US08146877B2
The vehicle seat runner has a first runner element receiving a vehicle seat element, and a complementary runner element fastened to the vehicle. A first fin wall and a second fin wall that are mutually parallel and that are spaced apart from each other are connected together via a base wall. Each fin wall has an inside face, the inside faces of the two fin walls facing each other. The inside faces are connected to each other in an additional connection region situated under the base wall.
US08146874B2
An adapter plate assembly which provides a convenient interface between a mounting support assembly for suspending an instrument driver robotic instrument system above a operating table. The adapter plate securely mounts to the operating table, and may be adjustable so that it can be adjusted to fit various sizes and models of operating tables. The adapter plate assembly comprises a main plate which rests on the surface of the operating table. A first clamp assembly which removably attaches to the operating table is mounted on one or more horizontal adjustment rods which are slidably received in one of the main plate in order to provide adjustability to the width of the adapter plate assembly. On the opposing end of the main plate, a second clamp assembly is coupled main plate. In order to secure the support assembly of a robotic instrument system, an adapter rail is also coupled to the main plate. The adapter rail is configured to detachably couple to a support assembly interface of the support assembly, and provides sufficient structural support for suspending the instrument driver above the operating table.
US08146871B1
A portable sign stand comprises a mast for supporting an article (preferably a sign) thereon and a plurality of support legs for supporting the mast. A heart plate assembly comprises a heart plate for pivotally receiving and attaching to top ends of each of the plurality of support legs and a center tube having a hollow interior for slidably receiving the inner mast. The center tube extends upwardly a predetermined distance from a top edge of the heart plate. This predetermined distance is at least two inches in order to protect a user's fingers in the event of an inadvertent or intentional dropping of the inner mast downwardly through the hollow interior of the center tube to its minimum height position. In the most preferred embodiments, the minimum predetermined distance is at least about four inches, because this distance permits an average user's hand to be entirely wrapped about the center tube without the risk of a pinch injury if the mast is suddenly dropped to its minimum height position.
US08146870B1
A foldable guitar stand includes: two main support legs; two vertical support members; two rear legs; and a brace. With respect to each side of the guitar stand, one main support leg, one vertical support member, and one rear leg pivot relative to each other about a common axis defined by a pin. The first vertical support member is then operably joined to the second vertical support member by a hinge, and the brace extends between and further connects the vertical support members. In a deployed position, each of the main support legs is rotated about the respective axes defined by the pins to a position in which a substantially flat foot portion of the main support legs can engage the underlying ground surface. Each of the rear legs is rotated away from the respective main support legs to a position in which the respective foot portions can engage the underlying ground surface. The two vertical support members (which are hinged together) are then rotated into an upright orientation.
US08146859B2
An aircraft module comprising a unit that includes a horizontal working surface from which a vertical wall extends downward; a seat adjacent to the vertical wall; and at least one removable shelf that occupies several positions, and in one of these positions, referred to as working position, the at least one shelf extends horizontally from the horizontal working surface above the seat that is in folded-back position, so as to cover the entirety of the folded-back seat.
US08146858B2
The invention relates to a no-back device for a mobile element actuating device including a screw shaft having first and second braking means each comprising a ratchet wheel. These ratchet wheels are mounted opposite one another so that the first braking means are adapted to resist an unwanted movement of the screw shaft in a first direction, and the second braking means are adapted to resist an unwanted movement of the screw shaft in an opposite direction. The no-back device also includes means for detecting the state of the rotation of the ratchet wheels and indicating means for furnishing, according to the state of the rotation of the wheels, an indication concerning the operating state of the no-back device.
US08146852B2
A rotation damper, particularly for damping the rotary movement of a belt retractor shaft of a vehicle safety belt, has a housing which delimits a working space filled with a damping medium, and an element which is rotatable relative to the housing. Several pins serving as resistance elements, which extend into the working space, are provided on the element.
US08146851B2
The invention relates to a coreless roll including of a sheet made of dry flexible material, such as an absorbent fibrous material, that is formed by the rolling of a sheet around a winding axis characterized in that it includes a center-feed (center unwinding) first strip forming a projection along the axis in relation to at least one part of the plane of one of the sides of the roll. In particular, this first strip is constituted by a portion of the internal end of the sheet constituting the roll. The first internal turn is thus permitted to unwind, even if the center opening is reduced.
US08146845B2
The present invention relates to an automatic shredder without choosing the number of paper to be shredded which comprises a shredder core and an automatic paper feeding device, the automatic paper feeding device comprises a driving mechanism, a paper support box, a pick-up mechanism and a paper press box, the driving mechanism is fixed on the shredder core and connected with the pick-up mechanism for driving the pick-up mechanism, the paper support box comprises a first zone and a second zone, the pick-up mechanism is positioned between the first zone and the second zone and fixed to the paper support box, and its paper feeding direction is towards the second zone, one end of the paper press box is pivoted with the paper support box, the other end of the paper press box is connected detachable with the paper support box, the paper support box is fixed on the shredder core, and the second zone has a paper inlet positioned above the blade assembly of the shredder core, a magnet is positioned in the first zone, the automatic shredder further comprises an elastic paper press and retaining device mounted inside the paper press box and extending to the first zone, the magnet corresponds to the elastic paper press and retaining device, so the present invention can deal with a very large amount of paper to be shredded at one time, has a simple and convenient operation, is designed dexterously, and has a concise structure and a economical cost.
US08146836B2
A device for carrying and dispensing scent with a scent retaining block, a block retaining housing, a living hinge member, a housing cover plate, a latch member, right and left housing strap apertures, an adjustable length strap attached by male and female strap retaining members. The housing is rectangular and has one fully open portion. The housing cover plate is attached to the housing by the living hinge member. The housing has a plurality of apertures allowing air to freely pass into and out of the housing. The adjustable strap is attached to the left strap aperture. The non adjustable strap is attached to the right strap aperture or vice versa. The adjustable strap is removably attached to the non adjustable strap by the male and the female strap retaining members. The scent block is constructed from an absorbent material capable of retaining a liquid scent without leaking.
US08146833B2
A method to control the sleep operation of an air conditioner is provided. The method includes determining whether or not a sleep operation is activated and sequentially performing a plurality of sub-modes of the sleep operation when the sleep operation is activated.
US08146829B2
An identification token or label includes a light emitting device powered by and responsive to radio frequency signals to emit light in a predetermined frequency range and in a predetermined pattern. It has application as a gaming token for a casino environment or a medallion for use in monitoring patrons at sporting venues and in various parts of a supply chain.
US08146823B2
Embodiments of a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for rapidly capturing images in an automated identification system to effectively extend one dimension of a field of view of an image system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the image system captures and processes multiple images of at least a portion of a surface of a component in the automated identification system in response to a trigger signal communicated from a triggering device configured to sense a location of the component. Various embodiments of the invention include multiple sources for capturing images, and/or multiple user-specified schemas for effectively extending the field of view of the image system along the axis of component travel in the automated identification system.
US08146812B2
A method and system of tracking devices uses imaging and optionally tags. Tracking is performed when the identification information associated with the devices are initially received and exposed towards a scanning bar in an enclosure. This scanning bar scans at one or more predetermined intervals the one or more devices in the enclosure of hardware. The system for tracking devices includes an enclosure capable of receiving one or more devices positioned to expose identification information related to each device and a scanning bar movably coupled to the enclosure that passes over each of the one or more devices and captures images of the identification information exposed by each of the one or more devices.
US08146809B2
In order to provide an authentication system and a terminal capable of saving user's trouble and allowing quick and accurate determination as to whether the user is a registered user or not, a data processing device capable of data communication with a plurality of image forming apparatuses decides an IC card standard used by an IC card reader connected to each image forming apparatus, and transmits a signal notifying the standard to the image forming apparatus having a corresponding identification ID. Based on the IC card standard decided by the data processing device, the image forming apparatus sets the IC card standard used by the IC card reader and determines whether or not the user is a registered user.
US08146808B2
A card authentication is performed. An authentication chip for performing authentication by a copy-disabled hologram chip is attached to a card and when or after the card is introduced into a handling device, the authentication chip information is read to perform authentication. Read may be performed in a planar shape but a linear shape can reduce the processing load. An arbitrary straight line or a curved line may be used as a read line shape by modifying the read position in association with the card movement when the card is placed to be read. When the card introduced to a terminal device is an unauthorized one, the card is ejected or an alarm is issued when the card is introduced inside.
US08146805B1
A deposit card may be issued to a user that allows the user to go to a merchant and deposit cash into a deposit account of the user using information from the deposit card. The deposit card is unidirectional as it only can be used to deposit money into the deposit account. A barcode may be generated and disposed on the deposit card or provided separately. The barcode represents data that may be used in the deposit of cash to the deposit account, such as the name or other identification of the user, a card number of the deposit card, the name or other identification of the institution, an account number of the deposit account, etc. A merchant may use a barcode reader to read the barcode and obtain data that may be used in the deposit.
US08146801B1
A card actuated automated banking machine (10) is operative to carry out financial transactions responsive to data included on user cards. The machine includes a user interface (15) including a display (24). The user interface includes a card reader (16) which is operative to read data on user cards which identify at least one of user and a user's financial accounts. A fascia of the machine includes a keypad (404, 438, 458) through which users input confidential data. Covers (400, 422, 430) prevent unauthorized persons from viewing confidential inputs to the keypad. Authorization signals assure that the display is operating in a manner that provides appropriate user instructions. A visual indicator is operative to indicate to a user that keypad inputs are being encrypted.
US08146788B2
A tool for driving fasteners includes a work contact element configured to move between a first position and a second position. The tool is prevented from driving fasteners when the work contact element is in the first position. The tool further includes an extension member rigidly connected to the work contact element in a releasable connection arrangement. The releasable connection arrangement is configured to maintain a rigid connection between the work contact element and the extension member during normal operation of the tool. The releasable connection arrangement is further configured to release the rigid connection between the work contact element and the extension member during high impact events that are not associated with normal operation of the tool.
US08146787B2
A carrying bag comprising a main compartment having a front panel, a back panel and two side panels; two side flaps attached to the back panel protruding laterally; and a carrying strap having a first end attached to the first side flap and a second end attached to the second side flap, wherein the first and second side flaps have a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration, the side flaps project upwards so that the carrying strap can function as a shoulder strap and in the second configuration, the side flaps can be folded and secured onto itself to project laterally and function as a waist strap.
US08146782B2
Disclosed is a foam head (1) for a propellant container (2) with an inner and an outer crimped edge (3, 4) of a valve disk (5). Said foam head (1) comprises an actuating button (6) and a foam discharge port (7) and is embodied so as to sit directly on a valve stem (8). A bottom section (9) of the foam head (1) has an outer diameter (10) that is approximately identical to an inner diameter (11) of the inner crimped edge (3). An outer rib (13) which faces the actuating button (6) is disposed in a lower area (12) of the bottom section (9) so as to engage underneath a bottom side (14) of the inner crimped edge (3). A lower edge (15) of the bottom section (9) is provided with at least one recess (16) in order to form an annular spring (17).
US08146778B2
A ball feeding device includes a mounting seat with a driving device. The driving device includes a driving shaft defining an axis of rotation. A discharge hole is provided in a top plate of the mounting seat. An annular guiding wall is formed on the top plate and surrounds the axis of rotation. A rotary unit is rotatably mounted on the top plate and includes tubes for containing balls. A blocking member is mounted in each tube. When the rotary unit is rotated, lower ends of the tubes are aligned with the discharge hole in sequence such that the balls in the tubes are fed into a pitching machine one by one. The blocking members hold or release the balls in the tubes under the action of the guiding wall such that the balls to be fed cannot contact with the top plate.
US08146777B2
There is provided a medicine feeding device which can apply uniform tension to wrapping paper wound in a roll state to wrap a medicine. The medicine feeding device comprises a tablet case which stores a medicine, and the wrapping paper wound in the roll state, wraps a medicine discharged from the tablet case in wrapping paper 72, and comprises a tension application mechanism 113 which applies predetermined tension to the continuously pulled-out wrapping paper. This tension application mechanism is constituted to freely move up-and-down, and to apply tension to the pulled-out wrapping paper by its own weight.
US08146775B2
A towel dispenser for dispensing towel material in a loop from a stack or roll, which towel dispenser has a back part and a cover part movably connected with the back part, the cover part being provided with receiving means for receiving at least one roll or one stack of folded towel material, wherein the back part is provided with collecting means for taking up towel material dispensed from said at least one stack or one roll.
US08146772B2
A threaded weld fitting and a method of welding a threaded weld fitting to the tank wall of a water storage tank are provided. The threaded weld fitting includes a body defining an aperture and having a facing surface configured to be positioned facing the tank wall. A female thread is formed along the aperture. A first beveled surface portion of the facing surface extends from an edge of the body. A landing surface portion of the facing surface extends from the first beveled surface portion toward a longitudinal axis of the aperture. A second beveled surface portion of the facing surface extends from the landing surface and to the female thread. The landing surface portion and the second beveled surface portion together define an open annular area positioned to receive a portion of a weld formed by welding the threaded weld fitting to the tank wall.
US08146768B2
A container has a selectively openable panel defined at least in part by a frangible score groove in a surface of the container. The frangible score groove is selectively fracturable by a lifting action administered by a user to a secured to the container. The tab has a nose portion separated from a lift end by a central webbing. The central webbing has a hinge region and a rivet island. The rivet island is at least partially surrounded by a first void region. The central webbing also has a grab portion at the lift end of the tab. The grab portion has an enclosed region defining a billboard surface. The billboard surface has a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side. A bead created by displacing the material of the central webbing is located on the billboard surface. A pigment-carrying layer covers at least a portion of the billboard surface. A tactile indicium is located on the billboard surface.
US08146767B1
The improved foot pedal mechanism for opening the lid of a typical commercial trash bin includes an additional foot pedal for sliding open the side door of the same commercial trash bin. The foot pedal lid includes a foot pedal connected to a rotating bar mechanism that is located within the housing. The opposing end of the rotating bar mechanism connects to a lifting bar, which raises and lowers a top lid of the trash bins. The foot pedal lid is designed to be located along a side of the trash bin, and not in front or on a corner. The foot pedal door uses a series of spur gears, a track, and a connecting rod as the means to open the side door.
US08146766B2
A container of sheet plastic reveals when it has been opened after a clerk loaded it with food. The container has a base (12) and lid (14) that remain latched together until they are separated at an initial opening region (40) where the lid has a radially-outward projecting lid tab (44) and the base has a tear-away part (52) with a blocker (60) that blocks access to the lid tab. The blocker surrounds the radially outward edge and opposite sides of the tab. The blocker prevents access to the lid tab to lift it to open the container until the tear-away part (52) is torn along a tear line (81). The fact that the tear-away part is torn away, reveals that the container has been tampered with.
US08146763B2
A collapsible container includes a plurality of wall panels, wherein each wall panel is connected to each adjacent wall panel at a hinged connection. The wall panels are arranged so as to articulate at the hinged connections between a collapsed position and an expanded position defining a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The collapsible container also includes an anti-fold lock that is disposed proximate to a hinged connection between first and second adjacent side walls. The first side wall includes at least two wall panels defining a diagonal hinge extending substantially between diagonally opposite corners of the side wall and the anti-fold lock is articulable into a locked position across the diagonal hinge.
US08146761B2
An apparatus and method for transporting compressed gases or similar materials. The apparatus includes an exterior housing dimensioned for intermodal transportation that contains a rack that holds pressure vessels. The apparatus may be loaded with pressure vessels and the vessels filled within the apparatus. The apparatus may be transferred between modes of transportation along a delivery route without unloading the vessels from the apparatus.
US08146758B1
A compartmentalized baby bottle includes main and secondary interior compartments for housing and selectively introducing a soluble mix to a fluid, as needed by the caregiver. A plurality of conduits are formed along a bottom-most end of the main interior compartments for allowing the soluble mix to pass therethrough. A conduit-sealing mechanism is provided such that a care giver is permitted to selectively combine the mix and fluid together without prematurely exposing the mix. Advantageously, the conduit-sealing is selectively biased between open and closed positions for preventing the fluid and mix from undesirably mixing together until the care giver is ready to do same.
US08146757B2
A bottle for dispensing fluids, semi-solid, ointments, gels, paste, creams, powder, and the like. The substances in the container are naturally fed by gravity to a dispensing portion without the need for the dispenser to be placed in a vertical position, upside down position, or inclined position in order to allow the substances to move to the tip of the dispensing portion, all the while maintaining the container in a horizontal orientation.
US08146756B2
A bracket for connecting a slide assembly to a rack having any one of multiple hole standards. The bracket includes a first portion defining a first surface that contacts the rack and a second portion that defines a second surface that contacts the rack. The first portion and the second portion cooperate to capture a portion of the rack therebetween. The bracket further includes a first projection sized and shaped to engage a first rack hole standard and a second projection sized and shaped to engage a second rack hole standard. The bracket may also include additional projections configured to engage additional hole standards.
US08146747B2
A foldable box holding a plurality of pouches is described. The foldable box comprises a lid, a cavity, a means for indicating the medications in each pouch, a means for associating the medications in the foldable box with a particular patient, a means for closing the box, and a means for recording that the medications in the pouch have been consumed. The lid is adjacent to a back wall that is rotatable along a first fold line. The bottom wall is adjacent to the back wall, two side walls, and a front wall that forms a cavity configured to receive a plurality of pouches. At least one pouch comprises a plurality of different tablets corresponding to a plurality of different medications that are for a particular patient.
US08146744B2
Blister pack assemblies include a blister pack and a lenticular lens member. The blister pack includes a blister card, a blister attached to the blister card, and indicia of lenticular art. The lenticular lens member is attached to the blister pack and includes a lenticular lens array functionally aligned with the indicia of lenticular art.
US08146734B2
A belt unit includes a first roller; a second roller; a belt extended with at least the first roller and the second roller; a first supporting member for supporting the first roller; a second supporting member disposed to be freely rotatable relative to the first supporting member for supporting the second roller; a switching member for switching the first supporting member and the second supporting member between a first state for applying tension to the belt and a second state for loosening the belt; and a regulating member for regulating the second supporting member to rotate.
US08146726B2
A torque transmitting apparatus includes a cover portion generally defined by a first axis, and a flywheel coupled to the cover portion for rotation therewith. The flywheel is restrained from axial movement relative to the cover portion. The apparatus also includes a pressure plate coupled to the cover portion for rotation therewith, wherein the pressure plate is axially moveable relative to the cover portion. The apparatus also includes an intermediate plate coupled to the cover portion for rotation therewith. The intermediate plate is axially moveable relative to the cover portion and the pressure plate. The apparatus further includes a first clutch disk at least partially interposed between the pressure plate and the intermediate plate, a second clutch disk at least partially interposed between the flywheel and the intermediate plate, an axially acting biasing element for exerting an axial force between the pressure plate and the intermediate plate, and a support member extending through the biasing element.
US08146723B2
A hydraulic control apparatus for marine reversing gear assembly for watercraft includes a pressure-reducing valve for adjusting pressure of working oil supplied from a supply pump, and supplying working oil to forward and reverse clutches; a proportional electromagnetic valve for controlling the supply of working oil to a pilot chamber of the pressure reducing valve; and a spring-type switching valve for switching to a circuit for supplying working oil to a control piston chamber for controlling a spring force of the pressure-reducing valve or to a circuit for draining working oil from the chamber; wherein a pressure output from the proportional electromagnetic valve acts upon the switching valve as a pilot pressure; and, when the pilot pressure falls below a predetermined value, the switching valve switches to the circuit for supplying the working oil to the chamber via the spring of the switching valve, fully opening the pressure-reducing valve.
US08146713B2
A lifting apparatus including a travel platform moving along a support frame to transport people and objects, and a lifting method for moving the travel platform up and down along the support frame to transport people and objects.
US08146711B2
An assembly includes a reservoir for holding a fluid, and a scavenge passage connected to the reservoir at a reservoir inlet. The scavenge passage returns the fluid from a delivery location to the reservoir. A bleed passage is connected in fluid communication between the reservoir and the scavenge passage.
US08146708B2
Disclosed is a muffler (1, 21, 41) integrated with a catalytic converter bed (9, 32, 52) including a polymeric muffler body (2, 22, 42), an inlet pipe (3, 23, 43) in flow communication with engine exhaust, said inlet pipe connected to a first body mounting adapter (5, 25, 45) so as to hold the inlet pipe a heat insulating distance from said polymeric muffler body, said inlet pipe in flow communication with an inlet of said catalytic converter bed (9, 32, 52), and a perforated exhaust pipe (4, 34, 44) in flow communication with an outlet of the catalytic converter bed, said perforated exhaust pipe mounted on a second body mounting adapter (6, 26, 56) so as to hold the perforated exhaust pipe a heat insulating distance from the polymeric muffler body; said inlet pipe and said perforated exhaust pipe holding said catalytic converter bed a heat insulating distance from the polymeric muffler body, said first body mounting adapter, polymeric muffler body, and second body mounting adapter forming a sealed internal chamber to provide an insulating and noise abatement space (8, 28, 48).
US08146707B2
An air conditioner includes a cabinet configured to define an outer appearance of the air conditioner. The air conditioner also includes a front panel coupled to the cabinet and having an intake hole. The air conditioner further includes a fan assembly positioned within the cabinet and configured to guide a flow of air in the cabinet. The air conditioner further includes an intake panel configured to move to open or close the intake hole in response to a control signal. In addition, the air conditioner includes at least one noise reducing part positioned in the intake panel and configured to reduce a noise having at least one frequency bandwidth.
US08146696B2
A system and method for safely moving a vehicle up or down a sloped surface is provided. In one embodiment, a method involves operating the vehicle in a sloped surface mode when at least one ground contacting element for moving the vehicle is on the sloped surface. An amount of torque is provided to the at least one ground contacting element to prevent the vehicle from uncontrollably moving down the sloped surface while in the sloped surface mode of operation. An assist mechanism can be coupled to the propulsion system to enable an operator to guide the vehicle.
US08146694B2
A system for swappable battery pack for electric vehicle is disclosed. Each battery pack units is comprising a battery compartment housing, a battery carrier rack which is slidable within the battery compartment housing via at least one linear actuator. The battery carrier rack also contains a plurality of modulated battery packs nested into its docking enclosures. In order to transfer or swap the modulated battery packs, the slidable battery carrier rack must projects out from its compartment in predetermined direction and distance and then the nested modulated battery packs can easily be detached from its docking enclosures.
US08146687B1
Embodiments of the invention relate to PDCs including at least one thermally-stable PCD body disposed at least partially within a substrate, and methods of fabricating such PDCs. In an embodiment, a PDC comprises a substrate including a at least one substrate recess formed therein, and at least one thermally-stable PCD body including an upper surface, a back surface, and at least one lateral surface. The at least one thermally-stable PCD body is at least partially received by the at least one substrate recess. Other embodiments include applications utilizing the disclosed PDCs in various articles and apparatuses, such as rotary drill bits.
US08146685B2
A borehole network including first and second end surface locations and at least one intermediate surface location interconnected by a subterranean path, and a method for connecting a subterranean path between a first borehole including a directional section and a second borehole including a directional section. A directional drilling component is drilled in at least one of the directional sections to obtain a required proximity between the first and second boreholes. An intersecting component is drilled, utilizing magnetic ranging techniques, from one directional section to provide a borehole intersection between the first and second boreholes, thereby connecting the subterranean path.
US08146681B2
A drilling tool includes a hydraulically driven device (21) for advancing a drilling head (2) in a bore (5), and a flow limiter (30) arranged in a hydraulic conduit (25) of the advancing device (21) for adjusting an advancing speed of the drilling head (2) in the bore (5), with the flow limiter (30) having a pressure-actuated adjusting member (38) for adjusting flow of a hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic conduit means (25) in accordance with a flow volume of a rinsing fluid (7) for rinsing the bore.
US08146675B2
A fire suppression device including a fire suppression agent generator. The device further includes trigger mechanism adapted to begin generation of the fire suppression agent from the fire suppression agent generator. A container at least partially surrounds the fire suppression agent generator and the trigger mechanism, the container includes a discharge port that directs fire suppression agent in at least two opposed directions. In one example, the discharge port extends substantially around a perimeter of the container.
US08146674B2
Disclosed herein is an apparatus for storing hazardous material. The apparatus includes storage containers each of which stores a hazardous material storage box containing hazardous material. The hazardous material storage box is extracted from or retracted into the storage container by a transfer means. A fire sensor is provided in each storage container to detect a fire occurring in the storage container. A temperature sensor is provided in each storage container to sense a temperature in the storage container. An injection nozzle is provided in each storage container. The injection nozzle injects nitrogen into the storage container from a nitrogen supply unit when a fire is detected. An outlet pipe connection passage and a flexible outlet pipe connection tube are provided to exhaust gas from the storage containers. A collecting container is provided in the lower end of the apparatus to collect and store leakage liquid of hazardous material.
US08146669B2
A method for installing a horizontal or inclined subsurface heater includes placing a heating section of a heater in a horizontal or inclined section of a wellbore with an installation tool. The tool is uncoupled from the heating section. A lead in section is mechanically and electrically coupled to the heating section of the heater. The lead-in section is located in an angled or vertical section of the wellbore.
US08146667B2
The method of removing a first liquid from a subsea pipeline which has a central portion lower than each of the ends of the subsea pipeline by pumping a second lower density fluid into the pipeline and the either removing the second lower density fluid by either displacing it with gas or evaporating the second lower density fluid to a gas.
US08146666B2
A method to enhance oil recovery from a subterranean reservoir, the reservoir being accessible via a production well. The method includes injecting a surfactant solution that includes surfactants into the production well. The surfactant solution selected to increase an oil-to-water ratio of oil recovery from a porous matrix portion of the reservoir. The method also includes injecting a well-servicing volumetric solution into the production well to perform a second well treatment process. The second well treatment process is selected from the group consisting of a scale inhibition squeeze process, a well acidizing process, a chemical process to reduce water production rate, an acid fracturing process, and a hydraulic fracturing process. In the method, the surfactant solution and the second well treatment solution are injected into the production well within less than about six months of one another.
US08146651B2
A horizontally mounted heat exchanger with recessed fins is disclosed. The recessed fin configuration helps prevent damage to the fins that may occur when objects such as tools or soda cans are placed on the top surface of the heat exchanger.
US08146645B2
System for manufacturing frameless windows which comprise a transparent pane, the lower edge of which is fixed in the slot of one or more holders by at least one layer of adhesive, which system comprises a work-table suitable for supporting the pane with the lower edge turned upwards and one or more mobile supports suitable for moving downwards the holders toward the pane, so that the holders can be inserted astride the lower edge, turned upwards, of the pane. In addition, a process is disclosed which can be carried out with the system.
US08146643B2
To provide a lay-up apparatus capable of precision positioning and laying of thin strips of copper foil or insulation tape on a flat plane even when there are variations in the cut lengths of the strips. A lay-up apparatus lays first and second strips of tape 101, 102 on top of two electrodes 5, 6 deposited on a photovoltaic devices panel 1. The strips of tape are unwound by first and second grippers 112, 122 and cut to predetermined lengths by first and second cutters 113, 123. The cut strips of tape are laid one on top of the other and transported by rotatable moving means 130. The moving means 130 rotates in opposite directions when laying the strips of tape it holds from the electrode 5 toward the electrode 6 and when laying the strips of tape from the electrode 6 toward the electrode 5, while using one end of the strips of tape as a reference and keeping constant the relative positions of the reference end of the strips of tape and that electrode which is nearest the reference end.
US08146642B2
A laser strikes and aseptically heats or sterilizes the end of two flexible tube ends for connection. Tube holders are pushed toward each other to bring the tube ends into contact. A weld detector checks the characteristics of the weld. A laser optics assembly may be used to chance the direction of the lacer and focus the laser at the tube ends. In addition, a crimping device is used to compress a single flexible tube for disconnection. The laser strikes the compressed area. The crimping device continues to pinch the area and forms a seal in the tube. The tube is separated into two tube segments, each segment has a sealed end.
US08146635B2
Disclosed is a pneumatic tire which has an enhanced uniformity of the tire including an adhesive sealant layer disposed inside its tread portion. In a pneumatic tire T including an adhesive sealant layer 5 disposed inward of an inner liner 4 in a region corresponding to its tread portion 1, the adhesive sealant layer 5 is formed of a laminate including: an auxiliary rubber layer 5a disposed closer to the inner liner 4, the compression set of the auxiliary rubber layer 5a being set at 40% or less; and an adhesive sealant material 5b disposed inward of the auxiliary rubber layer 5a.
US08146626B2
A flexible container has a container body with container walls that define a container interior. A container socket is connected to the container body and has a container opening through which the container interior is filled. Carrying loops are connected to the container body for lifting the container. The container socket has an initial retracted position in the container interior and is transferable from the initial retracted position into an upright filling position. The container socket is at least partially comprised of an elastically expandable material. The flexible container is filled by inserting into the container socket a filling tube, contacting with the filling tube the container socket in the initial retracted position, and transferring the container socket to the upright filling position and keeping the container socket secured on the filling tube in the upright filling position. The bulk material is introduced through the filling tube into the flexible container.
US08146624B2
A system for controlling the loading of animal food into self-propelled mixing units by means of a mechanical shovel. The system includes a testing apparatus, which is mounted to the shovel to determine a series of chemical-physical information related to the chemical components contained in the food and a weighing apparatus, which is installed in a self-propelled unit to measure the weight of the food and is adapted to establish a wireless communication with the testing apparatus to receive the chemical-physical information related to the components contained in the food.
US08146615B1
A crutch device adapted for use as a leg support featuring a crutch frame with an underarm pad, a handle, and a bottom shaft; a leg support bar pivotally attached to the shaft, the leg support bar can move between a vertical position wherein the leg support bar is positioned above the shaft inside the crutch frame and a horizontal position wherein the leg support bar is pivoted out of the crutch frame and generally perpendicularly to the shaft; and a two-legged support component pivotally attached to the leg support bar, the two-legged support component can move between a storage position and a usage position wherein the two-legged support component is pivoted such that it is generally perpendicular to the leg support bar, wherein the support component is adapted to be received in the crutch frame when the support component is in the storage position.
US08146605B1
The quickness, relative effortlessness, and convenience associate with the an improved attachment for a hair styling iron or an improved hair styling iron, either one featuring interchangeable comb bristles assemblies located adjacent to and extended outwardly and perpendicular to a hair styling iron heating element for the purpose of contacting and positioning the hair strands in parallel arrangement before, during, and/or after application of heat from a hair styling iron heating element.The interchangeable comb bristle arrangements may be composed of different bristle densities, thicknesses, and/or material to accommodate different types and thicknesses of hair. The improved attachment may be slid over a hair styling iron arm element and be secured to the hair styling iron using a retaining lip which hooks to engage an inner surface of the heating element arm and a security clip that attaches onto one end of the interchangeable comb bristle assembly.
US08146604B2
A fluid delivery device includes an accumulator, a deformable fluid reservoir, a user-actuated valve, a fluid delivery channel and an application element. The accumulator accumulates pressure and houses the fluid reservoir. The fluid delivery channel couples the fluid reservoir on a proximal end and extends to a distal end. A user-actuated valve controls a flow rate of fluid passing through the fluid delivery channel from the fluid reservoir to the distal end in response to pressure in the accumulator being above a predetermined threshold. The application element is coupled to the distal end of the fluid delivery channel to facilitate dispersal of fluid from the fluid delivery channel.
