| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07918466B2 |
Vertical air bag control
A control (60) that mounts in a space (52) between main vehicle parts (66, 68) that are supported one on the other by air bags (16). The control includes first and second vertical tubes (82, 106) that telescope in one another. The tubes enclose at least parts of valves (98, 111) and passages (84, 104, 101, 103) that connect the valves to inlet, exhaust and air bag ports (74, 76, 80). |
| US07918463B2 |
Reciprocating seal
A reciprocating seal used, for example, for a shock absorber. A main seal lip has a two-step lip structure including a first lip and a second lip and a plurality of protrusions extending in the direction of the shaft are formed on a sliding contact surface of the second lip, thereby improving frictional force characteristics and, at the same time, improving sealing performance. |
| US07918449B2 |
Double-sided image forming device
A double-sided image forming device includes: a paper feeding section (3); a printing section (4); a first conveyance route (6) for conveying a fed paper sheet (2) to a paper discharge section (8) via the printing section (4); and a second conveyance route (7) for receiving, on its conveyance surface, the paper sheet (2), a first side (21) of which has been printed, from the first conveyance route (6), and for conveying the paper sheet (2) while reversing it, thereby conveying the paper sheet (2) to the upstream side of the printing section (4) in the conveyance direction of the first conveyance route (6), wherein the second conveyance route (7) has a reverse conveyance route (9) for receiving, on its conveyance surface, a second side (22) of the paper sheet (2), and for conveying the paper sheet (2) while reversing it, and wherein the reverse conveyance route (9) is formed by a combination of a plurality of reverse mechanisms each including: a first conveyance section (91) for linearly conveying the paper sheet (2); a reverse section (92) for reversing the conveyed paper sheet (2) while bending it along a curved inner peripheral surface; and a second conveyance section (93) for linearly conveying the reversed paper sheet (2). |
| US07918447B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An inkjet image forming apparatus including a printing media storage unit configured to store printing media, a pickup unit configured to pick up a printing medium stored in the printing media storage unit, and a cover made of a conductive material and adapted to come into contact with the printing medium picked up by the pickup unit. An effective removal of static charge from the printing medium is possible by having the printing medium picked up by the pickup unit come into contact with the cover. |
| US07918446B2 |
Feeding device and recording apparatus
There is provided a feeding device including a pickup roller for picking up a placed medium to be transported and transporting the medium at a downstream side in a transport direction, a guide pathway for guiding the medium transported by the pickup roller, a transport driving roller that is driven by a power of a driving source and that transports the transported medium at the further downstream side in the transport direction, a retard roller that is moved to be brought into contact with and separated from the transport driving roller and that is rotated with a predetermined load. |
| US07918439B2 |
Silentblock device, manufacturing process and apparatus
The invention relates to a device, a process and an apparatus for manufacturing a silentblock device having a silentblock (4), a seating (2), a shock absorber (3) and a casing (1) having first joining means (120) between the casing (1) and the seating (2) formed by a frusto-conical portion (121) in each end of the casing (1) and a conjugated frusto-conical portion (122) in each end of the seating (2) to clamp the seating (2) to the casing (1). The apparatus has: containment devices (100) for defining a cavity (110) between the surface to be over-injected and the containment devices (100); entrance devices (200) in the containment devices (100), so that the over-injection product can be introduced in the cavity (110). |
| US07918435B2 |
Combination gravimetric and volumetric dispenser for multiple fluids
A combination gravimetric and volumetric fluid dispenser which includes a scale linked to a controller. The controller is linked to a plurality of two stage valves which control the dispensing of large quantities of base materials. The controller is also linked to a plurality of nutating pumps which together with the controller controls the dispensing of smaller quantities of additive materials. The base material dispensing valves include stepper motor actuators having multiple steps per revolution and are under the control of an analog signal from a controller. The base material dispensing valve is opened or closed via a rod that is slidably raised or lowered upon rotation of the drive shaft of the stepper motor actuator. |
| US07918434B2 |
Solenoid actuated valve with a damping device
The invention provides a solenoid actuated valve with a plunger which moves in a sleeve under influence of a magnetic field from the solenoid and further comprising a damping device for reducing noise and wear caused by the plunger when it bounces against a top part located in the sleeve. The damping device comprises a first part which forms the limit of the travel of the plunger and another part which is allowed to move relative to the first part in a dampened movement. To enable application in a vacuum system, the damping device comprises a conduit which allows evacuation of a chamber confined between one end of the sleeve and the damping device. The invention further provides a damper for a solenoid actuated valve. |
| US07918433B2 |
Transition piece mounting bracket and related method
A mounting bracket assembly includes: a first bracket component having a first pair of laterally spaced securement tabs; a second bracket component having a second pair of laterally spaced securement tabs; wherein said first and second bracket components are engageable with each other such that respective ones of each of the first and second pairs of securement tabs are located adjacent each other and adapted to engage corresponding pairs of recesses in a machine component. A related method of securing a transition piece to a combustor casing without welding includes: providing a first mounting bracket component for attaching the transition piece to a turbine combustor casing, the first mounting bracket formed with a first set of securement tabs; providing a second mounting bracket component that is usable with the first bracket component, the second mounting bracket component formed with a second set of securement tabs; and slidably engaging the transition piece with the first and second mounting bracket components, such that the first and second pairs of securement tabs are received within corresponding axially-aligned recesses provided on the transition piece, thereby permitting the transition piece to grow thermally relative to the first and second mounting bracket components. |
| US07918431B2 |
Levitation type support unit
A levitation type supporting unit interposed between an object and an installing surface for supporting the object respective to the installing surface. The supporting unit includes lower and upper magnet parts having a lower magnet; the upper magnet part arranged at an upper part of the lower magnet part while having an interval spaced from the lower magnet part, the upper magnet part having a surface facing a surface of the lower magnet, the surfaces having equal polarities; an upper fixing cap being assembled with the upper magnet part to allow elevation; a lower fixing cap connected with the upper fixing cap and is assembled with the lower magnet part; and a fixing part including a connecting part formed on one side, connecting the upper and lower fixing caps while having an interval forming an exposed space between the upper and lower fixing caps, the fixing part preventing the upper magnet part from escaping from an upper position of the lower magnet part. |
| US07918429B1 |
Horizontal fuel tank support system
A horizontal fuel tank support system for efficiently supporting a propane tank above the ground. The horizontal fuel tank support system generally includes a support pad including an internal cavity, wherein the internal cavity extends throughout the support pad and wherein the support pad is comprised of an elongated configuration, a platform defining at least a portion of an upper surface of the elongated support pad, wherein the platform extends along a longitudinal axis of the elongated support pad, and an internal ribbing structure extending within the internal cavity and beneath the platform. The internal ribbing structure includes a plurality of outer ribbing portions and an inner ribbing portion, wherein the inner ribbing portion is connected between the plurality of outer ribbing portions. The inner ribbing portion is comprised of a less dense structure than the plurality of outer ribbing portions to distribute the weight of the propane tank directly below the legs of the propane tank. |
| US07918421B2 |
Wing, in particular airfoil of an aircraft, with a variable profile shape
A wing, in particular a airfoil of an aircraft, with a variable profile shape, which wing comprises a first skin and a second skin and a supporting structure, arranged between the first and the second skin, which supporting structure in the direction of the wing depth extends between a first end and a second end, wherein the form of said supporting structure, for the purpose of varying the profile shape by means of a drive device comprising drive elements, is variable. The supporting structure comprises ribs, arranged one behind the other in the direction of the wing depth, which ribs at connection positions are interconnected so as to be articulated, wherein said ribs at first connection positions are connected to the first skin, and at second connection positions are connected to the second skin. For the purpose of setting the variable profile the mutual spacing of the second connection positions can be varied by means of the drive elements. |
| US07918414B1 |
Method and apparatus for managing wire rope slings
An apparatus for the storing and management of a plurality of wire rope slings is presented, such slings being those typically comprised of a length of wire rope having at least one end loop. The apparatus has a base frame upon which is rotatably mounted a sling storage bin. The storage bin has a plurality of arm members that extend from the storage bin for engaging and holding an end loop of a selected wire rope sling. Rotation of the storage bin causes the selected wire rope sling to be coiled around said projecting arms within the storage bin. The apparatus may be provided with pad eyes and forklift tine guides to facilitate its transportation. |
| US07918412B2 |
Recording tape cartridge
A recording tape cartridge that can secure the attached region of an RFID in a case is provided including: a case that has an upper case and a lower case and houses a reel around which a recording tape is wound; a restricting wall that is formed at least in the lower case and defines an area in which the reel is housed; a housing portion that is formed between the restricting wall and the corner of the case; and a planar RFID that is provided in the housing portion such that the rotational axis direction of the reel is a normal line direction. |
| US07918411B2 |
Food waste disposer with dishwasher inlet and method of making same
A food waste disposer has a food conveying section, a motor section and a central grinding section disposed between the food conveying section. The motor section includes a motor having a motor shaft coupled to a rotatable plate of a grinding mechanism in the grinding section. An anti-vibration mount is disposed around an inlet of the food conveying section. The food conveying section includes a housing, which can be a plastic molded housing, having dishwasher inlet having an outer portion extending outwardly from the housing and an inner portion extending into the housing that is removably received in the housing. The inner portion of the dishwasher inlet may be slidably received in the housing with the housing including grooves on opposed sides of an opening that receive tongues on opposed sides of a body of the inner portion of the dishwasher inlet. The inner and outer portions of the dishwasher inlet have passageways connected by the opening in the housing when the inner portion of the dishwasher inlet is in place. |
| US07918410B2 |
Uniform shear application system and methods relating thereto
Disclosed herein is a shear application system for applying substantially uniform amounts of shear throughout a powder sample. The shear application system preferably includes a cylinder assembly having an inner cylinder, a housing, an inner set of lugs, and an outer set of lugs. The inner cylinder has an external cylindrical surface and the housing has an internal cylindrical surface concentric with said external cylindrical surface. The internal and external cylindrical surfaces form an annular chamber therebetween. Each one of the lugs of the inner set extend radially outward from the external cylindrical surface, and each one of the lugs of the outer set extend radially inward from the internal cylindrical surface and are substantially uniformly spaced. The shear application system preferably includes drive means mechanically connected to the inner cylinder and control means electrically connected to the drive means. |
| US07918409B2 |
Multiple charging electrode
A device for dispensing coating material includes at least two electrodes for coupling to at least one high-magnitude potential supply so that the at least two electrodes are maintained substantially at two different high-magnitude potentials so that an electric field exists between the at least two electrodes. At least one of the at least two electrodes includes a passageway extending therethrough to provide a flow of compressed gas through the at least one of the at least two electrodes. |
| US07918407B2 |
Method and apparatus for control of cooling system air quality and energy consumption
An energy saving air quality control system modulates supply fan speed by use of controlled, variable-frequency drive controls for automatic dampers or suction pressure to maintain adequate air flow across the evaporator coil at partial cooling loads. Demand ventilation in the system balances air quality and energy consumption by controlling the outdoor air damper in response to indoor CO2 levels. The control system variously either (1) produces a variable 0-10 VDC output signal to modulate the outside ventilation air damper as required to keep the CO2 concentration below a set point; (2) produces a 0 or 24 VAC signal to either open or close a two-position outside air damper for as long a time period as is required in order to keep the CO2 concentration below a set point; or (3) allows manually setting the outside air damper to provide proper ventilation air at maximum occupancy and maximum air flow and modulates the supply fan speed as required to keep the CO2 concentration as measured by a CO2 monitor below set point. |
| US07918404B2 |
Orientation-indicating cyclic position codes
Machine-readable coded data disposed on or in a substrate in accordance with a layout, the layout having at least order n rotational symmetry, where n is at least two, the layout encoding an orientation codeword comprising a sequence of an integer multiple m of of n symbols, where m is one or more, each encoded symbol being distributed at n locations about a center of rotational symmetry of the layout such that decoding the symbols at each of the n orientations of the layout produces n representations of the orientation codeword, each representation comprising a different cyclic shift of the orientation codeword and being indicative of the degree of rotation of the layout, and wherein the orientation codeword is fault tolerant. |
| US07918402B2 |
Item labeling, inspection and verification system for use in manufacturing, packaging, product shipment-fulfillment, distribution, or on-site operations
An item contents verification system, and associated method, for use in an assembly line of carrier-totes (if used) each containing at least one of a plurality of items having a labeling. Also, a labeling for use with a computerized inspection apparatus for verification of items, and associated method. The system includes: (a) the labeling comprising a luminescent marking and a human-visible indicia; (b) the luminescent marking comprises a coded-indicia generally invisible to a human eye without an irradiation, each of these coded-indicia contains item-information about the item to which the labeling is applied, multiple such coded-indicia will be substantively identical; (c) an inspection apparatus adapted for automatically collecting item-information from luminescent coded-indicia oriented outwardly from items passing in proximity to the inspection apparatus; (d) in communication with the inspection apparatus is a processor unit used for comparing an order of selected items against the item-information collected about all items; if the item-information collected matches the order of selected items, that carrier-tote contents is deemed verified. A reject spur is included to which any respective carrier-tote, or any respective item not matched to an order, is routed if the contents of the carrier-tote is not deemed verified. |
| US07918396B2 |
Electronic-ink based information organizing device employing an activator module mounted beneath the surface of an electronic-ink display structure
An electronic-ink based information organizing device employing an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink including a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material. The device includes an integrated circuit structure having a storage element for storing instructions, programs and data, data, including information and graphical input data provided by a user by way of an activator module. The integrated circuit structure also includes a programmed processor in communication with the storage element. The activator module is mounted beneath the surface of the addressable display assembly to (i) determine graphical indicia to be selected and/or displayed on the addressable display assembly, (ii) allow graphical indicia being displayed on the addressable display assembly, to be modified in real-time by a user of the device, and (iii) allow graphical indicia to be displayed on the addressable display assembly while graphical input data is being provided to the programmed processor by said activator module, so that the user is enabled to write and/or draw on the surface of the addressable display assembly while graphical indicia is being displayed thereon. |
| US07918393B2 |
Leafing mechanism
A machine and methods for automatically opening a closed book, for example a passport, to a desired page for subsequent processing on the page. The book is inserted into the machine in a closed configuration. The machine then opens the book to the appropriate page for subsequent processing either in the machine or in a separate processing machine. A pin is inserted between two adjacent sheets of the book to define a first book portion and a second book portion, and the pin is used to assist in moving the first book portion away from the second book portion to expose the desired page for subsequent processing. |
| US07918391B2 |
Transaction product with hinged puzzle segments
A transaction product has an account identifier and includes a series of interconnected, hinged puzzle segments. The various hinged segments may be collectively manipulated to reveal a variety of surfaces, graphics, and indicia. The transaction card may include a number of three-dimensional segments (e.g., eight polyhedral segments) interconnected such that each segment is hingedly connected to two other segments via a hinge structure, wherein the hinge structures on any given cube are orthogonal to each other, resulting in a closed chain of transformations. The hinge structures may be formed via skin components (e.g., plastic, paper, or other laminate media) bonded directly to respective pairs of the three-dimensional segments. The account identifier is associated with the housing and links the transaction product to an account or record having a value configured to be used toward one or more of a purchase and a use of goods or services. |
| US07918387B2 |
Thread identification system
A label having a coded pattern provides information regarding the type of thread on a thread spool loaded on an embroidery machine and feeding one of the needles. A detector positioned at the base of a spindle on the thread tree reads the label. The label is attached to the bottom of a thread spool such that it is substantially flush with the detector. The label has a pattern that is readable by the detector regardless of its rotational orientation and provides information about the type of thread on the spool. This pattern corresponds to thread type information stored in data base. |
| US07918381B2 |
Process for attaching components with near-zero standoff to printed circuit boards
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for mounting electrical components to electric circuit boards. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for mounting electrical components having near-zero standoff height to electrical printed circuit boards. |
| US07918377B2 |
Surgical stapling instrument with apparatus for providing anvil position feedback
Circular stapling instruments for cutting and applying one or more surgical staples to tissue are disclosed. The instruments include various forms of feedback systems designed to provide at least one mode of feedback to the surgeon when the anvil has been attached to the device and/or when the anvil has been attached to the device and oriented in a firing position. Various types of feedback indicators are disclosed such as illumination devices, sound generating devices and vibration generation devices. In various embodiments, the feedback indicator comprises at least one illumination device mounted on the anvil which indicates that the anvil has been properly attached to the instrument and which can also serve to illuminate the surgical site. |
| US07918375B2 |
Pneumatically operable fastener-driving tool and seal mechanism assembly, and a method of operating the same
A pneumatically operable fastener-driving tool and seal mechanism assembly, and a method of operating the same, comprises the use of a single, annular seal member, having a substantially V-shaped cross-sectional configuration, disposed within an annularly recessed portion of the fastener-driving tool piston in such a manner that the open region of the V-shaped annular seal member is disposed toward the relatively high-pressure upstream end portion of the fastener-driving tool cylinder, while, conversely, the closed region of the V-shaped annular seal member is disposed toward the relatively low-pressure downstream end portion of the pneumatic tool cylinder Accordingly, the relatively high-pressure air acts upon the radially outwardly flared lip portion of the annular seal member during a power stroke, while relatively low-pressure air acts upon the radially outwardly flared lip portion of the annular seal member during a return stroke, whereby only a single V-shaped annular seal member is required to achieve proper sealing performance characteristics throughout an operative cycle of the fastener-driving tool. |
| US07918369B2 |
Two-component spray gun with solvent flush/blend
A dispensing system for plural components mixture including second containers placed within a first container. The first container is held by an operator during dispensing. Separate conduits are coupled between the containers and the dispensing device and include passageways for the passage of each respective component. Each passageway includes an actuator controlled valve. A second valve coupled in the conduits between the respective components' sources and includes an inlet port for each component, an equal number of outlet ports, and an inlet port for a material for flushing the plural components from respective conduits and the mixed plural components. The second valve has a first state in which each respective inlet port is coupled to an outlet port. The second valve also has a second state in which the inlet port for flushing the plural components from the respective conduits and the mixed plural components is coupled to the outlet ports. |
| US07918368B2 |
Refrigerator having a valve engagement mechanism operable to engage multiple valves of one end of a liquid container
A refrigerator having a container support configured to removably support at least one liquid container having an end with a gas inlet valve and a liquid outlet valve. The refrigerator has at least one gas line and at least one gas inlet valve engager positionable adjacent to such end of the liquid container, and the gas inlet valve engager is configured to be fluidly connected to the gas inlet valve of such end of the liquid container. The refrigerator has at least one liquid outlet valve engager positionable adjacent to such end of the liquid container. The refrigerator has at least one electrical line operatively coupled to the liquid outlet valve engager. |
| US07918358B2 |
System and method to make a fuel tank inert
A method and system used to make a fuel tank inert that includes a chiller assembly coupled in flow communication with a vehicle fuel tank, and a system controller assembly operatively coupled to the chiller assembly. More specifically, the chiller assembly includes a pump configured to extract a quantity of a fluid from the vehicle fuel tank, and an evaporator configured to receive a flow of the extracted quantity of fluid from the pump and further configured to reduce a temperature of the fluid. The chiller assembly also includes a chiller controller configured to activate and deactivate the pump. The system controller assembly is operatively coupled to chiller controller, wherein the system controller assembly is configured to transmit to the chiller controller one of a start signal to start chiller operations or a stop signal to stop chiller operations. |
| US07918353B1 |
Display and dispensing apparatus
An apparatus for displaying and dispensing merchandise in the form of packages arranged serially along a path of travel leading to a dispensing location at a point-of-purchase is selectively adjustable to accommodate packages of different dimensions. A pusher track assembly and dividers, each having a near end and a far end, readily are placed at selected relative locations along a display shelf and are secured in place adjacent the near ends to guide and move the packages along the path of travel to the dispensing location. Stabilizing arrangements located adjacent the near ends stabilize and maintain the pusher track assembly and the dividers in alignment with the path of travel without the necessity for securing the far ends independent of the near end securement in order to maintain the desired alignment of the pusher track assembly and the dividers. |
| US07918352B2 |
Angled package and display system
A product display system and method includes a support and at least one product container supported by the support. The packages are tilted such that the front faces of the tilted packages face at least partially upward, such as toward the illumination source, so as to provide enhanced illumination of the front faces of the tilted packages. The tilted packages may be supported at a support arm or the like, and have a center of gravity located behind a header for suspending the packages from the support arm, causing the packages to angle or tilt with their front faces angled somewhat upwardly, such as toward the illumination source, when suspended from the support arm. |
| US07918350B2 |
Separation apparatus and method
A separation apparatus and method are employed using a separation channel for rotation about an axis. Such channel includes radially spaced apart inner and outer side wall portions and an end wall portion. An inlet conveys fluid into the channel. A barrier is located in the channel intermediate of the inner and outer side wall portions. A first flow path communicates between upstream and downstream sides of the barrier. A collection region may be located downstream of the barrier for communication with the first flow path. An outer side wall section of the channel may be positioned radially outward of an upstream section thereof. The barrier may join the outer side wall portion along a substantial portion of an axial length of the channel. First and second exit flow paths may allow communication with the channel either upstream or downstream of the barrier or both. |
| US07918343B2 |
Systems and methods for glass recycling at a beneficiator
The invention provides systems and methods for obtaining recycled mixed cullet at a beneficiator. The recycled mixed cullet can be used by glass plants to make new glass articles, such as beverage bottles. |
| US07918339B2 |
Packing implement for goods transportation
To provide a packing implement for goods transportation that facilitates packing of an article to be transported, and has a baseboard 6 and a holding sheet 7. The baseboard 6 is a board for supporting an article 1 at a fixed position, has upward and downward fold-back parts at both ends and both side parts, and is formed, at a junction point where lines for bend marked for folding back join, with a polygonal opening 15 having its vertices at the positions of lines for bend. The opening 15 serves as a starting point when folding back to prevent the fold-back parts from deviating from preset lines for bend, and after folding back, eliminates pointing of a part projected to the side to prevent an outer casing 3 from damage. The holding sheet 7 is tensed by bend of the baseboard 6 to press the article 1 to the baseboard 6, prevents the article 1 from slipping and holds it at the fixed position. |
| US07918338B2 |
Convertible hangtag display
A convertible hangtag display comprising a unitary piece of material foldable into a hanging portion for hanging and displaying a retail item and a boxing portion for packaging the retail item is provided. The hanging portion is separable from the boxing portion along a perforation. The boxing portion has oppositely facing front and rear sheets connected by a crease and a seam. Upper and lower flaps are provided at opposite ends of each of the sheets. Upper and lower creases corresponding to the upper and lower flaps are provided such that the upper and lower creases are foldable about the corresponding creases. At least one crease is provided to the hanging portion opposite the perforation for bending the hanging portion. The hanging portion defines a slot for guiding a hook or other standard display means from which the unitary piece may be suspended. In a display configuration, the upper and lower flaps extend coplanar with the respective sheets from which they extend. After the item is purchased and the hanging portion is removed from the unitary piece, the boxing portion may be folded into a box configuration for packaging the purchased item. |
| US07918336B2 |
Closure device with corrugated ring plunger part
A closure device with or without a drinking mechanism for bottles or receptacles, arranged to be attached to the bottle or receptacle. The device has a first cavity preferably for an additive and at least one second cavity where the first and the at least one second cavity can be opened individually by opening mechanisms which are integrated in the device and can be operated from outside of the device. |
| US07918333B1 |
Assembly machine constructed with a light-weight module
A plurality of modules of sufficiently light weight (<80 lbs) are assembled end-to-end to construct an assembly machine for performing desired operations on a series of workpieces. A supporting spine underlies the interconnected modules and supports them and associated equipment in the desired array. The modular construction permits the assembly machine to be reconfigured as needed should operational alterations require it, including, but not limited to, the cannibalization of the machine with the modules being usable in constructing a machine having entirely different characteristics. |
| US07918332B2 |
Cantilever roll-up conveyor arrangement
The present invention is a conveyor arrangement for a stamping die employed within a stamping press. The conveyor arrangement has a fixed conveyor with a protruding end, wherein the fixed conveyor is mounted on the die for receiving and shuttling stamped parts from the die. The conveyor arrangement also has a moveable conveyor with a supported first end and a cantilevered second end, wherein the moveable conveyor is arranged for positioning the second end under the fixed conveyor's protruding end for receiving and shuttling stamped parts from the fixed conveyor. |
| US07918331B2 |
Transport device, rolling body and transport body
A conveying device (100) according to the invention includes several conveying bodies (102), which roll on a guidance (101) via several rolls (3), wherein the rolls (3) are connected and mutually distanced by means of a flexible connecting body (9). The conveying bodies (102) include means (103; 104, 105) for mutual support, which prevent a movement of the conveying bodies (102) out of the guidance (101). A connecting body (9) and allocated rolls (3) form a roll body (2), wherein the roll body (2), on average, includes two or less than two rolls (3) per conveying body (102). A roll body (2) for a conveying device (100) includes a plurality of rolls (3) mutually connected in a linear manner, wherein the rolls (3) are mutually connected and distanced by means of a flexible and in particular also elastic connecting body (9). In a preferred embodiment, the connecting body (9) may be bent in at least two directions. |
| US07918329B2 |
Conveying device using electrostatic adsorbing plate
Provided is a low-cost electrostatic attraction transfer apparatus which can perform high-speed transfer, stabilizes a contact status of an electrostatic attraction board with a film and the like and does not generate fine defects on an object to be transferred. |
| US07918326B2 |
Driving system for passenger transportation
A driving and/or reversing system includes a driving and/or reversing element and a chain having a plurality of first and second chain pins connected by chain plates. The driving and/or reversing element has first and second pitch circles. First and second chain pins are alternately correspondingly engaged with the first and second pitch circles. |
| US07918325B2 |
Moving staircase with a double step flight
A moving staircase (escalator) with two flights of steps (1, 1′), a first flight for resetting one foot and a second flight for resting the other foot, equipped with synchronized reciprocating motion so that when the first flight goes up the second one goes down by the pace corresponding to a step, the user, by alternating the resting foot onto the steps of the two flights, will make no effort in waiting along it and he/she will not have to bend the limbs. The elevator finds its elective application as emergency escalator, also as fire-fighting staircase and as moving staircase for users prevented from an ease moving of limbs. The escalator can also-conveniently be rested onto pre-exiting flights. |
| US07918324B2 |
Driving force interrupting mechanism
A driving force interrupting mechanism includes input and output members. A coupling sleeve is to be movable on the input and output members along a rotational axis. A fork is swingable around a swing shaft to move the coupling sleeve between a connecting position and a disconnecting position. The coupling sleeve is positioned on both of the input and output members in the connecting position. The coupling sleeve is positioned on either the input member or the output member in the disconnecting position. An operating member is integrally rotatable with the swing shaft. A spring is provided on the swing shaft between the operating member and the fork relatively rotatably with respect to the swing shaft. A motion of one of the operating member and the fork follows a motion of another of the operating member and the fork via an elastic force of the spring. |
| US07918322B2 |
System for connecting a brake disc and hub
A brake disc/hub connection for connecting a brake disc to a brake disc hub includes supporting elements on the inner circumference of the brake disc. The brake disc hub is provided with bosses or cams on the outer circumference. Intermediate elements, which protrude into intermediate spaces provided between the bosses and the supporting elements, are distributed between the brake disc hub and the brake disc in the circumferential direction and ensure transmission of the braking torque from the brake disc to the brake disc hub. Each intermediate element rests in a radially secured manner on the associated support element and boss by way of shaping. |
| US07918320B2 |
Emergency stop system for elevator
An emergency stop system for an elevator includes a state sensor for detecting an operation of a car, a brake device for braking the car, a brake controller for outputting a signal for operating the brake device based on a signal detected by the state sensor, and an uninterruptible power supply device for supplying electric power to the sensor, the brake device, and the controller. The controller has a signal processing/calculating unit for calculating the deceleration of the car based on the signal detected by the sensor, a command value calculating unit for calculating a command value for operating the brake device based on the deceleration of the car calculated by the processing/calculating unit, and a power monitoring device for monitoring state of the uninterruptible power supply device. At least one of the sensor, the processing/calculating unit, and the calculating unit includes independent systems. |
| US07918319B2 |
Elevator apparatus
In an elevator apparatus, a second car is disposed below a first car. The second car is suspended within a hoistway by a second suspension body and a third suspension body to be raised/lowered by a second hoisting machine. The second suspension body has a second car end connected to the second car on a first lateral surface side thereof. The third suspension body has a third car end connected to the second car on a second lateral surface side thereof. A looping angle adjusting pulley for increasing the looping angle of the second suspension body with respect to a second drive sheave is disposed in an upper portion of the hoistway. |
| US07918317B2 |
Lubricating oil dosing arrangement
In a lubricant dosing arrangement for the lubrication of valve shafts on the cylinder heads of piston engine wherein the valve shafts are axially movably supported in housing bores formed in the cylinder heads and the housing bores include spaced lubricant seals so as to form between the seals around the valve shaft lubricant reservoirs, means are provided for supplying lubricant to the lubricant reservoirs and the valves shafts include means for permitting passage of lubricant out of the reservoir at a rate depending on the lift movement of the valve shafts so as to dose the lubricant volume permitted to flow out of the lubricant reservoir for the lubrication of the valve shaft. |
| US07918314B2 |
Hoisting systems for high-rise building maintenance
A hoisting system for high-rise buildings which incorporates upright rails mounted on outer walls of the building, a lifting block for each rail. A truss section attached to two lifting blocks to form a loading platform for people or hardware. Doors and windows provide access from the building to the platform, which may be enclosed. The rails are secured on metallic trusses mounted in upright position inside the building structure. The metallic truss can have stairs or elevators for transporting people. The platform can be divided into compartments for holding trays. Guide rollers on the sides of the trays and drive wheels under the trays move the trays into and between the compartments. In this manner cars may be parked in limited space by being lifted to a floor and moved to an open compartment. The platform can be used for emergency evacuation, for construction, parking, or fire fighting. |
| US07918313B2 |
Nonwoven material for acoustic insulation, and process for manufacture
An improved acoustically and thermally insulating composite material suitable for use in structures such as buildings, appliances, and the interior passenger compartments and exterior components of automotive vehicles, comprising at least one airlaid fibrous layer of controlled density and composition and incorporating suitable binding agents and additives as needed to meet expectations for noise abatement, fire, and mildew resistance. Separately, an airlaid structure which provides a reduced, controlled airflow therethrough useful for acoustic insulation is provided, and which includes a woven or nonwoven scrim. |
| US07918312B2 |
Acoustic reflective panel assembly
A portable acoustic reflective panel assembly used as a background for outdoor performances has an upright frame surrounding a sound reflecting sheet member. A plurality of elastic cords secure the sheet member to the frame. Braces connected to the frame and anchored to the ground maintain the frame and sheet member in upright positions on the ground. |
| US07918309B1 |
Apparatus for producing a continuous sonic boom
Herein taught is an apparatus for producing a continuous sonic boom that is simplified having few components. Namely, a motor, a rotating motor shaft, a rotor and a power source. The rotor is interconnected onto the rotating motor shaft, thus upon energizing, the motor rotates the rotor faster than the speed of sound resulting in production of a continuous sonic boom. Also, the rotor includes various configurations and the tips thereof are variable in shape and size. Furthermore, the apparatus is contained within different types of support means and also we provide a deflective sonic wave focal point projection mechanism. |
| US07918306B2 |
Electric power steering apparatus
In an electric power steering apparatus, a phase control characteristic for a signal corresponding to detected steering torque is changed according to the judgment whether the steering is in a return steering state or a feed steering state, so that a response of a variation of target output value of a motor for generating steering assist power to a variation of the detected steering torque decreases in the return steering state in comparison with that in the feed steering state. An output control characteristic of the motor is changed according to the judgment synchronously with the change of the phase control characteristic, so that a response of a variation of the output command value to a variation of deviation between the target output value and actual output value decreases in the return steering state in comparison with that in the feed steering state. |
| US07918305B2 |
All-wheel steering system and vehicle incorporating the same
An all-wheel steering system and vehicle, e.g., riding lawn mower, incorporating the same. The system may include a linkage system that operatively connects the vehicle wheels for simultaneous turning. The system, in one embodiment, includes a power steering unit having fixed or variable output for a given steering input. The system may further include a mechanism for reducing speed based upon mower steering angle. |
| US07918304B2 |
Steering assist for a rear caster wheel on a work machine
A steering arrangement for a work machine includes a frame, at least one caster wheel assembly carried by the frame, at least one turn assist cylinder, and a turn assist arrangement. Each turn assist cylinder is coupled between the frame and a corresponding caster wheel assembly. The turn assist arrangement includes a steering assembly, a steering assist valve and a transfer gear. The steering assembly includes an output gear which is positionable dependent upon an operator commanded degree of turn. The output gear has exterior teeth. The steering assist valve is configured to selectively operate at least one turn assist cylinder and thereby bias a corresponding caster wheel assembly during an operator commanded turn. The steering assist valve includes an input gear with exterior teeth. The transfer gear includes a first set of peripheral teeth enmeshed with the output gear and a second set of peripheral teeth enmeshed with the input gear. The transfer gear pivots about a common pivot point. The first set of peripheral teeth and the second set of peripheral teeth are each at a common radius from the common pivot point on opposite sides of the transfer gear. |
| US07918303B2 |
Machine control interlocks for an electrohydraulically controlled vehicle
A mobile vehicle includes a moveable operator seat movable between a forward-use configuration and a rearward-use configuration, a left-side stabilizer, a right-side stabilizer, and a control system configured to control the movement of the left-side stabilizer and the right-side stabilizer based on whether the operator seat is in the forward-use configuration or the rearward-use configuration. |
| US07918300B2 |
Motorcycle conversion assembly
A motorcycle conversion assembly for a motorcycle comprising first and second side members and first and second cross members to thereby define a rigid frame. The motorcycle conversion assembly further comprises first and second frame plates operably coupled to the frame and first and second axle plates operably coupled and rotatably adjustable relative to the first and second frame plates. The motorcycle conversion assembly further comprises first and second torsion adjustment assemblies, which are used to adjust the torsion acting on wheel assemblies when the motorcycle conversion assembly is operably connected to a motorcycle. |
| US07918296B2 |
Cooling system for an electric drive machine and method
A cooling system (500) for an electric drive system includes a cooling duct (502) extending between a first component and a second component. A motor (336) driven fan (510) creates an airflow within the duct. A first temperature sensor measures a first temperature of the first component and a second temperature sensor measures a second temperature of the second component. An electronic controller (540) receives the first temperature and calculates a first temperature difference between the first temperature and the first temperature limit (802) to generate a first command (836) for the motor (336). A second temperature difference between the second temperature and the second temperature limit (802) generates a second command (836) for the motor (336). The controller (540) then selects the greater of the first command (836) and the second command (836) to yield the maximum command (836), and controls the motor (336) based on the maximum command (836). |
| US07918293B1 |
Method and system for perceiving a boundary between a first region and a second region of a superabrasive volume
Methods of evaluating a superabrasive volume or a superabrasive compact are disclosed. One method may comprise exposing a superabrasive volume to beta particles and detecting a quantity of scattered beta particles. Further, a boundary may be perceived between a first region and a second region of the superabrasive volume in response to detecting the quantity of scattered beta particles. In another embodiment, a boundary between a catalyst-containing region and a catalyst-diminished region of a polycrystalline diamond volume may be perceived. In a further embodiment, a boundary may be perceived between a catalyst-containing region and a catalyst-diminished region of a polycrystalline diamond compact. Additionally, a depth to which a catalyst-diminished region extends within a polycrystalline diamond volume of a polycrystalline diamond compact may be measured in response to detecting a quantity of scattered beta particles. A system configured to evaluate a superabrasive volume is disclosed. |
| US07918287B2 |
Suction coring device and method
Devices and methods for obtaining cores from a sea bed. A corer device includes one or more core barrels for retaining a cores and one or more pressure barrels. Fluid pressure within the pressure barrels is selectively varied to cause the corer device to be drawn into and released from the sea bed. The core barrels are provided with core catchers for retaining a core within. |
| US07918286B2 |
Impact tool
