| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07818335B2 |
Selective privacy guarantees
Systems and methods are provided for selectively determining privacy guarantees. For example, a first class of data may be guaranteed a first level of privacy, while other data classes are only guaranteed some lesser level of privacy. An amount of privacy is guaranteed by adding noise values to database query outputs. Noise distributions can be tailored to be appropriate for the particular data in a given database by calculating a “diameter” of the data. When the distribution is based on the diameter of a first class of data, and the diameter measurement does not account for additional data in the database, the result is that query outputs leak information about the additional data. |
| US07818332B2 |
Query speller
Candidate suggestions for correcting misspelled query terms input into a search application are automatically generated. A score for each candidate suggestion can be generated using a first decoding pass and paths through the suggestions can be ranked in a second decoding pass. Candidate suggestions can be generated based on typographical errors, phonetic mistakes and/or compounding mistakes. Furthermore, a ranking model can be developed to rank candidate suggestions to be presented to a user. |
| US07818331B2 |
Retrieval of computer service type metadata
A method and apparatus for retrieval of computer service type metadata. An embodiment of a method includes receiving a request from a consumer for a computer service, the computer service including a type, with the type having a set of allowed values. The method further includes configuring a first connection for computer service metadata and providing the set of allowed values via the first connection. The method also provides for configuring a second connection for computer service access. |
| US07818330B2 |
Block tracking mechanism for web personalization
Described is a technology by which blocks of web pages may be selected, such as for building a user-personalized web page containing selected blocks. A selection mechanism, such as a browser toolbar add-on, provides a user interface for selecting blocks, and records information about selected blocks. A block tracking mechanism (e.g., a daemon program) uses the information to locate selected blocks of the web pages, including when the web page containing the block is updated with respect to content and/or layout. The block tracking mechanism may update a local gadget that when invoked, such as by browsing to a particular web page, which shows updated versions of the block on a personalized web page. Blocks may be efficiently located by processing trees representing web pages into reduced trees, and then by performing a minimum distance mapping algorithm on the reduced trees. |
| US07818327B2 |
Method and system for determining conformance of a data key with rules by means of memory lookups
A method of comparing unmasked bits of an N-bit data key to an N-bit Rule includes dividing the key into C-bit chunks. Each of the chunks is used as an 5 address to extract from memories 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24, 31, 32, 33, 34, 41, 42, 43, 44. The memory is preprepared, such that the data stored in the address corresponding to that chunk of the key is 1 or O according to whether a bitwise comparison of that chunk of the data key with the mask is equal to a bitwise comparison of that chunk of the mask and rule. This extracted bit therefore indicates whether the rule is obeyed for that chunk of the data key. The N/C extracted bits for each rule are compared, to determine if the rule is obeyed for the entire data key. |
| US07818324B1 |
Searching indexed and non-indexed resources for content
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for searching indexed and non-indexed content. One method includes updating an index of a corpus of resources from time to time to generate an updated index for use by a search engine. Change data specifying changes made by users affecting resources are recorded. An index search result based on the most-recently updated index is received in response to a user search query. The change data is searched to identify any changes to the resources made by the user that relate to the search query and if any such changes are found, a revised search result is generated from the changes and the index search result and provided to the user as a response to the first query. |
| US07818322B2 |
Efficient method for clustering nodes
Methods and computer storage media for clustering nodes are provided. An input file is received that is comprised of primary nodes, secondary nodes and metrics that relate to the association between the primary nodes and the secondary nodes. Upon receiving the input file, the input file is abridged to reduce the number of nodes contained in the input file. The unique initial primary nodes are then clustered with their associated secondary node. The clusters containing the unique initial primary nodes are replaced if a subsequent related cluster satisfies a pre-defined condition. In some embodiments, multiple clusters are then merged until the cluster size reaches a pre-defined size. In some embodiments, the input file is cleaned and sorted prior to being abridged. |
| US07818320B2 |
Enhanced search results based on user feedback relating to search result abstracts
The present invention provides for enhanced search results in response to a search request based on a search term. The enhanced search results generate a search results page including a plurality of document identifiers including a hyperlink and an abstract, each abstract including a plurality of abstract terms. The method and apparatus, upon receipt of the search request, accesses a relevancy factor database that includes relevancy factors. The relevancy factors are determined by accessing feedback logs for search results based on the same search term, calculating a popularity factor for each of the plurality of phrases in the abstracts and user selection activity and relevancy factors are based on the popularity factors. Thereby, the method and apparatus generates the search results page with the sequence of the document identifiers based on the relevancy factors. |
| US07818306B2 |
Read-copy-update (RCU) operations with reduced memory barrier usage
Read-copy-update (RCU) is performed within real-time and other types of systems, such that memory barrier usage within RCU is reduced. A computerized system includes processors, memory, updaters, and readers. The updaters update contents of a section of the memory by using first and second sets of per-processor counters, first and second sets of per-processor need-memory-barrier bits, and a global flip-counter bit. The global flip-counter bit specifies which of the first or second set of the per-processor counters and the per-processor need-memory-barrier bits is a current set, and which is a last set. The readers read the contents of the section of the memory by using the first and second sets of per-processor counters, the first and second sets of per-processor need-memory-barrier bits, and the global flip-counter bit, in a way that eliminates the need for memory barriers during such read operations. |
| US07818303B2 |
Web graph compression through scalable pattern mining
A method and a processing device are provided for compressing a web graph including multiple nodes and links between the multiple nodes. Nodes of the web graph may be clustered into groups including no more than a predetermined number of nodes. A list of links of the clustered nodes may be created and sorted based on a frequency of occurrence of each of the links. A prefix tree may be created based on the sorted list of links. The prefix tree may be walked to find candidate virtual nodes. The candidate virtual nodes may be analyzed according to a selection criteria and a virtual node may be selected. The prefix tree may be adjusted to account for the selection of the virtual node and the virtual node may be added to the web graph. |
| US07818301B2 |
Method, system and article of manufacture for rolling back past a boundary generator to a savepoint located in a unit of work
Disclosed is a data processing system-implemented method, a data processing system and an article for manufacture for directing a data processing system to roll back to a savepoint located in a unit of work having a boundary generated by a boundary generator. The data processing system-implemented method includes examining a savepoint status indicator associated with the savepoint, and rolling back past the boundary to the savepoint depending on whether the examined savepoint status indicator indicates rolling back past the boundary towards the savepoint is permitted. |
| US07818300B1 |
Consistent retention and disposition of managed content and associated metadata
Consistent retention and disposition of managed content and associated metadata is disclosed. An indication that a retention policy is to be applied to a selected item of content comprising a body of managed content is received. The selected item of content and its associated metadata are retained automatically in parallel in accordance with the retention policy. |
| US07818298B2 |
System and method for tracking documents in an on-demand service
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for tracking documents in an on-demand service. These mechanisms and methods for tracking documents in an on-demand service can enable embodiments to provide the sharing of documents and the tracking of whether one of the shared documents was changed. The ability of embodiments to provide the sharing of documents and the tracking can enable a safeguard that a user knows whether the document that they have in their possession is the most recent version.In an embodiment, the shared documents are stored in a document management storage. In an embodiment, each file has an ID that includes version information for checking whether the document is the most recent version. In an embodiment, an application is downloaded onto the user system that automatically upon opening a document checks whether a document is the most recent version. |
| US07818297B2 |
System and method for refreshing a table using epochs
The disclosed embodiments relate to a system for refreshing a table to produce a refreshed table. The system may include a refresh log that may contain a plurality of entries that each comprise an epoch identifier. The system may also include a refresh manager that may be adapted to perform a refresh operation on the table using entries that have corresponding epoch identifiers. |
| US07818295B2 |
Methods for handling communication requests received for former users of a communication system
The methods for handling a communication request received for a former user of a communication system include sending updated address book information for the former user to an initiator's address book, redirecting the communication request to the forwarding address for the former user, redirecting the communication request to an assigned replacement of the former user, or any combination of the above. Additionally, the replacement's address book information may be sent to the initiator's address book for updating. In one embodiment, a replication of the former user's address book is retained to assist in determining how to handle the received communication request. |
| US07818292B2 |
SQL change tracking layer
Systems and methods that track changes in a database via a change tracking layer that enables separation of change tracking and change enumeration. Such an arrangement enables multiple change enumeration and sync technologies over a single change tracking layer, while reducing amount of tracking information that are maintained. |
| US07818289B2 |
Network control system, network control method, and computer product
A shared storage device stores therein a correspondence between data retrieved by data collectors bys previously searching a data controller and a search target data identification (ID) for searching the data controller. The data collector first accesses the shared storage device and uses the search target data ID to search the shared storage device. Upon corresponding data being stored in the shared storage device, the data collector retrieves the data and transmits the retrieved data and the search target data ID to a load-dispersing device. Upon the corresponding data not being stored in the shared storage device, the data collector uses the search target data ID to search the data controller. After retrieving the data from the data controller, the data collector transmits to the load-dispersing device and further transmits to the shared storage device, the read data and the search target data ID used to search the data controller. |
| US07818288B1 |
eTOM enhancement of functional requirements modeling
A system and method are provided for modeling functional requirements for a project. The method includes creating a first model for a first project, categorizing a portion of the first model according to an eTOM area related to the first project, storing the first model in a repository according to the eTOM category, searching the repository for a model for a project categorized by an eTOM area similar to an eTOM area associated with a second project, and when a similar model is found, using the similar model as a basis for creation of a second model for the second project. |
| US07818282B2 |
System and method for the support of multilingual applications
A method, a system and a storage medium for preparing multilingual reports at client sites. The client sites are connected to a server and a data source. Each of the client sites may use a different locale. A product locale is selected at the client site for defining a user interface appearance. After a report specification is generated, a content locale is selected at the client site, which defines an appearance and a format of a report. A metadata model with run-time parameters is then constructed. The run-time parameters include mapping rules for the content locale. The run-time parameters are updated based on the content locale. A query is built using the report specification and the metadata model. Data appropriate to the individual content locale is then extracted from the same data source using the query. |
| US07818279B2 |
Event detection based on evolution of click-through data
A method and system for detecting events based on query-page relationships is provided. The event detection system detects events by analyzing occurrences of query-page pairs generated from a user selecting the page of the pair from a search result for the query of the pair. The event detection system may identify semantic and temporal similarity between query-page pairs. The event detection system then identifies clusters of query-page pairs that are semantically and temporally similar. |
| US07818276B2 |
Intelligent monitoring system and method for building predictive models and detecting anomalies
There is described a method and system for detecting an anomaly in data originating from a component used in an industrial process. The anomaly detection steps comprise: providing predictive models in which at least one of the predictive models corresponds to at least one operating mode from a plurality of operating modes of the component; obtaining operating data from the component, the operating data being indicative of a given operating mode from the operating modes; selecting at least one of the predictive models based on the given operating mode; generating estimated data using the selected at least one predictive model; comparing the operating data with the estimated data; and generating an alarm trigger when the comparison meets a given anomaly criteria thereby constituting the detection of the anomaly. |
| US07818275B2 |
Runtime program regression analysis tool for a simulation engine
A system is disclosed that provides a goal based learning system utilizing a rule based expert training system to provide a cognitive educational experience. The system provides the user with a simulated environment that presents a business opportunity to understand and solve optimally. Mistakes are noted and remedial educational material presented dynamically to build the necessary skills that a user requires for success in the business endeavor. Multiple “correct” answers are integrated into the learning system to allow individualized learning experiences in which navigation through the system is at a pace controlled by the learner. A robust business model provides support for realistic activities and allows a user to experience real world consequences for their actions and decisions and entails realtime decision-making and synthesis of the educational material. The system includes tools for analysis, logging and display of regression analysis information for a presentation as it is presented. |
| US07818274B1 |
Automatic generation of event-handling rules from system log entries
Approaches to automatic generation of event handling rules are presented. In one approach, a system for automatic event handling rule generation includes a system log file, containing a syslog entry. A rule module is used to interpret the syslog entry. An entry format depository is available to the rule module, and contains a description of the general format corresponding to the syslog entry. An entry causation depository is available to the rule module, and contains both a cause for the syslog entry's creation, and a solution template corresponding to the syslog entry. The rule module uses the general format to parse information from the syslog entry, and uses that information to locate the cause and a solution template. The rule module then uses the information from the syslog entry to complete the solution template, thereby generating a rule to alter the behavior which caused the syslog entry to be created. |
| US07818272B1 |
Method for discovery of clusters of objects in an arbitrary undirected graph using a difference between a fraction of internal connections and maximum fraction of connections by an outside object
A method for discovery of a cluster of objects in an arbitrary undirected graph. A subset of the objects is determined by performing a random walk starting from a first object of the objects and following a plurality of random edges of subsequent objects, the subset comprising the first object and the subsequent objects. An enlarged subset is determined by enlarging the subset to include other objects well-connected to the subset. It is determined whether the enlarged subset is a cluster. |
| US07818271B2 |
Parameterized statistical interaction policies
A method and apparatus are disclosed for selecting interaction policies. Values may be provided for a group of parameters for user models. Interaction policies within a specific tolerance of an optimal interaction policy for the user models may be learned. Up to a predetermined number of the learned interaction policies, within a specific tolerance of an optimal policy for the user models, may be selected for a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device, including the selected interaction policies, may determine whether any of a group of parameters, representing a user preference or contextual information with respect to use of the wireless communication device, is updated. When any of the group of parameters has been updated, the wireless communication device may select one of the selected interaction policies, such that the selected one of the selected interaction policies may determine a better interaction behavior for the wireless communication device. |
| US07818270B2 |
Method and system for tracking and budgeting energy usage
An energy tracking and reporting system can receive data inputs from multiple sources regarding one or more properties. A central database receives the information and correlates the information for numerous outputs. Information received by the central database can include, for example, property location, property size, property type and property use. Also, occupancy information, energy sources, utilities servicing the property, weather, ISO, environmental guidelines, and the traded or other standard price for the utilities can be stored. The system can calculate a number of factors from the data and return values to the central database. The system can track data trends and store additional information for budgeting, user reporting and certification compliance reporting. Modules can analyze the market rates, calculate efficiency benchmarks, analyze the data stored on the central database and provide the user with multiple tables and charts analyzing all of the factors that tie into energy usage. |
| US07818266B2 |
Method and system for providing electronic customs form
Methods and systems are provided for creating and processing an electronic customs declaration manifest. These methods and systems include creating a image of the customs declaration form, converting the image of the customs declaration form into an electronic customs manifest, and transferring the electronic customs manifest to a database. In addition, a image is may also be forwarded electronically to a remote encoding center, where the customs declaration form data is manually converted into an electronic file for storing in a database. Customs services of both the originating and destination countries review the declared information stored in the database. When the international mailpiece arrives at the border, domestic customs service may find a matching unique identifiers on the international mailpieces and customs declaration forms stored in the database. The service provider may load an international mailpiece into an airplane, if a domestic customs service allow the international mailpiece having a matching unique identifier to leave the originating country. A service provider may return an international mailpiece to the domestic customs service if an international mailpiece is not allowed to leave the originating country. |
| US07818262B2 |
System and method for providing a flexible licensing system for digital content
A system and method for providing a flexible licensing system for digital content is described. In some cases, the system utilizes tokens or other valuations to facilitate the purchase or exchange of content. |
| US07818260B2 |
System and method of managing digital rights
A system for managing subscriber access to content. The system may include a number of access points through which the subscribers access the content, a digital rights feature located remotely from the access points for storing digital rights of the subscribers to the content. Optionally, the digital rights feature is configured to control access to the content by the access points as function of digital rights individually associated with the subscribers. |
| US07818258B2 |
Electronic musical apparatus for recording and reproducing music content
In an electronic musical apparatus, a media ID (MD1, MD2, MD3, MD4, MD5) is associated with each recording media of a memory card 8, hard disk device 10, flash memory ROM 11, CD-ROM 12 and internet 15. Each media ID is encrypted to be recorded on a different position in a ROM 2. Upon reading a music content, the media ID of the corresponding recording media is decoded to decode the music content based upon the media ID and the secret key, and then, the resultant is temporarily stored in a RAM 3. Upon writing a music content, it is encrypted based upon the media ID corresponding to a recording media and the secret key, and the content in the RAM 3 is deleted. This makes cryptanalysis hard to thereby enhance a protection level of a music content in an electronic musical apparatus. |
| US07818257B2 |
Program encoding and counterfeit tracking system and method
Unique encoding of each of a substantial number of distribution video copies of a program such as a motion picture is produced by altering the images slightly at several pre-selected locations in the program in a uniquely coded pattern. Suspected counterfeits can be compared with an unaltered master video to determine the encoded number for the copy which was counterfeited to enable tracking the source of the counterfeit. Preferably, each frame of several whole scenes is altered at each location by shifting an image so as to make the alterations largely undetectable by counterfeiters but easily detected by comparison with an unaltered master video. Artifacts are inserted in patterns representing a unique number for the program. These supplement the encoding by alteration of images and gives added means to aid in tracing counterfeit copies. |
| US07818256B1 |
Digital receipt for electronic data and methods and systems for generating same
Digital receipts for electronic data and computer-implemented methods and systems for creating such digital receipts involve, for example, generating a visual representation of the electronic data in a pre-defined format that visually represents the data without requiring that the represented data be embedded in the format, computing a mathematical representation of the electronic data and associating the mathematical representation of the electronic data with the visual representation of the electronic data, and receiving a user's digital signature on the associated visual and mathematical representations of the electronic data to evidence the user's approval of the represented electronic data. |
| US07818253B2 |
Debit purchasing of stored value card for use by and/or delivery to others
A method of issuing a purchase card is provided. The method includes the steps of presenting a purchaser with the opportunity to buy the purchase card, determining whether the purchaser has sufficient funds to pay for the purchase card, creating a purchase card account for a recipient designated by the purchaser, and issuing the purchase card. The purchase card may also be issued in connection with another credit card, for example as a rebate for purchases on the credit card. The purchase card may also be converted to a credit card. |
| US07818250B2 |
Construction payment management system and method with automatic workflow management features
A system and method for managing a construction payment process. One method embodying the invention can include storing a plurality of workflows to control automatic electronic notification sequences of the construction payment process, electronically receiving information related to a construction project from a first participant, automatically electronically transmitting a first notification to a second participant in the construction project based on the information received from the first participant, electronically requesting a response from the second participant related to the first notification, electronically receiving a response from the second participant related to the first notification, automatically validating the response, and automatically electronically transmitting a second notification to a third participant included in the construction project based on the response received from the second participant. |
| US07818249B2 |
Object-oriented method, system and medium for risk management by creating inter-dependency between objects, criteria and metrics
A method, system, and medium for assessing and/or managing risks for an organization is described. The method, for example, comprises the steps of inventorying a number of assets of the organization, identifying at least one criterion defining a security objective of the organization, and identifying one or more inventoried assets that relate to the identified criterion. The assets may include one or more computers, networking equipment therefor and physical locations where the computers and networking equipment are located. The method may also include the step of formulating one or more metric equations, each metric equation being defined, in part, by the one or more identified assets. Each metric equation yields an outcome value when one or more measurements are made relating to the identified assets. The method may also include the step of assessing the risk to the organization based on the measured values of the one or more metric equations. Corresponding system, medium and means are also described. |
| US07818248B2 |
Network and method for trading derivatives
A computer network and method for electronically trading derivatives. The system includes networks and methods where a control or network managing station in the network acts as a facilitator for the market makers and subscribers to make a trade at an Exchange. In another embodiment the network managing station consummates the trade between a market maker and a subscriber by matching binding quotes and orders and clears the trade at an Exchange. The computer network for electronically trading derivative comprises: (a) network managing station; (b) one or more market maker stations; (c) one or more subscriber stations; (d) one or more Exchanges. The network managing station connects market makers and subscribers for making real time indicative quotes, issuing requests for quotes, obtaining binding quotes and wherein the market maker and subscriber are in communication with an Exchange for sending binding quotes and orders to the Exchange for clearing and confirming transactions. |
| US07818246B2 |
Systems and methods for order analysis, enrichment, and execution
A preferred embodiment of the invention provides an interface providing a model-driven projection of various order execution statistics based on the exact strategy (channel, algorithm, and parameters) that is selected by a user. In at least one embodiment, the interface is linked to at least order execution system and comprises an order execution display. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a computer system operable to display a graphical user interface comprising (a) a pre-trade analysis component for displaying market intelligence information regarding one or more specified securities; and (b) a strategy selection component for displaying order execution strategies for selection by a user and that comprises (i) an order execution component for routing a selected order execution strategy to an order execution system; (ii) an interface for enabling a user to specify trading strategies and strategy requirements; and (iii) a display for displaying projected order completion information. |
| US07818242B1 |
System and method for pricing default insurance
A system for modeling a basket of securities containing a plurality of securities is provided and includes a default/recovery model database for storing default/recovery data regarding the plurality of securities. Also included is a default simulation engine for calculating a default time for at least one of the plurality of securities based on the default/recovery data. Finally, a cash flow engine is included for generating cash flows for the basket of securities based on the default times. |
| US07818240B2 |
Tax managed buy-write fund
A system and method is provided for administering a tax-managed, buy-write investment fund having a plurality of units available for sale to the public. An index representing a first portfolio of assets having desired performance characteristics is identified. A second portfolio of assets is configured to have less than 70 percent overlap therewith. Shares of the second portfolio are purchased, while call options against the index are written. |
| US07818232B1 |
System and method for providing automated investment alerts from multiple data sources
A system and method provides investors with meaningful information extracted from large volumes of available data for a particular stock, mutual fund, bond, or other investment. The system includes one or more computers that receive and process multiple data feeds to extract information relating to each type of investment. The processed data is compared to “alert rules” each corresponding to a predefined condition, and a truth table is established that identifies alerts that are true for each particular investment. An investor logs onto a web site and enters a stock ticker symbol or similar investment identifier. Computer software displays a web page including “alerts” that are presently true for that particular investment. The alerts can be predefined by financial experts to make them useful to novice investors. When an investor selects a particular investment, a display is generated showing all of the alerts that are true for that investment and allowing the user to get more information concerning the significance of the alerts. The alerts can be grouped into different categories according to their content or time sensitivity. |
| US07818230B2 |
System and method for offering a marketing portal only to clients of a financial institution
A marketing portal server comprises a marketing portal website; a client identification engine for confirming that a user is a client of a financial institution; a posting engine for enabling a client to post a directory listing on the marketing portal website; and a directory engine for enabling a client to view at least some of the directory listings on the marketing portal website. The client identification engine may identify a client by client name and ATM pin number. A client enrollment engine may determine subscription information based on client status, and the directory engine may manage directory listings based on the subscription information. An exchange engine may manage an electronic commerce site for clients. A payment engine may perform debits and credits for transactions occurring on the website. A client rating engine may rate clients. Geographic limitations may be imposed on a client or on a directory listing. |
| US07818228B1 |
System and method for managing consumer information
Computer implemented method and system for repairing credit of a consumer is provided. The method includes presenting a credit report to the consumer via a user interface displayed at a display device; wherein a computerized system provider that maintains a consumer database with information related to the consumer's credit presents the user interface; providing the consumer with a first option for disputing the negative entry in the credit report directly with a creditor related to the negative entry and a credit bureau; providing the consumer with a second option for initiating an automated debt settlement negotiation with the creditor related to the negative entry; and providing the consumer with a third option for declaring that the consumer's identity has been stolen; wherein the computerized system provider provides the first option, the second option and the third option to the consumer via the user interface. |
| US07818222B2 |
Method and system for organizing tax information and providing tax advice
A method includes providing to a user a set of computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a user's electronic device, generate a user interface displayable on a display device coupled to the user's electronic device, presenting to the user via the user interface a plurality of solicitations for a set of personal information describing characteristics of the user, receiving via the user interface the personal information set, and, based on the personal information set, generating to the user interface a checklist of tax return preparation information to be compiled by the user. |
| US07818221B2 |
Method and apparatus for variable regulatory or conditional use compliance maximizing use of available inventory
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing variable regulatory compliance in a supply chain. The process identifies a variable regulatory compliance for a production order. Variable regulatory compliance is a percentage of a given attribute of the production order in compliance with order compliance rules. The process selects a set of compliant parts based on a compliant supply-to-demand ratio. The set of compliant parts is a minimum number of compliant parts required to satisfy variable regulatory compliance. The process selects a set of non-compliant parts based on a non-compliant supply-to-demand ratio. The process generates a list of recommended parts for use in manufacturing a product specified by the production order. The list of recommended parts comprises the set of compliant parts and the set of non-compliant parts. |
| US07818219B2 |
Electronic realty and transaction system and method therein
The electronic realty transaction system (ERTS) automates real estate processes and provides web-based accessibility to residential, commercial, and land markets. The system will provide a “one-stop-shop” for all real estate related transactions and will include a detailed tracking and history of customer transactions for the realtors. The system will provide the ability to charge, collect, and track payments for real estate related transactions. ERTS includes an electronic contract generator (ECG) that pulls information from multiple sources and automatically identifies end-user requests for services and ultimately enables a property request (i.e. contract) to be developed using auto populating techniques. |
| US07818215B2 |
Processing techniques for text capture from a rendered document
A facility for initiating a purchase is described. The facility receives a text sequence captured by a user from a rendered document using a handheld text capture device. The facility identifies in the received text sequence a reference to a distinguished product. In response to identifying the reference, the facility presents to the user an opportunity to place an order for the established product. If the user accepts the presented opportunity to order the distinct product, the facility orders the distinct product on behalf of the user. |
| US07818214B2 |
Affiliate manipulation system and method
An affiliate manipulation system that permits consumers, ISPs, search engines and intermediaries to maximize affiliate program participation in transactions by or through them. The affiliate manipulation system accesses an affiliate-capable merchant through the Internet at the direction of a buyer or consumer through an ISP or search engine. An affiliate code for a preferred commercial agent is inserted into the purchase order. The preferred commercial agent is the buyer or consumer, ISP, search engine or other designated recipient. When the buyer initiates a purchase from the affiliate-capable merchant, the system inserts the affiliate code for the preferred commercial agent where there was no affiliate code, or replaces an existing affiliate code in favor of the preferred commercial agent. A purchase order is effected through the affiliate-capable merchant. The order is completed and credit for the sale is given to the preferred commercial agent, based upon the affiliate code. |
| US07818213B2 |
Communication system, communication apparatus, communication method, record medium, and program
A server system in the form of an automatic vending machine is disposed in a store. A distributor has a main server. A reproducing and connecting device is disposed in a home. The server system and the main server are connected through a bi-directional dedicated line and whole music information (music data and additional information) is transmitted therebetween. The main server 2 and the reproducing and connecting device are connected through the Internet. Additional information of music information is transferred from the main server to the reproducing and connecting device. The user searches for a song that he or she will buy corresponding to the additional information and decides to buy the selected song. In the store, the user can record a song that he or she has decided to buy corresponding to buying information to a record medium. |
| US07818209B1 |
Best price search engine including coupons
Finding a best price available for a selected product, computed including all relevant factors available to the search engine. Searching separately for the product by price, and concurrently, searching for any available coupons or other discounts available for that product from the seller. When obtaining price information, querying for relevant information relating to purchase decisions. Obtaining relevant information from third-party sources. When obtaining discount information, querying for relevant information relating to applicability of that discount. Matching price information with coupon information for each selected requested product, and computing an effective price to the potential buyer. Aggregating the information it obtains, and presenting that aggregated information. Filtering or sorting those results. Maintaining separate pricing information for each product, uniquely identified by a code, in a database entry. Maintaining separate information for each discount. Augmenting this information by hand. Matching pricing information with discount information. |
| US07818208B1 |
Accurately estimating advertisement performance
An on-line advertising system provides advertisements to users. At least one candidate advertisement is identified in response to an advertisement trigger. At least one key is identified relating to features of the candidate advertisement, the advertisement trigger, or a combination of the candidate advertisement and the advertisement trigger. Candidate advertisement performance is estimated based on historical data relating to the key. |
| US07818203B1 |
Method for scoring customer loyalty and satisfaction
A computer-based method and computer program product for determining customer satisfaction and loyalty. |
| US07818193B1 |
Ship stowage aid analysis program
Stowage requirements are estimated either in early stage design of a ship or in evaluation of an existing ship. Initialization data includes definition of one or more stowage aid types, definition of one or more storeroom types, description of stowage requirements associated with one or more different ship types, and enumeration of “compartment utilization factors” corresponding to each defined stowage aid type (e.g., in the form of one or more data matrices, each matrix corresponding to a stowage aid type). Once the data setup is completed, the number of storerooms needed to hold a given or estimated volume of stowage is determined. Space layout rules and the corresponding “compartment utilization factors” are applied to each selected stowage aid type, thereby determining the number of stowage aids required (and the associated stowage aid weights) as to each stowage aid type, and/or the total storage area required as to each storeroom type. |
| US07818192B2 |
Quality information management system
Computer system for controlled creation, processing, administration and display of quality information within an enterprise. Linkages may be defined among enterprise entities, process/product development attributes, strategies, goals, process improvement opportunities, etc. Visual analysis of data associated with the linkages is provided in an interactive fashion. Linkages may also be defined among online quality-related documentation throughout an enterprise such that information is automatically propagated/reconciled through the enterprise in a controlled and efficient fashion. The creation of process documentation for new products is facilitated based on a concept of content/document inheritance. |
| US07818191B2 |
Receiving a request to reserve a service
Methods and corresponding system are provided herewith that, in at least one embodiment, include the act or acts of: receiving a request to reserve a service that is provided by a restaurant. The request to reserve is for a particular time and a particular date and the service comprises at least one of: (i) preparing a consumable good that is consumed at the restaurant's location; (ii) preparing a consumable good that is received at the restaurant's location; or (iii) preparing a consumable good that is delivered to a location external to the restaurant's location. The methods and system also include comparing the particular time requested with a schedule associated with the restaurant. The schedule comprises a list of times that are available for reservation. The methods and system also include determining an availability of the request to reserve; and outputting an indicia that the request to reserve the service has been accepted or denied. |
| US07818186B2 |
System for determining a confidence factor for insurance underwriting suitable for use by an automated system
A system is described for evaluating the decision-making confidence of a process and system for at least a partial underwriting of insurance policies where placement of an insurance application to an underwriting category is based on its similarity to previous insurance applications. The confidence factor computed is a measure of the correctness of the decision for a given application for insurance. |
| US07818184B2 |
Patient medical fluid parameter data processing system
A system extrapolates and interpolates patient fluid intake or output parameter values and associated cumulative values over variable time intervals from a reduced set of stored fluid parameter values affecting fluid cumulative volume computation or rate of fluid intake or output computation. The extrapolation and interpolation function accomodates drip (continuing) fluid volumes as well as supplemental (non-continuing e.g., bolus) fluid volumes. A patient medical parameter data processing system provides patient medical parameter data for trend indicative display covering a time period comprising user selectable patient parameter acquisition time intervals. The system includes an acquisition processor for receiving data identifying, for a continuing infusion, rate of volume of fluid infusion into a patient, a fluid type identifier and a start time and start date of said continuing infusion. The received data also identifies for a non-continuing infusion, a total volume of fluid infusion, a fluid type identifier and a time and date of the non-continuing infusion. A data processor determines, from the received data, a cumulative total volume infusion of a particular fluid into a particular patient for a particular user selectable patient parameter acquisition time interval. |
| US07818179B2 |
Devices and methods providing automated assistance for verbal communication
Devices and methods are provided for automatically analyzing a user's conversation or verbal presentation and providing feedback to the user, in real-time and/or off-line, to make the user aware of improper speech habits and thus enable the user to acquire better language habits while speaking. For example, a device for providing user awareness of speech habits may be a portable device, which can be worn or carried by the user, has various functions for monitoring and analyzing a speech session (e.g. conversation, verbal presentation) of a user and providing notification to the user of improper speech or language habits that are identified during the speech session. |
| US07818178B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing network support for voice-activated mobile web browsing for audio data streams
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing network support for voice-activated mobile web browsing for audio data streams. More particularly, the presently described embodiments are directed to enhancing an existing wireless network to provide hands-free web browsing to retrieve audio data. This allows wireless customers to make verbal web requests, (e.g., not requiring the use of hands), thus making it possible to request web audio programs while engaging in other activities, such as safely driving their vehicles. |
| US07818176B2 |
System and method for selecting and presenting advertisements based on natural language processing of voice-based input
A system and method for selecting and presenting advertisements based on natural language processing of voice-based inputs is provided. A user utterance may be received at an input device, and a conversational, natural language processor may identify a request from the utterance. At least one advertisement may be selected and presented to the user based on the identified request. The advertisement may be presented as a natural language response, thereby creating a conversational feel to the presentation of advertisements. The request and the user's subsequent interaction with the advertisement may be tracked to build user statistical profiles, thus enhancing subsequent selection and presentation of advertisements. |
| US07818174B1 |
Speech-recognition grammar analysis
An apparatus for determining at least one recognition parameter, associated with a grammar, for use in attempting to recognize utterances using the grammar includes an input configured to receive indicia of the grammar, an output configured to provide the at least one recognition parameter, and a processor coupled to the input and to the output and configured to analyze words of the grammar to determine a feature of the grammar and to provide indicia of the at least one recognition parameter to the output based on the determined feature. |
| US07818173B2 |
Information retrieval system, method, and program
An information retrieval system, includes speech recognition means for making speech recognition for a spoken question to generate first text information, generation means for modifying the first text information to generate second text information as a interrogative to make a search for an answer to the question, and search means for searching the answer from a document database by using the second text information. |
| US07818171B2 |
Speech recognition apparatus and speech recognition program
A speech recognition apparatus includes a storage medium for storing tree structured dictionary data containing words as nodes in a tree structure with a root and leaf nodes. An input speech is compared with a forward acoustic model corresponding to a speech resulting from chronologically reproducing words indicated by nodes for leaf nodes. A backward speech is further compared with a backward acoustic model. The backward speech is generated by reproducing the input speech in chronologically backward order. The backward acoustic model corresponds to a speech resulting from reproducing a word string toward the root in chronologically backward order. The comparison is performed in the backward order of a sequence starting from one of separator nodes. The speech recognition apparatus thereby outputs a word string that highly likely matches the input speech. |
| US07818167B2 |
Method, medium, and system for music retrieval using modulation spectrum