US08146600B2
Apparatus and methods are provided for treating sleep apnea, snoring, and the like using an implant within an oropharyngeal region adjacent an anterior longitudinal ligament. The implant includes an endless loop defining a curved central region between first and second regions in a horizontal plane. The central region is vertically narrow relative to the first and second regions, and the first and second regions are compressible vertically to allow the first region to be directed through or behind the ligament adjacent the oropharyngeal region such that the central region is disposed within or behind the ligament. The first region is resiliently expandable after passing through or behind the ligament to contact tissue adjacent the oropharyngeal region. The first and second regions are compressible into a “C” shape within the horizontal plane, yet biased to expand and apply a force to dilate the tissue adjacent the oropharyngeal region.
US08146598B2
A medical device tube having opposing support ears for improved coupling of an inner cannula to an outer cannula. The medical device tube comprises an outer cannula having opposing support ears on an outer cannula connector flange attached to a proximal end of the outer cannula. The opposing support ears maintain locking ears of the inner cannula in substantially one position. The opposing support ears substantially prevent the locking ears in contact with the outer cannula connector flange from slipping therefrom by, e.g., rotation, axial displacement, torsional shear, etc.
US08146590B2
There is provided a humidification system for a breathing circuit that can detect abnormality in flow of intake air inside an inspiration tube. A humidification section is arranged inside an inspiration tube of a breathing circuit. Further, the humidification system is constructed capable of supplying moisture into intake air flowing inside the inspiration tube by using, for example, hydrophobic hollow fibers or a hydrophobic membrane. The flow section comprises a supply section for supplying moisture to the humidification section and a delivery section for delivering moisture that has been supplied to the humidification section. The control section detects intake air abnormality using difference information for water temperature of the supply section and water temperature of the delivery section.
US08146588B2
Described are dry powder inhalers composing an intake section, a mixing section and a mouthpiece. The mixing section can accommodate a capsule having a top keying portion and containing a dry powder medicament. The top keying portion of the capsules may fit within complementary keying structures in inhaler mixing sections.
US08146569B2
An engine control system for a vehicle comprises a combustion control module and an engine startup module. The combustion control module selectively controls a spark timing and airflow into an engine based on a counter value. The engine startup module, when the counter value is one of greater than and less than a predetermined final value, controls an equivalence ratio (EQR) of an air/fuel mixture provided to the engine during an engine cranking period based on a fuel rail pressure and controls the EQR during an engine running period based on the fuel rail pressure and an engine runtime period. The counter value is set to the predetermined final value after the engine is started for a first time after the engine is assembled.
US08146561B2
A dynamic engine oil pickup system is disclosed. The dynamic engine oil pickup system includes a scavenge pump and a pickup tube assembly in fluid communication with the scavenge pump. The pickup tube assembly includes at least two oil pickup portions operable to pickup engine oil from at least two different oil pickup locations and a flow control operable to control a flow of engine oil between the at least two different oil pickup locations and the scavenge pump. The flow control includes a suction valve, and movement of the suction valve is controlled by selectively applying a high pressure oil to a head of the suction valve.
US08146560B2
The present invention relates to a multi-part piston (10, 110) for an internal combustion engine, having an upper piston part (11, 111) having a piston crown (13), and a lower piston part (12), whereby the lower piston part (12) has pin boss supports (32) and pin bosses (18) connected with them, whereby the upper piston part (11) and the lower piston part (12) each have an inner (21, 25) and an outer (22, 26) support element, which elements delimit an outer circumferential cooling channel (29). According to the invention, it is provided that the inner support elements (21, 25) delimit a cavity (31) that is open toward the pin bosses (18), and that the cavity (31) is provided with a separate cooling oil collector (35, 135) that has at least one cooling oil opening (37, 38). The present invention furthermore relates to a method for the production of such a piston.
US08146559B2
A vehicle control system is programmed to stop the vehicle's internal combustion engine upon certain conditions including the vehicle being stopped and engine temperature having reached a minimum operating level. On vehicles equipped with air brakes and having an engine driven air compressor, engine restarts are provided by an air pressure supported hydraulic motor once triggered by operator actions such as releasing the brake and/or depressing the vehicle's accelerator indicative of the driver's intention to move the vehicle.
US08146554B2
A laser ignition apparatus including at least two laser light generating devices and a common optical coupling-in means for coupling laser light from the at least two laser light generating devices into a combustion chamber of a combustion machine, wherein the at least two laser light generating devices are so arranged that laser light given off by the laser light generating devices in the operating condition impinges on the optical coupling-in means and/or issues from the optical coupling-in means in parallel displaced relationship or at an angle to each other. A method of igniting a fuel/air mixture in a combustion chamber of a combustion machine.
US08146540B2
The invention relates to a continuous steam generator comprising a surrounding wall which forms a gas draught and whose lower section is configured from gas-tight evaporator tubes that are welded together and whose upper section is configured from gas-tight superheater tubes that are welded together. According to the invention, superheater tubes are connected downstream of the evaporator tubes on the flow medium side by means of a water separator system. The aim of the invention is to provide a system with particularly high degree of operational flexibility even in the start-up and off-peak periods, while keeping the production and installation expenditure relatively low. To achieve this, the water separator system comprises a large number of water separator elements, each of which is connected downstream or upstream of less than ten evaporator tubes, preferably one tube and/or less than ten superheater tubes, preferably one tube on the flow medium side.
US08146533B2
According to the invention, an apparatus for providing a frozen edible substance to an animal is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a container, a support element, a securing element, and a mounting element. The container may be configured to receive an edible substance and contain the edible substance during freezing of the edible substance, but be removable from the substance afterwards. The support element may be configured to receive and support the edible substance after freezing. The securing element may be configured to couple with the edible substance during freezing and secure the edible substance to the support element. The mounting element may be configured to couple with the support element and secure the support element to a surface.
US08146530B2
Embodiments generally provide an apparatus and method for processing substrates using a multi-chamber processing system (e.g., a cluster tool) that has an increased system throughput, increased system reliability, substrates processed in the cluster tool have a more repeatable wafer history, and also the cluster tool has a smaller system footprint. Embodiments also provide for a method and apparatus that are used to improve the coater chamber, the developer chamber, the post exposure bake chamber, the chill chamber, and the bake chamber process results. Embodiments also provide for a method and apparatus that are used to increase the reliability of the substrate transfer process to reduce system down time.
US08146522B2
Forward and backward movement apparatus for main body of sewing machine according to this invention comprises, in sewing machine comprising Main Body movable forward and backward and supported on both sides of a Base and Heads movable left and right and supported on the Main Body; Frame mounted on the Base; Timing Gears installed in the front and rear Fixed Frame of the Frame in multiple rows; Connecting Shat which connects Timing Gears beneath Front Fixed Frame; Forward and Backward Movement Frames is movable forward and backward on the Frame and connected to the Main Body; Rollers are installed in the Forward and Backward Movement Frames in multiple rows to correspond to the Timing Gears; Timing Belt which zigzags through Timing Gear and Roller and Timing Gear and Roller, and both ends of which are connected to the top of Front and Rear Fixed Frames; and electric motor which drives the Connecting Shat in forward and reverse directions.
US08146516B2
A skeletal substrate associated with a composite over spray or over molded article, such as a stackable pallet. The skeletal substrate includes a three dimensional article, such as a durable corrugated paperboard or other material, with a load supporting and planar upper surface and a recess configured and pallet fork receiving underside. The substrate incorporates a repeating pattern of cylindrical, polygonal, wave like or other shapes, such as which are coated in built up fashion with a polymeric material in order to provide insulating of the substrate from the environment as well as to provide additional strength.
US08146510B2
A workpiece support system has a driven, circulating traction device, a stationary base frame, and at least one workpiece support that has a load carrier and a traction carriage. The traction carriage has a clamping device with upper and lower clamping elements between which the traction means is arranged and with which the traction carriage is clamped by a clamping action onto the traction device. The traction carriage has a spring element that exerts a spring force on at least one of the upper and lower clamping elements for effecting the clamping action. The workpiece support has an actuating element arranged in a leading area in a travel direction of the workpiece support. The actuating element reduces a camping force of the clamping action when the workpiece support bumps into a leading workpiece support in the travel direction. The traction device is guided about two pulleys.
US08146505B2
A projectile of non-lethal composition includes an outer casing that is substantially sealed prior to impact with a target both when the projectile is in a static condition and when the projectile is in a dynamic condition. A marking material is encapsulated within the outer casing prior to impact. The outer casing is configured to deform and unseal upon impact such that the marking material disperses forward via hydraulic action.
US08146499B2
This invention relates to a method and a system for activating a munition charge. It also relates to a munition fitted with a high precision activation device. Finally, it relates to a system for neutralization of a target.A laser beam (21) is used for illuminating an object (3) located close to the target (X), firing of the charge (23) of the munition being activated using detection by the munition of the laser spot (24) reflected by the object (3). Firing is activated at a time t1 after the time t0 at which the laser spot (24) is detected.The invention is applicable particularly to hit hidden targets for which a direct impact with these targets is not necessary.
US08146498B2
A method for determining a position of a mechanical edge of a reference edge of a sheet of recording media relative to a first edge of a drum slot in a cylindrical surface of an imaging drum, the method includes: mounting the sheet of recording media on the imaging drum in an orientation wherein the reference edge extends along the cylindrical surface of the imaging drum in a substantially axial direction and wherein the reference edge extends over the first edge of the drum slot; establishing at least one acute apex diffuse light source in the slot; capturing at least one digital camera image of the reference edge and the at least one acute apex diffuse light source; and determining from the at least one digital camera image a location of at least one point on the mechanical edge.
US08146494B2
A graphic arts die assembly and chase for use in a graphic arts press are disclosed for use in conjunction with a press. The die assembly includes a die plate formed at least partially of ferromagnetic material and a chase with a plurality of magnet assemblies configured to provide a magnetic coupling force to selectively secure the die plate to the chase. The chase includes an actuatable releasing assembly to exert a disengagement force to separate the magnetic securement between the plates.
US08146492B2
A printing state automatic switching apparatus includes a printing state switching unit, abnormal end detection unit, and error recovery unit. The printing state switching unit automatically switches the printing state of a printing press from a first printing state to a second printing state through a plurality of switching steps. The abnormal end detection unit detects an abnormal end of each switching step of automatic switching from the first printing state to the second printing state. When the abnormal end detection unit detects an abnormal end of a switching step, the error recovery unit receives an error recovery instruction and eliminates the error of the switching step. A printing state automatic switching method is also disclosed.
US08146486B2
Provided is a dripper that is light-weight and deformable into an arbitrary shape to be stored compactly and that enables coffee extraction irrespective of the existence of a filter. Provided is a dripper 1 for extracting coffee, including: a filter portion 10 that is formed from fabric with permeability and that includes an opening 11 through which coffee powder can be added and a receiving portion 12 that receives the coffee powder added through the opening 11; and a frame 50 that is made of an super-elastic alloy and can define the respective shapes of the opening 11 and the receiving portion 12 in the filter portion 10.
US08146472B2
A paper cutting device, for cutting multiple sheets of paper stacked in layers on a table, comprises a paper retainer (2) descending from an upper side along a guide and a cutter (3) diagonally ascending from the lower side. A receiving part (18) is mounted on the lower surface of a paper retaining frame (20). The receiving part (18) is formed by joining a base plate (36) with a large elastic modulus such as a metal to a resin receiving plate (37). A slip prevention structure is installed on the junction surfaces of the base plate (36) and the receiving plate (37) to suppress the extension/retraction of the receiving part of the paper retainer so as to prevent wrinkles from occurring in the paper near a blade receiving surface when the paper is cut off.
US08146468B1
A device and method of cutting soft food material. The cutting is performed by an arrangement of cutting wire or ribbon that is pulled taut across a supporting frame. The cuts are made while the food material is lightly compressed and confined in a press. The press consists of a compression chamber having a bottom surface. The cutter is placed at the bottom of the compression chamber. Food material is then placed into the compression chamber atop the cutter. A compression plate is placed over the food material. The compression plate is pressed down to compress the food material. The compression squeezes the food material and liberates any excess fluids that may be present within the food material. This conditions the food material. The cutter is then pulled through the conditioned food.
US08146460B2
The invention is a tool for lifting building materials, such as shingles, while extracting nails that fastened those materials. The slots that grip the nails are a concatenation of overlapping holes, for smooth insertion of the tool past the nails, and the envelope of the tool is a surface of curves for smooth insertion of the tool under the building materials. The bottom surface is a rocker that provides a moving fulcrum for prying out the nail, giving maximum force when the nail is first gripped and smoothly moving to maximum speed of extraction as the fulcrum moves back towards the user.
US08146459B2
A device for enabling the unscrewing of a cap from a bottle or jar is disclosed. The device is in the form of a somewhat elongated body in which a releasably engageable cam member and a torsion spring are located. The body is arranged to be grasped by a user of the device. The body includes a pair of cavities, each arranged for receipt of a cap of a bottle or jar therein. The cam member has a pair of ridged or serrated surfaces which are normally biased into the cavities by the spring to releasably engage a portion of the periphery of a cap disposed within either cavity.
US08146446B1
A concentrator device and method of concentrating a liquid sample may be provided. The concentrator device may include a pressure vessel and a filter element disposed within the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel may include an inlet configured to introduce pressurized air into a first portion of the pressure vessel and a first outlet fluidly coupled with a second portion of the pressure vessel. The first outlet may be adapted to be selectively opened and closed. A second outlet may be configured to receive a capillary tube inserted into the first portion of the pressure vessel. The filter element may be configured to receive a liquid sample to be concentrated. The filter element may substantially separate the first portion of the pressure vessel from the second portion of the pressure vessel and may define a retentate side adjacent to the first portion and a filtrate side adjacent to the second portion. When pressurized air is introduced through the inlet and the first outlet is open, a filtrate of the liquid sample received in the filter element may pass from the retentate side to the filtrate side such that a concentrated retentate of the liquid sample remains on the retentate side. When the first outlet is closed, the concentrated retentate of the liquid sample may be forced out through the capillary tube.
US08146442B2
A device for determining a flow characteristic, in particular flow velocity, of a fluid in a conduit, comprises a conduit body (110), at least four pairs of ultrasonic transducers (116, 118; 122, 124; 128, 130; 132, 1340 defining swirl sensitive acoustic paths (128, 130; 132, 134). The ultrasonic transducers are arranged such that they define paired acoustic paths. The device also comprises means (142, 144) for measuring the transit times of transmitted ultrasonic waves and for determining a flow characteristic from the measured transit times.
US08146430B2
A method & apparatus for conveying an ultrasonic sensor about an outer peripheral surface of a tube to perform a non-destructive evaluation thereof is disclosed. The ultrasonic sensor is mounted on a flexible tension link and the method involves extending the flexible tension link while urging an extended portion of the flexible tension link towards the outer peripheral surface of the tube at a plurality of locations along it's length, thereby causing the ultrasonic sensor to move through an arc in a direction circumferentially around the tube while maintaining ultrasonic coupling between the ultrasonic sensor and the tube.
US08146425B2
A MEMS sensor includes a substrate and a MEMS structure coupled to the substrate. The MEMS structure has a mass movable with respect to the substrate. The MEMS sensor also includes a reference structure positioned radially outward from the MEMS structure. The reference structure is used to provide a reference to offset any environmental changes that may affect the MEMS sensor in order to increase the accuracy of its measurement.
US08146415B2
A downhole fluid property estimating apparatus includes an interface in communication with a fluid in a first pressure zone, a collector in communication with the interface, the collector having a second pressure zone, wherein a second pressure zone pressure is less than a first pressure zone pressure, and a gas chromatograph coupled to the collector. A method includes establishing a first pressure zone having a fluid in communication with an interface, establishing a second pressure zone in a collector in communication with the interface, wherein a second pressure zone pressure is less than a first pressure zone pressure, collecting a fluid sample of the fluid in the first pressure zone using the collector, and estimating the downhole fluid property in-situ using a gas chromatograph coupled to the collector.
US08146413B1
A two-port tire valve stem has a body, preferably of substantially rigid construction, with a first end portion adapted to be mounted to a wheel rim and a second end portion with at least two ports in a branched configuration, each supporting a valve. One of the valve ports may be used for inflation or deflation concurrently with the other being coupled to a pressure sensor for monitoring the air pressure in the tire. The two-port tire valve stem is adapted to be rigidly mounted to an outer of a pair of adjacent wheels, using a bracket, while its first end is adapted to be connected in fluid communication with the inner of the pair of wheels.
US08146402B2
The invention provides a device for measuring the dynamic coefficient of friction of a surface. The device includes a track having an arcuate portion which is shaped to mimic an arc of travel of a pendulum; a shoe mounted so as to be movable along the track, and a biasing device for biasing part of the shoe into contact with the surface as it moves along the arcuate portion of the track; a propulsion device for providing an initial propulsion force to propel the shoe along the track; a velocity detector for measuring the velocity of the shoe at a plurality of points during its travel along the track; and computing device for calculating the coefficient of friction from changes in velocity of the shoe as it moves along the track.
US08146399B2
A modular spring retainer and method for metal forming dies includes a base shaped for detachable connection with an associated die plate, having a threaded central aperture, and an adjacent lock dowel aperture which extends through the threaded central aperture to form a window. A cylindrically-shaped spring retainer is configured to receive a spring therein, and has a threaded exterior portion which engages the threaded central aperture of the base, such that mutual rotation of the same adjusts the longitudinal position of the spring. A locking dowel is closely received in the lock dowel aperture in the base, and has an unthreaded exterior surface which protrudes through the window and abuttingly engages an adjacent portion of the threaded exterior surface of the spring retainer to securely, yet detachably, retain the spring member in a selected longitudinal position.
US08146391B2
A multiple function lock comprising a body, an engaging element having a first end and a second end, a locking mechanism for securing the first end and the second end of the engaging element to the body, and a gate mechanism for selectively concealing or revealing a passage in the body through which the second end may move to unlock the lock. In certain embodiments, a multiple function lock may comprise a body, a U-shaped shackle having toe and heel portions, the heel portion rotatably secured within the body, a locking mechanism for locking the heel and the toe portions within the body, a passage through the body adjacent to the toe portion, the toe portion adapted to move through the passage to unlock the lock, and either a retaining cup, an adjustable gate, or an outer housing, each being adapted to selectively block or reveal the passage.
US08146389B2
Fiber used in wideband amplified spontaneous emission light source and the method of making the same
The present invention relates to a fiber having a core of crystal fiber doped with chromium and a glass cladding. The fiber has a gain bandwidth of more than 300 nm including 1.3 mm to 1.6 mm in optical communication, and can be used as light source, optical amplifier and tunable laser when being applied for optical fiber communication. The present invention also relates to a method of making the fiber. First, a chromium doped crystal fiber is grown by laser-heated pedestal growth (LHPG). Then, the crystal fiber is cladded with a glass cladding by codrawing laser-heated pedestal growth (CDLHPG). Because it is a high temperature manufacture process, the cladding manufactured by this method is denser than that by evaporation technique, and can endure relative high damage threshold power for the pumping light.
US08146385B2
Methods for separating glass sheets from glass ribbons are disclosed. One method includes forming a glass ribbon having a curvature in a lateral direction. A conformable nosing is engaged with a first surface of the glass ribbon such that the conformable nosing conforms to the curvature of the glass ribbon. The glass ribbon is scored along a scoring line on a second surface of the glass ribbon. The conformable nosing is then at least partially disengaged from the first surface of the glass ribbon by adjusting a bow of the conformable nosing. A bending moment is applied to the glass ribbon to separate a glass sheet from the glass ribbon at the scoring line. Application of the bending moment conforms the curvature of the glass ribbon to the bow of the conformable nosing prior to the glass sheet separating from the glass ribbon.
US08146378B1
A thermal transfer system, a heat sink, and a method for transferring heat are provided. The thermal transfer system includes a fuel cell that can produce a fluid. A wick is provided to transfer the fluid to a destination at which a heat source is present. An enclosure having a porous fluid-permeable external wall can surround the fluid at the destination. When the fluid permeates or condenses on the external wall exterior surface, air exposure of that external wall will cause evaporative cooling of the fluid, and thereby enhance the cooling effect at the heat source. The fluid is a natural byproduct of the fuel cell. Accordingly, the thermal transfer system not only cools a heat source, but produces electric current. The heat sink can be thermally coupled to the heat source, and can have a plurality of fins extending from a base. One or more fins can have a fluid-permeable external wall for evaporative cooling. Fluid can be transferred more efficiently using a wick placed somewhere within the internal radial dimension of a pipe that extends from the fuel cell to the heat source. The external wall of the pipe can also be porous to maximize the fluid entrapment on the inner surface and the evaporative cooling on the external surface.
US08146377B2
A zone-control unit adapted for facile inclusion in a building's ductwork includes a mechanical terminal unit, inlet and outlet piping assemblies that are mechanically coupled together. The structure also includes at least one handle so the zone-control unit may be conveniently and safely handled both during shipping, and during installation into a HVAC system. Prior to installation into a HVAC system the fully-functional zone-control unit also includes a pair of caps respectively sealing the ends of the piping assemblies, and a pressure gauge for sensing pressurization of the piping assemblies and coil which the caps seal. Sealed in this way a pressure gauge permits testing to assure that the piping assemblies and coil are leak free, and readily assessing that zone-control units remain leak free until they are about to be installed into a building's HVAC system.
US08146374B1
A system and method for improving the efficiency of an existing utility plant by constructing a data center nearby and retrofitting the utility plant to provide electric power and cooling to the data center. The system and method for cooling the data center uses a cooling fluid cooled using energy obtained from a heating fluid. The heating fluid is received from the utility plant. The system and method uses the cooling fluid to dissipate heat from electrical components contained in the data center, including a plurality of computer servers.
US08146372B2
An annular combustion chamber has an inner wall and an outer wall of ceramic matrix composite material, together with a chamber end wall that is connected to the inner and outer walls. Elastically-deformable link elements connect the inner wall and the outer chamber walls to inner and outer metal casings. Each of the inner and outer chamber walls is subdivided circumferentially into adjacent sectors along longitudinal edges, each sector extending continuously from the end wall to the opposite end of the chamber and being folded outwards from the chamber at each of its longitudinal edges to form a portion having a U-shaped cross-section terminated by a folded-back margin that is spaced apart from the outer face of the corresponding chamber wall. The link elements are connected to the inner and outer chamber walls by being fastened to the sector margins.
US08146361B2
A power-generating apparatus including an autocontrol electronic mechanical unit, a power-generating unit, a power transportation device, a liquid supply device, a shift device, and a discharge device. The power-generating unit includes a pair of interactive and coupled reverse-linked, hollow movement bodies. The relationship between the two movement bodies can be changed through filling liquid to one movement body or discharging liquid from the other. The movement body filled with liquid goes down and brings the other movement body without liquid up to generate power in cycle continuously utilizing lifting and drop movements of the two movement bodies. The power-generating apparatus can utilize objects' gravitational potential energy to generate power in cycle uninterruptedly so as to ensure the continuity and stability of power generation. The power-generating apparatus completely uses the ambient natural energy during its entire power generation process.
US08146355B2
A traveling device for crawler type heavy equipment is provided, which can improve manipulability by preventing an abrupt decrease/increase of a traveling speed of the equipment when a combined operation, in which a left/right traveling device and a working device are simultaneously driven, is performed. The traveling device for crawler type heavy equipment includes a variable orifice shifted to intercept the supply of the hydraulic fluid toward the traveling device in response to the signal pressure in the combined working mode if a load pressure of the working device is relatively higher than that of the traveling device.
US08146351B2
An exhaust control system includes a temperature sensor, a temperature estimation module, and an exhaust condition adjustment module. The temperature sensor measures an outlet temperature of an exhaust gas downstream from an emission reduction device. The temperature estimation module estimates a highest temperature of the emission reduction device. The exhaust condition adjustment module controls operation of the exhaust control system based on the highest temperature of the emission reduction device.
US08146345B2
An oxygen storage capacity (OSC) monitoring system for a vehicle having a catalytic converter includes a control module that determines a measured OSC based on an inlet sensor signal (ISS) that is responsive to an oxygen content of exhaust flowing into the catalytic converter. The control module determines a normalization ratio based the measured OSC and determines a PASS/FAIL status of the catalytic converter based on the normalization ratio.
US08146334B2
The invention relates to a device for placing sleeves on traveling articles, said sleeves being cut from a continuous sheath passing over a sheath-opening shaper, first outer wheels serving to advance the sheath along the shaper, and second outer wheels being provided downstream from cutter means for the purpose of ejecting the cut-off sheath segment, said wheels being driven in rotation by associated electric motors controlled synchronously by a virtual-shaft common electronic programmer. In accordance with the invention, the programmer is arranged to determine a continuous profile of speed variation for the associated electric motors, said profiles being bell-shaped and having a common end segment in which the profiles coincide, this corresponding to the motors having identical speeds, the length of the common end segment being selected so that the sheath is advanced beyond the point of tangential contact with the second wheels so that said sheath is pinched by said second wheels prior to being held stationary for the cutting and ejection pass.
US08146331B2
The present invention is an automated packaging apparatus utilizing a rotating assembly of elongated slats containing cavities to receive discrete pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products. Quantities of discrete products such as tablets, capsules, or gels are deposited into the hopper of the apparatus. The apparatus then dispenses the discrete products into containers moving on a conveyor system such that each container receives a predetermined quality and quantity of pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products. While operating at high speed, the apparatus inspects, counts, identifies and analyzes each product deposited into the containers and maintains electronic records describing the status of each product. In the event any errors occur the apparatus produces various alerts to inform the operator. The presence of foreign products or objects may cause the apparatus to instantly stop the entire system including peripheral equipment. A series of Good Manufacturing Practice protocols can then be enforced as per FDA requirements.
US08146318B2
Flooring material comprising sheet-shaped floor elements with a mainly square or rectangular shape. The floor elements are provided with edges, a lower side and an upper decorative layer. The floor elements are intended to be joined by means of joining members. The floor elements are provided with male joining members on a first edge while a second edge of the floor elements are provided with a female joining member. The male joining member is provided with a tongue and a lower side groove while the female joining member is provided with a groove and a cheek, the cheek being provided with a lip. The floor elements are provided with a male vertical assembly joining member on a third edge while a fourth, opposite, edge is provided with female vertical assembly joining member. The floor elements are alternatively provided with a male vertical assembly joining member on a third edge while a fourth, opposite, edge also is provided with male vertical assembly joining member. Adjacent male vertical assembly joining members are hereby joined by means of a separate vertical assembly joining profile. Two adjacent edges of a floor element can hereby, at the same time, and in the same turning motion, be joined with a floor element adjacent to the first edge and a floor element adjacent to the third or fourth edge.
US08146305B2
Herein are disclosed are apparatus and methods for forming firestopped through-penetrations in poured concrete partitions. The apparatus and methods use an intumescent firestop ring that can be used in combination with a removable sleeve. The firestop ring is detachably mounted on the outer surface of the sleeve form, near one end of the sleeve. The sleeve is positioned and concrete poured around it. After solidification of the concrete the sleeve can be removed to provide a through-penetration containing the firestop ring, secured to the solidified concrete. The firestop ring may optionally comprise one or more retainers and/or one or more insulating spacers.
US08146298B2
Fire-resistant structures, fire-resistant insulations and a method for fire-proofing and fire-protection of permanent or temporary structures or objects. The fire-resistant insulation withstands temperatures between 1200° C. and 2000° C. on the exterior side of the insulation, and the interior side provides a shield for fire-protected structure or object against temperatures not exceeding 300° C. A method for fire-protection comprises steps of providing a fire-protection for structures and objects subjected to fires, brush-fires or fire storms.
US08146282B2
A firearm may have a plurality of power-consuming accessories that can be attached to the weapon. In order to reduce the weight of these power-consuming accessories, as well as the proliferation of their batteries, the Weapons Accessory Power Distribution System provides a common power source to power the power-consuming accessories attached to the weapon. One or more powered rails are provided on the handguard, which encircles the barrel of the weapon, to provide a point of mechanical and electrical interconnection for the power-consuming accessories to provide quick connect mounting and dismounting of the power-consuming accessory, absent the use of connectors with their tethering cables, which are susceptible to entanglement. The powered rail(s) are electrically interconnected with a power source, which typically is a battery mounted in the butt stock of the weapon.
US08146280B2
A decorative frame assembly is provided. The frame assembly incorporates mechanically reproduced decorative components onto outwardly facing surfaces in order to provide an inexpensive mimic of a conventional frame. A method of assembly also is provided. A typical frame assembly includes a photographically reproduced decorative element.
US08146279B2
An advertising sign includes an advertising element having a base, mounting means pivotably connected to the base for securing the advertising sign to a mounting surface, and at least one protrusion extending between the base and the mounting means such that a range of pivotal motion of the mounting means relative to the base is more limited in an area of the protrusion than in other areas.
US08146275B2
The present invention discloses a steam iron comprising a housing with a handle, a water container, a steam control device and a vapor chamber provided with an electric heating plate, wherein the steam control device comprising a pressure sensor mounted on the handle of said housing, a control board with a microprocessor and an execution unit for providing the water into said chamber or providing the vapor generated by a evaporator into said chamber for secondly heated; the execution unit is controlled by the control board by the pressure signal provided by said pressure sensor.
US08146273B2
An article of footwear configured for use as a dance shoe is provided. The article of footwear can include an upper and a two-piece sole connected to the upper. The article can also include a cage support that surrounds a portion of the upper and aids in flexibility of the shoe. The article can also include a single piece liner with an integrated toe box. In addition, the shoe can include an offset lacing system. In another arrangement, the shoe can include an elastic wrap, connected to the bottom of the shoe on the inside of the upper. The wrap can act as a tongue to minimize contact between the offset lacing system and the dancer's foot. In yet another arrangement, the shoe can include different types of outsole supports.
US08146269B2
A diagonally twisted sole may include an undersole and a midsole bottom, the midsole bottom being connected to the undersole, and various hard inserts being able to be introduced into the undersole. Together with a twisted, flexible, rigid or elastic plate, the undersole can form a midsole, which may include several parts. The twisted plate may be a flat plate or a plate of different thicknesses.
US08146268B2
An air cushioning system for use in a shoe has a molded heel absorber member the includes a center member that forms a sealed center air chamber and a peripheral member that extends about at least a portion of the periphery of the center member and that forms a vented peripheral air chamber. A vented air conduit is in communication with the vented peripheral air chamber.
US08146262B1
A device locates an apparatus to the center of a hole in a structure. The device includes a hub adapted to have the apparatus mounted thereon and a plurality of locator elements spaced around the hub which extend at least partially into the hole. Means coupled with the locator elements and the hub are used to displace the locator elements outwardly into engagement with the edges of the structure and to move the hub into axial alignment with the center of the hole.
