US08161722B2
Cable-stranding methods for performing SZ-stranding of strand elements about at least one core member are disclosed. One method includes passing initially spaced apart strand elements through peripheral guide holes and passing at least one core member through a generally central location of at least one guide member. The method also includes actuating a controller that controls the rotation of the at least one guide member and rotating the at least one guide member to form the SZ-stranded assembly.
US08161719B2
A crop header has generally horizontal flail disks mounted for driven rotation about generally upright axes. A pair of conditioner rolls is mounted in a discharge opening. A crop converging system includes two over-shot auger elements defined by a common auger shaft with an auger flight carried thereon arranged generally longitudinal of the cutter bar so as to carry the cut crop longitudinally of the cutter bar to the entrance opening. Each auger element is arranged with a forwardmost tangent to the auger flight located behind the axes of the rotary disks and with an outer end thereof spaced outwardly of the respective end of the entrance mouth. The common auger shaft is driven by a common rotary drive with the bottom roll of the conditioner rolls. The augers terminate inwardly of the outer end of the cutter bar to locate the drive inboard of the end plates.
US08161705B2
A wall panel retention system including an upper panel retention structure incorporating the ceiling molding and a lower panel retention structure incorporating the base molding with retention structures for holding the sides of the wall panels to the building wall.
US08161704B2
A perimeter insulation strip for use when laying laminate or parquet floors is described. The perimeter insulation strips comprises a vapor barrier film including a perimeter insulation strip bonded on a front side and at least one adhesive layer arranged behind the perimeter insulation strip on a back side. The vapor barrier film has at least one overlapping section starting from the perimeter insulation strip to connect with a vapor barrier film below a floor covering to be laid.
US08161697B1
A studless load bearing panel wall system includes an assembly of bamboo based load bearing panels. The panels may be centrally milled along all edges suitable for accepting spline brackets along the vertical edges thereby constructing wall faces. Channels along the top and bottom edges accept two panels to form a studless wall having an inner and outer panel. The panels may be fastened to the splines and channels by means of screw fasteners. Bamboo based load bearing panels comprising layers formed from pressed bamboo strips bonded with layers of softwood veneers provide high load bearing strength while being dimensionally similar to conventional plywood. Non-load bearing alternate embodiments of the bamboo based panels in combination with similar spline brackets and channels are utilized to construct studless interior walls.
US08161696B2
Herein is disclosed a sleeve system and methods of using the system. The system uses an elongated open-ended sleeve, and mounting plate parts which mate with each other to form a mounting plate and which are securable to each other and to a wall. The mounting plate thus formed comprises a collar which, when the mounting plates parts are secured together, presses against portions of the outer surface of the sleeve to hold the sleeve in place.
US08161670B2
An ironing roller includes a first annular chamber in communication with an inlet and an outlet arranged to rotate about a longitudinal axis, where the first annular chamber forms a passage through which a heat carrying fluid heated by heating device located inside the ironing roller circulates, a circuit external to the annular chamber being arranged to lead the heat carrying fluid from the outlet to the inlet of the chamber. A second annular chamber adjacent and coaxial to the first annular chamber is provided, the two annular chambers being intercommunicated for the circulation of the heat carrying fluid from one of the annular chambers to the other, and where one of the annular chambers carries out a heat uptake function and the other one carries out a heat transfer function.
US08161666B2
A novel shoe construction provides a unique aesthetically pleasing appearance to a shoe while also reinforcing the shoe construction. In the shoe construction, the shoe is provided with a first upper that extends upwardly from the shoe sole and is secured around a wearer's foot by adjustable fasteners such as lacing, and a second upper that extends upwardly from the shoe sole and is separate from and overlaps the first upper on opposite sides of the shoe and at the rear of the shoe.
US08161653B2
A folding tool and an associated locking mechanism are provided in order to securely and reliably retain an implement, such as a knife blade, in an open position. The folding tool may include a handle, an implement pivotally connected to the handle and a lock. The lock, in turn, may include an engagement member for movement with the blade and a pivotable member, such as a cam member, configured to pivot relative to the handle between first and second positions. As a result of controlled interaction between the engagement member and the pivotable member, such as a result of camming action provided by the cam member, the rotatable implement can be secured in the open position. If desired, the rotatable implement may be released and folded into the closed position.
US08161649B1
The gear housing may be a housing to enclose a gear assembly of a land mobile vehicle. The gear housing may have an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion. The lower housing portion may have a wall reference position below a lowest surface structure of a gear assembly wherein a wall of smooth, generally non-planar surfaces may be positioned below a gear assembly centerline with an interior surface at the wall reference position adjacent the lowest surface structure with sufficient separation to avoid contact between the gear housing and the gear assembly. The wall may have at least one concave curved segment to position the wall adjacent to a contour of outer surface structures of the gear assembly, but not contacting the gear assembly. An upper housing portion may be attached to the lower housing portion to enclose the gear assembly.
US08161644B2
A leveling method for burying an evaporating section of a heat pipe into a thermally conductive seat is provided for an assembly of heat pipe and heat-conducting seat by simultaneously making the evaporating section of heat pipe partially formed into a flat surface when the evaporating section of heat pipe is being burying into the thermally conductive seat. Furthermore, in cooperation with a stamping machine, the leveling method is to make a multiple steps of press-fitting process to an evaporating section of heat pipe under a condition that there is no need to change the stamping die.
US08161643B2
A cooling jacket for a motor includes an extruded jacket body having an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface, and a plurality of discrete cooling passages located between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces that provide multi-directional fluid flow. A fluid inlet is provided to direct cooling fluid into the jacket body and a fluid outlet to direct heated fluid away from the jacket body.
US08161642B2
A holding apparatus includes a first holding unit including at least two supporting rollers rotatable around rotation shafts which extend substantially parallel with each other; a second holding unit including at least one supporting roller rotatable around a rotation shaft; and at least one holding mechanism having the first holding unit and the second holding unit. The rotation shafts of the supporting rollers of the first holding unit and the rotation shaft of the supporting roller of the second holding unit are substantially in parallel with each other. By moving at least one of the first holding unit and the second holding unit, an object to be held is held between the first holding unit and the second holding unit by using the supporting rollers.
US08161640B2
A method for forming a protective jacket over a connection region includes connecting the leads of an electronic device to conductors such that the connections are in a connection region, placing the connection region in a mold, injecting molten protective material into the mold to cover the connection region, allowing the molten material to cool and harden and removing the connection area from the mold.
US08161639B2
A method for fabricating an interlayer conducting structure of an embedded circuitry is disclosed. In accordance with the method for fabricating an interlayer conducting structure of an embedded circuitry of the present invention, there is no laser conformal mask formed prior to laminating the first and second lamination plates. Instead, after the first and second lamination plates are laminated, a laser boring process is directly conducted to form a via hole. In such a way, even when there is an offset between the first and the second lamination plates in alignment, the risk of short circuit between different layers of lamination plates can be lowered without improving an interlayer offset value.
US08161625B2
There is provided a rotating electric machine capable of reducing torque pulsation, even when a slight stepped portion is present in an inner diameter shape of a stator core formed by allowing coupling split cores divided in every magnetic pole to be in an annular shape. The stator core is formed by stacking a plurality of laminates prepared by stack of coupling split core members formed by punching steel sheets in an annularly arranged shape in a state where the laminates are rotated one another by a predetermined angle. With such a configuration, it is possible to mutually offset torque pulsation components caused by the shape asymmetry of the laminates and reduce the torque pulsation components of the stator core on the whole.
US08161610B2
A retaining clip fits on the exhaust rocker arms of a large diesel engine to hold the exhaust brake power pistons in place while performing service on the engine. The retaining clips are easily installed and removed from the rocker arm and prevent the loss or damage of the power piston due to the piston accidentally falling out of the rocker arms during service to the engine.
US08161609B2
Methods of fabricating an array capacitor are disclosed, in which via structures of the array capacitor have increased uniformity in their transverse areas. One method involves perforating a capacitor body to form first holes extending from a first surface and partially through the capacitor body. The capacitor body may be further perforated to form second holes extending from a second opposed surface of the capacitor body. The second holes are to connect to the first holes to provide through holes extending across a thickness of the capacitor body. An appropriate conductive material may then be filled in the through holes to form via structures with increased uniformity in their transverse areas.
US08161599B2
An upright cyclonic vacuum cleaner comprises juxtaposed first and second filters for filtering a working airstream on both the inlet and outlet sides of a vacuum motor. The first and second filters can be mounted in a common frame in the upright housing of the vacuum cleaner. The first and second filters can be juxtaposed to each other.
US08161598B2
A filtering device filters out impurities contained in an air stream, and includes an inner filter plate, an outer frame that houses said filter plate thereinside, a structure for retaining said filter plate and conveying the shaking motion, a support socle applied on to said structure, a rotary electric motor, whose rotor is provided with one or more unbalanced masses, and which is fixedly mounted on said socle. The electric motor is operated in an intermittent manner, preferably with a direct-current, substantially square-wave supply voltage according to an ON-OFF cycling pattern, so as to generate a very broad spectrum of shaking frequencies that proves more effective in enabling impurities to be removed from the filter plate.
US08161587B2
A therapy mat table has an upper surface and removable mat. A portion of the mat and a separate plate is rotatably mounted within the flat top so as to be capable of being selectively raised and lowered to form a seat back for a patient reclining or sitting on the pad on an elongated side edge of the table. The table may also include transfer bars which help to move a patient on and off the table or when moving to a standing position or while simply standing. The table may further include a stowable foot stop, which prevents backward movement of the patient's feet when the patient is standing between the transfer bars. The table may also include a knee blocker, which helps to limit or prevent buckling of the patient's knees when the patient is standing between the transfer bars.
US08161584B1
A bumper system having a fitted crib sheet with a secondary layer which is attached to a top surface of the fitted crib sheet using an attachment means which secures a perimeter of the secondary layer to the fitted crib sheet, a bumper component having a first, second, third and fourth side panel, wherein the bumper component is attached to the top surface of the fitted crib sheet so that when the fitted crib sheet engages a crib mattress, the bumper component extends upwardly with respect to the top surface of the fitted crib sheet, in which a bottom portion of the bumper is constructed from a material having mesh and a top portion of the bumper is constructed from a padded material, and an adjustable strap on the bumper component which has a latch where the adjustable strap is adapted to secure the bumper component to a slat of a crib.
US08161581B2
A device for eliminating poisons and pollutants from the human body and for revitalizing cells includes a temperature controlled upper cover having a natural five primary substance stone coating layer, a temperature controlled lower mat having vibrators and a natural five primary substance stone coating layer, a herb essence supplier connected to the interior of space formed by the upper cover and the lower mat, and a negative ion producing air pump connected to the herb essence supplier for supplying negative ions. The device adjusts the temperature of a user in the interior space between the upper cover and the lower mat and discharges the poisons in the human body through perspiration holes on the skin by the action of the natural five primary substance stone and absorbed herbal essence.
US08161577B2
A helmet includes a shell, an eyeport formed in the shell, a shield having inwardly projecting hubs, and a pair of sockets on the shell. The sockets are positioned and configured to receive and rotatably capture the inwardly projecting hubs of the shield so that the shield is hingable about the hubs between a closed position covering the eyeport and an open position displaced from the eyeport. Each of the sockets is generally oblong to facilitate insertion of said hubs into the sockets to mount the shield to the helmet and to facilitate removal of the hubs from the sockets to detach the shield from the helmet.
US08161576B2
The present invention generally relates to protective headgear worn by a user to protect his eyes, head, and face. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a protective headgear assembly used by welders and the like wherein a headgear strap can be tightened or loosened upon the ratcheting of a knob connected to the headgear strap. The headgear strap can also be automatically disengaged for removal of the headgear by pulling the knob away from the user's head.
US08161574B2
An article of apparel may include a textile element that defines a crease. The textile element may be knitted to have a first course and a second course that are adjacent to each other in some areas of the textile element and spaced from each other by a raised course in other areas of the textile element. The crease extends along the third course and has a length that is substantially equal to a length of the third course. In manufacturing the textile element, the raised course may be formed between portions of the first course and the second course through a knitting process, such as a flat knitting process.
US08161570B2
Catching gear to be worn by a catcher receiving a ball from a pitcher is disclosed. The gear comprises a leg guard adapted to be worn on one leg of the catcher, and a light-emitting device on the leg guard. The light-emitting device is positioned for generating light to be directed toward the catcher's fingers to increase the visibility of hand signals given by the catcher.
US08166568B2
It is an object to provide a contact probe pin for a semiconductor test apparatus, including an amorphous carbon type conductive film formed on the probe pin base material surface. The conductive film is excellent in tin adhesion resistance of preventing tin which is the main component of solder from adhering to the contact part of the probe pin during contact between the probe pin and solder. The contact probe pin for a semiconductor test apparatus, includes an amorphous carbon type conductive film formed on the conductive base material surface. The amorphous carbon type conductive film has an outer surface with a surface roughness (Ra) of 6.0 nm or less, a root square slope (RΔq) of 0.28 or less, and a mean value (R) of curvature radii of concave part tips of the surface form of 180 nm or more, in a 4-μm2 scan range by an atomic force microscope.
US08166565B1
A system for secure distributed data storage that uses a network, where the system includes a file stored on a plurality of storage elements that are accessible over the network. An access control list associated with the file includes a list of users with read access to the file and a list of users with write access to the file. Data representing contents of the file, metadata associated with the file, data related to functioning of distributed data storage and the access control list is available to users of the network.
US08166562B2
A system and method for protecting sensitive information, for example, a user's personal information, stored on a database where the information is accessible via a communications network such as the Internet. An exemplary embodiment stores the sensitive information on an off-line server. The off-line server is connected to an on-line server. The on-line server is connected to the user via the Internet. The user interfaces with the on-line server, and at a scheduled time window, the sensitive information is made available to the on-line server by the off-line server. Outside of the time window, none of the sensitive information is kept on the on-line server. Thus by placing the sensitive information on-line for only limited periods of time the risk of compromise to the sensitive information is greatly reduced.
US08166556B2
An information processing apparatus that obtains pieces of content information relating to content recorded in an information recording medium, the information processing apparatus includes a data analyzing unit configured to read a content certificate which is recorded in the information recording medium and which corresponds to the content recorded in the information recording medium, a data transmitting unit configured to transmit a content certificate identifier analyzed using the data analyzing unit to a content information provision server, a data receiving unit configured to receive, from the content information provision server, the pieces of content information relating to the content which is specified on the bases of the content certification identifier, and a data outputting unit configured to output the pieces of content information received using the data receiving unit.
US08166554B2
What is proposed is a method of implementing a security system (Packet Sentry) addressing the internal security problem of enterprises having a generalized approach for inferential determination and enforcement of network policy with directory service based group correlation with transparent authentication of the connected customer and the policy enforcement inside the network. The security system enables the network to analyze and enforce policy using any bit or bits in a stream or a packet, conduct Flow Vector analysis on the data traffic, provide Application Monitoring, Normalization and user authentication validation. The system enables the network to implement Group relationship Analysis and correlation using combination of Network inferences and Directory service data resulting in generation of Group norms using statistically significant relationships. These will provide a more secure enterprise environment where data security levels can be enforced and the usage monitored effectively in the infrastructure.
US08166549B2
A system (200) detects transmission of potentially malicious packets. The system (200) receives, or otherwise observes, packets and generates hash values based on variable-sized blocks of the packets. The system (200) then compares the generated hash values to hash values associated with prior packets. The system (200) determines that one of the received packets is a potentially malicious packet when one or more of the generated hash values associated with the received packet match one or more of the hash values associated with the prior packets.
US08166543B2
Provided is an apparatus and method for detecting a malicious file that attempts to initiate communication in a mobile terminal without a user's approval. The method of detecting a malicious file in a mobile terminal includes: determining whether a file to be examined is an executable file; when the file is an executable file, examining whether the file is a malicious file that can cause unapproved communication based on at least one predetermined examination condition; and outputting the result of examining whether the file is the malicious file. Accordingly, an attack caused by a new type of malicious code can be coped with.
US08166538B2
A unified architecture for enabling remote access to a network is provided. The network may comprise, as examples, a virtual private network (VPN) and/or a peer-to-peer network. In one embodiment, the architecture includes components installed on a client device/node and a gateway/supernode. Components implemented on the client device may facilitate access in a manner similar to that of a traditional VPN, while components on the gateway may facilitate access in a manner similar to an application proxy. Communication between the client device and gateway may occur, as an example, via a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) communication protocol.
US08166518B2
A computer implemented method provides remote access to a plurality of sessions at a computer. The method includes initiating a master process in a context independent from the sessions, establishing a first slave process in a context of a first session, and maintaining communication between the master process and the first slave process. The master process provides access to the computer's display while the display is under control of the first session, detects a second session, having a respective second slave process, communicates with the second slave process, and provides access to the computer's display while the display is under control of the second user session.
US08166507B2
The present invention provides for transferring user interface information from a host computing device to an electronic device that typically has limited resources. A request to display a user interface on an electronic device is received. Further, information about the electronic device is received for determining the capabilities of the electronic device. Based on the determination, a video codec is utilized for dynamically generating a video data stream that includes user interface information corresponding to at least a portion of the user interface. The video data stream is then transmitted to the electronic device for rendering the user interface on a display of the electronic device.
US08166505B2
A method of controlling operation of a broadcast receiver includes receiving a request for receiving a broadcast program at a scheduled time, measuring a level of a broadcast signal corresponding to the broadcast program prior to the scheduled time for the receiving of the broadcast program, and outputting an indicator, if the measured level of the broadcast signal is less than a predefined threshold level.
US08166502B2
A network-enabled TV sends a geographic location to an Internet server and in response receives back a list of TV service providers for the location. A user selects a provider and the server in response downloads the channel map pertaining to the selected provider.
US08166493B2
The media storage status of a target medium stacker is reported to the user through a host computer. In response to a height measurement command for measuring the height of blank media stacked in a blank media stacker and processed media stacked in a processed media stacker, a height measurement step measures the height of blank media and processed media based on operation of the media transportation arm, and a measurement transmission step sends the measurement acquired in the height measurement step to the host computer in response to a measurement transmission request from the host computer.
US08166491B2
A method includes, during execution of a first application program in which a user interacts with the application program, executing a launchpad service that invokes another application program. When a user interface of the first application program is refreshed, a state of the launchpad service is determined based on the refreshed user interface, and one or more launchpad control elements are displayed along with the user interface depending on the determined state of the launchpad service. When the launchpad control element is activated by an operator, execution of a second application program referenced by the activated control element is initiated and advanced to a processing stage determined by the activated control element.
US08166483B2
A development framework and runtime environment for applications that execute in real-time operating systems. Application development is enhanced by providing simple instructions that allow a programmer to declare any function as a function managed with priority. Compiler tools implement priority function and the management code for managing execution at runtime. At runtime, priority functions are managed based on their respective priority level. The priority function information is stored when execution is to be delayed.
US08166482B2
A thread status managing unit organizes a plurality of threads into groups and manages the status of the thread groups. A ready queue queues thread groups in a ready state or a running state in the order of priority and, within the same priority level, in the FIFO order. An assignment list generating unit sequentially retrieves the thread groups from the ready queue. The assignment list appends a retrieved thread group to a thread assignment list only when all threads belonging to the retrieved thread group are assignable to the respective processors at the same time. A thread assigning unit assigns all threads belonging to the thread groups stored in the thread assignment list to the respective processors.
US08166481B2
A transactional memory processing system provides for the integration of transactional memory concepts at the compiler-level into a higher-level traditional transaction processing system. Atomic blocks at the compiler-level can be specified as atomic block transactions and include the features of atomicity and isolation. Actions within this atomic block transaction include the enlistment of resource managers from a repository. The repository can now include a pre-programmed memory resource manager to manage the transactional memory. As in traditional transactions, a commit protocol can be used to determine if the actions are valid and can be exposed outside of the transaction. Unlike traditional transactions, however, the transaction is not necessarily doomed if all of the actions are not validated. Rather, memory conflicts can cause a rollback and re-execution of the atomic block transaction, which can be repeated as long as necessary, until the memory resource manger votes to commit.
US08166471B2
A source-level compiler may randomly select compilation conventions to implement portable content protection, securing the secrets embedded in a program by shuffling associated data. The program may be developed using a source language that is applicative on the associated data. To obscure the embedded secrets, in one embodiment, pre-compiler software may be deployed for compiling the program in a random-execution-order based on a random seed indication that randomly selects compilation conventions and a shuffling algorithm that moves the associated data across the program during execution.
US08166470B2
The invention is directed to a method of replacing code in an object oriented application program running on a Virtual Machine (VM). The method comprises the steps of receiving at the virtual machine a request to replace code; in response to receipt of said request, examining each thread's call stack to determine if any thread includes a method that will be made obsolete by a proposed code replacement; and, if it is determined that there are no threads that include such a method in their call stacks, performing the code replacement. However, for a thread whose call stack is determined to include a method that will be made obsolete by the proposed code replacement, the method includes the step of allowing the thread to continue running until the thread unwinds past that method in its call stack and then suspending said thread. This comprises a part of a process of determining a safe state for code replacement. The invention is also directed to a method of initializing new variables in such replacement code. The variable initialization method comprises the steps of identifying the replaced code and prior to resuming threads containing the replacement code, initializing new variables in the replacement code to values consistent with the application semantics.
US08166458B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for automated distributed testing of software. A testing service may utilize a distributed architecture that provides a standardized framework for writing tests, scheduling the tests, and gathering and reporting results of the tests. Multiple distributed labs are integrated into the testing service and their environments can be centrally managed by the testing service. The testing service permits the scheduling and performance of tests across multiple machines within a test lab, or tests that span across multiple test labs. Any of the machines in the test labs may be selected based on variety of criteria. The testing service may then automatically locate the appropriate machines that match or satisfy the criteria and schedule the tests when the machines are available. The testing service may also automatically create and set up a desired test environment according to the desired specifications for the test.
US08166451B2
A system and method is provided for offering simultaneous or concurrent static analysis on a software product or software project where the software product or project comprises disparate resource types, such as the Java® technology or C/C++programming language. A key part of the invention is a framework allowing analysis “providers” to be integrated into a common framework. The rules for each type of analysis can be integrated into a common user interface where the user can act on any of them in the same way. The system has an interface for interfacing with the project set, numerous analysis components for each platform or technology being utilized by the project set. The system has a single user interface (UT) for offering to the user unified configuration settings, or rules, for configuring each analysis component so that the desired analysis of the project set can be accomplished by the system. Upon pressing an “Analyze” button, analysis will commence on the entire project set, where each file will be examined in a simultaneous or concurrent fashion. It further comprises a report generator component for producing a single unified results report such that the concurrent or simultaneous analysis of disparate resources concludes with the report generator producing a unified set of results for all of the analyses for each of the platforms or technologies.
US08166448B2
Development tools and a methodology for efficient development of distributed web services. A tool tracks changes in packages used to create images deployed for testing. Rather than build a complete image for each change, a current image may be created by substituting changed packages in a previously created image. Another tool allocates components of an image to a number of servers specified by a user of the tool. Such a tool simplifies integration testing of the web service by allowing a developer to initially test a web service on a single server or a small number of servers and then easily scale-up the test environment. The servers may be physical servers or may be virtual servers. Interface rules for packages that constitute the software for the web service are defined to reduce the likelihood of integration problems as the environment is scaled up.
US08166442B2
Some embodiments of the invention provide a Local Preferred Direction (LPD) wiring model for use with one or more EDA tools (such as placing, routing, etc). An LPD wiring model allows at least one wiring layer to have a set of regions that each have a different preferred direction than the particular wiring layer. In addition, each region has a local preferred direction that differs from the local preferred direction of at least one other region in the set. Furthermore, at least two regions have two different polygonal shapes and no region in the set encompasses another region in the set. Some embodiments also provide a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that facilitates a visual presentation of an LPD design layout and provides tools to create and manipulate LPD regions in a design layout.
US08166437B2
In an embodiment, a method to automatically generate a pad ring for a programmable logic device implementation of an integrated circuit is contemplated. The pad ring that will be used in the integrated circuit itself may include pad logic (e.g. to support boundary scan and other forms of testing), custom driver/receiver circuitry, etc. The pad ring in the programmable logic device, on the other hand, may be predetermined as part of the production of the programmable logic device. The generation may include removing the pad logic and other pad-related circuitry from one or more design files that represent the integrated circuit, as well as mapping the input, output, and input/output signals of the integrated circuit to the available programmable logic device pads.
US08166434B2
Methods and apparatuses to design an Integrated Circuit (IC) with a shielding of wires. In at least one embodiment, a shielding mesh of at least two reference voltages (e.g., power and ground) is used to reduce both the capacitive coupling and the inductive coupling in routed signal wires in IC chips. In some embodiments, a type of shielding mesh (e.g., a shielding mesh with a window surrounded by a power ring, or a window with a parser set of shielding wires) is selected to make more routing area available in locally congested areas. In other embodiments, the shielding mesh is used to create or add bypass capacitance. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08166424B2
A method for constructing an optical proximity correction (OPC) model is described. A test pattern is provided, and the test pattern is then written on a mask. The pattern on the mask is measured to obtain a modified pattern. An OPC model is constructed according to the modified pattern.
US08166416B2
A multimedia play menu is generated into an auto playgroup organizer system for a multimedia player by using intelligence cursor/scroll sequence functions programmed for operation by an input device such as a hand-held mobile mouse. The intelligence cursor/scroll can sense any type of digitalized item or symbol displayed on the LED or LCD screen of the multimedia player. When the intelligence cursor/scroll function senses a click/press sequence symbol representing the position of a song, it will start to carry out a click/press sequence function as a user wishes. The more clicks/presses are applied by the intelligence cursor/scroll on the sequence symbol before a song/item, the higher the position for that song/item is created, analyzed, recorded and carried out.
US08166413B2
A system and method for displaying and providing access to information on a display unit are provided for combining a plurality of logical progression steps into a plurality of predetermined groups. Each of the plurality of predetermined groups includes a subset of data. The system and method includes displaying the plurality of predetermined groups in a collapsed format; prompting a user to expand a first group of the plurality of predetermined groups; allowing the user to access and input data into the first group; and allowing the user to access a second group of the plurality of predetermined groups once all logical progression steps in the first group have been completed by the user.
US08166411B2
A data transferring system includes a reading unit, a display unit, a selecting unit, an orientation sensing unit, an analyzing unit and a transferring unit. The reading unit is configured for reading contents. The display unit is configured for displaying the read contents to allow selection of contents. The selecting unit is configured for selecting contents in response to user inputs. The orientation sensing unit is configured for sensing the orientation of the electronic device. The analyzing unit is configured for determining whether the electronic device is higher than the storage device based upon the sensed orientation. The transferring unit is configured for transferring selected contents from the electronic device to the storage device if the electronic device is higher than the storage device and transferring selected contents from the storage device to the electronic device if the electronic device is lower than the storage device.
US08166405B2
There is provided an information processing apparatus, including a storage part storing, user by user, history information, an evaluation processing part deriving, user by user, an evaluation index value corresponding to an evaluation theme requested in a display request transmitted from a display apparatus, by performing a process according to the evaluation theme for each piece of history information of at least two users who are requested to be displayed in the display request, a relative processing part deriving user by user a relative evaluation parameter showing relationship between the users in the evaluation theme based on the evaluation index value, and a display data generation part generating display data which shows an evaluation image of each user showing the relationship between the users in the evaluation theme, by generating user by user the evaluation image based on the relative evaluation parameter.
US08166401B2
A method for providing computer readable instructions for a presentation in a remote location is disclosed. In the method non-editable computer readable instructions for a presentation at a remote location are received from a central data storage via a data network. A user at the remote location then provides at least one set of computer readable instructions that are associated with the presentation. A modified presentation is presented at the remote location based on the non-editable set of computer readable instructions and the associated computer readable instructions. The associated computer readable instructions can then be sent to the central data storage for use in at least one subsequent execution of the presentation.
US08166391B2
A template that can deal with images of various scenes is generated. Image area setting means sets image areas wherein images are inserted in a layout area of a predetermined size, and template file saving means saves information on the image areas laid out in the layout area in a template file. Attribute information adding means adds attribute information representing attributes of images to be laid out in the image areas, to information on the image areas in the template file.
US08166387B2
A DataGrid user interface (UI) control is presented that is configured to display a table that includes columns corresponding to fields in a data source and rows corresponding to records in the data source. The DataGrid UI control is also configured to display a details section associated with each row in the table. One or all of the details sections can be displayed or hidden based upon properties specified by a developer or input made by a user. A property may also be set to cause the details section for a row to be displayed only when a user interface cursor is hovering over the row associated with the details section. A property may also be set to cause a details section for a row to be displayed only when the associated row is selected.
US08166386B2
A method and system for producing a patent specification is capable of producing a patent specification draft rapidly for the inventor, applicant or patent attorney, thereby reducing the time to complete the specification and improving the mutual understanding between the inventor and the patent attorney. After the inventor inputs the technical characteristics and other related description via a graphic interface, a patent specification draft can be produced rapidly. The method includes the steps of inputting a title, selecting the type of invention, entering the graphic interface, inputting the name and function of each element to form an output data section, inputting the data having multiple sets of text areas, cooperating the input data having multiple sets of text areas with individual output data section, combining, trans-pasting and composing the corresponding input description to form multiple sets of output data sections. In this way, the contents of a patent specification can be formed.
US08166378B2
An encoding circuit is disclosed, which has a memory unit, an EDC generating circuit, a scrambler, a header generator, an EDC correcting circuit, and an encoder. The EDC generating circuit generates a first EDC according to at least one main data. The scrambler generates a scrambled main data according to the main data. The header generator generates a header according to header information. The EDC correcting circuit, corrects the first EDC according to the header to generate a second EDC. The encoder encodes an optical data according to the second EDC and the scrambled main data.
US08166372B2
A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product for decoding control information, wherein a total number of allocation blocks defining control channels to be allocated to users for at least one of uplink and downlink directions is determined. Then, a format which determines resource allocation within allocation blocks is selected, allocation blocks are decoded using the selected format, and an error checking is performed for the decoded allocation blocks. This selecting, coding and error checking is repeated for different available formats until no error is revealed in said error checking. Thereby, a blind estimation of a format chosen for the control channel information can be achieved, so that additional amount of control signalling can be reduced.
US08166367B2
A method for encoding a channel in a communication system using a Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) code. The method includes generating a plurality of column groups by grouping (categorizing) columns corresponding to an information word in a parity-check matrix of the LDPC code, and ordering the column groups; determining a range of an information word desired to be obtained by performing shortening; based on the determined range of the information word, performing column group-by-column group shortening on the column groups in order according to a predetermined shortening pattern; and LDPC encoding the shortened information word.
US08166358B2
The disclosure provides a novel method and apparatus for inputting addresses to devices to select the device TAP for access. Further, the disclosure provides a novel method and apparatus for inputting addresses for selecting device TAPs and for inputting commands for commanding circuitry within the device. The inputting of addresses or the inputting of addresses and commands is initiated by a control bit input on TDI that is recognized during the Run Test/Idle, Pause-DR or Pause-IR TAP states.
US08166356B2
A memory system has a redundancy coding circuit that performs redundancy coding process for write data, an inverter circuit which inverts values of individual bits of the data that has resulted from the redundancy coding process, a selector which selects the data that has resulted from the redundancy coding process or data that has been inverted by the inverter circuit based on a selecting signal, a memory which stores the selected data, a comparator which compares data read from the memory with the selected data and outputs a comparison result, a write control circuit which generates the selecting signal based on the comparison results, and a redundancy decoding circuit that performs a redundancy decoding process for data read from the memory to output the processed data.