An audio information retrieval method, medium, and system that can rapidly retrieve audio information, even in noisy environments, by extracting a modulation spectrum that is robust against noise, converting features of the extracted modulation spectrum into hash bits, and using a hash table. The audio information retrieval method may include extracting a modulation spectrum from audio data of a compressed domain, converting the extracted modulation spectrum into fingerprint bits, arranging the fingerprint bits in a form of a hash table, converting a received query into an address by a hash function corresponding to the query, and retrieving the audio information by referring to the hash table. |
| US07818166B2 |
Method and apparatus for intention based communications for mobile communication devices
A method and apparatus for intention based communications in a mobile communication device is disclosed. The method may include receiving an input from a user of the mobile communication device, converting speech portions in the user's input into linguistic representations, generating a phoneme lattice based on the linguistic representations, scoring stored intention n-grams against the generated phoneme lattice, scoring intentions from the intention n grams, determining the highest scoring intention, determining whether the highest scoring intention is above a predetermined threshold, wherein if the highest scoring intention is above the predetermined threshold, executing the determined intention. |
| US07818165B2 |
Method and system for language identification
A method and system for language identification are provided. The system includes a feature set of a plurality of character strings of varying length with associated information. The associated information includes one or more significance scores for a character string for one or more of a plurality of languages. Means are provided for detecting character strings from the feature set within a token from an input text. The system uses a finite-state device and the associated information is provided as glosses at the final nodes of the finite-state device for each character string. The associated information can also include significance scores based on linguistic rules. |
| US07818164B2 |
Method and system for teaching a foreign language
A method and system for teaching a foreign language to a user who has knowledge of a base language is disclosed. The method and system may include assessing the user's proficiency in the target foreign language. The method and system may also include presenting a text to the user that includes both base language words and target foreign language words, where the amount of target foreign language words in the text depends on the user's assessed proficiency in the target foreign language. |
| US07818163B2 |
Architecture for dynamically reconfigurable system-on-chip arrangements, related methods and computer program product
A system-on-chip arrangement having, in possible combination with a processor, a plurality of reconfigurable gate array devices, and a configurable Network-on-Chip connecting the gate array devices to render the arrangement scalable. The arrangement lends itself to be operated by mapping in one device of the gate array a set of processing modules, and configuring another device of the plurality of gate array devices as a microcontroller having stored therein software code portions for controlling inter-operation of the processing modules stored in the one device of the plurality. The arrangement is thus adapted, e.g., to handle different computational granularity levels. |
| US07818160B2 |
Data backup devices and methods for backing up data
A data backup system comprises an emulation component and a storage device having logical storage areas. The emulation component is configured to represent a first logical storage area of the storage device, such as a solid state memory or a disk drive partition, as if it were an auto-launch device. Accordingly, a data source, such as a personal computer, will interact with the first logical storage area as if it were the auto-launch device. As some operating systems are configured to recognize auto-launch devices upon connection and automatically execute applications stored thereon, merely connecting the data backup system to a data source running such an operating system can cause a backup application stored by the first logical storage area to automatically execute on the data source to selectively back up data to a second logical storage area of the storage device. |
| US07818159B2 |
Intelligent system and method for monitoring generator reactive power limit using machine model parameters
Disclosed herein are an intelligent system and method for monitoring a generator reactive power limit using machine model parameters. The intelligent system and method for monitoring a generator reactive power limit using machine model parameters can calculate a maximum reactive power limit corresponding to over-excitation and a generator terminal voltage corresponding to under-excitation, estimate a correct field current even when system variable are changed, and monitor the generator reactive power limit by using machine model parameters and a one-machine infinite bus, to thereby supply a maximum or minimum reactive power to a power system within an allowable generator reactive power limit and prevent a generator trip caused by the reactive power limit and a power failure over a wide area. |
| US07818157B2 |
Instantaneous voltage drop sensitivity analysis tool (IVDSAT)
A method for analyzing an electrical characteristic of wire segments configured as one or more power meshes in an integrated circuit (IC) core comprising the steps of (A) specifying design information corresponding to the power meshes, (B) specifying at least one type of analysis to be performed, where the analysis comprises (i) generating a file corresponding to the IC core in a format compatible with an electronic circuit simulator and (ii) calculating the electrical characteristic of the wire segments via the circuit simulator, and (C) displaying the calculated electrical characteristic. |
| US07818151B2 |
Method, program product and apparatus for obtaining short-range flare model parameters for lithography simulation tool
A process of obtaining short-range flare model parameters representing a short-range flare which degrades a contrast of an image generated by a lithography tool, is disclosed. Short-range flare is measured from the image to obtain measured short-range flare data. A simulation is performed based on short-range flare model parameters to obtain simulated short-range flare data. The simulated short-range flare data is compared with the measured short range flare data. It is determined whether the short-range flare model parameters used in the simulation is appropriate based on the comparison result. The short-range flare model parameters is optimized according to the measured short-range data and the simulated short-range flare data if the short-range flare model parameters used for the simulation is not appropriate. |
| US07818148B2 |
Method and apparatus for parametric design of custom decorative stonework
A method, apparatus, and computer program are provided for custom designing primarily decorative stonework. The system permits design of different aesthetic architectural features, which can be of many types and shapes. The dimensions can also be varied to fit the needs of a client, architect or other user of the system due to the use of a parametric calculation unit. These system features assist users in custom designing primarily decorative stonework, improving speed and quality while reducing costs. |
| US07818147B2 |
Analysis data judging apparatus, simulation system and simulation program
A technique that can obtain right results of a simulation if the user does not have sophisticated knowledge about strength analysis simulations is provided. An analysis data judging apparatus comprises an analysis results acquiring section that acquires analysis data relating to the results of analysis of a strength analysis simulation executed for an object of analysis model and a judging section that determines whether the analysis data acquired by the analysis results acquiring section shows a predetermined deformed state of a predetermined part according to the threshold value set for the predetermined part of the object of analysis model or not. |
| US07818146B2 |
Method and device for the diagnosis of technical devices disposed within an industrial installation
Disclosed is a method for diagnosing technical devices, especially pumps and valves, which are arranged within an installation used in the processing industry. According to said method, disturbance variables that affect the devices and influence the service life thereof are detected by means of sensory technology while the data of said disturbance variables is processed in a simulative manner in order to determine the expected service life of each device. Various maintenance instructions which are output along with the expected remaining trouble-free operating time of the industrial installation when a lower service life threshold value of one or several devices has been reached are stored in an expert unit. |
| US07818143B2 |
Activity recording module
The invention refers to a system of recording the activities carried out by an individual person during specific time intervals. This system will normally be on an electronic device, but the initial method of recording may be paper-based. This system involves recording activity and associated attributes as a function of time on a grid, using lines to define the activity recorded in each grid interval. The invention is an intuitive data entry system, principally but not exclusively via touchscreen. The system will preferably be deployed on a handheld digital device with touchscreen entry capability. The activity recording system may also record values, attributes or files associated with specific time intervals. It may generate charts, tables, alerts and reminders. It may synchronize with other devices and applications and may import or export data from them. |
| US07818142B2 |
Method and apparatus for predictive, context-aware, and networked exposure time monitoring
A method and apparatus for predictive, context-aware, and networked exposure time monitoring. The method may include storing (320), in a memory, personal information including skin phototype and sun protection factor information, obtaining (330) context related information including an activity, a location, and a time of day, and retrieving (340) environmental conditions that affect ultraviolet exposure. The environmental conditions can include weather conditions retrieved from a network. The method can also include predicting (350) ultraviolet exposure time based on the personal information, the context related information, and the environmental conditions and outputting (360) information corresponding to the ultraviolet exposure time. |
| US07818141B2 |
Vibration dosimeter and method for determining the daily vibration exposure
The invention relates to a vibration dosimeter (2) and a method for determining the daily vibrational loading of persons who are exposed to mechanical oscillations at their place of work due to the operation of a work means and in particular of a manually operated electronic tool (4, 6). What is provided is that the dosimeter (2) comprises a determination device (12, 18) for determining the effective daily operating duration of the work means (4, 6), a computer device (22) for calculating a daily work time until a specified trigger value or exposition limit value of the vibrational loading is reached from a work-means-typical vibration value and the trigger value or exposition limit value, and a comparison device (24) for comparing the determined effective daily operating duration of the work means with the calculated daily work time until the specified trigger value is reached. |
| US07818139B2 |
Rotor/stator relative position determining method and apparatus
A data signal indicative of a gap between a sensor and at least one of a surface of a rotor and a surface of a stator rotating relative to the sensor is sent to a computer processor. The computer implements defining a plurality of lowest values of the data signal over a revolution of relative rotation between the rotor and the stator, and displaying the plurality of lowest values for assessment of the distance between the sensor and a surface of at least one of the rotor and the stator in order to determine a position of the rotor relative to the stator. |
| US07818135B2 |
Optimum timing of write and read clock paths
An apparatus and method for timing calibration of write and read-back data exchanges between respective dies of an external memory/external device has a master arbiter or, alternatively, a test bus between a system bus master interface and an external memory controller for driving the external memory/external device, a calibration circuit under control of the master arbiter via a test bus master interface to provide stepped-through time delays for test data exchanges between the dies, and the calibration circuit obtains pass/fail data indicating pass or fail of the varied time delays for the test data exchanges. A processor system at the system bus master interface selects calibration values corresponding to pass data, and applies the calibration values to the respective dies for timing of write and read-back data exchanges between the dies. |
| US07818134B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting forward/reverse speeds of continuously variable transmission for vehicles
A method and apparatus for detecting forward/reverse speeds of a continuously variable transmission for vehicles determines whether a vehicle is in a forward speed state or in a reverse speed state by using one speed detector having two sensors. The method for detecting forward/reverse speeds of the continuously variable transmission for vehicles includes detecting first and second rotational speeds of an output shaft modulating the first and second rotational speeds of the output shaft into a pulse width modulation signal, comparing the pulse width of the pulse width modulation signal with predetermined values, and determining whether a vehicle is in a forward speed state or in a reverse speed state. |
| US07818133B2 |
Leak inspection method and leak inspector
In a calibration mode, an equilibrium period after pressurized gas is sealed in a device under inspection and a reference tank is divided into two periods; pressure-difference changes ΔP1 and ΔP2 are measured when a first-half equilibrium period of duration T1 elapses and when a second-half equilibrium period of duration T1 elapses, respectively; and a pressure-difference change ΔP3 generated in an inspection period of duration T2 is measured. A pressure-difference change CT2 generated for duration T2 from when a period of time in which the influence of an adiabatic change seems to become sufficiently stable elapses is measured. A drift correction coefficient K is calculated from these measured values using K=(ΔP3−CT2)/(ΔP1−ΔP2), is stored in a storage section, and is used in an inspection mode. |
| US07818132B2 |
Test system
A test system for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a biological fluid sample comprises: a plurality of test members (16) in a container (10), each test member (16) including reagent means for indicating the catalytic activity of an enzyme when in the presence of a biological fluid containing an analyte acted upon by the enzyme; 0 a test meter (2) for receiving a test member (16), the meter (2) having circuitry for performing a measurement on a test member received therein to produce a measured physical value, means for determining an analyte concentration value for a specified biological fluid from said measured physical value, and means (4) for indicating a determined analyte concentration value; a Container RFID tag (14) associated with the container (10) which includes data specific to said plurality of test members (16); and a Patient RFID tag (28) which includes data specific to a patient; and wherein said test meter (2) includes means for reading and storing data from said Container RFID tag (14) and from said Patient RFID tag (28). |
| US07818131B2 |
Non-parametric modeling apparatus and method for classification, especially of activity state
The activity state classification method of the present invention employs a kernel-based modeling technique, and more specifically a set of similarity-based models, which have been created using example data, to process an input observation or set of input observations, each comprising a set of sensor readings or “features” derived there from or other data, to predict the activity state of a person from whom the sensor data was obtained. A model is created for each class of activity. The input data is processed by each model and the resulting predictions are combined to yield a final prediction of which state of activity is represented by the input data. |
| US07818130B2 |
Automated method and system for setting image analysis parameters to control image analysis operations
A method and system for setting image analysis parameters to control image analysis operations. The method and system include collecting set of digital training images including a set of states for the set of digital training images. An objective function is defined to determine a relative quality of plural different parameter sets used for digital image analysis. Values for the plural different parameter sets that maximize (or minimize) the objective function are determined. The method and system increases a usability of high content screening technologies by reducing a required level of expertise required to configure digital image processing. |
| US07818128B2 |
Forward models for gamma ray measurement analysis of subterranean formations
Methods and related systems are described for predicting a response of a gamma ray measurement tool located in a borehole surrounded by a subterranean formation. A response of the tool is calculated according to one or more properties at a plurality of spatial locations in relation to the measurement tool using a forward model that assumes a non-linear relationship between the one or more properties at the plurality of spatial locations and the corresponding response of the tool. |
| US07818127B1 |
Collision avoidance for vehicle control systems
A method and apparatus for at least semi-autonomously controlling a vehicle so as to avoid collisions are provided. A sensor is utilized to scan an area proximate the vehicle for a potential object of collision. The apparatus calculates navigational states of the potential object of collision relative to the vehicle to determine that the vehicle is on a course to enter within a predetermined miss distance relative to the potential object of collision. The apparatus alters the course of the vehicle based on the calculated navigational states. |
| US07818125B2 |
Move guidance device, system, method, program and recording medium storing the program that displays a code containing map scale rate and position information
Based on a transfer request from a portable terminal though an input operation or communication, a two-dimensional code is generated, the code containing information of a scale rate of map information for guidance displayed on the in-vehicle terminal and a current position of a vehicle. The two-dimensional code is displayed on a terminal display unit together with a region of the map information corresponding to a region to be displayed on the portable terminal. When the portable terminal captures the two-dimensional code with an image pickup unit, the portable terminal recognizes the scale rate and the current position with a code analyzer, receives a region of the map information corresponding to the scale rate and containing at least the current position from the server unit and displays the information on the portable terminal display unit. The map information can be continuously displayed on a separate terminal in a similar manner without giving a user a feeling of strangeness, so that the user can obtain guidance well. |
| US07818123B2 |
Routing guide system and method
A routing guide system has memory means provided outside a mobile body for storing data of images at a plurality of guide points. The routing guide system also has distance measuring means for measuring the distance from the current position of the mobile body to the next guide point. The routing guide system also has image request generation means for generating an image request for the next guide point when the distance measured by the distance measuring means is not more than a first predetermined distance. The routing guide system also has transmission means provided outside the mobile body for reading from the memory means an image of the next guide point in response to the image request and for transmitting that image to the mobile body. The routing guide system also has display control means for causing the mobile body to receive the image transmitted from the transmission means and causing a display device to display the image. |
| US07818117B2 |
System and method for integrating and displaying travel advices gathered from a plurality of reliable sources
A computerized travel system and a method for providing advices and warnings per travel destination to end-users. The system has a client service module for receiving queries from the end-users, and delivering to them merged reports of travel advices and warnings for the queried travel destinations. A download and parsing module parses travel raw documents, downloaded from a plurality of online reliable travel sources, into cleaned raw documents sharing a common formatting structure including sections, sections headers and paragraphs. An algorithmic module integrates the cleaned raw documents into the merged reports of travel advices and warnings per travel destination. The integration is performed from a base document chosen among all the relevant clean raw documents for each queried travel destination. Comparable sections are determined on the basis of contents of their section headers and semantically close paragraphs are placed next to each other in corresponding sections of merged reports. |
| US07818115B2 |
Procedure for determining a navigation solution of a navigation system with a Terrain Navigation Module, as well as a navigation system
A navigation solution of a navigation system with a Terrain Navigation Module is determined by a procedure including determining a supported position solution and the relative covered path between two height measurements, ascertaining a quality of each active supported position from each active supported position by way of a first quality function, and creating a search area and predetermined positions for each position inside the search area and each relatively stored covered path. The procedure further includes ascertaining a quality of each relatively stored terrain height measurement, and a quality of each reference height, and determining the quality of the position support by a function of all minimum probabilities of all used positions in the search area and supporting the navigation solution ascertained in the Strap Down Module by the navigation filter with the aid of the determined position support and the determined quality of the position support. A navigation system with a Strap Down Module and a navigation filter and a Terrain Navigation Module for determining the navigation solution are also described. |
| US07818114B2 |
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program product for traffic data aggregation using virtual trip lines and GPS-enabled mobile handsets
A device for determining when a virtual trip line has been crossed or traversed is provided. The device includes a memory for storing the virtual trip lines which are defined pairs of location descriptors corresponding to a geographic area. The device further includes a processor that is capable of determining the location of the device when it crosses a virtual trip line as well as its speed and direction. The processing element is further capable of sending this information to another electronic device such as a server that may determine a number of vehicles crossing a virtual trip line for a specified amount of time, the average speed of vehicles crossing the virtual trip line and the traffic density in a region near the virtual trip line. The device is capable of receiving the information that was determined by the server. |
| US07818107B2 |
Method and device for controlling the driving dynamics of a vehicle
A method for controlling the driving dynamics of a vehicle provides that a steering movement is carried out on the basis of a set value, which is calculated as a function of a deviation between a desired value and an acquired actual value of a vehicle state variable.In this method, at least one membership degree of an acquired value of a steering angle, which is set by a driver, and/or of a steering angle gradient, which is set by the driver, in a predetermined fuzzy set, are/is determined, and a value of the set value is changed as a function of the membership degree. |
| US07818106B1 |
Motor vehicle power management system
A power management system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The power management system can track one or more usage parameters to insure that electrical accessories or resources do not fully drain a battery and leave enough battery life to conduct at least one cold start. In some cases, the power management system can track one or more of the following usage parameters: the amount of time of one or more hands free telephone systems are used, the number of attempts to contact a computer, and/or the amount of time used to conduct wireless communications with a computer that is physically separate from the motor vehicle. |
| US07818105B2 |
Vehicle inspection management system and method
When the mobile inspection terminal determines that the inspection standard information received from a server is the “specification”, it displays the received inspection standard information and out-of-standard specification information on a liquid crystal display. When it is confirmed in this state that selected inspection standard information is input, whether or not an part to be inspected is acceptable is determined based on the inspection standard information, and the server is notified of a result of determination. Further, when it is determined that the inspection standard information is the “measured value”, a measured value input screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display. When it is confirmed in this state that a measured value is input, whether or not the part to be inspected is acceptable or not is determined based on the input information, and the server is notified of a result of determination. |
| US07818102B2 |
Model train control system
A system which operates a digitally controlled model railroad transmitting a first command from a first client program to a resident external controlling interface through a first communications transport. A second command is transmitted from a second client program to the resident external controlling interface through a second communications transport. The first command and the second command are received by the resident external controlling interface which queues the first and second commands. The resident external controlling interface sends third and fourth commands representative of the first and second commands, respectively, to a digital command station for execution on the digitally controlled model railroad. |
| US07818098B2 |
System and method for provisioning a vehicle interface module
The present invention provides systems and methods for provisioning a vehicle interface module comprising receiving a VIM from a VIM manufacturer and entering appropriate VIM data into a dealer inventory, activating a SIM card for the VIM and installing the VIM in a predetermined vehicle, selecting a wireless activated VIM from the dealer inventory and connecting the VIM to an OBD-II port of the vehicle, connecting a configuration PC to the VIM and downloading a modem configuration, selecting and downloading a vehicle-specific configuration file, accessing a telematics services provider's web portal, entering appropriate vehicle data, and associating the vehicle with the VIM, installing the VIM in the predetermined vehicle, and conducting an installation verification test. |
| US07818097B2 |
Vehicle control interface
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, one or more vehicle system nay be transferred via a control unit and/or an order confirmation may be communicated via the control unit. |
| US07818091B2 |
Process and device for determining the position and the orientation of an image reception means
A process and a device are provided for determining the pose as the entirety of the position and the orientation of an image reception device. The process is characterized in that the pose of the image reception device is determined with the use of at least one measuring device that is part of a robot. The device is characterized by a robot with an integrated measuring device that is part of the robot for determining the pose of the image reception device. |
| US07818087B2 |
Method and control device for guiding the movement of a movable machine element of a machine
A system for guiding movement of a movable machine element of a machine, such as a machine tool, production machine and robot, receives user input data relating to a travel movement of machine element and an optimization criterion selected from a robust travel movement, where a smallest number of natural frequencies of the movable machine element is excited, and a time-optimized travel movement, where from the natural frequencies of the movable machine element only those natural frequencies are excited that do not include a main natural frequency. The system then determines from the movement profile coefficients of polynomial functions and a position setpoint variable based on the coefficients. The travel movement of the machine element is executed in response to the determined position setpoint variable. |
| US07818086B2 |
Component mounter, warning notification apparatus, and warning notification method
An component mounter including a warning notification apparatus, which includes a warning generating unit which generates a warning for notifying that an action involving human resource is required, by referring to warning generation information, a warning level judging unit which judges a level of the warning indicating difficulty of an action to be taken in response to the warning by referring to warning level judgment information, and a warning notification unit which specifies an operator permitted to perform the action in response to the warning by referring to execution permission authentication information, and outputs the warning notifying the specified operator of the warning. |
| US07818085B1 |
System for controlling the processing of an integrated circuit chip assembly line
A method and system for controlling the processing of an IC chip assembly line using a central computer system and a common communication protocol. In one embodiment, a manufacturing execution system (MES) is used as the computer system and the communications protocol is the standard semi equipment communications standard/generic equipment model (SECS/GEM). One or more equipment cell controllers (CC) may be used to communicate between the MES a plurality of in-line substations which comprise the assembly line. Automated vision camera systems may also communicate information to the MES via the CCs. In one embodiment, the MES maintains a database in memory comprising processing history of a die-strip and results of automated die-strip examination from the vision camera systems. In one embodiment, the die-strip may be of a ball grid array (BGA) type. |
| US07818084B2 |
Methods and systems for making a blood vessel sleeve
Methods, apparatuses, computer program products, devices and systems are described that include accepting one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions based on blood vessel data from an individual; and making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions. |
| US07818083B2 |
Automated washing system with compliance verification and automated compliance monitoring reporting
A system is provided for providing automated washing and verifying compliance of use. The system provides for identifying individual users of one or more cleaning stations through various technologies, such as RFID. Individual's use of cleaning stations is monitored to determine compliance with hand-washing requirements. A compliance report may be generated based on data associated with one or more individuals' use of the cleaning station(s). Educational and/or entertainment content may be displayed to the user when he or she is using the cleaning station. Additionally, the cleaning station may identify containers having authorized consumables such as soap or disinfectant. Optional automated collection and forwarding of hygiene compliance information is performed to provide compliance monitors, such as a regulatory agency, with such information. |
| US07818074B2 |
Methods to select golden devices for device model extractions
Methods for selecting one or more golden devices on a golden wafer that exhibit a smooth length and width scaling behavior. Test devices of differing geometry and carried on different chips of the golden wafer are screened with single point measurements of electrical performance. Based upon a statistical analysis of these single point measurements, chips are selected that carry the respective golden device of each given geometry that exhibits optimum electrical performance referenced to a selection criterion. Golden devices identified by the selection process are extensively characterized with a more comprehensive electrical measurement. The parameters derived from these more extensive test measurements on the golden devices are then used for refining a device model for a circuit simulation. |
| US07818073B2 |
Method for obtaining improved feedforward data, a lithographic apparatus for carrying out the method and a device manufacturing method
A method of obtaining improved feedforward data for a feedforward control system to move a component through a setpoint profile is presented. The setpoint profile includes a plurality of target states of the component each to be substantially attained at one of a corresponding sequence of target times. The method includes moving the component with the feedforward control system according to the setpoint profile using a first set of feedforward data; measuring a state of the component at a plurality of times during the movement; comparing the measured states with corresponding target states defined by the setpoint profile to obtain a set of errors; filtering the set of errors with a non-linear filter; generating improved feedforward data based on the filtered errors, the improved feedforward data being usable by the feedforward control system to move the component more accurately through the setpoint profile. |
| US07818068B2 |
Implantable pulse generators using rechargeable zero-volt technology lithium-ion batteries
An implantable medical device, such as an implantable pulse generator (IPG) used with a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery having an anode electrode with a substrate made substantially from titanium. Such battery construction allows the rechargeable battery to be discharged down to zero volts without damage to the battery. The implantable medical device includes battery charging and protection circuitry that controls the charging of the battery so as to assure its reliable and safe operation. |
| US07818063B2 |
Method of intravascularly delivering stimulation leads into brain to stimulate the SPG
A method of treating a neurological disorder in a patient is provided. The method comprises intravascularly delivering a stimulation lead within the head of the patient, and placing the stimulation lead adjacent brain tissue (e.g., cortical brain tissue or deep brain tissue), the stimulation of which will treat the neurological disorder. The stimulation lead can be placed into indirect contact with the brain tissue (e.g., through a blood vessel) or indirect contact with the brain tissue (e.g., when placed within the ventricular cavity or by being introduced through an exit point within a vessel wall). Optionally, the method comprises implanting a source of stimulation within the patient's body, and then electrically coupling the proximal end of the stimulation lead, which conveniently extends from the access point within the circulatory system, to the implanted stimulation source. Using the stimulation lead, the brain tissue can then be stimulated in order to treat the neurological disorder. |
| US07818060B2 |
Determination of stimulation output capabilities throughout power source voltage range
Techniques for determining whether a medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to a particular program throughout a useable voltage range of a power source of the medical device are described. According to some examples, the medical device charges a charge pump to a level sufficient to provide a stimulation output according to a stimulation program, determines a length of time that the charge pump charges at the present power source voltage level, and determines a time between stimulation pulses of the stimulation program. Whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to the program when the power source is at a power source voltage level lower than the present voltage level is determined based on the length of time the charge pump charges at the present voltage level of the power source and the time between stimulation pulses. |
| US07818056B2 |
Blending cardiac rhythm detection processes
Systems and methods are described for classifying a cardiac rhythm. A cardiac rhythm is classified using a classification process that includes a plurality of cardiac rhythm discriminators. Each rhythm discriminator provides an independent classification of the cardiac rhythm. The classification process is modified if the modification is likely to produce enhanced classification results. The rhythm is reclassified using the modified classification process. |
| US07818053B2 |
Devices, systems and methods for plaque type determination
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for determining the composition of a plaque at a plaque site, which could be inside a blood vessel. Through a combination of fluid injection with different conductivities and measurement of the resultant conductances, a parallel tissue conductance measure is obtained that assists in determining the composition of the site plaque. Lower parallel conductance levels are determinative of a higher lipid and/or fatty plaque, which is a type that may break out of its position and cause organ injury or death. |
| US07818051B2 |
Wireless ECG in implantable devices
An implantable medical device such as an implantable pacemaker or implantable cardioverter/defibrillator includes a programmable sensing circuit providing for sensing of a signal approximating a surface electrocardiogram (ECG) through implanted electrodes. With various electrode configurations, signals approximating various standard surface ECG signals are acquired without the need for attaching electrodes with cables onto the skin. The various electrode configurations include, but are not limited to, various combinations of intracardiac pacing electrodes, portions of the implantable medical device contacting tissue, and electrodes incorporated onto the surface of the implantable medical device. |
| US07818048B2 |
Catheter and method for mapping a pulmonary vein
A catheter particularly useful for mapping tubular regions of or near the heart is provided. The catheter comprises a catheter body and a mapping assembly mounted at the distal end of the catheter body. The mapping assembly comprises at least two spines, each spine carrying at least one electrode and having a proximal end attached at the distal end of the catheter body and free distal end. The mapping assembly is moveable between an expanded arrangement, in which each spine extends radially outward from the catheter body, and a collapsed arrangement in which each spine is disposed generally along an axis of the catheter body. In use, the distal end of the catheter is introduced into the tubular region, and the mapping assembly is positioned so that at least one electrode from each spine contacts tissue within the tubular region. Electrical data received from the electrode(s) is then recorded. |
| US07818047B2 |
X-ray and gamma ray detector readout system
A readout electronics scheme is under development for high resolution, compact PET (positron emission tomography) imagers based on LSO (lutetium ortho-oxysilicate, Lu2SiO5) scintillator and avalanche photodiode (APD) arrays. The key is to obtain sufficient timing and energy resolution at a low power level, less than about 30 mW per channel, including all required functions. To this end, a simple leading edge level crossing discriminator is used, in combination with a transimpedance preamplifier. The APD used has a gain of order 1,000, and an output noise current of several pA/√Hz, allowing bipolar technology to be used instead of CMOS, for increased speed and power efficiency. A prototype of the preamplifier and discriminator has been constructed, achieving timing resolution of 1.5 ns FWHM, 2.7 ns full width at one tenth maximum, relative to an LSO/PMT detector, and an energy resolution of 13.6% FWHM at 511 keV, while operating at a power level of 22 mW per channel. Work is in progress towards integration of this preamplifier and discriminator with appropriate coincidence logic and amplitude measurement circuits in an ASIC suitable for a high resolution compact PET instrument. The detector system and/or ASIC can also be used for many other applications for medical to industrial imaging. |
| US07818043B2 |
Cardiac diagnostics using wall motion and perfusion cardiac MRI imaging and systems for cardiac diagnostics
Cardiac information of a patient is displayed by obtaining a plurality of MRI cine loops of the heart of the patient at a plurality of heart rates, the plurality of cine loops including both wall motion cine loops and at least one perfusion cine loops and simultaneously displaying both the wall motion cine loops and the at least one perfusion cine loop. |
| US07818036B2 |
Techniques for wirelessly controlling push-to-talk operation of half-duplex wireless device
Disclosed herein is a communications system implementing a headset wirelessly connected to a half-duplex communications device, such as a two-way radio or a radio-simulating cellular phone. The headset may incorporate a transmit/receive switch wherein a transmit signal is wirelessly transmitted from the headset to the communications device to direct the communications device to enter into a transmit mode. Alternatively, a wireless transmit/receive switch may be implemented separately from the wireless headset, where the wireless transmit/receive switch may be positioned in the proximity of the communications device and the headset and may be engaged by a user to direct the communications device to enter a transmit mode. |
| US07818034B2 |
Multi-mode pivoting carrying holder for mobile devices
A holster or carry holder (100) for a mobile device (150) forms an assembly or combination (200) that includes a first housing (102) and a second housing (112) pivotably coupled to the first housing. The second housing can receive and carry the mobile device in at least a first position or closed position (FIG. 2) enabling access to a top mounted interface on the mobile device. The second housing can further pivot about a pivot point (108) to a second position substantially orthogonal to the first position enabling access to both the top interface and to a rear interface of the mobile device. The first housing can include a retention tab (104) on a top portion of the first housing for retaining the mobile device within the carry holder. The carry holder can further include a belt clip (106) coupled to the first housing. |
| US07818030B2 |
Camera-equipped wireless communications terminal, and clock signal supply method
A camera-equipped wireless communications terminal includes: a communications unit for communicating with a wireless base station by selective use of one of a plurality of FDD communications methods, each having a different gap between a transmission frequency band and a reception frequency band; a camera module for receiving a clock signal and performing image capture; and a clock supplying unit for varying a frequency of the clock signal depending on the selected FDD communications method and supplying the clock signal to the camera module. |
| US07818029B2 |
Wireless communications circuitry with antenna sharing capabilities for handheld electronic devices
Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may have first and second transceiver circuits that operate in the same radio-frequency band using different communications protocols. The wireless communications circuitry may have a configurable radio-frequency combiner and divider circuit that is coupled between an antenna and the first and second transceiver circuits. The combiner and divider circuit can be configured to support simultaneous use of the antenna by the first and second transceiver circuits. When simultaneous use is not required, the combiner and divider circuit can be used by either the first transceiver circuit or the second transceiver circuit. |
| US07818028B2 |
Modified dual band direct conversion architecture that allows extensive digital calibration
A communication device may include one or more circuits in an integrated transmitter and receiver that includes a transmit path and a receive path. The transmit path may include an I processing baseband transmit path and a Q processing baseband transmit path. The receive path may include an I processing baseband receive path and a Q processing baseband receive path. The one or more circuits may enable sharing a first common filter by the I processing baseband transmit path and the I processing baseband receive path. The one or more circuits may also enable sharing a second common filter by the Q processing baseband transmit path and the Q processing baseband receive path. The first common filter and the second common filter are independently programmable to adjust a phase and/or a gain of the said first common filter, and/or a phase and/or a gain of the second common filter. |
| US07818025B2 |
Method and system for maintaining a wireless data connection
A system and method for establishing and maintaining an “always-on” data connection to a wireless network through the use of a back off timer and a service check timer is disclosed. The back off timer is initialized to a determined value when a connection is not established. When the timer expires, a connection attempt is made. As further connection attempts are made, the back off timer is set to ever-increasing values. When the data connection is established, the service check timer is initialized. The data connection status is determined at the expiry of the service check timer. When, at the expiry of the service check timer, the data connection is determined to be lost, the connection method is employed. |
| US07818022B2 |
Communication apparatus and electric power control method
Communication apparatuses each having a power consumption control function acquires information of a communication partner apparatus to determine on the basis of the acquired information whether to use the control function of itself or to use that of the communication partner apparatus for controlling power consumption in a wireless communication network. The control function of the determined apparatus controls the electric power of the wireless communication. |
| US07818020B1 |
System and method for joining communication groups
Systems and methods for supporting group communications are provided. A group list management server (GLMS) stores communications group definitions in documents, such as extensible mark-up language (XML) documents. The communications group can include communication addresses for different types of communication applications, including electronic mail, voice telephone, data, instant messaging, voice dispatch, short messaging service (SMS), and multimedia service (MMS). Various methods for joining communications groups are provided. |
| US07818018B2 |
Distributed hierarchical scheduling in an AD hoc network
An ad hoc network with distributed hierarchical scheduling is disclosed. In one aspect, stations in a network mesh detect interfering neighbor stations and form interference lists. Stations transmit their interference lists. Scheduling stations schedule allocations for child stations in response to interference lists, received remote allocations, or a combination thereof. Coordination messages are transmitted including frame structure, allocations, and interference lists, among others. In another aspect, an ad hoc mesh network may be organized into a tree topology. In an example wireless backhaul network, this matches traffic flow. Distributed, hierarchical scheduling is provided where parents schedule communication with children while respecting already scheduled transmissions to/from interferers and to/from interferers of their respective children. Procedures to construct interference constraints for distributed, hierarchical scheduling are described, resulting in efficient scheduling and reuse in an ad hoc wireless network, without centralized scheduling. Various other aspects are also disclosed. |
| US07818017B2 |
Location-based services that choose location algorithms based on number of detected wireless signal stations within range of user device
A location beacon database and server, method of building location beacon database, and location based service using same. Wi-Fi access points are located in a target geographical area to build a reference database of locations of Wi-Fi access points. At least one vehicle is deployed including at least one scanning device having a GPS device and a Wi-Fi radio device and including a Wi-Fi antenna system. The target area is traversed in a programmatic route to avoid arterial bias. The programmatic route includes substantially all drivable streets in the target geographical area and solves an Eulerian cycle problem of a graph represented by said drivable streets. While traversing the target area, periodically receive the GPS coordinates of the GPS device. While traversing the target area, detecting Wi-Fi signals from Wi-Fi access points in range of the Wi-Fi device and recording identity information of the detected Wi-Fi access point in conjunction with GPS location information of the vehicle when the detection of the Wi-Fi access point was made. The location information is used to reverse triangulate the position of the detected Wi-Fi access point; and the position of the detected access point is recorded in a reference database. |