US08146259B2
A rotary encoder includes a stator and a rotor, the rotor being disposed in a manner allowing rotation relative to the stator with the aid of a bearing. The rotor has a shaft, a positive-locking device as well as a code disk being secured in rotatably fixed manner to the shaft. The stator has a body having a scanning device for scanning the code disk, a compensating coupling and a housing. The body is joined to the housing by the compensating coupling. The housing has a further positive-locking device, the rotary encoder being pre-adjusted such that in operation of the rotary encoder, at a predefined relative angular position between the positive-locking device of the shaft and the further positive-locking device of the housing, a predefined angle value is able to be output by the rotary encoder. A series of rotary encoders may be provided.
US08146254B2
A hair clipper (1) comprises a replaceable blade block (3) having a comb-shaped stationary blade (5) and a comb-shaped moving blade (6) which is reciprocally movable in a widthwise direction of the hair clipper (1), a main body (2) having a motor (8) and a driving member (14) to transfer and to transmit a driving force of the motor (8) to reciprocal motion of the moving blade (6), and to which the blade block (3) is detachably attached, and a pressing mechanism (4) to press the moving blade (6) toward the stationary blade (5). The pressing mechanism (4) is provided on the main body (2) and has at least one contact portion (4b) which reciprocally moves in synchronism with a reciprocal motion of the moving blade (6).
US08146253B2
An inner cutter of an electric shaver that cuts hairs by sliding along an inner surface of an outer cutter includes a base portion that is connected to a driving unit, a plurality of cutting pieces that are formed in a U-shape and whose both ends in the longitudinal direction are fixed to the base portion, and a plate member whose one end is fixed to the base portion and the other end is connected to the cutting piece. The plate member is elastically deformed corresponding to elastic deformation of the cutting piece.
US08146247B2
A method for packaging the sensor units is shown below. First step is providing a substrate, and each sensor area on the substrate is partitioned into two individual circuit areas. An emitter and a detector are installed on the two circuit areas respectively. Step two is forming a first packaging structure to cover the two circuit areas, the emitter and the detector by a mold. Next step is cutting the first packaging structure to form cut groove between and around the emitter and the detector. Next step is forming a second packaging structure in the cut grooves by the same mold. At last, the panel of sensor units is diced and separated as individual sensor units. As above-mentioned, the second packaging structure is used for isolating the signals of the emitter and the detector.
US08146243B2
A method of manufacturing a device-incorporated substrate as well as a printed circuit board. A transfer sheet is formed having a structure that includes two layers, a metal base material and a dissolvee metal layer and a conductor pattern is formed on the dissolvee metal layer by electroplating. After the transfer sheet on which the conductor pattern is formed is adhered onto an insulating base material, the transfer sheet is removed by separating the metal base material from the dissolvee metal layer and thereafter selectively dissolving and removing the dissolvee metal layer with respect to the conductor pattern.
US08146238B2
A winding method for winding a wire (2) fed from a nozzle (9) onto a stator (1) having a plurality of radially disposed teeth (4) includes a positioning step for positioning the wire (2) fed from the nozzle (9) relative to a tooth (4) while holding the wire (2) using a guide (7, 8) and a wire inserting step for moving the nozzle (9) relative to the stator (1) without passing the nozzle (9) between adjacent teeth (4A, 4B) while the wire (2) is held by the guide (7, 8) such that the wire (2) fed from the nozzle (9) is inserted between the adjacent teeth (4A, 4B).
US08146237B2
In a magnetic head manufacturing method, a floated surface of each block having plural magnetic head elements formed and arranged on a substrate is ground and lapped in a grinding/lapping step. The grinding/lapping step contains an angle adjusting step for adjusting the angle of the floated surface of the block with reference to a magnetic-head-element formed surface of a substrate and grinding the floated surface concerned, and a finishing lapping step of lapping the floated surface at an angle adjusted in the angle adjusting step.
US08146233B1
A multi-piece head suspension assembly is manufactured from a semi-finished suspension product. The semi-finished suspension product includes a load beam having two side edges, a distal end, and a proximal end opposite the distal end. The semi-finished suspension product also includes a beam carrier strip connected to the proximal end by one or more tabs. Each tab includes a detaching region that has a lower shear strength than other regions of the tab. Rails are formed on the side edges of the load beam, and the semi-finished suspension product is attached to a hinge assembly at the proximal end of the load beam. A shear load is applied to the one or more tabs to cause the one or more tabs to fracture at the detaching region.
US08146224B1
A method of manufacturing a custom sized plastic tote lighter in weight than heretofore known custom sized plastic totes is provided. The method comprises separating an injection molded tote into upper and lower portions by cutting the injection molded tote. A sleeve or middle portion of plastic material is secured to the upper and lower portions of the injection molded tote to create a custom sized plastic tote of a desired height. Alternatively, portions of different injection molded totes may be used to create a custom sized plastic tote. The sleeve may be made from different materials and may be made of multiple pieces.
US08146216B2
An urn for storage of ashes having a container and a lighting assembly. The container defines an internal chamber adapted for storage of ashes. The lighting assembly is fixed to the container and includes a hollow sleeve extending from the container, a light bulb socket mounted on an end of the sleeve, and electrical wiring having a first end connected to the light bulb socket and routed along a path within the sleeve, into the chamber and out of the chamber. A manual switch is included for controlling electricity flow to the light bulb socket. A second end of the electrical wiring terminates at an electrical plug adapted for connection to an electricity source.
US08146206B2
A furniture hinge has a door stop part, which includes an insertion cup and is attached on a furniture door, at least one pivoting arm that is connected to a furniture body being supported on the door stop part. A damping device including at least one damping cylinder engages in the door stop part. Each damping cylinder is disposed at least partially in a bore of the furniture door. The cylinder axis of the damping cylinder extends substantially perpendicularly to the door plane. The damping cylinder is moved during the pivoting thereof into the locking position of the furniture door by the pivoting arm.
US08146205B2
A hinge assembly incorporates an anti-tamper member that is selectively positionable to protect fasteners holding the hinge assembly to a mounting surface such as an access door. The hinge assembly may be incorporated into a bar lock assembly to provide additional tamper resistance for a shipping container, for example, to limit or prevent unauthorized access to the container.
US08146203B2
The present invention relates to castor wheel assemblies, in particular but not exclusively, to castor wheel assemblies of a type suitable for use with trolleys, for example supermarket trolleys or luggage trolleys. Embodiments of the invention provide a swivel castor wheel assembly configured to support an object to be moved across a surface, the assembly comprising a swivel castor wheel having an axis of wheel rotation and a steering axis and mounted on a first member, wherein the first member is configured for connection to the object in such a way that the steering axis can be moved between first and second different rake angles without substantially changing a height of the object over the surface.
US08146201B2
A vacuum cleaner comprises adjacent housings, which contain the filtration and suction fan motor assembly of the vacuum cleaner.
US08146198B2
An automatic debris removal apparatus for a wiper system that removes soluble and insoluble debris trapped between the wiper blade and the glass surface by lifting the wiper blade off the glass surface and then causing the wiper blade to drop onto the glass surface as a shake under urge of the biasing spring of the wiper arm, so as to thereby provide a shaking action which frees any trapped debris. An actuator selectively interacts with the pivotal portion of the wiper arm to effect shaking of the wiper arm to thereby free the wiper blade of the debris.
US08146192B2
The instant invention covers all areas of transportation emergency situation egress. Primarily intended for user self-evacuation from an enclosed space that has become Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) a version is specifically designed for use by First Responders for exterior rescue.
US08146190B1
An improved inclined support for a bed is provided having an adjustable ramp secured to a frame configured to fit between the bed frame and the mattress.
US08146189B2
A patient alignment device includes a table and a rotatable member positioned to rotate relative to the table. The rotatable member may be a head-support plate or a board which supports substantially all of a patient's body. A motor moves the board or plate so as to align the patient's body, or a part of the body, in a desired direction. The board may be formed in two segments, the segments being selectively connectable to each other, the segments also being selectively connectable to the table by pins, at various possible pivot points. Positioning of the pins determines the mode of rotation of the board. The invention allows an operator to align the patient's body with precision, by remote control, and without interrupting the medical procedure.
US08146179B1
A urination canal for females, consisting of a funnel assembly comprising first and second walls. The first and second walls are joined at a top ridge, a bottom ridge, and a rear ridge. A pocket assembly is mounted onto the first wall. The pocket assembly is defined by a third wall having first, second, third and fourth ends. The first end has a tab extending therefrom, and the pocket assembly houses a moist towelette.
US08146177B2
A protective helmet, particularly for sports and work use, including a rigid outer shell which itself comprises a front cap having a concavity able to cover at least the upper part of the cranium, and a rear cap having a concavity able to cover the rear part of the cranium. The caps are mutually movable, the rear cap being connected to the front cap in such a manner as to rotate relative to the front cap about an axis transverse to the vertical plane of symmetry of the cranium, between a raised position and a lowered position.
US08146176B2
An equestrian riding garment includes a pair of pants of elastic material having inner leg expanses and a butt expanse of durable material affixed to corresponding regions thereof, the inner leg and butt expanses being made of real or faux leather that is perforated to increase air permeability and to promote friction with a saddle. Preferably, the butt expanse is bifurcated into left and right sub-pieces corresponding with the equestrian's left and right buttocks. Optionally, a knee region of the inner leg expanses is articulated, as by segmenting. Optionally, an abdominal and/or inner calf region of the pair of pants includes an inner support layer of extra fabric for more flattering fit.
US08146172B2
A method for creating garment cuffs includes applying a high-polymer heat-sealable material on a cuff area of the fabric used for the garment. The heat-sealable material and the fabric underneath are then cut with an ultrasonic cutter to form the cuff and concurrently finish the lower edges of the cuff. The heat-sealable material has properties that allow it to stretch from an equilibrium point in response to tension applied on the material, and recover back towards the equilibrium point in response to release of the tension on the material. Reinforcing the cuff area with the heat-sealable material allows the cuff area to maintain its stretch and recovery properties even after the fabric has degraded after extended use and washing of the fabric. Furthermore, the ultrasonic cutting causes some of the heat-sealable film to melt into the cut edges of the fabric at the cuff to create substantially sealed edges at the cuff.
US08146171B2
Disclosed is a digital garment that can provide a high-speed communication path by using a digital band that is quickly and easily attachable to a conventional garment (clothes), and a fabricating method thereof. The digital garment includes: a garment formed of textile; a digital band provided along the outside or inside of the garment so as to provide a communication path; a sensor, attached to the garment, being electrically coupled to the digital band, converting a physical signal into an electrical signal; an operation device, attached to the garment, being electrically coupled to the digital band, receiving the electrical signal from the sensor and processing the signal; and a communication module, attached to the garment, being electrically coupled to the digital band so as to perform wireless communication.
US08151362B2
An image forming apparatus includes an user authentication part 31 for executing authentication of a user, a function enabling part 32 for enabling at least one function available for the first user based on authority of the first user set in advance when authentication of the first user executed by the user authentication part 31 results in success, and a function extending part 33 for extending at least one function available for the first user to enable when authentication of the second user executed by the user authentication part 31 results in success with at least one function available for the first user being enabled. Therefore, with a user who is not authorized to use certain function of the image forming apparatus is logging in, function extension is executed for allowing the user to use the certain function temporary.
US08151361B2
In order to facilitate the setting of functions executable in each of a plurality of image-processing apparatuses that are communicably connected to one another, each of the MFPs, which are communicably connected to one another, stores registered-user information including at least user identification information in each HDD. When an operated terminal among the plurality of MFPs receives user identification information, the operated terminal judges whether its HDD stores registered-user information including the received user identification information. When judging in the affirmative, the operated terminal permits execution of the functions possessed by the operated terminal. When judging in the negative, the operated terminal acquires, from the MFP (home terminal) that stores registered-user information including the received user identification information, the function information of the home terminal, and permits execution of the functions, among the functions defined in the function information of the home terminal, that are also possessed by the operated terminal.
US08151358B1
Techniques are described for user-controlled annotation and sharing of one or more digital items. Examples of digital items that may be shared with other users include digital representations of graphic images, photographs, audio segments, songs, video segments, movies, and text (such as lists of favorites (e.g., a list of favorite books, a list of favorite movies, and a list of favorite places to visit)). A user may make a digital item available to other users of a computer network, such as an instant messaging system, a chat environment, or a subscription-based computer network. User-entered annotations, such as textual comments, may be associated with a digital item, and a user can select which other users can view and/or change all, or some, of the annotations.
US08151356B2
Provided is a method of transmitting content processed according to first digital rights management (DRM) to a device that uses second DRM. The method includes generating a ticket using a first license server and a second license server, the first license server issuing a first license for use in the first DRM and the second license server issuing a second license for use in the second DRM; the second device obtaining a second content key required to process the content using the ticket and the second DRM; and the second device receiving the content from the first device and processing the content using the second content key and the second DRM. The ticket includes use control information that specifies a restriction of use of the content, and the second content key required to process the content using the second DRM.
US08151353B2
An apparatus, device, methods, computer program product, and system are describe that determine a virus associated with a communications network, and distribute an anti-viral agent onto the communications network using a bypass network, the bypass network configured to provide transmission of the anti-viral agent with at least one of a higher transmission speed, a higher transmission reliability, a higher transmission security, and/or a physically-separate transmission path, relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network.
US08151348B1
Presently disclosed are methods and apparatus for analyzing packets and packet flows to detect covert communications channels (including reverse tunnels) in real time. These systems actively probe a suspicious connection in ways that are not possible in prior art log-based techniques and may initiate countermeasures against discovered covert channels. The present system may be implemented in a network device, such as an intrusion detection system, content engine, or other intermediary device employing a web cache. Embodiments automatically detect suspicious activity at particular source addresses by using relatively simple tests to detect suspect packets that should receive more extensive scrutiny. After more rigorous secondary testing (optionally including active probing techniques), suspect packets are either returned to the occasionally-checked state or flagged for further action, such as raising an alert or taking automatic countermeasures against the covert channel or its originators.
US08151328B1
One or more media is provided for granting a user access to a secured portion of a website. Initially, a request to access is received from a user, where the request is typically composed of access information (e.g., user ID, password). Incident to receiving the request for access, a subscriber server initiates a request to validate a set of security credentials. One security credential may be a device identifier sent to a communications network in response to a user being conveyed a dial-in number. This device identifier may be extracted from a communication transmitted from the mobile device and validated by leveraging the communications network authentication procedure. Authentication is utilized to verify the identity of the user. Additional security credentials may also require satisfaction before granting a requesting user access. For instance, satisfaction may include comparing access information within a user request against the set of security credentials.
US08151324B2
An accessor function interfaces among a client, a relying party, and an identity provider. The identity provider can “manage” personal (i.e., self-asserted) information cards on behalf of a user, making the personal information cards available on clients on which the personal information cards are not installed. The client can be an untrusted client, vulnerable to attacks such as key logging, screen capture, and memory interrogation. The accessor function can also asked as a proxy for the relying party in terms of invoking and using the information cards system, for use with legacy relying parties.
US08151322B2
Systems and methods of authenticating user access based on an access point to a secure data network include a secure data network having a plurality of a network access points serving as entry points for a user to access the secure data network using a user device. The user is associated with a user identity, each network access point with a network access point identity. The user uses a user device to send an access request, requesting access to the secure data network, to the network access point, which then sends an authentication request to an identity server. The identity server processes the authentication request, by validating the combination of the user identity and the network access point identity, and responds with an authentication response, granting or denying access, as communicated to the user device via an access response. The secure data network may comprise an application level secure data network, in which the user uses the user device to request access to a network application. Furthermore, the identity server may validate the combined user identity and network access point identity data in conjunction with time information, access allowance data, and/or traffic volume data.
US08151319B2
A method for authentication of devices (D1, D2, D3) in a wireless network, wherein—a device (D1, D2, D3) periodically switches its mode from a read mode, in which it is able to receive authentication data from one or more other devices (D1, D2, D3), to a write mode, in which it sends out authentication data to the one or more other devices (D1, D2, D3), according to a random time slot scheme, —the device (D1, D2, D3) authenticates itself after having received authentication data from another device (D1, D2, D3) during the read mode, and—the device (D1, D2, D3) switches permanently its mode to the write mode after being authenticated.
US08151316B2
A spatial marker specified in extensible mark-up language (XML) for use in connection with an XML-based synchronized multimedia presentation. The spatial marker specifies a visual cue for a multimedia element in the presentation, together with the visual appearance of the cue and spatial and temporal characteristics of the cue. The spatial and temporal characteristics of the cue synchronize the cue with the multimedia presentation. In operation, and upon encountering such a spatial marker, an XML-based multimedia browser displaying the multimedia presentation to a user would display the visual cue using the specified visual appearance, and in the spatial and temporal relationships with the multimedia element as specified by the spatial and temporal characteristics of the marker.
US08151315B2
A television entertainment system that combines the visual imagery of television entertainment and transmission with the audio of radio entertainment and transmission to create a new synthesis system for therapeutic benefit designated as Hybrid Radio Television. Each segment (video/audio) of the system can be viewed or heard/listened to on its own, however, it is designed to be viewed and heard/listened to as an integrated whole, as selected by a viewer.
US08151306B2
A system for wireless remote control of a gateway and ordering or invocation of services provided by a headend. The remote control includes a video display and user input device or keyboard and can decompress and display compressed streaming video in some embodiments. Some species of the remote control can act as web browsers, appliance control, TIVO function control, an IP telephony telephone, a cellular telephone and/or an MP3 player. In some embodiments, the gateway and/or headend can implement TIVO-like functions under control from a wireless remote of custom design or implemented on a Personal Digital Assistant.
US08151300B2
A smart audio guide system for use in conjunction with an interactive content distribution system is disclosed. The smart audio guide system includes a recommendation engine for providing a customized viewing-recommendations list for a viewer subsystem based upon the programming available from an interactive content distribution system and a customized viewing profile developed for the viewer subsystem. In response to one or more predetermined conditions, a smart guide actuator activates a processing unit, which is used to implement the smart audio guide system functions, which include causing a plurality of smart audio guide audio clips corresponding to the customized viewing-recommendations list to be uttered in a predetermined mode at the viewer subsystem.
US08151295B1
In accordance with the invention, advertisement identifiers are stored in a queue in memory in the set top box or elsewhere corresponding to individual subscribers of a television service delivery network. The advertisements are retrieved and displayed in the order dictated by the queue as advertisement avails are detected in the particular channel information stream being watched by that subscriber. Accordingly, the subscriber sees the advertisements regardless of what channel or television program is being watched and sees them in the order dictated by the queue. The invention also is applicable to other information streams including Internet advertising, audio/radio advertising and advertising in electronic program guides.
US08151291B2
Methods and apparatus to meter content exposure using closed caption information are disclosed. An example method comprises developing a keyword database of terms based on program guide descriptive of programs for a given time period, generating one or more values representative of likelihoods that one or more respective media content was presented based on a comparison of closed caption text and the keyword database, collecting audience measurement data, and employing the one or more likelihood values to identify a set of reference data for comparison to the audience measurement data to identify presented content.
US08151286B2
A disk device includes a loader chassis, a control board, an optical pickup, a flexible flat cable, and a guide member. The loader chassis has a bottom plate with a through hole. The control board is fixedly attached to a lower face of the bottom plate of the loader chassis. The optical pickup is movable between inner and outer positions with respect to the loader chassis in inward and outward movement directions that are parallel to a radial direction of a disk. The flexible flat cable electrically connects the control board to the optical pickup and is partially disposed through the through hole. The flexible flat cable includes a bent end portion that is connected to the optical pickup. The guide member is formed on an upper face of the bottom plate of the loader chassis and guides the bent end portion upward with respect to the bottom plate.
US08151284B2
A disc apparatus includes: a housing; a recording/reproducing unit provided in the housing for recording and/or reproducing information in and/or from a disc-shaped recording medium; an insertion/ejection port provided on the housing through which the disc-shaped recording medium is inserted and ejected, the insertion/ejection port having a width greater than the diameter of the disc-shaped recording medium; a disc transport mechanism provided in the housing to transport the disc-shaped recording medium between the insertion/ejection port and the recording/reproducing unit; and an identification mechanism to identify the disc-shaped recording medium as a first disc-shaped recording medium having a first diameter or a second disc-shaped recording medium having a diameter smaller than the first diameter The identification mechanism includes a pair of levers, a pair of gear members, urging means, a stopper, first detection means, and control means.
US08151279B1
A capture module is configured to provide input events of a particular type to an object of an application executing on a computer. The capture module receives an input event directed to the object of the application executing on the computer. The input event is generated responsive to a user interaction with an input device of the computer. If the input event is of the first type, the capture module translates the input event to a second type. The first type may be a touch input event and the second type may be a mouse input event. The capture module also selectively filters the input event of the second type and dispatches the input event of the second type to the object of the application responsive to the filtering.
US08151275B2
A method and an apparatus for storing a copy of memory-mapped I/O (MMIO) register are provided for enhancing data processing efficiency. In a structure in which data processing is executed by associating a plurality of logical processors with a physical processor by timing sharing, a host OS stores copy information, namely, shadow, of the MMIO register corresponding to a logical processor in memory both in an active state where a physical processor is allocated to a logical processor corresponding to a guest OS and in an inactive state where no physical processor is allocated to a logical processor. This structure enables a guest OS to gain faster access to the MMIO register through the shadow by memory access, instead of a direct access to the MMIO register, so as to achieve efficient data processing.
US08151267B2
Provided are printing system scheduler methods and systems. Specifically, a shadow scheduler is disclosed which provides alternative modular printing system configurations to execute one or more print jobs, relative to a base modular printing system configuration. According to one exemplary method, a primary scheduler metric value and a shadow scheduler metric value are compared before executing the one or more print jobs.
US08151260B2
A method for providing an image of software installed on a computer system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of deconstructing the image into at least one portion and creating at least one module from the at least one portion of the image. The deconstructing step can include the steps of scanning an image and identifying at least one portion of the image to be modularized. The creating step can include the steps of extracting the at least one portion of the image identified to be modularized, generating at least one module from the extracted portion of the image. The modules that are created in accordance with the present invention can be formatted for use in a new image or part of a new image to be used with a software program such as with a hardware-independent imaging tool. Further, the modules can be used with hardware-independent technologies.
US08151255B2
A method for detecting a dependence violation in an application that involves executing a plurality of sections of the application in parallel, and logging memory transactions that occur while executing the plurality of sections to obtain a plurality of logs and a plurality of temporary results, where the plurality of logs is compared while executing the plurality of sections to determine whether the dependence violation exists.
US08151254B2
An operator definition file 102 and the like included in a source program 101 and a compiler 100 that translates the source program 101 into a machine language program 105 are provided. The operator definition file 102 includes definitions of various fixed point type operators by class definitions. The compiler 100 can generate effectively advanced and specific instructions that a processor executes and make improvements through expanding functions and the like without repeating frequently upgrading of the version of the compiler itself. The compiler 100 is made up of an intermediate code generation unit 121 that generates intermediate codes, a machine language instruction substitution unit 122 that substitutes the intermediate codes referring to classes defined by the operator definition file 102 with machine language instructions and an optimization unit 130 that performs optimization targeting the intermediate codes including the substituted machine language instructions.
US08151253B2
Efficient generation of executable file from program files when some of the program files expressly incorporate other program files. In an embodiment, dependency information representing which program files (conditionally or unconditionally) incorporate other program files is generated and stored in a secondary (non-volatile) storage. When some program files are modified, the dependency information is used to identify for recompilation all the program files that incorporate any of the modified program files. The modified program files and the identified program files are recompiled and the executable file is regenerated.
US08151252B2
A computer program is speculatively parallelized with transactional memory by scoping program variables at compile time, and inserting code into the program at compile time. Determinations of the scoping can be based on whether scalar variables being scoped are involved in inter-loop non-reduction data dependencies, are used outside loops in which they were defined, and at what point in a loop a scalar variable is defined. The inserted code can include instructions for execution at a run time of the program to determine loop boundaries of the program, and issue checkpoint instructions and commit instructions that encompass transaction regions in the program. A transaction region can include an original function of the program and a spin-waiting loop with a non-transactional load, wherein the spin-waiting loop is configured to wait for a previous thread to commit before the current transaction commits.
US08151249B2
Disclosed is an operating system monitoring setting information generator apparatus including: a monitoring setting information management unit configured to store monitoring setting information used for monitoring of an operating system monitoring apparatus; a monitoring setting information output unit configured to generate a monitoring setting information file including the monitoring setting information stored by the monitoring setting information management unit, version information and binding information indicating a correspondence with a monitoring target software program, and to output the generated monitoring setting information file; and a digital signature unit configured to generate a digital signature of the monitoring setting information file, and to add the generated digital signature to the monitoring setting information file.
US08151241B2
The invention discloses an impedance design method for a power network of a core chip within a chipset having N input/output (I/O) ports coupled to a voltage source which have an observation I/O port. The method includes calculating a first set of impedances at a predetermined frequency or the observation I/O port, if the voltage source is internally coupled to the N I/O ports within the chipset, and calculating a second set of impedances at the predetermined frequency for the observation I/O port, if the voltage source is externally coupled to the N I/O ports through a carrier coupling the core chip to the voltage source. The first set of impedances to the second set of impedances are compared, and the impedance of the power network or the impedance of the carrier is adjusted according to the comparison result.
US08151240B2
Disclosed is a computer implemented method and computer program product to determine metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gate functional limitations. A simulator obtains a plurality of slices of a MOS gate, the slices each comprising at least one parameter, the parameter comprising a slice gate width and a slice gate length. The simulator determines a current for each slice based on a slice gate length of the slice to form a length-based current for each slice. The simulator determines a length-based current for the MOS gate by summing the length-based current for each slice. The simulator calculates a stress profile for each slice. The simulator determines a slice carrier mobility for each slice based on the stress profile of each slice. The simulator determines a carrier mobility-based current for each slice, based on each slice carrier mobility. The simulator determines a carrier mobility for the MOS gate based on the carrier mobility-based current for each slice. The simulator determines an effective length for the MOS gate based on the length-based current.
US08151239B1
Overloaded regions in the routing space of a physical network are resolved via a routing procedure composed of a topological routing phase and a geometric routing phase. The overloads are resolved in the topological routing phase where the constraints of routing are less prohibitive. Multiple topological transformations directed toward resolving the overloads are executed in the topological routing phase prior to a geometric arrangement being realized. The topological transformations may be applied concurrently by way of a multi-threaded embodiment of the invention.
US08151238B2
In a layout process of a semiconductor integrated circuit, a power supply is initially formed in an arrangement in which the current threshold value is not exceeded. In a case where the excess over the current threshold value occurs after the power supply is formed, the power supply arrangement is changed according to the current threshold value, design rule data base, and power supply wiring density so as not to exceed the current threshold value.
US08151228B2
Methods and apparatuses to automatically modify a circuit design (e.g., a synthesis solution) according to the sensitivity in design parameters with respect to the possible deviation in the subsequent implementation (e.g., placement and routing) of the circuit. In one aspect of the present invention, a method to design a circuit includes: determining likelihood of a design constraint being violated in an implementation of a first circuit design (e.g., a technology specific netlist with or without a placement solution); and, modifying the first circuit design to reduce the likelihood of the design constraint being violated. In one example, the implementation of the first circuit design includes a routing solution for implementing the first circuit design; and, the first circuit is modified through sizing an instance of a logic element, buffering a signal, load shielding for a signal, or other operations.
US08151223B2
A method and apparatus for generating a source illuminator profile and a mask design, subsequently optimizing the source illuminator profile and mask design based upon a set of target intensity profiles. In various implementations, the Lagrange method of optimization is employed to optimize the radiation source, wherein an optimum intensity for each pixel of the source is determined. Subsequently, a continuous tone mask is generated based upon the diffraction orders of the optimized source. With various implementations, the target intensity profile is generated by deriving a set of band limited target frequencies corresponding to the optical lithographic system. Subsequently, homotopy methods may be employed to optimize the source illuminator profile and the continuous tone mask based upon the set of band limited target frequencies.
US08151217B2
A method for dynamically displaying application shortcut icons of an electronic device constructs a dependency relation graph according to applications whose invoked frequency has reached a predetermined frequency value, and further according to browsing paths whose count has reached a predetermined dependency rule. The method further computes a weight value of each node in the dependency relation graph for ranking the applications to display application shortcut icons of the applications on the electronic device according to the rank.
US08151212B2
A method and system that permits a user to navigate or browse a long list on a handheld device with a restricted user interface, such as a limited display and a limited user input device. The user first uses a coarse search to find a generally desired area in the list. The user then uses finer and finer search intervals in the vicinity of the desired area, until the desired entry is located.
US08151210B2
A vehicle-mounted apparatus is disclosed which includes a displaying unit for providing information to a user, an inputting unit for inputting operations carried out by the user, and a controlling unit for controlling a display of the displaying unit based on the operations input through the inputting unit. The inputting unit has at least a touch-sensitive panel attached to a display screen of the displaying unit. The controlling unit causes the displaying unit to display a menu screen based on the operations input through the inputting unit. The controlling unit also causes the displaying unit to switch the displays based on menus selected on the menu screen. Furthermore, the controlling unit causes the displaying unit to switch, as when a specific menu is selected on the menu screen, the displays in response to a fingertip gesture made by the user for detection on the touch-sensitive panel.
US08151209B2
A graphical text entry system for an electronic device is provided. The electronic device may be, for example, a portable or hand-held electronic device such as a cellular telephone, PDA, or the like. The system includes a graphical text entry screen and a graphical text entry ring displayed on the graphical text entry screen. A plurality of characters such as letters or numbers is positioned on the graphical text entry ring. The system also includes a touch sensor ring located on the graphical text entry screen for selecting individual characters from among the plurality of characters located on the text entry ring.
US08151207B2
The invention is directed to a display device for working vehicle, which is adapted so that additional information can be displayed. In the invention, display indication marks of the two types can be interchangeably displayed on a common display screen of a limited area without reducing the sizes of the individual marks, so that neither a larger size of a display device nor a drop in the visibility of the indication marks is necessary. This enables the driver to control a working machine such as a construction machine and have additional information about the construction machine without any trouble in the driving.
US08151206B2
Methods, apparatuses and computer program products are provided for modifying an order of processing of a task performed on a plurality of objects. A user selects a plurality of objects and a task to perform on the objects, and the initial order of processing of the objects is displayed to the user. The user may modify the initial order of processing to generate a modified order of processing while the task is performed on one of the objects. For example, a user may remove an object not yet processed from the order of processing. Performance of the task then continues on the remaining objects in the modified order of processing.
US08151199B2
Data defining an avatar is received over a network. A sprite sheet comprising a plurality of sprites is created, using the data defining the avatar. Each sprite includes a partial rendering of the respective avatar and at least one run-time parameter including a sprite attribute. A plurality of requests are received, over the network, for the avatar from a plurality of user applications. The data defining the avatar and the sprite sheet are transmitted, over the network, to each of the requesting user applications, enabling each respective user application to display the sprites in the sprite sheet and to set the run-time parameter associated with each of the sprites in the sprite sheet such that each respective sprite is thereby customized to the application.
US08151197B1
A system for providing on-line creation of printable products such as, announcements, banners, business cards, calendars, greeting cards, certificates, craft cards, envelopes, gift tags, invitations, labels, message cards, origami, postcards, posters, stationary, stickers, and other social expression products. The printable products are selectable from a list, and modifiable on-line to provide a user-customized product. The customized printable product may be printed at the user's local printer or stored in a file for later access. Modifications to the printable product include modification of text elements (e.g., formatting, such as font, point size, color, and alignment), and graphical elements. A plug-in is downloaded to a user's PC to enhance the functionality of the user's browser to customize and print the printable product.
