US07938406B2
A first gasket 10 is placed in a groove formed in a cam cover and seals a gap between a cylinder head and the cam cover. The first gasket 10 includes a pair of seal lips 13 which come into tight contact with the cylinder head and which are provided in parallel to each other, and a plurality of connecting portions 15 which are provided between the pair of seal lips 13, which are connected to each of the seal lips 13, and which hold a distance between the seal lips 13 near the connected portion.
US07938402B2
An improved air-riding seal system for turbine engines is presented. The seal system includes a movable primary seal assembly, a stationary secondary seal assembly, and at least one structure to increase the stiffness of a thin film between the primary seal and a rotating component. The primary seal assembly includes an annular seal ring and an arcuate support arm. The annular seal ring has a cross section that is substantially L-shaped and a surface with a step face and a circumferential dam. The arcuate support arm has a tooth at one end adjacent to an outermost circumferential surface along the seal runner, which could include an optional notch. The tooth and outermost circumferential surface are separated by a gap. The secondary seal ring is disposed between and contacts the primary seal assembly and housing structure so as to form a bore seal and a face seal therewith. A plurality of hydrodynamic pockets disposed along the circumferential dam and/or a plurality of radial dams disposed along the surface in an outward radial arrangement from the circumferential dam are provided to improve the stiffness of the thin film. Features of the invention allow for higher operating speeds.
US07938393B2
A recording apparatus includes a facsimile receiving function and one of a copy function and a printer function. On a shared sheet conveying path, sheets fed from a manual feed port and a cassette feed port are conveyed, and conveying rollers hold the sheet from the manual feed port in a removable state and is capable of conveying the sheet from the cassette feed port when no sheet from the manual feed port is being held. A memory is operable when image formation is not possible for an image received by the facsimile receiving function, to store the received image. It is detected that a sheet from the manual feed port is being held on the sheet conveying path when image formation for the received image is to be carried out on a sheet in the cassette feed port, a warning is given to have the held sheet removed.
US07938391B2
An apparatus for feeding print products, conveyed in a flow, to a processing device. The apparatus includes a feeding device including a first conveyor and a downstream-connected second conveyor. A guide arrangement is provided with side-adjustable guide members having a longitudinal center axis which constitutes the longitudinal center axis relative to the conveyed flow of print products. The print products are aligned along the guide arrangement, and the guide arrangement is configured relative to the longitudinal center axis so that it can be adjusted transverse to the conveying direction of the print products.
US07938377B2
A seat slider assembly is disclosed. The slider seat includes a seat mount and a first slider guide extending along at least a portion of the perimeter of the seat mount. A second slider guide extends from the surface of the seat mount at a position distally located from the perimeter of the seat mount. A slider plate to which a vehicle seat can be mounted includes a first channel for slidably engaging the first slider guide and a second channel for slidably engaging the second slider guide such that the slider plate is slidable between a first position and a second position relative to the seat mount. A locking lever is movably coupled to the slider plate and includes a locking structure to prevent the slider plate from moving relative to the seat mount. A control member operatively coupled to the locking lever to cause the locking lever to move toward an unlocked position wherein the locking structure allows the slider plate to move relative to the seat mount. In some examples, a trim piece is adapted to at least partially cover fasteners mounting the assembly to a vehicle support surface.
US07938359B2
A propulsion system for an airplane having an integrated pylon includes a bypass turbojet and a nacelle. The nacelle has a downstream cylindrical part which is rigid and is attached at its upstream end to an intermediate case of the engine. This downstream cylindrical part also includes a longitudinal beam for attaching rods to secure the engine to the airplane.
US07938358B2
A low-wing, low-span canard aircraft with a protected pusher-style propeller is designed to transition simply between use in the air and use on the ground, without any mechanical effort on the part of the pilot. The vehicle may include deformable aerodynamic bumpers, embedded road-safety vehicle lighting and license plates, a protected propeller, and an integrated RFID airport access system. The vehicle may be designed for potential certification by the Federal Aviation Administration as a Light Sport Aircraft.
US07938356B2
A filament spool for use in a filament spool container, where the filament spool comprises a first rim and a second rim offset by an axial shaft, and a series of grooves extending along a first portion of the first rim and configured to receive a filament of a material while the filament is wound around the axial shaft in a first rotational direction.
US07938352B2
A container includes side walls and a floor panel for packaging coiled wire, which may be welding wire. A wire dispensing apparatus is included that pays-off wire from the coil without tangling or twisting. The wire dispensing apparatus incorporates a plurality of flexible protrusions that extend from a base constructed to minimally contact the coil of wire. In particular, the wire dispensing apparatus incorporates an angled or curved base that rests against an inner circumference of the coiled wire.
US07938322B2
Game ticketing systems and methods provide for the use of radio frequency identifiers (RFIDs). Game tickets such as instant lottery tickets include a substrate having game data and a removable mask covering the game data. A transponder is coupled to the substrate where the transponder stores a ticket RFID that defines a validation code of the game ticket. Game tickets can therefore be dispensed to consumers, validated and tracked using the ticket RFIDs.
US07938319B2
A Tradesman's Card system issues a Tradesman's Card to qualifying tradesman selected from the group consisting of plumbers, electricians, carpenters, masons, mechanics, repair shop professionals, contractors, or related construction or trade companies and professions upon payment of an initiation fee and payment of periodic maintenance fees. The card is issued by a bank or a credit card issuing authority that has contracted with pre-selected wholesalers, jobbers and businesses to provide pre-negotiated discount levels for tradesmen within the group. The tradesman's Card has unique identification features, which identify the card holder as a professional tradesman that is entitled to pre-negotiated discounts. A number visible on the Tradesman's card serves as the system identification number and a credit card number. Professional purchases by the tradesman are tracked by the system, analyzed and reported to sponsoring manufacturers of goods, jobbers or wholesalers for a fee. The purchasing information can be used by merchants for marketing purposes and generation of special discounts on future purchases by the tradesmen.
US07938317B1
An automated banking machine operates responsive to data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader operative to data read from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The automated banking machine includes a display and a printer to produce records of financial transactions carried out with the machine. The automated banking machine includes a processor housed in a case having vents. The machine housing includes vents and a duct assembly extends between the processor case vents and the housing vents.
US07938313B1
A container blank comprises at least one substrate layer made of disposable material and at least one film layer disposed substantially over the substrate layer and having at least one portion adapted to shrink away from the substrate layer upon application of heat. The shrunk film layer portion is adapted to thermally insulate the substrate layer located substantially behind the shrunk film layer portion.
US07938296B2
A two-component syringe is provided with a valve assembly having a common inlet/outlet, the valve assembly being designed to selectively close the containers of the syringe or allow a liquid from the outside to be aspirated into one of the containers via the common inlet/outlet or connect the two containers to each other or allow a mixture to be dispensed through the common inlet/outlet. This valve assembly is composed of a valve body provided with a sealing disk having channels that are arranged such that the connections are established or interrupted when the valve body is rotated. The design of such a valve assembly is simple and cost-efficient, and it allows aspirating liquids into a container and transferring them to another container that holds a powder as well as dispensing multicomponent liquids or pastes efficiently and with minimum pressure and volume losses.
US07938288B2
An auxiliary drain pan for catching liquid that leaks or overflows from an appliance, system or machinery includes a central well and a pan plate surrounding the central well. The pan plate has a top surface that is sloped downwardly towards the central well such that, when the drain pan is operatively positioned on a generally horizontal plane, liquid on the top surface flows into the confined area of the well, thereby minimizing the weight of liquid collected in the drain pan. The well includes a drain line connection port and a removable wall segment for optional attachment of a water detection device. Parallel score lines in the pan plate, extending both longitudinally and transversely on all sides, define removable areas for adjustment of the overall size and shape of the drain pan, thereby allowing for customized sizing at the installation site.
US07938287B2
An LNG storage tank comprises a heat insulating wall on an inner surface of the storage tank, a sealing wall contacting LNG on the heat insulating wall, and a structure to support the sealing wall. The structure comprises an anchor structure, which comprises an anchor member between the inner surface of the storage tank and the sealing wall to secure the sealing wall to the inner surface, and a heat-insulating material around the anchor member. The anchor member is coupled at several portions to the inner surface. The structure provides a simple configuration to the heat insulating wall and the sealing wall, and a simple connection therebetween, enabling convenient construction thereof while increasing sealing reliability. The structure simplifies an assembled structure and a manufacturing process, reducing a construction time of the tank while efficiently relieving stress on the tank.
US07938277B2
A container for releasing a microbiocide component into a liquid composition susceptible to unwanted microbial growth (LCMG) includes a LCMG-impermeable casing separate and apart from an internal combustion engine housing, and having a hollow interior and at least one opening. A microbiocide component, for example, at least one LCMG-soluble microbiocide, is located in the hollow interior. At least one LCMG-permeable element is provided at or near an opening in the casing and is effective to provide for release of microbiocide component into the LCMG. Methods of releasing microbiocide component into LCMGs are also provided.
US07938274B2
A paper sheet processing apparatus has a take-in device which takes in notes set in a setting unit, a judgment device which judges the quality and condition of a note taken in by the take-in device, a stacking box which stacks the note judged the quality and condition by the judgment device, a backup which is provided movably up and down in the stacking box and stacks notes, and a control device which variably controls the position of the backup based on the result of judgment by the judgment device.
US07938270B2
A gift card presenter includes a base portion folded along a fold line and having an inner and outer surface. A support portion is folded along a fold line and includes opposite ends on either side of the support portion fold line, which are secured to the inner surface of the base portion on opposite sides of the base portion fold line. The support portion defines an opening adapted to receive and support a card, which travels through the opening until it engages the base portion. The unfolding of the base portion causes the support portion to unfold and move toward the base portion, which forces the card back through the opening and outward from the support portion, thus creating a pop-up effect.
US07938268B1
A cosmetic box includes a main body having a periphery provided with a plurality of receiving chambers, and a plurality of cosmetic items mounted in the receiving chambers of the main body respectively. Thus, the main body is provided with a plurality of receiving chambers to receive a plurality of cosmetic items to facilitate a user's makeup purposes. In addition, when each of the cosmetic items protrudes outwardly from the main body, the container of each of the cosmetic items is non-rotatable relative to the respective receiving chamber of the main body, so that the lid of each of the cosmetic items is rotatable relative to and detachable from the container to remove the brush from the container, thereby facilitating the user operating the brush.
US07938266B2
A dispensing container device for dispensing small solids such as pills, tablets, or candy, or liquids such as emulsions, gels, solvents, or aqueous solutions, comprising a base, a cover, and an insert. The base has a bottom wall and a curvilinear side wall having an upper edge, the side wall having an aperture. The cover has an upper wall and a curvilinear side wall having a lower edge. The insert has an upper wall and a curvilinear side wall and has an aperture which corresponds with at least some portion of the aperture in the base side wall when the insert is placed within the base. When the cover, base, and insert are assembled, placement of pressure on the cover upper wall or on the base bottom wall reveals the aperture in the base side wall and in the corresponding insert side wall, permitting the dispensing of the device's contents.
US07938260B2
A protection cover is used for sleeving over a portable product so as to help protect the product from being scratched. The protection cover includes a shock-absorbing structure for shielding and concealing a corner of the portable product. The shock-absorbing structure is formed with an air chamber bulging outwardly from the corner of the portable product. The shock-absorbing structure further has an inner region that defines an opening for access into the air chamber and that abuts tightly and sealingly against the corner of the portable product so as to convert the air chamber into an air-trapped chamber when the protection cover is sleeved over the portable product.
US07938247B2
A virtual lug loader includes a lug loader for loading workpieces in a flow direction into the spaced apart lugs on a lugged conveyor, wherein the workpieces are transversely oriented relative to the flow direction. The lug loader includes an array of pairs of endless conveyors for conveying the workpieces downstream, wherein each pair of endless conveyors in the array include first and second endless conveyors. The first and second endless conveyors are spaced laterally apart across the flow direction. Each are aligned substantially in the flow direction. The array forms a continuous upper surface in the flow direction for supporting the workpieces translating downstream in the flow direction. Each pair of endless conveyors in the array overlap adjacent pairs of endless conveyors in the array. At least one pair of endless conveyors in the array include independently actuable first and second drives independently driving their corresponding first and second endless conveyors.
US07938245B2
A method and apparatus for loading a plurality of stacks of currency bills into a currency handling device employing an input receptacle having a first paddle and a second paddle, each paddle being configured to urge one or more stacks of bills towards a front end of the receptacle wherein the relative position of the first and second paddles can be alternated as to which paddle is closer to the front end of the receptacle.
US07938244B2
A flexible liner (10) for a hopper or chute (40) has a plurality of overlapping flexible liner panels or tiles (20) secured to the walls (41,42) of the hopper or chute (40) by fixing strips (30). Each flexible liner panel or tile (20) has an elongate body (21) and a flexible fin or flap (22) formed integrally of elastomeric material, where the flexible fin or flap (22) extends at an acute included angle (α) (in the direction of flow of material through the hopper or chute (140)) to the side walls (41,42) and the Shore A hardness of the elongate body 21) is equal to, or greater than, the Shore A hardness of the flexible fin or flap (22).
US07938234B2
A hydraulic assembly for a hydraulic disc brake system that includes a housing defining a cylinder, a piston received in and moveable within the cylinder, a first lever operatively associated with one of the piston or the cylinder, and a second lever operatively associated with the other of the piston or the cylinder. Moving the first lever pushes one of the piston or the cylinder in a first direction, and moving the second lever pulls the other of the cylinder or the piston in a second direction. In a preferred embodiment, the piston has a non-actuated position and a fully actuated position, and the piston is biased towards the non-actuated position, and wherein the cylinder has a non-actuated and a fully-actuated position, and the cylinder is biased towards the non-actuated position.
US07938233B2
An elevator system includes a lift cage, which is provided with a belt having markings disposed along the length thereof. A device for detecting at least the position, optionally, also the speed and the acceleration of the elevator cage, which is used to scan the markings, comprises a detector which is secured to the elevator cage and is displaced therewith. The detector is, preferably, arranged in such a manner that it detects the markings in one section of the belt which extend from the underloop of the carrier rollers on the elevator cage directly to a fixed point of the belt.
US07938220B2
A material handling vehicle includes an operator compartment having two operator control handles, a deadman switch accessible by an operator using either control handle, and a traction system. The traction system is controlled by the control handles to drive the vehicle in a selected direction, wherein an operator can control the traction system while facing one of the selected directions and the deadman switch is selectively activatable to enable operation from both control handles.
US07938217B2
In exemplary embodiments, a regenerative suspension system replaces or complements a standard shock absorber on a vehicle. A pump attaches via a hose to a central accumulator cylinder that is mounted along the frame rails underneath the vehicle. Pressurized fluid, air, or other material charges the accumulator. The Pressurized fluid, air, or other material is controllably released via a valve in order to perform work.
US07938215B2
A tractor cooling installation has an engine cooling radiator (11) fixed relative to the tractor (16), a first inner bank of one or more coolers (12,13) pivoted on the radiator on a first frame (17) for upward pivoting movement away from the radiator about a first generally horizontal pivot axis (18) transverse to the tractor and a second outer bank of one or more coolers (14) also pivoted on the radiator on a second frame (20) for upward pivoting movement away from the first inner bank of coolers about a second generally horizontal pivot axis transverse to the tractor. A first cooler (12) from the first bank of coolers is mounted on the first frame (17) for pivoting upwardly with the first frame away from the radiator and a second cooler (13) which also forms part of the first bank of coolers is pivotally supported at its upper end by the first frame about a third generally horizontal axis (26). The lower end of the second cooler (13) is attached to the tractor by pivoting link means (27) so that as the first frame (17) pivots upwardly about the first axis (18) the second cooler pivots (13) relative to the first frame (20) about the third axis (26) to a location spaced from the first cooler (12) and the radiator (11).
US07938214B2
A vehicle motor system includes a motor that receives cooling fluid flow from two different cooling sources. A control, such as a valve, selectively changes the cooling flow between the two cooling sources in response to an operational state of the vehicle.
US07938208B2
A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, motors, and a power distribution and integration mechanism that are coaxially arranged with respect to each other. The hybrid vehicle also includes a transmission including a transmission differential rotation mechanism that is a single pinion planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear, a ring gear, and a carrier that is connected to a drive shaft, and that is configured such that these three elements can differentially rotate with each other; and a clutch capable of selectively coupling one of or both of the carrier and the sun gear of the power distribution and integration mechanism with the sun gear of the transmission differential rotation mechanism.
US07938202B2
An attachment and fastener system rigidly secures a rotatable drill pipe protector (RDPP) to a drill pipe. The RDPP comprises a sleeve which is split axially along at least one side. Parallel hinge bars are contained in first and second hinge sections which wrap around the hinge bars along opposite sides of the opening in the RDPP. One hinge bar is rotatable in the first hinge section. A series of axially spaced apart bolts are held in corresponding threaded openings in the rotatable hinge bar which rotates about its axis to swing the bolts in unison between open and closed positions. The other hinge bar has a series of threaded receptor openings facing outwardly from slotted openings in the second hinge section and aligned with the bolts on the other hinge bar. The rotating hinge bar swings the bolts into alignment with the slotted openings in the other hinge, after which the bolts are tightened in the threaded receptor openings for applying a holding force around the drill pipe. The hinges which wrap around each hinge bar are formed on the ends of a reinforcing cage structure molded into the wall of the RDPP.
US07938198B2
A compression enlarging driller comprises a vehicle body; a pole; an outer drilling rod; an inner drilling rod disposed within the outer drilling rod and moveable in a longitudinal direction; a windlass; a connecting lever having an upper end connected with a lower end of the inner drilling rod; a rotary digging bucket connected with a lower end of the connecting lever; a rotary enlarging device; a driving device; and a first hydraulic cylinder. When the driller bores a hoe, it can bore and enlarge the hole without changing a drill bit. A pile constructed by the driller has a high bearing capacity, the number of required piles is decreased, costs lower, and efficiency is improved.
US07938188B2
An apparatus and method for perforating a liner, fracturing a formation, and injection or producing fluid, all in one trip with a single tool. The tool has a plurality of outwardly telescoping elements (12, 14) for perforation and fracturing. The tool also has a mechanical control device for selectively controlling the fracturing of the formation and the injection or production of fluids through the telescoping elements.
US07938182B2
A method for recovering natural gas from a group of subterranean zones containing natural gas, including injecting an amount of a displacing gas into a first subterranean zone, producing a first produced gas from the first subterranean zone, collecting an amount of the first produced gas wherein the quality of the collected first produced gas is higher than or equal to a threshold production quality for the first produced gas, injecting an amount of the first produced gas into a second subterranean zone wherein the quality of the injected first produced gas is higher than or equal to a threshold injection quality for the first produced gas, producing a second produced gas from the second subterranean zone, and collecting an amount of the second produced gas wherein the quality of the collected second produced gas is higher than or equal to a threshold production quality for the second produced gas.
US07938181B2
A method of injecting a treatment fluid into a portion of a subterranean formation, comprising providing a treatment fluid having a viscosity; determining the breakdown pressure of the portion of the subterranean formation; calculating the maximum sustainable flow rate for the treatment fluid; and, injecting the treatment fluid into the portion of the subterranean formation at a flow rate less than or equal to the maximum sustainable flow rate for the treatment fluid. A method of injecting a treatment fluid into a portion of a subterranean formation, comprising providing a treatment fluid having a viscosity; determining the breakdown pressure of the portion of the subterranean formation; calculating the maximum allowable treatment fluid viscosity; adjusting the viscosity of the treatment fluid to a viscosity less than or equal to the maximum allowable treatment fluid viscosity; and injecting the treatment fluid into the subterranean formation at the selected treatment fluid flow rate.
US07938180B2
A sensor used to determine the height of one or more fluids in a fluid column and to determine a location of an interface or boundary between a plurality of fluids in a fluid column is disclosed. The sensor includes a plurality of sensing elements comprising a capacitor and other components, such as resistors and inductors. The sensor also includes an oscillator that alters a frequency of an electrical current applied to the sensor, from which the dielectric constant of the fluid in which each sensing element is disposed can be determined. Methods of using such a sensor to determine the relative heights of various fluids in a fluid column are disclosed. In particular, methods of using embodiments of the invention in a well, such as water and petroleum wells, are described.
US07938179B2
A sensor and transmitter is employed with a pressurized chamber of a downhole tool to be able to tell at a glance when the tool is delivered for service that it is properly charged. The sensor and transmitter can be integrated within the tool so as to be protected from damage during run in. While in service the sensor and transmitter can monitor pressure in real time and include a capability to send surface signals for real time monitoring of chamber pressures corrected for the service depth, temperature and density of the hydraulic fluid, for example. The signal can be acoustic through the control line or the annulus or delivered through a fiber optic cable or signal wire run in the hydraulic control line, an auxiliary line or through the annulus.
US07938173B2
Fixed to the peripheral wall of a header 2 of a unit-type heat exchanger 1 is a receiver connecting block 6 having channels 31, 32 for causing the interior of the header 2 to communicate with the interior of a liquid receiver 7 therethrough. The block 6 and the liquid receiver 7 have respective fixing portions 32, 36 and respective contact faces 22a, 36a each provided on the fixing portion. The outer peripheral surfaces of the fixing portions 22, 36 have respective contours of the same shape and the same size. The liquid receiver 7 is fixed to the block 6 with the contact faces 22a, 36a of the fixing portions 22, 36 in intimate contact with each other. A tubular seal member 42 having rubber elasticity is liquid-tightly fitted around the fixing portions 22, 36. The seal member 42 has an inner shape smaller than the contours of the outer peripheral surfaces of the fixing portions 22, 36 and is fitted as elastically deformed around the fixing portions 22, 36. Rainwater or the like can be prevented from ingressing into an interstice between the contact faces of the block and the liquid receiver.
US07938165B2
A vertical casting process for an intermediate product, including the steps of (a) preparation of at least two aluminum based alloys, particularly a first alloy with composition P and a second alloy with composition T, (b) casting of the first alloy with composition P to a required height HP, and (c) casting of an additional required height HT of the alloy with composition T. The object of this invention is the manufacture of monolithic structural elements with working properties that are variable in at least one direction, and particularly bi-functional or multi-functional structural elements capable of performing at least two functions that are traditionally performed by two different parts.
US07938160B2
An ultrasonic bonding apparatus includes an ultrasonic bonding unit, and a wiping unit configured to wipe out pre-cured underfill that has adhered to a tool surface of a head, by using a wiping member. The ultrasonic bonding unit includes a first driver configured to drive the head to press an electronic component upon a substrate, and an ultrasonic generator. The wiping unit includes a wiping table used to wipe out the tool surface, a feed mechanism configured to supply a wiping member to the wiping table and to roll up the wiping member, a cartridge configured to house the wiping table and the feed mechanism, and a second driver configured to drive the cartridge in the plane. The first driver is configured to press the head upon the wiping member on the wiping table.
US07938155B2
A cutting assembly includes a knife assembly having a knife holder and a knife blade, a counter knife, and a scoring tip holder. In one arrangement, the counter knife is secured to a ring strander drum, the knife holder and scoring tip holder are carried by a clamping element, and knife blade is disposed between the counter knife and the knife holder. In a closed position, the clamping element causes the knife and scoring tip holders to generate a compressive force against the counter knife, thereby securing the knife blade within the cutting assembly. In an open position, the clamping element positions the knife and scoring tip holders in a spaced relationship relative to the counter knife, thereby allowing removal of the knife blade from the cutting assembly. Accordingly, an operator can replace the knife blade in the cutting assembly without having to remove the entire cutting assembly from the ring strander device.
US07938145B2
A coupler including electrical and pneumatic interfaces. The coupler includes a manifold having pneumatic apertures and a support having connector apertures to accommodate one or more valves.
US07938144B2
A refueling valve assembly is a pressure-activated valve that allows a flow of fluid, for example, fluid fuel, into the fuel reservoir. A fuel inlet port allows for the fluid fuel to be introduced into the valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a compressible member having a first sealing position and a second fueling position, where the compressible member is more compressed in the second fueling position than the first sealing position. The compressible member is sealingly coupled with the fuel inlet port when the compressible member is in the first sealing position.
US07938139B2
A reset relief valve with a body having an inlet port, an outlet port, and an interior wall partially defining an enclosed chamber, a piston disposed in the body and moveable between a first position at which the piston is disposed in fluid flow-blocking relationship between the inlet port and the outlet port of the body and a second position at which the piston is removed from that position, a piston having a head with opposed end surfaces one of which defines a portion of the enclosed chamber and at least one fluid flow passageway extending through the head and providing fluid communication between the enclosed chamber in the body, and a second chamber above a moveable disc in the piston and a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the fluid in the chambers. A preferred embodiment includes data acquisition software for monitoring data and storing pressure and other data to control the operation of the valve.
US07938137B2
A method of hot tapping into a multiple string configuration for obtaining access to the production tubing without removing outer layers of casing by providing a multiple casing string that includes at least an outer casing and an inner casing or production string; mounting a clamp assembly around the wall of the outer casing; hot tapping a small opening through the outer casing wall to capture any pressurized fluid through the opening; cutting first and second large openings through the wall of the outer casing to access the inner casing, each opening being approximately 180 degrees from the other opening; through the first opening, drilling a small hole through the wall of the inner casing to capture any pressurized fluid through the opening in the inner casing; and inserting an anvil through the second opening to contact and stabilize the wall of the inner casing to prevent the casing from moving while the casing is drilled.
US07938133B2
A tent assembly includes a storage container, a tent body, a first fold guide and a second fold guide. The tent body is configured to transition from an erect position to a collapsed position and is configured to be folded along a plurality of predetermined fold lines to fit within the storage container when the tent body is in the collapsed position. The first fold guide is coupled to the tent body and is spaced a first distance from and positioned on a first side of one of the plurality of predetermined fold lines. The second fold guide is coupled to the tent body and spaced the first distance from and positioned on a second side of the one of the plurality of predetermined fold lines, wherein the second side is opposite the first side. Other tents, tent bodies and associated methods are also described.
US07938130B2
A substrate holding rotating mechanism is used to hold and rotate a substrate to be processed. The substrate holding rotating mechanism according to the present invention includes at least three spindles, clamp rollers mounted respectively on the spindles for holding a periphery of a substrate, a rotating device for rotating at least one of the clamp rollers, at least one base member on which at least one of the spindles is installed, and a rotational mechanism adapted to allow the base member to be rotatable.
US07938116B2
A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having a main body and a side frame member provided on each lateral side of the main body. Each side frame member includes an integrally formed first connector portion. A headgear assembly is removably attachable to the frame. The headgear assembly has a second connector portion adapted to be removably coupled with the first connector portion provided on the frame. The second connector portion is manually movable to a releasing position to detach the headgear assembly from the frame. The headgear assembly is rotationally adjustable with respect to the frame.
US07938111B2
A connection head for an absorber (4) of an anesthetic breathing system has a simple design and can be easily taken apart. A valve device (2) is inserted into a guide sleeve (7), which is open towards the absorber (4). A sealing ring (16), which has two sealing areas (23, 24) and fixes the valve means (2) within the guide sleeve (7), is arranged on the underside of the guide sleeve (7).
US07938104B2
A liquid fuel supply and evaporator system for use in connection with combustion-powered fastener-driving tools comprises an evaporator housing which is disposed in thermal communication with the combustion chamber housing of the tool in order to absorb heat or thermal radiation generated within the tool combustion chamber. A sintered metal liquid fuel evaporator element is interposed between the evaporator housing and a liquid fuel distribution manifold whereby the liquid fuel is effectively converted into a gaseous fuel which is then transmitted by a gas distribution manifold toward the combustion chamber of the fastener-driving tool.
US07938101B2
An adaptive fuel delivery control system includes a pressure monitoring module and a flow rate determination module. The pressure monitoring module determines an actual pressure drop after a fuel injection event on an injector. The flow rate determination module determines an adjusted flow rate based on a reference flow rate and the pressure drop.
US07938095B2
An oil pan baffle is secured by a securing device on the oil pan. The securing device has an oil pan gasket with a gasket body matched to a sealing contour of an oil pan relative to a crankcase and securing elements that are connected to the gasket body and project inwardly away from an inner perimeter of the gasket body. The securing elements act on contact surfaces of the oil pan baffle, with which contact surfaces the oil pan baffle is positioned in receptacles of the oil pan, and exert pressure effecting secure fixation of the oil pan baffle on the oil pan when the oil pan gasket is compressed by mounting the oil pan on the crankcase.
US07938091B2
A cam lobe of a camshaft has a base circle portion and a lifting lobe portion. A camshaft journal of the camshaft has first and second bearing portions that bear reaction forces from the base circle portion and the lifting lobe portion, respectively. The first bearing portion has an axial width smaller than that of the second bearing portion with at least a portion of an axial end surface of the first bearing portion facing the cam lobe being disposed away from the cam lobe relative to an axial end surface of the second bearing portion. The base circle portion has an axial width smaller than that of the lifting lobe portion with at least a portion of an axial end surface of the base circle portion facing the camshaft journal being disposed away from the camshaft journal relative to an axial end surface of the lifting lobe portion.
US07938082B2
A milking machine cylinder comprising a flexible element and at least one sensor element which detects at least a substantial weight relief of the flexible element in order to trigger a start signal for a milking process.
US07938080B2
In a method for using a film formation apparatus for a semiconductor process, process conditions of a film formation process are determined. The process conditions include a preset film thickness of a thin film to be formed on a target substrate. Further, a timing of performing a cleaning process is determined in accordance with the process conditions. The timing is defined by a threshold concerning a cumulative film thickness of the thin film. The cumulative film thickness does not exceed the threshold where the film formation process is repeated N times (N is a positive integer), but exceeds the threshold where the film formation process is repeated N+1 times. The method includes continuously performing first to Nth processes, each consisting of the film formation process, and performing the cleaning process after the Nth process and before an (N+1)th process consisting of the film formation process.
US07938077B1
A hydrogen generation apparatus for an underwater vehicle is presented, the apparatus including a hydrolysis reaction compartment, a mass of solid lithium hydride disposed in the compartment, inlet and outlet structure for passing sea water through the compartment to generate steam, lithium hydroxide and hydrogen gas, a condenser for condensing out the steam and retaining the condensate and lithium hydroxide, and a tank for collecting the hydrogen gas, the tank having outlet structure for discharging the hydrogen gas to a vehicle propulsion system.
US07938066B2
A storage arrangement for a strip charge includes a spool having a central aperture into which is placed an end of the strip charge, and a channel extending from the central aperture out to a peripheral wall around which the strip charge is wound. The channel includes a slightly curving portion so as not to unduly bend the strip charge. The spool is removably attached to a base plate that maintains the strip charge in place prior to use.
US07938064B2
A printing unit of a web-fed rotary press has a plurality of press units, each press unit having a form cylinder, a transfer cylinder, an inking unit and optionally a damping unit, and having at least one impression cylinder. Each form cylinder rolls on the respective transfer cylinder and each transfer cylinder rolling on an impression cylinder in a thrown-on position of the printing unit, in order to apply single-color printed images onto a printing material which is moved through between the transfer cylinders and the or each impression cylinder. Each form cylinder bears a plurality of printing images next to one another in the axial direction, by which corresponding single-color printed images are applied to the printing material. The printing images which are arranged next to one another in the axial direction of the respective form cylinder are offset with respect to one another in the circumferential direction in such a way that deviations in the circumferential register between the single-color printed images which are to be printed in different press units can be compensated for.
US07938062B2
A press specially adapted to compress a stack which includes one or more pressure sensitive based fastening layers which are actuated by application of substantial pressure. A lower press plate includes a receiving surface upon which the stack is positioned and first and second guide members, with the receiving surface being tilted with respect to a level plane such that the stack tends to move on the receiving surface towards the two guide members. An upper press plate is provided which includes a compressing surface which is substantially parallel with respect to the receiving surface when the press is in a first operating mode. A drive mechanism is provided for driving the lower and upper press plates towards one another so as to applying a compressing force to the stack.