US08166348B1
A method, system, and a computer program product for debugging a software system. An aspect of the present invention provides a user with the combination of an error determined in the software system and a set of recommendations for fixing the error, thereby enabling the user to debug the software system more efficiently. In one embodiment, the error is determined by inspecting the execution states of the software system at different time instances prior to receiving a debug indication from the user. The set of recommendations for fixing the error is identified by searching a knowledge base that stores the recommendations (e.g., possible solutions, suggestions, and workarounds) for each of the errors.
US08166342B2
A method for troubleshooting a mobile device operating in a network includes receiving a request from the mobile device to a network server via a global positioning system (GPS) interface; extracting a report from the network; comparing values in the report to threshold values; requesting additional data collection based on the comparing step; analyzing the additional data; and sending a report to the mobile device. The mobile device may be a personal digital assistant. The invention includes a system configured to perform the foregoing method steps.
US08166339B2
An information processing apparatus including a plurality of nodes, each node connecting at least a memory and a processor to a system bus; an interconnection bus that interconnects the nodes; a device that is connected to a system bus on any of the plurality of nodes and performs data processing; and a memory selecting unit that selects a memory connected to the system bus to which the device is connected as a memory to be accessed by the device.
US08166338B2
A method provides exception handling for a computer system. As an error in the computer system's hardware is detected, an exception vector pertaining to the hardware error is determined, and execution flow is transferred to a dispatcher that corresponds/pertains to the exception vector. A specific instance of a plurality of instances of a main exception handler is selected, and the specific instance of the main exception handler is executed. The actual exception handler thus contains two distinct parts, a dispatcher, which is unique and preferably resides in a safe memory region, and a main exception handler, multiple copies of which reside in an unsafe memory region.
US08166335B2
A specific-equipment management system is equipped with a question generator, a display unit and an input unit and manages a water heater. The water heater is equipment that requires human operation in the vicinity when used. The question generator generates question information. The question information is information regarding a question for specifying a specific-error. The “specific-error” is an error regarding the water heater and includes an error regarding the human operation. The display unit displays the question information. Response information is then inputted to the input unit by the user based on the question information displayed at the display unit. The response information is information regarding the state of the water heater or the state of the human operation. The question generator generates next question information based on the response information. The display unit then displays the next question information.
US08166334B2
A two reference clock architected redriver includes an inbound elastic buffer and an outbound elastic buffer. Data transmitted to and received from a North Bridge uses a common reference clock architecture. Data transmitted to and received from an external blade uses a separate reference clock architecture. The inbound elastic buffer includes an inbound elastic buffer recovered clock domain, an inbound elastic buffer common reference clock domain, and an inbound decoder/descrambler, an inbound scrambler/encoder, and inbound liner shift registers. The outbound elastic buffer includes an outbound elastic buffer common reference clock domain, an outbound elastic buffer low jitter clock domain, and an outbound decoder/descrambler, an outbound scrambler/encoder, and outbound liner shift register.
US08166331B2
A computer system includes a power supply, a timing control circuit including a delay module, and a south bridge chip. The power supply outputs necessary voltages to the computer system and a first power good signal. The necessary voltages include a system voltage. The timing control circuit generates a second power good signal to the south bridge chip according to the first power good signal. The first power good signal is delayed a first time to be effective after voltages of the system voltage rise to a rated value. The second power good signal is generated after the first power good signal is delayed a second time by the delay module. The first power good signal indicates that the necessary voltages are ready in response to being effective. The second power good signal indicates that necessary input powers of the south bridge chip are ready in response to being effective.
US08166327B2
Power consumption on GMPLS controlled networks can be reduced by cutting power consumption on spare paths that are not normally used. To achieve power consumption reduction, in the path setting process, a path is calculated while taking the power saving capability of each interface into account, and the applicable interface is set to the power-saving state when setting the spare path. When the spare path was set to the operating state, then the power-saving state on the applicable interface was canceled so that interface could operate normally.
US08166320B2
Forming a plurality of pipeline orderings, each pipeline ordering comprising one of a sequential, a parallel, or a sequential and parallel combination of a plurality of stages of a pipeline, analyzing the plurality of pipeline orderings to determine a total power of each of the orderings, and selecting one of the plurality of pipeline orderings based on the determined total power of each of the plurality of pipeline orderings.
US08166319B2
Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide for optimizing voltage use in digital circuits. This can be obtained by creating situations for digital circuits such that the effective critical path (ECP) can be used such as, for example, the case where a digital circuit includes a plurality of voltage domains powered by individual and possibly different voltage sources. This can then reduce voltage use in digital circuits.
US08166309B2
A method, system, and computer program product for network management, including masking a true service set identifier (SSID) in beacon frame; and broadcasting the beacon frame with the masked true SSID, whereby an authorized device retrieve the true SSID from the broadcast beacon frame.
US08166308B2
A method and system are provided for authenticating and securing an embedded device using a secure boot procedure and a full non-volatile memory encryption process that implements Elliptic Curve Pinstov-Vanstone Signature (ECPV) scheme with message recovery on a personalized BIOS and master boot record. The signature includes code that is recovered in order to unlock a key that is in turn used to decrypt the non-volatile memory. The use of ECPVS provides an implicit verification that the hardware is bound to the BIOS since the encrypted memory is useless unless properly decrypted with the proper key.
US08166307B2
A document accessible over a network can be registered. A registered document, and the content contained therein, cannot be transmitted undetected over and off of the network. In one embodiment, the invention includes maintaining a plurality of stored signatures, each signature being associated with one of a plurality of registered documents, intercepting an object being transmitted over a network, calculating a set of signatures associated with the intercepted object, and comparing the set of signatures with the plurality of stored signatures. In one embodiment, the invention can further include detecting registered content from the registered document being contained in the intercepted object, if the comparison results in a match of at least one of the signatures in the set of signatures with one or more of the plurality of stored signatures.
US08166304B2
A method, computer program product, and data processing system are disclosed for ensuring that applications executed in the data processing system originate only from trusted sources are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a secure operating kernel maintains a “key ring” containing keys corresponding to trusted software vendors. The secure kernel uses vendor keys to verify that a given application was signed by an approved vendor. To make it possible for independent developers to develop software for the herein-described platform, a “global key pair” is provided in which both the public and private keys of the pair are publicly known, so that anyone may sign an application with the global key. Such an application may be allowed to execute by including the global key pair's public key in the key ring as a “vendor key” or, conversely, it may be disallowed by excluding the global public key from the key ring.
US08166299B2
A messaging method and system sends secure emails (14) by the email originator (10) removing the portion of the email (14) which is confidential (24) from the body of the email (14). The removed portion (24) is sent to a secure storage site (30). The residue (20) of the email (14) is sent to the intended recipient (12), together with a notification (22) that the confidential portion (24) is at the secure site (30). Secure storage site 30 then sends a SMS text message (38) to the recipient's mobile phone (44) which has an authentication code (38) which the recipient (12) uses to establish identity and retrieve the confidential portion (24) of the email message (14) from the secure store (30). The secure store (30) emails the originator with notification (60) when the recipient (12) retrieves the secure portion (24) of the email message (14).
US08166297B2
Encrypted data on mobile devices is protected by remotely storing a decryption key. In order to decrypt the encrypted data on the mobile device, the mobile device obtains the decryption key from an access control system that is remote from the mobile device. The access control system can control access to the encrypted data by controlling access to the decryption key. For example, the access control system can implement user authentication as a condition for providing the decryption key. Access to the encrypted data can also be controlled by withholding the decryption key where, for instance, a mobile device has been reported to be lost or stolen, or once an individual's access privilege has been revoked, or at certain times of the day.
US08166295B2
A computer-implemented method of providing security for an application running on a messaging based operating system is provided. The method includes obtaining a first message from a message queue for the application. Then, it is determined whether the first message is of a type registered by the application as being a potential security threat. Next, the first message is processed based upon the determination of whether it is of a type registered by the application as being a potential security threat. Security framework and application program embodiments are also provided.
US08166294B1
A method for processing a request for a cryptographic function that includes calling into a user-level encryption framework to process the request, wherein calling into the encryption framework comprises sending the request from a user-level application, and processing the request and returning a result to the user-level application, wherein processing the request includes selecting a user-level cryptographic provider from available user-level providers and processing the request using the user-level cryptographic provider selected from the available user-level providers, if the request comprises a metaslot provider request, and selecting the user-level cryptographic provider specified in the request and processing the request using the specified user-level cryptographic provider, if the request is not the metaslot provider request.
US08166293B2
When encryption information including an encryption rule, an encryption range, and an encryption key is input to a server apparatus from a local maintenance console in advance, the server apparatus stores the encryption information in an encryption information setting unit, creates an SIP request message including the encryption information, and transmits the SIP request message to a client apparatus. The client apparatus receives the SIP request message including the encryption information. If confirming normality of the encryption information, the client apparatus sets the encryption information therein. After completion of a setting of the encryption information, the client apparatus transmits a notification of the completion of the setting of the encryption information to the server apparatus. Upon receiving the notification of the completion of the setting of the encryption information, the server apparatus acknowledges the completion of the setting of the encryption information, sets the encryption information therein, transmits the notification of the completion of the setting of the encryption information to the local maintenance console, and causes the local maintenance console to display the completion of the setting of the encryption information.
US08166291B2
Management server 16 may obtain application programs from content server 20 in response to requests of mobile terminal 11. Management server 16 may transmit the obtained application programs to mobile terminal 11 with information concerning reliabilities of the application programs. After mobile terminal 11 receives the application programs from management server 16, mobile terminal 11 manages operations of the application programs. Operations of the application programs are coordinated with operations of other programs using the information concerning the reliabilities corresponding to the application programs. Management of the coordinated operations of the application programs avoids problems concerning information security, where valuable information may be distributed unexpectedly because of operations of low reliable application programs. As a result, convenience of users of mobile terminals 11 can be improved without deteriorating the information security of mobile terminals 11.
US08166284B2
An information processing device having a function for efficiently debugging a parallel processing program by controlling snoop operation is provided. The information processing device is so configured that the following is implemented: the setting for receiving a snoop request from a central processing unit can be set at a snoop controller that controls snoop operation; and as the result of reception of a snoop request, a debug controller can stop multiple central processing units.
US08166282B2
Disclosed are selected embodiments of a processor that may include a plurality of thread units and a register file architecture to support speculative multithreading. For at least one embodiment, live-in values for a speculative thread are computed via execution of a precomputation slice and are stored in a validation buffer for later validation. A global register file holds the committed architecture state generated by a non-speculative thread. Each thread unit includes a local register file. A directory indicates, for each architectural register, which speculative thread(s) have generated a value for the architectural register. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08166279B2
Predictive decoding is achieved by fetching an instruction, accessing a predictor containing predictor information including prior instruction execution characteristics, obtaining predictor information for the fetched instruction from the predictor; and generating a selected one of a plurality of decode operation streams corresponding to the fetched instruction. The decode operation stream is selected based on the predictor information.
US08166277B2
A technique for performing indirect data prefetching includes determining a first memory address of a pointer associated with a data prefetch instruction. Content of a memory at the first memory address is then fetched. A second memory address is determined from the content of the memory at the first memory address. Finally, a data block (e.g., a cache line) including data at the second memory address is fetched (e.g., from the memory or another memory).
US08166273B2
By including detecting an abnormality in a first system common unit; reading a priority indication, from the storage portion, indicating whether or not the first system common unit is to be degenerated when an abnormality occurs in the first system common unit for each of the partitioned portions; carrying out, when an abnormality is detected in a partitioned portion to which the priority indication is set, suspend processing on the information processing apparatus by the system control portion on the partitioned portion; and carrying out degeneration processing for suspending operation of the first system common unit and switching to the second system common unit, quick recovery is achieved when a significant partition is down due to a fault experienced in a common unit.
US08166269B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for adaptively triggering garbage collection. During relatively steady or decreasing rates of allocation of free memory, a threshold for triggering garbage collection is dynamically and adaptively determined on the basis of memory drops (i.e., decreases in free memory) during garbage collection. If a significant increase in the rate of allocation of memory is observed (e.g., two consecutive measurements that exceed a mean rate plus two standard deviations), the threshold is modified based on a memory drop previously observed in conjunction with the current memory allocation rate, or a memory drop estimated to be possible for the current allocation rate.
US08166268B2
A methodology for a daisy-chained memory topology wherein, in addition to the prediction of the timing of receipt of a response from a memory module (DIMM), the memory controller can effectively predict when a command sent by it will be executed by the addressee DIMM. By programming DIMM-specific command delay in the DIMM's command delay unit, the command delay balancing methodology according to the present disclosure “normalizes” or “synchronizes” the execution of the command signal across all DIMMs in the memory channel. With such ability to predict command execution timing, the memory controller can efficiently control power profile of all the DRAM devices (or memory modules) on a daisy-chained memory channel. A separate DIMM-specific response delay unit in the DIMM may also be programmed to provide DIMM-specific delay compensation in the response path, further allowing the memory controller to accurately ascertain the timing of receipt of a response thereat, and, hence, to better manage further processing of the response.
US08166262B2
A method of assigning a physical address to a tape-based data storage device is provided. The method includes receiving a first initialization signal from a system controller at an input port associated with a first tape-based data storage device and prohibiting communication at an output port associated with the first tape-based data storage device. The method further includes providing a first confirmation signal to the system controller in response to receiving the first initialization signal and receiving an instruction from the system controller to enable communication at the output port associated with the first tape-based data storage device in response to the first confirmation signal. The method also includes determining a physical address associated with said first tape-based data storage device based on the instruction from the system controller, the physical address enabling communication at the output port of the first tape-based storage device.
US08166251B2
In an embodiment, a processor includes a data cache and a prefetch unit coupled to the data cache. The prefetch unit is configured to identify a prefetch stream in cache misses from the data cache, and the prefetch unit is configured to issue prefetches predicted by the prefetch stream to prefetch data into the data cache. More particularly, the prefetch unit implements one or more stream engines that generate prefetches for respective prefetch streams. Each stream engine is configured to maintain limit data that indicates a number of prefetches that are permitted to be outstanding beyond a most recent demand access. The stream engine is configured to increase the limit responsive to the number of demand accesses that consume prefetched data at least equaling the limit.
US08166247B2
A data storage apparatus includes a processor, a write cache in operable communication with the processor, an auxiliary storage device in operable communication with the write cache, and a temporary power source in electrical communication with each of the processor, write cache, and auxiliary storage device for supplying power in the event of a loss of primary, external power. The auxiliary storage device is dimensioned to have sufficient size for holding dirty pages cached in the write cache, and the temporary power source is configured with sufficient energy for, subsequent to the loss of the external power, powering the processor, the write cache, and the auxiliary storage device for an entire duration of a backup process.
US08166245B2
A solid-state storage subsystem, such as a non-volatile memory card or drive, includes multiple interfaces and a memory area storing information used by a data arbiter to prioritize data commands received through the interfaces. As one example, the information may store a priority ranking of multiple host systems that are connected to the solid-state storage subsystem, such that the data arbiter may process concurrently received data transfer commands serially according to their priority ranking. A host software component may be configured to store and modify the priority control information in solid-state storage subsystem's memory area.
US08166240B2
An automated data library system employing a plurality of cartridges, one or more cartridge storage slots and an inventory controller. Each cartridge includes a cartridge memory. The cartridge storage slot(s) is(are) physically configured to store the cartridges. The inventory controller is operable to generate an inventory of the cartridges as stored within the cartridge storage slot(s). A generation by the inventory controller of the inventory of the cartridges as stored within the cartridge storage slot(s) involves the inventory controller simultaneously accessing cartridge identification information on two or more cartridge memories, and generating the inventory including two or more cartridges corresponding to the cartridge identification information.
US08166235B2
A flash memory storage system has a plurality of flash memory devices comprising a plurality of flash memories, and a controller having an I/O processing control unit for accessing a flash memory device specified by a designated access destination in an I/O request received from an external device from among the plurality of flash memory devices. A parity group can be configured of flash memory devices having identical internal configuration.
US08166232B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a method and a system for the management of availability and reliability of flash memory media. In one embodiment, a method of evaluating reliability of flash memory media comprises measuring a flash memory remaining life for each disk of a plurality of flash memory media disks provided in one or more flash memory media groups each of which has a configuration, wherein each flash memory media group is one of a RAID group or a thin provisioning pool; obtaining a ratio of sequential to random write I/O types for each flash memory media group; and calculating a remaining life of each flash memory media group based on the measured flash memory remaining life for each disk in said each flash memory media group, the configuration of said each flash memory media group, and the ratio of sequential to random write I/O types for said each flash memory media group.
US08166229B2
In some embodiments, a non-volatile cache memory may include a multi-level non-volatile cache memory configured to be located between a system memory and a mass storage device of an electronic system and a controller coupled to the multi-level non-volatile cache memory, wherein the controller is configured to control utilization of the multi-level non-volatile cache memory. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US08166227B2
An apparatus for processing a PCI Express protocol, includes: a PCI Express transaction layer reception unit for transmitting status information, and performing a data writing operation; a PCI Express data link layer transmission unit for creating a flow control packet, transmitting the flow control packet to a PCI Express physical layer, and transmitting an integrity acknowledgement packet to the PCI Express physical layer; and a PCI Express physical layer for transmitting the flow control packet and the integrity acknowledgement packet to an upstream device, and transmitting the writing request packet to a PCI Express data link layer reception unit. Further, the apparatus includes a PCI Express data link layer reception unit for transmitting the writing request packet to the PCI Express transaction layer reception unit, and transmitting the integrity acknowledgement packet to the PCI Express data link layer transmission unit and a PCI Express transaction layer reception unit.
US08166223B2
Machine-readable media, methods, and apparatus are described to issue message signaled interrupts. In some disclosed embodiments, a device generates message signaled interrupts in a manner that enables a device driver written with level-sensitive semantics to properly service the device despite the edge-triggered characteristics message signaled interrupts.
US08166221B2
A Low-power flash-memory device uses a modified Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) 3.0 Protocol to reduce power consumption. The bit clock is slowed to reduce power and the need for pre-emphasis when USB cable lengths are short in applications. Data efficiency is improved by eliminating the 8/10-bit encoder and instead encoding sync and framing bytes as 9-bit symbols. Data bytes are expanded by bit stuffing only when a series of six ones occurs in the data. Header and payload data is transmitted as nearly 8-bits per data byte while framing is 9-bits per symbol, much less than the standard 10 bits per byte. Low-power link layers, physical layers, and scaled-down protocol layers are used. A card reader converter hub allows USB hosts to access low-power USB devices. Only one flash device is accessed, reducing power compared with standard USB broadcasting to multiple devices.
US08166216B1
A networking device includes a network port configured to receive a message from a remote networking device. The network port includes a detector configured to detect reception of the message. A queue controller is configured to integrate a timestamp with the message to generate a modified message. An ingress timer is configured to generate the timestamp based on an arrival time of the message at the network port.
US08166207B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving in a processor complex a first write request from a peripheral device, obtaining information of the processor complex responsive to the first write request, and transmitting a second write request from the processor complex to the peripheral device including the information. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08166205B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes one or more internal interfaces in communication with one or more network devices in a first network site through a Layer 2 link, an overlay interface in communication through a Layer 3 link with a core network connected to one or more other network sites, and a table mapping addresses for network devices in the other network sites to addresses of edge devices in the same network site as the network device. The apparatus further includes a processor operable to encapsulate a packet received at one of the internal interfaces and destined for one of the network devices in the other network sites, with an IP header including a destination address of the edge device mapped to the destination network device, and forward the encapsulated packet to the core network.
US08166201B2
Techniques are described for configuring intercommunications between multiple computing nodes, such as multiple virtual machine nodes hosted on one or more physical computing machines or systems. In some situations, virtual networks may be established and maintained for groups of computing nodes, such as those operated by or on behalf of various users. Such virtual networks may be established in some situations by automatically configuring various communication manager modules to associate communications from a computing node belonging to a virtual network with one or more networking identifiers associated with the virtual network, such that other communication manager modules may appropriately forward or otherwise process such communications.
US08166197B2
Methods and apparatus that enable more than one server to host a resource using a shared IP address such that a client may generally access the resource on any of the servers using the shared IP address are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for providing paths that allow a client to access a resource in a TCP/IP network includes obtaining an IP address, as well as associating the IP address to first and second servers. The first and second servers support the resource at the IP address, and a first path of the plurality of paths that allow the client to access the resource is between the client and the first server and a second path of the plurality of paths that allow the client to access the resource is between the client and the second server.
US08166194B2
An exemplary audio system includes an audio engine, one or more shared buffers where each shared buffer is associated with a client application and one or more lock-free mechanisms to help ensure that a write position of a shared buffer stays equal to or ahead of a read position for that shared buffer and to ensure that a client application's failure to maintain a write position equal to or ahead of a read position does not prevent audio engine access to the shared buffer. Other exemplary technologies are also disclosed.
US08166181B2
A method for controlling content on a display device includes executing, by a host device coupled to a display, a browser application within a web browser for presenting content on the display device. A communication channel is established over a computer network between an application running on an endpoint device and the browser application. Data is sent content over the communication channel, between the endpoint device and the browser application, for controlling what is shown on the display. A system for controlling content on a display is also disclosed.
US08166177B1
In an exemplary method, a resident agent receives multiple requests from one or more requesting processes for connections to services. The requested services are hosted by a fast service host. The resident agent establishes multiple connections to the one or more requesting processes for the requested services. The resident agent notifies a single instance of a fast service host of the multiple connections. The resident agent facilitates communication between the requested services on the fast service host and the one or more requesting processes. This may involve establishing one or more routing connections to the fast service host, and routing data between the one or more requesting processes and the requested services on the fast service host.
US08166175B2
A port listening service operating in at system level is assigned to listen on a static port. The static port can index a plurality of unique IDs associated with a plurality of applications operating in a session level. The server application can then provide to a client the unique connection ID, the IP address of the server, and the static port number for a connection. If the client connects by referencing the unique connection ID, the port listening service can forward a corresponding socket for the connection to the appropriate application instance, such that the application still operates in a session level. As such, the port listening service can dispatch connection services for a single static port to multiple different application instances running in a session level.
US08166166B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for distributing configuration parameters. The present invention includes one or more storage devices configured to store data, a first DHCP server configured to process DHCP messages and redirect communications regarding configuration parameters for the storage devices to a second DHCP server, and a configuration datastore configured to store configuration parameters for the storage devices. The second DHCP server may be configured to process DHCP messages and retrieve configuration parameters for the storage devices from the configuration datastore. In certain embodiments, each storage initiator communicates with the DHCP servers, receives the configuration parameters such as iSCSI parameters, and provides the configuration parameters to one or more storage devices.
US08166163B2
A load balancer sends a probe packet to a first server in a list of servers. Each server in the list sends the probe successively down the list of servers and acknowledges the probe if the server is healthy. The final server in the list sends a signal to the load balancer to indicate that the chain of server probing has completed successfully. In this manner, the load balancer (or other device performing the checking) only needs to send a single probe rather than probe each server in the list separately. Embodiments include serial and recursive acknowledgments from the servers, sending a beacon message upon failure, and other features.
US08166155B1
A data processing system comprises web page generation logic and website experimentation logic. The web page generation logic is configured to generate web pages to be provided to visitors of a website. The website experimentation logic is coupled to the web page generation logic. The website experimentation logic is configured to detect a change in the manner in which the web page generation logic generates one or note of the web pages and to assess how the change impacts visitor interactions with the website.
US08166150B2
A system is disclosed for enabling interoperability of different Network-Centric Operation (NCO) environments. A first computer executable module may enable plug-able import proxies and export proxies for respectively importing data from and exporting data to different NCO environments. A second computer executable module may enable plug-able software operable for configuring imported data. An infrastructure may be incorporated that integrates the first and second computer executable modules.
US08166144B2
Methods, computer program products, systems and data structures for generating a signature for a network are described. A network signature may include, for example, network information associated with a network (e.g., IP address, MAC address, domain name, DNS name, routing information, phone number, etc.). A signature of a network that has previously been created can be stored to enable identification of the network in the future and to record parameters, settings, properties and attributes previously used for that network.
US08166141B1
A user device disposed on a local area network (LAN) requests a proxy auto-configuration file from a first proxy server. Where the first proxy server is not present on the LAN, a second proxy server on the LAN intercepts the request and responds to it by causing a replacement proxy auto-configuration file to be sent to the user device. The user device utilizes the replacement proxy auto-configuration file to configure itself to utilize the second proxy server on the LAN.
US08166126B2
Systems and methods by which a user may use a client computing device (such as a mobile phone, for example) to initiate and send a notification message to a selected group of recipients are provided. The notification message may be an audio message that is delivered by various electronic methods including e-mail, text message, and/or voicemail. In defining the notification message, the user is provided with the ability to request a confirmation that the notification message has been received and/or understood by the selected recipients. In some embodiments, recipients are asked to respond to the notification message indicating that they have received and understood the message.
US08166125B2
A system, method and computer-readable medium provides configuration data, such as for electronic mail access. A configuration module retrieves the configuration data from a source of configuration data, such as a user system. The configuration in one aspect could be for accessing different electronic mailboxes of a user. Data object are generated. Each data object is submitted as a distributed object module to a web service. The web service in one aspect of the invention could be for a pass-through access for configuring electronic mailboxes.
US08166123B2
The current invention allows a user to evaluate web pages, emails, or software across different operating systems without requiring the user to have the operating system being tested. The patent has a novel method to (1) generate screen captures in parallel, (2) create counter-anti-spam reporting and (3) a method to remotely interact any arbitrary operating system (DVA).
US08166120B2
Techniques are described to provide content channels for electronic messaging. In an implementation, a content channel may be configured to contain multiple content portions having various types of content for delivery to one or more clients. The content channel may be associated with an electronic message such as an email or instant message. The content channel and updates to the content channel may be pushed to the clients as electronic messages in an electronic messaging environment. The clients may expose a user interface having one or more portions that are arranged to present and provide interaction with the content channel. The content channel may be pinned within a designated portion of the user interface to enable repeated access to the content channel via the designated portion.
US08166108B1
Some embodiments provide different frameworks that implement conflict avoidance systems and methods for ensuring uniqueness in identifying assets for different customers that are deployed to server capacity of one or more distributed platforms participating in a federation. Specifically, different frameworks are provided whereby the distributed platforms authorize use of a domain before configuring the domain to identify assets of a customer. A method performed in one such framework includes receiving a domain that is specified for identifying assets of a first customer belonging to a first distributed platform of the federation. The method determines whether the domain conflicts with a domain that is configured by a second distributed platform of the federation. The method then communicates with the first distributed platform (i) to configure the received domain when there is no conflict and (ii) to prevent the first distributed platform from configuring the received domain when there is a conflict.
US08166092B2
When division X/Y of floating point numbers is performed, bit string data of a mantissa x including a fraction xf of X or a mantissa y including a fraction yf of Y is shifted in accordance with magnitude relation between them to perform a fraction computation. Thereby, a fraction division result in which the position of the most significant bit is fixed at a prescribed digit is generated. When a square root operation √Y is performed, a fraction square root operation result in which the position of the most significant bit is fixed at a prescribed digit is generated by an exception handling if all of the three conditions that all the bits in the fraction of Y are one, a difference between the exponent ye of Y and a bias value b is an odd number, and a rounding mode is a positive infinity direction are satisfied.
US08166087B2
A filter operation circuit of a microprocessor executes an IIR filter operation by using data provided from registers R0 to R2 and outputs one sample of data Y[n] subjected to filter operation and transfer data P[n] to be used in the next IIR filter operation. Register R0 provides filter coefficients to the filter operation circuit. Register R1 provides past transfer data P[n−1] and P[n−2] to the filter operation circuit and is overwritten and updated with new transfer data P[n] output from the filter operation circuit. Register R2 holds multiple samples of data X[n] to X[n+3] to be subjected to filter operation and provides X[n] to the filter operation circuit. An area of register R2 in which X[n] has been held is overwritten and updated with Y[n].
US08166085B2
The present invention provides for calculating a shift amount as a function of a plurality of numbers. At least one decoder and the at least one adder are coupled in parallel. A shifter is configured to compute a value in a plurality of shift stages, and wherein a bit group of the shift amount is employable to affect at least one of the plurality of shift stages, thereby decreasing processing time.
US08166079B2
The disclosed technique enables a content provider to dynamically assemble content at the edge of the Internet, preferably on content delivery network (CDN) edge servers. Preferably, the content provider leverages an “edge side include” (ESI) markup language that is used to define Web page fragments for dynamic assembly at the edge. Dynamic assembly improves site performance by catching the objects that comprise dynamically generated pages at the edge of the Internet, close to the end user. The content provider designs and develops the business logic to form and assemble the pages, for example, by using the ESI language within its development environment. Instead of being assembled by an application/web server in a centralized data center, the application/web server sends a page template and content fragments to a CDN edge server where the page is assembled. Each content fragment can have its own cacheability profile to manage the “freshness” of the content. Once a user requests a page (template), the edge server examines its cache for the included fragments and assembles the page on-the-fly.
US08166068B2
Systems, methods, and software for identifying location based rules related to a network connected device are described. A network connected device may transmit a set of data identifying the location of the device and an identifier unique to the device to a server. The server may also receive an action request, wherein the action request is associated with the identifier. The server may select a rule in a database to address the action request, the rule applicable to the identifier and location of the device. Various embodiments related to financial card transactions, access to financial information, emergency services contact, and electronic message filtering are also addressed.
US08166063B2
A query message is received at a first server of a plurality of servers of a first server type, at least part of data contained in the query message is transformed to a transforming result, based on the transforming result and a first lookup table at said first server, a storage location of a respective second lookup table at one of said plurality of servers of said first type is determined, the respective second lookup table is accessed at the determined storage location of the respective second lookup table at one of said plurality of servers of said first type, and an indicator indicating a storage location of data requested by the query message is retrieved from the respective second lookup table.
US08166046B1
One or more keywords associated with a first content item are identified. Restricted terms are identified. One or more of the one or more keywords are selected as a link, wherein the link does not contain the restricted terms.
US08166040B2
A portable handheld electronic device is in communication with a stationary kiosk device. The portable device provides automated compiling and categorizing of items and generating of categorized item lists in accordance with user-defined preferences including user-defined categories, and includes a memory for storing the assortment data, and categorizing means adapted for assigning respective predetermined and/or user-selected categories to the assortment data. Generating means compile and synchronize selected categories, and generate the item list relative to one or more user-selected categories that is further displayed and printed at request of the user. A signal receiving circuit of the kiosk device communicates with a signal generating circuit of the portable device and generates received categorized item list data in accordance with a received item list signal, and a human user interface generates a human readable display representative of the categorized item list information in accordance with the received categorized item list data.
US08166035B2
A grid-based data clustering method comprises: a parameter setting step, a partition step, a searching step, a seed-classifying step, an extension step, and a termination step. Through the above-mentioned steps, data in a data set are disposed in a plurality of grids, and the grids are classified into dense grids and uncrowded grids for a cluster to extend from one of the dense grid to gradually combine data in other dense grids nearby. Consequently, convenience in parameter setting, efficiency and accuracy in data clustering, and performance in noise filtering are achieved.