| US07818002B2 |
Subscriber registrations in a mobile communication system
A method in a communication system wherein a user (1) is arranged to register with a control entity (22) comprises sending a message from the communication system to the user (1) requesting that the user re-register with said communication network. The user is caused to re-register with said network in response to said message. |
| US07817994B2 |
Secure control of wireless sensor network via the internet
A method and a system for controlling a wireless sensor network from a user interface coupled to the Internet are provided. A user accesses an Internet-based portal from the user interface and establishes a secure broadband Internet connection between a remote control module coupled to the wireless sensor network and the portal. The connection is established by manually triggering a connection between the remote control module and the portal from the remote control module. |
| US07817992B2 |
Method for updating a personal data file in mobile units of communication networks
The invention concerns a method for updating in at least a first mobile communication apparatus (48) of a network, in particular of the GSM type, a personal data file concerning at least a correspondent of the user of the first communication apparatus, said correspondent being equipped with a second mobile communication apparatus (60) and having modified at least one personal information concerning him. The invention is characterized in that it comprises the following main steps which consist in: (a) detecting in said second mobile communication apparatus (60) the call number of said first mobile communication apparatus (48), and (b) transmitting to at least said first mobile communication apparatus (48) said modified personal information. |
| US07817988B2 |
System and method for real time self-provisioning for a mobile communication device
A system and method of provisioning services for a mobile communication device are disclosed. A provisioning request including provisioning information and specifying a provisioning operation and a first communication service is prepared on the mobile communication device and sent to a provisioning system. Processing of the provisioning request is dependent upon whether or not a second communication service has been activated for the mobile communication device. If the mobile communication device is outside a coverage area of a wireless communication network when a provisioning request is prepared, the request is stored at the mobile communication device and sent to the provisioning system when the mobile communication device enters the coverage area. The provisioning system preferably manages service provisioning for multiple services, any of which may be hosted by different service providers. |
| US07817986B2 |
Method and system for providing cellular assisted secure communications of a plurality of ad hoc devices
A method for providing secure communications among a plurality of ad hoc devices includes authenticating one or more first devices within a first network; authenticating one or more second devices within a second network; transmitting a group key to the authenticated first devices and to the authenticated second devices; establishing an ad hoc network by at least one of the authenticated first devices and at least one of the authenticated second devices using the group key; and communicating within the ad hoc network among the at least one of the authenticated first devices and the at least one of the authenticated second devices. |
| US07817983B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring usage patterns of a wireless device
Apparatus and methods for monitoring usage patterns of a wireless device may include a usage monitoring and reporting module operable to monitor and log usage on a wireless device based on a received usage configuration. Further, based on the usage configuration, the wireless device may forward the log to another device operable to analyze the log and generate a usage pattern report viewable by an authorized user. |
| US07817980B2 |
Receiver for use in wireless communications and method of operation of the receiver
A wireless receiver (100) for receiving and demodulating a frequency modulated RF (radio frequency) signal by a direct conversion procedure, including channels (110, 112) for producing in-phase and quadrature components of a received RF signal, and a processor (123, 133) for periodically estimating an error in at least one of the in-phase and quadrature phase components and for producing a signal for adjustment of at least one of the in-phase and quadrature components to compensate for the detected error, wherein the processor is operable to apply alternatively each of a plurality of different procedures to estimate the error, the procedures including a first procedure which is applied when a signal quality value of the received RF signal is above a threshold value and a second procedure which is applied when a signal quality value of the RF received signal is not above the threshold value. |
| US07817979B2 |
Systems and methods for DC offset correction in a direct conversion RF receiver
Systems and methods for DC offset correction in analog and digital direct conversion RF receivers. A time derivate and subsequent integration of in-phase and quadrature phase signal path components is performed to effectively remove DC offset from the resultant down converted baseband signal. |
| US07817977B1 |
Configurable signal generator
A method of generating an output signal comprises receiving an input signal, mixing the input signal with a reference signal having a reference frequency to obtain an intermediate frequency signal having an intermediate frequency, filtering the intermediate frequency signal using a filter having a filter characteristic that is configured according to the intermediate frequency and performing frequency translation on the filtered intermediate frequency signal to obtain the output signal. |
| US07817965B2 |
Scanner with auxiliary non-volatile memory
A radio receiver having a plurality of features programmable by a user, the data relating to the programmable features defining a set-up configuration. The radio receiver includes a housing and an auxiliary memory disposed within the housing which stores a plurality of set-up configurations. A working memory is also disposed within the housing and is configured to store the set-up configuration in use by the radio receiver. |
| US07817959B2 |
Method and system for selectively storing information received from a broadcast signal
A method for selectively storing information received from a broadcast signal is provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving and identifying a broadcast message, the message including a plurality of characters; comparing each character of the received message with a start of tag (SOT) identifier stored in a memory; if a character received in the received message is determined to match the SOT identifier stored in the memory then comparing each of the subsequent characters in the received message with an end of tag (EOT) identifier stored in the memory determining if the received message contains both SOT and EOT identifiers; and storing the message in a storage unit in dependence on the result of the determination. |
| US07817954B2 |
Cleaning unit, image carrier unit including same, and image forming apparatus including same
A cleaning unit, providable to an image carrier unit or an image forming apparatus, includes a cleaning member disposed in contact with a target member to electrically remove residual toner from the target member, an elastic blade disposed in contact with the target member upstream from the cleaning member, a blade supporting member, a blade power source, and a conductive member that is more conductive than the elastic blade, and electrically connects the blade supporting member and the elastic blade. The conductive member is disposed so that an edge part of the conductive member is closer to where the elastic blade contacts the target member than an edge part of the blade supporting member. |
| US07817952B2 |
Fixer and image forming apparatus including the same
A fixer configured to fix an image on an recording medium passing through a fixing nip includes a holder including an elastic layer, a fixing rotator including a heating layer, provided overlying the holder, and a pressurizer configured to pressurize the holder via the fixing rotator to form the fixing nip. A part of the pressurizer, which forms the fixing nip, has a length not less than a length of the heating layer in a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording medium. |
| US07817951B2 |
Cleaning member and image forming apparatus using the same
A cleaning member for cleaning the toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of a heat roller that fixes an unfixed developer image formed on a sheet of paper onto the paper by heating under pressure, includes: a mesh portion having a predetermined mesh in the area abutting the heat roller. The mesh portion is formed of heat resistant wires. |
| US07817945B2 |
Developer cartridge and method of recycling the developer cartridge
A developing cartridge and method of recycling a developing cartridge are provided. The developing cartridge includes a cartridge housing that is configured to accommodate developer. The cartridge housing includes a first opening for discharging the developer from the cartridge housing; and a second opening for accommodating the developer into the cartridge housing. The developing cartridge further includes a deflector that is configured to generate a swirling flow of air in the cartridge housing. The method of recycling the developing cartridge includes injecting air into the second opening such that the air is deflected by the deflector and refilling the developing cartridge with developer. |
| US07817942B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method which utilize a wet developer solution
An image forming apparatus includes an ink image forming section, an irradiation section, an intermediate transfer section, a transfer section, a recoding medium feed section and a discharge section. When forming an image, the ink image forming section is irradiated with light by the irradiation section according to image information transmitted from an external device to form an electrostatic latent image, and the ink image forming section feeds an ink to the obtained electrostatic latent image to form an ink image. The ink image obtained is intermediately transferred to the intermediate transfer section, and then transferred to a recording medium by the transfer section. The recording medium is fed to the transfer section by the recording medium feed section, and after the ink image is transferred, the recording medium is discharged to an outside of the image forming apparatus by the discharge section. |
| US07817934B2 |
Image forming apparatus with power saving sleep mode
An image forming apparatus that includes: an image forming portion for forming an image in accordance with image data contained in an input command; and a controller for controlling the image forming portion, and is constructed such that the controller includes: a mode switch for switching the image forming portion from a standby mode in which image forming is instantly enabled into a power-saving mode in which power supply to the image forming portion is partially stopped when no subsequent command has been received after a predetermined period elapsed from when image forming portion was operated last; a mode restoring portion for restoring the image forming portion from power-saving mode to standby mode when a subsequent command is received; and an image quality controller for performing image quality control of the image every time a predetermined time elapsed from when the image forming portion was last operated, and the image quality controller starts execution of the image quality control before the mode restoring portion restores the image forming portion from the power-saving mode to the standby mode. |
| US07817931B2 |
Image-forming system with multiple post-processing
An image-forming system determines a type of paper for each single sheet in a job to determine whether it is prohibited to discharge a sheet to a finisher (step S12) to respond to diversifying demands to perform processes after printing using a plurality of paper types. However, the system allows paper to be included in a sheet bundle if the number of sheets is below a fixed limited number of sheets, even if paper types used are inappropriate for the finisher to be the discharge destination. (Steps S14, and Spaces 16) Therefore, discharge to the finisher is not rejected uniformly by the type of paper; finishing can be implemented after printing with a certain degree flexibility. |
| US07817930B2 |
Image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and program
In an image forming apparatus, a type of paper conveyed through a conveying path is determined based on combination of sensing signals obtained from a plurality of sensing units. Each of the sensing units is movable between an actuating position and a retracting position as a paper is conveyed through a conveying path. Based on the type of paper determined based on combination of sensing signals obtained from the plurality of sensing units, a control unit of the image forming apparatus controls an image forming unit forming an image on the conveyed paper. |
| US07817929B2 |
System and method for adjusting selected operating parameters of image forming device based on selected environmental conditions to improve color registration
A system for adjusting selected operating parameters of an image forming device to improve color registration based on selected environmental conditions includes a first image forming station to print a first registration mark on a substrate, a second image forming station to at least partially erase the first registration mark to form a registration pattern in a reverse transfer process of the color registration, and a control mechanism to adjust voltage biases of charge and developer rolls of the second image forming station based on wet-bulb temperature values determined from measured dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity values and stored in a lookup table so as to maintain a predetermined potential difference between charged and uncharged areas of a PC drum of the second image forming station that avoids Paschen breakdown and the development of toner at charged areas of the PC drum during the reverse transfer process of the color registration. |
| US07817923B2 |
Optical transmitting apparatus, optical receiving apparatus, and optical communication system comprising them
A phase shift unit provides a prescribed phase difference (π/2, for example) between a pair of optical signals transmitted via a pair of arms constituting a data modulation unit. A low-frequency signal f0 is superimposed on one of the optical signals. A signal of which phase is shifted by π/2 from the low-frequency signal f0 is superimposed on the other optical signal. A pair of the optical signals is coupled, and a part of which is converted into an electrical signal by a photodiode. 2f0 component contained in the electrical signal is extracted. Bias voltage provided to the phase shift unit is controlled by feedback control so that the 2f0 component becomes the minimum. |
| US07817921B2 |
Determination of the amplified spontaneous emission in an optical fibre amplifier
In a method for determining a power of an amplified spontaneous emission in an optical fiber amplifier for a WDM signal, wherein the optical fiber amplifier includes at least a first amplifier stage having a predetermined output power set for a measured input power, a first mean inversion is determined for the first amplifier stage. A first output power of the amplified spontaneous emission is determined at an output of the first amplifier stage by reference to tabulated values which depend on the first mean inversion. |
| US07817918B2 |
Path protection method for a WDM network and according node
In a wavelength division multiplex (WDM) optical communications network having a plurality of nodes, each of which comprises a wavelength selective optical cross-connect having a plurality of switching matrices, each switching matrix being provided for switching wavelength channels of a specific wavelength, a method of transmitting information from a start node to a target node includes the steps of applying to respective inputs of switching matrices of the start cross-connect, at least two wavelength channels (working an protection channels) having different wavelengths but which are modulated with the same information; transmitting the working and protection channels to the target cross-connect; and dropping the working and protection channels at outputs of different switching matrices provided for different wavelengths of the target cross-connect. |
| US07817912B2 |
Optical system of a focus detection apparatus
An optical system of a focus detection apparatus includes a condenser lens positioned behind an expected focal plane of a photographing lens; an auxiliary lens group positioned behind the condenser lens to be coaxial therewith; and a pair of separator lenses positioned behind the auxiliary lens group in close vicinity thereof and integrally molded from resin. An object image formed on the expected focal plane is divided into two images by the pair of separator lenses to be reformed on a pair of areas on a sensor, respectively, and the auxiliary lens group includes a negative lens element made of resin, and a positive lens element made of glass. |
| US07817909B2 |
Optical device and light source
An optical device directs light from a light source to a region of space, such as the field of view of a camera when the optical device is used as a camera flash unit. This device includes a first optical element which converges light from the light source towards an inner portion of the region to be illuminated and a second optical element which diverges part of the light from the first element outwardly towards an outer portion of the region to be illuminated so as to achieve adequate central illumination with improved uniformity of illumination across the region to be illuminated. The second optical element may have a concave multiple-faceted surface comprising plane facets in the shape of an open-base inverted truncated pyramid, contiguous sector-shaped facets, at least some of which are concave, or a face divided into an elongate portion disposed between first and second diverging portions. |
| US07817906B2 |
Direct electric resistance liquid heater
The Direct Electric Resistance Liquid Heater comprises a liquid heating chamber containing a plurality of electrodes. The electrodes are spaced apart to create a plurality of channels through which the liquid to be heated passes. The electrodes are each connected to a power supply by one or more switches. A controller controls the switches based upon data received from a temperature sensor, sensing the temperature of the liquid, and/or an electric current sensor, sensing the current utilized by the liquid heater. Selection of the number and spacing of the electrodes, and the number of switches, provides the controller with various current levels options to apply to the liquid to be heated. The current levels available due to the number and spacing of the electrodes and the number of switches, span the range from minimum current to maximum current such that the controller can incrementally increase or decrease the current applied to the liquid to be heated without disrupting other users of the same power source. |
| US07817905B2 |
Video camera and remote recording system
A system for recording audio and video comprises at least one video camera device (100), each camera device comprising a subsystem for capturing (112) at least video data, a storage device (107) upon which at least the video data is stored, a wireless interface (108) for communicating with at least one further recording device (200), an internal clock(106) for recording at least a time at which the video data was recorded, and a connecting port (108, 110) enabling connection to a remote-control device (eg. 200). The system also has at least one of the further recording devices (200), each comprising a microphone (215) for capturing audio information and a storage device upon which corresponding audio data is recorded, a wireless interface (208) for communicating with the video camera device, an internal clock (206) for recording at least a time at which the audio data was recorded, and a connection port (208,210) enabling connection to the video camera device. |
| US07817901B2 |
Recording and reproducing apparatus
A recording and reproducing apparatus including a reproduction unit configured to reproduce information data, which is error-correcting-coded for every N tracks, from a recording medium, wherein the information data includes moving image data which is variable-length-encoded, a recording unit configured to record moving image data on the recording medium, a detection unit configured to detect additional information from the information data reproduced by the reproduction unit, wherein the additional information indicates that the editing point, which can be set up for every frame of a predetermined number, is contained in the moving image data recorded in the N tracks, and a controller configured to control the reproduction unit to reproduce the information data by transporting the recording medium at a high-speed faster than a normal reproduction speed. |
| US07817900B2 |
GPU timeline with render-ahead queue
Video editing and video playback utilizing a render-ahead queue for storing rendered video frames. The render-ahead queue facilitates the smooth playback of video in forward and reverse timeline direction, avoiding video glitches that occur when video frames are rendered at a rate that is less than the timeline rate of the video file. Embodiments of the present invention also include the use of a graphics processing unit in conjunction with the render-ahead queue to further ensure smooth playback of video. |
| US07817897B2 |
Method for recording AV data, AV data recording apparatus, data recording medium, program and program recording medium
An original stream file and an after-recording data file are managed as different files. In the original stream file, data is made up of sets of partial data (CU) divided in accordance with a predetermined interval. Likewise, in the after-recording data file, data is made up of sets of partial data (CA) divided in accordance with a predetermined interval. These sets of data are recorded onto a disc such that the after-recorded data (CA) is recorded in a region adjacent to a relevant original stream (CU). This allows reproduction and real-time after-recording with the use of a general MPEG-2 PS/TS decoder. Moreover, this allows realization of data recording that causes less interruption of reproduction when non-destructive editing is carried out with respect to an after-recorded result. |
| US07817894B2 |
System and method of grounding fiber storage trays
An optical fiber cable management panel includes drawer assemblies, each including a drawer slidable within a chassis. The chassis incorporates a grounding point, and the drawer assemblies are electrically connected to the grounding point by a grounding strap. The grounding strap flexes to allow the slidable movement of the drawer relative to the chassis. The strap may be folded one or more times. The strap may be bolted, welded, or otherwise conductively and non-rotatably affixed at each end to the drawer and the chassis so as to maintain a constant position within the assembly and a constant electrical connection between the drawer and the grounding point. |
| US07817891B2 |
Method for accessing optical fibers within a telecommunication cable
Disclosed is a method accessing one or more optical fibers in a telecommunication cable in a way that considerably reduces the risk of damaging the optical fibers. To avoid inadvertent damage caused by a cutting tool, the method includes moving optical fibers and/or micromodules away from the area on the cable that is to be cut. |
| US07817890B2 |
Nanomover for optical elements alignment without driving electrically
A mechanical nanomover for optical elements alignment comprises a platform; a front supporting block and a rear supporting block; a left metal sheet and a right metal sheet installed between the two supporting blocks; a movable block installed between the two metal sheets; a weak spring and a strong spring which are interacted with the movable block. A translation stage serves to drive the weak spring to drive the movable block. The elastic coefficient of the strong spring is much greater than that of the weak spring so that the larger displacement of the weak spring will induce only a small displacement of the movable block due to the interaction of the strong spring. No electric power is needed to drive the structure of the nanomover. The mechanical nanometer can provide a sufficient precision to the operation, while it is very inexpensive. |
| US07817888B2 |
Bragg grating elements for optical devices
Disclosed herein is a method for manufacturing three-dimensional Bragg grating elements. The method for manufacturing three-dimensional Bragg gratings may include forming a first Bragg grating element using a pair of recording beams. The method may also include using a single recording beam to replicate the first Bragg grating element to form a second Bragg grating element. |
| US07817880B1 |
Multi-chip systems using on-chip photonics
Embodiments of a system are described. This system includes an array of single-chip modules (CMs), which includes a first CM and a second CM which are coupled to each other. A given CM, which can be either the first CM or the second CM, includes a semiconductor die that is configured to communicate data signals with other CMs by capacitively coupled proximity communication and optical proximity communication using proximity connectors. These proximity connectors are proximate to a surface of the semiconductor die, and the semiconductor die includes an optical signal path configured to communicate on-chip optical signals. |
| US07817877B2 |
Image fusion processing method, processing program, and processing device
An image fusion processing method, image fusion processing program, and image fusion processing device for fusing a plurality of images of three or more dimensions obtained from a single watched object without degenerating the amount of information. A CPU calculates an optical parameter corresponding to a first voxel value and an optical parameter corresponding to a second voxel value. Then, the CPU calculates synthesized optical parameters based on a synthesis ratio obtained through a synthesis ratio determining process performed at each current position and updates the residual light and reflected light using these optical parameters. When the current position is an end point, a CPU sets the reflected light as a pixel value, and the fusion image data generating process ends for the single pixel configuring a frame. |
| US07817874B2 |
Image sensor occlusion localization and correction apparatus, systems, and methods
Embodiments described herein may operate to illuminate an image sensor array (ISA) used in, for example, a digital imager alternately using a first illuminator and a second illuminator laterally offset from the first illuminator with respect to a face of the ISA. A reduced illuminance level consistent with an existence of an occlusion may be sensed at an apparent occluded location on the ISA while the occlusion is illuminated with the first illuminator. If an illuminance level consistent with an existence of the occlusion is also sensed at the apparent occluded location while the occlusion is illuminated using the second illuminator, the occlusion may be identified as being located on the ISA. Otherwise, the occlusion may be identified as being located at a position anterior to the ISA, perhaps on a surface of a cover glass associated with the ISA. |
| US07817869B2 |
Variable support robust transform for multiple description coding
A multi-level transform generates descriptions containing compressed data that represents source data using a description generation operation and variable support filters for compaction at each level. The initial level filters the source data and each subsequent level operates on data filtered by a prior level. The description assignment and filtering at each level may vary to create different operating points for the multi-level transform. Each operating point may have a corresponding error recovery process. In one aspect, an error recovery process encodes additional descriptions that are combined with non-erroneous description data to provide error recovery of the data in missing or damaged descriptions. In another aspect, a multi-level transform is created by combining description generation and variable support filters at the various levels. |
| US07817867B2 |
Moving picture coding method and moving picture decoding method
According to a picture coding method of the present invention, a coded picture identified by a picture number is stored, as a reference picture, into a storage unit; commands indicating correspondence between picture numbers and reference indices for designating reference pictures and coefficients used for generation of predictive images are generated; a reference picture being used when motion compensation is performed on a current block in a current picture to be coded is designated by a reference index; a predictive image is generated by performing linear prediction on a block being obtained by motion estimation within the designated reference picture, by use of a coefficient corresponding to the reference index; a coded image signal including a coded signal obtained by coding a prediction error being a difference between the current block in the current picture to be coded and the predictive image, the commands, the reference index and the coefficient is outputted. At that time, information indicating the maximum reference index value is coded and included into the coded image signal, and the commands indicating correspondence between at least one picture number and a plurality of reference indices are generated. |
| US07817864B2 |
Coding apparatus and decoding apparatus
The coding apparatus according to the present invention is a coding apparatus which codes data regarding a moving picture, and includes: a DCT coefficient advanced-coding unit which performs advanced-coding on multivalued data representing a quantized DCT coefficient or a motion vector, so as to reduce the bit length of binary data obtained by binarizing the multivalued data; an advanced-coded coefficient/binary coefficient conversion unit which converts the advanced-coded data obtained by the DCT coefficient advanced-coding unit into the binary data; and an arithmetic coding unit which performs arithmetic coding on the binary data obtained by the advanced-coded coefficient/binary coefficient conversion unit. |
| US07817858B2 |
Communication terminal
It is shown how to select and insert a non-textual, e.g. a smiley, into an application such as a chat application in a communication terminal. A smiley insertion area in the form of a hand writing input area is displayed under the control of a user interface application. After recording that a stylus, or similar device, has been used in drawing on the touch sensitive display, the drawing is matched in an interpretation process against a pattern library consisting of smileys and other non-textual symbols. After a successful match, the smiley symbol is appended to the text that is being input. |
| US07817857B2 |
Combiner for improving handwriting recognition
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that improve handwriting recognition operations. Handwritten input is received in training mode and run through several base recognizers to generate several alternate lists. The alternate lists are unioned together into a combined alternate list. If the correct result is in the combined list, each correct/incorrect alternate pair is used to generate training patterns. The weights associated with the alternate pairs are stored. At runtime, the combined alternate list is generated just as training time. The trained comparator-net can be used to compare any two alternates in the combined list. A template matching base recognizer is used with one or more neural network base recognizers to improve recognition operations. The system provides comparator-net and reorder-net processes trained on print and cursive data, and ones that have been trained on cursive-only data. The respective comparator-net and reorder-net processes are used accordingly. |
| US07817855B2 |
System and method for detecting text in real-world color images
A method and apparatus for detecting text in real-world images comprises calculating a cascade of classifiers, the cascade comprising a plurality of stages, each stage including one or more weak classifiers, the plurality of stages organized to start out with classifiers that are most useful for ruling out non-text regions, and removing regions classified as non-text regions from the cascade prior to completion of the cascade, to further speed up processing. |
| US07817850B2 |
Information terminal
An information terminal that can perform image processing in consonance with the use state and the use purpose. When a retrial module is started, removal means removes part or all of the interpolation processing performed for a Bayer-type module. Thereafter, data obtained by the removal are transmitted to color interpolation means, another color interpolation process is performed for the data, and the resultant data are transmitted to image quality correction means. The image quality correction means performs another image quality correction process for the data, and transmits the obtained data to JPEG encoding means. |
| US07817849B2 |
Method and apparatus for graphical data compression
A system comprising a first computer and a second computer remotely located from the first computer and in communication with the first computer via a network. The second computer comprises an encoder module which encodes and transmits a pixel color datum to the first computer. The encoder module encodes the pixel color datum by generating a bit indicative of the number of different pixel color data encoded since a datum having a same color as the pixel color datum was last encoded. |
| US07817843B2 |
Manufacturing process or in service defects acoustic imaging using sensor array
A mobile platform is provided which has at least one component having an array of distributed piezoelectric transmitters and an associated array of distributed receivers. The receivers are configured to receive ultrasonic transmissions from the transmitters. Data from the receivers is stored in memory and processed through an algebraic reconstruction tomography algorithm which forms an image of the defect within the component. An algorithm is used to determine the position and size of the defect. |
| US07817838B2 |
Method and system for constrained reconstruction of imaging data using data reordering
A method, system, and computer-readable medium are provided which perform reconstruction of an image from undersampled, multi-image k-space data. A first undersampled image dataset and a second undersampled image dataset defined in a first dimension are received. The first undersampled image dataset and the second undersampled image dataset define a multi-image dimension. An ordering for a plurality of pixels of the first dimension in the multi-image dimension is defined. The first undersampled image dataset and the second undersampled image dataset in the multi-image dimension are sorted based on the defined ordering. A first constraint is defined in the first dimension using the unsorted first and second undersampled image datasets. A second constraint is defined in the multi-image dimension using the sorted first and second undersampled image datasets. An image is reconstructed using the applied first constraint and the applied second constraint while preserving fidelity to the first undersampled image dataset and the second undersampled image dataset. |
| US07817835B2 |
Cross reference measurement for diagnostic medical imaging
Measurements in diagnostic medical imaging are cross-referenced. A measurement made for one type of data is reflected in an image for another type of data. For example, a length is measured from ultrasound data. A line associated with the length is displayed on the ultrasound image. In a magnetic resonance image (MRI), the same line is displayed at a corresponding location. The same measurement may also be made with the MRI data and reflected in the ultrasound image. Each image shows both measurements in this example. The difference in the same measurements from different types of data may be useful for diagnosis. In the above example, the length is measured from ultrasound and from MRI. The difference between the two measured lengths may provide diagnostically useful information. |
| US07817834B2 |
Method for operating an x-ray diagnostics device for generating high-resolution subtraction angiography images
The invention relates to a method for operating an x-ray diagnostics device having an x-ray source, an x-ray image detector and an image system for generating a subtraction angiography sequence, in which a subtraction angiography sequence of low resolution individual images containing moving structures is created, registration of the individual images one with another is performed, and the images in the subtraction angiography sequence are used to compute a high resolution image. |
| US07817830B2 |
Locating an elongated object in a three-dimensional data array
A method and apparatus for locating an elongated object in a three dimensional data array are disclosed. A slice of data generally lengthways of the elongated object is selected. Points on the object in the selected slice are identified. Data including the points are transposed parallel to the slice and transversely to the elongated object to align the points in a direction parallel to the slice and transverse to the elongated object. A current slice is selected that is rotated around the length direction of the object relative to the previously selected slice. The identifying and transposing are repeated to align points on the object in a direction parallel to the current slice and transverse to the elongated object. |
| US07817826B2 |
Apparatus and method for partial component facial recognition
A method and system for identifying a human being or verifying two human beings by partial component(s) of their face. A probe human face image is identified from the gallery database by detecting and segmenting a plurality of partial face components from the probe human face image; creating a probe template for each of the partial face components from the probe human face image, comparing first and second probe templates against first and second categories of templates in the gallery database to generate similarity scores between the probe templates and templates in the gallery database; generating a plurality of sub-lists of candidate images having partial face component templates with the highest similarity scores over a first preset threshold; generating for each candidate image from each sub-list a combined similarity score; and generating a final list of candidates from said candidates of combined similarity scores over a second preset threshold. |
| US07817821B2 |
Integrated portable identification and verification device
An portable integrated identification and verification system is disclosed. The station includes multiple devices integrated for identifying or verifying the identity of a person. The multiple devices, which may include a camera, a document scanner, and a fingerprint scanner, are mounted in a housing along with a computing device. |
| US07817820B2 |
Method and system for generating and using digital fingerprints for electronic documents
This invention is directed to a method and system for generating and using digital fingerprints in copies of an electronic document so that it is possible to determine at least one from among a group of purchasers colluding to forge a digital fingerprint. The present method and system is suitable for copyright protection and can be used to identify purchasers who illegally redistribute copies even after the document has been manipulated. |
| US07817815B2 |
Armature for a receiver
An armature for a receiver includes a first leg portion, a second leg portion, and a connection portion in communication with the first and second leg portions. The connection portion reduces the stiffness of the armature and minimizes magnetic reluctance of the connection between the first and second leg portions. |
| US07817814B2 |
Multiple channel earphone
The present invention relates to a multiple channel earphone of small volume. In the earphone structure, a chamber tube with an adjusting hole or a set of adjusting holes is provided. The sound pressure of the chamber tube is naturally released without affected the performance of the main chamber sound field. When the external speaker connected to the chamber tube generates a large sound pressure, the sound pressure released naturally by the adjusting hole or a set of adjusting holes is increased accordingly, so that the sound pressure produced by the external speaker connected to the chamber tube is controlled by the main chamber. |
| US07817811B2 |
Sound-electricity conversion device, array-type ultrasonic transducer, and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
The present invention aims to stabilize sound-electricity conversion characteristics of a diaphragm-type sound-electricity conversion device as well as to decrease the noise level of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus using the sound-electricity conversion device. The sound-electricity conversion device is configured by a capacitor cell including a lower electrode formed on a silicon substrate and an upper electrode over the lower electrode, the lower and upper electrodes sandwiching a cavity. An electrode short-circuit prevention film is formed on the upper electrode on the cavity side. The electrode short-circuit prevention film is formed of a material with an electrical time constant shorter than 1 second and longer than 10 microseconds, such as silicon nitride containing a stoichiometrically excessive amount of silicon. As a result, the electrode short-circuit prevention film has small electric conductivity, and thus it is made possible to prevent the film from being charged with electric charge and to avoid the drift of the electric charge. Consequently, the sound-electricity conversion characteristics of the sound-electricity conversion device stabilize, and further the sound noise level of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus decreases. |
| US07817809B2 |
Editing device and audio signal processing system
When a PC connected to a mixer engine functions as an editing device to edit a configuration of signal processing in the mixer engine, components and wires included in the edited configuration of signal processing are displayed within a CAD screen on a display of the PC, and a delay amount occurring in processing corresponding to each of the components and wires when the mixer engine executes the signal processing is displayed in correspondence with each of the components and wires on the CAD screen. In this case, the delay amount corresponding to each wire is a value determined according to a result of assignment in which signal processing corresponding to each component is assigned to a plurality of signal processors in the mixer engine. |
| US07817807B2 |
Audio output driver and methods for use therewith
An audio output driver includes an audio amplifier for generating an amplified signal. A virtual ground generator generates a virtual ground signal in response to a virtual ground reference. A combiner produces an output signal, based on the amplified signal and the virtual ground signal, that is coupled to an audio output device. A voltage equalizer equalizes the virtual ground reference and the output signal when the supply voltage compares unfavorably to a supply voltage threshold. |
| US07817805B1 |
System and method for steering the directional response of a microphone to a moving acoustic source
A system and method are provided for automatically tracking the movements of an acoustic source relative to two or more microphones possibly mounted in a portable device. The microphones are mounted so that they may be separated from an acoustic source that can be more than three inches from the portable device. By automatically tracking the location of a portable device, a directional response of unidirectional microphones in a far field setting can be steered so that the radial axis of the directional response aligns with the path in which the acoustic wave travels from the source to the microphones. By tracking the source and steering the directional response of the microphones, the system can thereby properly delay and filter electrical signals added to the outputs from corresponding microphones to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio of the ensuing signal. |
| US07817796B1 |
Coordinating work assignments for contact center agents
A method and system for assigning tasks to contact center agents is disclosed, wherein an automatic call distributor (ACD) used for distributing incoming contact center calls to the agents is used to distribute other tasks to the agents. When an agent task (different from handling an incoming call) is determined, a corresponding “proxy” telephone call is generated from within the contact center to a PBX to assign an agent to the task. The ACD processes the proxy call substantially identically to any other incoming call requesting an agent's services. A proxy call has as its destination phone number the directory number of a call group used in selecting an appropriate agent for performing the task. The proxy call phone number additionally identifies the location of detailed information about the task. When a proxy call is routed by the ACD to the selected agent's worksite, the called phone number is used to fetch the detailed task information, and the selected agent is made unavailable to the ACD for further incoming calls. The agent is made available for taking contact center incoming calls when the task is completed or pre-empted. |
| US07817786B2 |
Method and system of automatically pausing an automated voice session
A method for providing communication with an automated voice system includes establishing a first communication session between a caller and the automated voice system. The first communication session includes a call thread. The method also includes receiving a signal indicative of a call event. In response to receiving the signal indicative of the call event, a state of the call thread is saved. The method also includes establishing a second communication session between the caller and the automated voice system at a state of the call thread associated with the saved state of the call thread. |
| US07817785B1 |
Method and system for announcement
A method for delivering audio announcements, includes: receiving an announcement package, the announcement package including a package identity, a package update time, and one or more announcement items; and presenting the announcement package to an audio player. Each announcement item includes an item identity, and a summary part, where the summary part includes audio information. The audio information includes an audio data type and audio data. Updates for the announcement package can be received, where the announcement package is modified according to the update. A content of the announcement package can be replaced, deleted, or added. The announcement item can be presented to the audio player once, repeatedly, or periodically. In this manner, audio announcements are delivered in an effective and timely manner. |
| US07817782B1 |
System and method to support a telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD) in a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) network
Disclosed is a system and method for communicating with a Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD). A TDD message is transmitted to a TDD device over the VoIP network. The TDD message may be in the form of Baudot tones. The system interprets a voice markup language document to accept TDD input as a form of user input. The system receives TDD input from the TDD device based on the TDD message. |
| US07817781B2 |
High voltage X-ray generator and related oil well formation analysis
An apparatus and method for determining the density and other properties of a formation surrounding a borehole using a high voltage x-ray generator. One embodiment comprises a stable compact x-ray generator capable of providing radiation with energy of 250 keV and higher while operating at temperatures equal to or greater than 125° C. In another embodiment, radiation is passed from an x-ray generator into the formation; reflected radiation is detected by a short spaced radiation detector and a long spaced radiation detector. The output of these detectors is then used to determine the density of the formation. In one embodiment, a reference radiation detector monitors a filtered radiation signal. The output of this detector is used to control at least one of the acceleration voltage and beam current of the x-ray generator. |
| US07817780B2 |
X-ray focusing device