US07938057B2
The invention relates to a piston pump which is used to guide a fluid and which comprises a cylinder, a piston which is displacably arranged in the cylinder, a return element for the piston and a drive in order to displace the piston in the cylinder. The cylinder comprises a first area having a first internal diameter and a second area having a second internal diameter. The first internal diameter is greater than the second internal diameter.
US07938046B2
A torque-limiting driver has a handle, a body, a torque-limiting assembly and a work-piece engaging tip. The torque-limiting assembly includes an upper and lower shank that have a plurality of teeth circumferentially spaced. The teeth have a vertical face, an inclined face and a flat peak. The inclined face is defined by a radius of curvature that transitions to the flat peak. There is a spring for applying pressure across the upper and lower shank. The teeth engage for relative rotation when the handle is turned and disengage when a predetermined value of torque is exceeded.
US07938043B2
A ratchet wrench includes a drive member and a switch rotatably received in a body. A pawl is movably received in the body and has first and second sides. The second side of the pawl includes a pressing portion having upper and lower sections. The pressing portion further includes two pressing sections. Two positioning units are mounted between the switch and the second side of the pawl. The positioning units press against the upper and lower sections to bias the first side of the pawl to engage with the drive member. The positioning units press against one of the pressing sections corresponding to one of two positions of the switch.
US07938039B2
A cable control assembly is beneficially adapted for shifting controllable mechanisms, such as a power take-off unit, between two conditions, an initial position and an actuated position. The cable control assembly preferably includes a housing, a handle extending from the housing, a driving member, a driven member, and a locking member such as a pawl. Upon shifting of the handle from an initial position to an actuated position, the driving member shifts the driven member, which is operatively coupled to the control cable. Upon reaching the actuated position, the locking member holds the driven member in the actuated position without transmitting a tensioning force applied to the control cable to the driving member. Return of the driving member in a direction toward the initial position automatically causes the locking member to move free of the driven member and enable return of the driven member and control cable to the initial position without other unlocking steps.
US07938034B2
The actuator for a motor vehicle has an electric motor driving an output shaft and a transmission comprising a worm, a spindle nut and a spindle. The worm is rotatably connected to the output shaft. The spindle nut comprises a worm gear that engages the worm and also a spindle thread that engages the spindle. The worm has a worm axis and the spindle nut has a spindle nut axis. The worm axis and the spindle nut axis draw an angle alpha of between about 85 ° and about 5° and, in one embodiment, between about 70° and about 40° .
US07938032B2
A dissolution test apparatus includes a vessel support member, weight sensors, a movable component, a media transport cannula, a pump, and an electronic controller. The vessel support member receives vessels. A weight sensor is located at each vessel site. Each weight sensor contacts a vessel and transmits a measurement signal indicative of the weight of the vessel and any contents therein. The movable component moves the media transport cannula toward a vessel site. The pump establishes media flow between the media transport cannula and the selected vessel. The controller communicates with the weight sensors and may also communicate with the pump. Based on the measurement signals received from the weight sensors, the electronic controller may calculate the volume of media in a given vessel. The electronic controller may also control media flows to or from the vessels by transmitting control signals to the pump assembly.
US07938022B2
The flowmeter is provided with an oscillation circuit receiving supply of electric power in a non-insulated manner from an external power source and supplying the electric power to the coil to drive the magnetic substance, an insulating unit for insulating the coil from the magnetic substance and/or the electrically conductive fluid pipe, and a shielding unit being short-circuited to have a stable electric potential relative to the external power source and shielding the coil against the magnetic substance and the fluid pipe.
US07938016B2
An apparatus and method uses a die having at least one perimeter side with multiple pads. A structure is positioned between the at least one perimeter side and the multiple pads having multiple layers within the die. The structure functions as both a strain gauge and a crack stop. The structure arrests cracks from propagating from the at least one perimeter side to an interior of the die and provides an electrical resistance value as a function of an amount of strain existing where the structure is positioned. In another form the structure is implemented on a substrate such as a printed circuit board rather than in a semiconductor die.
US07938007B2
A method for inspecting joined material interfaces, such as butt fusion pipe joints of plastic pipes, using ultrasonic waveforms to discriminate between acceptable and unacceptable interfaces. The waveforms (amplitude vs time) having been transmitted to a material interface of interest are divided into a number of time zones and the amplitudes of the waveforms within the time zones compared against waveform amplitudes obtained from known acceptable joined material interfaces to determine the quality of the material interface of interest.
US07938004B1
Disclosed herein are systems and methods of angular rate and position measurement that combine a small footprint with hardening and isolation technologies that allow it to function in acceleration, angular rate, noise and vibration environments that cause other gyroscopes to either fail or to produce erroneous outputs. An example embodiment contains a triad of accelerometers, a triad of gyroscopes, analog and digital ancillary electronics and a processor housed within a housing which is also filled with vibration reducing encapsulating compound. The disclosed systems and methods of angular rate and position measurement are capable of measuring and correcting internal errors and perturbations caused by the longitudinal and angular accelerations and temperature excursions of aerospace vehicles, isolating the gyroscope elements from the effects of acoustic noise and vibration, and accurately measuring the relatively small pitch and yaw oscillations of the vehicle in its flight path trajectory.
US07938001B2
A direction indicator comprising a direction pointer arranged to pivot about a fulcrum and a flight mounted on the direction pointer that is capable of interacting with a fluid flow, the flight having a resistive portion resistive to fluid flow in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the direction pointer, the resistive portion being substantially effective to cause the direction pointer to pivot about the fulcrum and thereby align the flight with the direction of the fluid flow.
US07937993B2
An engine starter motor tester applies power to a motor under test at the level normally applied while that motor is installed in a vehicle and monitors the ripple in the driving current. The ripple rate, scaled by the number of windings used in the construction of the motor, provides a direct reading of the shaft speed of the unloaded motor. This number allows a valid inference concerning the state of health of the motor, and is more certain than an estimate for an unloaded motor based on operator experience and motor “sound”. A complete test apparatus includes a stored lookup table, allowing the user to key in a product brand and model number and read directly both the RPM and the test apparatus's rating of the motor under test, expressed in terms such as percentage of life remaining.
US07937992B2
The engine misfire detection process of the invention sets a first threshold value and second threshold values to be referred to for detection of an engine misfire and detects an engine misfire based on the settings of the first threshold value and the second threshold values and 360-degree differences. The engine misfire detection process of the invention detects the occurrence of an engine misfire at each gear position of the transmission by taking into account the varying effects of the operating conditions of a motor the transmission, and a planetary gear mechanism on the crankshaft of the engine.
US07937987B2
A method for monitoring a filter installed in a fluid system. The steps include providing a reference region in the fluid system, the region including a chamber having a known volume and releasing a fluid from the chamber configured to flow through the reference region. The method further includes measuring pressure and temperature values at predetermined locations at predetermined time intervals and determining filter permeability values in response to measured pressure and temperature values. The method further includes comparing the filter permeability values to predetermined filter permeability values.
US07937980B2
A method for the drawing of a longitudinal workpiece wherein drawing forces required for the drawing are applied by means of at least a sprocket chain comprising link plates wherein the drawing forces are introduced from the workpiece via the link plates into the sprocket chain as a result of which the latter can be constructed lighter and apply greater drawing forces.
US07937977B2
A key holder, comprising an external housing and an internal housing pivotably mounted inside the external housing. Keys can be retractably mounted in the internal housing with means by which keys can be extended in and out of the internal housing while the internal housing. The internal housing can be rotated in relation to the external housing when the keys are retracted into said internal housing with the keys in the internal housing held under pressure against a plug of soft material to dampen rattling when in a retracted position. The external housing includes an internal chamber sized and configured to contain a larger remote key adjacent the internal housing when the internal housing is retracted into the key holder. Other aspects of the key holder include an integral flash light or cell phone.
US07937976B2
A rekeyable lock cylinder comprises a cylinder body and a plug assembly disposed within the cylinder body. The plug assembly comprises a plug body, a plurality of assembled pins and a position block. The plug body has a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis vertical to the longitudinal axis, a keyhole and a first through hole. Each of the assembled pins is movably disposed in the plug body and comprises a first rack component and a second rack component selectively engaging with the first rack component. The position block disposed at the plug body has a plurality of pin runners used for disposing the first rack components, a second through hole corresponding to the first through hole and a tool-contacting surface located within the second through hole. The position block can move along the transverse axis-direction of the plug body to make each of the first rack components reengage with each of the second rack components.
US07937965B2
The present invention generally relates to a jewelry ring (1) and a method for the production of such a jewelry ring (1). The jewelry ring consists of a first ring (2) having an inner surface area, a second ring (3) and a sliding ring (4), the latter is located between the first ring (2) and the second ring (3) to ease a preferably frictionless twistability of the two rings to each other.
US07937960B2
A humidity controller includes a differential pressure detection means (93, 97) for detecting a difference between high voltage and low voltage in a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerant circuit (50) and a control means (30) for controlling the capacity of the compressor (53). The control means (30) reduces the capacity of the compressor (53) when a detected value of the differential pressure detection means (93, 97) exceeds a reduction threshold. Further, the control means (30) stops the compressor (53) when the detected value of the differential pressure detection means (93, 97) exceeds a stop threshold higher than the reduction threshold.
US07937949B2
An engine starting apparatus and method may allow for two methods of engine start where only one engine gearbox accessory pad exists off the aircraft engine. A gearbox lubricating apparatus may also be provided to lubricate the gearbox at altitude without added complexity. Two engine starting inputs (for example, one input for ground start and one input for in-flight engine start) are provided while avoiding complex gearbox designs. Clutches may also be used to prevent the starter gearbox from continuous operation (rotation) after the engine has started. Apparatus and methods are also provided for improving the air-fuel combustion of the hot-gas turbine start input (for in-flight engine start) to minimize the build-up of solid carbon (soot) in and around the combustor and turbine nozzle flow passages.
US07937945B2
Units of engines are described herein. The units contain a unique combined-cycle (deflagration-detonation) “contra-rotation, anti-gyration, gyroscopic,” turbine fan-jet/free-piston engine configuration for induced air supercharging that boosts the performance of novel Ramjet engines or Ramjet engine configurations by improving internal air-stream dynamics. These dynamics are the result of co-operative air stream intermixing through convergent, supercharge-attenuated, inducted, compressed, tuned, pre-heated ambient air. Results are achieved through the varying of the geometric structural form and the utilization of unique engines and air induction and propulsion conformations, aided with supplemental air, fuel, oxygen and optional water and electrolyte charging.
US07937936B2
An exhaust component arrangement is provided for an off-road vehicle having an engine, a cab, a transmission connected to the engine, and a fuel tank adjacent the transmission. A portion of the fuel tank is positioned below a portion of the cab. The exhaust component arrangement includes a particulate filter unit, a NOx reduction unit, and an oxidation catalyst unit, all connected in series. The fuel tank has a recess formed in an upper surface thereof. A lower portion of one of the units is received in the recess. Preferably, a lower portion of the NOx reduction unit is received in the recess.
US07937934B2
A metering pump assembly for admixing a fluid reduction agent from a supply container and a pressurized air flow into an exhaust gas flow of a combustion engine includes an assembly housing and a pre-mixer at least partially within the housing. A membrane pump within the housing is fluidly connected between the supply container and the pre-mixer. An electric motor generates a rotational output. A transmission converts the rotational output of the electric motor into translatory movement. The translatory movement drives the membrane pump to pump the reduction agent from the supply container into the pre-mixer. The pressurized air flow is in fluid communication with the pre-mixer and mixes with the reduction agent within the pre-mixer to form a reduction agent air mixture. An exit conduit fluidly connects the pre-mixer to the exhaust gas flow. The reduction air mixture is delivered through the exit conduit and into the exhaust gas flow.
US07937926B2
A fuel conveying member for an engine, the fuel conveying member having heating means integrated therein to permit pyrolysis of carbonaceous deposits.
US07937919B2
An agricultural harvesting machine includes a feeder housing and a cutting platform attached to the feeder housing. The cutting platform includes at least one platform section, each of which includes a frame, a plurality of float arms pivotally coupled with the frame, an endless belt carried by the plurality of float arms, and a plurality of hydraulic cylinders. Each hydraulic cylinder is associated with a respective float arm and includes a rod, a piston and a fluid chamber on a side of the piston providing a passive stop.
US07937918B1
A plurality of corn head row units are mounted in side-by-side relationship to each other, with each row unit including a first gear case containing a gear train coupled for driving two forwardly projecting stalk roll drive shafts and two gathering chain drive shafts supported by the gear case. Located beside the first gear case is a second gear case containing a second gear train coupled driving a stalk chopper drive shaft supported by, and projecting downwardly from, the second gear case. A main power shaft extends through a rear region of the first and second gear cases and carries a dual direction slip clutch providing overload protection for the first and second gear cases. When a stalk chopper is not used, the slip clutch is arranged for establishing overload protection for an adjacent second row unit gear case.
US07937903B2
A panel for use in constructing a ceiling of an enclosure, particularly a cleanroom without using a grid support. The panel includes a thin shell or skin which is placed around an internal bracing member in such as fashion that the resulting panel can be hung from an overhead support in a fashion to have a single join or seam between adjacent panels.
US07937899B2
The water drain is a hollow body defining a drainage aperture. The hollow body is adapted for installation in a screen base channel in a lanai, verandah, or screened porch. The hollow body is preferably a flat tube made of plastic, and has a mounting flange around the periphery of one end of the tube. A web or divider wall may bifurcate the hollow body from front to back, adding strength to the walls of the tube. A cap fits over the drainage aperture to limit fluid flow therethrough. The water drain may alternatively be made of aluminum or other corrosion-resistant metal.
US07937898B2
The present invention relates to a building complex (100) of the type containing eight construction elements (2) for residential use, situated at a suitable relative distance so as not to create visible interference with each other. Each construction element (2) for living purposes has a square plan base (3), at least an internal patio element (4), and at least one entrance facade (5). Each construction element (2) for residential use comprises a series of carrying building structures (6) situated along the perimeter of each construction element (2) for residential use.
US07937891B2
A plant growth array device includes an aerial growth chamber configured to receive aerial shoot portions of a plurality of plants and a root growth chamber configured to receive root portions of the plurality of plants. A dividing member is between the aerial growth chamber and the root chamber and has a plurality of apertures for receiving the plurality of plants therein. The plurality of apertures are configured so that the root portions grow substantially in a common orientation.
US07937880B1
A camera integrated firearm system replaces the original recoil spring and guide assembly of a firearm with a casing which includes a camera, a camera actuating module which turns the camera on when the orientation of the handgun barrel is changed, a gunshot impact sensing and signal transmitting module, an image memory module, and output data ports. The casing is also equipped with a unique power-data port integrated into the lens unit of the camera. When the weapon is drawn, the camera is turned on to record events, including the discharge of the weapon. The camera, utilizing ambient light plus the light generated by muzzle flash, i.e. the jet of fire exiting the barrel at the instant the bullet exits the weapon, takes and saves, in memory, a closely spaced sequential stream of digital photographs or, alternatively, video recordings. Using the data outputs, the images can then be downloaded for viewing.
US07937877B2
A firearm has a body formed of a unitary first shell and a unitary second shell. Each shell defines an open cavity and has a peripheral rim. The rims of the shells are connected together so that the cavities define a receiver chamber. A bolt reciprocates within the receiver chamber, and a barrel connected to the shells has a chamber positioned for operable engagement by the bolt. The shells may together define a gas tube, and may define a barrel receiving element, each shell having a barrel engagement element. Each shell may have a side panel with flat portions having a limited thickness, and elongated ribs of a greater thickness. The ribs may extend about the periphery of planar side panels, and may extend between the periphery and selected stress elements on the body including a buttstock mounting facility. A bolt handle slot may have opposed rows of spaced apart bolt handle guides in an alternating arrangement.
US07937867B1
A tab extending from a panel is inserted into a channel through an opening in a vertically aligned bracket supported by a pole. The bracket includes a pair of plates positioned in spaced overlying relation and connected by a brace to form the channel between the plates. The panel is first moved in a vertical direction until an upper tab is inserted through a slot formed by a stop positioned in the channel at a predetermined distance from the brace. The upper tab guides a notch in the panel to receive the stop until the stop contacts the bottom of the notch. Thereafter the panel is rotated in the channel until a lower tab is aligned with a second slot formed by a second stop at the opposite end of the channel. The panel is further moved until the second tab is positioned in the second slot to guide a second notch in the panel to receive the second stop and securely retain the panel in the bracket channel.
US07937862B2
A sliding accessory may be mounted on a rail of a file folder, binder, sheet protector, divider, or other device. The accessory may be initially provided on a printable sheet, and may be provided with one or more fold lines that enable the accessory to be folded into a desired configuration. The fold lines may also be used to form a male portion that may be inserted into the rail of the file folder for attaching the accessory to the file folder. The male portion may be provided on one or two sides of the accessory depending on a rail configuration of the file folder. The male portion may have securing portions that interconnect with securing edges of the rail of the file folder. The securing portions and securing edges interconnect in such a manner that enables the accessory to be slidably moved along the rail. The accessory may be produced from a printable sheet having one or more die-cut accessories formed therein.
US07937859B2
A wheeled load transfer device has a load carrying member, a handle assembly and a pair of wheels optionally connected to a distal end of the handles and preferably offset below the plane of the handles. The load carrying member includes opposing side portions, a bottom portion. The load carrying member is rotatable between a first loading position which is preferably parallel to the ground and a second load transporting position which is inclined to the ground to better retain the load. The load carrying member can be rotated to different positions to scoop, transport and dump the load.
US07937858B2
A hitch assembly includes a hitch assembly frame. A tow bar includes a shaft having a first end pivotably attached to the hitch assembly frame and a coupling member attached to a second end of the shaft. A push plate is pivotably attached to the hitch assembly frame and defines a vertically aligned slot. The tow bar is movable within the vertically aligned slot. Such a hitch assembly may be used to operate machines, such as tractor scrapers, in a push-pull configuration.
US07937856B2
An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper. The sole assembly has at least one fluid-filled chamber capable of transmitting light and a recess. A light source is positioned in the recess, and an outsole is secured to a lower surface of the sole assembly.
US07937843B2
A compass includes two legs having upper ends interconnected in a leg joint and lower ends with holders for refills or styluses. An adjusting spindle penetrates the legs, in particular, in vicinity of the leg joint. The legs have carrier zones in the form of widenings serving in a region between the leg joint and the free leg ends as a base of an information bearing surface surpassing the width of the legs in their spreading plane. The information bearing surfaces are disposed on both broad sides of the compass and constructed as undivided surfaces projecting from one leg into the region of the other leg. If the compass is closed, two mounting disks of the information bearing surfaces lie congruently above one another and only two outer information bearing surfaces and can be seen. All four information bearing surfaces can be seen in the open state of the compass.
US07937834B2
A capacitive ultrasonic transducer includes a first electrode, an insulating layer formed on the first electrode, at least one support frame formed on the insulating layer, and a second electrode formed space apart from the first electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode define an effective area of oscillation of the capacitive ultrasonic transducer, and the respective length of the first electrode and the second electrode defining the effective area of oscillation is substantially the same.
US07937833B2
A method of manufacturing a circuit board is disclosed. A method of manufacturing a circuit board that includes forming a first circuit pattern on the insulation layer of a carrier, in which an insulation layer and a first seed layer are stacked in order; stacking and pressing the carrier and an insulation board with the side of the carrier having the first circuit pattern facing the insulation board; removing the carrier to transfer the first circuit pattern and the insulation layer onto the insulation board; and forming a second circuit pattern on the insulation layer transferred to the insulation board, allows fine pitch circuit patterns to enable the manufacture of fine circuit patterns of high density on the board, and allows the manufacture of a multi-layer circuit board with a simple process.
US07937829B2
The Med-ic™ Electronic Compliance Monitor (ECM) addresses the problem of patient non-compliance with prescribed medication. The Med-ic™ ECM provides precise information about the patient's use of blister-packaged medication in clinical research and general pharmacy settings. Using an on-board central processing unit (CPU), the Med-ic™ ECM records the time each tablet or capsule is expelled from the blister package, keeping a record for later analysis. At the time of refilling or follow-up visit, the information is downloaded to the research assistant's, physician's or pharmacist's computer where it can be displayed graphically. The data can be stored for later analysis. Production of a Med-ic™ ECM Tag involves numerous steps. These steps incorporate certain methods and technologies to accomplish their objective, the steps being detailed in the specification.
US07937824B2
A method for manufacturing a nonreciprocal circuit device in which a ferrite-magnet device including ferrite having first and second center electrodes arranged to intersect and be electrically insulated from each other and a pair of permanent magnets fixed to both principal surfaces of the ferrite so as to apply a direct current magnetic field to the ferrite is solder-bonded to a surface of a substrate. The ferrite-magnet device is solder-bonded to the surface of the substrate while a magnetic plate is disposed on a back surface of the substrate.
US07937822B2
A method is for connecting a tab pattern formed on a base sheet and a lead wire, wherein the tab pattern includes: a tab main portion; and a connecting portion formed to continue from one edge line of the tab main portion and to extend from the tab main portion along an extension line that is substantially orthogonal to the edge line, and wherein the method includes: connecting the lead wire on the tab main portion by bonding the lead wire at a position being displaced from the extension line of the connecting portion for more than a given offset amount where the extension line is identical to a center line of the connecting portion, the position being within a given distance from the edge line of the tab main portion.
US07937818B2
A method for sealing a cable in an enclosure includes assembling a first portion and a second portion of a cable seal around a cable. The first and second portions of the cable seal define a central axial opening having a sealing surface. The cable is disposed in the central axial opening. The method further includes inserting the cable seal and cable through an entrance of a generally u-shaped cable entry point of a side of an enclosure and positioning the cable seal within the cable entry point such that the cable seal protrudes from opposite surfaces of the side. An outer gasket seals between the surfaces of the side of the enclosure and the cable seal.
US07937817B2
An instrumented fastener (e.g., a “tack” fastener) includes one or more light sources (e.g., light-emitting diodes) configured to produce a light beacon that includes encoded information regarding the instrumented fastener (e.g., part number), wherein the direction of the light beacon can be used to align external and/or internal assembly systems to the instrumented fasteners. The light beacon may be activated automatically, or via an instruction received from an external system. Once aligned, the assembly system may, for example, proceed with installing permanent fasteners between neighboring tack fasteners.
US07937816B2
The invention relates to an assembly device between two panels (4,5) consisting of an internal layer (1) of resin inserted between two external metal sheets (2,3). At least one of the panels (4,5) comprises a cut section (6) to insert attachment means jointly in contact on a sheet (2,3) of one of the panels (4,5) and on a sheet (2,3) of the other panel (4,5).
US07937809B2
The device of the present invention is identified as a chimney block for use in the jamb channels of window frames. The chimney block impedes or substantially reduces the vertical movement of air through the jamb channel. The reduction in air movement improves the insulating properties of the window and minimizes the amount of dust and fine dirt that might otherwise enter the jamb channel resulting in a progressively increasing force required to move the sash through the jamb channel. It consists of a vertical structural element which is secured to a planar sealing element that conforms to the cross section of the jamb channel. Legs or struts are attached in proximity to the other end of the vertical structural element to insure that the chimney block essentially remains in the same position to provide an air block.
US07937808B1
A curtain carrier includes a carrier body having a mounting ring which has an inner wall provided with a sliding face, a first support seat having a connecting tube which is inserted into the mounting ring and has an inner wall provided with an engaging hole, a second support seat having an engaging sleeve which is inserted into and closely fit in the engaging hole, and a rolling module located between the first support seat and the second support seat and slidably mounted between the sliding face and the connecting tube. Thus, the curtain carrier has a simplified construction, thereby greatly decreasing the cost of fabrication. In addition, the first support seat and the second support seat are assembled easily and quickly, thereby facilitating assembly of the curtain carrier.
US07937805B2
A castor includes a castor body, two rollers rotatably mounted on the castor body and each having an annular toothed locking section, a locking member movably mounted on the castor body and having two locking flanges each having a toothed engaging portion, and a brake handle pivotally mounted on the castor body to drive the toothed engaging portion of each of the locking flanges of the locking member to engage the toothed locking section of the respective roller. Thus, when the brake handle is pressed to stop rotation of the rollers, the resting face of the pivot base abuts the support rib of the castor body so that the brake handle is operated smoothly and stably without producing vibration during operation of the brake handle, thereby enhancing the braking effect of the castor.
US07937803B2
A vacuum bag hold-down arrangement for a dust collection system maintains a negative pressure in the space between a dust collection drum and a plastic film liner or bag in the drum. A cyclonic separator at the station separates the dust from an air flow and deposits it into the liner in the drum. The hold-down arrangement employs a vacuum pump producing about 1 to 3 psig negative pressure. A vacuum conduit extends from the pump through a penetration in the drum and into the space between wall of the drum and the liner bag. A porous pad, e.g., open cell foam, is situated over the vacuum conduit and separates the bag liner from the vacuum conduit. This distributes the air flow into the vacuum conduit and creates a more uniform grip of the liner or bag to the drum.
US07937802B2
A vacuum cleaner for use in both an upright form and a canister form, which can mount and dismount a cleaner body to and from a suction nozzle assembly is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle assembly to draw in dust or dirt along with air while moving along a surface to be cleaned; a cleaner body having a dust separating unit to separate and collect the dust or dirt from the air drawn in from the surface to be cleaned; a supporting unit hingedly joined to the suction nozzle assembly to support a lower part of the cleaner body to communicate with the suction nozzle assembly; and a locking unit to detachably lock the lower part of the cleaner body to the supporting unit.
US07937799B2
A container cleaning apparatus comprising a table having holes in the top surface suitably arranged to deliver compressed air and a vacuum substantially simultaneously into the open top of an inverted reusable container placed on the table top and thereby remove debris from the inside of the container.
US07937790B2
Rotation device is configured at the bottom of the body of a diaper changer so that the diaper changer is capable of rotating horizontally relative to the playard frame via the rotation device when mounting thereon. The rotation device includes a rotator and a supporter where the rotator connects to the body and mounts on the supporter for allowing the body to rotate relative to the supporter. The supporter is further configured at one side of the playard frame. The body can also be rotatably mounted on the playard frame by mounted the rotator directly into a shafting hole on the playard frame. With the rotation device, the diaper changer can be selectively set in a first using status for changing a baby's diaper or a second using status for allowing a babysitter for easy holding the baby up.
US07937785B2
A pumped shower draining device for a shower installation, comprises a housing having a waste water inlet and a waste water outlet, a pump element provided within the housing, a pump driving device for driving the pump element, and a variable-engagement clutch for providing variable driving engagement between the pump driving device and the pump element. An amount of engagement imparted by the in use clutch is determined by an amount of waste water flowing from a shower unit of the shower installation. Preferably, the clutch is self-regulating, so that the amount of engagement is determined by an amount of water in or at the clutch.
US07937782B2
A water saving device for a flush toilet comprising a flapper valve limit structure which yieldably limits the upward movement of a toilet tank flapper valve after it has been moved upwardly from its lower closed position towards its upper position thereby reducing the amount of water which will be discharged from the water tank into the toilet bowl during a flushing cycle.
US07937773B1
A protective glove, particularly useful for automobile mechanic work and other types of working environments or sports which brings the dorsal side of the hand in contact with hard objects or the like which may result in injuries to the knuckles of the fingers, thumb and dorsal side of the hand is provided with protective padding positioned to circumscribe the center axis of rotation of the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers and the thumb. The protective pad covers the distal ends of the metacarpals and the proximal ends of the proximal phalanxes of the fingers with padding being absent at the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers.
US07937768B2
A shin guard includes a plate made of a rigid material sandwiched between two layers of flexible material, such as foam. The two flexible layers are attached to each other around a periphery of at least one of the flexible layers. The plate includes a center panel attached to only one of the flexible material layers. The plate also includes two side panels hingedly attached to the center panel so that the panels can move with respect to the center panel. The panels are not attached to either layer of flexible material so the panels can move with respect to both flexible material layers.
US07941861B2
System(s), method(s), and/or technique(s) (“tools”) are described that enable a user to permit multiple tasks requiring elevated rights with as little as one rights elevation. For example, the tools may enable an installation wizard operating within a limited-rights context to perform multiple tasks that require a higher-rights context with a single rights elevation by the user. The tools may do so using an object agent, an instance of which may be created by the installation wizard following a single rights elevation. This instance of the object agent then creates instances of other objects without requiring that the user elevate his or her rights. These other objects' instances may then run the tasks that require the higher-rights context.
US07941854B2
A method and system for managing an intrusion on a computer by graphically representing an intrusion pattern of a known past intrusion, and then comparing the intrusion pattern of the known intrusion with a current intrusion. The intrusion pattern may either be based on intrusion events, which are the effects of the intrusion or activities that provide a signature of the type of intrusion, or the intrusion pattern may be based on hardware topology that is affected by the intrusion. The intrusion pattern is graphically displayed with scripted responses, which in a preferred embodiment are presented in pop-up windows associated with each node in the intrusion pattern. Alternatively, the response to the intrusion may be automatic, based on a pre-determined percentage of common features in the intrusion pattern of the known past intrusion and the current intrusion.
US07941843B2
Mobile wireless communication system 100 of the present invention has virtual private network relay apparatus 105 which establishes an IPsec tunnel with network relay apparatus 104 installed on private network 102 via public network 101, further establishes the IPsec tunnel with mobile wireless terminal apparatus 110 and relays connection of mobile wireless terminal apparatus 110 from public wireless LAN system 103 to private network 102, connection authentication server 108 that authenticates connection of mobile wireless terminal apparatus 110 to public wireless LAN system 103, and wireless LAN access point 109 that relays connection authentication procedures of public wireless LAN 107 performed between mobile wireless terminal apparatus 110 and connection authentication server 108.
US07941842B2
A method and apparatus to protect a master do-not-email list from being compromised. A set of one or more false email addresses that each point to an email account that is not used for any email is created for a client and is unique to the client. An encryption scheme is applied to the set of false email addresses. The encrypted false email addresses for the client are recorded on the master do-not-email list, which also includes multiple encrypted real email addresses that each correspond to a real email address that point to an email account that is used for real email and does not wish to be contacted. A client do-not-email list is seeded for the client with the encrypted real email addresses and the encrypted false email addresses. The email accounts corresponding to the set of false email addresses are monitored for received email messages, where email messages received at one of the set of email accounts is an indication that the client should be investigated to determine potential liability.
US07941829B2
A method and apparatus are used in determining authorization to perform tasks in a computer environment, and specifically requiring multiple parties to authorize a task before access is granted. The present system provides for substantially real time communication to a second party authorizer when a task owner is attempting to perform a task.
US07941827B2
A solution is provided for associating network traffic traversing on a networked environment according to a selected category item, such as a user name or other network entity identity-related information, by using a monitor device. The solution includes: obtaining user information from the directory service by obtaining at least one set of user object attributes from the directory service; identifying at least one authentication exchange packet from packets traversing on the networked environment; extracting a user ID and a network address from the authentication exchange packet; filtering or selecting packets traversing on the network environment that each have a network address equivalent to the extracted network address; and associating packets that were selected with user information having a name attribute equivalent to the extracted user ID.
US07941820B2
A method of processing program guide information is provided. The method includes receiving one or more program guide informations contained in service information of a stream provided by a digital television broadcasting system, comparing the received program guide informations with one another, and updating one of the program guide informations to another one of the program guide informations.
US07941819B2
A graphical user interface (“GUI”) for a content management system is provided, such as to present information associated with various forms of multimedia content. In some situations, the GUI includes information presented simultaneously using at least first and second time scales, such as to provide relatively detailed information for content corresponding to a shorter time scale (e.g., to display content listings with details about content that corresponds to a time period at the shorter time scale) and to provide relatively limited information for content corresponding to a longer time scale (e.g., indications of other content of potential interest corresponding to times outside the time period of the shorter time scale). In addition, in some situations the relatively limited information for content corresponding to the longer time scale may be selectable by the user to provide various functionality related to that content.