In an impact tool including a spindle, an anvil, and an impact mechanism having a hammer and a coil spring, a restricting portion is provided at a front surface of a large-diameter portion of the spindle so as to receive a rear end of the coil spring and to restrict an inner diameter of the rear end of the coil spring. A ring-shaped groove is formed at a rear surface of the hammer to receive a front end of the coil spring, in a manner which provides an inner cylindrical portion at a rear side of the hammer. A run-off portion is formed in the restricting portion so as to allow the inner cylindrical portion of the hammer to move thereinto, so that the hammer can move backward for a distance corresponding to a depth of the run-off portion. |
| US07918285B1 |
Implement with active wing down force and wing lift sequencing
A hydraulic latching circuit is provided that allows a load-sense power source to be activated and deactivated depending on the SCV function. The load sense power source is activated when the wing cylinders are fully extended to maintain proper down force on the wings. It remains activated or latched when the SCV is returned to neutral. It is deactivated or unlatched when the wing cylinders are retracted. Two circuits have been devised to accomplish this latching function. Both of these latching circuits can be used with the sequencing circuit. |
| US07918283B2 |
Method and apparatus for a cold flow subsea hydrocarbon production system
A system for assuring subsea hydrocarbon production flow in pipelines by chilling the hydrocarbon production flow in a heat exchanger and causing solids to form, periodically removing deposits and placing them in a slurry utilizing a closed loop pig launching and receiving systems. |
| US07918279B2 |
System and method for forming cavities in a well
A technique of forming perforations in a wellbore. The formation of perforations is carefully controlled by a perforating device to create a series of sequential perforations in a desired arrangement. The perforating device is lowered to a desired location in the wellbore and then moved incrementally to enable sequential perforations in the desired arrangement. |
| US07918278B2 |
Method and apparatus for dropping a pump down plug or ball
An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member via an inner channel or around the periphery of the valving member in an outer channel. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation. An optional indicator indicates to a user or operator that a ball or plug has passed a selected one of the valving members. |
| US07918272B2 |
Permeable medium flow control devices for use in hydrocarbon production
An in-flow control device controls fluid flow into a wellbore tubular using a permeable medium positioned in a flow space. The permeable medium induces a predetermined pressure differential in the flow space. The permeable medium may include separate elements having interstitial spaces and/or solid porous members. In arrangements, a filtration element may be positioned upstream of the flow space. In arrangements, the flow space may be formed in a plug member associated with the housing. In certain embodiments, a flow restriction element, such as a check valve, in the housing may provide parallel fluid communication with the bore of the wellbore tubular. Additionally, an occlusion body may be positioned in the flow space and configured to disintegrate upon exposure to a preset condition. The occlusion body temporarily seals the flow space so that a bore of the tubular may be pressurized. |
| US07918269B2 |
Drainage of heavy oil reservoir via horizontal wellbore
Systems and methods for drainage of a heavy oil reservoir via a horizontal wellbore. A method of improving production of fluid from a subterranean formation includes the step of propagating a generally vertical inclusion into the formation from a generally horizontal wellbore intersecting the formation. The inclusion is propagated into a portion of the formation having a bulk modulus of less than approximately 750,000 psi. A well system includes a generally vertical inclusion propagated into a subterranean formation from a generally horizontal wellbore which intersects the formation. The formation comprises weakly cemented sediment. |
| US07918265B2 |
Method and apparatus for as-cast seal on turbine blades
An investment casting mold article includes a wall for retaining casting material and a cavity defined by the wall. The cavity includes an airfoil portion, a root portion adjacent to the airfoil portion, and a labyrinth seal portion extending from the root portion. |
| US07918263B2 |
High-speed door with a flexible curtain
This high-speed door is provided for closing a bay made in a wall (4) delimited by a lintel and by two vertical sides. The door comprises: two lateral parts placed in an essentially vertical manner against each of the vertical sides of the bay; a shaft (12) positioned at the level of the lintel of the bay and rotationally driven by electromechanical means, and; a curtain (7) made of a flexible material having a first side (7a) and a second side (7b), joined to the shaft (12), the rotation of the shaft (12) being able to move the curtain (7) between a closed position in which the curtain (7) closes the bay and an open position in which the curtain (7) opens the bay. In addition, the door comprises flexible means for protecting the shaft (12) which extend between the two lateral parts (2) and (3) and which are capable of coming in contact with the lintel, the flexible protecting means also having first transversal sealing means that can come in transversal contact with the first side (7a) of the curtain (7) when it is in a closed position. |
| US07918261B2 |
Apparatus and method for assembling lens module
An apparatus for assembling a lens module includes a UV light source and a pressing device. The lens modules each having a first component, a second component and UV curable adhesive applied between the first and second components. The UV light source is configured for emitting UV light toward the UV curable adhesive. The pressing device is configured for pressing the first components against the second components. A method for assembling a lens module is also included in the invention. |
| US07918255B2 |
Run flat device for a motor vehicle, and a wheel assembly incorporating it
A run flat device for use in a wheel assembly comprises a wheel rim made of a plurality of blocks and a tire cover having beads mounted against flanges of the rim. The device includes an annular support structure for mounting around the rim to support the cover, the structure subdivided in at least two ring sectors to form the structure by juxtaposition in the circumferential direction thereof, and means for locking the beads against the flanges to connect the ring sectors to the beads. Each ring sector comprises at least two rigid support elements superposed in the radial direction of the structure and separated in pairs by respective rubber-based resilient layers, the layers adapted to shear based on a lateral force applied to the structure to enable the radially outer support element to be displaced axially relative to the radially inner support element. |
| US07918252B2 |
Tree stump grinding teeth
Tree stump grinding teeth for use in tree stump grinding wheel assemblies and tree stump grinding wheel assemblies that include one or more such grinding teeth. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the grinding tooth includes a mounting base having a substantially flat surface from which a plurality of cleats project. The cleats are adapted to be received in corresponding bores formed in the wheel. A resilient impact pad is positioned between the mounting base of the grinding tooth and the wheel. The resilient impact pad protects the surface of the wheel from impact forces applied to the grinding tooth. |
| US07918250B2 |
Apparatus and method for the vapor recovery of propane vapors during fueling
An apparatus and method for the recovery of propane vapors during propane cylinder refueling. The apparatus includes a separate recovery cylinder adapted to receive vapors that may be created during the refilling of propane cylinders. The recovered vapors may be used in the refilling of other cylinders during a subsequent refilling operation. |
| US07918248B2 |
Component for a shed-forming apparatus and weaving machine
A shed-forming component (1, 3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28) of a shed-forming apparatus includes an information source (12, 16, 17, 18, 23, 29, 33) which may be connected to a control unit (13) for transmitting data about the specification of the component and/or data about operating parameters of the component during weaving to a control unit (13). |
| US07918246B2 |
Hydropneumatic accumulator with flexible porous filler
A hydropneumatic accumulator with a flexible porous filler intended for fluid power recuperation in hydraulic systems with a high level of pulsations includes a shell where a gas port and a fluid port are connected, respectively, with a gas reservoir and a fluid reservoir of variable volume separated by a movable separator. The flexible porous filler fills the gas reservoir so that the separator movement reducing the gas reservoir volume compresses said filler. The filler is connected with internal walls of the gas reservoir with the possibility of stretching the filler at the separator movement increasing the volume of the gas reservoir. The accumulator contains means of protection of the filler boundary layer against rupture made with the possibility of reducing local deformations of the boundary filler layer in case of jerks of the separator. Development of residual deformations of the filler during multiple recuperation cycles and destruction at non-uniform motion of the separator with strong jerks are prevented. |
| US07918245B2 |
Hydraulic pressure reservoir
A hydraulic pressure reservoir having at least one pressure chamber formed between two opposed, movable inner boundary members. Each inner boundary members includes a spring cover and a diaphragm spring. An outer boundary member peripherally surrounds the movable inner boundary members and has a U-shaped cross section along at least a part of its periphery to axially support the diaphragm springs in a fixed axial position. The outer boundary member can be formed in several pieces that are held together by interconnections or by a surrounding outer tensioning member. |
| US07918243B2 |
Connector assembly
A sterile connector assembly for mounting on a fluid system includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector includes a stem defining a fluid passage therethrough, a first housing surrounding the stem and defining a first aperture, and a first valve disposed over the first aperture. The second connector includes a second housing configured to matingly engage the first housing. The second housing defines a second aperture and defines a seal structure. The seal structure is configured to engage the stem. The second connector also includes a second valve disposed over the second aperture. The second valve is configured to engage the first valve when the first housing engages the second housing. |
| US07918241B1 |
Mixed water control valve having a water pressure balance function to stabilize a water temperature
A control valve for a faucet includes a valve housing, a hollow valve seat, two sealing gaskets, at least one water outlet channel, a rotation plate, a control unit, two mounting seats, a fixed sleeve, and a movable sleeve. Thus, the movable sleeve is movable in the fixed sleeve to control the water flow rate of the mixed cold and hot water to the optimum value to regulate and stabilize the water pressure automatically so as to provide a pressure balance effect so that the mixed water flowing from the water outlet channel is kept at a constant temperature, thereby providing a comfortable sensation to a user. |
| US07918240B2 |
Systems for preventing overinflation of inner tubes
A system for preventing overinflation of an inner tube is disclosed. In some embodiments, the system may include a wheel; and a tube-bursting region of the wheel, wherein the tube-bursting region is configured to facilitate bursting of an associated inner tube when the associated inner tube is pressurized above a predetermined maximum pressure. A tire system also is disclosed. In some embodiments, the system may include a wheel; and a tube-bursting region of the wheel, wherein the tube-bursting region is configured to facilitate bursting of an associated inner tube when the associated inner tube is pressurized above a predetermined maximum pressure. A children's ride-on vehicle also is disclosed. In some embodiments, the vehicle may include a wheel; and a tube-bursting region of the wheel, wherein the tube-bursting region is configured to facilitate bursting of an associated inner tube when the associated inner tube is pressurized above a predetermined maximum pressure. |
| US07918225B2 |
Breathing air filtration devices
A nasal air filtration device includes a pair of either planar or concave-convex filters, a support structure incorporating a pair of generally annular bases or sleeves for supporting the filters, and a bridge that couples the bases or sleeves to maintain them in a desired spaced-apart relation and to determine a desired angular relationship. The support structure is insertable into the nasal cavities to position the filters within corresponding nasal cavities. Flexible rims maintain the support structure and the filters in spaced-apart relation to the surrounding nasal wall. The rims conform to surrounding nasal tissue to form seals. The rims can be selectively inclined to facilitate insertion and resist accidental removal. In certain embodiments the device is combined with a filter that covers the mouth to provide an air filtration system. |
| US07918214B2 |
System and method for improving fuel vapor purging for an engine having a compressor
A system and method for storing and purging fuel vapors for an internal combustion engine comprising a compressor is presented. The system allows the canister to be purged even while the engine is operated at high engine load. |
| US07918212B2 |
Method and control system for controlling an engine function based on crankshaft acceleration
A method and control system for controlling an engine includes an instantaneous crankshaft acceleration determining module determining an instantaneous crankshaft acceleration. An engine parameter adjustment module adjusts an engine parameter in response to the instantaneous crankshaft acceleration. |
| US07918211B2 |
Ultrasonic fuel injector
A fuel injector for delivering fuel to an engine in which a housing of the injector has an internal fuel chamber and at least one exhaust port in fluid communication with the fuel chamber. A valve member is moveable relative to the housing between a closed position in which fuel within the fuel chamber is inhibited against exhaustion from the housing, and an open position in which fuel is exhaustable from the housing. An ultrasonic waveguide is separate from the housing and valve member. The ultrasonic waveguide is elongate and has longitudinally opposite ends. The waveguide further has a first waveguide segment and a second waveguide segment. The first and second segments are disposed entirely within the fuel chamber of the housing. An excitation device is operable in the open position of the valve member to ultrasonically excite the ultrasonic waveguide. |
| US07918205B2 |
Method and apparatus to control transition between HCCI and SI combustion in a direct-injection gasoline engine
A method for transitioning operation of a spark-ignition, direct-injection internal combustion engine having a two-step, variable phase valvetrain between HCCI and SI modes includes providing a low-lift intake valve, un-throttled stoichiometric SI operation intermediate a low-lift exhaust and intake valve HCCI mode and a high-lift exhaust and intake valve, un-throttled SI mode. |
| US07918198B2 |
Valve timing control device
A valve timing control device includes a phase displacement restricting mechanism for creating a restricting state where relative rotational phase displacement of a driven side rotational member relative to a driving side rotational member is restricted within a permissible range and an unrestricting state where the restriction is released, a communication passageway for establishing communication between the phase displacement restricting mechanism and one of an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber, a valving element chamber provided midway the communication passageway, a valving element provided in the valving element chamber; the valving element selectively positioned to a closing state for closing the communication passageway to render the phase displacement restricting mechanism into the restricting state and an opening state for opening up the communication passageway to render the phase displacement restricting mechanism into the unrestricting state, and a leak passageway formed in the valving element and configured to allow leakage of fluid from an intermediate passage to the outside when the valving element is under the closing state. |
| US07918195B2 |
Air-cooled engine heat extractor
A heat extractor for attachment to an air-cooled engine. A cooling fan extends from the engine and is rotated by action of the engine. The heat extractor comprises a first thermally conductive surface for attachment to the engine, a plurality of flaps extending from the first surface, wherein when the heat extractor is attached to the engine the flaps extend away from the engine, a flared end region formed in the first surface, the flared end region nearest the cooling fan when the heat extractor is attached to the engine and wherein rotation of the cooling fan causes air to be drawn across the first surface, the plurality of flaps and the flared end region. |
| US07918193B2 |
Cooling device for vehicle
A cooling device for a vehicle is provided at a vehicle comprising an engine control unit which stops an engine due to establishment of engine stoppage conditions and restarts the engine due to establishment of engine restart conditions. The cooling device for a vehicle is able to cool a coolant within a heat exchanger for cooling by cooling wind, which is guided from an exterior of the vehicle, passing through the heat exchanger for cooling. Cooling by driving force of either one of an electric motor or the engine can be selected in accordance with preset conditions. |
| US07918190B2 |
Electronic animal containment system with direction of approach determination
An electronic animal containment system with direction-of-approach determination, or direction-sensitive animal containment system. The direction-sensitive animal containment system generally contains a transmitter unit connected to a wire loop bounding a containment area and a receiver unit carried by the animal. The direction-sensitive animal containment system of the present invention generates a containment field having polarity and retains the polarity information when the containment field is sensed using a sensing coil optimized along the azimuth. The receiver unit also generates a gravity vector to determine the orientation of the receiver unit. The gravity vector is combined with the containment field vector to produce a function that automatically yields a sensing coil output that is independent of the orientation of the receiver unit. The polarity of the sensing coil output allows determination of the direction from which the receiver unit is approaching the wire loop. |
| US07918187B2 |
Floating aquatic structure
Provided is a floating structure for use in an aquarium or other aquatic setting, having a manufactured hollow body with a top side, a bottom side and sidewalls extending between the top side and the bottom side. The hollow body is weighted so as to have a stable floating position in water such that the hollow elongated body predominantly remains submerged beneath the water's surface, but an outer surface of the top side consistently remains above the surface of the water. |
| US07918182B2 |
Developing device and developing method
The temperature of a developing solution is varied depending on the type of resist or the resist pattern. The developing solution is applied while scanning a developer nozzle having a slit-shaped ejection port that has a length matching the width of the effective area of the substrate. After leaving the substrate with the developing solution being coated thereon for a predetermined period of time, a diluent is supplied while scanning a diluent nozzle, thereby substantially stopping the development reaction and causing the dissolved resist components to diffuse. A desired amount of resist can be quickly dissolved through the control of the developing solution temperature, while the development can be stopped before the dissolved resist components exhibit adverse effect through the supply of the diluent a predetermined timing, whereby achieving a pattern having a uniform line width and improved throughput. |
| US07918176B2 |
Watercraft bumper
A watercraft bumper has an elongate body. The elongate body has a generally C-shaped cross-section. A protrusion extends from one of the end portions of the cross-section and extends towards the other end portion. A watercraft having the bumper is also disclosed. The watercraft has a lip over which the bumper is disposed. The lip has a depression formed in an upper side thereof. The protrusion of the bumper is disposed in the depression and is biased against the upper side. |
| US07918175B2 |
Mast track extension and pre-feeder for mainsail furling
A flexible mast track extension for use on sail boat mast permitting the luff of a sail bent to the mast to deflect from the line of the mast and facilitate the extension or retraction of a sail from a furling apparatus. |
| US07918174B2 |
Anti-sloshing device in moon-pool
An anti-sloshing moon pool structure is disclosed. The anti-sloshing moon pool structure of the present invention includes moon pool plates (112, 114 and 116), which are provided on a bow-side wall (401), a stern-side wall (403) and opposite sidewalls (405) of a moon pool (100), and a moon pool bottom block (130), which is provided on a bow-side lower edge (407) of the moon pool (100). The moon pool plates and the moon pool bottom block have protruding lengths within which they do not interfere with a maximum working area. Upper steps (112a, 112b, 114a, 114b, 116a, 116a-1, 116b and 116b-1) of the moon pool plates are disposed such that, when a ship is in a working position, they are lower than the free surface of the seawater, and lower steps (112c, 112d, 116c and 116d) of the moon pool plates are disposed such that, when the ship runs, they are lower than the free surface of the seawater. |
| US07918173B2 |
Personal watercraft having an adjustable suspension
A personal watercraft has a hull and sub-deck (HSD) assembly, a deck above the sub-deck, and a suspension member pivotally connected therebetween. A suspension element, including a spring assembly, is connected between any two of the deck, the HSD assembly, and the suspension member. The spring assembly has first and second portions having first and second spring rates respectively. The second spring rate is greater than the first. A controller controls a lifting device to set an initial distance between the deck and the sub-deck to one of a first distance and a second distance greater than the first. The suspension element moves through a majority of a full stroke with the first portion of the spring assembly at least partially expanded when the initial distance is the first distance, and with the first portion of the spring assembly fully compressed when the initial distance is the second distance. |
| US07918172B2 |
Method for production of a three-dimensional curved fiber composite material structural component
A method for producing a three-dimensionally curved fiber composite material component having a predefined flexural member profile cross section with at least one web area and at least one adjacent flange area, includes providing a flat base fiber laid scrim and disposing a unidirectional fiber laid scrim tape with 0 degree fibers on a partial area of the fiber laid scrim and fixed by sewing so as to provide a flat prefabricated fiber laid scrim strip having a flange area including the unidirectional fiber laid scrim tape and a web strip area free of the fiber laid scrim. The prefabricated scrim tape is draped to a desired contour and is sewn onto a support material so as to provide a stabilized three-dimensionally curved first sub-fiber laid scrim preform adapted to the fiber composite material structural component to be produced. |
| US07918165B2 |
Component container with dunnage and method for using the same
A reusable container for a golf car component having a body operably associated with at least one bottom and top support member, the bottom and top support members are adapted to receive a bottom dunnage piece and top dunnage piece respectively, the bottom and top dunnage pieces each having contact surfaces to engage and retain a golf car component. The body includes a base portion, opposing sidewall portions, and a back portion. The bottom support member is operably connected to the base portion of the body, and the top support member is operably connected to the back portion of the body. A plurality of recesses and profiles formed in the bottom and top dunnage pieces provides contact surfaces adapted for nestably receiving and separating a plurality of a golf car component. |
| US07918163B2 |
Progressive propellant charge with high charge density
The resent invention relates to a method for producing propellant charges with progressive combustion characteristic and a higher charge density than previously considered possible to achieve, intended in the first instance for direct-firing barrel weapons such as tank cannons. Combined in the charge that is characteristic of the invention are at least two radially perforated propellant tubes (10-12, 28-30, 48-52) which are arranged in their entirety inside or after one another, which process, at an e-dimension selected in relation to the actual type of propellant and its desired combustion characteristic, combustion or ignition channels (2, 19-21, 37), and which have circular outer and inner boundary surfaces, in conjunction with which, before initiation of the charge, at least one of the total number of outer surfaces of these propellant tubes that are available for initiation has been treated with an inhibition, surface treatment or surface coating (13-18, 33-36) intended to delay the propagation of ignition to that surface, so that the combustion of the propellant tubes is partially mutually overlapping and taken together, gives rise to a maximum propellant gas pressure behind a projectile fired with the charge from the barrel in question, which pressure, for the entire passage of the projectile through the barrel, lies close to the applicable Pmop value for the barrel (the maximum operational pressure, i.e. the highest barrel pressure that can be permitted continuously). |
| US07918160B2 |
Cane juice extractor
The cane juice extractor includes a wagon that may be hitched to or towed alongside a harvesting machine or combine for application in-field. The wagon includes a frame having an upper deck and a lower deck. The upper deck includes an inlet side where harvested cane may be fed for juice extraction and an outlet side for disposing the pulp. Rotating feeders feed the cane to a cutting station on the upper deck. The cutting station comminutes the cane into billets that are carried by an endless belt through a series of compression roller sets. Each set of rollers compress the cut cane down to smaller dimensions to extract the juice. A chute disposed between the upper and lower decks collects the juices and funnels them into a juice storage tank on the lower deck. The pulp is expelled from the outlet side to the field. |
| US07918157B2 |
Production of expanded food crackers
The invention provides in an improved pressure-baking apparatus for producing puffed crackers from a starch-containing. cereal or other food material, thereby allowing better control of expansion resp. product consistency for an enlarged range of crackers types, materials and shapes. Accordingly the apparatus has a baking mold comprises the combination of a fixed upper die plate (1,2), a lower punch plate (3,4) directly driven and supported by a cylinder/pistion unit (10), and therebetween a peripheral mold plate (6) comprising die holes (7) in registry with said upper dies (2) and lower punches (4), said peripheral plate being selectively movable in the vertical direction between said fixed upper die plate and driven lower punch plate. An hydraulic power system (11,17) integral with the apparatus is linked with drive unit (10). |
| US07918151B2 |
Film cutter assembly
The present invention relates to a film cutter assembly in which a blade housing slides bilaterally along a pair of rails. The blade housing houses a blade. An elongated rail base is coupled or integral with a pair of rails. The rails are formed of a material which provides a cling property to hold the film to the rail and maintain the film in flat position before, during and after cutting. A double-side adhesive tape can be applied to a surface of the elongated rail base which is adapted for attaching the elongated rail base to a carton of film. |
| US07918144B2 |
Seating sensor
A seating sensor reliably senses an adult or a child seated on a vehicle seat, and prevents incorrect sensing of a seated occupant when a piece of luggage is placed on the seat. The seating sensor includes a first sensor cell, a second sensor cell connected in series with the first sensor cell and disposed on the front side of the seat beyond the first sensor cell, and a third sensor cell connected in series with the first sensor cell, connected in parallel with the second sensor cell, and disposed on the rear side of the seat beyond the first sensor cell. |
| US07918142B1 |
Sensor for measuring shear forces
The present invention is related to a sensor for simultaneously measuring both normal and shear forces applied to two or more flexible sensors, and further a statically responsive sensor for measuring shear forces. The present invention further includes a method of designing an object, prototype or a device using these sensors to detect both shear and normal forces encountered at the sensor locations. |
| US07918139B2 |
Pirani vacuum gauge
A Pirani vacuum gauge in which a response to a rapid pressure rise is improved and restrictions on a mounting direction of a container on a chamber to be measured for pressure are eliminated is provided. The Pirani vacuum gauge includes a heat filament of metal wire and a support unit for supporting the heat filament in a container, wherein a gas pressure is measured based on an amount of heat conducted away from the heat filament by gas molecules colliding with the heat filament, characterized in that a body of the container is filled with metal material, but a first cylindrical bore and a second cylindrical bore extend through the body, the heat filament being inserted into the first cylindrical bore and the support unit being inserted into the second cylindrical bore. |
| US07918138B2 |
Wireless microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) pressure sensor with built-in calibration
A wireless microelectromechanical system (MEMS) pressure sensor with built in calibration. An actuator is coupled with a pressure sensing device to enable the pressure to be calibrated against the known pressure exerted by the actuator. The sensing component is configured to flex under the application of force to a pure bending condition, i.e., the sensing component flexes with no or insignificant shear forces in the sensing component. |
| US07918135B2 |
Pressure sensor including thermal selftest
A semiconductor device includes a diaphragm, a sensing element, and a circuit. The sensing element is configured to sense deflection of the diaphragm. The circuit is configured to heat the diaphragm to induce deflection of the diaphragm. |
| US07918133B2 |
Liquid level sensing apparatus
A fluid level gauge assembly for measuring a level of a fluid in a fluid container is provided. The fluid level gauge assembly includes a first coaxial cable section having a first end and a second end, the first coaxial cable section including a first center conductor, a first outer conductor and a solid dielectric between the first center and outer conductor; a second coaxial cable section having a first end and a second end, the second coaxial cable section including a second center conductor, a second outer conductor and an air dielectric between the second center and outer conductor; and a coupling between the second end of the first coaxial cable section and the first end of the second coaxial cable section. The second coaxial cable section being disposed in a fluid for determining a level of the fluid. |
| US07918132B2 |
Power generation device, fuel package, and remaining fuel amount measuring device
A fuel package includes a vessel wherein the interior space is separated, and has a flow-out opening and a flow-in opening that lead to the interior space, a liquid fuel filled in the region at the side of the flow-out opening in the vessel, and a follower that separates the liquid fuel and the region at the side of the flow-in opening. |
| US07918130B2 |
Methods and systems to identify cam phaser hardware degradation
A cam phaser diagnostic system is provided. The system includes: a first sample variance module that computes a first variance based on a desired cam phaser position. A second sample variance module computes a second variance based on a measured cam phaser position. An evaluation module diagnoses faulty cam phaser operation based on the first variance and the second variance. |
| US07918123B2 |
Gas sensor
A gas sensor has at least one gas sensitive layer, which has at least one surface area in which the work function is dependent upon the concentration of a target gas capable of being brought into contact with the surface zone. At least one electric potential sensor is capacitatively coupled to the surface zone over an air gap. The surface zone of the gas sensitive layer is covered with an electrically insulating coating which is inert to the target gas and which is adhesively bound to the gas sensitive layer. The coating is configured so that it is permeable to the target gas and so that when the target gas contacts the surface zone of the gas sensitive layer, it prevents or at least impedes an alteration of the bound state of atoms and/or molecules bound to the surface zone and differing from the target gas. |
| US07918122B2 |
Container transport system and measurement container
A stocker 1 includes a storage FOUP 20, plural purge units 50, a measurement FOUP 30 and a stacker crane 60. The storage FOUP 20 stores a semiconductor wafer inside. The measurement FOUP 30 includes a flow meter inside. The purge unit 50 includes a purge shelf 51 having plural purge tables 54 for placing the storage FOUP 20, and a nitrogen gas is supplied into the storage FOUP 20 placed on the purge table 54. The stacker crane 60 transports the storage container 20 onto the purge table 54, and the measurement FOUP 30 is transported between the plural purge tables 54. |
| US07918121B2 |
Meter system designed to run singulated test sensors
A test system comprises a sensor container and a testing device. The sensor container has a base and a lid. The container encloses a plurality of test sensors therein. The container includes a calibration label attached thereto. The label includes electrical contacts located thereon that encode calibration information onto the calibration label. The testing device has a sensor-container opening formed thereon. The sensor-container opening has an auto-calibration feature located therein. The auto-calibration feature is external to the testing device. The auto-calibration feature includes calibration elements to communicate with the electrical contacts on the calibration label. The testing device determines the calibration information encoded on the calibration label in response to the calibration elements engaging the electrical contacts. A portion of the sensor container remains external to the meter while the encoded calibration information is being determined. |
| US07918113B2 |
Press-buckled lock
A press-buckled lock having a press buckle is used so that the operation of locking and unlocking can be performed rapidly. By pressing the buckle, the door can be locked rapidly. When the inner handle is rotated, the press buckle is separated rapidly to unlock. Other than making the operation easy, the installation of the press buckle at the inner handle of a lock will reduce the manufacturing cost and cause the operation to be easy. Thereby the cost is reduced. By pressing the press buckle, a lock can locked rapidly; when rotating the inner handle or inserting a specific key into the lock core, the press buckle will separate rapidly so as to unlock the lock; thus, the press buckle in the lock has the effect of controlling the locking and unlocking operation rapidly. |
| US07918112B2 |
Cable wrap security device
A security device a plurality of cables which are securable about an item of merchandise with a locking member and a cable-tightening mechanism each connected to the cables in a spaced apart manner. The locking member includes a key portion for unlocking the tightening mechanism when the cable is removed from the item. The tightening mechanism includes a spool and a ratchet mechanism. Alternate embodiments for locking and unlocking the ratchet mechanism are disclosed. The tightening mechanism carries sense loops which if compromised actuate an onboard audible alarm. The cables are part of one or more of the sense loops. The device is configured to sound a security gate alarm upon passing through the gate and upon simply reaching a certain distance from the gate. The tightening mechanism includes a housing having a flip-up handle for tightening the ratchet mechanism to tighten the cable. |
| US07918111B2 |
Lock device that enable users to choose the security level of the lock
A lock device includes a universal spacer, for receiving a lock cylinder, and a plurality of spacer holes where one of the holes is positioned to receive a lock bolt of the lock cylinder. A padlock body houses the universal spacer. A plurality of padlock body holes extends from an interior of a universal spacer hole into the padlock body. The padlock body holes are positioned to match the spacer holes and one of the padlock body holes receives the lock bolt when the lock cylinder is in a locked position. A padlock bolt secures the universal spacer, lock cylinder and padlock body in place when the lock cylinder is in the locked position. When the lock cylinder is in the unlocked position, the universal spacer with the lock cylinder can be removed from the universal spacer hole and the lock cylinder can be replaced with another lock cylinder. |
| US07918108B1 |
Jewelry mount with safety catch
An interchangeable jewelry mounting system that allows for the attachment and detachment of gems from a jewelry setting. This system is provided with a gem mount that has a gem permanently secured to the mount. This mount contains an internal safety catch that, when engaged secures the gem mount to the jewelry setting. The jewelry setting is provided with latches that engage pins on the gem mount to ensure that the internal safety catch does not disengage prematurely. |
| US07918102B2 |
Method and arrangement for cooling a substrate, particularly a semiconductor
In this method, a refrigerant (52) is compressed (32) in a refrigerating circuit, then condensed by cooling in a condenser (44), then expanded in a throttle valve (62) and delivered in the expanded state, in the form of wet vapor (52), to an evaporator (60) that is in thermally conductive contact with a substrate (12) to be cooled. The cooling process thus operates similarly to a liquid cooling process, but with a higher mean logarithmic heat transfer temperature difference, which allows lower temperatures of the substrate (12) to be achieved and makes possible a better heat transition coefficient, since the refrigerant is present as wet vapor. A corresponding arrangement is likewise described. |
| US07918099B2 |
Medium voltage starter for a chiller unit
A single medium voltage starter box is mounted on a chiller unit with the other components of the chiller system. The starter box can be positioned on the chiller system unit to permit the starter box to be close coupled to the motor, and specifically to the main motor lead exit hub without the need for any power conduit connections between the starter box and the motor. In addition, the starter box also does not require any control interface and receives controls from a control panel. A short conduit connection between the control panel and the starter box is used to provide the necessary connections between the control panel and the starter box. |
| US07918084B2 |
Exhaust gas purification apparatus and method for internal combustion engines
An exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a movable component that is operated during operation of the internal combustion engine includes: a switching portion that switches the exhaust gas temperature increasing control between a first control in which the temperature of exhaust gas is increased without operating the movable component and a second control in which the temperature of exhaust gas is increased operating the movable component; a detecting portion that detects a temporarily sticking state of the movable component; and a controlling portion that, when a temporarily sticking state of the movable component is detected, extends an execution region for the first control toward an execution region for the second control in the entire operation region of the internal combustion engine, whereby the execution region for the second control is reduced. |
| US07918081B2 |
Flame prevention device
A gas turbine engine includes an engine casing concentrically disposed around the following: a low pressure compressor; a turbine; and a high pressure compressor having at least one bleed tube and at least one joint proximate to the engine casing; and at least one flame prevention device adapted to cover at least a portion of at least one gas turbine engine component. |
| US07918079B2 |
Rope with a core and a casing surrounding the core
A rope with a core and a casing surrounding the core. The core is composed of a multitude of synthetic fibers and the casing is composed of a multitude of synthetic fibers that are interlaced with one another. The synthetic fibers that form the casing are composed of polytetrafluoroethylene and form a lightproof and fluid-repellent envelope for the core. |
| US07918076B2 |
Device for maintaining wing balance on a multi-section header
A crop harvesting header includes a center portion mounted on two spring arms and two separate wings pivotally connected to the center portion. The wings are connected to the center portion by interconnecting linkages which transfer weight from the wings to the spring arms each including a balance beam arranged to balance the lifting force from the spring arm with the downward forces from the center portion and wing such that the downward force on a skid plate of each portion on the ground varies automatically as the total downward force is varied. The balance beams apply force to the linkages by a compression member to reduce forces. The movement caused by floating of the header and the change of angle of the header are compensated at the balance beam to ensure that the force to the wings is reduced as the requirement caused by changes in geometry reduces. |
| US07918075B2 |
Rotatable stirrup bar for a saddletree
A horse saddle has a saddletree to which is mounted a rotatable stirrup bar secured to a pivot which is transverse to the length of the saddletree. The rotatable stirrup bar allows the stirrup leathers to rotate both forwardly and rearwardly of the pivot, relative to the saddle, with reduced wear and tear to the stirrup leather. The stirrup bar comprises a closed loop for retaining the stirrup loop on the stirrup bar during rotation. |
| US07918068B2 |
Tablet filling instrument
A tablet filling instrument 1 for dispensing tablets into a vial 9 in accordance with prescription data and discharging the vial 9 filled with the tablets in one of a plurality of outlets 113 designates at least one of the outlets 113 to be a priority outlet 113p and discharges the vial 9 filled with the tablets in the priority outlet 113p when the tablets are to be dispensed in one of the outlets 113 at a time-point within a predetermined time length from a present time-point. |
| US07918063B2 |
Garage door window
A garage door window has an outside frame member which has an inside frame member connection. The inside frame member has a protrusion connecting with the inside frame member connection. There is also an outside retainer channel, an inside retainer channel and an outside retainer fitting within the outside retainer channel, with an inside retainer fitting with the inside retainer channel. The inside retainer is nondestructively removable relative the inside retainer channel by a snap fit. An outside track is formed on the outside frame member, between a central inside face of the outside frame member and the outside retainer. An inside track is formed on the outside frame member, between the outside retainer and the inside retainer. A screen is mounted on the outside track, a fixed window mounted on the outside track; and an active window is mounted on the inside track. |
| US07918058B2 |
Device for fixing an ornamental profiled section on a shaped band
A device for attaching a profiled trim to a portion of a shaped bead mounted on a glazing, for example mounted on at least part of the periphery of a glazing. The device includes at least one rigid clip including at least an upstream interacting part configured to allow interaction with the shaped bead and a downstream interacting part configured to allow interaction with the profiled trim. The upstream interacting part includes at least one protruding male element or a hollow female element, this element interacting respectively with a corresponding hollow female element or a protruding male element arranged in the shaped bead. The hollow female element has internal dimensions at least partially less than external dimensions of the protruding male element. |
| US07918056B2 |
Underground shelter
A hole is drilled at a depth of about 5 to 6 m from the ground surface, a shelter outer shell floor slab 3 is provided, and a shelter inner shell 1 is provided thereon. Next, a load-bearing partition wall 6 is provided in the shelter inner shell 1, and thereafter a shelter outer shell 2 is provided and integrated. If required, a neutron beam-shielding shell 4 is provided at the outer surface-side of the wall section and the ceiling section of the shelter outer shell 2 or the shelter inner shell 1-side to subsequently backfill the beam-shielding shell 4. |
| US07918054B2 |
Roofing bracket and system
Various novel roofing brackets and roofing systems are disclosed. A first embodiment can be considered a roofing bracket to be coupled to a vertical post and a horizontal purlin of a roofing system whereby the horizontal purlin is positioned to support roof panels at a requisite pitch. The roofing bracket includes a reference brace and a clip. The reference brace includes a first brace face positioned planarly parallel with the vertical post and a second brace face extending at an angle angle from the first brace face and positioned planarly parallel with the vertical post. The clip includes a first clip face positioned to be fastened generally flush with the horizontal purlin and a second clip face extending at an angle from the first clip face and positioned to be fastened planarly parallel with the vertical post. The second clip face is coupled to the first brace face at a pivot point such that the clip can be rotated a particular angle relative to the reference brace. The angle of rotation is consistent with the requisite pitch of the roofing system. |
| US07918046B2 |
Photo display device
A photo display device including a top portion, a bottom portion having an upper surface and a cuboid member extending upwardly from the upper surface, and a middle portion having a translucent material, an outer surface having an elliptical curvature, a cuboid inner chamber defined by an inner surface and adapted to receive the cuboid member therein, wherein the top portion, the middle portion, and the bottom portion are adapted to be assembled as the photo display device such that the top portion rests upon the middle portion and the middle portion rests upon the bottom portion, and wherein the photo display device is adapted to hold at least one substantially planar item between the cuboid member and the inner surface, and the middle portion is adapted to magnify the at least one substantially planar item when held between the cuboid member and the inner surface. |
| US07918042B2 |
Three position wing for snowplow
