Document Document Title
US08615807B1 Simulated phishing attack with sequential messages
Described herein are methods, network devices and machine-readable storage media for conducting simulated phishing attacks on an individual so as to educate the individual about the various ways in which phishing attacks may be disguised. Specifically described is a simulated phishing attack involving a sequence of messages. At least one of the messages has an associated target action that would ordinary, if the attack were an actual phishing attack, result in the individual's personal information and/or computing device becoming compromised. In the simulated phishing attack, no malicious action is actually performed. At least one of the other messages is designed to draw attention to the message with the target action.
US08615806B2 Apparatus and method for detecting a code injection attack
A code injection attack detecting apparatus and method are provided. The code injection attack may be detected based on characteristics occurring when a malicious code injected by the code injection attack is executed. For example, the code injection attack detecting apparatus and method may detect that a code injection attack occurs when a buffer miss is detected, a page corresponding to an address is updated, a mode of the page corresponding to the address is in user mode, and/or the page corresponding to the page is inserted by an external input.
US08615805B1 Systems and methods for determining if a process is a malicious process
A method for classifying a process that modifies a registry attribute is described. At least one attribute associated with a registry is monitored. A determination is made that the at least one attribute has been modified. The process that modified the at least one attribute is identified. One or more characteristics of the identified process is evaluated. The identified process is classified based on the evaluation of the one or more characteristics of the identified process.
US08615803B2 Method, computer program element and a system for processing alarms triggered by a monitoring system
A method and system is designed for processing alarms, that have been triggered by a monitoring system such as an intrusion detection system, a firewall, or a network management system, comprising the steps of entering the triggered alarms into an alarm log, evaluating similarity between alarms, grouping similar alarms into alarm clusters, summarizing alarm clusters by means of generalized alarms, counting the covered alarms for each generalized alarm and forwarding generalized alarms for further processing if the number of alarms covered satisfies a predetermined criterion. In the event of high rates of alarm messages, possibly containing many false alarms, a system administrator will therefore not be confronted with a flood of messages with little significance. Instead, only generalized alarms, more meaningful and smaller in number, are presented. The method can further comprise copying the alarm log to a cluster log and for each generalized alarm in the cluster log counting the number of covered alarms that are identical to the generalized alarm or more specific than the generalized alarm, and, if the number of covered alarms exceeds a predetermined minimum number, then terminating the loop. A heuristic is used to select an attribute of the alarms of the cluster log and for each alarm thereof the selected attribute is replaced by a more general attribute. A taxonomy on the attributes can be used to define the similarity between the alarms. The forwarded generalized alarm can furthermore be investigated in order to identify a root cause.
US08615802B1 Systems and methods for detecting potential communications fraud
A system includes a data repository and a processing unit. The data repository stores data associated with a corpus of documents hosted on one or more servers. The processing unit analyzes data associated with a suspect document from the corpus of documents. The processing unit further assigns a score, based on the analyzed data, to the suspect document that indicates whether the suspect document is potentially fraudulent.
US08615800B2 System and method for analyzing web content
A system and method are provided for identifying active content in websites on a network. One embodiment includes a method of classifying web content. In one embodiment, the classifications are indicative of active and/or malicious content. The method includes identifying properties associated with the web page based at least partly on the content of the web page and storing said properties in a database of web page properties. The method further includes comparing at least one definition to properties stored in the database of web page properties and identifying the web page with at least one definition based on comparing said definition with said stored properties. The method further includes identifying the web page with at least one category associated with the at least one definition, wherein said category is indicative of active content associated with the web page. Other embodiments include systems configured to perform such methods.
US08615799B2 Microprocessor having secure non-volatile storage access
An apparatus providing for a secure execution environment. The apparatus includes a microprocessor and a secure non-volatile memory. The microprocessor is configured to execute non-secure application programs and a secure application program, where the non-secure application programs are accessed from a system memory via a system bus. The secure non-volatile memory is coupled to the microprocessor via a private bus. The secure non-volatile memory is configured to store the secure application program, where transactions over the private bus between the microprocessor and the secure non-volatile memory are isolated from the system bus and corresponding system bus resources within the microprocessor.
US08615796B2 Managing resource allocations
Techniques for determining which resource access requests are handled locally at a remote computer, and which resource access requests are routed or “redirected” through a virtual private network. One or more routing or “redirection” rules are downloaded from a redirection rule server to a remote computer. When the node of the virtual private network running on the remote computer receives a resource access request, it compares the identified resource with the rules. Based upon how the identified resource matches one or more rules, the node will determine whether the resource access request is redirected through the virtual private network or handled locally (e.g., retrieved locally from another network). A single set of redirection rules can be distributed to and employed by a variety of different virtual private network communication techniques.
US08615787B2 Secure internet transaction method and apparatus
This invention provides for a transaction card for use at a terminal and for initiating an internet transaction with a SSL protected server, wherein the card comprises a smartcard including an application arranged for extending an SSL connection from the said protected server into the smartcard and, further, the invention can provide for a related terminal, server and related transaction initiation and establishment methods, for extending the said SSL connection as noted above.
US08615786B1 System and method for enhancing, securing, controlling and customizing employee network applications and usage
The invention relates to various solutions to the challenges of supporting call centers and networks having a plurality of network connected agents or employees. According to one aspect, the invention manages agent authentication, including hiding the authentication methods (e.g., username and password) from the agent. According to another aspect, the invention provides information bridging, such as entering previously-collected information in carrier site pages. According to yet another aspect, the invention provides scripting, such as performing agency-specific scripting and guidance. According to still another aspect, the invention restricts agents from visiting non-approved sites. According to yet another aspect, the invention monitors and logs data fields of particular interest.
US08615782B2 System and methods for linking television viewers with advertisers and broadcasters
The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule information to a viewer, and for allowing the viewer to link, search, select and interact with information in a remote database, e.g., a database on the internet. The television schedule information can be displayed on a variety of viewer interfaces, such as televisions screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like. The television schedule information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule information may be downloaded from a remote database to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV.
US08615776B2 Video searching using TV and user interface therefor
An audio video (AV) device presents a user interface (UI) on the display. The UI has plural UI selector elements, including a left-most column of tabbed selector elements including a “video” tab, a “cast” tab, a “related” tab, with the tabs representing types of information and/or AV programs related to a seed input to the processor. The tabbed selector elements are selectable to cause, the information and/or AV programs represented by the respective tab to be presented on a central information/video area. The UI also includes a right-most column of iconified selector elements for selecting respective AV program sources from which information and/or AV programs related to the seed are available. The iconified selector elements are selectable to cause information and/or AV programs related to the seed to be received from the respective source and presented on the central information/video area.
US08615773B2 Systems and methods for coordinating computing functions to accomplish a task using a configuration file and standardized executable application modules
Systems and Methods are provided for coordinating computing functions to accomplish a task. The system includes a plurality of standardized executable application modules (SEAMs), each of which is configured to execute on a processor to provide a unique function and to generate an event associated with its unique function. The system includes a configuration file that comprises a dynamic data store (DDS) and a static data store (SDS). The DDS includes an event queue and one or more response queues. The SDS includes a persistent software object that is configured to map a specific event from the event queue to a predefined response record and to indicate a response queue into which the predefined response record is to be placed. The system further includes a workflow service module, the work flow service module being configured to direct communication between the SDS, the DDS and each of the plurality of SEAMs.
US08615768B2 Dependency-ordered resource synchronization across multiple environments using change list created based on dependency-ordered graphs of the multiple environments
A synchronization system is described herein that synchronizes resource objects in an order based on their dependency relationships so that a referenced object is available by the time an object that references it is synchronized. Reference attributes present in resources define the dependency relationship among resources. Using these relationships, the system builds a dependency tree and orders synchronization operations for environment reconciliation by precedence so that referential integrity is preserved while still synchronizing reference attributes. The system can deterministically create a change list that guarantees referential integrity, and perform change list processing in parallel. The synchronization system attempts to order the synchronization based on references available to ensure that the system creates and updates dependent resources before their parent resources. Thus, the synchronization system provides a fast, reliable update mechanism for synchronizing two related data environments.
US08615765B2 Dividing a computer job into micro-jobs
Computer micro-jobs are disclosed. A computer job is divided into micro-jobs. In one embodiment, the micro-jobs have a size that allows a particular micro-job to complete within an allotted time for which the particular micro-job owns a resource used to execute the micro-job. In one embodiment, the allotted time is a quantum. In one embodiment, an entire computer job is divided into micro-jobs and the computer job is then executed micro-job by micro-job until the entire computer job is complete. Each of the micro-jobs may complete its execution within its quantum, in one embodiment. In one embodiment, the execution of the micro-jobs is allocated to times when needed resources comply with one or more idleness criteria. A software program executed with micro-jobs may be run at all times while the computer is powered up without impacting the performance of other software programs running on the same computer system.
US08615759B2 Methods and apparatus for data center management independent of hypervisor platform
In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a memory configured to store a first hypervisor message and a second hypervisor message. The apparatus can further include a hypervisor interface module. The hypervisor interface module can retrieve, from the memory, the first hypervisor message and the second hypervisor message. The hypervisor interface module can define a first signal, the first signal being based at least in part on the first hypervisor message and having a first format associated with a first hypervisor platform. The hypervisor interface module can define a second signal, the second signal being based at least in part on the second hypervisor message and having a second format associated with a second hypervisor platform. The hypervisor interface module can send the first signal to a first virtual machine instantiated according to the first hypervisor platform. The hypervisor interface module can send the second signal to a second virtual machine instantiated according to the second hypervisor platform.
US08615758B2 Combining system blueprints, functional layer, and software bits in parallel development of machines
A self-replicating machine includes a virtualization tool, a provisioning tool, and a configuration tool, stored in a distributable self-contained repository of the machine. The machine is able to automatically rebuild itself solely from the tools stored in the distributable self-contained repository. The virtualization tool is configured to build one or more virtual machines on the machine. Each virtual machine has a corresponding operating system and environment. The provisioning tool is configured to provision the one or more virtual machines. The configuration tool is to configure the one or more provisioned virtual machines. A custom configuration management tool further customize and configure the physical machine for specific users. A source code management tool stored in the distributable self-contained repository is configured to develop each virtual machine independently from each other in parallel, and to merge back the developments to a corresponding parent virtual machine.
US08615751B2 Seeding product information
Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed for patching software based on seeded product information. In one embodiment, patching software can comprise receiving a patch deliverable that can include a software patch and information identifying a target software package. The information identifying the target software package can be read and a determination can be made as to whether the information indicates a known software package. In response to determining the information indicates a known software package, the patch can be installed. In response to determining the information does not indicate a known software package options identifying software packages for which the patch may be used can be presented to a user and a selection of one of the packages can be received. The selected software package can be seeded with the information identifying the target software package and the patch can be installed for the selected software product.
US08615750B1 Optimizing application compiling
A computer implemented method includes receiving a client programming language input and a server programming language input, processing the client and server programming language inputs, and translating the client programming language input into an executable client application and the server programming language input into an executable server application, the executable client and server applications operable to communicate with each other. Processing the client and server programming language inputs includes identifying any invocations of server procedures of the server programming language input in the client programming language input, producing a combined server procedure in the server programming language input for identified server procedures invoked by the client programming language input, and replacing invocations of the identified server procedures in the client programming language input with an invocation of the combined server procedure.
US08615733B2 Building a component to display documents relevant to the content of a website
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to accept a selection of a website to add a document retrieval component for retrieving related reports. Specifications for the document retrieval component are collected. Specifications for how to perform a search for the related reports are received. The document retrieval component is added to the website.
US08615731B2 System and method for automating the development of web services that incorporate business rules
A system and method for developing web services that incorporate business rules. The system and method includes three frameworks: a Design Time Framework, an Object-Service Framework, and a Run Time Framework. In the Design Time Framework, the system and method includes receiving a business rule in a descriptive markup language from a user and generating source code artifacts in an object oriented programming language based on the business rule. In the Object-Service Framework, the system and method includes relating the generated source code artifacts to a pre-built Business Rules service. Finally, in the Run Time Framework, the system and method includes providing the Business Rules service, wherein the Business Rules service interacts with the generated source code artifacts through the relationship defined by the Object-Service Framework.
US08615728B2 Analysis of stress impact on transistor performance
Roughly described, a method for approximating stress-induced mobility enhancement in a channel region in an integrated circuit layout, including approximating the stress at each of a plurality of sample points in the channel, converting the stress approximation at each of the sample points to a respective mobility enhancement value, and averaging the mobility enhancement values at all the sample points. The method enables integrated circuit stress analysis that takes into account stresses contributed by multiple stress generation mechanisms, stresses having vector components other than along the length of the channel, and stress contributions (including mitigations) due to the presence of other structures in the neighborhood of the channel region under study, other than the nearest STI interfaces. The method also enables stress analysis of large layout regions and even full-chip layouts, without incurring the computation costs of a full TCAD simulation.
US08615722B2 Apparatus and method for providing preview of menu object
Provided are an apparatus and method for providing a preview of a menu object in a technique of displaying a menu object. The apparatus includes an input unit that receives an event from a user, an event processing unit that highlights objects, from among objects displayed on a screen, to which a user input can be applied according to the received event, and a display unit that displays the highlighted objects.
US08615719B2 Managing sponsored content for delivery to mobile communication facilities
Improved capabilities are disclosed for managing delivery of sponsored content to mobile communication devices such as cell phones.
US08615717B2 Address bar user interface control
An address bar user interface control includes a plurality of interactive segments, each segment including one or more filters or selection criteria for selecting content from physical and/or virtual locations. A segment may include two or more filters or selection criteria which are logically combined such as by a logical “OR” operation. A user may select a child control associated with an interactive segment, i.e., a parent segment, to provide a list of selectable child filters or selection criteria. In response to selection of a child filter or selection criteria, an interactive segment representing the child filter or selection criteria is added to the address bar succeeding the parent segment and the interactive segments subsequent to the parent segment are removed.
US08615713B2 Managing document interactions in collaborative document environments of virtual worlds
Embodiments described herein are directed to managing document interactions in a collaborative document area of a virtual world. Document interactions of avatars in the collaborative document area of the virtual world are captured by an interaction tool deployed in the collaborative document area. The document interactions are related to at least one document in the collaborative document area. The document interactions are associated with the at least one document based on a reference scheme applied to the collaborative document area by an interaction association unit.
US08615711B2 Summarizing portlet usage captured responsive to trigger events in a portal page
A portal summary controller monitors usage metadata indicating current usage of at least one portlet within at least one portal page for one of multiple events specified to trigger storage of the usage metadata. Responsive to detecting one of the multiple events within the usage metadata which triggers storage, the portal summary controller stores the detected usage metadata at a current time of at least one instance of at least one portlet application within the at least one portal page. Subsequent to storing separate detected usage metadata at multiple different times, the portal summary controller dynamically creates a summary portal page displaying a separate instance of the at least one portlet application for at least one of each of the multiple different times specified according to the separate usage metadata stored at each of the multiple different times, such that the summary portal page provides a summary of at least a selection of previous usage metadata selected by a user of the at least one portal page based on usage metadata stored responsive to trigger events.
US08615709B2 Initiating font subsets
A computer-implemented method includes analyzing content of a received electronic document in an autonomous manner to identify each unique character of one or more fonts included in the content of the electronic document. The method also includes initiating a request for a subset of one or more of the fonts included in the content of the electronic document, wherein the request includes each identified unique character of the respective one or more fonts.
US08615708B1 Techniques for live styling a web page
Techniques and mechanisms that assist web page developers in “live styling” a web page without having to repeatedly compile a meta-language style sheet are disclosed. In one embodiment, these techniques and mechanisms include styling functionality to help the developer of the web page carry out a cycle of a streamlined web page live styling process. With the styling functionality, the developer can direct input to a user interface control to change the value of a corresponding meta-language style sheet variable. In response to the input, presentation of the web page is virtually instantaneously updated to reflect the changed value. The developer may repeatedly direct input to the user interface controls until the desired web page appearance is achieved.
US08615707B2 Adding new attributes to a structured presentation
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs stored on computer storage media, for retrieval and display of information from an electronic document collection. One aspect can be embodied in machine-implemented methods that include the actions of receiving description data describing a preexisting structured presentation, comparing characteristics of the preexisting structured presentation with content of electronic documents in an unstructured collection of electronic documents to locate electronic documents that identify a new attribute that is relevant to the preexisting structured presentation, adding an identifier of the new attribute to the preexisting structured presentation to form an expanded structured presentation, and outputting instructions for presenting the expanded structured presentation.
US08615704B2 Edge incremental redundancy memory structure and memory management
A wireless device for implementing Incremental Redundancy (IR) operations includes system processing circuitry operable to perform Physical (PHY) layer operations, Media Access Control (MAC) layer operations and Radio Link Control (RLC) operations of the wireless device. The system processing circuitry further includes an IR control module for processing IR transactions related to a received RLC data block and for tracking an Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) receiving state and received block bit map and a Layer 1 (L1) module for intercepting and diverting the IR transactions to the IR control module and for passing a correctly decoded RLC data block to the RLC layer operations via the MAC layer operations thereby automatically synchronizing the RLC layer operations. An IR processing module is coupled to the system processing circuitry to perform IR operations on the received RLC data block based upon a direction from the IR control module.
US08615703B2 Advanced bitwise operations and apparatus in a multi-level system with nonvolatile memory
A digital system, components and method are configured with nonvolatile memory for storing digital data using codewords. The data is stored in the memory using multiple bits per memory cell of the memory. A code efficiency, for purposes of write operations and read operations relating to the memory, can be changed on a codeword to codeword basis based on input parameters. The code efficiency can change based on changing any one of the input parameters including bit density that is stored by the memory. Storing and reading fractional bit densities can be performed.
US08615701B2 Apparatus and method for indicating a packet error in an audio and video communication system
An apparatus and method are provided for indicating an error of a transport packet in an audio and video communication system. The method includes receiving a frame including a transport packet, attempting Forward Error Correction (FEC) on the frame, and setting a value of an error indicating field in the transport packet according to a result of the FEC. The error indicating field includes at least one of a first flag indicating a presence or absence of an error in the transport packet, a second flag indicating a success or failure of the FEC, and a third flag indicating detection or non-detection of a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC).
US08615695B2 Fault dictionary-based scan chain failure diagnosis
A dictionary-based scan chain fault detector includes a dictionary with fault signatures computed for scan cells in the scan chain. Entries in the fault dictionary are compared with failures in the failure log to identify a faulty scan cell. In one embodiment a single fault in a scan chain is identified. In another embodiment, a last fault and a first fault in a scan chain are identified.