US07941816B2
A detection apparatus includes a tuner tuned to the program and a meter coupled to the tuner and arranged to detect content ancillary information from the program tuned by the tuner. The content ancillary information may be a media link, closed captioning information, or the like. The meter may also be arranged to extract a broadcast signature from the program. A comparator compares the broadcast signature to a reference signature selected from a library of reference signatures based upon the content ancillary information. Broadcast signatures from unknown programs may be clustered at least partially on the basis of the content ancillary information.
US07941800B2
A computing device has a virtual machine bus (VM bus) operable in a pipe mode where all incoming data written to the VM bus from a source is passed through to be read from the VM bus by a sink, and a plurality of instantiated virtual machines (VMs). Each VM hosts an instance of an operating system upon an application may be instantiated. Each VM includes a computing object for issuing a call to a component object of another VM, and a VM bus system object for receiving the call and communicating same to a VM bus system object of the another VM by way of the VM bus. The VM bus system object is also for receiving the call from the VM bus system object of the another VM by way of the VM bus and for communicating the received call to the computing object.
US07941789B2
A method for providing a mechanism for generating a common format for trace data is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes generating trace data at a plurality of providers, the trace data including a first trace data having a first format and a second trace data having a second format, receiving the trace data at a database via a common interface, storing the trace data at the database in compliance with a common format, and providing access to the trace data stored at the database via a user interface.
US07941786B2
A configurable controlling device and associated program that allows a consumer to modify on a personal computer for downloading to the controlling device configuration data which is used to cause the controlling device to perform a function, such as to transmit a command to an appliance, to change the user interface page being displayed, etc. The editor program provides for managed uploading of modified configuration data to a central server facility from which the uploaded, modified configuration data may be made available for managed download to one or more remotely-located controlling devices.
US07941785B2
A system and method for managing information on a network using an identity index may include a software program stored on a computer-readable medium which is operable to associate one or more users with the information objects that define the user. The software program can maintain a “virtual identity” for each user, the virtual identity comprising a list of information objects (e.g., accounts) associated with the user and the identities of resources at which the information objects can be found. The list of information objects may include an information object identifier for each information object. The software program may maintain a resource definition for each identified resource. The resource definition may include a set of connection parameters that can be used by the software program to connect to the corresponding resource.
US07941783B1
A software application development tool supports a specified design-time data feed. A software application developer can interact with the development tool to specify a design-time data feed that is to be used during development of an application in place of a given run-time data feed that is not available for access by the application. For instance, a software application developer may code the application with reference(s) to the unavailable run-time data feed, and the developer may specify to the development tool a design-time data feed for such referenced run-time data feed. The development tool then manages correlation of the specified design-time feed to the run-time feed such that references to the run-time feed in the application under development instead trigger access to the specified design-time feed by the development tool. When deployed in a run-time environment, the software application's references to the run-time feed trigger access to such run-time feed.
US07941765B2
A graphical user interface for displaying actions of an input device on a display is provided. The interface includes a radial menu having an origin disposed at a center thereof and at least a first wedge defining an area extending outwardly from the origin. The first wedge is associated with a variable that is capable of being set to a value between a predetermined minimum value and a predetermined maximum value. A cursor for indicating a current position of the input device on the display is provided in the interface. The cursor is movable within the first wedge to select a current value of the variable based upon the angular position of the cursor with respect to said origin. A radial menu, computer system, and method are also provided.
US07941764B2
A system and method for assigning user preference settings for fields in a category using selected settings for only a subset of the media category fields is disclosed. A subset of fields for a media category is defined. A base setting for each field in the subset of the category fields is established. The base setting may be a weight or preference value. The base setting may be established by the user selecting a base setting or may be a default base setting. Once a user selects the settings for the subset of category fields, a set weight for the fields in the category not in the subset is determined using the base setting. That is possible because the fields in the subset of category fields are chosen from fields that contain aspects and attributes of the other fields.
US07941758B2
A method for animating graphical objects is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a plurality of graphical objects and displaying a subset of the objects in a viewport. In this embodiment, the method may also include calculating a virtual destination for one of the graphical objects based on a received user input, and moving the graphical object to the virtual destination over a period of time. Various additional methods, machine-readable media, and devices for animating graphical objects and controlling operational characteristics of a device are also provided.
US07941751B2
Techniques are described for generating and implementing dynamic surveys, in which a subsequent query is presented based at least in part on a selected response option of a previous query. For example, a system may include presentation logic configured to display a plurality of queries, each query being associated with a plurality of response options. Sequence logic of the system may be configured to display a graphical sequence controller in association with each of the plurality of response options, and to receive a graphical manipulation of the graphical sequence controllers by which a sequence is designated for presenting a subsequent query based on a selected response option of a previous query. Thus, during implementation of the resulting dynamic survey, the subsequent query may be presented based on the selected response option.
US07941741B1
A system may identify a group of first links in a document, where the first links correspond to a group of objects within the document and are associated with a same identifier. The system may replace the first links in the document with second links that point to a number of different identifiers, and forward the document with the second links to a client.
US07941733B2
A memory device includes an error detection and correction system with an error correcting code over GF(2n) wherein the system has an operation circuit configured to execute addition/subtraction with modulo 2n−1, and wherein the operation circuit has a first operation part for performing addition/subtraction with modulo M and a second operation part for performing addition/subtraction with modulo N (where, M and N are integers which are prime with each other as being obtained by factorizing 2n−1), and wherein the first and second operation parts perform addition/subtraction in parallel to output an operation result of the addition/subtraction with modulo 2n−1.
US07941726B2
Systems and methods provide an optionally keyed error-correcting code that is spectrally concentrated. Each codeword of the low dimensional spectral concentration code (LDSC code) typically has very few coefficients of large magnitude and can be constructed even with limited processing resources. Decoding can be performed on low power devices. Error-correcting code is constructed around a key using basic computer arithmetic for computations instead of finite field arithmetic, thus saving energy. A recipient who possesses the key enjoys correction of a relatively high percentage of noise errors. In one implementation, a direct list-decoder iteratively estimates a list of message words directly, instead of a list of codewords. In variations, a unique message word is selected from the list either by applying a randomness test or by using message passing.
US07941724B2
An H-ARQ system wherein the transmission of two consecutive, or sequential, blocks of information bits are considered jointly; i.e., one of the blocks of information being embedded within the other one of the blocks of information. If a retransmission for the first block is necessary, the system processes both blocks jointly. The system is provided with cross-packet coding which extends current H-ARQ schemes for point-to-point communications wherein the transmission of two consecutive block of information bits is considered jointly. If a retransmission for the first block is necessary, the system processes both blocks jointly. This allows both blocks to be decoded without errors at the receiver after the retransmission.
US07941721B2
A device and a method for testing a connectivity between a first device and a second device, the method includes: writing, at a first frequency and in a serial manner, a first test word to a source boundary scan register; writing a content of the source boundary scan register, at a second frequency and in a parallel manner, to a target boundary scan register; wherein the second frequency is higher than the first frequency; reading the content of the target boundary scan register; wherein the source and target boundary scan registers are selected from a first boundary scan register of the first device and a second boundary scan register of the second device; and evaluating a connectivity between the first and second device in response to a relationship between the first test word and the content of the target boundary scan register.
US07941710B2
A system and method are used to provide uncorrelated code hopping in a communications system. A shift register receives data. The shift register is clocked to shift the data. A scaler performs a scaling operation on the data with a numerical value of active codes. A truncator truncates the scaled data to its seven most significant bits to produce a pseudo random hop number. A code matrix shifter circularly shifts the active codes in a code matrix based on the pseudo random hop number to produce a circularly shifted code. A transmitter transmits the circularly shifted code.
US07941709B1
A system and method for storing data. In one embodiment, a file system includes a hierarchy of nodes partitioned into a plurality of containers. The file system further includes metadata associated with each node. First metadata describes each node's references to other nodes and second metadata identifies each node's parent node. The file system further includes a linkage table associated with each container. Each linkage table comprises entries describing links between a node owned by the associated container and other nodes. In response to detecting that a file system error has occurred, the file system identifies a container which corresponds to the detected error, corrects inconsistencies between the first and second metadata associated with each node owned by the container, and corrects inconsistencies between each of the entries of the linkage table associated with the identified container and the first and second metadata.
US07941703B2
Mechanisms and methods for capturing an execution state of a failing program in a computing environment are disclosed. Embodiments can enable detection of user initiated program terminations and error information capture without incurring the overhead of a separate monitoring process. It is possible to obtain an execution trace and related state information in the event that a program has incurred a program error causing the user to terminate the program.
US07941702B2
An ECU that controls an engine of a vehicle includes a MPU and an IC that monitors the operation of the MPU. The MPU is programmed to execute a verification result check and test selection function for selecting a test for verifying the function of the MPU. The MPU runs the selected test, and transmits a test result indicating the result of the test to the IC. The IC checks whether the test result from the MPU is correct or incorrect, and transmits a verification result to the MPU.
US07941700B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed for operating system-based application recovery. A particular method saves an application state of an application executing at a computer. When a failure of the application is detected, the operating system provides an option to initiate recovery of the application by reverting to the saved application state. When the option to initiate recovery is selected by a user of the computer, the operating system recovers the application by reverting to the saved application state.
US07941691B2
In an information processing system, a first system control apparatus of a first information processing apparatus causes a first connecting apparatus to disconnect from the first shared storage apparatus, causes a second connecting apparatus to disconnect from the second shared storage apparatus, causes a control part to start up the first information processing apparatus, causes another first connecting apparatus used to replace the first connecting apparatus to connect to the first shared storage apparatus, and causes the second connecting apparatus to connect to the second shared storage apparatus. In the information processing system, a second information processing apparatus includes a second system control apparatus and a third and fourth connecting apparatuses used to connect to the first and second shared storage apparatuses, respectively.
US07941686B2
A signal generator can control phase relationship between output signals of the channels without stopping clocks provided to the channels to enable the circuit operation fast. First and second channels 20 and 22 have signal generation blocks 10 and 12 that have clock phase shift circuits 26 and 28, memories, parallel to serial converters and DACs respectively. A phase comparator 24 compares data reading clocks from the signal generation blocks 10 and 12 to produce a phase difference signal wherein the data reading clocks are used to read waveform data from the memories within the signal generation blocks 10 and 12. A CPU controls the clock phase shift circuits 26 and 28 according to the phase difference signal to shift phases of the clocks provided to the signal generation blocks 10 and 12 and then makes phase relationship between the output signals of the first and second channels 20 and 22 as desired.
US07941670B2
A data processing apparatus is provided which is capable of improving the responsiveness of communication in which only a maximum of one access request source has write authorization and the other access requests do not have write authorization when communication is performed with a plurality of access request sources. A management apparatus transmits, to a secure application module (SAM), a strong connection request requesting the obtainment of write authorization into the SAM. When it is determined that the strong connection has not already been assigned to the other management apparatuses, the SAM assigns the strong connection to the management apparatus in a state in which a weak connection having read authorization with the management apparatuses is maintained.
US07941669B2
The present invention facilitates access to a restricted service related to secure transactions via a network. The present invention allows a user to select a minimum security level of authentication for its own login to a restricted service. The user's selected minimum security level of authentication may be registered in an authentication method system, so that the user must use the selected minimum security level for authentication in order to gain access to the restricted service. Alternatively, the user may specify that the selected minimum security level for authentication may be over-turned by the user, or optionally re-set to a new authentication method depending on the needs of the user. As such, the present invention allows the user the flexibility to select its own authentication method for accessing a restricted service.
US07941661B2
A method in which a test function is called in a system's internal authentication IC multiple times with a known incorrect value such that, if the internal IC is invalid, an expected invalid response is not generated and, otherwise, the internal IC generates a secret random number and its signature and encrypts these using a first secret key, an external authentication IC connected to the system calls a read function which decrypts the encrypted random number and signature using the first key, calculates the decrypted random number's signature, compares the signatures and upon a match encrypts the decrypted random number and a message of the external IC using a second secret key, the internal IC calls the test function which encrypts the random number and message using the second key, compares the encrypted random numbers and messages, validates the external IC if they match and invalidates the external IC otherwise.
US07941657B2
A mobile device, such as a laptop or notebook computer, capable of booting from at least two environments. If a remote environment is present, the mobile device may boot from the remote environment. The mobile device may also boot from the local environment.
US07941656B2
A system for loading application identifiers to a mobile device includes a mobile device, a card device insertable into the mobile device, and an application center. The card device is adapted to determine an effective mobile device identifier of the mobile device, and transmit the effective mobile device identifier to the application center. The effective mobile device identifier is based at least in part on the result of a process performed by the card device. The application center is adapted to (1) determine zero or more allotted application identifiers and zero or more application identifiers of applications loaded on the mobile device based at least in part on the effective mobile device identifier, (2) identify at least one application identifier of the zero or more allotted application identifiers which does not form part of the zero or more application identifiers of applications loaded on the mobile device, and (3) load the at least one application identifier to the mobile device.
US07941648B2
A scalable reconfigurable register file (SRRF) containing multiple register files, read and write multiplexer complexes, and a control unit operating in response to instructions is described. Multiple address configurations of the register files are supported by each instruction and different configurations are operable simultaneously during a single instruction execution. For example, with separate files of the size 32×32 supported configurations of 128×32 bit s, 64×64 bit s and 32×128 bit s can be in operation each cycle. Single width, double width, quad width operands are optimally supported without increasing the register file size and without increasing the number of register file read or write ports.
US07941643B2
A system, apparatus and method for an interleaving multi-thread processing device are described herein. The multi-thread processing device includes an execution block to execute instructions and a fetch block to fetch and issue instructions, interleavingly, of a first instruction execution thread and at least one other instruction execution thread. The fetch block includes at least one program counter, which is allocable and/or corresponds to each instruction execution thread.
US07941641B1
According to one embodiment, an instruction decoder for a computer processor includes a fixed instruction decoding portion and at least one look up table having a plurality of random access memory elements. The fixed instruction decoding portion has an input for receiving program instructions and an output coupled to a back-end processing engine. The instruction decoder is selectively operable to alternatively decode program instructions associated with a differing instruction set architectures by storage of logical values in the at least one look up table. Decoding of program instructions from one particular instruction set architecture are accomplished using the same logic gates as program instructions form other instruction set architectures.
US07941638B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that performs a fast-scanning operation to generate fetch bundles within an instruction fetch unit (IFU) of a processor. During operation, the system obtains a cache line containing instructions at the IFU. Next, the system performs a complete-scanning operation on the cache line to identify control transfer instructions (CTIs) in the cache line. At the same time, the system performs a fast-scanning operation to identify CTIs in a group of initial instructions in the cache line, wherein the initial instructions are executed before other instructions in the cache line. Next, the system obtains results from the fast-scanning operation before results of the complete-scanning operation are available. The system then uses results from the fast-scanning operation to form an initial fetch bundle containing initial instructions, and sends the initial fetch bundle to the instruction-issue unit.
US07941629B2
A method for memory registration caching comprising enumerating a first process for a first process, in response to a memory registration cache being activated; finding an import table for the first module, wherein one or more pointers, in the import table, refer to memory management routines in a first library; changing the pointers so that the pointers refer to memory management routines in a second library; overloading routines that refer to the memory management routines in the first library so that the routines refer to the memory management routines in the second library; intercepting memory allocation requests, wherein the size of the request is forwarded to the memory registration cache; and de-registering freed memory from the memory registration cache.
US07941626B2
A method and apparatus for controlling discontinuous transmission and reception are disclosed. A Node-B schedules an offset for discontinuous transmission (DTX) and/or discontinuous reception (DRX) for a user equipment (UE) and sends the offset to the UE. The UE then shifts the DTX and/or DRX pattern based on the received offset. The UE may modify the offset based on the transmission time of an activation command for DTX and DRX. The UE may modify an offset for DTX and DRX to shift the DTX pattern and DRX pattern when the UE receives downlink data or transmits uplink data based on a sub-frame number at the time of the downlink reception and uplink transmission.
US07941622B2
A method for copying data to multiple remote sites includes transmitting data from a first volume in a primary storage system to a back-up volume provided in a secondary storage system. The primary storage system is located at a primary site, and the secondary storage system is located at a first remote site from the primary site. The data from the first volume in the primary storage system is copied to a second volume in the primary storage system using a point in time (PiT) as a reference point of time for the copying. The second volume is provided with a first time consistent image of the first volume with respect to the reference point of time. The data from the second volume in the primary storage system is transferred to a third volume in a ternary storage system at a second remote site. The third volume is provided with a second time consistent image of the second volume with respect to the reference point of time, where the second time consistent image is a mirror image of the first time consistent image. The data from the third volume is transferred to a fourth volume in the ternary storage system. The fourth volume is provided with a third time consistent image. In the ternary storage, either of the third volume or fourth volume can always keep time consistent image of the first volume.
US07941618B2
A memory controller uses a scheme to retire two entries from a replay queue due to a single non-error response. Advantageously, entries in a replay queue may be retired earlier than conventional systems, minimizing the size of the replay queue.
US07941616B2
Locks are used to protect variables. All variables protected by a lock are allocated on a page associated with a lock. When a thread (called the owner) acquires the lock, a local copy of the memory page containing the variable is created, the original memory page is protected, and all access of the variable in the owner thread is directed to the local copy. Upon releasing the lock, the changes from the local copy are carried over to the memory page and the memory page is unprotected. Any concurrent access of the variable by non-owner threads triggers an exception handler (due to the protection mechanism) and delays such an access until after the owner thread has finished accessing the variable.
US07941609B2
Described is a technology by which high latency problems with respect to web requests are reduced by having a web proxy server predict and pre-fetch content, in parallel, that is to be requested by a client. The web proxy analyzes a main web page requested by a client to predict subsequent client requests. The web proxy pre-fetches content before the client requests it, by making concurrent requests for the page's embedded objects that exceed the client's limited number of (e.g., two) connections. In one example, the web proxy sends HTTP requests substantially in parallel to a web server, thereby reducing overall latency. In another example, the web proxy server sends parallel requests to a remote web proxy coupled to a web server. The remote web proxy requests only a limited number of objects (e.g., two) at a time, but does so over fast (low latency) connections to the web server.
US07941606B1
Flow identification value masks are identified based on, and used to mask a flow identification value associated with packets in a router, packet switching or computer system, any other device. These masks may be specified in access control lists or using any other mechanism, and typically are added to an associative memory or other mechanism keyed on their corresponding flow identification values for performing fast lookup operations. A lookup operation is performed based on the flow identification value associated with a particular packet to identify the correspond mask, which is then used to produce a masked flow identification value, and based on which, a value is updated in a data structure and/or other processing of the packet is performed.
US07941605B1
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for generating a result based on a lookup result from a lookup operation using an associative memory and processing based on a discriminator portion of a lookup word. A first lookup operation is performed to generate a lookup result. In one implementation, a second lookup operation is performed based on a discriminator or the lookup result depending on the result of an evaluation, such as whether there was a hit or the lookup result matches a predetermined value. In one implementation, a second lookup operation is performed based on the discriminator, and either the result of the first or second lookup operation is used for subsequent processing. One implementation performs a lookup operation based on a lookup word to generate a lookup result, which is used to retrieve a base address and a bitmap from a memory. A discriminator is identified, and the result is generated based on the discriminator, the bitmap, and the base address, such as by adding to the base address the number of set bits in a range within the bitmap.
US07941602B2
A method, apparatus and program storage device for providing geographically isolated failover using instant RAID swapping in mirrored virtual disks are disclosed. The closed loop control mechanism provides not only continuous self-tuning to the storage system, but also allows the system to perform the initial configuration better.
US07941593B2
The present invention is related to memory management, and in particular, to methods and systems for accessing and managing nonvolatile, such as in a wireless phone. A wireless phone memory controller is disclosed that, comprises a first interface circuit configured to be coupled to wireless phone nonvolatile memory, a second interface circuit configured to be coupled to wireless phone volatile memory, a first processor interface configured to be coupled to a first wireless phone processor, wherein the first processor interface is configured to provide the first processor with access to the wireless phone volatile memory, a second processor interface configured to be coupled to a second wireless phone processor, and a controller circuit configured to copy at least a portion of wireless phone nonvolatile memory data to the wireless phone volatile memory.
US07941590B2
Adaptive memory read and write systems and methods are described herein that adapts to changes to threshold voltage distributions of memory cells as of result of, for example, the detrimental affects of repeated cycling operations of the memory cells. The novel systems may include at least multi-level memory cells, which may be multi-level flash memory cells, and a computation block operatively coupled to the multi-level memory cells. The computation block may be configured to compute optimal or near optimal mean and detection threshold values based, at least in part, on estimated mean and standard deviation values of level distributions of the multi-level memory cells. The optimal or near optimal mean and detection threshold values computed by the computation block may be subsequently used to facilitate writing and reading, respectively, of data to and from the multi-level memory cells.
US07941588B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor device includes a first flash memory device; a second flash memory device in which data programming and/or reading is faster than in said first flash memory device; an address conversion table which correlates a logical address of a memory cell to a physical address designating said memory cell of said first and/or said second flash memory; an interface part which accepts an access request to a memory cell, an address conversion table search part which searches a physical address an access part which accesses a memory cell a counting part which counts the number of times a physical address has been accessed and generates an access count value of said physical address; a comparison part which compares whether said access count value of said physical address is more than a threshold or not; and a transmitting part which transmits data to said second flash memory device.
US07941581B2
A method for integration of device-objects in an object-based management system for field devices in automation technology, wherein the device-objects are used for servicing the field devices. Updated device objects or an updated version of a device-objects library, are/is stored on a physical storage medium, wherein the physical storage medium is connected with a control/display unit, on which a predetermined operating system is running, into which a frame application for the device objects is bound. A program is activated, which makes the updated device objects stored on the physical storage medium at least partially accessible on a display unit, as soon as the storage medium is connected with the control/display unit, and wherein, automatically or manually, a dialog is started, with which operating personnel can invoke a selected number of device-objects, and, via the updated device object, or updated device objects, service a corresponding field device, or corresponding field devices.
US07941579B2
A search-instruction-data creating unit issues a search request command to a peripheral device, and creates search instruction data including a predetermined field that stores supplementary information. A search-instruction-data transmitting unit transmits the search instruction data to the peripheral device. A security-reference-information transmitting unit transmits, to the peripheral device, security reference information serving as the supplementary information. A search-report-data generating unit generates a search report data upon receiving the search instruction data. A search-report-data transmitting unit transmits the search report data to a host device. A supplementary-information extracting unit extracts the supplementary information from the predetermined field of the search instruction data. An authenticating unit authenticates an access authority for accessing a storage medium from the host device, based both on security master information stored in the storage medium and on the security reference information that is received from the host device.
US07941574B2
A method for combining partial records into a single direct memory access (DMA) operation for a count key data (CKD) protocol in a computer environment is provided. In an initiator processor of the computer environment, a number of the partial records to be prefetched is determined by gathering a plurality of descriptor information for a command according to a predetermined algorithm having a plurality of assumptions for the command. The number of partial records is prefetched. At least one of record headers and record keys of the number of partial records are concatenated into the single DMA operation. The DMA operation is forwarded to a receiver process to be completed.
US07941564B2
An automation server interfaces with broadcast scheduling systems of various types to automatically synchronize the behavior of interactive applications relative to various broadcast programs, such as television shows and commercials, so as to maintain the appropriate interactive application for whatever broadcast program is airing. This allows for television shows which have an associated interactive application, but which are segmented by commercials (which may have their own interactive applications) to have their interactive application displayed while the television show in on, but not during commercials, while maintaining any state information that has been created during execution of the interactive application. The automation server includes multiple channel interfaces, each having a translator and an event manager. The translator translates native control signals from the scheduling system into a fixed set of atomic commands which represent the lifecycle behavior of a broadcast program. The event manager receives these atomic commands and uses them to determine the appropriate state for any interactive application that is associated with the broadcast program. The event manager transmits commands to a broadcast server which directly manages the interactive applications by transmitting code, data, and commands to broadcast receivers that controls the execution of the interactive applications in response to the event manager's commands.
US07941560B1
A system for client caching of target addresses for network requests includes one or more processors and memory coupled to the processors, where the memory stores instructions executable by the processors to implement an application configured to direct network requests received from users to target servers over the network. The application attempts to update a current version of a local data object storing network addresses, where the attempt includes sending an update request to a redirecting server over a network. If the attempt succeeds, the application accesses the updated version of the local data object to obtain a target address for a network request. If the attempt fails, the target address is obtained from the version of the local data object that existed before the update was attempted. The application directs the network request to the appropriate server using the target address.
US07941549B2
Example embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques for performing multiple protocol exchanges over a single socket connection, one preceding another, in order to provide a platform for policy exchange between terminal servers and a gateway. The protocol exchanges may occur without using additional ports while ensuring that the terminal server state is restored to the previous state. In an embodiment, such a method may adhere to terminal server security levels and perform an exchange with the terminal servers by replicating remote access security layer exchanges and authenticating the gateway to the terminal server.
US07941546B2
A system and method is described for communicating requests from a Web mashup being executed within the context of a Web browser to third-party Web services in a manner that does not violate the Same Origin Policy (SOP) observed by many Web browsers. In one embodiment, a workflow engine operating in the context of a Web browser executes a plurality of executable components comprising a Web mashup. The workflow engine transparently redirects Web service requests generated by the executing components to a proxy server that acts as an intermediate between the workflow engine and third-party Web services. The proxy server, which is not subject to SOP, transmits the Web service requests to the third-party Web service and obtains requested data therefrom. The proxy server further returns the requested data in a manner that is useable by the Web mashup components.
US07941542B2
A method for optimally maintaining the execution of a first application, wherein the first application is further configured to received a set of sequential data elements from a second application, and the set of sequential data elements further includes a first data element and a second data element. The method includes establishing a connection between the first application and the second application. The method further includes transmitting a request to send the set of sequential data elements; receiving the first data element from the second application; and determining if the connection is still active. If not, the method also includes reestablishing the connection; transmitting a request to the second application to resend the first data element; receiving the first data element; and, if necessary, receiving the second data element.
US07941535B2
A method and system of providing Internet content to a user utilizing social networks is disclosed. The method comprises providing Internet usage data for a plurality of users, determining which users belong to the same social network, and providing at least one of the users access to Internet usage data for those other users who are in the same social network.
US07941514B2
An order entry system communicates with the customer over a user interface and works with an automated installation system for installing network service. The order entry system prompts the customer to place a new service order. The service parameters of the new service order are passed to the installation system. The order entry system notifies the customer of the route and prompts the customer to add a service order for the route to the customer order. If the customer adds the service order to the customer order, the order entry system prompts the customer to reserve the service order or to submit an order for the service. If the customer reserves or submits an order for the service, the order entry system request the installation system to design an actual communication line circuit to satisfy the order.
US07941511B2
A computer system formerly handles a service that is quickly reproduced with another computer system to resume the service immediately. The association relations between services run by a primary site (1) and primary site servers (13), between the primary site servers (13) and a primary site storage system (15), and between the storage system (15) of the primary site (1) and a storage system (25) of a secondary site (2) are collected. The collected association relations are copied as configuration information from the storage system (15) of the primary site (1) to the secondary site (2). On the secondary site (2), based on the copied configuration information, services of the primary site (1) are assigned to servers (23) of the secondary site (2), and the secondary site servers (23) are associated with the storage system (25) of the secondary site (2) to reproduce the primary site (1) thereon.
US07941510B1
A system, method and computer program product for providing centralized management of multiple Virtual Execution Environments (VEEs) implemented on multiple physical servers. Each VEE is a virtual server. Multiple virtual servers of various types and formats are implemented on multiple physical servers. The physical servers are connected into a network. An intuitive user interface of a central console for remote management and administration of a plurality of virtual servers and multiple physical servers is provided. The system includes server managers controlled from a common control center. The system also includes a database containing configuration data and data related to operation formats of the physical and virtual servers. The database is updated based on configuration parameters acquired from the physical and virtual servers. A server system can be a plurality of physical servers and VEEs implemented on them or it can be a plurality of VEEs executed on one physical server.
US07941501B2
Methods, systems, and configured storage media are provided for flexible data mirroring. In particular, the invention provides local-remote role reversal, implementation of hot standby server status through a “media not ready” signal, several alternate buffer contents and buffering schemes, transactioning, many-to-one mirroring through use of “virtual” remote mirroring units, identification of frequently accessed data without application-specific knowledge but based instead on an application's logged and analyzed behavior, and use of the secondary server in a non-authoritative manner.
US07941497B2
A system and method are provided for allowing a user to define and subscribe to channels of information to be pushed to a wireless device. In defining a channel a specific area of a web page is selected by the user to be monitored for change. The user may also select data to be pushed should a change be detected. A regular expression is created to match the area of interest for changes and if changes occur to push the desired content to the wireless device. Icons on the wireless device alert the user to any unread pushed content. Users may also subscribe to predefined channels, or modify predefined channels should they have the security authorization to do so.
US07941489B2
Determining a hierarchical structure, possibly for delivery to an asset management system. Some exemplary embodiments may be a method comprising receiving a message originated by a data acquisition system and destined for a remote process controller (the receiving by a message router), using content of the message to determine a hierarchical structure of a system between the data acquisition system and the remote process controller, forwarding the message by the message router, and passing information related to the hierarchical structure to an asset management system.
US07941486B2
Electronic messages with system-generated network addresses are transmitted to recipients to enable access to specific locations in the workflow system. The network addresses may be used only once, are generated using secure identifications and/or can be generated randomly. These secure identifications can be created by encoding a large number into the network address. The recipient of this network address may be required to himself to the workflow system, for example, as a means for minimizing security risks to the workflow system. The network addresses generated to specific locations within a workflow system are intended for specific recipients but may be shared by the recipients as circumstances require. Electronic mail can be transmitted with specific electronic mail addresses encoded in the electronic mail message. The specific email address can be encoded into a “Reply-to” function. Alternatively, specific email addresses can be embedded into the message portion of the email message.
US07941476B2
An object of this invention is to provide a method of designing a complex transfer function which can be realized in a passive RC complex filter at the same time while perfectly succeeding to features of a prototype lowpass characteristic. In this invention, as a first step, a prototype lowpass characteristic F(p) having a pole on a unit circle is designed. Next, as a second step, a bilinear variable transformation expressed by p=j(s−j)/(s+j) is performed with respect to the prototype characteristic F(p) to derive a complex coefficient transfer function G(s). As a third step, a passive RC complex filter H(s) is designed based upon the complex coefficient transfer function G(s).
US07941470B2
A computer implemented method for maintaining synchronization between a master computer disk and a clone disk that includes cloning the clone disk from the master computer disk, the clone disk having a customization portion; and customizing the customization portion with information relevant to a clone computer that uses the clone disk.
US07941467B2
There is disclosed a system and method for integrating an image upload object with a message list. In an embodiment, the method comprises: creating an image upload object for each image to be uploaded; and displaying the image upload object in a message list such that the image upload object may be selected and opened as a message. In another embodiment, the method may further comprise associating with the image upload object at least one of a text description, a thumbnail of the image, a date, and a file link to the uploaded image. In another embodiment, an image upload object in the message list may be configured such that the image upload object may be forwarded to another user as a message, and the associated uploaded image may be accessed by the other user via the file link.
US07941452B2
A system and method for the simplification of data structures, particularly those used for wireless communications, encodes data structures for efficient storage and access. Wireless devices are provisioned with user applications for accessing remote services, such as World Wide Web services. The user applications comprise a plurality of component definitions which typically describe complex data structures for execution by a runtime environment. The runtime environment is conditioned to use a manner to encode such data structures in flat arrays of primitive types.
US07941451B1
Various approaches for processing a B+ tree data structure are described. In one approach, in a first transaction a first insert operation to a first data page of a first index page in the B+ tree data structure is detected, and then it is determined whether performing the first insert operation would block a second insert operation in a second transaction concurrent with the first transaction. At least one empty second data page is created in response to determining that the second insert operation would be blocked by the first insert operation. The B+ tree data structure is updated to include the at least one second data page in the B+ tree data structure, and the updated index pages and second data page are committed to retentive storage. Thereafter, the first insert can be completed.
