, and Sn.
US07931811B2
A fluid treatment device and method are provided for generating an electric field across a gap between first and second electrode and for concentrating the electric field within a fluid treatment chamber located in the gap.
US07931808B2
A method and system of treating wastewater that can provide operating flexibility is disclosed. The system is operated with a sequencing batch reactor, which is typically cycling to any of fill, react, settle, decant, and idle stages, to treat the wastewater. The system can further utilize a membrane filtration system to further treat water from the sequencing batch reactor and produce suitable water. A solids-reducing system can be connected to the sequencing batch reactor and reduce an amount of biodegraded solids by converting the character or distribution of microorganisms population in the biomass.
US07931803B2
A fluid filter (1) comprises a housing (3) provided with a fluid inlet (11) and a fluid outlet (19), filter means (45) being mounted in the house (3) between the fluid inlet (11) and the fluid outlet (19) to filter fluid flowing through the housing (3). Actuation means (43) is provided to move the filter means (45), in use, within the housing (3) to dislodge particles of filtered material from the filter means (45) so as to clean the filter means (45). A filter assembly comprising a plurality of such filters is also provided.
US07931801B2
An aquarium filter system mainly has a base and an uprightly mounted filtering cylinder; the filtering cylinder is provided therein with a pump unit, it can be optionally used to spray forceful water jet on the surface board of the base or to pump air into the filtering cylinder to form air bubbles in water in the filtering cylinder; after filtering, seawater in an aquarium can be kept clean.
US07931797B2
A process for hydroprocessing heavy oil feedstock is disclosed. The process operates in once-through mode, employing a plurality of contacting zones and at least a separation zone to convert at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock to lower boiling hydrocarbons, forming upgraded products. In the once-through upgrade system, little if any of the unconverted material and slurry catalyst mixture is recycled back to the system for further upgrading. The contacting zones operate under hydrocracking conditions, employing a slurry catalyst for upgrading the heavy oil feedstock. The slurry catalyst feed comprises an active metal catalyst having an average particle size of at least 1 micron in a hydrocarbon oil diluent, at a concentration of greater than 500 wppm of active metal catalyst to heavy oil feedstock.
US07931776B2
A plasma processing apparatus including a chamber having an inner wall with a protective film thereon and a sample stage disposed in the chamber in which plasma is generated by supplying high-frequency wave energy to processing gas to conduct plasma processing for a sample on the sample stage using the plasma. The apparatus includes a control device which determines, based on monitor values of a wafer attracting current monitor (Ip) to monitor a current supplied from a wafer attracting power source, an impedance monitor (Zp) to monitor plasma impedance viewed from a plasma generating power source, and an impedance monitor (Zb) to monitor a plasma impedance viewed from a bias power supply, presence or absence of occurrence of an associated one of abnormal discharge in inner parts, deterioration in insulation of an insulating film of a wafer attracting electrode, and abnormal injection in a gas injection plate.
US07931772B2
A method for manufacturing light emitting devices is provided. The method may reduce the inner pressure of a laminated image emitting device panel, thereby preventing failure of the panel. The method includes holding a first substrate with a lower chuck located in a vacuum chamber; holding a second substrate with an upper chuck located opposite the first chuck in the vacuum chamber; creating a high vacuum in the vacuum chamber; correcting positions of the first substrate and the second substrate; supplying gas having a temperature of about 50 to about 200° C. into the vacuum chamber; temporarily laminating the first substrate and the second substrate; venting the vacuum chamber; and bonding the first substrate and the second substrate. The panel is laminated after being filled with a heated gas and thus, when it is exposed to room temperature, the mobility of the gas decreases while reducing its initial inner pressure, thereby preventing panel failure.
US07931770B2
Continuous decoration process with a film of inked plastic material enclosing a structural shape and consisting of the following steps: perform continuous wrapping of the structural shape with inked film (4, 5), place under pressure the film wrapping the structural shape (7), keep the film under pressure, heat the structural shape wrapped in the film to the sublimation temperature and perform the sublimation (9, 10), automatically detach the exhausted film from the structural shape (11), cool the structural shape (12), and unload and accumulate the decorated structural shape devoid of film (13, 14).
US07931764B1
A method to substantially desensitize a metastable intermolecular composite material to electrostatic discharge and friction comprising mixing the composite material with an organic diluent and removing enough organic diluent from the mixture to form a mixture with a substantially putty-like consistency, as well as a concomitant method of recovering the metastable intermolecular composite material.
US07931759B2
Improved compositions are described for the protection of gas turbine parts at elevated temperatures. The compositions are of the MCrAlY type, wherein M is Nickel, or Nickel in combination with cobalt and/or iron. The compositions further comprise a lanthanide, a group 4 metal selected from hafnium, zirconium, titanium, or a combination of these, and optionally, a group 14 element selected from silicon and/or germanium. The combination results in improved Al retention properties. Also disclosed herein are articles comprising the coatings.
US07931745B2
The present invention relates to a black pigment/auxiliary combination having an improved relative color strength of greater than or equal to 110%, the preparation thereof and the use thereof.
US07931740B2
Systems and methods for separating contaminants in a contaminated airstream are described. In one embodiment, a contaminated airstream is received and a vortex is created that separates the contaminated airstream into a clean airstream used in the system and contaminants (e.g., debris and particles).
US07931733B2
A method and a system for providing a hypoxic environment inside an enclosed compartment with simultaneous removal of carbon dioxide and moisture produced by occupants; said method and system designed for fire prevention and for simulated altitude training, wellness and hypoxic therapy, including equine and other animal applications.
US07931724B2
A filter element arrangement is provided which includes a media pack including Z-filter media, a preform and an overmold sealing a portion of the interface between the preform and the media pack, and also forming an air cleaner seal for the filter element. The overmold preferably comprises molded, foamed, polyurethane. A variety of media pack shapes can be used.
US07931723B2
A panel filter for removal of contaminants from a gas, the panel filter having at least one V-pocket formed of two halves, each half composed of multiple pleats of filter media. The pleats extend generally parallel, often at an angle of less than 5 degrees or even less than 1 degree, to the overall filtration path, so that air or gas to the filtered passes through the pleats in a generally straight manner, with minimal bends. Each pleat has two legs of different length. The panel filter provides improved dust collection and retention while restricting pressure drop.
US07931722B2
A cyclonic vacuum cleaner includes a body portion, a nozzle portion and a dirt cup which is removable from the body portion. The dirt cup collects dirt and other debris separated by a cyclone and a cyclone slinger portion in the body portion. A main filter may be housed in a transparent filter door downstream of the cyclone. The dirt cup may be inserted into and sealingly held within the body portion by using a rotational caroming structure.
US07931694B2
The invention relates to an implantable stomach prosthesis for surgically replacing or augmenting all or part of the antrum and/or pylorus of a stomach. The prosthesis controls the passage of food from the stomach to the small intestine. The prosthesis may be configured to churn ingested material and release it from the stomach through a prosthetic pyloric valve. At least one expandable member is arranged to be expanded to control the passage of food and/or to mimic the churning action of a patient's stomach. The prosthesis includes an outer support structure, a flexible inner member forming a conduit for the movement of material, and at least one expandable member located between the outer support structure and inner member. An implantable pump system is provided for inflating and deflating the expandable member(s).
US07931679B2
The invention relates to bone compression devices and bone compression systems, and in particular, to bone compression devices and systems for use in connection with vertebrae. The bone compression devices and bone compression systems are disposed, or installed, along at least one bone to maintain the at least one bone in a desired spatial relationship. Broadly, the invention is directed to a bone compression device for placing in communication with at least one bone having a bone radius of curvature, the bone compression device comprising a plate having a pre-formed shape, a deformed shape, and at least one elastic shape therebetween, the pre-formed shape having a preformed radius of curvature less than the bone radius of curvature, the deformed shape having a deformed radius of curvature greater than the bone radius of curvature, and at least one of the at least one elastic shapes having an elastic radius of curvature that substantially corresponds to the bone radius of curvature. The invention is also directed to a bone compression system wherein the plate includes a string attached to each end of the plate and a tensioner for facilitating the movement of the plate from the pre-formed shape to the at least one elastic shape. Methods of maintaining a bone in a spatial relationship and methods of contouring the bone compression devices are also disclosed.
US07931678B2
Various spinal plating systems for use in treating spinal pathologies are provided. In certain exemplary embodiments, the spinal plating systems can be configured to allow a surgeon to select a bone screw construct having a particular range of motion for attaching a spinal plate to bone as needed based on the intended use. In one exemplary embodiment, the spinal plating system includes a first bone screw that is polyaxially movable relative to the spinal plate, and a second bone screw that has a range of motion that is substantially limited to a single plane.
US07931675B2
Spine stabilization devices, systems and methods are provided in which a single resilient member or spring is disposed on an elongate element that spans two attachment members attached to different spinal vertebrae. The elongate element passes through at least one of the two attachment members, permitting relative motion therebetween, and terminates in a stop or abutment. A second resilient member is disposed on the elongate element on an opposite side of the sliding attachment member, e.g., in an overhanging orientation. The two resilient members are capable of applying mutually opposing urging forces, and a compressive preload can be applied to one or both of the resilient members.
US07931674B2
Systems and method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can includes an implant comprising a first wing, a spacer extending from the first wing, and a distraction guide. The distraction guide is arranged in a first configuration to pierce and/or distract tissue associated with adjacent spinous processes extending from vertebrae of a targeted motion segment. The implant can be positioned between the adjacent spinous processes and once positioned, the distraction guide can be arranged in a second configuration. When arranged in a second configuration, the distraction guide can act as a second wing. The first wing and the second wing can limit or block movement of the implant along a longitudinal axis of the implant.
US07931672B2
Intraoral orthodontic pacifier/nipple appliances having integrated orthodontic functionality. The appliance has an integrated orthodontic mechanism. The bulb expands or moves upward and expands outward as a child sucks on it, to counteract inward pressure of the cheeks and the lateral portion of the lips caused by suction or sucking action. The invention also provides products including the orthodontic appliance, as well as methods of using the appliance and products including the appliance in the inhibition and treatment of certain malocclusions in the primary dentition of young children.
US07931667B2
A medical instrument has an instrument insert (4) and an instrument handle (2) which are detachably connected to one another via a locking connection. A grip (24; 57) and a closure (26; 50) are provided for securing the locking connection. The closure (26; 50) may be moved into an unsecured position by movement of the grip (24; 57) as well as independently of a movement of the grip (24; 57).
US07931666B2
A system for enabling the insertion and removal of an embolic protection device, for capturing and retaining embolic debris which may be created during the performance of a therapeutic interventional procedure in a stenosed or occluded region of a blood vessel. The system, in an embodiment thereof, enables the device to be compressed for insertion thereof through a patient's vasculature so as to cross the stenosis in a low profile, and to enable release of compression thereof for expansion and deployment of the device at a location distal to the interventional procedure site.
US07931658B2
A retention device for anchoring indwelling catheters, sheath introducers, feeding tubes, ostomy bags or other medical devices beneath the skin of a patient includes an deployable section coupled to a medical device; following introduction into a patient, the deployable section is subcutaneously deployed, securely anchoring the device and coupled medical device for the duration of treatment.
US07931656B2
A method and apparatus for implanting acetabular components into an acetabulum utilizing a minimally invasive incision. The method and apparatus utilize a subatmospheric pressure formed in a hollow passage of an elongate body to secure an acetabular shell to a shell-engaging head removably attached to a coupler end of the elongate body. Liner-engaging heads may also be removably attached to the coupler end to install socket liners into an implanted acetabular shell. The elongate body may comprise a bent portion to allow access to the acetabulum through a minimally invasive incision.
US07931651B2
An external fixation assembly includes a plurality of hollow pins that are inserted into a patient's bone. Each pin has an interior bore and a plurality of apertures extending through the pin wall from the bore. The pin may be coupled to a source of vacuum pressure operable to create reduced pressure in the tissue surrounding the pin. A cover is placed around the pin and sealed to provide a fluid-tight enclosure that maintains reduced pressure around the pin. A method for applying external fixation using the fixator pins described above includes the steps of inserting each pin through a skin opening, positioning the pin apertures near selected tissue, covering the skin opening with a sealed enclosure, connecting the pins to a source of vacuum pressure, and activating the source of vacuum pressure to create reduced pressure in the patient's tissue at or near the bone.
US07931650B2
By providing components securable to anchor pins or screws of different diameters as well as providing clamps which hold associated pins in any position during adjustments, an external fixation or adjustable frame structure is provided which is capable of being quickly and easily assembled in any desired configuration. In the present invention, the frame structure is retained in any assembled configuration in order to allow final adjustments to be made, prior to the final securement of the frame assembly in the precisely desired configuration by closure of each clamp member. In this way, an entire frame assembly is capable of being constructed, adjusted, and readjusted in order to assure each component is oriented in the precisely desired position prior to final closure of the clamping members. In one preferred embodiment, the clamping members employed in the frame structure of the present invention incorporate friction pins internally mounted in each clamp which engages the rod member once this rod is inserted into the jaws of the clamp. In this way, any rod member inserted into the clamping jaws contacts the surface of the jaws and the friction pin, preventing the rod member from sliding or moving relative to the clamp. In addition, by incorporating a uniquely constructed, moving wedge plate that is adjustably engageable with any cooperating anchor pin, secure affixation of the mounting member with the anchor pins of any diameter is easily achieved, regardless of the orientation configuration, or diameter of the anchor pin.
US07931649B2
An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface connected to an electrosurgical energy source. At least one of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within an insulator defined in the jaw member. At least one channel is included in the insulator which is configured to deliver fluid between the jaw members.
US07931643B2
A miniature drug delivery pump utilizes a shape memory Ni—Ti alloy. A flow restrictor is provided and the pump is refillable.
US07931639B2
The invention provides a panty realizing easy fit of a sanitary napkin for night use to a crotch portion, preventing the napkin from shifting out of position, alleviating digging into the crotch portion, and thus being comfortable to wear without giving feeling of constriction to the wearer. The panty includes a front part, a back part, a crotch part provided so as to bridge between the front part and the back part, a slightly elastic member is provided at the substantially center area of the back part, a highly elastic member is provided from a back parts lifting member to the entire area of the front part except for the waist hold part, a fixing member is provided on the substantially center area of the front part, a crotch lifting member is provided at the substantially center area of the crotch part.
US07931636B2
A simple disposable pant-like garment includes a chassis and an absorbent assembly. The chassis, which can be extensible, includes a water-impermeable sheet folded laterally inward at both of its side edges to form opposing side flaps. Each side flap is attached to the interior surface of the chassis adjacent to its end edges. Each side flap has a longitudinally extending elastic gathering member attached adjacent to its proximal edge. The absorbent assembly is smaller in width and in length than the chassis. The side edges and end edges of the absorbent assembly can be disposed proximally relative to the respective side edges and end edges of the chassis. The absorbent assembly includes an absorbent core that can contain superabsorbent particles contained inside pockets. The absorbent assembly may be attached in a cruciform pattern to the chassis to allow portions of the chassis to extend laterally.
US07931635B1
Oversized adult diapers are made on converting machinery designed for handling only components no greater than a maximum component width, while utilizing as an outer layer component of the diapers an elongate sheet-like web having a width exceeding the maximum component width of the machinery. The web is pre-formed with at least one folded pleat along a laterally outward margin of the web, such that the pleat reduces the width of the web to less than the maximum component width. The pleat is temporarily tacked to retain the pleat against unfolding while the web is handled by the machinery, but is yieldable to unfold when a diaper made with the web is donned for wearing. The pre-formed pleated web is delivered to the machinery, which is then operated in normal manner to incorporate the web into a plurality of diapers.
US07931631B2
An ostomy appliance having a face plate assembly and inner and outer pouches joined thereto, has its outer pouch provided with one or more peripherally-extending sealing seams that allow the walls of the outer pouch to be separated by peeling forces applied in directions transverse to such seam or seams. In preferred embodiments, the sealing seam, also peelably join the peripheral edges of the outer pouch to those of the inner pouch. A method of disposing of the pouch assembly of such an ostomy appliance is also disclosed.
US07931630B2
Multi-functional urine collection devices, embodiments of which can include a self-expanding container having a receptacle for receiving urine from the tubing, a pump for moving urine through the tubing and into a receptacle, extendable tubing that may be shortened and/or lengthened, and/or one or more meters for monitoring, measuring, transmitting or storing a characteristic from the urine.
US07931628B2
A tissue closure device has an elongate body with a first portion and a second portion. A wound closure member is also provided. In operation, a wound closure member is releasably held on a distal end of the first portion. The wound closure member is advanced within the patient until it is placed on top of and over a wound in tissue. Flowable adhesive is injected through a lume of the second portion onto the wound closure member and tissue surrounding the wound closure member. The wound closure member applicator holds the wound closure member in place, allowing the adhesive to at least partially set. The applicator is then removed from the wound closure member. Thus, an adhesive wound closure member is attached to close an opening in tissue.
US07931626B2
The invention provides a injection device for administering an injectable product, including a base section adapted to receive a container from which a product dose is dispensed through a needle by displacement of a piston in the container, and a drive unit including a driven member, a drive element and a damping arrangement, the drive unit for applying a force to advance the piston in the container to dispense a dose, wherein the damping arrangement generally counteracts the drive force and counter forces. The invention also encompasses a needle safety sleeve and a blocking structure for use with injection devices.
US07931620B2
Administering device for infusing or injecting a product, comprising a housing (1, 2) with a first housing shell (1) and a second housing shell (2), a receiver (3) for the product formed in the housing (1, 2), a conveying mechanism (4) for conveying the product and a seal (10), which connects the housing shells (1, 2) to one another in a pressing contact rendering them watertight, which seal (10) is or has a sealing lip (13) which establishes the pressing contact with the first housing shell (1).
US07931613B2
The present invention provides a module for a computer interface including a transducer wherein the transducer receives a measurement value and makes this measurement value available for monitoring an individual's health by means of the computer interface, for example, for monitoring an individual's blood glucose level, wherein the measurement value is obtained by means of a sensor.
US07931594B2
A system and method for regional anesthesia using ultrasound to assist in locating the anesthetic needle are disclosed. One or more piezo-electric crystal transducers is placed either at the tip of the needle or near the tip of the needle on a stylet which is inserted into the lumen of the needle. The transducer(s) are pulsed with ultrasonic frequency, the reflected ultrasonic signals from structures are detected and converted into a digital signal and may be displayed in an oscilloscopic format to indicate anatomical structures forward to the needle and allow the medical professional to avoid errors and/or increase efficiency and accuracy. An array of transducers can be pulsed in a phased array fashion to generate a 2D image, or a single transducer can be pulsed to generate a 1D image. A 2D image can also be obtained by mechanically sweeping a single transducer, for example by means of a miniature motor in or at the base of a needle or stylet.
US07931588B2
A comprehensive system for objective assessment of colonoscope manipulation includes a handgrip for collecting and transmitting colonoscope handling data including force and motion data; a patient pain monitor for collecting and transmitting data on the level of patient's pain and discomfort; and digital processing means for extracting useful features such as colonoscope tip advancement speed from colonoscope-provided video images. All data is wirelessly transmitted to an electronic unit for processing and displaying on a monitor. A colonoscopy procedure is properly conducted when certain shaft advancement causes appropriate tip advancement, all without an increased level of patient's pain. The system of the invention is aimed at providing objective assessment data allowing for safer and less painful colonoscopies.
US07931580B2
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for implantation into the walls of an organ such as the stomach. Deformable or inflatable anchors with a connector between are used to pull the walls of the organ together, or to implant devices in the wall of the organ. Also disclosed are surgical instruments useful in practicing the disclosed methods.
US07931578B2
Surgical systems for less invasive access to and isolation of an atrial appendage are provided. A suturing grasper compresses soft tissue structures and deploys one or more sutures through complimentary pledget(s) carried by the grasper. The pledgets are reinforced, containing support members that define the profile of the stitch and distribute stresses applied by the stitch, once tightened, over a length of tissue. This hardware may be applicable to other surgical and catheter based applications as well including: compressing soft tissue structures lung resections and volume reductions; gastric procedures associated with reduction in volume, aneurysm repair, vessel ligation, or other procedure involving isolation of, resection of, and reduction of anatomic structures.
US07931574B2
An apparatus for performing lumbar stretching treatments comprises a supporting structure where at least one electric motor vertically moves leg supporting members. A person that needs performing lumbar stretching treatments takes the right position at the apparatus and autonomously controls it powering the vertical movement of the leg supporting means which put into traction the lower section of the person's back. The apparatus may also be installed on specific beds having a lay surface horizontally translatable in order to improve the comfortable use of the apparatus.
US07931559B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches.
US07931556B2
The present invention relates to an automatic transmission (1) comprising at least one planetary stage (2) and at least one gear shifting element (3), wherein this gear shifting element (3) is disposed axially directly adjacent to the planetary stage (2), wherein a piston-cylinder arrangement (4) is provided for actuating the gear shifting element (3), wherein the planetary stage (2) comprises an internal gear (5), a sun gear (6) and a planet carrier (7), on which planet gears (8) are rotatably mounted, wherein the planet carrier (7) is connected non-rotatably to a transmission shaft (9), and wherein the pressure medium can be fed to the pressure chamber (10) of the cylinder (11) of the piston-cylinder arrangement (4) through a bore (12, 13) in the transmission shaft (9) and in the planet carrier (7).
US07931548B2
A lacrosse stick including a lacrosse head attached to a handle, wherein the lacrosse head has a taller, or thicker, ball stop, wherein a portion of the ball stop portion is lowered with respect to the immediately adjacent portions of the sidewall portions relative to a centerline of the handle. The net securing structures in the ball stop are preferably located in the lowered portion and therein provides increased ball retention characteristics. The lower portion of the ball stop portion includes a concave inner surface that is preferably flared, or sloped, slightly outwardly along its interior surface from its front side to its back side. The openings for attaching the netting in the ball stop are preferably slightly recessed with respect to the upper surface.
US07931545B2
A hitting face of a golf club head having improved flexural stiffness properties. In one embodiment, the hitting face is made from multiple materials. Each material has a different tensile modulus of elasticity, where the center of the hitting face has a much higher tensile modulus of elasticity than the surrounding portions of the hitting face. This creates a stiff center and a more easily deflected concentric portion. In another embodiment, the materials have different yield strengths, where the center of the hitting face has a very high yield strength compared to the surrounding portions of the hitting face. The hitting face may then plastically deform around its periphery, while the center retains its original shape.
US07931535B2
A game operating device (controller) includes a longitudinal housing, and a holding portion held by hand to be wrapped by its palm it is formed in the housing. A direction switch is provided on an upper surface at a position where it can be operated by thumb of the hand holding the holding portion, and a start switch and a select switch are provided backward thereof. An X button 46 and a Y button are further arranged in line on the upper surface of the housing. An imaging information arithmetic unit is provided at a front end of the housing in a longitudinal direction in such a manner that an imaging device thereof is exposed from a front-end surface. A concave portion is formed on a lower surface at a position corresponding to the direction switch. The concave portion includes a valley and two inclined surfaces. An A button capable of being operated by index finger of the hand holding the holding portion is provided on the backward inclined surface. By processing an image signal obtained by imaging an infrared ray from LED modules by the imaging device, it is possible to obtain an operation signal varying according to a position and/or attitude of the controller.
US07931525B2
The invention relates to a device (10) for controlling airflow (A) in a ventilation pipe (12) comprising one or several air throttle (32) which are synchronously actuated and prevent air flowing (A) in the air pipe in the closed position thereof. The ventilation pipe (12) is provided with a longitudinally extending fixing bar (16) which is arranged on a symmetry plane and provided with the pivot bearing (30) of an axis (28) for driving the air throttle(s) (32) and means (50, 52) for transmitting a force and/or torque to the drive axis (28) connected to the air throttle(s) (32). Said fixing bar (16) provided with different air throttles (12) is usable for the ventilation pipes having different cross sections and forms, an angle (β), preferably, ranging from 15° to 90°, with a longitudinal axis (L) or with a wall (18) of said ventilation pipe (12).
US07931516B2
Provided is an organic light-emitting apparatus in which a crack or the like produced when removing a passivation layer on an external connection terminal is prevented from developing with the elapse of time and the moisture resistance of a light-emitting area is not impaired. The organic light-emitting apparatus includes a substrate; an organic planarization layer for planarizing unevenness of the substrate; an organic light-emitting device including a lower electrode, an organic compound layer, and an upper electrode; and a passivation layer for covering the organic light-emitting device, in which the organic planarization layer has formed therein a recessed or protruding discontinuous portion for dividing a region including a light-emitting area and a region including an external connection terminal, and the discontinuous portion is covered with the passivation layer.
US07931508B1
An electrical connector is provided with a stud connector hole disposed into one end thereof which has a shallow V-groove therein, the flanks of the V-groove provided with threads for both sizes of studs commonly disposed therein wherein the threads of the smaller diameter stud are disposed into the flanks of the V-groove spaced from the threads of the larger diameter stud. The shallow V-groove provides at least two areas of contact on either size stud inserted therein, the areas of contact maintained along the length of the stud.
US07931503B2
An electrical connector comprises an insulating housing defining a receiving room with a front mating opening and a plurality passageways extending rearwards, a plurality of contacts retained in the passageways, and a first spacer member retained in the insulating housing and sustaining said contacts upwardly. Each contact comprises a holding beam with tabs formed thereon and a holding leg downwardly extending from a rear end of the holding beam. Said first spacer member has a plurality of blocking portions which are formed on a rear side of said tabs to resist the tabs frontward so that the contacts can not move rearwards but be retained in the insulating housing stably even during the mating process with a mating connector.
US07931495B2
A card edge connector assembly for connecting a pair of electrical cards to a printed circuit board includes an upper connector and a lower connector. The upper connector includes a first housing defining a first elongated mating groove along a longitudinal direction with a plurality of first contacts by two sides thereof, and a recess is defined under the first elongated mating groove. The lower connector is moveably received within said recess and includes a second housing defining a second elongated mating groove with a plurality of second contacts by two sides thereof. A metallic member is attached to the upper connector for preventing the lower connector releasing from said recess.
US07931494B2
A holder is capable of providing flexible support for the connector of a flexible printed circuit board, and has particular applicability for battery recharging cradles for a mobile computing device or hand-held scanner. The holder comprises a receptacle having a rear wall and two side walls, along with protrusions to slidably retain the connector therein. The rear wall connects, using a radiused bend, to a connecting wall, which may form an acute angle relative to the rear wall, and which may neck down to improve rotational capability. The connecting wall transitions, using a radiused bend, to a transverse wall, and from its ends are two cantilever straps extending towards the receptacle, and thereby forming an acute angle relative to the connecting wall. An upward protruding boss on the end of each strap aids translational and rotational flexibility, where the holder is mounted to a surface using orifices in the bosses.
US07931493B2
A cable assembly comprises an insulative housing defining an opening through two opposite top and bottom surfaces. A plurality of contacts are assembled in the insulative housing, each contact has a mating portion and a connecting portion. A plurality of wires are disposed on the top surface of the insulative housing, each wire defines a conductor electrically connected with the connecting portion and a metallic braiding layer surrounding the conductor. A conductive plate is assembled to the insulative housing and soldered with one side of the metallic braiding layers of the wires. A metallic shell encloses the insulative housing and defines a grounding tab extending into the corresponding opening of the insulative housing. The grounding tab is attached and soldered with another side of the metallic braiding layers of the wires facing to the opening of the insulative housing.
US07931483B2
A lever-type connector having a housing that includes a contact receiving area, a slider receiving slot, a slider, a wire cover, an outlet, a lever provided with a connector and being rotatably and detachably disposed on the housing and the cover to slide the slider; a pair of arms that extend from both ends of the connector, and a pair of wall portions arranged at the pivotal end of the arms of the lever. The wall portions extend from a pivotal end of the arms, respectively, and oppose each other at end edges of the wall portions, respectively. The outlet arranged at the wire cover has a width set greater than a width of a contact receiving area in the housing.
US07931465B2
A device for transferring objects, in particular containers such as preforms or bottles, comprising a support (2) which is rotated about an substantially vertical rotational axis and which supports at least one transfer arm (3) with an inner radial part fixed to the support (2) and an outer radial part (6) adapted for sliding with respect to said inner radial part along an elongation axis held within a plane substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of said support (2), the outer radial part (6) having a gripper head (13) adapted for supporting at least one object, wherein said head (13) is adapted for sliding, with respect to the inner radial part, along an elongation axis substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the support (2).
US07931456B2
An improved electroblowing process is provided for forming a fibrous web of nanofibers wherein polymer stream is issued from a spinning nozzle in a spinneret with the aid of a forwarding gas stream, passes an electrode and a resulting nanofiber web is collected on a collector. The process includes applying a high voltage to the electrode and grounding the spinneret such that an electric field is generated between the spinneret and the electrode of sufficient strength to impart an electrical charge on the polymer as it issues from the spinning nozzle.
US07931442B1
A rotor disk assembly with a platform spacer secured to the rotor disk and un-coupled from the rotor blades. Adjacent rotor blades are secured to the rotor disk slots by conventional means. The rotor disk includes a dovetail extending from the rim and positioned substantially midway between adjacent rotor blades. A platform spacer having a size and shape to occupy substantially the entire space formed between the adjacent rotor blades and the rotor disk rim is secured through a slot to the dovetail projecting from the rim. The platform spacer is a solid piece and forms the outer hot gas flow path between the blades. The platform spacer provides damping to the rotor blade assembly as well as eliminates hot gas flow migration below the platform. The platform space also un-couples the platform from the blades so that the load due to the platform is transmitted directly to the rotor disk and not through the blades, allowing for the blades to have improved LCF. Uncoupling the platform from the blade also eliminates the thermal mismatch between the platform and the blade which produces excessive levels of stress at this junction. With the un-coupled platform spacer of the present invention, the rotor blades can be formed from a single crystal material to allow for higher temperature limits and longer LCF of the assembly.
US07931434B2
A telescopic chimney and methods are disclosed for generation of mechanical energy using air routed through a turbine. Truncated cones stored nested together telescope to interlock when extended end to end to form a conical shape that diverges upwardly. An air output deflector at the exit of the chimney drives the exiting airflow downwards and is optionally divided into six equal radial spans so that airflow can be varied through each by a computer-controlled shutter to compensate for wind forces. An axial cable raises and lowers truncated cones. A method of deploying the chimney includes steps of closing the shutters; filling the truncated cones with heated air; controlling the rise of the truncated with the cable; and, opening the shutters. A method of collapsing the chimney includes the steps of pulling the cable to exert downward force on a truncated cone.
US07931419B2
A connection (4) of a first (2) to a second (3) cylindrical component for the transfer of circumferential and axial forces. The first component (2) has locking elements (9a) arranged on its circumference and at the end, the second component (3) has windows (12) associated with the locking elements (9a), and the first and second components (2, 3) can be plugged one into the other at the ends to form a positive interlock between the locking elements (9a) and the windows (12).