Disclosed is an X-ray reflecting device and an X-ray reflecting element constituting the X-ray reflecting device capable of facilitating a reduction in weight and being prepared in a relatively simple manner. The X-ray reflecting element of the present invention comprises a body made of a solid silicon, and a plurality of slits formed in the body in such a manner as to penetrate from a front surface to a back surface of the body. Each of the slits has a wall surface serving as an X-ray reflecting surface. To allow the slits in the respective X-ray reflecting elements to be located in a given positional relationship with each other, the X-ray reflecting device of the present invention comprises a plural number of the X-ray reflecting elements, which are formed into a multilayered structure in such a manner or arranged side-by-side in a horizontal direction in such a manner as to allow the slits in the respective X-ray reflecting elements to be located in a given positional relationship with each other, or stacked on each other in a vertical direction to form a stacked structure in such a manner as to allow the slits in the respective X-ray reflecting elements to be located in a given positional relationship with each other. Further, the X-ray reflecting device may comprise a plural number of the stacked structures arranged side-by-side in a horizontal direction. |
| US07817779B2 |
Nondestructive analysis method, nondestructive analysis device, and specific object analyzed by the method/device
Non-destructive analysis is carried out by irradiating an object with X-rays, for example, so that the X-rays from the object are incident on an analyzer crystal. The analyzer crystal can be of a transmission-type or a reflection-type. A pre-crystal device is used to make the radiation monochromated and parallelized. Atomic lattice planes of the pre-crystal device are approximately parallel with the atomic lattice planes of the analyzer crystal so as to use the angular analysis capability of the analyzer crystal. The thickness of the analyzer crystal is fixed. For example, for a transmission-type analyzer crystal, the thickness is such that irradiation with monochromatic parallel X-rays in the absence of the object results in a condition in which either one of (a) X-rays along a forward diffraction direction and (b) X-rays along a diffraction direction obtained by dynamical diffraction by the transmission type analyzer crystal have an intensity of nearly zero as compared to the intensity of the other with respect to the monochromatic parallel X-rays. At least one or both of an X-ray dark-field image and an X-ray bright-field are obtained. |
| US07817777B2 |
Focus detector arrangement and method for generating contrast x-ray images
In a focus detector arrangement and method for an x-ray apparatus for generating projection or tomographic phase-contrast images of an examination subject, a beam of coherent x-rays is generated by an anode that has areas of different radiation emission characteristics arranged in bands thereon, that proceed parallel to grid lines of a phase grid that is used to generate the phase-contrast images. |
| US07817775B2 |
Radiation inspection system
Disclosed is an inspection system for inspecting a cargo by using radiation, comprising: a main plate conveyor; a radiation scanning unit that spans said main plate conveyor and is provided above said main plate conveyor, for scanning the cargo provided on the main plate conveyor; auxiliary conveyors that are provided at the front end and rear end of said main plate conveyor, respectively, so as to load the cargo to be inspected onto said main plate conveyor and to unload the inspected cargo from said main plate conveyor; and lifting devices for lifting said auxiliary conveyors. The inspection system according to the present invention occupies less area, has simple corollary equipments, a lower operating cost, and excellent compatibility, and can be widely applied. |
| US07817774B2 |
System and method for imaging and treatment of tumorous tissue in breasts using computed tomography and radiotherapy
The present invention provides a system 10 for irradiating a breast 20 of a patient 22. The system 10 comprises a gantry 12 rotatable about a horizontal axis 14 and comprising a radiation source 16 for generating a radiation beam 18 and a detector 24 spaced from the radiation source 16, and a barrier 26 disposed between the patient 22 and the gantry 12. The barrier 26 is provided with an opening 30 adapted to allow a breast 20 passing therethrough to be exposed to the radiation beam 18. In some embodiments, the barrier 26 is provided with an opening 30 adapted to allow both the breast 20 and the tissue leading from the breast to axilla and the muscle tissue of the adjacent chest wall passing therethrough to be exposed to the radiation beam 18. |
| US07817769B2 |
Real time clock rate checker and recovery mechanism
A circuit, method, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the circuit comprises a ring oscillator circuit having a plurality of delay elements, the ring oscillator circuit to generate a clock signal frequency, a checker circuit to compare a count of clock signal oscillations observed per complete loop of the ring oscillator circuit to a reference count, and to set a flag signal if the clock signal oscillation count is above a high threshold amount or below a low threshold amount. |
| US07817767B2 |
Processor-controlled clock-data recovery
A processor-controlled clock-data recovery (CDR) system. Phase error signals having either a first state or a second state are generated within the CDR system according to whether a first clock signal leads or lags transitions of a data signal. A difference value is generated based on the phase error signals, the difference value indicating a difference between the number of the phase error signals having the first state and a number of the phase error signals having the second state. The difference value is transferred to a processor which is programmed to determine whether the difference value exceeds a first threshold and, if so, to adjust the phase of the first clock signal. |
| US07817766B2 |
Apparatus and method for avoiding steady-state oscillations in the generation of clock signals
A digital control loop and a method for clock generation. A control loop includes at least one phase detector configured to detect a phase shift of a feedback signal relative to a reference clock signal and output a correction signal on the basis of the phase shift detected. At least one control loop filter is configured to output, on the basis of the correction signal, a first control signal and a second control signal, the first control signal being substantially the same as the second control signal except that oscillations are suppressed in the second control signal. At least one first phase generator is configured to output a first clock signal on the basis of the first control signal and the first phase reference signal, wherein the first clock signal is transmitted at least partially as feedback signal to the phase detector. At least one second phase generator receives the second control signal and the first phase reference signal, wherein the second phase generator is functionally substantially the same as the first phase generator and is configured to output a second clock signal on the basis of the second control signal and the first phase reference signal. |
| US07817763B2 |
Processing method for providing, starting from signals acquired by a set of sensors, an aggregate signal and data acquisition system using such method
Embodiment for forming an aggregate signal from a plurality of starting signals, comprising: acquiring said starting signals through respective sensors of a homogeneous sensors group; converting acquired signals in respective digital signals having data represented with a predetermined bits number; processing the digital signals to form aggregate signal. The processing step comprises the operations of: modifying digital signals changing the data format of each such digital signals from a first format to a second format, each data in the second format having been obtained from a respective data in the first format through an operation of permuting the bits position according to a permutation scheme associated with said data and to the specific digital signal comprising that data; forming aggregate signal obtaining said aggregate signal data by means of a bitwise logic operator acting upon said modified digital signal respective data. |
| US07817755B2 |
System, device and method for generating a logarithmic function according to a plurality of communication signals
The present invention discloses a log function generator module device that is adapted to receive substantially simultaneously a plurality of signals at a plurality of respective communication links. The device includes a plurality of sets of logarithmic, a plurality of substantially linear amplifiers, a plurality of negative-value-eliminator (NVE) modules, a plurality of preliminary adders, a plurality of limiters and one final adder all of which are associated with each other a manner such that the output of the final adder is a final signal that substantially corresponds to a logarithm of the sum of the square of each of the received signals, thereby providing a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the plurality of received signals. |
| US07817749B2 |
Digital signal receiver including wideband tunable antenna device
A digital tuner unit receiving a digital signal in a reception channel having a predetermined bandwidth is connected at a subsequent stage of an antenna device containing radiation conductors and varactor diodes. A digital reception signal output from the digital tuner unit is input to a demodulation circuit and subjected to demodulation. An SP level detection unit of the demodulation circuit detects levels of a plurality of spread pilot signals in the bandwidth of the reception channel, and obtains a correction amount for a tuning voltage so that a level difference can be reduced to a predetermined value or less using the correction amount. The SP level detection unit reports the correction amount to an antenna tuning control unit so that the tuning voltage to be supplied to the antenna device can be corrected using the correction amount. |
| US07817748B2 |
Pragmatic adaptive maximum ratio combining (MRC) and minimum mean square error (MMSE) multiple input multiple output-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) receiver algorithm
An adaptive receiver algorithm is disclosed, for use in multiple-input-multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems. The adaptive receiver algorithm selectively chooses either the maximum ratio combining technique or the minimum mean square error technique, for optimum receiver performance, depending on the characteristics of the wireless environment. |
| US07817744B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and data multiplexing method
A wireless transmitting apparatus capable of improving the reception characteristic at a data stream receiving end. In this apparatus, I/Q separating parts (110, 112) each separate first data modulated symbols included in any of a plurality of data streams, which are to be multiplexed, into first in-phase components and first orthogonal components, while separating second data modulated symbols included in the other ones of the plurality of data streams into second in-phase components and second orthogonal components. An I/Q converting part (114) converts the first in-phase components to third orthogonal components, while converting the second orthogonal components to fourth in-phase components. A multi-code multiplexing part multi-code multiplexes the first and third orthogonal components to provide a first multiplexed signal, while multi-code multiplexing the second and fourth in-phase components to provide a second multiplexed signal. An I/Q combining part (124) combines the first and second multiplexed signals to provide a combined signal. |
| US07817743B2 |
Multi-tone system with oversampled precoders
A multi-tone system includes a data transmission circuit with an interface for receiving a data stream for transmission, a data steam splitter that splits the data stream to produce multiple substreams and a plurality of parallel data preparation circuits. Each data preparation circuit prepares a respective substream for transmission and generates a respective sub-channel signal. At least a first data preparation circuit of the plurality of parallel data preparation circuits includes a first analog filter for filtering a first substream. The first analog filter operates at a sample rate greater than the respective symbol rate of the first substream. The first analog filter provides pre-emphasis of the respective sub-channel signal and attenuation of signals outside of a respective band of frequencies corresponding to the respective sub-channel signal. The data transmission circuit also includes a combiner for combining respective sub-channel signals to generate a data transmission signal. |
| US07817742B2 |
Power supply apparatus and power supply method
When transmitting an RF signal for power supply or a pulse signal for data transmission, amplification is made in such a manner that the peak power of the RF signal becomes greater than the peak power of the pulse signal. Thus transmitting the RF signal with the greater peak power enables charging of a capacitor 23 of noncontact wireless communication equipment 2 even if the distance to the noncontact wireless communication equipment 2 is long. |
| US07817731B2 |
Amplitude compression of signals in a multicarrier system
The channel estimates for the subcarriers are used to determine the signal strength distribution in the form of a cumulative histogram. The latter is used to determine, as a signal strength threshold value E, that maximum signal strength whose magnitude is less than or equal to the signal strengths of a predetermined number L of subcarriers which are to be limited, i.e. saturated, in the signal processing path. The signal strength threshold value E and a constant K are used to form a multiplication factor M with which the data signals are weighted or by which the data signals are multiplied, the L subcarriers being limited to a fixed value after multiplication. |
| US07817726B2 |
System and method for automatic filter generation using sampled SINC function with windowed smoothing
Methods and systems for processing a plurality of pixels, in a video system, are disclosed. Aspects of the method may comprise acquiring scaling factors associated with a plurality of output pixels and generating filter coefficients during the generation of the output pixels. The filter coefficients may be utilized to filter a plurality of pixels to produce the plurality of output pixels. The filter coefficient may be generated on the fly utilizing a windowed sinc function corresponding to the scaling factors. The sinc function may be sampled according to the needed number of filter taps to determine the filter coefficients. |
| US07817725B2 |
Data converter device and data conversion method, and transmitter circuit, communications device and electronic device using the same
The present invention aims to provide a transmitter circuit that is capable of suppressing quantization noise and operating with a high efficiency, a data converter section 13 and a data conversion method for use therein, and a communications device using the same. The data converter section 13 of the present invention performs a predetermined data conversion operation on an input signal. The data converter section 13 includes: a signal processing section 133 for discretizing the input signal to produce a signal having a lower resolution magnitude-wise than that of the input signal; a subtractor section 134 for subtracting the input signal from the signal having a lower resolution to extract quantization noise; a filter 135 for extracting quantization noise near an intended wave frequency; and a subtractor section 136 for removing the quantization noise near the intended wave frequency from the signal having a lower resolution. |
| US07817724B2 |
Apparatus and method for synchronizing transport packet in ground wave digital multimedia broadcasting
An apparatus and method for synchronizing a TS packet of a ground wave DMB. The method for synchronizing a TS packet of a ground wave DMB includes deinterleaving and decoding a demodulated TS packet; converting the decoded TS packet formed in a unit of bit into a TS packet formed in a unit of byte; detecting a synchronization point of time of the TS packet converted in a unit of byte; deinterleaving and decoding TS packets continued after the synchronization point of time; and sensing in real time whether or not the decoded TS packets in a predetermined range among the TS packets continued after the synchronized point of time are changed in synchronization due to the change of starting position of the TS packets. By sensing in real time whether or not the TS packets that are RS decoded by the external decoder are synchronized, when the TS packets are not synchronized, they are resynchronized and output so that a normal decoding operation can be performed. |
| US07817723B2 |
Apparatus and method of optimizing motion estimation parameters for encoding a video signal
An encoder for encoding a video signal comprising a sequence of pictures, comprising a motion estimator for determining a motion estimation among the sequence of pictures, the motion estimation enabling a motion-compensated prediction of a pre-determined set of pictures of the sequence of pictures to obtain predicted pictures and residual data representing a deviation between the predetermined set of pictures and the predicted pictures, a parameter setter for setting parameters of an optimization problem based on the motion estimation and the predetermined set of pictures, and a solver for solving the optimization problem with the parameters being set, by means of convex optimization in order to yield optimized picture data that represents an encoded version of the residual data, is described. An improvement of the trade-off between rate and distortion is achieved by incorporating the motion estimation into the construction or set-up of the optimisation problem to be solved. |
| US07817722B2 |
Methods and architecture for indexing and editing compressed video over the world wide web
A system and method is provided for editing and parsing compressed digital information. The compressed digital information may include visual information which is edited and parsed in the compressed domain. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for detecting moving objects in a compressed digital bitstream which represents a sequence of fields or frames of video information for one or more captured scenes of video. |
| US07817720B2 |
Method of coding and decoding image
A method of simplifying the arithmetic operation in a global motion compensation process approximates the motion vector field of the whole image without using many parameters. Motion vectors in the global motion compensation are found by the interpolation and/or extrapolation of the motion vectors of a plurality of representative points 602, 603 and 604 having particular features in the spatial distance thereof. Since the shift operation can be substituted for the division for synthesizing a predicted image of global motion compensation, the processing using a computer or a dedicated hardware is simplified. |
| US07817719B2 |
System for increasing the speed of a sum-of-absolute-differences operation
An adaptation of the sum-of-absolute-differences (SAD) calculation is implemented by modifying existing circuitry in a microprocessor. The adaptation yields a reduction of over 30% for a current SAD calculation. The adaptation includes a first and second operand register, each storing respectively a first and second set of 2's complement binary data, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), and a destination register. An add/subtract enable input on the ALU receives a most significant bit (MSB) of the second set of binary data. The ALU adds the first and second data sets if the MSB is a “0” and subtracts the second data set from the first data set if the MSB is a “1.” The add/subtract enable input has the effect of taking the absolute value of the second data set without having to first perform an absolute value determination, thus eliminating processing steps. |
| US07817714B2 |
Integrating receiver having adaptive feedback equalizer function to simultaneously remove inter-symbol interference and high frequency noises and system having the same
Provided is an integrating receiver having an adaptive decision feedback equalizer function and a system having the same. The integrating receiver can simultaneously remove an inter-symbol interference (ISI) and high frequency noises in a high speed DRAM data transmission system. The integrating receiver reduces a probability of wrong decision of data in a state in which the ISI that exists in a channel is removed so as to increase a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a receiver, so that a maximum operation speed increases even in an environment with heavy noises. There is also provided a method of obtaining an equalizer coefficient suitable for the integrating receiver and a method of obtaining a reference voltage by using an integrator in a single ended transmission method. In addition, in order to increase a decision feedback equalizer speed, a look-ahead method is used. In this method, flip flops with a high speed including multiplexers are used. Accordingly, the present invention can be applied to not only a DRAM interface system but also a serial communication between chips. |
| US07817709B2 |
Non-coherent phase differential and multiple orthogonal signal reception
Embodiments for non-coherent phase differential and multiple orthogonal signal modulation/demodulation are disclosed. One illustrative embodiment may include: a method for non-coherent reception of a signal with spectrum spreading, comprising performing a multiple orthogonal signal demodulation operation on the signal; performing a phase differential demodulation operation on the signal; and combining the results of the multiple orthogonal signal demodulation operation on the signal and the phase differential demodulation operation on the signal. |
| US07817704B2 |
Monoblock laser with improved alignment features
A laser resonator has a support disposed on its axis, to support an adjustable element rotatable with respect to the axis. An HR mirror reflects light, which passes through gain element means and partially through an OC mirror to provide a laser output. The adjustable element is fixed in rotation upon reaching a pre-selected laser output. One embodiment features a support comprising a recess in the substrate of the resonator, and one of the mirrors is formed on the spherically shaped bottom of the adjustable element. Alternatively, the adjustable element comprises a first Risley wedge pair rotatable within a V-block shaped support. Alternatively, a recess in the substrate supports the HR mirror and a Risley wedge pair.Both embodiments and their variations apply to two stage resonators, which then include a second support, appropriately placed wavelength shifting means and other optional optical elements. |
| US07817703B2 |
Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser, module, optical transmission device, optical transmission system, free space optical communication device, and free space optical communication system
Provided is a VCSEL that includes a first semiconductor multilayer film reflective mirror of a first conductivity type formed on a substrate and having a first impurity concentration; an active region formed thereon; a second semiconductor multilayer film reflective mirror of a second conductivity type formed on and close to the active region and having a second impurity concentration; a third semiconductor multilayer film reflective mirror of the second conductivity type formed thereon and having a third impurity concentration being higher than the second impurity concentration; and a fourth semiconductor multilayer film reflective mirror of the second conductivity type formed thereon and having a fourth impurity concentration being higher than the second impurity concentration. The reflective mirrors include a pair of a low-Al semiconductor layer and a high-Al semiconductor layer. The Al-composition of the low-Al semiconductor layer in the second reflective mirror is higher than that of the fourth mirror. |
| US07817701B2 |
Active element for laser source and laser source including such an active element
An active element for a laser source, the active element comprising an elongated bar with a reflective lateral surface, doped to be able to absorb at least a pumping beam being propagated at least approximately longitudinally in the bar in order to amplify at least a laser radiation also being propagated longitudinally; and a jacket in contact with the lateral surface of the bar and presenting a refractive index smaller than that of the bar, in the reflective lateral surface of the bar, there is at least one dull-ground diffusing zone able to interrupt the paths of spurious laser modes being propagated in the bar by total internal reflections on the lateral surface. |
| US07817699B2 |
High-power, high-throughput microwave discharge singlet oxygen generator for advanced electrical oxygen-iodine lasers
A laser device includes an optical resonator, a microwave driven discharge device, and a source for a second gas. The microwave driven discharge device is disposed relative to the optical resonator. The microwave driven discharge device operates at a discharge power and gas flow rate to produce a selected amount of energetic singlet oxygen metastables flowing in the direction of the optical resonator. The second source for the second gas is disposed between the optical resonator and the microwave driven discharge device. The second gas reacts with the selected amount of energetic singlet oxygen metastables to form an excited species in an amount sufficient to support lasing of the excited species in the optical resonator. |
| US07817698B2 |
Mechanically tunable elastomeric optofluidic distributed feedback dye lasers
The invention relates to a microfluidic dye laser including a pump light source configured to provide light having a pump light wavelength. The microfluidic dye laser also includes an elastomer substantially optically transparent at the pump light wavelength and at a microfluidic dye laser wavelength. A microfluidic channel configured to accept a fluidic dye is defined in the elastomer. An optical grating is formed in a single mode 3D waveguide in the microfluidic channel in order to provide a single mode microfluidic dye laser light as output in response to illumination with light from the pump light source. In another aspect, the invention features a method of tuning a wavelength of a microfluidic dye laser light by mechanically deforming the elastomeric laser chip to change the grating period in the optical cavity. |
| US07817696B2 |
Surface emitting laser
VCSELs with a conventional oxide-confined structure have problems to be solved for the purpose of reducing the internal stress and thermal resistance of the device. In particular, the problems should be solved in order to achieve the high reliability of the high-speed modulation-type VCSELs. A surface emitting laser according to an embodiment of the present invention comprising a single current injection opening area, which is provided in a mesa and electrically and optically isolated, wherein the laser comprises: an active layer for emitting light resulted from current injection; a first reflector and a second reflector provided so as to sandwich the active layer between the reflectors, an n electrode and a p electrode for injecting current into the active layer, an ion-implanted nonconductive high-resistance area provided so as to surround the current injection opening area, and a half cross section in which the nonconductive oxidized layer does not appear is present among radial half cross sections extending from a substantial center of the current injection opening area to an outer periphery of the surface emitting laser, which cross sections are interrupted within a region where a laser emitting light is present. |
| US07817692B2 |
Nitride semiconductor laser device having current blocking layer and method of manufacturing the same
A nitride semiconductor laser including a laminate that includes an n-side semiconductor layer, an active layer and a p-side semiconductor layer, the n-side semiconductor layer or p-side semiconductor layer including a current blocking layer 30 that is made of InxAlyGa1-x-yN (0≦x≦0.1, 0.5≦y≦1, 0.5≦x+y≦1) and has a stripe-shaped window 32 formed therein to pass current flow. |
| US07817681B2 |
Pulse stretching optical fiber and related systems and methods
An optical fiber for performing pulse stretching, and fiber laser systems and methods using the pulse-stretching fiber are disclosed. The pulse-stretching (PS) fiber has low fourth-order dispersion (dispersion curvature) and a third order dispersion (dispersion slope) with a small negative, nearly zero or small positive value. Two different types of fiber laser systems that use the PS fiber in a manner that achieves optimum performance are described. The PS fiber enables an all-fiber (up to the final pulse compressor) ultra-short pulsed laser systems reaching pulse energies exceeding 100 μJ, average powers exceeding 100 W, and output pulse widths of less than 100 fs. |
| US07817680B2 |
Automatic dispersion compensation in amplification for short pulse fiber laser system
A fiber Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA) laser system includes a fiber mode-locking oscillator for generating a laser for projecting to a fiber stretcher for stretching a pulse width of the laser wherein the stretcher further comprising a Photonic Bandgap (PBG) fiber having a lower nonlinearity and an abnormal dispersion than a solid core fiber for connecting and transmitting a laser from the stretcher to a multistage amplifier for amplifying the laser into an output laser whereby a separate compressor is not required. |
| US07817679B2 |
Method and a system for transferring AMR signaling frames on halfrate channels
Transference of signaling frames on GERAN (GSM/EDGE radio Access Network) half rate channels utilizing a modulation scheme carrying n bits in one symbol. In order to be able to utilize the existing channel coding developed for channels with different modulations and to avoid high rate convolutional and block codes, the AMR signaling frame to be transferred is coded using a coding procedure defined for a GSM half rate channel utilizing a GMSK modulation scheme, the coding procedure outputting a coded output stream. In response to said coding, each bit of the coded output stream is repeated n times, whereby a repeated bit stream is obtained, and symbols to be transmitted are formed from the repeated bit stream. |
| US07817678B2 |
Method and apparatus for time alignment along a multi-node communication link
A network entity, which comprises an input configured to receive from an upstream network entity a stream of first media data elements; an output configured to release towards a downstream network entity a stream of second media data elements; a processing engine configured to effect processing tasks on the first media data elements, thereby to generate the second media data elements, the processing tasks being effected in a set of processing intervals; and a control entity. The control entity is configured for receiving a request for a first phase adjustment from the downstream network entity; modifying the set of processing intervals in which are effected the processing tasks in an attempt to accommodate the first phase adjustment; determining a second phase adjustment based on arrival characteristics of the first media data elements and the modified set of processing intervals; and releasing towards the upstream network entity a request for the second phase adjustment. |
| US07817676B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for fiber access
A system, method, and computer program product for synchronizing time between a centralized controller device and at least one subscriber device on a fiber access network. The control layer of a network device is expanded, and additional messaging control is added via the transmission of data frames. The expansion prevents reliance on a physical layer signal. The time synchronization also allows a time stamp to be incorporated into a message. Thus, bandwidth is not wasted by simply transmitting a time stamp by itself. In an embodiment, the centralized controller device measures the time difference between the time at which a particular ranging request is transmitted and the time at which the particular ranging request is received. The time difference represents the time adjustment value for the particular subscriber device and allows the device to synchronize its time with that of the centralized controller device. |
| US07817671B2 |
Method in a transceiver for allocating transmission capacity between the two directions of transmission in wire line data communication
A method performed in one single transceiver for allocating transmission capacity between the two directions of transmission in wire line data communication. The method includes the step of allocating from the single transceiver different parts of the available bandwidth to different duplex methods simultaneously. |
| US07817670B2 |
Transmission apparatus and transmission method
In a transmitting end, positional information indicating positions of data packets to be reproduced in a receiving end among data packets in an inputted bit stream is generated with a plurality of data packets as one unit, and generated one piece of positional information is given to a plurality of data packets, and the data packets with the positional information are transmitted. In a receiving end, reproduction timings are controlled based on the received positional information, and the received data packets are reproduced. As a result, even if a time interval of the data packets to be reproduced in the receiving end in the bit stream inputted into the transmitting end doesn't have a fixed period, the data packets can be reproduced in the receiving end in the same timing as in the transmitting end by only giving one piece of positional information to the plurality of data packets. |
| US07817666B2 |
Method and system for adaptively obtaining bandwidth allocation requests
A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique. |
| US07817665B2 |
Systems and methods for interworking QSIG and H.323 signaling in a SIP-based network
A SIP-based network architecture is defined allowing a variety of access methods for interfacing QSIG-based signaling devices. The QSIG-based signaling devices are typically enterprise-based PBXs that either interface directly via QSIG, or adapt QSIG signaling to related signaling protocols via gateways, which can be customer premise or network based. The gateways can either interwork QSIG signaling or tunnel QSIG signaling over H.323, SIP, or other protocols. Upon reaching the SIP-based network, Session Border Controllers process the signaling. The Session Border Controllers terminate the tunnel (if used) and extracts the QSIG signaling for interworking to SIP, thereby facilitating a homogeneous SIP-based core network. In addition to interworking QSIG signaling, the Session Border Controllers perform other signaling related functions for the SIP-based network that are performed at a point as near as possible to the network's edge. |
| US07817664B2 |
Mobile IP accounting
In one embodiment, accounting information for a mobile node operating according to Mobile IP Protocol is updated. A network device that supports Mobile IP composes a request packet for the mobile node. The request packet identifies the mobile node and includes at least one counter associated with accounting information pertaining to the mobile node. The request packet is then sent to a server adapted for performing accounting. The server then logs the accounting information for the mobile node. The server may then send a reply packet to the network device acknowledging logging of the accounting information pertaining to the mobile node. A bill for Mobile IP services may then be generated from the accounting information. |
| US07817658B2 |
Systems and methods for preparing a usage report with counter information
A method for preparing a usage report with counter information relating to a device is described. A counter request is sent to a device. A determination is made if the device responds to the counter request. Cached counter information associated with the device is retrieved if the device does not respond to the counter request. The cached counter information is classified. The cached counter information is used in a usage report. |
| US07817657B1 |
Circuit for processing network packets
A circuit is provided for processing network packets. The circuit includes ports identified in a specification of the processing of the network packets. The specification specifies handlers that each include at least one collection of actions. The specification specifies a dependency between each pair of handlers for which the actions of one handler include a handle action for invoking the other handler. The circuit also includes one or more parallel units coupled to the ports. The parallel units process input network packets and generate output network packets. Each parallel unit corresponds to a respective independent set of the handlers and has a corresponding architecture that is either a pipeline or a cluster of threads. Each parallel unit includes a concurrent unit for each collection of the actions of each handler in the respective independent set. Each concurrent unit is another pipeline for implementing the actions of the collection. |
| US07817650B2 |
Data transmission
A data communication transmitting node is provided, the transmitting node comprising: a plurality of buffers for storing data from a respective plurality of input data streams; means for monitoring an occupancy level of each of the plurality of buffers to detect if the occupancy level is sufficient to provide a complete data block to the transmission stream; and a transmission controller operable to select, in turn, a buffer from the plurality of buffers to output a data block to a transmission data stream, the selection being performed according to a buffer selection order. If the buffer selected by the transmission controller is detected to have an insufficient occupancy level when selected, a dummy data block is supplied to the data transmission stream in place of a data block from the selected buffer. |
| US07817649B2 |
Session invitation method and system
Session invitation method and system in a PTx communication system are disclosed. For session invitation, an inviting terminal adds first media information corresponding to session information in an invitation message and transmits it or transmits it through an RTP. Then, the first media information received by an invited terminal is checked and an invitee determines whether to accept the invitation before joining the session. When the invitation is rejected, the invited terminal adds second media information corresponding to a reason for rejection in a reject message and transmits it, or transmits it through the RTP. |
| US07817648B2 |
Interworking control between different communication parties
An interworking control mechanism for a communication connection between at least two parties located in different networks provides the following functions: a parameter may be added in a signalling towards one party, which interprets the parameter and shows/indicates a message to the user that a media composition change is not possible and thus prevented even if it would be instructed; otherwise, an announcement is sent from the network to the other party being incapable to execute the media composition change to inform the user about the dropping of a media stream; and a negotiation between the network and the terminal device of the party being incapable to execute the media composition change is initiated in order to modify the remaining session streams, such as to rearrange the available bandwidth and possibly to change a codec to a better one. |
| US07817646B2 |
Communication server network for computer networks
The invention relates to a communication server network for computer networks that are based on the Internet protocol. Said communication server network supports data exchange according to the session initiation protocol and is provided with at least two conventional SIP servers as well as an SIP distributor server for distributing the tasks resulting from the communication processes to the at least two conventional stateful SIP servers. |
| US07817644B2 |
High speed weighted fair queuing system for ATM switches
Methods and apparatus for an ATM network for implementing a fair servicing of all connections during a back-logged condition through the use of a weighted fair queuing technique. The system is particularly suited for systems where the packets/cells are of a fixed size. Although some important approximations are made in the proposed implementation, all of the properties of an ideal weighted fair queuing algorithm are preserved. The sorting methods and apparatus are advantageous in that it is possible to maintain appropriate servicing of connections without sorting all of the individual connections. This may be accomplished by pre-sorting each of the individual virtual circuit connections into a finite number of predetermined bins according to a weight associated with the connection. Thereafter, only the bins need be sorted without having to sort each of the individual connections. Further aspects of the invention include storing the bins in a matrix with an offset value dependent upon the current potential of the bin. In this manner, the overall sorting required to determine the next connection to service is substantially reduced. Accordingly, the invention is suitable for implementations having transmission speeds of multiple gigabits-per-second. |
| US07817643B2 |
System and method for varying the scheduling of real time protocol (RTP) packets
Apparatus and a method for transmitting a plurality of streams of data packets through a computer network assigns queued packets from each of the plurality of data streams to respective slots in scheduling windows such that queued packets from respective ones of the plurality of data streams occupy different slots in respectively different ones of the scheduling windows. The packets are transmitted through the network in the order defined by the scheduling windows. |
| US07817640B2 |
Fair round robin scheduler for network systems
A scheduler for use in a computer network system which provides an order 1 level of complexity, while maintaining proportional fairness and a constant normalized worst-case fair index to create short term and long-term fairness among backlogged flows. The scheduler utilizes an intra-class scheduling algorithm to obtain the benefits of a round robin scheduler and an inter-class scheduling algorithm to obtain the benefits of timestamp based scheduler. |
| US07817638B2 |
Method for promptly redialing a broadband access server
A method for promptly redialing a broadband access server is disclosed. The method includes: sending a PPPoE Active Discovery Terminate (PADT) packet to a BAS from a client computer upon the condition that the client computer has been abnormally disconnected from the broadband access server (BAS), sending a responsive PADT packet to the client computer if the client computer is allowed to perform the prompt redial. The method further includes: sending a PPPoE Active Discovery Initiation (PADI) packet to the BAS from the client computer, sending a PPPoE Active Discovery Offer (PADO) packet to the client computer, sending a PPPoE Active Discovery Request (PADR) packet to the BAS from the client computer, sending a PPPoE Active Discovery Confirmation (PADS) packet to the client computer from the BAS so as to create a new connection between the client computer and the BAS. |
| US07817637B2 |
Network switching system
A handling address range is pre-assigned to each of switching devices consisting a network switching system. The switching device has a data receiving unit, an assigned data transport unit, an unassigned data transport unit, and a lower transport layer transport unit. The data receiving unit receives data including a destination address in a network layer and a destination identifier in a lower transport layer. If the destination identifier specifies the device itself, the assigned data transport unit and the unassigned data transport unit perform data transfer, whereas if the destination identifier specifies a device other than itself, the lower transport layer transport unit performs data transport. When the destination address is assigned address, the assigned data transport unit generates data including an identifier of a device corresponding to the destination address, and transports the generated data. When the destination address is not assigned address, the unassigned data transport unit transport the data to a switching device among the plurality of switching devices consisting the switching system to which the destination address is assigned. |
| US07817634B2 |
Network with a constrained usage model supporting remote direct memory access
Remote direct memory access over a network uses a constrained usage model. In one embodiment, a method of accessing memory on a network comprises a first node of the network generating a remote direct memory access request to remotely access application-level memory on a second node of the network. The first node sends the request in a packet over the network to the second node, the sending being performed in accordance with a constrained usage model. In a further embodiment, constrained usage model comprises sending the packet in an Ethernet protocol packet over an Ethernet network, the Ethernet protocol packet having a OSI layer two header, but not a layer three header. |
| US07817627B2 |
Large-scale packet switch
A switching node comprises edge nodes interconnected by independent switch units. The switch units are arranged in at least one switch plane and the switch units of each switch plane are arranged in a matrix having several rows and several columns. Each edge node has a channel to a switch unit in each column in each switch plane and a channel from each switch unit in a selected column in each switch plane. Simple paths, each traversing only one switch unit in a switch plane, may be established for any directed edge-node pair. Additionally, several non-intersecting compound paths, each comprising at most two simple paths, may be established for any edge-node pair. A significant proportion of traffic may be routed through simple paths. The switching node employs distributed control scheme and scales gracefully from a capacity of a fraction of a terabit per second to thousands of terabits per second. |
| US07817624B2 |
Methods and systems for configuring voice over internet protocol network quality of service
Automated methods and systems for determining and setting router QoS adjustments to control the service level of VoIP voice communications in a packet switching network supporting both voice and data communications. Network topology and service level requirements are processed to determine QoS settings for each of the routers. The QoS settings are transmitted to the routers, for example in the form of a router configuration file, to set the QoS adjustments to achieve the desired VoIP service level. The invention is applicable to packet switching networks comprising routers or equivalent electronic switches providing electronically adjustable QoS settings. |
| US07817621B2 |
Mobile wireless internet portable radio
An Internet-capable radio has a communication port for connection to a modem, a connection function for connecting to the Internet upon user initiation while connected to the modem, sound circuitry for rendering audio data packets received over the Internet as analog audio output, and for delivering the audio output to one or more speaker ports, two or more stored hyperlinks addressing Internet broadcast servers; and a user input adapted to enable a user to select among the stored hyperlinks. Selection of one of the stored hyperlinks by the user input invokes the hyperlink and connects the radio to the server addressed by the hyperlink, initiating thereby an audio data stream as data packets from the broadcast server to the radio, and wherein the radio renders the data stream as analog audio data delivered to the one or more speaker ports. The user input in preferred embodiments has a plurality of pushbuttons associated with hyperlinks, which can be asserted by activating a pushbutton. In some embodiments a directory server is used for editing user profiles and programming connected Internet-capable radios. |
| US07817619B1 |
Internet long distance telephone service
Long distance communications service between two communications systems is established by using a wide area packet switched network, for example the Internet, to transport signaling data and digitized communication traffic. Each communications system uses an interface server to encapsulate communication traffic and signaling data into data packets suitable for transport over the wide area packet switched network. The interface server accesses a routing and administration database to determine a destination address of a destination interface server based on the area code of the called number. Upon receiving the destination address and a prescribed bandwidth from the routing and administration database, the telephony server inserts the destination address to the data packets for a destination server for a second communications system. The packets are then output to the Internet, and subsequently routed to the destination server serving as an interface for the second communications system. Routing of packets is preferably performed using reserved virtual paths to guarantee quality of service. |
| US07817610B2 |
Communication system, and communication device
A communication system which can control a data transmission properly and to which a Delayed Block ACK mode is applied, and a communication device constituting the communication system. A radio LAN base station (100) as the communication device comprises a transmission control unit (115) for transmitting a block ACK request, a pilot generation unit (104) for generating a pilot signal to measure a reception quality, and the transmission control unit (115) for transmitting the pilot signal before the block ACK having the reception quality information of the pilot signal added thereto is returned from a reception side in response to the block ACK request. A station (200) as the communication device comprises a transmission control unit (207) for controlling the transmission timing of the block ACK answering the block ACK request, a reception quality information generation unit (211) for generating the reception quality information of the pilot signal, and a block ACK generation unit (208) for adding the reception quality information to the block ACK. |