US07941437B2
A Bayesian spam filter determines an amount of content in incoming email messages that it knows from training. If the filter is familiar with a threshold amount of the content, then the filter proceeds to classify the email message as being spam or legitimate. On the other hand, if not enough of the words in the email are known to the filter from training, then the filter cannot accurately determine whether or not the message is spam. In this case, the filter classifies the message as being of type unknown. Different threshold metrics can be used, such as the percentage of known words, and the percentage of maximum correction value used during processing. This greatly improves the processing of emails in languages on which the filter was not trained.
US07941436B2
A system and method are disclosed for identifying a keyword that is a novel concept or anomaly based on prior search results for the keyword. Advertisements may be sold for the keyword, or the keyword may be purchased or recommended for purchase based on anticipation of increased future searches on the keyword.
US07941435B2
Techniques are provided for generating a hash value for searching for substrings in a data stream without reading more than one element (e.g. one byte) at a time. According to one technique, a before a next element is added to an old hash value, the old hash value is circularly shifted one or more bits. The first original element is shifted a number of bits and XOR'ed against the old hash value. The next element is added to the old hash value. In one embodiment, an entry value is retrieved for each element from an index table and the XOR and shift operations are performed on the entry values. According to another technique, each Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR) of a plurality of LFSRs read in one element at a time beginning at different offsets. Each LFSR uses the same state machine. The result of reading a number of elements into an LFSR is used as the hash value.
US07941428B2
Disclosed in this specification is a software and browser application for monitoring submissions to a third-party search engine. When the third-party search engine returns a list of results, the list may be compared to a list of rated websites located in a rating database. For each website in the list of rated websites, one or more experts has entered a rating value and text evaluation. The rating value for each of the websites in the list of results is then displayed to the user upon request. Additionally, metadata may also be displayed for each of the websites. In this manner, the list of results that was provided by the third-party search engine has been enhanced so as to permit the user to more easily find reliable, relevant information.
US07941427B2
A computer-implemented method, system and computer product including a scheduling manager residing in memory; whereby the scheduling manager dynamically manages access of additional computer resources to be applied to work items of a program based on their valuations relative to the processing costs thereof.
US07941424B2
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for dynamic detection and management of data skew in parallel join operations are provided. Receipt of an excessive number of redistributed rows by a processing module is detected thereby identifying the processing module as a hot processing module. Other processing modules then terminate redistribution of rows to the hot processing module and maintain rows of a skewed table of the join operation that would be redistributed to the hot processing module in a local spool. Rows of a smaller table that would be redistributed to the hot processing module are duplicated to each processing module involved in the join operation. Rows of tables that are to be redistributed by a processing module to any processing module excluding the hot processing module are redistributed accordingly and maintained locally by the processing module. The join operation is completed by merging results of local join data sets of each processing module.
US07941416B2
A method and apparatus for enabling a user to access media objects, such as images, from a website without requiring the user to enter the website. In one embodiment, a search engine searches for websites that match a submitted search term. A selected URL to one of the resulting websites is submitted to a harvester that accesses a web page of the selected website and identifies a media object of the web page. The harvester determines the characteristic(s) of the media object, such as a dimension, an aspect ratio, a proximity to other media objects, etc. The harvester determines a second media object with substantially the same characteristic(s). The determined media objects, or subportions, are rendered in a client user interface. Relationships are mapped between a selected media object and projects that use the object. Manipulating a rendered portion causes a related operation on the whole media object.
US07941413B2
Provided is an effective index processing method for a key corresponding to characteristics of a key series. The index processing method includes: holding a key tendency for representing the characteristics of the key series and a node split ratio, corresponding to the key tendency, for representing a key split ratio at the time of node split; and switching the node split ratio of an index (162) based on the key tendency. The key tendency/distribution is determined based on characteristic information of data input by a user or monitoring information acquired through monitoring of the data.
US07941411B2
Various technologies and techniques are described for providing a transaction grouping feature for use in programs operating under a transactional memory system. The transaction grouping feature is operable to allow transaction groups to be created that contain related transactions. The transaction groups are used to enhance performance and/or operation of the programs. Different locking and versioning mechanisms can be used with different transaction groups. When running transactions, a hardware transactional memory execution mechanism can be used for one transaction group while a software transactional memory execution mechanism used for another transaction group.
US07941409B2
A storage system stores discrete data units and corresponding metadata. The storage system receives data for storage, calculates a first hash value for the data, and identifies a set of compression conditions that correspond to a client ID associated with the data. When the compression conditions indicate that the data should be compressed, the data is compressed to create compressed data. Following compression of the data, the storage system calculates a second hash value for the compressed data, and stores the second hash value in the metadata, while also retaining the first hash value in the metadata. The storage system stores the compressed data, and deletes the uncompressed version of the data. An integrity check of the data stored in the storage system can be carried out periodically using the first or second hash values contained in metadata for each discrete data unit.
US07941406B2
Techniques are presented for snapshotting. Blocks associated with a storage volume are frozen from volatile access upon receipt of a snapshot request. Continued volatile access to the frozen blocks is permitted by transparently mapping each frozen block to an available block within the volume that is not associated with the snapshot. Volatile access continues on the available blocks.
US07941404B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a federated backup involving the coordination and synchronization of backup and restore operations among a plurality of hosts to ensure data consistency. A master node (backup host) acts as the initiator, coordinator, controller, and possibly as primary console for the entire backup and restore operation. All other worker application hosts and/or worker backup hosts operate as worker nodes and perform various backup and restore steps as directed by the master node. Centralized error handling aborts or recovers the entire backup operation in the event of failure on any one node. In addition, a logical view of the data is provided such that the backup can be managed as one entity, while backing up the data of each node. The backup workload may also be distributed to any other dedicated worker backup hosts (nodes) in order to minimize the impact to the production environment.
US07941403B2
Various Embedded File System recovery techniques are described. A mobile computing device may comprise a radio, a processor coupled to the radio, and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory may be arranged to store a file system manager module (FSMM) that when executed by the processor manages an Embedded File System (EFS). The FSMM may create a factory image of the EFS on a periodic basis, or in response to a specific event such as a power down event. The FSMM may detect an error condition for the EFS, and replace the EFS with the factory image when an error is detected. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07941398B2
A method of processing data is disclosed. A data field change is detected in a received data entry received by a business intelligence application. A shared metadata entry shared by two or more business intelligence application stack elements is processed to derive for each of at least a subset of said two or more business intelligence application stack elements a corresponding set of element specific metadata needed by that element to use a data value associated with the data field change.
US07941390B2
The present invention relates to a system for managing a plurality of multi-field classification rules. The system provides a first table that includes a plurality of entries corresponding to a plurality of rules relating to an ingress context and a second table that includes a plurality of entries corresponding to a plurality of rules relating to an egress context. The system also includes a network processor for classifying packets of information, wherein the network processor is programmed to utilize the first table and the second table to identify any rules relating to the ingress context and any one rules relating to the egress context that match a search key.
US07941389B2
An hierarchical temporal memory network having at least one node configured to receive at least two variables of different properties. The at least two variables have different data types, different data sizes, or represent different physical or logical properties in the hierarchical temporal memory network. By using the node receiving variables of different properties, the hierarchical temporal memory network can be configured more flexibly and efficiently because a separate node is not needed to receive, process, and output variables of different properties.
US07941385B2
An apparatus and method for measurement, analysis, and optimization of content delivery over a communications network is presented. In one embodiment, the apparatus detects data packets en route over a communications network. The detected data packets are read by the apparatus, combined into application messages, and further combined into user centric events. The events are analyzed to identify metrics and statistics relating to the delivery of content over a communications network and the experience of the end user. The metrics and statistics are saved in a data storage area. When the metrics exceed a configurable threshold, the apparatus provides real-time notification of content delivery problems or end user experience problems. Alternatively, the system can take action to proactively prevent anticipated content delivery problems or end user experience problems.
US07941384B2
A semantic database transaction monitor is provided that monitors database transactions by taking advantage of database replication technology. The invention receives one or more event streams of transaction data from one or more database replication software agents, originally from transaction logs, and then classifies each transaction, utilizing an inference engine populated with one or more source ontologies and a canonical ontology so that transaction metadata are normalized. The invention then can be utilized to create a data store across multiple databases for reporting and analysis. The invention can also be used to feed normalized database transactions to real-time graphics software for real-time reporting or alerting. Because the process obtains data from event streams, it does not significantly drain the resources of the databases and can provide virtually real-time monitoring. Moreover, it does not require recoding for updates to the databases, but only changes to the ontologies read at runtime.
US07941381B2
A system and method for calculating a space required for a tenant in a building includes determining the areas of rooms required by the tenant. A circulation factor for each of the rooms based on the area of each room is calculated. The total of the room areas and the circulation factors are added to determine a pure space required by the tenant. The losses in actual usable space are determined for a building and an inefficiency factor is calculated based on these losses. The pure space is multiplied by the inefficiency factor to obtain a building efficiency loss. The building efficiency loss is added to the pure space to obtain the space required for the tenant in the building. The system may be configured on a network computer system or a standalone computer.
US07941376B2
A system, apparatus and method is provided for authentication of an item or a label by storing unique random serial numbers or codes in a remote secure storage that can be used to authenticate the item or the label, generating a pointer to each stored unique random serial number/code and storing the generated pointer(s) in a client data storage. During or prior to a production run of the item(s) or label(s): the generated point(s) are sent from the client data storage to one or more media devices, the generated pointer(s) are obtained from the media device using a post-content manager, the unique random serial number(s)/code(s) are obtained from the server via the post-content manager using the generated pointer(s), the obtained unique random serial number(s)/code(s) are sent to the media device, and the received unique random serial number(s)/code(s) are imprinted on the item(s) or the label(s) using the media device.
US07941370B2
Various embodiments of the invention provide a more secure financial transaction system for e-commerce sectors that (1) more securely processes payment transactions, (2) helps to protect merchants and banks against fraudulent transactions, money laundering, and underage gambling, and (3) helps to limit other abuses in areas of e-commerce that are perceived to pose special risks, such as Internet gaming, travel, and consumer purchasing of electronic goods. To accomplish the above goals, various embodiments of the financial transaction system (1) establish operating and transaction processing protocols for merchants, Internet payment service providers, acquiring banks, and card schemes and (2) provide automated systems for monitoring and securely processing payment and financial transactions.
US07941360B2
In one aspect, the invention comprises: (a) calculating an average bid-ask spread of securities; (b) calculating values associated with one or more markets; (c) receiving and storing data regarding an order size for the securities; (d) receiving and storing data regarding an average daily volume of the securities traded on a specified market; (d) calculating data regarding expected historical volatility over a trading interval of the securities; (e) calculating data regarding an average rate of trading over the trading interval of the securities; and (f) calculating an estimated cost of trading the securities using data comprising a formula based on the average bid-ask spread, the values associated with one or more markets, the data regarding order size, the data regarding average daily volume, the data regarding expected historical volatility, and the data regarding an average rate of trading over the trading interval.
US07941356B2
Computer implemented methods are provided for managing and optimizing the profitability of a plurality of physicians in a healthcare practice participating in an insurance network. Exemplary computer implemented methods can include, for example, comparing via one or more computers current ancillary medical procedures used by each of the plurality of physicians with one or more preferred ancillary medical procedures of the insurance network to thereby identify at least one of the plurality of physicians in the healthcare practice who engages in ancillary medical procedures that are not preferred by the insurance network. Such exemplary computer implemented methods can also include, for example, modifying the ancillary medical cost management behavior of the at least one of the plurality of physicians and distributing a predetermined percentage of savings attributed to the modified ancillary medical cost management behavior of the at least one of the plurality of physicians.
US07941350B2
A method is provided for enterprise management and bundling of radio, outdoor and entertainment inventory to achieve maximum revenue on perishable products. An electronic data-mart 110 or central information storage and data processing system is established to collect influencing factors for the probability and price sensitivity of a particular advertising buyer 120. The data-mart 110 also collects business rules for inventory scaling, available inventory to sell, budget (goal) information, advertiser payment history, and station performance data to feed to a scenario planner 130. Once three or more variables exist, inventory and pricing fuzzy logic algorithms create scenario plans to present the most profitable bundle of offerings. The scenarios are typically pre-approved although presented to the local business units 150 for an abnormality failsafe. Once processed by the local business units 150, the scenarios are presented to the advertising buyer 120. Negotiations typically take place which cause for the process to restart. The main systems that interact to build these scenarios are: an enterprise data-mart 110, a scenario planner 130, a performance measure system 170, a rate or yield management subsystem 160, a traffic and accounts receivable system 180 and a similarly configured local inventory booking system 190. A business rules engine provides the local rule definitions for scaling inventory and price to provide for the most profitable combination.
US07941349B2
The present invention relates to ticket-on-demand issuing method and apparatus capable of purchasing a predetermined performance ticket in advance over a communication network, such as the Internet, and of allowing a user to edit and manufacture the ticket. In the invention, the user purchases the performance ticket in advance, edits the design of the advance ticket in person, and stores the edited ticket. Then, the user is issued the edited ticket through a ticket issuing machine. According to the invention, it is possible for users who purchase, for example, movie, theater, and concert tickets in advance over a communication network, such as the Internet, to edit their own tickets in person and to be issued the edited tickets. Further, ticket purchasers can easily add their avatar images to their own tickets.
US07941342B2
According to the invention, transferring money using a computer network is disclosed. In one step, information is saved on credit received for a first user (110) in a stored value account on a server computer system (170). At the server computer system (170), a request from the first user (110) to send money to a second user (130) based on the stored value account is received. An electronic notification is sent from the server computer (170) to the second user (130) to notify the second user (130) of the request. A debit in the stored value account of the first user (110) is created. The requested money is sent to the second user (130) upon a receipt of a request at the server computer (170) from the second user (130).
US07941337B2
The present invention is directed to a web-based system and method for managing traffic and congestion associated with large events while decreasing operating costs and increasing event revenues. A user accesses a webpage to purchase a parking pass for a predetermined event via a user interface. Once the parking lot has been determined and the spectator charged for the pass, a customized map and driving directions are generated for the spectator, detailing the route to the event the spectator is to follow. The system gives the event management advanced revenues and planning information to devise evacuation plans, emergency response plans, security, and traffic pattern designs.
US07941334B2
A method and structure for coordinating materials ordering requirements for multiple divisions of an organization, comprises a merging unit in communication with the divisions of the organization, wherein the divisions supply the merging unit with parts demand data and wherein the divisions produce the parts demand data utilizing independent demand calculation systems. An information warehouse is connected to the merging unit. The merging unit combines the parts demand data from the divisions to produce an overall demand data for parts needed by the organization.
US07941332B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for modeling and optimizing an enterprise application system. The apparatus, in one embodiment, is configured to determine the system processing capacity and workload characteristics. The apparatus is further configured to determine optimization parameters, including the system processor utilization, minimum job acquiring rates for data entry points of the system, and software component multi-parallelism recommendations. A method is disclosed, in one embodiment, to report the optimization parameters and to implement the optimization parameters within the system during run-time.
US07941326B2
A modular interactive system and method for customizing health education to an individual at a remote terminal to induce a modification in a health-related behavior of the individual. The automated system includes a questionnaire generator for questioning the individual to determine his or her motivational drivers and comprehension capacity. The questionnaire generator is a graphical user interface that allows a clinician to graphically attach questions to answer to action. A processor then generates a script program based on what the clinician has attached together. A profile generator receives answers entered by the individual from the remote terminal and generates a motivational driver profile and a comprehension capacity profile of the individual. A translator receives clinical data relating to a current health condition of the individual and translates the clinical data, the motivational driver profile, and the comprehension capacity profile into a profile code. An educational fulfillment bank matches the profile code to matching educational materials and transfers the matched educational materials to the remote terminal. An evaluation program evaluates educational responses of the individual and provides profile updates for targeting subsequent educational material to the individual based on the educational responses.
US07941316B2
A method of entering information into a mobile device includes receiving a multi-word speech input from a user, performing speech recognition on the speech input to obtain a multi-word speech recognition result, and sequentially displaying, in a display, words in the speech recognition result for user confirmation or correction, by adding one word at a time to the display. A next word is only displayed after user confirmation or correct has been received for a previously displayed word that is immediately preceding the next word in the speech recognition result. The method also includes calculating a hypothesis lattice indicative of a plurality of speech recognition hypotheses based on the speech input and, prior to finishing calculating the hypothesis lattice and while continuing to calculate the hypothesis lattice, calculating a preliminary hypothesis lattice indicative of only partial speech recognition hypotheses based on the speech input and outputting the preliminary hypotheses lattice.
US07941310B2
A computer system and a method for analyzing text in one or more electronic documents are disclosed. The computer system comprises one or more system interfaces; and an affix process that determines one or more affixes of one or more words in one or more of the documents and provides the affixes to the system interface. The preferred embodiment of the invention may be used to build a domain specific morphology lexicon for NLP applications so that they can recognize out-of-vocabulary words. The disclosed procedure utilizes the fact that the processes of discovering prefixes and suffixes are not independent. Many words, especially in technical documents, have complex morphological structures, and thus the knowledge about prefixes helps the discovery of suffixes and vice versa.
US07941308B2
A system and method for predicting the effect of patient self-care actions on a disease control parameter. A future disease control parameter value X(tj) at time tj is determined from a prior disease control parameter value X(ti) at time ti based on an optimal control parameter value R(tj) at time tj, the difference between the prior disease control parameter value X(ti) and an optimal control parameter value R(ti) at time ti, and a set of differentials between patient self-care parameters having patient self-care values SM(ti) at time ti and optimal self-care parameters having optimal self-care values OM(ti) at time ti. The differentials are multiplied by corresponding scaling factors KM. The system includes an input device for entering the patient self-care values SM(ti). A memory stores the optimal control parameter values R(ti) and R(tj), the prior disease control parameter value X(ti), the optimal self-care values OM(ti), and the scaling factors KM. A processor in communication with the input device and memory calculates the future disease control parameter value X(tj). A display is connected to the processor to display the future disease control parameter value X(tj) to a patient.
US07941302B2
Method and apparatus for channel simulation is disclosed. The claimed invention provides method and apparatus 1200 to simulate a propagation channel, particularly a multiple-input-multiple-input (MIMO) channel. The claimed invention further provides a method and apparatus for efficient optimization of antenna by the enhanced channel simulation. The claimed invention takes both antenna characteristics and channel characteristics as inputs, and output time-varying channel realizations to generate the system metrics as the optimization target for antenna under optimization. The claimed invention advantageous provides enhanced channel simulation to meet the accuracy requirement of antenna evaluation.
US07941294B2
Systems and methods for detecting various system conditions in a fluid delivery system (such as an HVAC system) based on a motor parameter are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting: filter condition, frozen coil condition, register condition, energy efficiency, system failure, or any combination thereof. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting fluid delivery system conditions based on motor parameters including system current, system power, system efficiency, motor current, motor power, motor efficiency, and/or a change (or rate of change) in motor parameters. Techniques for responding to a clogged filter and a frozen coil are also disclosed. Also disclosed are techniques for characterizing a fluid delivery system off-site, prior to system installation.
US07941279B2
Methods, computers, and computer program products for detecting the presence of a probe within a sample overlayed on a substrate are provided. The probe comprises a plurality of spatially arranged labels. A data storage module stores a plurality of light images, where each light image has light from the sample at a corresponding wavelength range in a plurality of different wavelength ranges. A label identification module identifies a plurality of labels in the plurality of light images that are proximate to each other on the substrate. A spatial order of the plurality of labels determines a string sequence of the plurality of labels. A probe identification module determines whether the string sequence of the plurality of labels comprises a valid reporter sequence.
US07941265B2
A system includes a fuel detection module, a misfire detection module, and a fuel control module. The fuel detection module detects when a fuel supplied to an engine having C cylinders has a high drivability index (HIDI), where C is an integer greater than 1. The misfire detection module detects whether M of the C cylinders misfire when the fuel has the HIDI, where M is an integer, and 1≦M
US07941260B2
A method of mapping and modeling an engine during an engine development process includes testing the engine over a plurality of actual engine operating conditions and gathering actual engine data corresponding to the actual engine operating conditions. A plurality of parameter functions are determined based on the actual engine data, each of the plurality of parameter functions correspond to an engine operating parameter. A plurality of combustion parameters are generated for a plurality of engine operating conditions that include the plurality of actual engine operating conditions and a plurality of virtual engine operating conditions. An engine simulation model is calibrated based on the plurality of combustion parameters and a plurality of engine maps are generated using the simulation model.
US07941259B2
Vehicular drive system which is small-sized and/or improved in its fuel economy.A power distributing mechanism 16, which is provided with a differential-state switching device in the form of a switching clutch C0 and a switching brake B0, is switchable by the switching device between a differential state (continuously-variable shifting state) in which the mechanism is operable as an electrically controlled continuously variable transmission, and a fixed-speed-ratio shifting state in which the mechanism is operable as a transmission having a fixed speed ratio or ratios. The power distributing mechanism 16 is placed in the fixed-speed-ratio shifting state during a high-speed running of the vehicle or a high-speed operation of engine 8, so that the output of the engine 8 is transmitted to drive wheels 38 primarily through a mechanical power transmitting path, whereby fuel economy of the vehicle is improved owing to reduction of a loss of conversion of a mechanical energy into an electric energy. The mechanism 16 is also placed in the fixed-speed-ratio shifting state during a high-output operation of the engine 8, so that the required electric reaction of first electric motor M1 can be reduced, whereby the required size of the first electric motor M1, and the required size of the drive system 10 including the electric motor M1 can be reduced.
US07941257B2
A tire pressure monitoring system includes sensors respectively associated with tires normally installed on a vehicle. Each sensor transmits a sensor signal indicative of a parameter of the associated tire to a controller. The signal strength of each sensor signal as received by the controller varies over time when the tire is rolling and remains constant over time when the tire is stationary. The controller generates a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) signal indicative of the signal strength of each sensor signal as received by the controller. The controller processes the RSSI signals along with a speed signal indicative of whether the vehicle is moving or is stationary to determine if any tire is stationary while the vehicle is moving, and generates a warning indicative of an unmonitored tire installed on the vehicle in place of a tire upon determining that the tire is stationary while the vehicle is moving.
US07941252B2
A convertible system is provided for controlling automatic starts and automatic stops of a locomotive engine. The convertible system is switchable between a yard mode and a road mode based upon respectively using the locomotive in one of a yard region and road region. The convertible system includes a pressure sensor to sense pressure supplied to a brake system. More particularly, the convertible system includes a microprocessor coupled to the pressure sensor. The microprocessor causes one of an automatic start and automatic stop by sending a respective start up signal or a shut down signal to the locomotive engine, based on comparing the pressure supplied to the brake system with a stored pressure threshold for each of the yard mode and road mode.
US07941251B2
Systems and methods for performing localizer capture maneuvers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes determining at least one instrument landing system (ILS) threshold of an aircraft, and establishing at least one final approach course (FAC) deviation threshold for the aircraft. The method further includes receiving at least one ILS localizer error, then calculating at least one FAC deviation. The at least one ILS localizer error is compared to the ILS threshold, and the at least one FAC deviation is compared to the FAC threshold. A standard capture maneuver is performed if the at least one ILS localizer error reaches its corresponding ILS threshold prior to the at least one FAC deviation reaching its FAC threshold. However, if the at least one FAC deviation reaches its corresponding FAC threshold prior to the at least one ILS localizer error reaching its corresponding ILS threshold, a modified capture maneuver is performed.
US07941244B2
System and method for sortation of picked inventory into individual orders in an order fulfillment process, for example order fulfillment processes in materials handling facilities. Collections of items picked from inventory for multiple orders are stowed to locations at a stow and sortation station. The items for a particular order may be stowed to two or more different locations, and items for two or more orders may be stowed to one location; no particular location is assigned to or reserved for each order. Thus, no space is allocated or reserved for incomplete orders at the station. When all items for a particular order are stowed to locations at the station, the order may be picked from the various locations at the station and placed into order receptacles. The order receptacles may be shipping containers.
US07941242B2
A method to provide redundant accessor availabilty in an automated data storage library. The method provides a data storage and retrieval system comprising one or more data storage devices a robot accessor and a gripper. Either at the same time or at a later time, the user obtains a second gripper and/or a second accessor. The method allows selection and/or authorization for additional support from the second gripper and/or the second accessor upon request and authorization. The redundant accessor capabilities are provided on an honor system for payment for the additional capability, and/or uses a system for tracking the redundant accessor usage, and/or uses license keys or other controls that must be obtained prior to enabling redundant accessor capabilities.
US07941239B2
The PLC according to this invention includes I/O modules, a CPU module, an input/output bus, and a PC having a display. The CPU module includes a control program storage unit which previously stores an intrinsic control program in which operation processing and an input/output information item are packaged; a library which previously stores the function block representing the operation processing; and a header file which previously stores equivalent input/output information equivalently representing the input/output information by a graphical language. Referring to the library and header file, PC causes the execution program created and stored in the main storage unit to be displayed on the display by the function block and equivalent input/output information item.
US07941227B2
An insertion kit includes a lead and a splitable member configured and arranged for receiving the lead when implanting the lead into a patient. The lead has a distal end and at least two proximal ends. The lead includes a plurality of electrodes disposed at the distal end, a plurality of terminals disposed at the proximal ends, and a plurality of conductive wires coupling the plurality of electrodes electrically to the plurality of terminals. The lead also includes a junction coupling the distal end of the lead to the proximal ends of the lead. The splitable member defines a lumen for receiving the distal end of the lead and is configured and arranged to divide into at least two parts for removal of the splitable member from the lead upon implantation of the lead into the patient.
US07941223B2
A system and method for activating electrodes in an implanted electrode array with a stimulation signal is described. A stimulation definition stage, for each of a plurality of defined sound signal characteristics (C), assigns each electrode to one of a plurality of stimulation groups (G) each having an associated group stimulation amplitude function (A), where (G) varies with (C). An electrode stimulator activates each electrode as the stimulation signal varies based on spectral components of the stimulation signal.
US07941221B2
A sensor based gastric stimulator system and method for gastric stimulation of a patient employing an implantable gastric stimulator, which includes an information processor, an electrical stimulator circuit, and telemetry circuitry. The implantable stimulator senses intrinsic, gastric electrical activity (slow waves and/or peristaltic waves) and delivers electrical stimulation to intentionally disrupt or disorganize that activity. The stimulation is triggered by (tracks) normal gastric electrical activity and can be delivered with a spatial offset to anticipate the propagating gastric electrical activity or may be delayed temporally to anticipate the next propagating slow or peristaltic wave. The stimulator may be programmed to disrupt/disorganize all or a percentage of the intrinsic, normal gastric electrical activity. The programmer (via radio frequency data link) may non-invasively program stimulation parameters and intervals. The stimulator may provide stimulation to one or a plurality of stimulation sites and may incorporate one or a plurality of independently programmable sensing and/or stimulation channels. The information processor of the implantable gastric stimulator uses the gastric stimulation information from the non-electrode sensor for determining periods or windows of susceptibility for application of the electrical signals conveyed with the stimulation electrode for conveying electrical signals from the electrical stimulator circuit to the stomach wall of the patient.
US07941220B2
A battery monitoring system monitors status of a battery in an implantable medical device by comparing a measured battery status trend to a calculated battery status trend. The measured battery status trend is a trend of measured parameter values each indicative of an actual state of depletion of the battery. The calculated battery status trend is a trend of calculated parameter values each indicative of an expected state of depletion of the battery.
US07941219B2
A methods and devices for capture detection are based on sensing a propagated depolarization from a contralateral cardiac chamber. An intersite sensing interval is determined based on an intersite pacing delay and an intersite conduction delay associated with first and second pacing sites. Pacing pulses are delivered to the first pacing site and the second pacing site, the pacing pulses separated in time by the intersite pacing delay. An intersite sensing interval is timed. The process includes sensing, during the intersite sensing interval, at the first pacing site for a depolarization propagated to the first pacing site from the second pacing site. It a depolarization propagated from the second pacing site is not sensed, then capture of the first and second pacing sites is detected.
US07941210B2
An electroimpedance tomograph with a plurality of electrodes (1) is provided, which can be placed on the body of a patient and are connected via a selector switch (60) with a control and evaluating unit (20). The control and evaluating unit (20) cooperates with the selector switch (60) such that two electrodes each are supplied with an alternating current from an AC power source (22) and the detected analog voltage signals of the other electrodes are processed in order to reconstruct therefrom the impedance distribution of the body in the plane of the electrodes, wherein a symmetrical AC power source is used to reduce common-mode signals. To further suppress interferences due to common-mode signals, provisions are made for the control and evaluating unit (20) to be set up, furthermore, for detuning the common-mode signal of the alternating current on the body against the ground by means of a common-mode signal measuring electrode (4) and, based on this, the symmetry of the symmetrical AC power source such that the common-mode signal on the body is minimized, and the corresponding detuning parameters are stored for each electrode pair.
US07941202B2
Some embodiments of the invention comprise a customizable multichannel microelectrode array with a modular planar microfabricated electrode array attached to a carrier and a high density of recording and/or stimulation electrode sites disposed thereon. Novel methods of making and using same are also disclosed.
US07941201B2
A microprobe array structure with self-stabilization capability and a method for manufacturing the same are proposed. The microprobe array structure is used to sense various biopotential signals, and is characterized in that the etching parameters are controlled during etching to manufacture a microprobe structure with a reduced bottom cross section so that the microprobe can be firmly stabilized in the skin tissue. Moreover, a conducting layer is formed on the microprobe to sense signals. A design of electric isolation between microprobes is also proposed. The microprobe array can therefore be used for the measurement of various biopotential signals, and can also be used as a stimulus.
US07941188B2
Methods, devices, and systems that store occurrence-data gathered by a distributed sensor network. In an approach, an exemplary method includes receiving a target-occurrence selection, storing a parameter sensed by a sensor of the network in a sensor data set, and searching the sensor data set for data correlating to the target-occurrence. Data correlating to the target-occurrence is stored, and the sensed parameter is deleted from the data set. In another approach, an exemplary system includes a data storage device, a computing device operable to communication with the distributed sensors, and instructions implementing the above method.
US07941176B2
In a circuit (2, 3) for processing at least one output signal (C1, C2, C3) of a communication stage, which at least one output signal (C1, C2, C3) of a communication stage can be generated by means of a communication stage, there are provided signal-mixing means (5), which signal-mixing means (5) are arranged to receive at least two output signals (C1, C2, C3) of communication stages and to mix the at least two output signals (C1, C2, C3) of communication stages and to transmit a collision signal representing the result of the mixing of the at least two output signals (C1, C2, C3) of communication stages, which collision signal represents a simultaneous occurrence of at least two output signals (C1, C2, C3) of communication stages in an electromagnetic field.
US07941174B2
In a radio communications system, several codes for transmitting messages are assigned to a subscriber station. A transmission power differential is determined between the total maximum transmission power of the subscriber station for the codes and the total transmission power of the subscriber station for the codes at the beginning of a message transmission, (the differential being respected by the subscriber station), by a first one of the codes.
US07941173B2
Improved beacon signaling methods are described. Beacon signals are transmitted on the same tone in at least two consecutive symbol periods facilitating accurate energy measurements over a symbol period even if timing synchronization with the transmitter is not maintained. A low power wideband signal is also combined with the beacon signal to facilitate channel estimation and other operations such as timing synchronization operations.
US07941169B2
Provided are an automatic network configuration apparatus and method between short-range wireless terminals. The apparatus includes a storing unit for storing a threshold range value for determining adjacency with an adjacent wireless terminal, a wireless environment compensation constant in a present wireless environment, and a network configuration parameter for automatic network configuration; a signal strength measuring unit for periodically measuring strength of the wireless signal transmitted from the adjacent wireless terminal; a range calculating unit for calculating a range from another wireless terminal corresponding to the strength of the wireless signal measured in the signal strength measuring unit based on the wireless environment compensation constant in the pre-stored present wireless environment; and a network configuring unit for performing network configuration with the adjacent wireless terminal when the calculated range is within a threshold for determining adjacency.