US08151193B2
Visual images of computer components are provided to remotely guide users through the process of setting up physical connections. Component identifying information is automatically gleaned and provided from a user's computer to a remote administrator. The administrator provides visual images of the components to the user, and remotely annotates them to guide the user through the configuration process. Image annotation can include pointing to a specific section of the image (e.g., the plug into which a cable is to be inserted) and/or drawing or writing on or otherwise marking-up the image to direct the user's attention. The visual image-based guidance can be supplemented by voice communication with the user.
US08151191B2
A method of and system for managing objectionable content in a virtual world associates a tag with an attribute associated with an avatar in the virtual world. The method places a limitation on the avatar in the virtual world based upon information in the tag while the tagged attribute is associated with the avatar.
US08151188B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems combining user interface features with force feedback techniques in clinical applications. Certain embodiments provide a user interface providing clinical software tools and information access for a picture archiving and communication system. The user interface includes a plurality of regions displayed to represent selectable functionality for an associated plurality of clinical software tools and information. The user interface also includes a cursor movable by a user to select one of the plurality of regions. The user interface further includes a processor configured to determine a location and pattern of movement of the cursor and provide force feedback to the user based on the location and pattern of movement of the cursor to provide a non-visual indication to the user of the location and pattern of movement of the cursor.
US08151186B1
A signature for a page of text is generated. The signature serves as an identifier of the text page. Positions of words in a text page are determined. Positions of multiple second words in the text page are determined relative to the position of a first word in the text page. A signature value is generated that describes the second word positions relative to the first word position. The signature value is stored. Additional signatures for the text page can be generated, each signature describing positions of other words in the text page relative to a word in the text page for which the signature is being generated. The signatures can be used to compare the text page to another text page and generate a measure of similarity that describes the result of the comparison.
US08151177B2
A method and arrangement for the implementation of a simple algorithm to store an N-bit checksum into any unaligned position within a larger NxP-bit word, which avoids the use of a logic-intensive implementation that employs a bank of demultiplexers, or a latency-increasing approach of “read-modify-write”.
US08151171B2
Operational parameter adaptable LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) decoder. A novel means is presented by which LDPC coded signal can be decoded, and any one or more operational parameters can be adjusted during the decoding processing. For example, the original information extracted from a received LDPC coded signal (e.g., log likelihood ratios (LLRs)), can be modified during (or before) the iterative decoding processing performed in accordance with decoding an LDPC coded signal. Such modification of an operational parameter can include any one or combination of scaling, compression (and expansion/decompression), adding an offset to or subtracting an offset from, scaling, rounding, and/or some other modification of an operational parameter. The bit (or variable) edge messages and/or the check edge messages can also undergo modification during decoding processing. In addition, the operational parameter modification can be selective, in that, different modification can be performed to different parameters and/or during different decoding iterations.
US08151167B2
A program processing device has a non-volatile storage, a volatile storage and a controller. The controller has a detector that detects a bit flip in the program, the variable data, and the constant data in the volatile storage, a constant recovery unit that, when the detector detects an error in the constant data, writes the constant data in the non-volatile storage into the volatile storage, and then continues the execution of the program from a point at which the program was being executed before the detector detected the error, and a restart that, when the detector detects an error in one of the variable data and the program, writes the program, the initial value of the variable data, and the constant data in the non-volatile storage into the volatile storage, and then executes the program written into the volatile storage from a beginning of the program.
US08151162B2
An error correction device error corrects without increasing in circuit scale. An encoder, includes: a first ECC encoder which interleaves a data string into n (n≧2) blocks of data strings at every m (m≧2) bits, and adds the error correction code parity; a parity encoder which creates a parity bit at every plurality of bits of the error correction code word, and adds the parity bit to said error correction code word; and a second ECC encoder, which generates a second error correction encoding, which is a linear encoding using iterative decoding. Concatenated type encoded data, where a parity bit is added to every plurality of bits, is created, so an increase of circuit scale can be prevented even if a data string is interleaved into a plurality of blocks and error correction code parity is generated.
US08151160B1
A configurable low-density parity check code (LDPC) decoder and a method of configuring the decoder. In one embodiment, the configurable LDPC decoder includes: (1) pluralities of parity check units and bit node units, (2) direct and reverse multi-size barrel shifters coupled to the pluralities of parity check units and bit node units and (3) a control circuit, coupled to the pluralities of parity check units and bit node units and the direct and reverse multi-size barrel shifters and configured to configure sizes of the direct and reverse multi-size barrel shifters and numbers of the pluralities of parity check units and bit node units to cooperate therewith based on a block size of a particular LDPC code.
US08151158B2
The present invention provides methods and systems for decoding a data burst in a communication system. A data burst, including a plurality of forward error correction (FEC) blocks, is received. At least one FEC block of the data burst is decoded. Thereafter, it is detected if one or more errors are present in the at least one FEC block of the data burst. Upon detecting one or more errors in the at least one FEC block, the method halts the decoding of the data burst. In response to detecting the one or more errors, a retransmitted data burst corresponding to the data burst is received. One or more FEC blocks of the data burst may be combined with corresponding one or more FEC blocks of the retransmitted data burst. The one or more FEC blocks of the data burst includes the at least one FEC block that had the one or more errors detected as present. Thereafter, the decoding of the retransmitted data burst is commenced starting from the at least one FEC block that had the one or more errors detected as present in the previous transmission.
US08151141B1
A set of fault records representing faults previously detected in an enterprise computer system is received and analyzed. The analysis comprises a variety of analytical operations and results in a report provided to a user, the report particularly including a set of fault sources identified as highly important to address, with respect both to the system as a whole and to particular categories of faults.
US08151140B2
A data management system or “DMS” provides an automated, continuous, real-time, substantially no downtime data protection service to one or more data sources associated with a set of application host servers. To facilitate the data protection service, a host driver embedded in an application server captures real-time data transactions, preferably in the form of an event journal that is provided to other DMS components. The driver functions to translate traditional file/database/block I/O and the like into a continuous, application-aware, output data stream. The host driver includes an event processor. When an authorized user determines that a primary copy of the data in the host server has become incorrect or corrupted, the event processor can perform a recovery operation to an entire data source or a subset of the data source using former point-in-time data in the DMS. The recovery operation may have two phases. First, the structure of the host data in primary storage is recovered to the intended recovering point-in-time. Thereafter, the actual data itself is recovered. The event processor enables such data recovery in an on-demand manner, in that it allows recovery to happen simultaneously while an application accesses and updates the recovering data.
US08151128B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that supplies power in a computer system. The system includes a power adapter coupled to a source of electrical power and a set of a set of power consumers coupled to a power bus in the computer system. A full-power mechanism coupled between the power adapter and the power bus supplies power for the power consumers while the computer system is operating in a full-power mode. A low-power mechanism coupled between the power adapter and the power bus in parallel with the power mechanism supplies power for the power consumers while the computer system is in operating in a low-power mode.
US08151119B2
A secure data mirroring capability in a storage system includes encrypting data blocks in a primary volume in preparation for a data mirroring operation. The encrypted data blocks are mirrored to a secure secondary volume. Host systems provide keys from which encryption keys are produced for encrypting the data blocks. Access to data on the secure secondary volume requires decryption using the key that was used to produce the encrypted data blocks.
US08151117B2
Detection of items stored in a computer system such as computer code, data or information includes obtaining signatures characteristic of programs of interest such as steganographic programs. A signature is obtained by reading code from a program of interest. The code may consist of the first 500 bytes from a .DLL file taken from the programs' core steganographic kernel. This code is then the signature. The computer system compares the signature with files it holds, other than files on a prearranged exclusion list. If a signature is found to match data in a file, the filename, the finding of steganography in it, the file location and the matched signature are recorded by the computer system for output to its user.
US08151112B2
A method of delivering electronic mail messages upon requests and managing public-secret key pairs of public key cryptography in an electronic message system. A sending party sends an intend-to-deliver associated with an electronic mail message to an intended receiving party. The intended receiving party responds with a request-for-mail-content to request for the electronic mail message if the intended receiving party determines to do so. The sending party will not deliver the electronic mail message to the intended receiving party if the intended receiving party does not send the request-for-mail-content. A host computer is assigned with a unique name that is registered with authoritative organizations and can be used for establishing a connection to the host computer. The host computer provides the public keys of its account holders to the public. The initial public key of an account holder is certified by the host computer using an account password. The account holder may regenerate a public-secret key pair as often as needed. The new public key is certified by the host computer using the old public key of the account holder and becomes effective for providing to the public.
US08151105B2
A convertible computer is equipped with a notebook computer function and a tablet computer function. When a system power supply is turned on, a functionality or physical configuration such as rotation state of a display module can be detected, and an environment can be controlled such as an operating system (OS) for a tablet computer or notebook computer is selectively booted. Input signals of input units can also be controlled in an activation or inactivation state according to a system mode. An operation of switch sensing an open/closed state of a liquid crystal display (LCD) can be controlled by a signal generated by the rotation operation of the display module. In a state in which at least one control value necessary for setting a system environment is stored in a memory, the system mode switching operation is monitored and the system environment is set according to the switched system mode.
US08151104B2
The employment of a process of applying user-defined defaults to a management engine or analogous arrangement, wherein a system BIOS calls or recalls such defaults, as needed, from NVRAM responsive to the need for a reset of defaults.
US08151102B2
The invention provides a boot method capable of reducing boot time even in the case of a change in the configuration of boot files. A boot file is booted from a hard disk drive in a computer equipped with a multitasking operating system. A plurality of tasks are observed, the tasks being created and sequentially executed in order to read out boot files. This observation is carried out at the corresponding boot and a log in the past boot is not used. On the basis of the observed boot files, a prefetch boot file is selected. The entire selected prefetch boot file is filled into a boot cache. The boot file is loaded from the boot cache to a main memory.
US08151101B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for quiescing a boot environment. A reservation module reserves a portion of a first storage device. A store module stores an update boot image to the reserved portion. A detection module detects the update boot image stored on the first storage device when the computer boots and executes the update boot image in place of a standard boot image in response to detecting the update boot image. The update boot image places a computer in a known quiescent state.
US08151089B2
A multiplicity of processor elements that are arranged in rows and columns individually execute data processing in accordance with instruction codes that are individually set as data and supply event data as output. A state control unit is composed of a plurality of units that successively switch the instruction codes of the multiplicity of processor elements in accordance with a computer program and the event data, these state control units communicating with each other to realize linked operation as necessary. An event distributing means distributes event data to this plurality of state control units that intercommunicate to realize linked operation, whereby the plurality of state control units can realize linked operation to control a large-scale state transition.
US08151088B1
A plurality of processor tiles are provided, each processor tile including a processor core. An interconnection network interconnects the processor cores and enables transfer of data among the processor cores. The interconnection network has a plurality of dimensions and is configurable to transmit data from an initial processor core or an input/output device to an intermediate processor core based on a first dimension ordering policy, and from the intermediate processor core to a destination processor core. The first dimension ordering policy specifies an ordering of the dimensions of the interconnection network when routing data through the interconnection network.
US08151081B2
Sub-socket partitioning is enabled using embodiments of the present invention. In one aspect, the memory mapping is performed to isolate memory access for each of the partitions by assigning a partition address and a generated physical address.
US08151079B2
Disclosed is a system and method for preventing deterioration in I/O performance of a computer resulted from a use of the same physical disk among different logical volumes. A volume management server 1010 groups together logical volumes which use the same physical disk of a storage device 1020 as a volume group and allocates a storage area on the physical disk to be used on a priority basis by this volume group to the volume group, and thereby a physical arrangement according to a present physical arrangement of the logical volume can be performed when an automatic expansion of the logical volume is performed thereafter so that the I/O performance deterioration of the computer caused by a mutual interference is avoided at the time of access from the computer 1030 to the storage device 1020.
US08151076B2
In one embodiment, a method includes identifying first and second memory segments associated with a process in virtual memory, allocating memory for the first memory segment from a first contiguous physical memory space, allocating memory for the second memory segment from a second contiguous physical memory space, and mapping the first and second memory segments to the first and second contiguous physical memory spaces in a translation lookaside buffer. Apparatus and logic for memory allocation to minimize translation lookaside buffer faults are also disclosed.
US08151072B2
The electronic device, in particular a transponder, includes a non volatile memory (EEPROM) having a plurality of words 1 to N whose read and/or write access can be locked. The protection register (22) is formed of two protection words A and B these two protection words are alternately active and inactive during the successive locking of words 1 to N of the programmable memory (16). The state of the protection register is defined by the active word. An initially active word is not deleted until the content thereof has been copied into the inactive word. Once the content has been altered in accordance with the lock command, the initially inactive word becomes the active word of the protection register.
US08151067B2
The present invention discloses a memory sharing mechanism based on priority elevation. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus and method for transporting packets of data in a communication device, wherein each packet is assigned one of several priorities and received based on memory state information. The method comprises the steps of storing the received packets in a memory and modifying the assigned priority of any of the packets causing congestion within the memory.
US08151059B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, a processor comprises a memory, a plurality of processor cores in communication with the cache memory and a scalability agent unit. The scalability agent unit is adapted to control conflict detection and resolution of accesses to the memory. The scalability agent unit receives control information concerning transactions involving the memory without receiving data for the transactions.
US08151057B1
A shared cache is point-to-point connected to a plurality of point-to-point connected processing nodes, wherein the processing nodes may be integrated circuits or multiprocessing systems. In response to a local cache miss, a requesting processing node issues a broadcast for requested data which is observed by the shared cache. If the shared cache has a copy of the requested data, the shared cache forwards the copy of the requested data to the requesting processing node.
US08151053B2
An extractor extracts a plurality of storage areas storing identical data strings therein from the storage areas of a lower storage layer. A layer storage controller associates the extracted storage areas with a single storage area of an upper storage layer.
US08151050B2
An apparatus comprising a remote storage array, a primary storage array and a network. The remote storage array may be configured to (i) define a queue size based on a performance capability of the remote storage array, (ii) generate a multiplier based on resources being used by the remote storage array, and (iii) adjust the queue size by the multiplier. The primary storage array may be configured to execute input/output (IO) requests between the remote storage array and the primary storage array based on the adjusted queue size. The network may be configured to connect the remote storage array to the primary storage array.
US08151044B2
A dynamic random access memory integrated circuit and method includes internal refresh control and an array configured to receive read and write access requests having priority over pending refresh requests, wherein refresh requests are queueable and retired on clock cycles not requiring an access of the array and complete in one clock cycle. No on-board cache memory is required. A method includes: determining within the circuit when one of the banks of the array requires a refresh, prioritizing read and write access requests over pending refresh requests, read access requests initiating an access to the array without determining whether data is available from outside the array, and retiring within a clock cycle one pending refresh request to a bank when that bank has pending refresh requests and does not also require an access of the array on that clock cycle.
US08151021B1
A technique for upgrading software running on a cluster of computerized nodes. The technique involves running a first version of the software on each node of the cluster. The technique further involves installing a second version of the software on each node in place of the first version of the software during an installation period and after running the first version of the software on each node. The second version of the software installed on each node includes a first version side and a second version side. At least one node of the cluster runs (i) the first version of the software or (ii) the first version side of the second version of the software at all times during the installation period. The technique further involves running the second version side of the second version of the software on each node of the cluster after the installation period.
US08151012B2
Methods, apparatuses and systems to decrease the energy consumption of a memory chip while increasing its effect bandwidth during the execution of any workload. Methods, apparatuses and systems may allow a memory chip utilize a plurality of virtual row buffers to respond to requests for data included in a memory array block. Methods, apparatuses and systems may further eliminate or reduce the cost associated with transferring unnecessary data from a memory array block to row buffers by altering the data transfer size between a memory array block and a row buffer.
US08151010B2
A memory device is configured to operate in first and second data input/output modes. The memory device includes a first electrode pad, a second electrode pad, a clock signal line, a first switching unit, and a second switching unit. The clock signal line is configured to transmit a clock to an integrated circuit inside the memory device. The first switching unit switches to electrically connect the first electrode pad and the clock signal line in response to a control signal occurring for the first data input/output mode. The second switching unit switches to electrically connect the second electrode pad and the clock signal line in response to an inverse signal of the control signal occurring for the second data input/output mode.
US08150998B2
For use with a path vector routing protocol, a system and method for increasing alternative network route convergence speed and a border gateway router incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a router information base (RIB) data receiver, associated with a network, that receives RIB data including: (1a) an update of an active route to a domain in the network that causes the active route to become a withdrawn route and (1b) indications, based on loopback addresses associated with nodes through which the withdrawn route passed, of a reachability of the each of the nodes and (2) route disqualification logic, associated with the RIB data receiver, that disqualifies alternative routes to the domain based on the indications.
US08150996B2
The disclosed embodiments relate to an apparatus and method for managing flow control of a data transfer. An apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention may comprise a first protocol associated with a plurality of receive buffers, a second protocol adapted to manage the plurality of receive buffers for the first protocol, and a third protocol that determines whether one of the plurality of receive buffers is available for a data packet and (a) if one of the plurality of receive buffers is available, permits an acknowledgement packet to be sent to a node that sent the data packet, and (b) if one of the plurality of receive buffers is unavailable, drops the data packet, notifies the second protocol regarding the unavailability of the plurality of receive buffers, and withholds the acknowledgement packet.
US08150991B1
The disclosure is directed to systems, apparatus, and methods for geolocation-based application streaming. In one example, a system may include a geolocation service that determines the location of a client, and an application server that streams one or more applications to the client on request. The application server may use the location provided by the geolocation service to select an application streaming profile indicating application modules to be initially streamed to clients for that geolocation. After the initial program modules have been streamed to the client, the application server services requests from the client for additional application modules. The application server may log application module requests to create or modify application streaming profiles that specify the application modules to be initially streamed to clients at a particular geolocation. The client or a web server may also specify the application streaming profile to be used by the application server.
US08150982B2
A method, a system for accessing a home network device, and a home network access device are disclosed. The method includes the steps as follows. A home network access device finds a home network device and obtains information of the home network device through a home network protocol. A data model of the home network device is established in the home network access device according to the information of the home network device. A remote service device accesses the data model of the home network device established in the home network access device through a remote management protocol.
US08150977B1
A network device is described in which a dedicated resource scheduler monitors memory consumption to provide for improved processing of communication sessions. The scheduler maintains a dependency list of communication sessions, and reserves memory for communication sessions as requests for memory are received. The amount of memory reserved is determined based on the amount of memory currently reserved for the communication sessions in the dependency list. The network device may control ongoing communication sessions by way of window manipulation. Communication sessions are processed in a first mode when available memory has not reached a predetermined amount, while communication sessions are processed in a second mode when available memory reaches a predetermined amount.
US08150973B2
A method and system of conveying data to a remote computer, which may act as a management console. A virtual communications port is provided to a central processing unit. The virtual communications port is provided using a device distinct from the central processing unit, such as a network controller card with manageability features inborn. The device providing the virtual communications port receives the data written to the virtual communications port. Thereafter, the device transmits the data into a network, addressed for reception by the remote computer. The remote computer may be used as a management console so that keystrokes entered thereupon may be relayed through the virtual communications port to the aforementioned central processing unit.
US08150963B2
An electronic device includes an interface unit; a processor configured to communicate with one other electronic device; where a message communicated between the electronic device and the other electronic device includes a message type field and a transmission counter field. The message type field indicates a type of the message. The transmission counter field indicates how many times the same message is transmitted, and a range of a value included in the transmission counter field is determined based on the type of the message indicated by the message type field. The interface unit receives a device information message from the other electronic device, and generates a profile for managing the other electronic device based on the device information message. The profile comprises at least one of a device information file containing specific information on the other electronic device, a node parameter file containing a node parameter designated for the other electronic device, a device operation file containing data on an operational state of the other electronic device, and a scenario file for defining supplementary services for the other electronic device.
US08150951B2
A method for communicating in a loadbalancing environment is provided that in a particular embodiment includes receiving a request packet from a network access server (NAS) to initiate a communication session. The request packet is then communicated to a tunneling protocol network server (TPNS) and a response packet is received in response to the request packet. The response packet establishes a tunnel that facilitates the communication session and that includes an identification element associated with the TPNS such that a data transfer associated with the communication session is executed between the NAS and the TPNS.
US08150946B2
A system and method for allocating the nearest available physical memory in a distributed, shared memory system. In various embodiments, a processor node may broadcast a memory request to a first subset of nodes connected to it via a communication network. In some embodiments, if none of these nodes is able to satisfy the request, the processor node may broadcast the request to additional subsets of nodes. In some embodiments, each node of the first subset of nodes may be removed from the processor node by one network hop and each node of the additional subsets of nodes may be removed from the processor node by no more than an iteratively increasing number of network hops. In some embodiments, the processor node may send an acknowledgment to one node that can fulfill the request and a negative acknowledgement to other nodes that can fulfill the request.
US08150935B2
A method for communication is disclosed and may include, in a network interface device, parsing a portion of a TCP segment into one or more portions of Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) Protocol Data Units (PDUs). A header and/or a payload for one or more of the parsed iSCSI PDUs may be recovered. Concurrent with parsing of a remaining portion of the TCP segment to recover a remaining portion of PDUs, the recovered header may be evaluated and/or the recovered payload may be routed external to the network interface device for processing. The evaluating and the routing may occur independently of the parsing within the network interface device. Respective separate physical processors may be used for the parsing and the recovering. The respective separate processors for recovering may be used for the evaluating and the routing.
US08150934B2
A system is provided for providing content including one or more interactive components to a wireless device. The system includes a content server configurable to deliver push content to the wireless device, a processor for controlling operation of the server, a communications subsystem coupled to the processor for communicating with a communications network, and a memory coupled to the processor. The content server includes one or more modules for providing the content to the wireless device, the one or more modules being configured to cause the content server to: receive a content file including the content and information about the one or more interactive components, the information about each individual interactive component comprising one or more attributes useful in rendering the individual interactive component; process the content file and package the processed content file as a content package for delivery to the wireless device; and send the content package to the wireless device as a push delivery.
US08150924B2
A method and system is described for using a conversation-based messaging system. When a messages is received by the system an attempt is made to associate the message with an existing conversation, if any. If there is no existing conversation to which the message belongs, a new conversation is created. The message is then associated with the existing or new conversation and may be provided certain initial attributes. Information about the message including certain indexing information is stored in memory for the respective conversation. The text of message is indexed along with other information and stored in memory for subsequent searching.
US08150915B1
Methods and systems for personalizing access to client devices using near field communication is disclosed. In a transaction between a client and a server, the client may detect the presence of a computing device using near field communication, and the device may be identified as an assistive computing device. Based on this information, the client may send the assistive computing device user interface data such that the transaction can be completed on the assistive computing device instead of the client.
US08150911B2
A first processor-based device (PBD), such as a personal computer functioning as a host and containing digital media files, may share a selected file with a second PBD. Media file-sharing may be facilitated by an automated technique including graphical user interfaces (GUIs). In one embodiment, when a device user wishes to transfer a file to another device, the user hovers the file over a particular desktop icon and drops it, causing it to be automatically transmitted to a corresponding destination. Optionally, in response to hovering, a software program automatically generates a GUI indicating potential destinations. The user then selects a destination, and the system automatically transfers the file to that destination. In another embodiment, media sharing can be initiated from a digital appliance, such as a digital picture frame, and a file can be sent to another PBD, such as another digital picture frame via an intermediary PBD.
US08150907B2
A composite service providing system including a plurality of network electronic devices communicatively connected with each other. The plurality of network electronic devices includes electronic devices, each of which is capable of providing at least one service. A plurality of services provided by a plurality of electronic devices are combined to constitute a composite service. The composite service providing system further includes a composite service designating system that designates a composite service to be provided, an electronic device determining system that determines an electronic device that provides each of a plurality of services necessary for providing the composite service designated with the composite service designating system, and a controlling system that control the electronic devices determined by the electronic device determining system to provide the services so that the composite service designated by the designating system is provided.
US08150901B2
An integrated transformation apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a first multiplexer, a second multiplexer, and a transformation unit. The first multiplexer retrieves point data from columns or rows of a multi-dimensional matrix and input data. The second multiplexer retrieves transformation coefficients corresponding to the point data. The transformation unit transforms data blocks of the multi-dimensional matrix to a plurality of sub data blocks according to the input data, the point data, and the transformation coefficients.
US08150897B2
In the method of controlling a file system driver of an electronic computer and the program for the method and further the storage medium containing the program according to the present invention, access to a file stored in a storage device of the electronic computer is controlled in a kernel mode.When a specific file in a file system of an electronic computer (11) is accessed from an application program (4), the access is received in a kernel mode (8) of an OS (3). Then, an access control database (36) comprising filenames in the file system and access methods is referenced to judge whether or not the access to the specific file conforms to conditions prescribed in the access control database (36). If the access to the specific file does not conform to the conditions, the access is canceled.
US08150892B2
An enhanced metadata structure and associated process is provided which captures and stores metadata gathered about the source and usage of a media asset or file. The source and usage metadata is integrated, such as by encoding within the enhanced media file, as the media asset is transferred and used. The integrated metadata accumulates, as a trail of source information and usage information in the enhanced media asset, and can be extracted upon arrival at a target computer system.
US08150887B1
Storing data is disclosed. An attribute to be combined with one or more other attributes is received for storage in a database as a set of attributes. A unique attribute identifier is associated with the attribute. The identifier is usable to distinguish between two attributes in the event that the two attributes have the same name.
US08150880B2
An audio data player may include a storage unit for storing one of more sound source files containing tag information, and an extraction unit for extracting one piece of information among the tag information (e.g., information on artist, album, title, year, genre, and user preference) of the stored sound source files. A control unit may provide the tag information of each sound source file extracted by the extraction unit in the form of a list, receiving one element of the provided list, and create a playback list.
US08150876B2
A search tool provided according to an aspect of the present invention maintains a cache data indicating which users are members of which dynamic groups. When a membership request is received requesting a set of dynamic groups to which a user belongs, the search tool examines the cache data to determine the set of dynamic groups to which the user belongs and sends the determined groups as a response to the membership request. According to another aspect of the present invention, the search tool may store an include list and an exclude list, respectively indicating the users to be included and excluded from each dynamic group. The lists are inspected in forming the set of dynamic groups to which the user belongs.
US08150874B2
A computer implemented method, computer-readable medium and system for deciding which external corpora, such as verticals, to integrate into primary Internet search engine results in response to a query is disclosed. Offline query-related data and user feedback data is incorporated. A probabilistic estimate is formed of the relevance of the verticals to the query.
US08150872B2
The present disclosure provides a natural language query system and method for processing and analyzing multimodally-originated queries, including voice and proximity-based queries. The natural language query system includes a Web-enabled device including a speech input module for receiving a voice-based query in natural language form from a user and a location/proximity module for receiving location/proximity information from a location/proximity device. The query system also includes a speech conversion module for converting the voice-based query in natural language form to text in natural language form and a natural language processing module for converting the text in natural language form to text in searchable form. The query system further includes a semantic engine module for converting the text in searchable form to a formal database query and a database-look-up module for using the formal database query to obtain a result related to the voice-based query in natural language form from a database.
US08150870B1
A method and system is provided for maintaining customer data in a data store system utilizing a scalable partitioning framework. More specifically, the data store of a customer service system is partitioned (divided) into multiple partitions by a partitionable key of customer data so that each partition owns a subset of the customer data. By maintaining several partitions that store a subset of the customer data exclusive to each other, blackout or brownout problems can be local to one partition and, thus, the availability for the entire system will be increased. Moreover, a set of partitionable keys, a minimal unit to be moved between partitions, is grouped and associated with a partition. By eliminating direct dependencies between the partitions and the partitionable keys, the system can have great flexibility with regard to migrating customer data between partitions and adding a new partition.
US08150866B2
A system, computer readable storage medium and method for creating re-usable queries over complex data including hierarchies, trees and graphs is described. This is achieved by an object-oriented query language, where a class is a logical property of a data item, and inheritance is implication between such properties. Virtual method calls execute all relevant method implementations in most specific classes. Expressions can be multi-valued, thus avoiding the need for naming intermediate results. All constructs closely follow the syntax of mainstream object-oriented languages like Java.
US08150858B2
A method of comparing first and second objects in a context comprises: maximizing or minimizing a quantitative comparison of the first object and a mixture of the second object and the context respective to a weighting parameter that controls the mixture; and outputting a comparison value based on the value of the weighting parameter determined by the maximizing or minimizing.
US08150857B2
A computer-implemented method and system of disciplining data input to a multi-contextual and multi-dimensional database is described. A template identifying subject matter specific settings is provided, where the settings comprise a default ontology or taxonomy, a reserved word or phrase list, and restricted value ranges, and where the template includes a template identification and a version. A new record is generated based on the template. Alternatively, a record is generated by copying or inheriting information from an existing record in the database. A unique identification code is assigned to the record including a reference to the template identification and version. A weight is assigned to each record representing a level of diligence used at a time of data entry, where the level of diligence is dependent in part on the default ontology or taxonomy and the reserved word or phrase list.
US08150845B2
Methods, devices, and products are provided for targeting media. Descriptive information is received that describes media. The descriptive information is compared to a stored set of user-defined criteria. If the descriptive information contains any criterion, the media is stored in memory, and the stored media is targeted to a user's communications device.
US08150841B2
Methods, systems, and media are provided for identifying and clustering queries that are rising in popularity. Resultant clustered queries can be compared to other stored queries using textual and temporal correlations. Fresh indices containing information and results from recently crawled content sources are searched to obtain the most recent query activity. Historical indices are also searched to obtain temporally correlated information and results that match the clustered query stream. A weighted average acceleration of a spike can be calculated to distinguish between a legitimate spike and a non-legitimate spike. Legitimate clusters are combined with other stored clusters and presented as grouped content results to a user output device.
US08150840B2
An Internet browser application is arranged to automatically display an RSS feed. When a web page is requested, if the Internet browser is selected to be in an RSS feed mode, the Internet browser detects for an RSS feed for the requested web page. If the RSS feed is detected, the RSS feed is loaded in parallel with loading the requested web page. Thereafter, the loaded RSS feed is displayed. A user may switch from the RSS feed mode to a normal mode for displaying the already loaded requested web page.
US08150836B2
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for optimizing execution of a join operation in a parallel processing system are provided. A plurality of processing nodes that have at least one row of one or more tables involved in a join operation are identified. For each of the processing nodes, respective counts of rows that would be redistributed to each of the processing nodes based on join attributes of the rows are determined. A redistribution matrix is calculated from the counts of rows of each of the processing nodes. An optimized redistribution matrix is generated from the redistribution matrix, wherein the optimized redistribution matrix provides a minimization of rows to be redistributed among the nodes to execute the join operation.
US08150834B2
An assisting method and an assisting apparatus for accessing a markup language document are provided. First, an intermediate table is established in a storage unit, wherein the intermediate table includes a length field, a depth field, a type field, a parent element field, and an offset field. Then, structure data of each element in the markup language document is transformed into the intermediate table to respectively record a string length, a hierarchy depth, an element type, a parent element index, and an absolute position of the element into the length field, the depth field, the type field, the parent element field, and the offset field. Finally, access to the markup language document is assisted according to the intermediary table.