US07931414B2
A printing apparatus and method can control vibration generated resulting from the movement of a carriage to be small even when a desired printing pattern, etc., may change. The carriage is moved based on a plurality of drive conditions, each specifying a different moving distance of the carriage, and a drive condition by which vibration generated at that time becomes not larger than a predetermined magnitude is set as a drive condition of the carriage when printing an image on a printing medium.
US07931410B2
A strength of a machined cage for a cylindrical roller bearing is increased without reducing a bearing life. An integral machined cage for a cylindrical roller bearing includes: a pair of side plates (42, 44); a plurality of columns (46), which are arranged in a circumferential direction, for connecting the pair of side plates (42, 44); pockets (48) formed between the adjacent columns (46); and relief portions (50) provided at four corners of each of the pockets (48), in which as viewed from a section perpendicular to an axis of the cage, the columns (46) have side surfaces each constituting a circular arc shape, and the relief portions (50) are in parallel to the side surfaces of the columns (46).
US07931408B2
A unit, which has a wheel bearing and at least one vehicle-sided fixed support. The wheel bearing has at least one outer part which is rigidly fixed to at least one bearing seat which is embodied as an axial passage of a sheet metal molded part of the support, and at least one end section of the outer part is surrounded in a radial and supple manner, at least in the proximity of the passage such that the end section engages in an axial mariner behind the support.
US07931407B2
Systems are provided for supplying oil from an oil source to a bearing assembly, the bearing assembly including a cage having a forward rail and an aft rail, and at least one bearing disposed therebetween.
US07931405B2
A sliding part comprises a first sliding member made of a steel, a second sliding member made of a steel, a first carbide film comprising a carbide and formed on the surface of the first sliding member, and a second carbide film comprising a carbide and formed on the surface of the second sliding member. The first sliding member and the second sliding member slide relative to each other while applying loads on each other. The carbide of the first carbide film and the carbide of the second carbide film differ from each other, and the hardness ratio of the first carbide film and the second carbide film is not more than 1.4.
US07931401B2
A temperature sensor including a housing and a temperature sensing element at least partially disposed in the housing. A particulate media, which may include a blend of differently sized particles, is disposed in the housing and at least partially surrounds the temperature sensing element. The particulate media may entrain oxygen to avoid a reducing atmosphere in said housing.
US07931399B2
The invention comprises a chronograph watch including a chronograph mechanism. The chronograph mechanism includes a chronograph train (50), and a counter mechanism (64) kinematically connected to the train (50). The counter mechanism (64) further includes first and second wheel sets (78, 82) respectively provided with first and second display members (36, 38), wherein the first wheel set (78) is angularly positioned using positioning members (86) so as to rotate in steps, and the second wheel set (82) is angularly positioned by the first wheel set (78).
US07931398B2
Fluid blending apparatus and methods are provided, the blending apparatus including components accommodating both passive and/or active mixing. The apparatus for performing the methods include a main body and closure connectable to define a chamber having a fluid outlet. A valved fluid inlet channel opens into the chamber and is tangentially oriented relative to a peripheral wall thereof so that fluid entering the chamber has a primary vortical flow circulation direction. A fluid injection channel opens to the inlet channel at an acute angle relative to direction of fluid flow through the inlet channel. A plurality of barriers is arrayed in the chamber to define interconnected inner and outer chamber portions. An impeller is rotatably mounted at the inner chamber portion and includes a plurality of blades oriented to urge flow from the inner chamber portion to the outer chamber portion.
US07931391B2
A backlight module includes a back plate structure, a light source disposed in the back plate structure, at least one wire connected to the light source, and at least one wire fixing frame fixed on the back plate structure. Each wire fixing frame includes a main part, a first fixing part disposed on a side of the main part, a second fixing part disposed on a side of the main part and opposite to the first fixing part, and an extending part extending in a direction from the second fixing part to the first fixing part. A wire outlet is defined between the extending part and the first fixed part, and a wire inlet is opposite to the wire outlet. A wire hold space is defined among the main part, the first fixing part, the second fixing part, and the back plate structure.
US07931387B2
An LED light source comprises a lower substrate having an upper surface which is formed with a groove and covered with an insulating layer in an area outside the groove, wherein the insulating layer is partially covered with a metal layer; an upper substrate disposed on a top of the insulating layer and formed with an opening in an area corresponding to the groove; a plurality of sub-substrates disposed on an inner bottom portion of the groove, wherein each said sub-substrate has a surface covered with a circuit layer, adjacent said sub-substrates are electrically connected to each other at respective adjacent ends thereof by a first metal lead, and each said sub-substrate is provided thereon with a plurality of LED chips, in which each said LED chip is connected by a second metal lead to a corresponding electrical connection point; and a light-transmitting colloid filled in the groove and the opening. The plurality of LED chips are thus integrally packaged in the groove to form the LED light source, which can be easily manufactured while having a small volume and providing high brightness.
US07931384B2
In an object verifier having a housing and an object holder, an object may be placed in the object holder for observation by an operator. The object is illuminated using a collimated beam of white light that is generated by a light generator. The collimated beam of white light is passed through a beam splitter with the two portions of the collimated beam of white light presented to the object at a 90 degree angle one from the other. The interior of the housing includes a reflective surface for maximal illumination of the object. The observer may view the illuminated object through a viewing window and/or through a magnification window. The magnification window provides for the viewing of the object in greater detail.
US07931372B2
Methods, devices, and systems establish an optical surface shape that mitigates or treats presbyopia in a particular patient. The combination of distance vision and near vision in a patient can be improved, often based on input patient parameters such as pupil size, residual accommodation, and power need. Iterative optimization may generate a customized corrective optical shape for the patient. Threshold residual accommodation is established for presbyopia treatment.
US07931367B2
Eyewear includes a left temple and a right temple. Each of the temples has a cavity sized to receive an audio device such as a BlueTooth transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with a remote device like a cell phone or a digital sound device. The BlueTooth transceiver may be placed in the cavity of either temple with the other temple cavity covered with a cover plate. An earphone may be connected to the BlueTooth transceiver through a receptacle. The earphone delivers the audible sound to the user's ear. The receptacle of the BlueTooth transceiver to which the earphone connects is also configured to receive the connector from a charger to charge a rechargeable battery in the BlueTooth transceiver. The eyewear may also be configured with cover plates over the cavity in both of the temples or with an audio device in both cavities to provide audible signals to both ears of the user.
US07931358B2
A pagewidth printhead assembly comprises an ink conduit structure defining a plurality of longitudinal ink ducts; a pagewidth printhead mounted to said ink conduit structure on a bottom surface thereof, the pagewidth printhead being in fluid communication with the ink conduit structure; a plurality of inlet ports provided adjacent and substantially planar to the ink conduit structure and the plurality of longitudinal ink ducts; and an ink distribution structure including a plurality of ink channels connecting each of the plurality of longitudinal ink ducts with respective inlet ports. The ink channels extend from respective inlet ports above the ink conduit structure so as to feed into respective longitudinal ink ducts from above.
US07931347B2
The invention is a transport method that transports a medium by causing a transport roller to rotate based on a corrected target transport amount, after correcting the target transport amount that is targeted based on a correction value and includes: printing a first pattern on a medium, printing a second pattern after the medium has been transported by causing the transport roller to rotate by a rotation amount of less than one rotation from a rotation position of the transport roller at a time of printing the first pattern, printing a third pattern after the medium has been transported by causing the transport roller to rotate by a rotation amount of one rotation from a rotation position of the transport roller at a time of printing the first pattern, printing a fourth pattern after the medium has been transported by causing the transport roller to rotate by a rotation amount of one rotation from a rotation position of the transport roller at a time of printing the second pattern, calculating a first correction value based on the first pattern and the third pattern, calculating a second correction value based on the second pattern and the fourth pattern, transporting the medium by correcting the target transport amount based on the first correction value or the second correction value depending on the relative position of the medium with respect to the transport roller.
US07931341B2
A launch vehicle (10) is provided for a continuous mining system including modular conveyor units (U) that are connected together to form a conveyor train. The launch vehicle (10) includes a main frame (12) for supporting a rearmost conveyor unit (U) of the conveyor train. The main frame (12) includes a first side over which additional conveyor units (U) are added to the conveyor train and a second side. A belly conveyor (14) is carried on the main frame (12). A drive assembly (42) is provided for selectively advancing and withdrawing the conveyor train. Further the launch vehicle (10) includes a canopy (18) overlying the main frame (12). The canopy (18) is mounted on at least one cantilever support (20) extending upwardly adjacent the second side of the main frame (12) whereby the first side is left open for adding additional conveyor units (U) to the conveyor train.
US07931336B2
A seat frame of a stadium seat includes a lower cross beam, bench-engaging support arms configured to mount over a top, flat surface of the stadium bench, and upright support members. The upright support members include rounded upper ends that may be rearwardly canted.
US07931332B2
Disclosed is a rear-seat occupant protection apparatus, which is designed to protect, during a frontal collision of a vehicle, a rear-seat occupant (B) seated in a rear seat (5) located behind a front seat (3) equipped with a seat belt (7) having a load limiter function. The rear-seat occupant protection apparatus comprises a collision detection device (25) adapted to detect the frontal collision of the vehicle, and a seat-back displacing mechanism adapted, when the frontal collision of the vehicle is detected by the collision detection device, to permit a seat back (12) of the front seat (3) to be displaced frontwardly at a given timing consecutive with a frontward displacement of a front-seat occupant (A) seated in the front seat (3). The rear-seat occupant protection apparatus of the present invention can adequately protect a head of the rear-seat occupant during the frontal collision of the vehicle.
US07931331B2
A headrest for mounting on one or more vertically extending posts positioned on the backrest of a vehicle seat, the headrest comprising one or more mounting sleeves positioned on the headrest and adapted to surround a portion of a respective one of said posts, pivot means extending between each mounting sleeve and the respective post to mount the mounting sleeve on the respective post in pivotal relation thereto about a pivot axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the post, each mounting sleeve being shaped and otherwise dimensioned on an internal surface to resist pivotal motion of the headrest between first and second positions below application of a directed threshold force to the headrest.
US07931330B2
An air conditioning seat includes a seat pad having a seating portion and a side support portion, blowing means for blowing air to an air path formed at the seat pad, a seat cover covering the seat pad, and a net-like cushion member capable of permeating air in a thickness direction and in a plane direction. An air path is formed at the seating portion of the seat pad. A hanging groove in a groove-like shape is recessed and on a boundary line of the seating portion and the side support portion. The an air blow out port of the air path is covered by the net-like cushion member. A communicating path reaching the net-like cushion member of the side support portion from the air path of the seating portion is formed by passing a back side of the hanging member at inside of the hanging groove.
US07931328B2
A logistics panel includes a composite panel that is formed of inner and outer skins and a core member secured therebetween. The composite panel has top and bottom end portions and first and second side end portions. The composite panel further has an aperture set provided therethrough which defines at least one aperture which extends through the inner and outer skins and the core member and between the end portions. Multiple logistics panels can be used to form a sidewall of a trailer by joining the first side end portion of one panel to the second side end portion of an adjacent panel. Top and bottom rails are secured to the top and bottom end portions, respectively, of the panels.
US07931314B2
A vehicle door outer handle system is provided in which a pair of electrodes and a circuit board on which is provided a detection circuit for detecting a change in capacitance between the electrodes are housed within an operating handle formed from a handle main body and a cover covering the outer side of the handle main body, the operating handle being disposed on an outer side of a vehicle door, and the electrodes (43) being patterned on the circuit board (44), the operating handle thereby being made thin.
US07931313B2
A latch with dual rotary magnets is particularly suited for releasably securing dual doors of a compartment in the closed position. Each rotary magnet holds in a closed position a magnetic insert attached to a respective door by magnetic attraction to secure both doors in the closed position relative to the compartment.
US07931307B2
In a double-pipe joint for connecting and coupling a double pipe (H) consisting of outer and inner pipes (h2, h1) made of a fluororesin tube, an inner joint portion (T1) for coupling the inner pipe formed by: a sleeve (2) which is to be pressingly fitted into an inner-pipe end portion (h1t); an inner-pipe joint body (1) which is to be fitted onto an inner end of the end portion; and an inner-pipe union nut (3A), and an outer joint portion (T2) for coupling the outer pipe formed by: a sleeve (4) which is to be pressingly fitted into an outer-pipe end portion (h2t); an outer-pipe joint body (3B) which is to be fitted onto an outer end of the end portion; and an outer-pipe union nut (5). The inner-pipe union nut (3A) and the outer-pipe joint body (3B) are formed integrally into a nut-equipped body (3).
US07931304B2
Vouchers and methods for providing vouchers configured to assist in distinguishing unauthorized duplicate or counterfeit vouchers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a voucher can include a substrate, a first indicia on the substrate, and a thermally responsive second indicia on the substrate. At least one of the first indicia and the second indicia can indicate a value of the voucher. A system which assists in detecting alteration of value documents or transmissions, such as a coin counter voucher is provided. Voucher information such as the voucher value is included in the voucher in an encrypted or otherwise modified form. When the voucher is presented for redemptions, the encrypted information is decrypted and compared to independently available voucher information. Failure of the information to match indicates that the voucher has been altered or should otherwise be further checked.
US07931300B2
An anti-tip system is provided for improving the stability of a powered vehicle, such as a powered wheelchair. The vehicle includes a drive-train assembly pivotally mounted to a main structural frame. A suspension system biases the drive-train assembly and its connected anti-tip wheel to a predetermined resting position. The drive-train assembly bi-directionally rotates about a pivot in response to torque applied to or acceleration forces on the vehicle. A linkage arrangement is provided and is characterized by a suspension arm pivotally mounting to the main structural frame about a pivot at one end thereof and an anti-tip wheel at the other end. The linkage may further include at least one link operable to transfer the bi-directional displacement of the drive-train assembly to the suspension arm. The link may include a bell crank member and/or may be resiliently compressible.
US07931299B2
The application relates to an airbag with a venting assembly. An air bag cushion can include at least one panel and a tether that forms the venting assembly. The tether can include an attachment portion to attach the tether to a panel of the air bag cushion, an opening, at least one passive vent, and a discrete vent. The passive venting system can be formed by folding the tether over upon itself so that the opening and vents substantially lie above and below one another.
US07931295B2
A garnish includes a garnish body which covers a folded air bag and a locking portion which is inserted to be locked in a mounting hole in a mounting base on a vehicle body. The locking portion holds the garnish body which is pressed by the air bag when the air bag is inflated to move so as to form a projecting space for the air bag. The locking portion includes a locking main body portion which is inserted to be locked in the mounting hole and a connecting piece portion. The connecting piece portion includes a locking base portion on which the locking main body portion is provided, connecting portions which are connected to a rear surface of the garnish body, and deformable portions lying between the locking base portion and the connecting portions and is molded integrally with the garnish body. The deformable portions deform to extend a distance between the locking base portion and the connecting portion when the garnish body moves towards a vehicle interior side.
US07931290B2
A motorcycle fluid cooler assembly includes a heat exchanger and a mounting member coupled to the heat exchanger. The mounting member is adapted for mounting the heat exchanger to a first footrest mounting point of a motorcycle frame so that the heat exchanger transversely extends externally to the motorcycle frame when mounted. Fluid ports are coupled to the heat exchanger, and a footrest member is coupled to the heat exchanger. The footrest member is positioned as a rider footrest when the heat exchanger is mounted.
US07931274B2
A processing device to provide hybrid control of sheet transport modules. The processing device includes a first sheet transport module, a second sheet transport module and a control subsystem. The first sheet transport module and the second sheet transport module are configured to transport a sheet. The control subsystem is configured to set velocity of the first sheet transport module before a transfer of the sheet from the first sheet transport module to the second sheet transport module. The control subsystem is further configured to set torque of the first sheet transport module to a torque value to control tension of the sheet to a first sheet tension value when the sheet transfers from the first sheet transport module to the second sheet transport module.
US07931270B2
A method for personalizing a plurality of documents and a personalization installation which comprises a plurality of processing stations arranged one behind the other along a longitudinal axis of the personalization installation for carrying out individual personalization steps, wherein in order to carry out the personalization steps the documents or smart cards run through one processing station in a first direction running transversely to the longitudinal axis and the other processing station in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction and likewise runs transversely to the longitudinal axis, wherein all the processing stations are oriented with their run-through directions transverse to the longitudinal axis.
US07931267B2
A sheet feed device includes a sheet tray and a guide unit. The sheet tray is configured to store a recording medium including a recording sheet. The guide unit is configured to support detachably the sheet tray. The guide unit includes a rotary member that is configured to contact an outer bottom surface of the sheet tray while contacting an outer side surface of the sheet tray, and rotate with mounting and detachment of the sheet tray. An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a latent image on a surface thereof, an exposure unit for exposing the image bearing member to form the latent image, a developing unit for developing the latent image with toner to form a visible image, a transfer unit for transferring the visible image onto the recording medium, and the sheet feed device.
US07931261B2
A signature hopper is provided comprising a first drum having a first gripper for a lead edge of a folded signature, a second drum having a second gripper for an open edge of the folded signature, the second gripper having a gripper finger with an end curled in a direction of rotation of the second drum, a dipper blade for pushing the open edge from the first drum toward the second drum so as to contact the gripper finger and a stationary signature guide spaced with respect to the first drum, the signature contacting the signature guide as the first drum rotates the signature past the signature guide.
US07931252B2
A steam valve is provided with a valve body, a valve seat, and a valve rod provided for the valve body. The valve body has a bottom portion to which a recessed portion is formed, and the recessed portion has an edge, which is positioned on an upstream side of a place at which a shock wave is generated in steam flowing through a steam path defined by the valve body and the valve seat.
US07931251B2
An expanding gate valve having a valve body defining a valve chamber and flow passages and having spaced sealing surfaces. Gate members are moveable within the valve body between open and closed positions and at the closed position having sealing engagement with the spaced sealing surfaces. A wedge member is positioned between the gate members and has at least one tapered surface having reacting engagement with a tapered surface of one of the gate members so that relative linear movement of the gate member relative to the tapered surface of the wedge member develops a lateral gate expansion force causing expansion of the gate members for tight sealing engagement with the spaced sealing surfaces. A valve stem is linearly moveable to valve opening and closing positions within said valve body and has driving connection with the gate members Upon initial linear opening movement the valve stem causes sequential opening movement of the gate members prior to initial opening movement of said first gate member and releases the sealing force of the upstream gate member to minimize the force that is required for opening for the valve.
US07931243B2
A speaker system with a mount pivotally secured to a speaker frame for detachably securing the speaker system to a display monitor is disclosed. The mount pivots relative to the frame so as to allow the display monitor to be operably received between the mount and frame thereby holding the speaker system in place. A securing structure is preferably provided to hold the mount at a desired position, and resilient padding is preferably provided between the frame, mount and display monitor. The mount can also have a substantially planar bottom surface which allows the speaker system to rest on a desktop simply by positioning the substantially planar bottom surface of the mount on the desktop.
US07931231B2
A flight control system and method which determines an expected power required data in response to a flight control command of the at least one model following control law and utilizes the expected power required data to perform at least one action to control an engine speed.
US07931229B2
A rolled medium supporting mechanism includes a supporting member 210 that rotatably supports a rolled medium. The mechanism is provided with a plurality of abutting supporting members 230 arranged in the circumferential direction of the supporting member and supporting the rolled medium by making abutting contact with an inner peripheral face of a hollow shaft portion of the rolled medium when the mechanism is inserted into the hollow shaft portion of the rolled medium. The abutting supporting members are configured to be freely displaced in a roll-diameter direction in accordance with an inner diameter of the hollow shaft portion. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to have a separate component in order to adapt to core members having different diameters, but only displacement of the abutting supporting member is needed. Thus, it is possible to simplify the construction and provide easy handling properties.
US07931224B2
A round cutter-blade of a paper shredder includes a body having a surface, a periphery, and an opening formed therethrough; and at least one triangular shaped knife-edge that is integrally formed with the surface of the body and is turned over the periphery of the body. The cutter-blade can cut broken paper into short fragments, thus raising the secure requirement greatly and reducing the cost due to a reduction of thickness of the round cutter-blade.
US07931223B2
A dust-proof structure of a cone crusher below a cone core of the cone crusher includes primarily a dust ring which is suspended under the cone core, allowing the dust ring to operate concurrently with the cone core. Lubricant oil is provided between the dust ring and the cone core, enabling the dust ring to be tightly attached with a lip part of the cone core and operate successfully. The dust is prevented from entering into the cone crusher by ineffectiveness of a dust-proof function. Furthermore, a dust collar is attached under the dust ring, and an adjustment washer is provided between the dust collar and the cone core. When the dust ring is worn out, the adjustment washer is removed, and the dust ring is tightened again by screwing elements, thus preventing the dust from entering into the cone crusher due to the ineffectiveness of the dust-proof function.
US07931221B2
A mobile crusher unit is provided having a supporting framework (12) which is includes at least a crusher unit (13), a feed conveyor (11), and a dumping conveyor unit (14), and which can be relocated by means of a crawler undercarriage. To minimize construction height and weight the supporting framework and the traveling gear are configured as one unit, with parts of the supporting framework (12) serving as parts of the traveling gear, and with the crawlers (16) of the crawler vehicle protruding into recesses of the supporting framework.
US07931219B2
An anti-spin assembly is arranged in a gyratory crusher. The anti-spin assembly includes an expandable braking receptacle, which is adapted to be expanded by way of a pressure medium. The braking receptacle is arranged in a space between a first surface formed on a part which rotates with the crushing head and a second surface formed on a non-rotary part which is connected to the frame bottom part. The braking receptacle is arranged, when expanding, to engage both the first and the second surface, thereby braking the rotation of the crushing head.
US07931215B2
This device comprises a sprayer (10) and a reservoir (9) for feeding the sprayer with fluid. The reservoir (9) defines a cylindrical housing (L9) in which there slides (F1) a piston (91) forming a moving wall (91a) for a storage volume (V9) for storing the coating fluid. The housing (L9) is defined by a jacket (92) placed in a support-forming body (95). The jacket (92) has an end wall (93) co-operating with the peripheral wall (96) of the jacket (92) and with the piston (91), to define the above-mentioned storage volume (V9). No interstice are present in which the coating fluid could accumulate, thereby making the reservoir (9) easier to clean.
US07931203B2
There is provided a non-contact type IC card that prevents electrostatic discharge failure of an IC chip embedded in an IC card.A non-contact type IC card includes at least a magnetic recording layer, a metal reflective layer, and a hologram layer, which are sequentially laminated on a card base member, and an antenna and an IC chip connected to the antenna that are embedded in the card base member. The metal reflective layer is made of a material of which electric conductivity is smaller than 28.9×106/Ωm, or is composed of a thin film of which surface resistivity is 7.02 (Ω/□) or more.
US07931198B2
A weather resistant modular sensor and computing platform reduces costs and enhances versatility of sensor systems. Rapidly evolving electronic technology results in hyper-obsolescence wherein sensor systems that are state of the art technology when designed, fall behind the art quickly as new transducers, batteries and components are developed. A cylindrical shaped modular system provides an architecture for up-grading sensors, batteries, special modules, communications, and control. A modular architecture extends the life cycle of a system and avoids hyper-obsolescence and the requirement to design a complete new system to incorporate new technology. Modularity and low cost manufacturing methods enable the practical definition of a cylindrical computer. The cylinder shaped enclosures have on their ends a common connection interface to which modules may be added. This provides a long system life cycle and wide ranging versatility. The size of the platform is not restricted. Larger systems are capable of supporting more sophisticated processing. A scaled up version of the modular platform provides an outdoor weather resistant community computing server.
US07931192B1
An identification assistance card system is disclosed for assisting in obtaining identification information from an identification card having an identification card shape. The identification assistance card system includes an identification assistance card having an assistance card shape based at least in part on the identification card shape of the identification card. An identification information window is disposed in the identification assistance card for displaying the identification information from the identification card when the identification assistance card is substantially aligned with the identification card. The identification information window is disposed in the identification assistance card at a location based at least in part on where the identification information is disposed on the identification card.
US07931181B2
A combustion-type power tool includes a cylinder, a piston, a head, a combustion chamber frame, an ignition unit, a trigger, a control member. The combustion chamber frame is abuttable on the head to provide a combustion chamber in cooperation with the head and the piston. The trigger is operated by a user for driving the fastener into a workpiece. The control member detects that the combustion chamber has been provided and the trigger has been operated, and allows the ignition unit to ignite the combustible gas only when the control member detects that both the combustion chamber has been provided and the trigger has been operated.
US07931173B2
A liquid dispenser is described and includes a cover connecting to the opening of a container and a main body connecting to the cover. The main body includes a chamber in communication with the cover and a liquid outlet for liquid discharge, wherein a liquid output device is arranged in the chamber, a button is arranged on the main body for controlling the action of the liquid output device, a one-way valve is arranged in the liquid output device for adjusting the open/close state of a liquid output passage. The liquid dispenser described is novel in design, simple and compact in construction. The liquid dispenser described can employ the operating principle of a one-way valve so as to realize liquid discharge in any direction.
US07931166B2
A cap device for use with a container or bottle includes adjacent first and second portions, each portion including a structure different than the other for accessing the contents of a container. The first portion may include an opening, such as a straw opening or pour opening, and a cover pivotally movable between open and closed configurations. The second portion may define a trough and include a drinking implement, such as a sipper, that is pivotal between retracted and extended configurations. The drinking implement includes first and second sections, the first section being rotatable between retractable and locked configurations. Contents of the container may be accessed when the second section is in the locked configuration. The drinking implement may be moved to the retracted configuration only when the second section is in its retractable configuration.
US07931163B2
A closure for a container having a body comprises a neck and cap assembly with a foil interposed between the body and the neck and cap assembly. The neck comprises a base fitted to the body with a removable annular flange connected to a pull ring and secured to the foil. A frangible region separates the removable annular flange from the base. A plurality of depending teeth each having a saw tooth profile inclined inwardly to a centre of the base are formed in the base adjacent to or in the frangible region such that on removal of the pull ring the foil is torn by the teeth.
US07931152B2
A log shuffler and conveyor assembly including: a chute including a log conveyor having a bottom surface and at least one sidewall; a gap in the log conveyor, and a log shuffler arranged in the gap of the conveyor, wherein the shuffler includes at least one pivoting plate having a first edge moving reciprocally above and below the bottom surface of the chute.
US07931143B1
A toolbox includes two pivotally connected shells, a buckling unit and at least one tool-holding unit. Each of the shells includes at least two primary partitions formed on an internal side thereof, a compartment defined between the primary partitions, a row of ribs formed one each of the primary partitions, and gaps each defined between two adjacent ones of the ribs. The bucking unit can buckle the shells to each other. The tool-holding unit is engaged with the rows of ribs of selected one of the shells.
US07931142B2
The sterilization pouch includes a sealable inner space for receiving one or more medical instruments, a preferred instrument being hinged pliers. The pouch is generally comprised of first and second layers, the layers being sealed around a peripheral edge except a separation in the seal to form an opening for accessing the inner space and a flap for closing the opening. The pouch has an upper portion and a first and second lower portion extending therefrom, the upper portion being comprised of a vertical length just as long or longer than the lower portions to allow for insertion and removal of the instrument through the opening, wherein the opening is along the peripheral edge of the upper portion. A recessed portion separates the first and second lower portions, such as to permit the inner space to connect the first and second lower portions only through the upper portion.
US07931138B2
An automatic tire transfer apparatus using a traverser comprises: a vertical lift adapted to lift and lower a tire from a tire storage place; a tire charge section adapted to be supplied with the tire from the vertical lift and adapted to automatically push the supplied tire in the progress direction of the tire; a traverser unit disposed at an outlet of the tire charge section and adapted to automatically transfer the tire supplied from the tire charge section in the progress direction of the tire while fixedly supporting the tire; a tire loader adapted to be supplied with the tire from the traverser unit and adapted to transfer the supplied tire to a tire assembling unit; and a controller adapted to control the overall operation of the tire charge section, the traverser unit and the tire loader.
US07931126B2
A lubricator (1) includes a coaxial compartment (3) with a shaped seat (4) upon which a sliding shutter (5) consisting of a front shaped plug (6) and an intermediate stem (7) with a back beat (8) associated with a first stop pin (9), operates; in the rear threaded end (10) of the compartment (3) a security dowel (11) with a front beat (12) associated with a second stop pin (13), screws on. A counter spring (15) engages itself between pins (9) and (13). The stem (7) of the shutter and the dowel (11) present peripheral helical grooves (14, 14′) with a spiral developing in the opposite direction as to the threading (10) of the compartment (3) and the threading of the dowel (11) itself.
US07931119B2
A support structure for an exhaust pipe includes left and right side frames disposed on a lower side of a rear floor and a back panel extending downward from the rear floor joined to rear end portions of the side frames. Reinforcing plates join the back panel on a vehicle rear side in positions facing the rear of the side frames. Stays extending in a rearward direction mount to the respective reinforcing plates and support a bumper member. A muffler disposed below the rear floor and on a front side of the back panel or an exhaust pipe connected thereto, is supported on a vehicle body by a hanger rubber. A flange portion that is formed with a reinforcing plate extends rearwardly and perpendicularly therefrom. A hanger rubber mounts to the flange portion to support the muffler or exhaust pipe.
US07931115B2
A surround for a diaphragm includes at least one rib section oriented to be extended during excursions of the diaphragm. The surround includes at least one membrane section supported by one or more rib sections contributing to a compliance characteristic different from the contribution of the one or more rib sections.
US07931112B2
A steering system includes a fluid actuator, a first steering circuit in selective fluid communication with the fluid actuator, and a second steering circuit in selective fluid communication with the fluid actuator and disposed in parallel to the first steering circuit. The second steering circuit includes a load-reaction feature and an isolation valve with the isolation valve being adapted to enable and disable the load-reaction feature.
US07931110B2
An electric motorcycle is provided that can air-cool a power drive unit without the provision of a plurality of cooling fans. In an electric vehicle in which a battery box housing batteries is disposed below a foot rest space and electricity supplied from the batteries is supplied to a running-purpose power-generating motor via a power drive unit, the power drive unit is attached to a swing arm turning around a pivot shaft and the battery box is formed with an air introduction port and an air discharge port used to cool the batteries. A cooling fan is provided which sucks air in the battery box from the air discharge port and sends the air toward the power drive unit. The cooling fan is disposed rearward of the air discharge port of the battery box and close to the pivot shaft.
US07931097B2
A laser control system and apparatus for guiding a drilling or boring operation during a trenchless technology implementation. In most if not all trenchless technology applications, direction of the pipe or utility structure through the earth is of utmost importance. Proper directional guidance throughout the trenchless technology implementation ensures not only that the resulting utility infrastructure is placed properly, but also ensures that the trenchless technology operation, does not hit or otherwise damage (such as through vibrations) existing utilities and other underground objects. The laser control system and apparatus of the present invention comprises a laser, a housing having a laser sight, a camera in optical communication with the laser sight a microwave transmitter having an antenna, with the transmitter being operatively coupled to the camera, and a microwave receiver.