US07941158B2
The system contains a central computer unit having a first database controlled by a first logic unit. At least one mobile computer unit is joined with the mobile equipment. Each of the mobile computer units has a second database controlled by a second logic unit. At least one wireless communication device enables communication between said first logic unit and said second logic unit, wherein said mobile computer unit is operable independent of the first logic unit.
US07941153B2
Provided is a radio communication base station device which can obtain a maximum frequency diversity effect of a downstream line control channel. The device includes: an RB allocation unit (101) which allocates upstream line resource blocks continuous on the frequency axis for respective radio communication mobile stations by the frequency scheduling and generates allocation information indicating which upstream line resource block has been allocated to which radio communication mobile station device; and an arrangement unit (109) which arranges a response signal to the radio communication mobile station device in the downstream line control channels distributed/arranged on the frequency axis while being correlated to the continuous upstream line resource blocks according to the allocation information.
US07941152B2
An apparatus and method for communications of scheduling information of reverse link transmissions are disclosed. A base station controller determines scheduling of a reverse link supplemental channel transmission for a mobile station in a communication system (100). The base station controller groups the mobile station in a group of mobile stations and assigns a forward link channel assignment channel to the group of mobile stations. A transceiver (400) incorporates information relating to the determined scheduling in the assigned forward link common assignment channel and transmits the assigned forward link common assignment channel to the mobile station for scheduling the reverse link supplemental channel transmission. The mobile station receives the assigned forward link common assignment channel. The mobile station schedules transmission of the reverse link supplemental channel transmission in accordance with the determined scheduling and transmits the reverse link supplemental channel in accordance with the determined scheduling.
US07941147B2
A method and apparatus are provided for call setup in a communication network that comprises at least one mobile station to facilitate the hand-off of a wireless headset from a mobile station that has been docked to a landline base unit that includes a radio front end operable to communicate with the wireless headset. Generally, the embodiments of the invention include establishing a first voice path through at least one switching element between a calling party and a called party in a communication network where at least one of the called and calling parties is communicating with the mobile station or, more generally, with a wireless telephone. Thereafter, a first wireless headset communication link is established between the wireless telephone and the wireless headset unit.
US07941146B2
In an embodiment of the method for handling subscriber input during interswitch handover of a call from a first switching station to a second switching station, DTMF digits received at the second switching station are sent in a message to the first switching station. The first switching station then performs an operation on the received digits such as playing the DTMF tones to a network or triggering a service.
US07941144B2
A method and radio network controller (RNC) in a radio access network (RAN) for controlling access to a cellular telecommunication system. Upon receiving an access request from a given user equipment (UE) through a given radio base station (RBS), the RNC retrieves authorization information from an access control database within the RAN. The authorization information indicates whether the given UE is authorized to access the system through the given RBS. The RNC alternatively grants access or denies access to the UE based on the retrieved authorization information. The RBS is particularly useful for controlling access through small cells with limited capacity.
US07941141B2
A portable electronic device includes a radio frequency receiver; a radio frequency transmitter; and a processing system coupled with the receiver and transmitter. The processing system directs the receiver to scan a radio frequency spectrum for available radio channels over which the transmitter may transmit. The processing system may further direct the receiver to perform a second scan for radio channels which are actively transmitting information. The processing system then selects an available radio channel as the radio channel best suited for use by the transmitter to transmit information to the external audio system. The processing system may select a transmission frequency which is spectrally distant from the active radio channels and/or may take into account a transmission profile of the transmitter to select a frequency that does not interfere with the reception of incoming radio signals.
US07941137B2
A mobile terminal and visual data processing method are provided which an image photographing function is performed while maintaining visual communication between a first and second terminal. The present invention includes a camera, a communication unit performing visual communication with another terminal, a storage unit storing at least one image, a display unit displaying visual data related to the visual communication, a control unit controlling the camera to perform an image photographing function when an activation signal is received, wherein the visual communication with the other terminal is maintained while the image photographing function is performed if the activation signal is received while the visual communication is in progress.
US07941120B2
This invention relates to a method for supporting a communication session of an user equipment, by means of a communication system that includes at least one entity between the user equipment and a node with which the user equipment is arranged to establish a session, the method including the steps of establishing a session between the user equipment and the node via the at least one entity, putting the session on hold, reserving resources for the session while the session is on hold, and resuming the session and distributing charging information.
US07941119B2
An apparatus and method for processing a digital broadcast signal are provided. The method includes cutting off a noise frequency of a received digital broadcast signal and low-noise amplifying the noise cut-off signal, limiting an amplitude of the low-noise amplified signal spectrum to an amplitude of the digital broadcast signal spectrum, and cutting off a noise frequency of the amplitude limited signal spectrum and passing only a signal corresponding to a frequency band of the digital broadcast signal.
US07941113B2
The wide bandwidth transceiver includes a receiver section, a transmitter section, and a local oscillation module. The local oscillation module generates a first and a second local oscillation. The transmitter section converts an outbound baseband signal and/or a low intermediate frequency (IF) signal into a first outbound radio frequency (RF) signal based on the second local oscillation when the wide bandwidth transceiver is in a second wireless standard mode and converts the outbound baseband and/or the low IF signal into a second outbound RF signal based on the first and second local oscillations when the wide bandwidth transceiver is in a first wireless standard mode. The receiver section converts a first inbound RF signal into an inbound low IF signal and/or a baseband signal based on the first and second local oscillations when the wide bandwidth transceiver is in the first wireless standard mode and converts a second inbound RF signal into the inbound low IF signal and/or the baseband signal based on the second local oscillation when the wide bandwidth transceiver is in the second wireless standard mode.
US07941108B2
A method for automatically identifying wireless signal quality of a region includes receiving signal quality information associated with wireless signals received by each of a plurality of mobile endpoints and receiving location information identifying locations of each of the plurality of mobile endpoints. The method also includes, based on the received signal quality information and the received location information, identifying a first region of an area, the first region having a first signal quality.
US07941098B2
A semiconductor device that includes transmitter circuits and receiver circuits that share a common data line and method is disclosed. Each transmitter circuit may include a frequency modulator that receives a stream of data and provides a frequency modulated data output at a predetermined carrier frequency. Each receiver may include a band pass filter that allows a corresponding frequency modulated data output from a corresponding transmitter circuit to pass through to a demodulator while essentially excluding the other frequency modulated data. In this way, a plurality of transmitter circuits can simultaneously transmit data with each one of the plurality of transmitter circuits transmitting data to a predetermined receiver circuit.
US07941091B1
A multi-stage signal combining network includes two or more first stage combiner circuits, two or more filters, and at least one second stage signal combiner circuit. Each of the first stage combiner circuits has two or more input ports coupled to receive a respective two or more signals, and a first combiner output port. Each of the two or more filters includes an input coupled to one first stage combiner output port and a filter output port. The at least one second stage combiner circuit includes two or more input ports, each coupled to one filter output port, and a second stage combiner output port.
US07941087B2
To provide an image-bearing member protecting agent used in an image forming method which includes applying or attaching the agent onto a surface of an image bearing member, the agent including: a fatty acid metal salt (A), and an inorganic lubricant (B), wherein the inorganic lubricant (B) has an average particle diameter of 0.1 μm to 14 μm.
US07941083B2
An image forming method includes forming toner images on first and second image bearing members; transferring a first toner image on the first image bearing member and a second toner image on the second image bearing member, in mutually superposed manner, onto a recording material; heating the first and second toner image thereby fixing the same to the recording material; detecting alignment marks on the first and second image bearing members in the course of a continuous job for continuously forming images; controlling relative positions of the first toner image and the second toner image, based on a result of detection of the alignment marks; and increasing a frequency of execution of the relative position control in the continuous job, as the recording material to be subjected to image formation in the continuous job has a smaller width in a direction perpendicular to a transport direction of the recording material.
US07941081B2
A developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of a latent image bearer rotating in one direction utilizes an electrified developer that is prepared by mixing two components, or an electrostatically chargeable toner and magnetic carrier. The developing unit includes a developing roller for supplying the developer to the latent image bearer and a carrier collecting roller disposed on the downstream side of the developing roller with respect to the rotational direction of the latent image bearer. The carrier collecting roller includes first and second magnetic pole elements of different magnetic polarities, both presenting a magnetic field intensity of 400 G to 750 G. The first magnetic pole element is disposed at a position on the opposite side across the center of the carrier collecting roller from the position opposing the latent image bearer. The second magnetic pole element is disposed at a position opposing the developing roller.
US07941078B2
An electro photographic image forming apparatus includes first and second photosensitive bodies, first and second exposing units to form electrostatic latent images on the first and second photosensitive bodies each of which being charged to a uniform electric potential, a first developing unit to develop the electrostatic latent image on the first photosensitive body by supplying a transparent toner thereto, and a second developing unit to develop the electrostatic latent image on the second photosensitive body by supplying color toners thereto, wherein the first developing unit is a developing unit employing a two-component developing technique using a magnetic carrier and a transparent toner.
US07941074B2
A belt cover is configured to approach an intermediate transfer belt when an intermediate transfer portion retracts from a photosensitive drum. This allows the space required for the retraction of the belt cover to be made smaller when the intermediate transfer portion retracts from the photosensitive drum. Therefore, a color printer body can be made more compact.
US07941063B2
An image forming apparatus is provided, which prevents occurrence of conveying malfunction or image failure due to variation of conveying speed caused by endurance of a fixing unit or a conveying unit, variation of using environment, or a type of a recording material. The image forming apparatus includes: a fixing unit for heating and fixing a toner image on a recording sheet (P); a secondary transferring portion for conveying the recording sheet (P) to the fixing unit; a loop sensor for detecting a degree of a loop of the recording sheet (P) generated according to a speed difference between a conveying speed of the fixing unit and a conveying speed of the secondary transferring portion; a CPU for controlling the conveying speed of the fixing unit; a fixing deliver sensor for detecting a used amount of the fixing unit; and an EEPROM for storing information on the used amount of the fixing unit detected by the fixing deliver sensor. The CPU controls the conveying speed of the fixing unit based on the information of the used amount of the fixing unit stored in the EEPROM and a detection result of the loop sensor.
US07941058B2
The invention refers to a device (1) for decoding an optical multi-level DPSK signal (E), the device (1) comprising: means for receiving the multi-level DPSK signal (E); at least two means (3) for transforming optical multi-level DPSK signals (E) into corresponding analog electrical signals (i); means (2) for splitting up the received multi-level DPSK signal (E) into at least two optical multi-level DPSK signals (E0), one for each of the opto-electrical transforming means (3); means (8) for processing electrical signals (i, e); and at least two means (6) for transforming the analog electrical signals (i) into corresponding electrical logical binary signals (e). In order to provide multi-level DPSK receiver (1) with a reduced complexity, it is suggested that concerning the signal flow within the device (1) the analog-to-logical-binary transformation means (6) are disposed before the processing means (8) and that the processing means (8) process electrical logical binary signals (e).
US07941056B2
A optical link for achieving electrical isolation between a controller and a memory device is disclosed. The optical link increases the noise immunity of electrical interconnections, and allows the memory device to be placed a greater distance from the processor than is conventional without power-consuming I/O buffers.
US07941053B2
An optical transceiver for converting and coupling an information-containing electrical signal with an optical fiber including a housing having an electrical connector with a plurality of XFI electrical interfaces for coupling with an external electrical cable or information system device and for transmitting and/or receiving an information-containing electrical signal having a data rate of at least 10 Gigabits per second on each interface, and a fiber optic connector adapted for coupling with an external optical fiber for transmitting and/or receiving an optical communications signal having a data rate at least 40 Gigabits per second; and at least one electro-optical subassembly in the housing for converting between an information-containing electrical signal and a modulated optical signal corresponding to the electrical signals.
US07941051B2
A laser optical device, having: a laser light emitting section to emit laser signal light modulated by information; a laser light receiving section to receive the laser signal light emitted from the laser light emitting section; a light condensing optical unit to conduct the laser signal light emitted from the laser light emitting section to the laser light receiving section; an actuator to move the light condensing optical unit; a light intensity detecting section to detect an intensity of the laser signal light conducted to the laser light receiving section; and a control section to control drive of the actuator so as to align the laser signal light conducted by the light condensing optical unit to the laser light receiving section; wherein the control section drives the actuator in a predetermined period which synchronizes with a predetermined signal included in the laser signal light.
US07941050B2
Free space optical communication methods and systems, according to various aspects are described. The methods and systems are characterized by transmission of data through free space with a digitized optical signal acquired using wavelength modulation, and by discrimination between bit states in the digitized optical signal using a spectroscopic absorption feature of a chemical substance.
US07941046B2
A photographic and/or videographic camera accessory that effectively attracts, captivates and directs the attention or line-of-sight of an infant substantially toward the camera lens.
US07941043B2
An automatic focal point control apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a base fixed in the camera, which includes a cylindrical projection extending from a top surface thereof and into which part of a lens barrel is inserted; a bobbin inserted into the cylindrical projection on the base that includes a plurality of electromagnets around which coils are wound; a rotation body that includes a support ring rotatably connected to the outer circumference of the adaptor and a ring-shaped permanent magnet fixed onto an outer surface of the support ring and that has a plurality of N poles and an equal number of S poles alternately arranged at regular intervals; and a housing detachably mounted on the base that includes a space unit formed inside that includes the bobbin, rotation body and adaptor, and a through hole formed inside so that light and image are projected onto the adaptor.
US07941036B2
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.
US07941034B2
The present invention discloses a method for encoding a flag of an image while encoding an I Frame, firstly setting a start code of an I Frame picture to be coded, for marking a start of the I Frame; setting a flag for indicating whether to code an identification field; judging the set flag, and if the flag indicates to encode the identification field of time and control code of a video tape recorder, encoding the identification field of time and control code of the video tape recorder, otherwise, not encoding the identification field of time and control code of the video tape recorder. In the present invention, the start code is added into the prediction picture header for marking the start of one frame picture data, as well as identifying whether there is the time_code identification field in the picture by the flag information of the time_code identification field, which can realize the objective of identifying the time_code identification field, and avoid encoding additional identification information, therefore it improves coding efficiency, and can be applied to all kinds of video/audio technical standards.
US07941031B2
A rule storage unit stores a plurality of pieces of specifying information each showing a feature of frames to be specified as start frames, and each corresponding to a different type of content. A program obtaining unit obtains a content of which start frames are to be specified. An information obtaining unit obtains type information showing the type of the obtained content. A selecting unit obtains, from the rule storage unit, apiece of specifying information corresponding to the obtained type information. A specifying unit specifies, as the start frames, frames in the obtained content having the feature shown by the obtained piece of specifying information.
US07941030B2
At the time of recording, only an edition point is recorded (step S4). At the time of reproduction, overlap time (A_overlap) between an audio frame to be reproduced last and an audio frame to be reproduced first, each including a video connection point is calculated and, further, offset time is calculated on the basis of the overlap time (step S12). Reproducing audio data by using the calculated offset time (step S14) enables reproduction be performed without a gap between audio frames around a connection point. Around connection points, by performing a window function multiplying process on audio data, audio samples are seamlessly connected to each other.
US07941026B2
A fixture includes an adapter array with movable adapter modules and a storage panel. A housing of a connector holder includes a plurality of openings for receiving fiber optic connectors and protecting the polished end face of the connectors from damage while the connectors are stored within the storage panel. Each of the connectors are inserted within the openings in the connector holder for storage and protection until the cables need to be connected to a customer equipment cable in the adapter array. The fixture is used in a cabinet including fiber optic splitters. Offset vertical fingers are provided on the fixture for cable management.
US07941013B2
A process comprises imagewise exposing at least a portion of a photoreactive composition to light sufficient to cause simultaneous absorption of at least two photons/thereby inducing at least one acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction where the composition is exposed to the light, the imagewise exposing being carried out in a pattern that is effective to define at least the surface of a plurality of light extraction structures. Each one of the array of light extraction structures has at least one shape factor; the shape factor may vary across the array. At least one light extraction structure may have the geometric configuration of a truncated asphere.
US07941012B2
A phase-engineered fiber is described for generating a cylindrically polarized beam. The fiber includes a core region, a ring region surrounding the core region, and an outer cladding region surrounding the ring region. The fiber regions are configured to cause the fiber to have a refractive index step proximate to the peak amplitude value of the mode intensity profile of an LP11 mode guided by the fiber. The refractive index step is sufficiently steep such that at least one of the cylindrically polarized TM01 and TE01 eigenmodes has an effective refractive index neff that is sufficiently separated from the respective effective refractive index of the other eigenmodes to allow coupling to the at least one cylindrically polarized eigenmode with minimal coupling to the other eigenmodes.
US07941008B2
According to the pattern search method of the present invention, detection of a detection image region relative to an observation image is performed by a pattern matching. An image whose size is substantially the same as that of the observation image is used as the detection image region. The detection image region is relatively displaced with reference to the observation image, thereby detecting a degree of similarity for a common region which is common to both of the region and the image. Displacement range of the detection image region is set in advance. If area of the common region is larger than a predetermined value, calculating the degree of similarity will be performed.
US07941007B1
To interpolate a value for a pixel, multiple patterns are selected. Each pattern is used to determine a pixel angle. One of the determined pixel angles is then selected based on the reliability of the pixel angles. The selected pixel angle can be selected based on its reliability irrespective of the reliability of other pixel angles. The selected pixel angle can then be used to interpolate a value for the target pixel. Dynamic thresholds can be computed for use in either determining a pixel angle for a given pattern, or to select the pixel angle from the available determined pixel angles.
US07941003B2
Systems and methods are provided for determining an ensquared energy associated with an imaging system. In one embodiment of the invention, a focal plane array captures an image of a target comprising a plurality of point sources, each point source being associated with a pixel within the focal plane array. An image analysis component estimates an ensquared energy value for the imaging system from respective intensity values of the associated pixels and known relative positions of the plurality of point sources.
US07941002B2
Methods, systems, and machine-readable media for processing an input image are described. In one aspect, respective visual features of local input image regions of an input image having a first pixel resolution are analyzed to produce a result. Based on the result of analyzing the visual features, reduced-resolution visual representations of corresponding ones of the local input image regions are derived from the input image. A thumbnail image that reflects the arrangements, proportions and local details of the input image having a second pixel resolution lower than the first pixel resolution is produced from the reduced-resolution visual representations. The thumbnail image is output.
US07940978B2
The present techniques provide for the evaluation of cellular motion and/or cellular properties based on an analysis of motion. In an exemplary technique, images of one or more cells are acquired and motion data for the one or more cells is derived from the images. The motion data is decomposed to generate one or more motion components. The one or more motion components can be used to evaluate cellular properties and/or cellular motion properties.
US07940972B2
A system and method of imaging an imaged subject is provided. The system comprises a controller, and an imaging system including an imaging probe in communication with the controller. The imaging probe includes a transducer array operable to move through a range of motion along a first imaging path at a first speed to acquire a first set of image data. The transducer array can be operable to move through the range of motion along the first imaging path at a second speed greater than the first speed so as to acquire an update image data at a rate faster than acquisition of the first set of image data.
US07940970B2
A method and a system for identifying a data quality issue associated with medical diagnostic data is provided. The system includes, but is not limited to, an imaging apparatus configured to generate imaging data and a processor operably coupled to the imaging apparatus to receive the imaging data. The processor is configured to analyze the received imaging data; to identify a data quality issue associated with the received imaging data based on the analysis of the received imaging data; to generate a message including the identified data quality issue; and to send the generated message to a user.
US07940968B2
Systems and methods are provided the autocentering, autofocusing, acquiring, decoding, aligning, analyzing and exchanging among various parties, images, where the images are of arrays of signals associated with ligand-receptor interactions, and more particularly, ligand-receptor interactions where a multitude of receptors are associated with microparticles or microbeads. The beads are encoded to indicate the identity of the receptor attached, and therefore, an assay image and a decoding image are aligned to effect the decoding. The images or data extracted from such images can be exchanged between de-centralized assay locations and a centralized location where the data are analyzed to indicate assay results. Access to data can be restricted to authorized parties in possession of certain coding information, so as to preserve confidentiality.
US07940958B2
A system specifies a position on a screen of a display unit where a moving image is displayed, and detects a change in a relationship between the specified position and a portion of the moving image. In response to detection of a change in a portion of the moving image with respect to the specified position, the system includes a control unit that is configured to automatically control timing of at least one of start and end of recording of the moving image.
US07940957B2
A tracking start-and-stop determining unit of a tracking processing unit determines whether to start or stop tracking based on a predetermined condition. During tracking, a sampling unit 29 creates or eliminates particles using a probability density distribution estimated for the previous image frame. A first to nth model tracking units transit the particles according to motion models respectively assigned, and observe the likelihood of a candidate curve corresponding to each particle with respect to an edge image generated by an image processing unit. A tracking integration unit determines a motion model which causes the highest likelihood, and estimates a probability density distribution using an observation likelihood based on the motion model.
US07940946B2
An improved hearing aid device adapted for use within the ear canal of the CIC (Completely In the ear) and of the partially exposed ITC (In The Canal) type. This aid consists of a system of integrated parts allowing an air gap to substantially surround the hearing aid shell and air passages which communicate with the inner ear minimizing occlusion sensations and providing the user with an enhanced natural hearing experience. A key aspect of this device is the provision of air passages in the mounting insert which securely positions the hearing aid shell in the wearer's canal. These passages are designed to stay open after insertion of the aid in the ear canal. In use, unamplified sound from the outside passes around the hearing aid shell, through the air passages in the mounting insert blending with the amplified sound emanating from the receiver. The area of air passages in the mounting insert can be tailored by the technician adapting to the hearing loss characteristics of the user. Surprisingly, acoustic feedback is mitigated in spite of the openness of this novel design.
US07940936B2
A public key generation method in Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC), and a public key generation system performing the method are provided. The public key generation method includes reducing a sequence length of the signed ternary τ-adic representation of the private key ‘k’ using properties of an elliptic curve, representing a reduced secret key ‘k’ in a signed ternary τ-adic representation; and computing a public key kP by multiplying the τ-adic representation of the private key ‘k’ whose sequence length is reduced on point P on the elliptic curve.
US07940931B1
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.
US07940930B2
A system for scrambling/descrambling packets of a stream of content, each packet having a must stay clear (MSC) section, the system including an input handler including a receiving module to receive the stream, a characteristic analyzer to analyze the stream in order to determine a data independent characteristic of each packet, and a scrambling /descrambling device operationally associated with the input handler, the scrambling/descrambling device including a receiving module to receive the data independent characteristic for each packet from the input handler, and an Initial Value module to determine an Initial Value for each packet as a function of the data independent characteristic of one of the packets being processed, wherein the scrambling/descrambling device is adapted to scramble and/or descramble the packets based on the Initial Value and a Control Word. Related apparatus and methods are included.
US07940922B2
A telephone interface circuit comprising a speech circuit, a control circuit turning on upon receiving a supply of a forward direction trigger current so as to connect first and second telephone lines and the speech circuit, and going off upon receiving a supply of a reverse direction trigger current so as to disconnect the first and second telephone lines and the speech circuit, a capacitor charging and discharging charge supplied from the first telephone line, and a hook switch supplying charge accumulated at the capacitor when off-hook to the control circuit as a forward direction trigger current, and supplying charge discharged from the capacitor when on-hook to the control circuit as a reverse direction trigger current.
US07940921B2
The invention provides a single digital communication link between system-side and line-side circuitry in a DAA, capable both of carrying data signals and of transferring a substantial amount of power to the line-side circuitry. The invention comprises a system-side interface circuit, a line-side interface circuit, and an isolation barrier including a transformer. Each interface circuit is capable of connection to an upstream communication circuit (either line-side or system-side), from which it may receive data signals to be transmitted across the isolation barrier to the other interface circuit, and to which it may pass data signals received across the isolation barrier from the other interface circuit. The line-side interface circuit may further include a rectifier and a storage device.
US07940920B2
Disclosed is a telecommunication system including a main telecommunication apparatus, at least one slave telecommunication apparatus and a virtual signal circuit. The slave telecommunication apparatus is coupled to the main telecommunication apparatus. The virtual signal circuit, which is coupled to the main telecommunication apparatus and the slave telecommunication apparatus, is used for generating a DC virtual signal to the slave telecommunication apparatus in a silent operation mode and for transmitting a telecommunication signal to the slave telecommunication apparatus in a normal operation mode to recover the original telecommunication function and operation.
US07940909B2
The present disclosure describes a method for rewarding an RBT, including selecting an RBT and initiating an RBT reward via a third-party platform in which a donator exists; processing an RBT reward request from a third-party platform, and downloading the RBT selected by the donator to a customized RBT library of the rewarded party when a predetermine condition is met. The CRBT platform may also return reward result information (Successful or Failed) to the third-party platform; the third-party platform receives the reward result information and charges the donator for the rewarded RBT. If the donator is charged successfully, the rewarded party is notified that the rewarded RBT is received; if the donator is charged unsuccessfully, the downloaded RBT is deleted from the customized RBT library of the rewarded party. The disclosure further describes a device and a system for implementing the method.
US07940905B2
Systems and methods for identifying a name associated with a calling party's telephone number are disclosed. Generally, a first network element determines whether there are any restrictions on the disclosure of a name associated with a calling party's telephone number; obtain the name associated with the calling party's telephone number when it is determined that the calling party's telephone number is present in a database; and transmit the name associated with the calling party's telephone to a second network element.
US07940902B2
A method and an apparatus for implementing a card call service are disclosed in embodiments of the present invention. The method includes: obtaining card information of a user terminal when determining that a call initiated by the user terminal is a card call; providing a card call service for the user terminal when determining, according to the card information, that the card call is supported. It can be seen that NGN may provide a user terminal with a card call service when the user terminal initiating a card call has the card information which may support a card call, so that the satisfaction of users is remarkably improved.
US07940900B2
A system and a method are disclosed for controlling voice communications through a mobile computing device. In one embodiment, a mobile computing device enabled for telephony communications establishes a telephone call to transmit voice signals and mutes the established telephone call. When ready to transmit voice signals, a control switch configured on the mobile computing device is depressed and held for a duration in which to transmit those voice signals in the established telephone call. Once transmission of the voice signals is completed, the control switch is released to re-mute the established telephone call.
US07940899B2
Techniques using data matching and clustering algorithms are disclosed to aid investigators in detecting potentially fraudulent activity, performing risk analysis or assessing compliance with applicable regulations.
US07940894B2
The system uses an X-ray imaging system having an elongated lifetime. Further, the system uses an X-ray beam that lies in substantially the same path as a charged particle beam path of a particle beam cancer therapy system. The system creates an electron beam that strikes an X-ray generation source located proximate to the charged particle beam path. By generating the X-rays near the charged particle beam path, an X-ray path running collinear, in parallel with, and/or substantially in contact with the charged particle beam path is created. The system then collects X-ray images of localized body tissue region about a cancerous tumor. Since, the X-ray path is essentially the charged particle beam path, the generated image is usable for precisely target the tumor with a charged particle beam.
US07940873B2
This is a data reproduction circuit for receiving data and reproducing the data and its clock which has an over-sampling determination circuit for sampling the received data by a clock with frequency higher than the data rate of the received data and converting the sampled data into digital signals, a circuit for selecting and outputting the reproduced data, a phase error detection circuit for detecting a phase error from its timing deviation with the received data, based on the reproduced clock, a data selection circuit for adjusting its phase, based on the output of the phase error detection circuit, a phase adjustment circuit for adjusting the phase of the reproduced clock to reproduce a new clock and a clock generation circuit for supplying the over-sampling determination circuit and the data selection circuit with the newly reproduced clock.
US07940868B1
A method for correlating scattered pilot locations in a sequence of OFDM symbols in a multi-carrier transmission system, and includes mapping pilot locations comprising pilot symbols having predetermined known values, wherein the pilot symbols are positioned among data subcarriers in time and frequency dimensions consisting of received pilot symbols and having a predetermined position pattern in the time and frequency dimensions, wherein the predetermined position pattern comprises a finite number of sub-position patterns each corresponding to positions of the pilot symbols; estimating a Doppler spread in a frequency spectrum between the transmitter and the receiver in the multi-carrier transmission system; estimating a channel length of a set of channel paths received at the receiver; and the receiver automatically selecting one of a plurality of predetermined methods of correlating the scattered pilot locations in the sequence of OFDM symbols based only on the estimating processes.
US07940864B2
An apparatus and method of applying a fast algorithm to a pilot-based channel estimation process includes receiving, in a receiver, a signal comprising information bits transmitted in a wireless channel, executing a pilot-based channel estimation process running on a decision-directed turbo estimation procedure having a p structure for a vector of pilots and an upper bound N for a channel spread based on a feedback of detected information bits via OFDM, encoding the detected information bits, re-encoding the detected information bits at a decoder output, re-constructing and subtracting an ICI term from the received signal, modulating the detected information bits, estimating channel symbols in a per-carrier basis based on a diagonal matrix of a full matrix involved in the pilot-based channel estimation, and performing training of the wireless channel based on an entire vector of the channel symbols.
US07940857B2
The invention relates to a method and a transmitter for limiting a signal at chip level. The transmitter limiting the signal at chip level comprises means (704) for determining a limiting signal from a transmissible signal filtered using a pulse shaping filter, the transmitter comprises means (704, 710, 712) for determining an error signal using the transmissible signal and the limiting signal, the transmitter comprises means (720) for generating a limited transmissible signal by reducing the error signal filtered using the filter matched to a chip pulse waveform from the transmissible signal and the transmitter comprises means (722, 724) for filtering the limited transmissible signal using the pulse shaping filter.
US07940856B2
A method of synchronizing a substantially rectilinear signal being propagated through an unknown channel, in the presence of unknown substantially rectilinear interferences, received by an array of N sensors, in which a known training sequence s(nT) is used comprising K symbols and sampled at the symbol rate T (s(nT), 0≦n≦{tilde over (K)}1), characterized in that, based on observations x((n+l/p)T) over the duration of the training sequence, where p=T/Te is an integer and Te the sampling period, a virtual observation vector X((n+l/p)T)=[x((n+l/p)T)T, x((n+l/p)T)†]T is defined, as well as a decision criterion or decision statistic taking into account the second-order non-circular nature of the interferences, by using the first and second correlation matrices of the virtual observation vector X((n+l/p)T).
US07940848B2
A method for an operating system including a channel estimation for OFDM systems in a receiver is disclosed. One embodiment provides information indicative of multiple transmitter signals reception characteristics of signals received from multiple transmitters. Then, channel estimation is performed dependent on the information.
US07940842B2
An algorithm calculates spectral compression/expansion filter coefficients using a value proportional to a reciprocal of a feedback/feedforward signal and stores the coefficients to a lookup table. The lookup table is indexed by a pre selected set of coefficient bits to generate a filter coefficient function. A first portion of the lookup table stores a plurality of discrete values at index points of a line segment corresponding to a filter coefficient function approximation, so as to generate an initial discrete value corresponding to the filter coefficient function at a value of the high order bits and a second portion stores a plurality of slope values, which indicates a slope of the filter coefficient function. A linear circuit interpolates/decimates an approximation of the compression/expansion filter coefficient function based on the slope value, the initial discrete value and a preselected set of low order bits of the reciprocal value.
US07940837B2
An alternative approach to coping with the ever increasing demand for faster communications hardware is to design modems that are capable of operating its speeds at a higher data rate than a speed required for a single port of the standard communication rate for that modem. Basically, by utilizing a resource manager, that directs the data in and out of the various portions of the modem in an orderly manner, keeping track of which of the ports is being operated at any given point in time, a standard single port modem can be reconfigured, for example, at an over clocked rate, to manipulate the data input and output of a modem.