US08166034B2
The saving device for image sharing includes an image acquiring unit configured to acquire the images offered by a sharer of the images, a sharee information storing unit configured to store sharee information with respect to at least one sharee, a subject assessing unit configured to assess whether or not a person subject is included in the acquired images, an image associating unit configured to associate the images assessed as not including a person subject with the images assessed as including a person subject, based on the sharee information, and a shared image determining unit configured to determine the images to be shared with the sharee or sharees from among the associated images and the images assessed as including a person subject, based on the sharee information. The image sharing system and an image sharing method use such a device.
US08166031B2
In one aspect of the disclosure, a method of delivering content to a portable electronic device is provided that comprises receiving a request for content; determining a subscription level for a subscriber of the portable electronic device; determining, based on the subscription level, whether to deliver supplementary content with the content; and, if delivery of the supplementary content is to be effected then determining a method of delivery of the content; determining a method of delivery of the supplementary content; determining the supplementary content; and delivering the content and the supplementary content.
US08166029B2
A method comprising receiving a search query to generate a search result of one or more media items and providing a personalized search rank of the one or more media items on the basis of a user profile and an item relevance for a given media item with regard to the query metadata associated with the search result is identified and used to identify at least one related media item. The at least one related media item is ranked on the basis of the user profile and the metadata.
US08166027B2
Computer system, method and program product for testing a web site are disclosed. Numbers of hyperlinks required to navigate from one web page of the web site to other, respective web pages on the web site are determined. A score for ease of navigation though the web site based at least in part on the numbers is generated, such that lower numbers correlate to easier navigation through the web site. Another computer system, method and program product for testing a web site are disclosed. First keyword searches are conducted in the web site, using a search engine in the web site, based on sets of search terms ANDed together. Second keyword searches are conducted in the web site, using the search engine at the web site, based on respective subsets of the sets of search terms. Each subset is either a single term within the respective set or two or more terms within the respective set ANDed together. A score for effectiveness of the search engine is determined based at least in part on the frequency at which search results of the first keyword searches are contained in search results for the respective second keyword searches.
US08166024B2
An information processing apparatus includes: an extracting means for extracting a feature volume from a predetermined content; and a computing means for computing an evaluation axis that classifies a first content and a second content by using a first feature volume extracted from the first content by the extracting means or a second feature volume extracted from the second content by the extracting means.
US08166020B2
A query generator for generating a query that returns a result set comprising data retrieved from a database and data returned by an analytic function that operates on at least a portion of the retrieved data is disclosed. The result set is arranged as a table having a plurality of rows, and the query generator is adapted to: a) receive an input query indicating the data to be retrieved from the database, which of these data are to be operated on by the analytic function and the identity of the analytic function; b) analyse the input query to ascertain whether it retrieves a data item or calculates an aggregation result from a plurality of data items that will be repeated across one or more rows of the result set and that is to be operated on by the analytic function; and c) if it does, modify the input query to cause the database to split the retrieved data into a number of partitions such that the data value or aggregation result is present only once in each partition; before operating on the retrieved data with the analytic function.
US08166019B1
A system, method, and computer-readable media are described for suggesting an action based on multiple descriptors within a textual communication (e.g. email, text message). In one embodiment, event descriptors within an email are identified and displayed to the email recipient with an indication that the descriptors are selectable. Upon receiving the selection of at least two descriptors, an action is suggested to the recipient for acceptance. Upon receiving the acceptance, the proposed action is performed.
US08166016B2
A system and method for automated service recommendations. A request is received over a network, from a user for service recommendations, wherein the request comprises an identification of the user and at least one service selection criteria. A query is formulated so as to search, via the network, for user profile data, spatial data, temporal data, social data and topical data that is available via the network and relates to the requesting user, the service selection criteria and to a plurality of services available via the network so as to a identify a subset of the plurality of services available via the network that relate to the request. A list of the identified subset of services is transmitted, via the network, to the requesting user. A selection of at least one of the selected subset of services available received from the user and the user is enrolled in the selected service.
US08166008B2
Creating transaction instructions is disclosed. A description of a set of objects is received. For each of at least a subset of objects in the set of objects, a description of one or more associated relationships is received. The description of the set of objects and the descriptions of the one or more associated relationships for each object in the at least a subset of the set of objects are processed to create an ordered list of transaction instructions for storing the set of objects and the one or more associated relationships for each object in the at least a subset of the set of objects.
US08166001B1
A method, system and apparatus for mapping of internal corporate policies to operational guidelines, such as regulations, best practice frameworks, and standards, through the use of control statements are provided. In one embodiment, a set of normalized control statements are linked to best practice framework control objectives and regulations pertinent to an organization. The control statements are also linked to an organization's policies; thereby providing a mapping via the control statements between the regulations and best practices those policies are intended to satisfy. Other embodiments provide for a mechanism for organizing, maintaining, tracking, and displaying control statements and the associated operational guidelines.
US08165995B2
An image forming apparatus capable of preventing the degradation of performance when the log data is outputted to an external device. An output unit outputs an operation condition about image forming as log data to an external device. A changing unit changes a detailed degree of the log data outputted by the output unit according to a log level that classifies the detailed degrees of the log data into some levels. A setting unit sets up a limit value corresponding to volume of the log data outputted by the output unit. A control unit controls the log level based on the limit value set up by the setting unit.
US08165994B2
A server auditing process that stores only a single up-to-date data record along with the differences relative to previous changes in the record that allow the user to move “backward in time” to recreate previous values. The auditing feature introduces a baseline database table and a difference database table for each existing database table. The baseline table stores the most recent auditing data and the differences table complements the baseline table by storing pairs in the form of attribute name and previous value. By applying difference rows to baseline data, the user is able to recreate the data as it existed at any given timestamp and at a minimal storage cost. The architecture minimizes the impact of auditing on system performance by employing an asynchronous priority queue so that task processing is deferred until the system has adequate resources and other work is not affected.
US08165988B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide for batch and incremental loading of data into a database. In the present invention, the loader infrastructure utilizes machine code database instructions and hardware acceleration to parallelize the load operations with the I/O operations. A large, hardware accelerator memory is used as staging cache for the load process. The load process also comprises an index profiling phase that enables balanced partitioning of the created indexes to allow for pipelined load. The online incremental loading process may also be performed while serving queries.
US08165982B2
Various embodiments herein include one or more of systems, methods, data structures, and software operable to limit how rules, or components thereof, may be modified. Some embodiments include receiving a rule definition in a system, the rule definition including one or more rule components, each component including a reference to one or more values from which an inference is made when the rule is applied. Such embodiments further include associating one or more rule components with one or more tag definitions that limit how the one or more associated rule components are modifiable by one or more rule administrators. The rule definition and the associations of tag definitions to the rule components may then be stored in a data store.
US08165979B2
A system and method for resource adaptive classification of data streams. Embodiments of systems and methods provide classifying data received in a computer, including discretizing the received data, constructing an intermediate data structure from said received data as training instances, performing subspace sampling on said received data as test instances and adaptively classifying said received data based on statistics of said subspace sampling.
US08165978B1
Methods and systems to configure computer program logic knowledge modules (KNOMs) in response to user selections. A KNOM may be configured to cause a processor to measure and/or monitor one or more processes or properties, and to perform one or more functions when a corresponding condition is satisfied, such as to provide a recommendation and/or to implement change. A KNOM may be configured with respect to one or more processes running within a corresponding computer environment, such as a WebLogic environment, and/or an external environment. KNOMs may be shared amongst users within a networked community, and may be combined into KNOM packages, such as to combine expert knowledge from a plurality of users. Peer-based ranking information may be associated with KNOMs and/or users.
US08165968B2
The method and system quantify the impact of various design and operational solutions for equipment modules of a structure and the overall structure based upon economic factors. In particular, the method and system provide cost evaluation of various maintenance approaches for at least one equipment module that is part of an overall structure. In addition, a baseline and alternate equipment module may be specified for each equipment module. The costs associated with each of the maintenance approaches for each baseline and alternate equipment module then may be compared and the costs associated with the overall structure having a chosen maintenance approach for each baseline and alternate equipment module may be evaluated. The sensitivity of the costs associated with the overall structure to changes in one or more of the parameter values also may be calculated.
US08165960B2
A database is provided for storing a plurality of sales transactions between buyers and sellers, where each sales transaction may involve, for example, the sale of a product. A signal is received indicating that the selected buyer wishes to register with the seller product information associated with a product of a sales transaction, the sales transaction in the database is identified, the product information is retrieved from the database, and is transmitted to the seller, along with information identifying the buyer.
US08165954B2
In a trading system for trading securities or the like, traders are given various methods for providing protection from poor executions caused by adverse movements in the market and/or other traders seeking to “game” the system.
US08165947B1
The systems and methods relate to a new securities order type—the MON Order—which remains undisplayed and does not become executable until a minimum trigger quantity is reached, thereby making such order executable. The MON Order includes information that indicates a symbol of the security, the number of shares of the security to buy/sell, the side of the order and a trigger quantity. For limit orders, the order also includes a limit price. The MON Order may be received by an initial trading center that may determine whether the trigger quantity is satisfied based on the available number of shares for the security in the marketplace, where the available number of shares is based on the aggregate of (i) the displayed and undisplayed liquidity for the security at the initial trading center, and (ii) the displayed accessible liquidity at one or more away trading centers that is known to the initial trading center. When the available number of shares is equal to or greater than the trigger quantity, the initial trading center may (i) execute the MON Order against the shares available on the initial trading center's book, and (ii) send additional orders (such as ISOs marked IOC, if appropriate) for the security to the one or more away trading centers to execute against their respective accessible liquidity, as necessary.
US08165945B2
Methods and systems for detecting fraud based on velocity counts are disclosed.
US08165941B2
A method and system for operating a new financial instrument and payment card integrates savings and credit transactions belonging to the same payment plan into a single account. Transactions can be carried out at different periods in time, for any amount, agreed on with different fixed or adjustable interest rates, without losing the payment conditions of each savings and credit. A financial account card as a financial instrument can be used to carry out long, medium and short-term savings and credit financial transactions. The card can also be used as a payment card to buy and sell anything of value. The card is operated through financial institutions and service centers by a computer system, which manages transactions between cardholders themselves and with financial institutions, maintains account balances, determines installments for debt and savings balances, manages available credit limits and guarantees, and manages other financial and payment services.
US08165932B2
A system and method are provided for processing network accounting information. A first network accounting record is received from a first source. Thereafter, the first network accounting record is correlated with accounting information available from a second source. The accounting information with which the first network accounting record is correlated is then used to enhance the first network accounting record.
US08165930B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for processing aircraft software parts. A crate containing an aircraft software part is received from a source. Signatures are validated for the crate and the aircraft software part. If the signatures are valid, the crate is unpacked. The contents of the incoming crate are displayed. The aircraft software part is unpacked. Responsive to a request to upload the stored part to a library in the aircraft software part management apparatus, a determination is made as to whether the stored part meets a policy. If the stored part meets the policy, the part is signed. The signed part is placed in a crate and is signed to form a signed crate wherein signatures for the signed aircraft software part and the signed crate are different from the set of signatures in the incoming crate. The signed crate is sent to the library.
US08165918B2
Methods for licensing functionality after an initial transaction are provided. One such method is directed to licensing after an initial transaction of a customer obtaining a supply item including the step of prompting the customer to acquire a usage license for the supply item.
US08165917B2
A method for selling time-based inventory over a communications network includes permitting a seller via a graphical user interface to define a total time to be sold for a time based-inventory; permitting the seller via the graphical user interface to define a sales time interval amount smaller than the total time to be sold; dividing the total time as a function of the sales time interval amount so as to define a plurality of time intervals of the total time; and selling the plurality of time intervals via the communications network. A further method for selling time-based inventory over a communications network includes permitting a seller via a graphical user interface to define a total time to be sold for a time based-inventory; permitting the seller via the graphical user interface to define a sales time interval amount smaller than the total time to be sold; dividing the total time as a function of the sales time interval amount so as to define a plurality of time intervals of the total time; and selling the plurality of time intervals via the communications network.
US08165914B2
A computer-readable medium executing a method of determining desired stock levels is provided. Demand histories, including peak demands, for each of a plurality of items are determined. The items are ranked, based on unit price, to produce a ranked list, which is divided into price percentiles. Multipliers are assigned to each of the items, based on the respective price percentiles, and stock levels are determined for each of the items by multiplying the peak demand of each item and the respective assigned multiplier. Order quantities are assigned to each of the items based on price percentiles. A service level metric and a resource metric are determined based on the stock levels and the respective order quantities, and the service level metric and resource metric are compared with a desired service level range and a desired resource metric range to determine whether the determined stock levels are the desired stock levels.
US08165888B2
Disclosed is a reproducing apparatus comprising: a reproduction section to reproduce reproduction data comprising sound data and/or image data; a selection section to calculate evaluation values between a link source set for the reproduction data and each of a plurality of link destinations corresponding to the link source by a predetermined arithmetic expression based on link information of the plurality of link destinations, and to select a link destination having a highest evaluation among the evaluation values out of the plurality of link destinations; and a reproduction control section to move a reproduction point of the reproduction data reproduced by the reproduction section to a position corresponding to the link destination by linking the link source with the link destination when the reproduction point reaches a given point with respect to a position corresponding to the link source, and to instruct the reproduction section to reproduce the reproduction data.
US08165882B2
Apparatus and method for generating high quality synthesized speech having smooth waveform concatenation. The apparatus includes a pitch frequency calculation section, a pitch synchronization position calculation section, a unit waveform storage, a unit waveform selection section, a unit waveform generation section, and a waveform synthesis section. The unit waveform generation section includes a conversion ratio calculation section, a sampling rate conversion section, and a unit waveform re-selection section. The conversion ratio calculation section calculates a sampling rate conversion ratio from the pitch information and the position of pitch synchronization, and the sampling rate conversion section converts the sampling rate of the unit waveform, delivered as input, based on the sampling rate conversion ratio. The unit waveform re-selection section selects, from the sampling-rate-converted unit waveform, the unit waveform having a phase necessary to obtain a synthesized speech waveform which will exhibit smooth waveform concatenation.
US08165876B2
A method and apparatus for capturing data in a workstation, wherein a large number of data associated with a sample which is viewed, by a user, through an optical device, such as a microscope, is to be entered in a computer related file. The optical device can be moved to a data-sampling position utilizing voice commands. A pointer can then be moved to an appropriate place in the file to receive the data relating to the data-sampling position. Data can be then entered in the appropriate position utilizing a voice command. The steps of moving the pointer and entering the data can then be repeated until all data is provided with respect to the data-sampling positions.
US08165866B2
An emulation system includes a controller, an emulation calculator, an emulation storage unit, and an interface unit. The emulation calculator includes a device under test (DUT) and emulates the DUT. The emulation storage unit stores emulation data of the DUT emulated by the emulation calculator under the control of the controller. The interface unit distributes and transfers the emulation data to a plurality of computers under the control of the controller.
US08165857B2
A system and method for viewing models and model variables within a sophisticated modeling environment is disclosed. The system provides varying levels of insight into a modeling infrastructure to help the user understand model and model variable dependencies, usage, distribution, and/or the like. The method includes storing model and model variable data within a relational database system, receiving a request from a user interfacing with the system via a web interface, extracting search criteria and presentation preferences from the request, formulating and executing one or more queries on the database to retrieve the required data, formatting the data in accordance with the request, and retuning the data to the requesting user in the form of a web page.
US08165854B1
Methods, systems, and related computer program products for photolithographic process simulation are disclosed. In one preferred embodiment, a resist processing system is simulated according to a Wiener nonlinear model thereof in which a plurality of precomputed optical intensity distributions corresponding to a respective plurality of distinct elevations in an optically exposed resist film are received, each optical intensity distribution is convolved with each of a plurality of predetermined Wiener kernels to generate a plurality of convolution results, and at least two of the convolution results are multiplied to produce at least one cross-product. A weighted summation of the plurality of convolution results and the at least one cross-product is computed using a respective plurality of predetermined Wiener coefficients to generate a Wiener output, and a resist processing system simulation result is generated based at least in part on the Wiener output.
US08165853B2
Models are generated using a variety of tools and features of a model generation platform. For example, in connection with a project in which a user generates a predictive model based on historical data about a system being modeled, the user is provided through a graphical user interface a structured sequence of model generation activities to be followed, the sequence including dimension reduction, model generation, model process validation, and model re-generation.Historical multi-dimensional data is received representing multiple variables to be used as an input to a predictive model of a commercial system variables are pruned for which the data is sparse or missing, and the population of variables is adjusted to represent main effects exhibited by the data and interaction and non-linear effects exhibited by the data.
US08165841B2
The present disclosure is concerned with a Substation Automation testing tool which combines the information found in the SCL (Substation Configuration Language) File of a substation (Substation Configuration Description) or an IED (IED Capability description) with substation-relevant data extracted from the Substation Communication network traffic. Using a message interceptor, e.g., a laptop computer, connected to a substation communication network, IEC 61850 relevant data is retrieved and analyzed. Hence, consistency verification without revision handling and a reduction of the time and efforts for commissioning or testing a substation installation are possible.
US08165838B2
Disclosed is a method to determine behavior characteristics of one or more modules of a laser system. The method includes applying inputs to the one or more modules of the laser system, measuring outputs resulting from the application of the inputs, and determining an equation-based mathematical relationship relating the inputs to the resultant outputs of the one or more modules of the laser system.
US08165837B1
A computerized method for categorizing defects on a substrate. A list of defects on the substrate is received as input to a processor, where each defect is represented by a defect location and an associated micro-defect code. The input is analyzed with the processor to detect spatial clusters of defects on the substrate. The spatial clusters are analyzed with the processor to determine which of the spatial clusters represent known macro-defects and which of the spatial clusters represent unknown macro-defects. The micro-defect code associated with each defect that is included in one of the spatial clusters that is determined to be a known macro-defect is changed with the processor with a macro-defect code that is associated solely with the known macro-defect. The processor analyzes the defects that are included in one of the spatial clusters that is determined to be an unknown macro-defect to determine a predominantly occurring micro-defect code. The processor changes the micro-defect code associated with each defect that is included in the one spatial cluster that is determined to be an unknown macro-defect with the predominantly-occurring micro-defect code. The processor sends the changed list of defects on the substrate as output.
US08165835B1
A power measurement and calibration system provides power and line frequency measurements by using a bandpass filter having complex voltage and current outputs from which real and imaginary power components can be determined. Calibration of the filter may be omitted if a complex wavelet filter is used to implement the bandpass filter and a determination of line frequency can also be provided for downstream use. A processor receiving data from the output of the filter can compute real and imaginary power, power factor and the line frequency. The filter may be implemented by a processor executing program instructions, or a digital circuit implementing the filter and optionally a CORDIC rotator for computing the current-to-voltage phase relationship can provide input to the processor for power measurement and calibration of the sample rate to line frequency relationship and for other uses.
US08165827B2
A method of calculating forces acting on the footprint area of a tire, the tire being mounted on a wheel in turn mounted on a hub for engagement with a vehicle, the tire being moved along a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the ground, includes the following steps: detecting a first angular position of the footprint area; detecting a second angular position of a reference point substantially integral with the hub; comparing the first and second angular positions with each other to determine a phase displacement between the reference point and footprint area; determining a parameter representing an angular velocity of the wheel; calculating at least one longitudinal force in the footprint function of at least the phase displacement and the parameter. Also described is an apparatus for calculating the forces.
US08165821B2
Systems, methods, and analytical approaches for short read sequence assembly and for the detection of insertions and deletions (indels) in a reference genome. A method suitable for software implementation is presented in which indels may be readily identified in a computationally efficient manner.
US08165820B2
A method for matching a precursor ion with one or more related product ions includes providing input data sets obtained from sample injections, each of the data sets including a precursor ion and one or more product ions, normalizing the input data sets in accordance with a single retention time for the precursor ion, determining which product ions are within a predetermined retention time window with respect to the single retention time, and, if a product ion is within the predetermined retention time window for a specified number of the input data sets, determining that the product ion is related to the precursor having the single retention time. An apparatus for analyzing a sample includes a chromatography module, a mass-spectrometry module in communication with the chromatography module, and a control unit in communication with the chromatography module and the mass-spectrometry module.
US08165818B2
I describe several methods for organizing databases of molecular structures and searching such structures. Also described are methods for characterizing molecules based on the shapes of their fields that can be used in conjunction with the methods of organizing and searching databases. In particular, the databases of molecular structures can be analyzed by a shape metric technique, and the parameters of the decomposition can be used in creating, characterizing, and searching databases of molecules based on field similarity. The most immediate application of these techniques is to pharmaceutical drug discovery and design.
US08165812B2
A computer-implemented system and method for estimating power data for a photovoltaic power generation fleet is provided. Solar irradiance data is assembled for locations representative of a geographic region. The data includes a time series of solar irradiance observations electronically recorded at successive time periods spaced at input time intervals. Each observation includes measured irradiance. The data in the time series is converted over each time period into clearness indexes relative to clear sky global horizontal irradiance and the clearness indexes are interpreted as irradiance statistics. Each location's irradiance statistics are combined into fleet irradiance statistics applicable over the geographic region. Fleet power statistics are built as a function of the fleet irradiance statistics and the fleet's power rating. A time series of the power statistics is generated by applying a time lag correlation coefficient for an output time interval to the power statistics over each input time interval.
US08165808B2
Methods and apparatus are described for representing points of interest relative to a user-defined geographic area in a map interface. Representation of the geographic area and a plurality of point-of-interest (POI) locations corresponding to the points of interest is facilitated in the map interface using a color scheme in which variations in color represent variations in density of the POI locations within the geographic area.
US08165807B2
Systems, methods and devices for multipath mitigation are presented. Specifically, embodiments of the invention can advantageously use sensor inputs to mitigate the effect of multipath signals received at a receiver. The use of physical sensors in navigation systems is deemed particularly advantageous.
US08165806B2
A software compass used during a GPS outage calculates vehicle heading and presents it upon request. The software compass gathers information from a yaw rate sensor, wheel steering angle sensor, wheel speed sensor, and PRNDL gear position sensor to calculate vehicle heading using a weighting algorithm. Because the yaw rate sensor data is a central factor in calculating vehicle heading, the quality of calibration of the yaw rate sensor is of importance. The disclosed calibration algorithm calculates the yaw rate bias and scale factors to calibrate the yaw rate sensor.
US08165800B2
A method of providing data to an external application is provided. The location and time of an object are periodically recorded to form a record of sightings. The record of sightings is then analysed in accordance with at least one criterion specified by the external application to which the data is to be provided. Lists of sightings from the record meeting the at least one criterion are supplied for use by the external application.
US08165795B2
The invention concerns a method for improving determination of inertial navigation parameters (1) of a carrier (1) moving along modelizable kinematic movement components, the method including the following steps: (a) selecting, taking into account a kinematic model (13) of the carrier (1), at least one movement component whereby integration (11) of the inertial measurements (20) is assumed to give a predetermined value, (b) integrating (11) the inertial measurements (20) in accordance with the selected component(s), (c) determining (14) based on the component(s) a variation between the integration (11) obtained at step (b) and the predetermined value of step (a), (d) estimating on the basis of the variation(s) thus obtained a global inertial error resulting from internal errors associated with said modelizable components, and values to be updated of variable parameters of the kinematic model (13), (e) correcting said inertial navigation based on the thus determined global inertial error. The invention also concerns an inertial navigation system for implementing said method.
US08165794B2
A positioning method includes performing a first positioning by carrying out information communication with an external part of an positioning apparatus to obtain a first information indicating a position of an object to which the method is applied, displaying a first map representing the position of the object indicated by the first information, performing a second positioning by carrying out information communication with an external part of the positioning apparatus before displaying the first map to obtain a second information indicating the position of the object more precisely than the first information, and displaying a second map representing the position of the positioning apparatus indicated by the second information without responding to another instruction from the user of the positioning after the displaying the first map.
US08165786B2
A system having a particulate matter sensor in an exhaust stream of an engine upstream from a particulate filter and another such sensor downstream from the filter. There may also be an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) control on the engine. The amount of particulate matter in or loading of the filter may be determined by the upstream filter. The working condition of the filter may be determined by the downstream sensor. The filter may have a heater and control for providing operational and particulate matter burn-off temperatures to the filter. A processor may be connected to the sensors, the EGR control and the filter heater control.
US08165785B2
An ECU executes a program including the step of stopping power supply to an electric motor if a phase of an intake valve is in a first region between the most retarded angle and CA. In the case where the phase of the intake valve is in the first region, the rotational speed of relative rotation between the output shaft of the electric motor and a sprocket is reduced at reduction gear ratio R thereby to vary the phase of the intake valve. In the case where the phase of the intake valve is in a second region between CA and the most advanced angle, the rotational speed of the relative rotation is reduced at reduction gear ratio R thereby to vary the phase of the intake valve.
US08165779B2
The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine that can be operated in a homogeneous charge combustion mode as well as a method and a computer readable storage device for controlling such an engine. The engine comprises at least one fuel injector, a fuel injection controller that controls a fuel amount injected into a first cylinder, and a piston in the first cylinder whose compression causes an air and fuel mixture to be ignited. The engine further comprises at least one intake valve, at least one exhaust valve, a valve operation controller, and at least one sensor for measuring an engine operation parameter in the first cylinder. The engine is particularly characterized in that the valve operation controller is adapted to determine the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves of the first cylinder on the basis of a first fuel injection or injections.
US08165773B1
The present, in one embodiment, is directed to a method for determining vehicular speeds over various travel routes that includes the steps: (a) for a plurality of mobile communication devices, determining a respective first geographic location at a first time and a second geographic location at a second later time; (b) determining a respective velocity for each cellular communication device over the distance between the first and second geographic locations; and (c) based on the respective velocities, providing to a driver at least one of (I) a velocity over a selected travel route, (ii) a traffic volume over the selected travel route, and (iii) an estimated time of travel over the selected travel route.
US08165772B2
A method of managing slip in a transmission that is driven by a prime mover includes determining whether a slip condition of the transmission is present based on a slip value and reducing a torque output of the prime mover based on a torque reduction value when the slip condition is present. The method further includes storing the torque reduction value in an array if the slip condition is resolved as a result of the step of reducing and identifying a faulty component within the transmission based on the array.
US08165765B2
A method and system for configuring a hydromechanical transmission having a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor driven by the hydraulic pump and a pressure-driven actuator employs a particular torque-pressure curve configuration to maximize torque resolution with respect to actuator pressure changes while ensuring that the curve is substantially monotonic in each dimension and at any available motor speed within a predetermined motor speed limit and any available actuator pressure within predetermined actuator pressure limits. The resultant four-dimensional association between actuator pressure, motor speed, primary power source speed and motor torque allows selection of an actuator pressure to provide a desired torque.
US08165756B2
A vehicle steering control device includes a yawing value obtaining unit which obtains a yawing value corresponding to a vehicle yawing motion, a stabilizing force calculating unit which calculates a stabilizing force for assisting an operation of a steering operation member, operated by a driver for steering a steered wheel of the vehicle, in a direction opposite a direction of the vehicle yawing motion, based on the yawing value, and a force applying unit which applies the stabilizing force to the steering operation member in the direction opposite the yawing motion direction, wherein the stabilizing force calculating unit includes a counter-steer value calculating unit which calculates a counter-steer value indicating a degree of steering the steered wheel in the direction opposite the yawing motion direction, and wherein the stabilizing force is adjusted based on the counter-steer value.
US08165747B2
For a pedal travel, a pedal reaction force, a driving force of a vehicle, and a braking force of a vehicle, different characteristics conformed to a stepping motion, a releasing motion, and a holding motion are determined on the basis of a pedal effort and predetermined characteristics of a pedal reaction force, and characteristics in a holding motion are changed according to vehicle information and environmental information.
US08165736B2
A control device for watercrafts includes a control station having a control lever, a motor, and an actuator coupled to the motor. In one embodiment, the control lever is provided with a sensor for generating a main command signal that corresponds to or is related to a position and/or a displacement of the control lever. The control device further includes control electronics receiving as input at least the main command signal and further having at least a first analog transmission line and a second digital transmission line for transmitting command signals. The control electronics divide the main command signal in two different command signals, a first analog command signal and a second digital command signal, the first analog command signal being sent to the motor through the analog transmission line and/or the second digital command signal being sent to the actuator through the second digital transmission line.
US08165729B2
Disclosed is a method and device for estimating forces exerted on at least one aircraft control surface. The method includes steps of, and the device includes components that carry out steps that include: generating current aircraft flight data; determining, from the generated aircraft flight data, a value Bl based on current deflection data and geometrical characteristics of a lever arm actuator of the at least one aircraft control surface; calculating, from the determined value Bl, at least one hinge moment; summing each calculated hinge moment; and dividing the sum by the value Bl to obtain an estimate of the forces exerted on the least one aircraft control surface.
US08165728B2
A cooperative engagement group-position determining system employs a group of at least three cooperative units, for example a group of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV's), with each unit including a GPS system for determining a GPS-based position, an inter-distance measurement module for measuring a distance of the unit relative to at least one other unit, and a computer having a computer-readable storage medium encoded with a program algorithm for correcting the GPS-based position based on at least one relative distance between two units, providing an improved GPS-based position for the unit and for the group. The system can also include a ground controller, for example, for providing flight control for UAV's.
US08165726B2
An energy savings water heater is described. The water heater is controlled by an energy savings algorithm that uses one or more of a variable setpoint differential, a variable setback threshold, additional setback thresholds, and an adjustable minimal setpoint to improve the operation of an energy efficient water heater. Additionally or alternatively, a different setback control algorithm may be used that obtains additional data to adjust the setpoint. As a result, the operating cost of the water heater is reduced, while minimizing user complaints of cold water.
US08165722B2
Disclosed herein is a velocity and concentration adjustable coupling pipe apparatus equipped between a lifting pipe and a collector. The apparatus includes a coupling pipe having a lower inlet and an upper outlet which are different in diameter from each other. A seawater inlet pipe passes through a side surface of the coupling pipe to permit inflow of seawater. A slurry flow control valve is provided in the coupling pipe to control the inflow of slurry. A seawater flow control valve is provided in the seawater inlet pipe to control the inflow of the seawater. A first sensor measures concentration of slurry discharged through the upper outlet. A second sensor measures velocity of the discharged slurry. A third sensor measures velocity of slurry introduced into the lower inlet. A control panel controls the opening ratio of each of the slurry and seawater flow control valves.
US08165718B2
A robotic transportation device may include a device body, two docking arms, and a controller module. The device body may include at least one motorized wheel, and the two docking arms may include an adjustable wheel locking device. The two docking arms may extend horizontally from the device body and may be adjustable along first and second directions. The adjustable wheel locking devices comprise two adjustable wheel stops extending laterally from the docking arm. The controller module may cause the robotic transportation device to autonomously approach a target device, detect a device type, and adjust a position of the two docking arms and the two wheel stops in accordance with the device type. The controller module may move each adjustable wheel locking device under a target wheel of the target device to lock and lift the target wheels, and cause the robotic transportation device to autonomously transport the target device.
US08165717B2
A method, apparatus, and medium for correcting a pose of a moving robot are provided. The method includes sensing an entrance using a distance-sensing sensor mounted on the moving robot, storing first distance data of the sensed entrance, after the moving robot travels, newly sensing the entrance using the distance-sensing sensor, and correcting the pose of the moving robot using the first distance data and second distance data corresponding to the entrance newly sensed after the moving robot travels.