US08615690B2 Controller of memory device and method for operating the same
A controller of a memory device which accesses a memory of the memory device having a data storage area and a data correction area. The controller includes a mode selection unit When the memory works with a first operation voltage, the mode selection unit selects a first mode of the controller, and the controller writes input data into the data storage area to serve as storage data and reads the storage data from the data storage area. When the memory works with a second operation voltage, the mode selection unit selects a second mode of the controller, and the controller performs a correction function to encode the input data to generate encoded input data, writes the encoded input data into the data storage area and the data correction area to respectively serve as the storage data and correction data, and reads and decodes the storage data and the correction data.
US08615689B2 Correcting errors in longitudinal position (LPOS) words
A method for longitudinal position (LPOS) detection in a magnetic tape storage system for storing data upon linear tape open (LTO) magnetic storage tape, which data includes odd and even 36-bit LPOS words with error correcting ability. The method includes first encoding positional information onto the tape within the 36-bit LPOS words using each LPOS word's 8-bit sync mark field, and six of each LPOS word's 4-bit symbol fields, wherein 6 of 24 total bits comprise the encoded 8-bit sync mark field: Sy, and six 4-bit symbol fields are utilized as parity bits. The magnetic tape storage system passes the LTO magnetic storage tape encoded with the odd and even LPOS words with error correcting ability longitudinally across a servo reader/writer at a known speed, decoding the encoded positional information and detecting and correcting both ambiguous bits and single erroneous bit errors.
US08615685B2 System and method for detecting errors occurring in computing device
A system and method detects errors occurring in a computing device. The computing device includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory. The method sets an interruption tag for the computing device and initializes the interruption tag as zero, and detects a general purpose input output (GPIO) signal output from the CPU through a GPIO interface. The method further determines whether the GPIO signal is in a first voltage level at every time interval, and adds one to the interruption tag when the GPIO signal is switched from the first voltage level to a second voltage level. In addition, the method determines that inter errors occur in the CPU if the interruption tag is equal to one, and determines that multi-bit errors occur in the memory if the interruption tag is greater than one.
US08615682B2 Network failure detecting system, measurement agent, surveillance server, and network failure detecting method
Measurement agents in a network failure detecting system each configure a group together with other measurement agents that receive a service from the same provision server, and form a link to create a tree structure with a predetermined measurement agent in the group at its top. The measurement agent then receives measurement results from the other measurement agents in the group, and narrows down candidates of a failure location based on the received measurement results. The measurement agent transmits the narrowed candidates of the failure location to a surveillance server or one of the other measurement agents. The surveillance server then receives the transmitted candidates of the failure location, and specifies the failure location based on the received candidates of the failure location.
US08615678B1 Auto-adapting multi-tier cache
A method, computer program product, and storage network system for detecting a failure of a highly-available, volatile, solid state cache memory system included within a storage network. The highly-available, volatile, solid state cache memory system includes cache data. The cache data is replicated onto a non-volatile, solid-state, cache memory system included within the storage network. At least one data request concerning the highly-available, volatile, solid state cache memory system is redirected to the non-volatile, solid-state, cache memory system.
US08615671B2 Techniques for managing lower power states for data links
Techniques for managing lower power states for data links are described. An apparatus may comprise a memory unit to store a device connection manager for a controller of a bi-directional serial link connected to a device. The apparatus may comprise a processor operative to execute the device connection manager, the device connection manager operative to read a register of the controller storing information indicating an interface of the controller for the bi-directional serial link is operating in a lower power management state, send a control directive on a periodic basis for the interface to transition to a temporary active state, and receive an interrupt from the interface indicating the device is disconnected from the bi-directional serial link during a temporary active state. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08615670B2 Voltage identification signal control device and electronic device employing the same
A voltage identification signal control device employed in an electronic device provides a voltage identification signal for a voltage regulation unit. The voltage identification signal control device includes an input unit and a processor. The input unit inputs and sets a predetermined voltage. The processor receives and converts the predetermined voltage from the input unit into a corresponding standard voltage identification signal, and transmits the voltage identification signal to the voltage regulation unit to activate the voltage regulation unit, and the voltage regulation unit outputs a corresponding operating voltage according to the voltage identification signal.
US08615665B2 Method for providing high assurance integrity of installed software images in a software defined radio
Method for rapidly booting two or more computer processors (32, 28, 58-1, 58-2, 36-1, 36-2) in a device (200) designed for communicating sensitive or classified information. The method includes verifying an absence of any modification of a software image for each computer processor relative to an original authentic version of the image for the computer processor. The verifying step can include calculating an integrity check value which is uniquely determined by a combination of the original authentic version of the software image and a first random number.
US08615664B2 Acquisition and particular association of inference data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user and source identity data
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: acquiring inference data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user in connection with at least a particular item of an electronic message, acquiring source identity data providing one or more identities of one or more sources that is or are basis, at least in part, for the inference data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user, associating the inference data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user with the particular item; and associating the source identity data providing one or more identities of the one or more sources with the particular item. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US08615662B2 Password authentication via a one-time keyboard map
A static password is converted into a One-Time Authenticator (OTA) in accordance with a one-time keyboard map. The one-time keyboard map is generated in accordance with a nonce and a secret shared by the user entering the static password and an intended recipient. In response to receiving a prompt to enter a password, a user positions a display cursor within a designated display area. In response thereto, the keyboard driver generates the one-time keyboard map to remap the entered static password. The remapped password is converted into an OTA and transmitted instead of the static password. When the display cursor is moved out of the designated display area, the one-time keyboard map is no longer used to convert keystrokes and the keyboard mapping reverts back to its previous, original configuration.
US08615661B2 System and method for transmitting and utilizing attachments
A method of handling cryptographic information in a communication comprising body elements and attachment elements to a mobile device includes the steps of determining if the communication includes an attachment element comprising cryptographic information and converting the attachment element into a body element upon determining that the communication includes an attachment element comprising cryptographic information.
US08615655B2 Methods and devices for packet tagging using IP indexing via dynamic-length prefix code
Methods including the steps of: upon sending an IP packet, obtaining, by a sender, a sender identity for a sender of the packet; securely tagging, by a sender, the packet with the sender identity, the packet having a plurality of fixed-length fields concatenated into a single fixed-length virtual field shared between a cryptographic hash and an identity index for supporting multiple distinct identities residing on an IP endpoint; determining, by a receiver, the sender identity by extracting it from the packet; checking, by the receiver, the packet to ensure the packet has been appropriately tagged; and enforcing a security policy, by the receiver, according to the sender identity. Preferably, the step of obtaining includes: accessing, by the sender, a server for obtaining the sender identity; and associating, by the server, the sender identity with the endpoint. Most preferably, the associating is performed using a prefix code for encoding the identities.
US08615653B2 Methods and systems for dynamic updates of digital certificates via subscription
Methods and systems of the present invention allow for dynamic updates of digital certificates, such as X.509 SSL certificates. The updates are available via a subscription, where the subscription is a technical, administrative, and/or financial arrangements between a Subscriber and a Certification Authority or between a Hosting Provider and the Certification Authority, which allow for dynamic, and in some embodiments automatic, updates of the Subscriber's certificate. The Subscriber regularly requests updates from the Certification Authority (pull-type methods and systems) or the Certification Authority updates certificates on Subscriber's servers (push-type methods and systems). The invention anticipates a use of short lifespan certificates, which substantially overcomes the issues connected to revoked certificates. If a certificate was revoked it will shortly expire and the Certification Authority would not update it. Also, if the private key was compromised, the person who obtained the private key would have very limited amount of time to exploit it. The invention adds more protection to the Subscribers and their clients.
US08615651B1 Offline shared security key calculation
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for offline shared security key calculation. In one aspect, a method includes entering a first secure communication session with a remote device. A plurality of nonces are provided to the remote device during the first secure communication session. The first secure communication session is exited. A communication is received from the remote device after exiting the first communication session. The communication includes an indication of one of the plurality of nonces. A session key is generated using the indicated one of the plurality of nonces. A second secure communication session is entered with the remote device using the generated session key. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer programs, configured to perform the actions of the methods, encoded on computer storage devices.
US08615646B2 Unanimous branch instructions in a parallel thread processor
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a mechanism for managing thread divergence in a thread group executing a multithreaded processor. A unanimous branch instruction, when executed, causes all the active threads in the thread group to branch only when each thread in the thread group agrees to take the branch. In such a manner, thread divergence is eliminated. A branch-any instruction, when executed, causes all the active threads in the thread group to branch when at least one thread in the thread group agrees to take the branch.
US08615639B2 Lock-free release of shadow pages in a data storage application
Storage pages in a data storage application can be designated as having one of a used status, a free status, and a shadow status. The storage pages having the shadow status remain in use but available for conversion to the free status after completion of a savepoint. The storage pages designated to the shadow status can be assigned among at least a first group and a second group. A first savepoint can be invoked during which the storage pages designated to the shadow status and assigned to the first group are converted to the free status, and a second savepoint can be invoked during which the storage pages designated to the shadow status and assigned to the second group are converted to the free status. In this manner, locking of the system during a savepoint is not required. Related methods, systems, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.
US08615631B2 Delayed freeing of data storage blocks
A memory block that includes a physical storage page holding data of a data storage application in a page buffer can be cached in a page buffer upon the memory block being designated for a change in status from a used status to a shadow status. Upon occurrence of a trigger event, all pages stored in the page buffer can be processed in a first batch process that can include converting each of the pages in the page buffer from the used status to the shadow status and emptying the page buffer. Upon receiving a call to free the pages in the page buffer from the shadow status to a free status without the trigger event occurring, the pages in the page buffer can be converted from the used status directly to the free status in a second batch process. Related methods, systems, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.
US08615627B2 Raid system based on calculated average of mechanical loads and solder joint damage and controlling method of the same
A RAID system to transfer data to and from host equipment includes a semiconductor storage unit, a semiconductor-memory selector, and a memory controller. The semiconductor storage unit includes two or more semiconductor memories, a mounting board, and solder joints. The semiconductor memories are mounted on the mounting board. The solder joints are between the semiconductor memories and the mounting board. The semiconductor-memory selector selects a combination of the semiconductor memories to dispersively record the data in the semiconductor storage unit. The memory controller accesses the combination in response to a request of the host equipment. In addition, the selector selects the combination so that mechanical loads received by the semiconductor memories are averaged.
US08615624B2 Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for enhancing memory erase functionality
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for enhancing memory erase functionality. An apparatus may include a block-based mass memory and a controller configured to receive an erase command from a host device comprising an indication of a location of a block in the mass memory storing memory allocation data. The controller may be further configured to access the memory allocation data based at least in part upon the indicated location. The controller may additionally be configured to determine, based at least in part upon the memory allocation data, blocks within the mass memory that have been freed by the host device. The controller may also be configured to erase the freed blocks. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided.
US08615623B2 Internet connection switch and internet connection system
A switch (304) includes a plurality of bridges (3041, 3042, 3043, 3044, 3045) and a switch forwarding mechanism (20). Each of the bridges transmits and receives a TLP frame complying with PCI express to and from a device connected to each of the bridges. The switch forwarding mechanism includes a plurality of ports (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) to which the bridges are connected, respectively, selects an output port in dependence on a combination of destination information on the TLP frame input from one of the plurality of ports and the port which input the TLP frame, and outputs the TLP frame from the selected output port.
US08615600B2 Communication between a host operating system and a guest operating system
In an embodiment, a guest operating system receives first host network information that identifies a host virtual network adapter. The first host network information uniquely identifies the host virtual network adapter. The guest operating system sends a first frame that comprises the first host network information to a guest virtual network adapter. The guest virtual network adapter sends the first frame to the host virtual network adapter. The guest operating system receives second host network information that identifies the host virtual network adapter. The second host network information uniquely identifies the host virtual network adapter. The guest operating system sends a second frame that comprises the second host network information to the guest virtual network adapter. The guest virtual network adapter sends the second frame to the host virtual network adapter identified by the second host network information in the second frame.
US08615597B2 Optimizing evaluation patterns and data acquisition for stream analytics in resource-constrained wireless environments
Mobile wireless devices may receive data streams from multiple remote sensors. The sensors may have limited power supplies and memory capacity. Aspects of the invention use statistical characteristics of the sensor data streams and the cost of acquiring a single element of each stream to determine what sequence the sensors should send their data streams in. The cost of acquiring the data may be modified dynamically, depending on parameters such as block size. Additional factors, such as a sensor's buffer capacity, may limit the amount of stream elements that may be cached and affect the sensors' stream transmit sequence. The evaluation order may be dynamically modified using an event processing engine, to reflect both changing statistics of underlying sensor stream tuples and time-varying acquisition costs associated with individual streams. This helps to increase in the operational lifetime of the sensors and associated monitoring applications.
US08615593B2 Providing zone indications for wireless networking
Methods and systems for communicating over a wi.reless network are described. A private access point sends indication information to a mobile station that includes available services provided by the private access point.
US08615591B2 Termination of a communication session between a client and a server
A technique for automatically terminating a session between a client and server in a communication network where the client fails to explicitly terminate the session. A client associated with the session is monitored to determine if a condition exists that warrants terminating the session between the client and the server. If a condition exists that warrants terminating the session, a check is performed to determine if the client has notified the server that the session is to be terminated. If not, the server is automatically notified that the session is to be terminated.
US08615589B1 Resource optimization recommendations
A resource optimization manager monitors resource metrics of a set of virtual machine instance types and determines a set of applications associated with the virtual machine instance types and associates the resource metrics to the set of applications. Thereafter, the resource optimization manager can generate clusters of applications that share one or more similar attributes and store resource optimizations for the clustered applications. The resource optimization manager can obtain a designation of a target application run on a virtual machine instance or otherwise obtain a definition of an application. The resource optimization manager can then associate the target application with one or more of the clustered applications based on a comparison of similarities between the clustered applications and the target applications.
US08615582B2 System and method for network vulnerability detection and reporting
A system and method provide comprehensive and highly automated testing of vulnerabilities to intrusion on a target network, including identification of operating system, identification of target network topology and target computers, identification of open target ports, assessment of vulnerabilities on target ports, active assessment of vulnerabilities based on information acquired from target computers, quantitative assessment of target network security and vulnerability, and hierarchical graphical representation of the target network, target computers, and vulnerabilities in a test report. The system and method employ minimally obtrusive techniques to avoid interference with or damage to the target network during or after testing.
US08615580B2 Message publication feedback in a publish/subscribe messaging environment
Control and/or feedback are provided for message publication in a publish/subscribe messaging environment. A number of different aspects are disclosed, and an embodiment may include one or more of these aspects. In each aspect, each subscribing application has an associated importance level for a subscription, and this importance level may vary among subscriptions for different message topics. Each published message has an associated topic. In some aspects, each published message also has associated criteria, where the criteria are specified with regard to message classification. In preferred embodiments, the message classification comprises importance criteria specifying requirements for importance level of subscribers registered for the topic of that message. Feedback can be provided regarding whether a message publication meets the importance criteria. Control over message publication can be based on whether a message publication meets the importance criteria.
US08615576B2 Remotely managing enterprise resources
The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for remotely managing enterprise resources. In some implementations, a method includes remotely receiving information associated with heterogeneous assets in an enterprise network. Transactions for remotely managing the heterogeneous assets are generated in response to at least the information. The management transactions are stored remote from the enterprise network until a request for the management transactions is received from the enterprise network. The management transactions are transmitted to the enterprise network using a single interface.
US08615575B2 Devices, methods, and computer-readable media for providing quality of service optimization via policy-based rearrangements
Devices, methods and computer-readable media for providing quality of service optimization via policy-based rearrangements. Customers are grouped for potential rearrangement. Multiple alternative options are generated for a particular group using policy rules. Policy rules for the particular group are used to evaluate each option using common metrics. Policy rules are used to select a best option for the particular group. The best option for the particular group is implemented.
US08615572B1 Network services platform
A network services platform provides services to remote enterprise networks. The services platform provides a control module to a computer in the enterprise network. The control module executes on the computer and interacts with the services platform to establish an Internet Protocol (IP) tunnel between the services platform and the computer. The control module also establishes a bridge between the IP tunnel and the enterprise network. The services platform allocates a unique private IP address space to the enterprise network, and translates IP addresses in network communications between enterprise network addresses and corresponding services platform addresses in the allocated unique private address space. The services platform provides network services to the enterprise network via the IP tunnel and bridge.
US08615570B2 Unified storage for configuring multiple networking technologies
A network and connection provisioning framework for configuring and provisioning multiple aspects of network connectivity (e.g., multiple networks, media types, and/or connections). The framework may comprise a unified configuration interface that enables an administrator to configure multiple different types of network connectivity. A single configuration file comprising settings for multiple aspects of network connectivity may be generated based on preferences entered by a system administrator, or by exporting current settings from a particular computing device. Global configuration policies or other configuration settings that span multiple types of network connectivity may be also created and stored in one or more configuration files. Stand-alone media managers and/or plug-in modules may implement one or more standardized application programming interface functions so that they may interoperate with the network and connection provisioning framework. The standardized API may be used to ensure that configuration information is handled and stored in a standardized manner by different media managers and/or plug-in modules.
US08615563B2 Method for switching an access node
Method for switching access nodes for a terminal capable of implementing a set of applications with at least one remote communicating entity through a packet-switched network, said terminal being associated with a set of first communication contexts, a first communication context including a same first transport configuration common to the set of applications and a first application configuration corresponding to a given application. The method comprises the following steps, reiterated for all the first communication contexts: reception by the terminal of an access node switching notification message, said message indicating a second communication context including a second transport configuration, reception by the terminal of notification message count information, filtering of said second transport configuration of said second communication context on the basis of said count information, transmission of a filtered notification message to the application corresponding to the current iteration.
US08615562B1 Proxy for tolerating faults in high-security systems
One or more requests are received from a first system. The requests are queued in a queue. A serialization group is determined for a request and the request is associated with the determined serialization group. At least a subset of the requests from the queue is transmitted to a second system if the second system is available, including transmitting requests in a respective serialization group to the second system serially in accordance with an ordering of the requests within the respective serialization group.
US08615557B2 Systems, apparatus, methods and computer-readable storage media facilitating information sharing via communication devices
Systems, apparatus, methods and computer-readable storage media facilitating information sharing via a communication device are described. In some embodiments, a method includes: generating a text message shell; providing concurrent access to a plurality of different types of content, wherein the plurality of different types of content includes website information; receiving a signal indicative of content selected from the plurality of different types of content, wherein the content is to be included in the text messaging shell; and generating a text message including the content. In some embodiments, providing concurrent access to the plurality of different types of content comprises providing concurrent access to one or more of contacts information, media or geographical location information for the communication device, and wherein the website information comprises a uniform resource locator or a website title.