US07940835B2
A method is provided for processing a signal emanating from a multi-path transmission medium. Echoes of the signal that is received are detected, and a rejection processing is performed. The rejection processing includes estimating the cross-correlation between temporally neighboring echoes, and if this cross-correlation satisfies a test, rejecting the one of the two neighboring echoes that exhibits the lower energy. Also provided is a rake receiver that can perform such a method.
US07940833B2
A transmitter (20) for a code division multiple access radio access network intelligently preconditions a channel-merged signal which is applied to its amplifier (22) so that the amplifier does not experience, e.g., precipitous power changes. The transmitter (20) comprises an amplifier (22) for amplifying the channel-merged signal at a signal output power; a detector (24) for performing detection of when output power of the channel-merged signal is about to change by a specified amount; and, a noise inserter (26) for adding a noise signal to the channel-merged signal in dependence upon the detection. Insertion of the noise smoothes an edge of the power change curve and thereby averts stress for the amplifier.
US07940830B2
Apparatus and systems for synthesizing frequencies for use in a fast hopping wireless communications system. A frequency synthesizer comprises a plurality of oscillators with each oscillator having a first input coupled to a reference clock frequency signal, and a signal selector having a control signal input and a plurality of reference clock inputs with each reference clock input coupled to an output from an oscillator. Each oscillator produces a reference frequency that is a harmonic of a reference clock frequency of the reference clock frequency signal, and the signal selector couples a reference clock input to an output based on a control signal provided by the control signal input.
US07940827B2
A vertical-cavity, surface-emission-type laser diode includes an optical cavity formed of an active region sandwiched by upper and lower reflectors, wherein the lower reflector is formed of a distributed Bragg reflector and a non-optical recombination elimination layer is provided between an active layer in the active region and the lower reflector.
US07940820B2
A method of protecting a laser against damage caused by undesired incident light in a resonator includes measuring a parameter, which is a measure for the optical power of the incident light. In more concrete terms, the optical power occurring at a resonator mirror is measured. In response to a result of the measurement, a pumping power for the laser is reduced to reduce the optical power in the resonator to a value that is uncritical for the laser.
US07940817B2
A method to stabilize the repetition rate in a passive harmonic mode-locked fiber laser employing semiconductor saturable absorbers. The pulse organization is accomplished by electrically modulating the amplifier pump source that in turn optically modulates the saturable loss of semiconductor absorber. Due to an efficient modulation mechanism of the cavity loss, the method can be used to generate an actively mode-lock pulse train.
US07940811B2
In the communication system performing transmission with generating the vacant period in the slotted mode during data transmission in order to perform various process, such as different frequency carrier quality measurement or so forth, the control signal for maintaining a communication quality is inserted even in the vacant period. Therefore, a link quality may not be degraded even if the vacant period is long. Namely, when the pilot signal is used as the control signal, even in the vacant period, measurement of the link quality of the forward link with the pilot signal is performed in the mobile station to report the result of measurement to the base station. Therefore, transmission power control of the forward link can be performed according to the report in the base station. Therefore, degradation of the forward link can be eliminated.
US07940810B2
An encoding/transmitting apparatus that is used to transmit moving-picture data from a transmitting side to a receiving side through a transmission path and to subject the moving-picture data to streaming in the receiving side has an external-output request determining unit that monitors the state of a network. If the network assumes an undesirable state, the request determining unit causes a multiplex output unit to stop multiplexing data. When the network assumes a desirable state, the multiplex unit starts multiplexing the data again. A video encoding unit and an audio encoding unit keep encoding data, whether the multiplex output unit is multiplexing data or not. When the area occupied by encoded data in an encoded-video-data storage unit and the area occupied by encoded data in an encoded-audio-data storage unit exceed a predetermined value, the encoding units stop encoding data, and wait until the area occupied by encoded data sufficiently decreases.
US07940799B2
In order to cope with format conversion of user data, the bit rate value and VBV (Video Buffering Verifier) buffer size value in a sequence header of an input code and the VBV delay value in a picture header of the input code are modified to obtain an intermediate code (305 to 309), and additional information (300) is generated for distinguishing GOP (Group of Pictures) user data (307) from the other main data. A VBV buffer simulation is performed using this additional information (300) to multiplex the GOP user data in a picture user data region to a data amount such that the operation does not fail, whereby an output code is generated.
US07940794B2
To provide an extra wide bandwidth communication using standard channels, multiple non-overlapping channels can be used. To provide a 40 MHz communication, two non-overlapping 20 MHz channels, i.e. a control channel and an extension channel, can be used to provide an effective 40 MHz channel. Advantageously, a wireless device can dynamically detect 20/40 MHz signals on a packet-by-packet basis, thereby facilitating commercially viable 40 MHz communication. The wireless device can monitor traffic on the extension channel to facilitate accurate 20/40 MHz decision making. Protection, e.g. legacy preambles and RTS/CTS headers, can be provided on the control and extension channels.
US07940789B2
The invention concerns a method for the rate regulation of radio link probing in a communication network comprising at least a receiver terminal and at least one transmitter terminal, characterized by the steps, at the level of the receiver terminal, of: determining the amount of data sent by each transmitter terminal to the receiver terminal through respective radio links, when a probing of a link is to be made, probing the link corresponding to the transmitter terminal having sent the greatest amount of data.
US07940782B2
The invention relates to a method and system of service preparation of a residential network access device from one or more remote provisioning devices to prepare the residential network access device to receive a network service over a communications network. The method comprises the steps of receiving a line identifier indicating a physical line used by the residential network access device to connect to the communication network; transmitting an IP address from the one or more provisioning devices to the residential network access device for which the line identifier has been received, the IP address being a source address for the residential network access device, and transmitting software code portions to the IP address of the residential network access device, the software code portions being required for receiving the network service.
US07940769B2
A network includes network nodes and a gateway. Each network node has a corresponding unique in-site IPv6 address for communication within a prescribed site, each in-site IPv6 address having a first IPv6 address prefix that is not advertised outside of the prescribed site. Network nodes can obtain from within the prescribed site a unique extra-site IPv6 address for mobile or extra-site communications. The extra-site IPv6 address has a second IPv6 address prefix, distinct from the first IPv6 address prefix, advertised by the gateway to the prescribed site and the wide area network. The gateway establishes a secure connection (e.g., tunnel) with each corresponding IPv6 node using its corresponding extra-site IPv6 address, and creates a corresponding binding cache entry specifying the corresponding extra-site IPv6 address and in-site IPv6 address. Hence, the gateway provides wide area network access while maintaining secrecy of the in-site IPv6 addresses.
US07940762B2
A packet switch routes data packets based on both packet headers and data payloads in the data packets. The packet switch receives data packets, identifies a destination port of the packet switch for each data packet based on a packet header of the data packet, and routes the data packet to the destination port. Additionally, the packet switch selects data packets among the data packets received by the packet switch based on the data payloads of the received data packets, identifies a trace port of the packet switch for each selected data packet, and routes the selected data packet to the trace port.
US07940756B1
A system for dynamic tagging of network data based on service level objectives comprises one or more processors and memory coupled to the processors. The memory comprises program instructions executable by the processors to identify a service level objective associated with a particular task that comprises a transmission of data packets over a network on behalf of an application, where the network includes one or more devices (such as routers, switches, etc.) configured to provide different levels of service to data packets based at least in part on service level indicators included within the packets. The instructions are executable to dynamically generate service level indicators corresponding to the identified service level objectives for inclusion in the data packets of the task, and to transmit the packets including the service level indicators into the network.
US07940731B2
The present invention relates to a load balancing method for a wireless local area network, which includes the following steps: initializing the load balancing group, self-organizing to select an online access point from the load balancing group as a load balancing agent center, each access point of the said balancing group managing and processing the load balance in accordance with the load level and balance optimizing policy, therefore implements the network load balance. The method of the invention improves reliability of the network load information, presents the load information from invalidly broadcasting in the wireless local area network, therefore reduces the additional overhead for managing the load balance of the wireless network, particularly in the network that having three layers switching equipment, self-organizing to select the agent center can utilize the network resource in effect, therefore managing the dynamic load balance information much more effectively, reducing the dependence on the upper server, and managing the network much more flexibly.
US07940730B1
A method and apparatus are provided for establishing data communication between a wireless network and a wireless terminal by means of a packet data protocol connection, using internet protocol. When a determination is made that the wireless terminal is active but does not have an internet protocol address, a page is initiated from the wireless network to the wireless terminal over a control channel requesting that the wireless terminal obtain a temporary internet protocol address. A temporary internet protocol address is then assigned to the terminal in response to a request from the terminal initiated in response to the page so that data communication can be established with the terminal based on the temporary address.
US07940725B2
A mobile station and a method are provided for determining to perform a handover based on information of movement between cells. In order to perform handovers, a movement discriminator may be formed based on a measured power of transmitted signals. A determination may be made whether to perform the handover based on a plurality of movement discriminators.
US07940723B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide for transport and logical channels to be used in wireless transmissions to and from mobile stations. In some embodiments, a mapper may be used to dynamically or statically map the transport channels to the physical channels. In some embodiments, physical layers may receive bearer traffic in physical channels and transmit the bearer traffic over corresponding radio frequency carriers. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07940722B1
A method for selecting an IP address for an application used in a network environment may include receiving data of a network's capabilities, receiving data of a subscriber's applications, and receiving data of a subscriber's needs. The method may also include generating a policy document, such that the policy document associates an IP address with each application based on the subscriber's needs and the network's capabilities.
US07940719B2
A wireless radio frequency data communication device includes memory in which is stored a common designation; a radio frequency transmitter component and receiver component for wirelessly sending and receiving data packets; and electronics for processing data. The device is configured to filter a wireless communication received by it for an identification of its common designation within the communication, and process the communication if an identification of its common designation is found therein, and not process the communication if an identification of its common designation is not found therein. The device includes a profile stored in its memory and is configured to automatically and dynamically change its common designation in accordance with its profile. The profile may include a plurality of common designations, which may be conditional. The foregoing common designations may be class designations for use in class-based asset tracking systems. The device may include an interface for sensor-acquired data.
US07940717B2
A method of forming ad hoc RSI hierarchical communication networks among pluralities of wireless transceivers includes assigning to each of the transceivers one or more common designations. A network organization routine of the transceivers operates to establish hierarchical networks based on the transceivers' common designations, resulting in a logical network organization that provides efficiencies for acquiring information from particular transceivers that share a common designation. Each transceiver's common designation is used by a digital processor of the transceiver to selectively receive data packets that are intended for receipt by transceivers sharing the particular common designation. Such a “common designation” network reduces power consumption and signal interference thereby increasing battery life. Each transceiver may include a sensor interface a query handling routine in communication with a memory of the transceiver for serving as a dynamic distributed hierarchical database system of information such as, for example, sensor-derived information and time-sensitive information.
US07940705B2
A method for providing a conference service includes hosting a conference between a plurality of endpoints and communicating at least one media stream received from at least one of the plurality of endpoints to the remaining plurality of endpoints. The method also includes receiving a request to block communication of the at least one media stream to a first endpoint of the plurality of endpoints and blocking communication of the at least one media stream to the first endpoint.
US07940701B2
A network selection for easily selecting a network according to its status is disclosed. A wireless base station control device selects a network based on a wireless base station and a type of information to be transmitted on the network among networks provided between the wireless base station and the wireless base station control device, and ensures a band for transmitting information to be transmitted.
US07940694B2
The principles of the invention allow an intermediate device, such as a router, to intelligently filter redundant data streams provided by one or more hosts. In the event of a network disturbance, the router may stop filtering one of the now needed redundant data streams in a manner that may reduce the consumption of network resources, such as bandwidth, without having to modify end-user applications residing on subscriber devices. Therefore, the router acting in accordance with the principles of the invention may transparently provide data streams to subscriber devices despite the occurrence of a network disturbance that may otherwise prevent the subscriber devices from receiving the data streams.
US07940690B2
Provided is an apparatus and method for determining a transmission mode for a base station in a wireless mobile communication system. The method includes measuring a state of a channel with a mobile station, determining whether channel states between the mobile station and a predetermined number of other mobile stations are orthogonal to each another, determining a space division multiple access (SDMA) mode as the transmission mode for the base station if the channel states are orthogonal to each other, and determining a beamforming (BF) mode as the transmission mode for the base station if the channel states are not orthogonal to each other.
US07940681B2
A system and method for discovering a cable type using an automated, systematic process. A PHY can be designed to measure electrical characteristics (e.g., insertion loss, cross talk, length, etc.) of the cable to enable determination of the cable type. The determined cable type can be used in diagnosis of cabling infrastructure or in a dynamic configuration or operation process.
US07940677B2
A system for managing one or more service level agreements associated with a switched metro Ethernet network is disclosed and manages one or more service level agreements associated with a switched metro Ethernet network. The system also includes a service level agreement (SLA) management reporting system (MRS) and a performance engine (PE) data filter coupled to the SLA-MRS. Further, the system includes one or more network elements connected to the PE data filter, wherein the SLA-MRS is configured to receive performance data from the PE data filter and at least partially based on the performance data validate one or more customer claims regarding an SLA violation.
US07940676B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing network testing. The disclosed systems and methods may include connecting to at least one element within a network. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include performing a test on the network through at least one element. The test may be associated with at least one addressable device connected to the network. In addition, the disclosed systems and methods may include analyzing data associated with the test.
US07940674B2
In a 802.15.4 network, each reduced functionality device (RFD) is permitted to communicate with only an assigned full function device (FFD). The present invention allows each of the RFDs to communicate with another RFD upon the RFD determining that the local FFD assigned to the RFD is inoperable or unable to communicate. Under emergency conditions, the RFD is able to communicate with a closely located RFDs such that the closely located RFDs can receive and respond to an emergency situation and/or repeat the message. To satisfy the 802.15.4 standards, communication between the RFDs is allowed only during emergency conditions and when the FFD is inoperative. A comprehensive test procedure is included to insure the integrity of the system is preserved at all times.
US07940672B2
Systems and methods for the identification of correlated burst events among two or more data streams, given one or more specific query time spans are disclosed. Also broadly contemplated is the act of finding, from one or more data streams, those streams that have correlated burst events with another given data stream within a time span.
US07940667B1
Delay measurement and delay calibration methods and apparatus are described for use within distributed wireless base stations employing a remote radio head topology. The methods and apparatus are usable in any system that requires accurate delay measurement and/or constant delay through an electronic device. The methods and apparatus for measuring delay embody a highly accurate distributed delay measurement architecture that handles multiple delay paths within distributed wireless base stations employing a remote radio head topology. The method and apparatus are amenable to implementation with current integrated circuit technology. The methods and apparatus for calibrating electronic delay within distributed base stations employing a remote radio head topology are useful for implementing distributed wireless base stations where transmit diversity is desired. Using the methods disclosed herein, delay within a distributed wireless base station can be measured and calibrated to achieve very deterministic delay characteristics at the system level.
US07940661B2
A method and apparatus for dynamically distributing traffic over links grouped together in a data transmission channel are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving data at the network device, distributing the data over a first array, mapping the first array to a second array having entries corresponding to the links, and measuring data traffic. The mapping between the first array and the second array is updated based on traffic measurements to balance traffic load over the links.
US07940660B2
Method, systems, and computer program products for voice over IP (VoIP) traffic engineering and path resilience using media gateway and associated next-hop routers are provided. In one example, a media gateway includes multiple media processing hosts and a multiple network interfaces separate from the media processing hosts. At least one of the media processing hosts is reachable via at least two of the network interfaces. Next-hop routers associated with the network interfaces advertise reachability information regarding the media processing hosts to routers in the network. The next-hop routers also participate in network routing protocols to form multiple paths between the media gateway and a remote media gateway. Costs may be assigned to associations between the media processing hosts and the next-hop routers for traffic engineering purposes.
US07940653B2
The present invention discloses systems and methods for transmitting video messages between network terminals over a network. When transmitting video data, a first network determines at least one video parameter based on, at least, the performance of the first network terminal, the performance of the network performance and user-preference data. Transmitted video data is encoded based on the video parameter.
US07940651B2
A read address from a memory and a write address to the memory are transmitted from a VT pointer circuit on an active side to a VT pointer circuit on a standby side in order to eliminate a difference between pointer values of the VT pointer circuits on the active and the standby sides, which is caused by a difference between the phases of the read address from the memory and the write address to the memory of the VT pointer circuits on the active and the standby sides, and the read and the write addresses on the standby side are overwritten with the transmitted address values. As a result, the address values can be made to match both on the active and the standby sides, and also the pointer values can be made to match.
US07940640B2
A system and method for scheduling cooperative uplink transmissions in a virtual multiple input multiple output (MIMO) wireless communication environment are provided. More specifically, the present invention provides both random and channel aware orthogonal scheduling techniques for identifying a sub-set of N mobile terminals to provide cooperative uplink transmissions for each transmit time interval.
US07940625B2
The present invention provides for an apparatus and method of controlling writing a signal to an optical disc in an optical disk system and including the step of generating a feedback signal to dynamically tune the signal output from a laser source, and including generating a plurality of timing signals serving to define a plurality of sampling windows for selecting data samples from RF signals derived from a signal reflected from the disc, generating a plurality of runlength selection signals to allow for measurement of light reflection at required runlength lands or pits, and measuring light reflected at a runlength land or pit in processing means and employing the measured signal as the said feedback signal for the said tuning of the signal source.
US07940620B2
The present invention relates to a method for checking the quality of a recording on a disk intended to be read with a first wavelength and intended to be recorded with a second wavelength, directly with the second wavelength used by the recording system. According to the invention, the method uses a modified jitter definition when a jitter value of recorded information is measured using light of the first wavelength. A special equalizer takes account of a required asymmetry.
US07940619B2
According to one embodiment, there is provided an optical disk apparatus including a recording unit which irradiates an optical disk with a laser beam to record information in a first format and a second format, a generation unit which generates warning information to an optical disk apparatus capable of performing a read process in the second format while being not capable of performing the read process in the first format, the warning information warning that information is recorded in the first format in the optical disk, and a control unit which controls the recording unit to record the warning information in the second format in the optical disk apparatus when the information is recorded in the first format in the optical disk.
US07940607B2
In an optical pickup driving mechanism using a stepping motor, a feeding operation of an optical pickup can be stabilized even in a broad operating temperature environment. In executing an optical axis correction feeding operation in response to an amount of lens shift of an objective lens of an optical pickup, a stepping motor controlling portion drives a stepping motor in a microstep drive mode to move a base of the optical pickup in a radial direction of an optical disk. At this time, a temperature sensor senses an in-equipment temperature, and a driving current supply time deciding portion sets a supply time width of a pulse driving current whose envelope is like a sinusoidal wave to a supply time width as a fixed value, which is longer than that at an ordinary time, or a supply time width, which is multiplied by a coefficient corresponding to the in-equipment temperature, to increase a current supply time of the driving current when the sensed in-equipment temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.
US07940604B2
A dial indicator display device according has a needle indicator; a needle moving means for moving the needle indicator; a display panel disposed behind the needle indicator and capable of displaying an image; and a drive control means for controlling the needle moving means and driving the display panel. The drive control means includes a scale display control means for displaying a scale in a scale display area on the display panel overlapping the range of needle movement in plan view, a needle position detection means for detecting the position of the needle indicator, and an information display means. The scale display control means segments the scale display area into a scale area and a no-scale area not including the scale area based on the needle position detected by the needle position detection means, and displays a scale for reading values indicated by the needle indicator only in the scale area, and the information display means displays information in the no-scale area.
US07940601B2
Originating from a novel and an exact algebraic formula for the impulse response of a plane acoustic reflector at zero offset due to a point acoustic source the present invention provides a method for computing an exact impulse response of a plane acoustic reflector at zero offset due to a point acoustic source; and originating from the method, methods for testing and validating algorithms for numerical modeling of seismic reflection, seismic migration and seismic inversion; a method for testing the efficacy of ray-theoretical solution for a given source-reflector configuration; another method for computing zero-offset reflection response of a circular reflector at its central axis; yet another method for validating an interpretation of a reflector as a planar structure; still yet another method for estimating the seismic source-time function when the zero-offset reflection response of a plane reflector is given. Although the algebraic formula and the methods originating from it are, in a strict sense, valid for an acoustic earth and an acoustic source, these would also be of immense utility in the seismic industry where the earth is successfully approximated as an acoustic medium and a seismic source as an acoustic source.
US07940596B2
A switching regulator includes a low-side switch having a body diode. During the low-side switch is on, a zero-current sense circuit monitors the inductor current of the switching regulator and triggers a signal to turn off the low-side switch when the inductor current falls down to a zero-current threshold, to prevent reverse inductor current from the output terminal of the switching regulator. A body-diode turn-on time controller monitors the turn-on time of the body diode and adjusts the zero-current threshold according thereto, and the turn-on time of the body diode can be reduced to an optimal interval subsequently. The self-adjustable zero-current threshold is adaptive according to the application conditions, such as the inductor size, input voltage and output voltage of the switching regulator.
US07940592B2
Method and apparatus for using a uni-directional write current to store different logic states in a non-volatile memory cell, such as a modified STRAM cell. In some embodiments, the memory cell has an unpinned ferromagnetic reference layer adjacent a cladded conductor, a ferromagnetic storage layer and a tunneling barrier between the reference layer and the storage layer. Passage of a current along the cladded conductor induces a selected magnetic orientation in the reference layer, which is transferred through the tunneling barrier for storage by the storage layer. Further, the orientation of the applying step is provided by a cladding layer adjacent a conductor along which a current is passed and the current induces a magnetic field in the cladding layer of the selected magnetic orientation.
US07940590B2
A device with non volatile memory cells, with optimized programming, of the type comprising a sector of matrix memory cells organized in rows and columns, with the columns organized in a plurality of global bit-lines associated with at least one plurality of local bit-lines and respectively enabled by a first select signal and by at least one second select signal generated by a decoder, these columns being associated with at least one program load PL controlled by a logic circuit and suitable for applying a programming pulse to a plurality of cells belonging to the enabled bit-lines, comprising a plurality of discharge transistors, each associated with a corresponding column controlled by a control signal complementary to the control signal of the adjacent discharge transistor.
US07940580B2
A memory device is disclosed that includes a plurality of word-lines, with each word-line connected to at least one bitcell. Each of the plurality of word-lines is connected to a corresponding driver module to drive the word-line in response to a corresponding select signal. Further, each driver module is connected to a level shifter to shift the corresponding select signal so that the driver module provides a level-shifted signal at the first word-line in response to assertion of the first select signal. A single level shifter can be connected to multiple driver modules, thereby reducing the area required to implement level-shifting for multiple word-lines.
US07940576B2
There is provided a semiconductor memory device, including: a plurality of bank groups each comprising a plurality of banks; a plurality of data pads grouped by a predetermined number for receiving data for the bank groups, wherein the data pads are divided into a plurality of first pad groups receiving data and a plurality of second pad groups selectively receiving data according to a data input/output option value; a first driving unit configured to drive data input via the first pad group to transfer the data input via the first pad group to the bank group corresponding to the first pad group; a second driving unit configured to drive data input via the second pad group to transfer the data input via the second pad group to the bank group corresponding to the second pad group; and a third driving unit configured to drive data input via the first pad group to transfer the data input via the first pad group to the bank group corresponding to the second pad group in response to the data input/output option value.
US07940575B2
In an embodiment, a method for transferring data in a memory device is provided. The method may include transferring data from a first memory cell arrangement including a plurality of memory cells to a second memory cell arrangement including a plurality of memory cells via a connecting circuit arrangement coupled to the plurality of memory cell arrangements and providing a plurality of controllable connections via a plurality of connecting circuit terminals, the memory cell arrangements being connected with at least one connecting circuit terminal of the plurality of connecting circuit terminals, wherein the connecting circuit is configured to provide arbitrarily controllable signal flow connections between the plurality of connecting circuit terminals. The data are transferred via a logic connection using the controllable connections. Simultaneously, a further logic connection may be provided to a memory cell arrangement of the memory cell arrangements using the controllable connections.
US07940563B2
A nonvolatile storage device having a memory cell array composed of a plurality of memory cells. The plurality of memory cells include a bit line to which the drain terminals of the plurality of memory cells that have noncovalent connected gate terminals are commonly connected and a source line to which the source terminals of the plurality of memory cells that have commonly connected gate terminals are commonly connected and which extend perpendicularly to the bit line. The memory cell also includes a first source selector switch for connecting the source line to a source bias line.
US07940556B2
Resistance variable memory device with sputtered metal-chalcogenide region and method of fabrication
A chalcogenide-based programmable conductor memory device and method of forming the device, wherein a chalcogenide glass region is provided with a plurality of alternating tin chalcogenide and metal layers proximate thereto. The method of forming the device comprises sputtering the alternating tin chalcogenide and metal layers.
US07940554B2
A method of biasing a nonvolatile memory array. The nonvolatile memory array includes a first and second plurality of Y lines, a plurality of X lines, a first and second plurality of two terminal memory cells. Each first and second memory cell is coupled to one of the first or second plurality of Y lines and one of the plurality of X lines, respectively. Substantially all of the first plurality and second plurality of Y lines are driven to a Y line unselect voltage. At least one selected Y line of the first plurality of Y lines is driven to a Y line select voltage while floating remaining Y lines of the first plurality of Y lines and while driving substantially all of the second plurality of Y lines to the Y line unselect voltage.
US07940553B2
A phase change memory includes a float buffer which stores the result of a comparison between the current state of data in the phase change memory cells and an intended next state of each of those cells. The float buffer indicates which cells need to be programmed in order to achieve the new states and which cells happen to already be in the new states. Then, after programming of the cells, the float buffer indicates which cells still need to be programmed. Thus, a control stage uses the information in the float buffer to program only those cells whose states need to be changed.
US07940545B2
A ROM includes a ROM array, an address decoder, a control circuit, a precharge tracker, a precharge circuit, a reference word line, a reference bit line and a reference sense generator. The control circuit generates control signals for reading the ROM. The address decoder enables a bit line and a word line. The precharge tracker generates a programmable precharge signal, which is provided to the precharge circuit for precharging the enabled bit line. A reference word line is enabled based on the programmable precharge signal and the control signals for tracking the enabled word line. A reference bit line is enabled based on the reference word line for tracking the enabled bit line. The reference sense generator generates a programmable sense signal based on the reference bit line, the programmable precharge signal and the control signals for reading a bit cell corresponding to the enabled bit line and word line.
US07940542B2
A semiconductor device enabling expansion of a noise margin. For example, in a memory area in which each memory cell MC is coupled to a word line WLA for a first port and a word line WLB for a second port, and a plurality of memory cells MC is disposed in a matrix shape, each word line is disposed in the order like WLA0, WLB0, WLB1, WLA1, WLA2, . . . . Further, a pitch d2 between WLA-WLA and between WLB-WLB is made smaller than a pitch d1 between WLA-WLB. As such, the word lines of an identical port are disposed at the pitch d2 on one of both sides of a certain word line as a criterion, while the word lines of different ports are disposed at the pitch d1 on the other. With the above configuration, for example, as compared with a case of alternately disposing WLA and WLB, interference between ports can be reduced even with a small area, and the noise margin can be expanded.
US07940539B2
Single-phase full bridge boost converter systems and methods are provided. One system includes a direct-quatrature (D-Q) control system configured to generate a control voltage (vcon) including direct-phase and quadrature-phase voltage components. The system also includes a comparator configured to compare vcon to a carrier waveform voltage, generate switching commands based on the comparison, and transmit the switching commands to a current switch. Another system includes a boost converter including multiple switches coupled to a load and an AC voltage source. The switches are configured to provide charging current to the load in response to receiving switching commands. A D-Q control system configured to receive and delay an ia value, and issue switching commands based on the ia and delayed ia value is also included. A method includes performing a D-Q conversion to generate DC current including direct-phase and quadrature-phase current components, and issuing switching commands based on the current components.
US07940536B2
A flyback converter circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes a DC input operable to receive a DC voltage from a DC voltage source, a transformer including a primary coil and a secondary coil, a primary switch operable to selectively connect the primary coil to the DC input, a controller operable to provide a control signal to turn the primary switch ON and OFF, wherein the primary coil is connected to the DC input when the primary switch is ON, a delay device operable to delay an ON pulse of the control signal provided to the primary switch such that the primary switch is turned on after a delay of a predetermined period of time and a secondary switch connected in series with a capacitor and controlled by the control signal from the controller, wherein the secondary switch and the capacitor are connected in parallel with the primary switch. The control signal from the controller turns the secondary switch ON during the delay, such that a transient is induced in the primary coil before the primary switch is turned ON.
US07940519B2
A portable electronic apparatus including a host and a display unit pivotally connected to the host is provided. The display unit includes a panel module, a first plate having a plate body and a plurality of positioning structures provided on the plate body, and a second plate. The panel module is locked at the first plate by the positioning structures and tightly fits with the first plate. The second plate is connected to the first plate, and the panel module is held between the first plate and the second plate.
US07940518B2
A digital media apparatus includes display provided in a display housing, the housing having a front portion and a rear portion, and including a mounting region defined at an edge of the housing. A first frame element may be mounted to the display housing by passing the rear portion of the housing through an opening in the first frame element to allow the element to engage the mounting region. A second frame element may be mounted to the display housing by passing a front portion of the display housing into a cavity in the frame element and securing the element to the housing by a fastener.
US07940502B2
There is provided a backlight unit having a protection circuit using a center-tap, the backlight unit including: a current balancing unit including a plurality of primary coils individually transmitting the lamp driving power from an inverter unit to the lamps, and a plurality of secondary coils each formed of one conductor having a center-tap, and receiving an electromagnetically induced voltage from each of the plurality of primary coils, the one end and the center-tap of each of the plurality of secondary coils connected in series with the one end and the center-tap of the neighboring secondary coil to form at least one closed loop and maintain current transmitted to each of the lamps balanced; a sensing unit sensing a variation in current of the closed loop and a variation in current of the primary coil from the current balancing unit; and a determination unit determining whether each of the lamps performs an abnormal operation or not.
US07940499B2
Current protection in integrated circuit having multiple pads. Different types of current protection structures may be associated with different pads. A common current discharge or charge path may be used to provide current to or draw current from various of these heterogenic current protection structures. Since a common current discharge or charge path is used, the metallization used to formulate a discharge solution is significant simplified. Additionally, the protection structures may be provided with selectively conductive regions that are approximately radially symmetrical around the circumference of the pad. Accordingly, if the protection structures are slightly off center with respect to the bond pad (due to, for example, mask alignment error), the error in the amount of active region around the circumference of the pad is at least partially averaged out.
US07940494B2
The magnetic recording medium includes a substrate and a recording layer formed in a predetermined concavo-convex pattern over the substrate, the recording layer including recording elements each formed as a convex portion of the recording layer. Surface steps are formed in an outer area including a radially outermost portion of a recording area. Each surface step is formed in such a manner that a portion over a concave portion between the recording elements is recessed toward the substrate to a level below a portion over the recording element. The surface steps are formed such that the recording area can be sectioned into an annular area adjoining the outer area and the outer area where height of the surface steps is larger than that in the annular area.
US07940481B2
Disclosed herein is a zoom lens module that may include a first zoom lens group on an optical axis, a second zoom lens group on the optical axis, and a first driving unit configured to move at least one of the first zoom lens group and the second zoom lens group to vary a distance between the first zoom lens group and the second zoom lens group. In the disclosure, the first driving unit may include a first driving motor, a screw member on a rotary shaft of the first driving motor, and a first wire member connecting the screw member to one of the first zoom lens group and the second zoom lens group.
US07940478B2
An imaging lens includes a first lens group having a positive refractive power, an aperture stop, and a second lens group having a positive refractive power, which are disposed in order from an object. The first lens group has a first lens component having a negative refractive power and a second lens component having a positive refractive power, which are disposed in order from the object, and conditions expressed by the expressions 0.12
US07940473B2
A zoom lens includes, in order from object to image side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power and movable during zooming, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power and including a positive lens element positioned nearest to an object-side end, and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power and movable during zooming. The second lens unit includes at least three negative lens elements arranged successively and independently along an optical axis and at least one positive lens element. The zoom lens satisfies specific numerical conditions defined for a focal length fw of the zoom lens at a wide-angle end, focal lengths f2 and f3 of the second and third lens units, and a focal length f31 of a positive lens element of the third lens unit nearest to the object-side end.