US08150829B2
Facilitating display of an interactive and dynamic cloud of terms related to one or more input terms
According to certain embodiments, facilitating display of terms includes facilitating display of a graphical user interface. One or more first input terms entered into a user entry window of the graphical user interface are received. One or more first output terms related to the first input terms are determined. Display of a first graphical cloud comprising the first output terms is facilitated. The first input terms are modified to yield one or more second input terms. One or more second output terms related to the second input terms are determined. Display of a second graphical cloud comprising the second output terms is facilitated.
US08150828B2
A community custom search or community search macro is created whereby users access a custom search or search macro from their computing devices. The users can execute the custom search or search macro to return search results. The users can edit the custom search or search macro to modify its contents even though another may be the author or owner of the custom search or search macro. The users can access the modified custom search or modified search macro, or access a prior version of the modified custom search or modified search macro. The custom search or search macro resides on one or more computing devices accessible by the user through the Internet.
US08150817B2
A system and method for updating, monitoring, and controlling applications on a workstation. The workstation includes a workstation management module configured to detect the launch or request to access a network by an application. A workstation application server receives data associated with the application from the workstation. The application server module can determine one or more policies or categories to associate with the application by referencing an application inventory database. Once the application server module has the category or policy, it forwards a hash/policy table to the workstation management module. Upon receipt of the hash/policy table, the workstation management module applies the policy that is associated with the application to control network access by the application.
US08150814B2
In one embodiment the present invention includes a computer-implemented method for data cleansing using rule based formatting. The method includes tokenizing and parsing a first input data and a second input data. The method further includes including a first token in a first output data if a first formatting rule component in a formatting rule is a first valid index to said first tokenized input data. The method further includes including a second token in a second output data if said first formatting rule component in the formatting rule is a second valid index to said second tokenized input data. The method further includes formatting said first output data and said second output data according to the formatting rule.
US08150804B2
An improved hierarchical user interface for a handheld media player is disclosed, which classifies media assets that an on-line merchandiser intends to sell to the user as hidden files. The files are invisible to a user without a user's intended and persistent interaction with a user input device of the player. The media assets that an on-line merchandiser intends to sell to the user are stored in the unused storage capacity of the player and are organized in a single structure as those media assets owned by the user. A method includes a means that a user actuates a user input device until the hidden files are displayed. Furthermore, a method is disclosed to utilize a file storage system of a portable media player more effectively and efficiently. The unused storage capacity is then used by the on-line merchandiser to store media assets, which have not been purchased by the user at the moment when they are received by the media player. The capacity occupied by the media assets from the merchandiser is adjusted dynamically based upon the required capacity by the user at a specific time. The media assets stored are managed based on their assigned priorities.
US08150794B2
A data fusion framework is provided for wide-area assessments of unexploded ordnance. One or more wide-area survey data sources representing assessments of geographic sites that may contain unexploded ordnance (UXO) can be analyzed by a data source module as part of the data fusion framework. The data sources can include a geographic registration and a degree of belief and the data source module can register the data sources to a common map grid. A feature layer module can extract a plurality of feature layers from the wide-area survey data sources. A feature map module can generate a plurality of feature maps for each of the plurality of feature layers based on the degree of belief. Finally, a data fusion module can combine the plurality of feature maps and generate a plurality of output maps. This output maps can then be used by UXO site managers to support decisions regarding remediation efforts.
US08150790B2
A lightweight physical design alerter can analyze a workload and determine whether a comprehensive tuning session would result in a configuration improvement over the current configuration. The alerter provides a low-overhead procedure that can run during normal operation of a database management system and produce a notification if a current configuration is less than optimal. The alerter can report lower and upper bounds on the improvements that could be obtained if a comprehensive tuning tool is launched. A lower bound can be justified by generating feasible configurations. The disclosed embodiments can be extended to query updates, materialized views, and other physical design features (e.g., partitioning).
US08150785B2
A system, method and program product for processing a computational problem for a computing center having a plurality of computing resources. The system includes: a problem analytics system for generating a characterized problem description from an inputted computational problem using at least one of a keyword nonparametric inverse indexing or a nonparametric data structure analysis; a system for selecting a model that resembles the characterized problem description by comparing the characterized problem description with a set of models; and a system for generating a computing solution for running the inputted computational problem on the computing center based on a selected model and a set of environment factors associated with the computing center.
US08150784B2
A device controls an object in a time variant system with a dead time such as a Czochralski method single crystal production device (CZ equipment). The dead time, time constant, and process gain value of an object (CZ equipment) are set. The process gain preset value has time variant characteristics. An output value and its first-order and second-order time differentiated values serve as the state variable. A nonlinear state predicting unit predicts a state variable value at a future time, based upon the current output value, dead time, time constant, and process gain preset value. A gain scheduled sliding mode control unit performs a gain scheduled sliding mode control operation based upon the state variable value at the future time, an output deviation at the future time, the time constant, and the set value of the process gain at the future time, to determine the manipulated variable of the object.
US08150782B2
For possible use in an electronic content distribution system, automatic recognition of compact discs or other storage media containing particular content, and corresponding account crediting is described. In an electronic content distribution system, such as those providing music available by digital downloading or streaming technologies, a user may ordinarily pay a full price to receive the music. A user who possesses and apparently owns a compact disc containing particular content can be conveniently offered a discount or credit usable towards the purchase of the analogous particular content in a form provided by the electronic content distribution system. Preferably, compact discs are uniquely identified by determining whether their digital fingerprint matches a known reference fingerprint for a compact disc containing the particular content.
US08150778B2
The compatibility score of individuals in a social network is computed based on the compatibility of interests expressed by these individuals. The compatibility score between any two interests is calculated as the log of the estimated probability that a member of the social network will express both interests as his or her interests divided by the product of: (i) the estimated probability that a member of the social network will express the first of the two interests as his or her interest and (ii) the estimated probability that a member of the social network will express the second of the two interests as his or her interest. The compatibility score between two individuals is calculated as the sum of the compatibility scores between each interest appearing in a set of interests expressed by the first of the two individuals and each interest appearing in a set of interests expressed by the second of the two individuals.
US08150775B2
A method and system for automated bargaining in a round by round manner is disclosed. The method and system are capable of multiple rounds. The method and system are used in testing non-equal values in normal rounds for satisfaction of a predetermined criterion. If the criterion is not satisfied in the normal rounds, power round values are tested for satisfaction of a power round criterion. If the power round criterion is satisfied, a binding bargained payment is calculated. Additional options involve an automated facilitator, windfalls to initiators, automatic payment initiation, multiparty aggregation and automatic agreement document generation.
US08150773B2
An automated method capable of multiple rounds for settling a dispute among adverse parties which dispute involves monetary values is described together with an automated system for carrying out such method.
US08150770B1
A method for reordering checks for a customer is disclosed. The method includes ordering a first quantity of checks for the customer, tracking usage of the first quantity of checks, and ordering a second quantity of checks for the customer when a predetermined quantity of the first quantity of checks has been processed.
US08150768B2
Techniques are described for facilitating interactions between computing systems, such as by performing transactions between parties that are automatically authorized via a third-party transaction authorization system. In some situations, the transactions are programmatic transactions involving the use of fee-based Web services by executing application programs, with the transaction authorization system authorizing and/or providing payments in accordance with private authorization instructions previously specified by the parties. The authorization instructions may include predefined instruction rule sets that regulate conditions under which a potential transaction can be authorized, with the instruction rule sets each referenced by an associated reference token. After one or more of the parties to a potential transaction supply reference tokens for the parties, the transaction authorization system can determine whether to authorize the transaction based on whether the instruction rule sets associated with the reference tokens are compatible or otherwise satisfied.
US08150764B2
A line of credit optimized for a retailer and attached to a customer account at a financial institution is established for a customer of the retailer. A financial institution computer determines whether to advance funds through the line of credit for a transaction, then advances funds in one or more preselected loan increments to the customer account, up to a total available line of credit for the customer. The financial institution computer decrements the total available line of credit by the amount provided for the customer transaction and by a predetermined customer fee for each of the loan increments. The computer determines a value of a retailer fee to be paid by the retailer, involving a predetermined amount for each of the loan increments. The customer fee amount can be zero or discounted for customer transactions with the retailer. The retailer fee can be a rebate to the customer.
US08150752B2
In one embodiment, a limited amount of financial information related to each of a plurality of financial instruments is displayed on a display screen of a computer. A user chooses a financial instrument of the plurality of financial instruments. A plurality of elements are shown on the display screen, each being associated with a different type of additional information supplemental of the limited amount of financial information. Each element is associated with a preferred remote data source chosen by the user. When a particular element is chosen by the user, additional information of the type associated with the particular element related to the chosen financial instrument is retrieved by constructing a uniform resource locator (URL) that combines a first financial instrument-independent URL portion that is specific to the preferred remote data source and a second financial instrument-specific URL portion that is specific to the chosen financial instrument.
US08150746B2
A global reconciliation software tool is provided to standardize reconciliation processes across various corporate lines of business. The reconciliation tool provides standard templates for entering transaction and account data. In this manner, open accounting items are more readily identified and reconciled. The software tool includes a plurality of components allowing for greater scalability and operability across various computer systems and accounting programs.
US08150745B2
In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a computer implemented method for journalizing financial information for a multi-company accounting system is provided. The method comprises creating a journal. Input detail lines of the financial data are entered to define the journal. The journal is released within the multi-company accounting system to limit changes to the input detail lines to define a released journal. Multi-company detail lines are added to the released journal including for a sum that is not zero of the debits and credits by GL date for a corresponding company of the multi-company group that is not the main company of the journal, the multi-company accounting system will automatically add a pair of the multi-company detail lines to balance monies owed between the main company and the corresponding company.
US08150740B1
An information system environment is described that, among other things, facilitates integration of electronic commerce and physical store front retailer selling channels. In some realizations, the system includes a shopper accessible kiosk co-located with a physical store front retailer and an electronic commerce information service accessible from locations external to the physical store front retailer. Both access inventory information supplied from a suitable information service. The shopper accessible kiosk allows a user thereof to access inventory information particular to the physical store front retailer, while the electronic commerce information service allows a user thereof to order items from out of stock of the physical store front retailer.
US08150733B2
An advertisement transmitted from an advertisement distributor terminal and advertisement distribution request information are mutually associated and stored in an advertisement distribution management device. Further, user information transmitted from the user terminal is added with identification information, and stored in the advertisement distribution management device. Thereafter, the advertisement distribution management device acquires user identification information in response to a Web site reading requirement transmitted from the user terminal, and extracts all category information belonged to by advertisements the distribution of which are approved by the user with reference to a user information storing means. Moreover, one piece of category information is determined out of the category information. Furthermore, one advertisement is determined out of the advertisements that belong to the category information, and the advertisement is transmitted to the user terminal.
US08150730B2
There is provided a method of selling in a shopping mall server. The method includes: displaying at least one sale content as sale information of a product selected to be sold; displaying a interested sale content selected by consumer among the sale contents; performing a payment transaction via a payment system when the selected product is determined to be purchased.
US08150726B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for linking organizational strategies to performing capabilities. Embodiments of the invention include determining what impact proposed capability changes in an initiative/program/project for an organizational strategy have on the organizational strategy's performance. Schema-based representations of organizational strategies and initiatives are used to provide a common vocabulary for describing changes to organizational strategies. Proposed changes can be evaluated against an impact/value contribution curve, potentially on an ongoing basis, to determine their benefit. Corrective action can be taken when operations/tactics are trend outside of specified metrics.
US08150723B2
A method and a system are provided for large-scale behavioral targeting for advertising over a network, such as the Internet. In one example, the system receives training data that is processed raw data of user behavior. The system generates selected features by performing feature selection on the training data. The system generates feature vectors from the selected features. The system initializes weights of a behavioral targeting model by scanning the feature vectors once. The system then updates the weights of the behavioral targeting model by scanning iteratively the feature vectors using a multiplicative recurrence.
US08150720B2
A method includes monitoring a system for fault conditions, determining an estimated energy loss based on the fault condition, determining an estimated product loss and/or sales loss based on the fault condition, and scheduling maintenance to correct the fault condition. Maintenance is schedule to correct the fault condition prior to the energy loss and the product loss exceeding maintenance costs.
US08150713B2
Computer-implemented systems, program code, and related methods are provided. The systems, program code, and methods can be employed to analyze the effectiveness of pharmaceutical treatments for medical conditions utilizing real time prescription compliance records. Information related to medical history of a patient can be reviewed while simultaneously reviewing prescription compliance records for the same patient. Trends in target and non-target medical parameters can be identified and correlated with the prescription compliance records to determine the effectiveness of a pharmaceutical treatment on target and non-target medical parameters that various compliance and prescription levels.
US08150709B2
An integrated point of care medication administration system comprises a point of care medication administration system including an interface for communicating with the at least one repository and information sources and including a processor. The processor uses the information and the interface in automatically acquiring for a particular patient, data representing particular patient parameters and laboratory test results associated with a particular individual medication in response to user initiation of an order for the particular individual medication to be administered to the particular patient. A display device presents at least one display image indicating acquired particular patient parameters and laboratory test results of the particular patient and identifying a particular patient parameter or laboratory test result needing to be acquired prior to administration of the particular individual medication to the particular patient.
US08150705B2
Systems and method of identifying shipping anomalies are provided. One anomaly detection module is configured to access data related to items in a delivery environment and determine the occurrence of anomalies based on the accessed data. The detected anomalies are evaluated with other accessed data to identify source, destination or routing errors and to correct same.
US08150701B2
An apparatus for encoding and decoding an audio signal and method thereof are disclosed, by which compatibility with a player of a general mono or stereo audio signal can be provided in coding an audio signal and by which spatial information for a multi-channel audio signal can be stored or transmitted without a presence of an auxiliary data area. The present invention includes extracting side information embedded in non-recognizable component of audio signal components and decoding the audio signal using the extracted side information.
US08150697B2
A method of managing systems in a managed network can include storing configuration information corresponding to at least one managed system and automatically generating a grammar and a speech dialog for each managed system using the configuration information. User speech selecting a managed system can be received over a telephone call. The user speech can be recognized to identify the selected managed system. A grammar and speech dialog for the selected managed system can be loaded. Accordingly, the user can interact with one or more managed systems using the speech dialog. The user speech can be processed using the grammar.
US08150691B2
During the replaying of audio data stored in a, which audio data corresponds to text data from a text composed of words, the replaying of the audio data in forward and reverse modes is controlled. Starting from particular momentary replay position in the audio data, a backward jump over a return distance corresponding to the length of about at least two words, to a target position, is automatically initiated for the replaying of the audio data in the reverse mode. Then, starting from the particular target position, a replay of the audio data in the forward sequence for just one part of the return distance is undertaken.
US08150684B2
A scalable decoder capable of preventing degradation of the quality of the decoded signal in a disappeared data interpolation in band scalable coding. A core layer decoding section (101) acquires a core layer decoded signal and narrow band spectrum information by decoding. A narrow band spectrum slope computing section (103) computes the slope of an attenuation line of a narrow band spectrum from the narrow band spectrum information. An extended layer disappearance detection section (104) detects whether extended layer coded data has disappeared or not. An extended layer decoding section (105) normally decodes the extended layer coded data. If the extended layer disappears, a parameter required for decoding is interpolated and synthesizes an interpolation decoded signal by the interpolated parameter. The gain of the interpolated data is controlled according to the results of the computation, by the narrow band spectrum slope computing section (103).
US08150679B2
An apparatus, and an associated method, detects spam and other fraudulent messages sent to a recipient station. The textual portion of a received message is analyzed to determine whether the message includes errors made by non-native language speakers when authoring a text message. A text analysis engine analyzes the text using rules sets that identify grammatical errors made by non-native language speakers, usage errors made by non-native language speakers, and other errors.
US08150677B2
Many machine translation scenarios involve the generation of a language translation rule set based on parallel training corpuses (e.g., sentences in a first language and word-for-word translations into a second language.) However, the translation of a source corpus in a source language to a target corpus in a target language involves at least two aspects: selecting elements of the target language to match the elements of the source corpus, and ordering the target elements according to the semantic organization of the source corpus and the grammatic rules of the target language. The breadth of generalization of the translation rules derived from the training may be improved, while retaining contextual information, by formulating language order templates that specify orderings of small sets of target elements according to target element types. These language order templates may be represented with varying degrees of association with the alignment rules derived from the training in order to improve the scope of target elements to which the ordering rules and alignment rules may be applied.
US08150676B1
Method and apparatus for automatically generating text in a human language using a template. The template may include at least one grammatical tag that implicates at least one actor in a sentence in the template. Human-language text may be determined to fill in the tag based on a characteristic of the actor, such as, for example, the actor's gender, whether the actor is singular or plural, or some other characteristic of the actor.
US08150675B1
A method, apparatus and computer program product for emulating a mobile network for an emulated mobile device is presented. A mobile device is emulated with a mobile device emulator. Network data requested by the mobile device emulator is acquired and stored in a mobile network data buffer. The data requested by the mobile device emulator is provided from the mobile network data buffer in accordance with predetermined network conditions, the predetermined network conditions selected to emulate a mobile network that would be utilized by a mobile device being emulated.
US08150674B2
A platform for the automated testing of event driven software applications is provided. A source environment is replicated to a target environment. The target environment includes a target system. A test case is defined with a target system, specific attributes and verification information. The attributes of the test case include the target system. The test case is fired. An event is simulated for the test case based on the target system and the specific attributes. The simulated event is transmitted to the target environment. The results of the test case being fired are determined based on verification information. The results are recorded to a data store.
US08150671B2
A simulation tool includes a printed circuit board assembly or PCBA having a built-in USB communication port and a microcontroller. A host computer transmits user-selected configuration data to the microcontroller, which transforms the data into solid-state signals. These are provided to a power master module in an electrical bench or a test vehicle. A method of simulating a low-current ignition switch that is usable with the PMM includes transmitting user-selectable configuration data from a host computer to a PCBA having a microcontroller, transforming the configuration data into a set of solid-state signals simulating a desired set of power mode parameters, and transmitting the solid-state signals to the PMM to thereby simulate an operation of the low-current ignition switch.
US08150661B2
A design support system generates a passing point through which a deformable linear structure in a virtual space according to the instruction of a user via an input device in the edition process and when generating a passing point of type, based on a component such as part or the like in the virtual space by the edition process, automatically generates and manages passing point information including the passing direction of the passing point to be generated, on the basis of the designated component as the reference. A route through which the linear structure should pass is generated using the passing point information of each passing point.
US08150660B2
The present invention is directed to methods, systems, and apparatuses for automatically determining an object type in a computer automated design application, and more particularly to automatically determining and drawing the pipe type of a pipe in a sprinkler system CAD drawing. The present invention allows a user to make various pipe parameter choices and decisions up front, and to then draw each individual pipe without having to each time make the numerous selections and decisions required to determine that pipe's proper type. The present invention may also be used to determine other component types in non-piping related CAD designs, such as electrical wiring, for example.
US08150653B2
A method of normalizing sensor readings includes receiving a reading from a sensor configured to detect light reflected from a substrate; and normalizing the sensor reading based on a function of sensed mass level on the substrate. A processor for implementing the method is also provided.
US08150649B2
There is described a method for operating an automation system which comprises at least two measuring modules, each connected to a higher order processing unit in order to communicate therewith. The higher order processing unit is informed of an event that is recorded by one of the at least two measuring modules. The processing unit then informs any available measuring module of the event.
US08150648B2
A delay setting data generator generates delay setting data based on rate data. A variable delay circuit delays the test pattern data by a delay time determined by the delay setting data with reference to a predefined unit amount of delay. First rate data designates the period of the test pattern data with a precision determined by the unit amount of delay. Second rate data designates the period of the test pattern data with a precision higher than that determined by the unit amount of delay. The delay setting data generator outputs a first value and a second value in a time division manner at a ratio determined by the second rate data, the first and second values being determined by the first rate data.
US08150647B2
An electric device includes a plurality of circuits that operate in synchronization with a clock signal, a plurality of flip-flops each of which acquires a data value of a signal from a corresponding one of the plurality of circuits in synchronization with the clock signal and stores the acquired data value therein until receiving a next clock signal, where each flip-flop enters into a clock-disabled state, when receiving a signal at a disable terminal thereof, in which the acquired data value continues to be stored in the flip-flop, a timing controller that outputs a hold signal to the disable terminal of each flip-flop at a timing at which a corresponding circuit is desired to be diagnosed, and a plurality of diagnosis lines that are respectively provided in correspondence with the plurality of flip-flops, each diagnosis line outputting as diagnosis data a data value stored in a corresponding flip-flop.
US08150645B2
Measurement of the uncertainty used for quality control typically involves a plurality of factors. When the uncertainty exceeds a clinical permissible value, time is required for a medical technologist to investigate and to determine the factor causing the uncertainty. It is thus beneficial to automatically investigate factors in complicated uncertainty, particularly from the view point of reagents and samples which are subject to quality change and that are prone to affect the measurement quality. Quality control samples having a plurality of concentration levels are measured to calculate the average, coefficient of variation, standard deviation, and other numerical values. When quality control samples having n (n≧2) different concentration levels are measured, variation patterns determine the factor causing the uncertainty, the factor being specific to each of 3n different combinations of variation patterns.
US08150632B2
A method for selecting an operative component to combine first and second immiscible phases includes selecting a first operative component and computing the value of the free energy of mixing for it and the first and second immiscible phases. If the computed free energy is greater than zero, the sigma profile of the first candidate is mutated to define a hypothetical sigma profile of a candidate substitute operative component. The free energy of mixing for the substitute and the first and second immiscible phases is computed. The mutation and computation are repeated for a predetermined number of repetitions or until the free energy of the candidate substitute component and the first and second phases is less than zero, whichever first occurs. A material exhibiting a sigma profile corresponding to that of the candidate substitute producing a free energy of solvation less than zero is selected.
US08150631B2
A method including providing an initial test sample including a primary material and a relatively smaller amount of at least one adventitious material; combining the initial test sample with a standard addition of at least one adventitious material to form a final test sample, wherein the standard addition has a known amount of genetically modified adventitious material; and analyzing the final test sample to determine the % GMO of the primary material and the % GMO of the adventitious material.
US08150616B2
A navigation apparatus mounted in a subject vehicle designates an inference destination point based on historical data and calculates a reference route to the inference destination point. If the subject vehicle deviates from the reference route before arriving at the inference destination point, the navigation apparatus records a shift route until the subject vehicle returns to the reference route. When the subject vehicle returns to the reference route, the shift route from a deviation point to a return point is recorded as a difference route.
US08150613B2
A technique for determining shifted cargo on a vehicle is described. A method realization of this technique comprises the steps of acquiring data from a positional sensor and determining a change in a balance of loads upon wheels of the vehicle. Shifted cargo is determined if the change in load balance does not correspond to the positional data. Furthermore, a device and system suited for carrying out the method are provided.
US08150608B2
A commuter groups service (CGS) allows commuters to join commuter groups so that they are able to socialize while commuting. Through the commuter groups, the users may share commuting routes, traffic updates, road conditions, and other information. Group members may arrange car pools, short term riding arrangements, and may anonymously or directly contact each other. The CGS may collect group member position information, e.g. GPS information, to enable the CGS to calculate traffic conditions and to select location specific information for group members. The system may include an on-line service accessible through a computer or wireless networking device. The user may log into the CGS, create or modify a user profile, and join groups of their choosing. Groups may be associated with specific events or with getting to/from work. Commuter groups may be formed for commuters that use private vehicles and/or public transportation.
US08150604B2
A control module and method for controlling an engine operation includes a runtime module that determines a previous run period, a fuel mass module that determines a fuel mass during the previous run period, a spark fouling condition estimation module that determines a spark fouling condition based on the fuel mass during the previous run period and an engine operation module that controls the engine in response to the spark fouling condition.
US08150598B2
An engine controller capable of optimizing both the air-fuel ratio and the ignition timing to provide HC-minimized performance under the relevant driving conditions (environmental conditions) in order to minimize the amount of HC emitted from an engine at the time of start-up (before catalyst activation) is provided. The engine controller includes: air-fuel ratio control means for controlling the air-fuel ratio to be within a predetermined range (for example, 14.5 to 16.5) when the engine is operated at a certain driving condition (for example, in a state in which the catalyst is not activated such as the time of starting a cooler, or idling time); and ignition timing correction means for correcting the ignition timing to the retard side when the engine is operated at the certain driving condition and the air-fuel ratio is within the predetermined range.
US08150596B2
An engine control system comprises a fuel diagnostic module and a fuel control module. The fuel diagnostic module determines a pressure-ratio difference average (PRDA) based on a pressure in at least one cylinder and determines a cetane number (CN) of a fuel based on the PRDA. The fuel control module actuates fuel injectors based on the CN.
US08150580B2
In a case where a computing period of a torque ripple compensation section which computes current compensation values Δid and Δiq to be caused to flow into a motor in order to prevent occurrence of a torque ripple in the motor differs from a control period of a current control section which controls a feedback to the motor in such a way that current command values i*d and i*q additionally provided with the current compensation values Δid and Δiq flow into the motor, the microcomputer sets the current compensation values Δid and Δiq to zero when a rotor angular velocity ωre of the motor is equal to or greater than a first threshold value ω1.
US08150578B2
In a vehicle electronic system including a plurality of LSI boards, LSIS which cannot control a user interface such as image or audio directly issue a command for notifying a vehicle occupant of its own information via networks and an information control LSI receives the request to output a message. A mechanism for setting priority of processings regarding LSI status information notification to be lower than that of an apparatus control processing is provided in each of LSIs and networks so that real-time property of the apparatus control processing is maintained. In order to reduce network load regarding the LSI status information notification, a message content itself is stored in a memory in a vehicle information processing unit previously so that only an ID for identifying the message content is transmitted.
US08150572B2
An electric power generation control apparatus mounted to a motor vehicle predicts an operational point of an internal combustion engine in the future based on driving path information supplied from a navigation system mounted to the motor vehicle. The apparatus further predicts an increased amount of fuel consumption which is caused by electric power generation of an alternator based on the predicted operational point of the internal combustion engine. The apparatus sets a reference value of an electric power economy index which is an amount of fuel consumption per electric power generation. On driving the motor vehicle on a path, the apparatus sequentially predicts the operational point of the internal combustion engine, and controls the alternator so that the actual electric power economy index becomes equal to the reference value based on the operational point of the internal combustion engine predicted.
US08150565B2
A method and device for aiding the piloting of an aircraft while respecting a time of arrival constraint at a first waypoint during a phase of descent. The method includes calculating an instant of arrival of the aircraft at an intermediate waypoint, in such a way that an estimated latest time of arrival at the first waypoint, corresponding to a minimum speed profile, occurs later by a predetermined first margin than the time of arrival constraint; determining a first speed profile between a current position of the aircraft and the intermediate waypoint, such that the intermediate waypoint is crossed at the calculated instant of arrival; determining a second speed profile, such that the first waypoint is crossed within the time of arrival constraint, starting from the intermediate waypoint at the calculated instant of arrival; and piloting the aircraft according to the first and then second speed profiles.
US08150564B2
The invention concerns a device (1) comprising means (6A, 6B, 6n) which determine for each of the engines of the aircraft, an individual minimum flexible temperature and means (8) which determine a global minimum flexible temperature based on said individual minimum temperatures, enabling a maximum available thrust to be calculated.
US08150553B2
A mass flow controller includes a thermal mass flow sensor in combination with a pressure sensor to provide a mass flow controller that is relatively insensitive to fluctuations in input pressure. The pressure sensor and thermal sensor respectively provide signals to an electronic controller indicating the measured inlet flow rate and the pressure within the dead volume. The electronic controller employs the measured pressure to compensate the measured inlet flow rate and to thereby produce a compensated measure of the outlet flow rate, which may be used to operate a mass flow controller control valve.
US08150538B2
A triggering and activating device and an automated process coupling two reciprocally activatable monitoring devices or operational-intervention devices. A first synchronizing module synchronizes transmissible operational-intervention parameters of a lookup table with operational devices assigned to the first monitoring device, and a second synchronizing module synchronizes storable threshold-value parameters for activating the second monitoring device. Physical measuring parameters of intervention events are detected and transmitted to the activating device, an intervention-event stack being correspondingly incremented by a first filter module based on the physical measuring parameters and a dynamically implemented weighting of the lookup table. By the first filter module, based on the synchronized threshold parameters and the intervention-event stack, corresponding activating parameters are generated and, if the activating parameters exceed the predetermined threshold value, the second monitoring device is activated by an activating unit and a corresponding activating pulse.
US08150536B2
An active fixation cardiac lead is disclosed that includes an elongated lead body having opposed proximal and distal end portions and an interior lumen that extends therethrough. A rotatable fixation element is operatively associated with the distal end portion of the lead body and a tubular torque-transmitting member extends through the interior lumen of the lead body. The tubular torque-transmitting member has a distal end connected to the fixation element and a proximal end connected to a rotatable actuator operatively associated with the proximal end portion of the lead body. Preferably, the rotatable actuator is part of a connector assembly that is operatively associated with the proximal end portion of the lead body.
US08150531B2
A therapy adjustment received from a patient is associated with a sensed patient posture state. Thereafter, a stability indication can be associated with the sensed posture state to indicate that a therapy adjustment specific to the sensed posture state was received and implemented. In addition, therapy parameter values associated with related patient posture states are updated based on the therapy adjustment. In some examples, only the related posture states that are not associated with respective stability indications are updated based on the therapy adjustment. The absence of a stability indication indicates that the patient has not inputted a therapy adjustment specific to the respective related posture state. As a result, the therapy parameter values associated with the related posture states that are not associated with stability indications may float until the patient adjusts the therapy parameter value associated with the respective related posture state.
US08150519B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for bilateral renal neuromodulation, e.g., via a pulsed electric field, via a stimulation electric field, via localized drug delivery, via high frequency ultrasound, via thermal techniques, etc. Such neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, neuromodulation is applied to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. In some embodiments, such neuromodulation is performed in a bilateral fashion. Bilateral renal neuromodulation may provide enhanced therapeutic effect in some patients as compared to renal neuromodulation performed unilaterally, i.e., as compared to renal neuromodulation performed on neural tissue innervating a single kidney.
US08150518B2
A method and apparatus for treatment of heart failure, hypertension and renal failure by stimulating the renal nerve. The goal of therapy is to reduce sympathetic activity of the renal nerve. Therapy is accomplished by at least partially blocking the nerve with drug infusion or electrostimulation. Apparatus can be permanently implanted or catheter based.
US08150517B2
An active implantable medical device with RF telemetry comprising subcutaneous ECG electrodes. The case (12) of the device comprises electrodes (20, 22, 24, 26) for collecting subcutaneous ECG signals coming into contact with the patient's tissues surrounding the case after implantation, as well as an RF telemetry antenna (30). These ECG electrodes are surface electrodes and the RF antenna is a surface antenna. The case (12) presents a significantly planar face (16) for mounting the ECG electrodes in an arrangement where these electrodes are significantly coplanar and spaced apart with each other, and receiving the surface RF antenna. A platelet (18) mounted onto the case comprises an insulating substrate comprising on its free face, conductive deposits (20, 22, 24, 26, 30) forming the ECG electrodes and the RF antenna.