| US07817609B2 |
Multi-channel wireless networks
A medium access control method for a mobile station enabled for wireless communications with other mobile stations in a multi-channel wireless environment. The method includes: (a) receiving over at least one wireless channel status information transmitted by a plurality of other mobile stations within a local area of the mobile station, the status information including information about current usage of a plurality of wireless channels within the local area; (b) selecting from the plurality of wireless channels, based on the received status information, a wireless channel for transmitting data from the mobile station to one of the plurality of other mobile stations; and (c) transmitting data from the mobile station over the selected wireless channel. |
| US07817606B2 |
Method for establishing network connections between stationary terminals and remote devices through mobile devices
A technique is provided for a seamless and transparent handoff from a user's mobile device to the user's stationary terminal of a network address of a remote device for the purpose of establishing a direct communication channel between the stationary terminal and a remote device, where the remote device first contacted the user's mobile device to initiate communications with the user. |
| US07817600B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing handover in a digital broadcasting system
A method is provided for performing handover by a terminal in a digital broadcasting system. The method includes measuring strength of a received signal from a serving broadcast transmitter while receiving a broadcast service, and comparing the measured strength of the received signal with a predetermined reference value; periodically measuring strength of the received signal while continuously receiving the broadcast service when the measured strength of the received signal is greater than the reference value; sending a handover start request message for the broadcasting system to a base station of a mobile communication system when the measured strength of the received signal is less than or equal to the reference value; and performing handover from the serving broadcast transmitter to a target broadcast transmitter upon receipt of an accept message for the handover start request for the broadcasting system from the base station. |
| US07817598B2 |
Transmission rate control method, mobile station, and radio base station
A transmission rate control method for controlling a transmission rate of uplink user data, includes: notifying, at a radio network controller, to a radio base station and a mobile station, an effective period to an Absolute Grant Channel which includes an absolute value for the transmission rate of the uplink user data, transmitting, at the radio network controller, the Absolute Grant Channel per Radio Network Temporary Identity based on the notified effective period; and determining, at the mobile station, the transmission rate of the uplink user data based on the notified effective period, when receiving the Absolute Grant Channel per Radio Network Temporary Identity from the radio base station. |
| US07817596B2 |
Verification methods and apparatus for improving acquisition searches of asynchronous cells
Methods and apparatus are presented to optimize the likelihood of a successful acquisition of frame timing information of an asynchronous base station by providing a mechanism that copes with short-term degradations caused by a dynamic radio environment. An acquisition search is performed in a plurality of stages, wherein a declaration indicating a failure at a stage is delayed through the use of a verification stage. The verification stage can be repeated a variable number of times. The number of repetitions of the verification stage can be dependent upon the stage at which the failure occurred. Declaration of failure occurs only after the predetermined number of verification searches have been performed. |
| US07817594B2 |
Method for operating a device in a radio access network of a radio communication system as well as radio access network and device
In a method for operation of a device in a radio access network of a radio communication system, the device is arranged between a first network element and a second network element of a radio access network, receives at a first point in time from the first network element a first heartbeat and sends to the first network element at a second point in time a first acknowledgement signal as a response to the first heartbeat, with the first acknowledgement signal signaling to the first network element that a connection exists between the first network element and the second network element. At a third point in time the device sends a second heartbeat to the second network element, with the second network element, on receiving the second heartbeat sending as a response a second acknowledgement signal to the device in order to signal to the device the existence of a connection between the device and the second network element. The first acknowledgement signal is at least partly sent even if no second acknowledgement signal has been received between the first point in time and the second point in time. |
| US07817593B2 |
Method for aggregation of a number of media access control (MAC) frames into a single phyical layer frame in a distributed MAC layer
Embodiments of methods and apparatus for aggregating a plurality of media access control-layer frames into a single physical layer frame are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US07817585B2 |
Data capture technique for high speed signaling
A data capture technique for high speed signaling to allow for optimal sampling of an asynchronous data stream. This technique allows for extremely high data rates and does not require that a clock be sent with the data as is done in source synchronous systems. The present invention also provides a hardware mechanism for automatically adjusting transmission delays for optimal two-bit simultaneous bi-directional (SiBiDi) signaling. |
| US07817583B2 |
Method for verifying a storage area network configuration
In one embodiment, a map describing a correct configuration attribute for communicatively coupling a storage area network device with another device is accessed. An actual configuration attribute of the storage area network device is requested. The actual configuration attribute of the storage area network device is then compared to the correct configuration of the storage area network device and a result is generated in response to the comparing. |
| US07817579B2 |
Access point having at least one or more configurable radios
Briefly, an access point may include one or more software defined radios that may be arranged to implement one or more radio transmission protocols or standards. New radio transmission protocol or standards may be downloaded into the access point so that the access point may communicate according to new radio transmission protocols or standards as they are developed. |
| US07817578B2 |
Method for integrating downstream performance and resource usage statistics into load balancing weights
In datacenter environments, many copies of servicing components (application servers, http servers, etc) are used to handle larger loads. In these cases, incoming service requests typically go to a load balancer to be directed to the appropriate servicing component. Modern advances in technology, like the Server/Application State Protocol, have allowed load balancers to receive recommendations in the form of numerical weights to describe the best distribution for the incoming requests. The present invention provides a method for computing path oriented statistics that enable load balancing algorithms to transparently integrate downstream performance and resource usage statistics into load balancing weights. |
| US07817576B1 |
Transitioning between multiple data streams of a media channel based on client conditions
A method, system, and computer-readable media are provided for transitioning between multiple data streams of a media channel. Techniques disclosed include transmitting multimedia content of a media channel across a plurality of data streams, wherein the plurality of data streams include a random access point data stream, a main data stream, and a low resolution data stream. The techniques disclosed further include detecting a client-condition of a client device and transmitting data packets from a data stream to a client based on the detected client-condition. |
| US07817572B2 |
Communications apparatus and communication method
A communications apparatus for directly transferring payload data included in a received packet to an application memory area. The communications apparatus comprises an error check unit for checking the payload data for an error, a write processing unit for performing write processing for writing the payload data into the application memory area, and a protocol processing unit for causing the write processing unit to start write processing to write the payload data into the application memory without waiting for the completion of the error check, and upon detection of an error, returning a valid section in the application area that has been overwritten by write processing to an invalid section which has not stored normal data. |
| US07817568B2 |
Method for measuring characteristics of path between nodes by using active testing packets based on priority
Provided are a method for measuring characteristics of a path between nodes by using active testing packets based on priority, i.e., an inter-node path characteristic measuring method, which can measure and provide characteristics of a generated node, when an inter-node data transmission path is generated based on Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) to provide a path with satisfactory transmission delay, jitter and packet loss that are required by a user, and to provide a computer-readable recording medium for recording a program that implement the method. The method includes the steps of: a) synchronizing system time of the nodes with a global standard time; b) forming each testing packet; c) registering frame sequence and the global standard time during transmission; and d) calculating transmission delay time, jitter and packet loss by using time stamp and packet sequence information of a frame received by the destination node and transmitting the result to the management system. |
| US07817564B2 |
Method and system for handling fault messages in a network
A method and a system for handling fault messages in a network where a network device publishes fault messages related to the principal cause of the fault. The messages are received by a Network Management System (NMS) that identifies the source of the fault and sends a multicast message to other network devices managed by the NMS. The multicast message comprises information regarding the fault. In response to the multicast message, the other network devices determine whether to publish or drop related fault messages. |
| US07817562B1 |
Methods and systems for back end characterization using I/O sampling
Disclosed methods and systems relate to characterizing a dynamic performance quality of service available from a storage element within a storage system. An exemplary method includes initiating a known I/O request to the storage element; measuring a time the storage element takes to respond to the known I/O request; and reporting a measure of the quality of service available from the storage element. One implementation of the method further includes using the time measurement and an estimation algorithm to calculate the quality of service and adjusting the load on the storage element based on the quality of service. |
| US07817556B2 |
Modification of policing methods to make them more TCP-friendly
Various improvements are provided for prior art policing methods, including token bucket methods and virtual time policing methods. Some preferred methods of the invention involve assigning a non-zero drop probability even when the packet would otherwise have been transmitted according to a prior art policing method. For example, a non-zero drop probability may be assigned even when there are sufficient tokens in a token bucket to allow transmission of the packet. A non-zero drop probability may be assigned, for example, when a token bucket level is at or below a predetermined threshold or according to a rate at which a token bucket is being emptied. Some implementations involve treating a token bucket as a virtual queue wherein the number of free elements in the virtual queue is proportional to the number of remaining tokens in the token bucket. Such implementations may involve predicting a future virtual queue size according to a previous virtual queue size and using this predicted value to calculate a drop probability. |
| US07817552B2 |
Communication control method and system
A relay device 40, when it relays data blocks transmitted in succession from a transmitter device 20 to a receiver device 10, is caused to identify a state code showing a state of a communication resource used when the data blocks are transferred. Relay device 40 divides the identified state code into portions of a predetermined data size and writes the divided portions into a predetermined area of the data blocks. Receiver device 10 transmits to transmitter device 20 an acknowledgement containing the same data as is written in a predetermined area of the received data block. Transmitter device 20, upon receipt of the acknowledgement, reads the state code that is divided and written in the acknowledgement and increases or reduces the number of data blocks on the basis of the state code. |
| US07817551B2 |
Data reception apparatus and data distribution system
A data reception apparatus has a data reception section that receives data sent from a server through a communication link. A storage section stores the received data, and a play back section plays back the stored data. A requesting section requests the server to send data, corresponding to a certain period, at a rate equal to or more than a normal rate and lower than a rate set up by the communication link. |
| US07817548B2 |
Traffic arbitration
The invention provides an arbitration method and an arbiter circuit by which equal arbitration of output cells can be achieved with a comparatively simple configuration even where a very great number of queues are involved. The arbiter circuit includes a plurality of queues for storing output cells, and a plurality of round robins for successively providing the right of outputting output cells to the queues. The round robins are arranged in a multi-stage tree link configuration, and the queues are distributed under those of the round robins which are in the lowest order stage. Each of the round robins in the lowest order stage has a rate information holding function of holding rate information representative of a rate of cells inputted thereto. Meanwhile, each of the round robins in the higher order stage or stages has a rate information holding function of holding rate information regarding those of the round robins which are subordinate to the round robin and a subordinate selection function of selecting one of the subordinate round robins based on the rate information of the subordinate round robins. A queue is added as a subordinate to the selected round robin in the lowest order stage when a connection is to be added newly. |
| US07817546B2 |
Quasi RTP metrics for non-RTP media flows
In one embodiment, a router receives a real-time multimedia flow that comprises IP packets. The router then processes values included in the Identifier fields of the IP packets using resources similar to those used in the monitoring of RTP flows to identify metrics for the real-time multimedia flow. The metrics may be transferred to a remote management device for aggregation with metrics output by other routers located on the data path for the real-time multimedia flow. |
| US07817539B2 |
Resilient routing systems and methods
A network comprises nodes and links. In addition to a default topology there are backup configurations. Each node is inhibited from transferring data between nodes in at least one backup configuration. When a node detects a fault in the reception of data transmitted to a neighbouring node, it switches to a backup configuration in which the neighbouring node is inhibited. In one arrangement a backup configuration has at least one link which is restricted by having a high weighting so that it transmits data to a node only if that node is the final destination node for that data. Additionally, if the neighbouring node is the final destination, and routing of data is still unsuccessful in the backup configuration, the detecting node selects and switches to an alternate backup configuration in which the detecting node is inhibited. |
| US07817537B2 |
Matrix switcher and method of controlling matrix switcher
A matrix switcher includes a switcher unit having connection switches provided at intersections of input signal lines and output signal lines and a control unit having a main controller and a backup controller. The backup controller operates a Web server program to transfer a setup command to the main controller upon receiving the setup command. The main controller executes: processing of switching a connection relation between the input signal lines and output signal lines in the switcher unit; processing of transferring a switching command to another matrix switcher upon receiving the switching command for another switcher; processing of setting up the matrix switcher upon receiving the setup command for the switcher; and processing of transferring the setup command to another matrix switcher upon receiving the setup command for another switcher. |
| US07817530B2 |
Optical disc and registering method for label side thereof
The invention provides an optical disc and a registering method for labeling on a label side of the optical disc. More particularly, the label side has a plurality of turns of wobbled grooves connected in series to form a spiral track. The turns of the wobbled grooves are then to provide a registering reference. |
| US07817520B2 |
Optical disk drive including stepper pointer indicating rotation of stepping motor
An optical disk drive capable of detecting occurrence of step-out or tooth jump in a mechanism for transferring an optical pickup. The optical pickup is transferred in a radial direction of the optical disk by means of a stepping motor. Upon receipt of a seeking operation command from a host machine, a control section drives the stepping motor by way of a controller, to thus cause the optical pickup to perform seek up to a target address. When logical contradiction has arisen in a stepper pointer showing the amount of rotation of the stepping motor, the control section determines that step-out or tooth jump has arisen. Moreover, even when a difference exists between an address indicated by the value of the stepper pointer and an actual address, step-out or tooth jump is determined to have arisen. When the step-out or tooth jump has arisen in the transfer mechanism, the rotational speed of a spindle motor or the rotational speed of the stepping motor is decreased. |
| US07817518B2 |
Write-once read-many information recording medium, information recording method, information reproduction method, information recording apparatus, and information reproduction apparatus
A write-once read-many information recording medium is provided, which is capable of easily searching for a latest DDS and a latest defect list. At least one disc management working area is sequentially allocated in a predetermined direction on the write-once read-many information recording medium of the present invention. The latest defect list and the latest DDS are provided in a recorded disc management working area neighboring a border between the recorded disc management working area and an unrecorded disc management working area, where the latest defect list precedes the latest DDS in the predetermined direction. |
| US07817517B2 |
Disc recording and reproducing device and disc recording and reproducing method
A disc recording and reproducing device and method record video data using a new file system other existing device cannot recognize. However, when a disc thus recorded is loaded in the existing device, the user is prevented from being instructed to format the disc (initialize the file system) or inadvertently erasing data thereon. The disc recording and reproducing device comprises the following elements. A first write-enable state setting unit checks a write inhibit flag when a disc is loaded, and sets the flag on the disc to a write-enable state when the flag is in a write-protect state. A first write-protect state setting unit checks information in a record history information storage when the disc is unloaded, and sets the flag on the disc to the write-protect state when data is recorded thereon or the flag in the memory is in the write-protect state and no data is recorded. |
| US07817514B2 |
Recording medium, method of configuring control information thereof, recording and/or reproducing method using the same, and apparatus thereof
The present invention provides a method of recording control information in a recordable optical disc including at least one recording layer. In recording control information within a management area of an optical disc including at least one or more recording layers, the present invention includes providing the control information to each of the at least one or more recording layers per recording velocity, recording an information identifying a type of the corresponding control information within the control information, and recording a write strategy (WS) interworking with the type of the control information. In recording a write strategy (WS) within disc information, CLV and CAV are separately recorded, whereby it is able to efficiently cope with the record/playback of the optical disc. |
| US07817512B1 |
Method and apparatus to correct wobble phase slip in optical recorders
The present disclosure can provide a method and an apparatus to correct wobble phase slip in an optical disc recording system during recording. The method of correcting a phase slip can include receiving a wobble signal of a first frequency, sampling the wobble signal to generate a sampled wobble signal, where the wobble signal is sampled at a second frequency that corresponds to a frequency of a sampling signal, comparing a phase of the sampled wobble signal with a phase of a controlled signal to generate a phase error, modifying the phase error by adding a phase bias, and adjusting the second frequency based on the modified phase error to reduce a magnitude of the modified phase error. |
| US07817511B2 |
Phase difference detection circuit, phase difference detecting method, optical disk drive, and optical disk drive controlling method
An embodiment of the present invention provides a phase difference detection circuit for detecting a phase difference between input data and an input clock generated based on the input data, including: an input data edge position detecting part detecting an edge position of the input data based on an N-phase clock obtained by dividing a predetermined period into N areas (N is an integer of 2 or more); an input clock edge position detecting part detecting an edge position of the input clock based on the input clock and the N-phase clock; and a phase difference detecting part detecting the phase difference between the input data and the input clock based on the edge position of the input data and an edge position of the input clock. |
| US07817510B2 |
Record apparatus, record and playback system
A record apparatus includes a media writing unit to record on a disc media information to be recorded stored in a predetermined storage location; a control circuit to record storage-location information of the media information to be recorded on the disc with the media writing unit in a RFID circuit element being attached to the disc and having an IC circuit part to store information and an antenna to transmit and receive information; a radio frequency circuit; and an antenna. |
| US07817509B2 |
Optical pickup apparatus and beam splitter
There is provided an optical pickup apparatus and a beam splitter which are capable of suppressing an adverse effect resulting from light reflected by a non-light-condensed layer that is different from a light-condensed layer. In respective TES light-receiving sections, interposed light-receiving elements are disposed so as to be adjacent to first sub beam-receiving elements. The interposed light-receiving elements are disposed away from both of positions where a main beam reflected by a light-condensing recording layer is condensed and where respective sub beams reflected by the light-condensing recording layer are condensed, and disposed so as to be adjacent to the first sub beam-receiving elements. The interposed light-receiving elements receive the main beam reflected by a non-light-condensing recording layer In a compensating section, results of light received by the first sub beam-receiving elements are compensated based on results of light received by the interposed light-receiving elements. |
| US07817505B2 |
Optical pickup actuator and optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus and method for the same
An optical pickup actuator and an optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus and method using the same. The optical pickup actuator includes a blade, a plurality of suspensions, first and second coil members, and a magnet member. An objective lens is placed on one side of the blade. Each of the suspensions is coupled at one end to the blade and fixed at the other end to a holder provided at one side of a base, such that the suspensions movably support the blade. The first and second coil members are installed on the base to be separated from each other, with the magnet member being installed on the blade between the first and second coil members. |
| US07817502B2 |
Method of using a personal digital stereo player
Disclosed is a music jukebox which is configured for storing a music library therein. The music jukebox includes a housing, audio input structure on the housing for receiving audio signals, audio output structure on the housing for outputting audio signals, and a data storage structure in the housing for storing audio signals. The music jukebox is configured such that a music library of sound tracks is storable in the data storage structure. The music jukebox includes means for selecting a sound track from the music library stored in the data storage structure to play through the audio output structure, and the housing includes a display thereon which identifies sound tracks in the music library. Preferably, the music jukebox is configured such that the sound tracks stored in the data storage structure are editable before being played through the audio output structure. |
| US07817499B2 |
CO end of life timing circuit
A system for indicating an end of a life cycle time period for a device which may include a sensor device or detector for measuring an environmental condition. A control device communicates with the device and includes a programmable timing mechanism for measuring a life cycle time period. The control device initiates an end of life cycle indicator such as a fault message after the life cycle time period has elapsed. The life cycle time period may be measured from a date of manufacture of the device. The life cycle time period may also be measured from a date of installation of the device when the date of manufacture of the sensor device is unknown. In the case of sensor devices or detectors an environmental condition for measuring by the detector may include carbon monoxide levels in an enclosed area where the device is a respective carbon monoxide detector. |
| US07817497B2 |
Arrangeable airborne acoustic sensor array
Embodiments for determining the bearings to targets from a remote location are disclosed. The apparatus consists of an array of acoustic sensors that is capable of autonomous flight. The array may be large in diameter, approximately one meter or greater. The apparatus is capable of navigating its flight to arrive at a predetermined location, measuring acoustic sound waves emitted by targets both during flight and after landing. The apparatus may then calculate the bearings to the targets and transmit this information to a remote location. |
| US07817496B2 |
Sensor for detecting moving object with the aid of a ultrabandwidth sounding signal
In the first embodiment, the inventive sensor comprises first and second antennas, a pulse generator provided with two outputs, wherein the first output thereof is connected to the input/output of the first antenna and the second output is connected to the input/output of the second antenna. The output circuit of the sensor consists of two detectors, wherein the input of the first detector is connected to the input/output of the first antenna and the input of the second detector is connected to the input/output of the second antenna. The output of the first detector is connected to the first input of a differential amplifier whilst the output of the second detector is connected to the second input thereof. The output of the differential amplifier is connected to the low frequency filter and to a feedback device whose output is connected to one of the inputs of the differential amplifier. The output of the low frequency filter is connected to a comparator input. In the second variant, the input circuit of the sensor consists of two detectors each of which is provided with two inputs. The first output of the pulse generator is connected to the input/output of the first antenna and to the second input of the first detector. The input/output of the first antenna is connected to the first input of the second detector whilst the second output of the pulse generator is connected to the second input of the second detector though a delay circuit. |
| US07817489B2 |
Power supplying circuit and phase-change random access memory including the same
A power supplying circuit (PSC) and a phase-change random access memory (PRAM) including the PSC. According to an aspect of the invention, the PSC includes: a first voltage generator configured to output a first voltage to a first terminal; and a second voltage generator configured to output a second voltage to a second terminal, the second voltage generator including: a voltage pump unit configured to output the second voltage based on a clock signal and a pump control signal; a pump output detector coupled to the voltage pump unit, the pump output detector configured to output a pump output detection signal; and a discharging unit coupled to the voltage pump unit, the discharging unit configured to discharge a level of the second voltage to a predetermined level in response to a discharge signal. Embodiments of the invention may prevent write and/or read malfunctions that can occur due to changes in the level of a voltage supplied to PRAM cell blocks. |
| US07817473B2 |
Flash memory device with split string selection line structure
A flash memory device is disclosed and includes a memory cell array including a plurality of sectors. Each one of the plurality of sectors includes a plurality of strings, and each of the plurality of strings includes a plurality of memory cells series connected between a string select transistor and a ground select transistor. The flash memory device also includes a plurality of string selection lines, wherein each one of the plurality of string selection lines is respectively connected to string select transistors associated the plurality of strings in one of the plurality of sectors. |
| US07817472B2 |
Operating method of memory device
An operating method of a memory array is provided. The operating method includes performing a programming operation. The programming operation is performed by applying a first voltage to a bit line of the memory array and a second voltage to a plurality of word lines of the memory array to cause simultaneously programming a plurality of selected memory cells in the memory array. |
| US07817470B2 |
Non-volatile memory serial core architecture
A memory system having a serial data interface and a serial data path core for receiving data from and for providing data to at least one memory bank as a serial bitstream. The memory bank is divided into two halves, where each half is divided into upper and lower sectors. Each sector provides data in parallel to a shared two-dimensional page buffer with an integrated self column decoding circuit. A serial to parallel data converter within the memory bank couples the parallel data from either half to the serial data path core. The shared two-dimensional page buffer with the integrated self column decoding circuit minimizes circuit and chip area overhead for each bank, and the serial data path core reduces chip area typically used for routing wide data buses. Therefore a multiple memory bank system is implemented without a significant corresponding chip area increase when compared to a single memory bank system having the same density. |
| US07817468B2 |
Semiconductor storage device provided with memory cell having charge accumulation layer and control gate
A semiconductor memory device includes memory cell transistors, a first selection transistor, and word lines. Each of the memory cell transistors has a stacked gate including a charge accumulation layer and a control gate, and is configured to retain at least two levels of “0” data and “1” data according to a threshold voltage. The threshold voltage corresponding to the “0” data being the lowest threshold voltage in the levels retained by each of the memory cell transistors. The first selection transistor has a current path connected in series to one of the memory cell transistors. Each of the word lines is connected to the control gate of one of the memory cell transistors. upper limit values of threshold voltages of the memory cell transistors retaining the “0” data being different from one another in each word line. |
| US07817452B2 |
Phase shifted H-Bridge resonant converter with symmetrical currents
A phase shifted H-bridge resonant converter with symmetrical currents includes, a DC storage cap (31), four switches (1-4) with a parallel turn off network consisting of diodes (5-8), capacitors (9), (11), (14), (16), resistors (10), (12), (13), (15). The subsequent output of switches (1-4), is arranged in series with DC blocking caps (17-18), connected to a low mutually coupled inductor (32), an AC resistive load, capacitor (19), resistor (20) across inductor (32), with capacitors (22), (23) that comprise a resonant tank circuit, and is connected to the primary of transformer (21) wherein the interaction between the two coils of the low mutually coupled inductor (32) provides symmetrical currents within the switches and resonant tank circuit. Further, output rectification may be arranged by use of secondary winding of transformer (21), diodes (24-27), filter inductor (28), filter capacitor (29), and load resistor (30). |
| US07817451B2 |
Switch gear cell and converter circuit for switching a multiplicity of voltage levels with a switchgear cell such as this
A switchgear cell having a group of connection is disclosed, with the group of connection having a first and a second controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch and a capacitor. In order to reduce the stored electrical energy and to save space, the group of connection can have a third, fourth, fifth and sixth controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch and the first controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch can be connected back-to-back in series with the second controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch, the third controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch can be connected back-to-back in series with the fourth controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch, the capacitor can be connected to the connection point of the first controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch to the second controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch and to the connection point of the third controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch) to the fourth controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch, the fifth controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch can be connected to the connection point of the first controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch to the second controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch, and to the fourth controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch, and the sixth controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch can be connected to the connection point of the third controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch to the fourth controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch and to the second controllable bidirectional power semiconductor switch. |
| US07817448B1 |
Power supply system for reducing reverse current
The present invention discloses a power supply system for reducing reverse current, the system comprising a primary side circuit, for receiving alternating current; a transformer circuit, for transforming voltage; a secondary side rectifier circuit, for rectifying voltage; a secondary side filter circuit, for filtering voltage and providing direct current to a device; a first voltage division circuit, for providing a first voltage division signal; a switch circuit, for deciding the conducting condition based on the first voltage division signal and a reference voltage signal; a second voltage division circuit, for providing a second voltage division signal; and a control circuit, for deciding the charging condition based on the second voltage division signal; wherein the second voltage division circuit comprising a rectifier component and a filter component, for rectifying and filtering the source of the second voltage division signal. |
| US07817446B2 |
Switching power supply circuit
Disclosed a switching power supply circuit of current resonance type including: a switching element; an LC resonance circuit to resonate current flowing through the switching element; and a detection circuit to perform a detection associated with an output current amount on the basis of an operation timing of the switching element and a voltage under resonating operation of the LC resonance circuit. |
| US07817442B2 |
Input device
An input device of the invention includes a body formed with an accommodating part; an operation member having a basal end accommodated in the accommodating part and a distal end projected in a swinging operable manner to either side in a width direction and in a pushing operable manner from an neutral position; and an earth terminal for dissipating static electricity charged in the operation member. The input device is attachable to a circuit board. The earth terminal, being a metal plate insert molded in a wall, includes a contacting portion and first and second projections arranged near the operation member, and connecting parts exposed from the other end face of the body and solder connectable to respective earth patterns of the circuit board. |
| US07817440B2 |
Multilayer printed wiring board
A multilayer printed wiring board includes a mounting portion supporting a semiconductor device and a layered capacitor portion including first and second layered electrodes and a ceramic high-dielectric layer therebetween. The first layered electrode is connected to a ground line and the second layered electrode is connected to a power supply line. The ratio of number of via holes, each constituting a conducting path part electrically connecting a ground pad to the ground line of a wiring pattern and passing through the second layered electrode in non-contact, to number of ground pads is 0.05 to 0.7. The ratio of number of second rod-shaped conductors, each constituting a conducting path part electrically connecting a power supply pad to the power supply line of the wiring pattern and passing through the first layered electrode in non-contact, to number of power supply pad is 0.05 to 0.7. |
| US07817438B2 |
Transceiver module and PCB structure thereof
A transceiver module including an adaptor and a PCB is provided. The PCB, connected with the adaptor, has a first signal layer, a second signal layer and a singular ground layer wherein the singular ground layer is set between the first signal layer and the second signal layer. The first signal layer includes a first transmitter circuit region and a first receiver circuit region. The second signal layer includes a second transmitter circuit region and a second receiver circuit region. The singular ground layer includes a ground portion of a third receiver circuit electrically connected with the ground signals of the first and the second receiver circuit region. Beside, the projection area of the singular ground layer onto the first signal layer substantially covers the first transmitter the first receiver circuit region. The ground portion of the third receiver circuit is electrically connected with a ground of the adaptor. |
| US07817437B2 |
Semiconductor device
In a semiconductor device such as a high-frequency power amplifier module, a plurality of amplifying means are formed on a semiconductor chip which is mounted on a main surface of a wiring substrate, and electrodes of the semiconductor chip are electrically connected by wires to electrodes of the wiring substrate. In order to make the high-frequency power amplifier module small in size, a substrate-side bonding electrode electrically connected to a wire set at a fixed reference electric potential is place at a location farther from a side of the semiconductor chip than a substrate-side output electrode electrically connected to an output wire. A substrate-side input electrode electrically connected to an input wire is located at a distance from the side of the semiconductor chip about equal to the distance from the side of the semiconductor chip to the substrate-side output electrode, or at a location farther from the side of the semiconductor chip than the substrate-side bonding electrode is. |
| US07817436B2 |
Holding apparatus for an electronic device
The invention relates to a holding apparatus for an electronic device, the holding apparatus including a stationary base body and a support, the support including an approximately rectangular accommodation space having longitudinal sides and transverse sides and at least one interface compatible with an interface of the electronic device. The interface is arranged on a longitudinal side of the accommodation space and the accommodation space is accessible from the opposing longitudinal side. The support is pivotable about a pivot axis oriented approximately parallel to the longitudinal sides of the accommodation space from a holding position to at least an insertion and removal position for the electronic device. |
| US07817435B2 |
Assembly structure for power supply circuit unit of electric device
A wiring substrate has a front face and a rear face opposed the front face. An electric component is mounted on the front face and is electrically connected to the wiring substrate at the rear face. A protection cover is comprised of a resin material and includes an upper plate, a lower plate and a connecting plate. The upper plate covers the electric component from above. The lower plate covers an electrical connection between the wiring substrate and the electric component from below. The connecting plate integrally connects the upper plate and the lower plate. |
| US07817430B2 |
Airflow adjustment in an electronic module enclosure
An electronic module enclosure has a frame with an airflow opening. A gate positioned within airflow opening pivots between open and closed positions, allowing a maximum and minimum amount of airflow, respectively, through the airflow opening. |
| US07817422B2 |
Heat sink and cooling and packaging stack for press-packages
A heat sink for directly cooling at least one electronic device package is provided. The electronic device package has an upper contact surface and a lower contact surface. The heat sink comprises a cooling piece formed of at least one thermally conductive material. The cooling piece defines multiple inlet manifolds configured to receive a coolant and multiple outlet manifolds configured to exhaust the coolant. The inlet and outlet manifolds are interleaved. The cooling piece further defines multiple millichannels configured to receive the coolant from the inlet manifolds and to deliver the coolant to the outlet manifolds. The millichannels and inlet and outlet manifolds are further configured to directly cool one of the upper and lower contact surface of the electronic device package by direct contact with the coolant, such that the heat sink comprises an integral heat sink. |
| US07817421B2 |
Motor controller
A motor controller capable of relaxing the temperature of a heat source which generates heat by driving the motor controller, and capable of realizing miniaturization and low price is provided. In a motor controller in which a power semiconductor module (2) which closely contact a heat sink (1) is mounted on a substrate (4), and a fan (6) is attached to the heat sink (1) by a fan case (8), portions of fins (1g) of the heat sink (1) are formed with a bell mouth (1c) and a circular-arc-shaped guide (1h), and the radiating capability of the fins (1g) is improved by effectively using the wind of the fan (6). |
| US07817420B2 |
Portable environmentally robust enclosure optimized for size, weight, and power dissipation
An enclosed electronic apparatus including a first continuous heat-transfer band forming at least a portion of the exterior surface of the enclosure, with continuous lateral edges on either side thereof, and mounting points on an internal side of the continuous heat transfer band to which a printed circuit board assembly is mountable. A printed circuit board assembly is mounted to the heat transfer band at the mounting points, with a thermally conductive portion forming a thermal path between a heat-producing electronic component of the printed circuit board assembly and the heat transfer band. A thermally conductive gasket between the printed circuit board assembly and the heat transfer band at the mounting points facilitates heat transfer. Opposing first and second enclosure portions seal the respective continuous lateral edges of the heat transfer band against penetration of fluid or debris. It is small, compact, lightweight, rugged and otherwise ergonomic for ease of use and protection from accidental impact caused by, for example, dropping the unit. The reliability of the system is improved because the internal electronic components are protected from moisture, dust, and other liquid or particle contaminants, all while maintaining an internal temperature that is lower than a maximum permissible operating temperature. |
| US07817414B2 |
Electronic device bearing seat
An electronic device bearing seat includes a casing, a hook, a first resilient element, an ejector, a second resilient element, a pivot, a connecting rod and an ejecting button. The casing has a first opening and a second opening. The hook is movably provided in the first opening and includes a first withstanding post and a recess. The first resilient element is disposed between the casing and the hook. The ejector is movably provided in the second opening and is detachably fastened in the recess. The ejector includes a second withstanding post. The second resilient element is disposed between the casing and the ejector. The shaft is disposed in the casing. The connecting rod is rotatably disposed at and passed by the pivot and pushes against the first and second withstanding post. The ejecting button is movably disposed on the casing and abuts against the connecting rod. |
| US07817413B2 |
Mounting apparatus for data storage device
A mounting apparatus for mounting a data storage device, the mounting apparatus includes a bracket and a holder. The bracket includes a bottom plate, and a first side plate extending from one side of the bottom plate. A protrusion protrudes from the bottom plate. A blocking member is formed from the side plate. The holder includes a first sidewall configured for mounting the data storage device thereto, and a latching plate extending from the first sidewall. An engaging portion is formed from the sidewall and capably of engaging with the blocking member of the side plate of the bracket. A latch portion is formed from the latching plate and capably of sliding over to engage with the protrusion of the bottom plate of the bracket. |
| US07817410B2 |
Display screen turning apparatus
A display screen turning apparatus includes a plate-shaped support shaft, a display screen support member, including a sectorial first hole, provided on the side of a display screen, serving as the rotation center, of the plate-shaped support shaft and a base support member, including a sectorial second hole, provided on the side of a base, while a first root portion of the sectorial first hole is arranged on the upper side of the first hole, a second root portion of the sectorial second hole is arranged on the lower side of the second hole, and a first side surface of the plate-shaped support shaft is inclined by a prescribed angle with respect to a vertical direction to come into contact with a first inner side edge of the sectorial second hole of the base support member when the display screen is vertically arranged with respect to a horizontal plane along with the display screen support member. |
| US07817408B2 |
Notebook computer
A notebook computer includes a host, a supporting frame and a displayer. The supporting frame is pivotally connected with the host and has a straight sliding slot and a curved sliding slot. The displayer has two sliding members, which are pivotally connected with the supporting frame and slidably connected with the straight sliding slot and the curved sliding slot respectively. The displayer is operable to rotate relative to the supporting frame by using either one of the two sliding members as a pivot. |
| US07817406B2 |
Inverter comprising a casing
The invention is directed to an inverter including a casing (1) with at least two chambers (2, 3), the one chamber (3) comprising the display (11) of a communication unit, said display (11) being pivotally disposed in the chamber (3). |
| US07817401B2 |
Solid state tesla coil suit