US07940462B2
An antireflective structure includes: a flat layer having a surface; a fine structure layer including: fine protrusions each including: a head end part, and a base face which is at least one of: a circular base face of a truncated cone, the circular base face having diameter of circle, and a polygonal base face of a truncated pyramid, the polygonal base face having diameter of circumscribing circle of polygonal base face, the fine protrusions being arranged on the surface of the flat layer to define a pitch, wherein, with first reflective face formed in head end part of each of the fine protrusions, and second reflective face formed between fine protrusions on the surface of flat layer: each of the diameter of the circle and the diameter of the circumscribing circle is smaller than wavelength of incident electromagnetic wave, and the pitch is smaller than wavelength of incident electromagnetic wave.
US07940458B2
A laser light source device may include a laser diode, first and second optical elements, a diffraction grating, and a detector. The first optical element may collimate laser light emitted from the laser diode. The diffraction grating may reflect zero-order light in the collimated laser light in a predetermined direction other than a direction toward the laser diode and may reflect first-order light in the collimated laser light toward the laser diode. The second optical element may reflect the zero-order light reflected by the diffraction grating in a predetermined direction while transmitting a part of the zero-order light reflected by the diffraction grating. The detector may detect at least one of a wavelength and an intensity of the light that passes through the second optical element.
US07940455B2
An ophthalmic surgical microscope system (100) includes a surgical microscope (101). The surgical microscope (101) is accommodated on a carrier unit (109) so as to be adjustable in elevation in order to be able to adjust a work distance (124) between the surgical microscope (101) and a patient eye (120). A first drive (112) is provided for adjusting the elevation of the surgical microscope (101). The ophthalmic surgical microscope system (100) includes an ophthalmic ancillary module (114) having an adjustable ophthalmic magnifier lens (116). The work distance (125) between the ophthalmic magnifier lens (116) and the patient eye (120) can be adjusted with a second drive (117). A drive coupling (123) is provided which couples the first drive for adjusting elevation of the surgical microscope (101) to the second drive (117) for adjusting the ophthalmic magnifier lens (116).
US07940450B2
An electro-optic display apparatus includes a first electrode, a second electrode, an electro-optic material, and an insulating layer. The second electrode faces the first electrode to form an electric field in cooperation with the first electrode. The electro-optic material is disposed between the first and second electrodes. The insulating layer is arranged on a surface of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode and contacts the electro-optic material. The electro-optic material includes a non-polar solvent forming a continuous phase, and a polar solvent dispersed in the non-polar solvent to form a droplet controlled by the electric field.
US07940434B2
In an image processing apparatus of the present invention, interpolation operations are performed with a LUT to obtain CMY image data corresponding to input RGB image data. The image processing apparatus includes a gamut selecting section for selecting a gamut corresponding to an inputted image, from an RGB color space, based on input RGB image data; a LUT writing section for changing CMY image data in the LUT to CMY image data corresponding to grid points contained in the selected gamut; and a position information changing section for writing position information in a memory, wherein the position information indicates RGB color space positions of the grid points contained in the selected gamut. Thus, the image processing apparatus of the present invention can save memory space.
US07940429B2
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus comprising: an operating part which operates the image forming apparatus; an optional first speaker which outputs information guiding operation of the operating part; and a second speaker which outputs sound information that is different from operation guidance information; wherein when the first speaker and the second speaker disposed such that a surface of the first speaker is directed to a front surface of the image forming apparatus that is opposed to the operating part, and a surface of the second speaker is directed to a side surface of the image forming apparatus that is different from the first speaker.
US07940426B2
In image processing according to the prior art, the important part of photographic image data (referred to herein as the object) could not be determined and therefore required human participation.A computer 21 which is the core of image processing calculates an edginess which is an image variation from a differential value of data for adjacent picture elements in a step SA110, and determines object picture elements by selecting only images with a large variation in steps SA120, SA130. As optimum parameters for contrast correction and lightness compensation are calculated from image data for object picture elements in steps SA310-SA330, image processing indicators based on object picture elements are determined, and optimum image processing can be performed automatically. After summing a luminance distribution for each area of the image, which is a feature amount, while uniformly selecting picture elements in a step SB110, a reevaluation is performed by a weighting determined for each area in a step SB120, and a luminance distribution strongly influenced by the luminance distribution of the photographed object is thus obtained with uniform sampling. After determining the intensity of this luminance distribution insteps SB130-SB150, the image data is converted in a step SB160, and image processing can therefore be performed with optimum intensity while reducing the processing amount.
US07940420B2
An image composed of a group of objects contained in a print job is formed on a recording medium with a plurality of color recording materials. Formats of an object are decided by analyzing the object. A size of the object is decided. Trapping processing applied to the object is controlled in accordance with decision results about the formats and the sizes of the object. This makes it possible to provide a color image forming apparatus capable of carrying out appropriate trapping automatically.
US07940414B2
In case of transmitting a document file such as a PDF file to a printer without converting it into print data, a PC extracts from the document file to be printed information to be accessed when starting an analysis of the document file and transmits the information to the printer. The PC extracts a specified data from the document file and transmits it to the printer each time when the specified data is requested by the printer.
US07940410B2
The present invention provides an electronic document management device including a reading unit that reads out an original electronic document formed by combining document data indicating a main document and management data for managing the electronic document as a printed object from a section where the document is registered, a processing unit that processes the management data of the read original electronic document to form an electronic document to be printed, and a print instruction unit that causes an image formation device to print the electronic document to be printed.
US07940400B2
A pressure measurement system and method are described. The system uses a tunable laser and a Fabry-Perot sensor with integrated transducer. A detector senses the light modulated by the Fabry-Perot sensor. A signal conditioner, which can be located up to 15 km away, then uses the detector signal to determine the displacement of the diaphragm, which is indicative of pressure exerted against the diaphragm. Use of a temperature sensor to generate a signal, fed to the signal conditioner, to compensate for temperature is also contemplated.
US07940391B2
A Pre-Aligned Metrology System comprising a number of Pre-Aligned Metrology Assemblies and Pre-Aligned Metrology Modules for measuring a target on a wafer. The Pre-Aligned Metrology Assemblies and Pre-Aligned Metrology Modules can reduce the maintenance down time and decrease the cost of ownership (COO).
US07940390B2
A compact, background-free, balanced cross-correlator enables (a) the detection of a timing error between two ultrashort pulses with (sub-)femtosecond resolution and (b) the timing synchronization of ultrashort pulse lasers using the output signal of the detector to close a phase-locked loop and can therefore serve as an integral part of femtosecond timing distribution and synchronization systems.
US07940389B2
A pressure sensing apparatus has a light source for transmitting pulses of light along a monomode optical fiber. The polarization of light backscattered from the light pulses in the optical fiber is detected by a polarization processing unit (PPU) and a photo detector. The optical fiber is adapted to deform asymmetrically under the influence of applied external isotropic pressure, e.g. from a fluid. The deformation causes the birefringence of the optical fiber to change proportionally to the applied pressure. The change in birefringence can be determined from the detected polarization of the backscattered light, allowing detection of pressure distribution in the fluid. Importantly, the construction of the optical fiber is such that the birefringence beat length of the optical fiber at the wavelength of light propagated by the fiber remains more than twice the spatial length of the light pulses transmitted along the optical fiber. Applications of the invention include detection of fluid flow; location of an interface between two fluids of different density; and tsunami detection.
US07940386B1
Embodiments of the invention include a target having a lattice of many periodically spaced and uniformly configured metrology features arranged in an array pattern over a target region. The lattice includes at least one defect region in the lattice, the defect region includes at least one intentionally introduced defect metrology feature. The defect feature configured to enable increased sensitivity of the target to a selected parameter of interest. The invention further encompassing associated methods of implementing the target and evaluating the parameter of interest.
US07940378B2
A hand-held laser distance measuring device (1) with pulse reflection mixing includes a control device (2) for calculating the distance (D) to a measurement object (3) over at least one determinable periodic, with a pulse repetition frequency (f), time difference (τ) between a measurement pulse (4) reflected at the measurement object (3) and a reference pulse (6) of an optically emitted transmitting pulse (7) traveling over a reference distance (5) within the device, a local oscillator (8) for generating the transmitting pulse (7) at the pulse repetition frequency (f), at least one delay circuit (9a, 9b) which can be controlled by the control device (2), is arranged between the local oscillator (8) and a light detector (10) and/or a light transmitter (12), and generates a delay between the scanning pulses (11) and the transmitting pulses (7) in order to scan the measurement pulse (4) and the reference pulse (6).
US07940377B1
A method for passive background correction during spatially or angularly resolved detection of emission that is based on the simultaneous acquisition of both the passive background spectrum and the spectrum of the target of interest.
US07940376B2
A real time SAR processing system for processing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) return signals and a method for real time processing of SAR return signals. The real time SAR processing system for processing synthetic aperture radar return signals comprises a light source (1) for generating a coherent, plane electromagnetic wave; light modulation means (2) for modulating the incident wave according to the radar return signals and outputting a modulated wave; and optical processing means (3) for submitting the modulated wave to an optical signal processing for radar image reconstruction. The light modulation means (2) comprises a plurality of addressable pixels (30) which are controlled based on the radar return signals. Light detection means (4) for detecting the processed wave and generating a corresponding electrical radar image signal are provided.
US07940373B2
Provided are a compensating mask, a multi-optical system using the compensating mask, and a method of compensating for a 3-dimensional (3-D) mask effect using the compensating mask. Methods of compensating for a 3-D mask effect using a compensating mask may include generating a first kernel corresponding to a normal mask used for forming a minute pattern, generating a second kernel corresponding to a compensating mask, mixing the first kernel corresponding to the normal mask with the second kernel corresponding to the compensating mask, and generating a multi-optical system kernel corresponding to mixing the first kernel and the second kernel.
US07940370B2
A 3D zoetrope that allows for storytelling and user interaction. The zoetrope includes an object support such as a disk that supports a plurality of objects. In one embodiment, the object support mechanism rotates the plurality of objects at a predetermined speed. The objects are illuminated and obscured by an illumination source in such manner as to make the objects appear to be animated in an interactive manner based on user input such as voice input. For example, the zoetrope may include an input interface for receiving external signals that may affect the operation of the animation sequence. The external signals may include audio, video, digital, or analog signals.
US07940332B2
A device for detecting synchronization pulses in a video signal is disclosed. The device includes a transistor. The base-emitter voltage of the transistor is maintained below a threshold level in response to receiving active video information. The base-emitter voltage is increased above the threshold level in response to receiving synchronization information, whereby the transistor is turned on to generate an asserted synchronization signal. Accordingly, in response to active video information being received and the transistor being off, the magnitude of the synchronization signal is set to a first level and in response to synchronization information being received, and the transistor being on, the magnitude is set to a second level. The synchronization signal generated by the transistor is processed to provide both horizontal and vertical synchronization signals.
US07940327B2
An image-pickup apparatus is disclosed which has a small size while it is capable of driving its image-pickup optical system in at least one of tilting and panning directions. The image-pickup apparatus includes an image-pickup unit which houses an image-pickup optical system and an image-pickup element that photoelectrically coverts an object image formed by the image-pickup optical system thereinside, a support member which rotatably supports the image-pickup unit, and an actuator which is housed inside the image-pickup unit and rotationally drives the image-pickup unit relative to the support member.
US07940326B2
A kind of device to transfer photo images into digital data includes a body wherein photo taking mechanisms are set inside and insert-fit grooves and positioning mechanisms are set with internal lighting printed circuit boards at the other side. A reflecting shield is provided in the body. The integrated photo clamps for clamping photos are put in the interior of the body through insert-fit grooves. By usage of simple operations, the images on the taken photos by photo taking mechanisms can be transferred into digital data for convenient storage, modification, or copying then printing the new photos. Thus, the present invention is rich of convenience and advancement.
US07940324B2
A method of exposure control in an image pickup apparatus includes determining whether a zoom lens has been moved, determining whether an F value obtained from information about focal position of a focus lens linked to movement of the zoom lens has changed, estimating a variation in the focus luminance before and after a change in the F value from the F values before and after the change when the F value has been changed, changing the shutter speed determined according to a focus luminance before the change to a shutter speed determined according to the focus luminance after the change, based on the estimated variation in the focus luminance, and changing a frame rate determined according to the focus luminance before the change to a frame rate determined according to a focus luminance after the change according to the changed shutter speed.
US07940323B2
An image-pickup apparatus 100 includes a focus detecting part 7 that detects focus information indicating a focus state of an image-pickup optical system, a color measuring part 14a, 14b, and 15 that detects color measurement information related to a color of an object, a controlling part 6 that generates controlling information used in focus control using the focus information and the color measurement information, and a memory 9 that stores the color measurement information. When the color measurement information stored in the memory 9 is referred to as a first color measurement information, and color measurement information which is detected by the color measuring part after the first color measurement information is detected is referred to as a second color measurement information, the controlling part performs a determination related to a delay in the acquisition of the second color measurement information relative to the acquisition of the focus information, and, based on the determination result, switches the color measurement information used in generating the controlling information between the first color measurement information and the second color measurement information.
US07940316B2
A digital motion picture camera for the taking of motion pictures includes an optoelectronic sensor device having a plurality of sensor elements for the generation of received signals in dependence on the exposure time, a digitizing device for the digitizing of the received signals and an electronic control device for the control of the exposure time and the reading out of the received signals and for the evaluation of these received signals. A plurality of images taken with different exposure times are combined with one another by means of the control device, with the time centers of the images to be combined with one another between a respective start of recording and a respective end of recording coinciding at least substantially.
US07940315B2
An apparatus and method for identifying aberrant pixels in an image sensor. The apparatus includes a light sensitive element configured to detect a first signal value representing a first level of an incident light and a light sensitive region separate from the light sensitive element configured to detect a second signal value representing a second level of the incident light. Comparing circuitry is configured to compare the first signal value and the second signal value and to output a signal indicating the pixel is an aberrant pixel if the first and second signal values differ by more than a maximum threshold value or less than a minimum threshold value in a threshold value range.
US07940309B2
An optical low pass filter includes: a light transmitting member (41); and a refractive index distribution generation means (42) that generates a refractive index distribution cyclically changing within the plane of the light transmitting member (41). The refractive index distribution generation means includes a piezoelectric element, for example, and generates the refractive index distribution by generating the compressional wave in the light transmitting member (41) with a high frequency voltage being applied to the piezoelectric element.
US07940308B2
An image processing system including: an image pickup apparatus for picking up an image of a subject; and an image reproducing apparatus for reproducing the image picked up by the image pickup apparatus; wherein the image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit for obtaining an image by image pickup, an image pickup rate controlling unit for controlling an image pickup rate of the image pickup unit, a line reducing unit for removing a plurality of lines from the image obtained by the image pickup, and an image storing unit for storing a reduced image in which the plurality of lines are removed on a storage medium, and the image reproducing apparatus includes an image reading unit for reading the image stored on the storage medium, an up-converter for up-converting the read image, and a reproduction displaying unit for displaying the up-converted image.
US07940306B2
There is disclosed a camera capable of display a moving image, which executes auto focusing of a hill-climbing system while executing a blur correcting operation to reduce image blur generated by vibration applied to the camera. Examples of the blur correcting operation include a correcting operation by a mechanical blur correction mechanism which moves an image pickup device so as to cancel the vibration, and a correcting operation of electronic image blur correction to obtain a video signal which does not have any image blur from an output of the image pickup device by processing an image.
US07940302B2
A security system which is nonintrusive of personal privacy of a person in a space comprises at least a first localization sensor subsystem, if any, in the possession of the person; a video surveillance subsystem arranged and configured to collect visual data related to the person in the space; and a computer subsystem coupled to the localization sensor subsystem and video surveillance subsystem to associate a predetermined privacy level with the localization sensor subsystem, and to provide an access control privilege with the localization sensor subsystem, the computer subsystem determining how to present, store and/or retrieve the visual data while meeting predetermined the privacy level associated with the person.
US07940298B2
This invention comprises a system and a method for inspecting the inside of delayed petroleum coking vessels to determine deformations, detect and determine the severity of other defects and visually observe the inside of the inspected vessel.
US07940296B2
An image capturing unit for an electronic endoscope, including a solid-state image capturing element, a metallic housing member, which hermetically encloses a circumference of an insulated base and is arranged to cover a front-end portion of the insulated base, at least one connection land, which is connected to at least one signal conductor at a position in vicinity to a rear-end portion of the insulated base outside the housing member, and a conductive cylindrical shield, which surrounds the at least one connection land and the at least one signal conductor and is spaced from the at least one connection land and the at least one signal conductor in a radial direction, is provided. An outer periphery of the rear-end portion of the insulated base is formed to be smaller than the circumference of the insulated base enclosed by the housing member.
US07940290B2
A thermal printer includes a main body frame, a thermal head swingably attached to the main body frame, a platen roller disposed to face a printing surface of the thermal head, and a motor for rotationally driving the platen roller. The thermal printer activates the thermal head while conveying a heat-sensitive paper held between the thermal head and the platen roller to perform printing on the heat-sensitive paper. The feeding amount of the heat-sensitive paper may be set so that an aspect ratio of the characters printed on the heat-sensitive paper is within a range of 0.95:1 to 0.8:1.
US07940289B2
In a portable printer that uses a pulse motor for feeding a recording medium and includes a printing head that prints the recording medium, a printer controller that controls the printing head, and a pulse motor controller that controls the pulse motor, rest level setting information having rest levels and rest times set in correspondence to one another is previously stored, the elapsed time after a printing process is started is counted, the operating time of the pulse motor is counted, a rest level is determined based on the elapsed time after the printing process is started and the operating time of the pulse motor, a rest time is set by referring to the rest level setting information based on the determined rest level and a rest process is performed based on the thus set rest time.
US07940279B2
A point cloud data set may be pre-processed for fast and efficient rendering. The pre-processing may comprise creating an octree hierarchy from the data, generating a level of detail (LOD) representation for each octree node, simplifying the points in each node according to a simplification tolerance, and storing the data structure in a file. Textures associated with each node may be stored in a separate, compressed file, such as a texture atlas. At render time, the octree and LOD hierarchy may be traversed until a suitable LOD node is found. The associated texture data may be accessed, and the node may be rendered as a textured quadrilateral and/or a splat point primitive. In an alternative approach, multiple point cloud datasets may be merged using a global transform function. The merged dataset may be simplified using a hierarchical LOD tree. Textures may be ascribed to each LOD node. The resulting structure may be rendered using splat and billboard point primitives. The model may be streamed over a network to a client where the rendering may take place.
US07940275B2
A system is presented including a plurality of sources, and an interface, selectively coupled to the plurality of sources, to generate and implement a development project of processing chains, wherein the interface dynamically loads a processing chain for each of the plurality of media sources at a point during the execution of the project when the chain is required, and wherein the interface is configured to unload at least a subset of the chains when they are not required.
US07940266B2
A ray tracing image processing system may use a plurality of processing elements to render a two dimensional image from a three dimensional scene. A first portion of the processing elements may function as workload managers responsible for performing operations relating to traversing a ray through a spatial index, and a second portion of the processing elements may function as vector throughput engines responsible for performing operations relating to determining if a ray intersects primitives contained within bounding volumes. By monitoring workloads experienced by the processing elements for a particular frame, processing element function may be reallocated such that for a subsequent frame the workload experienced by processing elements in the image processing system may be balanced. Balanced workload may improve the performance of the image processing system.
US07940264B2
A simplified general model and an associated estimation algorithm is provided for modeling visual data such as a video sequence. Specifically, images or frames in a video sequence are represented as collections of flat moving objects that change their appearance and shape over time, and can occlude each other over time. A statistical generative model is defined for generating such visual data where parameters such as appearance bit maps and noise, shape bit-maps and variability in shape, etc., are known. Further, when unknown, these parameters are estimated from visual data without prior pre-processing by using a maximization algorithm. By parameter estimation and inference in the model, visual data is segmented into components which facilitates sophisticated applications in video or image editing, such as, for example, object removal or insertion, tracking and visual surveillance, video browsing, photo organization, video compositing, etc.
US07940260B2
A scanning system that acquires three-dimensional images as an incremental series of fitted three-dimensional data sets is improved by testing for successful incremental fits in real time and providing a variety of visual user cues and process modifications depending upon the relationship of newly acquired data to previously acquired data. The system may be used to aid in error-free completion of three-dimensional scans. The methods and systems described herein may also usefully be employed to scan complex surfaces including occluded or obstructed surfaces by maintaining a continuous three-dimensional scan across separated subsections of the surface. In one useful dentistry application, a full three-dimensional surface scan may be obtained for two dental arches in occlusion.
US07940258B2
A system automatically adjusts an orthodontic bracket to a desired mesio-distal position on a tooth within a 3D environment. The system allows a practitioner to specify a desired mesio-distal position at which to place the bracket on the tooth. The practitioner may choose the desired mesio-distal position from a standardized set of mesio-distal positions or may create a customized mesio-distal position to meet a patient's particular needs. Based on the desired mesio-distal position, the system automatically adjusts the placement of the orthodontic bracket to the desired mesio-distal position on the tooth within the 3D environment. The system then generates a visual representation of the resulting bracket placement within the 3D environment.
US07940255B2
According to one embodiment, an information processing device includes a display panel, a filter arranged to face one surface of the display panel and driven by a drive signal, a drive unit configured to supply the drive signal to the filter a detecting unit which detects a start and an end of an application, and a control unit which ON/OFF-controls the filter depending on a detection result of the detecting unit.
US07940254B2
A computing navigation mechanism includes a scroll wheel integrated below a keyboard layout for navigation of applications displayed on a computer screen. In one embodiment, the scroll wheel is configured to direct movement in response to a context of interaction with an application visible as active on the computer screen. The scroll wheel includes intra-element scrolling for moving content within a window of the application and for moving between items within a menu of the application and inter-element scrolling for moving between enabled links in the application. Intra-element scrolling may include pane scrolling to move content in the first direction or the second direction within the window pane of an application. It also may include selection scrolling to incrementally select between items in a menu list in a menu. In addition, inter-element scrolling comprises item scrolling, which incrementally moves between links within applications such as a web browser.
US07940253B2
A screen system includes a display, three or more sensors, a processor connected to the display and the three or more sensors, and a clock connected to the processor. When a position on a display is selected by a stylus that includes one or more emitters, the one or more emitters each emit a pulse or a series of pulses. Each sensor generates a receive message when the sensors receive a pulse. Each receive message includes an identifier identifying which sensor transmitted the receive message. The processor then determines the location of the emitter or emitters in the stylus and the position on the display using the sensor identifiers and a respective time associated with each receive message.
US07940249B2
A device in accordance with the present invention has a top metal layer that shows increased resistance to degradation such as abrasion, erosion, or both. A device in accordance with the present invention includes a device layer and a top metal layer. The device layer includes contact sensing elements and has a plurality of depressions that extend into the device layer. The first metal layer overlies or is adjacent to the contact sensing elements and extends into the depressions. Preferably, a surface of the metal layer opposed to the device layer is contoured to the depressions. In some embodiments the top metal layer makes electrical connections to the contact sensor, but in other embodiments it does not. Preferably, the device forms a finger swipe sensor, and the contact sensing elements are coupled to finger swipe processing electronics.
US07940237B2
A panel display device structure comprises a plurality of pixels and a modulation unit. Each of the pixels comprises a thin film transistor and a light generation device, and the thin film transistor connects to the light generation device. The modulation unit connects to the thin film transistor and makes a signal transformation curve of the pixel to vertically shift in order to adjust the brightness of the pixel by modulating external voltage signal relied on a voltage dividing way or a direct current voltage transfer circuit, so as to satisfy the demand of increasing shifting range of the signal transformation curve.
US07940236B2
A passive matrix, electro-luminescent display system has a passive matrix, electro-luminescent display having an orthogonally oriented array of column and row electrodes and an electro-luminescent layer located between the electrodes at the intersection of each column and row electrode forming an individual light-emitting element. Drivers provide separate signals at different times to different groups of row electrodes within the array of row electrodes; wherein the row electrodes of each group simultaneously receive at least two different level signals. A display driver receives and processes the input image signal to provide a presharpened image control signal. Column drivers respond to the presharpened image control signal for simultaneously providing a signal to the multiple column electrodes within the array of column electrodes at the same time signals are provided to the groups of row electrodes so that the concurrence of row and column signals causes individual light-emitting element to produce light.
US07940233B2
A light emitting display including data lines for transmitting data voltages, scan lines for selecting select signals, and pixel circuits. The pixel circuit is coupled to a data line and a scan line. The pixel circuit includes a transistor including first, second, and third electrodes, wherein the third electrode outputs a current corresponding to a voltage between the first and second electrodes. A light emitting element coupled to the third electrode emits light corresponding to the current outputted by the third electrode. A first switch transmits a data voltage in response to a select signal from the scan line. A voltage compensator receives the data voltage transmitted by the first switch and a second power supply voltage and applies a compensated data voltage based on the data voltage, a first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage to the first electrode of the transistor.
US07940229B2
A portable electronic device with function of receiving and radiating radio frequency (RF) signal and a multi-frequency antenna thereof are disclosed. The portable electronic device comprises a RF module and a multi-frequency antenna connecting to the RF module. The multi-frequency antenna comprises a helix element and a coaxial cable disposed within the helix element. The helix element comprises a first helix portion and a second helix portion adjacent to each other, and the coaxial cable comprises a grounding portion and a radiating portion. The first helix portion covers the grounding portion, and the radiating portion is disposed within the second helix portion separated with each other.
US07940224B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device which can be surely supplied electric power by electromagnetic waves in different frequency bands without preventing reduction in size and weight of a semiconductor device. A semiconductor device capable of wireless communication is provided with a frequency determining circuit which detects the frequency of the electromagnetic waves received by the antenna and a circuit which automatically adjusts impedance in accordance with information from the frequency determining circuit, and the semiconductor device communicates and obtains electric power by one antenna. For adjustment of impedance, a circuit which can change the inductance or the capacitance, or an antenna which can change the length is used.
US07940223B2
Various embodiments of an internal diversity antenna architecture are described. In one embodiment, a wireless device may include a housing enclosing a printed circuit board, a first diversity antenna, and a second diversity antenna internal to the housing. The second diversity antenna may be positioned substantially near the bottom of the housing or the bottom the printed circuit board. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07940222B2
A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and circuit board carried by the housing. Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry is mounted on the circuit board. A first antenna is supported by the circuit board within the housing and operatively connected to the RF circuitry and configured for cellular phone communications. A second antenna is supported by the circuit board within the housing and operatively connected to the RF circuitry and configured for WiFi communications. The second antenna comprises an inverted-F or monopole antenna having an opening gap that is pointed away from the first antenna.
US07940220B2
There is provided a case structure having a conductive pattern and a method of manufacturing the same. A case structure having a conductive pattern according to an aspect of the invention includes a case having at least one via hole formed therein; at least conductive pattern formed on an outer surface of the case; and a conductive via formed within the via hole and electrically connecting the at least one conductive pattern to a board inside the case.
US07940217B2
Embodiments of the present invention include a patch antenna having a patch element, a ground plane, a feedline, and an electromagnetic shield. The patch element transmitting and/or receives electromagnetic signals. The ground plane is spaced at a specified distance from the patch element. The feedline guides the electromagnetic signal and extends through an opening in the ground plane and to the patch element. The feedline is electrically coupled to the patch element to guide an electromagnetic signal to or from the patch element. The electromagnetic shield extends, at least partially, between the ground plane and the patch element and is electrically coupled to the ground plane. The electromagnetic shield is configured to control an impedance associated with the feedline between the ground plane and the patch element.
US07940210B2
A method and apparatus for calculating corrections to a navigation solution based on differential GPS data includes receiving GPS ephemeris from at least three GPS satellites. A PVT solution is resolved from the GPS ephemeris. The PVT solution includes a Circular Error Probable (CEP). Differential GPS data for calculating the corrections to the PVT solution is received. A corrected PVT solution is then based upon the differential GPS data. The corrected PVT solution is compared to an area defined by the CEP. Where the corrected PVT solution is not within the area, the corrected PVT solution is rejected in favor of the PVT solution for determining an accurate navigational solution.
US07940202B1
In one example, a clock generation component is configured to receive a master clock and generate a plurality of clock signals that are shifted relative to one another for a chip having an analog domain and a digital domain. A first selection component is configured to select a first one of the generated clock signals and drive the digital domain according to the first clock signal. A second selection component is configured to select a second one of the generated clock signals that is shifted relative to the first clock signal currently used to drive the digital domain for driving an analog component of the analog domain.
US07940201B1
An input sampler interface to a track and hold circuit that decouples a high bandwidth (possibly optical domain) input signal from a lower bandwidth electrical domain of a subsequent track and hold circuit or other circuit.
US07940182B2
The invention is directed to encoding information in radio frequency identifier (RFID) tags disposed on cabling interconnects for the purpose of easier identification of the cables, especially when ascertaining the physical routing and connectivity of the cables. The encoding can be performed before, during, or after installation of the cable. The encoded information can then be read at any time using an RFID reader, for example to identify the cable at various positions along it, thereby enabling easy determination of the routing of the cable.
US07940181B2
Product availability can be determined using radio frequency identification (RFID) by determining whether a RFID tag is detectable by a RFID reader and setting a product availability condition, where the RFID tag is not attached to the product, and where distance between the RFID tag and the RFID reader changes as quantity of the product changes. A system for determining availability of products using RFID can comprise a product display unit, a RFID reader, a RFID tag associated with the product display unit, and a computing device configured to set product availability conditions. In the system, distance between the RFID tag and the RFID reader changes as quantity of the product changes.
US07940174B2
An Enhanced Relationship Prediction System for providing a relationship prediction based on the correlation of personal characteristics and the analysis of genetic characteristics is disclosed. In one embodiment, a first person supplies descriptions of their own personal characteristics, as well as descriptions of the personal characteristics of their ideal match, to a website. The first person also furnishes an odor, tissue or fluid sample to a test facility, where genetic characteristics are analyzed and determined. A relationship match is then generated based on both a combination of both a positive correlation of the personal characteristics of the first person and second person, and a measured dissimilarity between the sequence of genetic characteristics of the first person and second person. In an alternative embodiment, the hormonal birth control status of the participants is used in the matching process.
US07940152B1
A multi-primary and distributed transformer is provided for one or more sets of parallel-connected or series-connected power amplifiers. The transformer may include a plurality of primary windings, including a first primary winding, a second primary winding, a third primary winding, and a fourth primary winding, where each of the plurality of primary windings is not directly connected to any other of the plurality of primary windings, where each primary winding includes a respective positive port and a negative port for receiving respective differential signals, where each primary winding include a respective first number of turns; and a single secondary winding having a plurality of segments, including a first segment and a second segment, where each segment includes a second number of turns, the second number of turns greater than or equal to the respective first number of turns, where the single secondary winding includes at least one output port.
US07940140B2
The present invention is a self-calibrating, dual-band, wide range LC tank Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) system. The system may include a first Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) and a second Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO). The system may further include a calibration engine. The calibration engine may be configured for being connectable to at least one of the first VCO or the second VCO. The calibration engine may further be configured for automatically establishing/providing a VCO fix capacitor band code setting and a gear control setting for selectively activating or inactivating the first VCO and/or the second VCO. The calibration engine may be further configured for automatically comparing a VCO control voltage of the system to an allowable control voltage range for the system and may be further configured for automatically adjusting the VCO fix capacitor band code setting and/or the gear control setting when the VCO control voltage falls outside of the allowable control voltage range.