US08615549B2 Method for training a server for content delivery based on communication of state information from a mobile device browser
A method for training a server for content delivery based on communication of state information from a mobile device browser, the method comprising providing a control channel between the server and mobile device browser, transmitting over the control channel a plurality of request messages from the mobile device browser to the server for Web pages, each of the messages indicating browsing-related state data, and implementing heuristic algorithms within the server to detect and learn patterns of the request messages, pre-fetching at least hypertext content of Web pages that the server has learned will likely be requested, and embedding the hypertext content in response codes within response messages over the control channel from the server to the mobile device browser.
US08615546B2 Method and device for identifying patterns in a message and generating an action
A method for identifying a pattern in a message and generating an action in a communication terminal, and a communication terminal adapted to identify a pattern in a message and generating an action, aiming at providing actions associated with a received message to enable a user to use a multitude of applications in a communication terminal in a user-friendly way. The communication terminal includes a pattern table including one or more patterns, a parse adapted to parse a message for one or more patterns in the pattern table and adapted to generate a pattern list, an action generator adapted to generate an action including an application all for the application, and a controller adapted to execute the action.
US08615538B1 Sub-filtering finite impulse response (FIR) filter for frequency search capability
The present invention is directed to sub-filtering FIR (frequency impulse response) to provide the capabilities of an ambiguity function (i.e., search for a signal in time and frequency) without extensive computations. By minimizing the resources used for the signal search (increased efficiency), the size of the implementation of the ambiguity function in hardware, and thus its power consumption, can be reduced. Additionally, by making the frequency search more efficient, larger scale frequency searches are possible.
US08615535B2 File identification and retrieval in directories for categorized files
A system and computer program product are provided for marking a file. Responsive to a file being received, the file is stored in a directory in a file system. An indicia is associated with the file and the directory. The file is displayed using the indicia as a marked file and the directory is displayed using the indicia as a marked directory.
US08615534B2 Migration of metadata and storage management of data in a first storage environment to a second storage environment
Provided are a computer program product, method, and system for migration of metadata and storage management of data in a first storage environment to a second storage environment. A migration request is processed to migrate metadata and storage management of data in a first storage environment to a second storage environment. First metadata for the first storage environment is copied to the second storage environment to incorporate with second metadata. The first metadata incorporated into the second metadata is modified to indicate first server information used by a second server to communicate with a first server to access the migrated data from the first storage media. The migration request is completed in response to incorporating the first metadata into the second metadata, wherein the first data objects remain in the first storage media after completing the migration request.
US08615533B2 Enterprise proposal management system
A system and method for managing an enterprise is provided. The system and method may be based on a layered architecture including a data center that may store all documents and data abstractions for an enterprise. One or more services may interact with an enterprise resource planning system and/or a customer relationship manager to facilitate interaction with the documents and data abstractions. A client access point of the system may include a graphical user interface that includes one or more enterprise management functions for managing the enterprise documents and/or data abstractions. The enterprise management functions may include a user proposal manager, an enterprise proposal manager, a proposal library, a content health manager, an archive library, a bid center, a contracts manager, a resume manager, a debriefing center, and/or a projects manager. The enterprise management functions may re-engineer business processes and enable users to manage all aspects of an enterprise using a single unified interface.
US08615524B2 Item recommendations using keyword expansion
A search technology generates recommendations with minimal user data and participation, and provides better interpretation of user data, such as popularity, thus obtaining breadth and quality in recommendations. It is sensitive to the semantic content of natural language terms and lets users briefly describe the intended recipient (i.e., interests, eccentricities, previously successful gifts). Based on that input, the recommendation software system and method determines the meaning of the entered terms and creatively discover connections to gift recommendations from the vast array of possibilities. The user may then make a selection from these recommendations. The search/recommendation engine allows the user to find gifts through connections that are not limited to previously available information on the Internet. Thus, interests can be connected to buying behavior by relating terms to respective items.
US08615521B2 Real time data warehousing
A method and system for processing data into and in a database and for retrieving the processed data is disclosed. The data comprises identifiers of a plurality of entities. The method and system comprises: (a) processing data into and in a database, (b) enhancing received data prior to storage in a database, (c) determining and matching records based upon relationships between the records in the received data and existing data without any loss of data, (d) enabling alerts based upon user-defined alert rules and relationships, (e) automatically stopping additional matches and separating previously matched records when identifiers used to match records are later determined to be common across entities and not generally distinctive of an entity, (f) receiving data queries for retrieving the processed data stored in the database, (g) utilizing the same algorithm to process the queries and (h) transferring the processed data to another database that uses the same algorithm.
US08615517B1 Systems and methods for metadata-based workflows for content creation and media distribution
A secure networked metadata-based workflow method and system, managed through core application logic and master database management system for picture, sound, and metadata acquisition, and ancillary production and post production data and metadata collection and creation, in the processes of motion picture production and post production file-based workflows; asset file management, asset file manipulation, asset file distribution, asset file archiving, remote creative and collaborative interchange, project administration, project reporting, and more, across multiple venues and platforms for efficient and simultaneous access to production data files, and master archive, in application to: remote project administration, dailies creation, project metadata tracking, post production ingest and processing, asset management and archive, distribution of executive review elements, and product finishing and archive, in 2D and 3D content creation, as examples.
US08615514B1 Evaluating website properties by partitioning user feedback
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for evaluating website properties by partitioning user feedback data are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a plurality of document query pairs (D-Qs) associated with a website, partitioning the plurality of D-Qs into one or more groups according to values for a partition parameter associated with the plurality of D-Qs, evaluating a property parameter of the website based on aggregated user feedback data of the D-Qs included within at least one of the one or more groups, and providing the evaluated property parameter as an input for ranking documents from the website as result documents for searches.
US08615513B2 Graphically representing associations between referents and points in a story
Systems and methods are provided for graphically representing associations between one or more points in a story and one or more referents of interest. In some embodiments, a score may be determined for each of a set of points in a story based at least in part on a number of associations between the given point in the story and one or more referents of interest. A graphical representation of the points in the story may then be presented for display. The graphical representation may include indicia, where each indicium graphically indicates the strength of association between a given point in the story and the one or more referents of interest. The strength of association for a given point in the story may be determined, for example, based at least in part on the determined score for the point.
US08615511B2 Data visualization interface
Provided is a method of preparing a data-visualization interface. The method may include receiving a request to view data; retrieving a display configuration responsive to the request to view data, the display configuration identifying two or more context dimensions and three or more sub-display dimensions; retrieving data responsive to the request to view data; designating, in visualization data, a portion of the data as visible data and a portion of the data as cache data based on the display configuration; assigning, in the visualization data, positioning data to a plurality of sub-displays based on the two or more context dimensions, the sub-displays displaying data markers; assigning, in the visualization data, a portion of the cache data to groups of the sub-displays that are co-linear based on the context dimensions; and transmitting the visualization data.
US08615510B2 Quick applications for search
A system and method for search, including steps of: receiving one or more search terms; searching an index for the one or more search terms to generate search results; retrieving the search results, wherein some of the search results include web pages associated with application programs; preparing a search results page for presentation to the user, wherein said search results page comprises at least a partial listing of the search results; presenting a search tool pod located on a portion of the search results page without obscuring the search results, wherein said search tool pod includes a list of application modules for executing the application programs associated with the search results that are presented; receiving a selection of a first application module; and presenting the first application module for user interaction in an area of the search results page that is smaller than the entire search results page.
US08615509B2 Abstracting information from a device
Requesting from a device to a source. In a device comprising a datastore, the datastore comprising a plurality of records, each record comprising a plurality of fields, retrieving a common set of fields from each of the plurality of records. The technology abstracts at least one of the retrieved fields across the plurality of records, resulting in abstracted information. The technology sends, to the source, the abstracted information from the device in place of the retrieved fields.
US08615506B2 Methods and systems for monitoring and tracking videos on the internet
Method and system for discovering and identifying a video object. The method includes crawling at least one predetermined website, discovering at least one video link at the predetermined website, processing information associated with a first database for storing one or more video links, and determining whether the discovered video link was already discovered before based on at least information associated with the first database. Additionally, the method includes, if the discovered video link is determined not to have been discovered before, updating the first database based on at least information associated with the discovered video link, downloading at least one video object based on at least information associated with the discovered video link, and processing information associated with the downloaded video object.
US08615505B2 System for targeting advertising content to a plurality of mobile communication facilities
A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively.
US08615500B1 Partial block allocation for file system block compression using virtual block metadata
A file server has a data compression facility and also a snapshot copy facility or a data de-duplication facility that shares data blocks among files. Compression of the file data on a file system block basis leads to a problem of partially used file system data blocks when the data blocks are shared among files. This problem is solved by partial block allocation so that file system data blocks are shared among files that do not share identical data. Block pointers in the file mapping metadata point to virtual blocks representing the compressed data blocks, and associated virtual block metadata identifies portions of file system data blocks that store the compressed data. For example, a portion of a file system data block is identified by a sector bitmap, and the virtual block metadata also includes a reference count to indicate sharing of a compressed data block among files.
US08615498B1 Systems and methods for migrating an object from a deduplication store to an external domain
A computer-implemented method for migrating an object from a deduplication store to an external domain in an external media is described. A deduplication store (dstore) deduplication map (dmap) is retrieved from a dstore for an object stored in the dstore. A determination is made as to whether an external dmap exists in the external domain for an object referenced in the dstore dmap. If the external dmap exists, a determination is made as to whether data referenced in the dstore dmap exist in the external dmap. If the referenced data do not exist, the referenced data is extracted from the dstore to the external domain. If the external dmap does not exist, the object and the associated dmap are extracted from the dstore to the external domain.
US08615492B1 Techniques for providing multiplexed data for backup
Techniques for providing multiplexed data for backup are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for providing multiplexed data for backup comprising determining one or more criteria for a set of data to be backed up by a backup device, wherein the one or more criteria are based at least in part on reducing encryption overhead for the set of data. The method further includes identifying one or more sets of data to form a multiplexed backup based upon the one or more sets of data meeting the one or more criteria, and transmitting the one or more identified sets of data to the backup device for backup.
US08615490B1 Method and system for restoring information from backup storage media
First and second partial files are read from first and second storage media, respectively, irrespective of a sequence in which the first and second storage media were originally written relative to one another. The first partial file forms a first portion of a complete file. The second partial file forms a second portion of the complete file. The first and second partial files are combined to extract and form the complete file, without dependence on re-reading the first and second storage media.
US08615489B2 Storing block-level tracking information in the file system on the same block device
Writes to a storage device of a protected computer system are tracked in a manner that accounts for those writes that may occur during a system reboot process when the file system is not available. During the shutdown process, write tracking data is maintained in system memory and is written into storage locations allocated to the tracking file after the file system has been dismounted so that any writes that may occur during the file system dismount can be captured. During the boot process, temporary write tracking data is maintained in system memory even before the file system is mounted so that any writes that may occur immediately after the file system mount can be captured. The temporary write tracking data is later merged with the tracking data contained in the tracking file and the merged tracking data is used to track further writes to the storage device.
US08615485B2 Method and system for managing weakly mutable data in a distributed storage system
A method for managing multiple generations of an object within a distributed storage system is implemented at a computing device. The computing device receives metadata and content of a first generation of an object from a first client connected to the distributed storage system and stores the first generation's metadata and content within a first storage sub-system. The computing device receives metadata and content of a second generation of the object from a second client connected to the distributed storage system and stores the second generation's metadata and content within a second storage sub-system. The computing device independently replicates the first generation's metadata and content from the first storage sub-system to the second storage sub-system and replicates the second generation's metadata and content from the second storage sub-system to the first storage sub-system such that both storage sub-systems include a replica of the object's first and second generations.
US08615484B2 Relationship-based people matching system and method
A relationship-based people matching system and method matches people in accordance with inferences of preferences from usage behaviors that include the explicit establishing of relationships, including directionally distinct relationships, by users. The usage behaviors may further comprise behaviors such as establishing subscriptions and the tagging of computer-implemented objects. The matching may be performed in response to a search request. Expressions of interest between matched people may be performed by the matched people through establishment of computer-implemented relationships. An explanation for the matching of matched people that references computer-implemented relationships may be delivered.
US08615483B2 Content transfer
The present invention provides a method of transferring content from a file and a database. In this case, the file includes content instances, each content instance being associated with a respective field, and each field having a respective type. The transfer is achieved by determining the type of each field, and then storing each content instance in a store in accordance with the determined field type of the associated field. Each content instance can then be transferred to the database in accordance with the determined field type. A similar procedure is provided for creating XML files based on content within the database.
US08615478B2 Using affinity measures with supervised classifiers
A non-binary affinity measure between any two data points for a supervised classifier may be determined. For example, affinity measures may be determined for tree, kernel-based, nearest neighbor-based and neural network supervised classifiers. By providing non-binary affinity measures using supervised classifiers, more information may be provided for clustering, analyzing and, particularly, for visualizing the results of data mining.
US08615477B2 Monitoring relationships between digital items on a computing apparatus
Systems and methods are described herein that facilitate file management on a computing device and/or across multiple computing devices. Actions of a user with respect to digital items on a computing device can be monitored and utilized to build a relationship table, wherein the relationship table comprises identities of digital items and data that describes relationships between particular digital items. Such a relationship table is analyzed to provide a user with information pertaining to relationships between digital items captured in the relationship table. Relationship tables from different devices can be merged to analyze relationships between digital items across devices.
US08615475B2 Self-calibration
Mitigation of processing artifacts caused by surfaces with high contrast printing or coloring transitions within a system to compare signatures derived from inherent physical surface properties of different articles to authenticate or validate articles and within a system to generate signatures from inherent physical surface properties of different articles.
US08615471B2 Methods and related toy and game applications using encoded information
The presently claimed invention relates generally to toys and games that are enhanced with encoded information. One claim recites a method of playing a computerized game including: receiving image or video representing a physical object, the physical object comprising information steganographically encoded therein, the information is carried by the physical object through alterations to data representing at least some features carried by the physical object; utilizing a multi-purpose processor configured to: analyze received image or video to decode information steganographically encoded therein; interrogate a database or storage location with at least some of the information to obtain at least one game attribute associated with information; and modify the at least one game attribute to reflect activity during play of the computerized game. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well.
US08615468B2 System and method for generating a dynamic card value
A method and system is provided for generating a dynamic card value (DCV) from a mobile user device for use in a transaction between a user cardholder and a transaction provider. The DCV may be configured for use as a card verification value (CVV), also known as a card security code (CSC), a primary account number (PAN), or a portion of a PAN. The DCV may be generated using a DCV generator which may include an algorithm and a DCV generation key. The DCV generation key may be camouflaged. Obtaining a DCV from the user device may require inputting a PIN, a device identifier, a challenge or transaction information. The DCV may be used for any transaction requiring the input of a user identification number and a verification value, including, credit card transactions, debit card transactions, online or telephonic transactions.
US08615466B2 Method and system for downloading information into a secure element of an electronic device
A method for downloading information from a remote server. The method includes receiving, at a portable device, banking card information for an account and storing the banking card information into a secure memory within the portable device. Responsive to the receiving, a first moblet software module automatically sends a wireless message to the remote server to inform the remote server of the banking card information being received at the portable device. The portable device may receive a second moblet software module associated with the banking card information. The portable device may subsequently execute the second moblet software module which utilizes the banking card information, wherein the first and second moblet software modules comprise device independent commands of a generic syntax and wherein further the commands are executed by a device dependent software module also resident on the portable device.
US08615458B2 Industry size of wallet
Consumer spend by industry is modeled based on the industry sizes of wallet of consumers having a high share of wallet with a financial institution. A size of wallet is calculated for each consumer in a plurality of consumers. A share of wallet for each consumer is also calculated. A subset of the plurality of consumers whose share of wallet is above a given percentage of their size of wallet is then determined. For each consumer in the subset, an industry size of wallet is determined. A correlation between the industry size of wallet of a given consumer and one or more characteristics of the given consumer is then derived using the industry size of wallet for the consumers in the subset.
US08615457B2 Payment entity device reconciliation for multiple payment methods
A method begins by storing payment request data, which, for a client, includes a payables profile and an accounts payable data file. The method continues by receiving payment remittance information subsequent to initiation of a payment in accordance with the payment request data. The method continues by storing the payment remittance information. The method continues by consolidating the payment remittance information and the payment request data to produce consolidated payment data. The method continues by generating at least one report based on the consolidated payment data.
US08615456B2 Enhanced system and method for managing financial market information
A system and method are provided for managing financial market information. According to certain embodiments, the system includes a computer having a memory, processor, and display. The processor is capable of generating a graphical depiction of the financial market information on the display. The graphical depiction includes a multidimensional representation of a broad range of market information for at least two financial instruments. The graphical depiction resides in a single window on the display. The financial instruments may include multiple different classes of financial instruments, such as treasuries and futures. Different instruments may be selected and information, including basis information, relevant to the selected instruments may be displayed in a second window.
US08615454B2 System and method for the automated brokerage of financial instruments
Disclosed herein in a preferred embodiment is an automated financial instrument brokerage system wherein a front end layer interacts with customers to generate activity requests for an intermediate layer. The intermediate layer preferably processes the activity requests and places financial instrument orders on a financial market if appropriate. A backend layer preferably provides data to the intermediate layer for processing activity requests. Multiple heterogeneous front end customer applications may be supported by the same intermediate layer. Further, multiple backend layer applications may interact with the intermediate layer in a manner transparent to the front end layer. Further, scalability can be achieved be partitioning various tasks of the intermediate layer onto separate servers, and more preferably on separate redundant servers. Load balancers may then be used in the intermediate layer to provide distributed access to these servers. Also disclosed herein is a caching technique whereby turnaround time for processing activity requests can be reduced by reducing the number of times that the intermediate layer needs to interact with the backend layer.
US08615450B1 Methods and systems for inventorying personal property and business equipment with backend business development system
Methods and systems for documenting an inventory of items by accessing an inventory algorithm for creating an inventory list, adding two or more items to the inventory list, adding details about one or more of the items in the inventory list, identifying one or more real properties containing items in the inventory list, and linking one or more images with one or more of the items in the inventory list. The inventory can be created by providing a user with an access code to access the inventory list corresponding to the user, providing a reseller with access to the inventory algorithm for setting up a new user account and providing an authorized inventory professional with access to the inventory algorithm for creating the inventory list for the user.