A wearable suit apparatus incorporating one or more user-operated solid state tesla coils includes a full body clothing article constructed of integrated, conductive shielding material. An on board power supply such as a battery pack powers the one or more solid state tesla coils, which are connected to the suit such that the entire suit is held at or near the same potential as the base of the secondary coil(s) of the SSTC(s), thereby protecting the wearer from injury from the high voltage. |
| US07817400B2 |
Relay actuator circuit and method
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a power supply to generate a supply current; at least one optoisolator coupled to the power supply and responsive to the supply current to generate a charging current; a capacitor, coupled to the at least one optoisolator, to build up a charge in response to the charging current; and an actuating switch, coupled to the capacitor, to release the charge from the capacitor to generate a relay actuating current. |
| US07817399B2 |
PWM drive apparatus and method for correcting output offset thereof
A first voltage-to-current converter converts a difference voltage between a command voltage and a reference voltage into a current. A second voltage-to-current converter converts a difference voltage between a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal of a PWM drive apparatus into a current. A low-pass filter is connected to a connection point between an output terminal of the first voltage-to-current converter and an output terminal of the second voltage-to-current converter. An amplifier amplifies a difference voltage between a voltage at the connection point and a reference voltage. A PWM modulator PWM-modulates an output voltage of the amplifier. A drive section drives a load in accordance with an output signal of the PWM modulator. |
| US07817395B2 |
Overvoltage protection element and ignition element for an overvoltage protection element
An overvoltage protection element for discharging transient overvoltages with at least two electrodes, with at least one ignition element of insulating material located between the electrodes, and with an air breakdown spark gap which acts between the electrodes, when the air breakdown spark gap is ignited an arc being formed between the two electrodes. An overvoltage protection element is provided with an ignition element which can be produced especially easily, the ignition element being made and arranged such that, between the two electrodes, there is an area of weakened insulation (ignition area) and when there is a voltage on the ignition element, a discharge on the surface of the ignition element leads to a conductive connection between the two electrodes, the conductive connection having a low current carrying capacity. |
| US07817391B2 |
Over-current protection device for a switched-mode power supply
An over-current protection device for use in a switched mode power supply prevents over-current conditions caused by short-circuits faults. The over-current protection device monitors a current in the switched mode power supply, and in particular, determines a peak current value associated with the monitored current. The monitored current is compared to a reference value to determine whether an over-current condition exists. If an over-current condition is detected, then the over-current protection device modifies the ‘off’ time of the switched mode power supply based on the determined peak current value. |
| US07817389B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection device for high speed transmission lines
A semiconductor device for coupling a transient voltage at an input node to a reference node, the device having a bipolar transistor adapted to couple its collector to an input node and its emitter to the reference node and a driver device adapted to be coupled between the input node and the base terminal of the transistor such that the driver device is responsive to a transient voltage at the input node to turn on the transistor, thereby shunting the transient voltage to the reference node. Preferably, the input node is coupled to a high speed data transmission line that operates below 5 v and the reference node is coupled to ground and the transistor is an NPN transistor. The driver may preferably be a gate-drain connected MOS transistor with its gate-drain terminal coupled to the collector terminal of the transistor and its source terminal coupled to the base terminal of the transistor. Alternatively, the driver may be a light emitting diode (LED) or any other diode with a different material (band-gap) and die size than the LED, connected to the bipolar transistor to create a low voltage clamping device. |
| US07817383B2 |
Windscreen wiper comprising a protection device for the electric motor thereof
A windscreen wiper, including a protection device for an electric motor for drive thereof, and corresponding method. The windscreen wiper includes a DC motor with first, second, and third carbon contacts rubbing on a rotor thereof. The first carbon contact is ground, the second is selectively connected to a DC current supply, and the third is connected to neither the ground nor the DC current supply. A sub-assembly for detection of sticking of the electric motor provides information on the sticking of the motor. A voltage measuring device between the first and the third carbon contacts permits taking a first measured voltage value that is compared to a first threshold value to generate further second information on the sticking of the electric motor if the voltage is lower than the first threshold value. |
| US07817382B2 |
Hybrid high voltage DC contactor with arc energy diversion
A contactor may operate to interrupt current in a circuit while the circuit is operating under load. A shunt is provided to by-pass surge power current around contacts to reduce arcing. The shunt includes a solid-state switch that may be operated in a series of pulses during movement of the contacts. The pulse control unit may detect a potential for arcing and then provide for periodic pulsing operation of the shunt. Because the solid-state switch may operate discontinuously, the contactor may be constructed with a switch that is selected on a basis of its pulse rating. |
| US07817381B2 |
Thin film magnetic head which suppresses inflow of magnetic generated by bias-applying layers into a free layer from a layering direction
A thin film magnetic head comprises a lower magnetic shield layer and an upper magnetic shield layer which are mutually opposed in the layering direction, a magnetoresistance effect element having a free layer, and a bias-applying layer which applies a bias magnetic field to the magnetoresistance effect element. The free layer is positioned between the lower magnetic shield layer and the upper magnetic shield layer, and is positioned on the side of the media-opposed surface. The bias-applying layer has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion and the second portion are positioned at a distance in the track width direction so as to enclose the magnetoresistance effect element therebetween. The third portion is positioned either between the magnetoresistance effect element and the lower magnetic shield layer or between the magnetoresistance effect element and the upper magnetic shield layer, and connects the first portion and the second portion. |
| US07817379B2 |
Suspension for a disc drive having a slider and a dimple shifted toward a trailing side of the slider
A suspension for disc drive has a load beam, a flexure, and a slider. The slider is mounted on a tongue portion of the flexure. When a disc rotates, air flows from an air inflow end (leading side) toward an outflow end (trailing side), whereupon an air bearing is formed between the disc and the slider. A dimple is provided on the distal end portion of the load beam. The slider is supported by the dimple so as to be swingable in a pitch direction and a roll direction. The dimple is formed in a position shifted to the trailing side from the center of the slider. The shorter the length of the load beam, the greater the amount of the shift is. |
| US07817375B2 |
Magnetic recording head having spin wave oscillator which locally heats a recording track
A magnetic recording head includes a spin wave oscillator having a lamination film including a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer, and a pair of electrodes adapted to inject a current between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer to generate a spin wave in one of the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer; and a recording magnetic pole provided on one side with the spin wave oscillator, the spin wave oscillator locally heating the recording track prior to recording by the recording magnetic pole. |
| US07817372B2 |
Head flying height control method, write current value determining method, and storage device
A head flying height control method includes the steps of: detecting contact of a head having a heater with a corresponding storage medium, and associating the amount of heat generated by the heater when the contact is detected with a situation where the flying height of the head is zero; measuring at least one type of characteristics that are the saturation characteristics of the read margin of data written on the storage medium with the head, and the saturation characteristics of the electromagnetic conversion characteristics of the head, the measuring step being carried out every time the flying height of the head is varied, with a reference being the situation where the flying height of the head is zero, the current used for writing the data being a parameter in the saturation characteristics; and adjusting the flying height of the head, based on the measurement result of the measuring step. |
| US07817365B2 |
Address mark detection with error threshold that varies with timing jitter
An apparatus includes an address mark detector having an address mark output. The address mark output is indicated as erroneous if errors in a detected address mark exceed an error threshold function. The error function has a variation as a function of a difference between a detected address mark time and a reference address mark time. |
| US07817364B2 |
Defect reallocation for data tracks having large sector size
A method is provided. The method includes determining that a data sector included in a select data track is in error, the data sector in error includes at least one identified data wedge. The at least one defective data wedge in the data sector in error is located. The method also includes moving the at least one defective data wedge by utilizing at least one spare wedge on the select data track. |
| US07817363B2 |
Single-pass defect detection for hard-disk drive systems
In one embodiment, defects are detected on the face of a hard-disk drive platter. A preamble, a sync mark, user or pseudorandom data, and a data pad are written to every sector on a track of the platter. Inter-sector gaps that separate consecutive sectors are overwritten with a fixed data pattern such that consecutive sectors are in phase lock with one another. After the track has been written, the track is read back and analyzed. Consecutive sectors are analyzed continuously without stopping. The preambles, sync marks, data pads, and overwritten inter-sector gaps are analyzed using suitable flaw-scan techniques. The user or pseudorandom data is analyzed using both data-integrity checks and suitable flaw-scan techniques. This process is repeated for all tracks on the disk, and defect detection is completed when all tracks have been analyzed. |
| US07817355B2 |
Afocal lens, optical head, optical disk apparatus and optical information equipment
The present invention provides an afocal lens for an optical head that can ensure WD while satisfying NA, the optical head, an optical disk apparatus, a computer, an optical disk player, and an optical disk recorder. Using a blue-violet laser beam source with wavelength of about 400 nm, and in an optical head compatible to optical disks having different protective substrate thickness, an afocal lens that expands a diameter of light flux of light from a collimating lens and emits the light as substantially parallel light to an objective lens is provided between the collimating lens and the objective lens. The configuration makes it possible to ensure WD while satisfying NA. |
| US07817354B2 |
Panoramic imaging system
An optical imaging system and method for producing panoramic images exhibiting a substantial field of view. |
| US07817352B2 |
Zoom lens and camera with zoom lens
A zoom lens of variable power ratio of the order of 3 in which the whole of the zoom lens is made up of three lens elements groups and the power configuration of each of the groups has an arrangement of negative, positive, and negative. The zoom lens includes, sequentially from an object side thereof, a first lens elements group which has a negative refraction power as a whole, a second lens elements group which has a positive refraction power as a whole, and a third lens element group, which has a negative refraction power as a whole. A variable power is realized by shifting the positions of the first and second lens elements group in the direction of an optical axis thereof. |
| US07817348B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
A zoom lens is provided and includes: in order from an object side of the zoom lens, a first lens group adapted to be fixed during power-varying of the zoom lens, the first lens group having a positive power and including in order from the object side, a negative lens, a reflecting member that bends an optical path thereof, and a biconvex lens of a positive lens made of a resin material and having at least one aspherical surface; a second lens group adapted to move during the power-varying, the second lens group having a negative power and including two lenses; a third lens group adapted to be fixed during the power-varying and including one positive lens; and a fourth lens group adapted to move during the power-varying and during focusing of the zoom lens, the fourth lens having a positive power and including in order from the object side, a cemented lens having a positive power, and a negative lens made of a resin material and having at least one aspherical surface and a concave surface on an image side of the fourth lens. |
| US07817342B2 |
Two-element F-theta lens used for micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) laser scanning unit
A two-element f-θ lens used for a micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) laser scanning unit includes a first lens and a second lens, the first lens is a biconvex lens, the second lens is a meniscus lens of which the concave surface is disposed on a side of a MEMS mirror, at least one optical surface is an Aspherical surface in both main scanning direction and sub scanning direction, and satisfies special optical conditions. The two-element f-θ lens corrects the nonlinear relationship between scanned angle and the time into the linear relationship between the image spot distances and the time. Meanwhile, the two-element f-θ lens focuses the scan light to the target in the main scanning and sun scanning directions, such that the purpose of the scanning linearity effect and the high resolution scanning can be achieved. |
| US07817341B2 |
Integrated TIR prism and lens element
Disclosed is an optical component, which comprises a prism element adjacent to a lens element, where the two elements are separated by a small air gap. In disclosed embodiments, the elements have adjacent and parallel surfaces which are substantially planar and which, with the small air gap, operate through Total Internal Reflection (“TIR”) to direct light beams that strike the planar surfaces. Light beams that strike at less than the critical angle are internally reflected, while light beams which strike at greater than the critical angle pass through. The TIR surfaces thereby separate the desired optical signals from the spurious ones. The combined TIR prism lens operates as a single and integrated component which directs desired light beams to a reflective optical processing element such as a Spatial Light Modulator and which focuses the processed light beams as they leave the combined TIR prism lens. |
| US07817340B2 |
Ultra-thin glass polarizers and method of making same
An ultra-thin polarizing glass article having two polarizing glass layers separated by a non-polarizing central region. The polarizing glass layers contain stretched or elongated metal particles and the non-polarizing central region contains elongated or stretched metal halide particle. The polarizing article has a thickness less than 200 micrometers. |
| US07817338B2 |
Projector screen and projector
A projector screen that is used together with a projector for protecting a moving image being a result of scanning output of a video signal, and displays the moving image by a projection light reaching thereto after being emitted when the projector projects the moving image, the projector screen includes: a screen member that configures a partition screen area being a part of a screen area of displaying the moving image partitioned to a plurality of rows, and is capable of mode change between a first mode of delivering the projection light having reached the partition screen area to a side of a viewer, and a second mode of not delivering the projection light having reached the partition screen area to the viewer; and mode changing means for moving, for the screen member of each of the rows of the screen area, by exercising control over each of the screen members in terms of mode change between the first and second modes, any of the partition screen areas put in the second mode in the screen area. |
| US07817337B2 |
Screen for display and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention generally relates to a laminated image panel and a fabrication method thereof for projecting images projected from an image optical engine, on a screen by reflecting and/or transmitting the images. The laminated image panel in accordance with the present invention comprises front elements, rear elements disposed in opposition to the front elements, sealants for forming a predetermined cell by mutually bonding opposed rim parts of the front elements and the rear elements and for sealing the front and rear elements by separating the front elements from the rear elements at certain intervals, and a diffusing medium injected into the cell and uniformly diffusing the projection images in transparent and/or semitransparent state. The diffusing medium is created, in a predetermined ratio, by mixing a water-soluble polymeric material that forms a transparent solution by being dissolved in water, a light curable hydrophilic monomer having hydrophilicity and a high dispersion in water, a photoinitiator for inducing a polymerization by interacting with the light curable hydrophilic monomer, and a solvent. |
| US07817329B2 |
2-channel display system comprising micro electro mechanical systems
The 2-channel display system with micro electromechanical systems (MEMS, e.g. DMDs from Texas Instruments) simultaneously generates a right and a left image in two discrete modulation channels, which differ by the polarization of their light beams. More specifically, the invention relates to the chirality (handedness) of MEMS and the geometric problems associated with this handedness in superposition systems. In this application we uncover a solution to superpose the images modulated by identical MEMSs which have their mirror deflection axes oriented parallel to an axis of symmetry of the image raster of the MEMSs. |
| US07817326B1 |
Electrochrome element driver
An electrochrome element driver supplies electrical power to an electrochrome element and includes an amplifying circuit, a variable resistor element, and a capacitor. The amplifying circuit has a control input for controlling a supply current flow to the electrochrome element, a feedback input, and an output. The variable resistor element has a first resistor terminal, a second resistor terminal coupled to the feedback input and a resistor control terminal for controlling a resistance of the variable resistor element. The resistor control terminal is coupled to the amplifying circuit output, the first resistor terminal is coupleable to a power source, and the second resistor terminal is coupleable to the electrochrome element such that a supply current path to the electrochrome element through the variable resistor element is formed. The capacitor is coupled to the resistor control terminal for effecting a stable behavior of the supply current flow to the electrochrome element. |
| US07817324B2 |
Projector
The projector has an intensity-modulable light source to emit a light beam onto a projection surface, as well as an optical switch connected after the light source for intensity modulation of the light beam emitted by the light source, and a control unit to control intensity modulation of the light source and the optical switch. |
| US07817320B1 |
Two-element fθ lens with short focal distance for laser scanning unit
A two-element fθ lens with short focal distance is used for a laser scanning unit with a polygon mirror and the two-element fθ lens comprises a first lens and a second lens. The first lens is a positive power meniscus lens and the second lens is a negative power meniscus lens in the main scanning direction. The first lens has a first and a second optical surface, the second lens has a third and a fourth optical surface. Concave surfaces of the first, second and third optical surfaces are disposed on the polygon mirror side. The fourth optical surface has an inflection point in SAG counted from the optical axis to peripheral portion and its paraxial portion is convex that is disposed on the polygon mirror side. The two-element fθ lens satisfies an optical condition of 0.4557≦tan(β)≦0.7265, wherein β is a maximum effective window angle. |
| US07817319B2 |
System and method for employing a resonant scanner in an X-Y high speed drilling system to provide low net scanning velocity during drilling
A laser processing system is disclosed for providing a relatively small velocity of a laser beam at target location while at least one scanner scans at a relatively larger velocity. The system includes a laser source, a first scanning unit, a beam expander, a second scanning unit and focusing optics. The laser source is for providing a pulsed laser output having at least one beam with a beam dimension. The first scanning unit is for scanning the laser output in a first direction along a first axis at the target location. The beam expander is for receiving the laser output and for modifying a beam diameter of the laser output and providing a modified laser output. The second scanning unit is for scanning the modified laser output from the beam expander in a second direction along the first axis at the target location. The second direction is substantially opposite to the first direction along the first axis such that a net velocity of the modified laser output along the first axis at the target location may be made to be effectively zero during a laser pulse. The focusing optics is for focusing the modified laser output toward the target location. |
| US07817317B2 |
Image reading apparatus and shading correction data generating method
An image reading apparatus capable of generating accurate shading correction data while removing noise. A shading reference plate is arranged at a location having different optical distance between the location and an image sensor in an image reading unit from optical distance between original reading position and said image sensor. The shading reference plate is read by the image reading unit whereby secondary reference data is acquired, and a reference sheet is read which is put on a position substantially identical to the original reading position whereby primary reference data is acquired. Primary and secondary correction data is generated based on the primary and secondary reference data, and correction coefficient data is generated based on the primary and secondary correction data. Shading correction data is generated based on read data of the shading reference plate and the correction coefficient data. The shading correction of the images of original read by the image reading unit is performed based on the shading correction data. |
| US07817314B2 |
Image reading apparatus and multifunction apparatus including the same
An image reading apparatus includes a document mounting table, a document cover disposed above the document mounting table and provided to be displaceable between a position in which the mounted document is covered and a position in which the document mounting table is opened, an automatic document feeder delivering and discharging the document to an upper surface of the document cover, a reading unit that reads an image on a surface of the mounted document or an image on a surface of the document delivered by the automatic document feeder; and a panel disposed on the document cover. The panel includes an installation surface provided with a display portion or an operating portion. The panel also includes a regulating surface which is protruded from the upper surface and which regulates a position of an end of the document discharged through the automatic document feeder. |
| US07817313B2 |
Image scanner, image forming apparatus, and image scanning method
An image scanner includes first and second carriages, a body, a power source, a power supplier, and a tensioner. In the first carriage moving at a predetermined speed, a light source emits light onto an original. A first mirror deflects the light reflected by the original. In the second carriage moving at a half speed of the first carriage, second and third mirrors deflect the light deflected by the first and second mirrors, respectively. The body holds the first and second carriages. The power source drives the light source. The power supplier is connected to the power source and the light source to supply power from the power source to the light source. The tensioner provided on the second carriage contacts the power supplier at a position outside an optical light path and applies tension to the power supplier. |
| US07817311B2 |
Scanning apparatus adapted to receive a plurality of different light source parts
A scanning apparatus has a light source part scanning a scanning beam on an original document. A frame has a light input part and a light output part. A reflection mirror is arranged in the frame and reflects the scanning beam inputted through the light input part to the light output part along a predetermined light proceeding path. A light receiving part is supported on the light output part, and receives the scanning beam reflected by the reflection mirror. A light source supporting member supports the light source part on the frame so that the beam scanned by the light source part and reflected on the original document passes through the light input part and proceeds along the light proceeding path. The light source supporting member mounts the different light source parts in the frame. |
| US07817306B2 |
Method of page expansion and printing with a pagewidth printer having low-speed and high-speed firing modes
This invention provides for a method of page expansion and printing of image data received from a computer. The method includes the steps of receiving a page description from the computer, the page having a bi-level black layer compressed in an EDRL (Edge Delta and Runlength) format and a continuous tone (“contone”) layer, and decompressing the respective layers in parallel. The method also includes the steps of halftoning the contone layer data to a bi-level data and compositing the bi-level black layer over the bi-level data to form an image, and transmitting the image data for printing to a pagewidth printhead arrangement. The method includes operating the printhead according to one of a low-speed nozzle firing mode and a high-speed firing mode, the low-speed firing mode having a firing rate half that of the high-speed firing mode. |
| US07817305B2 |
Method, computer program and printing system for trapping of print data
In a method, a printing system and a computer program for trapping of print data with a plurality of objects, the print data are generated, prepared and/or transferred together with trapping instructions in a print data stream for execution of the trapping. The print data stream references resource data that comprise trapping parameters and/or trapping instructions. The method can be executed in real time without a delay in the printing process hereby occurring. It can therefore be integrated into a print data stream for electrographic high-capacity printers. |
| US07817303B2 |
Image processing and image forming with modification of a particular class of colors
This invention provides an image processing device and a printing apparatus that obviate the need for manual processing on the part of the user or operator and which can automatically perform an optimum image correction without using added information such as photographing information. For this purpose, this invention including: a highly chromatic color area detection unit to detect highly chromatic color area in an original image according to the input color image data; a concentration calculation unit to calculate a concentration level of the highly chromatic color area; and a print data generation unit to generate output color image data according to the concentration level of the highly chromatic color area. |
| US07817287B2 |
Optical three-dimensional measurement device and filter process method
This is an optical three-dimensional measurement device provided with observation illumination light for illuminating an observation specimen, an object lens for collecting the observation light on the observation specimen and a display unit for displaying an observation image and its measurement result that are obtained via the object lens. The optical three-dimensional measurement device comprises a filter process determination unit for determining a first filter process on the basis of observation conditions used when taking in a three-dimensional image of the observation specimen and a filter process unit for applying the first filter process determined by the filter process determination unit to the measurement image or the measurement result. |
| US07817285B2 |
Downhole uses of pressure-tuned semiconductor light sources
An instrument for use in a borehole, the instrument including a pressure tuned light source disposed in a housing adapted for insertion into the borehole. |
| US07817282B2 |
Use of crossed-beam spectral interferometry to characterize optical pulses
Disclosed are an apparatus and methods for determining electric field characteristics of pulses. In one example, a method is provided in which an unknown pulse is propagated through a first optical fiber. A reference pulse is propagated through a second optical fiber. The unknown pulse and the reference pulse are directed out of the first and second optical fibers into a spectrometer. The unknown pulse and the reference pulse propagate along a pair of crossing trajectories through the spectrometer to form an interferogram. The electric field of the unknown pulse is determined by processing this interferogram. |
| US07817279B2 |
Sensing a disturbance
The present invention relates to a method of sensing a disturbance along an optical link including the steps of: using a first interferometer arrangement connected to an optical source so as to generate pairs of signal copies, which signal copies of a given pair are temporally delayed relative to one another; transmitting the time-displaced signal copies from the first interferometer arrangement onto the optical link; receiving the time-displaced signal copies transmitted over the optical link; and, using a second interferometer arrangement to temporally recombine the received signal copies from a given pair so as to generate an interferometer signal, which interferometer signal is representative of environmental effects on the optical link. |
| US07817277B2 |
Fiber optic probe and related apparatus, systems and methods for making optics-based measurements of liquid samples
A fiber-optic probe includes first and second optical fibers disposed in a body, a liquid sampling region between ends of the fibers and a reflector, and apertures communicating with the sampling region. The probe may be inserted in media in a vessel. Optical signals are transmitted through the first fiber, the sampling region and second fiber. The sampling region is offset from other parts of the probe so that bubbles or particulates flow out from the sampling region without being obstructed by the probe. |
| US07817276B2 |
Distinguishing objects
While objects travel through an optical cavity, the cavity provides output light that is affected by the objects, causing the output light to have a varying intensity function. The output light is photosensed to obtain sensing results that depend on the varying intensity function. The sensing results are used to distinguish at least one object, such as from its environment or from objects of other types. The objects can, for example, be particles or biological cells, and their optical characteristics, such as refractive index or absorption, can affect the output light, so that information about them is included in the output light. The output light can, for example, have a laterally varying intensity function with peaks whose features change due to the objects. The sensing results can also be used to track objects, together with other information, such as about the speed of a fluid that carries the objects through the cavity. |
| US07817275B2 |
Scanning optical microscope with long working distance objective
A scanning optical microscope, including: a light source to generate a beam of probe light; collimation optics to substantially collimate the probe beam; a probe-result beamsplitter; a long working-distance, infinity-corrected objective; scanning means to scan a beam spot of the focused probe beam on or within a sample; relay optics; and a detector. The collimation optics are disposed in the probe beam. The probe-result beamsplitter is arranged in the optical paths of the probe beam and the resultant light from the sample. The beamsplitter reflects the probe beam into the objective and transmits resultant light. The long working-distance, infinity-corrected objective is also arranged in the optical paths of the probe beam and the resultant light. It focuses the reflected probe beam onto the sample, and collects and substantially collimates the resultant light. The relay optics are arranged to relay the transmitted resultant light from the beamsplitter to the detector. |
| US07817274B2 |
Compact spectrometer
Spectrometers, particularly compact spectrometers, are constructed with their spectral performance characteristics being optimized as well as with their instrument/device volume being reduced significantly. The light propagation path, either in transparent media or in free space, of the optical beams emitting from a small input aperture/slit of a spectrometer, is caused to be two-dimensional or unilateralized (propagating within a thin layer of air or media), enabling physical sizes of any optical elements needed thereafter to construct a spectrometer to be reduced significantly in one dimension. As a result, a significant reduction of instrument/device volume (in one dimension or even in two dimensions) is achieved, which is applicable to and beneficial to either a classical dispersion spectrometer or a compact dispersion spectrometer. |
| US07817269B2 |
High resolution optical microscopy featuring fluorescence transient measurement
According to the invention, an excitation layer is focused into a sample and switched on suddenly in order to improve the microscopic resolution; the history of the resulting fluorescence transient is detected and imperatively depending on the excitation intensity, wherein different patterns for the history of different transients are determined for individual excitation intensity values and are matched with the measured transient and the amplitude of the pattern matching the excitation power in the focus is determined and used as a pixel value and the sample scanned in this manner, whereby the spatial resolution is improved to levels lying below the Abbe limit by evaluating the transient. |
| US07817267B2 |
System and method for confocal multispectral scanning
A system for multispectral confocal mapping of a tissue, comprising: a light source; an optical fiber having an aperture providing a confocal pinhole, a scanner being free-space coupled to said aperture and operative to scan the tissue and provide intensity signals for each of a plurality of points therein; a switch or modulator operative to convert input signals to optical pulses; a reflector that receives the optical pulses and provides a temporal sequence of wavelength selective reflections; and, a detector optically coupled to receive the temporal sequence of wavelength selective reflections. |
| US07817262B2 |
Device for measuring positions of structures on a substrate
A device for measuring positions of structures (3) on a substrate (2) is disclosed, wherein the device is enclosed by a climatic chamber (30). An illumination and imaging means (6, 14) is also arranged in the climatic chamber (30). At least one loading station (32) for substrates is formed on an outer wall (30a) of the climatic chamber (30), wherein at least one transport means (34, 40) for transporting the substrates is provided within the climatic chamber (30). A means (36) for orienting the substrates (2) with respect to a coordinate system of the coordinate measuring machine (1) is provided, wherein the transport means (34, 40) deposits the substrates (2) on the means (36) for orienting. |
| US07817259B2 |
Measurement of test object with stacked features
An apparatus and associated method for measuring spatial characteristics of a test object with stacked features. First and second measurement assemblies for measuring opposing first and second planar features, respectively, of a test object, by directing light beams into a gap between the features to measure a position and a static attitude of each feature. |
| US07817256B2 |
Personal authentication method and personal authentication device utilizing finger-tip blood flow measurement by laser light
A personal authentication method is provided that includes imaging, on an image sensor as a laser speckle using an optical system, light reflected from a blood vessel layer in subcutaneous and internal tissues when a laser beam is expanded and made to irradiate a finger pad, calculating a quantity that represents the rate of change with respect to time of the amount of light received for each pixel of the laser speckle, obtaining a finger pad blood flow map as a two-dimensional map of the numerical values, and comparison-checking the blood flow map against pre-registered data of individuals, wherein using a near-infrared laser beam or using this in combination with a visible laser beam, comparison-checking against pre-registered data of individuals is carried out using a pattern reflecting a fingerprint occurring within the finger pad blood flow map obtained from reflected light and, observed superimposed thereon, an internal tissue blood flow distribution pattern, and there is also provided a device used for the method. |
| US07817252B2 |
Holder for carrying a photolithography mask in a flattened condition
A holder is described for carrying a photolithography mask in a flattened condition. The holder may include a mask chuck and may be able to flatten a mask for use in photolithography. In one example, the holder may include a substrate and a plurality of independently controllable actuators coupled to the substrate and coupled to a photolithography mask to flatten the photolithography mask. |
| US07817248B2 |
Optical imaging arrangement
There is provided an optical imaging arrangement comprising: a mask unit comprising a pattern, a substrate unit comprising a substrate, an optical projection unit comprising a group of optical element units, the optical projection unit being adapted to transfer an image of the pattern onto the substrate, a first imaging arrangement component, the first imaging arrangement component being a component of one of the optical element units, a second imaging arrangement component, the second imaging arrangement component being different from the first imaging arrangement component and being a component of one of the mask unit, the optical projection unit and the substrate unit, and a metrology arrangement. The metrology arrangement captures a spatial relationship between the first imaging arrangement component and the second imaging arrangement component. The metrology arrangement comprises a reference element, the reference element being mechanically connected directly to the first imaging arrangement component. |
| US07817241B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a utility substrate storage configured to hold a utility substrate, and a utility substrate scheduling unit configured to schedule the loading of a utility substrate in a flow of substrates in the lithographic apparatus. |
| US07817238B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a method of manufacturing the same is disclosed, to improve the picture quality by preventing the movement of ball spacers from a non-pixel area to a pixel area, in which the method includes preparing a substrate including a pixel area and a non-pixel area; forming a well in a predetermined portion of the non-pixel area wherein forming the well includes coating an alignment layer on the substrate and excluding the alignment layer from a predetermined portion of the non-pixel area; and forming a ball spacer in the well using an ink-jet apparatus. |
| US07817237B2 |
LCD panel and device having a non-overlapping area of a first substrate with a pair of protruding seal members with wiring lines overlapping the area but patterned to avoid the protruding members
According to the present invention, the cost reduction of the liquid crystal display device can be achieved. The present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel including a seal member for bonding a first substrate and a second substrate with each other, a liquid crystal inlet port provided to a part of the seal member, and a liquid crystal material input into and encapsulated in a space between the first substrate and the second substrate and surrounded by the seal member, wherein the first substrate has first and second sides located opposite to each other, the first substrate has a non-overlapping area not overlapping the second substrate on the side of the first side of the first substrate, the liquid crystal inlet port is disposed on the side of the second side of the first substrate, the seal member has a first part disposed like a frame on a periphery of an area between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a pair of second parts respectively extending from the first part on both sides of the liquid crystal inlet port towards the second side of the first substrate, and the non-overlapping area of the first substrate is provided with a pair of protruding members made of the same material as the seal member. |
| US07817236B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same
A display substrate includes a transparent plate and a liquid crystal dispersion adjuster. The display substrate includes a display area and a peripheral area surrounding the display area. The liquid crystal dispersion adjuster is formed in the peripheral area to modify the movement of the liquid crystal. The dispersion adjuster includes enhancing parts and a suppression part. The enhancing parts increase the dispersion of the liquid crystal, and the suppression part reduces the dispersion of the liquid crystal, thereby reducing non-filling area of the liquid crystal and the contamination of a seal-line. |
| US07817230B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and fabricating method thereof
A liquid crystal display device is provided that includes: first and second substrates; a gate line of a double layer having a first transparent conductive layer and a second opaque conductive layer on the first substrate; a first insulation film on the gate line; a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region, the pixel region having a transmissive area and a reflective area; a thin film transistor connected to the gate and data lines; a pixel electrode having the first conductive layer in the pixel region and a second conductive layer along the boundary of the first conductive layer; a storage upper electrode to form a storage capacitor by overlapping with the gate line the first insulation film there between; a transmission hole to expose the side of the storage upper electrode and a drain electrode of the thin film transistor by passing through the first insulation film and a second insulation film on the thin film transistor; a reflective electrode connected the second conductive layer of the pixel electrode with the drain electrode and the storage upper electrode through an edge portion of the transmission hole; and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates. |
| US07817229B2 |
Transflective type LCD and method for manufacturing the same
In a transflective type LCD provided with a transparent region and a reflection region in each pixel, when an irregular film 11 is formed on an active matrix substrate 12 to form irregularities of a reflection electrode film 6, the irregular film 11 is specifically formed to almost the same film thickness in both the transparent region and the reflection region to provide substantially the same inter-substrate gap in these two regions so that they may have almost the same V-T characteristics and also the reflection electrode film 6 made of Al/Mo is formed so as to overlap with a transmission electrode film 5 made of ITO all around an outer periphery of the transmission electrode film 5 by a width of at least 2 μm, thus suppressing electric erosion from occurring between the ITO and Al substances at the edge of the transmission electrode film 5. |
| US07817225B2 |
Polarizer with first and second patterns of wires where the first pattern of wires is positioned repeatedly and randomly among the second pattern of wires
Disclosed herein is a backlight unit which has high utilization efficiency over the entire visible wavelength band. The backlight unit includes a reflective polarization splitter to allow a light of a surface light source to emit therethrough. The reflective polarization splitter includes a plurality of wires arranged in a wire grid shape. With this structure, when light of the surface light source passes through the wires, the wires passes only a certain polarized light, for example, s-polarized light having a vibration plane vertical to a longitudinal direction of the lattice wires therethrough, while reflecting other polarized components of the light according to the reflection coefficient of the wires. |
| US07817221B2 |
Image display apparatus
An image display apparatus includes an envelope including a first substrate provided with an image display unit, a second substrate placed in opposition to the first substrate, and an outer frame to form a space between the first and second substrates, and a low melting point metal disposed between the first and second substrates for hermetically seal bonding the first substrate and the second substrate. In addition, an adhesive is placed along an outer periphery of the envelope except for at least one side of the envelope. The adhesive contacts both a surface of the first substrate not facing the second substrate and a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate, with the adhesive being one of an epoxy adhesive, an acrylic adhesive, and a ceramic adhesive. |
| US07817217B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having ESD protection functionality
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device having electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection functionality is disclosed. The LCD device includes a flexible printed circuit board, an LCD panel, a lighting module, a first ESD protection unit, and a second ESD protection unit. The lighting module is disposed on the flexible printed circuit board. The first ESD protection unit is disposed in the LCD panel and is coupled between the first end of the lighting module and the ground of the flexible printed circuit board. The second ESD protection unit is disposed in the LCD panel and is coupled between the second end of the lighting module and the ground of the flexible printed circuit board. |
| US07817215B2 |
Display panel and pixel element thereof
A pixel element includes a transistor, a pixel electrode and a storage capacitor. The transistor is a switch device of the pixel element. A data signal is applied to the pixel electrode by switching the transistor. The storage capacitor includes the first electrode and the second electrode. Several holes are formed on a surface of the first electrode. Therefore, layers disposed over the first electrode duplicate the shape of the holes, so that the layers have rough surfaces, for increasing the reflectivity. |
| US07817214B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A thin film transistor (TFT) array panel includes: a substrate; gate lines including gate electrodes and storage electrode lines including storage electrodes, the gate lines and the storage electrode lines being formed on the substrate; a gate insulating layer formed on the substrate; a semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating layer; data lines and drain electrodes formed on the gate insulating layer and the semiconductor layer; storage conductors formed together with the data lines on the gate insulating layer and connected with the drain electrodes; a passivation layer formed on the data lines, the drain electrodes, and the storage conductors; and pixel electrodes formed on the passivation layer, connected with the drain electrodes, and having a plurality of cutout portions, wherein each storage electrode and each storage conductor has slant portions that overlap with the cutout portions and overlap with each other with the gate insulating layer interposed therebetween. The storage electrode and the storage conductor have the slant portions that overlap the cutout portions of the pixel electrode, thereby providing an increased aperture ratio. The horizontal component of the electric field allows the sets of cutout portions of the pixel electrode to control the direction of the liquid crystal molecules compared with conventional LCD device in which the storage electrode and the storage conductor do not have slant portions. |