US07940135B2
This oscillation circuit includes a triangular wave generation circuit that generates a triangular wave signal corresponding to an outputted clock signal, a comparison circuit that generates a clock signal corresponding to a comparison of the triangular wave signal with a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage, a current adjusting circuit that adjusts the value of adjusted current according to the power supply voltage for the comparison circuit, and a reference voltage generation circuit that generates the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage having a voltage differential that corresponds to the value of the adjusted current. The current adjusting circuit increases the adjusted current when the power supply voltage for the comparison circuit rises, and reduces the adjusted current when the power supply voltage drops. The reference voltage generation circuit increases the voltage differential between the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage when the adjusted current increases, and reduces the voltage differential when the adjusted current decreases.
US07940134B2
An active YIG oscillator driving device is comprised of: an YIG oscillator including a main coil, an FM coil, a frequency generator operating to generate an output frequency in response to a magnetic field generated from the FM coil; a phase locker setting the output frequency to a target frequency by controlling an amount of current provided into the FM coil and adjusting the output frequency; and a main coil controller regulating the amount of current provided into the main coil, if the output frequency varies out of a controllable range by the FM coil, and adjusting the output frequency. A time for setting the output frequency of the YIG oscillator is shortened to improve the stability of the output frequency thereof against environmental conditions.
US07940130B2
A device includes: a plurality of sampling phase detectors, each receiving a sampling signal and a VCO output signal and in response thereto outputting a beat signal representing a frequency and phase difference between the VCO output signal and the sampling signal; a frequency/phase detector receiving a reference signal and a combined beat signal produced by combining the beat signals, and in response thereto producing an error signal representing a phase difference between the reference signal and the combined beat signal; a loop integrator receiving the error signal and in response thereto producing the VCO control signal; a power detector detecting a power level of the combined beat signal; and at least one offset voltage generator adjusting a value of a bias voltage in response to the detected power level of the combined beat signal, and applying the adjusted bias voltage to one of the sampling phase detectors.
US07940123B2
There is disclosed an amplifier module which may include a plurality of N circuit devices, each of which may have at least two stages of amplification. Each circuit device may additionally have a DC input power terminal, a DC power return terminal, and at least one bias voltage terminal. The DC power terminals of the N circuit devices may be connected in series. A bias voltage network may have at least N taps, and each of the N taps may be connected to a bias voltage terminal of a corresponding one of the N circuit devices.
US07940121B2
A differential voltage interconnect (W101a) electrically connects the gate electrode of a transistor to be used among differential transistors (T101a, T101a, . . . ) to an input node receiving an input voltage (Vinn), and a differential voltage interconnect (W101b) electrically connects the gate electrode of a transistor to be used among differential transistors (T101b, T101b, . . . ) to an input node receiving an input voltage (Vinp). A bias voltage interconnect (W102) electrically connects the gate electrode of a transistor to be used among current source transistors (T102, T102, . . . ) to a bias node receiving a bias voltage (VBN), and a bias voltage interconnect (W103) electrically connects the gate electrodes of transistors to be used among load transistors (T103a, T103a, . . . , T103b, T103b, . . . ) to a bias node receiving a bias voltage (VBP).
US07940114B2
A semiconductor device includes a fuse section having a plurality of fuse circuits configured to generate switch control signals; and an offset adjusting section configured to adjust an offset voltage of a differential amplifier based on the switch control signals supplied from output nodes of the plurality of fuse circuits. Each of the plurality of fuse circuits includes a fuse connected between a first power supply voltage and a cut node; a current source connected between a second power supply voltage and the output node; and a first transistor connected between the output node and the cut node and having a gate connected to the second power supply voltage.
US07940113B2
A fuse trimming circuit includes trimming pads, a fuse resistance, an input circuit and current limit units. The fuse resistance is configured to be connected to the trimming pads and blown out by a trimming current which flows through the trimming pads. The input circuit is configured to output one of a first potential and a second potential based on whether or not the fuse resistance is blown out. The current limit units are configured to be provided on paths from one of the trimming pads through the fuse resistance to at least one of a first power line feeding the first potential and a second power line feeding said second potential, and paths from another of the trimming pads through the fuse resistance to said at least one of the first power line and the second power line.
US07940109B2
A semiconductor device is capable of stably maintaining a voltage level of a shield line, even when a voltage level of an adjacent line is varied. The semiconductor device includes normal lines arranged for transfer of signals, a shield line arranged adjacently to the normal lines, a level shifting circuit for receiving an input signal swinging between a power supply voltage level and a ground voltage level, and shifting the input signal to an output signal swing between the power supply voltage level and a low voltage level lower than the ground voltage level by a predetermined level to output a shifted signal via the shield line, and a signal input unit for transferring the signal provided via the shield line to an output node.
US07940108B1
A circuit, includes first, second, and third inverters. The first inverter has a first input coupled to a first port and a first output coupled to a second port. The second inverter has a second input coupled to the second port and a second output coupled to the first port. The third inverter has a third input coupled to the first port through a first capacitor and to a third port. The third inverter has an output coupled to the second port through a second capacitor. The circuit receives a signal having a voltage between a first voltage potential and a second voltage potential and in response outputs a signal having a voltage between the second voltage potential and a third voltage potential. The third voltage potential is higher than the first and second voltage potentials with respect to ground.
US07940107B2
An inrush voltage clamping circuit for an electronic device for clamping an inrush voltage induced by hot plugging is disclosed. The clamp circuit includes a buffer unit and a clamp unit. The buffer unit is coupled to an input power end for receiving an inrush current of the inrush voltage. The clamp unit is coupled to the input power end and the buffer unit for controlling the buffer unit to receive the inrush current according to an input voltage of the input power end.
US07940101B2
An apparatus for slew rate control using a plurality of discrete slew rate levels. The apparatus includes a load switch and a switch controller. The load switch outputs a load voltage to a load. The switch controller generates a switch control signal in response to an enable signal. The switch control signal controls operation of the load switch. The switch controller controls a slew rate of the load switch according to a plurality of discrete slew rate levels.
US07940090B2
A zero-crossing detecting device that detects a zero-crossing point of AC voltage, the device has a full-wave rectifier that rectifies the AC voltage and outputs a full-wave rectified voltage, a charger that is charged at a predetermined charging voltage by application of the full-wave rectified voltage, wherein the charger outputs a charging current when the full-wave rectified voltage falls below the charging voltage, and a signal output part that outputs a zero-crossing detecting signal. The signal output part outputs the zero-crossing detecting signal when the charging current flows to the signal output part.
US07940089B2
A peak detect-and-hold circuit and method thereof using ramp sampling technique includes utilizing two sampling signals of different slopes to sample an input voltage for respective tracking voltages; comparing the held tracking voltage sampled with the sampling signal of a smaller slope and the input voltage to determine whether the input voltage is rising or falling, and if the input voltage starts falling, the held tracking voltage sampled with the sampling signal of a larger slope is taken as the peak. The peak detect-and-hold circuit using ramp sampling technique controls respective tracking voltages by comparing the input voltage with the sampling signals rather than the feedback tracking voltage. Also, it uses the input voltage directly rather than an operational transconductance amplifier to charge holding capacitors for the tracking voltages. Therefore, the errors of peak detecting and holding, namely the pedestal voltage, overshoot voltage and voltage droop are reduced.
US07940082B1
Circuit for selectively using static or dynamic select signals inside an integrated circuit, including a first transistor connecting a static select signal to a dynamic route select output line when a dynamic select CRAM signal is at a first logical level, and a second transistor connecting a dynamic select signal to the dynamic route select output line when the dynamic select CRAM signal is at a second logical level. The circuit further comprises a dynamic select CRAM register that contains a logical value to indicate whether the dynamic select signal bypasses the static select signal. The dynamic select CRAM register is connected to the second transistor gate, and to an inverter whose output is connected to the first transistor gate.
US07940081B2
An integrated circuit includes first circuitry and sleep transistor circuitry. The first circuitry receives input signals and processes the input signals. The first circuitry also retains data in a sleep state that has low leakage. The sleep transistor circuitry is coupled to the first circuitry and receives a sleep signal that has a negative voltage. The sleep circuitry reduces power consumption of the first circuitry in the sleep state to have low leakage based on the sleep signal while retaining the data in the first circuitry.
US07940080B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit including: a circuit block having an internal voltage line; an annular rail line forming a closed annular line around the circuit block and supplied with one of a power supply voltage and a reference voltage; and a plurality of switch blocks arranged around the circuit block along the annular rail line, the plurality of switch blocks each including a voltage line segment forming a part of the annular rail line and a switch for controlling connection and disconnection between the voltage line segment and the internal voltage line.
US07940078B2
A method, system, and output driver calibration circuit determine calibration values for configuring adjustable impedance output drivers. The calibration circuit includes a pull-up calibration circuit configured to generate an averaged pull-up count signal for calibrating p-channel devices in the output driver with the averaged pull-up count signal being an average of a plurality of pull-up count signals. The calibration circuit further includes a pull-down calibration circuit configured to generate an averaged pull-down count signal for calibrating n-channel devices in the output driver with the averaged pull-down count signal being an average of a plurality of pull-down count signals.
US07940072B2
A variable delay circuit has a simple configuration for being incorporated in a timing generator to control a delay time in real time and assure a timing margin. The variable delay circuit of the timing generator includes a delay circuit having a plurality of cascaded clock buffers; a plurality of cascaded data buffers; and data holding circuits for outputting data to the data buffers in accordance with the clock from the delay circuit. The delay amount added to the data by the data buffers is made identical to the delay amount added to the clock by the clock buffers.
US07940062B1
Methods are provided for reducing interference from stray currents in buried pipelines/metal structures during MEIS testing or other current-sensing applications in the pipeline. Methods are also provided for measuring bulk complex electrical impedance between a buried pipe and the soil, thereby rendering an indication of the quality of the anti-corrosive coating. Methods are also provided for measuring the complex propagation constant of AC voltages propagating along an attenuative pipeline. This information is useful for assessing the general condition of the anti-corrosive coating involved, or to enhance MEIS inspection of the pipeline. Methods are also provided for enhancements to MEIS testing, including (a) canceling magnetometer offset effects associated with the Earth's magnetic field after the magnetometer is positioned for measurement, (b) implementing a separate sensing connection to the pipe so as to avoid interference from voltage loss in the pipe feed-line connection, (c) providing a power amplifier to excite the pipe with large-amplitude signals.
US07940050B2
A method for measuring a resistivity parameter of an earth formation is provided. The method includes: conveying a measurement current from at least one measurement electrode into the formation, the at least one measurement electrode having a potential; receiving the measurement current by at least one return electrode; and estimating a resistivity parameter from a measurement value selected from at least one of the measurement current and the potential, the resistivity parameter based on (i) an impedance calculated from the measurement value and (ii) a correction factor calculated from a plurality of measurement values related to a conductivity of a fluid in a borehole and a dielectric constant of the fluid in the borehole. A system for measuring a resistivity parameter of an earth formation is also provided.
US07940045B2
An in vitro method of determining an analyte concentration of a sample includes placing the sample into a low-field, bench-top time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR) spectrometer. The NMR spectrometer is tuned to measure a selected type of atom. A magnetic field is applied to the sample using a fixed, permanent magnet. At least one 90 degree radio-frequency pulse is applied to the sample. The radio-frequency pulse is generally perpendicular to the magnetic field. The 90 degree radio-frequency pulse is removed from the sample so as to produce a decaying NMR signal. The decaying NMR signal is measured at a plurality of times while applying a plurality of 180 degree refocusing radio-frequency pulses to the sample. The analyte concentration is calculated from the plurality of measurements associated with the decaying NMR signal and a selected model.
US07940044B2
Example systems, methods, and apparatus associated with determining a phase-encoding direction for parallel MRI are described. One example, method includes selecting a set of projection directions along which an MRI apparatus is to apply RF energy to an object to be imaged. The method includes controlling the MRI apparatus to selecting a set of projection directions and to acquire MR signal from the object through a set of detectors. The method includes analyzing the MR signal to identify individual sensitivities for members of the set of detectors and selecting a phase-encoding direction for a pMRI session based on the individual sensitivities for the members. The method produces a concrete, tangible, and useful result by controlling the MRI apparatus to perform the pMRI session based on the selected phase-encoding direction.
US07940042B2
A method for testing an MR element includes a step of obtaining a ferromagnetic resonance frequency f0 of the MR element to be tested by applying an external magnetic field in a track-width direction to the MR element, a step of calculating a stiffness magnetic field Hstiff from the obtained ferromagnetic resonance frequency f0 using a predetermined formula, a step of obtaining a relationship of a stiffness magnetic field Hstiff with respect to an external magnetic field applied in the track-width direction from the applied external magnetic field and the calculated stiffness magnetic field Hstiff, a step of obtaining a uniaxial anisotropic magnetic field Hk of a free layer of the MR element from the obtained relationship of the stiffness magnetic field Hstiff with respect to the external magnetic field applied, and a step of judging whether the MR element is good product or not by comparing the obtained uniaxial anisotropic magnetic field Hk with a predetermined threshold.
US07940034B2
An embodiment of the invention relates to an apparatus including a power semiconductor device and a processor coupled thereto. The processor is configured to provide a control signal to the power semiconductor device to regulate an output characteristic of the apparatus. The processor models an internal characteristic of the power semiconductor device and alters the control signal if the modeled internal characteristic crosses a threshold value. In an exemplary embodiment, the internal characteristic is a channel temperature of a MOSFET. A sensor such as a thermistor is coupled to or included within the processor to sense a parameter separate from the power semiconductor device, such as a processor temperature, and the processor is configured to adapt the modeled internal characteristic to the sensed parameter.
US07940033B2
A pulse regulation loop for a clocked switching power converter where the loop is around a bridge converter. The loop features a comparator, a charge pump and a filter in series, feeding a pulse modulator controlling the clock duty cycle of the bridge. Ripple in the bridge converter output is feed to the comparator which causes the charge pump to inject or remove charge from the filter at the clock rate providing control over the modulator that establishes converter efficiency. The charge pump is of the PLL type, having switches responsive to voltage output from the comparator, evaluating the converter ripple relative to a reference voltage.
US07940029B2
A system for providing reactive power compensation to a utility power network includes a switch coupled to the utility power network, and a capacitor coupled with the switch for providing a controlled amount of reactive current based on conditions of the utility power network. The system also includes a switchable power dissipation device coupled in series to the capacitor and configured to provide a preselected amount of impedance to the reactive current for a predetermined duration when a line voltage on the utility power network drops below a threshold.
US07940021B2
A motor sensing circuit with transient voltage suppression includes a sensing unit and an impulse absorber. The sensing unit has an electrical switch generating a pulse sensing signal when switching and a signal output terminal electrically connecting to the electrical switch and outputting said pulse sensing signal. The impulse absorber has a first terminal connecting to the signal output terminal of the sensing unit and a second terminal being grounded. Consequently, the impulse absorber is able to provide a route for a transient current to be drained away, with the transient current being generated by an impulse inputted the motor sensing circuit through the signal output terminal.
US07940017B2
The present invention is intended to, when rotation of a mirror rotation unit in a power-folding mirror is mechanically locked and its drive motor is thereby locked, make it possible to correctly detect this locked state. A motor 10 for a power-folding mirror is reversibly driven by an H-bridge drive circuit 12 formed of FETs 1 to 4. When the motor 10 is driven in normal rotation by turning the FETs 1 and 4 on and turning the FETs 2 and 3 off, the FET 1 is periodically turned off to detect a voltage of a terminal 10a of the motor 10 by means of a voltage detection circuit 14. When the FET 1 is turned off and the motor 10 is not locked, the motor 10 generates power by means of its inertial rotation, and when locked, the motor 10 generates no power, so the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit 14 changes according to whether or not the motor 10 is locked. A CPU 20 determines whether or not the motor 10 is locked according to the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit 14.
US07939997B2
To simultaneously suppress halation and discharging current flowing in the unlikely event of discharge, and easily perform potential regulating for a spacer, an image displaying apparatus comprises: a rear plate having electron-emitting devices arranged in matrix; a face plate having a substrate, light-emitting members arranged in matrix on the substrate, metal backs each covering at least one member and mutually arranged in matrix at gaps, ribs having first striped portions respectively positioned among the members and protruding toward the rear plate, and a resistive wiring including a resistor between the substrate and the ribs and electrically connecting the metal backs, and positioned oppositely to the rear plate; and a spacer positioned between the rear plate and the ribs to mutually support the rear and face plates, wherein the rib has a spacer connection wiring abutting against the spacer, and the spacer connection wiring is electrically connected to the resistive wiring.
US07939996B2
A display device (100) comprising a plurality of lighting units (101), each lighting unit comprising at least one light emitting diode (202) being provided with a fluorescent element (203) arranged to absorb at least part of the light emitted by said light emitting diode and emit light of a wavelength range different from that of the absorbed light is provided. The fluorescent element (203) comprises at least one phosphor being an europium(II)-activated halogeno-oxonitridosilicate of the general formula EaxSiyN2/3x+4/3y:EuzOaXb.
US07939989B2
An interdigital transducer includes an edge gap length between ends of electrodes and the opposing busbar increased sufficiently for reducing or even eliminating tunneling effects through the gap. As a result, a wave velocity of the acoustic wave within the longitudinally extending edge regions is less than the wave velocity within the transducer center region, and the wave velocity within the opposing gap regions is greater than a velocity in the transducer center region, thus an essentially flat propagation mode results within the aperture of the transducer. A SAW transducer or a SAW resonator on a high coupling substrate will thus guide the energy in the transducer region without a need for apodization. Higher equivalent coupling factors as well as lower losses are obtained.
US07939988B2
An acoustic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate having a surface adapted to allow a leaky surface wave to propagate thereon, an interdigital electrode provided on a portion of the surface of the piezoelectric substrate, and a dielectric layer provided on the surface of the piezoelectric substrate to cover the interdigital electrode. The piezoelectric substrate is made of lithium niobate. The dielectric layer is made of tantalum pentoxide. The piezoelectric substrate is made of a rotated Y-cut substrate having a cut angle which is not smaller than 2.5 degrees and is not larger than 22.5 degrees. A ratio H/λ of a film thickness H of the dielectric layer to a wavelength λ of a center frequency of the leaky surface wave ranges from 0.034 to 0.126. This acoustic wave device works in a wide band width.
US07939987B1
An acoustic wave device includes electrodes carried on a surface of a piezoelectric material and an array of reflective obstacles such that elastic energy resulting from a piezoelectric effect is preferentially directed along a primary wave propagation path. The array of reflective obstacles are positioned generally parallel to the surface of the piezoelectric material and redirect acoustic waves typically reflected in other than a desirable direction to along a desired direction generally along the primary propagation path. The obstacles improve performance for SAW and BAW devices by effecting reflected energy and suppressing spurious modes.
US07939983B2
There is provided a generator which produces electromotive forces in the same direction on all windings to prevent occurrence of leakage magnetic fields of the windings and lowering of the rotational forces of rotor plates due to the leakage magnetic fields from the windings and offers high efficiency without accompanying any circuit loads. The generator includes first windings 15-1 to 15-4 divided in the plural number and wound around a fixed ring core 5; second windings 25-1 to 25-4 divided in number equal to the plural number and wound around so as to cover divided gap portions of the first windings; and first and second rotor plates 30 and 35 provided to be opposed to both surfaces of the ring core 5, wherein the first rotor plate has first permanent magnets 40-1 to 40-4 opposed to the first windings, the second rotor plate has second permanent magnets 45-1 to 45-4 opposed to the second windings, and electricity generated on the first and second windings 15-1 to 15-4 and 25-1 to 25-4 is taken out by rotation of the first and second rotor plates 30 and 35.
US07939975B2
A stator assembly and a method for making a stator assembly wherein the stator assembly is over-molded with thermally conductive and electrically insulating polymer composition. The stator core of the stator assembly is coated with adhesive component to provide higher heat transfer at the interface of stator core and over-molded insulator and coil.
US07939970B1
A method and system for reducing the cost of a combined offshore wind generation plant is provided by coupling the AC output of plural wind turbine generators to a single AC-DC converter prior to transmission of the DC power to an onshore DC-AC inverter site. The wind speed is monitored at selected locations within the wind plant, optionally, at selected turbine generators, and the operating frequency of the AC-DC converter is adjusted in accordance with a combine wind speed signal to permit operation of the plural wind turbines as a group. AC-DC followed by DC-AC conversions decouples the AC frequency produced by the wind turbines and allows the turbines to operate at variable frequency as a group.
US07939969B2
A first voltage control unit includes a first PI control unit, a first switching unit and a first subtraction unit. The first subtraction unit subtracts an output of the first switching unit from (a voltage value)/(a target voltage) that is a voltage feedforward compensation term. Similarly, a second voltage control unit includes a second PI control unit, a second switching unit and a second subtraction unit. A switching control unit control first and second switching units during temperature increase control to operate the PI control unit for the voltage control unit on a discharge side and to cut off an output of the PI control unit for the voltage control unit on a charge side.
US07939967B2
Apparatus and methods are provided. A system includes two or more power supplies receiving electrical energy from respective independent sources. One of the power supplies detects an anomalous condition of the associated energy source and provides an alert signal. At least one of the other power supplies transitions from a standby mode to a normal output mode in response to the alert signal. The failing power supply provides operating level energy to an electrical load while the one or more other power supplies transition from standby to normal output level.
US07939956B1
A torsional protection system and method is provided for protecting a wind turbine from undesired torsional oscillations. The torsional protection system includes a detection processing stage that isolates energy contained within a measured signal to a frequency band of interest. An input to the detection processing stage is obtained from at least one component in the wind turbine. A protection logic stage compares the energy to a threshold level to get an indication of an amount of the energy that is above a predetermined threshold. The torsional content of the signal can be measured and monitored so that if the torsional content exceeds the predetermined threshold for a predetermined time an alarm or trip signal can be generated.
US07939954B2
A system for controlling and protecting double-fed asynchronous-type generators against symmetrical and asymmetrical faults, such that in the event of a symmetrical or asymmetrical fault, the system remains connected to the grid, absorbs the initial energy transient, and maintains control of the generators.
US07939952B2
An auxiliary power system for a vehicle, having an auxiliary internal combustion engine with a starter is described. An auxiliary alternator driven by the auxiliary engine and connected to a battery of the vehicle and a control unit, which is connected to the battery, and activates the starter of the auxiliary engine in the event the voltage of the battery is below a reference value, may be included.
US07939947B2
A semiconductor package structure is disclosed. The semiconductor package structure includes semiconductor chips on a semiconductor substrate. Each of the semiconductor chips includes chip pads. Through-vias extend through each of the semiconductor chips. Redistribution structures and a chip selection interconnection line are disposed on each of the semiconductor chips. The redistribution structures electrically connect at least one of the through-vias with at least one of the chip pads. Each chip selection interconnection line includes first regions connected to a corresponding number of the through-vias and a second region connecting at least one of the first regions with one of the chip pads. The semiconductor chips are stacked and electrically connected using the through-vias.
US07939940B2
A resin coated copper foil is used to fabricate a multilayer Chip Scale Package (CSP). A CSP package base has a first electrical routing layer. A resin coated copper foil is hot pressed onto the CSP package base and then patterned to form a second electrical routing layer. Conductive vias are then formed between the electrical routing layers. An Organic Solder Preservative (OSP) is used a surface finish for solder balls of the CSP.
US07939939B1
A metallic interconnect structure (200) for connecting a gold bump (205) and a copper pad (212), as used for example in semiconductor flip-chip assembly. A first region (207) of binary AuSn2 intermetallic is adjacent to the gold bump. A region (208) of binary AuSn4 intermetallic is adjacent to the first AuSn2 region. Then, a region (209) of binary gold-tin solid solution is adjacent to the AuSn4 region, and a second region (210) of binary AuSn2 intermetallic is adjacent to the solid solution region. The second AuSn2 region is adjacent to a nickel layer (213) (preferred thickness about 0.08 μm), which covers the copper pad. The nickel layer insures that the gold/tin intermetallics and solutions remain substantially free of copper and thus avoid ternary compounds, providing stabilized gold bump/solder connections.
US07939924B2
A stacked BGA package and a method for manufacturing the stacked BGA package, with reduced size and/or height of a unit package, which may also reduce an electrical connection length. The stacked BGA package may include a base BGA package having at least one semiconductor chip, and a plurality of BGA packages which are stacked on the base BGA package. A plurality of solder balls may electrically connect the base BGA package and the plurality of BGA packages and may then be sealed to reduce the likelihood of damage.
US07939923B2
A memory card includes a circuit board, a first semiconductor chip mounted on the circuit board with a bump sandwiched between the first semiconductor chip and the circuit board, a second semiconductor chip mounted on the circuit board with a bump sandwiched between the second semiconductor chip and the circuit board with a clearance not greater than 1 mm between the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip, a first sealing resin layer surrounding the bump and existing between the first semiconductor chip and the circuit board, and a second sealing resin layer surrounding the bump and existing between the second semiconductor chip and the circuit board, and a cover covering the first semiconductor chip, the second semiconductor chip on a principal face of the circuit board.
US07939917B2
Example embodiments provide tape structures including a base layer, a neutralizing layer and an adhesive layer. The base layer may support an object. The neutralizing layer may be arranged on the base layer. The neutralizing layer may be grounded to neutralize charges between the base layer and the object. The adhesive layer may be arranged on the neutralizing layer. The object may be attached to the adhesive layer. Example embodiments also provide methods of manufacturing the tape structures, methods of separating a wafer, and apparatuses for separating a wafer.
US07939915B2
A system and method for improved dry etching system. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a partially completed integrated circuit device. The partially completed integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate having a surface region. The partially completed integrated circuit device also includes an etch stop layer overlying the surface region. The etch stop layer is characterized by a thickness having at least a first thickness portion and a second thickness portion. The second thickness portion includes an etch stop surface region. The partially completed integrated circuit device additionally includes a silicon dioxide material provided within the first thickness portion of the etch stop layer. The partially completed integrated circuit device includes a silicon nitride material provided within the second thickness portion of the etch stop layer. In addition, the partially completed integrated circuit device includes a profile characterized by the silicon dioxide material in the first thickness portion changing to the silicon nitride material in the second thickness portion.
US07939911B2
In one embodiment, a back-end-of-line (BEOL) resistive structure comprises a second metal line embedded in a second dielectric layer and overlying a first metal line embedded in a first dielectric layer. A doped semiconductor spacer or plug laterally abutting sidewalls of the second metal line and vertically abutting a top surface of the first metal line provides a resistive link between the first and second metal lines. In another embodiment, another BEOL resistive structure comprises a first metal line and a second metal line are embedded in a dielectric layer. A doped semiconductor spacer or plug laterally abutting the sidewalls of the first and second metal lines provides a resistive link between the first and second metal lines.
US07939909B2
An LC device having a substrate, a support layer having upper and lower sides formed on the substrate, inductors formed on either the upper or lower side of the support layer, and capacitors formed in the opposite side of the support layer. The support layer may be formed of a low-k dielectric material, and a connection portion may be provided to connect the inductors and capacitors in the support layer. The inductors and capacitors are disposed in a stacked structure on the upper and lower sides of the low-k dielectric support layer on the substrate, so that space efficiency may be maximized on the substrate. The low-k dielectric support layer provides support between the inductors and capacitors so that substrate loss is minimized and a Q factor of the inductors is enhanced.
US07939903B2
A backside-illuminated sensor including a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate has a front surface and a back surface. A plurality of pixels are formed on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate. At least one pixel includes a photogate structure. The photogate structure has a metal gate that includes a reflective layer.
US07939893B2
A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes, forming isolation region having an aspect ratio of 1 or more in a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate insulating film, forming a silicon gate electrode and a silicon resistive element, forming side wall spacers on the gate electrode, heavily doping a first active region with phosphorus and a second active region and the resistive element with p-type impurities by ion implantation, forming salicide block at 500° C. or lower, depositing a metal layer covering the salicide block, and selectively forming metal silicide layers. The method may further includes, forming a thick and a thin gate insulating films, and performing implantation of ions of a first conductivity type not penetrating the thick gate insulating film and oblique implantation of ions of the opposite conductivity type penetrating also the thick gate insulating film before the formation of side wall spacers.
US07939882B2
A semiconductor device includes a main field effect transistor (FET) and one or more sense FETs. A transistor portion of the sense FET is surrounded by transistors of the main FET. An electrical isolation structure that surrounds the main FET is configured to electrically isolate source and body regions of the main FET from source and body regions of the sense FET. A sense FET source pad is located at an edge of the main FET and spaced apart from the transistor portion of the sense FET. The sense FET source pad is connected to the transistor portion of the sense FET by a sense FET probe metal. The isolation structure is configured such that the transistor portion of the sense FET and the sense FET source pad are located outside an active area of the main FET.
US07939875B2
A method of fabricating a pixel structure of a thin film transistor liquid crystal display is provided. A transparent conductive layer and a first metallic layer are sequentially formed over a substrate. The first metallic layer and the transparent conductive layer are patterned to form a gate pattern and a pixel electrode pattern. A gate insulating layer and a semiconductor layer are sequentially formed over the substrate. A patterning process is performed to remove the first metallic layer in the pixel electrode pattern while remaining the gate insulating layer and the semiconductor layer over the gate pattern. A second metallic layer is formed over the substrate. The second metallic layer is patterned to form a source/drain pattern over the semiconductor layer. A passivation layer is formed over the substrate and then the passivation layer is patterned to expose the transparent conductive layer in the pixel electrode pattern.
US07939874B2
A semiconductor device has semiconductor elements formed on a silicon substrate. A first one of the semiconductor elements has a region formed with a surface orientation of <100>. A second one of the semiconductor elements has a region formed with a surface orientation of <110>or <111>. A third one of the semiconductor elements has a region formed with a surface orientation different from the respective surface orientations of the regions of the first and second semiconductor elements.
US07939869B2
A semiconductor device includes: a first source region and a first drain region formed at a distance from each other in a semiconductor substrate; a first gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate between the first source region and the first drain region; a first gate electrode formed on the first gate insulating film; a first source electrode formed above the first source region and including a ferromagnetic layer having an easy axis of magnetization in a first direction; a first drain electrode formed above the first drain region and including a ferromagnetic layer magnetized in a second direction at an angle larger than 0 degrees but not larger than 180 degrees with respect to the first direction; and a second drain electrode formed above the first drain region, being located at a distance from the first drain electrode, and including a ferromagnetic layer magnetized in a direction substantially antiparallel to the second direction.
US07939863B2
Analog ICs frequently include circuits which operate over a wide current range. At low currents, low noise is important, while IC space efficiency is important at high currents. A vertically integrated transistor made of a JFET in parallel with an MOS transistor, sharing source and drain diffused regions, and with independent gate control, is disclosed. N-channel and p-channel versions may be integrated into common analog IC flows with no extra process steps, on either monolithic substrates or SOI wafers. pinchoff voltage in the JFET is controlled by photolithographically defined spacing of the gate well regions, and hence exhibits low variability.
US07939853B2
A semiconductor device is provided that includes a substrate, a first active layer disposed over the substrate, and a second active layer disposed on the first active layer. The second active layer has a higher bandgap than the first active layer such that a two-dimensional electron gas layer arises between the first active layer and the second active layer. A termination layer, which is disposed on the second active layer, includes InGaN. Source, gate and drain contacts are disposed on the termination layer.
US07939852B2
Semiconductor transistor devices and related fabrication methods are provided. An exemplary transistor device includes a layer of semiconductor material having a channel region defined therein and a gate structure overlying the channel region. Recesses are formed in the layer of semiconductor material adjacent to the channel region, such that the recesses extend asymmetrically toward the channel region. The transistor device also includes stress-inducing semiconductor material formed in the recesses. The asymmetric profile of the stress-inducing semiconductor material enhances carrier mobility in a manner that does not exacerbate the short channel effect.
US07939846B2
An LED is bonded to a circuit board. The circuit board comprises a chip mounting area, a bonding pad, and a connecting portion. The LED is mounted on the chip mounting area with an adhesive, and the bonding pad is connected with an electrode of the LED. Moreover, the connecting portion is positioned between the chip mounting area and the bonding pad. One side of the connecting portion is connected with the chip mounting area and another side is connected with the bonding pad. With a hollow portion of the connecting portion, the adhesive will be prevented from flowing to the bonding pad.