A snowplow wing attached to the end of a snowplow blade may be manually adjusted into position to increase the operative width of the snowplowing surface, and otherwise capture or direct the flow of snow being plowed. |
| US07918039B2 |
Coating process and apparatus
A web coating process and apparatus employing a coating applicator, dryer or curing station and web-handling equipment for conveying the web past the coating applicator and through the dryer. The web is enclosed from at least the coating applicator to the dryer or curing station in a close-coupled enclosure or series of close-coupled enclosures supplied with one or more streams of conditioned gas flowing at a rate sufficient to reduce materially the particle count or change materially a physical property of interest in a close-coupled enclosure. |
| US07918038B2 |
Vapor collection method and apparatus
An apparatus and method for treating a moving substrate of indefinite length. The apparatus has a control surface positioned in close proximity to a surface of the substrate to define a control gap between the substrate and the control surface. A first chamber is positioned near the control surface, with the first chamber having a gas introduction device. A second chamber is positioned near the control surface, the second chamber having a gas withdrawal device. The control surface and the chambers together define a region wherein the adjacent gas phases possess an amount of mass. Upon inducement of at least a portion of the mass within the region, the mass flow is controlled to significantly reduce dilution of the gas phase component in the adjacent gas phase. This is accomplished through the introduction of a controlled gas stream thereby reducing the flow of an uncontrolled ambient gas stream due to pressure gradients in the system. |
| US07918037B1 |
Tape measure endpiece
A tape measure endpiece is disclosed that can hook the measuring blade onto the edge of an object to be measured. The hooking member of the endpiece is positioned to avoid impacting the performance of the measuring blade when not using the hooking member to make measurements (e.g., when making different types of measurements and when stored). In one embodiment, the endpiece comprises a tab extending below the plane of the measuring blade, an arm extending from the tab beyond the edge of the measuring blade, and a hooking member extending from the end of the arm. In other embodiments, the endpiece further comprises a support that extends above the plane of the measuring blade, with the arm extending from the support and supporting the hooking member. In some embodiments, the arm and hooking member are moveable to allow greater flexibility in making measurements. |
| US07918034B2 |
Measuring ram
The invention relates to a measuring device for measuring the length of elongated profiles (100, 101, 102, 103) disposed in a longitudinal direction, particularly of pipes, between at least two opposing measuring sides (2, 3), of which at least one can be displaced on a measuring side (2, 3) in the longitudinal direction (L) until both ends (110, 111, 112, 113; 120, 121, 122, 123) of the elongated profile (100, 101, 102, 103) come in contact with each other, and at least one of the measuring sides (2, 3) has at least one measuring ram (10, 11, 12, 13), comprising at least two ribs (51a, 51b, 52a, 52b) that extend at a distance to each other transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) and can be displaced elastically back and forth in the longitudinal direction (L). |
| US07918028B2 |
Folding knife with thumb release opening
A folding knife with thumb release opening includes a knife blade, a first liner plate, a second liner plate, a first handle plate and a second handle plate. The knife blade includes a cutting edge and a point formed on a first end. A second end of the knife blade is pivotally retained by a first end of first and second liner plates. A push button is retained in the knife blade. A liner lock is formed in the second liner plate. A lock pin is pressed into an end of the liner lock and a lock hole is formed in the second end of the knife blade to receive the lock pin. The first and second handle plates cover the first and second liner plates. The push button may be replaced with a thumb disc. A second embodiment includes spring assisted opening and a third embodiment includes automatic opening. |
| US07918026B2 |
Method for production of a mast shaped body
A method for production of masts with extruded bodies includes joining at least three mast elements at corners of the mast by cooperating rail sections and channel sections. The channel sections are provided with tapered inner wall sections. The mast elements are joined by inserting the rail section of one mast element into a channel section of an adjacent mast element and clamping the rail section in the channel section. The clamping is accomplished moving a roller in a longitudinal direction on the external sides of the channel section and causing permanent deformation of the walls of the channel section around the rail section to establish a permanently joined corner. |
| US07918025B2 |
Method of fabricating a thermal spreader having thermal conduits
A thermal spreading device disposable between electronic circuitry and a heat sink includes a substrate having parallel first and second faces and conduits extending through the substrate between the faces. The substrate material has a first thermal conductivity value in a direction parallel to the faces and a second thermal conductivity value in a direction normal to the faces, with the second thermal conductivity value being less than the first thermal conductivity value. The conduit material has a thermal conductivity value associated with it, with the thermal conductivity value being greater than the second thermal conductivity value of the substrate. One method of fabricating the thermal spreading device includes disposing a molding material radially about the rods and hardening the material. Other methods include press fitting and shrink fitting the rods into a substrate material. |
| US07918016B2 |
Reinforced plastic foam cup, method of and apparatus for manufacturing same
A reinforced plastic foam cup including a body which defines an open top end and a closed bottom end, wherein the top end has a greater diameter than the bottom end. The body includes a reinforced tapered side wall that extends from the bottom end to the top end. A substantial portion of the reinforced tapered side wall includes a plastic foam layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer and a rigid material layer. Such reinforced plastic foam cup provides an improved tactile feel and enhanced insulation and rigidity properties. |
| US07918005B2 |
Reinforced foam cup, method of and apparatus for manufacturing same
A reinforced plastic foam cup including a body which defines an open top end and a closed bottom end, wherein the top end has a greater diameter than the bottom end. The body includes a reinforced tapered side wall that extends from the bottom end to the top end. A substantial portion of the reinforced tapered side wall includes a plastic foam layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer and a rigid material layer. Such reinforced plastic foam cup provides an improved tactile feel and enhanced insulation and rigidity properties. |
| US07918004B2 |
Tampon applicator barrels having gripping structures and methods of forming
A tampon applicator barrel including a cardboard tube having a first end and a second end and at least one gripping structure defined from the cardboard tube proximate the second end is provided. The cardboard tube has a wall thickness of between about 0.015 and about 0.020 inches, while the gripping structure has a height of up to about 0.035 inches. |
| US07918003B2 |
Kingpin bushing installation tool
The kingpin bushing installation tool is a dual-headed insertion tool for installing kingpin bushings within the cylinder cavities of a steering knuckle. The kingpin bushing installation tool includes a rod having opposed upper and lower ends. An upper bushing-engaging member is mounted on the upper end of the rod and includes an upper portion, an intermediate portion and a lower portion. The intermediate portion has a diameter greater than a diameter of the lower portion, and the upper portion has a diameter greater than the diameter of the intermediate portion. A lower bushing-engaging member is adjustably and removably mounted on the lower end of the rod and includes an upper portion, an intermediate portion and a lower portion. The intermediate portion thereof has a diameter greater than a diameter of the upper portion, and the lower portion has a diameter greater than the diameter of the intermediate portion. |
| US07918001B2 |
Multi-pivot latch assemblies
Multi pivot latch assemblies for releasably engaging anchors and other attach points in vehicles are disclosed herein. A latch assembly configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a latch and an actuator, each of which is movably coupled to a frame. In operation, movement of the actuator from a locked position toward an unlocked position causes the latch to rotate from a first position to a second position about a first pivot point, and from the second position toward the third position about a second pivot point to open the latch assembly and release the anchor. |
| US07917996B2 |
Opening-and-closing mechanism
The present invention provides an opening-and-closing mechanism capable of reducing a falling momentum due to gravitational force of a lid that is opened and closed past the top in the perpendicular direction and easily raising the lid against the gravitational force. The opening-and-closing mechanism includes two supporting members (7, 9) and an intermediate member (15) disposed so as to be relatively rotatable about a rotation axis; a first damper (11R), disposed between a first one of the supporting members (9) and the intermediate member (15), for generating resistance against rotation during relative rotation of the two supporting members (7, 9) in one direction; a second damper (11L), disposed between a second one of the supporting members (7) and the intermediate member (15), for generating resistance against rotation during relative rotation of the two supporting members (7, 9) in another direction; and rotation-restricting portions (29R, 29L) for restricting relative rotation ranges of the two supporting members (7, 9) and the intermediate member (15). |
| US07917988B2 |
Apparatus and a method of applying a dry film lubricant to a rotor slot
An apparatus (60) for applying a dry film lubricant comprises a tool (62) and a pad (64). The tool (62) includes a handle (66), a cranked member (68) and a supporting member (70). The pad (64) is removably locatable on the supporting member (70). The supporting member (70) is oval in cross-section and the pad (64) includes an oval cross-section hollow member removably locatable on the supporting member (70). The supporting member (70) comprises locking means (78) to lock the pad (64) on the supporting member (70). The supporting member (70) comprises positioning means (80) to position the pad (64) on the supporting member (70). The tool (62) also has a shielding member (72) spaced from and arranged parallel to the supporting member (70). The handle (66) is arranged in a plane (A) substantially parallel to a plane (B) containing the supporting member (70) and to a plane (C) containing the shielding member (72). The pad (64) is substantially dovetail shape in cross-section to correspond to a rotor slot (40). |
| US07917986B2 |
Toothbrush
An oral care implement, such as an electric toothbrush, is ergonomically configured for the anatomical structures of children. In one embodiment, a toothbrush is provided with three dimensional sections in visually appealing or recognizable shapes for promoting more frequent of brushing by children. In another embodiment, a toothbrush includes user replaceable sections or covers that allow a user to selectively tailor the visual appearance of their own toothbrush or allow for increased exposure of other products by providing surface areas for placement of advertising or other promotional material. |
| US07917984B2 |
Electric toothbrushes
An electric toothbrush comprises a handle having an electric motor, a head, a rotating shaft, and a neck extending between the handle and the head. The head has a first and second bristle holders, each having a plurality of bristles, wherein the second bristle holder is located between the handle and the first bristle holder. The second bristle holder is movably mounted on the head with a laterally extending pivot member. The rotating shaft is operatively connected to the first and second bristle holders to cause a first movement of the first bristle holder and to move the second bristle holder in a rocking motion about the pivot member. |
| US07917983B2 |
Vibrating hair brush
A vibrating hair brush for enhanced detangling of hair, comprising a head with a base and a bristle-bearing pad, the pad comprising a motor and a vibrating actuator for generating a vibration movement in the pad, the pad being pivotally attached to the base such that the pad pivots about a pivot axis which is substantially transverse the general longitudinal axis of the hair brush and a method for detangling using said brush. |
| US07917976B1 |
Stationary side rail assembling structure
A crib includes a headboard; footboard; a first stationary side rail connected between the headboard and footboard and including upper and lower rails; a second side rail connected between the headboard and footboard; pivot lock hardware including a first engagement member at ends of the upper rail member and a second engagement member at respective corner posts, each second engagement member pivotally engaged with a first engagement member to permit pivotal movement of the first stationary side rail relative to the headboard and footboard and to lock the stationary side rail relative to the headboard and footboard; and swivel lock hardware including a third engagement member at ends of the lower rail member and a fourth engagement member at respective corner posts, each fourth engagement member being pivotally engaged with a respective third engagement member to lock the stationary side rail relative to the headboard and footboard. |
| US07917974B2 |
Set of modular panels for providing water containment tanks and adjacent structures
A set of modular panels for providing water containment tanks and adjacent structures. The set comprises at least one panel, which is made at least partly of composite material which is substantially water-repellent and has any shape and size depending on design requirements, the perimetric walls of each panel being provided with watertight anchoring to the contiguous panels. |
| US07917972B1 |
Inflatable air recoil suppressor
An inflatable and adjustable shock absorption system including a shock absorption unit with interacting, force-dispersing dimple arrays and an intervening, reversibly inflatable air bladder. |
| US07917969B2 |
Fire safety escape device
A fire-resistant pouch to accommodate a child comprising a head end, two leg ends, a back end with solid support adapted to upstand the child, an interior harness in the interior portion and a lock harness clip of the back end, and two elongate sides, wherein the elongate sides and the head end can be folded over the child and secured to form a front end, thereby enclosing the child in the fire-resistant pouch. |
| US07921464B2 |
Method of downloading contents and system thereof
A method of downloading content from a server to a mobile communication network and system thereof are disclosed. In particular, a method of downloading multimedia content from a server to a user equipment and a system for performing the method are disclosed. The method protects the copyright of multimedia content provided via the Internet, and prevents multimedia content from being downloaded without permission or validity. |
| US07921462B2 |
Identifying a distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack within a network and defending against such an attack
The invention provides methods, apparatus and systems for detecting distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks within the Internet by sampling packets at a point or points in Internet backbone connections to determine a packet metric parameter. The packet metric parameter which might comprise the volume of packets received is analyzed over selected time intervals with respect to specified geographical locations in which the hosts transmitting the packets are located. The expected behavior can be employed to identify traffic distortions revealing a DDoS attack. In a complementary aspect, the invention provides a method of authenticating packets at routers in order to elevate the QoS of authenticated packets. This method can be used to block or filter packets and can be used in conjunction with the DDoS attack detection system to defend against DDoS attacks within the Internet in a distributed manner. |
| US07921455B2 |
Token device that generates and displays one-time passwords and that couples to a computer for inputting or receiving data for generating and outputting one-time passwords and other functions
A token device that generates and displays one-time passwords and couples to a computer for inputting or receiving data for generating and outputting one-time passwords and performing other functions is provided. The token includes an interface for coupling to a computer. The token may also be coupled to any network that the computer may be connected to, when coupled to the computer. Data and information may be transmitted between the computer and token, and between the network and token, via the computer and interface. The data and information may include one-time password seeding, file transfer, authentication, configuration and programming of the token. The token must be seeded to generate and display one-time passwords. An original, or seed, value is loaded into the token. One-time passwords are subsequently generated or calculated, or both, from the seed value. Seeding of the token involving a counter, time, or time-related functions, may allow synchronization of the token with such functions. The token may support different authentication methods. |
| US07921453B2 |
Authenticated distributed detection and inference
Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses, methods, and systems for authenticated distributed detection and inference. In various embodiments, an apparatus comprises an interface configured to communicatively couple a node hosting the apparatus to a network, and a distributed detection and inference (DDI) agent coupled to the interface and configured to receive, via the interface, DDI collaboration parameters from an authentication node is disclosed. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US07921450B1 |
Security system using indirect key generation from access rules and methods therefor
Improved system and approaches for centralized storage of access restrictions which are associated with public keys are disclosed. The access restrictions serve to limit access to files secured by a security system. According to one aspect of the present invention, identifiers, or encoded versions thereof, are used as public keys to identify particular access restrictions. The identifiers to the access restrictions are used in a decentralized manner for public keys, while the access restrictions themselves are maintained in a centralized manner. As compared to the access restrictions, the public keys based on identifiers tend to be smaller and more uniform in size. The centralized storage of the access restrictions also facilitates subsequent changes to access restrictions for previously secured files. The improved system and approaches is particularly suitable in an enterprise environment. |
| US07921449B2 |
Smooth still image capture
A live video is directed to a display buffer of the device. The device is preferably a set top box and a live video frame stored in the display buffer is preferably displayed by a display device coupled to the set top box. The display device is preferably a television. A capture command preferably signals the set top box to store one or more frames of the currently displayed live video. Upon receiving the capture command, the live video is paused, thereby preventing the display buffer from loading subsequent live video frames. The live video is then re-directed to a capture buffer, the live video is un-paused, and a current live video frame is captured from the capture buffer. The captured frame is then stored using a conventional storage medium. After the frame is captured, the live video is re-directed from the capture buffer to the display buffer to resume display of the live video. |
| US07921447B1 |
Enhanced television metadata processor for efficient broadcast operations
A method and apparatus for enhanced video signal processing are described. An enhanced video signal is received. A plurality of metadata describing the enhanced video signal are generated and processed. A channel for transmission of the enhanced video signal to a plurality of viewers is determined. |
| US07921442B2 |
Method and apparatus for simultaneous live television and data services using single beam antennas
A method and apparatus are provided for simultaneously receiving DBS and data signals on a mobile platform using a single beam receive antenna aperture and transmitting data signals from a mobile platform using the single beam transmit antenna aperture. A single beam receive antenna aperture receives first RF signals having a first polarization and second RF signals having a second polarization, the single beam receive antenna aperture outputting output signals having the first polarization. A first RF converter down-converts the output signals to first down-converted signals having the first polarization. A second RF converter down-converts the output signals to second down-converted signals having the second polarization. The first RF signals suitably include DBS signals, and the second RF signals suitably include data services signals. |
| US07921441B2 |
Detection and indication of premium channel availability
The present invention is directed to a television schedule guide which includes a detector for determining whether a previously scrambled program is unscrambled. If a previously scrambled program is momentarily unscrambled due to promotional efforts by the program provider, the system will visually distinguish the program on the guide, and a viewer may tune to or record the program from the guide. The view may also subscribe to the program provider through the guide during the promotional period. |
| US07921434B2 |
Disc device having multiple disk carry-in speeds
When a normal disk having the diameter of 12 cm is inserted into the disk device, first and second optical detecting elements detect the insertion, and transitions to a first detection state, which initiates transfer operation of first and second transfer rollers. If the disk is further moved to an inner portion of the device, thus pressing first and second detecting pins, first and second detecting switches are turned OFF, and the detecting elements enter a second detection state. Before the transition from the first detection state to the second detection state occurs, a rotating speed of the first and second transfer rollers is set low. After transition to the second detection state, the rotating speed is increased. As a result, a card or other such foreign objects can be removed and a monitoring period can be increased until detection of a normal disk is detected. |
| US07921430B2 |
System and method for intercepting, instrumenting and characterizing usage of an application programming interface
A system and method for generically intercepting any type of application programming interface (API) events. The API event interception system includes an intercept library and an API. The application program calls the API to process the client event generated. The API receives the request for service from the application program and determines if intercepting of events is enabled. If intercepting is enabled, the API sends the event to the intercept library. The intercept library determines that the intercept library is enabled to support the event. If the intercept library is enabled to support the event, the intercept library invokes the required event program. If the intercept library is not enabled to support the event, the intercept library returns a message instructing the API to process the event. |
| US07921429B2 |
Data acquisition method with event notification for an appliance
A data acquisition method comprising looking into a memory heap of event structures having condition parameters of at least one of memory pointers, event operators, and arguments; identifying event conditions that evaluate as true by evaluating the condition parameters for the even structures; and generating a notification message when a true condition is found. |
| US07921427B2 |
Method and system for processing messages in an application cluster
A method for processing a message that includes receiving the message by a plurality of resource adapters (RA). The method includes calculating a selector string using an application instance selection portion of the message, determining whether the selector string calculated by the RA identifies the application instance corresponding to the RA, transmitting the message to the application instance corresponding to the RA when the selector string calculated by the RA identifies the application instance, and discarding the message when the selector string calculated by the RA does not identify the application instance corresponding to the RA, where one RA transmits the message to the application instance corresponding to the RA and the remaining RAs discard the message. |
| US07921426B2 |
Inter partition communication within a logical partitioned data processing system
Each of a plurality of partitions within a logical partitioned data processing system is configured for an inter partition communication area (IPCA) allocated from partition's own system memory. Each partition's IPCA combined together forms a non-contiguous block of memory which is treated as a virtual shared resource (VSR). Access to VSR is controlled by hypervisor to maintain data security and coherency of the non-shared resources of a partition. Messages are written to and read from VSR under a specific partition's IPCA for inter partition communication. No physical shared or non-shared resources are involved during inter partition communication, hence no extra overhead on those resources, thus achieving optimized performance during inter partition communication. |
| US07921423B2 |
System and method for scheduling and coordinating tasks across application processes using shared memory
A system and method for scheduling and coordinating tasks between a master application and a slave application includes: receiving a request from an application program; determining whether the request includes an embedded subtask; extracting the subtask and sending the subtask to a shared memory space for retrieval by the slave application, if the request includes an embedded subtask; and waiting for a response from the slave application. |
| US07921418B2 |
Compile time evaluation of library functions
A method and system for evaluating a call to a library function at compile time. A first call included in a program being compiled by a compiler is identified. The first call is a call to a library function included in a pre-defined list of library functions external to the program. The first call includes one or more arguments associated with one or more formal arguments of a library function in the pre-defined list. The identification of the first call includes searching the pre-defined list of library functions for the library function. The arguments are determined to be constants. A second call to the library function is constructed in an optimizer of the compiler. A result of the second call is statically computed in the optimizer by issuing the second call with the constants as arguments. During compile time, the first call is replaced with the result. |
| US07921413B2 |
Architecture for generating intermediate representations for program code conversion
An improved architecture for a program code conversion apparatus and method for generating intermediate representations for program code conversion. The program code conversion apparatus determines which types of IR nodes to generate in an intermediate representation (IR) of subject code (10) to be translated. Depending upon the particular subject and target computing environments involved in the conversion, the program code conversion apparatus utilizes either base nodes, complex nodes, polymorphic nodes, and architecture specific nodes, or some combination thereof, in generating the intermediate representation. |
| US07921411B2 |
Model checking of non-terminating software programs
A method for verifying software program code includes specifying a property that the software program code is expected to satisfy. The software program code and the property are transformed into an initial logical formula in a static single assignment (SSA) form, the formula including variables. A loop in the software program code is identified. Successive over-approximations are applied to a portion of the initial logical formula corresponding to the loop in order to produce a modified logical formula in the SSA form that represents a finite over-approximation of a set of states that are reachable by the loop. It is verified that the software program code satisfies the specified property by determining whether there is an assignment of the variables that satisfies the modified logical formula. |
| US07921406B1 |
Incorporating technical computing into a DBMS
The present invention enables customized technical computing within a database. The present invention provides a method and system to insert a software function implemented in a technical computing environment into a database to manipulate data and use the software function as a database procedure. Once the software function is generated, in response to a single action being performed, two components are generated and stored in the database. The two components working together allow the software function to be invoked as a database procedure. The present invention offloads a user's burden to learn the often complicated database query language and decreases the amount of network traffic between a client computer and a database. |
| US07921402B2 |
FPGA circuits and methods considering process variations
Methods are described herein which consider both die-to-die and within-die variations in effective channel length, threshold voltage, and gate oxide thickness, based on first developing closed-form models of chip level FPGA leakage and timing variations. Execution times are significantly reduced using these methods in comparison to performing detailed evaluation. The teachings provide mean and standard deviation which were found to be within 3% from those computed by Monte Carlo simulation, while leakage and delay variations can be up to 3× and 1.9×, respectively. Analytical yield models are derived which consider both leakage and timing variations, and use such models to evaluate FPGA device and architecture in response to process variations. The teachings allow improved modeling of leakage and timing yields and thus co-optimization to improve yield rates. |
| US07921394B2 |
Enhanced verification through binary decision diagram-based target decomposition
A method, system and computer program product for performing verification of an electronic design is disclosed. The method includes receiving a design, including a first target set, a primary input set, and a first register set comprising one or more registers. A binary decision diagram analysis of the design is generated. A recursive extraction of one or more next states of selected registers is generated using the binary decision diagram analysis of the first target set and the primary input set. The recursive extraction is decomposed to generate a second target set, and the second target set is verified. |
| US07921392B2 |
Node spreading via artificial density enhancement to reduce routing congestion
Simultaneous Dynamical Integration modeling techniques are applied to global placement of elements of integrated circuits as described by netlists specifying interconnection of morphable-devices. Solutions to a system of coupled ordinary differential equations in accordance with Newtonian mechanics are approximated by numerical integration. A resultant time-evolving system of nodes moves through a continuous location space in continuous time, and is used to derive placements of the morphable-devices having one-to-one correspondences with the nodes. Nodes under the influence of net attractive forces, computed based on the interconnections between the morphable devices, tend to coalesce into well-organized topologies. Nodes are also affected by spreading forces determined by density fields that are developed based on local spatial node populations. |
| US07921378B2 |
Information processing device
An information processing device is provided with a display unit, a selecting unit which allows a user to select one of the icons displayed on a display unit. A relevance acquisition unit is provide to acquire the degree of relevance between a selected setting item corresponding to the selected icon and each of the other setting items by referring to a relevance table when one of the icons displayed by the display unit is selected. The information processing device also includes a display control unit which rearranges the icons displayed on the display unit such that the icon corresponding to the selected setting item and the icons respectively corresponding to the other setting items are arranged in accordance with the degrees of relevance to indicate the relevance thereamong. |
| US07921377B2 |
Method for generating an interactive menu
A method for generating an interactive electronic menu on a display, the menu comprising menu items, wherein a menu item may be in a deselected, selected or activated state, and the menu being coded into a menu data segment, comprises that at least a first and a second menu item are connected by a parent-child relationship, wherein the second menu item being a child of the first menu item can only be selected when the first menu item is selected, and further comprises that the first and the second menu item are coded into the same data segment. The method is preferably usable for menus relating to content of digital storage media, such as optical discs, in particular read-only Blu-ray discs. |
| US07921374B2 |
Adding interrogative punctuation to an electronic message
Interrogative punctuation is automatically added to a sequence of characters entered into a handheld device upon termination of the sequence, such as by double actuation of the spacebar, when the first word, or the first and third words at the beginning of the sequence, of after a comma or semicolon, are indicative of an interrogatory. |
| US07921366B2 |
Information processing apparatus, assignment method and display method of information processing apparatus, and computer-readable program product
An information processing apparatus includes: a plurality of displays; a plurality of display instruction units; and an assignment unit that assigns a target selected on at least any one of the displays to one of the display instruction units so as to configure the display instruction unit that the target is to be displayed on one of the displays in accordance with a command input by the assigned one of the display instruction units. |
| US07921364B2 |
Controlling a computer user interface with sound
Controlling a computer user interface with sound including defining ranges of audio frequencies; associating each range with a user interface command; receiving as input from a user a sound representing an instruction to execute a user interface command, the sound characterized by a spectrum of frequencies and energies; identifying the user interface command to be executed in dependence upon the spectrum of frequencies and energies, the defined ranges of audio frequencies, and the user interface commands associated with the ranges; and executing the identified command. |
| US07921362B2 |
Differential dynamic delivery of presentation previews
Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for differential dynamic content delivery. Typical embodiments of the present invention include providing a session document for a presentation, wherein the session document includes a session grammar and a session structured document; selecting from the session structured document a classified structural element bearing a preview designation; and presenting the selected structural element to a prospective user participant. In many embodiments, selecting a classified structural element bearing a preview designation further comprises selecting a classified structural element in dependence upon user classifications of a prospective user participant. |
| US07921361B2 |
Data entry for personal computing devices
In one aspect, a method, apparatus, computer-readable medium and system is provided for facilitating user text generation and entry. In some illustrative embodiments, user input received from a digital keyboard and search list is used to retrieve completion candidates likely intended by the user or containing at least a portion of the user's intended text. Completion candidates may be selected using a pointing device (for example, a touch-sensitive screen) with a pointing operation that includes a gesture. A completion candidate may be used to search for more relevant completion candidates. |
| US07921357B2 |
Highlighting comparison method
A method for processing and displaying individual views of the application of pre-defined criteria to textual, graphical, video, or audio material. The use of visually-differentiated emphasis to display similarities and differences can take a variety of forms, including color-coded highlighting, underlining, circling, or the insertion of graphical symbols. |
| US07921348B2 |
Time monitoring of packet retransmissions during soft handover
The present invention relates to a method for scheduling data retransmissions, a method for use in a data retransmission scheme and a method for updating a soft buffer of a base station in a mobile communication system during a soft-handover. The present invention relates to a base station executing the controlling and updating method, a communication terminal for executing the scheduling method and to a mobile communication system comprising at least one the base station and communication terminal. To prevent erroneous combining of data packets in a packet retransmission scheme at the receiver, the present invention provides a method that may flush the soft buffer region associated to a received data packet upon its correct reception. Further, a method is provided that monitors the time elapsed since the last storing of a data packet in a buffer region of a base station to be able to trigger the flush of the buffer region upon expiry of a threshold time period. |
| US07921346B2 |
Verification of array built-in self-test (ABIST) design-for-test/design-for-diagnostics (DFT/DFD)
A method, system and computer program product for testing the Design-For-Testability/Design-For-Diagnostics (DFT/DFD) and supporting BIST functions of a custom microcode array. Upon completion of the LSSD Flush and Scan tests, the ABIST program is applied to target the logic associated direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) faults of ABIST array Design-For-Testability/Design-For-Diagnostics DFT/DFD functions that support the microcode array. A LSSD test of the DFT functional combinational logic is performed by applying generated LSSD deterministic test patterns targeting the ABIST design-for-test faults to determine if the DFT supporting the microcode array is functioning correctly. Additional tests may be terminated upon resulting failure of the applied ABIST DFT circuitry surrounding the arrays. |
| US07921345B2 |
Automated test system
A system comprising a plurality of components and an automation module coupled to the plurality of components. The automation module is adapted to automatically initialize a software test environment for at least one of the plurality of components, where the software test environment prepares the at least one of the plurality of components to be tested. The automation module also is adapted to, without transferring a testing agent to the at least one of the plurality of components, automatically test the at least one of the plurality of components. |
| US07921344B2 |
Multi-stage data processor with signal repeater
A signal processing device having a plurality of processing stages, each of the plurality of processing stages being adapted for applying an input signal to each of at least one item under examination to be coupled to a respective one of the plurality of processing stages, and at least one signal reconditioning unit, each of the at least one signal reconditioning unit being adapted for reconditioning the input signal in a signal path between a preceding one of the plurality of processing stages and a subsequent one of the plurality of processing stages. |
| US07921342B2 |
Integrated circuit comprising a test mode secured by the use of an identifier, and associated method
An electronic circuit includes configurable cells capable of being functionally linked to logic cells with which they cooperate to form at least one logic circuit if a chaining command signal is in a first (inactive) state. The electronic circuit also includes a logic interconnection circuit for performing the following functions if the chaining command signal is in a second (active) state. Functionally connecting the configurable cells in a linear feedback shift register if an authentication signal is in a first state, or functionally connecting the configurable cells in a chain in a predefined order to form a shift register if the authentication signal is in a second state. |
| US07921338B2 |
System and method for remote network management over unreliable and/or low-bandwidth communications links
A system includes a plurality of remote servers deployed in a remote network, a central information management server, and a connector for routing transmissions between the plurality of remote servers and the central information management server. |
| US07921336B1 |
System and method for avoiding categorizing potential link error events as actual link error events based on a proximity to a physical layer signal state change
A system and method are provided for avoiding categorization of non-error events as actual error events. This is accomplished by categorizing potential error events as actual error events or non-error events based on a proximity to a physical layer signal state change. By this feature, the result of the categorization may be used to more effectively avoid categorizing non-error events and accompanying noise, etc., as actual error events. To this end, in various embodiments, more accurate error counting is afforded to preclude inadvertent disabling, etc. of a mass storage device or associated link that would otherwise result from a flawed error count. |
| US07921327B2 |
System and method for recovery from uncorrectable bus errors in a teamed NIC configuration
A method for recovery from uncorrectable errors in an information handling system including an operating system (OS) and one or more network interface cards (NICS) is provided. The method may include detecting an uncorrectable error; determining whether the uncorrectable error is isolated to a particular NIC; determining whether the particular NIC is teamed with one or more other NICs; and notifying the OS of a successful recovery from the uncorrectable error if it is determined that (a) the uncorrectable error is isolated to a particular NIC, and (b) the particular NIC is teamed with one or more other NICs. |
| US07921324B2 |
Providing file system availability during local path failure of a non-server node
File system availability during local path failure of a non-server node is provided by generating a server database of one or more server nodes having access to a storage device of the file system. The storage device is accessed by a non-server node over a local path to implement one or more input/output (I/O) operations. Upon failure of an I/O operation over the local path, the server database is queried to identify one or more server nodes having access to the storage device. One or more subsequent I/O operations for the storage device are implemented using the one or more identified server nodes. After a restoration of the local path is detected, I/O operations for the storage device are then implemented over the local path. |
| US07921321B2 |
Automatic clock and data alignment
A circuit is described for automatically adjusting a phase of an input register load clock to be synchronized with transitions of data bits forming an n-bit word. The circuit detects the first transition of a data bit in the n-bit word. The circuit then time-shifts the input clock, to generate a shifted clock, so that a triggering edge of the shifted clock occurs sometime after generation of the transition detect signal, such as in the middle third of a data cycle. Shifting the input clock may be performed by multiplying the input clock to generate a plurality of sub-clock cycles and selecting one of the sub-clock cycles as the start of the shifted clock cycle. The parallel data are applied to inputs of input registers clocked using the shifted clock as the load clock. Thus, the load clock occurs at an optimum time near the middle of a data cycle. |
| US07921319B2 |
Method and system for providing a deterministic virtual clock
A method and system for providing a virtual clock on a computer by multiplying the number of instructions executed by the average instruction execution time. It is however not reliable to use this generic computation for virtualization of application in a fault tolerant system because the virtual clock computed like this quickly deviates from the system clock. A virtual clock computation is provided which includes periodic readjustment of the virtual to the system clock. Also, the errors coming from rounding of the number of executing instruction are suppressed.Taking the assumption that the user instruction counters are maintained synchronized in the operational and the replication computers, replacing the system clock access by a virtual clock when virtualizing applications thus turning the system clock acquisition into a deterministic event. Replicating the system clock access can be thus done by re-executing the application code in the replication machine avoiding transfer of information at each system clock access of the virtualized application programs. |
| US07921301B2 |
Method and apparatus for obscuring data on removable storage devices
A method and apparatus for obscuring data held on a storage device associated with a storage system controller are provided. Data is obscured by swapping bit values according to a scrambling key, before the unit of data is stored on the storage device. Furthermore, multiple swaps or translations of bit values can be performed in sequence on a single unit of data. In order to descramble a unit of data, the translations of bit values applied during scrambling are performed in reverse order. Alternatively or in addition, data can be obscured by scrambling the bit values of an address associated with a unit of data. |
| US07921297B2 |
Random biometric authentication utilizing unique biometric signatures
A user can be challenged to provide at least one randomly selected biometric attribute. The randomly selected biometric attribute input by the user is automatically compared to a plurality of biometric attributes of the user contained in a user profile. The user can then be authenticated if the randomly selected biometric attribute input by the user matches at least one of the plurality of biometric attributes of the user contained in the user profile. Biometric attributes analyzed according to the methods and systems of the present invention, include, but are not limited to, for example, fingerprints, iris, retina, and/or tissue characteristics, such as skin morphology, skin layer thickness, collage density and orientation, tissue hydration, optical patent length differences, etc. |
| US07921296B2 |
Generating and matching hashes of multimedia content