US08165711B2
Sketches, notes and 2D computer drawings of a designed garment can be input into a computing device. The computing device can apply optical character recognition, shape inference, figure recognition, domain intelligence and inferred knowledge to automatically generate a garment construction specification from the input information. The garment construction specification can include a detailed description of each component of the garment, followed by step-by-step instructions, such as could be consumed by a computer-controlled device, regarding the joining of the components to create the garment. A virtual garment generation mechanism can create a 3D rendering of the garment by constructing each component and then joining them together to act as a single 3D piece. Material behavioral properties can also be applied to the 3D rendering. User feedback regarding the 3D rendering can be utilized to create a modified garment construction specification which can ultimately, when approved, be provided to a garment manufacturer.
US08165710B2
A polishing method includes: a pre-polishing film thickness measurement step of taking a substrate before polishing out of a cassette and measuring a thickness of a polishing film of the substrate with a film thickness measurement device; the pre-polishing substrate withdrawal step of returning the substrate after the pre-polishing film thickness measurement to the cassette; the polishing step of taking the substrate, which has been returned to the cassette, out of the cassette and polishing the substrate; the cleaning/drying step of cleaning and drying the substrate after polishing; the post-polishing substrate withdrawal step of returning the substrate after cleaning/drying to the cassette; and the post-polishing film thickness measurement step of taking the substrate after cleaning/drying, which has been returned to the cassette, out of the cassette and measuring the thickness of the polishing film of the substrate with the film thickness measurement device.
US08165705B2
Production control systems and methods are presented for estimation of production resource failure probabilities in which a set of four count values are maintained and updated for each resource including a first count value m11 indicating a number of plans where the resource m was used and failed, a second count value m10 indicating a number of plans where the resource m was used and succeeded, a third count value m01 indicating a number of plans where the resource m was not used and failed, and a fourth count value m00 indicating a number of plans where the resource m was not used and succeeded, and the current fault probability for each resource is estimated and stored for single or multiple, persistent or intermittent faults based on the corresponding count values.
US08165702B2
A substrate having a surface representative of the geometric shape of the article is first modeled. Then, a plurality of paths for placing tape strips upon the substrate are serially defined. The first path is defined by first starting coordinates and an initial angle such that it follows a natural path along the surface of the modeled substrate. Subsequent paths are also defined by their respective starting coordinates and initial angles, wherein the starting coordinates are disposed adjacent a adjacent path and the initial angle causes the subsequent path to follow a natural path along the modeled substrate. The starting coordinates are adjusted to minimize a minimum gap between the adjacent paths, and the initial angle is adjusted to minimize an average gap between adjacent paths, all without the paths overlapping. Finally, tape strips are laid upon the substrate according to the defined paths, thereby forming the article.
US08165700B2
Systems and methods for providing an integrated HMI application for monitoring and interacting with both batch and non-batch processes in a process plant are disclosed. A plurality of independent stand-alone software objects defining various batch process interface views are embedded within a non-batch process control interface application. A blackboard service is provided for storing batch control data used by the various stand alone software objects. The blackboard service may be adapted to communicate with a batch control server to receive batch control data for populating the various batch interface views with data relating to various batch processes being carried out in the process plant and to send instructions for controlling the various batches input by users via the various batch interface views. When executed by a processor, the stand alone software objects defining the various batch interface views read data from and write data to the blackboard service to communicate data between batch process interface views and preserve contextual information between interface views to allow efficient and intuitive navigation between batch process interface views.
US08165697B2
The invention relates to an electrode-bearing guide, a cochlear implant comprising said guide and the production method thereof. According to the invention, the long and essentially flat guide comprises a plurality of electrodes (2) which are connected to corresponding contacts (3) by means of tracks (4). The inventive guide also comprises at least two stacked basic cells (CB1, CB2, . . . CB11), each of said cells comprising an insulating base layer (11). Moreover, a conductive layer (12) is disposed on top of the aforementioned insulating layer and forms the electrodes (2), the tracks (4) and the contacts (3). The production method consists in successively stacking insulating and conductive layers and defining suitable shapes by means of photolithography in order to form electrodes, contacts, tracks and windows for accessing the electrodes and contacts. The invention enables the automated production of a guide with a large number of electrodes, which is suitably dimensioned for the atraumatic implantation thereof outside the tympanic canal.
US08165689B1
An exemplary method of compensating for a disabled electrode within an array of electrodes includes selecting at least two non-adjacent electrodes surrounding the disabled electrode and simultaneously applying stimulation current to the at least two non-adjacent electrodes. The stimulation current is configured to generate a pitch associated with the disabled electrode. Corresponding systems for compensating for a disabled electrode are also described.
US08165686B2
A method, system and computer product for simultaneously activating at least two electrodes in a multichannel electrode array is presented. The method includes calculating pulse amplitudes of the electrodes in the multichannel array by taking into account parameters of spatial channel interaction reflecting geometric overlapping of electrical fields from each electrode. Calculating is based, at least in part, on place-independent impulse responses characterized by a first exponential decay constant α at a first side of the electrode and a second exponential decay constant β at a second side of the electrode, such that the first exponential decay constant α is the same for each electrode in the array, and the second exponential decay constant β is the same for each electrode in the array.
US08165682B2
A system and method for predicting and avoiding a seizure in a patient. The system and method includes use of an implanted surface acoustic wave probe and coupled RF antenna to monitor temperature of the patient's brain, critical changes in the temperature characteristic of a precursor to the seizure. The system can activate an implanted cooling unit which can avoid or minimize a seizure in the patient.
US08165679B2
An implantable stimulator that includes a housing, a first plastic component, and a second plastic component, where the first and second plastic components form a polymer-polymer interface. A light absorbing metal layer is disposed over at least a portion of the interface and an electronic subassembly is disposed within the housing. The first and second plastic components can be welded together by irradiating the light absorbing metal layer which converts the light to heat.
US08165678B2
A mechanism for transferring energy from an external power source to an implantable medical device is disclosed. An antenna is positioned in proximity of the implantable medical device. The position of a core of the antenna is adjusted relative to the implantable medical device while the antenna is maintained substantially stationary. A frequency of transmission of a power source is adjusted, and the antenna is driven at the adjusted frequency to transfer energy transcutaneously to the implantable medical device. In one embodiment, the frequency of transmission is selected based on an amplitude of a signal in the antenna.
US08165663B2
In an embodiment, an untethered device includes one or more first energy sources configured to provide energy to elicit one or more image responses associated with one or more blood vessels or lymph vessels. The device includes one or more sensors configured to capture the one or more image responses. Control circuitry is provided and coupled to the sensors for at least partially identifying one or more targets at least partially based on the captured one or more image responses. One or more inserts are provided, which are configured to be disposed in the one or more blood vessels or lymph vessels, and slow or trap the blood vessels or lymph vessels therein. One or more second energy sources are provided for ablating the one or more targets when they are slowed or trapped by the one or more inserts.
US08165661B2
Methods and spectra for monitoring fetal growth and predicting birth weight of an infant prior to birth are provided wherein one or more selected biological markers are measured in a sample of amniotic fluid obtained from a pregnant woman. Levels of the selected biochemical markers and/or spectra correlate with one or more medical conditions, such as fetal growth and birth weight of the infant, and gestational diabetes. A measurement probe for in situ measurement can be used safely and repeatedly. Monitoring and/or treatment of maternal and fetal health is also provided.
US08165652B2
Provided is a physiological signal detection module which has a heating member and a multi-channel connector. The heating member maintains an electrode's contact with a user skin at a constant temperature, and the multi-channel connector module for electrical connection transmits the physiological signal to an external physiological signal detection apparatus. It is possible to prevent the skin from being directly contacted with the electrode in the cold state and have a less impact given by a change of the impedance due to a skin temperature based on the change of the season and external temperature, so that the stable physiological signal can be detected without distortion.
US08165648B2
An electronic apparatus includes: a first casing; a second casing; a coupling mechanism for coupling the first and second casings while allowing the first and second casings to slide and rotate with each other in a state where the first and second casings being overlapped with each other, the coupling mechanism retaining the first and second casings to be in one of: a first posture in which the first and second casings are being overlapped; a second posture in which the first and second casings are being slidably moved; and a third posture in which the first and second casing are being rotated; a magnet provided in one of the first casing and the second casing; a first magnetic sensor and a second magnetic sensor which are provided in the other of the first casing and the second casing, the sensors outputting detection signals generated by a magnetic force of the magnet.
US08165640B2
The present invention provides a remote notification to a user of a cellular, or mobile, phone as the result of a particular activity or any activity at all (e.g., an incoming call from a particular person, group, or just an incoming call). In one embodiment, a sensing device is provided on the cellular phone that communicates/routes an alert to a remote notification device. In one economical embodiment, the notification device may have a short wire-based communication channel (e.g., roughly 1 foot to 5 feet) and only have a single output device (e.g., a light-emitting device). Thus, a woman may be able to quietly receive notifications of a cell phone event when her cell phone is stored in her purse.
US08165630B1
The communication device which includes a voice communicating means, an automobile controlling means, a caller ID means, a call blocking means, an auto time adjusting means, a calculating means, a word processing means, a startup software means, a stereo audio data output means, a digital camera means, a multiple language displaying means, a caller's information displaying means, a communication device remote controlling means, a shortcut icon displaying means, an audio/video data capturing means, and a navigation means.
US08165627B2
A method for determining whether a wireless device is being held comprising: activating a vibration motor in the wireless device to vibrate the wireless device for a predetermined period; receiving at least one acceleration measurement from an accelerometer in the wireless device during the predetermined period; and comparing the at least one acceleration measurement to at least one stored acceleration measurement, the at least one stored acceleration measurement corresponding to a held wireless device.
US08165626B2
A multiple mode, personal, wireless communications system exists within a radiotelephone network serving general customers and provides additional services to a select group of customers. The system uses handsets which automatically switch between a standard cellular radiotelephone mode of operation and an enhanced cordless mode when the handsets are within range of pico cells that are interconnected to the public switched telephone network. Each pico cell is controlled via a framework of overlay cells that operates independently of the radiotelephone network and uses a unique control protocol on a small number of reserved cellular channels. Each pico cell consists of a spectrally dynamic, non-capturing, frequency agile, multi-purpose base station provided at customer-selected locations to cooperate with the overlay cell framework. Each pico cell is capable of supporting multiple handsets and uses low power operation that achieves limited coverage. Each pico cell reduces traffic on the standard cellular radiotelephone network by independently handling registered handsets. An alternate line option module provides wireless local interconnect capability to selectively route call traffic between land lines and the standard cellular radiotelephone network. Service control units and host stations facilitate wireless activation and control of each pico cell and handset via the overlay cell framework.
US08165620B2
Disclosed is the hardware construction of a radio communication apparatus that can meet advanced radio communications. A control bus for transferring control signals between a main processor and components is separated from a data bus for transferring transmission/receive signals between processor units including sub-processors and an external interface. The sub-processors constitute the processor units, and a software defined radio of the present invention may include plural processor units. The processor units are connected by a dedicated interunit interface. The processor units may include multiple sub-processors, which are connected serially through an interprocessor interface.
US08165619B2
A power allocation value for power control information transmitted from a first station to a plurality of stations is determined by receiving data rate control information from the plurality of stations in a communications system. Supplemental information relating to the data rate control information is then generated, and an improved signal strength value is produced in accordance with the supplemental information. The power allocation value for the power control information transmitted from the first station to the plurality of stations is determined in accordance with the improved signal strength value.
US08165611B2
A router system maintains a status of a wireless device of either available or unavailable. The status of available may be indicative of the wireless device being in-coverage with a wireless network, whereas the status of unavailable may be indicative of the wireless device being out-of-coverage with the wireless network. The router system is adapted to receive, from a host service, a user data message that is addressed to an address of the wireless device. The user data message has a user data payload and one or more request parameters, where the one or more request parameters instruct the router system on whether to return at least a portion of the user data message to the host service when the device status is unavailable. In response to the user data message being received at the router system when the device status is available, the router system delivers the user data message to the wireless device via the wireless network. In response to the user data message being received at the router system when the device status is unavailable, the router system fails to delivery the user data message to the wireless device but sends the at least user data message portion to the host service.
US08165608B2
A technique is provided to leverage the border cell paging capability to eliminate paging waste during LTE-to-1xRTT cross-RAT paging for CSFB call delivery. A method comprises receiving a call for the user equipment at the first switching element, sending a page request to the user equipment by the first switching element via the LTE elements, sending a page invoke message by the first switching element to a plurality of switching elements on a border between the first area and the second area, the page invoke message having an indicator field indicating a status of listen only, receiving a page response from the user equipment at the second switching element, recognizing the page response by the second switching element based on the page invoke message, and, completing the call to the user equipment. This technique reduces or eliminates border cell paging waste during LTE-to-1xRTT cross-RAT paging for CSFB call delivery and also helps maximize CSFB call delivery success rates and minimize call delivery setup time.
US08165580B1
A cell selection apparatus is used in the environment in which multiple communication systems coexists and at least one of the communication systems use guard intervals inserted in the transmission signal. The apparatus includes delay profile creation means (722) for creating a delay profile from a received radio signal and detecting amplitudes and timing of multipath arriving waves; comparison means (728) for comparing at least one delay quantity of the multipath arriving waves with a guard interval of a signal used in at least one of said multiple communication systems; and determination means (730) for determining a cell provided by one of the communication systems to which a mobile terminal is to be connected based on the comparison result.
US08165577B2
A base station is configured to reduce interference with other base stations and/or devices in a multi-cell wireless network. The base station includes a wireless interface, detector and controller. To reduce interference, the wireless interface may provide services to a first wireless communication device (WCD) using a pilot signal emitted from the base station at a reduced power level. In the reduced pilot signal mode, when the detector detects a second WCD within the base station's service area, the controller increases the pilot signal's power level above the reduced power level in order to establish communications with the second WCD. Upon successfully connecting to the first and second WCDs, the base station may again reduce the pilot signal's power level to reduce interference with other base stations or wireless devices.
US08165572B1
Methods and systems are described for routing call in a wireless network environment. In one embodiment, a phone address is assigned to a subscriber and/or a subscriber's mobile telecommunications device. A call directed to the phone address is routed to a call processing system. An outbound call from the call processing system is placed to a wireless communication service provider so as to cause, at least in part, the wireless communication service provider to route the outbound call to the subscriber's mobile telecommunications device, wherein the call processing system configures call signaling parameters associated with the outbound call so that the outbound call appears to be to a phone number ported to the wireless communication service provider, and wherein the phone number has not been ported to the wireless communication service provider. The outbound call is bridged with the inbound call.
US08165559B1
A call system comprising an interface system configured to receive a call request, and a processing system coupled to the interface system and configured operate in a current mode of a plurality of modes, to determine if the call is for an emergency service while in the current mode, if the call is for the emergency service determine a preferred mode for the call from a one of the plurality of modes, and initiate the call in the preferred mode.
US08165555B1
Aspects of the disclosure can provide a second order low pass filter. The second order low pass filter can work in current domain, and have high linearity for in-band signals and out-of-band signals. The second order low pass filter can include a MOS transistor having a gate terminal, a current input terminal and a current output terminal, a first capacitor coupled between the current input terminal and a ground connection and a second capacitor coupled between the gate terminal and the current input terminal.
US08165546B2
Radio station presets lists can be communicated between a portable media device and an accessory. A radio station presets list can include a listing of radio stations associated with a particular location. The portable media device can determine a current location, select a presets list for the current location (or create a new presets list for the location), and communicate the presets list to the accessory. The portable media device can, periodically or upon request from the accessory, update its location and send a new presets list, if available, to the accessory. After the portable media device and the accessory are disconnected, the accessory can resume using its own presets list.
US08165544B2
A radio frequency (RF) front-end configured to share transmissions and receptions of Bluetooth signals and WLAN signals. In an exemplary embodiment, the RF front-end comprises a first path coupled between an antenna and a transceiver dedicated to transmissions of the WLAN signals; a second path coupled between the antenna and the transceiver dedicated to simultaneous receptions of the Bluetooth signals and the WLAN signals; and a third path coupled between the antenna and the transceiver. The third path may be dedicated to transmissions only of the Bluetooth signals when a WLAN link is active; and transmissions and receptions of the Bluetooth signals when the WLAN link is active and in a power save state, and when the WLAN link is inactive.
US08165541B2
A radio transmitter for modulating a carrier wave in a predetermined frequency with given information to transmit the modulation signal through an antenna having a predetermined resonance frequency f1 has a frequency changing section that changes the frequency of the carrier wave. The frequency changing section changes the frequency of the carrier wave to one of the resonance frequency f1 and a frequency f1×1/n, (wherein n is a given integer of at least 2, to change transmission output power.
US08165534B2
In an example embodiment, an apparatus, comprising a first wireless transceiver, a first directional antenna coupled to the first wireless transceiver, a second wireless transceiver, a second directional antenna coupled to the second wireless transceiver, and control logic coupled to the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver. The first wireless transceiver and second wireless transceiver can concurrently receive wireless signals that are spatially separated. The first wireless transceiver asserts a signal while communicating with another wireless device. The control logic is configured to prevent the second wireless transceiver from transmitting while the first wireless transceiver is asserting the signal.
US08165521B2
A method for selecting a relay mode depending on channel status of relay links in a multihop relay broadband wireless communication system and a Relay Station (RS) apparatus for supporting the method. When signals are received from a Base Station (BS) and a Mobile Station (MS), channel status values (e.g., eigenvalue, mutual information, and probability error) of relay links (BS-RS link and RS-MS link) are estimated using the received signals. The estimated channel status values are compared with a preset reference value. According to a result of the comparison, the relay mode for relaying the received signals is selected. Accordingly, the reliability of the relayed signal can be enhanced and the capacity of the signal link can be increased.
US08165514B2
A fixing device, and an image forming method and an image forming apparatus using the fixing device. The fixing device includes an application unit to apply a foam-like fixing agent including a softener to particulates including a resin on a medium, the softener softening the particulates by at least partially dissolving or swelling the resin and a thickness control unit to control a layer thickness of the foam-like fixing agent such that an application time during which the foam-like fixing agent is applied to the particulates is not shorter than a penetration time required for the foam-like fixing agent to penetrate through a layer of the particulates to the medium.
US08165512B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member for bearing a toner image; a belt for conveying the toner image; and a transfer device for rubbing the belt, and a surface of the transfer device, which is brought into contact with the belt includes linear concave portions or linear convex portions. The image forming apparatus of the present invention prevents a friction force between the belt and the transfer device rubbing the belt from increasing and brings a transfer member into a stable contact with the belt for conveying the toner image, thereby suppressing increase in drive torque of the belt which rubs the transfer device and suppressing occurrence of image failure.
US08165511B2
An offset correcting device includes: an endless belt-like member having an endless belt-like shape; a rotation supporting member that has a rotation shaft in which an axial direction extends along a width direction of the endless belt-like member, and that is rotated while supporting the endless belt-like member; an interlocking member that is supported by one end portion of the rotation shaft to be movable along the axial direction, and that is capable of being contacted with a width direction edge of the endless belt-like member; and a shaft displacing member as defined herein.
US08165508B2
A method for loading a replenishment developer into a developer accommodating container such that when the replenishment of the replenishment developer inside the loaded developer accommodating container is started, the developer composed of a toner and a carrier, or a toner is discharged from a developer discharge port of the developer accommodating container, wherein when a premix toner that is a replenishment developer composed of a replenishment toner and a replenishment carrier is loaded into a toner bottle serving as the developer accommodating container, the replenishment carrier is loaded and then the replenishment toner is loaded.
US08165501B2
There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main body, a drawer, an image forming unit, a belt unit and a cleaning unit. The drawer is movably supported to the main body and configured to be pulled out from an interior of the main body. The image forming unit is supported on the drawer and has photosensitive drums arrayed in line in a direction for forming an image on a recording medium. The belt unit is disposed in opposition to each of the photosensitive drums and extends in the direction. The cleaning unit is fixed to the drawer and is disposed at a side the same as the image forming unit with respect to the belt unit, such that the cleaning unit is pulled out integrally with the image forming unit from the main body.
US08165499B2
A unit detachably mountable to an apparatus main assembly is provided with a coupling for receiving a rotational driving force from the apparatus main assembly. Also the apparatus main assembly is provided with a coupling to be engaged with the coupling of the unit. At least one of these couplings can be pushed in a direction parallel to a rotation shaft and one of the couplings is provided with an inclined surface. During mounting and demounting of the unit, the engagement between the couplings is released by the pushing in of one of the couplings pushed by the inclined surface.
US08165490B2
An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a fixing unit, a discharging unit, and multiple guide members. The transfer unit transfers an image onto a transfer sheet. The fixing unit fixes the image to the transfer sheet by application of heat and conveys the fixed transfer sheet to a further downstream portion of the image forming apparatus. The discharging unit discharges the transfer sheet to an external portion of the image forming apparatus. The multiple guide members form a sheet conveyance path that has first and second paths including a hollow portion defined by the multiple guide members to enable an air current generated during image forming to pass therethrough.
US08165480B2
An image forming apparatus, according to the present invention can include, an image carrier, a charger configured to charge the image carrier, an exposure unit configured to form an electrostatic latent image by exposing the image carrier, a developing unit configured to develop the electrostatic latent image, a detection unit configured to detect the density of a developer adherent to the image carrier, and a controller configured to determine a deteriorated state of the image carrier, by charging the image carrier and then conducting a development, in a condition where a potential difference between the charger and the developing unit is set to be smaller than that at the time of image formation, before detecting a density of a developer on an unirradiated portion on the image carrier, so that a detection result to be used for its decision of the deteriorated state of the image carrier is obtained.
US08165474B2
A modulated optical system with anti-clipping reduces or corrects clipping that might occur in the laser as a result of negative spikes or peaks in a multichannel RF signal. The system generally detects an envelope of the RF signal to generate an anti-clipping signal that follows at least a portion of the envelope and prevents one or more negative peaks from causing clipping by adjusting a bias current in response to the anti-clipping signal. The system may also reduce cross modulation by clamping the anti-clipping signal at an anti-clipping limit during lower power periods of the RF signal.
US08165465B2
An apparatus includes an oscillator circuit configured to generate a certain oscillation signal, an adder configured to add the oscillation signal to the tap coefficient of any of one or more taps of the transversal filter, a signal-quality measurer configured to measure a signal quality of a signal output from the transversal filter, and a tap-coefficient adjuster configured to control the value of the tap coefficient so that an optimal amount of shift in the signal quality of the output signal is achieved when the oscillation signal is added to the tap coefficient.
US08165464B2
An image pickup apparatus with an AF sensor unit fixed thereto promptly with high precision by a parallax adjustment method. The image pickup apparatus with the AF sensor has a stationary cylinder. The stationary cylinder constitutes an image pickup lens barrel with a first axis and a second axis that are perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens barrel and are perpendicular to each other. An AF sensor holder is configured to hold said AF sensor. An AF sensor holder-mounting unit is mounted on the stationary cylinder through a first axis rotation-adjusting mechanism rotatably with respect to the first axis, and configured to support said AF sensor holder through a second axis rotation-adjusting mechanism rotatably with respect to the second axis. The first axis rotation-adjusting mechanism and the second axis rotation-adjusting mechanism are directed in the same direction at operation sides thereof, respectively.
US08165459B2
Disclosed is a reproducing apparatus to reproduce reproduction data at a speed different from a speed at a time of recording of the reproduction data, the recording apparatus including: a storage section to store the reproduction data; a primary reproducing plan producing section to produce a primary reproducing plan ranging from present time to future, according to the reproduction speed different from the speed at the time of recoding the reproduction data; and a secondary reproducing plan producing section to modify to the primary reproducing plan by solving an optimization problem based on the primary reproducing plan produced by the primary reproducing plan producing section, so as to produce a secondary reproducing plan ranging from the present time to the future.
US08165457B2
According to one embodiment, this invention allows to acquire attribute information of a stream object and to generate it as management information upon recording a digital stream when an MPEG-TS that uses H.264 as a moving picture encoding format is to be recorded. Information is acquired from a component descriptor, a PES packet header, or a sequence parameter set in a program map table included in the digital stream signal, and video attribute information of the object and/or attribute information of the data unit is determined. The object is recorded for each data unit, and management information that manages the recorded is recorded.
US08165452B2
A BD-ROM on which an AVClip and a Java™ application are recorded. The AVClip includes a video stream and an audio stream multiplexed therein. On the BD-ROM recorded further are management information and the Mixing_On flag corresponding to the management information. The management information indicates a playback control of the AVClip that is to be played back when the Java™ application is executed. The Mixing_On flag indicates whether or not when a user performs an operation on the Java™ application being executed while the AVClip is under the playback control, mixing of the click sound with an audio output of the AVClip is available.
US08165439B2
Disclosed is an improved optical fiber that employs a novel coating system. When combined with a bend-insensitive glass fiber, the novel coating system according to the present invention yields an optical fiber having exceptionally low losses.The coating system features (i) a softer primary coating with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness.The improved coating system provides optical fibers that are useful in all-dielectric self-supporting (ADSS) cables.
US08165434B2
An optical coupling device enabling spherical or hemispherical light sources to be more fully utilized by gathering more of the emitted radiation and reducing the angle of emission. The optical coupling device includes a first conic reflector having an aperture at the first conic reflector vertex; a second conic reflector coaxial with the first conic reflector and opening toward the first conic reflector; a light source positioned at the second conic reflector vertex; and a negative element located at the aperture for reducing the numerical aperture of the light emitted from the optical coupling device. The optical coupling device may include a refractive medium between the first and second conic reflectors. The present invention provides for improved efficiencies when transferring or coupling optical energy into additional optical systems, and may be used with solid state light as well as conventional sources.
US08165427B2
There are provided a data processing apparatus which makes an I/F for data processing modules (processors) versatile to facilitate addition/modification on a data processing module basis in accordance with processing contents, an image processing apparatus, and a method for the apparatuses. A data processing module (3) includes a read address generator (11), read FIFO (7), write address generator (13), write FIFO (9), and arbiter (10) and is connected to a host arbiter (4) through a 1-channel port. The read address generator (11) and write address generator (13) generate interrupts upon acceptance of final access requests so as to control activation of each data processing module (8-1-8-m) in accordance with the state of each data processing module in interrupt processing. Note that data transfer among the respective data processing modules is performed on a RAM (6).
US08165420B2
A representative-value calculator calculates a representative value of signal values of pixels included in each of divided regions of a neighboring region of a pixel of interest. The divided regions are obtained by dividing the neighboring region into the predetermined number of divisions. The number of divisions is determined based on a frequency band in an input image signal. A difference-absolute-value calculator calculates a difference absolute value between a signal value of the pixel of interest and each of the representative values of the respective divided regions. A weight calculator calculates a weight for each of the representative values of the respective divided regions according to the difference absolute value. A normalization processor normalizes the sum of products of the representative values of the respective divided regions and the weights for the representative values of the respective divided region.
US08165416B2
A region of interest may be determined using any or all of sound source location, multi-person detection, and active speaker detection. An weighted mean may be determined using the region of interest and a set of backlight weight regions, or, only the set of backlight weight regions if a region of interest could not be found. The image mean is compared to a target value to determine if the image mean is greater than or less than the target value within a predetermined threshold. If the image mean is greater than the predetermined target value and predetermined threshold value, the gain and exposure are decreased. If the image mean is lesser than the predetermined target value minus the predetermined threshold value, the gain and exposure are decreased.
US08165403B1
A pose of an object is determine by acquiring sets of images of the object by a camera, wherein the object has a thread arranged on a surface such that a local region of the object appears substantially spherical, wherein the camera is at a different point of view for each set, and wherein each image in each set is acquired while the scene is illuminated from a different direction. A set of features is extracted from each image, wherein the features correspond to points on the surface having normals towards the camera. A parametric line is fitted to the points for each image, wherein the line lies on a plane joining a center of the camera and an axis of the object. Then, geometric constraints are applied to lines to determine the pose of the object.
US08165395B2
A method of image color tone correction is disclosed, which may include the steps of (a) providing a reference image and one or more source images, wherein all images are comprised of pixels of a scene; (b) correcting a designated portion of one of the source images based on the reference image to create a color tone corrected image; and (c) outputting the color tone corrected image to a computer readable medium. The designated portion may be any subset of one of the source images, and may be a simple cropping, interlace, or other form of selection, such as areas of interest in the scene. Additionally, the designated portion may be used for determining a set of coefficients for overall color image correction of the complement of the source images. This method brings the increased tonal and saturation qualities of still images to those in motion.
US08165389B2
An adaptive interpolation technique with artifact reduction is described that technique generates digital images with full-color RGB (red, green, blue) information, from raw pictures (e.g., Bayer-mosaiced single-color images) created by single-CCD digital cameras. The technique employs an improved criterion for choosing the interpolation criterion, which takes into account an output interpolated value. It employs small changes to filter coefficients, for better results and accommodation of “correction attenuation”. In one embodiment, the technique further employs a “correction attenuation” step, which reduces “color sprinkling” artifacts for certain kinds of diagonal edges. The technique makes only a single pass over the image; all colors are interpolated during that pass, vice the multiple passes required by other better performing algorithms (in some cases over ten).
US08165386B1
The present invention is an embedded audience measurement platform, which is called HAM. The HAM includes hardware, apparatus, and method for measuring audience data from image stream using dynamically-configurable hardware architecture. The HAM provides an end-to-end solution for audience measurement, wherein reconfigurable computational modules are used as engines per node to power the complete solution implemented in a flexible hardware architecture. The HAM is also a complete system for broad audience measurement, which has various components built into the system. Examples of the components comprise demographics classification, gaze estimation, emotion recognition, behavior analysis, and impression measurement.
US08165379B2
A method of processing a radiological image of an organ. The method may comprise generating a recombined image (R) from at least one previously acquired low energy image (L) and one high energy image (H) of a portion of the organ. The recombined image comprises a background and one or more areas corresponding to the presence of a contrast medium in the organ. The method may further comprise correcting the recombined image (R) by compensating (C) for the nonuniformities present in the background to obtain a compensated recombined image in which the background has a substantially uniform grey level.
US08165370B2
Main parts of an endoscope system of the present invention include a medical observation apparatus, a medical image processing apparatus, and a monitor. A CPU of the medical image processing apparatus is constituted by function units including a three-dimensional model estimating unit, a detection target area setting unit, a shape feature value calculating unit, a three-dimensional shape detecting unit, a threshold determining unit, and a polyp determining unit. Such a configuration enables to execute a process appropriately adapted to an observation state of a targeted two-dimensional image and to improve the detection accuracy in the detection of a lesion with locally elevated shape as compared to the past.
US08165359B2
A gray value model is generated encoding photometric knowledge at landmark positions. This step exploits intensity correlation in neighborhoods sampled around landmark positions. A geometric model is generated encoding geometric knowledge between landmarks. This step exploits spatial correlation between landmarks of segmented anatomic entities.
US08165358B2
A system and method for displaying a set of data with a virtually dissected anatomical structure. In an embodiment, the anatomical structure is a colon and various attributes of the colonic lumen are assigned a color. In an embodiment, a virtual dissection of the colon is created by mapping a three-dimensional data set to a two dimensional data set. A plurality of display index values are computed which correspond to the three-dimensional data set. Various colors are assigned to specific display index values. The three-dimensional display index values are mapped to a two-dimensional set of display index values. As directed by a user, various color cues may be displayed with the virtually dissected lumen to provide color highlights to various aspects of the colon, such as highlighting shape, fluid, or fecal presence.