US07931093B2
Downhole tools for anchoring and isolating at least one zone in a wellbore comprise a mandrel having an upper end, a lower end, an outer wall surface, and a longitudinal bore disposed therethrough having an axis. One or more anchors are disposed through the outer wall surface of the mandrel. Each of the anchors has a retracted position and an extended position. An isolation element is disposed along the outer wall surface of the mandrel. The isolation element may cover the anchors or be disposed, above, below, or around the anchors. Engagement of the isolation element with the inner wall surface of the wellbore to isolate at least one zone of the wellbore may be accomplished by piercing the isolation element to permit wellbore fluid to contact a swellable material contained within the isolation element, or by pumping fluid into the isolation element.
US07931090B2
A technique is provided for control of subsea well systems. The technique utilizes a subsea controller coupled to a plurality of subsea well system components to allow localized control of the subsea well system. The subsea controller can be used in a variety of functional applications, such as balancing power distribution to subsea components.
US07931085B2
A tubing connection release system. The system includes, a male connector having a profile at one end thereof and receptive to a tubular at the other end thereof, a female connector receptive to a tubular at one end thereof and receptive to the male connector at the other end thereof. The system further includes, a sleeve disposed radially inwardly of the female connector, and a collet having at least one deflectable collet finger disposed radially inwardly of the sleeve. The collet is biased to a position within the female connector whereat the at least one collet finger is supported against radially outward deflection. The collet is further movable by the push-in connector against the bias to a position where the at least one collet finger is radially outwardly unsupported such that the profiled end of the male connector is movable into engagement with the at least one collet finger.
US07931084B2
A method is provided for treating at least a portion of a subterranean formation. The method includes the steps of: (a) introducing a treatment fluid into the subterranean formation, wherein the treatment fluid comprises a proppant and a swellable particulate; (b) swelling the swellable particulate, wherein the step of swelling is performed prior to, during, or after the step of introducing the treatment fluid; and (c) degrading the swellable particulate in the subterranean formation, wherein the step of degrading is performed after the steps of introducing and swelling.
US07931056B2
A debarking apparatus includes a cutting body having a cutting surface and a first projection configured to cooperate with a fastener. The debarking apparatus also includes a holding body for removably holding the cutting body, the holding body having a trailing surface and defining a first recess generally complementary to the first projection to receive therein the first projection in a close surrounding fit, and a first opening sized to receive the fastener. The fastener is configurable to pass through the first opening and to cooperate with the first projection and with the holding body to hold the first projection in the first recess in a close surrounding fit.
US07931051B2
A papermaker's fabric includes: a set of top MD yarns; a set of bottom MD yarns; a set of top CMD yarns interwoven with the top MD yarns to form a top fabric layer; a set of bottom CMD yarns interwoven with the bottom MD yarns to form a bottom fabric layer; and a set of stitching yarns that interweave with the top and bottom fabric layers. The top MD yarns and the top CMD yarns are interwoven in a series of repeat units and the bottom MD yarns and the bottom CMD yarns are interwoven in a series of corresponding repeat units. Each of the bottom MD yarns forms a bottom MD float by passing under three or more consecutive bottom CMD yarns.
US07931040B2
An apparatus in one example is a portable shelter to be set up on a ground surface, the shelter having: first and second arms; a sheet connected at a first edge thereof to the first arm, and at a second, opposite edge thereof to the second arm; first and second legs intended for generally vertical alignment when the shelter is open, so that each leg has a top end and bottom end, the legs having a rotational connection at the top ends thereof to ends of the first and second arms, respectively; means attached to the bottom end of each leg for mounting the legs on the ground surface; whereby the arms and sheet may be rotated to an open position apart from the legs, to provide shelter, and may be rotated to a closed position along the legs.
US07931036B1
A walker is disclosed that may be adjusted in width during use for allowing the user to pass safely through narrow doorways or passageways. Walkers of the present invention have crossbars at a front thereof constructed of telescoping tubing and locking/unlocking mechanisms. During use, the telescoping tubes may be unlocked so that a smaller tube may be moved into a larger tube, reducing a width of the walker. In other embodiments, a lead screw assembly may be rotated in order to reduce width of the walker. In yet other embodiments the walker may be automatically increased or decreased in width responsive to the tubes being unlocked.
US07931035B2
A method of and system for cleaning semiconductor wafers minimizes the exposure of the wafers to the air by washing, rinsing and drying the wafers in one cleaning chamber. The system includes a wafer support by which a plurality of wafers can be supported in the cleaning chamber as oriented vertically and spaced from each other, and tubular de-ionized water supply nozzles extending longitudinally in the direction in which the wafers are spaced from each other as disposed to the sides of the wafers. Each de-ionized water supply nozzle has an inner nozzle passageway, and a plurality of sets of nozzle holes extending radially through the main body of the nozzle from the inner nozzle passageway. Each such set of nozzle holes subtends an angle of 80˜100° in a vertical plane and is directed towards a surface of a respective wafer W. During a primary rinse procedure, the de-ionized water is supplied to the de-ionized water spray nozzles, and the liquid in the cleaning chamber is simultaneously discharged from a lower part of the chamber and by being allowed to overflow the chamber. The supplying of the de-ionized water to the de-ionized water spray nozzles and the discharging of the cleaning chamber are carried out in proportions that minimize differences in the etching rate of a wafer across the surface thereof.
US07931033B2
A dish washer includes a steam generating unit that is configured to control the amount of steam in accordance with the amount of items in the dish washer. The steam generating unit is positioned outside of the tub and is configured to generate and supply steam to the tub. The dishwasher includes a fluid supplying passage that supplies washing fluid to the steam generating unit. A steam discharging passage is configured to discharge steam that is generated from the steam generating unit to the tub.
US07931032B1
A fluid dispensing system for a residential dishwasher comprises a fluid reservoir that can hold liquid gel dish detergent in bulk quantities, preferably comprising the contents of at least one bottle of detergent as sold at retail, which is disposed inside a door of the dishwasher. The reservoir is filled with detergent from the inside of the door, to facilitate clean-up if any product is accidentally spilled. As a result, the dishwasher is made easier and more convenient to use, by reducing the repetitive step of loading detergent and allowing “peace of mind” delegation of the dishwashing task. Metered doses of the fluid may be dispensed. In addition to dish detergent, liquid rinse aids may also be dispensed using the disclosed system.
US07931027B2
An earplug for a hearing aid adapted for engagement with earpieces made of materials with a comparatively high hardness. The earplug comprises a resilient sleeve and a shell, the shell having an outer portion adapted to fit within a user's ear canal and a central bore, the central bore having a first abutment shoulder adapted for retaining the resilient sleeve inside the shell and a second abutment shoulder adapted for providing a stop for the resilient sleeve and for the earpiece. Hereby the resilient sleeve is able to combine relatively relaxed manufacturing tolerances with precise positioning of the earpiece inside the earplug.
US07931025B2
The present invention provides a connection device for connecting a headgear having straps, a mask and a system for supplying a flow of gas to a patient. The connection device incorporates a locking member or locking portion which is configured to lock the straps in a particular location.
US07931022B2
An apparatus and method for delivering a plurality of medication includes providing first and second medicament on a medicament pack in separate containers for preventing either medicament from interfering with the stability of the other. In accordance with the method, the medicaments are preferably delivered in a single inhalation.
US07931019B2
A self-powered pump for heated liquid is provided. The pump includes an airtight container for containing the heated liquid. A heated liquid inlet pipe extends upwardly into the container such that its end is within the container. A heated liquid outlet is lower than the end of the inlet pipe. A breathing pipe extends upwardly into the container such that its end is within the container and is higher than both of the outlet and the end of the inlet pipe but lower than an interior side of the container top. An opposite end of the breathing pipe is outside the container, lower than the container base, and is received by an open container such that the opposite end can become submerged in heated liquid accumulated within the open container during pump operation. A fluid or liquid heating system incorporating the self-powered pump may operate without external power for the pump.
US07931008B2
A fuel injection system includes an injector control module, a current detection module, and a position determination module. The injector control module controls current through a solenoid of a fuel injector for a predetermined period. The current detection module measures an amount of current through the solenoid after the predetermined period. The position determination module determines whether the fuel injector injected fuel during the predetermined period based on when the amount of current through the solenoid is less than or equal to a predetermined current.
US07931005B2
An electrical generator includes an opposed piston, internal-combustion engine with a piston and a hypocycloidal drive connected by a rod to the piston. The construction of the hypocycloidal drive imposes a sinusoidal period on the linear motion of the piston and connecting rod. As generator associated with the piston produces a sinusoidal voltage in response to the liner motion of the piston and connecting rod.
US07930999B2
A cooling water passage structure of internal combustion engines is provided which can contribute to a scale-down of the external form of the engine and also can prevent deformation of the cylinder bores. The cooling water passage structure comprises a water jacket for the flow of cooling water provided on the peripheries of a plurality of cylinder bores; and a lateral suction passage 9a, 9b integrally formed with a side wall of a cylinder block 2 having bolt holes formed for fastening a cylinder head 3. The lateral suction passage runs through by the cylinder bores at a height in the vicinity of the water jacket bottom and is arranged on the outside of, and perpendicular to the bolt holes. On the rear surface of the cylinder head 3 is mounted a water passage block 15 and on the front end part of the cylinder block 2 is provided a water pump housing 10.
US07930994B2
A bird feeder provides a feed hopper constructed concentrically around a vertical central axis and having a plurality of feeding ports evenly distributed around the central axis, and a cable reel mounted to the feed hopper and adapted to store and provide a cable for supporting the bird feeder along the central axis.
US07930987B2
An electric steering device includes a steering retaining device arranged to retain a steering angle against an external steering force applied from outside of a watercraft to an outboard motor main body. A reverse input shutoff clutch, for example, is preferably used as the steering retaining device. A steering retaining state in which a steering angle of the outboard motor main body is retained can be detected from a steering condition of the outboard motor main body, and a control is made to stop electric power from being supplied to an electric motor steering the outboard motor main body. Accordingly, the steering retaining device retains a steering angle while steering is retained, and thus the electric power supply to the electric motor can be stopped, which allows electric power to be saved. The steering retaining device provides an electric steering device for a watercraft in which no electric power is required when applying a steering retaining force for retaining a counter-steering state.
US07930976B2
A structure includes a substrate of a first material and a second material coating at least a portion of the substrate, where the second material is different from the first material, where the first and second materials, upon being thermally energized, react with each other in an exothermic and self-sustaining alloying reaction that propagates from a first location within the structure along a travel path to a second location within the structure at a rate that depends upon one or more characteristics of the first and second materials.
US07930963B2
A workpiece cutting method utilizing a band-saw machine, includes the following steps of: guiding tooth tips of an endless band-saw blade provided on the band-saw machine in a direction of a workpiece by a band-saw blade guiding apparatus; and applying vibrations to the band-saw blade in a cutting direction to the workpiece so as to perform cutting of the workpiece by a vibration applying unit provided on the band-saw blade guiding apparatus.
US07930958B2
A blade housing for an electronic cutting apparatus includes an outer housing having a distal end, an inner housing coupled to the inner housing and longitudinally selectively adjustable relative thereto and a blade rotatably coupled to the inner housing with a sharpened distal end. Adjustment of the inner housing relative to the outer housing adjusts an amount of the blade that protrudes from the distal end of the inner housing.
US07930956B2
An improved Davenport® multi-spindle automatic screw machine has a tool arm (14) mounted on a shaft (41) for rotational movement relative to a revolving head cap (13). A needle bearing (42, 42) is operatively arranged between the shaft and the revolving head cap. The bearing is radially loaded as said bearing is installed and that the individual needles of same remain elastically deformed by the radial load immediately after said bearing has been installed. The shaft has a hardened surface (52) that is engaged by the needles. The diameter of the shaft hardened surface portion is greater than the diameters of the adjacent shaft portions. Annular recesses (51, 53) extend into the shaft at either end of the hardened portion. These recesses have frusto-conical surfaces (55) that act as ramps to guide insertion of the press-fittable needle bearing into the space between the shaft and the head cap.
US07930949B2
A linear motion assembly comprising a first body arranged for operable communication with a second body for translation of the first body and the second body relative to one another. At least one of the two bodies carries a sensor that detects and monitors information related to performance-indicating characteristics of the assembly. A control module is arranged in communication with the sensor and monitors at least one performance-indicating characteristic of the linear motion assembly by monitoring corresponding signals received from the sensor. The control module also detects and provides an indication of a discrepancy in the performance-indicating characteristic.
US07930944B2
An ASIC compensated pressure sensor includes a sense die, an ASIC chip, and supporting elements. The sense die includes a metallized surface for attaching the sense die to a mounting surface. The resulting solder joint provides a hermetic seal that is resistant to a wide range of media associated with different environmental conditions. The mounting surface can contain the ASIC and electronics for compensation or can be attached to another mounting surface, which contains the ASIC and electronics. Either configuration can include collars of different styles for ease of assembly and in turn can be attached to a mating connector. The mounting surface can possess a closely matched coefficient of thermal expansion to the sense die in order to enhance electrical stability of the output signal over a wide temperature and pressure ranges.
US07930942B2
The invention relates to a protective hood with a housing (1) for the protection of a measuring apparatus (2), which housing comprises a receiving space (17) for receiving a first measuring apparatus section (20) of such a measuring apparatus (2) and a through opening (12) for running a second measuring apparatus section (21) through it. The arrangement is advantageous in that at least one underlapping support element (18, 19) extends into the receiving space (17) for partially underlapping the first measuring apparatus section (20) in the direction of the through opening (12), and that the housing (1) is constructed from at least a first and a second housing section (1a, 1b) and at least one coupling element (13; 14, 15), and that the first measuring apparatus section (20) can be set between the housing sections (1a, 1b) and that the latter can be subsequently designed to be adjustable to one another for forming and closing the receiving space (17). At least one such coupling element is preferably constructed as an articulation (13) connecting housing sections (1a, 1b) to one another. Moreover, a process for mounting such a protective hood is advantageous.
US07930940B2
An ultrasonic transducer incorporated into an ultrasonic inspection apparatus for examining existence of defect in a sample dipped in water comprises a transducer main part having an oscillator which projects an ultrasonic wave to the sample, receives the reflected wave from the sample and outputs the received reflected wave as an echo signal, a transmitter substrate producing a drive pulse for emitting the ultrasonic wave to the oscillator, a receiver substrate for amplifying the echo signal, a housing for containing therein both substrates electrically connected, and connecting member for electrically connecting between a signal input/output terminal and the side of the oscillator in the transducer main part, wherein, when a maximum operational frequency of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the oscillator is referred to as fmax [MHz], the connecting member is set at a length of 100/fmax [cm] or less. Even if the sample to be examined is small, a desirable defect inspection can be achieved at an excellent examination accuracy.
US07930937B2
The detection device for measuring the quantity of hot water remaining inside a storage reservoir and more particularly inside a tank (2) of a water heater (3, 30), comprises a capillary tube (10) containing a heat-carrying fluid which is placed either inside, or outside the tank (2) of the water heater (3, 30) and an indicator device (12) coupled to said capillary tube (10), said indicator device (12) comprising an amplifying device (15) disposed outside said tank (2) and making it possible to transmit under the effect of the expansion of the fluid contained in the capillary tube (10) either a motion to a member (16), or a variation in resistance to an electronic measurement card (24) in such a way as to continuously indicate the quantity of hot water available remaining in the tank (2) of the water heater (3, 30).
US07930933B2
A method and a device for the diagnosis of at least one gas exchange valve of at least one cylinder of an internal combustion engine that is on the one hand reliable and on the other hand does without additional sensor equipment are described. In a first operating state of the internal combustion engine, at least one gas exchange valve of the at least one cylinder is activated. In a second operating state of the internal combustion engine, all the gas exchange valves of the at least one cylinder are deactivated and therewith closed in stationary fashion. Sound waves produced by the internal combustion engine are acquired. It is checked whether a significant change occurs in a quantity characterizing the acquired sound waves upon a transition from the first operating state to the second operating state. In this case, an erroneous opening of the at least one gas exchange valve is recognized.
US07930932B2
A NOx sensor abnormality detection device senses a NOx concentration and an O2 concentration from output signals of a NOx sensor and calculates an estimated NOx concentration from the O2 concentration when an engine is in a steady operation state, when a zero point of the NOx concentration is sensed, and when an O2 sensing section of the NOx sensor is normal. The NOx sensor abnormality detection device calculates a sensed inclination and an estimated inclination of a NOx concentration output characteristic of the NOx sensor based on the sensed NOx concentration, the sensed O2 concentration and the estimated NOx concentration calculated from the O2 concentration. The NOx sensor abnormality detection device determines that the NOx sensor is faulty when an absolute value of a difference between the sensed inclination and the estimated inclination is larger than a predetermined value.
US07930921B2
An impact detector includes a first determination unit operable to determine whether or not an absolute value of an acceleration in a direction of Y axis exceeds 1G, and an impact determination unit operable to output a predetermined impact detection signal which indicates detection of impact in a direction of Z axis in response to an absolute value of an acceleration in a direction of X axis exceeding 1G within a predetermined time period T after the first determination unit determines that the absolute value of the acceleration in the direction of Y axis exceeds 1G.
US07930914B1
An anti-theft device for preventing theft of a boat fitted with an outboard motor. The anti-theft device is made up of a rear collar and a front collar. In one embodiment the rear collar comprises an elongated bracket having a U-shaped cross-section defined by first and second opposite sidewalls with a joining curved portion there-between. A nut cover is integral with and located at one end of the front collar. Complimentary locking teeth and locking teeth receiving apertures allow a user to affix the front and rear collars around an outboard motor's steering piston. Each of the front and rear collars are provided with locking tongues. In typical use a shackle is threaded through the locking tongues and attached to a padlock to secure the anti-theft device to the steering piston.
US07930896B2
A refrigerant circuit (40) is provided with an outdoor heat exchanger (54), an indoor heat exchanger (55) and two adsorption heat exchangers (56, 57). The indoor heat exchanger (55) is disposed in an indoor unit (11), while the outdoor heat exchanger (54) and the two adsorption heat exchangers (56, 57) are disposed in an outdoor unit (12). Moisture in outdoor air taken in the outdoor unit (12) is adsorbed by the adsorbent in the adsorption heat exchanger (56, 57) serving as an evaporator and the air is dehumidified. The dehumidified air is cooled by the indoor heat exchanger (55) serving as an evaporator and the air is supplied to the room space.
US07930884B2
A manifold for exhaust gases from a motor vehicle engine, includes upper and lower half-shells (18A, 18B) delimiting between them an exhaust gas pipe, and aligned bores designed to be arranged in the extension of the engine exhaust outlets, the half-shells having each a peripheral edge and being attached to each other via at least first segments (20A, 20B) of their peripheral edges welded to each other. The invention is characterized in that there is at least one median plane (P) passing through the bores and traversed at least twice by the first segments (20A, 20B).
US07930878B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, a liquid reductant tank for supplying liquid reductant to a selective catalytic reduction system is disclosed. The tank includes a tank cavity for holding a liquid reductant and being at least partially defined by one or more side walls; a liquid reductant supply line at least partially situated within the tank cavity and for communicating liquid reductant from the tank cavity to outside of the tank cavity; and a heating element situated at least partially within the liquid reductant supply line and for thawing frozen reductant situated within the supply line during cold start conditions to obtain liquid reductant for use in a selective catalytic reduction system.
US07930875B2
In an engine, a rotor having a folded jet pipe is rotatably supported in a sealed container filled with a liquid. A heating portion is inserted in a center cylinder at the center of the rotor, and a fluid of a high temperature is passed therethrough to vaporize the liquid sucked through the suction pipe of the rotor. A mixture of steam and liquid is jetted from the jet pipe due to the pressure of the steam that is vaporized to rotate the rotor. A check valve for jetting and a check valve for suction are disposed at the ends of the jet pipe and the suction pipe. The jetted steam is guided to a condenser disposed on the sealed container, and is condensed and is refluxed into the sealed container. A vacuum pump is connected to the condenser, and the pressure in the sealed container is held at the saturated steam pressure.
US07930872B2
A direct drive system for the rotating cutter shaft assembly in a flail mower includes a internally splined collar having a thermal interfitment within and welded attachment to a rotating shaft assembly. An externally splined shaft from a drive motor mounted to the flail mower housing fits into the internally splined collar to provide rotational force to the rotating cutter shaft assembly.
US07930868B1
An optical disc advertising and security method that includes the use of a promotional label that is coaxially aligned and adhesively attached to the top surface of an optical disc. The promotional label includes an upper label layer and a lower label layer. Attached to each layer is a laterally extending tab. Printed on the top layer surface of each label layer is promotional indicia. In one embodiment, the upper label layer is slightly larger in diameter than the lower label layer so that the lower label is covered and hidden from view by the upper label layer. In a second embodiment, the promotional label is made of two label layers permanently adhesively attached together with a RFID tag disposed between them.
US07930865B2
A method of installing an interlocking floor system includes surface preparation, assembly of the polymeric panels making up the interlocking floor system and affixing a turf material over the polymeric panels.
US07930864B2
An L-shaped clip for mounting a trim member along an exposed edge of a suspension ceiling includes a support leg to be longitudinally secured to a grid tee and a perpendicular face leg to be secured to the trim member. The support leg includes offset clip walls for engagement with offset tee walls and clip abutment surfaces for engagement with tee abutment surfaces. The offset walls and abutment surfaces cooperate to assist in the alignment and mounting of the clip to the grid tee at different relative heights. A single clip may be mounted to either a T-shaped grid tee or an open channel grid tee.
US07930861B2
A tough, water-proof building system provides wall, ceiling, and floor structures, as well as accessories. The walls can be designed to have vertical and horizontal strengths sufficient to be used in place of concrete, as an engineered solution, both above grade and below-grade, including in severe weather conditions. Walls have inner and outer layers, and structurally reinforcing members extending, typically as a layer and/or stud, the full height of the wall, at spaced locations along the length of the wall. The spaces between the structurally reinforcing members are optionally filled with insulating foam. An optional reinforcing stud is attached to, or overlaid by, the inner layer, and extends inwardly into the building from what is otherwise the inner surface of the building panel/wall panel. A building floor can be supported from the load-bearing wall, at locations on the floor support members which are below the top of the load-bearing wall.
US07930859B1
A cable marker pole system is described for marking the location of buried utility cabling. The cable marker pole system includes a base for embedding in earth or concrete, and a two-part pole assembly that couples with the base. The two-part pole assembly includes a spring coupling the two pole members to allow the pole assembly to flex if struck. A sign is attached to the top of the pole assembly to indicate what is buried.
US07930853B2
A humane animal trap includes an enclosure having an opening with a door disposed therein. The door is pivotable about an upper edge between open and closed positions, and is biased toward the closed position by a torsion spring. An electrical solenoid is disposed above the door and has a catch that is biased into engagement with a holding feature on the door when the door is in the open position, and is operable to disengage the catch from the holding feature in response to the receipt of an electrical trip signal. An electrical sensor disposed in the enclosure transmits a light beam between opposite sidewalls of the trap, and generates an electrical trip signal and transmits it to the solenoid when the light beam is interrupted by an animal entering the trap so as to close the door behind the animal and thereby capture it unharmed in the enclosure.
US07930851B1
A strap tensioning apparatus consisting of a strap tensioner attached to a firearm, a spring loaded spool contained within the strap tensioner, the strap having one end releasable attached to the spool, the strap exiting the spool, the other end of the strap attached to the firearm. The spool adapted to be adjustable between three different modes: a lock mode, a release mode, and a free spool mode. The strap tensioner allows a user to easily and safely adjust the tension of the strap to increase comfort, mobility, and safety.
US07930850B1
A spare gun barrel hanging assembly preferably includes an elongated post that has a curvilinear top end, and first and second anchor platforms statically coupled to such a post, which extend orthogonally away therefrom. The assembly may further include a mechanism for removably securing the existing spare gun barrel to a bottom surface of the second anchor platform while the first anchor platform remains spaced thereabove, and a hanger pin removably inserted into the first anchor platform.
US07930849B2
A butt stock for a shoulder held firearm with an horizontally and vertically adjustable cheek rest, reversibility of the cheek rest without loss of any of the other adjustments, a shoulder pad assembly to allow from 0 to 360 degrees of adjustment of the angle of the shoulder pad to the rest of the shoulder held firearm, an adjustable length of pull, and a butt stock body that could function as a cheek rest even if the adjustable cheek rest were to be disconnected.
US07930843B2
A system and process for controlling propulsion and steering of a track trencher excavation machine powered by an engine includes a multiple mode propulsion and steering control system that performs a plurality of functions depending on a selection of one of a plurality of operational modes. A controller generates a vehicle propulsion hydrostatic drive signal optionally using a track drive hydraulic pressure or a track drive speed as a variable for modifying the propulsion drive signal. The controller optionally uses a hydraulic attachment drive pressure as a variable for further modifying the propulsion drive signal.
US07930838B2
The present invention relates to a laundry dryer that can prevent as well as remove wrinkles of laundry. A laundry dryer includes a drum in which laundry is held; a hot air heater that heats air to supply hot air to the drum; a steam generator that generates steam to supply the steam to the drum; and a water tank to hold water to supply to the steam generator, the water tank in flow communication with a water supply hole through which water is supplied into the water tank with the water tank kept in flow communication with the steam generator.
US07930831B2
The invention relates to a scraper blade assembly structure. The scraper includes a stem for hand grip and a scraping section in the front. The scraping section includes a jaw plate, a blade and a fastening button. The jaw plate extends backward to form an arm. The jaw plate is attached to the inside of the jaw plate groove of the scraping section by a fastener that also serves as a lever pivot for swinging back and forth. When a fastening button goes into the inside of the jaw plate of the scraping section, it pushes the inner side of the arm of the jaw plate, and so as to generate a great holding power for the front of the jaw plate. Further, the fastening button can be a handle protruding from one side of the scraping section.
US07930825B2
A method for reducing “blow-out” of annular welds for attaching press-fit components in a fuel injector assembly is disclosed. The method employs a multi-step welding procedure whereby a first annular weld bead that corresponds to less than 360° of rotation of the assembly about a longitudinal axis leaves a radial void that is thereafter sealed with a second annular weld bead. In an alternative embodiment, a relief region is formed on radially-facing surfaces of the components, the relief region being disposed adjacent to a press-fit region. A sealed gap is thereby formed in the relief region between the welds and the press-fit region. The sealed gap provides a further means for expansion of trapped gases that could otherwise “blow out” the liquid weld bead.
US07930823B2
A cell for automated assembly operations, in particular for the assembly of parts of multicylinder internal-combustion engines, has manipulator members that are designed for simultaneous assembly of a plurality of elements on a work piece and that are adjustable for varying the distance between the positions of said elements.
US07930815B2
A method of forming an electrically-conductive pattern includes selectively electroplating the top portions of a substrate that corresponds to the pattern, and separating the conductive pattern from the substrate. The electroplating may also include electrically connecting the conductive pattern to an electrical component. Conductive ink, such as ink including carbon particles, may be selectively placed on the conductive substrate to facilitate plating of the desired pattern and/or to facilitate separation of the pattern from the substrate. An example of a conductive pattern is an antenna for a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device such as a label or a tag. One example of an electrical component that may be electrically connected to the antenna, is an RFID strap or chip.
US07930812B2
A method and apparatus for providing toolless rack mounting rail installation using a pin having a latch. A retention device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes stepped features and a dual locking mechanism that are configured to engage standard apertures of rack systems. The locking mechanism is configured to extend beyond the surface of a pin when in a normal position, but may be depressed to allow the retention device to be easily inserted or removed without the use of tools.
US07930811B2
A vehicle slide door temporary setting jig includes a door position holding mechanism for holding a slide door in a desired angular position relative to a vehicle body. The door position holding mechanism has an end extension of one link lever of a linkage projecting beyond an associated link pin, an arcuate guide member pivoted to the free end of an attachment frame and configured to define a path of movement of a tip end portion of the end extension as the link lever turns about the link pin, and a resilient member acting between the free end of the attachment frame and the arcuate guide member and resiliently urging the arcuate guide member against the tip end portion of the end extension.
US07930807B2
The present invention is a holding device for a rope, cable, wire and the like hereafter referred to as rope and more particularly a sliding cam rope cleat comprised of a holding device, a slideable cam member controlled by a sliding handle and two passageways therethrough for the rope member. While the sliding handle is engaged in the open position, the cam member will not be resident in the first passageway and a rope member may be freely inserted and drawn. However once the sliding handle is engaged in the clamping position, the cam member will partially obstruct the first passageway and the tapered serrated bottom of the cam member will engagingly grip and secure the inserted rope member. Subsequently, the holding device provides for a quick release of the secured rope member by returning the sliding member to its first open position thereby disengaging the tapered serrated cam member for the inserted rope member. In addition, the holding device offers a second passageway which serves as a storage receptacle for any slack in the rope member.
US07930797B2
A suction brush assembly for a vacuum cleaner capable of automatic height adjustment according to the present disclosure includes a suction brush body connected to a cleaner body at a rear side thereof and provided with a rotation brush for striking a surface to be cleaned to separate dirt from the surface to be cleaned at a bottom surface thereof; and an up/down adjusting unit for monitoring continuously a state of the surface to be cleaned and adjusting a height of the rotation brush body to vary a distance between the surface to be cleaned and the rotation brush according to the state of the surface to be cleaned so as to prevent the surface to be cleaned from being damaged by the rotating rotation brush.
US07930796B2
A wiper blade to clean windshields, in particular of automobiles. The wiper blade (10) has an elongated belt-shaped, flexible spring support element (12), with a separate first component designed as an elastic rubber wiper strip (14) that can be pressed against the windshield (20) located at the bottom belt surface (13) of the support element and with a separate second component located at the other upper belt surface (11) of the support element (12) that is designed as a wind deflection strip (24) that extends at least along a longitudinal section of the wiper blade (10). A particularly low-disruption wiper blade results if the two components (14, 24) are connected together at their sides facing one another.
US07930794B2
A cleaning tool and an effective technique for realizing a higher cleaning effect in a cleaning tool having a cleaning element for wiping a region to be cleaned is disclosed. The cleaning tool includes an elongate cleaning element holder and a cleaning element to be attached to the cleaning element holder. The cleaning element holder has a holding part extending elongate while having components extending in a direction crossing the extending direction of the cleaning element holder. The cleaning element has an insert region into which the holding part is inserted. The cleaning element is attached to the cleaning element holder while being twisted along an extending portion of the holding part through insertion of the holding part into the insert region.
US07930791B1
An improved deck mop to retain yarn comprising an elongated rod having an upper section and a lower section. An exterior rotatable sleeve threadedly surrounds the lower section which includes an interior movable piston which is further connected to a stationary spring. The lower section at its bottom end is connected to a first and second rotatable and removable clamp member comprising a respective bottom brush and bottom scrubber for cleaning. The mop through a respective clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation of the sleeve controls a respective closing and opening movement of two clamp members to thereby respectively hold or release a mop yarn, wherein the closing movement further results in contracting the spring so that the reduced spring stores a compression force having sufficient power to enable it to push the clamp members rotatably apart when the sleeve is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction.