US08615448B1 System, method, and computer readable medium for facilitating stylist provided recommendations
Disclosed are various embodiments relating to generating profile-based item suggestions from a stylist when purchasing items through an electronic commerce system. A network page is rendered in a client computing device comprising an input field to input descriptions of items the user wishes to purchase and a stylist profile selection mechanism to select a suggested stylist profile. The user inputs descriptions of items and selects the suggested stylist profile. An item suggestions request comprising the item descriptions and the selected stylist profile is sent from the client computing device to a server computing device.
US08615446B2 System and method for handling software activation in entitlement
A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for separating the purchase of digital assets from their fulfillment and activation. Digital assets purchase information comprising digital assets identifier information and activation key data, and system identifier information comprising system identifier data, is received. The purchase information and the system identifier information are processed to generate digital assets activation request data, which is then processed by the provider of the digital assets to generate digital assets activation data. Associated digital assets data is provided with the digital assets activation data and then processed with the purchase transaction data to generate digital assets entitlement data. A personalization agent associated with a target system automatically downloads the purchased digital assets and associated digital assets entitlement data, which is used to install the digital assets, thereby entitling the system to process the installed digital assets.
US08615443B2 Interactive image activation and distribution system and associated methods
A system for distributing a digital image of a customer includes receiving a request from a customer to a human representative (i.e., a “roving” photographer) for an image to be taken of the customer at a site. An image of the customer is captured by the “roving” photographer at the site in response to the received request. The image is transmitted to a remote processor. An electronic request is received from the customer to view the transmitted image, and the image is transmitted from the remote processor to the customer's communication device. If the customer decides to purchase the image, a transaction is finalized by receiving payment data from the customer, and the final image is provided to the customer. A commission is then paid to the photographer for the transaction. In another embodiment, the cost is at least partially subsidized by advertisement pushed to the customer's communication device.
US08615441B1 Automated order routing
Technologies described herein relate to automated order routing. A consumer can place an order for a product with a first retailer, wherein the first retailer is the preferred retailer of the consumer. If the first retailer fails to commit to fulfilling the order within a threshold amount of time, at least one other retailer is selected, and the order for the product is automatically routed to the at least one other retailer. The first retailer that commits to fulfilling the order acquires the sale.
US08615434B2 Systems and methods for automatically generating campaigns using advertising targeting information based upon affinity information obtained from an online social network
Systems and methods for automatically targeting advertising on an online social network using affinity information collected concerning members of one or more online social networks in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a targeting server configured to obtain data from at least one server that forms part of an online social network, where the obtained data describes member profiles of members of the online social network and activities performed on the online social network associated with the member profiles. In addition, the targeting server is configured to detect affinities between a member profile and keywords based upon data describing activities associated with the member profile and to provide the targeting keywords to a server that is part of the online social network so that the online social network displays the specific offer to online social network members targeted using the targeting keywords.
US08615431B1 Network content message placement management
A network content message placement management process is directed to the processing and management of messages in content displayed at a client computing device. A client computing device provides message placement configuration information to a network computing and storage provider. The network computing and storage transmits message placement requests to a content provider based on the message placement configuration information. The client computing device may subsequently directly or indirectly request content from the content provider. The content provided from the content provider may include one or more of the alternative messages provided in the message placement configuration information. Illustratively, the alternative messages may be included in place of other messages, such as advertisements, from third party message providers.
US08615427B2 Determining a value for a coupon
Techniques are provided for determining, by a coupon distributor, a value for a coupon of a product or service that will be provided by a coupon provider. The coupon provider provides, to the coupon distributor, one or both of a budget value that indicates an amount the coupon provider is willing to pay the coupon distributor for distributing the coupon, and a redemption rate that indicates one or more target redemption rates. The coupon provider uses a coupon value equation to calculate the coupon value based on a budget value and a redemption rate. The coupon provider might estimate that no coupon value will allow the coupon provider to stay within the budget and ensure that the actual redemption rate will be close to a particular redemption rate, which may or may not be specified by the coupon distributor.
US08615426B2 Coupon offers from multiple entities
Offers from multiple entities provide an incentive for consumers to behave in a manner that is beneficial to the offer provider. Each offer is associated with rules that establish conditions that must be met for the offer to be valid. For example, a rule may be established to promote the use a specific form of payment, such as a particular credit card. Thus, the offer would only be valid if the consumer paid for the merchandise using the particular credit card. A merchant may generate its own offers or receive offers from a variety of sources (e.g., a payment processing organization, an issuer, or other external sources).
US08615424B2 Electronic toll settlement system for vehicle
The present invention relates to an electronic toll settlement device of a vehicle, more particularly, to a technology which settles an insufficient amount from a mobile communications server and delivers to a toll settlement server through a mobile communications terminal when the balance of a high-pass terminal is worth less than a toll.
US08615423B1 Method of rapid workflow process modeling
A method of rapid workflow process modeling, which is established according to a triangulation principle. The method integrates issues of management, operation and technology including information technology that are three fundamentals of a triangulation principle to characterize challenges and opportunities for process improvement of any organization including military units, governmental agencies and public and private business sectors. Specifically, the method is comprised of seven steps such as the As-Is process mapping, problem statements, impact statements, solution statements, benefit statements, To-Be process mapping and cost benefit analysis for generating a quantitative projection of the business cost reduction. Application of the method is able to comprehensively and effectively address challenges and opportunities for all aspects of the organizational process improvement.
US08615422B1 Airline pricing system and method
An airline pricing system and method according to which prices, such as airline ticket prices or fares, are automatically set based on selected pricing strategies and patterns detected within airline fare data.
US08615412B2 Methods and systems for managing distributed digital medical data
A network for mediating the peer-to-peer transfer of digital patient medical data includes a plurality of distributed agents each associated with a health care provider and connected to a central system. Periodically the agents collect local information relating to patient medical files and/or data streams, for example diagnostic images and associated reports, and process that information into metadata files acting as pointers to the original files. The metadata files are transmitted to the central system where they are parsed and the attributes are stored on the central system in patient records with records from the same patient grouped together whenever possible. Registered users can search the central system, even in the absence of a unique identifier, to identify patient records pointing to the remote patient medical files. Upon finding a patient medical file, the invention provides a streamlined process for communicating access authorization from the patient to the hospital or facility storing the medical files. Once patient authorization is received, secure processes are provided for transferring the data in its entirety to or for viewing by the user in a peer-to-peer fashion.
US08615409B1 System and method for identification, perfection, collection, and valuation of third-party claims including subrogation claims
A method has been provided that associates insurance payment linking information with litigation information and associates insurance payment information with the insurance payment linking information and the litigation information to identify a potential third-party claim or a potential subrogation claim. Associating the insurance payment linking information with the litigation information may further include associating at least one medical procedure code with at least some of the litigation information.
US08615408B2 Interactive patient forums
In a medical communication method, two or more persons are identified as having a selected medical condition or characteristic. At the residence of each identified person, a video conference-enabling unit (56) is operatively connected with a consumer electronics device (50, 52) disposed in the identified person's residence. A video conference is conducted between at least two of the two or more identified persons using their respective consumer electronics devices (50, 52) and video conference-enabling units (56).
US08615403B2 Universal charge routing system for medical billing
A medical charge router receives charge information from a variety of sources and converts it to a standard charge format for automated processing and routing to one of multiple billing programs.
US08615402B2 Method and system for distributing disaster information
A system and method to distribute disaster information to a customer. An information distribution apparatus for distributing disaster information to a customer terminal includes a disaster information storage for storing disaster-occurred district information for identifying a disaster-occurred district in which a disaster has occurred and a real disaster level corresponding to the disaster selected from a plurality of preset disaster levels; a customer information registration unit for registering customer district information; a distribution information management unit for deciding whether the disaster information is distributed to the customer by collating the disaster-occurred district with the customer district with respect to the disaster level; and an information distribution unit for distributing disaster information to the terminal according to a decision of the distribution information management unit.
US08615400B2 Mapping portal applications in multi-tenant environment
A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium being operable to associate each of a plurality of tenants with a respective virtual portal and individually meter virtual portal usage at each respective virtual portal. Additionally, the computer executable code is operable to determine a fee amount for the each of the plurality of tenants based on the individually metered virtual portal usage.
US08615396B2 Voice response unit mapping
A system, method and program product for mapping voice response units (VRUs). A system is provided that includes: an interrogation system for interrogating a VRU and gathering a hierarchical set of options associated with the VRU; a map building system for converting the hierarchical set of options into a VRU map suitable for display; and a user interface for displaying the VRU map to an end user.
US08615395B2 Generating a display screen in response to detecting keywords in speech
A multifunction peripheral (MFP) includes an accepting portion to accept a picked up image and a speech, a speech recognition portion to recognize the accepted speech, a display screen generating portion to generate a display screen in accordance with an output setting, and a transmission control portion to transmit the generated display screen. The display screen is generated in response to a recognized keyword included in a predetermined output setting. The display screen includes at least one of the picked up image and an image of object data stored in association with the keyword in advance and independently from the picked up image. The display screen is automatically switched including the image of object data stored in association with the recognized keyword in accordance with the output setting when a keyword is recognized by the speech recognition portion.
US08615393B2 Noise suppressor for speech recognition
A noise suppressor for altering a speech signal is trained based on a speech recognition system. An objective function can be utilized to adjust parameters of the noise suppressor. The noise suppressor can be used to alter speech signals for the speech recognition system.
US08615391B2 Method and apparatus to extract important spectral component from audio signal and low bit-rate audio signal coding and/or decoding method and apparatus using the same
An method and apparatus to extract an audio signal having an important spectral component (ISC) and a low bit-rate audio signal coding/decoding method using the method and apparatus to extract the ISC. The method of extracting the ISC includes calculating perceptual importance including an SMR (signal-to-mask ratio) value of transformed spectral audio signals by using a psychoacoustic model, selecting spectral signals having a masking threshold value smaller than that of the spectral audio signals using the SMR value as first ISCs, and extracting a spectral peak from the audio signals selected as the ISCs according to a predetermined weighting factor to select second ISCs. Accordingly, the perceptual important spectral components can be efficiently coded so as to obtain high sound quality at a low bit-rate. In addition, it is possible to extract the perceptual important spectral component by using the psychoacoustic model, to perform coding without phase information, and to efficiently represent a spectral signal at a low bit-rate. In addition, the methods and apparatus can be employed in all the applications requiring a low bit-rate audio coding scheme and in a next generation audio scheme.
US08615376B2 Method and apparatus for dimensional measurement
An non-contacting measurement apparatus for measuring distances, angles and related geometric quantities, and for computing other quantities based on the measurements, is provided. A visible light beam or ultrasonic beam allows a user to point the device at one or more points to which the distance is measured, and angular rotation between the various points of interest can be measured and recorded. Then, geometric and trigonometric relationships are used to compute and display lengths, areas, volumes or other facts derived from the measurements. Various input and output features are provided in the present embodiments.
US08615371B2 Fuel consumption measurement of bus HVAC units
The method includes operating an HVAC unit for a test period in an automatic temperature control mode and measuring power consumed at one or more testing heat loads at one or more rotational speeds. The method further includes determining an association between the measured power consumed at the one or more testing heat loads and one or more tested bus engine speeds and calculating power consumed at the one or more testing heat loads at a plurality of profiled bus engine speeds based on the association, wherein the plurality of profiled bus engine speeds is derived from a bus road profile of known bus engine speeds at known time durations, with the known time durations summing to a time period. The method also includes calculating energy consumed at the one or more testing heat loads over the time period.
US08615370B2 Sand detection using magnetic resonance flow meter
A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for estimating a mass of silicates in a fluid flowing in a member is disclosed. A magnetic field is induced in the fluid to align nuclei of the fluid along a direction of the magnetic field. A radio frequency signal is transmitted into the fluid from a transmitter to excite silicon nuclei present in the fluid. A signal is received from the silicon nuclei responsive to the transmitted radio frequency signal at a receiver. A processor estimates the mass of silicates in the fluid directly from the received signal.
US08615366B2 Handheld diabetes management device with bolus calculator
A method for monitoring blood glucose (bG) levels of a diabetic user. The method may be implemented on a non-transitory computer readable medium adapted to run on a processing subsystem, the processing subsystem forming a portion of a handheld diabetes management device for monitoring the bG levels of a diabetic user and determining a correction bolus to be provided to the user. The method may comprise using a memory to store information in a plurality of different time blocks. The information may include a plurality of differing user defined health events that each include a predetermined associated percentage value set by the user by which a correction bolus calculation will be modified to account for one of an increase or a decrease in insulin associated with each one of the defined health events. The processing subsystem may be used to communicate with the memory and to obtain the information and to calculate therefrom the correction bolus.
US08615364B1 Computer readable medium for acquiring and displaying in near real time gas analysis, well data collection, and other well logging data
The computer readable medium causes a gas processor with gas processor data storage to implement computer instructions to receive device data in various device protocols simultaneously information from rig based sensors and gas analysis devices, calibrate the devices and graphically present the data using both time events and depth events. The computer readable medium can scale the data and form the geological-hydrocarbon executive dashboard for transmission to various client devices to present real time streaming data, real time calibration information, real time alarms while enabling users to add and remove detection devices and sensors, including rig servers and remote servers, online without shutting down the operation of the computer readable medium.
US08615361B2 Method for obtaining a speed profile
Certain processes are defined in a data record and in each case a multiplicity of such processes are preferably defined for different driver types. Each process is distinguished by an entry speed and an exit speed. A preliminary speed profile can be divided into route sections, to each of which a process from the defined processes corresponds. The assigned speed profiles can be completely complex, in particular also comprise nonlinear sections between the entry speed and the exit speed, and in this way constant travel can be simulated, for example through an oscillatory change in the speed. It is also equally possible for stationary phases with a specific frequency and duration to be included in a process. The situational context which is formed by other processes is taken into account in the definition of the speed profile.
US08615356B2 Electromechanical stabilization of in-line wheeled vehicles
A system and method to enhance stability of in-line wheeled vehicles throughout an entire range of vehicle motions that utilizes a stability control that is user controlled to adjust the amount of stability control that is in place at any given time. A electromechanical gyroscopic stabilization device assists in maintaining an appropriate attack angle of the in-line wheeled vehicle while approaching and during non-linear maneuvers.
US08615353B2 Driveline system impact reverberation reduction
A method for driveline impact reverberation reduction including operating an engine coupled to a transmission; regulating operation of the engine with a controller to adjust fueling of the engine which includes providing a signal to the controller representative of a requested engine torque; determining a first fueling rate as a function of the signal and a set of preselected operating instructions; adjusting a set of engine operating parameters according to the first fueling rate; determining a second fueling rate as a function of the first fueling rate; and adjusting a set of engine operating conditions according to the second fueling rate.
US08615352B2 Driving support apparatus for vehicle
A cruise control unit, configured to permit starting when an inter-vehicle distance to a front vehicle exceeds a determination threshold before a preset amount of time passes from a driver's operational input during a stopped state, calculates a first threshold that is updated to be larger according to a change in the inter-vehicle distance in the stopped state when the distance changes to be larger and a second threshold that is changed to be larger as a speed of the front vehicle is higher, and variably sets the determination threshold based on the larger of the two thresholds. It cancels the permission if a time passing from the operational input is determined longer than a cancel determination time for determining whether it is immediately after the driver's operational input and if the front vehicle is determined to stop or substantially stop at a speed lower than a preset vehicle speed.
US08615348B2 Regulation method for a controllable energy absorber
The invention relates to a method for regulating the current flow of a coil that controls the viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid of a controllable energy absorber in a steering system for a motor vehicle, wherein during an accident the energy absorber acts as a hydraulic damper between two parts movable with respect to one another, whose damping force is determined by the current flow through the magnetic coil, wherein the following steps are provided: the relative velocity between a first part of the steering column movable with the steering wheel and a second part of the steering column fixed to the vehicle body is determined continuously or at intervals, the acceleration required for the braking from the measured relative velocity at standstill up to the end of the travel path is calculated, the current flow is calculated from the calculated acceleration in such a way that the value of the acceleration is approximately reached during the further travel of the parts movable with respect to one another.
US08615346B2 Method and device for controlling a blocking member
The invention relates to a method for controlling a blocking member (11) of a functional component (30), particularly of a steering column (30) of a motor vehicle, particularly of a motorcycle, having a drive (20) by which the blocking member (11) can be moved into a locking position (1) and into an unlocking position (2) and vice versa, wherein the blocking member (11) engages mechanically with the functional component (30) when in the locking position (1), releases from the functional component (30) when in the unlocking position (2), and the locking process is started via a defined triggering action on the part of the operator, the blocking member (11) being moved from the unlocking position (2) into the locking position (1) during said locking process. According to the invention, a controller (40) monitors the process, enabling a malfunction of the component (30), in which a locking position (1) of the blocking member (11) is impossible, to be detected, such that the blocking member (11) takes up the original unlocking position (2) despite the triggering action.
US08615343B2 Vehicle plug-in advisory system and method
Many plug-in electric vehicles include a high voltage battery for outputting electrical power to a traction motor in order to propel the vehicle. Storing a plug-in electric vehicle in cold or hot ambient temperatures can cause the high voltage battery to become performance limited. If the vehicle has a battery thermal system, then plugging in the vehicle to an external power supply when not in use can help keep the battery at a temperature where performance will not be limited. To educate a driver and increase the probability of avoiding performance limits, a user interface may convey a reminder message advising or alerting the driver to plug the vehicle in to an external power supply at the end of a drive when the ambient temperature is extreme.
US08615341B2 Propulsion control apparatus for electric vehicle
A propulsion control apparatus for an electric vehicle includes an inverter that converts a direct-current voltage into an alternating-current voltage, a power storage element, and a DCDC converter connected to the power storage element. The control apparatus further includes a circuit selector unit that selects any one of power supplied from an external power supply via a power collecting device and power supplied from the power storage element and outputs it to the inverter. A linkage control unit controls at least the DCDC converter and the circuit selector unit in a linked manner, in which the linkage control unit inputs control signals at least to the DCDC converter and the circuit selector unit and controls them in a linked manner, in accordance with each of a case where the electric vehicle travels by receiving power from the external power supply and a case where the electric vehicle travels by power from the power storage element.
US08615339B2 Control device of electric vehicles
An electric vehicle control device comprises: a smoothing capacitor to be charged from a DC power supply via a charging resistor; an inverter converting a DC power having been charged in the smoothing capacitor to an AC power to supply it to a load; and a discharging switch causing a voltage having been charged in the smoothing capacitor to discharge via a discharging resistor, and in which a resistor is used as both charging resistor and discharging resistor to simplify a circuit arrangement. In the electric vehicle control device, there are provided a main switch inserted into a main circuit to which a DC power is supplied from the DC power supply, and an auxiliary switch that is connected in parallel to the discharging switch, and is in inverted switching states with respect to the main switch.