US08165357B2
Methods and systems are provided for performing a biometric measurement on an individual. A purported skin site of the individual is illuminated under a plurality of distinct optical conditions during a single illumination session. Light scattered beneath a surface of the purported skin site is received separately for each of the plurality of distinct optical conditions. A multispectral image of the purported skin site is derived from the received light. A biometric function is performed with the derived multispectral image.
US08165352B1
A method of reconstructing biometric face image templates of a face recognition system (FRS) using the match scores or distances provided by the FRS. The match scores represent the distance between a image introduced to the FRS and the unknown image template stored in the FRS. The present method uses an affine transformation approximating the unknown algorithm within the FRS and the match scores provided by the FRS to determine the coordinates of the unknown target template. The coordinates of the unknown target template are then applied to a pseudo-inversion of the affine transformation to produce a reconstructed image template of the unknown target. This reconstructed image template can then be used to ‘break-in’ to the FRS.
US08165348B2
An approach that detects objects crossing a virtual boundary line is provided. Specifically, an object detection tool provides this capability. The object detection tool comprises a boundary component configured to define a virtual boundary line in a video region of interest, and establish a set of ground patch regions surrounding the virtual boundary line. The object detection tool further comprises an extraction component configured to extract a set of attributes from each of the set of ground patch regions, and update a ground patch history model with the set of attributes from each of the set of ground patch regions. An analysis component is configured to analyze the ground patch history model to detect whether an object captured in at least one of the set of ground patch regions is crossing the virtual boundary line in the video region of interest.
US08165341B2
The presently claimed invention relates generally to digital watermarking, and processing imagery (e.g., including video) or audio content. One claim recites a method including: obtaining first media comprising imagery or audio; obtaining second media comprising imagery or audio; aggregating the first media and the second media to yield a unit; and using a programmed electronic processor, examining the unit for the presence of a digital watermark. Another claim recites a method comprising: upon encountering imagery or audio content, performing a screening operation on the imagery or audio content; based at least in part on the result of the screening operation, determining whether to derive or extract identifying data from the imagery or audio content, said act of determining uses a programmed electronic processor; providing the identifying data for storage in an electronic data record. Still another claim recites a method comprising: using a programmed electronic processor, extracting identifying data from data representing imagery or from data representing audio; automatically dialing a telephone number; providing the identifying data for telephonic communication to a device hosting the telephone number; receiving signals representing a human voice command; and providing signals for telephonic communication to a device hosting the telephone number. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too.
US08165340B2
According to one embodiment, a method comprises producing a first hyperspectral imaging (HSI) data cube of a location at a first time using data from a HSI sensor; producing a second HSI data cube of the same location at a second time using data from the HSI sensor; subtracting on a pixel-by-pixel basis the second HSI data cube from the first HSI data cube to produce a raw difference cube; calibrating the raw difference cube to produce a calibrated raw difference cube; selecting at least one desired spectral band based on a gas of interest; producing a detection image based on the at least one selected spectral band and the calibrated raw difference cube; examining the detection image to determine presence of the gas of interest; and outputting a result of the examination. Other methods, systems, and computer program products for detecting the presence of a gas are also described.
US08165339B2
A system for monitoring equipment in a non-invasive fashion may include at least one sense device comprising an electronics module that includes a image sensor, at least one controller coupled to receive image data from the image sensor and generate a reading value, a display that displays the reading value from the at least one controller. In addition, a mounting adapter, separate from and attachable to the electronics module, may be included that has a fitting portion adaptable to be affixed to the monitored equipment and an image opening that enables an image of the monitored equipment to be acquired. In other embodiments, a sense device may provide a signal, such as a DC signal from piece of equipment. A configuration tool may configure parameters by which a reading value is generated from such a DC signal. In one arrangement, a configuration tool may configure sense devices via a wireless connection, and display any images of the monitored equipment captured by the sense device. This may enable intuitive configuration of sense devices and/or quick confirmation of sense device readings.
US08165338B2
Even when multiple document-data images are imposed on a sheet, a paper fingerprint registration can be performed securely with single processing and collation processing can be performed also after cutting of the sheet. An image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus including: a imposition information acquisition unit acquiring imposition information specified for a sheet to perform acquisition of paper fingerprint; a paper fingerprint acquisition region calculation unit that calculates a region for the paper fingerprint acquisition according to the imposition information acquired by the imposition information acquisition unit; and a paper fingerprint information acquisition unit that acquiring region of paper fingerprint according to the region calculated by the paper fingerprint acquisition region calculation unit.
US08165337B2
The invention relates to a method for detecting a fade in a sequence of images which comprises the following steps: calculating, for each of the images of a window N consecutive images in length, termed the detection window, and for the image preceding the detection window, a luminance level on the basis of the luminance values associated with each of the pixels of each of the images; calculating, for each of the N images of the detection window, a difference of luminance level between the luminance level of the current image and the luminance level of the image preceding the current image; and deducing therefrom the presence of a fade for the detection window if, for at least k images of the detection window, said difference of luminance level is greater that a predefined threshold, with 2≦k≦N.
US08165335B2
The present invention is to provide a speaker having desirable sound characteristics with a smaller size, and a speaker unit having the speaker. The speaker unit has the speaker and an attachment unit. The speaker has a case, a magnetic circuit, a diaphragm, and a passage. A first chamber is disposed between an inner surface of an outer case of the case and an outer surface of the magnetic circuit. A second chamber is disposed between the diaphragm and the magnetic circuit. The passage communicates with the first and second chambers and has a groove disposed on a bottom wall of the case.
US08165332B2
A receiver of a hearing apparatus, especially of a hearing device, is proposed. The receiver is sufficiently centered in an auditory canal with an earpiece. The earpiece for inserting into the auditory canal has a first hollow-cylindrical body and a second hollow-cylindrical body that is arranged coaxially with the first body and surrounds the first body, as well as one or more bars that connect the two bodies to each other. On the one hand the bars ensure sufficient stability and on the other certain pliability and in addition they allow ventilation of the space in front of the eardrum.
US08165331B2
A hearing apparatus is provided with a housing including a first housing mounting element and a control element that is mounted rotatably in the first housing mounting element via a control mounting element. Furthermore the housing has at least one second housing mounting element so that the control element can be optionally mounted rotatably in the first housing mounting element or in the second housing mounting element. Thus the control element can be actuated in a desired position.
US08165326B2
In a sound field control apparatus, a storage unit stores position information of a plurality of speakers disposed in a three-dimensional space and position information of a sound receiving point. An input unit inputs an audio signal and position information of a virtual audio source. A localization controller localizes the audio signal at a position of the virtual audio source. The localization controller defines a virtual polyhedral solid that has vertices at respective positions of the plurality of the speakers, selects a face of the virtual polyhedral solid through which a directional line from the sound receiving point to the virtual audio source passes, selects speakers located at vertices of the selected face as speakers to which the audio signal is output, and determines ratios of levels of the audio signals to be provided to the speakers located at the vertices of the selected face based on ratios of respective angles between the directional line and straight lines directed from the sound receiving point to the vertices of the selected face.
US08165325B2
An automotive virtual surround audio system is implemented in an automobile to receive left- and right-channel audio sources. A synthesizer receives the left- and right-channel audio sources to extend the sources into temporary rear-left and rear-right audio sources. A weighting device receives the left- and right-channel audio sources to perform a weighting operation and produce temporary front-left and front-right audio sources. A first filter receives the temporary front-left and front-right audio sources to perform a filtering operation and produce virtual front-left and front-right audio sources. A second filter receives the temporary rear-left and rear-right audio sources to perform a filtering operation and produce virtual rear-left and rear-right audio sources. Thus, the virtual audio image position is reproduced.
US08165324B2
A cost-effective technology for implementing a micromechanical component is provided, whose layer construction includes at least one diaphragm on the upper side and at least one counter-element, a hollow space being formed between the diaphragm and the counter-element, and the counter-element having at least one through hole to a back volume. This back volume is formed by a sealed additional hollow space underneath the counter-element and is connected to the upper-side of the layer construction by at least one pressure equalization opening. This component structure permits the integration of the micromechanical sensor functions and evaluation electronics on one chip and is additionally suitable for mass production.
US08165319B2
A system and method of reproducing an audio signal produced by an audio system which includes an earphone is described. The method including the steps of: receiving an audio signal; estimating short-term characteristics of the acoustic exposure of a listener; recording the short-term characteristics; controlling the audio signal and; outputting the controlled audio signal for reproduction. The system or method of the invention may be applied to any sound reproduction system that reproduces sounds by way of an earphone such as telephone headsets or handsets, personal music players, mobile telephones, and two way radios.
US08165305B2
A system (108) for securing a database including a first and second tables is provided, where the first table includes a first key field and a first data field and the second table includes a second key field and a second data field. The first and second key fields specifying first and second key field entries having one common entry. The system (108) can replace the first key field entries with first adjusted key field entries based on first initialization vectors. The system (108) also replaces the second key field entries with second adjusted key field entries based on second initialization vectors different from the first initialization vectors. The system further encodes the first and the second adjusted key field entries based on index keys to generate an encrypted database. In the encrypted database, a value of the common entries in the first and second tables are different.
US08165302B2
In certain embodiments, a player device that receives and plays content stored on packaged media, the player device has a media reader that receives a packaged media to read digital data stored thereon. The player device has a secure persistent storage device storing a key table containing a plurality of keys indexed by an index. A decrypter decrypts the digital data stored on the packaged media using at least one of the encryption keys referenced by a key index stored on the packaged media. A decoder decodes the decrypted digital data stored on the packaged media and provides the decoded data as an output. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08165298B2
In a quantum cryptography communication apparatus, a light pulse is generated by a light source and split into a signal light pulse and a reference light pulse on a receiving side. The signal light pulse and the reference light pulse are transmitted to a sending side via a communication channel. On the sending side, the received reference light is passed through a first optical path and phase-modulated by a randomly selected amount. Communication information is acquired on the basis of the reference light passed through the first optical path and the signal light passed via a second optical path. Frequencies of the signal light pulse and the reference light pulse are shifted. The intensity of the signal light pulses is attenuated and phase-modulated by an amount corresponding to the communication information. The resultant signal light pulse and the reference light pulse are returned back to the receiving side.
US08165297B2
A transceiver comprises a transmitter configured to transmit data signals, a receiver configured to receive data signals, and a controller configured to encrypt a string and supply the encrypted string to authenticate the transceiver.
US08165274B1
A digital notification and response system for digitally notifying customers of an utility. The system includes a plurality of user contact devices, an application programming interface, and a dynamic information database. Real time digital user data comprising bank identified grouping information for forming user groups, user contact device information for each contact device, and utility provided user contact device priority information is received by the application programming interface and stored in the dynamic information database. The user contact device priority information is used to form a first and second group of user contact devices. Messages are transmitted through at least two industry standard gateways to the user contact devices, wherein the messages are simultaneously transmitted to the first group of user contact devices before the second group of user contact devices. Responses from the contact devices are received by the application programming interface and stored in the dynamic information database.
US08165269B2
In one example, an x-ray target comprises a substrate, a target core, and a target track. The substrate and target core are attached together utilizing a carbide layer and a braze layer.
US08165265B2
Tomographic images in a plurality of radius places are obtained in one-time X-ray photographing, and a lot of information on the diagnose can be provided by forming a stereoscopic image with these obtained tomographic images, and thickness of radial and fineness of angular direction of tomographic image that can be obtained herein compared with prior art can be set arbitrary and can be adjusted thereby obtaining further imperceptible stereoscopic image. To this end, whole photographed images at respective divided unit angles that can be obtained in the digital dental panoramic radiography apparatus at the tomography in the circular orbit, are stored, after X-ray photographed, these photographed images are arranged substantially on the circular arc at the radius place of the tomographic image of the desired extracting part, tomographic images in radius location can be constructed by adding while shifting every photograph unit angle.
US08165264B2
Fast kV-switching is a dual energy acquisition technique in computed tomography (CT) in which alternating views correspond to the low and high tube voltages. Its high temporal resolution and its suitability to a variety of source trajectories make it an attractive option for dual energy data acquisition. Its disadvantages include a one-view misregistration between the data for high and low voltages, the potentially poor spectrum separation due to the more-like a sine wave rather than the desired square wave in fast kV-switching, and the higher noise in the low voltage data because of the technical difficulty in swinging the tube current to counter the loss of x-ray production efficiency and loss of penetration at lower tube voltages. Despite the disadvantages, symmetric view matching according to the current invention substantially improves streaks and other artifacts due to the view misregistration, sufficient spectrum separation even in a sinusoidal waveform swinging between 80 kV and 135 kV, and contrast-to-noise for the simulated imaging task maximized at monochromatic energy of 75 keV.
US08165263B2
A counting circuit includes first to fifth flip-flops (FFs) and a logic operation unit. Each of the first to fourth FFs has an initial value based on a preset control signal input through a 4-bit set terminal. Each of the first to fourth FFs receives a signal at a corresponding input terminal. And each of the first to fourth FFs outputs a signal at a corresponding output terminal according to a clock signal. The fifth FF is coupled to the output terminal of the fourth FF and is configured to output the output signal of the fourth FF synchronously with the clock signal. The logic operation unit logically combines the output signals of the second to fourth FFs and outputs first and second counting signals.
US08165249B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for estimating and compensating for a time offset and a carrier frequency offset in a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) communication system that supports Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) or Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Access (OFDMA). According to the present invention, a phase difference of pilot signals of the same transmitting antenna, which are received through receiving antennas, is calculated. An arc tangent operation is then carried out on the phase difference of the pilot signals to calculate a time offset linear phase and/or a carrier frequency offset linear phase. Further, a time offset compensation value and/or a carrier frequency offset compensation value are found by employing the time offset linear phase and/or the carrier frequency offset linear phase. A time offset and/or a carrier frequency offset with respect to pilots and data are compensated for by employing the time offset compensation value and/or the carrier frequency offset compensation value.
US08165248B2
A wireless distance measurement system and wireless terminal improve the accuracy of distance measurement when the UWB communication scheme is used. In wireless terminal 200, a route of signals varies between a distance measuring operation and a synchronization establishing operation, and, when the distance measuring operation is performed, a detection result is inputted to comparator 208 without passing through integrator 204. By this means, the distance measuring operation of wireless terminal 200 does not involve integration processing, so that delay time due to integration processing is not produced and, consequently, it is possible to improve the accuracy of distance measurement. Further, the distance measuring operation uses the integration result acquired integrator 204 for a comparison reference voltage used in comparator 208. By this means, the integration result removing noise signal components from a detection signal is used for the comparison reference voltage, so that the comparison reference voltage is optimized. Consequently, it is possible to further improve the accuracy of distance measurement.
US08165235B2
An exemplary embodiment in accordance with this invention is a method for determining the number of interfering streams. The method includes calculating statistical information based on one or more received OFDM signals. The number of interfering streams is estimated from the statistical information in this method. The OFDM signal(s) are received via a plurality of antennas. Storing the OFDM signal(s) in a square matrix may be included in the method. A covariance matrix of the square matrix can be determined; and a noise subspace and a signal plus interference subspace can be determined based on a SVD of the covariance matrix. The statistical information may be based on the signal plus interference subspace. Apparatus, computer programs and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08165225B2
An image data transfer circuit and an image data transfer method capable of exception processing without affecting image data of normal frames when an error is detected in image data. Image data applied to an input processing section is filtered by a filter, stored in an FIFO buffer, and sequentially read from an output section for transfer to the outside. In this event, two frame counters count numbers of frames which are being processed in input processing and output processing, respectively. When an error is detected in the input processing section, a stop controller does not output a stop request signal if the two count values do not match, and outputs the stop request signal at the time the two count values match. In this way, operations on error data are stopped after all image data of normal frames stored in the FIFO buffer has been transferred to the outside.
US08165222B2
A video encoding method and apparatus is shown wherein image information is represented as a plurality of pixels, the pixels are organized into blocks, pixels transposition is performed on image information at the boundaries of the blocks, the blocks are transform coded and quantized. Pixel transposition involves transposition of alternate pixels at the boundaries of blocks with pixels of neighboring blocks found in a pre-determined direction. The pre-determined direction may be fixed by a system or may be applied on an image by image basis. In the event that the pre-determined direction is not established by a system, a pixel transposition circuit includes a transposition keyword in the output bit stream which is used by a decoded to determine the direction of pixel transposition.
US08165221B2
A technique for eliminating duplicate data is provided. Upon receipt of a new data set, one or more anchor points are identified within the data set. A bit-by-bit data comparison is then performed of the region surrounding the anchor point in the received data set with the region surrounding an anchor point stored within a pattern database to identify forward/backward delta values. The duplicate data identified by the anchor point, forward and backward delta values is then replaced in the received data set with a storage indicator.
US08165212B2
Provided is a video coding method and a video decoding method increasing the resolution and quality of images while suppressing an amount of data required for increasing the resolution. A video coding apparatus includes a first orthogonal transformation unit performing discrete cosine transform on an input picture signal, a low-pass filter performing low-pass filtering on the input picture signal, a downsampling unit downsampling the resolution of a low-frequency image signal, a coding unit compressing and coding a reduced image signal, a local decoding unit decoding a coded bit stream, a second orthogonal transformation unit performing discrete cosine transform on a decoded image signal, and a modification information generation unit generating, based on input image DCT coefficients and decoded image DCT coefficients, coefficient modification information used for modifying orthogonal transformation coefficients obtained by performing orthogonal transformation on a decoded video signal obtained from a coded bit stream.
US08165210B2
A video processing device operates in an encoding mode when a mode selection signal has a first value and operates in a decoding mode when the mode selection signal has a second value. The video processing device utilizes an interpolation filter to perform an encoding function in the encoding mode and to perform a decoding function in a decoding mode.
US08165199B2
This invention uses a flying adder frequency synthesis circuit to provide the required frequency adjustments to accommodate the varying encoding density of a MPEG2 video data stream. This invention adjusts the local clock based on the information extracted from the program clock reference signal in the incoming data. This invention replaces an external or internal voltage-controlled crystal oscillator using a phase locked loop circuit on the video processing integrated circuit.
US08165189B2
A dirty paper precoding (“DPC”) method for broadcasting a signal is disclosed that takes advantage of knowledge of the structure of interference in order to avoid the quantization noise that results in the conventional DPC method. The proposed method modifies the Tomlinson-Harishima precoding (“THP”) scheme by selecting a constellation and mapping scheme that is designed based on the known interference modulation structure of the interference signal, which is typically directed to a second receiver. In a particular embodiment, a source signal and an interference signal are QAM modulated. The modulation structure information of the interference signal is known to the receiver. At the transmitter the source signal is precoded based on the known interference structure, and a common mapping rule is implemented, such that the received signal can be decoded at the receiver without requiring a modulo operation at either the transmitter or receiver.
US08165186B2
Techniques for deriving channel estimates with different channel estimation filters are described. In one scheme, a filter selection metric is determined for a signal to be recovered, a channel estimation filter is selected based on the filter selection metric, and a channel estimate is derived with the selected channel estimation filter. In another scheme, a first channel estimate is derived with a first channel estimation filter having a first filter response, a first signal is recovered with the first channel estimate, and interference due to the first signal is estimated and removed. A second channel estimate is derived with a second channel estimation filter having a second filter response that is different from the first filter response.
US08165179B2
The radiance of a laser is a function of drive current. The radiance is also a function of other factors, such as age and temperature. A laser projection device adjusts laser drive parameters using a gradient descent operation. The device parameters may be adjusted iteratively and periodically. The period may be shorter or longer than a scan line in a video image.
US08165176B1
A system and method for generating a frequency rich spectrum in a data stream is disclosed. A network interface comprises a substitutor module, a symbol replacement module, and an encoder module. The substitutor module replaces idle streams in a first data stream with alignment symbols, boundary symbols and disposable symbols to generate a second data stream. The symbol replacement module receives the second data stream, generates random data, and replaces one or more of the disposable symbols in the second data stream with the random data in order to generate a third data stream. The encoder module encodes the third data stream.
US08165175B2
Disclosed is a gap support measuring method which performs autonomous gap allocation without lowering the data transfer rate or the throughput. ST301 acquires various kinds of parameters decided by a network so as to execute a gap support measurement task. ST302 checks the current time and starts the gap support measurement task when the current time has become Ts. ST303 judges whether CQI measured by a terminal is lower than a threshold value. ST304 judges whether the threshold value should be updated. ST306 decides the gap length according to the remaining gap length and the remaining time and performs measurement within the gap. ST307 judges whether the measurement is complete. ST308 checks whether the total of the gaps exceed the entire gap length Tg.
US08165171B2
The invention provides a set of methods and systems for obtaining a synchronized signal in a distributed fashion. The methods and systems described herein allow a node to obtain a periodic signal that would be synchronized with the periodic signal obtained at another node when both nodes follow the same synchronizing procedure, without the need for centralized control of both nodes or the need for all nodes to have coordinated local oscillators. The invention includes beamforming methods and systems for producing a coherent beam at a target location and at a target frequency using the synchronized signal.
US08165170B2
A transmit mode performs indirect synchronization with a master node for accessing a medium, in a synchronous communications network comprising a plurality of slave nodes capable of accessing the medium during access time slots. The indirect synchronization includes receiving at least one frame coming from at least one of the slave nodes of the network. From each frame received, synchronization information pertaining to a level of synchronization of the slave node having sent the frame is obtained, the level of synchronization of the slave node being relative to the master node. A reference node is selected from among the at least one of the slave nodes from which at least one frame has been received, as a function of the pieces of synchronization information, the transmit node being indirectly synchronized with the master node via the reference node.
US08165167B2
A method for characterizing a communication channel is disclosed. A detection window is moved through a channel profile to accumulate tap energies in the channel profile within the detection window into an accumulated energy curve. A peak at a maximum in the accumulated energy curve is determined. A band relative to the accumulated energy curve is defined. A first arriving path (FAP) is determined using a trailing edge found near a second end of a zone in the accumulated energy curve. A leading edge is found near a first end of the zone of the accumulated energy curve. The last arriving path (LAP) is determined using the leading edge. The band defines a zone of the accumulated energy curve at or near the maximum that is within the band.
US08165165B2
Provided are an apparatus for a dynamic header compression and a method thereof. The method for a dynamic header compression includes: receiving a received packet having a header from an upper layer; comparing header information of the received packet with header information of a previous packet; when a suppression part of the received packet is the same as a suppression part of the previous packet, compressing the received packet based on a predetermined header suppression rule; and when the suppression part of the received packet is not the same as the suppression part of the previous packet, transmitting the received packet without compression.
US08165156B1
An Ethernet Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) and method of dynamically creating a service binding in the Ethernet DSLAM based on a service selection made by an end-user. The end-user may use the PPPoE or IEEE802.1X access protocols to provide login credentials indicating the desired service. The login credentials are validated towards a RADIUS server, which configures the Ethernet DSLAM with the attributes of the service binding, including an identified Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) to carry the desired service. The Ethernet DSLAM may map service-VLANs to user MAC addresses or to user-VLANs to establish the service binding. The Ethernet DSLAM uses the identified PVC for downstream traffic for the corresponding service binding and thereby “trains” a learning bridge network terminal to use the correct PVC for upstream traffic.
US08165143B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to traverse intermediate nodes in a network during message routing operations to determine an original routing path for a source message by using proactive routing between clusters of nodes in the network, and both proactive and reactive routing within the clusters; to select the original routing path according to a greedy energy strategy that operates to define the original routing path as a path having a greater energy value associated with the intermediate nodes than other paths; and upon discovery of selfish nodes, to direct removal of the selfish nodes from route caches associated with traversed nodes, and to determine an alternate routing path for the source message in the network by searching upstream route caches in the traversed nodes in the network to discover the alternate path. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08165142B2
A method and apparatus supporting the handling of multimedia information using simulcasting using a broadband access gateway are disclosed. A broadband access gateway supporting both a personal area network and a broadband network may receive multimedia information during exchanges between access devices over a wireless wide area network. The wireless wide area network may intercept multimedia information, and may, for example, determine that the access device of the recipient is incompatible with the multimedia information. The wide area network may then redirect the multimedia information to a broadband access gateway that may cause the storage of the received multimedia information. In another representative embodiment of the present invention, the wide area network may adapt intercepted multimedia information to be compatible with the access device of the recipient, and may also redirect the original intercepted multimedia information to a broadband access gateway. The broadband access gateway may then cause the original intercepted multimedia information to be stored for later access. A recipient of the multimedia attachment or information may be notified of the redirection of the multimedia attachment or information, and may retrieve the stored multimedia information using a wired or wireless access device.
US08165138B2
A method of providing a converged InfiniBand over Ethernet (IBOE) network. An IBOE switch receives a data packet. If the data packet is received by the IBOE switch from the InfiniBand network, a translation utility looks up an Ethernet media access control (MAC) address corresponding to an LID of the packet in a translation table. The translation utility generates an Ethernet packet and encapsulates an InfiniBand link layer packet before sending the packet. If the data packet is received by the IBOE switch from the Ethernet network, the translation utility removes the Ethernet header from the packet and looks up a LID corresponding to the MAC address. The translation utility calculates an outbound port number and sends the packet.
US08165137B2
A system, method, and computer readable medium for fast database migration, that comprises, establishing a socket connection directly between intelligent processor unit nodes of the originating system and the terminating system, transferring home location register static data for the subscriber via the socket connection, wherein the home location register static data is transferred in parallel between intelligent processor unit nodes of the originating system and the terminating system and bypassing the platform manager nodes of the originating system and the terminating system and synchronizing home location register transient data between intelligent processor unit nodes of the originating system and the terminating system.
US08165133B2
Switching between communication ports of a notebook is typically accomplished using an off-chip local area network (LAN) switch or an off-chip high speed analog multiplexer. This off-chip component is disadvantageous for several reasons, including: added cost of an additional component; increased overall power consumption because transmit amplitude loss; and reduced cable reach and link performance due to hybrid mismatch and signal distortions. To reduce cost and preserve electrical and networking performance, an integrated switch is provided to multiplex signals of a networking communication chip to multiple network paths.
US08165132B2
A method for real-time uplink traffic scheduling in a mobile station (MS) to communicate with a base station (BS) in a wireless mobile system. When the BS provides a bandwidth grant to the MS in reply to the uplink from the MS, the uplink service flow will be assigned to different connections with corresponding priorities according to contents of the service flow. The packets within the service flows will be scheduled according to, at least, the bandwidth grant byte size, priorities of the connections, decoding times for transmitting the packets, and/or real-time factors. Within the limitation of the bandwidth grant provided by the BS, types and an order of the packets for transmitting are scheduled accordingly, and the packets received by the BS can satisfy the requirements of the real-time factors for the BS or the decoders, and greatest amount of effective data can be decoded.
US08165118B2
A system for facilitating voice calls over a content centric network (CCN) receives from a CCN user an expressed interest in receiving voice calls directed to the CCN user, wherein information in the CCN can be addressed, located, and disseminated by its content identifier and wherein data packets in the CCN are self-authenticating. Next, the system receives from a second network a packet for a voice call directed to the CCN user. The system then forwards to the CCN user the packet received from the second network with a CCN identifier corresponding to the interest expressed by the CCN user and forwards a packet from the CCN user for the voice call to the second network.
US08165111B2
A computing and communication architecture utilizes a serial protocol based switched fabric among circuit cards housed in packaging arrangement. In one embodiment, each circuit card connected to the serial protocol based switched fabric in the packaging arrangement is provided with a protocol processor that enables all of the circuit cards to efficiently provide packet-based serial self-clocked communications at line speed. As a result, it is not necessary to arrange the circuit cards in a hierarchical manner in order to address the problems of switch blocking and related traffic congestion issues that would otherwise limit the implementation of the serial protocol based backplane arrangement for housing circuit cards.
US08165110B1
A subscriber in communication with an IP network (12) such as the Internet, through a terminal (14) may launch an application on a Public Switched Telecommunications Network (PSTN) (16) by entering a data packet that takes the format of a telephone number that identifies the PSTN application. An IP gateway (22) couples the IP network (12) to the PSTN (16) and serves to recognize the data packet in the format of the PSTN application telephone number as well as translate the packet yield a stream of DTMF or other signals corresponding to the PSTN application telephone number. The IP gateway (22) then launches the stream of signals to dial the telephone number of the PSTN application. The gateway may also request information or control PSTN calls via the signaling/data channel between the gateway and the PSTN.
US08165099B2
A base station establishes a data channel in an uplink between the base station and a user equipment, establishes a control channel in the uplink between the base station and the user equipment, and determines a gating configuration associated with the control channel. The base station also transmits the gating configuration to the user equipment, receives a gated control signal, via the control channel, based on the gating configuration, and synchronizes time slots for signal bursts associated with the gated control signal and time slots for data packets associated with the data channel. The base station further schedules transmissions of the data packets based on the synchronized time slots, generates an absolute grant based on the scheduled transmissions of the data packets, and transmits the absolute grant to the user equipment.
US08165093B2
A system and method for a mobile switching center to efficiently manage; assign; and reclaim the IP addresses is described. The procedure utilizes a mechanism that involves splitting the IP address assignment functionality into two parts, with the Base Station being responsible for assigning IP addresses to individual end user devices and the mobile switching center assigning a block of IP addresses to each Base Station and includes a methodology for the mobile switching center to efficiently manage; assign and reclaim the IP addresses.
US08165091B2
Methods and systems are provided for efficient handover of a media session between heterogeneous Internet Protocol (IP) networks. A mobile device with Internet access can operate a software program to communicate with a corresponding node. The corresponding node may access the Internet through either a Network Address Translation (NAT) router or a firewall. The mobile device establishes a media session with a corresponding node via the transmission of a first media stream and receipt of a second media stream, and a media control channel can optionally be implemented. The mobile device can acquire Internet access through a second IP address, and packets routed between the second IP address and the Internet may traverse a NAT router. The mobile device can evaluate the type of NAT at the second IP address from a stored Local Area Network (LAN) profile. A software routine can determine that handover of the media session from the first IP address to the second IP address is preferred. A software routine can determine efficient handover procedures according to Network handover rules. The mobile device may begin transmitting a third media stream to the corresponding node and the corresponding node can transmit a fourth media stream to the second IP address. A media control channel is optionally supported.
US08165084B2
A method for using an extending super-frame to transfer data in a short distance wireless personal network is provided. Firstly, the super-frame segments, which are in an active period of a network coordinator are continuously copied to a whole inactive period of a current device, and an extending super-frame segments are obtained. Then, information is broadcasted to all general devices. The general device with a quality of service requirement send a service guarantee time slot bandwidth application to the network coordinator, and indicates in the application that the extending super-frame is required. When the application is granted, the super-frame segments, which are in the active period of the current device are copied to the whole inactive period, and the extending super-frame segments are obtained. Then, data is transmitted to the network coordinator with the extending super-frame segments.
US08165081B2
Apparatus and method for a base station to assign to a user equipment (UE) communicating with the base station a number of coded control information symbols being transmitted with coded data information symbols during the same transmission time interval by the UE. The method includes assigning, by the base station, an offset to the UE, assigning, by the base station, a Modulation and Coding Scheme for data information (data MCS) to the UE, transmitting the offset to the UE, and transmitting the data MCS to the UE, wherein the number of coded control information symbols assigned to the UE for transmission of control information is determined based on the data MCS and the offset.
US08165061B2
There is provided a method of supporting an interworking between a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a mobile communications network. The interworking is facilitated by an interworking function (IWF) disposed on a WLAN side of the interworking. The method comprises the step of connecting the WLAN to the mobile communications network by employing the IWF as an auxiliary radio network controller for the mobile communications network, in particular, a drift radio network controller (DRNC) in a UMTS network.