US07930789B2
Footwear cleaning apparatus includes a receptacle well filled with a cleaning solution and a rotating brush. The rotating brush is supported by telescoping stems that extend and retract the rotating brush. In one embodiment, retracting a cover for the receptacle well activates the rotating brush, thus allowing a user to clean the sole of the footwear. In another embodiment, a sensor senses the presence of a user and automatically activates the rotating brush and telescoping stems for the apparatus to be used.
US07930777B2
A stackable wire core assembly for a bedding foundation which may be nestably stacked with numerous other such assemblies for transportation, thereby avoiding the need to compress and tie the assembly for shipping. The wire core assembly includes an upper wire grid, including a border wire and support wires extending between the ends of the border wire. Each support wire has resilient portions extending downwardly from the plane of the upper wire grid, each resilient portion having a flat bottom adapted to be secured to a wooden base frame and curved arms extending upwardly from opposed ends of the flat bottom.
US07930776B2
A playpen includes a top frame, pairs of supporting legs in which the supporting legs of each pair have top ends connected to the top frame at two spaced apart positions and bottom ends extending toward each other, and a fabric enclosure having a lower portion and an upper portion which is attached removably to the top frame. A fixing device includes a plurality of fixing plates adapted to be fixed to the fabric enclosure and each having an engaging hole, and a plurality of foot members each having top and bottom ends, a plate-receiving hole opening at the top end and extending downwardly for insertion of a corresponding fixing plate, two leg-receiving holes for insertion of the bottom ends of one pair of the supporting legs, and a tongue for engaging detachably the engaging hole disposed within the plate-receiving hole.
US07934265B2
The present invention relates to a coprocessor comprising a calculation unit for executing a command, and a securization device for monitoring the execution of the command and supplying an error signal having an active value as soon as the execution of the command begins and an inactive value at the end of the execution of the command, if no abnormal progress in the execution of the command has been detected. The coprocessor further comprises means for preventing access to at least one unit of the coprocessor, while the error signal is on the active value. Application is provided particularly but not exclusively to the protection of integrated circuits for smart cards against attacks by fault injection.
US07934262B1
Method and apparatus for detecting viruses in a continuous data protection system using by scanning journal data. In an exemplary embodiment, a system stores journal data, receiving a virus signature update containing a first new virus signature, scanning the journal data for the first new virus signature, and identifying a data block containing the first new virus signature for a first virus.
US07934261B1
An on-demand cleanup application running locally removes malware and its effects from a computer system. A virus scan engine scans the computer system to identify any malicious files. A system information collector tool executes to create a log file containing detailed information about the computer system and the location of all files. Identified malicious files are matched against the log file to determine the extent of the infection by the malicious files. Computer code is generated using a blank cleanup template to automatically delete the malicious files and their effects in the computer system and placed into a final cleanup template. The cleanup template is executed by a cleanup engine in order to remove the malware and its effects from the computer. A CRC tool is used to positively identify files that are to be deleted.
US07934257B1
A method of monitoring events in a network associated with a node. An agent collects event information associated with the monitored activities, based on a set of collection rules. A determination is made whether a portion of the collected event information complies or potentially complies with one of a set of patterns. An agent selects event information from the collection based on the determination, and makes the selected event information available to a manager associated with the node and other nodes in the network. The agent manager receives event information from a plurality of agents. A triggering event is identified, as a function of the set of patterns, based on the event information. The agent manager sends at least one request to a selected set of the agents for additional event information when a triggering event is identified.
US07934242B2
Systems and methods for dynamically allocating bandwidth in a digital broadband delivery system are disclosed. One example method includes receiving information describing subscriber requests for content delivery, receiving bandwidth allocation criteria, and processing the information describing subscriber requests and the bandwidth allocation criteria according to a statistical model. The bandwidth allocation criteria comprise at least one of subscriber pricing information, content delivery mode information, and program content information. The processing produces a bandwidth allocation schedule in which one of a plurality of content delivery modes is assigned to each of a plurality of digital transmission channels for each of a plurality of time periods.
US07934241B2
The present invention provides a method for an interactive media services system to provide media to a user through an interactive media services client device. The client device is coupled to a programmable media services server device. The method includes the step of implementing an interactive media guide. Additionally, the client device is implemented to present the interactive media guide to the user. A system operator is provided an interface to the programmable media services server. Control options are provided within the interface to allow the system operator to configure a plurality of rental options available to the user. Finally the interactive media service system is implemented such that the plurality of rental options can be executed by the user in a requested active media session.
US07934238B2
A digital television (DTV) signal for use in a DTV receiver includes an extended text table (ETT) which includes a header and a message body. The header includes a table identification extension field which serves to establish uniqueness of the ETT, and the message includes an extended text message (ETM). If the ETT is an event ETT, the table ID extension field includes an event identification which specifies an identification number of an event associated with the ETT. On the other hand, if the ETT is a channel ETT, the table identification extension field includes a source identification which specifies a programming source of a virtual channel associated with the ETT. A section-filtering unit included in the DTV receiver is able to use table identification extension fields of a plurality of ETTs for section-filtering a pertinent event or channel ETT from the ETTs.
US07934230B2
Dynamic delivery of different commercials to different viewers is achieved using a network node within an IPTV packet-switched network that is coupled to receive both a multicast television program and commercial programs. The network node is able to identify one or more subscribers to the multicast television program and to identify targeted commercial programs for each of the subscribers. The network node further includes a commercial inserter for inserting the respective targeted commercial program for each of the subscribers into the multicast television program to produce respective customized programs and to transmit the customized programs towards the respective subscribers.
US07934227B2
Methods and systems capture user commands. A user command is received at a viewer's appliance. A determination is made whether the user command is automatically locally stored in memory of the viewer appliance. A look-up is performed when the user command is not automatically locally stored in the viewer appliance to determine if local storage is require. When the look-up determines that local storage is required, then the user command is captured and locally stored for execution at the viewer appliance. When the look-up determines that local storage is not required, then the user command is forwarded to a remote location for remote storage in a network.
US07934225B2
A slot-in disk drive device and a method thereof. The device includes a drive unit for providing power to move a slider. A loading unit moving with the slider drives a loading stick to push a disc into the device. The slider has a sliding slot. An ejecting unit with a bar-linkage mechanism has one end driven by the sliding slot, and the other end for rotating an ejecting bar to guide or push the disc out. A receiving unit has a receiving bar for guiding the disc, and has a positioning bar disposed between the loading unit and the ejecting unit. A sensing unit includes a plurality of sensing switches respectively disposed near the moving paths of the receiving bar, the ejecting unit and the positioning bar. The drive unit is enabled to load the disk is determined according to the order of actuating the switches.
US07934224B2
A system, method, Application Programming Interface (API) and device for discovering a location of a device, for example, to provide location information for a Location Based Service (LBS). The device includes a memory, a display, and a processor operably coupled to the memory and the display. The processor may be arranged to provide a user interface (UI) on the display, retrieve location cues in response to a location request, forward location cues to a location server and receive location information back from the location server. The location information may be a location query page associated with a new place ID if the location cues do not correspond to the location server cues or the location information may be a previously discovered place ID associated with the server location cues if one or more of the location cues correspond to one or more of the server's location cues.
US07934215B2
A smart scheduler is provided to prepare a machine for a job, wherein the job has specific requirements, i.e., dimensions. One or more config jobs are identified to configure the machine to meet the dimensions of the job. Information concerning the machine's original configuration and groupings of config jobs that change the machine's configuration are cached in a central storage. The smart scheduler uses information in the central storage to identify a suitable machine and one or more config jobs to configure the machine to meet the dimensions of a job. The smart scheduler schedules a run for the config jobs on the machine.
US07934214B2
Computer implemented method, system and computer program product for controlling software entitlement. A computer implemented method for controlling software entitlement includes receiving a request to install a software item on a designated machine. A determination is made if the designated machine is of a machine type authorized for installation of the software item. If the designated machine is of a machine type authorized for installation of the software item, a determination is made, using stored configuration data, if at least one additional criterion specified for entitlement to install the software item on the designated machine is satisfied using stored configuration data. If the at least one additional criterion specified for entitlement to install the software item on the designated machine is satisfied, installation of the software item on the designated machine is enabled in accordance with the at least one additional criterion.
US07934209B2
Firmware-based conversion methods for storing converted firmware variables in a firmware storage device, such as flash memory. Under one method, “eager” compression of firmware is performed. In response to a storage request, a determination is made to whether a compressor is available. If it is, the firmware variable is stored in a compressed form in the storage device; if not, the firmware variable is stored in an uncompressed form. In response to a read request for a stored firmware variable, a determination is made to whether the variable is stored in a compressed or uncompressed form. If it is compressed, a decompressor is employed to return the variable to its uncompressed form prior to providing it to the requestor; already uncompressed variables are provided directly to the requester. An application program interface is provided to enable operating system runtime access to the firmware variables. Similar conversions may be employed separately or in parallel, including encryption.
US07934204B2
A partitioning technique utilized by a translator to divide the subject code space into regions, referred to hereafter as partitions, where each partition contains a distinct set of basic blocks of subject code and corresponding target code. The partitioning technique divides the translator's representation of subject code and subject code translations into non-overlapping regions of subject memory. In this manner, when the subject program modifies subject code, only those partitions actually affected by the self-modifying code need be discarded and all translations in unaffected partitions can be kept. This partitioning technique is advantageous in limiting the amount of target code that must be retranslated in response to self-modifying code operation. In another process, the partitioning technique allows multithreaded subject programs that also involve self-modifying code to perform code modification in a thread-safe manner.
US07934199B2
A method and respective system for performing a reconfiguration of a plurality of resources, where the resources reside on multiple different system platforms including a mainframe with a policy-based automation manager. A reconfiguration method with an improved switching facility between such configurations is provided by using a predefined automation choice group as a part of a predetermined automation policy, pre-selecting one group member as preferred to be activated in case a predetermined automation choice group is determined for operation, providing a user interface for triggering a reconfiguration of the resources according to the automation policy, and initiating an automatic change from a first resource configuration into a second resource configuration when the trigger is actuated.
US07934195B2
A method enables and controls automatic propagation of metadata items to a recording media or to devices for reading from or writing to recording media. The metadata items are provided with a propagation property, which defines to which recording media or to which devices the metadata items shall propagate, and on which recording media or in which devices the metadata items shall be stored. At least when a recording medium is inserted into or removed from a device, or when the device is powered up or down, the metadata items are automatically propagated and stored in accordance with the propagation property.
US07934186B2
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to construct a delay element to replicate the timing of critical gates and paths within a segment of an asynchronous circuit. The rise and fall delay mismatch of the delay element is minimized without obeying timing constraints. The position of each output of the delay element is determined to include a globally shared node within the segment and a non-shared local node in the segment.
US07934185B1
A method of modeling a design in a high level modeling system that supports unidirectional data flow, may comprise identifying a bus-block to represent a connectivity of a bi-directional bus in an system. The bus-block may be represented in serial relationship with the bus. Taps may interface the bus via the bus-block. During simulation, the bus-block emulates behavior of a tri-state buffer in series with an input line for the tap interface. During synthesis, pairs of unidirectional input and output lines of opposite data-routing orientation, which may emulate bus ports to the bus-block, may be collapsed to a single bus port. The synthesis may further generate a netlist that may dispose a tri-state buffer between a tap input and the bus. The netlist may also represent layout of the tri-state buffer for driving an output of the tap.
US07934183B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that simulates behavioral constructs of a register transfer level design using indeterminate values. The system may receive hardware description language code which includes a construct that behaves differently depending on the value of an expression, e.g., the construct may execute different portions of code based on the value of a control expression, or it may store data in different storage locations based on the value of an index expression, etc. In response to determining that the expression's value is indeterminate, the system can execute two or more alternatives that are controlled by the expression, and then merge the results in some prescribed way. An embodiment of the present invention can enable a user to reduce the discrepancy between the results generated by a register transfer level simulation and the results generated by the associated gate level simulation.
US07934180B2
An incremental speculative merge structure which enables the elimination of invalid merge candidates without requiring the discarding of the speculative merge structure and all verification results obtained upon that structure. Targets are provided for validating the equivalence of gates g1i and g2i, and the fanout references of g1i and g2i are provided to a controllable multiplexer set to output g1i. Upon determining nonequivalence of g2i, of failing to proved equivalence, the multiplexer is switched to output the g1i fanout reference, thus undoing the incremental speculative merge.
US07934177B2
A method for splitting a pattern layout including providing the pattern layout having features, checking the pattern layout to determine the features that require splitting, coloring the features that require splitting with a first and second color, resolving coloring conflicts by decomposing the feature with the coloring conflict and coloring the decomposed feature with the first and second color, and generating a first mask with features of the first color and a second mask with features of the second color.
US07934175B2
A parameter adjustment method for a plurality of manufacturing devices to form a pattern of a semiconductor device on a substrate using the manufacturing devices includes: adjusting a parameter adjustable for a manufacturing device serving as a reference manufacturing device; obtaining a first shape of a pattern of a semiconductor device to be formed on a substrate; defining an adjustable parameter of another to-be-adjusted manufacturing; obtaining a second shape of the pattern formed on the substrate; calculating a difference amount between a reference finished shape and a to-be-adjusted finished shape; repeatedly calculating the difference amount by changing the to-be-adjusted parameter until the difference amount becomes equal to or less than a predetermined reference value; and outputting as a parameter of the to-be-adjusted manufacturing device the to-be-adjusted parameter.
US07934168B2
An information processing apparatus includes an LCD and a touch panel, for example. On the LCD, a plurality of operation items making up of a series of operating procedures by means of a touch panel are displayed, and a current operation item out of them is highlight. Whether or not the current operation item is executed is determined on the basis of coordinate data via the touch panel, and whether or not a state attained by execution of a previous operation item has not been maintained is determined. In a case that it is determined that the previous operation item has not been maintained, the display of the current operation item is changed to a normal manner.
US07934166B1
The present disclosure provides methods and systems for managing viewable content on a display. In some implementations, the method includes displaying content on the display, monitoring scrolling activity of a user and selectively centering a portion of the content on the display based on the scrolling activity.
US07934162B2
A scaleable graphical user interface system for migrating the running state of graphical user interface widgets between heterogeneous device platforms includes a platform independent presentation model. The current running state of a first platform specific presentation operating on a first heterogeneous device platform may update the running state of the platform independent presentation model. The platform independent presentation model may be customized to generate a second platform specific presentation for a second heterogeneous device platform. The running state of the platform independent presentation module may be applied to the second platform specific presentation module to implement the current running state from the first heterogeneous device platform on the second heterogeneous device platform.
US07934160B2
A slide kit creation system and method allows reviewers of a slide kit to insert non-textual comments, such as audio comments, to be associated with selected slides. In one embodiment, audio comments are transmitted to a host computer by telephone, and may be posted on the host computer for access by other reviewers. The audio comments may also be transcribed in text form. In another embodiment, comments may be associated with various portions of a video, in the same manner. A video navigation bar is coded to indicate which portions of the video are associated with comments. Alternatively, certain attributes of the video can be altered to indicate the presence of comments associated with specific scenes of the video.
US07934159B1
A media timeline is described. In an implementation, a method includes receiving a request from an application at an application programming interface (API) to interact with a plurality of media. Based on the request, a media timeline is generated. The media timeline is for exposure via the API to the application and includes a plurality of nodes. The media timeline defines a presentation of a first media referenced by a first node with respect to a second media referenced by a second node.
US07934154B2
A document processing apparatus according to the present invention capable of changing a layout dynamically in accordance with data to be laid out, comprises a template holding unit which holds a template having a region for which an extraction condition is set to extract the data to be laid out from a database and lay out the data; an acquisition unit which acquires, from the database, the data to be laid out, which satisfies the extraction condition set for the region in the template held by said template holding unit; and a layout unit which lays out, in the region, at least one of the data to be laid out, which are acquired by said acquisition unit.
US07934152B2
The present invention pertains to the field of computer software. More specifically, the present invention relates to one or more of the definition, extraction, delivery, and hyper-linking of clips, for example web clips.
US07934149B1
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which a form is received from an author. A parsing function is performed to extract attribute information with respect to various form elements contained in the form. A user interface is presented to the author to allow the author to configure a set of actions that are to be performed in processing the submissions of the form.
US07934140B2
A method of encoding/decoding using an LDPC code is disclosed, by which performance is enhanced and by which complexity is reduced. In encoding/decoding using an LDPC code defined by an (n−k)xn parity check matrix H, the present invention includes the step of performing the encoding/decoding input source data using the parity check matrix H including Hp and Hd to meet H=[Hd|Hp] (where Hd has (n−k)×k dimensions, Hp has (n−k)×(n−k) dimensions), wherein if the Hp comprises a plurality of zXz sub-matrices, each of the sub-matrices is an identity matrix or a zero matrix and wherein a column weight of each column of the Hp is at least 2.
US07934132B2
For an error rate QBER, threshold values are preset, including a threshold value Qbit for frame synchronization processing, a threshold value Qphase for phase correction processing, and a threshold value QEve for eavesdropping detection. Upon the distribution of a quantum key from a sender to a receiver, when the measurement value of QBER is deteriorated more than Qbit, frame synchronization processing is performed. When the measurement value of QBER is deteriorated more than Qphase, phase correction processing and frame synchronization processing are performed. When QBER does not become better than QEve even after these recovery-processing steps are repeated N times, it is determined that there is a possibility of eavesdropping, and the processing is stopped.
US07934129B2
A method of detecting a network hang and restoring an application that communicates on a connection giving rise to the network hang. A user experience may be improved by providing the user with an option to restore the hung application without losing unsaved data or state information. The network hang may be detected when the user tries to terminate the application. The method may include determining whether the network hang is recoverable, which may involve diagnosing a type of the hang. If recoverable, a network connection reset mechanism may be triggered by instructing a network stack of the computer to terminate the network connection.
US07934127B2
An improved automated software testing system provides the ability to generate and reuse test cases over multiple platforms. Keywords and natural language are used in test case creation, simplifying the process for non-technical business users. Business users can write test cases without scripts. Test cases can be generated even before the application to be tested is available. Data substitution provides ability for test cases to adapt to changing data. Abstraction allows use of all third-party and custom software test tools to be incorporated. Persistent data handling allows capture of data generated during test execution for later use. Testing can be performed entirely automatically or can incorporate some manual interaction. Test results, screen captures of the system tested, along with environment and machine variables are saved in results logs for later review.
US07934124B2
A rack mountable solid-state storage subsystem includes a plurality of interface units and a plurality of data storage modules to implement a mass storage device. Each of the interface units may be coupled to a plurality of communication ports for connection to a host server and to other interface units. Each data storage module may be detachably mated to a corresponding connector mounted to a motherboard. Each data storage module may also include a non-volatile flash memory storage and a volatile storage. The data storage modules may be partitioned into a plurality of portions, each coupled to a respective interface unit via the motherboard. Each portion of the data storage modules and the respective interface unit to which each portion is coupled may form a separate storage domain that is isolated from each other domain. The storage subsystem may also include redundant power supplies and backup power supplies.
US07934119B2
The reliability is improved at a low cost even in a virtualized server environment. The number of spare servers is reduced for improving the reliability and for saving a licensing fee for software on the spare servers. A server system comprises a plurality of physical servers on which a plurality of virtual servers run, a single standby server, a module for detecting an active virtual server, and a module for switching the correspondence of boot disks of virtualization modules for controlling virtual servers to the physical servers. When a physical server fails, the boot disk of the associated virtualization module is connected to a spare server to automatically activate on the spare server those virtual servers which have been active upon occurrence of the failure.
US07934114B2
The method of controlling an information processing device according to the present invention is a method of controlling an information processing device which includes a processor having a cache memory, and a clock supplying unit that supplies a clock signal to the processor. The method includes: predicting a hit rate of the cache memory; and controlling the clock supplying unit so as to change a frequency of the clock signal in accordance with the predicted hit rate.
US07934109B2
Embodiments of a power consumption reduction process for memory interfaces are described. A power management process reduces the amount of time that current flows in a high or low terminated, current or voltage mode unipolar bus interface by reducing the amount of time the bus remains in a logic state that requires current flow.
US07934106B2
A data processing apparatus according to the present invention is capable of writing video and/or audio data to a storage medium. The data processing apparatus includes: a power controller for controlling powering on or off; a signal processing circuit for generating data; and a drive section for writing the generated data to the storage medium. In response to a powering-off instruction, the power controller stops supplying power to the drive section but continues to supply power to the signal processing circuit and the power controller itself. Since hardware elements remain energized, they do not need to perform initialization operations when the apparatus is powered on. Similarly, corresponding software elements are also in an operable state, and therefore do not need to perform initialization processes. Therefore, the signal processing circuit can immediately start processing thereafter.
US07934105B1
A data transfer device for storing data to a removable data storage item, wherein data are received as records and encrypted by the data transfer device prior to storage. The data transfer device encrypts a first portion of the records using a first encryption key and a second portion of the records using a second encryption key. The encrypted records are then stored to the removable data storage item as a plurality of data blocks, each data block comprising one or more encrypted records, wherein records in a respective data block are encrypted using only a respective one of the encryption keys.
US07934104B2
Systems, methods and media for verifying the existence of a licensed software installation at the time of an update to the software are disclosed. In one embodiment, a package of files for the update is encrypted with a copy of a key file that is contained in the original installation. The encrypted package of files is stored at a remote location that is accessible by way of a website. When a user seeks to download an update, the user must provide a copy of the key file used to encrypt the data. The user-provided key file is then used to decrypt the encrypted package.
US07934100B2
An information processing system includes a unit that selects a time stamp authority to which a request for generation of a time stamp, the time stamp authority to be selected is different from a time stamp authority selected in a last selection process which has been performed; a unit that acquires the time stamp from the selected time stamp authority; a unit that generates link information specifying an order in which time stamps; a controller that causes verification information including the time stamp, identification information of the time stamp authority, the link information, that are associated with each other; a unit that receives a time stamp verification request with regard to digital data; and a unit that compares an invalidated time stamp applied to digital data to be verified with a time stamp to thereby specify a time range in which the invalidated time stamp is applied.
US07934087B2
Techniques for secure event recording and processing are provided. An application produces an event. The identity of the application is associated with the event, and the event and identity information are packaged in a secure environment as a secure event package. Subsequent consuming applications: receive the secure event package; validate the identity information; and acquire other metadata for processing the event, which is included within the secure event package.
US07934086B2
An aggregated server blade system includes a plurality of individual server blades and a management module which can be designated as a bootable device. A boot list maintained and executed in each server blade includes a management module entry in its list of bootable devices. In response to the management module entry being selected or otherwise made active as the bootable device for a particular blade, an alternative bootable-devices list maintained on the management module is referenced and the boot process proceeds according to the alternative list.
US07934085B2
Disclosed is an application program which can directly access a transmit buffer of a serial port. Data written into the transmit buffer by the application program is transferred into a receive buffer of the serial port via a switching element. The computer BIOS is enabled to directly access the receive buffer and therefore read the data written by the application program. The state of the switching element may be controlled by the application program to selectively allow data transfer from the transmit buffer to the receive buffer. A jumper plug may be used to create a short circuit between the transmit buffer and the receive buffer instead of closing the switching element.
US07934084B2
A method for initializing a module that includes identifying a first module for initialization, and performing a plurality of processing phases on the first module and all modules in a dependency graph of the first module. Performing the plurality of processing phases includes, for each module, executing a processing phase of the plurality of processing phases on the module, determining whether the processing phase has been executed on all modules in a dependency graph of the module, and when the processing phase has been executed for all modules in the dependency graph of the module, executing a subsequent processing phase of the plurality of processing phases on the module.
US07934074B2
A flash memory controller on a PCIE bus controls flash-memory modules on a flash bus. The flash-memory modules are plane-interleaved using interleaved bits extracted from the lowest bits of the logical block index. These plane-interleave bits are split into a LSB and a MSB, with middle physical block bits between the LSB and MSB. A physical sequential address counter generates a physical block number by incrementing the plane-interleave bits before the middle physical block bits, and then relocating the MSB to above the middle physical block bits. This causes blocks to be accessed in a low-high sequence of 0, 1, 4096, 4097, 2, 3, 4098, 4099, etc. in the four planes of flash memory. A RAM physical page valid table tracks valid pages in the four planes, while a RAM mapping table stores the plane, block, and page addresses for logical sectors generated by the physical sequential address counter.
US07934068B2
A storage apparatus includes a drive unit in which a logical unit is formed, and a controller unit for accessing the logical unit by controlling the drive unit according to an access request sent from a host apparatus. The storage apparatus issues a logical unit takeover request to the other storage apparatuses, allocates a logical unit of another storage apparatus that will accept the transfer of the logical volume to its own logical unit according to a takeover approval sent from other storage apparatuses in response to the takeover request, and thereafter migrates data of the own logical unit to a logical unit of another storage apparatus. Subsequently, the path is switched so that the access request from the host apparatus is given to one of the other storage apparatuses.
US07934066B2
An archive method and system receives a backup request for a target dataset used by an application on a primary storage system to be backed up on a secondary storage system. Different applications may each have a corresponding proprietary application format for storing their datasets. An application translator module is loaded into an extensible backup manager that converts between a proprietary application format associated with the target dataset and a predetermined storage format used by the extensible backup manager. The application translator module converts from the proprietary application format into the predetermined storage format when the baseline backup of the target dataset has not yet been performed. An incremental backup uses the application translator module to convert from the proprietary application format associated with the application into the predetermined storage format of the extensible backup manager. Once completed, a data mover component causes the incremental backup and the baseline backup of the entire target dataset, if scheduled, to be moved from the primary storage to the secondary storage and stored in the predetermined storage format rather than the proprietary application format associated with the application.
US07934062B2
An improved reader-writer locking for synchronizing access to shared data. When writing the shared data, a writer flag is set and a lock is acquired on the shared data. The shared data may be accessed following the expiration of a grace period and a determination that there are no data readers accessing the shared data. When reading the shared data, the writer flag is tested that indicates whether a data writer is attempting to access the shared data. If the writer flag is not set, the shared data is accessed using a relatively fast read mechanism. If the writer flag is set, the shared data is accessed using a relatively slow read mechanism.
US07934050B2
A microcomputer and method are provided capable of restarting a rewrite program without the need for changing a mode using an external terminal when rewriting nonvolatile memory fails. A CPU of a microcomputer executes a rewrite program to clear FLASH status 0 of flash memory and rewrite all areas in it. The CPU finally writes a rewrite completion code to FLASH status 0. The CPU executes a determination program to read FLASH status 0 of the flash memory. The CPU reads ID status information when read data does not match the rewrite completion code. The CPU re-executes the rewrite program when the data matches ID status information.
US07934049B2
A device with mass storage capability that uses a readily available non secure memory for the mass storage but has firmware (and hardware) that provides security against unauthorized copying of data. This is true even though the firmware itself is stored in the non secure mass storage memory, and therefore potentially vulnerable to hacking. An indication of the authenticity of the firmware must be present before it will be executed by the device. This protects the device contents from unauthorized duplication or tampering. Additional functionality can be added to the device with additional firmware applications, and the authenticity of those additional applications will also be verified before they will be executed. This further prevents unauthorized copying or tampering of secure content through any mechanisms that may be unscrupulously introduced. Any data within the mass storage memory may also be encrypted.
US07934035B2
A system for executing applications designed to run on a single SMP computer on an easily scalable network of computers, while providing each application with computing resources, including processing power, memory and others that exceed the resources available on any single computer. A server agent program, a grid switch apparatus and a grid controller apparatus are included. Methods for creating processes and resources, and for accessing resources transparently across multiple servers are also provided.
US07934033B2
Embodiments are described for executing embedded functions in endpoint devices by proxy in a shared PCI Express subsystem. The shared subsystem comprises a plurality of proxy devices coupled to a PCIe fabric, wherein each one of the proxy devices is associated with an endpoint device and coupled to a controlling server through a PCIe link. An associated proxy device comprises a copy of the configuration space of the target endpoint device. Embedded functions of an endpoint device can be accessed by controlling servers through the associated proxy devices. Devices in the shared subsystem use PCI protocol to communicate. The duplication of the endpoint configuration space in the proxy device is administrated by a proxy configuration manager. The proxy device translates destination addresses in upstream and downstream transactions. A proxy interrupt conveyance mechanism relays interrupt messages from an endpoint device to the controlling server via the associated proxy device.
US07934029B2
An integrated circuit 2 is provided including multiple devices 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 for communicating via an interconnect 16. A sending device 18 includes a sideband signal indicating the use of a representation of a repeating data word in place of that repeating data word itself. The receiving device can then form the repeating pattern of data words in response to receipt of the representation. This reduces the bandwidth consumed upon the interconnect 16.
US07934014B2
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an Internet connection system which is capable of benefiting from the IPv6 by relatively easy means and in which manufacturers of client-side devices can create added values for users. IPv6 packets are transmitted by a tunneling connection between a home network and a server on the Internet. Also terminal devices present in the home network can be uniquely recognized and controlled from outside via the server. Since all communications are performed via the server on the Internet regardless of the carrier and the ISP, the terminal device and all connections to the terminal device can be freely configured and controlled by the owner or the manufacturer of the server on the Internet.
US07934002B2
An improved networked computer communications system handles arbitrary streams of data, and transports at varying speeds those streams where intermediate updates can be dropped if they are obsoleted by later arriving data updates, optimizing the utilization of network and node resources. A conferencing system allows conference participants to share all or a portion of the display seen on their computer screens. The conferees may be at sites removed from each other, or may view a recorded presentation or archived conference at different times. Conference participants are either “presenters” who can modify the display or “attendees” who cannot modify the display. A pointer icon, which can be labeled to identify the conferee, is displayed on the shared image area. Each conferee can modify the position of his or her own pointer, even when not presenting, so that every participant can see what each conferee is pointing to, should a conferee choose to point to an element of the display.
US07933996B2
Methods of the present inventions allow for providing customer-selected solutions for multiple datacenter website hosting. An exemplary method may comprise the steps of registering, via at least one customer interaction server, a domain name to a registrant, offering, via the at least one customer interaction server, to host at least one customer website resolving from the domain name in a first datacenter, a second datacenter, or the first datacenter and the second datacenter, provisioning, via the at least one customer interaction server, (if the registrant selects hosting the at least one customer website in the first datacenter and the second datacenter) at least one hosting server in the first datacenter and at least one hosting server in the second datacenter to host the at least one customer website; and hosting the at least one customer website on the at least one hosting server in the first datacenter and at the least one hosting server in the second datacenter.
US07933994B1
Ways for extracting from a string multiple embedded network-access identifiers (NAIs) included within the string are described. One embodiment includes receiving the string that includes embedded-NAI information, and parsing the string to identify the multiple embedded NAIs. The string can include a username and information that indicates multiple realms (or domains) associated with the username.