US08615337B1 System supporting flight operations under instrument meteorological conditions using precision course guidance
The present examples provide circuits, systems, processes, and the like for providing precision course guidance, typically for improved positive course guidance below published minimum descent altitude or decision altitude, including just in time calculations of obstacle free flight paths. The calculated flight path may be presented in the context of a synthetic scene of the environment surrounding the aircraft. To provide precision course guidance, exemplary avionics systems, processes and the like, as described below may be utilized.
US08615335B2 Progressive takeoff thrust ramp for an aircraft
A method is presented for controlling thrust generated by aircraft engines. Engine thrust is controlled based on aircraft groundspeed and airspeed during the initial part of takeoff. Limiting thrust at low groundspeed during the initial phase of takeoff has significant benefits that reduce engine stress during this brief but critical phase leading to flight. Logical elements combine both groundspeed and airspeed in such a way that the operator perceives a smooth progressive thrust increase consistent with normal engine operation.
US08615333B2 Driver assistance system and operator control concept therefor
A driver assistance system having a predefined number of driver assistance functions has a device for defining, storing and implementing a predefined number of driver assistance packages, wherein each driver assistance package comprises one or more driver assistance functions and each driver assistance package has a predetermined functional scope.
US08615330B2 Method and apparatus for processing power system topology structure information
A topology structure of a power system is acquired. At least one unification set in the power system is identified based on the topology structure. Devices belonging to the same unification set have the same outage state. The at least one unification set is recorded, so as to concurrently maintain devices belonging to the same unification set. Advantageously, one or more embodiments reduce number of outages caused by power system device maintenance.
US08615326B2 System and method of use for a user interface dashboard of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning network
The disclosure provides systems and methods of use of an HVAC graphical interface dashboard. In various embodiments, the dashboard includes a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather screen. The dashboard also includes an indoor humidity tab, wherein invoking the indoor humidity tab advances to a humidity screen which displays at least a current indoor humidity. The dashboard further includes an alerts tab, wherein invoking the alerts tab advances to an alerts screen. The dashboard still further include an indoor settings tab, wherein invoking the indoor settings tab advances to an indoor settings screen which includes a current indoor temperature. A programs tab and a home tab are also provided, wherein a programs screen includes a display of a plurality of pre-populated program schedule settings.
US08615322B2 Efficient moves via dual pickers
A storage library is described that includes a shelf system adapted to support a number of tape cartridges. The storage library further includes a tape drive adapted to read and write data to and from tape cartridges. The storage library further possesses a single tape picker device that is adapted to hold two tape cartridges at the same time facilitating an exchange of a first tape cartridge intended to be loaded in the tape drive with a second tape cartridge ready to be removed from the tape drive with a single tape picker device.
US08615316B2 Method and an apparatus for processing an audio signal
An apparatus for processing an audio signal and method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes receiving the audio signal and preset information; obtaining preset matrix from the preset information, wherein the preset matrix indicates contribution degree of the object to output channel; and adjusting output level of the object by using the preset matrix.Accordingly, without user's setting for each object, if preset metadata to be applied to an audio signal is selected with reference to previously-set preset metadata, levels of objects included in the audio signal can be easily adjusted using preset rendering data corresponding to the selected preset metadata.
US08615313B2 Sequence of events recorder facility for an industrial process control environment
A sequence of events (SOE) recorder facility in a process control network environment is described herein. The SOE recorder facility is hosted by a networked node that receives digital signal status change (event) data from a networked controller. The sequence of events recorder facility receives a configured set of digital data signals from the controller, temporarily buffers the events in chronological order according to timestamps assigned to the events by their sources (e.g., fieldbus modules). The data is thereafter copied/removed from the buffer and provided to multiple destinations including: a process database that maintains an archival copy of the received event data for rendering event reports, and an SOE client user interface for rendering event logs to printers and/or graphical user interface displays.
US08615311B2 Microelectorode array, methods for preparing the same and uses thereof
A microelectrode array having a substrate with a plurality of grooves and a plurality of electrical contact pads, the grooves each with at least one electrode electrically connected to at least one of the electrical contact pads, each of the grooves containing at least one myotube that overlays the at least one electrode.
US08615307B2 Systems and methods for coupling conductors to conductive contacts of electrical stimulation systems
An electrical stimulation lead includes a plurality of conductive contacts disposed at a distal end and a proximal end of a lead body. The plurality of conductive contacts includes a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of terminals. At least one of the conductive contacts is a first conductive contact that includes at least one adhesive aperture defined between an inner surface and an outer surface of the at least one conductive contact. A plurality of conductors each electrically couple at least one of the electrodes to at least one of the terminals. Each first conductive contact has a conductor associated with, and electrically coupled to that first conductive contact. The adhesive is disposed in proximity to the at least one adhesive aperture of at least one first conductive contact to adhesively couple that first conductive contact to the at least one associated conductor.
US08615304B2 Data-driven pattern detection of implantable medical device data
Detecting patterns in sensed implantable medical device (IMD) data is described. One implementation involves an IMD that includes a data-driven pattern detection network embodied on the IMD to detect a pattern from sensed patient data. The IMD also includes one or more algorithms embodied on the IMD to utilize the pattern to effect patient therapy.
US08615298B2 Criteria for optimal electrical resynchronization derived from multipolar leads or multiple electrodes during biventricular pacing
Generally, the disclosure is directed one or more methods or systems of cardiac pacing employing a right ventricular electrode and a plurality of left ventricular electrodes. Pacing using the right ventricular electrode and a first one of the left ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left ventricular electrodes. Pacing using the right ventricular electrode and a second one of the ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left ventricular electrodes. Employing sums of the measured activation times to select one of the left ventricular electrodes for delivery of subsequent pacing pulses.
US08615297B2 Method and apparatus to perform electrode combination selection
Approaches for selecting an electrode combination of multi-electrode pacing devices are described. Electrode combination parameters that support cardiac function consistent with a prescribed therapy are evaluated for each of a plurality of electrode combinations. Electrode combination parameters that do not support cardiac function are evaluated for each of the plurality of electrode combinations. An order is determined for the electrode combinations based on the parameter evaluations. An electrode combination is selected based on the order, and therapy is delivered using the selected electrode combination.
US08615296B2 Method and apparatus for closed-loop intermittent cardiac stress augmentation pacing
A cardiac pacing system controls the progression of a cardiac disorder such as heart failure by delivering cardiac pacing to create or augment regional stress in the heart. The cardiac pacing is delivered intermittently, such as on a periodic basis, according to a cardiac stress augmentation pacing sequence that includes alternating pacing and non-pacing periods. One or more physiological signals are monitored for closed-loop control of the cardiac pacing using baseline characteristics of the cardiac disorder, acute cardiac stress created by the cardiac pacing, and/or risk associated with the cardiac pacing.
US08615294B2 Electrode devices for nerve stimulation and cardiac sensing
Apparatus is provided for application to a nerve of a subject, the apparatus comprising an electrode device, which comprises a housing, which is configured to be placed at least partially around the nerve, so as to define an outer surface of the electrode device and an inner surface that faces the nerve. The electrode device further comprises one or more first electrode contact surfaces, fixed to the inner surface of the housing, and one or more second electrode contact surfaces, fixed to the outer surface of the housing. Other embodiments are also described.
US08615282B2 Analyte sensor
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host.
US08615280B2 Error correction for DTMF corruption on uplink
Aspects relate to provision of enterprise call capabilities to mobile devices. For example, a mobile device can indicate, over a data channel, that a PBX is to make a call on its behalf to a called party. The PBX can call back the mobile device, call the called party, and bridge those call legs to establish the call. The mobile device can employ mechanisms that a particular incoming call is made by the PBX. These mechanisms can include using ANI information, sending, and receiving audible verification codes over the voice channel established after answering the incoming call. The verification codes can be selected based different behaviors of the mobile devices.
US08615277B2 Electronic device having functional blocks individually controlled to selectively enter power-saving mode and related power control method thereof
An electronic device includes a first functional block, a second functional block, and a control circuit. The first functional block has a first wake-up guard time requirement. The second functional block has a second wake-up guard time requirement which is different from the first wake-up guard time requirement. The control circuit is coupled to the first functional block and the second functional block, and implemented for selectively controlling the first functional block to switch from a normal mode to a power-saving mode by referring to the first wake-up guard time requirement, and selectively controlling the second functional block to switch from the normal mode to the power-saving mode by referring to the second wake-up guard time requirement.
US08615276B2 Method for controlling standby operations compatible with a plurality of wireless communication systems and method for performing operations compatible with a plurality of wireless communication systems
A radio unit and a baseband processing unit perform wireless communications with a plurality of base station apparatuses compatible with a plurality of wireless communication schemes, respectively. A battery remaining amount management unit inspects a remaining amount of battery to be supplied to the radio unit and the like. A control unit controls standby operations that the radio unit and the baseband processing unit are to perform on the plurality of wireless communication schemes, based on the remaining amount of battery inspected by the battery remaining amount management unit. The control unit defines degrees of priority for the plurality of wireless communication schemes, respectively. As the remaining amount of battery becomes low, the control unit sets long a time interval of the standby operation for a base station compatible with a wireless communication scheme having a low degree of priority.
US08615272B2 Method and system for associating subscriber identity module
A method, device, system, and module associate subscriber identity information with terminals in a communication network. For example, the method includes establishing a connection between a first terminal and a second terminal and communicating a software subscriber identity module from the first terminal to the second terminal. The software subscriber identity module includes a standard component and an active component. The standard component is communicated only when needed.
US08615266B2 Method and a device for adjusting the transmission power of signals
The present invention concerns a method for adjusting the transmission power of signals transferred by or to a first base station, the first base station being located in the cell of a second base station, the first base station: transfers a first message to the second base station, receives a message comprising information representative of the path between the first base station and the second base station, receives messages transferred by the second base station to mobile terminals, information comprised in at least one message enabling the determination of the coverage of the second base station, computing a metric from both information, adjusting, according to the computed metric, the transmission power of the signals transferred by the first base station to at least a mobile terminal and/or the transmission power of the signals transferred to the first base station by at least one mobile terminal.
US08615265B2 Coded system for radio frequency communication
A coded system for radio-frequency communication (RFC); the system comprising at least one base station (20) and a plurality of mobile devices (10); the base station and mobile devices are individually provided with running time information synchronized inter se; the mobile device is adapted for transmitting an identifying signal to the base station device; the base station is adapted for receiving the signal; wherein the signal further comprises a preamble including a miming-time-dependent code generated according to a predetermined algorithm (220); the base station is adapted for comparing the code with a reference code generated by the base station according to the algorithm (260), authorizing the RFC in response to coincidence of the running-time-dependent codes generated by the base station and the mobile (270).
US08615264B2 Method and apparatus for allocating cognitive radio network spectrum based on aggregation
A method and an apparatus for allocating a cognitive radio network spectrum based on aggregation. The method includes: obtaining information about unoccupied spectrum fragments and unit capacity information of a secondary users on different spectrum fragments, and constructing a solution matrix; calculating a reference index corresponding to the solution matrix, determining a resource allocation vector according to the reference index, and allocating resources after selecting a resource allocation element from the resource allocation vector; and removing a resource allocation element that is used in the resource allocation from the solution matrix, and then constructing a new solution matrix to continue allocating resources until unoccupied spectrum resources corresponding to the information about unoccupied spectrum fragments are allocated completely.
US08615262B2 Selective caching of real time messaging threads
A method is provided to process data in a wireless data exchange. The method includes exchanging data between two or more wireless devices in real time and opening a thread of communications between the wireless devices, where the thread includes one or more data exchanges between the wireless devices. When the real time messaging exchange has been established, the method identifies all or portions of the thread as potential data to store. As such data is identified, the method selectively caches the identified portions of the thread for future data retrieval.
US08615260B2 Method and apparatus optimizing receipt of call/broadcast paging messages by self-powered wireless communications devices
A wireless communications network (120) responds to each incoming call placed to a wireless communications device (134) by transmitting a call-paging message (418) within a corresponding partition of a digital radio frame of prescribed format. Responsive to each occurrence of a broadcast event (404), the network transmits (414) a repeating broadcast-paging message announcing the availability of broadcast content from the network. The broadcast-paging message is transmitted multiple times within each digital radio frame. Another sequence (500) describes WCD operation in this network. Responsive to wakeup (502) from sleep, the WCD detects (509) received signal quality. The WCD also receives (510) scheduled network transmission of a call-paging message and a number of instances (at least one) of a repeating network transmitted broadcast-paging message that occurs multiple times for each scheduled transmission of the call-paging message. This number varies inversely with the detected signal quality.
US08615259B2 Wireless communication method and radio network controller for coordinating paging occasions on a common paging channel
A method of paging a plurality of users by synchronizing user equipment (UE) specific paging and Point-to-Multipoint (PtM) user group paging to reduce power consumption when the UE is in a discontinuous reception state. The UE identities are defined such that paging occasions and common paging channels are synchronized for multiple users within a PtM user group.
US08615258B2 Home base station communication with a mobile radio communication device using a home base station group member identifier
In an embodiment, a mobile radio communication device is provided. The mobile radio communication device may include a mobile radio communication protocol circuit configured to provide a home base station function for a mobile radio communication with another mobile radio communication device, and a memory configured to store a home base station group data structure, wherein the home base station group data structure for each communication device associated with the home base station group comprises a home base station group member identifier to identify a mobile radio communication device as a member of the home base station group.
US08615249B2 Communications system
A method performed by a EUTRAN base station, the method including generating a request for resource status information. The request defines a periodicity when update messages including said resource status information should be sent. The method further including sending the generated request to a neighboring EUTRAN base station, receiving one or more resource status update messages from the neighboring base station in response to the requested resource status information in accordance with said defined periodicity, and performing load balancing operations in dependence upon the received one or more resource status update messages.
US08615243B2 Method of broadcasting and receiving neighboring base station advertisement message in broadband wireless access system, and handover method using the same
The present invention relates to a method of broadcasting and receiving a neighboring base station advertisement message in a wideband wireless access system and a handover method using the same. In the present invention, a base station broadcasts a neighboring base station advertisement message including information that indicates that frequency overlay is supported in neighboring base stations to terminals. The terminal confirms whether frequency overlay is supported in the neighboring base stations included in the neighboring base station advertisement message, and can perform handover to a frequency overlay supporting base station as a destination base station. According to the present invention, when a non-frequency overlay communication system and a frequency overlay communication system are mixed with each other, it is possible to ensure that a frequency overlay supporting terminal performs handover from a base station of a frequency overlay communication system to a base station of another frequency overlay communication system.
US08615238B2 Radio network control
In a radio access network, multiple radio network controllers are connected to several radio nodes using a network. The interconnected radio network controllers and radio nodes are addressable, and, therefore, each radio network controller can communicate directly with each radio node and visa versa. The radio access network can be configured to avoid active handoffs between radio network controllers by maintaining a traffic channel set up between an access terminal and a radio network controller even as the flow.
US08615237B2 Methods, systems, and computer readable media for policy and charging rules function (PCRF) node selection
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for PCRF node selection. According to one aspect, a system for PCRF node selection is provided. The system includes a first PCRF selection node for receiving a first request message for which PCRF node selection is required. The first PCRF selection node determines whether to select the PCRF or to delegate selection of the PCRF. In response to a determination to delegate the selection of the PCRF, the first PCRF selection node generates and sends a second request message related to the first request message. The system further includes a second PCRF node for, in response to receiving the second request message from the first PCRF selection node, determining whether to select the PCRF or to delegate selection of the PCRF. In response to determining to select the PCRF, the second PCRF selection node selects the PCRF.
US08615230B2 Method of reporting radio access technology capability and related apparatus
A method of reporting RAT capability for a mobile device of a wireless communication system includes including capability information only associated with a first RAT in a capability reporting message of the first RAT, and transmitting the capability reporting message to a network of a second RAT via the second RAT.
US08615226B2 Data communication system, relay apparatus, and portable terminal apparatus
There are provided: a data communication system, a relay apparatus, and a portable terminal apparatus in which when a mobile portable terminal apparatus such as a mobile telephone displays a screen based on display screen definition data received from a central apparatus, the exception handling of the data communication can be dynamically changed according to the communication environment of the portable terminal apparatus. The central apparatus adds, to the display screen definition data, communication control data where an exception handling procedure for communication between the portable terminal apparatus and the central apparatus is set. The portable terminal apparatus displays an image based on the display screen definition data received from the central apparatus, and performs data communication with the central apparatus according to the communication control data extracted from the display screen definition data.
US08615220B2 Methods and systems of call management
A method implemented in a computer infrastructure includes: determining a current location of a mobile communication device; determining a route of a user associated with the mobile communication device; and determining mobile call rates for the user at locations along the route.
US08615216B2 Systems and methods for managing mobile communications
Systems and methods for managing mobile device users' data, mobile devices, and communications are disclosed. According to various embodiments, mobile devices are used in conjunction with one or more servers and memory devices in order to manage mobile devices, data, and communications associated with mobile device users. Various embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods are directed to: the management of preference information incorporated into profiles associated with mobile device users, plug-in applications communicatively coupling servers involved in the management of mobile data, devices and/or communications to applications providing calendar and e-mail management facilities, the cross-platform synchronization and migration of data associated with mobile device users, the management of unwanted communications, monitoring mobile devices and data for theft detection and related protections, and the management of scheduled communications.
US08615208B2 Transmitter linearized in response to signal magnitude derivative parameter and method therefor
A transmitter (50) includes a low power nonlinear predistorter (58) that inserts predistortion configured to compensate for a memoryless nonlinearity (146) corresponding to gain droop and another memoryless nonlinearity (148) corresponding to a video signal. When efforts are taken to reduce memory effects, such as configuring a network of components (138) that couple to an HPA (114) to avoid resonance frequencies within a video bandwidth (140), high performance linearization at low power results without extending linearization beyond that provided by the memoryless nonlinear predistorter (58). A look-up table (282) has address inputs responsive to a magnitude parameter (152) of a communication signal (54), a magnitude derivative parameter (204) of the communication signal (54), and possibly one or more variable bias parameters (85). The look-up table (282) produces a gain-correcting signal (284) that adjusts the gain applied to the communication signal (54) prior to amplification. The look-up table (282) is updated in response to an LMS control loop.
US08615205B2 I-Q mismatch calibration and method
Techniques are provided for reducing mismatch between the in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) channels of a communications transmitter or receiver. In an exemplary embodiment, separate voltages are applied to bias the gates or bulks of the transistors in a mixer of the I channel versus a mixer of the Q channel. In another exemplary embodiment, separate voltages are applied to bias the common-mode reference voltage of a transimpedance amplifier associated with each channel. Techniques are further provided for deriving bias voltages to minimize a measured residual sideband in a received or transmitted signal, or to optimize other parameters of the received or transmitted signal. Techniques for generating separate bias voltages using a bidirectional and unidirectional current digital-to-analog converter (DAC) are also disclosed.