Hashes are short summaries or signatures of data files which can be used to identify the file. The disclosed method generates robust hashes for multimedia content, for example, audio clips. The audio clip is divided into successive (preferably overlapping) frames. For each frame, the frequency spectrum is divided into bands. A robust property of each band (e.g. energy) is computed and represented by a respective hash bit. An audio clip is thus represented by a concatenation of binary hash words, one for each frame. To identify a possibly compressed audio signal, a block of hash words derived therefrom is matched by a computer with a large database. Such matching strategies are also disclosed. In an advantageous embodiment, the extraction process also provides information as to which of the hash bits are the least reliable. Flipping these bits considerably improves the speed and performance of the matching process. |
| US07921293B2 |
Apparatus and method for unilaterally loading a secure operating system within a multiprocessor environment
An apparatus and method for unilaterally loading a secure operating system within a multiprocessor environment are described. The method includes disregarding a received load secure region instruction when a currently active load secure region operation is detected. Otherwise, a memory protection element is directed, in response to the received load secure region instruction, to form a secure memory environment. Once directed, unauthorized read/write access to one or more protected memory regions are prohibited. Finally, a cryptographic hash value of the one or more protected memory regions is stored within a digest information repository as a secure software identification value. Once stored, outside agents may request access to a digitally signed software identification value to establish security verification of secure software within the secure memory environment. |
| US07921290B2 |
Method and system for securely authenticating network access credentials for users
A method is provided to securely authenticate user credentials. The method includes encrypting a user credential with a public key at an access device wherein the public key is part of a public/private key pair suitable for use with an encryption algorithm. The encrypted network user credential is transmitted from the access device to a decryption server where it is decrypted with a private key, the private key being part of the public/private key pair suitable for use with the encryption algorithm. The decrypted user credential is then transmitted from the decryption server to an authentication server for verification. The decryption server typically forms part of a multi-party service access environment including a plurality of access providers, the method including decrypting the user credential of a user proximate an access provider associated with the user credential. The method can be used in legacy protocols such as Point-to-Point protocol (PPP), Password Authentication Protocol (PAP), Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP), Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) protocol, Terminal Access Controller Access Control System (TACACS) protocol, Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), NT Domain authentication protocol, Unix password authentication protocol, HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), HyperText Transfer Protocol over Secure sockets layer (HTTPS), Extended Authentication Protocol (EAP), Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol, Token Ring protocol and/or Secure Remote Password protocol (SRP). |
| US07921284B1 |
Method and system for protecting electronic data in enterprise environment
Even with proper access privilege, when a secured file is classified, at least security clearance (e.g. a clearance key) is needed to ensure those who have the right security clearance can ultimately access the contents in the classified secured file. According to one embodiment, referred to as a two-pronged access scheme, a security clearance key is generated and assigned in accordance with a user's security access level. A security clearance key may range from most classified to non-classified. Depending on implementation, a security clearance key with a security level may be so configured that the key can be used to access secured files classified at or lower than the security level or multiple auxiliary keys are provided when a corresponding security clearance key is being requested. The auxiliary keys are those keys generated to facilitate access to secured files classified respectively less than the corresponding security or confidentiality level. |
| US07921281B2 |
Processor and program execution method capable of efficient program execution
A processor for sequentially executing a plurality of programs using a plurality of register value groups stored in a memory that correspond one-to-one with the programs. The processor includes a plurality of register groups; a select/switch unit operable to select one of the plurality of register groups as an execution target register group on which a program execution is based, and to switch the selection target every time a first predetermined period elapses; a restoring unit operable to restore, every time the switching is performed, one of the register value groups into one of the register groups that is not selected as the execution target register group; a saving unit operable to save, prior to the restoring, register values in the register group targeted for restoring, by overwriting a register value group in the memory that corresponds to the register values; and a program execution unit operable to execute, every time the switching is performed, a program corresponding to a register value group in the execution target register group. |
| US07921273B2 |
Method, system, and article of manufacture for remote copying of data
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for copying storage. Data sent from a first storage unit is synchronously copied at a second storage unit. The copied data is sent asynchronously from the second storage unit to a third storage unit. |
| US07921270B2 |
Methods and systems for controlling access to a storage device
The present invention discloses systems and methods for communicating with a storage device configured to store signed program files, the method including the steps of: generating, by a program process, a respective command number associated with a process command; issuing, by the program process, the process command with the respective command number to the storage device; and according to the respective command number, verifying, by the storage device, whether the process command originated from a trusted program process launched from the program files stored in the storage device. Preferably, the step of verifying includes: generating, by the storage device, a respective initial command number associated with a requested program file; and attaching, by the storage device, the respective initial command number to a copy of the requested program file. |
| US07921257B1 |
Dynamic parity distribution technique
A dynamic parity distribution system and technique distributes parity across disks of an array. The dynamic parity distribution system includes a storage operating system that integrates a file system with a RAID system. In response to a request to store (write) data on the array, the file system determines which disks contain free blocks in a next allocated stripe of the array. There may be multiple blocks within the stripe that do not contain file system data (i.e., unallocated data blocks) and that could potentially store parity. One or more of those unallocated data blocks can be assigned to store parity, arbitrarily. According to the dynamic parity distribution technique, the file system determines which blocks hold parity each time there is a write request to the stripe. The technique alternately allows the RAID system to assign a block to contain parity when each stripe is written. |
| US07921254B2 |
Wireless universal serial bus system and driving method thereof
Disclosed is a wireless universal serial bus system that includes a device; a first host communicating with the device according to a wireless universal serial bus protocol; and a second host communicating with the device according to a wireless universal serial bus protocol, wherein when the first host receives a beacon from the second host, the first host provides new host information read out from the beacon to the device. |
| US07921248B2 |
Configuration facility for the configuration of a time-triggered bus system
A configuration facility is presented and specified, with at least one computer unit and a display device for the configuration of a time-triggered bus system. The bus system has at least two bus nodes and a data bus connecting the bus nodes. At least one node task and at least one transmission task can be executed at the bus nodes. The node tasks can be presented in time sequence in a node task field, the transmission tasks can be presented in time sequence in a transmission task field separate from the node task field, and the node tasks and the transmission tasks can be coordinated with each other by graphic allocation. |
| US07921243B1 |
System and method for a DDR SDRAM controller
A buffer control system for a data storage device controller comprises a command module and a burst module. The command module receives first channel data from a first channel having a first data format and second channel data from a second channel having a second data format and converts the first channel data and the second channel data to respective data packets each having a third data format that is different than the first data format and the second data format. The burst module that selectively transmits the data packets having the third data format to a memory in a single write burst. |
| US07921241B2 |
Instruction set for programmable queuing
A traffic manager includes an execution unit that is responsive to instructions related to queuing of data in memory. The instructions may be provided by a network processor that is programmed to generate such instructions, depending on the data. Examples of such instructions include (1) writing of data units (of fixed size or variable size) without linking to a queue, (2) re-sequencing of the data units relative to one another without moving the data units in memory, and (3) linking the previously-written data units to a queue. The network processor and traffic manager may be implemented in a single chip. |
| US07921239B2 |
Multi-mode processing module and method of use
A multi-mode processing module and method of use are disclosed. In a particular form, a multi-mode processing module can include a peripheral interface configured to be enabled in response to a peripheral application access request. The multi-mode processing module can further include a plurality of independent peripheral resources individually accessible to a host processor via the peripheral interface. The multi-mode processing module can also include a local processor configurable to enable the plurality of independent peripheral resources in response to a request by the host processor. |
| US07921236B2 |
Method and apparatus for simultaneous bidirectional signaling in a bus topology
A method and apparatus for providing bidirectional signaling in a bus topology is provided. The bus topology allows more than two electrical circuits or devices to be coupled together along one or more common electrical conductors. For each device on the bus, a transmit buffer is preferably provided for every other device on the bus with which it will communicate. One or more logic circuits, for example, a scheduler, is provided to coordinate exchange transactions between pairs of devices. Time delays are preferably provided between exchange transactions of different device pairs so as to prevent interference. Coherency checking is preferably implemented to avoid discrepancies introduced by information being held in a buffer pending an exchange transaction. |
| US07921234B2 |
Communications channel interposer, method and program product for verifying integrity of untrusted subsystem responses to a request
In a communications channel coupled to multiple duplicated subsystems, a method, interposer and program product are provided for verifying integrity of subsystem responses. Within the communications channel, a first checksum is calculated with receipt of a first response from a first subsystem responsive to a common request, and a second checksum is calculated for a second response of a second subsystem received responsive to the common request. The first checksum and the second checksum are compared, and if matching, only one of the first response and the second response is forwarded from the communications channel as the response to the common request, with the other of the first response and the second response being discarded by the communications channel. |
| US07921233B2 |
Signal converter for an all-in-one USB connector that includes USB 2.0, USB 3.0 and eSATA
A signal converter is used to connect between an all-in-one USB connector and a PCB and has USB 3.0 and eSATA signal interfaces, an inner communication interface and a processing unit. The processing unit has an identifying and converting procedure. The identifying and converting procedure is periodically executed to detect the USB 3.0 and eSATA signal interfaces in sequence and determine whether a response signal is sent back from one of the USB 3.0 and eSATA signal interfaces. If a determined result is positive, the processing unit bi-directionally converts two different standard signals of the inner communication interface and the one of the USB 3.0 and eSATA signal interfaces that transmitted the response signal. Therefore, the PCB successfully communicates with the external electronic device through the correct port of the all-in-one USB connector. |
| US07921231B2 |
Discovery of electronic devices utilizing a control bus
Discovery of electronic devices utilizing a control bus. An embodiment of a method includes connecting a receiving device to a cable, where the cable includes a control bus. If the receiving device is in a disconnect state and a signal from a transmitting device is detected on the control bus, the device is transferred to a state for a first type of transmitting device. If the receiving device is in either the disconnect state or the state for the first type of transmitting device and a predetermined voltage signal is received from the transmitting device, then the receiving device is transferred to a state for a second type of transmitting device. |
| US07921229B2 |
Host device, storage device, and method for accessing a storage device
A host device (1) adds host function information indicating a function of the host device (1) to a command and transmits it to a storage device (2). The storage device (2) receives the command transmitted from the host device (1) and determines whether the function indicated by the host function information can be processed. When the function can be processed, the function is processed based on the command. When the function cannot be processed, no response is returned or error information is returned. Thus, under simple control, it is possible to prevent data destruction by a host device of an old version. |
| US07921227B2 |
Concurrent stack
A method and apparatus for processing message is described. In one embodiment, an application programming interface is configured for receiving and sending messages. A building block layer is coupled to the application programming interface. A channel layer is coupled to the building block layer. A transport protocol stack is coupled to the channel layer for implementing properties specified by the channel layer. The transport protocol stack has a concurrent stack consisting of an out of band thread pool and a regular thread pool. The transport protocol layer is to process messages from each sender in parallel with the corresponding channel for each sender. |
| US07921226B2 |
User specific request redirection in a content delivery network
A method and apparatus for providing user specific request redirection in a content delivery network includes parsing a page having embedded objects intended for redirection to at least one cache server, and transforming the embedded objects into relative uniform resource locators (URLs). A content-base token is inserted into an HTTP response header in response to a user request for the page. In an instance where the content-base token is not supported by the server and/or client devices, a base token is inserted into the page in response to a user request for the page. The content-base token and base token provide identification of a server or URL prefix where the embedded objects in the page are to be retrieved. The requested page is then sent to the user's browser. The browser constructs absolute URLs from the embedded URLs using either the received content-base token or base token, to retrieve embedded objects from the server. |
| US07921223B2 |
Protected distribution and location based aggregation service
A system for and method of per access-point streaming media customization and privacy protected feedback in a wireless network. The system is operative to: encrypt real time streamed media content from a streaming media source; multicast the streamed encrypted media content for availability to a user device for playback, the user device sending out unicast responses at the time of joining or dropping the multicast; aggregate the unicast responses in the form of a connect multicast state or a disconnect multicast state of the user device based on the joining or dropping of the multicast; and provide information back to the streaming media source based on the aggregated unicast responses. |
| US07921222B2 |
Method and system for fast channel switching using standard RTSP messages
Method and system for performing fast channel switching in client-server systems, in which live media streams sent by a streaming server under the RTSP protocol are played by the client, are described. The seek functionality in the media player is overloaded to provide switching between live media streams by using standard RTSP message in-band within a single RTSP session. |
| US07921217B2 |
Method and download agent for implementing parallel download
A method for implementing parallel download applicable to a system supporting the download of chunked download content includes: acquiring download source information corresponding to download content, wherein the download source information comprises multiple content sources providing the download content, and the multiple content sources corresponds to multiple download servers respectively; dividing the download content into download content chunks according to the download source information; sending a download content chunk request to the multiple download servers corresponding to the multiple content sources respectively, and downloading the download content chunks from the multiple download servers in parallel. A download agent for implementing parallel download is provided. The method and download agent of the embodiments of the present invention may improve the download speed and robustness effectively. Therefore, object files with a large amount of data may be downloaded reliably and rapidly. |
| US07921215B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing and prioritizing the creation of a large number of VPN tunnels
There is provided a communications network including a server forming part of a virtual private network, a plurality of client computers operative to request connection to the server and to be connected to the server when a request for connection is granted, thereby to be added to the virtual private network and a server response module, operative, in response to a connection request from at least one of the plurality of client computers which connection request cannot be processed by the server, to provide to the at least one of said plurality of client computers a server response indicating that the connection request should be retransmitted only after at least one criterion is met. |
| US07921214B2 |
Switching between modalities in a speech application environment extended for interactive text exchanges
The present solution includes a method for dynamically switching modalities in a dialogue session involving a voice server. In the method, a dialogue session can be established between a user and a speech application. During the dialogue session, the user can interact using an original modality, which is either a speech modality, a text exchange modality, or a multi mode modality that includes a text exchange modality. The speech application can interact using a speech modality. A modality switch trigger can be detected that changes the original modality to a different modality. The modality transition to the second modality can be transparent to the speech application. The speech application can be a standard VoiceXML based speech application that lacks an inherent text exchange capability. |
| US07921213B1 |
Ring content distribution system
A method of handing off connection requests from a file server to other receivers on a network includes receiving a connection request from a receiver, checking to see if the requested content is currently being provided by the file server to another receiver, and, if so, handing off the request to the another receiver. |
| US07921212B2 |
Methods and apparatus to allocate bandwidth between video and non-video services in access networks
Example methods and apparatus to allocate bandwidth between video and non-video services in access networks are disclosed. An example system comprises a customer-premises device, a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) to transmit to the customer-premises device a signal having a non-video portion and a video portion, a usage monitor at the customer-premises device to monitor a usage of the video portion and to send a parameter representative of the usage of the video portion to the DSLAM, and a policy manager at the DSLAM to adjust at the DSLAM a bandwidth allocation between the video portion and the non-video portion based on the parameter. |
| US07921208B2 |
Network time out handling
An example method for time-out handling comprises establishing a session from a network-based application at a client to a web server. The method includes identifying a time-out parameter for the web server. A timestamp of the established session is saved at the client. The method also includes determining a first time-out by adding the identified time-out parameter to the timestamp and triggering a system-based communication from the network-based application to keep the session alive. The method may be implemented by a client of a learning management system. |
| US07921202B2 |
System and method for passive information capture, cache and matching to facilitate uninterrupted transactions
A system and method for monitoring network communications between a consumer making a request for information on a network, and a provider that is providing the requested information. The system detects when the provider has not responded to an information request and provides stored information from a database that either matches, or nearly matches, the information being requested by the consumer. A network agent is used to continuously monitor and to supply the monitoring system with captured information requests and captured information sent by the provider in response to information requests from the consumer. The monitoring system uses metadata or other suitable parameters to categorize the information request and to associate it with the specific information that was captured, before storing both the information and the metadata and/or parameters in the database. Thus, the database is continuously populated as routine, successful communications occur over the database. |
| US07921201B2 |
Distributed user validation and profile management system
A distributed user validation and profile management system operates to automatically validate and update user profiles, such as those stored within an organizational security database, to properly reflect the actual positions and rights of various users within the organization to the various organizational assets, such as computer implemented applications. The user validation and profile management system described herein includes a user validation engine which periodically sends notifications in the form of e-mails to various users within the organization to initiate the process of updating and verifying user profile information. The individual users may respond to the validation e-mails by accessing or using an electronic link provided within the validation e-mails to verify their position and status within the organization as well as the position or status of one or more other closely associated users, such as a manager or a subordinate. Failure of the user to respond to the validation e-mail causes the user validation and profile management system to determine that the user profile is invalid when the user attempts to access an application, which thereby prevents the user from being able to access or use networked applications within the organization. |
| US07921199B1 |
Method and system for event notification
A method and system for event notification is disclosed. In one implementation, the system includes at least one node, an event buffer, and a remote computing system. The node is configured to detect situations of interest on that node, and to generate events in response thereto. The node sends the events to the event buffer to be stored therein. The remote computing system is used to monitor the status of the node. The remote computing system obtains from a server a set of status information for the node, and displays the status information. The remote computing system then polls the event buffer for new events, and in response to detecting one or more new events, the remote computing system obtains from the server a set of updated status information for the node. The updated status information is then displayed to show the updated status of the node. |
| US07921198B2 |
Method and device for managing multicast groups
A method for managing multicast traffic in a data network, and devices using said method. The hosts store for each multicast group an included source record and an excluded source record, and the network interfaces of the hosts send to the router a message containing information about the included source record and information about the excluded source record. The router also stores for each multicast group an included source record and an excluded source record, and updates them when it receives through its network interface a message from the hosts containing information about an included source list and/or information about an excluded source list. The devices are a router, host equipment and network equipment compatible with the method. |
| US07921195B2 |
Optimizing service processing based on business information, operational intelligence, and self-learning
A mechanism for using information in an execution context and other information to optimally select a business service implementation and service execution path. Responsive to receiving a request for a service from a service requester, an execution context is created, wherein the execution context comprises information about business aspects and operational aspects of the service being requested. The request is sent with the execution context to a next component in the service request/response flow in the service oriented architecture. Responsive to the next component receiving the request, current execution context information about the service is obtained based on a current processing of the request for the service and historical execution context information about the service based on previous processing of requests for the service. A service execution decision is then made based on the current execution context information and the historical execution context information. |
| US07921192B2 |
Method of assigning network addresses in an in-flight entertainment system
In an in-flight entertainment system implementing a wireless link between a network server S and wireless processing units SDBi,j which each serve the individual devices of a plurality of seats GSi,j of one and the same row, an identification i of the column in which a wireless processing unit SDBi,j is positioned is carried out by providing for a sequential powering-up (PWi-on) of the columns, the powering-up of a column coli triggering at this instant known to the server the boot process BP for the devices SDBi,j of this column, enabling the column to be identified i by a local duration measurement bi,j supplied by an internal clock DTi,j of these devices previously initialized at a known instant of the boot process BP. |
| US07921191B2 |
Schema management
Disclosed is a system and program for managing schemas. A schema and one or more associated schema documents are registered. A schema information document is automatically generated based on the schema and the one or more associated schema documents. A request to be performed on at least one of the schema, an associated schema document, and the schema information document is processed. |
| US07921189B2 |
Single virtual client for multiple client access and equivalency
A single virtual image of client information centrally located at an always-on network location for maintaining equivalency among multiple user devices. The image can be accessed by the user devices when coming online to upload and receive changes in the client information. A mid-tier system can be employed as the always-on central location with which the user client machines can communicate to maintain the same set of client information. Services in support thereof include an ownership service for dynamic selection of a designated client machine to take ownership for performing the actions on one client machine and arbitration of duplicate requests, a notification service for allowing data sources to publish cache update instructions to a central place, a roaming service for allowing clients machines to share state with each other, and an encryption service for secure storage and communications of client information. |
| US07921187B2 |
Newsreader for mobile device
Providing information to a mobile device can include receiving a translation request from a mobile device, wherein the translation request includes a resource locator identifying information in a native format; accessing the information identified by the resource locator, wherein the information is retrieved from a local cache if available and otherwise is retrieved from a source associated with the resource locator; translating at least a portion of the information identified by the resource locator to generate a translated file in a supported format; and transmitting the translated file to the mobile device. Further, the information retrieved from a source associated with the resource locator can be stored in the local cache. Additionally, the information identified by the resource locator can be cleared from the local cache after a predetermined amount of time. |
| US07921186B2 |
Networked system for interactive communication and remote monitoring of individuals
A system for remotely monitoring an individual. The system includes a server system for generating a script program from a set of queries. The script program is executable by a remote apparatus that displays information and/or a set of queries to the individual through a user interface. Responses to the queries that are entered through the user interface together with individual identification information are sent from the remote apparatus to the server system across a communication network. The server system also includes an automated answering service for providing a series of questions from a stored set of questions for an individual at the remote apparatus to respond to, storing responses to each provided question in the series of questions and providing a service based on the individual's response to the questions. |
| US07921182B2 |
Management of service components installed in an electronic device in a mobile services network
Disclosed herein is an electronic device having a non-volatile memory including a plurality of memory sections. Each of the plurality of memory sections may be managed by a remote management server and an associated service and may participate in a mobile services network. The non-volatile memory may include manufacturer related content and data, such as firmware and an operating system. The non-volatile memory may also include operator related data and content, such as communication stacks for bearer communications. The non-volatile memory may also include corporation related data and content, such as confidential corporate information and software. The non-volatile memory may also include end user related data and content, such as gaming software and address book information. Each of the memory sections in the non-volatile memory may be managed by a different remote management server. |
| US07921177B2 |
Method and computer system for providing remote direct memory access
A method for providing remote direct memory access (RDMA) between two computers, preferably between central processing units (CPUs) and a functional subsystem of a computer system as part of their network communication, e.g. using TCP/IP. Tasks of analyzing network protocol data and the actual RDMA operations can be offloaded to the functional subsystem with this method. Further, the functional subsystem cannot compromise the status of the first computer system as only access to certain allowed memory locations is granted by a memory protection unit during phases of actual data transfer between the functional subsystem and the CPUs. |
| US07921175B2 |
Requesting a service from a service providing apparatus by a service request apparatus
A client terminal acquires information associated with expendables of a device, and accesses a service providing server on the basis of a URL generated by a agent server. The client terminal receives page information that provides a service according to the information associated with the expendables of the device from the service providing server, and requests a service on the basis of the page information that provides a service. |
| US07921174B1 |
Electronic communication reminder technology
Techniques are described for providing reminders for electronic communications. For instance, response patterns of a user are determined by communication type based on monitoring past response behavior of the user and the response pattern data is stored for the user by communication type. After storing the response pattern data for the user by communication type, a particular communication that is for the user and that is initiated by a first sender is received. A type of the particular communication is determined and response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication is accessed. A response reminder time for the particular communication is set based on the accessed response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication. |
| US07921171B2 |
System for excluding recipients in an electronic communication system
A system that enables a communications system user to conveniently define entities to be excluded from receiving an electronic communication, such as an electronic mail (“email”) message. An “Exclude” user entry field is provided in a user interface to a communication system. The Exclude field accepts entry of an “exclude set” of entities to be excluded from an email message being processed or defined in a currently accessible graphical user interface window. The disclosed Exclude field is provided in a user interface window together with one or more other user entry fields available for definition and/or review of an “include set” of entities initially designated for receipt of the message. Lists and/or groups may be resolved by determining the destinations they contain either within the client computer system, within a source server computer system, and/or within a destination server computer system. |
| US07921168B2 |
Chat system, chat device, chat server control method, and information storage medium including chat stop limiting capability based on keyword
Provided are a chat system for realizing good communication between users, a control method for a chat device and a chat server, and an information storage medium. Upon receiving a message, a message transfer unit (11a) transfers the message to a game terminal of a transferring destination, and a stop restriction unit (11c) transmits an instruction (restricting instruction) to restrict a chat function stop processing on the game terminal which has transmitted the message, thereby restricting stopping of the chat function on the game terminal. A stop restricting time calculation unit (11d) calculates a period (stop restricting period T) for restricting the chat function stop processing in accordance with the character count (p) of the received message and the judgment by a keyword presence/absence judgment unit (11e), and a timer unit (11b) specifies a stop restricting time end time. Upon arrival of the stop restricting time end time, the stop restriction unit (11c) transmits an instruction (restriction release instruction) to release the restriction on the chat function stop processing. |
| US07921155B2 |
Method and apparatus for peer-to-peer services
A method and apparatus for peer-to-peer services have been described. |
| US07921154B2 |
System and method of live data search on a mobile device
A method of communicating from a mobile device using a computer program is provided. The method includes communicating a keystroke to a remote server via a network upon detecting the keystroke in a text input area of a user-interface page; receiving data from the remote server via the network in response to the remote server processing the keystroke; and displaying on the mobile device at least a portion of the data on the user-interface-page by reloading less than the entire user-interface page. Computer code and a system are also provided. |
| US07921151B2 |
Managing a plurality of processors as devices
A computer system's multiple processors are managed as devices. The operating system accesses the multiple processors using processor device modules loaded into the operating system to facilitate a communication between an application requesting access to a processor and the processor. A device-like access is determined for accessing each one of the processors similar to device-like access for other devices in the system such as disk drives, printers, etc. An application seeking access to a processor issues device-oriented instructions for processing data, and in addition, the application provides the processor with the data to be processed. The processor processes the data according to the instructions provided by the application. |
| US07921148B2 |
Standard cell for arithmetic logic unit and chip card controller
A cell for an arithmetic logic unit includes a first input; a second input; a carry-in input; a first control input and a second control input; and a circuit connected to the first input, the second input, the carry-in input, the first control input, and the second control input. The circuit has a first output and a second output, the second output having a first value as a function of the first input and the second input when the first control input and the second control input are supplied values equal to a value at the carry-in input, and having a second value as a function of the first input and second input when the values at the first control input and the second control input are independent of the value at the carry-in input. |
| US07921147B2 |
Filtering integrated circuit
A filtering integrated circuit comprises: a storing circuit; a filter coefficient calculating unit configured to receive frequency information that identifies a characteristic frequency of an output signal in a filtering process, and to set filter coefficients calculated based on the frequency information in the storing circuit; and a filtering unit configured to output the output signal after applying a filtering process to an inputted signal based on the filter coefficients set in the storing circuit. |
| US07921146B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for interpolating high-dimensional, non-linear data
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for interpolating data. A cluster module locates a plurality of variable granularity data clusters within a source data set using a center selection/clustering algorithm. A conversion selection module selects a conversion function for converting each data cluster. A norm selection module selects a norm function for each data cluster. An interpolation module converts each data cluster. In one embodiment, a cross validation module iteratively cross validates and optimizes the data conversions. |
| US07921144B2 |
Fast correctly-rounding floating-point conversion
A system and method for converting bases of floating point numbers using fixed-point computation includes tables having different related spacings of exponent indices. The tables are adapted to cross-reference conversion ratios between exponent bases. The tables are characterized by bi-uniform spacings of source and target exponents and including near-unity table entries representing the conversion ratios. A source number is converted into a target number in a different radix by a sequence of reduction operations using a sequence of the tables. The reduction operations include reducing a source number exponent magnitude and accumulating a target exponent and multiplying a source number mantissa by a selected conversion ratio including a near-unity ratio of powers. A final mantissa is normalized and rounded to produce the target number in a new radix. |
| US07921142B2 |
Method and apparatus for storing and accessing data records on solid state disks
A computer implemented method, computer program product and data processing system, for optimizing a layout of a relational database on a solid state disk. The optimized layout forms multiple column to disk block assignments. Each disk block is assigned substantially the same amount of column data. A column having a size less than a greatest size of any disk block is assigned to one of multiple disk blocks. A column having a size greater than or equal to the greatest size of any disk block is allowed a multiple disk block assignment. |
| US07921134B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating data carousels
A method and apparatus for creating data carousels including representing an object carousel in XML according to a predefined XML schema, analyzing the XML representation of the object carousel with regard to technical standards for data carousels and broadcast systems, creating a representation of a data carousel in XML according to a predefined XML schema and based on the step of analyzing and providing data to a carousel according to the XML representation of the data carousel. |
| US07921133B2 |
Query meaning determination through a grid service
A method, system, and program for query meaning determination through a grid service are provided. A search service within a grid environment receives a free text string as a search query, wherein the free text string includes multiple specifications. The search service controls distribution of the free text string to a selection of grid components, wherein each of the selection of grid components is enabled to interpret a particular aspect of the meaning of the multiple specifications in the free text string. Multiple aspect interpretations of the free text string are received at the search service from the selection of grid components. Next, the search service synthesizes the aspect interpretations into a search-ready query, such that the search request is first interpreted by the selection of grid components to determine a thorough meaning of the free text string before submission to a search engine. |
| US07921132B2 |
System for query processing of column chunks in a distributed column chunk data store
An improved system and method for query processing in a distributed column chunk data store is provided. A distributed column chunk data store may be provided by multiple storage servers operably coupled to a network. A storage server provided may include a database engine for partitioning a data table into the column chunks for distributing across multiple storage servers, a storage shared memory for storing the column chunks during processing of semantic operations performed on the column chunks, and a storage services manager for striping column chunks of a partitioned data table across multiple storage servers. Query processing may be performed by storage servers or query processing servers operably coupled by a network to storage servers in the column chunk data store. To do so, a hierarchy of servers may be dynamically determined to process execution steps of a query transformed for distributed processing. |
| US07921130B2 |
Optimized database appliance
A system and method from processing database queries allows for cost and locale based distribution for execution of database queries. The database queries are executed on execution engines that provide flexible configuration and overlapping functionality. The system reduces various costs, including elapsed time, required to perform database queries. The method provides processing of a database query using a database catalog comprising database table locality information, record locality information and execution engine information. A query optimizer receives the query and accesses the catalog to create a query execution plan comprising locality-based database operations. A central database operation processor providing a first execution engine executes the query execution plan by performing at least a portion of the locality-based database operations and distributing at least a portion of the locality-based database operations as a subplan. A second database operation processor providing a second execution engine executes the subplan received from the central processor. |
| US07921127B2 |
File management apparatus, control method therefor, computer program, and computer-readable storage medium
This invention allows a user to play back desired information even in the form of an icon indicating a file, check the contents of the file, and open the file. The invention stores, in a search attribute file written in a structured format, location information indicating the location of a management target file, search item information used for searching, icon image for brief display created from the target file, and brief playback information for brief playback of a desired portion in the target file. When search key is input, a search attribute file matching the key is searched so that the attribute file is displayed as an icon based on icon image in the file. When right-clicking a desired icon, brief playback information in the attribute file is played back. When left-clicking the icon, the target file is opened according to location information in the attribute file. |
| US07921125B1 |
Virtual data room with access to clinical trial status reports based on real-time clinical trial data
A virtual data room distributes information associated with an investigational product, such as an investigational compound. The information includes documents associated with the investigational product; and reports based on live clinical study data of the investigational product. The live clinical study data includes cleaned and not cleaned data records. For a designated subset of data records, the reports use data associated with only cleaned data records, and for the remaining data records, the reports use data regardless of whether the data is associated with cleaned or not cleaned data records. |
| US07921122B2 |
Method, system, and storage medium for providing web-based electronic research and presentation functions via a document creation application
An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method, system, and storage medium for providing web-based electronic research and presentation functions via a document creation application. The method comprises scanning an active document on a computer device for identifying relevant keywords, and searching at least one database for reference materials relating to the relevant keywords. The active document includes data currently being entered or edited by a user on the computer device. Results relevant to the active document are automatically shown on the computer screen. The method also includes converting the reference materials if they are in a format different from the format used in creating the active document, and displaying the converted reference materials on the computer device. Embodiments of the invention also include a system and a storage medium. |
| US07921121B2 |
Apparatus for representing an interest priority of an object to a user based on personal histories or social context