US07933989B1
A system for processing monitoring device data that includes a central processing server in communication with at least one monitoring device operable to receive the monitoring device data. The system further includes a processing rules data store having processing rules corresponding to the one or more identifiable targets and risk factor data that is linked to the occurrence of the event. The central processing server is configured to obtain a processing rule corresponding to the at least one target from the processing rules data store, perform a predictive analysis in which one or more risk factors in the monitoring device data are used to calculate a probability that the event will occur in generating a threat assessment, and generate a notification of the potential threat if the probability that the event will occur is higher than a predetermined threshold.
US07933980B2
Disclosed herein is a highly reliable management communication path to the CPU of a network device using in-band signaling by periodically servicing the Ethernet MAC, such as during system tick and/or watchdog timer refresh interrupts. The servicing selectively processes frames that are uniquely destined to or originating from a managing device. There are several possible techniques to uniquely identify frames as management frames. For example, one technique to identify a management frame involves the addition of an Ethernet MAC address to be used only for management frames, another technique employs a dedicated VLAN to be used only for management frames, a third technique employs a dedicated Layer 2 frame type for management frames, and another technique involves configuring the Ethernet MAC to operate in promiscuous mode and only process frames sent and received as unicast frames using a fixed source or destination MAC address.
US07933961B2
A novel email rating system for enabling a user to rate an email based on characteristics selectable from several categories. In one example embodiment, a sender's email is received by an email receiver. The sender of the email is identified. If the sender is a person whose emails are to be rated by the receiver, cumulative ratings and other information associated with the sender and the recipient are retrieved from a database over a network. The retrieved ratings for the sender are displayed to the receiver either on the email or in a pop-up window. Various other information and selectable options are also displayed for the receiver. After reading the email, the receiver can rate the email in any of a plurality of defined categories such as, for example, usefulness, educational, motivational, helpfulness, productivity, spelling/grammar.
US07933955B2
Described are systems and methods for screen sharing between computing systems. A guest system and a host system are coupled to a server over a network. The guest system automatically executes program code embedded in a web page received from the server. The program code sends a request to the server for image data corresponding to an image on a display screen of the host system. The host system automatically executes program code embedded in a web page received from the server. The program code captures image data from the display screen of the host system and sends the captured image data to the server. The server sends captured image data received from the host system to the guest system in response to the request from the guest system. The guest and host systems can participate in a screen-sharing session without having to download and install special software.
US07933948B2
In a system for avoiding section collision for application server requests over a single database connection, the database server assigns query identifiers to each instance of the same cursor opened for the same processing level within an application, allowing multiple instances of the same cursor to be processed in parallel without section collision. The application server assigns a command source identifier to each statement sent over a single database connection to uniquely identify the application source of the statement. This applies for multiples of the same statement sent by different application sources within the same application, for a single statement containing multiple application sources, and for multiple statements from different applications multiplexed over a single database connection. These statements can be processed separately from and in parallel with the each other without section collision.
US07933946B2
Embodiments gather historical information about data propagation by monitoring requests to and replies from a server. When a request is received from a client system to upload code onto a web site, a user identity associated with the client system is determined and a tag that uniquely identifies the uploaded data is created and mapped with the user identity into a propagation graph. The propagation graph includes nodes and edges associated with a number of client systems that made similar requests such that each node of the propagation graph corresponds to both a tag and user identity of a client system and edges within the propagation graph represent causality links between the nodes. The propagation graph can then be used for finding long propagation chains, which can be useful for detecting worm-like propagation activity.
US07933939B2
A method and apparatus for increasing the speed at which a block of data can be partitioning into variable-length subblocks is provided. The method combines a relatively high-speed partitioning algorithm (that can only partition a block into relatively small mean-length subblocks) with a relatively low-speed algorithm (that can partition a block into subblocks of any mean length) to yield a relatively high-speed partitioning algorithm that can partition blocks into subblocks of any mean-length.
US07933936B2
A system and method are provided to manage storage space. The method comprises detecting a free storage space threshold condition for a storage volume and automatically applying a space management technique to achieve a free storage space threshold condition. Space management techniques comprise deleting selected backup data (e.g., persistent consistency point images) and automatically increasing the size of the storage volume.
US07933935B2
A method is provided to efficiently evaluate an expression to determine the partition key for an XML document stored in a database without the entire XML document first being stored in temporary memory storage. The partition key is determined using streaming evaluation or incrementally using a DOM node tree as a portion of the document is read and stored in the buffer. The XML document is stored in the partition using the read portion of the document stored in the buffer and the remaining portion from the original source.
US07933931B2
A dispatching system adjusts resources to meet real-time changes in demand. When a customer requests service, a work assignment is generated and sent to an employee. When a customer cancels the requested service, a cancellation code is sent to the employee. The cancellation code informs the employee that the work assignment has been canceled.
US07933927B2
An online index building operation is disclosed for building an index from source data with minimal loss of availability to the source data. The source data can be maintained in a relational database system, such as in a tablespace of a DB2® environment. The disclosed operation creates a consistent image of the source data as of a point-in-time and creates an index from the consistent image. Then, the disclosed operation repeats the acts of making the image consistent as of a subsequent point-in-time and updating the index to reflect the subsequent consistent image until substantially caught up with the current changes to the source data. If not caught up, the disclosed operation continues unless it is falling behind at which point the operation terminates. If it is caught up, the disclosed operation locks access to the source data, updates the image to reflect any final changes, updates the index, and allows access to the index.
US07933922B2
Data is automatically retrieved from a DataBase 2 (DB2) database using a DB2 scripter module that is configured to automatically log on to the DB2 database, to automatically perform a query of the DB2 database, and to automatically extract from the DB2 database a dataset that results from the query. A dataset processor module is configured to convert the dataset into a text file, and to deliver the text file to a delivery site, for retrieval by the user. The DB2 scripter module can extract the dataset by printing the dataset to a DB2 virtual printer and/or by exporting the dataset to a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) site.
US07933894B2
Systems and methods that generate specialized plans for compiling SQL queries. A plan generator component scans the query representation for parameter sensitive predicates and evaluates each predicate individually based on the parameter values. Accordingly, queries can be identified not only based on their structures, but also based on their parameter conditions. The specialized plans are more efficient for particular values, wherein queries that employ such values are optimally executed.
US07933884B2
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for providing information that is related to user on-line behavior, which was also used at least partly to generate user scores by one or more behavior targeting processes. A query client may select to receive information from a plurality of different data feeds that are retained within a plurality of different databases by a plurality of different behavior targeting processes. The selectable data feeds generally correspond to different types or aggregations of user on-line behavior. In certain embodiments, information from the selected data feeds for a particular user is compiled and presented in a single, interactive user interface that allows the client to easily view various aspects of such information.
US07933877B2
A method and a system to organize a data set into groups of data subsets in multiple passes using different parameters and to automatically name the groups is disclosed. For example, a data set is retrieved in accordance with a search query submitted by a user. The data set is organized into clusters based on a statistic(s) of the data set. The data set is then organized into groups of data subsets based on an attribute(s) indicated by the data set. Each of the groups are automatically named based on a property shared by data units of the group. The name(s) of a group may be mined from the data units of the group, retrieved from a structure that maps to attribute values indicated by the data units of the group, etc.
US07933876B2
A system and method for data storage by shredding and deshredding of the data allows for various combinations of processing of the data to provide various resultant storage of the data. Data storage and retrieval functions include various combinations of data redundancy generation, data compression and decompression, data encryption and decryption, and data integrity by signature generation and verification. Data shredding is performed by shredders and data deshredding is performed by deshredders that have some implementations that allocate processing internally in the shredder and deshredder either in parallel to multiple processors or sequentially to a single processor. Other implementations use multiple processing through multi-level shredders and deshredders. Redundancy generation includes implementations using non-systematic encoding, systematic encoding, or a hybrid combination. Shredder based tag generators and deshredder based tag readers are used in some implementations to allow the deshredders to adapt to various versions of the shredders.
US07933873B2
Method, computer program product, and system for transferring data to database partitions are provided. A transaction is initiated to insert one or more records into a partition of a database. At least one of the one or more records is then saved in binary form to a dump table in the database as a part of the transaction in response to the insertion of the at least one record into the partition having failed as a result of the at least one record not satisfying a predetermined condition. In response to the saving of the at least one record in binary form to the dump table having failed, the transaction is rolled back.
US07933869B2
Exemplary methods and systems may clone a tenant database and send updates to the clone. By doing so, methods and systems may determine a difference between the clone and the tenant, making it possible to test upgrades for a tenant based on the difference. With this capability, a provider-tenant system may upgrade tenant business applications and customize tenant databases.
US07933867B1
A database system includes a storage to store a view containing results of a cube-based operation on at least one base table, with the view containing a first result set for a group-by on a first grouping set, and a second result set for a group-by on a second grouping set. In response to a change to the at least one base table, a controller updates the first result set by computing a change to the first result set based on a change in the at least one base table, and updates the second result set by computing a change to the second result set based on the change to the first result set.
US07933866B2
In contrast to prior data synchronization processes, provided by aspects of the invention are systems, methods and software programs implementing a data synchronization process that employs a high-level interface of a respective data repository to extract valid information from the data repository in response to low-level changes in the data repository. In specific embodiments of the invention, the synchronization process is implemented within an adaptor interposed between a management system and a database system that serves as a middle-ware operable to link a respective data store interface, within a management system, to a respective managed platform, within the database system, so that the native API's of each can be employed in the operation of the data synchronization process.
US07933863B2
A database management system and a method of managing a database storing a plurality of entities related to each other by a plurality of relations. The database management system includes a user interface for interfacing with the database in a current situation. The system also includes a context modeler for modeling a context representation and a server for storing a situation in which the user has been involved as at least one frame. The at least one frame describes at least one object and action involved in the situation in which the user has been involved and their relationship to each other. A context using the at least one frame is modeled by the context modeler so that when the context representation is applied to the database, operation of the database is adapted according to the situation.
US07933862B2
A method of conditionally formatting a display of data is disclosed that involves providing a preliminary display automatically showing the intended consequences of the condition applied to the data prior to making the condition actually apply to the data. This is especially useful in analysis of spreadsheet data by conditionally formatting certain data. The method involves identifying one or more parameters of the data to be conditionally formatted on the display, selecting a predetermined condition; and automatically applying temporarily the predetermined condition to the parameter(s), displaying a temporary preview on the display of the predetermined condition applied to data that meet the predetermined condition. The method also provides the capability to preliminarily change the conditions and parameters applied to the data and automatically provide appropriate previews of the effect of such application of changed conditions on the displayed data.
US07933861B2
Systems and/or methods are presented that can efficiently analyze and summarize large collections of data. A summarization component can employ mapping rules to map received data into specified states and observations of interest, which can be utilized to facilitate creating relational tables that can be utilized to facilitate summarizing a collection of data based in part on predefined summarization criteria. An optimizer component can employ pre-computing and materialization of the process behavior to facilitate optimizing data analysis. An adaptor enhancer component can monitor and evaluate system performance and can generate mapping rules that can facilitate improving system performance.
US07933858B2
A system is described that treats a solver as an ordered sequence of steps involving the different objects that have to be simulated and relationships between them. Tasks and the order of the tasks are obtained from each object and relationship. The tasks are merged into a sorted list. The solver traverses the list and passing each task to a corresponding object and relationship where the objects are interleaved during processing. The object or relationship then executes the task.
US07933841B2
An automated consumer rewards/incentive program that accepts a registration of a consumer. The registration entitles the consumer to receive the benefits of the incentive program. To track the fulfillment of reward earning criteria established by member businesses, the registration includes information indicative of a credit card of the consumer. The system may track member consumer credit card transactions without receiving personal information for non-members by using a one way hash function. The system uses the credit card information to determine when member customers perform a transaction at a member business. When a member customer performs a transaction at a member business using the registered credit card, the system and method examines the credit card transactional information to determine if the consumer fulfilled the requirements of the incentive program for the member business. If the transactional information indicates that the consumer fulfilled the criteria of the rewards program of the member business, the consumer is rewarded in accordance with the benefits of the incentive program.
US07933830B1
A system and method are provided for prioritized automated trading. One example method may include receiving a plurality of parameters, where each parameter has an order-related action associated with a trading strategy, and then detecting one or more events that trigger a plurality of order related actions. The method then includes determining priority levels in relation to a plurality of triggered order-related actions using at least one priority rule, and processing the plurality of triggered order-related action in an order associated with the determined priority levels.
US07933825B2
A method of operating a venture capital investment business, comprising establishing a business entity; the business entity establishing an investment fund; establishing a fund managing entity of the investment fund, the fund managing entity attending to administrative matters relating to the investment fund and making investment decisions for the fund; the investment fund having investors that provide capital contributions to the fund, the fund managing entity also providing capital contributions to the fund, the fund utilizing the contributions to invest in portfolio entities; the investors receiving a general participation interest in the fund, and the fund managing entity receiving a carried interest in the fund; providing the investors that have provided at least a threshold capital contribution to the fund with stock rights in the business entity to enable such investors to become shareholders in the business entity; the business entity securing a portion of IPO shares that become available in the portfolio entities; and the business entity enabling shareholders thereof to purchase IPO shares that become available in the portfolio entities.
US07933819B2
A computerized system for creating a new brokerage account is disclosed. A new account wizard software component guides a user through a series of data collection procedures using a rules based engine to facilitate data collection processing according to a plurality of data collection rules that are stored in a database. A workflow management software component manages data transfers and delegates task assignments during creation of the new brokerage account. There is also an application programming interface layer software component for interfacing data transfers between the workflow management software component and external software components.
US07933811B2
An image of at least one object (14) is captured. An object class selection is received from a menu (70) of a plurality of object classes. At least one task menu, specific to the object class selection is provided. A task selection is received from the at least one task menu. A task associated with the at least one object (14) is facilitated based on the image and the task selection.
US07933807B2
A stored order system is used with a shopping cart application for an electronic commerce site. The items of each stored order are saved together, which is an advantage when a main item and accessories are combined in an order. Additionally, a stored order can be E-mailed to another person. The E-mail message allows the recipient to purchase the items of the stored order.
US07933803B1
This Disclosure relates to a program controlled apparatus, system, and method for determining the transactional taxes due for each item by any taxing authority worldwide. The apparatus comprises a first database comprising a tree structure identifying all of the zones to be examined. A second database comprising all of the taxing authorities is independent from the first zone database. A third database, decoupled from the first and second databases, has data representing the relationship between the data records of the first database and the data records of the second database. Each of the databases can be updated periodically to reflect any changes in identified taxing authorities for the zones over which they may have taxing authority. Furthermore, the present invention provides for an independent, autonomous determination of jurisdiction and tax for each line item and calculates the tax based on any exceptions and exemptions.
US07933787B1
A system and method are disclosed for furnishing a quote for an insurance product for a user. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a request from a user for a quote for an insurance product. The request includes an identification of a coverage option and a user identifier. Upon receipt of the request, the system retrieves user credit information based on the user identifier and selects one or more values from the user credit information associated with pre-selected variables related to the selected coverage option. The system then employs the values of the pre-selected variables to calculate a user's insurance credit score for the coverage option.
US07933784B2
An apparatus, method, and computer program product for maintaining data regarding the compliance of vendors with insurance requirements of a number of nations.
US07933771B2
A system and method for detecting the recognizability of input speech signal is provided. It is designed in the pre-stage of speech recognition or a dialog system. The invention detects the user's environmental condition and verifies if the input speech signal can be recognized. It mainly comprises an environment parameter generator, a signal recognition verifier, and a strategy response processor. Through the use of the invention in the pre-stage of speech recognition or a dialog system, it can precisely verify the recognizability of the input speech signal and receives the input speech signals of high recognition probability in a noisy environment. This reduces the impact caused by receiving the input speech signals of low recognition probability. This invention thus increases the recognition probability for a recognizer.
US07933764B2
UDDI is not capable of handling semantic markups for Web services due to its flat data model and limited search capabilities. The present invention provides semantic service description and matchmaking with registries that conforms to UDDI specification. Specifically, the present invention stores complex semantic markups in UDDI data model and uses that information to perform semantic query processing. The present invention does not require any modification to the existing UDDI registries. The add-on modules reside only on clients who wish to take advantage of semantic capabilities. This approach is completely backward compatible and can integrate seamlessly into existing UDDI infrastructure.
US07933761B2
Methods for generating simulation vectors incorporating periodic jitter, or phase-shifted periodic jitter are disclosed. Periodic jitter, such as sinusoidal jitter, is preferably represented by a mathematical equation which defines the amount of jitter experienced at each cycle of a clock or data signal. The calculated periodic jitter for each cycle is used to form a new multi-cycle vector incorporating the jitter. If a particular signal to be simulated additionally needs to travel a particular distance such that it would experience a time delay, that time delay may also be incorporated into the jitter equation as a phase shift. So incorporating the time delay into the jitter equation allows for the easy simulation of circuits receiving the vectors without the need to actually design or “lay out” the circuits that imposing the time delay. This technique is particularly useful in efficient modeling, or optimization of, the clock distribution network and sample circuits used to receive data in a SDRAM integrated circuit.
US07933748B1
A system, method, and software program for facilitating the assignment of cell specifications to a plurality of cells of a system design. The methods include generating a plurality of candidate cell specifications that meet the specification for the system design. In one embodiment, the method entails using information related to intra-range preference for cell specifications to generate a set of alternative system pareto-optimal solutions which define a boundary of a region of candidate cell specifications. In another embodiment, the method entails generating a substantially uniform set of candidate cell specifications using a prediction-based performance model, such as support vector regression model or cluster-weighted model, an optimizing algorithm such as conjugate-gradient or Markov Chain Monte Carlo Method, and a sample density model. The method may also include graphically displaying substantially uniformly distributed cell performance data and corresponding system performance data, and allowing a user to focus on regions-of-interest via a selectable range graphic feature.
US07933745B2
Disclosed is a method and system for determining one or more performance characteristics of a target server. A command is transmitted from a coordinator to a plurality of clients. The command instructs the plurality of clients to each transmit a request targeting a sub-system of said target server. A response time is then received from each client and a performance characteristic is determined from the received response times.
US07933727B2
The present invention recognises and eliminates from a biomagnetic measurement signal interferences whose source is disposed in the direct vicinity of an object being measured. The invention utilises the SSS method that can be used to separate from one another the signals associated with the internal and external sources of a set of measurement sensors by calculating two series developments. The sources to be examined in the invention and disposed in the so-called intermediate space produce a component to both of the developments, and can, therefore, be detected by means of an analysis to be performed in a time domain. This division into components can be made using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA), the Independent Component Analysis (ICA) or the Singular Value Decomposition. Finally, the clarified interferences in the intermediate space can be eliminated from the measured signal using, for example, the linear algebraic orthogonal projection.
US07933720B2
An apparatus for detecting a biomolecule bonding using a radio frequency (RF) wireless energy transmission and a method thereof are disclosed. The method includes transmitting RF energy to a sensor module having one or more probe biomolecules immobilized thereon, and determining a first energy charging time of the sensor module, the first energy charging time representing the amount of time for the sensor to be completely charged by the transmitted RF energy, prior to mixing of the one or more probe biomolecules with one or more target sample biomolecules. A second energy charging time of the sensor module is determined, the second energy charging time representing the amount of time for the sensor to be completely charged by the transmitted RF energy, following mixing of the one or more probe biomolecules with one or more target biomolecule sample. A determination of whether biomolecule bonding has occurred is based on a variation of the first and second energy charging times.
US07933716B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for an azimuthal equidistant projection (AEP) aircraft navigational display. The apparatus comprises a generator providing the aircraft's current latitude and longitude (φ1,λ0), a user input for providing the desired map radius R, a display for presenting the navigational information, a map data source providing topographical information associated with geo-spatial coordinates, and a controller and memory coupled to the generator, data source, input and display for providing data transformations. Map data containing topographical information associated with each geo-spatial coordinate is obtained from the map data source for an area of approximately radius R from (φ1,λ0). Using the controller and memory, the geo-spatial coordinates are converted to AEP spatial coordinates so that the topographical information is now associated with such AEP spatial coordinates. The transformed map data is sent to the display to provide AEP navigational information on the display around (φ1,λ0).
US07933707B2
A method is proposed for triggering the clutch moment of a clutch of an automated gear in the power train of a vehicle with the creep function activated, where the clutch moment is triggered as a function of the slippage on the clutch and/or as a function of the speed of the vehicle. Furthermore, a device is proposed for triggering the clutch moment of a clutch of an automated gear, in particular, to implement the abovementioned method where at least one control device is provided which triggers the clutch moment as a function of the slippage on the clutch and/or as a function of the speed of the vehicle.
US07933687B2
Moving object capable of recognizing image and moving-object directing system equipped with the same
A moving object capable of recognizing an image and a system for directing the moving object are disclosed. The system for directing the moving object includes: a charging device on which a docking direction pattern is printed, such that a central point of the docking direction pattern for directing the moving object to a docking location and a power-supply terminal are arranged in a straight line; and a moving object for driving wheel operations to allow the central point of the docking direction pattern captured by a camera to be identical with a central point of an image captured by the camera, and moving to the docking location. The moving-object directing system drives a wheel to track a central point of the docking direction pattern captured by a camera, such that it can quickly and correctly move to the docking location of the charging device.
US07933686B2
A method of dividing a coverage area of a robot and a device for the same. That is, a method of producing a space map for a robot to work and dividing the space map into at least one segment and a device for the same. The method includes producing an occupancy grid map composed of grid points that are probabilistically distributed by sensing a distance from an obstacle, producing a configuration space map by increasing the thickness of an obstacle and a wall in the occupancy grid map on the basis of the radius and size of the robot, and dividing an area by sweeping the area with a band-typed slice in the configuration space map.
US07933684B2
An autonomous mobile robot is provided which is autonomously movable, including an upper body, legs connected under the upper body, a first detector which detects an object in a front region of the upper body in a moving direction of the robot, and a second detector which detects an object in a region other than a sensing region sensed by the first detector including at least a rear region, a rear right region, and a rear left region of the upper body.
US07933680B2
Manufacturing system (100) comprises only a few essential components, including: the workpiece(s) (110); the fixtures, or workpiece holding means, (120); the centrifuge (130), including a base (140) and axle (150); the release system (160), preferably a laser source; the containment structure (170); the accretion system, including an accretion substrate (180); and the control system. In operation, the release system directs a focused beam (190) of energy or solid particles to the surface of the workpiece to weaken the bonds of the surface material, and in cooperation with the centrifugal force, induced by the radial motion of the centrifuge, to break the surface material bonds and eject material into a particle path (200) which is directed to the accretion substrate. Thus, in its most essential inventive aspect, the operational and structural scheme of the system entails that the fixtures attach the workpiece to the centrifuge; the release system adds the energy to release material from the workpiece; the containment structure provides a controlled environment and prevents materials and gases from entering into the process area as contaminants or leaving the containment structure as hazards; the accretion controls the accretion process and the accretion substrate; and the control system integrates the actions of the various components of the machine.
US07933670B2
Described is a technology for managing audio playback queues maintained in separate memory spaces, e.g., in a game console, such that that audio playback continues upon transitioning between states (including reboots) that change a memory space's contents. For example, before transitioning from a dashboard mode to a game playing mode, the playback queue in memory space used for the dashboard (and the game) is copied to a second queue in a second (e.g., operating system) memory space. The dashboard queue's contents (often large) are truncated as necessary to fit in the relatively smaller queue space. When transitioning from a game to the dashboard mode, copying the queue back takes place after the dashboard is operational. A third type of queue corresponding to a container of an audio source is also managed, including copying its contents when appropriate to the memory that has the queue currently being used for playback.
US07933663B2
A safety master configured to communicate with a plurality of safety slaves over a safety field network or with a plurality of safety local I/O units connected by a safety back plane bus of the safety master, wherein each of the plurality of safety slaves and safety local I/O units allow connection to safety I/O devices in a plurality of cell equipment, and wherein the safety master receives a status signal indicating a “safe state” or an “unsafe state” related to cell equipment from each of the corresponding plurality of safety slaves or safety local I/O units, and controls operation/stop of cell equipment by executing an interlock operation program with the received status signal as an input to output an operation instruction signal.
US07933662B2
A medical electrical lead includes an inductance augmenter assembly. The assembly includes an inductor coil formed of an insulated wire, which is wound about a non-conductive core and is electrically coupled in series between a conductor coil of the lead and an electrode of the lead.
US07933659B2
A lower esophageal sphincter tightening device for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease which includes an insertion device, an energy source, and an energy transmitting device. The insertion device, by insertion through a body opening, positions the energy transmitting device in the proximity of the lower esophageal sphincter. The energy source generates and transmits energy via the insertion device to the energy transmitting device which directs the transmitted energy onto the lower esophageal sphincter which is comprised largely of collagen. The energy source transmits energy at a level sufficient to cause heating of the sphincter's collagen resulting in a shrinkage of the collagen and a tightening of the sphincter.
US07933653B2
The disclosure describes an optical fiber pressure sensor to measure sphincter pressure which may be incorporated into a therapeutic sphincter control system. The system senses sphincter pressure and sends the information to a stimulator that is capable of stimulation therapy to control sphincter contractility, thus reducing unwanted urinary incontinence. Measuring sphincter pressure is accomplished through the use of an optical fiber connected to flexible tube section placed through the sphincter, where properties of the emitted light are changed proportional to the pressure on the tube section. The light is returned to a light detector to measure light properties and create an electrical signal representative of the pressure on the tube section. The signal may then be sent by wireless telemetry to an implanted stimulator or external programmer.
US07933651B2
Cardiac treatment methods and devices provide for templates representative of past tachyarrhythmia events, each template associated with a therapy. Methods involve providing a cardiac waveform representative of a patient's cardiac activity and identifying a portion that indicates an arrhythmic event. A cardiac template corresponding to the portion is generated, and a therapy is associated with the template useful for treating a subsequent arrhythmia. The waveform portion may be identified by a physician using a patient-external device to display the cardiac waveform. The template may be generated by a physician selecting the cardiac waveform, and determining if the therapy associated with the template was satisfactory and/or effective in treating the arrhythmia. Identification may involve matching the event to templates generated using cardiac waveforms other than the patient's cardiac waveforms. The template may be generated in a patient-internal or patient-external medical device such as a programmer, and/or an advanced patient management system.
US07933648B2
The invention comprises a system for treating a medical disorder using transcutaneous electrical stimulation. The system includes an apparatus that supplies voltage to one or more glass electrodes that is shaped to treat a particular tissue or disorder and that is applied to an affected area of the patient's body. Voltage is applied in a range of about 500-2000 volts and a constant frequency in a range of about 10-100 kHz. The electrode may also be used to sterilize the surface of a tissue through the production of ozone. The system may be used to treat a variety of medical disorders including edema and dermatological, neurological, intestinal, vascular, and orthopedic disorders. In addition, the system may be used to improve drug delivery to specific sites by locally increasing blood circulation.
US07933642B2
A wireless monitoring system and, more particularly, a wireless monitoring system for detecting and transmitting physiological data. The present invention detects physiological data relating to a patients cardiac activity and respiration rate and transmits the data to a remote base station via telemetry. The base station processes the data so that the data can be displayed by an ECG monitor.
US07933636B2
A hand held radio host includes circuitry for selectively providing power to radiating transceiver elements and non-radiating application elements according to a plurality of power modes of operation to achieve desired effects and in a way that saves power and extends battery life. In one embodiment of the invention, the hand held host operates in one of three modes. In a full power mode, any selected application element, as well as all transceiver elements, are powered on at the same time. Thus, for example, a cell phone module, a wireless personal access network module, a wireless local area network module, and one of a pager/short message service message module may all be powered on at the same time to receive corresponding messages, calls, data sessions, etc.
US07933628B2
A system and method for implementing transmission parameter control at a transmitting station is described. The exemplary system and method comprises querying a transmission parameter control module for a transmission schedule. The transmission schedule comprises at least one schedule entry defining a set of transmission parameter controls as they pertain to a destination address. At least one packet of data is then transmitted to the destination address according to the transmission parameters controls of at least one schedule entry from the transmission schedule. A system and method for selecting an antenna configuration corresponding to a next transmission of packet data is also disclosed.
US07933627B2
A GPS RF Front End IC using a single conversion stage, which is immune from self jamming from clock signal harmonics generated internally or from dominant clock signal harmonics generated externally by the subsequent baseband GPS processor which uses a clock of 48●fo for GPS processing. The improved frequency plan reduces the problems of interference when the integration of the RF and Baseband functions is required in the form of a single-chip, or as 2 individual chips on a common substrate.
US07933626B2
The invention relates to control of transmission power in cellular networks, specifically in cells having transmitters in several frequency bands. The invention allows the network to control the maximum transmission power of a mobile station in more than one frequency band.
US07933619B2
A method including wirelessly receiving a communication from a wireless device at a receiving device where the communication designated for transmission through the receiving device, recognizing a non-address portion of the communication as indicative of a command for the receiving device, and terminating the communication at the receiving device.
US07933617B2
Disclosed herein is a portable type content reproducing device for reproducing content data, said portable type content reproducing device including, a radio communication unit, a nonvolatile storage unit, a reproduction processing unit, a connection controlling unit, and a reception controlling unit.
US07933616B2
The method comprises a phase, applied by the first equipment (A), for estimating a first time of flight between the two equipments (A, Z) corresponding to the signal transmission time to go from one equipment to the other along a propagation path, called the “strongest path”, taken by a main part of the energy of the signals, a phase for estimating a difference in time of flight comprising the sending of a channel sounding frame by the first equipment to the second and, from the received radio signals corresponding to said channel sounding frame, estimating a difference in time of flight between the strongest propagation path and a first propagation path, performed by the second equipment, and a phase for calculating the distance between the two equipments (A, Z) comprising the determination of a second time of flight by subtracting the estimated difference in time of flight from the estimated first time of flight (E30) and calculating the distance between the two equipments from the duly determined second time of flight.
US07933612B2
The subject disclosure pertains to systems and methods for determining locations of mobile devices. In particular, a set of regions is defined based upon the relative strength of signals received from one or more base stations within the region. Each region has associated location information (e.g., latitude and longitude). The location of a mobile device can be determined by analyzing the strength of received signals, identifying base stations and generating an ordered list of base stations based upon signal strength. The ordered list can be compared to the set of regions to determine the region in which the mobile device is located. The location information for the retrieved region can be used to estimate the location of the mobile device.
US07933595B2
Methods and systems are provided for dynamic selection by a mobile station of its home agent using its preferred roaming list (PRL). A mobile station maintains a PRL comprising an association between (i) a first set of data identifying a first wireless wide area network (WWAN) and (ii) a first identifier of a first home agent. The mobile station detects a broadcast of the first set of data by the first WWAN. Responsive to detecting the broadcast of the first set of data by the first WWAN, the mobile station connects to the first WWAN. Responsive to connecting to the first WWAN, the mobile station uses the first identifier to register with the first home agent.