US08615200B2 Systems and methods for improving channel estimation
A method for improving channel estimation in a wireless communication system is disclosed. A wireless signal that includes a plurality of multipath components is received. N channel estimates are then obtained, where N is any positive integer greater than one. Each channel estimate of the N channel estimates corresponds to a different multipath component of the plurality of multipath components. The effects of interference between the plurality of multipath components on the N channel estimates is then reduced.
US08615199B2 Method of transmitting interference information signal in wireless communication system
A method of transmitting an interference information signal in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes receiving a neighbor sounding signal from a mobile station (MS) in a neighbor cell, obtaining an interference information signal based on the neighbor sounding signal and transmitting the interference information signal to a neighbor base station (BS), the neighbor BS which is a BS in the neighbor cell.
US08615197B2 Method and apparatus for connecting to network in a short-range mobile communication terminal
A method and apparatus are provided for reconnecting from a serving coordinator of a serving WPAN to a coordinator of another WPAN. The method includes broadcasting a neighbor terminal information request message periodically to neighbor terminals; receiving a neighbor information response message, having neighbor terminal information and LQI, from at least one neighbor terminal, responding to the neighbor terminal information request message; storing a neighbor table having the LQI and the neighbor terminal information included in the neighbor information response message, the neighbor terminal information including the LQI, a PAN ID of a WPAN to which the at least one neighbor terminal belongs and neighbor router information about the at least one neighbor terminal; and reconnecting to the coordinator of the another WPAN using the LQI and the neighbor terminal information and communicating with the coordinator of the other WPAN.
US08615188B2 Method of controlling gloss
The present teachings provide a fusing method and system of tuning gloss level on a copy substrate. The method includes obtaining an image forming apparatus for forming images on a recording medium including a charge-retentive surface to receive an electrostatic latent image thereon. The method includes applying toner to the charge-retentive surface to develop an electrostatic latent image to form a developed image on the charge-retentive surface. The developed image is transferred from the charge retentive surface to a copy substrate. The toner images are fused to a surface of the copy substrate. The gloss is adjusted on the copy substrate by providing a fuser member having a surface layer a fluoroplastic matrix having dispersed therein aerogel particles wherein the greater a weight percent of the aerogel particles in the fluoroplastic matrix the lower the gloss.
US08615187B2 Developing device and image forming apparatus having developer chute composed of stainless steel plate having regions with austenitic and hemming-induced martensitic phases
A developing device and an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing occurrence of development hysteresis and moving a developer on a chute without being retained is provided. The developing device provides a chute that guides a two-component developer regulated by a regulating member in the direction separating from a developing roller. The chute is composed of a rectangular thin plate made of non-magnetic austenitic stainless alloy, and a tip part that is one end part in a short side direction thereof is provided so as to face a surface of the developing roller. The tip part is transformed to a processed induced martensitic phase to be made ferromagnetic, and subjected to magnetic field orientation in an area facing the surface of the developing roller so as to form a repulsive magnetic field.
US08615184B2 Driving component, photosensitive drum and process cartridge having the driving component
The present invention provides a driving component, and a photosensitive drum and a process cartridge comprising the driving component. The driving component comprises a gear fixed at one end of the photosensitive drum and a longitudinal regulating component. The longitudinal regulating component comprises a first motion subassembly, a groove part and a central shaft part. The groove part has an upper chute and a lower chute which are orthogonal in space. The first motion subassembly forms relative slide coordination with the upper chute along a first direction. The central shaft part has a common axis with the gear which forms relative slide coordination with the lower chute along a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are all perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum.
US08615183B2 Sheet conveying apparatus and image forming apparatus
A cleaning brush is not made slidably contact suctioning endless belts which pass inlets, and the cleaning brush is made slidably contact non-suctioning endless belts which do not pass the inlets. Consequently, it is possible to bring out paper dust and transfer remaining toner which adhere to the suctioning endless belts in attracting areas in which the inlet holes are formed, to the exterior of the apparatus by means of sheets to be conveyed. By contrast with this, from non-suctioning endless belts, the cleaning brush can clean and remove paper dust and transfer remaining toner which adhere to the non-suctioning endless belts.
US08615180B2 Image forming apparatus having belt drive control
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier member, an intermediate transfer member, a transfer unit, a cleaning unit, and a driving controller. The image carrier member carries a toner image. The toner image carried on the image carrier member is first-transferred to the intermediate transfer member. The transfer unit second-transfers the toner image first-transferred to the intermediate transfer member onto a recording medium. The cleaning unit removes residual toner on the intermediate transfer member after the second transfer. The driving controller changes a driving time of the intermediate transfer member after completion of image formation in accordance with information about a life of the intermediate transfer member.
US08615179B2 Fixing device and image forming apparatus having the same
While a recording sheet is passing through a fixing nip formed between a heating roller 41 having a heating layer and a pressing roller 42 pressed against the roller 41, a coil 43 is exited by high-frequency power from a power source and causes the layer to generate heat. An unfixed image on the recording sheet is fixed by the heat. The power source detects a zero cross timing of a rectified alternating current, detects an instantaneous value at a point a predetermined period after the zero cross timing, calculates an effective power of the alternating current based on the instantaneous value, and controls the output power to be a desired value determined based on the effective power and the surface temperature of the roller 41. Thus power input to the power source can be quickly detected and power output to the coil can be quickly and stably controlled.
US08615178B2 Image forming apparatus with voltage application or electric field formation during rotation start or stop
An image forming apparatus is constituted by an image carrying member movable while carrying a toner image, or a recording material carrying member movable while carrying a recording material onto which a toner image is to be transferred; a contact member movable while contacting the image carrying member or the recording material carrying member; and a voltage adjusting member for adjusting a voltage to be applied to the contact member so that an absolute value of the voltage when a state of the image carrying member or the recording material carrying member and the contact member is changed from a rest state in which these members are resting to a moving state in which these members are moving is larger than an absolute value of the voltage in the rest state.
US08615172B2 Relay station arrangement method and relay station arrangement device
A method for arranging relay stations in an optical transmission system including relay stations arranged so that optical signals at a first transmission speed can be transmitted from a transmission end to a reception end, includes: judging whether a transmission of optical signals at a second transmission speed different from the first transmission speed in a section connecting arbitrary two of the relay stations where a regenerative repeater station capable of regenerating optical signals can be arranged is possible; determining a combination of sections judged to be capable of performing transmission that enables a transmission of optical signals from the transmission end to the reception end; and making both ends of respective sections of the determined combination be the relay stations where the regenerative repeater station is arranged, wherein the judging includes a judgment condition which is satisfied in a section including sections but unsatisfied in one of the sections.
US08615171B2 Computationally-efficient equalization in polmux OFDM transmission with direct detection via joint transmitter and receiver processing
A method for joint transmitter and receiver processing for computationally efficient equalization in polarization multiplexed (POLMUX) optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) transmission with direct detection.
US08615166B2 Steam generator and washing machine therewith
The present invention relates to a steam generator and a washing machine therewith. The present invention provides a steam generator including a water chamber for holding water actually, the water chamber having a heater mounted thereto for heating the water, and a steam chamber for holding steam generated as the water is heated actually, wherein the water chamber has a vertical direction length (a vertical length) relatively greater than a horizontal direction length (a horizontal length).
US08615165B2 Video-recording and replaying apparatus, I/O scheduling method, and program
A video-recording and replaying apparatus includes a block device for use as a recording medium for video-recording and a control part, when a plurality of tasks each representing a process in regard to video-recording and replaying on the block device are executed, performing I/O scheduling on the block device by using time slices each predetermined for each of the tasks so that a total amount of I/O data for each of the tasks in each round-robin cycle for the block device is approximately equal.
US08615159B2 Methods and systems for cataloging text in a recorded session
Systems and methods described herein disclose searching the content of a recorded presentation layer protocol session including the steps of storing, a plurality of packets sent to a client device, rendering, by a protocol engine, at least one stored packet in the plurality of stored packets to a local video buffer and analyzing the at least one rendered packet with wherein analyzing includes at least scanning the at least one rendered packet with an optical character recognizer executing on the server. The systems and methods described herein also disclose using the optical character recognizer to generate a word associated with the at least one packet, using a post processing component to generate identification data associated with the generated word associated with the at least one packet, and storing the generated word associated with the at least one packet and storing the identification data associated with the generated word.
US08615158B2 Reproduction device, reproduction method, program storage medium, and program
The present invention displays subtitles in a language desired by a user in a desired format. A text data decoder 121 decodes text subtitle data, supplies a character object to a character object buffer 122, and supplies attribute data to an attribute data buffer 123. The attribute data stored in the attribute data buffer 123 is changed on the basis of an operation input from the user. A font rasterizer 124 converts the character object into raster data on the basis of attribute specification read from the attribute data buffer 123 and acquired font data, and outputs the raster data. By detecting each character object bearing a bookmark on the basis of the attribute and using a bookmark buffer 125, character objects bearing the same bookmark ID are prevented from being repeatedly rasterized. The present invention is applicable to a playback apparatus.
US08615157B1 System and method for on-demand storage of randomly selected data
A data storage system allows a subscriber to store data at the time the subscriber experiences the date with an indication, such as a press of a button or a voice command. The indication causes a request to obtain and store the data to be issued. For example, the subscriber can store music while listening to it, store or request movies while viewing them, or store movie soundtracks while viewing movies. The entire music file can be stored, for example, in a vehicle in which the subscriber is traveling. For some environments, such as storage in a cellular telephone, a portion of the music is stored in a format compatible for that environment, such as cellular telephone ring tone format. When the indication is received, a determination is made as to which music is required, generally by determining the time of the indication. The music heard by the listener is then downloaded for storage in accordance with the subscriber's request. Movies, songs or soundtracks can be stored when they are viewed or heard, for example, while in a movie theater.
US08615150B2 Method employing multiferroic materials for tunable permittivity or permeability
A method of processing an electromagnetic signal, comprising includes configuring a waveguide that includes a multiferroic medium to propagate the electromagnetic signal. A mechanical strain or a control electrical or magnetic field is applied to the waveguide such that the applying changes a permittivity or a permeability of the medium. The electromagnetic signal is propagated through said waveguide while performing the applying.
US08615148B2 Optical coupler between planar multimode waveguides
Various exemplary embodiments relate to an optical waveguide coupler including: a first optical waveguide including a first area and a tapered area having a tapered width; a second optical waveguide including a first area and a tapered area having a tapered width; wherein the first area of the of the second optical waveguide overlaps the tapered area of the first optical wave guide, and wherein the tapered area of the second optical waveguide overlaps the first area of the first optical waveguide.
US08615147B2 Optical switch device and method of manufacturing the same
Provided are an optical switch device having a simple light path and capable of achieving high speed switching, and a method of manufacturing the optical switch device. The optical switch device comprises one or more first optical waveguides extending in a first direction, one or more second optical waveguides connected to the first optical waveguides in a second direction crossing the first direction, and one or more switching parts configured to control light transmitted in the first direction within the first optical waveguide connected with the second waveguide, to selectively reflect the light to the second waveguide extending in the second direction.
US08615142B2 Variable contrast mapping of digital images
Processing of a pixel of a digital image includes mapping intensity of the pixel as a smooth, non-linear continuous function of the intensity and minimum and maximum intensities of a local pixel neighborhood of the pixel.
US08615141B2 Systems and methods for motion blur reduction
Method and apparatuses for compensating for perceived blur due to inter-frame motion in a sequence of digital video frames are disclosed. One example method includes blurring a current frame using first and second blurring filters to generate first and second blurred frames, respectively. A first weighted combination of the current frame, the first blurred frame, and the second blurred frame is then blurred with the first blurring filter to generate a third blurred frame. The current frame is combined with the third blurred frame in a second weighted combination to generate a blur-compensated frame.
US08615139B2 Recording medium having recorded thereon coded information using plus and/or minus rounding of images
Computer-readable medium having an image decoding program performing: storing a reference image which is a previously decoded image; receiving coded information including motion vector and rounding method information specifying a rounding method used in synthesizing a prediction image of a currently decoded image; and synthesizing the prediction image via motion compensation using the motion vector information and reference image; wherein synthesizing a prediction image uses a positive and negative rounding method for interpolating pixel intensity values; wherein interpolation of pixel intensity values uses a rounding method specified by the rounding method information included in the encoded bitstream of the current P frame; wherein the rounding method information is not received from the encoded bitstream of an I frame; wherein rounding method information specifies one of two values; and wherein one of the two values specifies a positive rounding method, and another of the two values specifies a negative rounding method.
US08615137B2 Method for recognizing pattern, pattern recognizer and computer program
The invention relates to a pattern recognizer, which, in order to recognize the pattern fast and with lowest possible computing power, comprises a memory (12) for storing area-specific reference values (REF) calculated on the basis of image information of image areas containing parts of the pattern to be recognized, and a processor (14) that is configured to divide (15) a received image into areas, to calculate (16) reference values (REF) area-specifically on the basis of the image information of said areas, to compare (17) the calculated reference values (REF) with the reference values (REF) stored in the memory (12) and to indicate (18) that the pattern is recognized, in case in the received image there is found a part consisting of adjacent areas, where the reference values (REF) of the areas correspond, with sufficient accuracy, to the reference values (REF) stored in the memory (12).
US08615136B2 Computing device and method for motion detection
A computing device for motion detection in a system capable of detecting feature points of an object of interest is disclosed. The computing device includes a vector forming unit to form a plurality of vectors associated with a set of the feature points and form a vector set based on the vectors, a posture identifying unit to identify a match of a posture in a database based on the vector set, a motion similarity unit to identify a set of predetermined postures in the database based on the matched posture and an immediately previous matched posture, and a motion identifying unit to identify a predetermined motion in the database based on the set of predetermined postures.
US08615135B2 Feature point positioning apparatus, image recognition apparatus, processing method thereof and computer-readable storage medium
A feature point positioning apparatus positions a plurality of feature points for a predetermined pattern in image data. The apparatus selectively executes first candidate decision processing which decides position candidates of the feature points and second candidate decision processing which decides position candidates of the feature points at a higher processing speed than the first candidate decision processing in accordance with an operation mode, and executes, when the operation mode is a high-speed mode in which an operation is executed at a higher speed than a normal mode, the second candidate decision processing for more feature points than in the normal mode; and corrects the position candidates of the plurality of feature points obtained by the first candidate decision processing and the second candidate decision processing based on a layout relationship among the plurality of feature points.
US08615129B2 Pattern separating extraction device, and pattern separating extraction method
When an operator starts a pattern separation extraction tool, an input screen is displayed on the display device. The operator can choose and designate any one of document image data within the storage device through the input screen. The document image that is chosen by the operator is displayed on the display device. The operator can choose and designate a color sample by a drag operation on the document image that is displayed on the display device. If the operator inputs the designation to finish the designation of a color sample through the input device after designating some color samples, the pattern separating extraction device generates and outputs the image data that consists of one print pattern for each of the print patterns included in the document image chosen by the operator.
US08615127B2 System and method for point-based rigid registration with anisotropic weighting
Systems and methods for performing computer-assisted procedures are provided. In the systems and methods, a current rigid transformation is applied to a first set of points with respect to a second set of points to obtain a current transformed set of points. Thereafter, a linearized transformation is determined that minimizes a weighted fiducial registration error between the current transformed set and the second set. An updated rigid transformation is then obtained based on the current rigid transformation, the translation vector of the linearized transformation, and a rotation matrix that is closest to the linearized matrix of the linearized transformation, followed by applying the updated rigid transformation to the first set to obtain an updated transformed set of points. Finally, if motion associated with such updating fails to meet some criterion, the determining, obtaining, and applying are iteratively repeated using the updated rigid transformation and the updated transformed set.
US08615124B2 Comparison of optical and magnetic character data for identification of character defect type
A system for determining a plurality of PCS values for a document image representing a document having at least one area of interest on a surface of the physical item for containing critical data and a background image positioned on the surface, the document suitable for positioning in a digital image recorder, the system determines from the memory a plurality of PCS threshold values having specified surface locations matching the assigned locations of the calculated PCS values and compares the PCS threshold values with the calculated PCS values to determine whether the target portions satisfy their respective PCS threshold values; wherein the degree of target portions that satisfy their PCS threshold value is indicative of the acceptability of the design of the background image when processed by the digital image recorder.
US08615117B2 Method for estimating the concentration of a tracer in a tissue structure assembly, and corresponding storage medium and device
A method provides for estimating the concentration of a tracer in a tissue structure assembly including at least one tissue structure, from a measurement image of the tracer concentration in said tissue structure assembly, which is obtained by an imaging apparatus, wherein said image includes at least one space domain inside which the tracer concentration is homogenous and at least one region of interest in which the tracer concentration is measured. The method includes: determining a geometric transfer matrix having coefficients representative of the contribution of the space domains in the measurement of the tracer concentration in the regions of interest; optimizing the coefficient of the geometric transfer matrix by defining the best regions of interest in terms of errors in order to measure the tracer concentration, the definition of the regions of interest being carried out according to an iterative loop that includes the following steps upon each iteration: modifying the regions of interest, and calculating the coefficients of the geometric transfer matrix from the modified regions of interest; selecting an optimized geometric transfer matrix among the calculated geometric transfer matrices; and estimating the tracer concentration from the optimized geometric transfer matrix.
US08615115B2 Medical diagnosis output device, method, and storage medium therefor
An output device that outputs a schematic view showing a position of a diseased part of a human body, comprises: a read-out unit adapted to read out a plurality of schematic views output from a storage unit adapted to store the schematic views, and a control unit adapted to output the plurality of schematic views read out by the read-out unit to an output unit, wherein the read-out unit selects a schematic view to be read out based on an output format that has been set by a user.
US08615112B2 Image pickup apparatus equipped with face-recognition function
The image pickup apparatus 100 comprises the image pickup unit 1 to pick up an image of the subject which a user desires, a detecting of the face image area which includes the face of the subject person in the picked-up image based on the image information of the picked-up image, a recognizing of the expression of the face in the detected face image area, a ranking of the face image areas in the order of good smile of the recognized expressions and a displaying of the face image areas F arranged in the order of ranking and the entire picked-up image G on the same screen.