US08150513B2
A system and method for monitoring left ventricular (LV) lateral wall motion and for optimizing cardiac pacing intervals based on left ventricular lateral wall motion is provided. The system includes an implantable or external cardiac stimulation device in association with a set of leads including a left ventricular epicardial or coronary sinus lead equipped with a motion sensor electromechanically coupled to the lateral wall of the left ventricle. The device receives and processes wall motion sensor signals to determine a signal characteristic indicative of systolic LV lateral wall motion or acceleration. An automatic pacing interval optimization method evaluates the LV lateral wall motion during varying pacing interval settings, including atrial-ventricular intervals and inter-ventricular intervals and selects the pacing interval setting(s) that correspond to LV lateral wall motion associated with improved cardiac synchrony and hemodynamic performance.
US08150508B2
An implanted electrical signal generator delivers a novel exogenous electrical signal to a vagus nerve of a patient. The vagus nerve conducts action potentials originating in the heart and lungs to various structures of the brain, thereby eliciting a vagal evoked potential in those structures. The exogenous electrical signal simulates and/or augments the endogenous afferent activity originating from the heart and/or lungs of the patient, thereby enhancing the vagal evoked potential in the various structures of the brain. The exogenous electrical signal includes a series of electrical pulses organized or patterned into a series of microbursts including 2 to 20 pulses each. No pulses are sent between the microbursts. Each of the microbursts may be synchronized with the QRS wave portion of an ECG. The enhanced vagal evoked potential in the various structures of the brain may be used to treat various medical conditions including epilepsy and depression.
US08150498B2
A system including a processor and/or processor system can be used to identify landmarks in image data. The landmarks can be used to further identify anatomical targets. The landmarks and/or targets can be used to create a plan for a procedure, such as a surgical procedure. The processor can be used to determine the anatomical landmarks that can be used to identify anatomical targets in image data of a subject, even if the anatomical targets are indistinguishable in the image data.
US08150496B2
Methods for diagnosing vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque using optical coherence tomography to measure tissue optical properties, including backreflectance of heterogeneous layers, such as plaque cap, lipid pool composition and macrophage presence. Methods also include measurement of spatially and temporally dependent reflectance, measurement of multiple wavelength reflectance, low coherence interferometry, polarization and quantification of macrophage content.
US08150490B2
An apparatus determines an injection point for targeted drug delivery into a patient's body by injection of the drug into a vessel feeding a target area including a target. To provide the interventionalist with an objective and quantitative assessment of potential drug injection points instead of letting him rely on his subjective impression from the visual inspection of DSA sequences, a processor (4) includes an identification routine (41) for identification of a vessel tree topology of vessels feeding the target area, a flow determination routine (42) for determining the percentage of drug material delivered to said target after injection into different potential injection points in the vessel tree, a selection routine (43) for selecting as optimal injection point the potential injection point resulting in the highest percentage of drug delivery to the target.
US08150489B2
The invention relates to a system and method for measuring bioelectrical signals of a user. Furthermore the invention relates to a computer program for measuring bioelectrical signals of a user. In order to provide a technique for measuring bioelectrical signals with reduced motion artefacts a new method is provided, comprising the steps of determining the displacement of an electrode, the electrode being adapted for measuring a bioelectrical signal, and adjusting the position of said electrode depending on the determined displacement. The present invention can be used in any system for measuring bioelectrical signals, which uses electrodes, e.g. in any ECG measurement system. With the reduction of artefacts according to the present invention the performance of all those systems can be substantially increased.
US08150488B2
Systems and methods for minimizing or eliminating transient non-glucose related signal noise due to non-glucose rate limiting phenomenon such as ischemia, pH changes, temperatures changes, and the like. The system monitors a data stream from a glucose sensor and detects signal artifacts that have higher amplitude than electronic or diffusion-related system noise. The system replaces some or the entire data stream continually or intermittently including signal estimation methods that particularly address transient signal artifacts. The system is also capable of detecting the severity of the signal artifacts and selectively applying one or more signal estimation algorithm factors responsive to the severity of the signal artifacts, which includes selectively applying distinct sets of parameters to a signal estimation algorithm or selectively applying distinct signal estimation algorithms.
US08150486B2
The device has a quenchable superconductor (1), a first metallic member (2) electrically coupled with the quenchable superconductor (1), a second metallic member (3) electrically coupled to the first metallic member (2). The first metallic member (2) is thermally and electrically coupled with the quenchable superconductor (1) due to their direct surface contact. The superconducting device has a second metallic member (3) with a resistive element (4) and an electrical coupling (5) with the first metallic member (2). The resistive element (4) of the second metallic member (3) is thermally decoupled from the first metallic member (2). The first metallic member (2) has a substantially higher electrical resistance compared to the second metallic member (3).
US08150485B2
A casing for a portable terminal is provided. The casing includes a first portion configured to replace a rear cover of a portable terminal so as to provide an exterior surface of the portable terminal, a second portion connected to the first portion, and an electronic component located at the second portion, the electronic component being connectable to the portable terminal to provide at least one function associated with the portable terminal.
US08150478B2
A method for communication includes modulating data in a wireless communication terminal to produce an aggregated-spectrum signal, which includes at least first and second signals in respective first and second spectral bands. The modulated data is transmitted in the first and second signals at respective first and second power levels. The second power level is adjusted separately from the first power level. In some embodiments, one or more instructions to set the first power level are received at the wireless communication terminal, and the first power level is set separately from setting the second power level based on the instructions.
US08150475B2
A method for managing information signal distribution in a communication system (100) includes transmitting a signal containing information configured according to a first media format from a first communication device (104) to a second communication device (110). At least one of the two devices (104, 110) monitors at least one operating characteristic of a depletable power supply (318) sourcing electrical energy for the second device (110). When a level of the monitored operating characteristic falls below a predetermined threshold, the first communication device (104) outputs the information to the second communication device (110) according to a second media format that requires less power consumption to process than does the first media format. Alternatively, under such circumstances, the first communication device (104) may output the information to a media output device other than the second communication device (110).
US08150474B2
An in-vehicle handsfree apparatus connects a handsfree profile (HFP) with a cellular phone, and then connects a service discovery profile (SDF) with the cellular phone to thereby designate a compliance state of the cellular phone with respect to a phone book access profile (PBAP) as a PBAP compliance flag. Then, when a user performs an operation to require an all item transfer to transfer all items of phone book data registered in the cellular phone, the handsfree apparatus refers to the PBAP compliance flag to thereby select and connect either the PBAP or an object push profile (OPP) with the cellular phone.
US08150471B2
In a network monitoring system according, first, a data acquisition section acquires a plurality of packets flowing on a network. Then, a data analysis section acquires action explanation information for explaining a single action from the plural packets acquired by the data acquisition section. Then, a display-information generation section displays the single action on the network on the single screen based on the action explanation information acquired by this data analysis section.
US08150470B2
A system and method for improved data transmission on a wireless link to a remote receiving node includes a communication device for converting packets to RF at a physical data rate, an antenna apparatus having a plurality of antenna configurations for transmitting the RF, and a processor for selecting the antenna configuration and the physical data rate based on whether the remote receiving node indicated reception of the data transmission. The processor may determine a table of success ratios for each antenna configuration and may rank each antenna configuration by the success ratio. The processor may transmit with an unused antenna configuration to probe the unused antenna configuration and update the table of success ratios. Similarly, the processor may maintain a table of effective user data rates, rank each physical data rate by the effective user data rate and probe unused physical data rates to update the table.
US08150462B2
Field devices for measuring a pressure or a fill level are connected, by way of a cable connection or a radio connection, to stationary evaluation- and display devices. To provide flexible parameterization or flexible measured-value inquiry, a connection box for the wireless transmission of signals between the field device and the control device is stated, which connection box comprises an interface connection and a radio interface. For the purpose of transmitting the signals, the interface connection and the radio interface are coupled to each other so as to be able to communicate.
US08150452B2
System and method for providing a high speed connection to a memory medium of a mobile device. The mobile device may be a mobile phone or other type of portable electronic device. The memory medium may be removable and/or may be flash memory, as desired. The mobile device may include a USB hub that provides a direct high speed connection between an external device and a memory medium of the mobile device. The USB hub may also provide a connection (possibly high speed) between the external device and the processor of the mobile device. The mobile device may also include a high speed connection between the processor of the mobile device and the memory medium.
US08150448B2
A method and apparatus for calculating an initial transmission power in a mobile telecommunications system is disclosed, the system comprising a network of a plurality of cells and at least one user equipment device. The user equipment device receives broadcast system information, and measures a signal power. An initial transmission power is calculated in a lowest logical layer of the system defined as a protocol stack, using the received information and measured power.
US08150447B2
A method and arrangement is provided for adjusting the transmission power of radio signals sent over a radio link from a second node to be received by a first node reducing the transmission power consumption and/or optimizing the radio system capacity. The first node maintains a quality target of the link by generating a SIR target value by means of running an outer loop power control, which SIR target value is used for generating a power adjustment command to be sent to the second node for adjusting the transmission power such that a power level adequate for providing the quality target of the link is achieved. The method comprises the step of detecting an abrupt change in the conditions of the radio signals received from the second node, generating a temporary SIR target value, and replacing the SIR target value generated by the outer loop power control with the temporary SIR target value when generating the power adjustment command to be sent to the second node for adjusting the transmission power.
US08150439B2
Techniques are described for providing location-based information and functionality to people and computing devices in various ways. In at least some situations, the techniques include enabling multiple people in a common geographic area to interact in various ways, such as via devices capable of communications (e.g., cellular telephones, computing devices with wired and/or wireless communications capabilities, etc.). In addition, the techniques include enabling the creation and maintenance of location-based virtual groups of users (also referred to as “clouds”), such as for users of mobile and/or fixed-location devices. Such clouds may enable various types of interactions between group members, and may be temporary and/or mobile.
US08150438B2
Within a two way radio frequency communication system, a repeater transmits an identity of a rest channel when transmitting during an active communication call on a channel other than the rest channel. A subscriber unit communicating within the active communication, receives the identity of the rest channel, leaves the active communication; and initiates a new communication on the rest channel.
US08150436B2
A radio-wave propagation characteristic prediction assisting system includes a storage section, an attribute information input section, and an output section. The storage section stores attribute information of a region and reference information useful for predicting a radio-wave propagation characteristic in the region in association with each other. The attribute information input section inputs attribute information of a region whose radio-wave propagation characteristic is to be predicted. The output section searches information stored in the storage section to specify a region having an attribute which matches with the attribute information input by the attribute information input section, and outputs reference information associated with the specified region.
US08150431B2
A method for managing service messages on a mobile device, the method including receiving at least one service message, assigning a priority to the at least one service message, arranging a plurality of messages and the at least one service message in an electronic mail inbox based on a priority of the plurality of messages and the priority of the at least one service message, the at least one service message having a higher priority than the plurality of messages, and displaying the plurality of messages and the at least one service message in the electronic mail inbox in order of their priority.
US08150408B2
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for grouping pilot signals and using such grouping for pilot strength reporting and set management in multi-carrier communication systems. In one embodiment, an access network may assign a group identifier (or “group ID”) to each of the pilot signals associated with the sector, e.g., based on the coverage areas of the pilot signals, and transmit the pilot signals with the corresponding group IDs. PN offset may be used as the group ID. An access terminal may group the pilot signals received into one or more pilot groups in accordance with their group IDs, and select a representative pilot signals from each pilot group for pilot strength reporting. The access terminal may also use the pilot grouping to perform effective set management.
US08150405B2
A communication device which can reduce amount of control information, limit interference with other traffics, and prevent an increase in current consumption. In this device, a separation unit (105) separates radio resource allocation information, specific section information and transmission parameter information from a received signal. A specific section information control unit (106) selects a sub-carrier designated by the specific section information to allocate data to be transmitted to the own unit. A channel quality measuring unit (107) uses a pilot signal to measure the channel quality of the selected sub-carrier. A channel quality information creating unit (108) creates channel quality information indicating the measurement results input from the channel quality measuring unit (107). A multiplexing unit (109) multiplexes the transmission signal with the channel quality information.
US08150402B2
A method for planning a cellular mobile telecommunications network includes at least one network cell and is intended to provide network services to users located in the network cell. The method includes: a) initializing, for the at least one network cell, a service area and a transmission power for each user equipment; b) estimating a total power received by the at least one network cell from user equipment located in the service area and using the at least one network service; c) based on the estimated total received power, varying the transmission powers required to user equipment located in the service area in order to reach a target quality of service constraint for the at least one network service; d) iterating the steps b) and c) until a stability condition is reached wherein the transmission power variation for at least a predetermined fraction of the user equipment is lower than a predetermined threshold; e) calculating a total received power corresponding to the transmission powers at the end of step d); f) calculating an uplink load factor corresponding to the total received power calculated in step e); g) ascertaining whether the calculated uplink load factor is lower than a maximum uplink load factor, and, in the negative case: h) restricting said service area; and i) repeating the steps from b) to g).
US08150397B2
Some embodiments are implemented in a communication system that includes a first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication system that includes a Femtocell access point (FAP) and a network controller that can communicatively couple the FAP to the first wireless communication system. In some embodiments, the network controller can communicatively couple to the first wireless communication system through a UTRAN Iu interface. Some embodiments provide a resource management method that determines that a user equipment (UE) has roved in a region serviced by the FAP. The FAP includes a generic access resource control (GA-RC) protocol sub-layer. The method creates a separate GA-RC state dedicated to the UE in the GA-RC protocol sub-layer. The method also sets the GA-RC state dedicated to the UE to a deregistered state to indicate that the UE is not registered to use the services of the second wireless communication system.
US08150387B2
A communication device such as a smart phone is enabled for remotely controlling set-top boxes (STBs) over Internet protocol networks using an applet running on the communication device. Authentication from within a multimedia content distribution network may be achieved by verifying that a network identifier associated with the communication device is associated with an account that has granted access to the smart phone and that is associated with the controlled STB. A viewing pane on the communication device permits a user to remotely view content received on or available to the controlled STB.
US08150384B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided that may be implemented in and/or with a mobile device to allow gesture based remote control of one or more controllable devices.
US08150383B2
An arrangement and method in a wireless communication network provides users with full control of service management, defines how a user can enter or leave services, and defines dependencies between services. A mobile terminal initiates establishment of a group and creates a unique groupID. The terminal sends invitations to other terminals to join the group and includes the unique groupID and a service feature tag for a desired service. The terminal will not request a service if it is incompatible with a service already running. Terminals that receive invitations store the groupID and service feature tags. These parameters are used to send acceptances or rejections, and to join later or leave a service.
US08150373B1
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and computer-storage media for suppressing Short Message Service (SMS) communications from a Short Message peer-to-peer (SMPP) client. A selected response algorithm is provided to the SMPP client from a server. A threshold of undesired SMS communications are detected from a SPAM originator that is communicated to the server by way of the SMPP client. A challenge is communicated to the SMPP client from the server. When a challenge response is not received at the server, communications received from the SMPP client are throttled. When the challenge response is received at the server and the challenge response is incorrect, communications received from the SMPP client are also throttled. When the received challenge response is correct, a SPAM originator source identifier is communicated to the SMPP client in order for the SMPP client to throttle communications received from the SPAM originator.
US08150359B2
A multiple frequency band hybrid receiver includes a plurality of input terminals to which different frequency band signals are respectively inputted; a plurality of mixers connected to the plurality of input terminals sequentially, receiving the different frequency band signals respectively, and down-converting frequencies of the received frequency band signals to predetermined frequencies; an output terminal outputting baseband signals. Each mixer receives a signal from an input terminal connected thereto or another mixer. One of the plurality of mixers receives the lowest frequency band signal, converts a frequency of the received signal to a baseband frequency, and provides a signal having the baseband frequency to the output terminal. The other mixers each down-convert a frequency of a received signal to a frequency band of a signal which is inputted into another mixer.
US08150358B2
A method is disclosed for performing dual mode image rejection calibration in a receiver. A first image correction factor is acquired using a first known signal associated with a first signal band during a startup mode. The first image correction factor has a plurality of bits including most significant bits (MSBs) and least significant bits (LSBs). The LSBs of the first image correction factor are adjusted incrementally during a normal operation mode. A radio frequency (RF) signal associated with the first signal band is received using the first image correction factor during the normal operation mode.
US08150353B2
An amplifier unit to be placed in an antenna mast and belonging to a two-way radio system. The amplifier unit comprises two front stages for implementing diversity, each front stage comprising a receiving branch with an amplifier and a transmitting branch including a transmit bandpass filter. In both front stages the output of the receiving branch and the input of the transmitting branch are coupled together and further to a base station (BT1, BT2) by an intermediate cable. There is at least one pair of antenna radiators. One radiator of the pair is coupled to the input of the receiving branch of the first front stage and the output of the transmitting branch of the second front stage, and the other radiator to the input of the receiving branch of the second front stage and the output of the transmitting branch of the first front stage. Then, the feedback path of the signal amplified in the receiving branch circulates for the part of both front stages via both radiators and the airspace. Because of isolation between the radiators, the attenuation of the feedback path increases, in which case the transmit bandpass filters can be made smaller and cheaper.
US08150350B2
A radio frequency transceiver (102), including a transmitter (104), a duplexer (108) and a direct-conversion receiver (106) including a mixer (140 and 141). An IIP2 calibration system (170), coupled to the transceiver, includes an IIP2 coefficient estimator (172) for calculating an estimate of second-order distortion intermodulation distortion, and an IIP2 controller (174) for adjusting an IIP2 tuning port of the mixer in the receiver to minimize second-order distortion intermodulation distortion in the receiver that may be caused by the receiver receiving a transmit RF signal leaking through the duplexer.
US08150340B2
A heating control system, monitoring system and predictive maintenance radio sensor system. The heating control system comprises at least one temperature transducer element having a downstream voltage transformer; an energy storage device which is electrically coupled to the at least one voltage transformer; a logic assembly coupled to the energy storage device and having sequence control; a data transmission unit coupled to the logic assembly; and a sensor, coupled to the logic assembly, for measuring ambient parameters.
US08150336B2
A polar transmitter and a method of linearizing a polar transmitter. In one embodiment, the transmitter includes: (1) a transmit chain having a predistorter configured to employ first amplitude and phase compensation lookup tables to carry out predistortion in the transmit chain, (2) a receiver coupled to the transmit chain and (3) predistortion compensation circuitry associated with the receiver and configured to update second amplitude and phase compensation lookup tables associated therewith based on at least one signal from the transmit chain, the values in the updated second amplitude and phase compensation lookup tables thereby available for subsequent predistortion.
US08150332B2
The disclosure relates to a method of communication between a control device and an operator device, including the generation of a control signal and transmission of the control signal, where the control signal is generated in the form of a symmetric signal and is then filtered by the transmission system.
US08150330B2
Aspects of a greedy search user group selection scheme with range reduction for FDD multiuser MIMO downlink transmission with finite-rate channel state information feedback are provided. The method may comprise receiving feedback information via a communication channel for a plurality of users in a frequency division duplex system. The system capacity may be maximized using the feedback information based on a signal from a single user within a reduced search range or based on the signal from the single user and at least one other signal from another user within a remaining portion of the search range. The feedback information may comprise quantized gain and/or direction of the channel state information of the users.
US08150322B2
A slave device that complies with Bluetooth communication protocol includes a communication module, a memory and a RF output module. The communication module can be operated to generate a driving signal. The memory stores an access code that complies with Bluetooth communication protocol and is electrically connected to the communication module. The memory is configured to determine whether or not to output the access code according to the driving signal output by the communication module. The RF output module is electrically connected to the memory so as to receive and output the access code.
US08150316B2
A circuit is implemented for a near field communication (NFC) system which includes a communication partner appliance. The circuit is a data carrier which includes activators, a receiver, a detector, and a processor. The activators activate a first or second communication mode. The receiver receives a carrier signal that is transmitted to the communication partner appliance by another communication partner appliance. The detector detects the presence of the received carrier signal and transmits a carrier signal present signal or a carrier signal not-present signal. The processor recognizes a command signal transmitted with the carrier signal. The processor also generates and transmits a command-end signal that is separate from the transmitted command signal and represents the end of the transmitted command signal. The processor also determines whether, after the occurrence of the command-end signal, the carrier signal present signal is present. The processor also transmits a first or second activation signal.
US08150300B2
A mold for use in producing a molded body of an elastomer has a holding layer and a releasing layer on an inner periphery surface of a main body of a die. The releasing layer is formed of an addition two-component liquid silicone having a polysilazane-based or polysiloxane-based chain as a main chain, contains 0.5 mass % or less of a component which volatilizes at a curing temperature of a liquid elastomer raw material, does not contain silica, has International Rubber Hardness Degree of 50 to 85 degrees, and contains a solid lubricant having an average particle size of 2 to 20 μm. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a blade for an electrophotographic apparatus by using the mold and a developer amount controlling blade having specific load length ratio and ten-point average roughness in which a blade member is manufactured with the method.
US08150299B2
An image forming apparatus includes plural developing devices arranged at a fixed interval, plural toner cartridges arranged at an interval smaller than the interval among the developing devices, and plural sub-hoppers that receive toners stored in the toner cartridges and feed the toners to plural developing devices. The plural sub-hoppers respectively have toner receiving ports formed in positions opposed to toner discharging ports of the toner cartridges and have toner supply ports for feeding toners to the developing devices. The plural sub-hoppers are arranged at an interval same as an arrangement pitch of the developing devices.
US08150298B2
A developer cartridge includes a developer storage portion for retaining developer. The developer storage portion includes an opening portion. The developer cartridge further includes a shutter member for opening and closing the opening portion; and a first protrusion portion disposed on at least one of end portions of the developer storage portion in a longitudinal direction thereof. The first protrusion portion extends outwardly in the longitudinal direction.
US08150296B2
In an image forming apparatus including a rotary member (15) to which a plurality of developing cartridges (B, Y, M, C) (16) are detachably mountable, a user can rotate the rotary member with an easy operation to access the plurality of developing cartridges. A pivotable unit (63) is contactable and separable from a driving train for the rotary member (15). By applying a certain braking force to a pivotal gear (69), the pivotal gear (69) is moved to a position at which the pivotal gear (69) is held in contact with the driving train by a user's operational force. In association with the contact movement of the pivotable unit (63), a solenoid (57) performing a positional control of the rotary member (15) is released.
US08150287B2
An image forming apparatus is configured to form a developer image on a recording sheet. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit including a pressure roller and a heat roller, an ejection roller configured to cause the recording sheet from the fixing unit to be ejected from the image forming apparatus, and a power transmission member configured to transmit power from the heat roller to cause the ejection roller to rotate. The pressure roller is configured to rotate in response to power and configured to cause the heat roller to be rotated.
US08150286B2
Apparatus and methods for improving print quality and print blanket life in liquid electrostatic printing, for example, forming a first toner image on an image surface; first transferring the first image to an intermediate transfer member; then transferring of the first image from the intermediate transfer member to a final substrate; affixing the first image on the final substrate; rotating the first image to create a second image; and, repeating the method using the second image.
US08150281B2
In the case where a peripheral velocity of photosensitive drums differs from a peripheral velocity of an intermediate transfer belt, the peripheral velocity of the intermediate transfer belt or the peripheral velocity of the photosensitive drums is corrected. The velocity of the intermediate transfer belt is transiently varied in an image forming operation. Accordingly, a plurality of toner patch patterns including toner patches are formed on the intermediate transfer belt, and the difference in peripheral velocity between the intermediate transfer belt and the photosensitive drums is estimated based on a difference between the displacements in the toner patch patterns.
US08150280B2
An image forming system includes an image forming station for forming a transparent image on a recording material with transparent toner; a selecting portion for selecting one of image forming modes including a first image forming mode for forming a transparent image having a high glossiness and a second image forming mode for forming a transparent image having a glossiness lower than that in the first image forming mode; and a setting portion for setting a toner amount, per unit area, of the transparent image in accordance with the image forming mode selected by the selecting portion.
US08150278B2
In an image forming apparatus, a cleaning blade cleans residual toner adhered on the surface of an image carrier and a sound sensor collects a sound generated inside a casing of the image forming apparatus. A determining unit determines, based on the sound collected by the sound sensor, whether cleaning failure has occurred in the cleaning blade. The determining unit makes the determination based on at least intensity of a first sound component that is a sound component of a first frequency and intensity of a second sound component that is a sound component of a second frequency different from the first frequency.
US08150276B2
An image forming apparatus, a developing agent container and a controlling method of the same that improves a supply rate of developing agent from a developing agent container to a developing device that provides the developing agent to an image carrier.
US08150272B2
Systems and methods for transferring incoming single-ended burst signals of which at least one characteristic varies widely from burst to burst onto a pair of differential lines. The systems comprise an input for receiving an incoming burst signal, a signal adaptation block for adapting said widely varying characteristic and a single-ended-to-differential converter. In a first aspect a reset signal for resetting a settings determination block, which controls the signal adaptation block, is sent backwards over the differential lines, preferably using a common-mode signal. In a second aspect, a status freezing mechanism is employed for freezing the settings of the settings determination block after the end of the preamble of an incoming burst.
US08150262B2
An optical communications network in which one optical line terminal is connected to multiple optical network units and in which code division multiplexing communication is carried out between the optical line terminal and the optical network units. The optical intensities of upstream optical signals transmitted from each optical network unit are made constant at the time of multiplexing by an optical directional coupler, and the optical intensity of a downstream optical signal received by an optical network unit and an upstream optical signal received by the optical line terminal is contained within a dynamic range. Each optical network unit is provided with a variable optical attenuator that is common for an upstream optical signal and a downstream optical signal. The upstream optical signal and the downstream optical signal are attenuated by an equal attenuation. Moreover, the optical line terminal controls the attenuation at the variable optical attenuator.
US08150258B2
An optical transmission device for controlling an optical signal output includes a return light detection section for detecting return light of the optical signal transmitted via the optical transmission line; a superimposed light transmission section for generating superimposed light having a superimposed basic low-frequency wave and transmitting the light when return light is detected by the return light detection section; a return light identification section for identifying the return light detected by the return light detection section as Fresnel light caused by a disconnection of the optical connector or Stokes light caused by stimulated Brillouin scattering based on an analysis result of the return superimposed light with respect to the superimposed light transmitted by the superimposed light transmission section.
US08150254B2
The image pickup system includes a ranging part measuring object distances in plural ranging areas in an image pickup region in a state where the image pickup system and a moving object are in movement with respect to a still object, a first setting part setting, among the plural ranging areas, a first ranging area including the moving object, a second setting part setting, among the plural ranging areas, a second ranging area including the still object. The system further includes a calculating part calculating a moving speed of the moving object based on the object distances measured in the first and second ranging areas by the ranging part at a first time point and the object distances measured in the first and second ranging areas by the ranging part at a second time point different from the first time point.
US08150252B2
When the depth information indicating a difference among a plurality of subjects in the size of subject distance is large, an imaging apparatus lowers a threshold value of the subject luminance to be referred to when determining whether to perform a shooting operation with light emission by an illumination device.
US08150234B2
A system and method for evaluating a video signal comprising a plurality of video frames. In the plurality video frames, the number of pixels changed from one frame to the next are analysed and each frame is identified as being a repeat if a set proportion of the pixels present in the current frame match those present in the previous frame. The resultant pattern of repeat frames in the video signal is recorded. The resultant pattern is then scanned to determine whether or not a given repeat frame is part of a temporally repetitive pattern and those repeat frames not determined to be part of the temporally repetitive pattern are identified. As result of the above, video quality assessment is able to treat these two types of temporal artefact separately so as to distinguish between the almost invisible regular frame loss and the visually disturbing irregular frame loss.
US08150232B2
A BD-ROM on which a VC-1 video stream and an entry map (EP_map) are recorded. The VC-1 video stream includes: (a) picture data (I/P picture) whose first fields are the intra frame coding format and whose second fields are the inter frame predictive coding format; and (b) picture data (P/I picture) whose first fields are the inter frame predictive coding format and whose second fields are the intra frame coding format. The entry map indicates entry positions (SPN) of the I/P pictures, in correspondence with playback times (PTS), but does not indicate entry positions of the P/I pictures.
US08150225B2
An optical fiber mounting waveguide device includes a substrate, an optical fiber mounting groove provided on a part of the substrate for mounting an optical fiber, an under cladding layer and a core sequentially formed on the substrate, and an over cladding layer formed on the core, the over cladding layer having an end surface facing to the optical fiber mounting groove, and wherein the core and the under cladding layer are protruded toward the optical fiber mounting groove with respect to the end surface of the over cladding layer.
US08150223B2
Embodiments of an optical device, an array of optical devices, and a technique for fabricating the optical device or the array are described. This optical device is implemented on a substrate (such as silicon), and includes a thermally tunable optical waveguide with a high thermal resistance to the surrounding external environment and a low thermal resistance to a localized heater. In particular, the thermal resistances associated with thermal dissipation paths from a heater in the optical device to an external environment via electrodes and via the substrate are increased, while the thermal resistance between the optical waveguide and the heater is decreased.
US08150218B2
Provided is a thermo-optical phase shifter including a composite body having an optical waveguide formed by a core and a clad and having a ratio Δ of a difference between a core refractivity and a clad refractivity against the core refractivity which is 4% or above and a heater attached to the optical waveguide. The composite body has: a bridge structure portion arranged along a substrate surface and separate from the substrate surface via a void; and a fixed portion which supports the bridge structure portion with respect to the substrate and is continuous to the both ends of the bridge structure portion. The bridge structure has a half-circle-arc shape in the plane along the surface of the substrate.
US08150213B2
There is provided a data compression method for increasing a reduction ratio, while keeping a sufficient characteristic amount, to seek speeding up of processing, the method being for compressing image data in pattern model positioning in image processing of searching out of an image to be searched and positioning a pattern model corresponding to a pre-registered image. The method includes the steps of computing an edge strength image having edge strength information and an edge angle image having edge angle information with respect to each pixel constituting an image; transforming the edge angle image of each pixel into an edge angle bit image expressed by an edge angle bit indicating an angle with a pre-defined fixed width; and compressing the edge angle bit image to create an edge angle bit reduced image by taking a sum with respect to each edge angle bit.
US08150209B2
A method of forming a combined image based on a plurality of image frames includes obtaining a sequence (22, −33) of arrays of intensity values for representing respective ones of a sequence of image frames depicting substantially the same scene. The combined image is represented by a final array (27, −28) of intensity values. At least some of the intensity values in the final array (27, −28) are each obtained by summing an intensity value from each of a sequence of arrays of intensity values based on respective ones of the arrays in the obtained sequence (22, −33). If, for any of at least one region in the final array (27;28), any of a sequence of sets of at least one intensity value, wherein each set represents the region and forms part of one of a selected plurality of the obtained arrays of intensity values, contains intensity values deviating by more than a certain measure from those in the other sets of the sequence, the intensity values representing that region in the final array (27; 28) are each derived from (A) a respective intensity value from each of one or more arrays based on respective ones of only those of the selected plurality of arrays containing a set with deviating intensity values, or (B) a respective intensity value from each of one or more arrays based on respective ones of only those of the selected plurality of arrays containing one of the other sets of intensity values.