A method and apparatus assigns a quantative variable to each object (or set of objects) in a collection available to a user. The quantative variable is referred to as the Interest Priority Value (IPV). The IPV defines a range of states of the object, between ‘accessed’ and ‘unaccessed’, and is calculated based on one or more attributes of the object. A object with the highest IPV is the most ‘unaccessed,’ and the object with the lowest IPV is the least ‘unaccessed.’ The IPV may be used in a visual representation of the collection of objects, thereby permitting a user to readily identify and obtain those objects of greatest interest to the particular user. |
| US07921119B2 |
Identifying the items most relevant to a current query based on items selected in connection with similar queries
The present invention provides a software facility for identifying the items most relevant to a current query based on items selected in connection with similar queries. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the facility receives a query specifying one or more query terms. In response, the facility generates a query result identifying a plurality of items that satisfy the query. The facility then produces a ranking value for at least a portion of the items identified in the query result by combining the relative frequencies with which users selected that item from the query results generated from queries specifying each of the terms specified by the query. The facility identifies as most relevant those items having the highest ranking values. |
| US07921115B2 |
System and method for improving resolution of channel data
Disclosed are methods for processing distribution channel data integrating business information with geographic data to produce integrated data, wherein the integrated data has greater resolution than the business information. Distribution channel data is captured and correlated with the integrated data to increase the resolution of the distribution channel data. |
| US07921111B1 |
Digital media organization and access
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for accessing and organizing data items, including items of digital media, such as digital images, video stream, audio stream, text documents and the like. An object model defines a plurality of data object classes, including a media object class for representing items of digital media and a tag object class for representing categories of digital media. A request for one or more data items specifies a search condition. A collection of one or more data objects instantiated from the data object classes is generated, whereby the data objects in the collection represent data items satisfying the search condition. An iterator configured to sequentially access the data items represented by the data objects in the collection of data objects is generated and used to sequentially access the data items. |
| US07921110B1 |
System and method for comparing data sets
The present invention provides a system and method for comparing data sets, to ensure that they are accurate reflections of each other, without the need for performing O(N2) operations, in which N is the size of each data set. A hash table is generated for the first data set. For each of the second data set entries, should the entry not exist in the hash table, the entry is second data set unique. Otherwise, the entry is removed from the hash table. At the end of the pass through the second data set entries, only those entries that exist in the hash table are first data set unique. Alternately, two processes operate in parallel so that each selects entries from one of the data sets and determines if the entry exists in the hash table. If the entry does exist, it is removed. Otherwise, the entry is added to the hash table. |
| US07921104B2 |
Invoking actions on data via LDAP requests
A method and apparatus for invoking actions on data in a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) repository. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a request pertaining to data in the LDAP repository. The request indicates at least one action identified in the definition of the LDAP repository. The method further includes causing the action to be performed with respect to one or more data items in the LDAP repository. |
| US07921102B2 |
Maintained symbol table only index
A method, apparatus and program product is provided for optimizing a database query. A query syntax, system generated predicates, and requisite statistics of the database query are analyzed to determine if a predicate structure is a good candidate for a symbol table only data structure. The predicate structure is analyzed to determine if the predicate structure is already encompassed by an encoded vector index. The symbol table only data structure is generated for at least one column in a database table without generating a corresponding vector data structure from an encoded vector index if the predicate structure is a good candidate and not encompassed by an encoded vector index. The symbol table only data structure is maintained by detecting a change in data associated with the symbol table only data structure and updating the symbol table only data structure to reflect the change in the data. |
| US07921094B2 |
Network system and communication device
A network system includes a first communication device, a second communication device and a keyword database. The first communication device includes a first input device and a first search device. The first input device allows a user to input a keyword. The first search device is capable of carrying out a first search process that includes sending the keyword input to the first input device to a search engine and receiving a search result. The keyword database stores the keyword used for the first search process. The second communication device is composed separately from the first communication device. The second communication device includes a keyword acquisition device and a second search device. The keyword acquisition device is capable of acquiring the keyword from the keyword database. The second search device is capable of carrying out a second search process that includes sending the keyword acquired by the keyword acquisition device to a search engine and receiving a search result. |
| US07921093B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method
Providing an information processing apparatus and information processing method that prevent the occurrence of inconsistencies between restored files and other files, thereby improving ease of use. When restoring a backup virtual tree, the owner of each file and directory belonging to the backup virtual tree is identified; and when it is found, based on the identification result, that the owner of any of the files or directories is not a target user and the update time and/or version of the backup file or directory is older than that of the corresponding present file or directory, the backup file or directory is restored back into a special directory accessible for the target user with the tree structure of the original virtual tree intact. |
| US07921084B2 |
Timer-driven diagnostic image inhibition for statement cache/connection pool
Upon an event, diagnostic information about the state of server software can be compiled. The diagnostic information can include information concerning the JDBC subsystem. A timer can be used to inhibit a compilation of a new diagnostic image if the old diagnostic image was recently compiled. |
| US07921081B2 |
Managing a snapshot stored within a file system space for efficient detection of in-use blocks
In one embodiment, at least one snapshot thread manages a point in time snapshot of a file system stored within the space allocated to the file system. The snapshot thread tracks, for at least one block of the plurality of blocks of the file system, a separate entry in a snapshot map specifying if each at least one block is newly allocated following the creation of the point in time snapshot and specifying an addressed location of a snapshot copy of the at least one block if copied. Separately, a file system handling thread tracks a mapping of an allocation state of each of said plurality of blocks of the file system. Responsive to detecting the file system triggered to write or delete a particular block from among the at least one block of the file system, the snapshot thread allows the file system to write to or delete the particular block without making a snapshot copy of the particular block if a particular entry for the particular block in the snapshot map specifies the particular block is newly allocated, wherein a block marked newly allocated was not in-use at the point in time of the file system snapshot. |
| US07921078B2 |
System for negotiated differential compression
A system and methods for distributing a new file from a server connected through a network to a client. Rather than downloading an entirely new file from the server, the system makes use of reference files already resident on the client. A new delta file corresponding to a reference file is sent to the client. The client generates the new file by modifying the corresponding reference file according to the change instructions in the new delta file. |
| US07921077B2 |
System and method for managing data deduplication of storage systems utilizing persistent consistency point images
A system and method for managing data deduplication of a storage system utilizing persistent consistency point images (PCPIs). Once a target PCPI of a data transfer is generated, a backup management module of the storage system alerts a data deduplication module to begin deduplication of the data contained within the target PCPI. Once the deduplication procedure has been completed, the active file system of the storage system has been deduplicated, however, the target PCPI remains un-deduplicated. In response, the backup management module generates and exports a revised target PCPI. The previous target PCPI may then be deleted, thereby transitioning the exported PCPI's image of the state of the file system to a deduplicated state. |
| US07921076B2 |
Performing an action in response to a file system event
A method and apparatus for performing an action in response to a file system event is provided. According to one aspect, sets of “event listeners” are associated with a file hierarchy and/or the nodes thereof. Each event listener contains a set of “event handlers.” Each event handler corresponds to a separate type of event that may occur relative to the file hierarchy's nodes. When an event is going to occur relative to the hierarchy or a node thereof, all event listeners that are associated with that hierarchy/node are inspected to determine whether those event listeners contain any event handlers that correspond to the event's type. Those event handlers that correspond to the event's type are placed in an ordered list of event handlers to be invoked. As the event handlers in the list are invoked, programmatic mechanisms that correspond to those event handlers are executed to perform customized user-specified actions. |
| US07921075B2 |
Generic sequencing service for business integration
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for providing a generic sequencing service for ordering processing requests in a scalable business integration environment. When a request is received at a sequencing component, the operation specified in the request is identified. A determination is then made as to whether to sequence the operation according to a sequencing specification. If the operation is to be sequenced, key information of the operation is classified according to the sequencing specification. A lock on the request is then requested using the operation and the key information. Responsive to the lock being granted, a determination is then made as to whether the request is synchronous or asynchronous. If the request is synchronous, the target service component is invoked synchronously. If the request is asynchronous, the target service component is invoked asynchronously. |
| US07921073B2 |
System and method for determining impression volumes of content items in a taxonomy hierarchy
Described are a system and method for determining an event occurrence rate. A sample set of content items may be obtained. Each of the content items may be associated with at least one region in a hierarchical data structure. A first impression volume may be determined for the at least one region as a function of a number of impressions registered for the content items associated with the at least one region. A scale factor may be applied to the first impression volume to generate a second impression volume. The scale factor may be selected so that the second impression volume is within a predefined range of a third impression volume. A click-through-rate (CTR) may be estimated as a function of the second impression volume and a number of clicks on the content item. |
| US07921071B2 |
Processes for improving the utility of personalized recommendations generated by a recommendation engine
A recommendation system increases the diversity of item recommendations provided to a target user by using item similarity data to filter an initial recommendation set. In one embodiment, selected items are filtered from the initial recommendation set based on similarity scores that represent degrees of similarity between particular items. The similarity scores may be generated based on an automated comparison of item attributes or content, or based on another measure of item similarity. |
| US07921069B2 |
Granular data for behavioral targeting using predictive models
A method of targeting receives several granular events and preprocesses the received granular events thereby generating preprocessed data to facilitate construction of a model based on the granular events. The method generates a predictive model by using the pre-processed data. The predictive model is for determining a likelihood of a user action. The method trains the predictive mode. A system for targeting includes granular events, a preprocessor for receiving the granular events, a model generator, and a model. The preprocessor has one or more modules for at least one of pruning, aggregation, clustering, and/or filtering. The model generator is for constructing a model based on the granular events, and the model is for determining a likelihood of a user action. The system of some embodiments further includes several users, a selector for selecting a particular set of users from among the several users, a trained model, and a scoring module. |
| US07921068B2 |
Data mining platform for knowledge discovery from heterogeneous data types and/or heterogeneous data sources
The data mining platform comprises a plurality of system modules, each formed from a plurality of components. Each module has an input data component, a data analysis engine for processing the input data, an output data component for outputting the results of the data analysis, and a web server to access and monitor the other modules within the unit and to provide communication to other units. Each module processes a different type of data, for example, a first module processes microarray (gene expression) data while a second module processes biomedical literature on the Internet for information supporting relationships between genes and diseases and gene functionality. In the preferred embodiment, the data analysis engine is a kernel-based learning machine, and in particular, one or more support vector machines (SVMs). The data analysis engine includes a pre-processing function for feature selection, for reducing the amount of data to be processed by selecting the optimum number of attributes, or “features”, relevant to the information to be discovered. |
| US07921067B2 |
Method and device for mood detection
A method for mood detection, comprising receiving audio data, determining a mood for the audio data based on at least one mood model, receiving user feedback of a user for the determined mood, the user feedback being on a gradual scale and indicative as to whether the determined mood corresponds to a perceived mood of the user for the audio data, and adapting the mood model based on the user feedback. |
| US07921064B2 |
System and method for cleaning window frames after learning their unknown profile using non-contact sensors
A window processing system is disclosed for fabricating window frames. A welding station has welding heads to weld or fuse vinyl frame parts together. The frames are taken to a cleaning station having a number of cleaning heads that are independently actuated to move into a position relative selected portions of the window frame to clean off burrs, weld beads etc from the welded window frame. The cleaning process involves both training of a controller to recognize certain frame profiles and a compensation process for adjusting the cleaning process for individual variations in the frame that occur during fabrication. Real-time cleaning involves coupling a visual sensor to a moving support that also supports a cleaning tool. |
| US07921057B1 |
Automated method and article of manufacture for fully insuring large bank deposits wherein bank that processes a large deposit sends out and receives back an equal amount of large deposits via a network of banks
An automated method and article of manufacture are provided for processing large deposits that exceed an established deposit insurance limit so that the large deposits are fully insured. The large deposits are received by a plurality of banks from their depositors, and the plurality of banks include banks that are unaffiliated with each other. An order from a bank is received at a processor to process a large deposit. The processor partitions the large deposit into a plurality of deposit portions such that each deposit portion does not exceed the established deposit insurance limit. The processor automatically assigns at least some of the deposit portions to at least some banks other than the bank that received the large deposit for deposit therein. The processor automatically deposits in the bank that sent the order to the processor an amount of funds equal to the amount of the order. |
| US07921055B2 |
Automated trading exchange system and method utilizing a randomized opening procedure
A method of opening option trading in an automated exchange trading system. The system receives orders and quotes and matches the orders and quotes to generate trades. The method includes the step of accepting, during a first time period, quotes and orders associated with an option class. The first time period precedes the opening of trading. An opening value of an underlying security is received and opening prices for a number of option series in the option class are determined. Additional quotes and orders are received during a second time period and the opening prices are responsively updated. The second time period is terminated at a randomly selected time and opening rotations begin. |
| US07921054B2 |
System and method for block trading
A method and system for trading financial instruments which reduces the leakage of trading interest when buyers and sellers of financial instruments desire to trade. Accordingly, in one embodiment, a trading system allows traders to speculate on the hidden liquidity in the market by offering liquidity at fixed prices which are inferior to the NBBO (National Best Bid Offer) in exchange for rights to sweep the market for better priced quotes. In another embodiment of the invention, a liquidity provider can set their own fee. This fee is charged to the liquidity taker if their quote is executed. This fee compensates traders for the risk of taking a position in a financial instrument. In another embodiment of the invention, dummy orders are used to reduce trading interest leakage when limit orders are placed into order books. In another embodiment of the invention, a trading system will only match liquidity taking orders with single liquidity providing orders of equal or greater in size. |
| US07921052B2 |
Efficient online auction style listings that encourage out-of-channel negotiation
Online auction-style listing and transaction system provides new features including for example allowing sellers to issue offers to sell before auction-style listing completion to encourage direct negotiation between seller and buyer for an out-of channel transaction; postponing auction-style end upon receipt of a last-minute bid to prevent sniping; allowing sellers to contact buyers registering adverse ratings before the ratings are published; allowing sellers to terminate listings before end of auction-style listing and/or to move the listing to a classified ad from an auction-style listing; and other features. |
| US07921051B2 |
Security-based order processing technique
A system in an electronic securities market includes a configurable look-up table that has assignment entries that assign each of a plurality of securities to one or more securities processors in the system. Whenever an order is received that involves a specific security, a security look-up process accesses the configurable look-up table to determine which securities processor the specific security is assigned to. Once determined, a messaging process, which is responsive to the security look-up process, sends the received security order to the securities processor to which the specific security is assigned. |
| US07921040B2 |
Wireless communication device and method for use therewith
An image of at least one object (14) is captured. An object class selection is received from a menu (70) of a plurality of object classes. At least one task menu specific to the object class selection is provided. A task selection is received from the at least one task menu. A task associated with the at least one object (14) is facilitated based on the image and the task selection. |
| US07921039B2 |
System, method, apparatus and means for evaluating historical network activity
A system, method, apparatus, and means for adjusting network preference information which includes detecting network activity. A characteristic of the network activity is measured. Network preference information is adjusted based on the characteristic. In some embodiments, network activity is network activity by a client device such as a computer accessing a network site. |
| US07921032B1 |
Method of providing personalized souvenirs
The current inventive technology includes methods and apparatus for providing a plurality of personalized souvenir devices. Embodiments of the inventive technology may include the steps of establishing a plurality of personalized solar powered programmed souvenir devices such that they may be dynamically presented and maintained, in such a manner so as to form a light transforming composite presentation. This light transforming composite presentation may act as a consumer attractant and thereby increase sales. Example of such personalized solar powered programmed souvenir devices may include personalized solar powered programmed keychains, zipper pulls, chokers, bracelets, keyrings, and magnets and the like. |
| US07921030B1 |
Profit optimization system for supply chains with limited parts availability
A computer-based profit optimization model is provided that takes account of supply-side and demand-side factors in optimizing profit for an organization. The model takes into account which parts the organization uses to assemble various products. Demand curves are used to characterize the quantity of each product that will be demanded for various classes of product and classes of customer. Supply model data is used to determine which mix of products can be sold in view of parts availability. Using the demand model and supply model data, the optimization model can recommend a set of prices to use for selling the organization's products to various customers and at various shipment times. The model ensures that the organization has sufficient resources available to produce the products and enforces user-supplied business rules and other constraints. |
| US07921027B2 |
Constraint-based production planning and scheduling
The present invention is a constraint-based planning tool that specifically addresses the needs of complex discrete and process industries by providing a computationally efficient method and system for fulfillment of customer orders in a supply chain. By comprehensively synchronizing and optimizing the flow of materials through the enterprise, the present invention creates a feasible plan for manufacturing operations that simultaneously optimizes both material and capacity constraints by planning and scheduling multiple customer orders, planning for use the various resources located in remote locations needed to fulfill such orders, and scheduling the used resources for replenishment at appropriate times so that the resources meet the needs of the orders. |
| US07921026B2 |
Method and system for generating a timeline associated with a project schedule
A timeline is generated from and fully integrated with a project schedule. The project schedule may be any graphical representation for displaying detailed information associated with a project. The timeline visually represents certain tasks, dates and other information associated with the project schedule such that an overview of the project schedule may be determined. |
| US07921025B2 |
Building market models for plural market participants
A trend of attributes associated with plural market participants is determined. A representation of the trend is computed, and market models for the market participants are built according to the representation of the trend. |
| US07921023B2 |
Portal for implementation of multiple software components
In certain embodiments, a system and method of receiving data indicates one or more software components included in a user's system landscape, receives a user's selection of a software component to be managed or customized, accesses the software component in response to the user's selection, receives a user's input relating to an alteration to be made to a feature or setting of the software component, and modifies one or more files associated with the software component to reflect the alteration. |
| US07921020B2 |
Method for generating medical intelligence from patient-specific data
A method for compiling, storing and organizing data, and gathering and reporting medical intelligence derived from patient-specific data. A patient's Minimum Data Set (“MDS”) data generated by health care facilities are merged with that patient's pharmacy data to create a comprehensive clinical/pharmacological data set for each patient. The data may first be encrypted to ensure patient privacy before being transmitted by the facility to a data repository via an electronic communication network. Upon receipt at the data repository, the data first must pass through a security screen. If the data is determined to be valid and virus-free, it is decrypted as necessary before being added to a data warehouse for use in a wide variety of therapeutic, statistical, and economic analyses. The data may be partially or completely “de-identified” to remove patient-identifying information so as to protect patient privacy. |
| US07921012B2 |
Apparatus and method for speech recognition using probability and mixed distributions
A speech recognition apparatus includes a first storing unit configured to store a first acoustic model invariable regardless of speaker and environment, a second storing unit configured to store a classification model that has shared parameters and non-shared parameters with the first acoustic model to classify second acoustic models, a recognizing unit configured to calculate a first likelihood with regard to the input speech by applying the first acoustic model to the input speech and obtain calculation result on the shared parameter and a plurality of candidate words that have relatively large values as the first likelihood, and a calculating unit configured to calculate a second likelihood for each of the groups with regard to the input speech by use of the calculation result on the shared parameters and the non-shared parameters of the classification model. |
| US07921011B2 |
Structure for grammar and dictionary representation in voice recognition and method for simplifying link and node-generated grammars
Methods for optimizing grammar structure for a set of phrases to be used in speech recognition during a computing event are provided. One method includes receiving a set of phrases, the set of phrases being relevant for the computing event and the set of phrases having a node and link structure. Also included is identifying redundant nodes by examining the node and link structures of each of the set of phrases so as to generate a single node for the redundant nodes. The method further includes examining the node and link structures to identify nodes that are capable of being vertically grouped and grouping the identified nodes to define vertical word groups. The method continues with fusing nodes of the set of phrases that are not vertically grouped into fused word groups. Wherein the vertical word groups and the fused word groups are linked to define an optimized grammar structure. In another aspect, a layered grammar and dictionary library that can be defined for efficient use in speech recognition systems, is provided. |
| US07920996B2 |
Sliced data structure for particle-based simulation, and method for loading particle-based simulation using sliced data structure into GPU
The sliced data structure used for a particle-based simulation using a CPU or GPU is a data structure for a calculation space. The space is a three-dimensional calculation space constructed from numerous voxels; a plurality of slices perpendicular to the Y axis is formed; numerous voxels are divided by a plurality of two-dimensional slices; the respective starting coordinates of the maximum and minimum voxels are calculated for a range of voxels in which particles are present in each of a plurality of two-dimensional slices; the voxel range is determined as a bounding box surrounded by a rectangular shape; and memory is provided for the voxels contained in the bounding boxes of each of the plurality of two-dimensional slices. |
| US07920995B2 |
Probabilistic design tool for optimizing a technical system
A nonlinear technical product or process described by stochastic system output target values dependent on stochastic system input parameter values, thereby stating discrete technical system dependencies, is optimized by using a Response Surface Methods based on discrete technical system dependencies to generate at least one continuous auxiliary function for the real dependencies of the target values on the input parameter values. Next, an auxiliary function is used to generate at least one optimizing parameter for optimization by an objective function, thereby generating an additional discrete technical system dependence. The technical system is adaptively optimized by repeating the above, using the additional discrete technical system dependence, until the difference of successive optimized optimizing parameters is below a threshold. The final additional discrete technical system dependence is an optimal technical system operating point. |
| US07920993B2 |
Method for the evolutionary design of biochemical reaction networks
The present invention relates to methods for achieving an optimal function of a biochemical reaction network. The methods can be performed in silico using a reconstruction of a biochemical reaction network of a cell and iterative optimization procedures. The methods can further include laboratory culturing steps to confirm and possibly expand the determinations made using the in silico methods, and to produce a cultured cell, or population of cells, with optimal functions. The current invention includes computer systems and computer products including computer-readable program code for performing the in silico steps of the invention. |
| US07920990B2 |
Apparatus and methods of defining spectral regions of interest for signal analysis
Apparatus and methods are provided to allow multiple, possibly overlapping, regions of interest within a frequency spectrum to be defined, and managed. Each of these regions of interest may be selected for further testing or identification. Unselected regions are allowed to collapse into narrow bars so as not to interfere with the selected region. Multiple rows are provided to allow for the definition and selection of overlapping regions of interest. Furthermore, in some embodiments aid is provided for identifying the signal type by providing a list of signal type candidates based upon such parameters as region of interest bandwidth, region of interest center frequency and geographic location. |
| US07920987B2 |
Device under test de-embedding
A method of determining the intrinsic electrical characteristics of a device under test (DUT) includes determining a set of test measurements for a test structure including the device and determining test measurements for a number of de-embedding test structures. Based on the test measurements, DUT measurements are determined using both open-short and three-step de-embedding processes. The DUT measurements are combined to determine an imperfection error, which is used to adjust the calculations of a four-port de-embedding method. The adjusted calculations provide for a more accurate measurement of the parasitic elements in the test structure, thereby improving the determination of the intrinsic electrical characteristics of the device. |
| US07920985B2 |
Inclination calculation apparatus and inclination calculation program, and game apparatus and game program
An inclination calculation apparatus within a game machine computes inclination of an input device having an acceleration sensor/detector capable of detecting acceleration in at least two axial directions. Programmed logic circuitry within the apparatus generates preliminary data which is representative of a current inclination and which is uniquely determined from acceleration data obtained from the acceleration sensor/detector. Programmed logic circuitry within the apparatus also regularly consecutively computes new/updated inclination vectors in real-time based on a previously computed inclination vector, a variable “effectiveness” valve and a current inclination vector, where the effectiveness value is a correction factor that represents the degree to which the direction of the previously computed inclination vector must be made closer to the direction of the current inclination vector to result in a direction for the new/updated inclination which more accurately reflects the actual inclination of the input device at the time the acceleration data is acquired. |
| US07920982B2 |
Optical distortion calibration for electro-optical sensors
Optical distortion calibration for an Electro-Optical sensor in a chamber eliminates calibration of the mirror controller and allows for calibration while the target is in motion across the FOV thus providing a more efficient and accurate calibration. A target pattern is projected through sensor optics with line of sight motion across the sensor FOV to generate a sequence of frames. Knowing that the true distances between the same targets remain constant with line of sight motion across the sensor's FOV, coefficients of a function F representative of the non-linear distortion in the sensor optics are fit from observed target positions in a subset of frames to true line of sight so that distances between targets are preserved as the pattern moves across the FOV. The coefficients are stored as calibration terms with the sensor. |
| US07920981B2 |
Method of calibrating a sensor, in particular a yaw rate sensor
The invention relates to a method of calibrating a sensor, in particular a yaw rate sensor, in which sensor values (Ysensor) and associated temperature values (T) are stored in the shape of reference points in a non-volatile memory of the sensor, in which case the values (Ysensor, T) are determined during a calibration mode in which the sensor is exposed to a predefined temperature profile. In order to further improve the accuracy of the calibration, the invention discloses that the values (Ysensor, T) determined in the calibration mode are used to determine coefficients (C0, . . . , Cn-1, Cn) of a polynomial of nth order, and these coefficients are stored. |
| US07920980B2 |
System and method for dynamically providing feedback
A method for dynamically providing feedback is presented. The method includes monitoring one or more steps performed by one or more components in a machine, where the one or more steps are associated with a workflow. Further, the method includes analyzing the one or more steps performed by the one or more components to dynamically determine feedback based on the one or more steps performed by the one or more components, where the feedback comprises other steps in the workflow. In addition, the method includes presenting the feedback. Systems and computer-readable medium that afford functionality of the type defined by this method is also contemplated in conjunction with the present technique. |
| US07920976B2 |
Averaging in an intelligent electronic device
A method and apparatus measures electrical power usage and quality, while mitigating the effects of noise on measured signals or parameters. Specifically, a digital electrical power and energy meter employs a method in which a processor averages a parameter, such as voltage or current, over a plurality of cycles of a time-varying signal, such as an AC electrical signal. The method employed by the meter samples a parameter over the plurality of cycles and computes the average of the samples corresponding to the same phase angle of the signal to produce an average signal. |
| US07920972B2 |
G-matrix Fourier transformation (GFT) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments for resonance assignment and structure determination of organic molecules
The present invention discloses a suite of G2FT and GFT NMR experiments that can be used for complete resonance assignments of proteins and for obtaining structural (conformational and orientational) constraints for determining high resolution three-dimensional structures of biomolecules. |
| US07920967B1 |
Methods and devices for providing route information
Route information for at least a first route and a second route is displayed using display indicators assigned to each route. The routes may be decomposed into discrete segments, some of which may be shared among the routes. Upon determining which segments are shared by routes, the shared segments may be displayed using an interleaved pattern of the display indicators associated with the routes. The interleaved pattern may comprise an alternating pattern of the display indicators associated with the routes. Non-shared segments may be displayed with the respective display indicators for the routes that use that segment. The width of the interleaved patterns may be substantially the same as the width of the non-shared segments. In one embodiment, the routes may be fixed. Targets associated with each route may be displayed on the routes. |
| US07920966B2 |
Navigation apparatuses, methods, and programs
Navigation apparatuses, methods, and programs set a first reference point on a driving route, set a second reference point on the driving route, the second reference point being prior to the first reference point along the driving route, and set a third reference point on the driving route, the third reference point being after the first reference point along the driving route. The apparatuses, methods, and programs set a triangular area having vertices corresponding to the first reference point, the second reference point, and the third reference point and obtain three-dimensional map data around the triangular area. The apparatuses, methods, and programs set a predetermined translucent ratio for a structure included in the triangular area. The apparatuses, methods, and programs generate a moving three-dimensional image which displays the driving route overlapped with the structure set with the predetermined translucent ratio and display the generated three-dimensional motion-image. |
| US07920965B1 |
Identifying a route configured to travel through multiple points of interest
A computer-implemented method for identifying a route that is configured to travel through multiple points of interest includes receiving a query that includes an origin location, a destination location, and at least a first point of interest and a second point of interest. The method also includes identifying a perimeter that surrounds the received origin and destination locations in response to the query. The perimeter is then used to identify a set of locations for each of the first and second points of interest. |
| US07920963B2 |
Map interface with a movable marker
A map user interface is described, including a view transmitted from a server computer system to a client computer system, the view including a map and a location marker at an initial location on the map, the location marker being movable from the initial location to a target location on the map. |
| US07920961B2 |
Method and apparatus for path planning and distance calculation
Methods and apparatuses enable generation of a managed space layout model defining permissible pathways for travel through the managed space. Each permissible pathway can be defined as a line segment or an edge bounded by coordinate pairs. Items and locations within the managed space are associated with permissible pathways, which association defines how the items/locations can be reached via travel through the managed space. The information can be saved as a network of nodes, which defines the intersection of the permissible pathways and includes information about the pathways. With the layout model, a path can be determined through the managed space to accomplish work in the managed space. The layout data allows a path distance to be calculated for a given work task that involves travel through the managed space. |
| US07920960B2 |
Method and apparatus for predicting future travel times over a transportation network
The present invention is a method and an apparatus for predicting future travel times over a transportation network. In one embodiment, a method for predicting future travel times over a transportation network includes receiving a data point indicating a real-time volume of traffic on the link at a given time and updating a template representative of an observed traffic pattern on the link in accordance with the received data point. A future travel time over the link can then be estimated in accordance with the updated template. Thus, the template is able to adapt to dynamically changing traffic patterns, taking these changing traffic patterns into account when making predictions of future traffic patterns. |
| US07920959B1 |
Method and apparatus for estimating the velocity vector of multiple vehicles on non-level and curved roads using a single camera
A method and an apparatus is provided for determining the velocity vector, speed, and direction of moving vehicles traveling on roadways which change elevation and have curves. A camera mounted above a roadway observes at least one vehicles traveling in different directions on different roads. Each pixel in the two-dimensional optical image is mapped into a three-dimensional real world location to enable the moving vehicles to be analyzed in the three-dimensional real world as they travel on roads, which may change elevation and may have curves. The estimated vehicle velocities may be displayed on an image near the moving vehicle. Individual images with vehicle velocities may be posted on an Internet site. The sequence of optical images, or streaming video, with the displayed vehicle velocities may also be used for television news programs that show traffic moving on the roadways. |
| US07920956B2 |
Method of controlling the combustion of a compression ignition engine using combustion timing control
A method of controlling the combustion of a compression ignition engine is disclosed having applications for diesel engine combustion control for CAI.The method comprises determining setpoint values for physical parameters linked with the intake of gaseous oxidizer in the combustion chamber, and a setpoint value (θinj)ref for the crank angle at which a fuel has to be injected into the combustion chamber. While the engine control system controls actuators so that the values of the physical parameters are equal to the setpoint values, setpoint value (θinj)ref is corrected before the physical parameters reach their setpoint values. Angle CAy is controlled to be equal to a reference value for an optimized combustion while accounting for differences between the real values of the physical parameters and the setpoint values of these parameters and keeps the optimum combustion by fuel injection with the corrected setpoint value. |
| US07920955B2 |
Method for changing the operating mode of an internal combustion engine
In a method for changing the operating mode in an internal combustion engine it is possible to switch between an operating mode with spark ignition of the engine and an operating mode with auto-ignition of the engine. Hereby, a first map is provided in which at least one range is specified in which a suitable auto-ignition of the engine can take place. After the engine start, therefore, it is determined whether the engine has reached an operating point lying within this range of the first map in order then to switch the engine to the operating mode in which auto-ignition can take place reliably. |
| US07920954B2 |
Method and system for multi-purposely controlling an internal-combustion engine on an engine bench testing unit
A system and a method is disclosed for universal operation of an internal-combustion engine (2), comprising at least an actuator connected to a working device of the engine, an electronic card (3) including a recording medium for a programmable logic FPGA component and a card synchronization component (9, 10) for synchronizing the card according to the engine cycle. The method, generates, in the component, an angular reference point in the engine cycle for each cylinder; generates, through the component, actuator control pulses, the pulses being parameterizable in phase and in duration, independent and linked with a single cylinder, performing multiplexing of the pulses to distribute the pulses over at least one of the physical outputs of the card specific to the cylinder considered; and controlling at least one of the actuators linked with one of the physical outputs of the card specific to the cylinder considered, with at least one of the control pulses. |
| US07920949B2 |
Feedback adjustment for open-loop torque control map
A variator torque control system and method utilize a hydraulic actuator to control the variator output via a torque control map, wherein the values of the torque control map are evaluated and modified during use of the map to improve map accuracy. In an example, errors in the map are evaluated to determine whether a system fault has occurred. |
| US07920945B2 |
Method and apparatus for communication within control systems
A drive-by-communication-signal vehicle includes a driver interface subsystem having a sensor responsive to an operational characteristic of the driver interface subsystem, a controller responsive to the sensor, a vehicle subsystem responsive to the controller, and a communication channel in signal communication with the driver interface subsystem, the controller, and the vehicle subsystem. The controller includes a storage medium, a processing circuit, and a clock synchronization mechanism defining synchronous communication cycles, with each communication cycle defining at least one time interval. The storage medium, being readable by the processing circuit, stores instructions for execution by the processing circuit for executing and communicating ordered tasks within defined time intervals with flexible task scheduling. |
| US07920943B2 |
Precision approach guidance system and associated method
A precision approach guidance system that provides flying craft guidance information during a precision approach to a landing site and methods associated therewith are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes: an inertial navigation system, an onboard ranging sensor, a terrain database storing previously identified position-referenced terrain information associated with the landing site, and a position determining process. The position determining process repetitively determines a corrected position of the flying craft during the precision approach based at least in part on attitude and velocity information from an inertial navigation system, current position-referenced terrain information based on measurements from an onboard ranging sensor, and previously identified position-referenced terrain information from the terrain database. |
| US07920935B2 |
Activity based real-time production instruction adaptation