US08615110B2 Automated track surveying and ditching
A method of surveying a section of a railway to determine amounts of soil to be excavated or added at selected position coordinates of track locations includes moving a survey vehicle along the railway, optically scanning the track structure at selected intervals to obtain optical data points with position coordinates, recording images at the intervals with position coordinates, recording position coordinates of drainage points, processing the optical data points to derive ditch overlays formed by ditch profiles associated with locations along the track and ditch templates, detecting anomalous soil unit weights associated with track locations, reviewing images associated with the locations of the anomalous units, adjusting the ditch overlays as necessary, and loading the adjusted data into a computer of an excavator device for display to guide an excavator operator in reshaping the ditches along the track according to the detected position of the excavator device.
US08615107B2 Method and apparatus for multiple object tracking with K-shortest paths
Trajectories of objects are estimated by determining the optimal solution(s) of a tracking model on the basis of an occupancy probability distribution. The occupancy probability distribution is the probability of presence of objects over a set of discrete points in the spatio-temporal space at a number of time steps. The tracking model is defined by the set of discrete points, a virtual source location and a virtual sink location, wherein objects in the tracking model are creatable in the virtual source location and are removable in the virtual sink location.
US08615102B2 Speaker unit and portable information terminal
To provide a speaker unit and a portable information terminal that are reduced in size and thickness and still produce a high sound pressure. A speaker unit includes: a yoke having a rectangular outline as seen in a plan view; a magnet member placed on the yoke and magnetized so that an upper surface of the magnet member has an N pole and an S pole aligned in one direction; a coil placed above and spaced from the upper surface of the magnet member; a diaphragm attached to the coil; and a frame supporting the diaphragm. An engagement protrusion which allows the frame and the yoke to engage with each other is provided on a side which is one of the sides defining the rectangular outline of the yoke and extends along the one direction.
US08615101B2 Micro-speaker
A micro-speaker includes a frame, a yoke, a magnet, a diaphragm, and a voice coil. The yoke includes a base wall and a plurality of sidewalls defining a number of flat walls and a number of curved walls disposed at corners of the yoke. The flat walls define a number of first steps disposed at an upper level for engaging with the position blocks, the curved walls define a number of second steps disposed at a lower level for air leaking.
US08615094B2 Automatic level control circuit
A variable gain amplifier amplifies an input audio signal. A first control unit monitors the level of the input audio signal, and sets the gain of the variable gain amplifier to a predetermined fixed value when this level is lower than a predetermined minimum threshold. A second control unit monitors the level of an output signal VO of the variable gain amplifier. When this level exceeds a predetermined maximum threshold, the second control unit lowers the gain of the variable gain amplifier. When this level becomes smaller than this threshold, it raises the gain. When the level of the input audio signal is smaller than the minimum threshold, the first control unit disables the gain control operation of the variable gain amplifier controlled by the second control unit. A sub-amplifier amplifies the input audio signal. An output mixing unit mixes signals output from the variable gain amplifier and the sub-amplifier.
US08615093B2 Apparatus and method for processing audio signal
An apparatus for processing an audio input signal is provided and includes an audio processing circuit and an audio compressing circuit. The audio processing circuit receives the audio input signal, and enhances a first frequency part of the audio input signal to output a bass-enhancement signal. The audio compressing circuit is coupled to the audio processing circuit, and reduces a gain of a second frequency part of the bass-enhancement signal to output an audio output signal.
US08615092B2 Sound processing device, correcting device, correcting method and recording medium
A sound processing device includes: a plurality of sound input units; a detecting unit for detecting a frequency component of each sound input to the plurality of sound signal unit, the each sound arriving from a direction approximately perpendicular to a line determined by arrangement positions of two sound input units among the plurality of sound input units; a correction coefficient unit for obtaining a correction coefficient for correcting a level of at least one of the sound signals generated from the input sounds by the two sound input units so as to match the levels of the sound signals with each other based on the sound of the detected frequency component; a correcting unit for correcting the level of at least one of the sound signals using the obtained correction coefficient; and a processing unit for performing a sound process based on the sound signal with the corrected level.
US08615091B2 System for accomplishing bi-directional audio data and control communications
A system for accomplishing bi-directional digital audio data and control communications. There is a host end that includes a host transceiver, a host digital signal processor that outputs a master clock signal and audio data, and a source of low-voltage power for the host components. There are a number of remote nodes connected together serially. Each remote node includes a transceiver and a low-voltage power supply that provides power to the other remote node components. A shielded two-wire communication network connects the host node to one of the remote nodes, and connects each remote node to either one or two other remote nodes in a daisy-chain configuration. The host end is enabled to transmit and receive over the communication network digital audio data and digital control signals. The remote nodes are each enabled to receive over the communication network digital audio data and digital control signals, and are each enabled to transmit over the communication network digital control signals. The source of low-voltage power at the host end is coupled to the communication network. The remote power supplies each have an input coupled to the communication network to derive the power for the remote nodes from the power coupled to the network by the host end.
US08615089B2 Dynamic power management in a portable media delivery system
A consumer electronic product (e.g., a portable media player ported to a media delivery accessory) is powered by a limited capacity DC power source (such as a battery or mini-fuel cell). The consumer electronic product limits the maximum allowable sound pressure level (SPL) that can be produced by the speakers. In one embodiment, the maximum allowable SPL is based upon an amount of stored energy available in the limited capacity DC power source.
US08615076B2 Wireless digital subscriber line device having reduced RF interference
A system and method for wireless DSL routing without signal interference is disclosed herein. The system includes a DSL interface, a WLAN interface, and a power system. The WLAN interface is isolated from the rest of the system by various isolation and signal interference reduction techniques. The system can be implemented in a single printed circuit board.
US08615075B2 Method and apparatus for removing noise signal from input signal
A method for removing a noise signal from an input signal that is received. In the method, the amount of energy of the input signal is detected, a noise signal included in the input signal is estimated, an intermediate output signal is generated by removing the estimated noise signal from the input signal, and a final output signal is generated by amplifying the amount of energy of the intermediate output signal based on a difference between the amount of energy of the intermediate output signal and the amount of energy of the input signal.
US08615074B1 Method and apparatus of analyzing customer call data and related call information to determine call characteristics
A method and apparatus of processing a customer call is disclosed. The customer call may be initiated for an IVR type system or a live agent. An example method of processing the call may include receiving customer call data and recording the customer call data in a database server. The method may also include performing speech analytics on the recorded customer call data to determine instances of predefined information that occurred during the customer call, and displaying the results of the speech analytics on a user interface. The call analytics may populate a dashboard interface that provides a data analyst with an opportunity to understand the positive and negative portions of the call for future call improvement.
US08615073B2 Image display apparatus, communications control method of the same, and communications control system
According to one embodiment, an image display apparatus includes a communication module, an acquisition module, an identification module, and a determination module. The communications module receives and transmits call information with communications equipment connected to the communications module through a network, the call information indicating information to communicate with the communications equipment. The acquisition module acquires environmental information representing an external environment of the image display apparatus. The identification module identifies personal information indicating a person existing in the environment or age information indicating an age of a person existing in the environment from the environmental information. The determination module determines, when the communications module receives the call information from the communications equipment, whether to permit the communications module to receive and transmit the call information with respect to the communications equipment that transmits the call information based on the identified personal information or the identified age information.
US08615072B2 System and methods for establishing a telephony session from a remote dialing unit
A user-operated system for causing a land-line telephone to dial a destination includes a mobile telephony device having a speaker and an internal dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) dialer, and a dialer extension integrated with a microphone on the land line telephone for capturing a DTMF telephone number sequence. A telephone number is selected on the mobile telephony device, which generates an audible DTMF for the telephone number over the speaker, and the DTMF is captured by the microphone, and the land-line telephone dials the destination.
US08615068B2 System and method for intensity modulated arc therapy treatment planning
A system and method for producing an intensity modulated arc therapy (“IMAT”) treatment plan are provided. A plurality of segmentations are generated, from which the IMAT treatment plan is determined. Apertures within each segmentation are ordered by minimizing the total leaf movement between pairs of segmentations in adjacent angles, during which corresponding minimum total leaf movement values between such pairs are calculated. From these segmentations, a network model is used to select those segmentations to be used in the IMAT treatment plan. The apertures in the selected segmentations are then modified by minimizing total leaf movement relative to the selected segmentations, and subject to physical constraints such as a maximum leaf movement constraint or interdigitation constraint. Segmentation errors in the modified segmentations are then locally minimized using a network model and a row-non-convexity measure to determine the order in which apertures are to be optimized.
US08615066B2 Shift register circuit
An object is to enhance the driving capability and improve the operating speed of a unit shift register applicable to a scanning line driving circuit having a partial display function. A unit shift register forming a gate line driving circuit includes a first transistor that supplies a first clock signal to a first output terminal, a second transistor that supplies a second clock signal to a second output terminal, a third transistor that charges the gate of the first transistor in response to activation of a shift signal of the previous stage, and a fourth transistor connected between the gate of the first transistor and the gate of the second transistor. The first clock signal and the second clock signal have the same phase, and only the second clock signal is activated in a particular period (a display ineffective period).
US08615063B2 Level transition determination circuit and method for using the same
A level transition determination circuit includes a multi-phase clock generator, an oversampling unit, and a state detection circuit. The multi-phase clock generator is used for receiving an input clock signal and generating S×N clock signals, in which S and N are integers. Each clock signal is synchronized to the input clock signal and has a different delay time. The oversampling unit is used for performing N-times oversampling on M bit periods of the serial input data according to the clock signals, so as to generate M×N sampled values in parallel during the M bit periods. The state detection circuit is used for receiving (M×N)+1 sampled values and generating N detection signals by detecting level transitions between adjacent sampled values of the (M×N)+1 sampled values and the level transition results.
US08615056B2 Differential phase shift keying demodulator, receiver apparatus employing the demodulator, and demodulation method
A differential phase shift keying demodulator having an input structured to receive current data representing a current phasor and past data representing at least two past phasors, and a phase differentiator structured to process the current data and reference data representing a reference phasor to provide resulting data representing a phase difference between said current and reference phasors. The differential phase shift keying demodulator also includes a reference phasor computational module configured to generate said reference data basing on said past data representing the at least two past phasors.
US08615051B2 System and method for effectively transferring electronic information
A system for handling transmitted electronic information includes a transmitter with an encoder that performs a parity encoding procedure. The encoder creates parity blocks for embedding in transmission packets. The parity blocks may be based upon data segments from one or more of the transmission packets. The system also includes a receiver with a decoder that utilizes the parity blocks for performing a packet validation procedure to identify corrupted packets from among the transmission packets. The decoder also performs a packet reconstruction procedure with selected ones of the data segments and the parity blocks to produce reconstructed data segments for the corrupted packets.
US08615048B2 Channel estimation method and an associated apparatus
A channel estimation method, applied to an orthogonal frequency comprises performing a first number of sampling points inverse fast Fourier transformation (IFFT) operation on a preliminary frequency-domain channel response having a second number of response values to generate a first time-domain channel impulse response (CIR), the second number being greater than the first number; performing a time-domain windowing operation on the first time-domain CIR to generate a second time-domain CIR; performing a smoothing operation on a plurality of second time-domain CIRs of successive time points to generate a smooth time-domain CIR; and performing FFT operation on the smooth time-domain CIR to generate a frequency-domain channel response.
US08615047B2 Beamforming systems and methods for link layer multicasting
Beamforming systems and methods are disclosed. In accordance with one method, an optimization problem that is based on channel matrices for a plurality of receivers is solved to obtain corresponding multipliers for each of the channel matrices. In addition, a determination of whether a maximum eigenvalue of a particular matrix that is based on the channel matrices and the multipliers has a multiplicity of one is made. Further, the method includes applying an eigenvector of the particular matrix for the maximum eigenvalue as a beamforming matrix to data symbols if the maximum eigenvalue has a multiplicity of one. Moreover, data signals are transmitted to the receivers in accordance with the beamforming matrix.
US08615042B2 Pre-processing method and system for data reduction of video sequences and bit rate reduction of compressed video sequences using spatial filtering
Methods for pre-processing video sequences prior to compression to provide data reduction of the video sequence. Also, after compression of the pre-processed video sequence, the bit rate of the pre-processed and compressed video sequence will be lower than the bit rate of the video sequence after compression but without pre-processing. Pre-processing may include spatial anisotropic diffusion filtering such as Perona-Malik filtering, Fallah-Ford filtering, or omni-directional filtering that extends Perona-Malik filtering to perform filtering in at least one diagonal direction. Pre-processing may also include performing filtering differently on a foreground region than on a background region of a video frame. This method includes identifying pixel locations having pixel values matching characteristics of human skin and determining a bounding shape for each contiguous grouping of matching pixel locations. The foreground region is comprised of pixel locations contained in a bounding shape and the background region is comprised of all other pixel locations.
US08615041B1 Quantization control for variable bit depth
The quantization parameter QP is well-known in digital video compression as an indication of picture quality. Digital symbols representing a moving image are quantized with a quantizing step that is a function QSN of the quantization parameter QP, which function QSN has been normalized to the most significant bit of the bit depth of the digital symbols. As a result, the effect of a given QP is essentially independent of bit depth a particular QP value has a standard effect on image quality, regardless of bit depth. The invention is useful, for example, in encoding and decoding at different bit depths, to generate compatible, bitstreams having different bit depths, and to allow different bit depths for different components of a video signal by compressing each with the same fidelity (i.e., the same QP).
US08615039B2 Optimized allocation of multi-core computation for video encoding
Video encoding computations are optimized by dynamically adjusting slice patterns of video frames based on complexity of each frame and allocating multi-core threading based on the slices. The complexity may be based on predefined parameters such as color, motion, and comparable ones for each slice. Allocation is determined based on capacity and queue of each processing core such that overall computation performance for video encoding is improved.
US08615037B2 Display apparatus
The display apparatus includes an image display element being driven based on a digital video signal, a quantizing part converting an input analog image signal into the digital video signal based on a quantization phase and a quantization frequency, and a converting part converting an input value into an output value, the input value being a difference value of signal values of pixels adjacent to each other in the digital video signal. The apparatus includes an accumulating part accumulating the output values from the converting part that converts the difference values obtained over entire pixels in one frame of the digital video signal to produce an accumulation evaluation value, and a controller adjusting the quantization phase in the quantizing part such that the accumulation evaluation value becomes maximum. The output values a(m) for the input values k1, k2 and k3 satisfy conditions of a(k1+1)−a(k1)
US08615036B2 Generating interpolated frame of video signal with enhancement filter
In a video signal processing device that generates an interpolated frame between original-image frames formed by an existing video signal, a frame interpolation unit generates pixel interpolation information indicating for each pixel a process in which a pixel forming the interpolated frame is generated. Next, an enhancement-filter-coefficient adjusting unit determines for each pixel a level of enhancement to be applied to the pixel forming the interpolated frame by using pixel interpolation information, and adjusts for each pixel a coefficient of an enhancement filter according to a determined level. An enhancement-filter applying unit then applies the enhancement filter of which coefficient is adjusted for each pixel, to each pixel forming the interpolated frame.
US08615032B2 Process for sub-microsecond time transfer using weak GPS/GNSS signals
Sub-microsecond time transfer in a GPS/GNSS receiver using a weak GPS/GNSS signal is provided. The digitized complex baseband signal and the generated PN code are cross-correlated for each code period so as to output a complex correlation value at each code epoch of the generated PN code, where a sequence of the output correlation values form a data stream representing the navigation message. Bit synchronization generates bit sync pulses at bit boundaries. The location of a target segment having a known sequence at a known bit location in the navigation message is detected by searching through a plurality of subframes and accumulating search results for the plurality of subframes. Transmission time of the target segment is determined from the detected location of the target segment, with a certain time ambiguity. Accurate local time is determined by solving the time ambiguity using approximate time obtained from an external source.
US08615031B2 Signal processing method, correlator, software signal receiver by using code cycle
Disclosed are a signal processing method using a code cycle, a correlator, and a software signal receiver. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a signal processing method of a satellite navigation signal, including: a frequency generating step generating a predetermined frequency component for removing a frequency component of sample data; a code generating step generating a predetermined code component for removing a code component of the sample data and increasing a sample count when the predetermined code component is generated; and a correlation value generating step, if the sample count is equal to a count per unit time, generating a correlation value between the generated predetermined frequency component and the generated predetermined code component by reading a sample data block.
US08615030B2 Method and system for multi-user detection using two-stage processing
Systems and methods for multi-user detection are provided. In one aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a processing unit configured to process a plurality of received chips into a plurality of received symbols for a plurality of users. The apparatus further comprises a computation unit configured to compute a multi-user matrix relating a plurality of user symbols for the plurality of users to the plurality of received symbols and a detection unit configured to detect the plurality of user symbols for the plurality of users using the computed multi-user matrix and the plurality of received symbols.
US08615021B2 Method and apparatus to multiplex and demultiplex asynchronous bitstreams
Provided is a method and apparatus to multiplex bitstreams that are coded to have different frame lengths using asynchronous time alignment, in which, based on the length of each frame of a bitstream selected as a reference bitstream from among bitstreams coded to have different frame lengths by a plurality of coders, the remaining bitstreams except for the reference bitstream are divided and multiplexed.
US08615016B2 Method and system for managing multimedia messages using a message intermediation module
A system and method for managing multimedia messaging is described. A system includes a messaging intermediation module having, a sender-side interface configured to communicate a multimedia message between the messaging intermediation module and a data gateway of a multimedia messaging system, a recipient-side interface configured to communicate the multimedia message between the messaging intermediation module, an Internet gateway, a message store and forward (MSF) server, and another messaging intermediation module, a message storage module configured to store the multimedia message for forwarding to the Internet gateway, the MSF server, and the other messaging intermediation module, and a workflow engine configured to process the multimedia message. In response to the processing, the workflow engine forwards the multimedia message to the Internet gateway, forwards the multimedia message to the MSF server, or forwards the multimedia message to the other messaging intermediation module. Other embodiments are also described.
US08615015B1 Apparatus, systems and methods for aggregate routes within a communications network
An apparatus includes a memory configured to store multiple route descriptors as a tree, a communications interface configured to be in communication with an access switch, and a processor operatively coupled to the memory and the communications interface. Each route descriptor is a node within the tree, and includes a next hop destination associated with a next hop destination of a route associated with that route descriptor and a next hop indicator associated with a quantity of routes represented by that route descriptor. A first route descriptor has a first child route descriptor and a second child route descriptor. The processor is configured to define, at a first time, a value of the next hop destination of the first route descriptor and to send, at a second time after the first time, the value of the next hop destination of the first route descriptor to the access switch.
US08615014B2 System and method for multiple concurrent virtual networks
Techniques are provided for establishment of multiple concurrent virtual networks. In one example, there is provided a method operable by a virtual network controller (VNC) or the like. The method may involve establishing communication links with a plurality of virtual network interfaces (VNIs) operatively coupled to a plurality of virtual networks. The method may involve establishing a single port communication link with an operating system. The method may involve allowing the virtual networks to be transported on top of a physical network, and facilitating communication between the operating system and the virtual networks via the single port communication link.