| US07817213B2 |
Method for driving liquid crystal device and driving apparatus for the liquid crystal device
Sequentially performed are (1) an entire liquid crystal layer is initialized into a focal conic state, (2) an image is written onto the liquid crystal device by scanning with selecting exposure or non-exposure while applying a voltage that does not exceed a threshold value for a state change from the focal conic state to a homeotropic state during the non-exposure but exceeds the threshold value during the exposure and that causes the focal conic state and the homeotropic state to be bi-stable after the exposure, and (3) the application of the voltage is stopped to change a state of a portion, of which the state has changed to the homeotropic state, to the planer state. In (2), an electric field energy applied to an exposure portion of the liquid crystal layer is controlled to gradually increase from a start to an end of the series of scanning actions. |
| US07817211B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for resolving channel information inconsistencies
A host includes a controller configured to receive service information (SI) and retrieve defined channel map (DCM) information and virtual channel map (VCM) information from the SI information. The controller further configured to resolve inconsistencies between the DCM information and the VCM information, and create a resulting channel map that reflects the resolution of the inconsistencies between the DCM information and the VCM information. |
| US07817203B2 |
Digital camera and lens barrel mechanism for saving lens groups out of optical axis when lens barrel is collapsed
In a digital camera, a solid state imaging device is used to catch subject light so that an image signal is created. The digital camera contributes to effectively implementing further thinness in such a manner that a part of image taking lenses is saved to a suitable position at the time of the collapse. Both the rear elements lens and the focus lens are revolved between a position on the optical axis and a saving position coming into a hollow portion beside the CCD solid state imaging device, or between the position on the optical axis and a saving position in which the front elements lens, the rear elements lens and focus lens form a line substantially on a plane. |
| US07817201B2 |
Control in a digital camera having a preview function
A digital camera is provided with a photographing lens having a aperture mechanism, an imaging section, including an image sensor for capturing a subject image via the photographing lens, a display section capable of displaying image information, an aperture drive section for driving the aperture mechanism to a specified position in response to manual operation of a preview instruction member, and a control section for causing execution of an exposure operation for a specified period in the imaging section, and causing display of a moving image on the display section based on image data acquired by the exposure operation. The control section stops the moving image display during drive of the aperture mechanism by the aperture drive mechanism, to thereby prevent unnatural variation in brightness of an image in live view display when a preview operation is carried out. |
| US07817200B2 |
Solid-state image-capturing device, driving method thereof, camera, electric charge transfer device, driving method and driving device for driving load, and electronic equipment
A solid-state image-capturing device which has built in an image-capturing area including a light receiving element provided on a semiconductor substrate, a substrate bias circuit, and a clamp circuit for receiving output of the substrate bias circuit and applying the output of the substrate bias circuit to the semiconductor substrate in accordance with a substrate pulse, comprises a substrate bias control circuit for controlling so as to reduce an electric current of the clamp circuit during a predetermined period. |
| US07817198B2 |
Active pixel array of CMOS image sensor
The present invention relates to an active pixel array of a CMOS image sensor. The active pixel array includes a pixel sensor array in which a pixel sensor which detects first and second light signals, of which the wavelengths are different from each other, among all wavelengths of light signals so as to generate current and voltage signals and a pixel sensor which detects a third light signal with a predetermined wavelength so as to generate a current or voltage signal are alternately arranged; and a color filter array that is formed on the pixel sensor array and in which a filter which transmits all wavelengths of light signals and a filter which transmits the third signal with a predetermined wavelength are alternately arranged. |
| US07817191B2 |
Clock serializer/deserializer transmission method and appartus
An apparatus and method for use in transmitting data that is supplied with a high jitter input clock in a serial data stream over a single fiber cable. Video data from a camera is stored in memory using the high jitter clock. A stable clock is used to transmit the data from memory. To account for drift between the input clock and the stable clock idle words are added to or deleted from the transmitted data. |
| US07817190B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing an image exposed to backlight
An imaging processing device and method where, when areas having a luminance difference set by a user, for example, 45 dB or more, are preset in an image captured by a camera, an area, the luminance level of which exceeds a predetermined threshold level, may be displayed as a gray level or a black level, with the luminance thereof decreased by a certain luminance level, or may be displayed while a mask, having a gray or black level, and the area, the luminance level of which exceeds the predetermined threshold level, overlap each other. Therefore, glare caused by a high luminance subject can be decreased, or other subjects present in a backlit image can be easily recognized. |
| US07817179B2 |
Methods and apparatus for storing alignment information in a bi-directionally scanning electrophotographic device
In a bi-directionally scanning electrophotographic (EP) device, methods and apparatus include storing alignment information. In one aspect, pre-characterization parameters of the EP device are stored in memory, such as NVRAM, resistant to the removal of power. In another, actual parameters of the EP device are learned during calibration and stored in the same memory. A controller has local or remote access to the memory and makes comparisons of the pre-characterized and learned parameters to implement corrections. Especially, scan alignment corrections are implemented to alter future scanning of scan lines of latent images on a photoconductor whereby the scan lines are formed in alternating directions. Certain contemplated parameters include, but are not limited to, a scan detect to print distance from a sensor to the start of imaging, temperature, pressure, a scanning mechanism drive signal parameter, such as pulse width, or sensor delay information. |
| US07817177B2 |
Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus
An optical scanning device includes a light source, a deflector that deflects a light beam from the light source, a first optical system that guides the light beam to the deflector, a second optical system that guides the light beam from the deflector to a surface to be scanned, and a housing that holds the light source and the deflector. At least one optical element included in the first optical system or the second optical system is attached to the housing via an intermediate member. The optical element is adjustable with respect to the intermediate member. The number of directions in which the optical element can be adjusted is two or more. |
| US07817176B2 |
Light source device, optical scanning device, and image forming apparatus
A disclosed device for optically scanning a target surface includes a light source unit configured to emit a light beam; a light intensity detecting unit; a coupling unit configured to substantially collimate the emitted light beam; a beam limiting unit configured to limit the amount of the collimated light beam; a beam splitting unit configured to split the beam limited light beam and thereby to cause a first portion of the beam limited light beam to enter the light intensity detecting unit, wherein the light intensity detecting unit is configured to detect the intensity of the first portion of the beam limited light beam; and a beam deflecting unit configured to deflect a second portion of the split light beam toward the target surface. In the disclosed device, the beam limiting unit and the beam splitting unit are integrated as a single unitary structure and positioned between the coupling unit and the light deflecting unit. |
| US07817170B2 |
Display device and method for driving the same
The invention provides a driving method of a semiconductor display device in which generation of a pseudo contour can be suppressed while the operating frequency of a driver circuit is suppressed. Furthermore, the invention provides a driving method of a semiconductor display device in which generation of a pseudo contour can be suppressed while the decrease in image quality is suppressed. In a semiconductor display device including a plurality of pixels, tables each storing data for determining a subframe period for light emission among a plurality of subframe periods are provided for a plurality of arbitrary pixels among the plurality of pixels respectively. The table is stored in a memory. |
| US07817169B2 |
Display device
The present invention provides a display device which can reduce motion picture blurring while suppressing the lowering of luminance, the lowering of contrast or the increase of electric power necessary for emission of light. In a hold-type display device which holds a display of gradations for 1 frame period, each pixel displays 1 gradation required by an external system by displaying a plurality of gradations within 1 frame period, and the plurality of gradations within 1 frame period is displayed based on voltages which are generated by gradation voltage generation circuits which differ from each other. |
| US07817166B2 |
Stereo windowing system with translucent window support
An operating system level windowing system provides for the reliable display of multiple translucent windows. Incorporating stereo object processing within the windowing system itself (rather than at the application level), permits the windowing system to ensure that stereo content is reliably displayed (e.g., via use of blue-line technology) regardless of whether a window within which stereo content is displayed is occluded or overlapped by another window. |
| US07817163B2 |
Dynamic window anatomy
A method and system for rendering a desktop on a computer using a composited desktop model operating system are provided. A composited desktop window manager, upon receiving base object and content object information for one or more content objects from an application program, draws the window to a buffer memory, and takes advantage of advanced graphics hardware and visual effects to render windows based on content on which they are drawn. The frame portion of each window may be generated by pixel shading a bitmap having the appearance of frosted glass based on the content of the desktop on top of which the frame is displayed. Legacy support is provided so that the operating system can draw and render windows generated by legacy applications to look consistent with non-legacy application windows. |
| US07817162B2 |
Virtual blasting system for removal of coating and/or rust from a virtual surface
A computer simulation and virtual reality system simulates the use of a blasting nozzle to remove one or more coatings and/or rust from a virtual surface. The user operates an electronic controller in the form of a blasting nozzle that outputs a signal indicating whether the blasting nozzle controller is in an “on” position or in an “off” position. The system also has a motion tracking system that tracks the position and orientation of the blasting nozzle controller with respect to the virtual surface defined on the display screen. Simulation software in a computer generates virtual blast pattern data, and the removal of the virtual coating(s) and/or rust image from the virtual surface is displayed in real time on the display screen. |
| US07817159B2 |
Digital painting
A user identifies an area of a digital canvas. Color gradients are determined based on a corresponding area on a reference. Brush strokes are applied in the area of the digital canvas, the brush strokes having trajectories based on the color gradients. |
| US07817158B1 |
Specifying operations to be applied to the attributes of a set of objects
A method and apparatus are provided for specifying that an operation should be performed on an attribute of each object of a group of objects. A statement, for example, in a script, specifies an operation to perform on an attribute of a set of objects. The statement may specify the set in a variety of ways that may be easier to program. According to an aspect of the present invention, the statement may specify an operation identifier and pattern matching criteria for identifiers associated with objects. Objects that are associated with identifiers that satisfy the pattern matching criteria are identified, and for each identified object, the operation is applied to the attribute of the object. According to another aspect of the present invention, the statement may specify an operation identifier and an identifier associated with a collection of objects. The operation is applied to the objects that belong to the collection of objects. |
| US07817155B2 |
Master/slave graphics adapter arrangement
A computing device includes first and second graphics adapters. A graphics processor of the first graphics adapter acts as a master graphics processor, while a second graphics adapter acts as a slave. The master graphics processor renders graphics to be displayed on multiple separate displays within memory of the first graphics adapter. Images to be displayed on one of the displays are transferred to memory used by the second graphics adapter. The display interface of the second graphics adapter presents images within the memory of the second graphics adapter on at least one of the multiple displays. In this way, device electronics forming the display interface, as well as ports of the second adapter, acting as a slave, may be utilized. In one embodiment, an application creates a single larger image, rendered within the memory of the first graphics adapter. The larger image is then presented as the first and second smaller images on the multiple displays. In this way, an end user sees the multiple images as a single large image across the multiple displays. |
| US07817154B1 |
Graphics system with state transition caching
A graphics system has output states corresponding to a transformation of a user state of a software application to a graphics hardware state. The graphics system utilizes a technique, such as a conventional output state cache, to recognize that the overall state vector has taken on a previously-seen value. Additionally, a transition cache maps transitions in changing input state to changing output state. The transition cache is used to provide an alternative technique to determine output states based on transitions of input state. |
| US07817153B2 |
Graphic rendering apparatus which parallel-processes pixels at a time
A rendering apparatus includes a rasterizer, pixel processing units and memories. The rasterizer generates pixels corresponding to graphics. The pixel processing units execute rendering operations for the pixels generated by the rasterizer. The pixels rendered by the same pixel processing unit are positioned substantially equidistantly and isotropically within a rendering area. The memories are provided in association with the respective pixel processing units and store data of the pixels rendered by the associated pixel processing units. |
| US07817151B2 |
Hardware corrected software vertex shader
This invention discloses a method for executing vertex shader in a computer system, the method comprising running software vertex shader for a predetermined vertex shader command in a CPU thread when a GPU is overloaded by vertex shader execution, buffering the output of the software vertex shader, running hardware vertex shader for z-values of the vertex shader command, and replacing z-values from the software vertex shader with the z-values from the hardware vertex shader, wherein the vertex shader overloading can be lessoned yet the vertex shader z-values are consistently transformed by the hardware vertex shader. |
| US07817149B2 |
Semiconductor circuits for driving current-driven display and display
In a semiconductor circuit of a current output type, when display is performed by plural semiconductor circuit in one display panel, luminance unevenness for each block with a different semiconductor circuit occurs due to fluctuation in the semiconductor circuits.In current output stages 14a and 14b, current mirror circuits are constituted at both ends of a chip, and a reference current to be a reference of gradation display is supplied from both the ends. Moreover, by increasing a resistance value of a gate line of the current mirror circuit of distributing a current to each output, deviation of a transistor threshold value in the chip was compensated for, and output currents at left and right ends were matched. Moreover, reference currents were made the same by connecting resistors for reference current generation 11c to 11f each other at least between semiconductor circuits connected side by side, and fluctuation of current values across all semiconductor circuits decreased to 1% or less, whereby unevenness which occurred in boundaries of chips could be eliminated. |
| US07817147B2 |
Display device having plurality of power supplies and method for controlling the same
A display device having a plurality of power supplies and a method for controlling the same are provided. A large-screen display device can be embodied using a plurality of small-capacity power supplies. The operating states of the power supplies are monitored so that the user can immediately deal with abnormal operations of the power supplies. The display device includes a Plasma Display Panel (PDP) module including a plurality of boards that are grouped into at least two groups, at least two power supplies corresponding to the at least two groups and supplying power to the grouped boards, and a controller. Upon receiving a power-on command, the controller controls the at least two power supplies to be activated and controls them to supply power to the grouped boards in the PDP module. |
| US07817143B2 |
Method of inputting function into portable terminal and button input apparatus of portable terminal using the same
A function input method for providing in advance to a user information on a function to be executed when the user presses a button to execute a specific function in a portable terminal, such as a cellular phone, and a button input apparatus using the same. The method includes: receiving a button input when the user presses one of a plurality of buttons; determining whether a mode of the button input is a touch mode or a click mode; and displaying a preview image of a function corresponding to the pressed button if the button input mode is the touch mode and executing the function corresponding to the pressed button if the button input mode is the click mode. |
| US07817141B2 |
Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes a main body, a display screen mounted on the main body, a track ball, a light source, a camera module and a signal processor. The track ball has a reflecting pattern provided on an outer surface thereof and is rotatable relative to the main body. The light source is configured (i.e., structured and arranged) for illuminating the main body. The camera module is configured for receiving and converting the light reflected from the track ball into electronic image signals containing movement information of the reflecting pattern of the track ball. The signal processor is configured for controlling movement of a cursor on the display screen according to the movement information of the reflecting pattern of the track ball contained in the electronic image signals. |
| US07817138B2 |
Mouse having composite switch device
The present invention relates to a mouse having a composite switch device. The composite switch device includes a push button, a multi-stage sliding switch unit and a tactile switch unit. By moving a single push button to different positions, the use modes of the mouse will be switched. |
| US07817136B2 |
Dead front mouse
A mouse configured to display an icon including a top housing that is semi-opaque; and an icon indicator disposed under the top housing, the icon indicator including a light source and an icon plate. The light source is configured to light the icon plate to display an icon through the top housing. The icon indicator and icon are substantially not visible through the top housing if the light source is not lighted. |
| US07817134B2 |
Pointing device
A pointing device is disclosed in the present invention, which comprises a planar sensing unit, an inertial sensing unit and a controller unit. The planar sensing unit is capable of detecting a movement of the point device moving on a planar surface and generating a planar sensing signal accordingly. The inertial sensing unit is capable of detecting a movement of the point device while it is moving in a free space and thus generating an inertial sensing signal accordingly. The controller unit is coupled to the planar sensing unit and the inertial sensing unit for enabling the same to receive and process the planar sensing signal and the inertial sensing signal. In a preferred aspect, the planar sensing unit is capable of detecting and determining whether the pointing device is operating on a surface or in a free space for selectively enabling the pointing device to operate in a mode of two-dimensional detection or in a mode of three-dimensional detection such that users can apply the pointing device freely without being restricted by a surface or a space, and thus not only the usage convenience of the pointing device is enhanced, but also the applications thereof are broadened. |
| US07817131B2 |
Method for efficient computation of image frames for dual modulation display systems using key frames
The invention provides methods and systems for processing image data made up of a series of frames for displaying on a dual modulation display system having a first modulator disposed to illuminate a second modulator, wherein a first modulation signal and a luminance map are not calculated for every frame. Instead, certain frames referred to as “key frames” are used to provide the first modulation signal and the luminance map for a plurality of other frames. |
| US07817129B2 |
Integrated line selection apparatus within active matrix arrays
An integrated line selection apparatus within active matrix arrays is described. The circuit includes multiple gate line drive transistor devices, each gate line drive transistor device having a drain coupled to a gate line of multiple gate lines in a gate line driver circuit coupled to an active matrix array and a source to receive an input signal. The circuit further includes at least one address line transistor device corresponding to each gate line transistor device, each address line transistor device having a drain coupled to a gate of the corresponding gate line drive transistor device and a gate coupled to a corresponding address line, such that by asserting a predetermined combination of voltages on the plurality of address lines, a single gate line of said plurality of gate lines is selected to receive the input signal to be transmitted to a corresponding pixel within the corresponding active matrix array. |
| US07817126B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of driving the same
A liquid crystal display system reduces a consumed current and reduces generation of heat in a data integrated circuit, the liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal cell array, a first charge sharing circuit arranged on one side of the liquid crystal cell array to pre-charge the data lines before the data lines are charged with a data voltage, and a second charge sharing circuit arranged outside the other side of the liquid crystal cell array to pre-charge the data lines before the data lines are charged with a data voltage. |
| US07817125B2 |
Display device
In a display device in which each pixel includes a thin film transistor which is turned on in response to a scanning signal from a gate signal line, and an electrode to which a video signal from a drain signal line is supplied through the thin film transistor, the scanning signal allows a voltage level thereof which turns on the thin film transistor to have a valley portion which decreases the voltage level in a midst portion thereof, and the decreased voltage level of the valley portion is set to a value which is equal to or more than a voltage level which turns off the thin film transistor. |
| US07817124B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel, method for driving the same, and liquid crystal display apparatus using the same
A liquid crystal display panel includes a plurality of sub-pixels, a plurality of thin film transistors, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of gate lines. Each of the sub-pixels have first and second gray scale regions which are split up and down and have different areas, the first and second gray scale regions of one sub-pixel having a staggered arrangement with respect to those of an adjacent sub-pixel. Thin film transistors are connected to the first and second gray scale regions so that the first gray scale regions are driven when one of gate lines is driven and the second gray scale regions are driven when another gate line is driven. |
| US07817111B2 |
Plasma display device
A plasma display device may include a plasma display panel, a chassis arranged on one side of the plasma display panel, the chassis supporting the plasma display panel, a plurality of circuit units arranged on one surface of the chassis, the circuit units generating electrical signals that are used to drive the plasma display panel, a signal transmission member linking the circuit units to each other and to the plasma display panel so as to transmit the electrical signals, a coupling member installed on at least one of the circuit units, coupling the signal transmission member to at least one of the circuit units, and a foreign material blocking member installed on at least one of the circuit units, preventing a foreign material from intruding into the coupling member. |
| US07817110B2 |
Plasma display apparatus having enhanced discharge stability and driving thereof
Provided is a plasma display apparatus and a method of driving the same. The plasma display apparatus includes a scan driver. The scan driver supplies a first driving signal to the scan electrode in a first subfield during a first reset period, a first address period, and a first sustain period. The scan driver supplies a second driving signal to the scan electrode, during a second reset period having a different time duration from the first reset period, a second address period having a different time duration from the first address period, and a second sustain period having a different time duration from the first sustain period. At least one of the dielectric layer or the protective layer includes 1000 PPM (parts per million) or less of lead(Pb). |
| US07817095B2 |
Tight-fitting garment including a sensor for measuring length and/or shape
A tight-fitting garment comprising a dipole resonator which is adapted to vary its length and/or shape in conformity with the length and/or shape variations of a person wearing the garment. The length and/or shape of the resonator determines the resonance frequency which can be detected by a reflection analyzer. The dipole resonator comprises at least one elastic core around which a conductive wire is wound. The dipole resonator is further suitable to elastically deform along with the tight-fitting garment. |
| US07817093B2 |
Portable computer and antenna distance setting mechanism
An apparatus has an antenna distance setting mechanism that sets a distance between a cosmetic cover and a radio antenna. An upper housing and a radio antenna, which has a ground and a radiating element and is movably attached to the upper housing, are covered by a cosmetic cover formed of a dielectric material. An antenna distance setting mechanism includes a radio antenna supporting member, elastic members, and protrusions. The radio antenna-supporting member is movably attached to the upper housing. When the cosmetic cover is attached to the upper housing, an inner wall of the cosmetic cover pushes the ends of the protrusions against an elastic force of the elastic members to set the distance between the radiating element and the inner wall of the cosmetic cover to a predetermined distance. |
| US07817092B1 |
Agile electromagnetic geolocation
The unknown location of an electromagnetic transmitter is determined by receiving the radiation at plural sensors distributed over an area. Received power is determined at each sensor, and normalized by taking ratios of powers from the various sensors. A plurality of transmitter locations are hypothesized, and losses from each hypothesized location to each sensor are estimated or measured. The losses are normalized. The differences between the normalized powers and normalized losses are integrated, and the mean-square values determined. The location at which the mean-square value is minimum is deemed to be the location of the transmitter. |
| US07817089B2 |
Beamformer using cascade multi-order factors, and a signal receiving system incorporating the same
A beamformer includes a number (T) of consecutive combining stages. A Tth combining stage includes a converging unit. Each of first to (T−1)th combining stages includes a plurality of converging units. The number of the converging units in a preceding combining stage is greater than that of a succeeding combining stage. Each converging unit in the first combining stage combines three arrival signals from an antenna array in accordance with corresponding weights so as to form an output signal. Each converging unit in each of second to (T−1)th combining stages combines output signals of three corresponding converging units in an immediately preceding combining stage in accordance with corresponding weights so as to form an output signal. The converging unit of the Tth combining stage combines the output signals from the converging units in the (T−1)th combining stage in accordance with corresponding weights so as to form an output signal that serves as an array pattern. |
| US07817088B2 |
Beamforming multiple-input multiple-output hybrid automatic repeat request retransmission
Techniques are provided for improving hybrid automatic repeat request retransmissions techniques in a beamformed multiple-input multiple-output wireless communication environment. At a first device comprising a first plurality of antennas, a plurality of beamforming weight vectors are applied to a corresponding plurality of signal streams for simultaneous transmission to a second device having a plurality of antennas. A determination is made whether the plurality of signal streams need to be retransmitted from the first device to the second device. When a retransmission needs to be made, an order in which the plurality of beamforming weight vectors are applied to the plurality of signal streams is switched for a retransmission attempt of the plurality of signal streams from the first device to the second device. |
| US07817075B2 |
Apparatus for converting MEMS inductive capacitance
An apparatus for converting MEMS inductive capacitance to digital is provided, for converting the induced analog voltage of MEMS element into digital signal. The apparatus includes an ADC, a reference voltage circuit and a controller. With the integral circuit and the comparator of the ADC and the reference voltages generated by the reference voltage circuit, the apparatus of the present invention uses the switch signals generated by the controller to generate digital signals. The present invention can also be integrated with MEMS element into a single chip to achieve single-chip MEMS. |
| US07817071B2 |
Low power consumption analog-to-digital converter
A low power consumption analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is provided. The switched capacitor circuit and the operational amplifier of the pipelined stage within the present low power consumption ADC are designed to close loop, and the operational amplifier is operated at the incomplete settling of the linear settling, namely, the operational amplifier is not operated at the slew state. Therefore, the pipelined stage would not produce signal dependent distortion, such that the gain error produced by the operational amplifier could be seen as a constant gain error. |
| US07817070B2 |
Method and apparatus for sampling and converting a signal
A signal conditioning circuit time share multiplexes anti-aliasing filters and an A/D converter. A plurality of first tier multiplexers each time share multiplex one of a plurality of antialiasing filters between a plurality of AC or baseband input signals from a plurality of sensors. A second tier multiplexer selects its inputs from the outputs of the first tier multiplexers. The output of the second tier multiplexer feeds a high speed A/D converter. Thus, the A/D converter is time share multiplexed by the second tier multiplexer. In this manner, a plurality of sensors can share a single A/D converter. After allowing a settling time for the multiplexers and antialiasing filters, a plurality of samples of the input signals are taken, such as for one period. The samples of each AC input signal are multiplied by a sine vector and a cosine vector. The product vectors are then each averaged and the root mean square of the two averages yields the magnitude of the input signal. Mechanical angle of the input signal can be determined based upon the sign of the sine and cosine product vector averages. |
| US07817068B2 |
Low power serial link bus architecture
Embodiments of the present invention provide a bus architecture utilizing multiple-pumped serial links, and a combination of encoding and serialization to two data streams to transmit and receive a serialized data stream over a bus. The order in which encoding and serialization takes place depends upon the anticipated activity factors of the two data streams, and is chosen to reduce average energy dissipation. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07817066B2 |
In-vehicle computer system
An in-vehicle computer system includes a host computer, a mode switch and a backup microprocessor. When the host computer functions ordinarily, the mode switch is in a regular mode as a default, and the host computer uses various graphical interfaces on a display to control the operations of electronic devices implemented in a vehicle. The electronic devices can include a digital versatile disc (DVD) player, an MP3 player and a global positioning system (GPS). When a total failure of the computer occurs, the mode switch is switched to a backup mode, and the host computer is replaced by the backup microprocessor to control a backup graphical processor to extract backup graphical interfaces from a backup storage medium for graphical processing and further presentation on the display. Thus, a driver can continuously control the corresponding electronic devices through the backup graphical interfaces on the display. |
| US07817064B2 |
Road-condition informing apparatus and road-condition informing method
A detecting unit that is provided at a detection position on a road detects a road condition near the detection position. A light emitting unit that is provided at the detection position emits a light. A control unit controls a light emission of the light emitting unit based on detected road condition. |
| US07817063B2 |
Method and system for remotely monitoring and controlling field devices with a street lamp elevated mesh network
An elevated mesh network supported and operably coupled to street lamps can be used to remotely monitor and control field devices. The packet transceiver modules of the mesh network can also be coupled to sensors that monitor operation of a street lamp as well as environmental conditions. The elevated mesh network supported by street lamps can use RF links to couple with one or more remote field devices that also have packet transceiver modules. The elevated mesh network can also include a communications gateway that couples the elevated mesh network to an asynchronous communications system. The communications gateway is a store and forward system that can periodically connect to the asynchronous communications system in order to upload compressed data derived from the remote field devices. The asynchronous communications system can connect the elevated mesh network to a back-end computer system that may monitor, diagnose, and control the remote field devices. |
| US07817060B2 |
Electrical control system
An electrical control system includes one or more master nodes that are adapted to control and monitor the operation of one or more slave nodes. The master nodes and the slave nodes are operably coupled by one or more communication interfaces, such as radio frequency, Internet Protocol, power line, or other conventional communication interfaces. A hand-held radio frequency controller includes a controller that is operably coupled to an radio frequency transceiver. The controller includes an operating system and application programs, including a device engine, a scenes engine, an events engine, a system engine, and an away engine. The device engine, scenes engine, events engine, system engine and away engine permit a user of the hand-held radio frequency controller to customize the operation of at least some of the aspects of the master and slave nodes. |
| US07817058B2 |
Server signaler
A server signaler includes a lamp and a housing containing a battery and a switch. The server signaler may be attached to an advertising support or placed directly on a table top or other surface. Actuation of the switch illuminates the lamp to alert the server that service is required. Another server signaler according to applicant's invention includes an elongated base and telescoping portions to extend the lamp upwardly above the elongated base. Another server signaler provides a card-receiving channel containing switch contacts which are closed by insertion of a card into the channel. |
| US07817049B2 |
Combined scattered-light and extinction-based fire detector
A fire detector has at least two sensor units for monitoring a confined space for the occurrence of a fire. A first fire parameter is monitored according to the scattered light method, using a first sensor unit located at or in the vicinity of the ceiling. At least one second sensor unit of the fire detector, which emits at least two highly focused light beams towards the floor of the confined space, monitors a second fire parameter according to the extinction method. |
| US07817046B2 |
Method and apparatus for cataloging and poling movement in an environment for purposes of tracking and/or containment of infectious diseases
A system and method for containing and restricting spread of infectious diseases within hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities by cataloguing and delimiting movement of patients, medical staff, employees, visitors, contractors and other personnel attending or on-site. The system also provides for tracking and cataloguing contaminated medical apparatus, medicine trolleys, food trolleys, medical gas stations, laundry baskets and other mobile or movable medical equipment or facility equipment to prevent spread of the infectious disease or viral entities. According to another aspect, the system includes a poling or supervisory network for auditing the presence or absence of patients, medical staff and other personnel; and medical apparatus, movable equipment or other facility equipment. |
| US07817043B2 |
Radio frequency tag
The present invention provides an RF tag which does not have an integrated circuit such as a silicon chip, can retain a plurality of information, can rewrite or add the information, and is inexpensive. The RF tag includes an RF resonance circuit which has at least two capacitors connected in series or parallel and at least one coil antenna formed on a substrate, wherein at least one of the capacitors is an anti-fuse which irreversibly short-circuits when a voltage higher than a threshold voltage is applied to the anti-fuse, and the surface of an electrode constituting the capacitor has a mean roughness of 1 μm or less. |
| US07817040B2 |
RFID transducer alignment system
A radio frequency identification (RFID) system having the capacity to detect conditions of alignment, wherein the system may be used with hand-held, fixed-in-place, stationary, and permanently mounted apparatus. The system includes an RF interrogator configured for use with dental x-ray, medical imaging, film, and digital radiography apparatus, and may include a multiplicity of RF transponders or interrogators. An RF interrogator, an RF transponder, and an x-ray sensitive imaging device, and its holder are configured to be critically aligned to a dental x-ray machine head apparatus, rendering repeat imaging unnecessary. The x-ray emitter may be further configured to automatically obtain a desired x-ray image or configured so that the device cannot activate and provide a radiograph until alignment with the transponder and associated x-ray sensitive imaging device has occurred. |
| US07817037B2 |
Electronic component with ID tags
The invention relates to an electronic component that can be operated by means of an alternating voltage. Said component includes at least one input, at least one output and a pair of electronic sub-components with an identical function. The input(s) of the electronic component is/are coupled to a respective input of the electronic sub-components with an identical function and the output(s) of the electronic component is/are coupled to a respective output of said electronic sub-components. In addition, the electronic component is configured in such a way that at least one output only one output signal of the first sub-component of the pair of functionally identical electronic components can be picked up during a first half-wave of an alternating voltage, whereas only one output signal of the second sub-component of the pair of functionally identical electronic can be picked up during the second half-wave of the alternating voltage. |
| US07817036B2 |
Cabled and cableless interface method for connecting units within a rack
A system and method for automatically determining a physical location of one or more units in a rack, including: using one or more physical cables between rack units; cascading a first signal through the one or more units located in the rack, the first signal being encoded with a unit number and a physical parameter; and creating a rack ID by utilizing hardware parameters, the hardware parameters being determined by: detecting a second signal that exists from a bottom unit, the bottom unit located at the bottom of the rack; and using a third signal to send data between the one or more units in the rack by manipulating void spaces within the rack, the third signal being either cabled or an optical signal. |
| US07817034B2 |
Inventory monitor for an article dispenser
A monitoring system for developing information data, for use in association with an opening that provides access for removal by a customer of articles stored in an article storage area. In one embodiment, the monitoring system includes a beam forming device adapted to be arranged about the perimeter of the opening so as to form at least one radiation beam that spans the opening. The radiation beam has a position with respect to the opening that is sufficient to detect manual removal by the customer of one or more of the articles from inside the article storage area, by the article and hand of the customer causing a temporary blockage of at least a portion of the radiation beam as the article and hand of the customer pass through the opening. A processing circuit coupled to the beam forming device senses the blockage of the radiation beam, and in response to the sensing, develops the information data. |
| US07817033B2 |
Vehicle locating method and system using a mobile device
A system to transmit a location of a vehicle, including: a transmission system including, a first system unit configured to determine a current location using radio signals, a first memory unit storing a database that includes a list of one or more mobile devices, a processor configured to select one of the mobile devices from the database, and a first transmission unit configured to transmit the current location to the selected one of the mobile devices in response to an engine of the vehicle being shut off. |
| US07817029B1 |
Method for remote pre-verification of alarm signals and remote alarm system control
A method of alarm data communication involves protecting a premise with an alarm sensor, sensing an exception, text messaging a responsible user's text-messaging device a text message indicative of such exception and, in the absence of an effective cancel instruction, propagating a signal to a central alarm monitoring station indicative of such exception or otherwise expediting dispatch of authorities to the premise in response to such exception. Another aspect of this method involves that, notwithstanding the absence of an effective cancel instruction, there instead might be the issuance of an effective verify instruction, which propagates to the central alarm monitoring station as indicative of not only the exception but also that such exception is verified. |
| US07817027B2 |
Method and system for integrated media and vehicle seat belt monitoring
The present invention is, in one embodiment, directed to a system and method to encourage seat belt use among all passengers in a vehicle. The system and method use media driver and entertainment devices to reward seat belt usage in all seating positions. |
| US07817025B2 |
Apparatus for detecting vehicle wheel positions based on reception intensities of triggering signals outputted simultaneously
In a vehicle's wheel position detecting apparatus, a first triggering device, attached to the vehicle's body, outputs a triggering signal including information indicating that the triggering signal is for front wheels. A second trigging device, attached to the body, outputs a triggering signal including information indicating that the triggering signal is for rear wheels. The first and second triggering devices output the triggering signals simultaneously. A transceiver is attached to each of the front and rear four wheels. Each transceiver receives the triggering signal, calculates a reception intensity of the triggering signal, stores both the reception intensity data and the information into a frame, and transmits the frame. A receiver, attached to the body, receives the frame and processes the received frame to read out both the data and the information and use the read-out data and information to detect the positions of the wheels. |
| US07817024B2 |
Vehicle tire warning system
An air pressure sensor (2) for a vehicle tire warning system includes a tubular housing (21) defining a chamber (218), an air pressure actuating device seated in the chamber and being moveable back and forth in the chamber in response to air pressure change in the vehicle tire, and a switch device to electrically connect a high air pressure warning circuit or a low air pressure warning circuit under the drive of the air pressure actuating device. The chamber of the tubular housing is communicated to the atmosphere via a connecting pipe (29). |
| US07817022B2 |
Vision enhancement device for use in vehicle
A vision enhancement device for use in a vehicle that improves the frontward vision of an operator during operation. The device has two dividing lines set apart from each other on an instrument panel. These dividing lines show as false image lines on an inside surface of a front window, and divide the inside surface of the front window into a plurality of areas in a vertical direction. A second area formed between these two false image lines forms an appropriate visual field range when the operator looks forward while operating the vehicle. First light emitting means comprising light emitting diodes are disposed at both ends of each of the two dividing lines. The light emitted by these light emitting diodes is directed onto the front window as a false image in accordance with changes in the vehicle state and the environment around the vehicle. |
| US07817015B1 |
Floating threshold for data detection in a RFID tag
A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is provided with a capability to adaptively initiate a floating RF threshold from the level of a raw RF signal detected during a communication session with a designated RFID reader, and to compare that threshold with the level of a baseband signal derived from the RF signal so as to reject RF interference including noise from other sources during the communication session. Preferably, the threshold is derived from the peak level of the detected RF signal on commencement of each communication from the reader during the session. |
| US07817009B2 |
LED apparatus with temperature control function
An LED apparatus with temperature self-regulating, over-temperature protection, and over-current protection function comprises an LED chip, a heat dissipation plate, a heat conductive layer and a temperature control device. The heat dissipation and the heat conductive layer disposed thereon carry the LED chip and dissipate the heat generated from the LED chip that is connected to an electric power source for luminance. The temperature control device exhibiting PTC behavior is electrically connected between the LED chip and the electric power source in series, and the distance between the LED chip and the temperature control device is less than 3 cm. The heat conductive layer can consist of polymeric dielectric material and has a heat conduction coefficient larger than 1.0 W/mK at 25° C. |
| US07817008B2 |
Magnetic element