A manufacturing process for automatically delivering an appropriate level of instructions to a manufacturing operator on demand based on the manufacturing operator's level of activity and performance, the particular characteristics of the product being manufactured, and the particular production environment. Responsive to receiving an order for a product, the manufacturing process identifies an authorization level assigned to an operator performing a particular manufacturing activity on a part in the product and assigns a default level of instructions to the operator based on the authorization level. The process collects and models characteristics about the manufacturing environment, performance history of the operator, and knowledge decay of the operator to determine an appropriate level of instructions to provide to the operator performing a particular manufacturing activity. The manufacturing instructions associated with the appropriate level of instructions are then provided to the operator. |
| US07920927B2 |
Lead assembly and methods including a push tube
A lead assembly includes an elongate body having a conductor electrically coupled with an electrode coupled to the elongate body. The lead assembly includes a push tube extending along at least a portion of the elongate body. A distal tip is coupled to the elongate body substantially adjacent to the distal end of the elongate body. The distal tip is sized and shaped to couple with a push tube distal end. In one option, the distal tip includes a seat to receive the push tube distal end. In another option, the seat is a side rail seat and a guide wire extends along the elongate body and is slidably coupled with the side rail seat. The lead assembly includes, optionally, an active fixation device slidably coupled with a portion of the elongate body, and the active fixation device is sized and shaped to couple with the push tube. |
| US07920926B2 |
Method and apparatus for carrying out the controlled heating of tissue in the region of dermis
Implant apparatus and method for effecting a controlled heating of tissue within the region of dermis of skin. The heater implants are configured with a thermally insulative generally flat support functioning as a thermal barrier. One surface of this thermal barrier carries one or more polymerically encapsulated heater resistor segments with a lead assemblage exhibiting a 4-point topology. Each of the encapsulated heater segments may be thermally associated with a metal thermal spreader dimensioned in correspondence with and aligned with the heater segments. The implants are located within heating channels at the interface between skin dermis and the next adjacent subcutaneous tissue layer such that the heat spreaders are contactable with the lower region of dermis. During therapy a conformal heat sink is positioned against the skin above the implants and a slight tamponade is applied through the heat sink to assure a proper form of conduction heat transfer. An adjuvant may be employed to infiltrate dermis to significantly lower the thermal threshold transition temperature for dermis or dermis component shrinkage. The method and apparatus also may be employed in the treatment of capillary malformation (port wine stain). |
| US07920918B2 |
Apparatus and method for treating ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia
An apparatus for treating ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia comprises means for dynamically steering or selecting two or more current vector paths sequentially or simultaneously for defibrillation so as to change the transmembrane potential in the left and right ventricles sufficiently to halt VF or VT. |
| US07920900B2 |
Shared antenna control
A scheme for sharing antenna control pins in a wireless communications device implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit is described. By providing a routing circuit for coupling the antenna control signal to the appropriate transceiver circuitry in a multi-transceiver system, antenna control signals may be efficiently processed using a minimum of pins on the wireless communication device. |
| US07920899B2 |
Electronic device with wireless card to communicate with a plurality of network service providers
A wireless network communications system comprises an electronic device having a generic wireless card disposed therein, the electronic device configured to receive at least one of a plurality of different types of identity modules therein, the generic wireless card automatically configured to communicate using one of a plurality of network service providers based on a particular identity module loaded into the electronic device. |
| US07920898B2 |
Data entry systems
A data entry system includes a hand held data entry unit having a reading sensor for sensing commands and/or data, rewritable storage for storing information relating to selectable items, a controller (a microprocessor or other processing circuitry) and a display screen for displaying a user readable representation of the commands and/or stored information for a selected item, and a telecommunication interface for the telephonic transmission of information relating to a selected item or items from the storage to a remote processing center and for the telephonic information relating to selectable items from the remote processing center to the storage. Preferably a telecommunications interface is provided in the hand held unit for cellular or other wireless telephony systems. The hand held unit can be configured to combine the data entry functions with those of audio telephony. |
| US07920897B2 |
Interference suppression in computer radio modems
The present invention can reduce interference generated by processors and other computing devices when a connected radio is active. In one embodiment, the invention may include determining a start of reception of radio signals by a radio, generating a radio active signal, transmitting the radio active signal to a coupled computer to affect the radio interference generated by the coupled computer. The embodiment may further include determining an end of reception of radio signals by the radio, generating a radio not active signal, and transmitting the radio not active signal to the coupled computer to affect the radio interference generated by the coupled computer. |
| US07920894B2 |
Methods and apparatus for analyzing, processing and formatting network information such as web-pages
A method for processing information received by a wireless device over a computer network, including receiving information from at least one source of information over a computer network, parsing at least some of the information, and employing at least some results of the parsing to provide the information in a form suitable for display to a user on the wireless device. |
| US07920890B2 |
Transmission power control method and apparatus of mobile communication terminal
A transmission power increasing section continuously transmits, from a testing instrument to a mobile communication terminal at predetermined intervals, a transmission power increasing request for increasing transmission power of the mobile communication terminal by a predetermined quantity. A block size extracting section extracts, from a predetermined second physical channel, block size information indicating a block size of transmittable data defined in association with the maximum transmission power set at a first physical channel upon receipt of a plurality of physical channels from the mobile communication terminal for each transmission of the transmission power increasing request. A storage section stores, at least one time, block size information extracted at the block size extracting section. In the case where a value of newly extracted block size information in the block size extracting section is decreased below a value of immediately preceding block size information stored in the storage section as a result of comparison therebetween, the maximum output power state determining section stops transmission of the transmission power increasing request in the transmission power increasing section and transmits, to the mobile communication terminal, a transmission power decreasing request for decreasing transmission power of the mobile communication terminal by a predetermined quantity. |
| US07920887B2 |
System and method for setting up P2P communication group in cellular system, and P2P communication system and method using P2P communication group
Disclosed herein are a system and method for setting up a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) communication group in a cellular system, and a P2P communication system and method using the P2P communication group. The system for setting up a P2P communication group for a terminal in a cellular system including a base station and the terminals includes a location detection unit, a location information transmission unit, a control information reception unit, and a final group setup unit. The location detection unit detects the location of a terminal. The location information transmission unit sends information about the location, detected by the location detection unit, to the base station. The control information reception unit receives information about a preliminary P2P communication group set up by the base station based on the location information. The final group setup unit sets up a final P2P communication group based on the preliminary P2P communication group. |
| US07920879B2 |
Method and apparatus for dormant mode support with paging
Apparatuses and methods are disclosed herein for implementing dormant mode with paging in a WLAN. Power savings in the computing device and reduction in traffic across the network are achieved by requiring a computing device to inform the WLAN of its location only when it crosses a paging area boundary or is to receive IP traffic. Dormant mode with paging is implemented in a protocol that supports dormant functionality and paging functionality but does not itself provide methods or standards for implementing such functionality, such as the IEEE 802.11. The methods and apparatuses disclosed herein provide the methods needed to implement dormant mode with paging in such a protocol. Generally, the methods and apparatuses for implementing dormant mode with paging basically include (1) establishing paging areas; (2) communicating access group information to a computing device; and (3) locating a computing device. |
| US07920878B2 |
Location based reminders
Location based reminders are described. A mobile computing device may comprise a location based reminder application to set a target location for a reminder item. The location based reminder application may provide a location based reminder for the reminder item when a current location matches the target location. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US07920871B2 |
Telephone device
A telephone device which enables a user to consciously send a determined present position to a device in the surrounding area is provided. A portable telephone device 10 sends position determination information acquired by a GPS unit including a GPS antenna 31 and/or a portable telephone signal position determination processing unit including a portable telephone communication antenna 21, to another portable telephone device 50 as a desired communicating party via a base station by using a data communication function in accordance with a decision operation of a POS button 17a. Another portable telephone device 50 displays a map image of the vicinity of the received position determination information on an LCD display unit 52 by using an embedded digital map display application or the like, and also displays a present position point 53 of the portable telephone device 10 on the map image. |
| US07920868B2 |
System and method for performing a fast handover in a broadband wireless access communication system
A broadband wireless access (BWA) communication system includes a mobile subscriber station (MSS), a serving base station (BS) with which the MSS performs communication, and a plurality of neighbor BSs. The serving BS transmits, to the MSS, a handover request message including information on at least one recommended BS to which the MSS can perform a handover, among the neighbor BSs, and indication information indicating a fast handover, and transmits, to each of the recommended BSs, a handover confirm message indicating that the MSS will perform the fast handover. |
| US07920867B2 |
Modified overhead adjustment function
A MOAF algorithm is used to resize cells for balancing capacity. The MOAF algorithm bases its decision on a cell and all other cells which the algorithm decides are sufficiently close in a propagation sense to affect the results. The MOAF algorithm also automatically determines those cells in an area which are most heavily loaded and those cells which are lightly loaded. The MOAF algorithm will only decrease the size of a cell if it determines specific adjacent cells that are willing and able to accept the load, and the MOAF algorithm will increase the size of a cell only if there is a nearby heavily loaded cell that requires the removal of load. Moreover, the MOAF algorithm can be tuned (via the threshold parameter T) to shift the focus of the optimization from avoidance of coverage holes to the avoidance of creation of excessive handover legs. Because the changes are electrical rather than physical they can be deployed instantaneously via the network management system thus saving the cost of sending a field crew to the site. Moreover, it is possible to make these changes much more frequently than has been possible in the past thereby permitting the optimization of the network to be done in near real time to meet the temporal changes in the geographic distribution of customers. |
| US07920864B2 |
Mobile communication system, switching center server and additional service providing method used for the same
The present invention provides a mobile communication system including an IP (Internet Protocol) core network, a mobile communication network, a switching center server and a mobile terminal, wherein a plurality of services in each of the IP network and the mobile communication network are provided for the mobile terminal. |
| US07920863B2 |
Method and system for managing network resources
Method a system for managing network resources. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for managing resource in a wireless network. As an example, the wireless network includes an access network and a home network. The access network provides at least radio connectivity and the home network provides at least internet protocol connectivity. The method includes a step for providing a network access to a mobile station by the access network. For example, the network access includes a network connection between the mobile station and the home network. The method also includes a step for receiving information associated with a lifetime for the network access from the mobile station by the access network and by the home network. The method additionally includes a step for storing the information associated with the lifetime by the access network and by the home network. |
| US07920862B2 |
System and method for improved IMEI registration
Methods and systems for IMEI registration are provided. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when an IMEI registration fails due to a network failure, the mobile station implements a back-off algorithm for future IMEI registration attempts. Specifically, the present invention provides a back-off algorithm which determines a different amount of time for the time period between each unsuccessful IMEI registration. |
| US07920861B2 |
Method for operating mobile communication terminal, mobile communication system, and method for providing contents thereof
The present invention relates to a method for operating a mobile communication terminal, a mobile communication system, and a method for providing contents. The mobile communication system includes a mobile communication network and a mobile communication terminal for receiving a contents service through the mobile communication network. The mobile communication system is characterized by the mobile communication terminal that downloads contents data provided from a roamed mobile communication network and performs a contents service. |
| US07920859B2 |
Method of controlling receipt of signals at a terminal of a communications system
A method of controlling receipt of signals at a terminal (1) of communications system involves receiving data (D1,D2) on at least one control channel from a first base station (2). The terminal is adapted to periodically perform measurements on signals transmitted by at least one second base station (3,4). The terminal determines whether a period in which data signals (D2) are on the at least on control channel at least partially overlaps with a period for performing measurements (M2) and disables performance of measurements in favor of receipt of data on the at least one control channel. |
| US07920856B2 |
Method and system for hosted mobile management service architecture
A hosted mobile management service is provided for enabling a user to access a centralized account through a web browser on a terminal in order to manage the user's media information, such as digital music and photos. Any modifications made by user through the web browser are transparently sent to the user's mobile device where a thin client application receives such modification information and interacts with the mobile device's file system to reconcile such modifications. |
| US07920855B2 |
Printing content on a print medium
A method of printing content on a print medium is disclosed. The method starts by receiving the print medium in a media feed path. The media feed path includes a sensor module and a printer module. A print media identifier is read from a surface of the print medium using the sensor module. The print medium identifier uniquely identifies the print medium. The content is then on the print medium using the printer module and the content is stored in association with the print medium identifier in a database. The content is retrievable from the database using the print media identifier. |
| US07920847B2 |
Method and system to protect the privacy of presence information for network users
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing privacy protection to network users includes receiving a subscription request from a first end user. The subscription request identifies a second end user for whom the first end user would like to become a registered presence watcher. A cost to be assessed to become the registered presence watcher of the second end user is determined, and the first user is registered as the registered presence watcher of the second end user. |
| US07920845B2 |
Method and system for distributing data to mobile devices
Embodiments of the invention are concerned with a method and a system for distributing mobile applications, in particular to aspects of receiving, processing and displaying advertisements on mobile terminals. In one aspect, embodiments provide a software component for controlling movement for an advertisement image on a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal comprising a display area and a processor, the software component comprising processable instructions defining movement of the advertisement image relative to the display area, wherein the instructions are wirelessly transmissible to the mobile terminal and the processor is arranged to process said instructions in order to move the advertisement image. |
| US07920844B2 |
Method of providing context information for a mobile device
A method of providing context information regarding a mobile station includes using cell transitions as an input to a context determining algorithm. A disclosed example includes Bloom filter theory that utilizes a key based upon an indication of the cells involved in the transition and a selected number of hash functions. The bit strings resulting from operation of the hash functions are compared to information stored in a database that relates hash function results to context information. In a disclosed example, the entire process for determining the context information is carried out on the mobile station itself. |
| US07920843B2 |
Alarm system with two-way voice
Techniques are described for establishing a two-way voice communication session with an alarm system. The alarm system may establish a two-way voice communication session with an operator associated with a monitoring service that provides monitoring services for alarm events detected by the alarm system. The alarm system also may establish a two-way voice communication session with a notification recipient that is interested in receiving notifications associated with events detected by the alarm system. |
| US07920842B2 |
Alarm system with two-way voice
Techniques are described for establishing a two-way voice communication session with an alarm system. The alarm system may establish a two-way voice communication session with an operator associated with a monitoring service that provides monitoring services for alarm events detected by the alarm system. The alarm system also may establish a two-way voice communication session with a notification recipient that is interested in receiving notifications associated with events detected by the alarm system. |
| US07920840B2 |
Wireless receiver apparatus provided with gain control amplifier
In a wireless receiver apparatus including a gain control amplifier for controlling a gain of a reception signal, a maintaining device compulsorily maintains the gain of the gain control amplifier at a predetermined fixed value only in a predetermined specified interval. The maintaining device includes a latch circuit for maintaining a gain set value immediately prior to the specified interval. A start timing of the specified interval is determined by an edge of a predetermined timer start signal, and a duration of the specified interval is determined on the basis of a count of a predetermined timer clock signal and a count of a predetermined timer count set bus signal. |
| US07920838B2 |
Method for conserving energy in a multimode communication device
A system and methods (300, 400) are disclosed for conserving energy in a multimode communication device (106). A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a multimode wireless transceiver (202) for accessing a plurality of wireless access technologies (103), and a controller (214) for managing operations of the multimode wireless transceiver. The controller is programmed to enable (300) scanning for a select one of the wireless access technologies when the communication device is near a known location of a wireless access point. An embodiment for a network management system (100) is also disclosed. |
| US07920837B2 |
Method and system for utilizing undersampling to remove in-band blocker signals
Methods and systems for wireless communication are disclosed and may include band-limiting a wireless signal utilizing a programmable bandpass filter, generating a first signal by undersampling utilizing a clock signal and generating a second signal by undersampling the signal utilizing a delayed version of the clock signal, which may then be subtracted from the first signal. The filter may comprise a microstrip or a coplanar waveguide bandpass filter. The delay may be variable, and may be defined as an inverse of a frequency difference between the desired channel and a blocker signal. The bandwidth of the filter may be centered at the desired channel. The clock signal may be generated at a frequency which may be an integer sub-harmonic of the desired channel, and may be greater than twice a bandwidth of the filter. The delay may be controlled by a programmable delay circuit, which may comprise CMOS inverters. |
| US07920835B2 |
FM transmitter
An FM transmitter with improved degree of freedom in parts selection comprises: an oscillator connected with a crystal oscillator; a clock generating circuit uses a signal formed by frequency-dividing an oscillator output as a reference frequency, and which generates a clock having a frequency of an integer multiple of the frequency of the reference frequency; a DSP operates synchronously with the clock performing stereo modulation processing, FM modulation processing, and IQ modulation processing to inputted stereo data by digital processing; a frequency synthesizer generates a reference having a frequency an integer multiple of the frequency of the reference; mixers which mix signals outputted from the DSP with signals generated by the frequency synthesizer, respectively; an adder which adds outputs of the mixers; and an amplifier which amplifies an output signal of the adder and transmits the amplified signal from an antenna. |
| US07920834B2 |
Apparatus and method for selecting antennas and nodes MIMO communication system
An apparatus and method for selecting antennas and nodes in a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) communication system are provided. The apparatus includes a reception unit which detects a communication initiation signal from among a plurality of received signals, a first combination unit which calculates communication capacity based on the communication initiation signal, searches for a combination of transmission antennas that can maximize the communication capacity, and performs communication using the identified combination of transmission antennas, a second combination unit which calculates an average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of each node based on the communication initiation signal and selects a node with a highest average SNR and performs communication using the selected node, and a selection unit which activates one of the first combination unit and the second combination unit and inactivates the other combination unit. When the quality of signals transmitted between wireless nodes deteriorates due to a poor channel environment, a node that can minimize the shadowing effect caused by an obstacle that blocks the path of transmission of signals is selected using space diversity. Therefore, it is possible to minimize link communication failures. In addition, it is possible to maximize communication capacity by achieving spatial multiplexing gain using an array antenna that is mounted on a node. |
| US07920833B2 |
Radio front end with resonant transmit/receive switch
A device having a radio front end is provided. The radio front end includes an inductor having a first end and a second end. A capacitor having a first end and a second end is connected to the second end of the inductor. An antenna is connected to the second end of the inductor and the second end of the capacitor. A first switch is connected to the first end of the inductor and the first end of the capacitor, wherein the inductor and capacitor form a resonant circuit when the first switch is closed. A second switch is connected to the resonant circuit, the second switch connecting the resonant circuit to ground through a low impedance when the first switch is closed. A third switch is connected to a transmit power amplifier connecting the transmit power amplifier to ground through a low impedance when the first switch is closed. |
| US07920831B2 |
PTT/PTS signaling in an internet protocol network
Conveying Push-To-Talk and Push-To-Signal (PTT/PTS) information over an IP network through signaling bits defined in and propagated with the Real-Time Protocol (RTP) stream allows the PTT/PTS information to remain synchronized with the voice packets of the stream. The maintenance of synchronization of PTT/PTS signals and voice packets eliminates problems arising from failure of synchronization between the two classes of packets, notably the “shoot/don't shoot” problem. The signaling bits employed were formerly used to convey legacy network information, but are no longer in active use in the Voice-over-IP (VoIP) realm, since VoIP provides alternative pathways for their information. |
| US07920828B2 |
Portable terminal, portable telephone and master slave portable telephone system using the portable terminal
The invention relates to a portable terminal such as a portable telephone terminal and so forth for effecting communication, information processing and so forth, and to provide the portable terminal and a master slave portable telephone system capable of rendering a transmission and/or reception mode of information to be multi-functional to enhance communication function, thereby enhancing the convenience thereof. The portable terminal comprises an information transmission and/or reception part for effecting transmission and/or reception of information, a radio communication part for effecting communication by radio, and an information processing part for processing information. The portable terminal can effect transmission and/or reception of information relative to another portable terminal by any of a master terminal made up of the information transmission and/or reception part and the information processing part, a slave terminal made up of the information transmission and/or reception part and the radio communication part, and a normal terminal configured by combining the radio communication part with the information processing part via the information transmission and/or reception part. |
| US07920827B2 |
Apparatus and method for facilitating physical browsing on wireless devices using radio frequency identification
A system, apparatus, and method for locating available information and services/applications via mobile terminals radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. At least one transponder is provided, having at least an application identifier and associated content, at a location that is accessible to mobile terminal users. The transponder is activated via a wireless signal transmitted by the mobile terminal. The application identifier and content from the activated transponder are received at the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is physically located within a wireless transmission range of the transponder. In response, an application identified at least in part by the application identifier is invoked on the mobile terminal. |
| US07920824B2 |
Storage and playback device and method for using the same
A storage and playback device is capable of being detachably coupled to an output device, such as speakers of an automobile. The device includes a wireless transceiver to receive compressed digital content automatically from a computer system via a wireless local area network based on user defined preferences input into the computer system. The wireless transceiver is communicably coupled to the wireless local area network when the wireless transceiver is a predetermined distance from a wireless local area network access point. The device also includes a decoder and converter to decompress and convert the digital content. The decompressed and converted digital content is sent to be played on the output device. |
| US07920822B2 |
Device for preventing eavesdropping through speaker
Provided is a device for preventing eavesdropping through a speaker. More particularly, a device for preventing eavesdropping by transmitting a jamming signal through a speaker common signal line is provided, the device including: a jamming signal generator for generating a jamming signal comprising a noise signal; an amplifier for amplifying the jamming signal; and a transformer for receiving the amplified jamming signal from the amplifier and outputting the amplified jamming signal to a speaker common signal line. The device may transmit a jamming signal in an audible frequency band to the speaker common signal line, thereby rendering conversations unrecognizable to eavesdroppers when an electrical signal induced from a speaker is detected through the speaker common signal line. |
| US07920821B2 |
All ship speeds correlation SONAR simulator
The present invention is a system that mathematically simulates acoustic waves that are reflected off an ocean floor from a SONAR transducer mounted on a ship, submarine, or other water navigable craft. By varying the number of mathematical equations, the form of the equations, and the parameters of the equations, many different conditions may be simulated in the laboratory before testing and implementing a SONAR system at sea. The system can simulate either a spatial hydrophone SONAR system or a temporal hydrophone SONAR system for all ship speeds (i.e. all velocity components). The novel equations used in the system are based on the physics of correlation SONAR, and are applied in real time simulation environments to provide for accurate SONAR simulation of a ship's velocity. |
| US07920820B2 |
Bookbinding apparatus and image forming system comprising the same
A bookbinding apparatus includes a collecting device, a bookbinding path, a bundle conveying device for transferring the sheet bundle to a paste applying position and then to a cover binding position, a paste applying device for applying an adhesive to a spine part of the sheet bundle, and a cover feeding path. A cover binding device binds the sheet bundle with the adhesive to the cover sheet, and a cover binding control device controls the cover binding device. The cover binding device includes a back folding press member and a back abutting plate member. The cover sheet is sandwiched between the back abutting plate member and the spine part of the sheet bundle with a small gap between the back abutting plate member and the spine part. The cover binding control device adjusts a size of the gap depending on a thickness of the cover sheet when folded back. |
| US07920819B2 |
Image forming apparatus with shiftable guide member for preventing curling of a transfer medium
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit having a rotary heating member and a rotary pressure member forming a nip therebetween, a guide wall positioned immediately downstream of the fixing unit and on the side of the rotary heating member with respect to a boundary defined by the transfer medium passing the nip, a guide member positioned on the side of the rotary pressure member with respect to the boundary and face to face with the guide wall, the guide member and the guide wall cooperatively guiding the transfer medium discharged from the fixing unit, and a guide member positioning mechanism for shifting the guide member between a first position where the guide member is moved away from the guide wall and a second position where the guide member is moved closer to the guide wall than at the first position. |
| US07920816B2 |
Developer collection device and image forming apparatus
A developer collection device includes: a collection unit including: a collection container that contains a developer to be collected; an upstream connection part that is formed with an inlet port through which the developer flows in; and a collection conveying part that conveys the developer flown in through the inlet port toward the collection container; and a connection unit including: an upstream connection port that is connected to an upstream conveying path; a connection conveying part that conveys the developer flown in through the upstream connection port in a developer conveying direction; and a connection outlet port that is formed at a downstream end in the developer conveying direction, wherein the connection unit is configured to be movable between an extracted position and a retracted position. |
| US07920814B2 |
Intermediate transfer belt steering system
Disclosed are embodiments that use multiple, belt-steering systems to control and maintain alignment of an endless belt. The position of the edge of the belt is measured by multiple belt edge sensors and then corrected by at least two steering rollers connected to corresponding steering mechanisms. The steering mechanisms tilt the rollers in order to selectively adjust the lateral position of the belt. Steering can be controlled independently with the tilt of each steering roller being adjusted based solely on information obtain from a corresponding belt edge sensor. Alternatively, steering can be controlled dependently with the tilt of each steering roller being adjusted based on information obtain from multiple sensors at multiple locations and further based on the predictable impact of the simultaneous movement of both rollers on belt positioning. In addition, at least one of the steering rollers can also be configured as a drive roller. |
| US07920813B2 |
Image-forming apparatus equipped with intermediate transfer member
An image-forming apparatus, including: a latent-image supporting member, and an intermediate transfer member that supports a toner image primarily-transferred thereon from the latent-image supporting member, secondarily-transfers the supported toner image onto an image receiving medium, and has a hard releasing layer on the surface thereof, and a ratio Rv (Vbt/Vpc) between a surface moving speed Vbt of the intermediate transfer member and a peripheral speed Vpc of the latent-image supporting member satisfies the following relational expression: −5×10−6×Hu+1.0087≦Rv≦−5×10−6×Hu+1.0167 wherein Hu is a universal hardness (N/mm2) of the surface of the intermediate transfer member, and is set to 220 N/mm2 or more. |
| US07920807B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a translation member for separating a photosensitive member from a developing member
An image forming apparatus includes a main body; a tandem type photosensitive unit, retaining photosensitive drums, mounted in the body and movable along the arrangement direction of the drums; and a developer cartridge provided for each drum, retaining a developing roller and detachably mounted on the unit. The apparatus also includes a translation member provided in the body and movable in the arrangement direction; and a link member corresponding to each cartridge and displaced to a position where a first end portion opposed to a prescribed portion of each cartridge, and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion and pressed by the translation member so the first end portion presses the prescribed portion to separate the roller from the drum and a position where the translation member is released from pressing the second end portion and the first end portion is released from pressing the prescribed portion. |
| US07920805B2 |
Photoconductor formulation containing boron nitride
The present disclosure relates to incorporation of boron nitride in the charge transport layer of a photoconductor. The boron nitride may have an aspect ratio of greater than 1.0, a D50 mean particle size of less than about 10.0 μm and be present at about 5.0% (wt) or less in the charge transport layer. The cartridge may also include toner particles wherein the toner particles have a size range of about 1-25 μm and an average degree of circularity of about 0.90-1.0. The photoconductor containing boron nitride when used in an electrophotographic printer may then provide acceptable dark decay and/or photoinduced decay (PID) curves relative to photoconductors that do not contain boron nitride along with improved resistance to toner filming. |
| US07920802B2 |
Heating control device, fixing device, image forming apparatus, heating control method, and computer program product
A fixing device fixes an image on a recording medium by allowing the recording medium to pass through a nip between a pair of rotating members at least one of which is heated. The fixing device includes heaters that heat rotating members, temperature sensing elements that sense the temperature of the rotating members, and an I/O control panel. The I/O control panel calculates the amount of heat generated by the heaters based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing elements, and corrects calculation result according to medium information to control the heaters. |
| US07920800B2 |
Image forming apparatus and failure detection method therefor
An image forming apparatus includes toner image forming devices for forming toner images of a plurality of mutually different colors, a toner image carrying member for carrying thereon the toner images of the plurality of colors to be transferred onto a recording medium at one time, an adhesion amount detection device for detecting a toner adhesion amount of each of the toner images, and a failure determination device for determining the presence or absence of a sign of failure in the toner image forming devices. The failure determination device determines the presence or absence of the sign of failure in one of the toner image forming devices on the basis of information based on adhesion amount detection results obtained through detection by the adhesion amount detection device of toner adhesion amounts of toner images formed on the toner image carrying member by the other toner image forming devices. |
| US07920798B2 |
PON burst mode receiver with fast decision threshold setting
A receiver converts an analog signal, derived from light pulses in a GPON fiber optic system, to clean digital electrical signals. A photodetector and transimpedance amplifier (TIA) convert the light pulses to analog electrical signals. A reset signal generated by a media access controller (MAC) in the GPON system signifies the start of a new burst of data. The receiver has a switchable low pass filter that establishes the threshold voltage for determining whether the analog signal is a logical 1 or a logical 0. At the very start of a new burst, the low pass filter has a fast time constant to quickly establish the threshold voltage for the burst. At a later time during the burst, the low pass filter is switched to have a slow time constant to create a relatively stable threshold voltage. |
| US07920796B2 |
DQPSK transmitter with parallel precoder and high-speed DQPSK data stream realignment
The present invention utilizes field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to implement a parallel differential quadrature phase shift keying (DQPSK) precoder and a DQPSK optical transmitter with an automatic realignment process. The present invention can perform DQPSK preceding, modulation, and data stream realignment at any lower rate, and its upper rate is determined by capability in speed and logic resources and external connections of available integrated circuit technology. |
| US07920795B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting multiple channels in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical communication system with reduced raman crosstalk and nonlinear distortions
A method and apparatus is provided for transmitting a WDM optical signal. The method begins by modulating an odd number of optical channels that are each located at a different wavelength from one another with (1) a respective one of a plurality of information-bearing electrical signals that all embody the same broadcast information and (2) a respective one of a plurality of RF signals having a common functional broadcast waveform, at least one of the RF signals being out of phase with respect to remaining ones of the plurality of RF signals. Each of the modulated optical channels are multiplexed to form a WDM optical signal. The WDM optical signal is forwarded onto an optical transmission path. |
| US07920788B2 |
Optical transceiver with clock for providing maintenance and lifetime information
An optoelectronic device uses microcode to perform an end of life calculation for the optoelectronic device. In particular, the optoelectronic device senses environmental and operational parameters under changing conditions during device operation. The optoelectronic device then calculates the end of life for itself based on one or more of the sensed environmental and/or operational parameters. The calculation can be done in real time and using digital logic. The calculation can provide a result in a format which is useful to a host system with which the device is connected. The optoelectronic device may automatically shut itself down upon reaching its calculated end of life. |
| US07920784B2 |
Electronic device, electronic camera, light source device, illumination device, and projector device
An electronic device includes a heat generating member arranged in a body, and a heat transmission member of a shape of a three-dimensional body having at least a first surface that is joined to the heat generating member and a second surface that is joined to an inner surface of the body. The first surface of the heat transmission member has an area greater than or equal to an area of the heat transmission member joined to the heat generating member, and an entire area of the second surface is joined to the inner surface of the body. |
| US07920779B2 |
Heat exchanger and washing apparatus comprising the same
A heat exchanger comprises a substantially pillar sheathed heater, a substantially cylindrical case, and a spiral spring. The sheathed heater is accommodated in the case. The spring is provided so as to be wound around an outer peripheral surface of the sheathed heater. Thus, a spiral flow path is formed among an outer peripheral surface of the sheathed heater, an inner peripheral surface of the case, and the spring. The spring functions as a flow velocity conversion mechanism, a turbulent flow generation mechanism, a flow direction conversion mechanism, and an impurity removal mechanism. A water inlet and a water outlet are respectively arranged at positions eccentric from a central axis of the case on a side surface of the case. |
| US07920775B2 |
Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus has: a stream generating unit for generating a first stream constituted of a first moving image signal at a first frame rate and an input audio signal and a second stream constituted of a second moving image signal at a second frame rate faster than the first frame rate and a predetermined audio signal; a recording unit for recording the first and second streams; and an instructing unit for instructing a change-over of a frame rate, wherein in accordance with an instruction output from the instructing unit during recording the first stream, the stream generating unit outputs the second stream instead of the first stream, and the recording unit records the second stream output in response to the instruction by the instructing unit, instead of the first stream. |
| US07920772B2 |
Information storage medium and information recording/playback system
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data. |
| US07920771B2 |
Information storage medium and information recording/playback system
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data. |
| US07920765B2 |
Ruggedized optical fibers for wellbore electrical cables
Disclosed are wellbore electric cable components, methods of manufacturing such components, and cables incorporating the components. Particularly, ruggedized optical fibers useful for forming slickline electric cables are described. The ruggedized optical fiber components contain one or more coated optical fibers, metallic conductors, non-fiber-reinforced resins, and long-fiber-reinforced resins. The optical fiber(s) are generally positioned in the center of the component, while the metallic conductors are helically disposed around the metallic conductors. The long-fiber-reinforced resin forms an outer jacket around the combination of optical fibers and metallic conductors. A non-fiber-reinforced resin is disposed directly upon the metallic conductors, between the conductors and long-fiber-reinforced resin. |
| US07920763B1 |
Mode field expanded fiber collimator
The present invention discloses an optical fiber collimator suitable for coupling optical radiation from an optical fiber to an optical device, the optical fiber collimator comprising: a graded-index multi-mode fiber segment for receiving optical radiation transmitted by the input optical fiber; an optional mode field device, and a collimating lens for receiving optical radiation transmitted by the graded-index multi-mode fiber segment, the collimating lens for coupling the optical radiation into the optical device. |
| US07920750B2 |
Method and apparatus for coding positions of coefficients
A method and apparatus for coding positions of data such as coefficients are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises coding data in a vector of data based on indications of whether the data is zero or non-zero identified using a tree data structure and producing a bit stream based on coded data. |
| US07920748B2 |
Apparatus and software for geometric coarsening and segmenting of still images
An apparatus and software for processing an image reduces the number of pixels constituting the image by sequentially eliminating alternate rows and columns of pixels, the information represented by each pixel being eliminated (a “source” pixel) being redistributed into adjacent “destination” pixel locations. The redistribution is made in proportion to the similarity between the source and each destination pixel, e.g., similarity of color and/or luminance values. |
| US07920746B2 |
Compressed domain image summation apparatus, systems, and methods