US08150204B2
A noise reducer for a signal determines a direction of correlation for each picture element (pixel) by calculating sums of absolute differences between a block centered on the pixel and neighboring blocks centered on surrounding pixels and choosing the direction of the neighboring block with the least sum of absolute differences. The pixel is then filtered one-dimensionally by averaging it with neighboring pixels located in the direction of correlation. This noise reduction method is simple, reliable, and avoids needless loss of detail.
US08150199B2
A method and apparatus of enhancing an image, the method comprising applying at least one multi-scale filter bank to at least a portion of an image to detect at least one edge at different scales, and combining the detected edges with said image to yield an enhanced to at least a portion of the image.
US08150197B2
An apparatus and method of obtaining a high-resolution image are provided. The apparatus of obtaining a high-resolution image may generate a high frequency component of an output image using a high frequency component of an input image, synthesize the input image and the generated high frequency component of the output image, and thereby may obtain a sharpness-enhanced high-resolution image.
US08150192B2
A system to collect and analyze medical image data is applicable for multi-modality medical imaging systems, such as x-ray, MRI, and the like. Medical image data is collected and analyzed to determine one or more regions of interest. A selected region of interest is further analyzed to determine morphological characteristics. A feature library, which may be in the form of a data base, is used to analyze the image on a pixel-by-pixel basis to determine the degree to which the region of interest matches selected morphological characteristics, such as shape or margin. The resultant data is used to generate a map indicating a continuum over which the region of interest matches the morphological characteristics. A display receives the map data and applies it to the video image to thereby provide the user with a visualization of the degree to which the region of interest matches the morphological characteristics.
US08150190B2
With a minimal process load, to determine level of the image of an image data file, for image data files of a format that saves images in the form of coefficients of discrete frequency components. Image data that includes a plurality of coefficients representing the pattern of change of color of the image are acquired (Step S10). Multiple sets of basic pattern data that respectively include a plurality of basic coefficients representing basic patterns of color change are prepared. Then, based on a comparison of the two, one set of selected basic pattern data is selected from among the multiple sets of basic pattern data (Step S20). Subsequently, the blur level of the image of the image data is calculated, based on the basic blur level associated with the selected basic pattern data (S30-S70).
US08150188B2
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging section, a subject extracting section, and an image processing section. The imaging section captures an object image and generates data of an image. The subject extracting section extracts a main subject from the image. The image processing section performs a noise addition process on the data of the image to add noise for an area where the main subject is positioned within the image.
US08150177B2
An image processing apparatus which compresses an image, the apparatus includes: a storage unit which stores a code book, the code book being prepared by allocating identification codes to code blocks, the code blocks being formed by executing quantization processing regarding a plurality of first image blocks as multidimensional vectors, the plurality of first image blocks being generated by cutting, in preset sizes, first regions out of a code book preparation image containing a first edge, each of the first regions surrounding and including an edge point of the first edge, the first edge being detected from the code book preparation image; an edge detection unit which detects a second edge from a compression target image containing the second edge; an image block generation unit which cuts, in preset sizes, second regions out of the compression target image to generate a plurality of second image blocks, each of the second regions surrounding and including an edge point of the detected second edge; a search unit which searches the code book stored in the storage unit for code blocks similar to the second image blocks; and an output unit which outputs information on the identification codes of the similar code blocks which have been searched for and information on coordinates of the edge points of the second image blocks.
US08150165B2
A method for visual recognition of an object in an electronic image includes extracting unique points of an object to be learned and/or a target object. The unique points are obtained by cross-correlating the image with a structure. Generally, the structure and/or the size of the structure may vary to detect extremum information associated with the learned object and/or target object. An icon corresponding to each of the unique points is extracted. The size of the icon corresponds to the scale of the unique point. After extraction of the various icons, an object becomes a collection of icons. Each of these icons is un-rotated and normalized or resized to a constant size so it can be compared with other icons. One of the unique properties of these icons is their stability over scale and angle. Thus, this invention allows the recognition of an image(s) or object(s) from large number of trained images or objects very quickly.
US08150160B2
The automatic Arabic text image optical character recognition method includes training a text recognition system using Arabic printed text, using the produced models for classification of newly unseen Arabic scanned text, and generating the corresponding textual information. Scanned images of Arabic text and copies of minimal Arabic text are used in the training sessions. Each page is segmented into lines. Features of each line are extracted and input to Hidden Markov Model (HMM). All training data training features are used. HMM runs training algorithms to produce codebook and language models. In the classification stage new Arabic text is input in scanned form. Line segmentation where lines are extracted is passed through. In the feature stage, line features are extracted and input to the classification stage. In the classification stage the corresponding Arabic text is generated.
US08150156B2
A computer-implemented method for processing paper forms includes accepting a filled-in paper form conforming to a template at a computer system having a local memory, wherein the template is not stored in the local memory. Identification information is extracted from the filled-in paper form using the computer system. The identification information indicates a network address of a remote storage location external to the computer system, in which the template is stored. The template is retrieved responsively to the identification information by communication with the remote storage location via a wide area network (WAN). The filled-in paper form is processed responsively to the retrieved template.
US08150154B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for correcting chromatic aberration of an image, the method and apparatus used in an image processing apparatus for an image pickup device or a display image processing apparatus. The chromatic aberration correction apparatus includes a chromatic aberration region sensing unit analyzing a luminance signal of an input image and sensing a region having chromatic aberration; a color gradient calculation unit calculating a first weight, which indicates a degree of chromatic aberration, based on a difference between gradients of color components of the input image; a luminance gradient calculation unit calculating a second weight, which indicates the degree of chromatic aberration, based on gradients of luminance components of the input image; and a chrominance correction unit correcting chrominance of a pixel of the input image, which is included in the sensed region, based on a value obtained by multiplying the first weight by the second weight.
US08150151B2
A method for coding pixels or voxels of a digital or digitalized two dimensional or three dimensional image includes the steps of: providing a digital image in which each pixel or voxel is defined by a variable in a grey scale image, or by HSV or RGB values in a color image; generating a vector univocally associated to the target pixel or voxel and having components generated as a function of the values of the pixels or voxels in a window that includes the target pixel or voxel and neighboring pixels or voxels. The function of the values of the target pixel or voxel and of the pixels or voxels in the window corresponds to the characteristic parameters of the numerical matrix representing the pixels or voxels of the window or of a transformation of the numerical matrix.
US08150140B2
A system and method is described for evaluating a wafer fabrication process for forming patterns on a wafer based upon data. Multiple inspection regions are defined on the wafer for analysis. For each inspection region, images of patterns within the inspection region are captured, edges are detected, and lines are registered to lines of a reference pattern automatically generated from the design data. Line widths are determined from the edges. Measured line widths are analyzed to provide statistics and feedback information regarding the fabrication process. In particular embodiments defects are identified as where measured line widths lie outside boundaries determined from the statistics. In particular embodiments, lines of different drawn width and/or orientation are grouped and analyzed separately. Measured line widths may also be grouped for analysis according to geometry such as shape or proximity to other shapes in the inspection region to provide feedback for optical proximity correction rules.
US08150138B2
A navigation apparatus includes: a storage portion that stores three-dimensional image data of an examinee that is previously acquired; an organ extracting portion that extracts a predetermined organ from the three-dimensional image data; a first region designating portion that designates a tumor in the three-dimensional image data; a blood vessel extracting portion that extracts a plurality of blood vessels that are inside the organ from the three-dimensional image data; a blood vessel classifying portion that classifies the blood vessels into either arteries or veins; and a second region extracting portion that, based on three-dimensional image information of the blood vessels, extracts a tumor resection region that is a region that is classified based on anatomical features of the organ and that includes a tumor.
US08150135B2
A method of detecting lung nodules in an anterior posterior x-ray radiograph comprising the steps of: generating candidate regions in image showing changes in contrast above a threshold level, and eliminating false positives by eliminating edges assignable to organs by: identifying edges; categorizing and eliminating rib edges; categorizing and eliminating lung tissue edges, and categorizing and eliminating blood vessels.
US08150133B2
A method for registering digital renal perfusion images includes selecting a volume of interest (VOI) containing a kidney in a reference renal perfusion image, computing 3D intensity gradients for a plurality of points in the VOI of the reference renal perfusion image, computing 3D intensity gradients for a plurality of points in a search window of a current renal perfusion image, and maximizing a similarity measure between the reference image VOI and the current image search window, where the similarity measure is a function of the 3D intensity gradients computed for the reference image and the current image.
US08150128B2
Systems and methods for composite elastography and wave imaging are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention an imaging modality field of view, such as, for example, that of ultrasound, can be divided into N sectors, each having 1/Nth of a full field of view. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention a temporal series of 2D or 3D ultrasound images for each of the N sectors can be acquired over a duration of one or more periods of a periodic signal. Substantially simultaneously, such a periodic signal can also be acquired, wherein each of said series of 2D ultrasound images for each sector can be triggered or gated using said periodic signal. For example, for ultrasound imaging of the heart, an ECG signal can function as such a periodic signal. The data from the various N sectors can be synchronized in time using the ECG signals, and the ultrasound signals from each of the N sectors combined to generate a series of composite ultrasound images at the frame rate of the individual sectors. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention such a composite image can be further processed to estimate displacement between consecutive frames, remove noise, accumulate displacement with time for an entire cardiac cycle, and derive strain in the cardiac muscle, vessel or any other organ or tissue under motion. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention the derived strain data can be overlaid onto all or part of the composite ultrasound images, and one or more of such overlaid images can be displayed to a user.
US08150127B2
A system automatically synchronizes display of adjacent different medical image sequences of an anatomical portion derived for use in Angiography or another medical procedure. The system includes an imaging system for acquiring first and second sets of data at different stages of a treatment procedure representing corresponding first and second image sequences individually comprising multiple temporally sequential individual images of vessels of a portion of patient anatomy. The sequential individual images encompass introduction of a contrast agent into patient vessels. A display presents the first and second image sequences in substantially adjacent display areas to facilitate user comparison. A contrast agent detector automatically analyzes the first and second image sequences to identify a first image frame in both the first image sequence and the second image sequence indicating presence of a contrast agent. A display processor automatically synchronizes presentation of the first image sequence and the second image sequence in respective areas of the substantially adjacent display areas in response to identification of the first image frame and relative to introduction of contrast agent and enables a user to synchronously increment through image frames of both the first image sequence and the second image sequence, one frame at a time.
US08150120B2
A method of bounding an anatomical object of interest in a 3-dimensional volume image includes displaying an image of at least a portion of the object, selecting a plurality of points in the displayed image, at least a first and second point of the plurality of points spanning the object, forming a non-rectilinear surface bounding the plurality of points, identifying a seed point within the surface and extracting a plurality of statistical values corresponding to image voxels disposed proximate the seed point, and classifying image voxels within the surface into a first class and a second class based on the plurality of statistical values.
US08150119B2
A method and system for left ventricle (LV) endocardium surface segmentation using constrained optimal mesh smoothing is disclosed. The LV endocardium surface in the 3D cardiac volume is initially segmented in a 3D cardiac volume, such as a CT volume, resulting in an LV endocardium surface mesh. A smoothed LV endocardium surface mesh is generated by smoothing the LV endocardium surface mesh using constrained optimal mesh smoothing. The constrained optimal mesh smoothing determines an optimal adjustment for each point on the LV endocardium surface mesh by minimizing an objective function based at least on a smoothness measure, subject to a constraint bounding the adjustment for each point. The adjustment for each point can be constrained to prevent adjustments inward toward the blood pool in order to ensure that the smoothed LV endocardium surface mesh encloses the entire blood pool.
US08150114B2
A method is provided for ensuring the quality of a sample carrier in connection with performing an analysis of a sample in the sample carrier in an analysis instrument for in vitro diagnosis, wherein the sample carrier is provided with a symbol for confirming the compatibility of the sample carrier with the analysis instrument. The method comprises bringing the sample carrier to an imaging position in the analysis instrument, acquiring an image of the sample carrier, and analyzing the acquired image to detect the presence of a symbol for identifying the genuineness of the sample carrier. Where the sample carrier is identified as genuine, the sample carrier is approved for use in the analysis instrument and the analysis instrument is enabled to perform an analysis of the sample in the sample carrier. The analysis comprises irradiating the sample by transmitting electromagnetic radiation through the sample carrier.
US08150110B2
A method for consistent rendering of two or more diagnostic images according to a region of interest. Image data as input code values are obtained for each of the two or more diagnostic images. The background image content is segmented from tissue image content for each of the two or more diagnostic images. Corresponding structures are identified within the tissue image content, and the region of interest is identified within the tissue image content for each of the two or more diagnostic images. The input code values are remapped to output code values for each of the two or more diagnostic images.
US08150109B2
A face recognition apparatus and method. The face recognition apparatus includes: a face database (face DB) which stores information of a plurality of registered persons and which stores a plurality of facial images of each registered person; a face retrieval unit which performs a face retrieval of an input facial image with reference to the face DB and outputs confidence values of the stored facial images; a candidate selection unit which determines candidates, which are selected among the facial images stored in the face DB on the basis of the confidence values; and a face verification unit which compares feature vectors of the input facial image and feature vectors of images corresponding to each candidate one by one and recognizes the input facial image.
US08150108B2
Systems and methods for authenticating a user are disclosed. In some embodiments, information regarding multiple biometric parameters is gathered from a test subject and compared with a validation template. The validation template can be augmented with some or all of the information if the user is successfully authenticated.
US08150106B2
A method for automated image quality based diagnosis of a document printing system is disclosed. The method comprises receiving image data to be printed on a document; printing an image on the document based on the image data; scanning the printed image on the document with a sensor; analyzing the scanned printed image with an image quality analysis module to identify one or more defects in the printed image; automatically generating test pattern image data based on the one or more identified defects; and printing and analyzing a test pattern image based on the test pattern image data.
US08150100B2
A system for recognition of a target three-dimensional object is disclosed. The system may include a photon-counting detector and a three-dimensional integral imaging system. The three-dimensional integral imaging system may be positioned between the photon-counting detector and the target three-dimensional object.
US08150097B2
System and method for embedding and concealing data within a video signal such that the embedded data is displayed within an unused portion of a video display area such that the embedded data is not visually offensive. In one embodiment the encoding of metadata may be executed by translating or adjusting pixel values of the video signal within the secondary image area, such that the pixel values are repurposed to contain the metadata and wherein the metadata is visually imperceptible.
US08150089B2
A wireless microphone is provided. The wireless microphone includes: a transmitter wirelessly transmitting audio signals converted from sound collected with a microphone unit; and a receiver receiving said audio signals. A clip is provided on one surface of the transmitter in which the microphone unit is attached to the other surface thereof; and the transmitter is capable of being mounted on a plane using the clip.
US08150083B2
A bone conduction device for enhancing the hearing of a recipient, comprising a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal and an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing the acoustic sound signal. The device further comprises a piezoelectric transducer comprising at least one piezoelectric element configured to deform along at least one axis in response to an application of the electrical signal thereto, the transducer configured to generate an transducer stroke based on the deformation, the stroke having a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the deformation, wherein the transducer stroke is utilized to generate a mechanical force for delivery to the recipient's skull.
US08150081B2
A filter bank system that is optimized with respect to group delay and power consumption is provided. The filter bank system has multiple levels and has an input-side and an output-side filter bank based on a defined filter type. The input-side filter bank has input channels as a variable first parameter, and an oversampling factor as a variable second parameter. For optimizing the multilevel filter bank, a group delay and an operation rate are now respectively determined for each of a plurality of value pairs of the first and second parameters. The value pair for which the associated group delay and the associated operation rate satisfy a defined criterion, in particular for which they are as low as possible, is selected from the value pairs. The input-side filter bank is subsequently configured with the number of channels and the oversampling factor corresponding to the selected value pair.
US08150074B1
An impedance matched connection is provided between a load and a power source that outputs signals within a predetermined frequency range. A coaxial line has a predetermined characteristic impedance and an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and an insulator the two conductors. Each conductor has a first end electrically connectable to output terminals of the power source. A compensation circuit has an adjustable impedance, a first terminal electrically connected to a second end of the inner conductor and to a first terminal of the load, and a second terminal electrically connected to a second end of the outer conductor and to a second terminal of the load. The compensation circuit is sufficiently adjustable to attain, for a pulse having a rise time/fall time faster than those associated with the predetermined range of frequencies, a combined impedance and load that is substantially equal to the characteristic impedance of the coaxial line.
US08150069B2
A signal processing apparatus includes at least one equalization section, each of the equalization section being capable of setting a center frequency, a gain value at the center frequency, and a Q value and allowing set frequency-amplitude characteristics to be applied to an input signal; and a computation section. The computation section performs a center frequency determination process for computing, for target characteristics of the equalization section, a difference from the target characteristics for each area divided by a frequency portion where the gain of the characteristics of the equalization section is small and a frequency portion where the gain of the characteristics of the equalization section is large, a gain value determination process for determining the gain value at the center frequency of the equalization section, and a Q value determination process for setting the determined center frequency and the determined gain value.
US08150063B2
A device includes a microphone array fixed to the device. A signal processor produces an audio output using audio beamforming with input from the microphone array. The signal processor aims the beamforming in a selected direction. An orientation sensor—such as a compass, an accelerometer, or an inertial sensor—is coupled to the signal processor. The orientation sensor detects a change in the orientation of the microphone array and provides an orientation signal to the signal processor for adjusting the aim of the beamforming to maintain the selected direction. The device may include a camera that captures an image. An image processor may identify an audio source in the image and provide a signal adjusting the selected direction to follow the audio source. The image processor may receive the orientation signal and adjust the image for changes in the orientation of the camera before tracking movement of the audio source.
US08150061B2
The present invention provides a sound generating method of generating sound signals related to a video signal, which comprises a step of generating independently each of the sound signals matched to a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of a video, and a step of allowing the horizontal and the vertical sound signals that have been generated to be reproduced independently with horizontal sound output means and vertical sound output means, respectively.
US08150057B2
Systems and methods for wireless communication can include a first unit configured to synchronously transmit a first digital audio packet redundantly in at least a first dedicated slot and a second dedicated slot over a time period, and a second unit configured to receive wireless transmissions from the first unit. In certain embodiments, the second unit does not listen for a transmission in the second dedicated slot if the first digital audio packet is received in the first dedicated slot. In certain embodiments, the units are encoded with a group code that identifies group members, such that the units only receive data packets transmitted by group members with the same group code.
US08150053B2
The invention is a device and a method for eliminating vibrations of a mechanical structure with at least one electromechanical converter material that is actively connected to the mechanical structure and connected to an electrical circuit with at least one electrical impedance. The electrical circuit is connected to an interface, via which the at least one electrical impedance can be variably adjusted by wireless or wired communications with a control unit that is separated from the electrical circuit in which the electrical impedance features at least one variable ohmic resistor, inductive resistor or capacitor.
US08150052B2
The present invention is embodied in a computer-readable program in a computer-readable medium for upgrading a video conference system, the computer-readable program comprising acoustic echo canceling control software having an application programming interface. The acoustic echo canceling control software is implemented on a computer system that operates the video conference system and macros are configured to couple the acoustic echo canceling control software to hardware components of the video conference system and to interface with the application programming interface. The macros are user configurable for providing real time adjustments of echo canceling runtime parameters of the hardware components during a video conference session.
US08150051B2
A sound system design/simulation system provides a more realistic simulation of an existing venue by matching a measured reverberation characteristic of the existing venue and adjusting one or more acoustic parameters characterizing the model such that a predicted reverberation characteristic substantially matches the measured reverberation characteristic.
US08150050B2
A bass enhancing apparatus and method for enhancing bass include generating harmonics of the bass when an input signal is reproduced using a miniaturized speaker. The bass enhancing method includes extracting a bass component of an input signal, generating harmonics of the extracted bass component, synthesizing the generated harmonic signals and the input signal, and outputting the synthesizing result to an output terminal. The generating of the harmonics includes compressing a dynamic range of an amplitude level of each harmonic component at a predetermined distribution ratio.
US08150045B2
An automatic gain control system applied to a audio signal as a function of the ambient noise, the system comprising: an ambient noise estimator module suitable for establishing a current noise value estimated at least from a signal provided by a microphone; and an automatic gain control module suitable for applying to the audio signal gain of a value that is determined as a function of the current noise value received from the ambient noise estimator module. According to the invention, the ambient noise estimator module comprises an MCRA estimator suitable for establishing the current noise value from a signal provided by the microphone picking up the real noise, the echo of the music, and where appropriate speech. The system also includes a module for estimating the power of the audio signal and suitable for providing the automatic gain control module with a current power value for the audio signal.
US08150042B2
Techniques are described for combining parametric multi-channel audio coding with matrixing, reconstructing a full-quality multi-channel, independent of the decoder. A stereo signal is obtained from encoding an N-channel audio signal into spatial parameters and a stereo down-mix signal having first and second stereo signals, including adding a first signal and a third signal to obtain a first output signal, the first signal having the first stereo signal modified by a first complex function, the third signal having the second stereo signal modified by a third complex function. A second signal and fourth signal are similarly added to obtain a second output signal. Complex functions are chosen such that an energy value of the difference between first signal and the second signals (fourth signal and third signals) is larger than or equal to the energy value of the sum of the first and the second signal (fourth signal and third signal).
US08150040B2
A terminal device improved with a digraph generation method in a key distribution method of various types of broadcast encryption systems is provided. The terminal device includes an acquiring unit for acquiring information related to a set, which is selected from a plurality of sets representing a combination of a plurality of terminal devices, and which represents some or all of the plurality of terminal devices; an extracting unit for extracting the set contained in the information and to which it belongs; and a digraph generation unit for generating a directional branch for generating a key corresponding to the extracted set in a predetermined digraph formed by a plurality of directional branches.
US08150037B2
A method of securely deploying information to a device includes placing a device into a shielded structure and exchanging timing messages between a keying device located inside the shielded structure and a beacon located outside of the shielded structure. The shielded structure is closed. The exchange of timing messages is terminated, and upon termination, the keying device transfers the information via one or more shielded messages to the device, and the beacon jams the frequency at which the shielded messages are transferred. The shielded structure is opened, and the keying device and beacon exchange messages to verify the secure deployment of the information.
US08150022B2
Call center queue management includes a method for calculating an average capability for each of a plurality of agents obtaining all completion data for each agent. The call completion data is used to calculate a historical average for each agent. The historical average is used to calculate an average capability for each agent.
US08150017B2
A method of retrieving a directory listing includes steps of storing a plurality of directory listings, each listing searchable by a plurality of keys, each of the keys comprising a plurality of symbols selected from a subset of an alphabet; receiving a sequence of inputs each designating a plurality of the symbols; identifying a number of the directory listings having at least one of the keys consistent with the sequence of inputs; displaying candidate ones of the directory listing having the at least one of the keys consistent with the sequence of inputs; and selecting one of the candidate directory listings to be contacted.
US08150014B2
A system for effecting transition of a private branch exchange (PBX) system-hosted voice only telephone session in progress into a voice session optionally enhanced with a data collaboration channel hosted by a conference bridge includes a call escalation system (CES) application for determining call state of the voice session to be transitioned and for executing a sequence of command requests for effecting the transition based on a trigger event; and a control application server for controlling the PBX switch.
US08150003B1
Once a voicemail is received, it is the onus of the recipient of the voicemail message to call the caller back when a “missed call” message is received on the phone or after the voicemail message is retrieved. While some of the more advanced voicemail systems provide the capability of automatically placing a call from the callee back to the caller upon completion of the callee listening to the voicemail message, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention allows the caller to be connected to the callee should the callee become available while the caller is leaving a voicemail message for the callee.
US08150001B2
Methods for routing a call based on voice activated dialing (VAD). A VAD device module may respond to a VAD instruction, or to a call received with a VAD instruction with a corresponding call destination number obtained from a personal VAD directory. If the personal VAD directory fails to include the call destination number, the VAD device module may route the call or initiate a call through a gateway to a VAD network module. The VAD network module may obtain call destination information from the VAD instruction, and may use the call destination information obtain the call destination number. The VAD network module may obtain additional information from the call or other source, and use the additional information to obtain the call destination number. The call then is routed to the call destination number. The call destination number may be added to the personal VAD directory.
US08149999B1
A method includes receiving information provided to a caller in response to an utterance from the caller. The utterance may be associated with identifying an item of interest. The method may also include generating a reference variation associated with identifying the item of interest based on the utterance.
US08149996B2
Networks, systems, and methods are disclosed for handling alternate routing scenarios for emergency calls or other special number calls, such as a 9-1-1 call. In routing an emergency call, an emergency services network identifies a primary answering point (e.g., a PSAP) to handle the emergency call. If the primary answering point is not available, then the emergency services network identifies an alternate answering point to handle the emergency call, and routes the emergency call to the alternate answering point (if available). The emergency services network also identifies alternate routing information indicating a reason for routing the emergency call to the alternate answering point instead of the primary answering point, and transmits the alternate routing information to the alternate answering point for processing.
US08149994B2
Provided are an electronic surveillance system and a method thereof. In the electronic surveillance system that performs electronic surveillance on a subscriber in a communication network, the electronic surveillance system includes: one or more communication service providers that provide retained data, which is information generated while the subscriber uses a communication service; a dedicated storage that stores and manages the retained data provided by the communication service providers; and a law enforcement agency that requests the dedicated storage to send electronic surveillance information on a specific subscriber so as to be provided with the surveillance information when the electronic surveillance information on the specific subscriber is required. Accordingly, retained data, which is subscriber electronic surveillance information is integrally managed and stored in a dedicated storage. Thus, a communication service provider can reduce costs when a law enforcement agency requests subscriber electronic surveillance information. Furthermore, the subscriber electronic surveillance information can be efficiently managed.
US08149987B2
A radiation imaging apparatus that captures radiographic images includes a radioactive ray generating unit configured to irradiate a subject with a plurality of radioactive rays generated by a plurality of electron sources. A radioactive ray detection unit captures a plurality of first radiographic images based on detection of the plurality of radioactive rays that have passed through the subject at different irradiation angles. Area specification unit specifies an object area using the plurality of first radiographic images captured by the radioactive ray detection unit, and a determination unit determines an electron source to be driven from the plurality of electron sources based on the object area specified by the area specification unit, such that a second radiographic image is captured based on the radioactive rays generated by the electron source determined by the determination unit.
US08149985B2
A shift register comprising a plurality of shift register stages {SN}, N=1, 2, . . . , M, M being a nonzero positive integer. Each of the plurality of shift register stages, SN, comprises a first input, a second input, a third input for receiving a first clock signal CK, a fourth input for receiving a second clock signal XCK, an output for providing an output signal OUT(N), therefrom. The plurality of stages {SN} is electrically connected to each other in serial such that the first input of the shift register stage SN is electrically connected to the output of the (N−1)-th shift register stage SN−1 for receiving an output signal OUT(N−1) therefrom, the second input of the shift register stage SN is electrically connected to the output of the (N+1)-th shift register stage SN+1 for receiving an output signal OUT(N+1) therefrom, and the output of the shift register stage SN is electrically connected to the first input of the (N+1)-th shift register stage, SN+1 for providing the output signal OUT(N+1) thereto.
US08149959B1
Systems and methods for enhancing soft decoders and detectors on asymmetric channels are provided. The methods include acquiring log-likelihood ratios (LLRS) for error-correction code (ECC) encoded data symbols, selecting a quality measure function and a quality threshold based on the LLRs, applying the selected quality measure function to the LLRs to obtain quality measures, comparing the quality measures to the selected quality threshold, and updating the LLRs for selected ECC encoded data symbols based on the comparisons. The updating may occur by multiplying the LLRs for the selected ECC encoded data symbols by a selected scaling factor.
US08149958B2
In one non-limiting exemplary embodiment, a method includes: randomly selecting a set of sequences with each sequence having sequence elements, each sequence element having a frequency selected from constellation points on a unit circle in a complex plane, where the selected set of sequences is a candidate set of sequences; calculating a first cubic metric for each sequence of the candidate set of sequences, where the first cubic metric is for single code modulation; and in response to the first cubic metric being larger than at least one threshold, removing the corresponding sequence from the candidate set of sequences to obtain at least one saved sequence.
US08149952B2
A multi-mode receiver system for processing signals based on a plurality of systems is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention provide for a shared architecture for processing baseband signals corresponding to a plurality of systems.
US08149950B2
An efficient baseband predistortion linearization method for reducing the spectral regrowth and compensating memory effects in wideband communication systems using effective multiplexing modulation technique such as wideband code division multiple access and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing is disclosed. The present invention is based on the method of piecewise pre-equalized lookup table based predistortion, which is a cascade of a lookup table predistortion and piecewise pre-equalizers, to reduce the computational complexity and numerical instability for desired linearity performance with memory effects compensation for wideband transmitter systems.
US08149948B2
A digital broadcasting system and method of processing data are disclosed. Herein, a transmitting system within the digital broadcasting system includes a byte-symbol converter, an interleaving unit, a block formatter, and a trellis encoding module. Herein, the byte-symbol converter converts inputted mobile service data to symbol units. The interleaving unit is provided with (N−1) number of block interleavers in parallel, and interleaves the symbols outputted from the byte-symbol converter. The block formatter controls output orders of the mobile service data being inputted and data being outputted from each block interleaver within the interleaving unit. The trellis encoding module is provided with a plurality of trellis encoders in parallel, and enables each trellis encoder trellis-encode the mobile service data.
US08149947B2
A method of estimating the transmission channel of a received multi-carrier signal in a mobile environment, by identifying pilots present on carriers of the received multi-carrier signal, which pilots comprise continual pilots, performing channel estimation on the received multi-carrier signal using a time-domain interpolator to give a first interpolator output, and performing channel estimation on the received multi-carrier signal using a frequency-domain interpolator to give a second interpolator output. A frequency offset in a continual pilot is detected, and either the first or second interpolator output is selected based on the detected frequency offset. The invention also relates to a system for estimating the transmission channel of a received multi-carrier signal in a mobile environment.
US08149942B1
The present invention discloses a method for selecting a transmission scheme in a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communications system. The method comprises receiving a downlink request to transmit a data stream to a wireless station, checking the availability of channel state information (CSI) associated with the wireless station, determining the validity characteristic of beamforming weighting vectors associated with the wireless station, selecting a transmission scheme from a plurality of predetermined transmission schemes based on the availability of the CSI and the validity characteristic of the beamforming weighting vectors.
US08149934B2
A wireless communication system using pilot subcarrier allocation and a method of allocating the pilot subcarriers for use in downlink and uplink communication in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation are disclosed. The method includes providing a frame structure comprising OFDM symbols in time domain and subcarriers in frequency domain and alternately allocating first pilot subcarriers for a first antenna and second pilot subcarriers for a second antenna in the time and frequency domains, wherein each of the alternating first pilot subcarriers and the second pilot subcarriers is separated by multiple of 9 subcarriers in the frequency domain and further allocated in two contiguous OFDM symbols.
US08149920B2
A unified codec device and a method thereof are disclosed. The unified codec device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises a decoding control unit, which sets a connection relation of functional units by interpreting connection information from an inputted universal bitstream or data, and a functional group, which consists of a plurality of functional units and in which functional units corresponding to a sequential start control of the decoding control unit are sequentially activated to process a bitstream or the data, using the control parameter, to output the inputted bitstream as image data. Using the functional unit recombination technique in accordance with the present invention, the bitstreams based on various decoding standards can be encoded/decoded without restriction.