A magnetic element includes a pair of coil sets. Each of the coil sets includes a first coil having a plurality of first metallic lines, a second coil having a plurality of second metallic lines, and at least one conductive column electrically connected between the first coil and the second coil. The magnetic element further includes a package body for enclosing the pair of coil sets therein. |
| US07817005B2 |
Correlated magnetic container and method for using the correlated magnetic container
A correlated magnetic container and method are described herein that use correlated magnets to enable a container having at least two sections to be assembled, disassembled or releasably secured to an external object. Some examples of the two sections of the container that can be assembled and disassembled utilizing the correlated magnets include a wall panel, top panel, side panel, bottom panel, door panel, a handle, a tool, a belt, a frame member or locking member. |
| US07817004B2 |
Correlated magnetic prosthetic device and method for using the correlated magnetic prosthetic device
A prosthetic device is described herein that incorporates correlated magnets which enable an artificial prosthesis (e.g., artificial limb) to be easily and effectively attached to and removed from an interface that is secured to a residual limb on a person. In addition, a method is described herein for enabling a person to attach and remove an artificial prosthesis to and from an interface that is secured to a residual limb on the person. |
| US07817000B2 |
Selectively configurable relay
A relay, in particular for radio-frequency applications, has at least one first contact electrically connected with a first conductor trace, the first contact in a contact position can be selectively electrically connected by a mechanical actuator with at least two second contacts electrically connected with at least one second conductor trace. The relay has a spatially fixed first circuit board with the first contact and the first conductor trace and a second circuit board with the second contacts and the second conductor trace that can be moved against the first circuit board into various contact positions by the mechanical actuator. |
| US07816993B2 |
Temperature compensated crystal oscillator
The present invention relates to an integrated circuit for a temperature compensated crystal oscillator having an external crystal. The integrated circuit comprises a temperature compensation having one fixed or at least two selectable 3rd and/or 4th and/or 5th and/or higher order temperature compensation functions for at least one specific type of external crystal. The temperature compensation can be calibrated at one temperature, in other words without use of temperature variation, by means of an external voltage or current source overdriving a respective temperature-dependent voltage or current supplied from an internal temperature sensor to the temperature compensation. |
| US07816992B2 |
Offset voltage correction circuit and class D amplifier
An offset voltage correction circuit for a differential amplifier comprising NMOS transistors serving as a pair of differential transistors, and PMOS transistors serving as a pair of load transistors connected between outputs of the pair of differential transistors and a power source. The offset voltage correction circuit is equipped with a voltage generator for generating, between a source of any one of the pair of load transistors and the power source, a constant voltage for correcting an offset voltage of the differential amplifier. |
| US07816991B2 |
Signal splitter
A controllable-gain circuit (TI, Rt, TS1, . . . , TS4) provides a first and a second pair of complementary gain-controlled signals (Ip1, Ip3; Ip2, Ip4) in response to an input signal (RFI). In each pair, one gain-controlled signal (Ip1, Ip2) is the input signal amplified with a gain G comprised in a range between a minimum gain Gmin and a maximum gain Gmax. The other gain-controlled signal (Ip3, Ip4) is the input signal amplified with complementary gain Gmax-G. A fixed-gain output circuit (Rfg, Nfg) makes a weighed sum (Ip1*Rfg+Ip3*Rfg) of one and the other gain-controlled signal in the first pair of complementary gain-controlled signals. The respective weighing factors for one and the other gain-controlled signal are substantially similar (Rfg). A controllable-gain output circuit (Rlg, Rhg, Nlg, Nhg) makes a weighed sum (Ip2*Rlg+Ip4*(Rlg+Rhg)) of one and the other gaincontrolled signal in the second pair of complementary gain-controlled signals. The respective weighing factors for one and the other gain-controlled signal are substantially different (Rlg, Rlg+Rhg). |
| US07816990B2 |
Variable gain amplification circuit
A variable gain amplification circuit comprises a signal generator that has an output terminal and is able to vary an output amplitude; a variable capacitor connected between the output terminal and an AC grounded terminal; and a control circuit for controlling the output amplitude of the signal generator, and a capacitance of the variable capacitor. Therefore, unnecessary signals can be attenuated even when the gain is low, and degradation in distortion characteristics in the latter block can be suppressed. |
| US07816987B2 |
Driver circuit and driver IC
A driver circuit comprises: differential amplification stages connected in series, and at least two cross-point adjuster circuits respectively connected to at least two differential amplification stages of the differential amplification stages. The cross-point adjuster circuits control at least one of the positive-phase and negative-phase DC levels of a corresponding differential amplification stage and adjust the cross point of the output signals of the corresponding differential amplification stage. |
| US07816986B2 |
Output stage circuit
A PWM signal drives a pair of output transistors connected in series between a supply line and ground so that a push-pull current is output toward a speaker via a coil from a point connecting both output transistors. A current limiting resistor has one end connected to the supply line and between the other end and ground is provided a control transistor. Furthermore, a comparator compares the supply line voltage and a reference voltage and turns on the control transistor when the supply line voltage is higher than the reference voltage in the comparison result thereof. |
| US07816982B2 |
Switching audio power amplifier with de-noise function
The invention provides a switching audio power amplifier with de-noise function, including a first comparator, a second comparator, a logic control unit, a de-noise circuit, and a bridge circuit. The first comparator and the second comparator respectively generate the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal, and then the logic control unit performs logic operation to generate a third PWM signal and a fourth PWM signal. If the pulse width of the third PWM signal (or the fourth PWM signal) is lower than a threshold, the de-noise circuit increases the pulse width of the third PWM signal or the fourth PWM signal and outputs the fifth PWM signal and the sixth PWM signal to drive the bridge circuit. Next, the bridge circuit conducts a driving current alternately flowing to and from a load according to the firth PWM signal and the sixth PWM signal. |
| US07816981B2 |
Signal generating apparatus and class-D amplifying apparatus
A signal generating apparatus includes: a data generator which generates a data series in which first, second, third and fourth data are arranged at a sampling period; a first signal generator which generates a first pulse-width modulation signal in which a pulse is arranged in a pulse period longer than the sampling period, time points of front and rear edges of the pulse being set in response to the first and second data; and a second signal generator which generates a second pulse-width modulation signal in which a pulse is arranged between the adjacent pulses of the first pulse-width modulation signal, time points of front and rear edges of the pulse of the second pulse-width modulation signal been set in response to the third and fourth data, respectively. |
| US07816977B2 |
Core voltage generator
Core voltage generator including a comparison unit configured to compare a reference voltage with a feedback core voltage to output a difference between the reference voltage and the feedback core voltage, an amplification unit configured to output a core voltage by amplifying an external power supply voltage according to an output signal of the comparison unit and a mute unit configured to maintain a voltage level of an output terminal of the amplification unit at a ground voltage level when the output of the core voltage is interrupted. |
| US07816976B2 |
Power supply circuit using insulated-gate field-effect transistors
A power supply circuit is disclosed. The power supply circuit is provided with a reference voltage generation circuit to receive a voltage from a higher voltage supply so as to generate a reference voltage. The reference voltage from the reference voltage generation circuit is outputted to a power supply voltage generation circuit. The power supply voltage generation circuit boosts the reference voltage to generate a boosted power supply voltage. The boosted power supply voltage is inputted to a bandgap reference circuit. The bandgap reference circuit generates a reference voltage by using the boosted power supply voltage. |
| US07816973B2 |
Devices and methods for reducing effects of device mismatch in temperature sensor circuits
A temperature sensor having one or more mirror circuits output temperature dependent output signals is disclosed in one embodiment. The temperature sensor includes a sampling circuit coupled to receive a clock signal that samples the output signals for a duration of a predetermined number of clock cycles. The temperature sensor additionally includes a phase control circuit that receives the clock signal and generates a control signal that enables subsequent sampling operations. Each subsequent sampling operation has a duration of the predetermined number of clock cycles. The control signal from the phase control circuit further enables input and output terminals of respective circuit components in the mirror circuits to be switched for each subsequent sampling operation. |
| US07816972B2 |
Multiplexer circuit
Disclosed herein is a multiplexer circuit. The multiplexer circuit includes a first differential output unit, a second differential output unit, and a selection unit. The first differential output unit receives NRZ input signals (D1 and D1) and a clock signal (CLK), and generates differential RZ-mode outputs (R1 and R1). The second differential output unit receives NRZ input signals (D2 and D2) and an inverted clock signal ( CLK), and generates differential RZ-mode outputs (R2 and R2). The selection unit receives the RZ-mode output signals (R1, R1, R2, and R2) generated at the first differential output unit and the second differential output unit, and generates NRZ mode outputs in each half cycle of the clock signal (CLK). |
| US07816971B2 |
Switch circuit having adjustable linearity of differential mode resistances
A switch circuit includes a pair of metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) switches and an adjusting unit. Each of the MOS switches has an input terminal and an output terminal. The MOS switches receive a pair of differential input voltages at the input terminals thereof, and output a pair of differential output voltages at the output terminals thereof when the MOS switches conduct. The adjusting unit changes a difference between common mode levels of the input terminals and the output terminals of the MOS switches so as to adjust linearity of differential mode resistances of the MOS switches. |
| US07816970B2 |
Low voltage mixer with improved gain and linearity
A frequency mixing apparatus with improved voltage gain and linearity is provided. The frequency mixing apparatus includes a transconductor, a separator, and a switching unit. A voltage gain of the transconductor is controllable, and the transconductor converts a Radio Frequency (RF) signal into a current signal under control of a self bias. The separator transfers the current signal to the switching unit. The switching unit outputs a signal having a frequency corresponding to one of a sum and a difference of a frequency of the RF signal and a frequency of a Local Oscillation (LO) signal by performing a switching operation according to the LO signal. |
| US07816969B2 |
Level shifter circuit
A level shifter circuit is disclosed. The circuit receives a digital input signal characterized by a logical high state having a first high voltage level and generates an output node for driving a digital output signal characterized by a logical high state having a second high voltage level. The output signal logical state mirrors the input signal logical state. The circuit includes a short circuit current reduction mechanism for charging a first internal node of level shifter circuit following a first transition of the input signal logical state. The circuit further includes a performance enhancement mechanism for discharging the first internal node of the level shifter circuit following a second transition of the input signal logical state. The performance enhancement mechanism may comprise a transistor driven by the input signal and connected between the first internal node and ground. The current limiting mechanism may comprise a transistor having a source/drain terminal connected to the first internal node. |
| US07816965B2 |
Cooperation circuit
The present invention discloses a cooperation circuit, comprising: a first control module, capable of generating a first control signal and a second control signal, the pulse width of the first control signal being determined by the pulse width of the second control signal; and a second control module, coupled to the first control module to receive the first control signal and the second control signal and generate a third control signal according to the first control signal and the second control signal; wherein, according to the first control signal and the second control signal, the second control module enables the third control signal and the second control signal to exhibit the same frequency and the same duty cycle with a phase delay. |
| US07816963B1 |
Phase interpolator with adaptive delay adjustment
The phase interpolator includes two adjustable delays 30 and 31, phase comparator 32 which detects a phase difference between a signal delayed by the adjustable delay 30 and a signal delayed by the adjustable delay 31, an integrator 33 which integrates the outputs of the phase comparator 32 and multipliers 34-1 and 34-2 which set a control voltage for the adjustable delays 30 and 31. The feedback loop comprising phase comparator 32 and integrator 33 controls a delay amount of the adjustable delay 30 thereby securing a phase relation between {ACK1, ACK2} and ICK to achieve a stable ICK phase. |
| US07816962B2 |
Delay locked loop with improved jitter and clock delay compensating method thereof
A delay locked loop can remove a jitter component that inevitably occurs due to feedback latency in the conventional DLL. That is, the present invention has benefit of removing the jitter component by controlling the delay lines based on the predicted data. The delay locked loop includes a pattern detecting unit for generating and storing a noise pattern by detecting inputted noise data, a pre-delay control unit for determining a delay amount depending on the output of the pattern detecting unit, and a pre-delay line for delaying an internal clock depending on the delay amount that is determined by the pre-delay control means. |
| US07816959B1 |
Clock circuit for reducing long term jitter
A clock circuit generates a reference clock signal based on a resonant frequency of a crystal, generates thermometer-coded signals based on the reference clock signal, and generates a pulse train based on the thermometer-coded signals. The pulse train has a frequency that is a multiple of the frequency of the reference clock signal. Additionally, the clock circuit includes a phase-lock loop for generating an output clock signal based on the pulse train and aligning a phase of the output clock signal with pulses in the pulse train. In various embodiments, the frequency of the reference clock signal is the same as the resonant frequency of the crystal and the frequency of the output clock signal is a multiple of the resonant frequency of the crystal. Moreover, reference clock signal and the output clock signal each have a long-term jitter based on the precision of the resonant frequency of the crystal. |
| US07816955B2 |
Ramp generator and circuit pattern inspection apparatus using the same ramp generator
The present invention provides a ramp generator capable of appropriately setting a rise starting point of an output voltage of a ramp waveform and an output voltage at the time of stable output. A current adjustment unit including a differential pair of transistors and an amplifier constitute a feedback circuit. By controlling the charging/discharging of an integration capacitor by ON/OFF of a discharge current source connected to a common emitter terminal of the current adjustment unit, an output of the ramp waveform outputted from an output terminal disposed at the connection end of the integration capacitor is controlled. |
| US07816954B2 |
Circuit configuration of a frequency divider
A frequency divider including at least one frequency divider cell having an adjustable circuit configuration which may be selected adaptively according to properties of an oscillator signal to be frequency-divided in the frequency divider. Accordingly, the circuit configuration of the frequency divider may be changed on the fly during the operation. |
| US07816952B2 |
Clock signal switching device, clock signal switching method, data bus switching device, and data bus switching method
A clock signal switching device includes: a plurality of signal synchronization generation means for generating mask signals and synchronized switching signals; a plurality of clock signal mask means for generating masked clock signals; a synchronized switching signal selection means for selecting one from among the synchronized switching signals; and a masked clock signal selection means for selecting one from among the masked clock signals. |
| US07816951B1 |
Locally boosted top plate sampling for a sampling capacitor
An analog sampling network (100) includes a sampling capacitor being coupled between a bottom plate sampling switch and a top plate sampling switch implemented as NMOS transistors. The top plate sampling switch has source/drain terminals coupled respectively to the sampling capacitor and a first reference voltage. The analog sampling network includes a top plate boosting circuit (150) providing a boosted gate voltage to a gate terminal of the top plate sampling switch during a sampling phase, the boosted gate voltage being the sum of a first voltage and a second voltage. The first voltage is approximately equal to the first reference voltage and tracks process, temperature, power supply voltage and biasing condition variations. The second voltage is a maximum operating voltage from the gate to drain/source terminal for a fabrication process used to fabricate the second MOS transistor. |
| US07816949B2 |
Signal transmission circuit and signal transmission system using the same
A signal transmission circuit includes first and second power source wirings, and a plurality of differential circuits connected in series between the first and second power source wirings. A signal transmission system includes a plurality of pairs of signal wirings, an output circuit supplying a differential signal to each of the pairs of signal wirings, and an input circuit receiving the differential signals via the pairs of signal wirings, wherein the output circuit includes first and second power source wirings, and a plurality of differential output circuits connected in series between the first and second power source wirings, and the input circuit includes a plurality of differential input circuits respectively corresponding to the differential output circuits. |
| US07816945B2 |
3D chip-stack with fuse-type through silicon via
Programmable fuse-type through silicon vias (TSVs) in silicon chips are provided with non-programmable TSVs in the same chip. The programmable fuse-type TSVs may employ a region within the TSV structure having sidewall spacers that restrict the cross-sectional conductive path of the TSV adjacent a chip surface contact pad. Application of sufficient current by programming circuitry causes electromigration of metal to create a void in the contact pad and, thus, an open circuit. Programming may be carried out by complementary circuitry on two adjacent chips in a multi-story chip stack. |
| US07816944B2 |
Variable width writing to a memory of an IC
Some embodiments of the invention provide a configurable integrated circuit (“IC”). This IC includes several configurable circuits for receiving configuration data and configurably performing a set of operations based on the configuration data. It also includes several hybrid circuits. Each particular hybrid circuit can interchangeably perform as either a logic circuit or an interconnect circuit in the configurable IC. |
| US07816942B2 |
USB 2.0 HS voltage-mode transmitter with tuned termination resistance
A high-speed universal serial bus (USB) transceiver includes a voltage-mode architecture for generating a USB signal. The voltage mode architecture reduces power consumption by reducing the current requirements for high-speed USB communications. The USB transceiver can include a reference voltage generator, a resistive element, and a switching element for completing and breaking a circuit including the reference voltage generator, the resistive element, and a data pin of a USB port to generate half of the differential USB signal (e.g., the D+ signal). A similar circuit can be used to generate the other half of the differential USB signal (i.e., the D− signal). The resistive element can be a set of parallel resistors in the transceiver, with the set of parallel resistors being specifically selected from a larger population of resistors to provide the specified resistance (45Ω±10%) in the USB transceiver. |
| US07816936B2 |
Apparatus for controlling substrate voltage of semiconductor device
A semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus includes an internal circuit having a MIS transistors on a semiconductor substrate and a substrate voltage control block that supplies a substrate voltage to the internal circuit and controls threshold voltages for the MIS transistors of the internal circuit. The apparatus also includes a leakage current detection MIS transistor and a leakage current detection circuit. The substrate voltage control block generates a substrate voltage based on comparison results of the comparator and applies the generated substrate voltage to the substrate of the leakage current detection MIS transistor and the substrate of the MIS transistors of the internal circuit. The substrate voltage control block includes a switch arranged between first and second input terminals of a comparator and a drain of the leakage current detection MIS transistor and a reference potential terminal, as well as an input data corrector that carries out substrate voltage adjustment. |
| US07816933B2 |
Semi-generic in-circuit test fixture
A semi-generic test fixture for testing printed circuit boards (PCBs) and/or for testing printed circuit boards assemblies (PCBAs) is presented. The semi-generic test fixture implements a combination of generic and customized parts for tester-to-fixture interface instead of a static dedicated in-circuit test (ICT) fixture which is able to interconnect only one kind of unit under test (UUT) to an ICT tester test-head. The semi-generic ICT fixture (SGICTF) is able to interconnect an ICT test-head with a variety of UUT types with a minimum of adaptation. Accordingly, the SGICTF generally comprises two generic PCB connected to the tester and two customized PCB connected to the generic PCB and adapted to interface the particular UUT via testing probes. |
| US07816930B2 |
High temperature range electrical circuit testing
An electrical circuit testing assembly that includes a mechanical reference that is relatively stationary as compared to a circuit under test. A probe support assembly is coupled to the mechanical reference and includes probes for contacting interconnect pads on the circuit under test. Optionally, the probe support structure is attached to the mechanical reference via a column that is thermally resistive. Also optionally, a testing circuitry support structure (e.g., a printed circuit board) is not rigidly attached to the mechanical reference or to the probe support structure, thereby permitting the testing circuitry support structure to float with respect to the probe support structure. |
| US07816929B2 |
Socket and electronic appliances using socket
The present invention is made with the aim of suppressing heat generation and thus reducing voltage drop, regarding a socket comprising probes to be connected to an electronic device such as an IC package. This is achieved by the socket 6 comprising heatsink components (heatsink plates 74, 76, 201, and 202) disposed adjacent to probes 32, 34, 36 so that the heatsink components move heat of the probes to a heatsink area 84. The socket 6 includes an air layer AL encompassing at least heat-generating portions 104 and 106 in the probes. The heat-generating portions are extended to the side of the socket 6 and heatsink fins (heatsink slit 86) are formed at its end portion. The socket 6 comprises a first probe 32 to be connected with pressure between an electrode (electrode pad 26) of signal system in the electronic device (IC package 4) and an electrode (electrode pad 44) of a signal extraction board 38 corresponding to the signal system; and second probes 34 and 36 to be connected with pressure between electrodes (electrode pads 28 and 30) of power system in the electronic device and an electric conductor (conductive plates 40 and 42) corresponding to the power system. |
| US07816928B2 |
Determination of equivalent series resistance
A determination of an equivalent series resistance (ESR) effect for high frequency filtering performance of a filtered feed-through assembly is described. A low frequency signal is introduced to a filtered feed-through assembly. ESR limit of the filtered feed-through is determined based on the low frequency signal. |
| US07816927B2 |
Method and system for real time identification of voltage stability via identification of weakest lines and buses contributing to power system collapse
A method of identifying voltage instability in a power system via identification of a weakest line and bus that contribute to the collapse of the system is provided. The method includes periodically calculating an extended line stability index for the transmission lines monitored in the power system; and using the extended line stability index to determine the distance of an operation state in the power system from a collapse point of the system caused by voltage instability. |
| US07816926B2 |
High frequency circuit analyser
An analyzer for measuring the response of an electronic device (DUT 206) to an RF input signal from a signal generator (240a) is described. An active load pull circuit (201) is connected to the DUT 206, which receives an output signal from the DUT 206 and then feeds a modified signal back to the DUT 206. The signal is modified by a signal processing circuit (237) in view of input signals x, y to control the magnitude gain and phase change effected by the feedback circuit (237). Thus, positive feedback loops are avoided and better control of the analyzer is permitted. A network analyzer, or other signal measuring device (242), logs the waveforms (from which s-parameters derived) observed at ports of the DUT 206, thereby allowing the behavior of the DUT 206 under various load conditions to be analyzed. |
| US07816922B2 |
Magnetization of target well casing string tubulars for enhanced passive ranging
A method for magnetizing a wellbore tubular is disclosed. The method includes magnetizing a wellbore tubular at three or more discrete locations on the tubular. In exemplary embodiments the magnetized wellbore tubular includes at least one pair of opposing magnetic poles located between longitudinally opposed ends of the tubular. Wellbore tubulars magnetized in accordance with this invention may be coupled to one another to provide a magnetic profile about a section of a casing string. Passive ranging measurements of the magnetic field about the casing string may be utilized to survey and guide drilling of a twin well. Such an approach advantageously obviates the need for simultaneous access to both wells. |
| US07816920B2 |
Metal detector
An exemplary metal detector includes a detecting circuit, a SCM, a converting circuit, and a cymometer. The SCM cooperates with the detecting circuit to generate a current signal with a specific frequency, the converting circuit transforms the current signal received from the SCM to a voltage signal, and the cymometer displays a value of a frequency of the current signal according to the voltage signal. When the detecting circuit detects a metal nearby, the value of the frequency of the current signal displayed on the cymometer changes. |
| US07816917B2 |
Permeability measurement apparatus
A permeability measurement apparatus includes a magnetic field generation means applying an alternating magnetic field having a predetermined frequency to a magnetic substance to be measured; a probe needle placed in proximity or in contact to a microscopic area of the magnetic substance to be measured to which the alternating magnetic field is applied; a resonator including a coil wound on the probe needle, and generating a magnetic field having a resonant frequency higher than the frequency of the alternating magnetic field applied on the microscopic area having the probe needle in proximity or in contact thereto, and having an inductance of the coil varied as permeability in the microscopic area varies; and a measurement means measuring the permeability of the microscopic area of the magnetic substance to be measured based on the variation of the resonant frequency of the resonator according to the variation of the coil inductance. |
| US07816916B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging method using a parallel imaging technique combined with a zoomed acquisition technique
In a magnetic resonance imaging method and apparatus, magnetic resonance data are acquired (an examination subject) using a zoomed method, and reconstruction of the image of the examination subject is undertaken using a parallel imaging reconstruction method. |
| US07816908B2 |
Display device and liquid crystal television
The present invention discloses enabling readily determining which circuit, among a plurality of circuits including an optical source lighting circuit and a power supply circuit, has a failure and repairing the circuits easily in a short period. A liquid crystal television 100 comprising a power supply circuit 24 that produces and outputs various power supply voltages from an inputted commercial AC power supply, a microcomputer 22 that outputs a control signal to a plurality of circuits, respectively, including at least the power supply circuit 24 and an inverter circuit 26 that is driven by a power supply voltage output by the power supply circuit 24 to controls turning on and off of each circuit, is provided with an input terminal 53 for providing a power supply voltage from the outside of the liquid crystal television 100, and an inspection auxiliary circuit 50 connected to the power supply circuit 24 and inverter circuit 26, generating a constant voltage that starts the power supply circuit 24 and inverter circuit 26 when a power supply voltage is provided from the input terminal 53 and outputs the constant voltage as a control signal. |
| US07816906B2 |
Method for determining anisotropy of 1-D conductor or semiconductor synthesis
A method is provided for determining the anisotropy of alignment of a random array of 1-D conductive elements (e.g., carbon nanotube or silicon nanowire) formed on a substrate. A pattern of a plurality of electrodes are arranged on the substrate containing the 1-D conductive elements and a plurality of electrical property measurements are performed in a plurality of different directions between the plurality of electrodes. The plurality of measurements are combined together to generate a total measurement sum of electrical property measurements between the various electrodes. The measured electrical property is determined between a selected pair of the plurality of electrodes along a selected direction extending between the selected pair of electrodes. The anisotropy of alignment of the 1-D conductive elements on the substrate along the selected direction is determined based on a ratio of the measured electrical property between the selected pair of electrodes versus the total measurement sum. |
| US07816904B2 |
Modulation signature trigger
A trigger generator and trigger method are provided for determining whether or not a signal under test matches a modulation signature. The modulation signature may be provided as a magnitude signature, a phase signature or both. When the magnitude values, phase values, or both of a signal under test are the same as their respective modulation signature, an error computation will be close to zero. If this value is within a threshold value, a trigger signal or other indication of a match is produced. |
| US07816901B2 |
PWM modulator for scalable converters
A PWM modulator for generating a PWM control signal for operating transistor switches of a phase of a multi-phase converter including a plurality of ramp generators, each ramp generator receiving a dedicated clock input signal corresponding to a phase of the multi-phase converter and providing a ramp signal starting when the dedicated clock signal is received by the ramp generator, one of the plurality of ramp generators being dedicated to provide the PWM control signal; a plurality of comparators, each comparator associated with a respective ramp generator for terminating the ramp signal when a predefined inequality exists between an error amplifier output of a feedback loop of the multi-phase converter and an output of the associated ramp generator; a plurality of current generator circuits, each current generator circuit associated with a respective ramp generator for providing current to the dedicated ramp generator to control the slope of the ramp signal of the dedicated ramp generator, the dedicated ramp generator controlling its associated comparator to provide the PWM control signal; and a plurality of current generator control circuits for controlling the operation of the plurality of current generator circuits. |
| US07816899B2 |
Power conversion device
In a power conversion device having high side and low side switches connected to a coil, a direction of a coil current is determined during a dead time period where the respective switches turn off at the same time to make the increase/decrease ratio of the coil current correspond to a command value. Based on a direction detection signal and a PWM signal of a PWM signal generation unit, an operation mode of a power converter circuit is determined, and a ratio correction value and an offset value of the PWM signal is set with respect to a control period of the PWM signal. As a result, a change in the operation mode of the power converter circuit is detected to allow the increase/decrease ratio of the coil current to correspond to a command switching ratio. |
| US07816896B2 |
Circuits and methods for controlling a converter
Circuits and methods for controlling a converter are disclosed. A first switch within the converter can be turned off, and a second switch within the converter alternately can be turned on and off in response to a switch control signal while the first switch is turned off. By turning the second switch alternately on and off, energy stored in the converter can be recovered to a power source of the converter. |
| US07816895B2 |
Power supplying device
A power supplying device includes: an output transformer including first and second output coils for generating first intermediate voltages from an input voltage; a voltage adjusting transformer including primary and secondary coils; a first rectifying-and-filtering circuit connected to the first output coil for generating a first output voltage from the first intermediate voltage obtained from the first output coil; the primary coil being connected in parallel to the first output coil, the secondary coil being connected in series to the second output coil and being coupled to the primary coil for generating a second intermediate voltage from the first intermediate voltage obtained from the first output coil; and a second rectifying-and-filtering circuit connected to the secondary coil for generating a second output voltage from a combined voltage combining the second intermediate voltage obtained from the secondary coil with the first intermediate voltage obtained from the second output coil. |
| US07816892B2 |
Battery charger for preventing charging currents from overshooting during mode transition and method thereof
A battery charger for charging a battery through controlling a charging regulation circuit is provided. The battery charger includes a constant voltage mode controller, a current sensing unit, and a reference voltage generator. The constant voltage mode controller is for comparing a battery voltage of the battery with a first reference voltage to generate a regulation signal, and utilizing the regulation signal to control the charging regulation circuit to regulate a charging current applied to the battery. The current sensing unit is for monitoring the charging current to generate an error signal. The reference voltage generator is for setting the first reference voltage according to the error signal. By adding a voltage generator to the battery charger, the overshoot charging current will be reduced and the mode transition will become smooth. |
| US07816890B2 |
Semiconductor unit for protecting secondary battery, battery pack having the semiconductor unit built-in and electronic apparatus using it
A semiconductor unit for protecting a secondary battery has a current detecting terminal converting a charging current to a negative voltage with respect to a negative electrode potential (ground potential) of the secondary battery when the secondary battery is charged, converting the charging current to a positive voltage with respect to the negative electrode potential (ground potential) of the secondary battery when the secondary battery is discharged, and detecting the charging/discharging current; and a test signal generating circuit generating a first test signal when the voltage of the current detecting terminal lowers to a first negative voltage which does not occur in a normal operation state of the semiconductor unit, and generating a second test signal when the voltage of the current detecting terminal lowers to a second negative voltage lower than the first negative voltage. |
| US07816889B2 |
Method of charging rechargeable battery and protection circuit for rechargeable battery
A method for charging a rechargeable battery, and a protection circuit for the rechargeable battery. The protection circuit perceives whether the battery is charged or not by sensing the voltage of the bare cell, changes the direct voltage applied between a gate electrode and a source electrode of a charging field effect transistor, which is connected in series between one terminal of the bare cell and one terminal of a charger, and controls the amount of the current flowing from the source electrode of the charging field effect transistor to a drain electrode at a low level, thereby maintaining a low charging rate of the battery. |
| US07816888B2 |
Battery pack lockable with a cordless power tool
A battery pack with a device for locking said battery pack to a cordless power tool has a guide configured to guide the battery pack in a predetermined movement direction as it moves between a locking position in which it is locked to the cordless power tool and a removal position in which it is removed from the cordless power tool, the guide has a break in at least one location between the locking position and removal position, and at said location a force acting on the battery pack moves the battery pack into a safety position offset from the guide, in which the battery pack is prevented from moving further along the guide into the removal position. |
| US07816887B2 |
Battery charger for portable equipment
The present invention relates to a battery charger for charging multiple types of portable equipments, comprising a charging pin housing including a plurality of charging spring pins having a predetermined distance therebetween; a moving motor for detecting an insertion of a battery and sliding the charging pin housing inward and outward; and a charge controller for suspending an operation of the moving motor when a contact of a charging terminal of the inserted battery to two or more charging spring pins of the plurality of the charging spring pins are detected during the sliding of the charging pin housing, and for quick-charging the battery through the two or more charging spring pins connected to a charging circuit. In accordance with the present invention, a discharged battery of a portable equipment may be charged easily regardless of a difference between sizes, polarities and positions of terminals of the battery of different portable equipments including mobile phones. |
| US07816882B2 |
Method of protecting an electronic device driven by DC motor and circuit for detecting positioning signals thereof
A method for protecting an electronic apparatus driven by a DC motor and a detection circuit for detecting positioning signals thereof. The electronic device includes an optical encoder, a code strip, and a DC motor. While moves along the code strip, the optical encoder outputs a first positioning signal and a second positioning signal for the control of the DC motor. The method includes the steps described below. First, states of the first and second positioning signals are detected. If the states of the first and second positioning signals are normal, the DC motor is controlled according to the first and second positioning signals. If the first positioning signal or the second positioning signal is abnormal, a preventive method is performed. |
| US07816877B2 |
Brake-controllable brushless motor
A brake-controllable brushless motor has a rotor and a stator having polyphase coils; a polar position detector whereby electric power is supplied to the coil selected by its phase in response to the polar positions of the rotor detected by the polar position detector; a driver division for controlling the electric supply to the coils; a motor pulse identifier for recognizing motor pulse signals fed from the polar position detector; and a delayed pulse generator for producing phase-delayed pulse signals in response to the pulse signals fed from the motor pulse identifier, thereby ensuring that when the brushless motor is braked, the phase delay of the delayed pulse signals is progressively and continuously enlarged, and that the coils receive a controlled electric supply from the driver division in response to the delayed pulse signals. |
| US07816876B2 |
Motor control device and motor drive system
Let an axis parallel to a magnetic flux produced by a permanent magnet provided on a rotor of a motor be called a d-axis, let an axis leading the d-axis by an electrical angle of 90 degrees be called a q-axis, and let control axes corresponding to the d-axis and the q-axis be called a γ-axis and a δ-axis, respectively. Then, a motor control device performs vector control of the motor with the γ-axis and the δ-axis made different from the d-axis and the q-axis, respectively, and with a motor current passing through the motor broken down into a γ-axis current on the γ-axis and a δ-axis current on the δ-axis. The motor control device has an estimator that estimates, as an estimated magnetic flux, a flux linkage of an armature winding of the motor, or estimates, as an estimated induction voltage, an induction voltage generated by the flux linkage and the rotation of the motor; and a specified current value deriving portion that derives, by using the estimated magnetic flux or the estimated induction voltage, a specified γ-axis current value to be followed by the γ-axis current. |
| US07816875B2 |
High torque gearless actuation at low speeds for swing gate, roll-up gate, slide gate, and vehicular barrier operators
The invention is a system for gearless operation of a movable barrier utilizing Lorentz forces, and in particular, a movable barrier operator retrofitted with a gearless motor capable of high torque at very low speeds. Eliminating a gear system in accordance with the present invention lowers maintenance requirements, increases efficiency, and streamlines operation of any movable barrier. By utilizing a motor which produces high-torque at low a speeds a system in accordance with the present invention does away with the need for complicated gears and pulley systems in order to achieve control of movable barriers. The present invention allows manufacturers, distributors and consumers to implement movable barrier systems with much more versatility and efficiency. |
| US07816870B2 |
Fast ferroelectric phase shift controller for accelerator cavities
A method and systems for fast ferroelectric tuning of RF power used in a particle accelerating system. By adjusting the voltages fed to the ferroelectric phase shift controller, the amplitude and phase of the RF power wave are altered, thus changing the coupling of the power generating circuit and the superconducting cavity. By altering this coupling rapidly, maximum power transfer efficiency can be achieved, which is important given the large amounts of power shunted through the particle accelerating system. In one embodiment, the ferroelectric tuner is optimally made of a magic-T waveguide circuit element and two phase shifters, although other implementations of the system may be utilized. |
| US07816868B2 |
Plasma display panel with magnesium oxide film having an oxygen deficiency
A variation with the passage of time of a response speed is reduced. In a plasma display panel having a magnesium oxide film formed on a dielectric layer covering electrodes for gas discharge, the magnesium oxide film has an oxygen deficiency amount within a range of 3.0×1017 to 1.0×1020 per cubic centimeter, preferably within a range of 3.0×1017 to 1.0×1018 per cubic centimeter. The magnesium oxide film has a crystal orientation of (220) plane orientation. |
| US07816866B2 |
Photocathode comprising a plurality of openings on an electron emission layer
A semiconductor photocathode 1 includes: a transparent substrate 11; a first electrode 13, formed on the transparent substrate 11 and enabling passage of light that has been transmitted through the transparent substrate 11; a window layer 14, formed on the first electrode 13 and formed of a semiconductor material with a thickness of no less than 10 nm and no more than 200 nm; a light absorbing layer 15, formed on the window layer 14, formed of a semiconductor material that is lattice matched to the window layer 14, is narrower in energy band gap than the window layer 14, and in which photoelectrons are excited in response to the incidence of light; an electron emission layer 16, formed on the light absorbing layer 15, formed of a semiconductor material that is lattice matched to the light absorbing layer 15, and emitting the photoelectrons excited in the light absorbing layer 15 to the exterior from a surface; and a second electrode 18, formed on the electron emission layer. |
| US07816864B2 |
Double-shielded electroluminescent panel
A double-shielded electroluminescent panel includes an electroluminescent device, an upper electrical shield and a lower electrical shield. The upper electrical shield is a transparent conductive material, and is overlaid on the illuminating surface of the electroluminescent device. The lower electrical shield is an electrical conductive material, and is mounted on the non-illuminating surface of the electroluminescent device. The upper electrical shield and lower electrical shield are together connected to the ground line of a power source. Therefore, the occurrence of electromagnetic interference and an electric shock is avoided. |
| US07816853B2 |
Laser stimulated cathode
A cathode has an emission layer that thermionically emits electrons upon exposure with a laser beam. The material of the emission layer has a product of density (ρ), measured in kg m 3 , heat capacity (Cp), measured in J kg K and heat conductivity (λ), measured in W mK that is, at room temperature, maximally 500,000 J 2 m 4 K 2 s . Such a cathode has an improved thermionic emission of electrons. |
| US07816852B2 |
Electron emission display device with anode terminal
An electron emission display includes first and second substrates facing each other to form a vacuum envelope, an electron emission unit formed on the first substrate, and a light emission unit formed on the second substrate. The light emission unit includes an anode electrode formed on the second substrate and electrically connected to at least one anode terminal to receive an anode voltage from the anode terminal, and the anode terminal is arranged on a side of the first substrate external to the vacuum envelope and in parallel to the first substrate. |
| US07816843B2 |
Light signaling device
Luminous signalling device (1) includes one or more light tubes (8) and focusing elements (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) for focusing a light beam, these elements being capable of focusing a light beam coming from the light tube(s), the elements for focusing a light beam comprising several cylindrical lenses (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), each cylindrical lens having a longitudinal axis lying parallel to a straight section (9, 10, 11) of the light tube. The straight sections (9, 10, 11) are oriented in several directions around a predetermined azimuthal axis (A), the number and the orientation of the straight sections being chosen so that the light beams coming from the straight sections and focused by the cylindrical lenses (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) are directed in all azimuthal directions about the azimuthal axis. |