Apparatus, systems, and methods disclosed herein may transpose image blocks from successively-captured versions of an image according to relative movement between an image capture device and the scene being captured. The transposition may provide for alignment of the successively-captured images notwithstanding the movement. The transposed image blocks from the successive images are composited in the frequency domain by integrating frequency domain coefficients from each into a composite final image. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US07920744B2 |
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. |
| US07920742B2 |
Image processing apparatus, program and recording medium for document registration
An image processing apparatus includes a document input unit that inputs document data of a document, a first identifying unit that identifies a position of a string included in the document, a second identifying unit that identifies a range of a mark given in the document based on an orientation of the string, and a string extracting unit that extracts a string subject to the mark, based on the position of the string identified by the first identifying unit and the range of the mark identified by the second identifying unit. |
| US07920740B2 |
Hue segmentation system and method thereof
A hue segmentation system and method thereof suitable for image devices are described. First, a plurality of hue segments are generated based on color data of a plurality of colors in a color gamut. Then, the area difference between the hue segments and the color gamut is calculated. If the area difference is greater than a predetermined value, the hue segmentation system searches at least one vertex among the hue segments to divide the segments for generating a plurality of additional hue segments. The above-mentioned steps are performed repeatedly until the area difference is less than the predetermined value. Thus fewer hue segments indicate the color gamut of color processing of the image devices to effectively decrease calculation times and save required memory. |
| US07920736B2 |
Methods and systems for imaging cells
The invention generally provides methods and systems for determining characteristics of cellular structures. The methods include non-invasive, non-perturbing, automatable, and quantitative methods and may be applied to the examination of cells such as stem cells, embryos, and egg cells. |
| US07920735B2 |
Method and device for automatically differentiating bones or other calcium-containing materials and contrast agent in soft tissue
In at least one embodiment, two image data records of two computed tomography pictures of the object are provided that have been recorded in the context of a different spectral distribution of the X-radiation. For voxels of at least one interesting slice, there is calculated from the two image data records a ratio r that is yielded from measured or averaged X-ray attenuation values of the respective voxel or its environment in the context of the different spectral distributions of the X-radiation and prescribed X-ray attenuation values of soft tissue in the context of the different spectral distributions of the X-radiation according to a prescribed calculation rule. Upon overshooting of a threshold value for the ratio r the respective voxel is assigned either contrast agent or calcium-containing material as a function of the magnitude of r. |
| US07920734B2 |
Method for visualization of plaque deposits from 3D image data records of vessel structures
A method is disclosed for visualization of plaque deposits from 3D image data records of vessel structures, in particular of the coronary vascular system, in which at least one predeterminable section of the vessel structure with the plaque deposits is segmented in the 3D image data record in order to obtain segmented 3D image data. A synthetic 3D model image of the at least one section of the vessel structure and of the plaque deposits is produced from the segmented image data, and includes only boundary surfaces of the vessel structure and of the plaque deposits. The synthetic 3D model image is produced by three-dimensional interpolation between pixels which are associated with boundary surfaces of the vessel structure, and between pixels which are associated with boundary surfaces of the plaque deposits in order to obtain a uniform grid at pixels for the 3D model image. Finally, the synthetic 3D model image or a partial volume of it is visualized. The method allows a vessel section with plaque deposits to be visualized better for evaluation. |
| US07920733B2 |
Biochemical examination apparatus and biochemical examination method
First, image capturing is performed in the exposure time of ExpStart. If the maximum intensity value of all the pixels of an image is smaller than TransStart, the exposure time is increased and the image capturing is performed again. After that, increase in the exposure time and the image capturing are repeatedly performed until the maximum intensity value of all the pixels of the captured optical image becomes equal to or greater than TransStart. When the maximum intensity value becomes equal to or greater than TransStart, image data is transferred to a computer to be recorded on the hard disk, and the number of images recorded is counted. Subsequently, the increase in the exposure time, the image capturing, transfer and record of the image data, and count of the number of images recorded are repeatedly performed. The image capturing is finished when the minimum intensity value in an area of the fluorescent image that is smaller than the entire area becomes larger than TransEnd, the number of images recorded becomes larger than TransPicts, or the exposure time becomes longer than MaxExpTime. |
| US07920731B2 |
Bleeding detection using a blanket ultrasound device
A method for differentiating between a blood vessel bifurcation and a bleeding blood vessel in an ultrasound volume includes performing vessel segmentation on the ultrasound volume, calculating vessel centerlines for the segmented vessels, automatically detecting a bifurcation candidate using the calculated vessel centerlines, placing a first marker at a predetermined distance before the detected bifurcation candidate, placing a second marker at a predetermined distance after the bifurcation candidate, placing a third marker at a predetermined distance alone a potential vessel branch of the bifurcation candidate, acquiring spectral Doppler waveform data at each of the three markers, and comparing the acquired spectral Doppler waveform data for each of the three markers to determine whether the bifurcation candidate is a point of internal bleeding. |
| US07920730B2 |
Automatic bone detection in MRI images
A method for detecting bone and bone disease using MRI images includes: detecting and segmenting bone borders using dark bone border intensity information from an MRI image; and detecting bone disease within a segmented image region. |
| US07920728B2 |
Apparatus and method for fingerprint recognition
An apparatus and method for fingerprint recognition comprises a light source, an optical component, an imaging device and a processor. The light source directs a monochromatic light through the optical component and then forms a plurality of interference fringes on a fingerprint desired to be recognized; the imaging device receives an optical image signal of the interference fringes reflected from the fingerprint and transfers it to an electrical image signal; the processor creates a contour image of the fingerprint according to the electrical image signal for post-recognition. |
| US07920722B2 |
Occupant detection apparatus
An occupant detection apparatus can include a photographing device disposed to face to a vehicle rear seat for taking three-dimensional images; an information extracting section which extracts image information corresponding to an upper area of a seat of the rear seat from three-dimensional images taken by the photographing device; a division processing section which divides information extracted by the information extracting section into areas relating to respective sitting areas for occupants sitting in the rear seat; and a derivation processing section which derives, with regard to histogram showing frequency distribution of picture elements relative to distances from the photographing device, a first histogram corresponding to image information divided by the division processing section and also derives a difference histogram by deriving a second histogram from the derived first histogram, and thus derives information about each rear-seat occupant in each sitting area of said vehicle rear seat based on the difference histogram. |
| US07920720B2 |
Computer-implemented method for object creation by partitioning of a temporal graph
One embodiment relates to a computer-implemented method for the automated extraction of objects from a video stream. The method includes an automated procedure for creating a temporal graph, and an automated procedure for cutting the graph into graph partitions. The method further includes an automated procedure for mapping the graph partitions to pixels in frames of the video stream. Other features, aspects and embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US07920719B2 |
Collision avoidance of a mobile unit
A collision avoidance system for a mobile unit includes an image capturing unit for capturing an image of an environment surrounding a mobile unit. Motion vector is calculated based on the captured image. Collision probability is calculated based on the motion vectors of the image. The system includes a plurality of receptive field units that are modeled on the optic lobe cells of the flies. Each of the receptive field units includes a filter producing an excitatory response to the motion vector diverging from the center of the receptive field in the central area of the receptive field and producing an inhibitory response to the motion vector converging toward the center of the receptive field in the areas around the central area. The outputs of the receptive field units are compared to determine a direction in which the obstacle approaches the mobile unit. The mobile unit moves in a direction to avoid collision. |
| US07920701B1 |
System and method for digital content protection
A digital content system is disclosed. A security engine disposed in a bridge provides cryptographic services. Clear text digital data received from a central processing unit is encrypted and transferred via the bridge over unsecured data paths as cipher text. |
| US07920699B2 |
Encryption operating apparatus
Valid code data and invalid code data are alternately input to a register that fetches data synchronously with a clock signal. A state of a data value input to the register is monitored. Each time when it is determined that the data is stabilized by the valid code data, the register holds the valid code data. |
| US07920695B2 |
Telephony distribution system
A telephony distribution system includes a plurality of terminals with two connection points (16A), each for one pair of conductors (17A) forming part of a telephony distribution installation, and, for each of those terminals (16A), a short-circuit manager (25) including a substitution current source (26), a switch (27) and control means (28-31) for causing the switch (27) normally to assume a position in which its output terminal (34) is connected to an input terminal (32) itself connected to a pair of conductors (13, 15) providing a telephone line and to cause the switch (27). In the event of a short-circuit between the two connection points of the terminal (16A) concerned, to assume a second position in which that terminal is connected to the auxiliary current source (26). |
| US07920690B2 |
Interworking of multimedia and telephony equipment
The present invention provides a way to associate multimedia clients with telephony devices and create multimedia sessions related to a voice connection between the telephony devices. The telephony devices may be part of a public network or an enterprise network associated with a PBX. Further, calls can be routed in part over packet-switched and circuit-switched networks. |
| US07920688B1 |
Service variation selection
A call processing system comprising an interface configured to receive a call request for a call from a caller to a service having a plurality of service variations and transmit a first control message, and a processing system configured to process the call request to select a first service variation of the plurality of service variations based on a first preference indicated by the caller prior to the call and generating the first control message identifying the first service variation. |
| US07920685B2 |
Private branch exchange with self-referencing extensions
A telecommunications system is disclosed that enables a user to pair a desk set that is an extension of a private-branch exchange with a cell phone that is accessible via the Public Switched Telephone Network. One feature of the telecommunications system enables a call that is directed to the user's desk set to be automatically forwarded to the user's cell phone. This is advantageous to the user because it provides the illusion to the caller that the user is physically in his or her office when they are not necessarily there. A similar feature also provides the illusion when a third party initiates a call that connects the user's cell phone to a called party. Such a third party includes a computer telephony application in a telephone telemarketing center, which automatically places many outgoing telephone calls. |
| US07920683B2 |
Method and testing device for verifying the charge invoicing for a communications connection according to time-unit intervals
A testing device and a method for verifying the charge invoicing for a communications device according to time unit intervals is provided. A testing device, which can simulate at least one calling analog terminal and at least one called terminal, is connected to a network node that generates time pulses. At least one predetermined test communications connection is set up and terminated over at least the one network node. Further, the time interval between the beginning of the test communications connection and the generation of a first time pulse is determined and verified to ascertain whether the determined time interval is located within a first predetermined time domain. During the existing test communications connection, time unit intervals of successive time pulses are measured and compared with a predetermined time interval. A further method involving receipt of additional time pulse(s) after the termination of the test communications connection is also provided. |
| US07920679B1 |
Communication system and method for notifying persons of an emergency telephone call
A communication system for notifying persons of an emergency telephone call is provided according to the invention. The communication system includes a communication network configured to receive a user-initiated emergency telephone call from a caller. The communication system further includes a notification system configured to receive the user-initiated emergency telephone call from the communication network, select one or more proximity communication devices based on one or more predetermined proximity criteria, and generate a notification communication to the one or more proximity communication devices. The notification communication notifies the one or more proximity communication devices of the user-initiated emergency telephone call. |
| US07920678B2 |
Personal virtual assistant
A computer-based virtual assistant includes a virtual assistant application running on a computer capable of receiving human voice communications from a user of a remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization to the remote user interface, the virtual assistant application enabling the user to access email and voicemail messages of the user, the virtual assistant application selecting a responsive action to a verbal query or instruction received from the remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization characterizing the selected responsive action to the remote user interface, and the virtual assistant waiting a predetermined period of time, and if no canceling indication is received from the remote user interface, proceeding to perform the selected responsive action, and if a canceling indication is received from the remote user interface halting the selected responsive action and transmitting a new vocalization to the remote user interface. Also a method of using the virtual assistant. |
| US07920675B2 |
Producing a radiation treatment plan
The present embodiments relate to producing a radiation treatment plan. In one embodiment, the method may include specifying a dataset in which an object requiring to be irradiated is represented; determining a target volume requiring to be irradiated within the object; ascertaining a metric identifying a density heterogeneity for a region that will be struck by the planned treatment beam; and determining as a function of the ascertained metric a safety margin for the target volume requiring to be irradiated. |
| US07920673B2 |
Phase-contrast x-ray imaging
Phase-contrast imaging is performed by directing radiation from a plurality of pinhole sources through a phase object to be imaged, wherein the phase object includes a first composition that produces a phase shift in the radiation relative to radiation passing through a second composition in the phase object and detecting a phase-contrast image of the radiation after it passes through the phase object. The phase-contrast image is then decoded to generate an image of the phase object in which the first composition is distinguished from the second composition. |
| US07920667B2 |
Accumulator
An object of the present invention is to provide an accumulator including a flow damper which is capable of performing a control so that a vortex may not be formed in a vortex chamber at the time of a large flow injection without requiring huge labors and fabrication costs. The flow damper is configured of a colliding jet controller (a bevel or a projection) for controlling a colliding jet composed of a jet from a large flow pipe and a jet from a small flow pipe flowing into a vortex chamber at the time of a large flow injection so that the colliding jet may proceed directly to an outlet without forming a vortex in the vortex chamber. The colliding jet controller is provided at a junction of an inner surface of the small flow pipe and an inner surface of the vortex chamber. |
| US07920662B2 |
Equalizer-based receiver to eliminate training sequence interference in TDD systems
Training sequence interference in an equalizer-based receiver in a time-division duplex (TDD) communication system can be avoided without using interference cancellation, by providing to the equalizer both the desired data portion of the received signal, and a portion of the training sequence that is adjacent the desired data portion and has a length commensurate with the delay spread associated with the training sequence interference. The portion of the equalizer output that corresponds to the adjacent training sequence portion can be discarded while retaining the desired equalized data. |
| US07920659B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method
A wireless communication apparatus capable of enhancing the transmission efficiency, while maintaining a good BER characteristic. In this apparatus, a setting part (13) sets, based on the maximum delay amount of a delayed wave and also based on the expansion of impulse response of FDE, an FFT part (14) to establish an FFT section of Nc symbol, and also sets a selecting part (17) to establish a selection section of Nc−2M−Δ symbol that is shorter than the FFT section. The setting part (13) also sets the start points of FFT and selection sections established at this time for such timings that they are shifted by Nc−2M−Δ symbol from the start points of the FFT and selection sections previously established. It should be noted that the maximum delay amount of the delayed wave is Δ symbol, the expansion of impulse response of FDE is plus/minus M symbols, and the symbol block length is Nc. |
| US07920658B2 |
Efficient method to compute one shot frequency estimate
Systems and methods are provided for efficiently determining frequency estimates in a forward link only wireless receiver. In one embodiment, a method is provided to compute a one shot frequency estimate. The method includes representing an arc tangent function in a table that describes elements of the function and employing the arc tangent function to compute phase information for a wireless device. |
| US07920657B2 |
Apparatus and method for decoding space-time block coded (STBC) signal
Apparatus and method for decoding a Space-Time Block Coded (STBC) signal. The decoding apparatus includes a channel estimator for estimating a real equivalent channel based on a coded signal; a channel converter for decomposing the real equivalent channel to a unit matrix and a subchannel; a receive signal converter for converting the coded signal to a real equivalent receive signal and converting the real equivalent receive signal to a converted receive signal based on the unit matrix; and a detector for detecting an estimate of a transmit signal by performing a maximum likelihood decoding using the converted receive signal and the subchannel. Since the transmit signal candidates are independent of each other, the complexity of the maximum likelihood decoding can be decreased. With the lowered complexity of the receiver, the power consumption for the decoding can be reduced and the high-speed data can be transmitted more easily in the actual mobile communication environment. |
| US07920653B2 |
Method and circuit arrangement for suppressing an orthogonal perturbation
The invention relates to a method as well as a circuit arrangement for suppression of a perturbing quadrature component of a carrier signal of an amplitude-modulated signal during the recovery of the carrier signal in a synchronous demodulator, which outputs a quadrature signal (Q). The perturbing quadrature component of the carrier signal is estimated and the estimated quadrature component is subtracted from the quadrature signal (Q). |
| US07920652B2 |
Orthogonality detector, and quadrature demodulator and sampling quadrature demodulator using detector thereof
To detect phase mismatches between in-phase and quadrature signals of a quadrature demodulator. The phase mismatches can be detected using the signals obtained by removing high frequency components of output of a multiplier by a low pass filter, the output being the product of the in-phase signals of which low frequency components are removed by a first high pass filter by the quadrature signals of which low frequency components are removed by a second high pass filter. |
| US07920648B2 |
Sample rate adaption in signal processing
The mixed signal chip (10) takes analogue signals received at, for example, a mobile telephone and converts them to the digital domain for subsequent processing. Through use of sample rate adaption and adjustable filtering, the mixed signal chip can work on radio signals formatted according to different standards. |
| US07920638B2 |
Method for the multiple-antenna transmission of a signal by space-time block codes, corresponding reception method and signal
An embodiment of the invention relates to a method for sending a signal formed by successive vectors each comprising N symbols to be sent, and implementing at least two transmitter antennas. A distinct sub-matrix is associated with each of said antennas, said sub-matrices being obtained by subdivision of a unitary square matrix, and each of said antennas sends sub-vectors, obtained by subdivision of said vectors, respectively multiplied by said sub-matrices so as to form, as seen from a receiver, a single combined signal representing the multiplication of said vectors by said unitary matrix. |
| US07920630B2 |
Buffer descriptor data structure for communication link between decode and display processes in MPEG decoders
A system, method, and apparatus for providing display parameters from the decode process to the display process are presented herein. The decode process receives images which are encoded according to a predetermined standard. Included with the encoded images are parameters which facilitate the decode and display processes. The decode process decodes the encoded images as well as the parameters and stores each image in a separate image buffer. Additionally, the decode process stores the parameters which facilitate the display process in a buffer descriptor structure associated with the image buffer. The display process uses the parameters stored in the buffer descriptor structure during the display process. |
| US07920619B2 |
Efficient computation of a waveform correlation matrix
A method and apparatus for reducing the complexity of waveform correlation computations used by a multicode receiver is described herein. One exemplary multicode receiver includes a despreading unit, channel estimator, and waveform correlation calculator. The despreading unit despreads a received multicode signal to generate despread symbols. The channel estimator estimates channel coefficients associated with the despread symbols. The waveform correlation calculator determines waveform correlations between the transmitted symbols in successive processing windows that span two or more symbol periods and that overlap in time. To reduce the computational complexity associated with computing waveform correlations, the calculator may reuse channel coefficients and/or net channel correlations for multiple symbol periods and/or processing windows. The calculator may also reduce complexity by reusing one or more waveform correlations from a previous processing window as waveform correlations for one or more subsequent processing windows and/or by exploiting the Hermitian symmetry of the waveform correlation matrix. |
| US07920618B2 |
Insertion of null packets to mitigate the effects of interference in wireless communications
Mitigation of interference effects in certain wireless communications is accomplished by the disclosed method. A wireless communications device communicates utilizing a protocol which requires hopping from channel to channel within a communications frequency band while transmitting. Operating according to the disclosed method, the device scans the available communications channels and identifies channel(s) experiencing interference from other transmitting devices. When hopping to such identified channels, the device transmits only null packets, thus avoiding the need to re-transmit packets due to interference and mitigating the effects of such interference on the communications data rate. |
| US07920617B1 |
Method and device for coherent addition of semiconductor laser emission
A method and device for coherent addition of semiconductor laser emission, in particular for use in telecommunications. Individual emitters are coupled, each emitter to some extent experiencing some of the emission of all the others. Rather than all emitting independently of one another, the emitters are arranged in a common resonator. Using an optimization method, e.g., the simulated annealing method, the shape of the resonator mirror may be optimized until it optimally fulfils a preassigned set of mathematical requirements which constitute a set criterion. The individual emitters in the form of individual diodes, a diode matrix or a diode bar are arranged between two or more mirrors. At least one of these mirrors has a special, non-spherical surface that forms an internal correction element. Alternatively, the mirrors may be spherical-shaped with at least one non-spherical phase plate arranged in the resonator beam path. Outside the resonator a further system that includes a generator and a secondary beam shaper transforms the emitted beam so that it has the desired amplitude distribution and phase distribution and the desired irradiance. |
| US07920614B2 |
Semiconductor laser
A semiconductor laser having a high electrostatic withstand voltage, resistant to a power supply surge, and having improved long-term reliability is obtained by reducing current leakage through a threading dislocation portion. The semiconductor laser includes a substrate having a high dislocation region having a dislocation density of 1×105 cm−2 or more, a crystalline semiconductor structure located on the substrate and having an active layer, an insulating film located on the semiconductors structure, a surface electrode located on the insulating film and electrically continuous with the semiconductor structure for injection of a current into the active layer, and a back electrode located on a rear surface of the substrate. The semiconductor laser has a laser resonator with a length L, and the area of the surface electrode is 120×L μm2 or less. |
| US07920611B2 |
Laser apparatus, laser irradiation method, and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
It is an object to provide a laser apparatus, a laser irradiating method and a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device that make laser energy more stable. To attain the object, a part of laser beam emitted from an oscillator is sampled to generate an electric signal that contains as data energy fluctuation of a laser beam. The electric signal is subjected to signal processing to calculate the frequency, amplitude, and phase of the energy fluctuation of the laser beam. The transmittance of a light amount adjusting means is controlled in order that the transmittance changes in antiphase to the phase of the energy fluctuation of the laser beam and with an amplitude capable of reducing the amplitude of laser beam emitted from the oscillator, the control being made based on the phase difference between the phase of a signal that is in synchronization with oscillation of laser beam emitted from the oscillator and the phase calculated, on the energy ratio of the sampled laser beam to laser beam emitted from the oscillator, and on the frequency and amplitude calculated. In the light amount adjusting means, energy of the laser beam oscillated from the oscillator energy is adjusted. |
| US07920609B2 |
Exposure device and circuit board for laser controller
In an exposure device comprising a laser controller that is configured as a circuit board capable of independently being changed, and that controls the emission of laser light from a laser emitter emitting laser light on receipt of an instruction for control given from a main controller responsible for overall control of the operation of the exposure device, error control information that is obtained in advance with regard to the circuit board and controls variations of a controlling factor due to a circuit error of the circuit board is stored into a memory provided to the laser controller prior to the provision of the circuit board to the exposure device. On receipt of an instruction for control given from the main controller to cause the emission of laser light in a predetermined amount of light, the laser controller determines a condition of emission of laser light based on the error control information stored in the memory to cause the laser emitter to emit laser light under the condition of emission. |
| US07920605B2 |
All-fiber color laser and light-illuminating method thereof
An all-fiber color laser and a light-illuminating method thereof are disclosed. The steps of the light-illuminating method include: providing a fiber color laser having a pump light source and an optical fiber with a multi-level wavelength gain medium, a first grating assembly and a second grating assembly; radiating a laser via the pump light source; generating a plurality of laser beams with various wavelengths via the multi-level wavelength gain medium; adjusting the deformation of the second grating assembly to control output of the laser beams with various wavelengths; and executing periodical modulation to generate a periodical lengthwise deformation of the second grating assembly for mixing color. |
| US07920596B2 |
Method for high speed framing and a device having framing capabilities
A device having framing capabilities, the device includes at least one memory unit adapted to store data and metadata required for framing the stored data; the device is characterized by including a framer that is connected to a framed data unit and to a data fetch unit; wherein the device is adapted to select between a first operation sequence and a second operation sequence; wherein the first operation sequence comprises a data chunk and metadata fetch operation followed by a data chunk frame operation and wherein the second operation sequence comprises a multiple data chunk fetch operation followed by multiple data chunk frame operations; wherein the data fetch unit and the framer are adapted to execute the selected operation sequence. A method for framing data, the method includes storing data and metadata required for framing the stored data at one or more memory devices. The method is characterized by executing an operation sequence out of a first operation sequence and a second operation sequence; wherein the first operation sequence comprises a data chunk and metadata fetch operation followed by a data chunk frame operation and wherein the second operation sequence comprises a multiple data chunk fetch operation followed by multiple data chunk frame operations. |
| US07920589B2 |
System for converting data based upon IPv4 into data based upon IPv6 to be transmitted over an IP switched network
Certain exemplary embodiments provide a method for converting data packets based upon IPv4 protocol into data packets based upon IPv6 protocol, said method comprising converting any data packet based upon the IPv4 protocol into a data packet based upon the IPv6 protocol before transmitting it to an IP switched network using information provided by an external server, and converting any data packet based upon the IPv6 protocol provided by said IP switched network into a data packet based upon the IPv4 protocol before transmitting it to a first or second workstation. |
| US07920586B2 |
System and method for selecting a medium access technique for transmitting packets over a network
A system and method for transmitting packets in a network (100). A node (102, 106, 107) in the network (100) accesses uses one of a plurality of medium access techniques for transmitting packets on the network (100). The node (102, 106, 107) separates packets to be transmitted into classes based on at least one characteristic of the packets and selects one of the medium access techniques for each class of packets based on whether the medium access technique provides improved transmission efficiency for the at least one characteristic of the packets in the class. The node (102, 106, 107) transmits the packets in each respective class using the respective selected medium access technique. |
| US07920585B2 |
Vehicular communication device and control information generating device
A vehicular communication device switches over a communication method between the OFDM method and the SS method. A PLC master set includes a LAN communication unit for performing data communications with control units such as an engine control ECU via an in-vehicle LAN. In the PLC master set, a microcomputer acquires the operating states of parts of the vehicle from various control units through the LAN communication unit, and uses the acquired operating states and control information stored previously to enable data communications without being affected by noises occurring in the parts of the vehicle by notifying a PLC slave set of a communication method in the PLC communication unit and a communication method with a sub-carrier set prohibited from use being set when a communication method is the OFDM method. |
| US07920582B2 |
Media gateway for reporting events and method for reporting events by media gateway in a next generation network
A method for reporting events by a media gateway in a next generation network includes: executing a state machine which is established in a media gateway and includes service states driven by events, the state machine including a state of Suspension; the executing process includes: entering into the state of Suspension when an event is reported, if the state machine is in a state other than the state of Suspension; and storing an event which can not be reported temporarily in an EventBuffer queue which is established in the media gateway, and returning to a state prior to the state of Suspension when the event reported is responded, if the state machine is in the state of Suspension. A media gateway for reporting events in a next generation network is also disclosed. |
| US07920581B2 |
Tree-type broadcast system, method of participating and withdrawing tree-type broadcast system, node device, and node process program
A node device having a plural hierarchy levels in a tree-like shape while placing a broadcast device at a top of the levels and connecting the node devices through a communication means, wherein content data is sequentially transferred from the node device at an upper hierarchy level to that at a lower hierarchy level, including: a control means for displaying a predetermined screen for a user; and a means for carrying out a process of participating in the system when a broadcast information screen related to broadcast of the content data is displayed and for carrying out a process of withdrawing from the system when display is finished, wherein when transiting to display in another screen, the participation and withdrawal control means carries out the withdrawal process on a condition that the broadcast information screen is not displayed again within a waiting time previously set up. |
| US07920578B2 |
System and method for monitoring a video phone service
A system and a method for monitoring a Video Phone (VP) service monitors a video communication between a calling video terminal and a called video terminal, and the system including a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) server, a Media GateWay (MGW), a Video Inter-working Gateway (VIG), and a monitoring receiving unit. When the calling video terminal initiates a VP call to the called video terminal, the MSC server instructs the MGW to duplicate the call data of the calling and called video terminal, transmits the call data to the VIG, and instructs the VIG to de-multiplexes the call data of calling video terminal and called video terminal into the audio flow and video flow. The VIG transmits the audio flow and video flow to the monitoring receiving unit for playing. |
| US07920572B2 |
Modifying operation of peer-to-peer networks based on integrating network routing information
A data processing method comprising establishing a first node in a peer-to-peer data communications network, wherein the node is configured as a supernode in conformance with a peer-to-peer communications protocol, wherein the first node is configured as an active listener to one or more network routing protocols executing at a network router; receiving a routing information message from one of the network routing protocols; modifying an operational characteristic of the first node in response to the routing information message; receiving a request from a second node in the peer-to-peer network for a resource that is known to the first node; and responding to the request based on the modified operational characteristic. For example, a peer-to-peer node may be configured as a network-aware BitTorrent Tracker, Gnutella supernode, etc., and can use IGP and BGP information from a router to determine how the node behaves. |
| US07920571B1 |
Circuit-switched switching system
A circuit switched switching system and method includes a plurality of matrix transposition memories. The memories permute the order of incoming and outgoing data, and thereby increase the efficiency of the switch. The switch and matrix transposition memories may be disposed in a satellite. The switch may further include batching circuits for grouping together data from a single terminal device for more efficient transmission through the switch and for more efficient error correction. |
| US07920568B2 |
Frame transmission apparatus
An apparatus including a first interface unit configured to perform frame communication processing with a ring network; a second interface unit configured to perform frame communication processing with a different network; a processing unit configured to convert a frame of a first format from the different network to a frame of a second format; a frame switching unit having at least one port connected to each of the first interface unit, the second interface unit and the processing unit and configured to switch the frame between ports; and a table configured to store frame identification information in correspondence with an output destination port identifier for an output port in the frame switching unit and frame conversion requirement information indicating whether conversion to the frame of the second format is required. |
| US07920567B2 |
Switching hub and LAN system
A switching hub is provided with a control unit for setting, for a port, a VLAN-ID comprising a subgroup ID of a subgroup constituting a VLAN, and a sub-ID of a group contained in the subgroup ID, and a switching processing unit for relaying a frame, which contains the VLAN-ID, via the port, which matches the VLAN-ID. |
| US07920566B2 |
Forwarding data in a data communication network
An apparatus for forwarding data in a data communications network having as components nodes and links therebetween is described. The apparatus is arranged to forward data towards a destination on a label switched path and advertise in a label advertisement to nodes in the network in a label advertisement its label for the label switched path and its label for a repair label switched path for use in the event of non availability of a component in the network. The apparatus is further arranged to advertise to a remote node in the network in a label advertisement additional information for deriving repair label switched path information at the remote node. |
| US07920564B1 |
Differential services support for control traffic from privileged nodes in IP networks
A network device receives a packet at a network interface and determines whether the packet represents control traffic. The network device also determines whether the packet is received from a privileged node. To achieve this, a source address is extracted from the packet, a query of the source address is performed in an address database, and a node status attribute associated with the source address is returned from the address database. If the packet represents control traffic and is received from a privileged node, the network device may modify one or more attributes of associated with the packet. These attributes may include a traffic class, drop precedence, or bandwidth restriction. Packets that represent control traffic may be placed in a priority queue for further processing based upon their modified attributes. |
| US07920563B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing distributed communication routing
A method and apparatus that includes processing for providing distributed communication routing that, in one embodiment, begins by obtaining registration information from a plurality of forwarding engines, for identifying the plurality of forwarding engines based on the registration information, for generating at least one specific forwarding table for at least one corresponding forwarding engine of the plurality of forwarding engines, and for forwarding the specific forwarding table to the corresponding forwarding engine. In an alternate embodiment, the processing determines internal routing connections and external routing connections for the plurality of forwarding engines after identifying the forwarding engines, generates at least one external forwarding table for at least some of the plurality of forwarding engines, and generates at least one specific internal forwarding table for a corresponding forwarding engine. The tables are forwarded to the corresponding forwarding engine or engines. |
| US07920552B2 |
Resource assignment in a distributed environment
Determining processing requirements for processing communications in a communication network includes determining non real-time processing requirements for processing the communications based on communication handling statistics obtained from at least one network element, in the communication network, that distributes the communications. Near real-time processing requirements for processing the communications are determined based on at least one of the communication handling statistics and the non real-time processing requirements. At least one of the non real-time processing requirements and the near real-time processing requirements is forwarded to a processing element that processes at least one of the non real-time processing requirements and the near real-time processing requirements. |
| US07920542B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing secure voice/multimedia communications over internet protocol
The present invention provides for improved security in a VoIP architecture. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a system for providing VoIP service to a user domain having user accessible equipment includes a first domain having VoIP service provider equipment and a second domain having at least one border element communicating with the service provider equipment and the user accessible equipment to enable communications between the service provider equipment and the user accessible equipment. The user accessible equipment is prevented from directly communicating with the service provider equipment. |
| US07920536B1 |
More robust data transfer through detection of hidden nodes
In a wireless network having one or more base stations and one or more access points, the base station is switched automatically from a CSMA/CA exchange protocol to an RTS/CTS exchange protocol, in a case where the base station infers the presence of a hidden node. The presence of a hidden node is inferred by scanning frames of wireless network transmissions to and from other base stations and the access point. In a case where there is a discrepancy in the accrued frames, such that frames have been accrued from the access point to a second base station without also accruing frames from the second base station back to the access point, the presence of a hidden node is inferred, and the base station is switched automatically to RTS/CTS exchange mode. |
| US07920534B2 |
Wireless LAN setting system in an image forming apparatus, and a wireless LAN setting method
A wireless LAN setting system mounted on an image forming apparatus that performs network connection through a wireless LAN and used for performing wireless communication with plural terminals, the wireless LAN setting system including a mode for checking, before setting is performed, existing setting contents (setting items and setting states) presently set. Guide indications are attached to respective setting screens. With the wireless LAN setting system, proper determination is performed and setting operation is correctly performed even if a user (an administrator) does not have professional knowledge. |
| US07920525B2 |
Method for measuring and reporting channel quality in a broadband wireless access communication system
A method for measuring/reporting a channel quality in a broadband wireless access communication system. The method for reporting channel qualities of active BS and neighbor BSs measured by an MSS to the active BS when the MSS exists in a specific area covered by the active BS and neighbor BSs in a communication system includes receiving channel quality report information indicative of channel periods of the channel qualities from the active BS, and receiving channel quality measurement information associated with individual channel qualities of the neighbor BSs and the active BS from the active BS: measuring SINRs of the neighbor BSs and the active BS according to the channel quality measurement information; and reporting the measured SINRs of the neighbor BSs and the active BS to the active BS. |
| US07920524B2 |
Multimedia server with channel control module and methods for use therewith
A multimedia server module includes a first transceiver module that modulates an encoded signal to produce a first radio frequency (RF) signal and that transmits the first RF signal to a client module over a first transceiver channel when the first transceiver module is in a transceive mode. The first transceiver module includes a first channel control module that performs a first channel scan when the first transceiver module is in a scan mode, that determines at least one performance parameter of the first transceiver channel and asserts a low performance signal when the at least one performance parameter compares unfavorably to a performance threshold, and that switches the first transceiver module to a selected alternative transceiver channel when the low performance signal is asserted. |
| US07920523B2 |