US08149915B1
A method of motion estimation (ME) refinement. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating an initial motion vector (MV) by conducting a first ME on an initial block in a picture, the initial block covering an initial area of the picture, (B) generating a current MV by conducting a second ME on a current block in the picture, (i) the current block covering a subset of the initial area and (ii) the second ME being seeded by the initial MV, (C) generating at least one additional MV by conducting at least one third ME on the current block, the at least one third ME being seeded respectively by at least one neighboring MV spatially adjacent to the current MV and (D) generating a refined MV of the current block by storing in a memory a best among the current MV and the additional MV.
US08149914B2
A video signal is encoded at a plurality of coding layers exhibiting different spatial resolutions. An input video signal is spatially scaled down into a resolution-lowered video signal that exhibits a resolution lower than the video signal. The resolution-lowered video signal is encoded with a decoding procedure to obtain first coded data and a decoded signal. The decoded signal is spatially scaled up through a high-resolution procedure with reference to the input video signal so that the decoded signal has a smaller error with respect to the input video signal, to obtain a high-resolution scaled-up video signal. The input video signal is encoded through inter-spatial resolution prediction using the high-resolution scaled-up video signal as a predictive signal, to obtain second coded data that exhibits a resolution higher than the resolution-lowered video signal.
US08149903B2
A power amplifier circuit including a first transistor, a second transistor, and a power control circuit. The first transistor includes a first input and a first output. The second transistor includes a second input coupled in series with the first output of the first transistor. The input circuit is coupled to the first input of the first transistor. The power control circuit is coupled to the second input of the second transistor. The control circuit includes a time delay circuit and a variable source.
US08149902B1
Methods to relax the second order intercept point of transceivers for multi-carrier and OFDM (such as IEEE 802.11a/g and 802.16) based zero IF wireless receivers that need to work in an environment with strong jamming signals, such as, for example, WLAN modules in Smart Phones. Due to the poor IP2 of WLAN (wireless local area network) receivers, unacceptable DC signals are produced in the I,Q quadrature paths when a strong out-of-band signal is received, e.g., from a co-located GSM phone. This completely destroys the received WLAN packet, resulting in an unacceptably high PER (packet error rate). In one aspect, the mixer reference for the receiver is effectively shifted (corrected) to accurately match the carrier of the received signal. In another aspect, the carrier is uncorrected for transmission. In still another aspect, a continuous DC correction is made on a per symbol basis. In still another aspect, the DC correction and the frequency correction are used together. Various embodiments are disclosed.
US08149901B2
An active routing circuit. In representative embodiments, the active routing circuit includes a channel switch which includes a transceiver and a switch. The transceiver has first data line, second data line, drive/receive control line, and receiver select control line. The switch has first contact connected to first data line, second contact connected to second data line, and switch control line. In a driver mode, the transceiver can receive data from first data line and output that data to second data line, and in receiver mode, can receive data from second data line and output that data to first data line. The transceiver can switch between driver mode and receiver mode in response to a signal. Data received from the second data line can be blocked in response to another signal. The switch can shift between connecting and disconnecting first contact to/from second contact in response to yet another signal.
US08149888B1
An embodiment of the invention relates to a single-photon source for emitting single photons, comprising a cavity having a first mirror and a second mirror and exhibiting a longitudinal resonance frequency between the first and second mirror; at least one quantum dot arranged inside said cavity, said quantum dot being strain-dependent and configured to generate radiation at a strain-dependent radiation frequency; a device capable of exciting the quantum dot to generate radiation; a piezoelectric crystal being arranged outside the cavity and mechanically coupled to the second mirror's outer surface, said piezoelectric crystal configured to receive a control voltage and capable of applying either a laterally tensile and vertically compressive strain to both the cavity and the quantum dot, or a laterally compressive and vertically tensile strain to both the cavity and the quantum dot, depending on the control voltage's polarity; wherein, in response to said strain, the resonance frequency and the radiation frequency shift in opposite directions.
US08149885B2
A fiber laser processing apparatus controls a LD drive current ILD in a power feedback control mode (FIG. 3E) such that output of a fiber laser beam FB rises substantially from zero or a value around zero to a preceding level having no substantial effect on laser processing and arrives at a desired level (PA) for the laser processing from a preceding level PB after a first time period (preceding pulse width TB) has elapsed (time point t2 of FIGS. 3A to 3F) from the start of the rising to the preceding level (time point t1 of FIGS. 3A to 3F), and this may effectively prevent occurrence of a high-peak pulse HP at the rising edge of the fiber laser beam FB (FIG. 3F).
US08149879B2
A method of data transmission according to one embodiment of the invention includes encoding a set of data values to produce a corresponding series of ordered n-tuples. The method also includes transmitting, according to the series of ordered n-tuples, a plurality of bursts over a plurality n of frequency bands. Specifically, for each of the plurality of bursts, a frequency band occupied by the burst is indicated by the order within its n-tuple of an element corresponding to the burst. A bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least two percent of the center frequency of the burst. Information is encoded into a polarity of at least one of the plurality of bursts.
US08149876B2
In one embodiment, the method includes receiving audio frame data having at least first and second channel data. The first and second channel data includes a plurality of blocks, where the blocks are classified by a block type. The embodiment further includes obtaining frame length information indicating a length of the audio frame data, and obtaining block information indicating the block type. The block information corresponds to the first and second channel data being common when the first and second channel data are paired. The first and second channel data are lossless decoded based on the frame length information and the block information.
US08149868B2
A circuit capable of processing signals of different signal types is provided for identifying the signal type by the signal type setting from an administrator or by the implementation of the optical module, thereby selecting a signal processor to be used. An OTN frame standardized by ITU is used in a fixed manner independent of the signal type to be accommodated, while a corresponding SDH/SONET frame standardized by ITU is used for signal accommodation.
US08149867B2
A system and method for providing physical (PHY) layer signal processing in a PHY layer signal processing circuit, at least portions of which may be shared for communication with a plurality of different types of communication networks. Various aspects of the present invention may, for example and without limitation, provide a PHY layer signal processing module that operates to perform a PHY layer signal processing operation on an input PHY layer signal. The PHY layer signal processing module may, for example, operate in a first operating mode to process the input PHY layer signal in a first manner in accordance with a first communication protocol. The PHY layer signal processing module may also, for example, operate in a second operating mode to process the input PHY layer signal in a second manner in accordance with a second communication protocol.
US08149855B2
The invention relates to a method for transferring data packets to a shared resource (12) in a telecommunication network, that comprises the following steps: providing N processing queues (Qi, i=i to N) each associated with a respective period having a predetermined duration, where N>1; based on information indicated by a received packet, allocating said packet to one of the processing queues; adding the received packet (P13) in the queue (Qi) to which it has been allocated; selecting a processing queue from the N queues so that each non-empty queue is selected at least once during the associated period; and extracting at least one packet from the selected processing queue and transferring it in priority to the shared resource (12).
US08149851B2
A method of establishing a connection traversing at least one network address translation (NAT) gateway is presented. In the method, a bind request is sent from a source device to a mediation element via a NAT gateway. A bind response associated with the bind request is received. A connection request is sent to the mediation element. The mediation element causes the connection request to be sent to a destination device. A connection response associated with the connection request is received. A hello message is sent to a predicted destination address. The predicted destination address is based on an address received in the connection response. A data connection is established between the source device and the destination device using the predicted destination address.
US08149848B2
A system and method for providing enhanced information to a user is described. A broadband access gateway communicatively coupled to a plurality of access devices may collect information about multimedia content available on the access devices and/or information exchanged with access devices. The gateway may search the collect information upon receiving information identifying a called or calling party, to find information that may be associated with the called or calling party. Selected items of the information associated with the called or calling party may then be delivered to the access device of the called or calling party. Information accessible to the gateway via a broadband connection may also be made available to the user of the access device.
US08149847B2
A method of initializing, provisioning, and managing a cable modem and a customer premise equipment device includes sending a customized configuration file to the cable modem. The configuration file contains service provisioning information and further includes information indicative of a network address type for the customer premise equipment device. A message is passed from the cable modem to the customer premise equipment device indicative of the network address type. The customer premise equipment device is provided with a network address in accordance with the network address type indicated in the message. In this way, the customer premise equipment device knows what kind of address to obtain, and excessive transactions are avoided.
US08149836B2
A method for relaying Ethernet frames over an Ethernet network, the method including adding a tag that provides an address from a hierarchical address scheme to an Ethernet frame; and relaying the Ethernet frame through the network according to the tag. There is also provided a configurable Ethernet bridge having a filtering database including a plurality of subnet masks for relaying frames according to a hierarchical address scheme.
US08149822B2
A telephone service method that provides subscribers with the functionality of an extra telephone line during data/Internet sessions. Each subscriber has a unique telephone number Dns that can be dialed by anyone with access to the PSTN. When the Dns is dialed the call will be routed via the PSTN to the ILTD server. The ILTD server upon receiving the call attempt from the Dnc will analyze the dialed number (Dns) and determine if the subscriber's computer is able to receive the telephone call. If the subscriber's computer is actively engaged in an Internet Protocol session, with the ILTD client software running, the ILTD server will connect the call over the Internet to the ILTD client software. The ILTD client software will activate the subscriber's sound card and the microphone to play audio and receive input from the microphone to allow the subscriber and the calling party to have a full duplex telephone conversation (i.e. using voice-over-IP technology).
US08149814B2
A method and device for service time division multiplexing as well as a method and a device for transmitting service are disclosed. The method for service time division multiplexing includes: selecting a part or all of radio frames in one time unit as specific radio frames; and selecting a part or all of subframes in the specific radio frames as specific subframes for sending a specific service. The specific service is a multimedia broadcast multicast service, or a unicast service, or one or more than one kind of service transmitted in broadcast or multicast mode.
US08149812B2
A method for retransmitting data when data transmission/reception has failed in a wireless LAN system using visible light communication. A mobile node searches a received frame for a fast feedback slot allocated for retransmission information when momentary data transmission/reception failure has occurred. One mini-slot from among the plurality of mini-slots is selected from the fast feedback slot. The mobile node transmits a fast feedback message, including information for retransmission, to an access point by using the selected mini-slot.
US08149809B2
A method for limiting Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) reporting from a User Equipment to a network node is provided where a User Equipment can transmit CQI reports to a network node, such as e.g. a base station, when the User Equipment is operating in low transmission and/or low reception activity mode. A limited CQI reporting is obtained by triggering the reporting according to one or more predefined rules, which to at least some extent depend on CQI specific information provided to the User Equipment from the network node. A User Equipment and a network node adapted to operate in accordance with the suggested method are also provided.
US08149806B2
Briefly, a mechanism to avoid interference and improve channel efficiency in mmWave Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs) is disclosed. In particular, interference information during various time periods is tracked and used to optimize transmission scheduling. Further, a mechanism is provided to improve communication latency by distributing responsibility for coordination of slots amongst multiple transmitting devices.
US08149801B2
Disclosed is a wireless terminal that determines whether to retransmit a received packet. The wireless terminal is configured to determine a first distance from the wireless terminal to a point (e.g., the center point) in a geocast region. The wireless terminal is also configured to determine a plurality of distances between the point and each of a plurality of wireless terminals from which the wireless terminal has previously received a packet having an identifier that is the same as an identifier of the received packet. The wireless terminal is configured to retransmit the received packet if the first distance is less than each of the plurality of distances.
US08149797B2
A system for generating a single view of wireless data including two perspectives and corresponding method therefor are described. The system comprises a device information collection mechanism arranged to collect information from a wireless device and a device information presentation mechanism arranged to cause the generation of two lists of information based on information collected by the device information collection mechanism. The two lists of information comprise: a list of wireless devices which a preselected wireless device is able to detect; and a list of wireless devices which are able to detect the preselected wireless device.
US08149791B2
A MIMO beamforming method comprises receiving at a base station information regarding a difference between an ideal beamforming matrix and an averaged beamforming direction, using the information to construct a beamforming matrix at the base station, and performing a beamforming operation using the reconstructed beamforming matrix. Alternatively, the method comprises computing at a subscriber station an averaged beamforming direction, computing at the subscriber station a quantization index corresponding to a differential matrix in a differential codebook, and transmitting the quantization index across a wireless channel of the wireless network. The differential codebook may be constructed by identifying a codebook center and transforming a predefined codebook that is stored in a memory of a component of the wireless network.
US08149782B2
A method for performing ranging in a broadband wireless access system including a user equipment and a base station and using multi-carrier is described. A method using a structure in which a length of a part occupied by a ranging sequence is extended in the time domain includes a method using a structure in which a preamble occupied by the ranging sequence is repeated three times or more, a method using a structure in which a length of a preamble occupied by the ranging sequence is extended in the time domain, and a method using a structure in which lengths of a cyclic prefix and/or a guard time in the time domain are designed in consideration of a delay spread of a channel and a trip delay. Even in a cell structure having an extended radius, the trip delay can accurately be estimated.
US08149779B2
A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting uplink rate assignment information for an uplink data transmission to a User Equipment (UE) by a Node B in a mobile communication system. The uplink rate assignment information to be transmitted for each UE is determined. The uplink rate assignment information is transmitted to the UE. The uplink rate assignment information is attached with a UE ID-specific Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) of the UE when directly indicating an uplink rate grant for the UE.
US08149776B2
Access to a wireless network is attempted by sending on a random access channel RACH at a first transmit power a first preamble comprising a signature sequence that is randomly selected from a set of signature sequences. After the access attempt from sending the first preamble is determined unsuccessful, access to the wireless network is re-attempted by sending on the RACH at a second transmit power a second preamble comprising a signature sequence, in which the second transmit power is no greater than the first transmit power. Embodiments variously combine different options: the signature sequences of the first and second preambles are each randomly selected separately, or the signature sequence of the first preamble is re-used in the second preamble; the first and second transmit powers are each equal to an initial transmit power, or the second transmit power is the initial power and less than the first transmit power.
US08149773B2
Techniques for supporting UE operation with enhanced uplink are described. A UE may select a first signature from a first set of signatures available for random access for enhanced uplink, generate an access preamble based on the first signature, and send the access preamble for random access while operating in an inactive state. The UE may receive an acquisition indicator (AI) for the first signature on an acquisition indicator channel (AICH) from a Node B. The UE may use a default enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) resource configuration for the first signature if the AI has a first predetermined value. The UE may determine an E-DCH resource configuration allocated to the UE based on an extended acquisition indicator (EAI) and a second signature if the AI has a second predetermined value. In any case, the UE may send data to the Node B using the allocated E-DCH resource configuration.
US08149768B2
A data transmission method for a mobile communication system is disclosed. A data transmission method at a specific protocol layer of a reception end of a mobile communication system includes receiving at least one data block of a specific protocol layer from a transmission end, and transmitting reception status indication information to the transmission end according to a reception status of the data block of the specific protocol layer. As a result, data can be more quickly and effectively transmitted to a destination.
US08149763B2
A power level of signals transmitted in a wireless communications system under a first or a second scrambling code, is controlled in an inner power control loop, where a quality measure is repetitively estimated and control commands generated from the quality measure and a quality measure reference value, which in an outer power control loop is adjusted in dependence on a performance level calculated for signals received during a time interval. A first value is adjusted in dependence on a performance level for time intervals with all signals transmitted under the first scrambling code and used during such time intervals. A second value is adjusted in dependence on a performance level for time intervals with at least some signals transmitted under the second scrambling code and used during at least a part of such time intervals.
US08149762B2
Provided is a communication method of a mobile terminal in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) based multi-beam satellite system reusing the same frequency band for all the beams, the method including: receiving location information of the mobile terminal from a satellite to determine a location of the mobile terminal within multiple beams; determining a subcarrier group for a communication with the satellite according to the location of the mobile terminal within the multiple beams; and communicating with the satellite using the subcarrier group for the communication with the satellite.
US08149758B2
Disclosed is a wireless communication method for executing transmission and reception of a radio signal among communication terminals via a plurality of base stations connected to an IP (Internet Protocol) network. One of the base stations performs AD conversion on a radio signal received via an antenna from one of the communication terminals without demodulation, packetizes the AD-converted radio signal into packet data, and transmits the packet data to another base station over the IP network. The another base station performs DA conversion on the packet data received over the IP network from the one base station, transforms the DA-converted packet data into a radio signal without modulation, and transmits the radio signal to another base station via the antenna.
US08149757B2
The present invention provides an enhanced H-ARQ scheme that optimizes bandwidth utilization and spectrum efficiency. When an H-ARQ attempt is unsuccessful due to loss or error over a hop between the BS and MS/SS, then only the first node in the hop chain that fails to decode the packet transmits another H-ARQ attempt. The BS determines the first node that fails on decoding based on certain information such as the feedback information sent from the nodes on the path. The previous node of the failed node is then instructed to retransmit by the BS.
US08149755B2
A digital broadcast system and a method of processing data disclose. A receiving system of the digital broadcast system may include a baseband processor, a management processor, and a presentation processor. The baseband processor receives broadcast signals including mobile service data and main service data. The mobile service data configures a RS frame, and the RS frame includes the mobile service data and at least one type of channel setting information on the mobile service data. The management processor decodes the RS frame to acquire the mobile service data and the at least one type of channel setting information on the mobile service data, then extracts position information of an SDP message. Herein, the SDP message includes Codec information for each component in the respective virtual channel from the channel setting information, thereby accessing the SDP message from the extracted position information and gathers SDP message information. The presentation processor decodes mobile service data of a corresponding component based upon the gathered SDP message information.
US08149749B2
A mobile terminal judges whether or not the mobile terminal is able to make a transition to a DTX period during Active, and, when judging that the mobile terminal is able to make a transition to a DTX period during Active, notifies a base station to that effect. If the base station judges that the mobile terminal is able to make a transition to a DRX period during Active when triggered by the notification from the mobile terminal, the base station temporarily stops supply of electric power to the data transmission processing units and the data reception processing units of the mobile terminal.
US08149736B2
A distributed hash table is implemented to store routing information on a network. Node IDs exchanged in connection with implementation of a link state routing protocol are used as keys in the distributed hash table, and routes are stored at one or more nodes on the network. When a route is learned, the route is processed against the set of keys to determine which nodes should store the route. When a route is needed, the route is processed against the set of keys to determine which nodes should have the route information. The manner in which the route is processed against the set of keys is the same in both instances, so that the DHT may be used to store and retrieve route information on the network. The DHT may be implemented to store MAC addresses, IP addresses, MPLS labels, or other information of interest to enable routes to be stored and learned by network elements on the network.
US08149733B2
In many aspects, the invention relates to systems and methods for synchronizing a communication network, particularly a slotted communication network, having a plurality of nodes. In slotted communication networks, the nodes are configured to transmit or receive data during selected time slots. During a selected time slot, each node transmits a synchronization message that is received by a neighboring node. The neighboring node adjusts its time slot boundary to coincide with the time of receipt of the synchronization message, thereby synchronizing each node with a neighboring node. Such systems and methods are energy efficient, accurate, fast, fault tolerant and easy to implement.
US08149729B2
In one exemplary embodiment, a process for detecting a phone includes monitoring wirelessly transmitted traffic between first and second stations. Next, the process determines whether the traffic sent in both directions between the first and second stations are close to each other in term of traffic volume. The process identifies a total frames count of a number of frames of an identical frame size transmitted, where the number of frames is greater than any number of frames of a same size. The process calculates the percentage of the count that was just collected out of the count of the total frames. The process identifies the first station as a phone if the calculated percentage is over a first threshold and the total frames count is over a second threshold.
US08149717B2
A method provides for differentiating usage permissions between different categories of communication traffic within a given network. The method includes ensuring one or more categories of traffic never transits communication radios, link, and/or spectrums dedicated to a different category of traffic. A combined routing metric is calculated using a scaling factor for discouraging usage of restricted communication links and encouraging usage of non-restricted communication links.
US08149701B2
The present invention provides a system, method, and computer readable medium for creating a video clip. In one embodiment, a method, comprising creating a copy of a still image by a first module, the copy of the still image comprising reduced dimensions of the still image, creating a new still image from a selected area of the still image, automatically ordering the new still image and the copy of the still image, creating an audio file by at least one of a second module and a third module, creating a timeline, by the first module, related to the ordered images and the created audio file, and rendering the timeline into a video clip by a fourth module, wherein the timeline includes a length of the audio file, a length of the video clip, the ordered images, a display time of each of the ordered images, transition identifiers, transition lengths. The present invention further discloses a system for assembling and distributing multi-media output, comprising: a rendering server; a web server; and storage, wherein the servers and the storage are operably coupled; the storage adapted to receive digital media and properties of the media, store the media and the properties, and transmit the media and the properties; the web server adapted to perform at least one of a following action: retrieve the media and properties of the media; manipulate the media and the properties; assemble the properties; and transmit at least one of a following element from a group consisting of: the properties; and the assembled properties; and the rendering server adapted to receive commands from the web server.
US08149697B2
According to one embodiment, a method for discovering services within a social network is provided. The method includes receiving a request from a requesting node for one or more services provided by an originating node, each service comprising an access ticket for accessing the service via a social network. The method further includes determining whether the requesting node has access rights to the one or more services, and providing one or more access tickets to the requesting node upon determining that the requesting node has access rights to one or more respective services.
US08149695B2
A Point to Point Protocol (“PPP”) link running PPP Multilink Protocol with multi-class extensions (“Multilink-Extension”) having both peers on the PPP link support a number of egress priority queues negotiated during the Multilink-Extension negotiation. Each peer also establishes a number of classes equal to the negotiated number of egress priority queues. Thus, communication devices that have a different default number, or different maximum number, of egress priority queues can interoperate in a manner that ensures packets have the same per-hop behavior (“PHB”). The present invention is both memory efficient and processing time efficient because only the minimum number of egress priority queues necessary are instantiated.
US08149688B2
In order to locate malfunction in a communication network, the elements therein are configured for generating alarm and to propagate a malfunction signalling to at least one other element in said set. Those elements in the network to which the malfunction signalling was propagated, are excluded, preferably by way of self-exclusion, from the action of locating malfunction. Preferably the arrangement is implemented in the form of a distributed agent-based architecture, wherein each element has an associated agent for categorizing the alarm information in its possession, e.g., as related to internal malfunction, contiguous malfunction, and external malfunction. The categorized alarm information is collected, preferably via direct exchange between the associated agents, for all the elements having alarmed resources physically or logically connected with each other. On the basis of the categorized alarm information collected, at least one element responsible for malfunction is elected out of those elements in possession of alarm information categorized as related to internal malfunction or contiguous malfunction, while discarding those elements in possession only of alarm information categorized as related to external malfunction.
US08149687B2
A system, apparatus and method for dynamic intra node rerouting is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a multi-stage architecture within a network node is provided in which various module cards, including intermediary module cards, are interconnected within a chassis. A connection is established between a first module card and a second module card through an intermediate module card so that traffic may flow internally within the chassis. Failure detection and intra-node recovery are provided within the node by provisioning an intra-node compensated route around a failed module.
US08149685B2
Methods for secure OFDM communications include changing the length of OFDM symbols in a pseudo-random fashion by appending a totally random signal to some of the OFDM symbols. An adaptive cyclic prefix is provided for covert and spectrally efficient communication. A developed PN based random data addition provides further security by removing the chance of combining synchronization information over several OFDM symbols.
US08149678B2
Undesired disturbance components leak eventually into various detection signals and reproduction signals as stray optical beams reflected from recording layers other than a reproduction layer overlap with signal beams on a light reception surface of an optical detector and interference occurs between them when an optical disc having multi-layered recording layers is reproduced. A diffraction grating having a specific grating groove pattern is arranged immediately ahead of an optical detector or in a return optical path. Such optical unit averages the disturbance components resulting from interference between a signal beam and a stray beam and can satisfactorily improve influences of leak.
US08149672B2
According to one embodiment, an optical recording medium is provided in which interlayer crosstalk is low and in which stable and high-quality recording characteristics can be obtained. To this end, an optical recording medium comprises a first recording part which includes a first recording layer and a first light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side closer to a light receiving surface, and a second recording part which includes a second recording layer and a second light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side farther from the light receiving surface, the first recording part and the second recording part being stacked, wherein the thickness of the second light reflecting layer is larger than the thickness of the first light reflecting layer.
US08149659B2
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus, a recording and/or reproducing method, and an information storage medium, wherein the recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes: a writing and/or reading unit writing data to or reading data from an information storage medium having one or more information recording layers; and a control unit controlling the writing and/or reading unit to write the data to the information storage medium by referring to one or more disk information structures including recording related parameter information corresponding to recording characteristics of the information storage medium, and recording characteristic information to which the recording related parameters are applied. According to the apparatus and method, parameters of recording characteristics appropriate to a recording and/or reproducing apparatus and compatibility between different specifications can be achieved.
US08149658B2
A method and device for erasing data from an optical disc, are discussed. In an embodiment of the present invention, the area of the optical disc where data has been written is overwritten with arbitrary data using a beam spot spanning over two or more radially adjacent tracks. The beam spot can be formed by adjusting a location of an objective lens to a defocused location, and the power of the laser beam can be increased so as to maintain a certain power level. The beam spot is moved from the inner circumference of the optical disc to the outer circumference under feed-forward control over an actuator and a sled motor, in which case the beam spot may be moved sequentially toward the outer circumference in steps of beam spot size or be moved repeatedly across radially adjacent tracks in a zigzag manner by the actuator and/or the sled motor.
US08149653B2
Provided is a light source unit that is to be joined to a slider to form a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head. The light source unit comprises: a unit substrate having a source-installation surface; a light source provided in the source-installation surface and emitting thermal-assist light; and a photodetector bonded to a rear joining surface of the unit substrate in such a manner that a rear light-emission center of the light source is covered with a light-receiving surface of the photodetector. The photodetector can be sufficiently close to the light source; thus, constant feedback adjustment with high efficiency for the light output of the light source can be performed. This adjustment enables light output from the light source to be controlled in response to changes in light output due to surroundings and to changes with time to stabilize the intensity of light with which a magnetic recording medium is irradiated.
US08149652B2
An apparatus comprises a storage medium, a recording head, a source of electromagnetic radiation, and a control circuit for modulating the source of electromagnetic radiation in response to a static deviation of a spacing between the recording head and the storage medium. A method of compensating a static deviation of a spacing between a recording head and a storage medium performed by the apparatus, and a method of precompensating for nonlinear transition shifts in a heat assisted magnetic recording system, are also provided.
US08149636B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a reset signal generating unit configured to generate a reset control signal by delaying a column command signal by an amount of time varying proportional to an operational frequency. A pulse width determination unit is configured to determine a pulse width of a column selection signal in response to the column command signal and the reset control signal. An address decoding unit is configured to generate the column selection signal corresponding to a corresponding column address in response to an output signal of the pulse width determination unit.
US08149634B2
A memory architecture and circuits for minimizing current leakage in the memory array. Subdivisions of the memory array each have local power grids that can be selectively connected to power supplies, such that only an accessed subdivision will receive power to execute the memory access operation. The memory array can further include databuses which are precharged to one voltage during idle times and a second voltage during active read cycles, which reduces leakage current in datapath circuitry connected to the databuses within the memory array blocks.
US08149632B2
An outputting transistor circuit of a push-pull structure has an outputting PMOS transistor and an outputting NMOS transistor connected in series between a first power supply and a grounded power supply. In a standby state, a voltage level of a gate terminal of the outputting PMOS transistor is set to a voltage level of a second power supply higher than a voltage level of the first power supply. In an active state, a voltage level of the gate terminal of the outputting PMOS transistor is changed to a voltage level of the first power supply in response to an active command or a read command, or in response to the state of a semiconductor memory device changing to the active state or a read state, and either the outputting PMOS transistor or the outputting NMOS transistor is turned ON in response to a data read signal from a memory cell.
US08149624B1
Various aspects of a NAND memory include have multiple versions of a high threshold voltage distribution—a version with a reduced maximum, and another version. The version with a reduced maximum has a reduced word line pass voltage.
US08149623B2
A controller includes a generation unit configured to aggregate comparison results between second threshold voltage levels held in the memory cells and predetermined third threshold voltage levels, and generate a histogram of the second threshold voltage levels, an estimation unit configured to estimate statistical parameter of a distribution of the second threshold voltage levels with respect to a first threshold voltage level according to writing data, based on the histogram, and a determination unit configured to determine a fifth threshold voltage level defining a boundary of a fourth threshold voltage level indicating a read result of the memory cells from the third threshold voltage levels based on the statistical parameter in such a manner that mutual information amount between the first threshold voltage level and the fourth threshold voltage level becomes maximum.
US08149622B2
A memory system includes a NAND flash memory, a NOR flash memory and a SRAM memory on a single chip. Both NAND and NOR memories are manufactured by the same NAND manufacturing process and NAND cells. The three memories share the same address bus, data bus, and pins of the single chip. The address bus is bi-directional for receiving codes, data and addresses and transmitting output. The data bus is also bi-directional for receiving and transmitting data. One external chip enable pin and one external output enable pin are shared by the three memories to reduce the number of pins required for the single chip. Both NAND and NOR memories have dual read page buffers and dual write page buffers for Read-While-Load and Write-While-Program operations to accelerate the read and write operations respectively. A memory-mapped method is used to select different memories, status registers and dual read or write page buffers.
US08149619B2
A memory array is provided that includes a transistor having two active gates sharing a source, a drain, and a channel of the transistor. One of the active gates may be coupled to a volatile memory portion of a memory cell, such as a DRAM cell, and the other active gate may be coupled to a non-volatile memory portion, for example, a charge storage node such as a SONOS cell. Methods of operating the memory array are provided that include transferring data from the volatile memory portions to the non-volatile memory portions, transferring data from the non-volatile memory portions to the volatile memory portions, and erasing the non-volatile memory portions of a row of memory cells.
US08149616B2
A method for programming multilevel PCM cells envisages: forming an amorphous region of amorphous phase change material in a storage element of a PCM cell by applying one or more reset pulse; and forming a conductive path of crystalline phase change material through the amorphous region by applying one or more set pulse, a size of the conductive path defining a programmed state of the PCM cell and an output electrical quantity associated thereto, and being controlled by the value of the reset pulse and set pulse. The step of forming an amorphous region envisages adaptively and iteratively determining, during the programming operations, a value of the reset pulse optimized for electrical and/or physical properties of the PCM cell, and in particular determining a minimum amplitude value of the reset pulse, which allows programming a desired programmed state and a desired value of the output electrical quantity.
US08149614B2
A magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) element includes a bottom electrode embedded in a first insulating layer; an annular reference layer in a first via hole of a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer, the annular reference layer being situated above the bottom electrode; a first gap fill material layer filling the first via hole; a barrier layer covering the annular reference layer, the second insulating layer and the first gap fill material layer; an annular free layer in a second via hole of a third insulating layer on the second insulating layer, the annular free layer being situated above the annular reference layer; and a top electrode stacked on the annular free layer.
US08149613B2
A resistance variable memory device is provided and includes a resistance variable memory cell that writes data by utilizing a spin transfer effect based on an injection current. The memory device also includes a driving circuit that generates a combined pulse of a plurality of write pulses and an offset pulse defining the level between the write pulses and supplies the combined pulse to the memory cell at the time of the writing.