US07933594B2
Disclosed herein are methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for configuring a communication network associated with a plurality of wireless enabled field devices. The disclosed methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture may compare identification information associated with a wireless enabled field device to configuration database information. Configuration information associated with the wireless enabled field device may be retrieved based on the comparison of the identification information to the configuration database information. The retrieved configuration information is sent to the wireless enabled field device via at least one wireless communication link to configure the wireless enabled field device.
US07933590B2
Disclosed is a DMB data receiving apparatus and method for improving a DMB data receiving speed. According to the DMB data receiving apparatus and method, if there are predetermined MSC data, which have not been received or received with an error when receiving MSC data by a DMB reception terminal, the DMB reception terminal can receive the predetermined MSC data through a return channel established between the DMB reception terminal and a broadcasting station. In detail, if there are predetermined MSC data, which have not been received or received with an error, the DMB reception terminal request the broadcasting station to transmit the predetermined MSC data and to allow establishment of a return channel, and then receives the predetermined MSC data through a return channel established based on the request. Therefore, when some MOT content data have not been received or received with an error, the DMB reception terminal can immediately receive the corresponding MOT content data without waiting until the next MOT data transmission period begins, thereby greatly improving the DMB data receiving speed.
US07933589B1
A method for facilitating a wireless transaction includes communicating a transaction request from a wireless communication device to a transaction apparatus and communicating a spoken authentication code from the wireless communication device to the transaction apparatus. After the spoken authentication code is authenticated, a transaction code is received by the wireless communication device. After receiving the transaction code, the transaction code is displayed on and optically scanned from a visual display of the wireless communication device.
US07933588B1
A method for communicating between an operator at an operator device and a user recipient includes enabling an operator of the operator device to enter a device-independent unique identifier for a user recipient by requiring interaction between the operator and the operator device without requiring interaction between the operator and software on the operator device that is designed for communication over an IP-based network. The method includes identifying an IP network address associated with the user recipient based on the device-independent unique identifier and routing a message entered by the operator to the determined IP network address.
US07933585B2
Managing downloading in portable communicating objects for a single-unit operation during a campaign
The invention solves the problem of systematic image marking of portable communicating objects, such as smart cards or mobile terminals, involved in a campaign in a database connected to a downloading server, thereby releasing the server. Access to a communicating object targeted by the campaign is authorized for a single-unit operation while the server manages the preprocessing of data for the communicating object during the campaign. Access is inhibited for a single-unit operation concerning an object targeted by the campaign when access is requested while the server manages transmission of a data message to the communicating object during the campaign. Access is also prohibited while the server manages an acknowledgement transmitted by the communicating object and the post-processing of data concerning the communicating object.
US07933576B2
A sub-harmonic mixer is provided, which includes: a mixer core having first and second transistors performing switching operations in response to a local oscillator (LO) signal and a radio frequency (RF) signal; a power source applying bias maximizing nonlinearity of a transistor included in the mixer core; an RF port applying an RF signal to the mixer core; an LO port applying an LO signal to the mixer core; and first and second phase delay circuits in which the RF signals applied to the first and second transistors have a 180-degree phase difference.
US07933551B2
When a wireless base station temporarily runs short of communication resources, the base station searches for a portable telephone having a relay function of mobile communication. Based on a demand of the wireless base station, the portable telephone having the relay function relays communication of a portable telephone within a communication area of the base station on behalf of the base station. This portable telephone can communicate with an adjacent wireless base station and can communicate with a receiving portable telephone and another portable telephone having the relay function.
US07933542B2
A fuser roller surface is cleaned immediately before and or after the fusing operation. The separate cleaning sequence assures that the fuser roller surface is substantially free from residual toner that has accumulated from previous fusing operation. A number of image-transfer sheets is counted, and the cleaning sequence is also optionally activated after a number of detected image-transfer sheets has reached a predetermined number.
US07933541B2
An image-forming method includes forming a toner image on the surface of an image carrier, transferring the toner image from the surface of the image carrier onto an image-receiving layer of a belt-shaped intermediate transfer film that is provided on a surface of a base material, superimposing the intermediate transfer film on a surface of a recording medium such that the toner image contacts the surface of the recording medium, fixing the toner image by application of heat and pressure, forming a laminate by pressure-bonding the superimposed intermediate transfer film onto the recording medium by application of heat and pressure, and peeling the base material off the image-receiving layer at the interface therebetween, so that the entire image-forming surface of the recording medium is covered with the image-receiving layer and the image is formed between the recording medium and the image-receiving layer.
US07933536B2
An image forming device includes a driving mechanism that transmits a driving force to a process cartridge through an input portion of the process cartridge. The driving mechanism includes a drive shaft shifting between a state engaging with the input portion and a state spaced from the input portion, a first cam joined with a door to be rotated with movement of the door, the first cam including a first sliding surface, a translation member including a sliding contact portion which slidably contacts the first sliding surface, the translation member being configured to engage with the drive shaft and shift together with the drive shaft with the sliding contact portion sliding on the first sliding surface with rotation of the first cam, and a second cam including a second sliding surface which slidably contacts the sliding contact portion to face the first sliding surface through the sliding contact portion.
US07933531B2
An electrophotographic image formation device comprises an image transfer unit (including an image transfer member) attached to a main body in a detachable manner, a density detecting unit including a detector unit and thereby detecting density of a developing agent transferred to the image transfer member, a protective cover which protects the density detecting unit not detecting the density by covering the detector unit, first and second reflecting parts (differing in reflectivity) formed in a part of the protective cover facing the detector unit, and a shifting unit which places the protective cover at a first position (with the first reflecting part facing the detector unit) when the image transfer unit has been attached to the main body while placing the protective cover at a second position (with the second reflecting part facing the detector unit) when the image transfer unit has not been attached to the main body.
US07933529B2
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image onto a recording medium by applying pressure and heat to toner provided on the surface of the recording medium. The fixing apparatus includes a fixing member, a pressing member for pressing against the fixing member, a temperature detecting part for detecting the temperature of the fixing member, and a heating member including a main heating member and an auxiliary heating member for heating the fixing member, the main heating member being heated by obtaining power from a main power supply, the auxiliary heating member being heated by obtaining power from an auxiliary power supply.
US07933525B2
An image forming apparatus includes an object to be cleaned, a cleaning device, a generation device, a control device, a voltage detection device and a load resistance detection device. The cleaning device cleans the object to be cleaned. The generation device generates a cleaning voltage in the cleaning device. The control device controls the generation device thereby to control the cleaning voltage. The voltage detection device detects the cleaning voltage generated in the cleaning device. The load resistance detection device detects a load resistance between the object to be cleaned and the cleaning device, based on at least one control parameter to be used by the control device to control the generation device and the cleaning voltage detected by the voltage detection device.
US07933521B2
An apparatus for use in an optical transceiver module that incorporates an integrated multiplexer/demultiplexer for high speed data transfer applications. One example embodiment includes a transmissive block arranged to interface with a transmit optical port, a receive optical port, and a plurality of optical subassemblies. The transmit optical port may transmit a first multiplexed optical signal and the receive optical port may receive a second multiplexed optical signal. Filters may be positioned between the transmissive block and one or more of the optical subassemblies to transmit signals at predetermined wavelengths while reflecting other signals incident thereon.
US07933518B2
An integrated optical transceiver includes an optical receiver that produces a first electrical signal at a reception electrical interface in response to a first optical signal, an optical transmitter that emits a second optical signal in response to a second electrical signal received at a transmission electrical interface, a first optical branching device that receives the first optical signal at an reception optical interface and to direct at least a portion of the first optical signal to the optical receiver, and a second optical branching device that directs the second optical signal to an transmission optical interface. The first optical branching device directs at least a portion of the first optical signal to the second optical branching device. The second optical branching device directs the portion of the first optical signal received from the first optical branching device to the transmission optical interface.
US07933515B2
A camera body includes a body mount to which the lens unit can be mounted, a metal main frame supporting the body mount, an imaging element configured to convert an optical image of the subject into image data, an intermediate part disposed along a thermal conduction path formed between the main frame and the imaging element, and a metal heat radiating member connected to the intermediate part.
US07933513B2
A film copy system includes a camera supported by a cradle which is removably attached to a cradle mount. A light shaft carried by the cradle is provided for releasably engaging a film holder and spacing the film holder a predetermined distance from the camera.
US07933512B2
There is disclosed stereographic camera system including first and second cameras including respective first and second lenses. A convergence mechanism may set a convergence angle by rotating at least the first camera about a first pivot axis. A first pivot shift mechanism may adjust the position of the first camera such that the first pivot axis passes through a nodal point of the first lens.
US07933511B2
A lens barrel capable of reducing the radial size thereof while maintaining the degree of freedom in layout of a shutter and a anti-shake mechanism. A barrier drive ring includes first and second rotation-transmitting protrusions axially protruding toward an imaging area and parallel to and substantially opposed to each other. An image pickup element-holding member includes a first and second cam contact section which are brought into contact with the first and second rotation-transmitting protrusion, when the lens barrel is retracted. Rotation transmission to the barrier drive ring is performed in a varying manner first via a contact between the first rotation-transmitting protrusion and first cam contact section, then via contacts between the first and second rotation-transmitting protrusions and the first and second cam contact sections, and finally via a contact between the second rotation-transmitting protrusion and the second cam contact section.
US07933510B2
This invention includes accumulation units (102a, 102b) which accumulate signals obtained by sensing units (111a, 111b), an area determination unit (103, 100) which sets the size of an area of a sensing unit to be segmented into a plurality of areas on the basis of the information of a lens to be focus-detected, accumulation control units (104a-104c, 105) which control, for each of the areas, accumulation of signals obtained in a plurality of areas by the accumulation units, and a defocus detection unit (100) which detects defocus states in the respective areas from accumulated signals from a plurality of areas.
US07933507B2
A camera system may be used to capture iris images of targeted people who may be unaware of being targeted and hence their movement may not be constrained in any way. Iris images may be used for identification and/or tracking of people. In one illustrative embodiment, a camera system may include a focus camera and an iris camera, where the focus camera is sensitive to ambient light or some spectrum thereof, and the iris camera is sensitive to infrared or some other wavelength light. The focus camera and the iris camera may share an optical lens, and the focus camera may be used to auto-focus the lens on a focus target. A beam splitter or other optical element may be used to direct light of some wavelengths to the focus camera for auto-focusing the lens, and other wavelengths to the iris camera for image capture of the iris images.
US07933503B2
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data.
US07933501B2
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data.
US07933492B2
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data.
US07933491B2
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data.
US07933488B2
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data.
US07933482B2
Optical fiber probe tips and methods for fabricating the same are presented. One method entails immersing a distal end of an optical fiber having a cladding and a core into an etching solution and simultaneously etching the cladding and the core using the etching solution for tapering the cladding and the core to form a tapered cladding and a tapered core tip. The optical fiber probe tips are suitable for near-field, scanning, optical microscopy (NSOM).
US07933480B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an optical transmission structural body capable of preferably transmitting an optical signal between an optical wiring and an optical waveguide irrespective of a sh ape of a portion of the optical wiring, the portion being connected to a core part of the optical waveguide.The optical transmission structural body of the present invention is constituted so that at least an optical wiring and an optical waveguide are connected to each other and an optical signal can be transmitted between a core of the optical wiring and a core part of the optical waveguide, wherein a portion of the optical wiring, the portion being connected to the core part of the optical waveguide, is not specially subjected to a planarization processing or has a surface roughness Ra based on JIS B 0601 of 0.1 μm or more.
US07933479B2
A multimode fiber coupler has a structure in which a plurality of tapered pump fibers are coupled laterally to a multi-clad fiber, such as a double clad fiber (DCF). Such coupler is produced by first forming a plurality of tapered pump fibers and positioning them around the multi-clad fiber, thus forming a fiber bundle. Then, the fiber bundle is twisted and fused so that the input pump fibers converge towards a waist and then diverge from it. The diverging portions of the pump fibers may be removed from the structure. Also, at the waist, the structure may be cleaved and the portion with the converging pump fibers is then spliced with a multi-clad fiber which is similar or identical to the one in the middle of the bundle.
US07933476B2
A MEMS-based display device is described, wherein an array of interferometric modulators are configured to reflect light through a transparent substrate. The transparent substrate is sealed to a backplate and the backplate may contain electronic circuitry fabricated on the backplane. The electronic circuitry is placed in electrical communication with the array of interferometric modulators and is configured to control the state of the array of interferometric modulators.
US07933475B2
Methods and apparatus for providing lighting in a display are provided. In one embodiment, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) is provided that includes a transparent substrate and a plurality of interferometric modulators. The interferometric modulators include an optical stack coupled to the transparent substrate, a reflective layer over the optical stack, and one or more posts to support the reflective layer and to provide a path for light from a backlight for lighting the display.
US07933470B2
The present invention is a method and apparatus for processing image data to accomplish tuning or adjustment of images, so as to modify at least the darkness thereof, using compact, efficient methods and designs.
US07933465B2
When performing arithmetic processing on unprocessed image data with use of a target pixel and reference pixels in its proximity, buffers of a number corresponding to the number of lines required for the arithmetic processing, which are a first buffer and a second buffer, are used as intermediate storage units. Each buffer has a capacity that is smaller than a size of a line of the unprocessed image data and equal to or larger than a size required for the arithmetic processing in a main scanning direction. In each arithmetic processing, a pixel from each line in the unprocessed image data is input one by one to a storage region at the right end of a corresponding buffer, and a pixel is read and output from each position of each buffer that is determined according to a positional relationship between a target pixel and its reference pixel. Each time arithmetic processing is performed in each line, data is shifted one pixel from the right end to the left end in the first buffer and the second buffer.
US07933457B2
An image decoding method comprising the steps of: receiving an encoded bitstream including information of I and P frames; and executing motion compensation by synthesizing a predicted image of a current frame using motion vector information included in the encoded bitstream and a reference image which is a previously decoded image; wherein said motion compensation includes calculating intensity values at points where no pixels actually exist in the reference image by bilinear interpolation, the bilinear interpolation being performable using a positive rounding method and a negative rounding method, wherein the bilinear interpolation is performed using the rounding method specified by rounding method information included in the encoded bitstream of the current frame when the current frame is a P frame, and wherein the rounding method information is not received from the encoded bitstream of the current frame when the current frame is an I frame.
US07933454B2
A method for image enhancement includes providing for a semantic class to be assigned to a digital image based on image content, the assigned semantic class being selected from a plurality of semantic classes. The method further includes providing for an aesthetic enhancement to be applied to the image based on image quality of the image and the assigned semantic class, the enhancement including at least one enhancement dimension selected from a plurality of enhancement dimensions.
US07933451B2
Image processing for extracting features in images. Pixel-level cue algorithms can be performed on raster images. The raster images can be converted to a vector layer. Object-level cue algorithms can be performed on the vector layer. The feature can be detected using a result of the pixel-level cues and using a result of the object-level cue algorithms performed. A computer-readable medium can include a first data field containing data representing pixel-level cues functioning to describe a pixel-level cue of the feature. The computer-readable medium can also include a second data field containing data representing object-level cues functioning to describe the object-level cues of the feature. Relation-level cue algorithms can be performed on the vector layers. The features can be detected using a result of any combination of the pixel-level cue algorithms, object-level cue algorithms, and/or relation-level cue algorithms.
US07933448B2
A method and an apparatus determines at least one of rank or suit of a playing card. The apparatus has at least one two-dimensional complementary metal oxide semiconductor imaging system that provides a signal when playing cards are moved over the system. The signal is a series of gray scale values that are converted into binary values. The sensed data is transmitted to a hardware component that identifies at least one of rank and suit to an external data storage device.
US07933424B2
A hearing aid comprises an input transducer (2), a subtraction node for subtracting a feedback cancellation signal from the electrical input signal thereby generating a processor input signal, a signal processor (3), an output transducer (4), a pair of equalization filters (7a, 7b) for selecting from the processor input and output signals a plurality of frequency band signals, a frequency equalization unit for frequency equalization for the selected frequency band signals, and an adaptive feedback estimation filter (5, 6) for adaptively deriving the feedback cancellation signal from the equalized frequency band signals. The equalization of selected frequency bands of the input signals of the adaptive feedback cancellation filter provides for an improved and in particular a faster adaption of the feedback cancellation. The invention further provides a method of reducing acoustic feedback of a hearing aid, and a hearing aid circuit.
US07933422B2
As viewed from the front of an operation panel, adjustment sections for individual input channels are positioned on the operation panel close to a human operator, and a display, a control section for setting an equalizer process, compressor process etc. for one selected channel and a signal delivery control section for setting signal delivery to mixing buses for the selected channel are positioned in a horizontal row remotely from the human operator. Operators in the delivery control section are varied in function in accordance with a selected operation mode. For example, in a mix send mode, a plurality of rotary operators are set to function as send level adjustment operators for the respective input channels so as to adjust send levels to a given mixing bus, while, in a mix master mode, the rotary operators are set to function as output gain adjustment operators for the respective mixing buses.
US07933421B2
A sound-field correcting apparatus includes a sound-field correcting unit for executing, based on a correcting information, predetermined audio signal processing for correcting a sound field, an information acquiring unit for acquiring the correcting information on each position, a designating unit for designating, in a predetermined space range including the positions, a target position serving as a position at which sound-field correction is to be performed, a correcting information acquiring unit for acquiring, based on the correcting information on each position, correcting information corresponding to the target position designated by the designating unit, and a control unit for performing control based on the correcting information acquired by the correcting information acquiring unit so that the sound-field correcting unit executes the audio signal processing.
US07933410B2
A method of generating encryption and decryption keys for a multiple tier, variable key ladder (VKL) hierarchy includes determining a device key based on network connection and configuration data contained in conditional access system firmware, decrypting and extracting a session or category key from an input media stream or an Entitlement Management Message using the device key, and configuring a key ladder in response to at least one Entitlement Control Message (ECM), wherein the key ladder comprises the device key and at least one of (i) a program key, (ii) the session or category key, and (iii) at least one control word.
US07933405B2
According to embodiments of the invention, there is disclosed a data processing unit, a method of operating the same, computer program product and an instruction. In one embodiment according to the invention, there is provided a data processing unit for a computer processor, the data processing unit comprising a deep register access mechanism capable of performing a permutation operation on at least one data operand accessed from a register file of the computer processor, the permutation operation being performed in series with (i) register access for the data operand and (ii) execution of a data processing operation on the operand.
US07933403B2
Disclosed is an Academy, Research Institute, and Agency (ARIA) encryption/decryption apparatus for encrypting and decrypting input data by repeating a plurality of rounds. The ARIA encryption/decryption apparatus includes a first register storing input data or an intermediate calculation value according to a first control signal; a second register storing a input round key for every round; an exclusive OR operation unit performing an exclusive OR operation on values stored in the first and second registers; a substitution unit substituting a result of the exclusive OR operation on a basis of an ARIA substitution algorithm; a diffusion unit diffusing a result of the substitution in the substitution unit on a basis of an ARIA diffusion algorithm if a current round is not a final round; and a control unit outputting the first control signal so that an output of the diffusion unit is used as the intermediate calculation value if the current round is the final round or an output of the substitution unit is used as the intermediate calculation value if the current round is the final round, and outputting an output of the exclusive OR operation unit as a result of the ARIA encryption/decryption.
US07933397B2
A telephone system that has the ability to provide a caller with additional information (beyond a busy signal or a ring tone) concerning the called party when the called party's line is busy: The called party can control the amount and type of additional information provided to the calling party. In one embodiment, when the called party is notified that someone is trying to place a call (by a mechanism such as by conventional caller ID) the called party has the option of providing the calling party with a variety of different information, such as whether or not the called party is on a conference call and the number (and name if available) of the party to whom the called party is speaking.
US07933396B2
Telephone network service logic relating to calls over the telephone network to a customer terminal, uses both terminal functions and network functions. The terminal has a service logic script for execution at the terminal to control the terminal functions. To control the execution of this script remotely from the network, a script-control message is determined and sent over the telephone network to the terminal. This may use the GR30 message format, with an additional call qualifier specific to the terminal service logic script, and the type of control being requested, e.g., start execution or terminate the script. This enables the reliability of the interaction between the service logic at the network side, and the service logic script at the terminal to be improved. This enables announcement type services to be provided in which a loudspeaker on the terminal can be remotely controlled to make verbal announcements without requiring customer action to lift a receiver.
US07933395B1
Interactive geographic information systems (GIS) and techniques provide users with a greater degree of flexibility, utility, and information. A markup language facilitates communication between servers and clients of the interactive GIS, which enables a number of GIS features, such as network links (timebased and/or view-dependent dynamic data layers), ground overlays, screen overlays, placemarks, 3D models, and stylized GIS elements, such as geometry, icons, description balloons, polygons, and labels in the viewer by which the user sees the target area. Also, “virtual tours” of user-defined paths in the context of distributed geospatial visualization is enabled. Streaming and interactive visualization of filled polygon data are also enabled thereby allowing buildings and other such features to be provided in 3d. Also, techniques for enabling ambiguous search requests in a GIS are provided.
US07933387B1
A system allows an agent to execute an interaction protocol, to create an interaction between the agent and a contact. The agent or a computer dialing system initiates a call to a contact and the agent selectively interleaves responses to the contact with a live voice or with a recorded script. The interleaving of responses to the contact from the human agent and the recorded script approximates seamless transitions. The system includes a script player for outputting scripted voice waveforms over a phone line to a contact and a signal processor configured to provide a normalized signal selected from the output device and the script player.
US07933383B2
An x-ray generating system includes a source of x-ray radiation, a waveguide bundle optic for collimating the x-ray radiation produced by the source, a focusing optic for focusing the collimated x-ray radiation to a focal point.
US07933379B2
A method, instrument, and computer program software product for characterizing a sample with respect to the presence of a specified element, either as a constituent of a surface layer or of the bulk of the sample. Intensities of fluorescent emission at two characteristic emission lines are compared to establish whether the specified element is disposed above the bulk of the sample. In the case where the specified element is disposed above the bulk of the sample, an areal density of the specified element is determined, whereas in the case where the specified element is disposed within the bulk of the sample, a volumetric concentration of the specified element within the sample is determined.
US07933377B2
A CT system includes a scintillator array having a first length in an axial direction of the CT system, the scintillator array includes a plurality of scintillator cells along the first length. The CT system includes a controller configured to repeatedly position a subject fore and aft along the axial direction and over a second length of the CT system, the second length greater than the first length, energize an x-ray source to emit x-rays toward the subject while the subject is being repeatedly positioned, and obtain non-uniform projection data of the subject from the scintillator array, the non-uniform projection data comprising the x-rays received from the x-ray source while the subject is repeatedly positioned. The CT system includes a computer programmed to reconstruct a plurality of temporally non-uniformly spaced images from the non-uniform projection data, interpolate the plurality of non-uniform images to form a plurality of temporally uniform images, and apply a perfusion map generation process to the plurality of temporally uniform images.
US07933375B2
A CT imaging system includes a computer that is programmed to rebin cone beam projection data into a series of two-dimensional sinograms based on an optimized ray consistency approach. The computer receives cone beam data from a detector array and is programmed to specify a plurality of view angles for the cone beam data. The computer selects a plurality of measured rays for each of the plurality of specified view angles, the plurality of measured rays having a view angle approximate to the specified view angle as determined by an optimized ray consistency. The computer also forms a two-dimensional sinogram for each of the plurality of specified view angles based on the selected plurality of measured rays. The computer then defines an image surface for each of the plurality of specified view angles based on the selected plurality of measured rays.
US07933370B2
A Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) receiver and a signal detection method thereof are provided. Since no square root calculation needs to be performed when a calculation for detecting a transmission signal is performed using a Zero Forcing-Sorted QR Decomposition (ZF-SQRD) algorithm and a Minimum Mean Square Error-Sorted QR Decomposition (MMSE-SQRD) algorithm, the complexity of a calculation for detecting a transmission signal under a MIMO channel environment can be reduced.
US07933364B2
A method for slicing a symbol in a QAM digital demodulator, includes acquiring a digital integer value by sampling a symbol signal in an in-phase coordinate or a quadrature-phase coordinate; and extracting a symbol bit sequence in the in-phase coordinate or the quadrature-phase coordinate from a whole bit sequence of the digital integer value by using an LSB thereof. Further, a symbol slicer for detecting a QAM symbol, includes digital sampling units, each of which acquires a digital integer value by sampling a symbol signal in an in-phase coordinate or a quadrature-phase coordinate; and a symbol bit sequence extracting unit that extracts a symbol bit sequence in the in-phase coordinate or the quadrature-phase coordinate from a whole bit sequence of the digital integer value by using an LSB thereof.
US07933363B2
A communication device for receiving a signal in the form of a series of bursts, each burst being in one of a plurality of different available transmission modes, the communication device comprising: a receiver unit coupled to a single antenna operable to receive bursts in first and second polarizations, the receiver unit preferentially receiving signals in a selected polarization; a selection unit for selecting for each received burst in which polarization the receiver unit is to preferentially receive signals; and a signal analysis unit for analyzing each received burst to determine whether it meets a predetermined reception quality criterion; wherein the signal analysis unit is arranged to control the selection unit to: if a burst is to be received with a certain transmission mode and the last burst received with that transmission mode was received above the reception quality criterion, preferentially receive the burst in the same polarization in which the last burst was received; and if a burst is to be received with a certain transmission mode and the last burst received with that transmission mode was received below the reception quality criterion, preferentially receive the burst in a different polarization from that in which the last burst was received.
US07933361B2
A hybrid structure circuit for the cancellation of both Type-I and Type-II DC offsets. It comprises a static compensator in conjunction with a servo-loop feedback amplifier to suppress the undesired DC components present along the path of the base band after the direct conversion mixer. Two mixers are used to down convert a received RF signal directly to a base band signal with two components: in-phase and quadrature-phase. Both in-phase and quadrature-phase branches employ the same circuitry for DC offset cancellation. Miller effect is also utilized in the structure in order to implement the circuit on-chip.
US07933360B2
A method to assess signal transmission quality and the adjust method thereof are proposed. First, different time points of a control signal at a receiving end are acquired and the number of signal transitions in a predetermined time interval is counted. Next, the number of signal transitions is recorded and compared to a reference value to obtain a comparison result. The quality of the control signal is then determined based on the comparison result. The parameter setting of the receiving end is adjusted according to the quality of the control signal received by the receiving end to get a better performance setting.
US07933347B2
A multiband Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) receiver, and more particularly, a receiver and method for effectively compensating for a frequency offset of a received signal in a multiband OFDM scheme. The receiver for compensating for a frequency offset of a received signal in an OFDM scheme includes: a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) which generates a first compensation signal by processing an input signal in a time domain based on a first carrier frequency offset estimated in the time domain, and a second carrier frequency offset estimated in a frequency domain; a sampling frequency offset tracking (SFOT) unit which generates a second compensation signal by estimating a sampling frequency offset from frequency domain pilot symbols contained in the first compensation signal; and a carrier frequency offset tracking (CFOT) unit which estimates the second carrier frequency offset by using pilot symbols contained in the second compensation signal.
US07933346B2
Embodiments of a base station and method for mitigating interference in a sectorized wireless communication network are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, some partitions of subchannels are configured in accordance with the distributed subcarrier permutation scheme for use within each sector of a base station, and one or more partitions of subchannels is configured in accordance with the contiguous subcarrier scheme for use within each sector of the base station.
US07933339B2
Embodiments of systems and methods for processing chroma samples in video are provided. One system embodiment, among others, comprises a memory with logic, and a processor configured with the logic to receive a compressed video stream that includes a picture having chroma samples and luma samples, receive in said compressed video stream a parameter set associated with the picture, receive auxiliary chroma information in said parameter set, said auxiliary chroma information corresponding to at least a portion of the chroma samples in the picture, said chroma information further corresponding to a phase shift, wherein said phase shift corresponds to a relative location of each chroma sample in said at least a portion of the chroma samples in the picture, decompress the received compressed video stream, determine the phase shift according to a value of the received auxiliary chroma information, and process the at least a portion of the chroma samples in the picture according to the determined phase shift. Other embodiments for signaling chroma information for a picture in a compressed video stream are included herein.
US07933337B2
A block transform-based digital media codec uses a transform coefficient prediction that takes into account a dominant directionality of the digital media data (e.g., an image with strong horizontal or vertical features), and further operates compatibly with a two-stage transform. For DC and DCAC coefficients from an inner stage transform of a macroblock, the codec calculates and compares directionality metrics based on inner stage transform DC coefficients of neighboring macroblocks to determine dominant directionality. For DCAC coefficients from an outer stage transform of blocks within the macroblock, the codec calculates and compares directionality metrics based on the inner stage transform DCAC coefficients of the macroblock to detect dominant directionality. The determination of directional dominance can also take into account information from other channels (e.g., chrominance as well as luminance).
US07933325B2
A transmitter portion 14 includes a control circuit 32, a driver circuit 33, and a wave detector circuit 35. The control circuit 32 generates control signals Vp, Vn based on a pulsed transmission signal So. The driver circuit 33, which is supplied with a battery voltage Vb, generates an output signal Sa to be sent to an antenna 13 based on the control signals Vp, Vn. The wave detector circuit 35 outputs a detection signal Sk having a voltage proportional to the level of the output signal Sa (transmission power level). The control circuit 32 changes the pulse widths of the control signals Vp, Vn based on the voltage level of the detection signal Sk. As a result, electric power consumption is reduced and enlargement of an apparatus is suppressed while maintaining the transmission power level constant.
US07933321B2
A measuring system (1) comprises a signal generator (2), generating a digital modulated high frequency measuring signal (MS), for supplying to the input (4) of a test unit (4). A signal analyser (5) connected to the output (6) of the test unit (4), analyses the output signal (OS) of the test unit (4) after a demodulation. A direct connection (7) is provided between the signal generator (2) and the signal analyser (5), by means of which a reference signal (Ref) is supplied directly to the signal analyser (5) from the signal generator (2).
US07933311B2
Disclosed is a data transmission process using repetitive sets of spreading sequences, and corresponding transmitted and receiver. According to the invention, spectrum spreading is done on symbol packets using set of pseudo-random sequences used repetitively. This thus reduces interference between symbols. The present invention is applicable to digital communications by spectrum spreading.
US07933310B2
The invention discloses a system (100) for a fast frequency hopping radio, and comprises a transmit part (110) and a receive part (120). Each of the receive (110) and transmit (120) parts comprise a unit (115, 125) for random frequency generation, the random frequency generating unit of both parts being similar. The random frequency generator (115, 125) of each of said parts comprises a pseudo random number generator, a PRN-generator, the PRN-generator being based on a FIR-algorithm, and said PRN-generator uses a clock signal which has been generated externally to the system as input. The external clock signal which is used is suitably a clock signal from the GPS-system.
US07933308B2
A signal transmission and reception device is disclosed that can be made compact and has wide-band band-pass characteristics. The signal transmission and reception device includes a first filtering unit that is composed of a distributed constant circuit and is capable of eliminating a first frequency component or a second frequency component. The second frequency is higher than the first frequency, and a second filtering unit that attenuates components of frequencies lower than the first frequency or components of frequencies higher than the second frequency.