US08165058B2
The invention provides a data structure embodied in a computer readable media. The data structure is a protocol data packet (PDU) communicated in a mobile multihop network between stations. The data structure includes a relay media access header, a payload and an optional cyclical redundancy checksum for the protocol data unit; and an indication whether the PDU is a relay media access protocol data unit or not.
US08165057B2
A multiprocessor system used in a car, home, or office environment includes multiple processors that run different real-time applications. A dynamic configuration system runs on the multiple processors and includes a device manager, configuration manager, and data manager. The device manager automatically detects and adds new devices to the multiprocessor system, and the configuration manager automatically reconfigures which processors run the real-time applications. The data manager identifies the type of data generated by the new devices and identifies which devices in the multiprocessor system are able to process the data.
US08165055B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting a time stamp to provide a multicast service by a base station in a communication system is provided. Upon receipt of a multicast service request from a first terminal, the base station determines whether a second terminal exists that was receiving data of the multicast service before the multicast service request is received. The base station determines whether the multicast service data is being transmitted to the second terminal in a unicast manner when the second terminal exists. The base station allocates a first multicast Connection Identifier (CID) and a first time stamp of an earliest order to the second terminal when the multicast service data is being transmitted to the second terminal in a unicast manner. After allocating the first time stamp to the second terminal, the base station allocates the first multicast CID and a second time stamp having a next earliest order to the first terminal. The base station transmits the first time stamp and the second time stamp using a resource allocation message. The first time stamp and the second time stamp represent different playback times of the multicast service data.
US08165054B2
A method and apparatus for establishing a user plane between a user plane entity and different access nodes assigned to different pool areas simultaneously for multicast or broadcast service provision. The method includes receiving at a respective access node assigned to the different pool areas simultaneously plural session start messages indicating different user plane entities of the different pool areas, selecting by the respective access node one user plane entity out of the indicated user plane entities indicated in the session start messages based on a selection rule common to all access nodes assigned to the different pool areas simultaneously, the selection rule ensuring that the access nodes assigned to different pool areas simultaneously select the same user plane entity out of one of the different pool areas, and establishing by the access nodes a respective user plane to the same selected user plane entity.
US08165044B2
A method and apparatus for managing simultaneous virtual connections with multiple wireless networks. A plurality of ports in a hardware driver may be each associated with a corresponding wireless network and maintain a unique MAC state relative to other ports. Each port may have a corresponding virtual NIC that communicates directly with the radio hardware via a hardware virtualization layer that multiplexes communication between the virtual NICs and the radio hardware. Simultaneous virtual connections may be made with one or more infrastructure networks or adhoc networks, and/or the computer may function as an access point for one or more of the networks.
US08165034B2
An improved technique provides location detection using wireless net-works such as Wi-Fi networks in a flexible, configurable manner that allows for variations in the environment and tracks target movement accurately in such an environment. Zones of different relative sizes and sensitivities can be defined, so as to vary the degree of resolution for different parts of the area being detected. Mechanisms are provided to take into account fluctuations in signal strength, and reduce the incidence of false positives resulting from incorrectly detecting zone or location changes due to fluctuations of signal strength. In addition, detection time can be configured for zone entry and/or exit. Self-adjustment based on heuristic analysis can also be implemented. Data can be sent or received based on the physical location as determined by the zone.
US08165032B1
Techniques for dynamically establishing and configuring a liveliness detection session for a local repair connection of a connection. In one set of embodiments, a signaling message is received at a node configured to maintain a local repair connection for a connection. A configuration parameter is identified in the signaling message, where the configuration parameter pertains to a liveliness detection mechanism or protocol. A liveliness detection session is then established for the local repair connection based on the configuration parameter.
US08165031B2
The present invention relates to techniques for allowing one or more edge nodes in a backbone network to quickly and efficiently switch traffic delivery from a first virtual network to a second virtual network in response to a failure occurring in association with the first virtual network. In certain embodiments, an edge node is capable of independently detecting that a failure has occurred on the first virtual network and quickly transitioning from the first virtual network to the second virtual network for receiving or delivering traffic. Upon detecting the failure in the first virtual network, the edge node will begin delivering traffic over the second virtual network. If control messages are not already being provided over the second network, the edge node may begin providing the control messages over the second virtual network.
US08165018B2
Methods, devices and systems are provided for transmitting and receiving MIMO signals. Transmitting of the MIMO signals involves pre-coding each of at least two data symbols using a respective pre-coding codeword to preclude a corresponding plurality of pre-coded data symbols. A respective signal is transmitted from each of a plurality of antennas, the respective signal including one of the pre-coded signals and at least one pilot for use in channel estimation. The signals collectively further include at least one beacon pilot vector consisting of a respective beacon pilot per antenna, the beacon pilot vector containing contents known to a receiver for use by the receiver in determining the codeword used to pre-code the at least one data signal. Receiving of the MIMO signals involves receiving a MIMO signal containing data symbols pre-coded with a codeword. The MIMO signal includes pilots, and including at least one beacon pilot vector containing contents known to a receiver/each beacon pilot vector containing one symbol from each transmit antenna. Processing is performed on the at least one beacon pilot vector to determine which codeword was used to pre-code the data symbols.
US08165008B2
A method for communication includes receiving a composite signal, which carries data at a first data rate and includes multiple sub-signals that are interleaved in a time domain and are separated by boundary indicators. The received composite signal is demultiplexed into the sub-signals by automatically detecting the boundary indicators between the sub-signals in the composite signal. The sub-signals are demodulated using multiple respective demodulators operating at second data rates that are lower than the first data rate so as to generate respective output data streams. The output data streams are combined so as to reconstruct the data at the first data rate.
US08165002B2
An optical pickup apparatus comprising: a laser diode; an objective lens made of synthetic resin arranged in an optical path of laser light between the laser diode and an optical disc so that the laser light from the laser diode is focused onto a signal recording layer through a protection layer of the optical disc; and an aberration correction element interposed in an optical path of the laser light between the laser diode and the objective lens, the aberration correction element configured to be operated so as to correct spherical aberration caused by moisture-absorption characteristics of the objective lens.
US08164997B2
An optical disc apparatus including means for calculating a spherical aberration correction quantity of an object lens, reproduced information signal generation means and spherical aberration correction means conducts spherical aberration correction, finds a spherical aberration correction quantity suitable for another layer by calculation on the basis of the obtained spherical aberration correction quantity, and sets the correction quantity as an initial correction quantity of spherical aberration correction. An optical disc apparatus including tilt correction quantity calculation means, reproduced information signal generation means and tilt adjustment means conducts tilt adjustment, finds a tilt correction quantity suitable for another layer by calculation on the basis of the obtained tilt correction quantity, and sets the correction quantity as an initial correction quantity of tilt adjustment.
US08164996B2
An evaluation method and print wire method which includes (a) fitting a modulation characteristic formula M,m=Msat (1−(Pws−Pasy)/(Pw,m−Pasy)) having a saturated modulation Msat, write start power Pws, and asymptotic power Pasy as parameters to a relation between a plurality of kinds of write power Pw,m and a modulation M,m which is obtained from a signal amplitude of a trial-written signal, and finding an index value of an error which occurs in the fitting step; and (b) evaluating whether or not the relation between the write power and the modulation is valid for write power adjustment by using the index value of the error and a predetermined value the print write method further including (c) setting the write power based upon the result of evaluating and executing a write power process with the set write power.
US08164995B2
A writing current circuit (42) supplies a controlled electrical current to a laser diode (34) for recording data swiftly onto a DVD (16). A plurality of current sources (62) in the writing current circuit (42) supply electrical current directly to the laser diode (34). Each current source (62) respectively receives a single output signal from a current control register (52) included in the writing current circuit (42) which activates or deactivates the current source (62) for supplying a particular quantity of current to the laser diode (34). In one aspect, a pair of current reference signals received by the current source (62) control electrical current supply to the diode (34). Incorporated into these controlling reference signals is a simulation of electrical characteristics of the diode (34). In another aspect, each current source (62) responds to a logical inverse of the output signal from the current control register (52) for controlling overshoot in voltage applied across the diode (34).
US08164992B2
An optical disc medium and corresponding optical recording method and optical recording apparatus. The optical disc medium comprises a substrate on which a shape according to modulated information data has been formed, and a coating film formed on the substrate. Known data is recorded in a predetermined location of the information data, with the known data being rewritten as postscript information by recording a postscript portion to the coating film to alter a portion of the known data, wherein the postscript information comprises readable non-error data.
US08164987B2
A magnetic write head arranged to maximize efficiency of an optical device used to locally heat a magnetic medium during use, also to maximize efficiency of a heater element for thermal fly height control. The magnetic head is constructed with a read head, a write head and a slider body. The write head is located between the read head and the slider body. A heater element can be located between the read head and the write head and an optical device such as an optical waveguide can be located between the write head and the slider body. The write head can be constructed to have a write pole that is closer to the slider body than the return pole is, thereby allowing the write pole to be adjacent to the optical device.
US08164981B2
An ultrasonic distance-measuring sensor assembly and an ultrasonic distance-measuring sensor thereof are disclosed. The ultrasonic distance-measuring sensor includes at least two piezoelectric actuators and a member. The member includes a side wall, at least two vibration generating/receiving surfaces and a partition. The vibration generating/receiving surfaces accommodate the piezoelectric actuators as sources. The side wall surrounds the vibration generating/receiving surfaces. The partition is disposed between the vibration generating/receiving surfaces and includes a slot. The slot is disposed between the vibration sending/receiving surfaces.
US08164978B2
A method and apparatus for predicting interbed multiples is described herein. Trace geometries may be generated for one or more desired shot-side traces, one or more desired receiver-side traces, and one or more desired interbed multiple generator traces, for a first target trace. A first set of reflections at the interbed multiple generator layer may be extracted from one or more recorded traces closest to the desired interbed multiple generator traces. A second set of reflections below the interbed multiple generator layer may be extracted from one or more recorded traces closest to the desired shot-side traces. A third set of reflections below the interbed multiple generator layer may be extracted from one or more recorded traces closest to the desired receiver-side traces. The interbed multiples for the first target trace may be estimated based on the first set, the second set, and the third set.
US08164973B2
A storage apparatus includes: a plurality of storage sections each of which corresponds to each of a plurality of addresses; a read pointer register that outputs a read pointer indicating an address of a storage section from which data is read; a write pointer register that outputs a write pointer indicating an address of a storage section to which data is written; a control circuit that receives first clock signals of a first frequency and second clock signals of a second frequency that is different from the first frequency, determines selection signals indicating either the first clock signals or the second clock signals on the basis of the read pointer or the write pointer for each of the plurality of storage sections, and outputs the selection signals; and selection circuits selects signals indicated by the selection signals, and outputs the selected signals.
US08164961B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell, latch circuits, and an arithmetic operation circuit. The memory cell stores data by a difference in threshold voltage. A read operation is performed twice or more on the memory cell under the same read conditions, and the latch circuits store a plurality of read data. The arithmetic operation circuit takes majority decision of the plurality of data stored in the latch circuits and decides data determined by the majority decision as data stored in the memory cell.
US08164958B2
The invention provides a method for reading a first data storage of a memory cell. The method comprises sensing a first current of the memory cell by applying a first bit line voltage on the memory cell. When the first current is larger than a first reference current with respect to the first bit line voltage, the first data storage is determined to be at an un-programmed state. Otherwise, a second current of the memory cell is sensed by applying a second bit line voltage on the memory cell. When the difference between the first current and the second current is larger than the difference between the first reference current and the second reference current, the first data storage is determined to be at the un-programmed state. Otherwise, the first data storage is determined to be at a programmed state.
US08164952B2
A nonvolatile memory device comprises a memory cell array comprising a plurality of memory cells, a voltage generator configured to generate voltages to program the plurality of memory cells, and a control logic component configured to control the voltage generator to provide a plurality of program voltages to selected memory cells during successive iterations of a program loop. Wherein where memory cells corresponding to one logic state are judged to be program passed during a current iteration of the program loop, the control logic component controls the voltage generator such that a program voltage corresponding to the one logic state is skipped during subsequent iterations of the program loop.
US08164942B2
Embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM) sense amplifier circuitry in which a bit line connected to each of a first plurality of eDRAM cells is controlled by cell control lines tied to each of the cells. During a READ operation the eDRAM cell releases its charge indicating its digital state. The digital charge propagates through the eDRAM sense amplifier circuitry to a mid-rail amplifier inverter circuit which amplifies the charge and provides it to a latch circuit. The latch circuit, in turn, inverts the charge to correctly represent at its output the logical value stored in the eDRAM cell being read, and returns the charge through the eDRAM sense amplifier circuitry to replenish the eDRAM cell.
US08164940B2
Read/write structures for three-dimensional memories are disclosed. In one embodiment, a three-dimensional memory includes a plurality of data storage layers fabricated in parallel on top of one another to form a three-dimensional structure. Each data storage layer is able to store bits of data in the form of magnetic domains. The memory further includes a column of write elements that is operable to write a column of magnetic domains to the first data storage layer representing a column of bits. The first data storage layer is patterned into a plurality of magnetic conductors aligned transverse to the column of write elements. A control system may inject spin-polarized current pulses in the magnetic conductors to transfer the column of magnetic domains laterally within the first data storage layer. The control system may transfer of the column of magnetic domains perpendicularly from the first data storage layer to another data storage layer.
US08164938B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a first inverter and a second inverter each having an input and an output, the output of each of the first and second inverters being connected to the input of the other so that data is stored, a CMOS switch configured to connect the input of the first inverter and a write bit line, a read MOS transistor having a gate connected to the output of the first inverter, and a MOS switch configured to connect the read MOS transistor to a read bit line. The first and second inverters have different sizes and are connected to different source power supplies.
US08164936B2
A data storage system includes a plurality of memory devices for storing data. The plurality of memory devices is classified into a plurality of groups of memory devices. A control circuit is adapted to provide concurrent memory access operations to the plurality of memory devices. Each of a plurality of data channels is configured to provide a data path between the control circuit and one of the groups of memory devices. A plurality of switches is configured to connect and disconnect one of the memory devices in a select one of the groups of memory devices to one of the plurality of data channels and concurrently connect and disconnect another of the memory devices in the select group of memory devices to a different one of the plurality of data channels.
US08164931B2
A rectifier circuit with a synchronously controlled semiconductor element comprising at least one field effect transistor with a control electrode and two switching electrodes. The control electrode operates the reverse state and the forward state between the switching electrodes. For this, the rectifier circuit comprises at least one driver which cooperates with a voltage sensor of the field effect transistor. During the diode operating state of the field effect transistor, the driver operates this to the forward state. The voltage sensor thereby forms at least one part of a non-linear voltage divider which comprises at least one monolithically integrated measuring capacitance.
US08164930B2
A power factor correction circuit having an input current for reducing the distortion and harmonics generated in a power line feeding power supply. The power factor correction circuit includes a control switch (such as an IGBT) for producing a control switch current and virtual short circuit; a load for acting as power demand from a load and producing a load current; and one or more of resistors for measuring current within said circuit.
US08164926B2
A control circuit for a primary controlled switched-mode power supply that has a primary-side switch and a transmitter. It also relates to an associated switched-mode power supply. The control circuit can be connected to a control input of the primary-side switch so that the primary-side switch is controlled based on a secondary-side current flow time period in which a current flows through the secondary-side winding of the transmitter in order to regulate the output voltage. The secondary-side current flow time period can be used as a control parameter instead of the actual output voltage in order to then control the primary-side switch. Because the secondary-side current flow time period can be determined indirectly on the primary side, no direct feedback is necessary between the output voltage on the secondary side and the control circuit on the primary side.
US08164912B2
The present invention is adapted for field of electronic circuit protection and provides a security protection box, for enclosing the protected region of a protected circuit board in order to protect the elements in the protected region. The security protection box comprises a circuit board. The circuit board with thin center and thick periphery forms a box shape, and has the circuit routing layers. The circuit routing layers trigger the associated circuit to erase or destroy the information in the elements in the protected region when the circuit routing layers are physically attacked. The present invention protects the elements in the protected region through covering the protected region on the protected circuit board with a circuit board having thin center and thick periphery.
US08164904B2
An electronic component module includes at least one first multi-layer circuit board module (21, 22; 31, 32; 41, 42) and a cooling arrangement (23, 33, 43), the cooling arrangement (23, 33, 43) being in contact with an upper side of the circuit board module (21, 22; 31, 32; 41, 42). The cooling arrangement (23, 33, 43) is designed such that waste heat generated during operation of the electronic component module (2, 3, 4) is extracted in a lateral direction with relation to the arrangement of the circuit board module (21,22; 31, 32; 41, 42) by the cooling arrangement (23, 33, 43).
US08164894B2
A hardware holding device includes a chassis, a bracket, a fastening structure and a hardware component. The bracket is fixed in the chassis. The fastening structure includes two levers each having a latch perpendicularly extending from one end of the corresponding lever, and two elastic members correspondingly arranged on the levers. The levers are rotatably mounted on the surface of the bracket. The elastic members are resiliently compressed between the surface of the bracket and the levers to keep the latches of the levers extended through the bracket and inside of the bracket thereby clasping and fixing a hardware component in the bracket.
US08164892B2
A mobile terminal includes a casing having a battery accommodation portion where a battery is installed and a battery stopper accommodation groove is recessively formed in a side thereof, a battery cover detachably coupled to the casing to cover the battery accommodation portion and having a cover knob accommodation groove that is formed by penetrating an area thereof, and a cover and battery stopper installed in the casing and having a side that is hook coupled to and released from the cover knob accommodation groove and the other side that is forcibly coupled to and released from the battery stopper accommodation groove by being engaged with the operation of the side that is hook coupled to and released from the cover knob accommodation groove.
US08164878B2
A power distribution unit includes a communication unit. The communication unit includes a communication port and a protection circuit. The communication unit includes a ground pin and a plurality of signal pins. The ground pin is connected to a digital ground of the power distribution unit. The signal pins are connected together to receive a voltage signal outputted by a hi-pot tester. The protection circuit includes a plurality of resistors connected between the signal pins and an analog ground of the power distribution unit.
US08164870B2
A high-voltage NMOS transistor for ESD protection is coupled between a high-voltage I/O pad and a low-voltage terminal, and has a parasitic component between its source and drain. A trigger has an input coupled to the high-voltage I/O pad and an output coupled to the parasitic component. When the voltage on the high-voltage I/O pad raises above a threshold value, the trigger applies a voltage to trigger the parasitic component, so as to release an ESD current from the high-voltage I/O pad to the low-voltage terminal through the high-voltage NMOS transistor.
US08164869B2
The present invention provides an ESD protection device having at least one diode in a well of a first conductivity type formed in a substrate of a second conductivity type. The circuit further includes a guard-band of the first conductivity surrounding at least a portion of the diode, thus forming an NPN transistor between the diode cathode, the substrate and the guard-band.
US08164866B2
A fault protection system for an AC-DC distribution system detects the presence of DC content at individual loads, isolates the load responsible for the fault from the remainder of the distribution system, and blocks DC content from being propagated from the faulty load to the AC source. The fault protection system includes at least one circuit breaker connected to monitor the AC current provided to the individual electrical load and to detect the presence of DC content indicative of the load being faulty. In response to detected DC content, the circuit breaker trips open to disconnect the electrical load from the AC distribution system to prevent DC content from being propagated to adjacent loads.
US08164859B2
A head slider includes a medium opposing surface configured to oppose a recording surface of a magnetic recording medium, a head element provided on the medium opposing surface, and an outlet end surface provided on a downstream side of the head element in a direction in which the magnetic recording medium moves relative to the head element, and extending substantially in a perpendicular direction from the medium opposing surface. The outlet end surface has a surface free energy greater than a surface free energy of the medium opposing surface.
US08164855B1
A method and system for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) transducer coupled with a laser are described. The EAMR transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) residing in proximity to a media during use. The method and system include providing waveguide(s), a near-field transducer (NFT), write pole(s), and coil(s). The waveguide(s) direct energy from the laser toward the ABS. The NFT is coupled with the waveguide and focuses the energy onto the media. The write pole(s) include a stitch for providing a magnetic field to the media and a yoke coupled to the stitch. The stitch includes an ABS-facing surface, a sloped surface, and an NFT-facing surface between the ABS-facing and sloped surfaces. The NFT-facing surface is substantially parallel to the NFT. The sloped surface is sloped at least twenty-five and not more than sixty-five degrees with respect to the NFT-facing surface. The coil(s) energize the write pole(s).
US08164849B1
A novel information storage device has a disk drive, a disk drive support structure adapted to maintain the disk drive base in a substantially vertical position, and an electrically conductive shield attached to the disk drive base. The electrically conductive shield is disposed adjacent and overlying the disk drive printed circuit board. The electrically conductive shield includes a fan mounting surface having a fan duct opening disposed adjacent an upper end of the electrically conductive shield, and a lower air inlet opening disposed adjacent a lower end of the electrically conductive shield. The information storage device includes no fan and no fan is attached to the fan mounting surface. The electrically conductive shield forms a continuous internal air passageway from the lower air inlet opening to the fan duct opening.
US08164830B2
A screen assembly for a projectile-based simulator is comprised of front, right and left fabric panels that form a hitting bay with a front projector impact screen. Each fabric panel can be raised and lowered with respective roller assemblies that operate unison so that the fabric panels are simultaneously raised and lowered. Zippers are provided between each of the fabric panels that are configured to cause adjacent fabric panels to engage as the panels are lowered and to disengage as the panels are raised to allow the panels to wind upon respective roller assemblies.
US08164816B1
Techniques and devices that stabilize optical resonators.
US08164814B2
A domestic viewing panel unit for a door, comprising: a first panel comprising one or more first panel light transparent regions that are substantially transparent to visible light and one or more first panel light hindering regions which substantially hinder transmission of visible light; a second panel comprising one or more second panel light transparent regions that are substantially transparent to visible light and one or more second panel light hindering regions which substantially hinder transmission of visible light; an actuator for moving the second panel relative to the first panel in a plane parallel to the plane of the first panel; wherein the first and second panels are arranged such that the amount of visible light transmitted unhindered through the domestic viewing panel is a non-linear function of the relative position of the first and second panels.
US08164811B2
For realizing widening of a light scanning angle and excellent durability, the optical scanning actuator includes a movable unit that supports an optical element, a plurality of leaf springs having a thin plate shape with one end portion being fixed and another end portion being attached to the movable unit, and an electromagnetic driving unit including a magnet, a yoke laminated on the magnet to form a closed magnetic circuit together with the magnet, and a coil held by the movable unit. The coil is positioned in a gap between the magnet and the yoke such that opening plane of the coil is substantially orthogonal to a laminating direction of the magnet and the yoke. The movable unit is driven by an electromagnetic force applied to the coil.
US08164808B2
An image reading device for reading front and back sides of an original using different reading units has a simple configuration and is capable of matching the input-output characteristic of the front side and the input-output characteristic of the back side and reducing a difference between color on the front side and color on the back side. Based on image data of a color chart read by a front-side reading unit and image data of the color chart read by a back-side reading unit, the image reading device calculates and sets adjustment values for the front and back sides for individual hues of color patches of the color chart and performs adjustment for the front and back sides in accordance with adjustment values corresponding to hue of an original image when the original is read.
US08164807B2
An image recording apparatus, comprising: an image recording unit which has a recording head for recording process to a recording medium; a transport mechanism which transports the recording medium; an ascent/descent mechanism which comprises an ascent/descent drive unit used for moving the transport mechanism between a recording position to a retract position; a bumping unit which is constituted by a bumping member and a bumped member and which bumps the present bumping member to the bumped member, thereby balancing the transport mechanism; a balance detection unit for detecting the balance of the transport mechanism; and an ascent/descent control unit which judges whether or not a bumping process for balancing the transport mechanism by means of the bumping unit is to be carried out on the basis of the detection result of the balance detection unit when the transport mechanism is moved from the retract position to the recording position.
US08164802B2
A system for scanning paper media is disclosed and may include at least one microprocessor. The system may also include a scanner connected to the microprocessor. The scanner may simultaneously scan two or more printed pages using computed tomography and send a three-dimensional data set to the microprocessor that represents the printed pages.
US08164798B2
A neighboring vector, which is a boundary portion between two overlapping objects, is extracted. To calculate luminance levels of the objects on both sides of the neighboring vector, a predetermined number of coordinate points (sample points) in the vicinity of the neighboring vector are extracted at least from the image side. A rendering process is performed on an area including all the extracted sample points to acquire color values at the sample points. The luminance level of the image is calculated based on the acquired color values, and the luminance levels of the objects on both sides of the neighboring vector are compared to each other to determine the position (direction) in which to generate a trap graphic.
US08164785B2
Printing devices are selected from a printing pool at least partially based on what non-resident resources need to be downloaded to the printing devices for printing the print job. The printing device selection can also include other types of printer selection criteria.
US08164780B2
An appropriate printer selection simulation system for selecting an appropriate printer providing more expressive output with lower running cost is disclosed. The system includes a user terminal, a printer, and a server connected to each other via a network. The printer includes an e-mail generating unit extracting printer information including the ink consumption amount with respect to the printer and generating e-mail including the extracted printer information, and an e-mail transmitting unit transmitting the e-mail generated by the e-mail generating unit to the server. The server includes a cost report generating unit generating the cost report indicating that the cost of the ink consumption amount when a color copy is printed in color is less than the cost of the ink consumption amount when the color copy is printer in monochrome, and a transmitting unit transmitting the generated cost report to the user terminal.
US08164778B2
A management server manages a plurality of image forming apparatuses capable of executing a data communication and executes processing for dispatching a service engineer with respect to an image forming apparatus. The management server executes first detection processing for detecting an image forming apparatus that requires the dispatch of a service engineer based on first analysis processing executed by using either one or both of operation information and failure information about the plurality of image forming apparatuses stored on RAM. The management server executes second detection processing for detecting an image forming apparatus that requires the dispatch of a service engineer based on second analysis processing executed by either one or both of the stored operation information and failure information about the plurality of image forming apparatuses in response to the first detection processing having detected the image forming apparatus that requires the dispatch of a service engineer.
US08164775B2
An automated ticketing and boarding (ATB) device may replace both legacy boarding pass printers and gate readers, without reconfiguring existing departure control systems (DCSs). The replacement ATB device may create a virtual magnetic stripe in memory from the formatted flight and/or passenger information received from the DCS, and may extract portions of the virtual magnetic stripe to form a boarding pass with an optical machine-readable symbol instead of a magnetic stripe transparently to the DCS.
US08164773B2
A wireless printer system includes a wireless transceiver that generates a baseband signal based on a received radio frequency signal. A first system on a chip communicates with the wireless transceiver and includes a system on a chip. The system on a chip includes a wireless interface module and an imaging module. The wireless interface module processes the baseband signal to generate a print data signal via a wireless interface software. The imaging module processes the print data signal to generate a print image signal via an imaging software.
US08164772B2
What is disclosed is an image forming apparatus which is able to execute an auxiliary program combined to a prescribe control program that transforms a piece of received information to an image data wherein the image forming apparatus comprising: a memory section for containing said auxiliary program; a received information judging section for judging whether the received information is said auxiliary program or a piece of image information, by analyzing said received information; and an auxiliary program managing section for detecting from said memory section an auxiliary program necessary for the received information to be processed, based on the image information, when said received information is the image information.
US08164756B2
An apparatus has a data acquisition device, an environmental cell in a spatial registration relative to the data acquisition device, the environmental cell being configured to support a sample, and a fluid management system configured to initiate and discontinue exposure of the sample to a reaction fluid while the spatial registration is maintained. A method of performing data acquisition for a sample includes spatially registering the sample relative to a data acquisition device, at least partially exposing the sample to a reaction fluid while substantially maintaining the spatial registration of the sample relative to the data acquisition device, at least partially discontinuing exposing the sample to the reaction fluid while substantially maintaining the spatial registration of the sample relative to the data acquisition device, and acquiring data about the sample while substantially maintaining the spatial registration of the sample relative to the data acquisition device.
US08164751B2
An optical system includes a light sending section that sends light to an object having a scattering medium and a lower medium positioned below the scattering medium, where the scattering medium scatters light and the lower medium feeds back polarized light in response to light incident thereon, a light receiving section that receives (i) light that is sent from the light sending section and then scattered by the scattering medium and (ii) light from the lower medium, and a thickness calculating section that calculates a thickness of the scattering medium, by referring to at least one of a non-polarization component and a polarization component of the light received by the light receiving section.
US08164739B2
A system and method are used for controlling fluctuations in one or more of a beam pointing error, a beam positioning error, a beam size error or a beam divergence error of a beam of light in a lithography system. An optical apparatus may comprise a first beam control module having a first optics in an optical axis for optically isolating a laser pulse from a light source associated with an illuminator to provide the beam of light. These beam related errors may be selectively stabilized by either homogenizing selectively the spatial field and/or angular information of a given illumination profile for the beam of light and symmetrizing other one of the spatial field or angular information which is not being homogenized based on a first arrangement of the first optics or homogenizing and symmetrizing both of the spatial field and angular information based on a second arrangement of the first optics.
US08164732B2
An active device array substrate, having at least a substrate, a first metal layer, an insulator layer, a second metal layer, a plurality of pixel electrodes and a plurality of active devices, is provided. The substrate has a display area and a narrow frame area. The first metal layer disposed on the substrate includes a plurality of first gate lines arranged laterally. The insulator layer is disposed on the first metal layer. The second metal layer disposed above an insulator layer includes a plurality of data lines and second gate lines arranged vertically. The first gate lines and the data lines divide the display area into a plurality of pixel areas. The second gate line disposed between the pixel areas is electrically connected to the first gate line. Each pixel electrode is electrically connected to the data line and the first gate line via each active array device.
US08164727B2
Image display structures and methods of forming image display structures are provided. The image display structure includes a liquid crystal layer disposed between opposing substrates and first and second transparent electrodes disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the respective opposing substrates. At least one of the first and second transparent electrodes includes a porosity such that a refractive index of the respective transparent electrode is reduced.
US08164725B2
A liquid crystal device includes: a circuit substrate; a counter substrate disposed so as to be opposed to the circuit substrate; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the circuit substrate and the counter substrate, the liquid crystal layer showing vertical alignment as an initial alignment state; a first alignment layer manufactured on a side of the counter substrate using a coating process, the side facing the liquid crystal layer, the first alignment layer having a vertical alignment function; and a second alignment layer manufactured on a side of the circuit substrate using a vacuum process, the side facing the liquid crystal layer, the second alignment layer generating a pretilt.
US08164723B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a liquid crystal alignment layer between the substrate and the liquid crystal layer, a barrier layer between the liquid crystal alignment layer and the liquid crystal layer, and a gasket formed around the perimeter of the liquid crystal layer and abutting the barrier layer. The gasket has a width less than or equal to 400 micrometers. A second substrate also includes a liquid crystal alignment layer and a barrier layer formed over the liquid crystal alignment layer. The gasket also abuts the barrier layer of the second substrate. In a particular embodiment, the substrate is a reflective display backplane, and the second substrate is a transparent substrate having a transparent electrode layer. The gasket of the present invention is much narrower than gaskets of the prior art, which enables LCD devices to be made smaller and cheaper because more LCD devices can be produced per wafer.
US08164712B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a backlight device, a liquid crystal panel and a light source unit. The light source unit includes a case having an opening surface, a fluorescent tube, an electric holder, and a cover member. The cover member includes a shield plate, a fixed groove and an overhanging portion, wherein the overhanging portion is provided at an edge of the fixed groove and on a side of the liquid crystal panel with respect to the fluorescent tube which includes a portion which extends through the fixed groove. A portion of the cover member includes a protrusion which is a separate member from the overhanging portion and which extends more toward the liquid crystal panel than a surface portion of the overhanging portion.