Method of supporting quality-of-service application session continuity during inter-technology handover using a common packet data function
The present invention provides a method of handing off a mobile unit that supports multiple quality-of-service (QoS) application layer clients that operate according to multiple wireless access technologies in a packet-switched communication system. The method includes receiving information indicating a request to hand off the mobile unit from a first access network that operates according to a first wireless access technology to a second access network that operates according to a second wireless access technology. The mobile unit established a first session according to the first wireless access technology at a first QoS level. The method also includes establishing, concurrently with the first session and in response to receiving the handoff request, a second session according to the second wireless access technology at the first QoS level. The method further includes communicating with the mobile unit at the first QoS level using the first and second sessions. |
| US07920518B2 |
System and method for concurrently utilizing multiple system identifiers
System and method for providing access to multiple wireless service providers (WSPs) on a shared network infrastructure. The system includes a plurality of access points (APs) coupled to a network which may be distributed in airports, mass-transit stations, businesses, etc. The network may couple to a wide area network, such as the Internet. Each AP may include a plurality of virtual APs (VAPs), each corresponding to a WSP. A portable computing device (PCD) of a user stores identification information indicating a WSP of a plurality of possible WSPs, and which may include an access level of the user. Each AP “listens for” or detects identification information associated with numerous WSPs. When the AP receives the identification information from the PCD, it determines the VAP/WSP for the PCD using the identification information. Network access is then provided to the PCD through the determined WSP at the determined access level. |
| US07920514B2 |
Base station device, mobile station device, control information transmission method, control information reception method and program
In a radio system which allocates resources using as units resource blocks which are formed by frequency components and time components, control information for mobile station devices, and identification information which is used to identify a format for a control information transmission channel which transmits the control information is transmitted from the base station device to the mobile station devices by means of the control information transmission channel. |
| US07920512B2 |
Systems, methods, and devices that dynamically establish a sensor network
A wireless sensor network includes a network sink node and a plurality of cluster nodes. The cluster nodes are configured to pass communications upstream and downstream. Each cluster node has a communication range, or coverage area. A cluster node is configured to communicate with sensor nodes within the coverage area of cluster node. The sensor nodes are configured to register with at least one cluster node. The cluster nodes are configured to register with the network sink. Identifiers for the sensor nodes may be dynamically generated. Identifiers for the cluster nodes may be dynamically generated. |
| US07920510B2 |
Minimized IP connectivity establishment procedures
For a broadband wireless access system, a method of configuring an IP address for a fixed/mobile station that changes from idle mode to receiving mode or when performing handover such that IP address configuration procedures are simplified. The base station determines whether the mobile station that changes from idle mode to receiving mode or performs handover needs to re-configure its IP address, and informs this to the mobile station, which can then selectively configure its IP address according to the needs of configuring its IP address. |
| US07920506B2 |
Transmission schedule constructing apparatus
A transmission schedule constructing apparatus constructing a transmission schedule for use in time division multiple access of stations on a power line communication network. The apparatus constructs the transmission schedule based on a cyclic change in a transmission quality of communication medium depending on an alternating current power source cycle on the power line and based on a parameter relating to transmission quality designated in the schedule allocation request. |
| US07920505B2 |
Method and system for integrated link adaptation and power control to improve error and throughput performance in wireless packet networks
The invention provides a system that implements an algorithm for integrated link adaptation and power control to achieve specified error rates and to improve an overall throughput for real-time applications in wireless packet networks. The system initially divides wireless terminals into groups according to their signal path gains. Afterwards, the system can periodically adapt transmissions (i.e., link adaptations) based on the required error rates, actual error statistics and average transmission power for each wireless terminal group. Furthermore, transmission power can be adjusted by an enhanced Kalman-filter method to ensure successful reception. |
| US07920496B2 |
Transaction control system including portable data terminal and mobile customer service station
A mobile customer service station operating within a wireless multi-hop communication network includes a console on a wheeled chassis. The console carries and houses a number of components which are used in merchandising operations to conclude customer purchase transactions. The items supported externally on the console are a printer for printing purchase receipts, customer credit charge agreements and records of transactions, and a magnetic card reader for reading information from a magnetic stripe of a customer's credit card. In one embodiment, the operation of the printer, credit card reader and the cash drawer is controlled by a multi-function control unit located within an enclosure of the console. The control unit is electrically powered by a self-contained power source which is preferably a deep cycle rechargeable battery. The console also houses a transceiver unit which under the control of the control unit is capable of interactive communication with a premises network. In another embodiment, the mobile service station comprises an access device which participates with a variety of peripherals at the station in a lower power communication LAN, while providing higher power communication to other network devices via a premises network with routing via a wireless spanning tree configuration. |
| US07920495B2 |
Channel management via link parameter adjustment
A system for allocating communication resources in an apparatus. For example, an apparatus that is enabled to support a plurality of wireless transports may identify a resource-intensive task to be executed using a wireless transport. Prior to the execution of the resource-intensive task, the apparatus may determine if any wireless links already exist, and whether to alter operational parameters for one or more of the existing wireless links in order to make resources available for expediting completion of the resource-intensive task. |
| US07920493B2 |
Fast session setup extensions to H.324
A method of initiating a set up process for a call between users with reduced set up times using one or more 3G telecommunication networks. The method is provided between at least a pair of H.324-like terminals coupled to the one or more 3G telecommunication networks. The method includes establishing a bearer channel between a first terminal and a second terminal after a call signaling process, transmitting a first FSS message from the first terminal to the second terminal. The first FSS message includes a first preference profile associated with a first mode of operation for the call and a second preference profile associated with a second mode of operation for the call. The method also includes selecting either the first mode of operation or the second mode of operation. |
| US07920488B2 |
Method and apparatus for establishing a distributed conference bridge
The invention comprises a method and apparatus for establishing a conference bridge. Specifically, the method comprises obtaining at least one request for establishing the conference bridge where the conference bridge is operable for enabling communications between a plurality of user devices, and determining a configuration for establishing the conference bridge, the configuration comprising at least one sub-bridge wherein each of the at least one sub-bridge comprises a communication path between a first combining user device and one of a second combining user device and a non-combining user device, wherein the configuration tends to minimize a bandwidth required for supporting communications between the plurality of user devices. |
| US07920486B2 |
Methods and apparatus for use in establishing communications for virtual private networking
A processor of a mobile device operates to establish communications for a communications application by performing the following acts upon invocation of the application when the mobile device is connected in a communication network outside of a private network. Initially, the processor causes a request for a VPN connection with the private network to be communicated, and awaits the establishment of the VPN connection. If the VPN connection is established within a predetermined period of time, the processor operates to receive a private IP address of the private network and cause a request for registration using the private IP address to be communicated to a registration server for the private network. If the VPN connection is not established within the predetermined period of time, the processor causes a request for registration using a public IP address to be communicated to a registration server for the communication network. |
| US07920484B1 |
Control of optical connections in an optical network
A method for lightpath provisioning in a reconfigurable optical network that comprises the steps of naming each network addressable element in the reconfigurable optical network, determining current resources therein, determining current topology therein, requesting establishment of a lightpath, and allocating the lightpath. A system for lightpath provisioning in a reconfigurable optical network is also provided, which includes naming each network addressable element in the reconfigurable optical network, determining current topology in the reconfigurable optical network, determining current resources in the reconfigurable optical network, requesting establishment of a lightpath, allocating the lightpath and removing the lightpath upon completion. |
| US07920480B2 |
System and method to determine broadband transport performance data
A system and method of determining broadband transport performance data are provided. The system includes an input to receive a request including a telephone number corresponding to a broadband data transport element. The system also includes logic to map the telephone number to a port address of network equipment associated with the broadband data transport element. The system further includes a performance analysis tool to determine performance information associated with the broadband data transport element. |
| US07920478B2 |
Network-aware adapter for applications
Streams of data traffic from various applications may be handled by a network-aware adapter module as part of a greater platform for filtering communicating the streams to intelligent network components. A distinguishing factor associated with a given data stream may be determined and used as a basis for selecting a QoS policy setting for the given data stream. The selected QoS policy setting may then be signaled to a media access control layer to take advantage of the QoS function of the embedded underlying active media type that is active and optimal (both from technical and business perspective) to carry out the communication for the application. |
| US07920477B2 |
Network layer error control systems and methods
Systems, methods, and devices for novel error detection and retransmission processes are described. These processes may be implemented on intermediate communication links between two end terminals, wherein the intermediate links are via satellite. Error control mechanisms to detect and retransmit lost or corrupted frames may be implemented at the network layer, or between the network and data link layers. Processes for discovering error control protocol-aware terminals are described. Features of these error control processes may include a configurable delay limit, tailored to traffic type or class. |
| US07920476B2 |
Network congestion control
A network controls congestion by monitoring how well packets are actually being received at their respective dataflow destinations. The destination nodes are outfitted with a monitor that returns an acknowledgement (ACK) datapacket to the source node for each reception. The return ACK datapackets are marked according to whether congestion was encountered in the delivery to the destination. If so, a rate limiter at the source node is signaled to slow down the data injection rate. If not, the rate limiter is signaled to dial up the injection rate. Several dataflows can be independently and simultaneously controlled this way. |
| US07920474B2 |
System and method for context-based hierarchical adaptive round robin scheduling
A system and method which provides for efficient data transmission between multiple microprocessors in a computer system is disclosed. A physical data path is divided into a plurality connection queues. The connection queue size is compared to thresholds. Bandwidth allocation weights associates with the queues can be progressively refined based upon the comparison. |
| US07920472B2 |
Quality of service network and method
A configurable edge device for use in a network, the edge device being adapted and configured to be coupled to at least one other edge device in a network, and including an admission controller for controlling admission of data traffic onto a pre-defined flow over a physical link, and a router for routing the data traffic through the edge device onto the pre-defined flow in accordance with a pre-defined routing scheme, wherein operation of the admission controller and the router is controlled in accordance with data defining all physical and logical links in the network; a telecommunications carrier network for data traffic, the network including at least two such configurable edge devices, and a method for transmitting data traffic through such an edge device. |
| US07920469B2 |
Indicating a variable control channel structure for transmissions in a cellular system
A method and an apparatus for wireless communication between a receiver and a transmitter in a cellular system are provided. The method comprises associating a channel of known structure at the transmitter with the transmission of a first control channel to indicate a variable structure of the first control channel to the receiver. |
| US07920466B2 |
Protection of hierarchical tunnel head-end nodes
In one embodiment, a point of local repair (PLR) for a child tunnel establishes a backup tunnel to a hierarchical tunnel head-end node's (grooming node's) downstream hierarchical tunnel neighbor (merge point) and learns a corresponding backup tunnel label. The PLR then stores a label stack having at least i) the backup tunnel label, ii) a hierarchical tunnel label for the merge point, and iii) a child tunnel label as advertised by an hierarchical tunnel tail-end node. Upon failure of the grooming node, the PLR pushes the stored label stack onto traffic for the child tunnel, and reroutes the traffic with the pushed label stack onto the backup tunnel toward the merge point (e.g., so the merge point may receive the traffic with a proper/expected label stack). |
| US07920464B2 |
Method of redundancy of ring network
A ring network redundancy method is disclosed. If somewhere the connection of the ring network is damaged and broken, then the state of an initially blocked port that has been assigned as blocked is set as forward so as to keep the network functioning. And after the problem is repaired, a newly assigned blocked port is then assigned so that there is now once more a blocked ported; wherein the position of this newly assigned blocked port is set directly at one of the two ends of the repaired network line. Thereby the resettling time for the position of the newly assigned blocked port is reduced, thus the ring network system becomes much more stable. |
| US07920462B2 |
Amplitude attenuation estimation and recovery systems for OFDM signal used in communication systems
This disclosure relates to amplitude correction for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signals received by a communication device. An amplitude attenuation estimation is performed for amplitude correction on received OFDM signals. |
| US07920454B2 |
Optical recording medium, and method and apparatus for optical recording and reproducing thereof
An optical recording medium wherein a laser beam at a wavelength λ is irradiated and recording and reproducing of information are performed by optical power modulation of binary or more, and when the refraction index of the first substrate being n1, the refraction index of the intermediate layer being n2, the groove depth, the groove width and the track pitch of the first information layer being d1, w1 and p1 respectively and the groove depth, the groove width and the track pitch of the second information layer being d2, w2 and p2 respectively, the following conditions are satisfied. 4λ/16n1≦d1≦7λ/16n1 λ/16n2≦d2≦3λ/16n2 or 4λ/16n2≦d2≦7λ/16n2 0.2≦w1/p1≦0.55 0.2≦w2/p2≦0.55 |
| US07920453B2 |
Optical information recording/reproduction apparatus and recording condition adjusting method
An adaptive equalization circuit (105) operates for PR-equalization of the reproduced signal that is subjected to an A/D conversion by an A/D converter (103) and shaped by a waveform shaping circuit (104). An ideal-waveform generation circuit (110) generates an ideal waveform that corresponds to the reproduced signal that is binarized by a Viterbi-decoding circuit (108). A mark-length/space-length calculation circuit (112) calculates the actual mark length/space length relative to the mark length/space length to be formed, based on the equalization error that arises when the ideal waveform assumes a central reference level as calculated by an equalization-error calculation circuit (111) and the intervals of polarity inversions of binarized data detected by a 0-cross detection circuit (109). A system controller (114) adjusts the edge shift quantity of the recording waveform when forming a mark based on the calculated mark length/space length. |
| US07920451B2 |
Recording apparatus, method for controlling the apparatus, and storage medium storing control program
A recording apparatus to record data on a recording medium including a plurality of recording layers is provided. The recording apparatus includes a recording circuit adapted to record data on a recording layer selected from among the plurality of recording layers included on the recording medium; a recordable capacity detecting circuit adapted to detect recordable capacity of each of the plurality of recording layers; an instructing circuit adapted to provide instructions to start recording of the data; and a selecting circuit adapted to select a recording layer on which the data is to be recorded in accordance with the instructions to start recording provided from the instructing circuit based on the recordable capacity of the plurality of recording layers detected by the recordable capacity detecting circuit. |
| US07920449B2 |
Method of controlling focus of optical information storage media recording and/or reproduction apparatus and apparatus therefor
A focusing control method of an optical information storage media recording and/or reproduction apparatus controlling a focusing operation by moving an objective lens upwards or downwards in a direction towards or away from an optical information storage medium having a plurality of data layers includes receiving a focusing lead-in command signal to focus an optical beam on a target data layer, compensating for spherical aberration with respect to the target data layer, detecting a focus error signal based on an intensity of the optical beam reflected from the optical information storage medium and condensed by an optical detector, identifying the target data layer using an amplitude or a frequency of the focus error signal, and focusing the optical beam on the target data layer by moving the objective lens in an opposite direction from a direction in which the objective lens is initially moved. |
| US07920448B2 |
Runout detection method
A method for determining runout disc is disclosed. The method comprises: focusing on a focal point on a disc; driving the disc to spin the disc; generating a crossover signal according to a track of the disc crossing the focal point; and determining that the disc is a runout disc when the frequency of the crossover signal exceeds a pre-determine value. |
| US07920447B2 |
Method and system for calibrating an optimized power
The present invention sets forth a method and a system for calibrating optimized power of an optical pick-up unit of an optical disk drive. The system comprises a micro-processor, and a signal processor. The micro-processor coupled to the optical pick-up unit sets an initial power corresponding to an optical disk, and calculates a predetermined number of power levels to cover the range of the initial power for performing a recording procedure. The signal processor coupled to the micro-processor determines whether a servo state failed during optimized power calibration, and calculates recording performance of each power level. The signal processor transmits the servo state and the recording performance to the micro-processor for determining the optimized power. |
| US07920445B2 |
Optical disc signal processing apparatus, and medium having program recorded thereon for controlling optical disc apparatus
An optical disc signal processing apparatus comprising: a binarizing circuit configured to compare a level of an RF (Radio Frequency) signal obtained by photoelectrically converting a reflected light of a laser beam applied to an optical disc and a level of a DC signal, to output a binarized signal for reproducing information recorded on the optical disc, a level of the DC signal being adjusted to a level at which jitter included in the binarized signal is minimized. |
| US07920444B2 |
Assembling method for optical system of optical pick-up
There is provided an assembling method for expanding a maximum admissible astigmatism of objective lens which includes defining a maximum admissible astigmatism for the entire optical system, installing the collimator lens on the optical system to cause a predetermined amount of astigmatism lying within a range of up to the maximum admissible astigmatism by tilting the collimator lens from a condition where a point source of the semiconductor laser lies on an optical axis of the collimator lens, and installing the objective lens on the body case of the optical system to bring a total amount of astigmatism of the entire optical system to a level smaller than or equal to the maximum admissible astigmatism for the entire optical system by rotating the objective lens from a condition where the point source of the semiconductor laser and the center of the collimator lens lie on the optical axis of the objective lens. |
| US07920441B2 |
Optimized time acquisition algorithm for low-power GPS-based watch applications
A GPS enabled timepiece. A Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled timepiece in accordance with the present invention comprises a timepiece, the timepiece comprising a local oscillator, and a GPS receiver, coupled to the timepiece, the GPS receiver using the local oscillator to predict a time arrival of a GPS message from a GPS satellite, wherein the GPS receiver is powered on based on the predicted time. |
| US07920439B2 |
Semiconductor memory device using a bandgap reference circuit and a reference voltage generator for operating under a low power supply voltage
A semiconductor memory device includes a boosting power supply circuit that boosts a first voltage to a second voltage, which is higher than an external power supply. A first bandgap reference (BGR) circuit operates on the second voltage generated by the boosting power supply circuit. Thereby, the power supply circuit generates a voltage by using a bandgap reference circuit. |
| US07920437B2 |
Address control circuit of semiconductor memory apparatus
An address control circuit for a semiconductor memory apparatus so as to make a refresh operation test possible by designating a refresh address is presented. The circuit includes a buffer block, a decoder, and a latch block. The buffer block receives coding information coded testing address information in accordance to a test signal. The decoder generates a test refresh address by decoding the coding information. The latch block latches the test refresh address depending on the test signal. |
| US07920434B2 |
Memory sensing method and apparatus
Techniques for sensing data states of respective memory cells in a memory array are provided, the memory array including at least a first bit line coupled to at least a subset of the memory cells. In one aspect, a circuit for sensing data states of respective memory cells in the memory array includes at least one sense amplifier coupled to the first bit line. The sense amplifier includes a first transistor operative to selectively inhibit charging of the first bit line in a manner which is independent of a voltage level on a second bit line coupled to the sense amplifier. |
| US07920431B2 |
Asynchronous/synchronous interface
The present disclosure includes methods, and circuits, for operating a memory device. One method embodiment for operating a memory device includes controlling data transfer through a memory interface in an asynchronous mode by writing data to the memory device at least partially in response to a write enable signal on a first interface contact, and reading data from the memory device at least partially in response to a read enable signal on a second interface contact. The method further includes controlling data transfer in a synchronous mode by transferring data at least partially in response to a clock signal on the first interface contact, and providing a bidirectional data strobe signal on an interface contact not utilized in the asynchronous mode. |
| US07920422B2 |
All-bit-line erase verify and soft program verify
Techniques are disclosed herein for verifying that memory cells comply with a target threshold voltage that is negative. The technique can be used for an erase verify or a soft program verify. One or more erase pulses are applied to a group of non-volatile storage elements that are associated with bit lines and word lines. One or more non-negative compare voltages (e.g., zero volts) are applied to at least a portion of the word lines after applying the erase pulses. Conditions on the bit lines are sensed while holding differences between voltages on the bit lines substantially constant and while applying the one or more compare voltages. A determination is made whether the group is sufficiently erased based on the conditions. At least one additional erase pulse is applied to the group of non-volatile storage elements if the group of non-volatile storage elements are not sufficiently erased. |
| US07920420B2 |
Multi bit flash memory device and method of programming the same
A method of programming a flash memory device may include dividing a plurality of memory cells into a plurality of groups according to a threshold voltage state, the memory cells configured to store multi bit data. The plurality of memory cells may be programmed with a program data. The memory cells of the divided groups may be respectively selected and programmed by divided group during the programming of the plurality of memory cells. |
| US07920419B2 |
Isolated P-well architecture for a memory device
A memory device and a method to prevent or reduce program disturb by isolating P-wells of strings in a non-volatile memory array. During a program operation, the isolated P-wells may be coupled to corresponding bitlines, which may be selected or inhibited, and may be at different voltages. During erase, read, and verify operations, the isolated P-wells may be coupled to source. |
| US07920413B2 |
Apparatus and method for writing data to phase-change memory by using power calculation and data inversion
Provided are an apparatus and method for writing data to a phase-change random access memory (PRAM) by using writing power calculation and data inversion functions, and more particularly, an apparatus and method for writing data which can minimize power consumption by calculating the power consumed while input original data or inverted data is written to a PRAM and storing the data consuming less power. A PRAM consumes a significant amount of power in order to store data in a memory cell since a large electric current is required to flow for a long period of time. According to the present invention, since the PRAM consumes different amounts of power when writing data with a value of 0 and data with a value of 1, the power consumed when input original data is stored and the power consumed when the input original data is inverted and stored are compared to each other, the data with a smaller power consumption is stored when the data is written to the PRAM as a word unit, and thus the power consumption of the PRAM can be reduced. |
| US07920410B1 |
Memory elements with increased write margin and soft error upset immunity
Memory elements are provided that exhibit immunity to soft error upset events when subjected to radiation strikes such as high-energy atomic particle strikes. The memory elements may each have four inverter-like transistor pairs that form a bistable element and a pair of address transistors. There may be four nodes in the transistor each of which is associated with a respective one of the four inverter-like transistor pairs. There may be two control transistors each of which is coupled between the transistors in a respective one of the inverter-like transistor pairs. During data writing operations, the two control transistors may be turned off to temporarily decouple the transistors in two of the four inverter-like transistor pairs. |
| US07920407B2 |
Set and reset detection circuits for reversible resistance switching memory material
Circuitry for performing a set or reset process for a reversible resistance-switching memory element in a memory device. A ramped voltage is applied to the memory cell and its state is constantly monitored so that the voltage can be discharged as soon as the set or reset process is completed, avoiding possible disturbs to the memory cell. One set circuit ramps the voltage using a current source, while detecting a current peak using an op-amp loop. One reset circuit ramps the voltage using an op-amp loop, while detecting a current peak by continuing to draw current at the peak current to maintain the output signal stable. Another set circuit ramps the voltage using an op-amp loop and a source-follower configuration. Another reset circuit ramps the voltage using an op-amp loop and a source-follower configuration with level shifting to reduce power consumption. Faster detection and shutoff, and stable operation, are achieved. |
| US07920405B2 |
Circuits and methods for adaptive write bias driving of resistive non-volatile memory devices
A non-volatile memory device includes a memory cell array including a memory cell array having word lines, bit lines, and non-volatile memory cells, each non-volatile memory cell having a variable resistive material and an access element connected between the corresponding word line and the corresponding bit line. The variable resistive material has a resistance level that varies according to data to be stored. A selection circuit selects at least one non-volatile memory cell in which data will be written. An adaptive write circuit/method supplies a write bias to the selected non-volatile memory cell through the bit line connected to the selected non-volatile memory cell to write data in the selected non-volatile memory cell and varies (e.g., increases) the write bias until the resistance level of the selected non-volatile memory cell varies. |
| US07920401B2 |
Method, apparatus and system, providing a one-time programmable memory device
Disclosed are apparatus, system and methods of programming and readout of a one-time programmable memory device having an array of memory cells, where the cells include an anti-fuse element and an in-cell amplifier transistor. Circuitry configured for programming and correlated double sampling readout of the cells is also disclosed. |
| US07920400B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device and method of fabricating the semiconductor integrated circuit device
A semiconductor integrated circuit device having a 6F2 layout is provided. The semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a substrate; a plurality of unit active regions disposed in the substrate and extending in a first direction; first and second access transistors including first and second gate lines disposed on the substrate and extending across the unit active regions in a second direction forming an acute angle with the first direction; a first junction area disposed in the substrate between the first and second gate lines and second junction areas disposed on sides of the first and second gate lines where the first junction area is not disposed; a plurality of bitlines disposed on the substrate and extending in a third direction forming an acute angle with the first direction; and a plurality of bitline contacts directly connecting the first junction area and the bitlines. |
| US07920396B2 |
Synchronous rectifier and controller for inductive coupling
A synchronous rectifier is arranged to rectify inductively coupled power using FETs (field effect transistors) to minimize the voltage drop of the rectifier, which minimizes power loss. Power loss is an important consideration in applications where fairly significant power is coupled to a device (such as a battery charger or other energy storage device) for a fairly short time (such as less than one hour) at a fairly low voltage (such as around 2.5 to 4.5 volts). Body diodes of the FETs can be used to supply power for bootstrapping and control logic for controlling the FETs. |
| US07920391B1 |
Double-clamped ZVS buck-boost power converter
A transformer-coupled buck-boost DC-DC power converter is disclosed. An active clamp circuit is provided to form a resonant circuit with the transformer to control the slew rate of the secondary current and allow the secondary switch to be turned ON at conditions of zero voltage and relatively low current. The characteristic resonant period of the active clamp transformer circuit may be less than the minimum converter operating period. A winding of the transformer is shunted during a clamp phase to retain energy in the transformer. ZVS phases are provided to reduce switching losses when switches in the converter are turned ON. An energy-storage phase may be varied to control the amount of energy stored per operating cycle. An input-storage phase may transfer energy to the clamp capacitor during a series of converter operating cycles and transfer said energy to the secondary during different converter operating cycles. |
| US07920390B2 |
DC-AC converter, controller IC therefor, and electronic apparatus utilizing such DC-AC converter
An inverter has a semiconductor switch circuit provided in the primary circuit of a transformer. The switch circuit is controlled by a PWM circuit. The switch circuit is operated on the basis of an intermittent-operation signal having an ON state and OFF state to: set an error signal to a substantially zero level during OFF periods; gradually increase the error signal upon transition from an OFF state to an ON state; and gradually decrease the error signal upon transition from an ON state to an OFF state. Each ON phase of the intermittent operation is slowly started and slowly ended through charging and discharging of a capacitor provided in a feedback circuit. This enables concomitant application of constant-current control and intermittent-operation control to the inverter, which in turn provides a broad range of power that can be supplied to a load, significantly reduces hamming of the transformer, and prevents over-current from occurring in the inverter. |
| US07920389B2 |
Board hardware device and radio frequency blind-mate connection device
An RF blind-mate connection device disclosed herein includes a duplexer, a power amplification circuit board, a transceiver, an RF signal connector, and a power connector. The duplexer and the transceiver are located at one end of the RF blind-mate connection device, and the transceiver is fixed on the duplexer; the power amplification circuit board is located at the other end of the RF blind-mate connection device, and the location of the power amplification circuit board corresponds to that of the duplexer; the RF signal connector is fixed on the duplexer and the power amplification circuit board; the power connector is fixed on the transceiver and the power amplification circuit board; and the RF signal connector and the power connector transmit both the power signal and the RF signal in a blind-mate way. A board hardware device is disclosed herein to transmit RF signals and power signals inside the RF module through the connector. |
| US07920386B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing, a rotating mechanism and a first rotating member. The rotating mechanism, rotatably disposed in the housing, rotatable along a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction. The first rotating member, disposed on the housing, rotatable between a first position and a second position. When the first rotating member is in the first position, the first rotating member engages with the rotating mechanism. When the rotating mechanism rotates along the first direction, the rotating mechanism is separated from the first rotating member, whereinafter, the first rotating member is able to rotate from the first position to the second position. |
| US07920385B2 |
Terminal box for solar cell module
A plurality of terminal boards (30A, 30B) for electrically interconnecting a plus electrode and a minus electrode of a solar cell module and cables (90) for external connection corresponding to the both electrodes are placed on a base plate (11), and two corresponding terminal boards (30A, 30B) are bridged by a bypass diode (50). The respective terminal boards (30A, 30B) juxtaposed on the top surface of the base plate (11) are collectively supported and fixed by a retaining plate (60). Accordingly, the generation of an undue strain in the bypass diode (50) can be avoided even in the case of fixing the terminal boards (30A, 30B) to the base plate (11) with the terminal boards (30A, 30B) bridged by the bypass diode (50) beforehand. |
| US07920383B2 |
Heat sink for dissipating heat and apparatus having the same
A heat sink includes first and second base plates to contact with first and second surfaces of a heat source, respectively. The first base plate includes a support unit protruding from a first surface and a first dissipating unit to dissipate heat from the heat source. The second base plate includes a penetrating hole spaced apart from an edge portion to hold the support unit and a second dissipating unit to dissipate the heat from the heat source. A coupling member is positioned on an upper surface of the support unit and applies a force to the first and second base plates to thereby combine the first and second base plates to the heat source. The base plates are combined to the memory module without any loss of the surface area of the dissipating fin, to thereby improve the dissipation efficiency of the heat sink. |
| US07920381B2 |
Interior cooling structure and ultrasound imaging apparatus
An interior cooling structure according to the present invention includes a frame in which a plurality of circuit board modules are stacked, with electronic components mounted on the plurality of circuit board modules by being classified by function; an external housing which covers the frame together with the plurality of circuit board modules; a plurality of cooling devices which reduce temperature rises in the external housing caused by heat produced by the plurality of circuit board modules; and a heat generating region a partitioned in such away as to enclose a circuit board module which has the highest total power consumption out of the plurality of circuit board modules, wherein the plurality of cooling devices are arranged in such away as to reduce temperature rises in the heat generating region by displaying capacity higher than capacity of each of the cooling devices. |
| US07920380B2 |
Test slot cooling system for a storage device testing system
A test slot cooling system for a storage device testing system includes a storage device transporter having first and second portions. The first portion of the storage device transporter includes an air director and the second portion of the storage device transporter is configured to receive a storage device. The test slot cooling system includes a test slot housing defining an air entrance and a transporter opening for receiving the storage device transporter. The air entrance is in pneumatic communication with the air director of the received storage device transporter. The test slot cooling system also includes an air mover in pneumatic communication with the air entrance of the test slot housing for delivering air to the air director. The air director directs air substantially simultaneously over at least top and bottom surfaces of the storage device received in the storage device transporter. |
| US07920375B2 |
Support module and display device using the same
A support module for supporting a display module and a display device using a support module and the display module is disclosed in the present invention. The display device includes display module housing, a display module, and a support module. The support module includes a linking unit and a supporting unit. The linking unit and the supporting unit are partially linked and their corresponding positions are changeable. The linking unit extends out a first length or a second length from the receiving portion. The display device further includes a base. When the linking unit extends out the first length from the receiving portion, the display module housing separates from the base. When the linking unit extends out the second length from the receiving portion, the display module housing can be connected to the base by the linking unit. |
| US07920369B2 |
Apparatus and method for nano plasma deposition
An apparatus and method for initiation and control of a sustained metal plasma and nano plasma (macroparticulate) deposition methods for preparing modified metal coatings are provided. The plasma deposition process can be tightly controlled by virtue of a device that incorporates a plasma arc initiator component and an internal power supply that is capable of controlling dwell time on the target and the size range of particles ejected in the plasma arc. |
| US07920367B2 |
Method for making arrangement for energy conditioning
Circuit arrangement embodiments that use relative groupings of energy pathways that include shielding circuit arrangements that can sustain and condition electrically complementary energy confluences. |
| US07920365B2 |
Protective device with an auxiliary switch
The present invention is directed to a protective device that includes a housing having a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of load terminals, and a plurality of user-accessible terminals accessible via apertures disposed in a front major surface of the housing. A fault detection assembly is coupled to the plurality of line terminals, the fault detection circuit being configured to provide a fault detection output in response to detecting a fault condition. A circuit interrupter is coupled to the fault detection assembly. The circuit interrupter includes a first set of interrupting contacts configured to provide electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals, and the plurality of user-accessible terminals in a reset state. The first set of interrupting contacts are decoupled in response to the fault detection output to enter a tripped state such that the plurality of line terminals are decoupled from the plurality of load terminals and the plurality of user-accessible terminals. An auxiliary switch is coupled to the fault detection assembly. The auxiliary switch includes a second set of contacts configured to decouple at least a portion of the fault detection assembly from a source of electrical power in the tripped state. The second set of contacts being self-biased toward a predetermined switch position when no force is applied thereto. A latch block assembly is coupled to the circuit interrupter. The latch block assembly includes a first latch block portion and a second latch block portion. The first latch block portion is configured to drive the first set of contacts to close when transitioning from the tripped state to the reset state. The second latch block portion is configured to overcome the self bias of the second set of contacts to thereby drive the second set of contacts open when transitioning from the reset state to the tripped state. |
| US07920364B2 |
Power supply with adjustable outputted voltage
A power supply with adjustable outputted voltage includes an AC power input processing circuit and a DC power input processing circuit. The AC power input processing circuit has at least one voltage adjuster that is electrically connected with the DC power input processing circuit for adjusting the outputted voltage. The DC power input processing circuit includes a current sensor, a DC/DC converter, a ripple filter, and a DC/DC self-drive switch. When an extremely large inputted current is detected by the current sensor and the DC/DC converter stops actions, the DC/DC self-drive switch is turned off to protect the circuit. |
| US07920359B2 |
Magnetic recording apparatus with correlated main magnetic pole-to-shields spacing and main magnetic pole-to-medium layers spacing
Embodiments of the present invention achieve a high linear recording density and a high track recording density to thereby improve the areal recording density in a perpendicular magnetic recording apparatus having a magnetic head that includes a trailing shield and side shields around a main magnetic pole piece. According to one embodiment, in a magnetic recording apparatus, each of magnetic distances of various sorts is set so as to satisfy relationships of Lmag |
| US07920355B2 |
Method and apparatus for reproducing servo data from a discrete track media in a disk drive
According to one embodiment, disclosed herein is a disk drive that has a disk of discrete-track media (DTM) type. The DTM disk has servo regions. Each servo region has dividing grooves and non-servo data parts. Each dividing grooves extends along the centerline of any projecting region having a width larger than a prescribed value. Each non-servo data part suppresses reproduction noise. The disk drive has a read/write channel that includes a reproduced-signal processing unit. This unit reproduces servo data from each servo region. |
| US07920354B2 |
Phase servo patterns for bit patterned media
A recordable medium according to some embodiments includes a servo control field having a bit patterned media (BPM) pattern. The pattern includes a plurality of isolated magnetic islands or dots arranged in a down-track orientation and in a cross-track orientation. A phase of dots arranged on the medium in the servo control field varies in a first cross-track direction. The dots arranged on the medium may include a first phase pattern that has a first phase gradient in the first cross-track direction and a second phase pattern that has a second phase gradient, different from the first phase gradient, in the first cross-track direction. The dots may include a plurality of dot composites including a plurality of dots. |
| US07920351B2 |
Method of setting AC erase frequency and AC erase method based on data frequency
A method of setting an AC erase frequency using a data frequency of a disk area and an AC erase method. The method of setting the AC erase frequency includes obtaining a data frequency for each disk area, and setting an AC erase frequency for each disk area based on the data frequency for each disk area. |