US07933305B2
A device for generating or detecting electromagnetic radiation includes a substrate, a gain medium provided on the substrate, a plurality of reflectors for confining electromagnetic radiation at a predetermined frequency range and substantially perpendicular to a face of the substrate, and spacer means for spacing the reflectors from each other at a predetermined distance, with the gain medium being sandwiched between the reflectors. The gain medium has a quantum well structure formed of a semiconductor material, and gives a gain to electromagnetic radiation by transitioning between subbands created in at least a quantum well in the quantum well structure. The spacer means is formed of a material different from a material of the gain medium.
US07933304B2
It is an object of the present invention to realize a low cost laser light source capable of emitting several mW optical power while the operation current is reduced. In particular, the present invention concerns a 1.3 μm wavelength band laser device suitable for several to several ten km short distance fiber optic transmission and also a less power consuming optical communication module in which such a laser is preferably mounted. As a laser structure which eliminates the necessity of adding an optical isolator by providing improved immunity to reflected light while lowering the operation current for less power consumption and not lowering the response speed, a short cavity laser which operates in multiple longitudinal modes is introduced. Especially, an angled mirror structure is formed at the laser's emitting edge to change the optical output direction so that the light is emitted from the top or bottom of the substrate.
US07933298B2
Methods and systems for aggregating Ethernet communications are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes a first Ethernet port to communicate with a second Ethernet port of a first device, a third Ethernet port to communicate with a fourth Ethernet port of a second device, a fifth Ethernet port to receive Ethernet frames, and a switching portion to direct nth ones of the frames to a first queue associated with the second port, direct n−1 frames preceding each of the nth ones of the frames to a second queue associated with the fourth port, and select a value of n based on a ratio of a first non-zero data rate of the first device for a first communication link in a first direction and a second non-zero data rate of the second device for a second communication link in the first direction, and based on a remaining capacity of the first queue.
US07933286B2
A system and method for communicating between nodes in a communications network. The network includes nodes that broadcast and receive data packets over a radio channel. The system includes a distributed trunking method that distributes the communications between the nodes over multiple channels. Voice and other data may be broadcast over data channels, while information regarding the availability of the data channels is broadcast over a control channel. Access to the control channel is controlled using a protocol that may include carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA), time division multiple access (TDMA) or a hybrid of CSMA/TDMA.
US07933283B1
Shared memory management apparatus and techniques are disclosed. A shared memory provides queues for storing communication traffic that is to be scheduled for transmission. Based on amounts of communication traffic stored in the queues, a determination is made as to whether or not communication traffic is to be removed from the shared memory, and if so, communication traffic is removed. Traffic may be selected for removal based on one or more of: a scheduling algorithm for scheduling communication traffic out of the queues for transmission, thresholds associated with the queues, and latency of the communication traffic stored in the queues. Removal of communication traffic from the shared memory is coordinated with scheduling of communication traffic in some embodiments.
US07933282B1
A packet classification device includes a CAM device, an SRAM device, and a control circuit that controls and coordinates the operations of the CAM and SRAM devices. For some embodiments, a first CAM block stores unique entries for each packet header field, a RAM block coupled to the first CAM block stores field labels for the unique packet header fields, a second CAM block stores group labels consisting of unique combinations of concatenated field labels, and a second RAM block coupled to the second CAM block stores a group identification (ID) for each group label, wherein each group ID identifies a corresponding one of the groups of rules.
US07933279B1
A communications network arrangement provides voice over IP or voice over ATM services. The network arrangement comprises a first media gateway controller controlling a first gateway and provided with a first operating protocol, a second media gateway controller controlling a second gateway and provided with a second operating protocol, and a gateway address translator incorporating proxies for the first and second gateways. The gateway address translator provides a relay function for messaging between each media gateway controller and its corresponding gateway, and a virtual bearer function for messaging between the media gateway controllers. This facilitates inter-working between products supplied by different vendors.
US07933274B2
In one embodiment, a method for establishing Quality of Service (QoS) in a home network is provided. The method comprises: receiving a request for bandwidth in a virtual private network (VPN); receiving a traffic specification of an application on a control point retrieving a traffic policy; retrieving path characteristics of the VPN; and reserving resources in the VPN based on the path characteristics, the traffic policy, and the traffic specification.
US07933255B2
A wireless data processing system uses a selectively enabled multi-antenna processor to demodulate N separate data signals from M separate antennas simultaneously. The multi-antenna processor is adapted to respond to changing channel conditions between two access points, so that it selectively kicks in if there is noise, interference, frequency fading, a need for an enhanced data rate, a need for an increased operating range, etc.
US07933249B2
A scheme for assigning priority levels to users based upon a history of their request for access to the resources. If a user has, over a historical period of time, made fewer demands than a stated amount, that user is given a higher priority than a user who has made greater use of the resources than their stated amount. Thus, users making the heaviest demand on the available resources are allocated fewer resources despite their demand, whereas users that make less demands for the resources are granted more of the resources they request. An additional feature of an access allocation scheme according to the present invention is to reserve at least some resources for the users at the lowest priority levels. Thus, even users being assigned to a lowest priority queue will be granted at least some access once in a while. A third feature in connection with the present invention is to use the time of continuous transfer as a threshold to drop a presently assigned priority. For example, when a user at a particular priority level has made continuous use of resources for a predetermined time, that user is reassigned to the next lowest priority level and its resources are taken away. The user is then required to vie again for access to resources at this lower priority level.
US07933245B2
A media independent handover (MIH) device communicates with an 802 technology medium access control (MAC) layer and an 802 technology physical (PHY) layer utilizing an 802 technology management entity (ME) device. Handover information messages are produced by the MIH device. The handover information messages facilitate handover. The 802 technology ME device facilitates encapsulation of the handover information messages. The 802 technology ME device is coupled to the 802 technology MAC layer and the 802 technology PHY layer. The encapsulated handover information messages is sent to other MIH devices messages via the 802 technology ME device.
US07933233B2
A method and apparatus for providing service availability information includes receiving a signal transmitted from a base station. A power level and interference level of the received signal is measured and an estimate of a power level of each potentially available service based on the power level of the received signal and predetermined power offsets associated with each of a plurality of potentially available services is derived. An estimate of a signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) for each potentially available service from the estimate of a power level of each service and the measured interference level and a service availability indicator for each potentially available service by dividing the estimated SIR with a target SIR are calculated. Service availability indicators for each potentially available service are outputted.
US07933232B2
A digital broadcasting system and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. A method for controlling a digital broadcast receiving system includes the steps of receiving a broadcast signal having mobile service data and main service data multiplexed therein, extracting transmission parameter channel (TPC) signaling information and fast information channel (FIC) signaling information from a data group within the received mobile service data, by using the extracted fast information channel (FIC) signaling information, acquiring a program table describing virtual channel information and service of an ensemble, the ensemble being a virtual channel group of the received mobile service data, by using the acquired program table, detecting a descriptor defining basic information required for accessing the received service, and, by using the detected descriptor, controlling the receiving system to enable access to the corresponding service.
US07933222B2
A telecommunications network model receives data regarding a telecommunications network and a customer's use of that network. The data includes information about nodes, link between nodes, tariffs, and customer usage. The received data is utilized to create a model of the telecommunications network. The model may then be utilized to optimize a customer's use of the network, optimizing for a lowest cost solution.
US07933209B2
A method is disclosed that integrates performance monitoring data and alarms reported by Layer 3 network elements with alarms and performance monitoring data reported by Layer 1 SONET/SDH network elements to isolate Layer 1 problems on DSX circuits embedded in SONET due to hard failures or errors.
US07933207B2
Consistent with an example embodiment, there is a signal processing circuit. Linking multiplexing (L-MUX) circuits, link respective pairs of stream processing circuits. Each L-MUX circuit is individually switchable to a normal mode and a replacement mode; in normal mode, it passes a first stream of samples values between the stream processing circuits in the respective pair of the L-MUX circuits; in replacement mode, it supplies successive sample values from a second stream from the communication structure to a receiving one of the stream processing circuits in the respective pair. A control circuit keeps a selectable one of the multiplexing circuits in the replacement mode so the selectable one of the L-MUX circuits passes a stream of successive samples from the second stream to the receiving one of the processing circuits in the respective pair of L-MUX circuits, while keeping at least part of the other L-MUX circuits in the normal mode.
US07933206B2
The invention relates to a method which is used to adapt link weights or, link costs, for optimized traffic distribution within a communication network. According to said method, a loop is circulated until an interruption criterion is met. The individual iterations comprise the following steps: Routing of traffic within the communication network is calculated based on link cost paths. Parameter values used for opt imization e.g. the link-related volume of traffic, are determined for the individual links by means of the calculated path, and an expected volume of traffic and the link are determined for the parameter having the highest value. When the highest determined value is equal to or less than the valve of the previous step (interruption criterion), the link costs are increased for the determined link. Said method enables link costs and paths for optimized traffic distribution to be determined in an economical manner.
US07933195B2
A method for transmitting channel quality information (CQI) from a receiver station to a transmitter station in a wireless communication system which includes diversity mode consisted of spaced apart subcarriers and band AMC mode consisted of a number of bands comprised of a predetermined number of adjacent subcarriers. The method comprises the steps of transmitting an average CINR(Carrier to Interference and Noise Ratio) value for a full frequency band if the receiver station operates in the diversity mode; transmitting a differential CINR of a predetermined number of bins if the receiver station operates in the band AMC mode.
US07933186B2
A method and apparatus for manufacturing an optical disk master and an optical disk, including measuring the reflectance of laser light at each of a plurality of radius positions by applying the laser light to an optical disk master-forming substrate provided with an inorganic resist layer, the laser light having a non-recording laser power smaller than a recording sensitivity of the inorganic resist layer, producing recording power control data indicating recording laser powers in accordance with the radius positions of the optical disk master-forming substrate by using the reflectances measured, forming an exposure pattern on the inorganic resist layer by applying the laser light to the optical disk master-forming substrate on the basis of the recording power control data while the recording power is varied in accordance with the radius positions, and developing the inorganic resist layer provided with the exposure pattern so as to prepare an uneven pattern.
US07933184B2
In an optical disc having N (N is an integer larger than or equal to 3) information recording layers of rewritable or recordable type, each of the information recording layers includes an test area to adjust conditions for recording and reproduction and the test areas are arranged so that the radial positions thereof overlap those of other layers. Recording test is performed only to an area smaller than or equal to 1/N of the test area of each layer and any other area is always unrecorded (write inhibited).
US07933180B2
The present invention provides an optical information reproducing method of detecting a record mark formed in an optical information recording medium and generating a reproduced signal, comprising the steps of: detecting a mark length of each record mark on basis of a reproduced signal, and correcting the reproduced signal by a correction amount corresponding to the detected mark length, and an optical information reproducing apparatus for detecting a record mark formed in an optical information recording medium and generating a reproduced signal, comprising: a detection circuit for detecting a mark length of each record mark on basis of a reproduced signal, and a correction circuit for correcting the reproduced signal by a correction amount corresponding to the detected mark length.
US07933179B2
In a super-resolution optical disk for the purpose of achieving an increase in the density of recording data by reproducing a recording mark smaller than optical resolution, the optimum reproduction power needs to be determined since the quality of a super-resolution reproduced signal strongly depends on the reproduction laser power. However, since the track error signal required for tracking servo also depends on the reproduction power, there is a need for a method for determining the reproduction power taking into account both the stabilization of tracking servo and a quality improvement of the reproduction signal. The reproduction power is changed under conditions with focusing servo applied but without application of tracking servo. Thereby, a cross track signal is detected to identify a reproduction power region that leads to quality improvement of both a reproduction signal and a track error signal.
US07933169B2
A near-field optical probe and optical near-field generator are provided. A problem of a probe having a scatterer in which optical near-field noises are generated at the parts other than for a point at which an intense optical near-field is generated, is solved. In one example of the probe, a surface of the parts except for a vertex of the scatterer at which the intense optical near-field is generated is etched so that an etching depth becomes not less than a penetration depth of the optical near-field. The probe facilitates control of noises when a sample is observed or recording marks are reproduced.
US07933165B2
A method and apparatus for a seismic cable is described. The apparatus includes a plurality of cable segments comprising at least a first cable segment and a second cable segment coupled by a connector. The connector comprises a cylindrical body having a first diameter, a portion of the body having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter and centrally positioned between opposing ends of the body, a first coupling section having a terminating end of the first cable segment anchored therein, and a second coupling section having a terminating end of the second cable segment anchored therein, at least a portion of the first and second coupling sections being rotatably coupled to respective ends of the body, wherein the connector isolates the first cable segment from the second cable segment. A method of deployment and retrieval of the seismic cable is also described.
US07933152B2
A memory cell array has a structure in which a plurality of memory cells connected with word lines and bit lines and connected in series are arranged in a matrix form. A selection transistor selects the word lines. A control circuit controls potentials of the word lines and the bit lines in accordance with input data, and controls write, read and erase operations of data with respect to the memory cell. The selection transistor is formed on a well, and a first negative voltage is supplied to a well, a first voltage (the first voltage≧the first negative voltage) is supplied to a selected word line and a second voltage is supplied to a non-selected word line in the read operation.
US07933151B2
Memory strings includes: a first semiconductor layer including a columnar portion extending in a direction perpendicular to a substrate; a first electric charge storage layer formed to surround a side surface of the columnar portion; and a first conductive layer formed to surround the first electric charge storage layer. First selection transistors includes: a second semiconductor layer extending upward from a top surface of the columnar portion; a second electric charge storage layer formed to surround a side surface of the second semiconductor layer; and a second conductive layer formed to surround the second electric charge storage layer. The non-volatile semiconductor storage device further includes a control circuit that causes, prior to reading data from a selected one of the memory strings, electric charges to be accumulated in the second electric charge storage layer of one of the first selection transistors connected to an unselected one of the memory strings.
US07933150B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and a programming method thereof are provided. The programming method includes first programming a cell among a plurality of adjacent memory cells to the highest threshold voltage distribution corresponding to a data state, and subsequently programming the other adjacent cells to the lower threshold voltage distributions corresponding to second and third data states. The second data state and the third data state may have the second highest threshold voltage distribution and the third highest threshold voltage distribution, respectively, or the third highest threshold voltage distribution and the second highest threshold voltage distribution, respectively.
US07933147B2
A sensing circuit of a phase change memory. The sensing circuit comprises a data current source and a reference current source, a storage memory device and a reference memory device, a storage switch and a reference switch, an auxiliary current source and a comparator. First terminals of the storage memory device and the reference memory device are respectively coupled to the data current source and the reference current source. The storage switch and the reference switch are respectively coupled to second terminals of the storage memory device and the reference memory device. The auxiliary current source is dynamically coupled to the first terminals of the storage memory device and the reference memory device. The comparator is coupled to the first terminals of the storage memory device and the reference memory device.
US07933145B2
A nonvolatile magnetic memory device includes a magnetoresistance effect element that includes: a layered structure having a recording layer; a first wiring electrically connected to a lower part of the layered structure; a second wiring electrically connected to an upper part of the layered structure; and an interlayer insulation layer surrounding the layered structure. The magnetoresistance effect element further includes a low Young modulus region having a Young modulus lower than that of a material forming the interlayer insulation layer. The recording layer has an easy magnetization axis, and a hard magnetization axis orthogonal to the easy magnetization axis. When the magnetostriction constant λ of a material forming the recording layer is a positive value or a negative value, the low Young modulus region is disposed in an extension region of the easy magnetization axis or in an extension region of the hard magnetization axis of the recording layer, respectively.
US07933136B2
A non-volatile memory cell array and associated method of use. In accordance with various embodiments, the array includes a plurality of programmable resistive sense elements (RSEs) coupled to a shared switching device. The switching device has a common source region and multiple drain regions, each drain region connected to an associated RSE from said plurality of RSEs.
US07933134B2
One package contains a plurality of memory chips. Each memory chip has an I/O terminal which generates a busy signal. The busy signal enables a busy state when a power supply voltage value reaches a specified and guaranteed range after a power-on sequence. The busy signal maintains the busy state until completion of initialization operations for the plurality of memory chips. The busy signal releases the busy state after completion of all initialization operations for the plurality of memory chips.
US07933132B2
In an embodiment, a power converter system includes a plurality of variable frequency power converters and a plurality of synchronization circuits. Each variable frequency power converter has a switching frequency. Each synchronization circuit is associated with a respective one of the plurality of variable frequency power converters. A control circuit is coupled to and coordinates the plurality of synchronization circuits. The plurality of synchronization circuits and the control circuit are operable to synchronize the switching frequencies of the variable frequency power converters to each other. Each synchronization circuit is operable to: receive a first input signal indicative of the beginning of a switching period for the associated variable frequency power converter; receive a second input signal indicative of the end of the switching period for the associated variable frequency power converter; generate a first output signal for directing a pulse width modulation of the associated variable frequency power converter; and generate a second output signal for coordinating a phase relationship with another variable frequency power converter in the system.
US07933130B2
An embedded seat slot structure is disposed at a device having an opening. The embedded seat slot structure includes a cover, an interlocking portion, and a base. The cover covers the opening. The interlocking portion is pivotally connected with the device via a first pivot. An end of the interlocking portion close to the first pivot is connected with the cover. The base is pivotally connected with the device via a second pivot. An end of the base far away from the second pivot is close to the interlocking portion. The base has a connector facing the opening. When the cover is opened, the interlocking portion is driven to rotate, an end far away from the first pivot pushes the base, and then the base is rotated to make the connector exposed at the opening.
US07933117B2
A docking station is disclosed. The docking station has an adjustable opening that accommodates portable electronic devices with differing sizes and shapes. The opening is capable of expanding to accommodate larger devices and retracting to accommodate smaller devices while still supporting the portable electronic device in its proper position within the docking station.
US07933114B2
Composite carbon electrodes for use in, for example, Capacitive Deionization (CDI) of a fluid stream or, for example, an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) are described. Methods of making the composite carbon electrodes are also described. The composite carbon electrode comprises an electrically conductive porous matrix comprising carbon; and an electric double layer capacitor, comprising an activated carbonized material, dispersed throughout the pore volume of the electrically conductive porous matrix.
US07933107B2
An electrostatic discharge protection circuit device includes a discharge circuit, a trigger circuit and a trigger control circuit. The discharge circuit is connected to a predetermined circuit node of a semiconductor device, and makes discharge when surge voltage is applied to the circuit node. The trigger circuit triggers the discharge circuit to start a discharge operation by the discharge circuit. The trigger control circuit controls a trigger voltage at which the trigger circuit starts a discharge operation by the discharge circuit.
US07933106B2
A surge protection circuit utilizing direct current (DC) voltage on the information carrying coaxial cable of a receiving device with a surge protection device to suppress transient signal fluctuations over the coaxial cable and a diagnostic surge protection status indicator with on/off configurations to indicate the status of operation of the surge protection device. The visual indicator may be a light emitting diode or some other indicator device that when energized indicates normal operation of the surge protection circuit.
US07933103B2
Disclosed is an overcurrent detection device for detecting an overcurrent in a load circuit which is arranged to control the driving and the stopping of a load 1 by a semiconductor switch (FET1) provided between a battery VB and the load 1. An added voltage (V1−V3) is generated which is obtained by adding a voltage (V1−V2) generated across the both ends of the semiconductor switch (FET1) to a voltage (V3−V2) which is generated at the time of current change due to the inductance Lp of a copper foil wiring pattern 3 for coupling the semiconductor switch (FET1) and the load 1. A comparator CMP1 for comparing the added voltage with an overcurrent determination voltage (V1−V4) set in advance is provided. When the comparator CMP1 detects that the added voltage exceeds the overcurrent determination voltage, it is determined that an overcurrent is generated.
US07933094B2
A pole layer has an end face located in a medium facing surface, allows a magnetic flux corresponding to a magnetic field generated by a coil to pass therethrough, and generates a write magnetic field. A shield includes a first layer having an end face located in the medium facing surface at a position forward of the end face of the pole layer along a direction of travel of a recording medium, and a second layer disposed between at least part of the coil and the medium facing surface and magnetically connected to the first layer. The second layer has an end face closer to the medium facing surface, and this end face is located at a distance from the medium facing surface. A nonmagnetic layer made of an inorganic insulating material is provided between the end face of the second layer and the medium facing surface, and a photoresist layer is provided between the end face of the second layer and the nonmagnetic layer.
US07933088B2
According to one embodiment, a disk drive has a DTM type disk. The DTM type disk has a servo area on one recording surface. In the servo area, a servo pattern is recorded. The servo pattern is composed of a projection-depression pattern and an N- and P-pole magnetic pattern. The N- and P-pole magnetic pattern is recorded in an address-data region that contains a cylinder code.
US07933084B2
A signal reconstruction technique is used to correct for wow and flutter in analog audio recordings. Elements of the recording are used to generate a signal for correcting the output. Involves locating modulated entities such as bias signal (e.g. frequency-modulated, amplitude-modulated, or phase-modulated entities) in the recording, extracting them, and utilizing them as a carrier to synchronize to a master clock, using the irregularity of the anomaly to indicate the speed and pitch information to be corrected. A carrier frequency is determined and applied to a digitized form of the recording. This may be performed even in the absence of a prescribed reference code or tone, such as a pilot tone laid down purposefully at the moment of recording. In the case of signals presumed to have an error in the carrier, a corresponding signal is buffered, and in the case of a presumed error, a last known signal is used for the duration of the error.
US07933080B1
A mounting mechanism is provided for aligning and securing an optical instrument to a platform. The mechanism includes a housing, a trunnion and a base-plate. The housing receives the optical instrument along a longitudinal axis. The housing includes an attach support for the optical instrument, and an interface having vertically-facing cylindrical-fastener orifices. The trunnion supports the housing at the interface. The trunnion has pluralities of vertical slots and horizontal slots. Each vertical slot overlaps a corresponding vertical orifice. The vertical slots provide elevation displacement to vertically translate and pitch the housing. The horizontal slots provide lateral displacement to horizontally translate and yaw the housing. The base-plate supports the trunnion and is mountable onto the platform. The base-plate has a plurality of horizontally-facing cylindrical-fastener orifices. Each horizontal slot on the trunnion overlaps a corresponding horizontal orifice on the base-plate. Each orifice of the vertically- and horizontally-facing orifices receives a cylindrical-fastener that passes through a counterpart slot of the vertical and horizontal slots. Each cylindrical fastener for each orifice corresponds to a helical screw.
US07933079B2
Optical assemblies for use in medical or other devices so as to image an object under examination onto an image sensor include a plurality of lens elements that can be retained in lens barrel. The lens elements and the lens barrel can be sealed with a compressible gasket. In one example, at least one lens element is made of an injection-moldable plastic and at least one lens element is made of a relatively dispersive optical glass. A lens barrel diameter or lens diameter can be selected to permit access to the object under examination with surgical or other tools. Aperture plates can be situated so as to reduce flare in the object image.
US07933076B2
A lens driving device includes a lens, a moving member that supports the lens, a stationary member that movably supports the moving member, a pitch drive mechanism that drives the moving member in the pitch correction direction, and a yaw drive mechanism that drives in the yaw correction direction. The pitch drive mechanism has first and second magnets provided to the stationary member, and first and second coils provided to the moving member. The yaw drive mechanism has a third magnet provided to the stationary member, and a third coil provided to the moving member. The first and second coils are arranged on opposite sides of the lens when viewed in a third direction that is perpendicular to the pitch and yaw correction directions, and the third coil is arranged on the same side as the first coil with respect to the lens when viewed in the third direction.
US07933074B2
A zoom lens unit, including in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens group having a positive refracting power; a second lens group having a negative refracting power; a third lens group having a positive refracting power; and a fourth lens group having a positive refracting power, an aperture stop being disposed on an object side of the third lens group, wherein the third lens group has at least two positive lenses and one negative lens, wherein all the positive lenses of the third lens group satisfy the following formula: (1) −0.005865νd3p+0.93226<θgF3p<−0.005865νd3p+0.95226, where, νd3p represents an Abbe number of each of the positive lenses of the third lens group, and θgF3p represents a partial dispersion ratio of each of the positive lenses of the third lens group, defined by the formula: θgF3p=(ng−nF)/(nF−nC).
US07933072B2
A zoom lens includes a first negative lens group, a second negative lens group, a third positive lens group, an aperture diaphragm, and a fourth positive lens group arranged in this order from an object side. When power varies from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, the first and second lens groups are moved to an image surface along an optical axis and then moved to the object side. The third and fourth lens groups are moved to only the object side along the optical axis. The first lens group includes at least one aspheric lens, and the aspheric lens has an aspheric shape in which a positive refractive power is increased toward the periphery of the lens when a paraxial refractive power is positive and a negative refractive power is decreased toward the periphery of the lens when the paraxial refractive power is negative.
US07933070B2
A lens array includes a plurality of lens assembly members with a plurality of lenses and a light blocking member with a plurality of apertures arranged therein. The lens assembly members are arranged so that an optical axis of each of the lenses of one of the lens assembly members is aligned with an optical axis of each of the lenses of another of the lens assembly members.Further, the lens assembly members and the light blocking member are arranged so that the following relationship is satisfied: ( PX 2 ) 2 + ( PY 4 ) 2 ≤ RA LO - F F where PY is a pitch of the lenses in one row, PX is a pitch of the rows, F is a focal length of each of the lenses, LO is a distance between each of the lenses and an object surface thereof, and RA is a distance between the optical axis and an inner surface of the aperture.
US07933065B2
The invention relates to a microscope or stereomicroscope for representing an object that can be placed on an object plane (1) of the stereomicroscope, the latter providing at least one pair of optical paths (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) and comprising at least one deflection element with a reflecting surface (3; 3′) and a representation system (26; 26*; 26**; 26′) containing several optical elements. The optical elements comprise a plurality of lenses (4-8, 11, 13, 14, 16′-21′, 16″-21″, 16′″-21′″ 16″″-21″″). In addition, the optical elements are configured in such a way, that pupil planes (27a, 27b) of the optical representation paths (2a, 2b) intersect the reflecting surface (3; 3′) of the deflection element or are located at a distance (S, S′; S*, S*′) from said reflecting surface (3; 3′). The distance (S, S′; S*, S*′) is less than 1.5 times, in particular less than 1.0 and in particular less than half the diameter (D) of one of the reflecting surfaces (3; 31) along the optical representation paths (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) on the closest lens (4) of the plurality of lenses (4-8, 11, 13, 14, 16′-21 16″-21″, 16′″-21′″, 16″″-21″″). The invention also relates to a stereomicroscope with a particularly compact construction, in which at least one pair of optical representation paths (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) is reflected on a first, second, third and fourth reflecting surface (3, 9, 10, 12). The invention also relates to a microscope, in which a pupil representation takes place in the vicinity of a reflecting surface.
US07933055B2
A laser scanner for detecting spatial surroundings comprises a stator (21), a rotor (1), mounted on the stator (21) to be rotatable about a first rotational axis, and a rotary body (2), mounted on the rotor (1) to be rotatable about a second rotational axis. A laser source (6) and a detector (7) are arranged in the rotor (1). One optical link (9) each is configured on the second rotational axis on every side of the rotary body (2) between the rotor (1) and the rotary body (2) so that emission light can be introduced by the laser source into the rotary body (2) via the first optical link (8) and reception light can be discharge from the rotary body (2) via the second optical link (9). A first rotary drive (25) drives the rotor (21) and a second rotary drive (26) drives the rotary body (2). Two goniometers (4) and evaluation electronics (5) which are connected to the laser source (6) and the detector (7) allow association of a detected distance with a corresponding direction. The rotary body (2) can have a very compact design, is completely passive and therefore does not require any power supply or transmission of signals.
US07933054B2
An image processing system is disclosed that is configured to input color image data, generate color image data identification information identifying the color image data, store the color image data identification information in association with the color image data, generate monochrome image data based on the color image data, combine the color image data identification information with the monochrome image data according to a predetermined format and print the combined monochrome image data on a first recording medium. Also, the image processing system is configured to read the combined monochrome image data from the first recording medium, extract the color image data identification information from the combined monochrome image data, read the color image data stored in association with the extracted color image data identification information, and output the read color image data in a predetermined visible format.
US07933053B2
A spot color dictionary is fine tuned or updated. Localized color production models are determined for spot colors of interest to be produced by an associated document processing system or printer. Measurements are made of colors of produced spot colors. Optionally, measurements are made of colors of test patches that are based on perturbations from the colors of the spot colors. In determining a model for the production of a target spot color, measurement data related to colors that are closer in color space to a given target color is given a higher weight than is measurement data related to colors that are further in color space from the target color. Accordingly, the model is localized to the region of color space about the target color and therefore, more accurately predicts a colorant recipe for the target color than would interpolation based on a full gamut, or more general model.
US07933046B2
A print engine controller is provided for an inkjet printhead. The print engine controller receives page data representing a page to be printed, the page data having a bi-level black layer in a compressed format and a contone layer in a compressed format. The processor is configured to decompress the bi-level black layer and the contone layer of the page data, halftone the decompressed contone layer to form a bi-level cyan, yellow, magenta, and black (CYMK) layer, composite the decompressed bi-level black layer over the bi-level CYMK layer to form a bi-level CYMK image of the page to be printed and carry out processing operations for printing the CMYK image.
US07933043B2
A print and colorimetry control device includes a print control section which controls so that an image for which colorimetry is to be carried out is printed on a printing medium, based on predetermined image data, a determining section which determines a position where a colorimetry section is caused to carry out colorimetry for the image based on a printing position of the image on the printing medium, a feeding section which feeds the printing medium having finished printing, based on the determined position, a colorimetry control section which controls the colorimetry section based on the determined position so that the colorimetry section is caused to carry out colorimetry thereby to obtain a calorimetric value of the image.
US07933037B2
A system for sending an e-mail message. The system comprises comprising a printed form having a plurality of location-indicating tags printed thereon. Each tag contains coded data identifying a location of the tag on the form and an identity of the form. The system further comprises an optically imaging pen for writing a message on the form. The pen comprises a marking nib for writing a handwritten message on the form, an image sensor for imaging the tags when writing the message on the form, and a processor for computing positions of the nib using the coded data contained in the imaged tags, an inferred multiple degree-of-freedom perspective transform of the imaged tags and a known geometry of pen optics. A computer system receives indicating data generated by the processor and initiates sending of the e-mail message to a designated recipient address.
US07933028B2
A bypass transporting path apparatus is disposed on a color image recording apparatus and a transporting path connecting apparatus is disposed between a front portion of a monochrome image recording apparatus and a rear portion of the color image recording apparatus. This system includes an operational state monitoring portion that monitors the operational states of the color image recording apparatus and the monochrome image recording apparatus, and a power supply controlling portion that performs control based on the operational states of the color image recording apparatus and the monochrome image recording apparatus to shift any one image recording apparatus to a power saving state and to make the other image recording apparatus wait in a recordable state.
US07933022B2
A method and system are disclosed for detecting the presence of a perturbation of a microresonator including the step of exciting at least first and second resonant guided optical modes of a microresonator with a light source that is in optical communication with the microresonator. The method further includes inducing a first frequency shift in the first resonant guided optical mode and a second frequency shift in the second resonant guided optical mode, wherein the second frequency shift can be zero. Another step of the method is comparing the first frequency shift and the second frequency shift.