US08164710B2
A backlight assembly includes a light guide plate and a light-emitting module. The light guide plate guides light. The light-emitting module is disposed to face an incidence surface of the light guide plate. The light-emitting module includes a printed circuit board (PCB) vertically disposed to face the incidence surface and a plurality of LEDs mounted on the PCB to emit light toward the incidence surface. Each of the LEDs includes a blue chip emitting blue light, a red fluorescent substance and a green fluorescent substance for converting the blue light into white light. Therefore, a thickness of the backlight assembly is reduced and an LED-mounting stability of the LED is improved.
US08164707B2
An exemplary frame assembly (20) includes a first frame (21), a second frame (22), a third frame (23) accommodating at least part of the first frame and at least part of the second frame. The first, second and third frames cooperatively define an accommodating space of the frame assembly, and the positions of the first frame and the second frame relative to each other are adjustable such that the accommodating space has a desired size.
US08164699B2
A display panel includes a first substrate having a first line and a second line and a second substrate facing the first substrate. The first substrate includes an electrostatic discharger that is electrically connected to the first line to discharge a static electricity inflowing into the display panel through the first line to an exterior. Also, the second substrate includes a common electrode through which an opening is formed by removing an area of the common electrode corresponding with the electrostatic discharger. Thus, the electrostatic discharger may be prevented from being shorted with the common electrode, thereby preventing a display quality of the display panel from being deteriorated.
US08164697B2
A liquid crystal display device includes: a pair of substrates each disposed on each opposing plane and having an electrode of a predetermine shape; a vertical alignment film formed covering each of the electrodes of the pair of substrates and subjected to a rubbing alignment process; an insulating film formed between the electrode and the vertical alignment film in each of the pair of substrates and having necessary insulation; and liquid crystal sandwiched between the pair of substrates and having a negative dielectric anisotropy Δ∈ and a specific resistance ρc1 of 1.0×1014 Ωcm to 1.0×1015 Ωcm, wherein a structure between the electrodes is selected to satisfy conditions of T≦5.2×τc1×1/(1×1012) sec and T≦500 sec, where T is a charge resident time until a display image disappears completely after static electricity of 10 kV is applied between the electrodes of the pair of substrate and the display image is tuned on. It is possible to prevent alignment defects to be caused by static electricity generated by rubbing of a liquid crystal display device.
US08164696B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel, a first polarization part, and a second polarization part. The display panel includes an array substrate, an opposite substrate and an electro-optical material layer disposed between the array substrate and the opposite substrate. The electro-optical material layer reflects first circularly polarized light having a wavelength of a predetermined range and transmits second circularly polarized light having a phase difference with the first circularly polarized light. The first polarization part faces a rear face of the array substrate and converts incident light of the rear face into the first circularly polarized light. The second polarization part faces a front face of the opposite substrate and blocks the first circularly polarized light reflected from the electro-optical material layer and transmits the second circularly polarized light transmitted through the electro-optical material layer.
US08164694B2
A method for operating a demodulator to demodulate a first channel is provided. The demodulator stores parameters of a second channel that is scanned before the first channel. The method comprises the following steps. First, the demodulator is reset. Second, an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing acquisition is processed to search Transmission Parameter Signaling and mode/guard interval parameters for the first channel and using the parameters of the second channel to process a forward error correction acquisition for the first channel. Third, a determining step is performed to determine whether or not the forward error correction for the first channel is locked and the Transmission Parameter Signaling for the first channel are not locked. Finally, the parameters of the second channel is used to demodulate the first channel when the forward error correction of the first channel is locked and the Transmission Parameter Signaling of the first channel are not locked.
US08164693B2
According to one embodiment, using several random access memory components, these several RAM components are integrally driven to form a logical line memory. The number of using RAM components is reduced to the minimum, and thereby, hardware cost is reduced. A line memory forming apparatus comprises cascade-connected several RAM components, several line memories logically serial-connected in a manner that of the several RAM components, part of an output of the final-stage RAM component and part of an input of the first-stage RAM component are provided with several connection portions, and a controller controlling write address and read address of the several RAM components to drive the line memories.
US08164687B2
An output of a conventional color-difference inter-field interpolating unit (10) and an output obtained by a color-difference 4:2:0 inter-field interpolating unit (11) and a color-difference intra-field line interpolating unit (12) as a progressive signal through inter-field interpolation by changing a 4:2:2 color-difference signal into a 4:2:0 color-difference signal are switched by a color-difference static image processing method selecting/mixing unit (14) in accordance with an output or the like of a detecting unit (13) for detecting a characteristic of an image signal. Thus, it is possible to realize color-difference signal IP conversion static image processing in which degradation of a correct 4:2:2 color-difference signal is suppressed and jaggy is reduced with respect to a 4:2:2 color-difference signal obtained through interpolation of a 4:2:0 signal.
US08164686B2
A surveillance television camera including a camera base which is mounted on an installation surface and to which a surveillance television camera is mounted, a dome cover which is detachably attachable to the camera base and a locking device including a movable locking member mounted on the camera base and an elastic member biasing the movable locking member toward a joint surface of the movable locking member relative to the dome cover. The camera base has a joint surface relative to the dome cover. The dome cover has a fitting recess formed in the joint surface. When the joint surfaces of the camera base and the dome cover are joined together so that the dome cover is turned circumferentially thereby to be attached to the camera base, the movable locking member is fitted into the fitting recess of the dome cover by a biasing force of the elastic member.
US08164683B2
An auto-focus method for camera is provided. First, a digital signal processor sets a first parameter p and a second parameter q. An image capture unit captures an only image. Then, the digital signal processor utilizes the only image, the first parameter p and the second parameter q to compute an object distance. Then, an optical focusing device utilizes the object distance to regulate a focal position. Therefore, the present invention substantially shortens the time for regulating the focal position.
US08164679B2
An image-capturing device includes: a plurality of first pixels disposed along a first direction; a plurality of second pixels different from the first pixels disposed along the first direction in admixture with the plurality of first pixels; and an adder that adds a plurality of outputs provided by a plurality of first selected pixels selected from the plurality of first pixels to each other and a plurality of outputs provided by a plurality of second selected pixels selected from the plurality of second pixels to each other in such a manner that outputs provided by the first pixels and outputs provided by the second pixels are not added one to another. Disposition of the plurality of second pixels conforms to positional relationship of the plurality of first selected pixels in the plurality of first pixels.
US08164675B2
An apparatus for and a method of removing a moire pattern of a digital imaging device are provided. It is determined whether or not a moire pattern is created based on an image frequency of a preview image and a spatial frequency of an image sensor, and when it is determined that a moire pattern is generated, an optical path of light incident to an image sensor is slightly changed to remove the moire pattern. Accordingly, image quality deterioration can be improved, and a problem of unnecessary filtering that causes deterioration of resolution even when there is no moire pattern can be enhanced.
US08164670B2
A high speed video camera 10 comprises a camera body 20 and a camera lens 30. The rear of the camera body 20 is formed with a handle 40 adjacent to rear face 50 of the camera. Mounted upon or within the handle 40 is a plurality of status LED 60, preferably in a horizontal row. A camera micro processor controls an LED driver which drives the status LED 60 commonly but independently. This permits various different patterns or sequences to be generated, in turn to provide an indication, to a remote user, a plurality of different camera statuses.
US08164669B2
A CCD image sensor comprises photosensitive elements arranged in rows and columns, vertical CCDs each having vertical shift elements associated with respective ones of the photosensitive elements of a corresponding one of the columns, and a horizontal CCD coupled to each of the vertical CCDs. The horizontal CCD comprises horizontal shift elements of two different types interspersed with one another. The horizontal shift elements of the first type are configured to receive shifted charge packets directly from respective ones of the vertical CCDs. The horizontal shift elements of the second type are configured not to receive shifted charge packets directly from any of the vertical CCDs. This configuration facilitates binning of same-color pixels for both sparse CFA patterns and Bayer CFA patterns.
US08164667B2
An image sensing device and image sensing method is described, in which an interrupt circuit is disposed to interrupt a clock signal input to a logic circuit not associated with the reading of image data when the image data is read, so as to temporarily interrupt the operation of the logic circuit, thereby reducing the power noises caused by the current generated during the operation of the logic circuit.
US08164666B2
A device that includes a pixel array, an interfacing circuit and a sample and hold circuit. The interfacing circuit directs to at least one pixel of the pixel array a sampled voltage that is outputted from the sample and hold circuit. The sample and hold circuit includes an NMOS transistor, a bootstrap circuit, a capacitor, sample phase switches and hold phase switches. During the sample phase the source of the NMOS transistor receives the input voltage; the gate of the NMIS transistor receives, from the bootstrap circuit a gate voltage that exceeds a supply voltage and a capacitor of the sample and hold circuit is charged to the input voltage to provide the sampled voltage. During a hold phase the capacitor stores the sampled voltage; the gate, source and drain of the NMOS transistor are maintained at the same potential and the source of the NMOS transistor is disconnected from an input port through which the input voltage was provided.
US08164664B2
A solid-state imaging apparatus including: a pixel section having a plurality of pixels arranged into a two-dimensional array, each pixel having a photoelectric conversion means, a memory means for storing a photoelectric conversion signal of the photoelectric conversion means, a transfer means for transferring the photoelectric conversion signal to the memory means, a reset means for resetting the memory means, a discharge means for discharging the photoelectric conversion signal accumulated at the photoelectric conversion means, and a read means for reading the photoelectric conversion signal of the memory means; a vertical circuit for controlling an operation of the pixels in the pixel section, the vertical circuit having an alternate disposition in the vertical direction of a discharge control signal line connected to the discharge means of vertically adjacent ones of the pixels for controlling the discharge means and a transfer control signal line connected to the transfer means of vertically adjacent ones of the pixels for controlling the transfer means; and a concurrent control means for controlling the vertical circuit so as to cause a concurrent operation respectively of the discharge means and the transfer means.
US08164654B2
An image storage apparatus which is capable of finding a desired image among a large number of images easily. Image quality of an image to be recorded on a storage medium 200 or 210 is determined by an operation unit 70. A system control circuit 50 stores a first image having an image quality determined by the operation unit 70 in a first folder on the storage medium 200 or 210, and stores a second image having an image quality determined by the operation unit 70 and different from the image quality of the first image in a second folder on the storage medium 200 or 210.
US08164648B2
An image processing apparatus is provided in which all WB coefficient values are calculated rather than only WB coefficient values of a default light source, then a result thereof is associated with intermediate raw data and stored. Further still, when a user gives instruction for a change in a light source setting when carrying out WB readjustments on a personal computer (407) or the like, WB coefficient values corresponding to the selected light source are read in from among all the WB coefficient values that have been associated with the intermediate raw data and applied to the intermediate raw data.
US08164643B2
A composition determining apparatus includes a subject detecting unit configured to detect existence of one or more specific subjects in an image based on image data; and a composition determining unit configured to determine a composition in accordance with the number of subjects detected by the subject detecting unit.
US08164638B2
The present invention makes it possible to process at high speed the foreground component image and the background component image of picked up images on a network platform. A client computer 27 outputs information specifying image data desired to separate to a separation server 11. The separation server 11 obtains the specified image data from a storage server 18 and outputs it to a motion detecting server 12 to perform motion detection processing. Thereafter, the image data, motion vector and positional information are output to an area specifying server 13. The area specifying server 13 generates area information of the image data and outputs the area information to a mixture ratio calculating server 14 in addition to the image data, the motion vector and the positional information. The mixture ratio calculating server 14 calculates a mixture ratio on the basis of the image data, the motion vector, the positional information and the area information, and a foreground/background image separation server 15 separates foreground and background of the input image on the basis of such information. The present invention may be employed in a business model for image processing.
US08164610B2
A surface-condition-information obtaining unit obtains information on a surface condition of a rewritable display medium on which information is reversely displayed visually. A write-laser output unit outputs a write laser to irradiate the rewritable display medium with the write laser, to perform a drawing on the rewritable display medium. A control unit performs a write process for displaying an image on the rewritable display medium by adjusting a laser output condition based on the information obtained by the surface-condition-information obtaining unit and controlling the write-laser output unit based on an adjustment of the laser output condition.
US08164603B2
A method of measuring image-sticking of a display is described. A display having N gray levels is provided. Next, an image-stick test frame having at least a first pattern having a low gray level and at least a second pattern having a high gray level is displayed on the display. After the image-stick test frame is displayed for a while, an image-stick region and a non-image-stick region are formed on the display. A measuring frame is then displayed on the display, wherein the non-image-stick region in the measuring frame has a standard gray level M. A plurality of middle gray levels is sequentially displayed on the image-stick region in the measuring frame. When the boundary between the non-image-stick region and the image-stick region in measuring frame is the lightest, the middle gray level is converted into an image-sticking level.
US08164601B2
A graphics integrated circuit chip is used in a set-top box for controlling a television display. The graphics chip processes analog video input, digital video input, and graphics input. The chip includes a single polyphase filter that preferably provides both anti-flutter filtering and scaling of graphics. Anti-flutter filtering may help reduce display flicker due to the interlaced nature of television displays. The scaling of graphics may be used to convert the normally square pixel aspect ratio of graphics to the normally rectangular pixel aspect ratio of video.
US08164590B1
A method for a computer system includes determining a plurality of illumination modes associated with a plurality of scene descriptors, wherein the plurality of scene descriptors includes a first scene descriptor and a second scene descriptor, determining a first plurality of weights, wherein each weight from the first plurality of weights is associated with an illumination mode from the plurality of illumination modes, determining illumination data associated with the first scene descriptor in response to the first plurality of weights and in response to the plurality of illumination modes, determining a second plurality of weights, wherein each weight from the second plurality of weights is associated with an illumination mode from the plurality of illumination modes, and determining illumination data associated with the second scene descriptor in response to the second plurality of weights and in response to the plurality of illumination modes.
US08164587B2
An LCD (liquid crystal display) power supply includes an AC to DC converter circuit, a transformer, a DC to AC converter, and a feedback circuit. The AC to DC converter circuit couples an AC power supply to generate a DC signal. The DC to AC converter couples the DC signal to a primary side of the transformer and alternates polarities thereof so that an AC signal is generated on a secondary side of the transformer to supply for a load. The feedback circuit receives a first feedback signal indicative of power being supplied to the load and modulates the DC signal generated by the AC to DC converter circuit according to the first feedback signal.
US08164581B2
An optical touch panel includes a frame, a first and a second image capture units, a first and second light sources, a first reflective element and a block element. The first and second image capture units are disposed on the frame and respectively disposed adjacent to the first and second light sources. The line between the first and second light sources defines a first connecting line. The reflective element disposed on a first side of the frame has a top point. The line between the top point and the second image capture unit defines a second connecting line. The block element blocks the first connecting line, but does not block the second connecting line.
US08164564B2
A liquid crystal display and control method thereof, having a liquid crystal display panel, a light emitting diode device which is disposed on the rear of the liquid crystal display panel and which is divided into a plurality of partitioned areas that are capable of being driven independently, a light guide part disposed for each of the partitioned areas, an image calculating part for dividing the liquid crystal display panel into a plurality of regions and calculating the brightness of each region by using image data, and an inverter and an inverter controller to provide differentiated power to the partitioned areas based on the calculated brightness.
US08164559B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display device having a display panel in which gate lines are formed and a gate driving circuit which is connected to the gate lines and outputs gate signals. The gate driving circuit includes a first stage, a second stage which is positioned in rear of the first stage, and a third stage which is positioned in rear of the second stage. The second stage includes a driving controller, a driver, a sustain part, and a controller.
US08164557B2
In the case of conducting an overdriving with a liquid crystal display device, the circuit for comparing the previous and present gray-scale data, the circuit for converting the gray-scale data upon the comparison result, and the like complicate the structure of the liquid crystal display device. Further, since hold driving by which the voltage applied is kept throughout one frame period is conducted in a liquid crystal display device, it is not sufficient to decrease the rise time due to high applied voltage for a countermeasure against blur of moving images. In the present invention, in one frame period, a high voltage is applied to a liquid crystal element and a constant voltage is applied after the high voltage is applied. The absolute value of the high voltage is equal to or higher than the constant voltage, in other words, equal to or higher than a reference voltage. Further, a rectangular wave within the high voltage application period (also referred to as a pulse) has a plurality of pulses having periods shorter than the rise time τON.
US08164556B2
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel including a plurality of data lines, a plurality of gate lines crossing the plurality of data lines, and a plurality of liquid crystal cells defined as a first and second liquid crystal cell groups, a data driving circuit to supply a data voltage to the data lines in response to a polarity control signal, a gate driving circuit to supply a scanning pulse that swings between a gate high voltage and a gate low voltage to the gate lines, a first logic circuit to generate the polarity control signal differently for each frame period to maintain a polarity of the data voltage charged in the first liquid crystal cell group, and to invert one time a polarity of the data voltage charged in the second liquid crystal cell group for two frame periods, and a second logic circuit to control the gate driving circuit to decrease the gate high voltage of the scanning pulse to a modulated voltage between the gate high voltage and the gate low voltage for a predetermined modulation time.
US08164550B2
In a display device used in a compact mobile apparatus that uses a battery or the like as the poser supply, the display device consumes less power even when the display state is not switched for a long period of time. A memory element is provided in each pixel, but the number of the parts does not increase and the aperture ratio is maintained at a high level.A low power-consumption liquid crystal display device is achieved by providing the memory element in each pixel and transferring no image signal. The voltage held in the pixel memory in the liquid crystal display panel is used to generate an alternating drive signal in the pixel. Even when the image signal is not rewritten, the alternating drive avoids liquid crystal degradation and performs display operations. The simply configured memory element allows a liquid crystal display device without aperture ratio penalty to be achieved.
US08164541B2
A plurality of three-dimensional radiator elements, each radiator element transmitting or receiving electromagnetic waves by a radiating top side. The radiator elements are arranged so that their radiating top sides are substantially parallel and so that at least one pair of adjacent radiator elements are separated by a dielectric gap between sidewalls, the gap behaving like a waveguide which couples electromagnetic interferences with the electromagnetic waves. The adjacent radiator elements further comprise a structure to suppress the coupling effect without establishing a galvanic contact with its adjacent radiator element.
US08164536B2
A dual polarized variable beam tilt antenna having a superior Sector Power Ratio (SPR). The antenna may have slant 45 degree dipole radiating elements including directors, and may be disposed on a plurality of tilted element trays to orient an antenna boresight downtilt. The directors may be disposed above or about the respective dipole radiating elements. The antenna has a beam front-to-side ratio exceeding 20 dB, a horizontal beam front-to-back ratio exceeding 40 dB, a high-roll off, and is operable over an expanded frequency range.
US08164524B2
A built-in straight mobile antenna type dual band antenna assembly includes a circuit board, a first radiator transversely arranged on one end of the circuit board and having a first resonance frequency, and a second radiator longitudinally arranged on one lateral side of the circuit board. The first radiator and the second radiator constitute an L-shaped structure for signal input through a feed end, and are connected to a ground plane on the circuit board through a common grounding lug.
US08164517B2
Satellite positioning system (SATPS) receiver that has a plurality of modes and channels, where a timeline module configures the channels based on the mode of operation of the SATPS receiver and reconfigures the channels if the mode of operation of the SATPS changes.
US08164504B2
A successive approximation resistor analog digital converter (SAR ADC) includes a first conversion unit including a correction capacitor array and a bit capacitor array 2V-1 less than the number of a bit, a second conversion unit configured to differentially operate with the first conversion unit, a comparator configured to output a voltage of a high level or a low level of each capacitor according to output voltages of the first and second conversion units, a successive approximation register (SAR) logic unit configured to receive an output voltage of the comparator to convert the received output voltage into a digital signal, and a correction logic unit configured to receive the digital signal converted by the SAR logic unit and to correct a digital signal of the bit capacitor array using a correction digital signal of the correction capacitor array of the received digital signal.
US08164503B2
A data converter system provides an output signal having reduced spurious tones by confining an input signal to a specified frequency band and over-sampling so that the converted input signal “straddles” or “avoids” spurious tones. The spurious tones may then be filtered away, providing an output signal having a much cleaner spurious free dynamic range than a conventional data converter. For example, in one embodiment, an interleaved data converter system converts an input signal that is confined to the second Nyquist zone of one of the interleaved data converters into an interleaved signal, and then filters the interleaved signal with a filter having a pass-band that transmits the converted input frequencies and a stop-band that attenuates the spurious tones. The resulting output signal has a bandwidth that is the same as could be achieved using a single data converter, but is not impaired by interleave images or certain distortion products.
US08164502B2
Portions of a digital signal are buffered prior to being provided to a sub-system (e.g., a segmented DAC of a LDD) that is responsive to the digital signal. While being buffered, there is a determination, based on the buffered portions of the digital signal, of when one or more portions of the sub-system and/or another sub-system can be switched from a first state to a second state, where the second state results in less power dissipation than the first state. Additionally, or alternatively, while the portions of the digital signal are being buffered, there can be a determination, based on the buffered portions of the digital signal, of when one or more system related parameters can be adjusted to temporarily reduce power dissipation. Based on results of the determination(s), the state of one or more portions of the sub-system and/or another sub-system is/are selectively switched from the first state to the second state, or vice versa. Eventually, the portions of the digital signal are provided to the sub-system so that the sub-system can respond to the portions of the digital signal.
US08164496B2
In a compensator for compensating mismatches, and in methods for such compensation, the compensator compensates for mismatches in output signals of a system with mismatches during normal operation of the system with mismatches. The compensator comprises: a mismatch estimator that monitors at least two mismatched signals output by the system with mismatches during normal operation and that generates matching parameters indicating an amount of mismatch between the at least two mismatched signals, the mismatch estimator updating the matching parameters during normal operation of the system with mismatches, and a mismatch equalizer that compensates mismatches in the mismatched signals output by the system with mismatches during normal operation of the system with mismatches in response to the matching parameters.
US08164486B2
A network of nodes, in which each node is associated with a choice, is used in designing text to be displayed to a user. At least part of the nodes correspond to a choice of a type of text. At least part of the nodes correspond to a choice of a text display context. At least part of the nodes correspond to a determination of whether the text is provided in response to an action of the user. At least part of the nodes correspond to a determination that the message display originates from a transducer. Text design rules are associated with at least part of the nodes. Pathfinding is performed by a designer, using the network of nodes, based on a response to a choice associated with each node encountered in the network of nodes. For each network node encountered during pathfinding, each rule associated with the encountered network node is made available to the designer.
US08164485B2
Embodiments of the invention permit flight paths (current and planned) to be viewed from various orientations to provide improved path and terrain awareness via graphical two-dimensional or three-dimensional perspective display formats. By coupling the flight path information with a terrain database, uncompromising terrain awareness relative to the path and ownship is provided. In addition, missed approaches, path deviations, and any navigational path can be reviewed and rehearsed before performing the actual task. By rehearsing a particular mission, check list items can be reviewed, terrain awareness can be highlighted, and missed approach procedures can be discussed by the flight crew. Further, the use of Controller Pilot Datalink Communications enables data-linked path, flight plan changes, and Air Traffic Control requests to be integrated into the flight display of the present invention.
US08164480B2
The present invention relates to a remote display module (RDM) for display a resource consumption value synchronized with a resource consumption value indicated by a meter metering resource consumption. The RDM is configured with one or more inputs that are electrically associated with the pulse output for a utility meter. The RDM tracks continuous values and associated customer-values. Customers-values may be reset by a customer allowing the customer to easily track resource consumption.
US08164472B2
A jump safety system and method for monitoring a jump landing area is described. The system of examining a landing area associated with the jump includes a camera, a memory, a processor, an image processing module, and a light emitting output. The camera is positioned to generate a camera output that displays the landing area. The landing area has a declining slope angle that reduces a landing force in relation to the slope angle. The image processing module, which is controlled by the processor, determines a landing area clear status by analyzing the camera output and determining the landing area is clear of obstructions. A landing area obstruction status is determined by identifying that there is an obstruction in the landing area. The light emitting output communicates either the landing area clear status or the landing area obstruction status.
US08164469B2
A method for cooling a battery after a charging phase including the steps of providing a user display, identifying a starting point at which the charging phase of the battery transitions to a cooling phase, when the starting point is identified, instructing the user display to provide a first indication for a first predetermined amount of time, and after the first predetermined amount of time has elapsed, instructing the user display to provide a second indication.
US08164464B2
A method and system are disclosed for assessing the capability of a pilot to operate an aircraft. The system senses the value of at least one operator information parameter for assessing the fitness of the pilot operating the aircraft and at least one aircraft information parameter relating to the position and motion of the aircraft. The operator information parameters include electroencephalogram information, electrocardiogram information, heart rate information, respiratory rate information, eye motion information, eyelid position information, eyelid motion information, expired gas mixture information, blood oxygen content information, blood oxygen saturation information and blood pressure information for the person operating the aircraft, and/or information about actions taken by the person operating the aircraft. Based on these parameters, the system determines if the pilot is capable of properly operating the aircraft and, if not, control of the aircraft is assumed by an alternate source of control which lands the aircraft safely.
US08164462B1
The geese chasing system includes of a housing encasing a visual signaling capability, sensor, and audio signaling capability. A plurality of housings can be installed upon the nose and wings of an aircraft in order to direct more signaling strength as well as to accommodate larger aircraft. The geese chasing system also include a cockpit alarm that provides a manual override as well as an automated signaling capability.
US08164460B2
Whether or not one utilizes direct DC coupling of the microradios to the antenna feed points or couples the RF energy from the dipoles associated with the spaced-apart contact pads on the microradio, in the subject invention one selects only those microradios that are within a certain variance of a preferred direction and then makes sure that the polarization direction of all of these radios is in the preferred direction are identical, in one embodiment by utilizing digital coding, which both activates the microradio and is used to sense the polarity associated with the connection from the signal source to the contact pads.
US08164456B2
A device for incrementally adjusting the position of an RFID tag includes a base, and a lid releasably attachable to said base. The base includes a generally planar surface in which a plurality of locators are formed at regular intervals. A portion of the RFID tag is received by one of the plurality of locators for incrementally adjusting of the position of the RFID tag. The plurality of locators extend collinearly and are formed overlapping so that the position of the RFID tag is adjustable in increments less than the overall length of the RFID tag.
US08164453B2
The present invention relates to a physical audit system with radio frequency identification (RFID) and a method thereof, which perform physical audit by means of RFID. First, a plurality of electronic tags is set in a physical system and all the physical units included in the physical system, respectively. The plurality of electronic tags records physical configuration data related to the physical system and the physical units, respectively. A radio-frequency writer unit writes the physical configuration data of a newer version according to the physical system and the physical units. Then, a radio-frequency reader unit reads the physical configuration data of the plurality of electronic tags, and transmits the physical configuration data to an integrated data processing device for analyzing and comparing the physical configuration data. It is judged if the physical configuration is identical to comparison data in the integrated data processing device.
US08164446B2
The method aims at identifying a fake element (F1) reproducing a fake skin print positioned on the detection surface (13) of an optical device for detecting skin prints such as fingerprints. The method provides for sending (14) towards the abovementioned detection surface (13) an illumination beam (14) to be back-scattered and propagate through the fake element (F1) bearing the fake print. The beam in question is a shielded beam including an illuminated region (22) and a shielded region (23). A sensor (16) captures the shielded illumination beam after the back-scattering, generating a signal indicating the dimension (x0, x0′) of the transition region (24) between the illuminated region (22) and the shielded region (23) present in the shielded beam after the back-scattering. The possible presence of a fake element (F1) reproducing a fake skin print is identified when the abovementioned transition region (24) has a dimension larger than a given reference value (x0).
US08164445B2
A method for cableless transmission of operating signals from a mobile remote control unit to a medical device is provided. The method includes recording a transmission quality measurement, and blocking the transmission of the operating signals if the transmission quality measurement or a distance measurement between the remote control unit and a receiver unit of the device fulfills a predetermined trigger criteria. A step detection process is carried out by the remote control unit, and a change in the transmission quality measurement is taken into account if a step movement is determined in the step detection process.
US08164444B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, devices, and systems for position detections of an individual. One method to detect a position of an individual includes creating a zone map by mapping locations of a number of fixed sensors in a zone and signal strengths of a number of communications between the fixed sensors and at least two wireless access points. The method also includes determining signal strength values of a number of communications between the wireless access points and a mobile sensor and comparing the signal strength values of the number of communications between at least two wireless access points and the mobile sensor with the zone map to determine the mobile sensor's position in relation to the zone.
US08164423B1
A RF MOS- or nonlinear device-based surveillance and/or identification tag, and methods for its manufacture and use. The tag generally includes (a) an inductor, (b) a first capacitor plate coupled to the inductor, (c) a dielectric film on the first capacitor plate, (d) a semiconductor component on the dielectric film, and (e) a conductor that provides electrical communication between the semiconductor component and the inductor. The method of manufacture generally includes (1) depositing a semiconductor material (or precursor) on a dielectric film; (2) forming a semiconductor component from the semiconductor material/precursor; (3) forming a conductive structure at least partly on the semiconductor component; and (4) etching the electrically functional substrate to form (i) an inductor and/or (ii) a second capacitor plate. The method of use generally includes (i) causing/inducing a current in the present tag sufficient for it to generate detectable electromagnetic radiation; (ii) detecting the radiation; and optionally, (iii) selectively deactivating the tag. The present invention advantageously provides a low cost EAS/RFID tag capable of operating at MHz frequencies and in frequency division and/or frequency multiplication modes.
US08164401B2
Tuning devices and methods are disclosed. One of the devices comprises a metal structure connected with artificial dielectric elements, and variable capacitance devices. Each variable capacitance device is connected with a respective artificial dielectric element and with a control signal. Control of the variation of the capacitance allows the desired tuning. Another device comprises metallic structures connected with artificial dielectric elements and switches connected between the artificial dielectric elements. Turning ON and OFF the switches allows the capacitance between artificial dielectric elements to be varied and a signal guided by the metallic structures to be tuned.
US08164398B2
A resonator includes a substrate, a lower electrode, a piezoelectric film provided on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode provided on the piezoelectric film. The lower electrode includes a first film provided on the substrate, and a second film that is provided on the first film and has a specific gravity greater than that of the first film. The piezoelectric film is provided on the second film. The upper electrode includes a third film provided on the piezoelectric film, and a fourth film provided on the third film, the third film having a specific gravity greater than that of the fourth film. The third film is thicker than the second film.
US08164394B2
Provided is a modulation apparatus that outputs an output signal having a designated amplitude and a designated phase, comprising a first variable delay section that outputs a first delayed signal obtained by delaying a periodic signal by a set delay time; a second variable delay section that outputs a second delayed signal obtained by delaying the periodic signal by a set delay time; an adding section that adds together the first delayed signal and the second delayed signal, and outputs the result as the output signal; and a setting section that sets the delay times for the first variable delay section and the second variable delay section according to the designated amplitude and the designated phase.
US08164384B2
A radio frequency (RF) circuit includes a power supply configured to generate a plurality of voltages, a plurality of power amplifiers, each having an RF output port and a power supply input port, a switch network having a plurality of input ports coupled to the power supply and a plurality of switch network output ports coupled to the power supply input ports of the plurality of power amplifiers, wherein the switch network is configured to output selected ones of the plurality of voltages from the plurality of switch network output ports, at least two of the switch network output port voltages capable of being different ones of the plurality of voltages, and an RF power combiner circuit having a plurality of input ports coupled to RF output ports of the plurality of power amplifiers and an output port at which is provided an output signal of the RF circuit.