US07933020B1
A resonator gyroscope comprises a reference laser generator to produce a reference light; a first slave light source to produce a first slave light locked to the reference light; a second slave light source to produce a second slave light locked to the reference light; a resonator coupled to said first and second light sources, the resonator having first and second counter-propagating directions and resonance tracking electronics coupled to the Sagnac resonator to generate a first beat frequency based on a first resonance frequency for the first counter-propagating direction, a second beat frequency based on a second resonance frequency for the second counter-propagating direction, and a third beat frequency based on a third resonance frequency for the second counter-propagating direction; wherein the rotational rate of the resonator gyroscope is a function of the first, second and third beat frequencies.
US07933013B2
A system and method are provided for detecting presence of a material of interest on a surface or in a space using spectroscopic techniques. A beam of ultraviolet light is directed to the surface or space to achieve photodissociation of a material of interest in order to produce photofragment molecules that fluoresce when excited by ultraviolet light. Raman scattering of the parent target material and laser-induced fluorescence of the daughter photofragments are collected from the surface or space that may be induced by the beam of ultraviolet light. Raman spectra and fluorescence spectra are generated from the captured Raman scattering and fluorescence. The fluorescence spectra associated with the daughter photofragment molecules and the Raman spectra of the parent target material are analyzed to determine presence of the material of interest on the surface or in the space.
US07933002B2
The invention relates to a method for measuring air turbulences with a lidar system, particularly on board aircraft during which a pulsed expanded laser beam (12) of a predetermined wavelength is emitted up to a spatial area and light backscattered from this spatial area is received. At a first point in time t1 and at a second point in time t2 after emitting a laser pulse (L), the intensity distribution in the cross-section of the backscattered light is measured, and an air turbulence in a measuring field defined by points in time t1 and t2 is determined from the comparison of both intensity distributions. Images of speckle patterns are recorded with the aid of cameras (21, 22). An evaluation unit (30) conducts a cross correlation in order to render the turbulence visible and to display it on a monitor (35).
US07932999B2
A lithographic projection apparatus includes a support structure configured to hold a patterning device, the patterning device configured to pattern a beam of radiation according to a desired pattern; a substrate table configured to hold a substrate; a projection system configured to project the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate; a liquid supply system configured to provide liquid to a space between the projection system and the substrate; and a shutter configured to isolate the space from the substrate or a space to be occupied by a substrate.
US07932994B2
An exposure apparatus includes a light source unit which emits an exposure light beam; and an illumination system which includes a splitting optical system splitting the exposure light beam emitted from the light source unit into a first exposure light beam and a second exposure light beam, and which illuminates a first pattern with the first exposure light beam and illuminates a second pattern with the second exposure light beam; wherein a predetermined area on a substrate is multiply exposed by radiating the first exposure light beam from the first pattern and the second exposure light beam from the second pattern onto the predetermined area on the substrate.
US07932993B2
An “image writing” and “image reading” system and method for providing a pattern to a subject such as a wafer is provided or an image to an image sensor such as CCD. The system includes a pixel panel, such as a digital mirror device or a liquid crystal display or other SLM, for generating for creating a plurality of sub-image array of the pattern in “image writing” case. The pixel elements are simultaneously divided to a sub-image array on the subject by a lens system. The system also includes a stage for moving, stepping or scanning the pixel panel, relative to the subject so that it can create a contiguous whole image on the subject.
US07932987B2
An LCD includes a first substrate, a heating layer formed on the first substrate, an insulating layer having a first opening formed on the heating layer, at least one switching device, two contact pads formed on the insulating layer, and respectively electrically connected to the scan line and the data line, a capacitor, a bridge electrode formed in the first opening, a passivation layer covering the switching device and the capacitor, a pixel electrode formed on the passivation layer and electrically connected to the drain of the switching device, a second substrate having a common electrode disposed on the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. The source of the switching device is connected to the data line. The passivation layer has a plurality of second openings respectively exposing the contact pads and the bridge electrode, wherein the bridge electrode is electrically disconnected from the contact pads.
US07932981B2
A liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the device where the device can control a viewing angle in all directions without forming a white pixel. The liquid crystal display device includes a display control region that is controlled such that liquid crystal molecules are inclined and a viewing-angle control region that is controlled such that liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a horizontal or vertical direction, where a control voltage is supplied through a viewing angle control line independent of a common line for the display control region.
US07932977B2
A roll stocker and a method for fabricating a liquid crystal display device using the same are disclosed. The roll stocker is constructed by multi-stage, of which roll keeping units of an upper stage can be moved left and right so that a rubbing roll at the lower stage can be easily taken out. Thus, space utilization can be enhanced and rolls can be stably kept. The roll stocker formed by two stages includes an upper stage installed at an upper side of a lower stage used as a support; a plurality of roll keeping units positioned at the upper and lower stages and keeping rubbing rolls; and a moving unit installed between the upper and lower stages and moving the roll keeping units of the upper stage.
US07932971B2
In a liquid-crystal display, unpolarized light from a light source passes through a linear polarization separation layer and strikes a liquid-crystal cell. The liquid-crystal cell, in response to an applied electrical field, changes the direction of a director, so as to change the direction of the electrical field oscillation vector of the incident linearly polarized light by substantially 0 to 90°, this light then striking a dichroic linear polarization layer on the surface, whereby only a component coincident with the polarization transmission axis thereof is allowed to exit to the outside. The dichroic linear polarization layer transmits 50% of this incident light, and absorbs the remaining 50%.
US07932960B1
An system for providing uniform and focused backlighting to a liquid crystal display (LCD) can be provided. The system can include at least one light source that emits light rays. The system can include at least one column having a first end positioned adjacent to the at least one light source, a second end adapted to be positioned adjacent to the LCD and a plurality of walls. The system can include an optical receptor coupled to the first end of the at least one column, which can include an angled side wall that can be coupled to the walls of the at least one column. The light rays from the at least one light source can be totally internally reflected by the angled side wall and walls to create at least one virtual light source to backlight the LCD.
US07932955B2
A method and system for content adaptive analog video noise detection are provided. A motion metric (MM) value, an edge detection value, and a content detection value may be determined for pixels in a video image. The MM values of pixels with edge detection values smaller than an edge threshold value and with content detection values smaller than a content threshold value may be collected and accumulated for a portion of the noise level intervals when the MM values fall in this interval. The MM values collected and accumulated may be utilized to determine an average noise level for each of the intervals. A noise level indicator (NLI) for the current video image may be determined based on the noise level of the current image or on the noise levels of the current and at least one previous video images.
US07932951B2
A video camera constructed according to one aspect of the focus adjustment device moves a focus lens forward and backward and detects peak values of an AF evaluation value of the focus lens in the forward moving direction and in the backward moving direction. The video camera calculates a correction value based on a difference between the peak value of the evaluation value detected in the forward motion of the lens and the peak value of the evaluation value detected in the backward motion of the lens. The video camera corrects the AF evaluation value with the calculated correction value and detects a focused position of the lens based on the corrected AF evaluation value in moving the lens.
US07932949B2
According to the present invention, when a lens is moved in an operation of an operation device, the focal information calculated for each travel position of the lens can be graphed corresponding to the lens position, and the focal information about the current lens position can be identified from the focal information about another position. Thus, a manual focus adjustment can be made while checking the graph. Especially, since the history of the focal information calculated for each lens travel position can be graphed, the lens can travel to the lens position in which a desired peak can be obtained when there are a plurality of peaks of focal information on the graph.
US07932941B2
An image pickup apparatus includes an image-pickup lens having an aperture diaphragm, an image-pickup element that has a color filter which is periodically allocated colors in units of a predetermined unit array and that generates picked-up image data including pixel data of colors using received light, the color filter being adjacent to a light receiving surface, a microlens array unit that is arranged on an image forming surface of the image-pickup lens and whose microlenses are each allocated a plurality of pixels of the image-pickup element, and an image processing unit that performs image processing on the picked-up image data generated by the image-pickup element. The image processing unit includes a parallax component image generation unit that generates a plurality of parallax component images and an interpolation processing unit that performs color interpolation processing for each of the parallax component images.
US07932936B2
A system that automatically adjusts a threshold value of cross color suppression and a method thereof are disclosed. The system includes a cross color suppression unit, a statistical unit and an adjustment unit. The cross color suppression unit is for receiving input video data and searching a plurality of cross color dots thereof. According to a threshold value, the cross color suppression unit determines whether the cross color dot is static or dynamic, suppresses the static cross color dot and then generates an output video data. The method used by the present invention is, the statistical unit calculates residual cross color amount of the output video data that has been suppressed. Then, the adjustment unit compares the cross color amount of the output video data with a reference value so as to send a corresponding adjustment signal to the cross color suppression unit to adjust the threshold value.
US07932932B2
A method of capturing a color image includes steps of operating a first sensor of a camera to integrate a first charge over a first time interval, operating a second sensor of the camera to integrate a second charge over a second time interval and scanning the first and second sensors to readout the respective first and second charges during a third time interval. The first time interval overlaps the second time interval. The third time interval includes no overlapping time with the first time interval. The third time interval includes no overlapping time with the second time interval.
US07932923B2
A video surveillance system is set up, calibrated, tasked, and operated. The system extracts video primitives and extracts event occurrences from the video primitives using event discriminators. The system can undertake a response, such as an alarm, based on extracted event occurrences.
US07932913B2
An object collation method comprising a registration procedure for registering the registered data of a registered object in a database, and a collation procedure for collating the input image of a target object with the registered data. The registration procedure includes a step of storing the three-dimensional shape of the registered object and a texture space defined by a texture group indicating the luminance and/or color information of each position of the object surface under various illumination conditions. The collation procedure includes the steps of: generating an illumination fluctuation space defined by the image group under the various illumination conditions, at the location and position of the target object in the input image from the three-dimensional shape and the texture space; and collating the target object and the registered object based on the distance between the illumination fluctuation space and the input image.
US07932911B2
A programmable processor and method for improving the performance of processors by expanding at least two source operands, or a source and a result operand, to a width greater than the width of either the general purpose register or the data path width. The present invention provides operands which are substantially larger than the data path width of the processor by using the contents of a general purpose register to specify a memory address at which a plurality of data path widths of data can be read or written, as well as the size and shape of the operand. In addition, several instructions and apparatus for implementing these instructions are described which obtain performance advantages if the operands are not limited to the width and accessible number of general purpose registers.
US07932909B2
A user can control the animation of an object via an interface that includes a control area and a user-manipulable control element. The control area includes an ellipse. The user-manipulable control element includes a three-dimensional arrow with a straight body, a three-dimensional arrow with a curved body, or a sphere. In one embodiment, the interface includes a virtual trackball that is used to manipulate the user-manipulable control element.
US07932908B1
A sensing baseball game apparatus (10) has a game machine (12) connected to a television monitor (18). A bat input device (32) is provided with an acceleration sensor. An acceleration signal is transmitted by an infrared-ray LED (34) to an infrared-ray receiving part of the game machine (12) whereby the game machine (12) determines a moving speed of the bat input device (32) to calculate a moving parameter of a ball to be batted. Accordingly, a batted ball is moved in the game scene according to the parameter.
US07932907B2
A graph layout technique that creates a layered graph layout with a given aspect ratio. The present layered graph layout technique better utilizes the available space and, at the same time, creates an aesthetically pleasing drawing of a directed graph. In one embodiment it determines the layout of the new graph based on a modified Sugiyama technique combined with a modified Coffman-Graham scheduling algorithm. Given a directed graph and a desired aspect ratio, it uses a binary search and the Coffman-Graham scheduling algorithm to find a layout of the graph that has an aspect ratio that matches the given aspect ratio of the available space.
US07932903B2
To increase the number of object for which position, posture, and so forth are regularly updated even when a viewpoint position and a viewing direction are constantly changed in a virtual three-dimensional space, while keeping deterioration in smoothness of a display image unnoticeable. An image processor for producing and displaying a display image showing a picture obtained by viewing a virtual three-dimensional space where a viewpoint and a plurality of display target objects are disposed, from the view point, comprises an object selection unit (66) for calculating a display size, in the display image, of each of the plurality of display target objects and selecting some of the plurality of display target objects based on the calculated display size of each of the plurality of display target objects, and a state update unit (68) for updating a state of the objects selected by the object selection unit (66) in the virtual three-dimensional space at a time interval different from that for other objects in the virtual three-dimensional space.
US07932896B2
Distinguishing sloppy taps from sliding motions is disclosed using an algorithm that can take into account both a time instability factor Tinst and a touch instability factor Zinst. A limited amount of motion per frame can be subtracted off immediately following the detection of a touch event. Small lateral motions indicative of a sloppy tap can be suppressed, while fast finger motions indicative of a quick, long cursor movement can immediately pass through the filter without being suppressed by a significant amount. A motion pass-through suppression factor can be applied subtractively to motion in particular direction as a function of Zinst and Tinst, wherein Zinst can represent a suppression value given as a finger speed for a particular percentage change in touch instability per frame, and Tinst can represent a suppression value given as finger speed for a particular tpress.
US07932895B2
A method of controlling an electronic device using a gesture as an input, including recording a gesture and detecting, within the gesture, each one of a sequence of partial gestures that form the gesture; and performing the same first command on detecting each partial gesture.
US07932882B2
A portable electronic device having a display screen capable of changing display directions is disclosed. The portable electronic device, such as a tablet personal computer, includes a tiltmeter, a display direction determining circuit and a display direction changing circuit. The tiltmeter measures a first tilt angle of a first axis of a display screen of the portable electronic device with respect to a horizontal plane, and measures a second tilt angle of a second axis of the display screen of the portable electronic device with respect to the horizontal plane. The display direction determining circuit determines whether or not a display direction of the display screen is to be changed based on the changing conditions generated by the first tilt angle and the second tilt angle as measured by the tiltmeter. The display direction changing circuit changes the display direction of the display screen from a current display direction to a different display direction according to a determination result formed by the display direction determining circuit.
US07932880B2
In order to charge and discharge parasitic capacitance of a source signal line sufficiently and program a predetermined current value into a pixel transistor, it is necessary to output a relatively large current from the source driver circuit. However, if such a large current is passed through the source signal line, the value of this current is programmed into the pixel, causing a larger than desired current to flow through an EL element. For example, if a 10 times larger current is used for programming, a 10 times larger current flows through the EL element, and thus the EL element illuminates 10 times more brightly. To obtain predetermined emission brightness, the time during which the current flows through the EL element can be reduced to 1/10 of one frame (1 F). This way, the parasitic capacitance of the source signal line can be charged and discharged sufficiently and the predetermined emission brightness can be obtained.
US07932876B2
An electro-optical device includes a plurality of pixel circuits each including a light-emitting element and a driving transistor for driving the light-emitting element; data lines that are connected to the plurality of pixel circuits and that supply data signals representing light-emitting gray-scale levels to the pixel circuits; and a data line driving circuit that supplies the data signals to the pixel circuits through the data lines. In addition, the data line driving circuit applies to each pixel circuit in a predetermined sequence a forward frame period supplying a data signal having a forward bias voltage for making the light-emitting element emit light and a backward frame period supplying a data signal having a backward bias voltage for making the light-emitting element not emit light, and drives each of the pixel circuits.
US07932871B2
The invention concerns an orthogonal loop radiofrequency antenna device designed to receive electromagnetic waves comprising at least two loops (BH, BV) consisting of a single electrical conductor, each of said loops (BH, BV) capable of having a particular shape and located in their respective plane, said planes containing each one of said loops (BH, BV) being orthogonal, and the radiofrequency antenna being located proximate a low frequency antenna.
US07932869B2
An antenna includes one or more antenna elements and a volume of material contained at least partly within a volume of the one or more antenna elements. The volume of material has at least one electromagnetic property that is different from free space. The volume of material may include dielectric material and/or ferrite material. The antenna elements may be isolated magnetic dipole (IMD) antenna elements. The electromagnetic property may be permeability and/or permittivity.
US07932863B2
This invention refers to an antenna structure for a wireless device comprising a ground plane and an antenna element, wherein the ground plane has a slot with at least a short end, an open end and a length substantially close to a quarter wavelength. The feeding and ground connections of the antenna structure are placed at the two different sides of said slot and the distance of at least one of them to the short end of the slot is equal or smaller than an eighth of the wavelength. The invention further refers to an antenna structure for a wireless device comprising a ground plane and an antenna element, wherein the ground plane has a slot with at least two short ends, and a length substantially close to half wavelength. The feeding and ground connections of the antenna structure are placed at the two different sides of said slot and the distance of at least one of them to a short end of the slot is equal or smaller than a quarter of the wavelength. Further the invention refers to a corresponding wireless device, a corresponding mobile phone and to a method for integrating such an antenna structure within a wireless device.
US07932861B2
A complex antenna comprising a grounding element having a first and second longitudinal sides; a first antenna, operating in a first wireless network, comprising a first radiating body spaced apart from the grounding element and a first connecting element connecting the first radiating body and the grounding element; a second antenna, operating in a second wireless network, comprising a second radiating body spaced apart from the grounding element and a second connecting element connecting the second radiating body and the grounding element; wherein the first antenna extending from the first side of the grounding element and working in a first lower frequency band and a first higher frequency band; the second antenna extends from the second side of the grounding element and working in a second lower frequency band and a second higher frequency band.
US07932853B1
An aircraft weather radar system for displaying an indication of a threat level presented by an obstacle to the aircraft on an electronic display. The weather radar system includes a radar antenna configured to receive radar returns from a radar sweep. The weather radar system additionally includes processing electronics configured to determine a movement vector of the obstacle using the radar returns. The processing electronics are further configured to determine the threat level of the obstacle to the aircraft based on the determined movement vector, to generate parameters for an indication based on the determined threat level and to cause the indication to be displayed on an electronic display.
US07932852B2
A filter scheme for broadcast interference cancellation that is computationally efficient and numerically robust Airborne Low Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) operating in the VHF and UHF bands has been shown. At least interference Doppler filtering or interference cancellation is utilized. The interference cancellation involves prediction of the interference for each particular reception interval of mixed interference and radar ground response. This prediction is then coherently subtracted from the incoming signal.
US07932849B2
A method for achieving high-speed analog-to-digital conversion without degrading accuracy includes: receiving digital outputs of a plurality of pipelined analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) that perform analog-to-digital conversion on a same analog signal; and performing digital calculations on the digital outputs to generate a calibrated digital output. An apparatus for achieving high-speed analog-to-digital conversion without degrading accuracy is further provided. The apparatus includes: a digital module arranged to receive digital outputs of a plurality of pipelined ADCs that perform analog-to-digital conversion on a same analog signal. In addition, the digital module includes a plurality of digital calculation paths respectively corresponding to the pipelined ADCs, wherein each digital calculation path corresponding to an associate pipelined ADC of the pipelined ADCs is electrically connected to the associate pipelined ADC. The digital module performs digital calculations on the digital outputs to generate a calibrated digital output.
US07932846B2
An A/D converter includes a sample/hold unit that samples an input analog signal at a predetermined timing to hold m (m≧2) equal analog values and successively outputs the m held equal analog values in time series; an A/D converting unit that converts the m equal analog values successively input in time series from the sample/hold unit to m digital signals in time series; a data-alignment adjusting circuit that adjusts timings of the m digital signals successively input in time series from the A/D converting unit to parallelize the m digital signals; and an averaging circuit that outputs an average value of the m digital signals input in parallel from the data-alignment adjusting circuit as a final A/D conversion result.
US07932840B2
A mobile communication device may include logic configured to provide a first keypad layout via a programmable keypad using a first illumination source, receive a keypad selection and provide a second keypad layout via the programmable keypad using a second illumination source in response to the selection.
US07932837B2
A monitoring method for monitoring a seat status for an aircraft. A seat occupancy status of a seat element is measured by a seat occupancy sensor, and the fastening status of the seat element is measured by a fastening sensor. The seat occupancy status and the fasting status are transmitted to a monitoring device. The monitoring device automatically generates a warning signal if a combination of a predetermined occupancy status and a predetermined fastening status occurs.
US07932826B2
A system and method for the tracking of medical instrument, components, assemblies, and sub-assemblies thereof, and maintenance information relating to the foregoing. According to the system, radio frequency identification tags are attached to or affixed on the medical instrument itself for the purpose of locating, identifying, monitoring, tracking the medical instrument and updating the maintenance and replacement activities relating to the medical instrument. In addition, radio frequency identification tags are attached to or affixed on the components, the assemblies, and the sub-assemblies, of the medical instrument in order to locate, identify, monitor, track the components, the assemblies, and the sub-assemblies and update the maintenance and replacement activities relating to these components, assemblies, and sub-assemblies. The medical instrument itself can have a radio frequency identification tag; each major component of the automated diagnostic instrument can have a radio frequency identification tag; each minor component of the automated diagnostic instrument can have a radio frequency identification tag on the container in which it is packaged. A master radio frequency identification tag correlated with a database is needed in order to collect information relating to all of the radio frequency identification tags associated with the medical instrument.
US07932823B2
The disaster information system according to the invention includes a disaster noticing server and a disaster reporting terminal. The disaster noticing server calculates the expected time of arrival at which the natural disaster will arrive at the current location of the disaster reporting terminal, and transmits the calculated expected time of arrival to the disaster reporting terminal. The disaster reporting terminal, when it receives the expected time of arrival from the disaster noticing server, acquires the current time measured at the disaster reporting terminal, and calculates the time remaining until the natural disaster will arrive at the disaster reporting terminal from the expected time of arrival and the current time.
US07932812B2
A wide area object tracking system comprises a primary and two secondary base stations. Each secondary base station is coupled to the primary base station to define a tag detecting cell. Each station receives a signal from a tag attached to a tracked object, yielding three signals indicative of the tag location within the cell. Many overlapping cells in a given space allow tracking objects within that space. The system comprises a central server coupled to the primary base station, and may include at least one tag recording unit and a tag recovery apparatus both coupled to the central server. The primary base station uses three channels to communicate with the tag, the central server, and with at least one other primary base station, the secondary base stations, and a portable control unit.
US07932811B2
A remote controller that can infer the intention of a user and that can control a plurality of devices based on the inferred intention is provided. A remote controller includes memory, a control circuit, and a transmission portion. The memory stores in advance, in association with a situation sensed by a sensor, information of a first control signal. The control circuit generates, in association with the situation sensed by the sensor and the information stored in the memory, the first control signal. The transmission portion transmits the first control signal generated by the control circuit.
US07932810B2
A method of inputting a user input access combination in order to gain authorized entry into a secure location comprises providing an input device having first and second input keys as well as a display, randomly generating a first character and a second character on the display, inputting the user input access combination into the input device, and comparing the user input access combination with an authorized access combination. The user input access combination includes a first user input character and a second user input character. The step of inputting the user input access combination comprises pressing the first input key to change the first randomly generated character to the first user input character, and pressing the second input key to change the second randomly generated character to the second user input character.
US07932802B2
A meander inductor is disclosed, the inductor is disposed on a substrate or embedded therein. The meander inductor includes a conductive layer composed of a plurality of sinusoidal coils with different amplitudes and in series connection to each other, wherein the sinusoidal coils with different amplitudes are laid out according to a periphery outline. The profile of the meander inductor is designed according to an outer frame range available for accommodating the meander inductor and is formed by coils with different amplitudes. Therefore, under a same area condition, the present invention enables the Q factor and the resonant frequency fr of the novel inductor to be advanced, and further expands the applicable range of the inductor.
US07932796B2
A movable contact which is positioned inside a sealing case is moved by a magnetic shunt body which moves outside the sealing case. The movement of the movable contact by the movement of the magnetic shunt body is caused by a change of magnetic force of a magnet through a pair of yokes. The magnetic shunt body is assembled to a moving member, and elastically moves around the moving member resisting a first spring.
US07932795B2
A silent electromagnetic relay in which a predetermined degree of silencing effect can be maintained regardless of a change to the specification, a higher silencing effect can be obtained at the time of return, the parts control is easy, and the cost of manufacturing is low. A first silent spring is mounted in a position of an inward face of a moving iron to be attracted to an iron core of an electromagnet portion, and an L-shaped moving iron turning based on excitation and demagnetization of the electromagnet portion is housed in a housing that is a resin molded product. Furthermore, a second silent spring for coming in contact with an inner face of the housing is mounted to an outward face of the moving iron and on an opposite side to the first silent spring.
US07932790B2
Switch-modulation of a radio-frequency power amplifier by-representing the input signal by the I-signal (1) and Q-signal (9) of the complex components (I+j−Q), and pulse width modulating the I-signal and the Q-signal separately to create a modulated I-signal pulse sequence (3a) and a modulated Q-signal pulse sequence (3b). Further, the pulses corresponding to negative sample values are time-shifted relative the pulses corresponding to positive sample values, and each pulse of the I-signal pulse sequence is delayed by introducing a delaying time shift.
US07932788B2
The invention relates to micromechanical elements deflectable in an oscillating manner and to a method for the operation of such elements. In this respect, it is the object of the invention to be able to operate the micromechanical elements in a stable and simple manner on the oscillating deflection while taking account of the respective mechanical resonant frequency. A least one spring element is present on elements in accordance with the invention with which it is held. It is deflected between two reversal points using an electrical AC voltage. The one or more spring element(s) has/have non-linear spring characteristics so that a changed mechanical resonant frequency results in dependence on the respective deflection.
US07932786B2
A surface mount crystal oscillator comprises a crystal blank, an IC chip having an oscillation circuit integrated thereon, and a hermetic package for accommodating the crystal blank and IC chip therein. The hermetic package comprises a substantially rectangular ceramic substrate formed with a metal film which makes a round on one main surface thereof, and a concave metal cover having an open end face bonded to the metal film. The IC chip is secured to the one main surface of the ceramic substrate through ultrasonic thermo-compression bonding using bumps, the crystal blank is disposed above the IC chip, and the ceramic substrate has the one main surface formed as a flat surface.
US07932783B2
The PN junctions of a transistor are biased for operation in the active mode but an initial flow of current reverses the bias of the base-emitter junction causing the transistor to conduct a resonant current with a voltage less than the forward junction voltage of said base-emitter.
US07932770B2
Each of a plurality of pump stages has an input node and an output node and performs a charge pump operation in response to any one of the first and second clock signals. The plurality of pump stages include a first pump stage, in which a charge transfer transistor is connected between the input node and the output node. One end of a pump capacitor is connected to the output node, and the other end is supplied with one of the first and second clock signals corresponding to the first pump stage. A connection switcher connects to the gate of the charge transfer transistor any one of the output node of a pump stage which is supplied with one of the clock signals corresponding to the first pump stage and the input node of a pump stage which is supplied with the other clock signal not corresponding to the first pump stage and which is included in a pump stage row not including the first pump stage.
US07932767B2
A technique for increasing the charge storage capacity of a charge storage device without changing its inherent charge transfer function. The technique may be used to implement a charge domain signal processing circuits such as Analog to Digital Converters (ADCs) used in digital radio frequency signal receivers.
US07932763B2
A signal processing circuit includes: a first operation circuit for receiving a phase component of an input signal, and generating an adjusted phase component and at least one weighting factor according to the phase component of the input signal; a second operation circuit, coupled to the first operation circuit, for receiving the adjusted phase component and converting the adjusted phase component into a frequency component corresponding to the adjusted phase component; a third operation circuit, coupled to the first operation circuit, for receiving an amplitude component of the input signal, and adjusting the amplitude component according to the at least one weighting factor to generate an adjusted amplitude component; and a fourth operation circuit, coupled to the second operation circuit and the third operation circuit, for generating an output signal according to the frequency component and the adjusted amplitude component.
US07932756B2
Various systems and methods for delaying a signal relative to another signal are disclosed. As one example, a delay lock loop circuit is disclosed that includes at least two delay stages. Each of the aforementioned delay stages include a plurality of selectable delay elements. Such selectable delay elements may be, but are not limited to, a plurality of single input buffers, and a plurality of multiple input logic gates. Further, a first of the delay stages is selectably driven by one of a first signal and a reference signal, and the stage provides a first stage output. A second of the delay stages is selectably driven by one of a second signal and the first stage output, and the stage provides a second stage output. The circuit further includes a mode signal that has at least two states. One of the two states causes the first signal to drive the first delay stage and the second signal to drive the second delay stage, and the other state causes the reference signal to drive the first delay stage and the first stage output to drive the second delay stage. In some cases, the first state is referred to as a slave state and the second state is referred to as a master state. In addition, the circuit includes a feedback loop.
US07932744B1
An I/O scheme for an integrated circuit includes a group layout cell. The group layout cell includes a plurality of signal I/O pads. A driver circuit is coupled to each signal I/O pad. The group layout cell also includes two I/O driver-circuit power-supply pads. ESD protection circuitry is coupled to the plurality of driver circuits. The signal I/O pads and the I/O driver-circuit power-supply pads are arranged in rows. The rows may be regular or staggered.
US07932740B1
A driving circuit includes: a first reference current source injects a reference current; each first switch unit is coupled between the first reference current source and one of first and second output ports; a second reference current source sinks the reference current; each second switch unit is coupled between the second reference current source and one of the output ports; a load unit is coupled between the output ports, and a common voltage is applied onto the load unit; and a calibration module calibrates an impedance of the load unit according to a voltage at one of the output ports, and the voltage is generated due to the reference current passing through one of the first switch units, the load unit, and one of the second switch units.
US07932729B2
Provided is a test apparatus that tests a device under test, comprising a pattern generating section that generates a test pattern determined according to a test signal to be supplied to the device under test; a timing signal generating section that generates a timing signal indicating a timing for supplying the test signal to the device under test; a digital filter that filters the test pattern to output a jitter control signal representing jitter corresponding to the test pattern; a jitter injecting section that injects the timing signal with jitter by delaying the timing signal according to the jitter control signal; and a waveform shaping section that generates the test signal formed according to the test pattern, with the timing signal into which the jitter is injected as a reference.
US07932720B2
The disclosed innovation is a method for acquiring spatial frequency spectra from specific locations in a 3D sample using modifications of the current MRI techniques for localized NMR spectroscopy. The innovation in its simplest abstraction is to add the use of a read out gradient to the current NMR spectroscopy pulse sequences and record the resultant echo. These techniques generate spectra from a selected region or generate an image of the results over a region of the sample. These methods can be applied to analyzing the structure of trabecular bone as well as for analyzing or diagnosing disease in cases where there is a difference in the spatial frequency power spectrum due to physiologic or disease processes. Various embodiments are disclosed.
US07932702B1
A lithium-ion battery (126) is normally charged using a constant current/constant voltage charge regime (206, 210), where the battery is charged to a preselected normal voltage level (210) whereupon the voltage is maintained at the limit while the charging current diminishes. The battery charge capacity can be selectively increased by charging the battery to an enhanced voltage level (212). The enhanced charging mode is selected by a user via a device user interface (112), or alternatively by a broadcast command (304) transmitted to the device.