US08164377B1
A detector circuit includes a main path having a first detector to generate an output signal in response to an input signal, and a reference path having a second detector matched to the first detector to generate a reference signal in response to the input signal. The reference signal may be used to compensate the output signal for variations in operating frequency, temperature, or the like. The reference path may be arranged to reuse a signal available in the main path so that the signal applied to the second detector experiences the same operating effects as that applied to the first detector.
US08164374B2
Provided is a clock gating circuit which receives a first clock signal and controls an output of a second clock signal corresponding to the first clock signal in response to a control signal. The clock gating circuit includes: a first latch that latches a signal value of the control signal in synchronization with the first clock signal; an AND that receives the first clock signal and controls an output of the second clock signal in response to an output signal of the first latch; and a second latch that latches a signal value of the output signal of the first latch in synchronization with the first clock signal, and outputs a latched value. This enables execution of a scan test with a simple circuit configuration.
US08164372B2
To include a first level shift circuit that converts a first internal clock signal having an amplitude value of a first voltage into a second internal clock signal having an amplitude value of a second voltage, a second level shift circuit that converts a first internal data signal having the amplitude value of the first voltage into a second internal data signal having the amplitude value of the second voltage, a clock dividing circuit that generates third and fourth internal clock signals, which are complementary signals, based on the second internal clock signal, and an output circuit that outputs external data signals continuously from a data output terminal in synchronization with the third and fourth internal clock signals based on the second internal data signal. According to the present invention, because a level shift of a signal is performed before it is input to the output circuit, there occurs no skew in output data.
US08164366B2
Locked loops, bias generators, charge pumps and methods for generating control voltages are disclosed, such as a bias generator that generates bias voltages for use by a clock signal generator, such as a voltage controlled delay line, in a locked loop having a phase detector and a charge pump. The charge pump can either charge or discharge a capacitor as a function of a signal from the phase detector to generate a control voltage. The bias generator can receive the control voltage from the capacitor, and it generates bias voltages corresponding thereto. A portion of the bias generator can have a topography that is substantially the same as at least a portion of the topography of the charge pump. As a result, it can cause the charge pump to charge the capacitor at the same rate that it discharges the capacitor over a relatively wide range of control voltages. The charge pump and the bias generator can also include circuitry for limiting the charging of the capacitor when the control voltage is relatively low.
US08164363B1
An Asymmetric Sense-Amp Flip-Flop (ASAFF) is disclosed that may achieve zero setup time and short clock-to-Q delays. The ASAFF captures input data at a clock transition by setting values of a first node and a second node in a manner that is input data value dependent. If the input data is at the first input data value, the first node is set and held at a first storage value after a first delay, and the second node is set and held at a second storage value after a second delay, and if the input data is at a second input data value, the first node is set and held at a third storage value after a third delay, and the second node is set and held at a fourth storage value, after a fourth delay. This internal-path dependent difference in delay enables ASAFF to achieve zero setup time.
US08164360B2
A semiconductor output circuit, an external output signal generation method and a semiconductor device that suppress variation in an external output signal caused by a decrease in power supply voltage. An output section changes electric potential of an external output signal EB according to a change in electric potential of an internal input signal A from ground to VDD or from VDD to the ground. A differential section outputs an output signal corresponding to the external output signal EB and a predetermined reference signal VREF. The differential section functions as a voltage follower so that the electric potential of the external output signal EB will correspond to the predetermined reference signal VREF. As a result, variation in output voltage VOL at a low voltage side of the external output signal EB is suppressed.
US08164358B2
A cable driver (301) for driving a single ended transmission medium such as a coaxial cable (115) comprising a core (120) and a shield (121) comprises a differential driver (104, 377) comprising a first output (151) for putting a first signal to the core (120) of the single ended transmission medium (115), a second output (152) for putting a second signal to the shield (121) of the single ended transmission medium (115) through a termination resistor (118) having an impedance close to the characteristic impedance (Z0) of the single ended transmission medium (115), and a third output (153) for putting a transmit ground supply signal (GNDT), local to the differential driver, to the shield (121) of the single ended transmission medium (115) through a first high frequency low impedance path (112). In use, the current through the third output (153) will be substantially the inverse of the common mode current through the first and second outputs (151, 152). Hence both the common mode current and its inverse are provided to the single ended transmission medium (115). They cancel each other out and thus advantageously low EMI emissions occur.
US08164355B2
An electronic component pressing device includes a first pressing member for pressing a predetermined first region of the electronic component to be tested; a second pressing member for pressing a predetermined second region other than the first region of the electronic component to be tested; a gimbal mechanism for adhering the first pressing member to the first region when the first pressing member presses the first region of the electronic component to be tested; first pressing load applying means for applying a pressing load on the gimbal mechanism; and second pressing load applying means for applying a pressing load on the second pressing member.
US08164354B2
Proximity sensing arrangements utilize one or more sensing devices to detect and/or to discern objects that are or become proximate, or are expected to be proximate to a position of interest. For example, one or more capacitive sensors may be distributed to locations about a machine, e.g., attached to, incorporated with, or otherwise associated with a moving or otherwise operating component of the machine. Corresponding control electronics drive each capacitive sensor, using a corresponding excitation signal, as well as process information read from each capacitive sensor to make intelligent proximity related decisions.
US08164348B1
Aspects of the disclosure can provide an integrated circuit (IC) chip. The IC chip may adjust delays at its interface to compensate for outside transmission line delays. The interface of the IC chip can include a plurality of input/output (IO) modules coupled to a plurality of outside transmission lines, respectively. Each of the IO module can further include at least one variable delay element configured to delay transmission over the corresponding outside transmission line based on an actually measured transmission delay of the outside transmission line, in order to align signals transmitted by the plurality of outside transmission lines in a desired manner.
US08164340B2
A method for determining orientation of an electromagnetic survey sensor includes deploying the sensor at a selected position on the bottom of a body of water. An electromagnetic field is generated at a selected position in the body of water. A portion of the electromagnetic field is detected along at least two orthogonal directions at the sensor. A portion of the detected electromagnetic field is selected as having traveled only in a vertical plane which includes both source position and sensor position. The polarization direction of the selected portion of the electromagnetic field is determined from the selected portion. The determined polarization direction is used to determine the sensor orientation.
US08164335B2
A method is disclosed for acquiring and displaying image data, in particular MR image data. In at least one embodiment, the method includes scanning an examination object by way of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner and generating first (MR) image data of the examination object, wherein scanning parameters during the scan are selected such that the regions of interest in the scanned examination object have high image data values, and the regions which are not of interest in the examination object have, relative thereto, low image data values in the first MR image data; generating a mask on the basis of the first image data by means of which mask regions in the first MR image data which have the low image data values can be hidden; scanning the examination object by way of a medical imaging system and generating second image data of the examination object; applying the mask to the first and/or second image data; and displaying the first and/or second image data processed by the mask.
US08164332B2
A magneto-resistive resistor for use in sensors for determining alignment of the sensor relative to a homogeneous magnetic field include an anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) strip having a longitudinal extent and a first and second edge along the longitudinal extent. The first and second edge have a shape along the longitudinal extent such that the direction of current flowing through the strip varies continuously along the longitudinal extent of the strip. The shape of the first and second edges produce a resistance determining angle with respect to the homogeneous magnetic field, the angle varying throughout the length of the strip and filtering out harmonics. A sensor bridge comprising at least one AMR resistor pair, each resistor electrically connected to the other resistor, a positive input contact and a negative input, and an output voltage tap electrically connected between the resistors in each resistor pair.
US08164330B2
The magnetic sensor according to the present invention includes: a magneto-resistive effect element which has a stacked body in which a magnetization-free layer, a nonmagnetic layer, and a magnetization fixed layer are stacked in this order, and the longitudinal direction of which is a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction; and a current path layer which is provided on the magneto-resistive effect element via an insulation layer so as to be spaced apart from the magneto-resistive effect element in the stacking direction, and which generates a magnetic field by being supplied with a current. The current path layer extends in a direction which forms an angle between 0 and 45 degrees to the longitudinal direction of the magneto-resistive effect element when viewed from the stacking direction.
US08164323B2
An apparatus monitors discharge processes in a conductor of a medium-voltage system or a high-voltage system. The apparatus contains at least one transformer which is suitable for detecting a current flowing in the conductor. The at least one transformer is connected to a device for monitoring the discharge process. In order to be able to monitor even very short discharge processes in an energy-saving manner, a release and at least one storage circuit are arranged between the transformer and the monitoring device. When a threshold current flowing in the conductor is exceeded, the release switches the monitoring device from a passive mode that is not suitable for monitoring into an active mode that is suitable for monitoring. The storage circuit stores the discharge current to be monitored and/or recorded by the monitoring device.
US08164321B2
A current injector circuit comprises a clock modulating circuit, a first current injector, a feedback circuit, a first input modulating circuit and a second current injector. The clock modulating circuit receives a clock, a control signal, and an output. The first current injector has an input coupled to the clock modulating circuit, and an output coupled to a power supply terminal for providing a first current. The feedback circuit is coupled between the power supply terminal and another input of the clock modulating circuit. The feedback circuit is for providing the control signal for controlling the clock modulating circuit. The first current injector provides the first current in response to the clock modulating circuit. The first input modulating circuit receives an input signal, the control signal, and an output. The second current injector has an input coupled to the first input modulating circuit, and an output for providing a second current.
US08164317B2
The present invention discloses a power system with temperature compensation control, for selectively supplying power from an external power source or a battery to a load, or charging the battery from the external power source, the power system comprising a buck converter electrically connected between the external power source and the load, and a temperature compensation control circuit for adjusting an output voltage of the buck converter according to a sensed temperature.
US08164313B2
A power generation controlling device for vehicle includes a communication controlling circuit, a power generation voltage and excitation current controlling circuit, and a communication frame processing circuit. The communication controlling circuit communicates with an ECU using a communication frame. The power generation voltage and excitation current controlling circuit controls power generation based on power generation control information in the received communication frame. The communication frame processing circuit decodes contents of power generation control information (i.e., signal switching data) included in the communication frame based on a signal switching bit in the same communication frame. Two types of contents or more that are switched based on the signal switching bit are assigned to the power generation control information in the communication frame. The power generation voltage and excitation current controlling circuit controls power generation based on the power generation control information of which the contents are specified by the switching information.
US08164307B2
One aspect of the invention involves: monitoring a voltage of a battery over time; evaluating whether a rate of voltage decrease of the battery is in excess of a threshold; and indicating that the battery is subject to a low voltage condition when the rate of voltage decrease exceeds the threshold. Another aspect of the invention involves: causing a circuit powered by a battery to respond to battery replacement by thereafter applying a selected load to the battery during a selected time interval. A further aspect involves: periodically sampling a voltage of a battery; and applying a load to the battery during a selected time interval before each sampling of the battery voltage.
US08164285B2
A system includes a power control module, a period determination module, and a control module. The power control module controls current through stator coils of a motor to rotate a rotor. The period determination module determines a first length of time between a first set of induced stator coil voltages and determines a second length of time between a second set of induced stator coil voltages. The control module determines whether an external disturbance disturbs rotation of the rotor based on a difference between the first and second lengths of time.
US08164281B2
A device comprising a solid state or mechanical switch coupled to a first connector and a second connector and at least one lighting device such as an LED light source wherein when power is applied to the first connector, the switch is operable to direct power to the lighting device and to a portion of the pins of the second connector. By constructing the connectors as similar, but with opposite genders, the connectors can be disposed on a circuit assembly to allow for daisy chaining a series of luminaire assemblies together. The connectors may be Ethernet connectors and the switch may be operable through control signals coupled to the Ethernet connector such that a smart power controller operating using power over Ethernet (POE) can operate to control the light sources.
US08164274B2
The invention provides a product display system and a method for illuminating a product. The product display system 1′ comprises a product carrier (20, 4′) and a lighting device comprising a plurality of light sources (10), each having two or more LEDs of different light color, and a control device (26). The control device (26) can control the various light sources (10), and even the various LEDs in the light sources, in order, in this way, to achieve a different luminosity and/or light color per light source. Thus, a flexible and energy-efficient system is obtained, by means of which special light effects can be obtained, such as promoting products by means of very bright lighting, or increasing the appeal of a product by adapting the lighting color to the color of the product (14, 16). For this purpose, the control device (26) reads a product information carrier coupled to the product, and adjusts a light source which illuminates a place of the product carrier designed for the product on the basis of information read from the product information carrier.
US08164272B2
The present invention relates to a fluorescent ballast control integrated circuit (IC) with power factor correction (PFC), and more particularly to a ballast control IC with a low pin count and improved programmability. The invention relates further to control methods performed by the IC.
US08164261B2
A plasma display panel includes a front plate and a rear plate disposed so as to face the front plate. A discharge space is formed between the front plate and the rear plate. The front plate includes display electrodes and a dielectric layer formed to coat the display electrodes. The dielectric layer includes hollow fine particles which are hollowed out inside.
US08164248B2
An image display apparatus includes a rear plate including electron emitting devices; a face plate including light emitting members, anode electrodes, partition members each disposed between adjacent light emitting members, and strip-shaped resistive members disposed on the partition members and connecting adjacent anode electrodes to one another; and a spacer disposed between the rear plate and the face plate, wherein the partition members include protrusions protruding so as to be closer to the rear plate than portions of the partition members on which the strip-shaped resistive members are disposed, and the spacer contacts the protrusions of the partition members.
US08164245B2
It is an object to provide a plasma display and a field emission display that each have high visibility and an anti-reflection function that can further reduce reflection of incident light from external. Reflection of light can be prevented by having an anti-reflection layer that geometrically includes a plurality of adjacent pyramidal projections. In addition, a plurality of hexagonal pyramidal projections, each of which is provided with a protective layer formed of a material having a lower refractive index than a refractive index of the pyramidal projection so as to fill a space among the plurality of pyramidal projections, can be provided to be packed together without any spaces. Further, six sides of a pyramidal projection face different directions with respect to a base. Therefore, light can be diffused in many directions efficiently.
US08164234B2
Piezoelectric actuators having a composition of Pb1.00+x(Zr0.52Ti0.48)1.00−yO3Nby, where x>−0.02 and y>0 are described. The piezoelectric material can have a Perovskite, which can enable good bending action when a bias is applied across the actuator.
US08164233B2
A drive apparatus includes a first, a second, and a third frame, and a first and a second drive mechanism. The second frame is supported movably in a first direction with respect to the first frame. The third frame is supported movably in a second direction that intersects the first direction with respect to the second frame. The first drive mechanism is provided between the first and the second frames, and configured to move the first and the second frames relative to each other. The second drive mechanism is provided between the second and the third frames, and configured to move the second and the third frames relative to each other. Each of the first and second drive mechanism has a drive generator configured to generate drive with a piezoelectric element, and a drive receiver pressed relative to the drive generator and receive the drive generated by the drive generator.
US08164232B2
The present invention provides meta-materials with an actively controllable mechanical property. The meta-material includes a deformable structure and a set of activation elements. The activation elements are controllable between multiple states. The meta-material includes a first value for a mechanical property when one or more of the activation elements is in the first activation state and includes a second value for the mechanical property when the activation elements have been activated to the second activation state. In one aspect, the meta-material resembles a composite material where the connectivity between the component materials or shape and arrangement of the component materials is dynamically controllable so as to affect a mechanical property of the meta-material.
US08164227B2
A cast end shield for an electrical machine, said end shield supporting a bearing that supports the rotor, and said end shield having an opening in the middle. In the radial direction from the centre of the shield, there is an inner rim limited by the opening, an intermediate rim connected to the inner rim and an outer rim connected to the intermediate rim. The intermediate rim has at least one substantially waved reinforcement structure, and within the reinforcement structure, the valleys of the waves are substantially in the radial direction.
US08164223B2
The present invention provides a magnetic attractive force-offsetting linear motor which prevents motor thrust from varying due to changes in the position on a stator, thus enabling improvement of the motor thrust and of the accuracy of the machine tool and the quality of a processed surface. A magnetic attractive force offsetting linear motor has a base 72 that fix stators 52a and 52b by contacting stator bottom surfaces 74, two stator mounting members each provided on a side of a corresponding one of the stators 52a and 52b and each extending from the base 72 to a height substantially equal to that of a stator top surface 73, and two plate-like support members 81 fixedly connected to the stator top surfaces of the respective two stators 52a and 52b and to a base top surface 84.
US08164215B2
A system for contactless data and power transmission between a first vehicle component and a second vehicle component includes a first control unit, a second control unit, and a transducer with a primary winding and a secondary winding. The first control unit is adapted to generate an alternating voltage at a signal output port from a voltage present at a voltage input port, where the frequency of the alternating voltage is modulated depending on the data that is input at a data input port, and wherein the second control unit is adapted to demodulate the data and provide it at the data output port.
US08164214B2
In a control system in which a first vehicle control apparatus becomes activated prior to activation of a second vehicle control apparatus, and is coupled for communication with the second vehicle control apparatus and has a storage medium for storing data received from the second vehicle control apparatus, the first vehicle control apparatus inhibits processing using data stored in the storage medium, during a delay interval that precedes activation of the second vehicle control apparatus.
US08164203B2
A leadframe has a die pad, first marks, and second marks, and the die pad allows thereon mounting of a first semiconductor chip. The first marks indicate a mounting region for the first semiconductor chip, the second marks indicate a mounting region for the second semiconductor chip, and the first marks and the second marks are different from each other in at least either one of size and geometry.
US08164202B2
An optical semiconductor device encapsulated with a silicone resin that suffers no discoloration of the lead and exhibits excellent thermal shock resistance. The optical semiconductor device includes an optical semiconductor element and a cured product of a silicone resin composition that encapsulates the optical semiconductor element, wherein the amount of (ΦSiO3/2) units (wherein Φ represents a phenyl group) within the cured product, determined by solid 29Si-DD/MAS analysis, is within a range from 0.13 mol/100 g to 0.37 mol/100 g.
US08164200B2
A stack semiconductor package includes a first insulation member having engagement projections and a second insulation member formed having engagement grooves into which the engagement projections are to be engaged. First conductive members are disposed in the first insulation member and have portions which are exposed on the engagement projections. Second conductive members are disposed in the second insulation member in such a way as to face the first conductive members and have portions which are exposed in the engagement grooves. A first semiconductor chip is disposed within the first insulation member and is electrically connected to the first conductive members. A second semiconductor chip is disposed in the second insulation member and is electrically connected to the second conductive members.
US08164197B2
A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes: a first interlayer dielectric film; a lower wire formed on the first interlayer dielectric film; a second interlayer dielectric film formed on the first interlayer dielectric film and the lower wire; and an upper wire formed on the second interlayer dielectric film to intersect with a prescribed portion of the lower wire in plan view. The first interlayer dielectric film is provided with a groove dug from the upper surface thereof in a region including the prescribed portion in plan view. The prescribed portion enters the groove. At least a portion of the second interlayer dielectric film formed on the lower wire has a planar upper surface.
US08164196B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a low dielectric constant layer formed on the substrate, a first protection insulating layer formed on the low dielectric constant layer, and a trench with an interconnect embedded in formed in the first protection insulating layer and the low dielectric constant layer. The sidewall of the trench has a structure that the surface of the first protection insulating layer protrudes from the surface of the low dielectric constant layer, a second protection insulating layer formed by a chemical vapor deposition technique is embedded at the surface of the low dielectric constant layer in an area below the first protection insulating layer, and the sidewall of the trench is constituted by the second protection insulating layer and the first protection insulating layer.
US08164195B2
A pad structure of a semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate upon which circuit patterns forming a device are disposed, a pad disposed on an uppermost part of the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of fixing parts, each disposed along opposing edge portions of the pad to fix the pad and the semiconductor substrate to each other.
US08164194B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a data line structure in a lead region of a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD). The data line structure in the lead region comprises a substrate and a gate layer data line segment, a dielectric layer, a data line lead, and a passivation layer, which are formed sequentially in the lead region on the substrate. The gate layer data line segment extends corresponding to the data line lead; the data line lead is formed with a via hole therein; a portion of the gate insulating layer and a portion of the passivation layer in a position corresponding to the via hole are removed so as to form a connection hole together with the via hole; a connection line segment is formed in the connection hole, and the gate layer data line segment and the data line lead are connected by the connection line segment in the connection hole.
US08164193B2
The present invention relates to a metal wiring of a semiconductor device and a method for the same, and is directed to disclose a technique forming an additional conductive layer within the metal line, which acts as an etching barrier to increase the etching margin and to improve the RC characteristics between the metal lines, which can prevent the Cu migration.
US08164191B2
A semiconductor device including a semiconductor element and a functional member fixed thereto with an adhesive film is provided, where the performance or reliability degradation due to moisture entered by way of the adhesive film itself or the interfaces between the adhesive film and members adjacent thereto can be suppressed with a simple structure. The semiconductor element has an active region for realizing a predetermined function, formed on a surface of the element. The functional member has a predetermined function and is fixed on a surface side of the semiconductor element with the adhesive film. A metal film covers a region including at least all outer side faces of the semiconductor element, all outer side faces of the adhesive film, an interface between the adhesive film and the semiconductor element, and an interface between the adhesive film and the functional member.
US08164185B2
Semiconductor device, reticle used in fabricating method for the same and fabrication method thereof
A semiconductor device may include a substrate and a dielectric layer may be formed on the substrate. A multi-layered interconnection structure may be embedded in the dielectric layer. A plurality of bonding pads, which may be connected to an uppermost interconnection layer of the multi-layered interconnection structure, may be spaced apart in a first direction. A passivation layer may have a plurality of bonding pad openings that may be defined by a plurality of slits and respectively expose the bonding pads. The slits may overlap isolations of the bonding pads. Each of the slits may have an edge width that may be larger than a center width thereof.
US08164183B2
A pump having: a cavity formed inside an insulating substrate, the upper part of the substrate being situated near the cavity having an edge; a conductive layer covering the inside of the cavity up to the edge and optionally covering the edge itself; a flexible membrane made of a conductive material placed above the cavity and resting against the edge; a dielectric layer covering the conductive layer or the membrane whereby insulating the portions of the conductive layer and of the membrane that are near one another; at least one aeration line formed in the insulating substrate that opens into the cavity via an opening in the conductive layer, and; terminals for applying a voltage between the conductive layer and the membrane.
US08164182B2
A semiconductor package system is provided including mounting a semiconductor chip to a substrate having a substrate opening. A first heat slug is attached to a first surface of the semiconductor chip at least partially encapsulating the semiconductor chip. A second heat slug is attached to the second surface of the semiconductor chip through the substrate opening.
US08164179B2
A chip scale package (CSP) device includes a CSP having a semiconductor die electrically coupled to a plurality of solder balls. A can having an inside top surface and one or more side walls defines a chamber. The CSP is housed in the chamber and is attached to the inside top surface of the can. A printed circuit board is attached to the solder balls and to the one or more side walls to provide support to the CSP and to the can. The CSP may be a Wafer-Level CSP. The can may be built from a metallic substance or from a non-metallic substance. The can provides stress relief to the CSP during a drop test and during a thermal cycle test.
US08164177B2
An electronic component module comprising at least one ceramic circuit carrier (2, 3) and a cooling device with at least one heat sink (4), a bonding region arranged between the ceramic circuit carrier (2, 3) and the cooling device adapted for bonding the circuit carrier (2, 3) to the cooling device (4). The bonding region (5, 7; 6, 8) comprises a bonding layer comprised of metal and a eutectic region (7, 8).
US08164176B2
A semiconductor arrangement has a silicon body with a first surface and a second surface and a thick metal layer arranged on at least one surface of the silicon body. The thickness of the thick metal-layer is at least 10 micrometers (μm).
US08164162B2
A structure of power semiconductor device integrated with clamp diodes sharing same gate metal pad is disclosed. This improved structure can prevent the degradation of breakdown voltage due to electric field in termination region blocked by polysilicon.
US08164161B2
A structure of trench capacitor and method for manufacturing the trench capacitor is provided. The collar oxide layer of the trench capacitor is formed by a thermal oxidation process. Moreover, a protective layer such as silicon nitride covers the collar oxide layer. A failure analysis of the collar oxide layer can be operated by detecting the protective layer. If the protective layer is detected, the collar oxide layer is therefore at a suitable thickness. Furthermore, a mask layer rather than the collar oxide layer is used as a mask during the trench formation.
US08164156B2
A semiconductor device comprises a fuse having a blowing region at a center part for selectively connecting different two terminals; and a dummy contact positioned under the blowing region for forming empty space by being removed together with the blowing region in a blowing process.
US08164155B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an N-well and a P-well formed in a semiconductor substrate. An isolation layer may be formed in the semiconductor substrate. At least one dummy active pattern may be formed in a boundary area between the N-well and the P-well. A salicide blocking layer may be over the upper surface of the at least one dummy active pattern. A non-salicide region may be formed over the upper surface of the at least one dummy active pattern by carrying out a salicide process over the semiconductor substrate provided with the salicide blocking layer.
US08164149B2
A vertical Hall sensor which is integrated in a semiconductor chip has at least 6 electric contacts which are arranged along a straight line on the surface of the semiconductor chip. The electric contacts are wired according to a predetermined rule, namely such that when the contacts are numbered through continuously and repeatedly with the numerals 1, 2, 3 and 4 starting from one of the two outermost contacts, the contacts to which the same numeral is assigned are electrically connected with each other.
US08164147B2
A magnetic random access memory includes a first bit line and a second bit line, a source line formed for a group having the first bit line and the second bit line, adjacent to the first bit line, and running in a first direction in which the first bit line and the second bit line run, a first magnetoresistive effect element connected to the first bit line, a second magnetoresistive effect element connected to the second bit line, a first transistor connected in series with the first magnetoresistive effect element, and a second transistor connected in series with the second magnetoresistive effect element. A first cell having the first magnetoresistive effect element and the first transistor and a second cell having the second magnetoresistive effect element and the second transistor are connected together to the source line.
US08164135B2
Nonvolatile flash memory systems and methods are disclosed having a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, including non-diffused channel regions through which electron flow is induced by application of voltage to associated gate elements. A plurality of floating gates are spaced apart from one another and each insulated from the channel region. A plurality of control gates are spaced apart from one another and insulated from the channel region, with each control gate being located between a first floating gate and a second floating gate and capacitively coupled thereto to form a subcell. A plurality of spaced-apart assist gates are insulated from the channel region, with each assist gate being located between and insulated from adjacent subcells. The channel is formed of three regions, two beneath adjacent control gate elements as well as a third region between the first two and beneath an associated assist gate.
US08164128B2
Techniques for forming a magnetic device are provided. In one aspect, a magnetic device includes a magnetic tunnel junction and a dielectric layer formed over at least a portion of the magnetic tunnel junction. The dielectric layer is configured to have an underlayer proximate to the magnetic tunnel junction, and an overlayer on a side of the underlayer opposite the magnetic tunnel junction. The magnetic device further includes a via hole running substantially vertically through the dielectric layer and being self-aligned with the magnetic tunnel junction.
US08164113B2
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) structure for a 3-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC) through-silicon via (TSV) device is provided. The ESD structure includes a substrate, a TSV device which is formed through the substrate and is equivalent to a resistance-inductance-capacitance (RLC) device, and at least one ESD device which is disposed in the substrate and electrically connected to one end of the TSV device. The ESD structure can protect the 3D IC TSV device.
US08164111B2
A high voltage semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a p type base region in a first main surface, an n+ type emitter region in the p type base region, an n+ type cathode region adjacent to an end surface of the semiconductor substrate and not penetrating the semiconductor substrate, a p+ type collector region in a second main surface, a first main electrode, a second main electrode, a third main electrode, and a connection portion connecting the second main electrode and the third main electrode. A resistance between the p type base region and the n+ type cathode region is greater than a resistance between the p type base region and the p+ type collector region. In the high voltage semiconductor device in which an IGBT and a free wheel diode are formed in a single semiconductor substrate, occurrence of a snap-back phenomenon is suppressed.
US08164109B2
A nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device 100 includes: a GaN substrate 10 with an m-plane surface 12; a semiconductor multilayer structure 20 provided on the m-plane surface 12 of the GaN substrate 10; and an electrode 30 provided on the semiconductor multilayer structure 20. The electrode 30 includes a Zn layer 32 and a metal layer 34 provided on the Zn layer 32. The Zn layer 32 is in contact with a surface of a p-type semiconductor region of the semiconductor multilayer structure 20.
US08164104B2
A light emitting element array including an active layer commonly used for light emitting element regions, carrier injection layers which are electrically isolated from each other and which are provided in the respective light emitting element regions, and a resistive layer which has a resistance higher than that of the carrier injection layers and which is provided between the active layer and the carrier injection layers.
US08164102B2
A semiconductor light emitting device may include a first lead; a second lead; a first semiconductor light emitting element mounted on the first lead, being configured to emit a light having an optical emission spectrum no more than 400 nm from a light extraction surface of the first semiconductor light emitting element; a second semiconductor light emitting element mounted on the second lead, being configured to emit a light having a peak wavelength in no less than 550 nm; an ultraviolet absorbing layer configured to cover the light extraction surface of the first semiconductor light emitting element; and a sealing resin configured to cover the ultraviolet absorbing layer, first semiconductor light emitting element and the second semiconductor light emitting element.
US08164101B2
A light-emitting device includes a light-emitting portion and an oxygen concentration control portion. The light-emitting portion includes a surface. The light-emitting portion emits light with an intensity corresponding to an oxygen concentration on the surface when receiving light energy. The oxygen concentration control portion controls the oxygen concentration on the surface of the light-emitting portion.
US08164098B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide an organic transistor having a low drive voltage. It is also another object of the present invention to provide an organic transistor, in which light emission can be obtained, which can be manufactured simply and easily. According to an organic light-emitting transistor, a composite layer containing an organic compound having a hole-transporting property and a metal oxide is used as part of the electrode that injects holes among source and drain electrodes, and a composite layer containing an organic compound having an electron-transporting property and an alkaline metal or an alkaline earth metal is used as part of the electrode that injects electrons, where either composite layer has a structure of being in contact with an organic semiconductor layer.
US08164094B2
In a fabricating method of a pixel structure, a scan line and a gate electrode are formed in each pixel area of a substrate. A gate insulation layer is formed to cover the scan line and gate electrode. A semiconductor layer is formed on the gate insulation layer above the gate electrode. A data line, source and drain are formed in each pixel area. A first passivation layer covers the data line, source and drain. A common line is formed on the first passivation layer and overlaps with at least a portion of the data line. A common electrode is formed on and electrically connected with the common line. A second passivation layer covers the common electrode and common line. A contact window is formed in the second passivation layer above the drain to expose the drain. A pixel electrode is electrically connected with the drain through the contact window.
US08164088B2
A light emitting element with a high contrast is realized. A light emitting device with a high contrast is achieved by using the light emitting element with an excellent contrast. The light emitting element has a layer containing a light emitting substance interposed between a first electrode and a second electrode, and the layer containing the light emitting substance includes a light emitting layer, a layer containing a first organic compound, and a layer containing a second organic compound. The first electrode has a light-transmitting property, and the layer containing the first organic compound and the layer containing the second organic compound are interposed between the second electrode and the light emitting layer. Furthermore, color of the first organic compound and color of the second organic compound are complementary.