US08615013B2 Packet scheduling with guaranteed minimum rate in a traffic manager of a network processor
Described embodiments provide rate setting for nodes of a scheduling hierarchy of a network processor. The scheduling hierarchy is a tree structure having a root scheduler and N scheduler levels. The network processor generates tasks corresponding to received packets. A traffic manager queues received tasks in a queue of the scheduling hierarchy associated with a data flow of the task. The queue has a parent scheduler at each level of the hierarchy up to the root scheduler. A scheduler selects a child node for transmission based on a number of arbitration credits in an arbitration credit bucket of each child. An arbitration credit value is determined for each child by maintaining a time stamp value corresponding to a time value of a previous selection of the child node and determining an elapsed time value based on the time stamp value and a current time value, scaled by a scaling factor.
US08615009B1 Interface for extending service capabilities of a network device
An example network device includes a network interface and a control unit that receives a packet having header information. The control unit includes a forwarding structure having a plurality of entries that each refers to one of a plurality of logical interfaces, a forwarding engine configured to access the forwarding structure to select a first logical interface to which to forward the packet based on the header information, wherein the first logical interface comprises a pseudo-device interface (PDI). The control unit also includes a PDI module that tunnels the packet to an external service complex (ESC) by at least applying a set of metadata to the packet, encapsulating the packet with a header, and forwarding the packet to the ESC via the network interface, and wherein the metadata allows the ESC to determine a set of services to be applied to the packet based on the metadata.
US08615008B2 Duplicating network traffic through transparent VLAN flooding
An approach to duplicating network traffic is described. In one approach, a method of creating multiple copies of network traffic is detailed. The method involves receiving network traffic, producing a duplicate copy of the network traffic, and forwarding the duplicate copy to a monitoring port. The monitoring port forwards copies to a number of indicated ports.
US08615007B2 Network switching system with asynchronous and isochronous interface
To provide a switching system with telephone switching function mainly on the basis of hardware processing by using isochronous channel which is a real time communication channel. The switching system comprises a gateway node connected with ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) and PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), and one or more extension nodes, and a serial bus such as IEEE 1394 bus. The gateway node transforms data rate of outside line into data rate of extension node, and the other way around, and secure a seamless communication channel. Concretely, the gateway node secures an isochronous channel, according to a request from the extension nodes or the outside line, and executes switching such as transfer or reservation. A resource manager holds a table for managing the gateway node and extension node.
US08615001B2 Methods and systems for efficient TLV management
Certain embodiments provide a method for managing updates to type-length-value (TLV) parameters used in a mobile station. The method generally includes generating a TLV bitmap having a plurality of bits to indicate whether or not updates exist to a corresponding plurality of TLV parameters, generating one or more client module registration bitmaps to indicate a subset of the TLV parameters utilized by a corresponding one or more client modules running on the mobile station, updating the TLV bitmap to indicate one or more TLV parameters modified by one or more MAC management messages, identifying one or more client modules that utilize the one or more TLV parameters modified by the one or more MAC management messages, as indicated by the client module registration bitmaps, and notifying the identified client modules of the modified TLV parameters.
US08615000B2 Method of signal multiplexing and transmitter in radio communication system
A transmitter time-division-multiplexes, in time domain, to assign at least a part of a second signal stream of a second channel being relatively high error-resilient compared to a first signal stream of a first channel between a boundary of the blocks and the first signal stream of the first channel of a time-division-multiplexing signal.
US08614999B2 Communication terminal device, TFC selection method, and program
A communication terminal device is operable to multiplex a plurality of channel signals based on TFC (Transport Format Combination) selected by performing a TFC selection and transmit it. The communication terminal device includes a storage unit operable to store a plurality of combination of classifications to which the gain factors belong, as a combination of gain factors for weighting each of the plurality of channel signals, and to store a quantity of reduction of a maximum transmission power when the plurality of channel signals in association with each combination of the plurality of classifications are multiplexed and transmitted, and a TFC selection unit operable to select the TFC by reading out the quantity of reduction in association with the combination of the classification corresponding to the combination of the gain factors in each TFC from the storage unit when the TFC selection is performed.
US08614998B2 Method and system for integration of trunking and conventional land mobile radio systems
An integrated Land Mobile Radio (LMR) system enables communication between a trunking LMR system and a conventional LMR system. The trunking LMR system includes a trunking site controller including a first network gateway router. The trunking LMR system includes at least one trunking control channel and a plurality of trunking traffic channel. The trunking traffic channels each are assigned to a specific trunking LMR subscriber by the trunking site controller to enable the trunking LMR subscribers to communicate with one another. The conventional LMR system includes a conventional site controller including a second network gateway router connected to the first network gateway router by a data network. The conventional LMR system includes a plurality of conventional traffic channels. The conventional traffic channels are each assigned to a specific conventional LMR subscriber by the conventional site controller to enable the conventional LMR subscribers to communicate.
US08614997B1 Method and apparatus for wirelessly routing data using doppler information
A mobile ad hoc wireless network which utilizes Doppler data when deciding with which neighboring node to communicate. Using age of the Doppler data as well as the sign and the magnitude of the relative movement between nodes to make routing determinations.
US08614987B2 Location information acquisition method and mobile station
A mobile communication method includes the steps of: transmitting, from a first radio base station (S-eNB) to the mobile station (UE) communicating via a first cell under control of the first radio base station (S-eNB), a handover command instructing to perform handover to a second cell under control of a second radio base station (T-eNB); performing, at the mobile station (UE), handover from the first cell to the second cell in response to the handover command; acquiring, at the mobile station (UE), a global cell ID, which can uniquely identify the second cell in at least one mobile communication system, from the handover command; and notifying, from the mobile station (UE) to the location information management server, the acquired global cell ID which can uniquely identify the second cell.
US08614983B2 Resource allocation method, network device, and wireless system
A resource allocation method, a network device and a wireless system are disclosed. The method includes: sorting Resource Blocks (RBs) used by a terminal of a first system and a terminal of a second system according to a use situation of the RBs used by the terminal of the first system and the terminal of the second system; and allocating the sorted RBs. When some RBs are available to a Long Term Evolution (LTE) terminal, coexistence of an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) terminal and the LTE terminal is enabled, and compatibility between the LTE-A terminal and the LTE terminal is ensured.
US08614977B2 Method and apparatus for parallel de-interleaving of LTE interleaved data
A wireless communication signal in Long Term Evolution (LTE) may be interleaved in a manner which permits a partitioning of a received inter-column bit-reversed interleaved code block for improved de-interleaving. The code block may be divided into equal subportions which may be simultaneously de-interleaved both forward and backward, and in parallel with other subportions. An even number of subportions may be provided. Dividing a received code block in this manner may improve de-interleaving performance.
US08614976B1 Method and system for registering a nickname associated with a mobile node
A mobile node is associated with a username assigned by the mobile node's wireless service provider and a nickname selected by the mobile node's user. The nickname is different than the username. When the mobile node logs on for packet data services, the mobile node is assigned a home address and an on-line registration is established in a DNS server. The on-line registration associates the nickname with the home address. The DNS server may then be queried to determine that the mobile node with that nickname is on-line and/or to determine how to reach the mobile node with that nickname. When the mobile node goes off-line, the on-line registration may be changed to an off-line registration that associates the nickname with an address of a messaging server. The messaging server may receive messages for the mobile node and/or provide messages indicating that the mobile node is off-line.
US08614975B2 Synchronizing a base station in a wireless communication system
A method for synchronizing a wireless communication system is disclosed. A silence duration for a base station is determined based on the time required for a neighbor base station to obtain or maintain synchronization. All transmissions from the base station are ceased for the silence duration. Multiple base stations level may cease transmissions at the same time, thus mitigating interference.
US08614973B2 Method and system for providing wireless service according to multiple wireless-communication protocols on a single radio-frequency (RF) carrier
Methods and systems are provided for providing wireless service using multiple protocols on a single radio-frequency (RF) carrier. According to an embodiment, a low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) provides wireless service on an RF carrier using a first wireless-communication protocol and provides wireless service on the RF carrier using a second wireless-communication protocol, where providing wireless service on the RF carrier using the first wireless-communication protocol and providing wireless service on the RF carrier using the second wireless-communication protocol occur at different times. The LCIB may alternate between providing wireless service using the first wireless-communication protocol and providing wireless service using the second wireless-communication protocol.
US08614972B2 Radio base station, radio access network, communication controlling circuit, storage medium, and communication controlling method
In order to synchronize timings of transmission through a radio channel for broadcast communication even when a plurality of base stations communicate independently of one another, a receiver 11 in a radio base station 10 receives broadcast information INFO1 transmitted from a different radio base station 40 through a radio channel CH1 for transmitting the broadcast information. A controller 12 specifies a radio channel CH2 used for broadcast communication by the different radio base station 40 and adjusts a timing of transmission through the radio channel CH2 for broadcast communication in its own radio base station 10 to be synchronized with a timing of transmission in the different radio base station 40, based on the broadcast information INFO1. A transmitter 13 transmits data through the radio channel CH2 for broadcast communication in accordance with the adjusted timing TA of transmission.
US08614970B2 Apparatus and method of block acknowledgements with reduced recipient state information
An apparatus and method for block acknowledgements with reduced recipient state information are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises the storing of a receive state for a block of frames received during a transmission opportunity (TXOP) with an on-chip state memory. Once stored, an immediate block acknowledgement, including the receive state information, may be transmitted to an originator according to a block acknowledgement request (BAR) received during the TXOP. In the embodiments described, the BAR is received during the TXOP in which the block of data frames were transmitted to a recipient. In one embodiment, the recipient is free to discard the receive state information to free space within the on-chip system memory by requiring the originator to maintain the receive state information of blocks of data frames transmitted during TXOPs. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08614969B2 Method for cognitive radio based communication and method for broadcasting policy information for the same
A method of broadcasting frequency policy information in a cognitive radio based communication system, apparatus therefore and a communication method using the same are disclosed. In particular, a policy broadcaster is provided as a subject performing a broadcast of frequency policy information in cognitive radio communication. A method of broadcasting frequency policy information using the same and a method of performing cognitive radio communication by obtaining frequency policy information using the same are provided. Moreover, an enhanced superframe structure, which is capable of providing a seamless service in case that a narrowband terminal is introduced in the middle of a superframe, is provided.
US08614967B2 Terminal devices and packet transmitting method
After a delivery tree is reorganized by a local processing, all terminal devices can recognize, in a short time, a delivery route as changed. In a local one of the terminal devices, if the local terminal device is a source node and further if the load of the CPU in any one of nodes exceeds a threshold value or the available band of the circuit line between nodes exceeds a threshold value, then a delivery tree organizing unit (462) determines nodes that receive a packet via such nodes and reselects a delivery route of the determined nodes. A packet structure modifying unit (464), if the local terminal device is the source node, modifies the header of a packet in accordance with delivery route information stored in a delivery route database (412). The packet structure modifying unit (464) then instructs, in accordance with the description of the header, a packet replicating unit (426) on a number of packet replicas and on the transmission destination of the packets.
US08614963B2 Wireless system protocols for power-efficient implementation of star and mesh wireless networks with local and wide-area coverage
A communication system that allows communication devices to synchronize the transfer of data to allow the devices to wirelessly and efficiently communicate in a star or mesh network. The communication system operates in the presence of other communication systems noise sources using a spread spectrum frequency hopping transmission scheme to efficiently generate adaptive frequency hopping patterns that are unique to the members of the wireless network based on a network identification code. The communication system employs a predictive retrieval of data for transmission from one device storing the data to a requesting device. A communication device transfers communication from a first network to a second network when the device has been moved beyond the range of the first network, where the second network is in communication with at least one other member device of the first network.
US08614956B2 Placement of wireless repeaters in a wireless communication network
The position of wireless repeaters within a wireless communication network can affect the throughput and performance of the wireless communication network. A wireless repeater and/or an access point associated with the wireless communication network can be configured to determine the optimal position of the wireless repeater based on throughput achieved on communication links between the access point, the repeater, and/or the client stations. The throughput achieved on communication links between the access point, the repeater, and/or the client stations can be determined by exchanging training packets, receiving acknowledgement messages in response to the training packets, and subsequently analyzing the received acknowledgement messages. Furthermore, the throughput achieved on communication links between the access point, the repeater, and/or the client stations can also be analyzed to determine whether each of the client stations should associate with the access point or the wireless repeater.
US08614947B2 Apparatus for transmitting packet
A packet transmitting apparatus including a receiving unit for receiving a packet; a determining unit for determining whether an elapsed time t is longer than a first threshold time X·T1; and a transmitting unit for transmitting the unsent packet without delaying the transmission of the unsent packet when the determining unit determines that the elapsed time t is longer than the first threshold time X·T1, and transmitting the unsent packet after delaying the transmission of the unsent packet when the elapsed time determining unit determines that the elapsed time t is shorter than the first threshold time X·T1.
US08614940B1 Systems and methods for reducing narrow bandwidth interference contained in broad bandwidth signals
Under one aspect of the present invention, a system for processing a group of signals and interference includes (a) an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter for digitizing the group of signals and the interference; (b) a Fourier transform circuit for obtaining a Fourier transform of the digitized group of signals and the interference and to provide as output spectral bins, at least one of which contains the interference; (c) a power analysis circuit for comparing the collective power level of the spectral bins to a predetermined threshold, and if the collective power level exceeds the predetermined threshold, and for excising at least one bin that contains the interference; and (d) an inverse Fourier transform circuit for obtaining an inverse Fourier transform of the remaining spectral bins and outputting a digitized group of signals less the interference in any excised spectral bin.
US08614936B2 Pickup head, information recording method and reproducing method
According to one embodiment, a pickup head includes a plurality of light sources, a first objective lens, second objective lens, a driving unit, a first control unit, a second control unit, light receiving units. The first objective lens focuses a first light beam at a first recording layer. The second objective lens focuses a second light beam at a second recording layer. The driving unit moves the first objective lens and the second objective lens in a first direction and a second direction. The first control unit corrects displacement from target track along the first direction. The second control unit controls a moving direction of a position of the second light spot in the second direction.
US08614935B2 Data storage system and method for calibrating same
Disclosed herein are aspects of optical tape technology, tape manufacturing, and tape usage. Methods and systems of tape technology disclose optical tape media including: configurations, formulations, markings, and structure; optical tape manufacturing methods, systems, and apparatus methods and systems including: curing processes, coating methods, embossing, drums, testing, tracking alignment stamper strip; optical tape methods and systems including: pick up head adapted for the disclosed optical tape; and optical tape uses including optical storage media devices for multimedia applications.
US08614933B2 Optical unit protection on a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head
An optical laser-activated TAMR (Thermal Assisted Magnetic Recording) slider, when normally mounted on a flexure, has an optical laser as well as other elements of its optical system exposed and subject to damage by mechanical shocks. The stand-off protective device disclosed herein, formed separately and attached to the flexure, or formed as part of the flexure itself, can protect the optical elements of such a slider from these shocks, particularly from inadvertent contacts with adjacent sliders or mechanical limiters.
US08614931B2 Timepiece movement comprising a module fitted with a wheel set meshing with another wheel set pivoting in a base on which the module is mounted
Timepiece movement including a module fitted with a first wheel set meshing with a second wheel set, which pivots on a base on which the module is mounted. The movement includes a means of positioning the module formed by a cam, at least most of the periphery of which forms an Archimedes' spiral. The cam is arranged so as to allow the distance of centers between the first and second wheel sets to be adjusted, when the cam is rotated on itself about the center of the Archimedes' spiral. The cam is preferably calibrated. The invention also concerns a method of adjusting the distance of centers between the two wheel sets using said cam to optimise the gearing efficiency of the two wheel sets.
US08614926B2 Memory apparatus and associated method
A memory apparatus includes a plurality of first bit columns for constructing a common memory space and at least one reserve second bit column. A column address of a damaged first bit column is recorded as a predetermined column address. When a byte column is accessed, data recorded in the first bit columns and the second bit columns are respectively latched in a first latching device and a second latching device. In the event that the latched access data is accessed, data is outputted by comparing the predetermined column address of each first bit column and an access column address, and when the access column address matches with the predetermined column address, data is outputted via the second latching device; otherwise, the data is outputted via the first latching device.
US08614925B2 Semiconductor memory device having a redundancy area
Provided is a semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor memory includes a main area and a redundancy area. The main area includes a plurality of memory blocks sharing a write bit line and a read bit line. The redundancy area includes a plurality of redundancy memory blocks sharing a redundancy write bit line and a redundancy read bit line. The redundancy area is provided to replace a component in the main area having a defect.
US08614923B2 Memory cell sensing using negative voltage
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices, modules, and systems for memory cell sensing using negative voltage. One method includes applying a negative read voltage to a selected access line of an array of memory cells, applying a pass voltage to a number of unselected access lines of the array, and sensing whether a cell coupled to the selected access line is in a conductive state in response to the applied negative read voltage.
US08614919B2 Memory system and method of accessing a semiconductor memory device
A memory system is provided with a processor, a main memory, and a flash memory. Performance of the memory system is improved through achievement of speed-up and high data reliability. The memory system includes a nonvolatile memory device and a controller configured to drive a control program to control the nonvolatile memory device. The control program executes a second access operation for the nonvolatile memory device even before a first access operation to the nonvolatile memory device is completed.
US08614918B2 Memory apparatus and methods
Embodiments of apparatus and methods having a memory device can include a line to exchange information with a string of memory cells and a transistor coupled between the string of memory cells and the line. Such a memory device can also include a module configured to couple a gate of the transistor to a node during a first time interval of a memory operation and decouple the gate from the node during a second time interval of the memory operation. Additional apparatus and methods are described.
US08614913B2 Method and apparatus for controlling page buffer of non-volatile memory device
A method of managing a page buffer of a non-volatile memory device comprises programming least significant bit (LSB) page data from an LSB page buffer into a page of memory cells, and retaining the LSB page data in the LSB page buffer until most significant bit (MSB) page data corresponding to the LSB page data is programmed in the page.
US08614910B2 Semiconductor device and method for driving the same
An object is to provide a semiconductor device in which lower power consumption is realized by lowering voltage for data writing without increase in types of power supply potentials. Another object is to provide a semiconductor device in which threshold voltage drop of a selection transistor is suppressed without increase in types of power supply potentials for data writing. A diode-connected transistor is electrically connected in series with a word line electrically connected to a gate of an n-channel selection transistor. A capacitor is provided between the word line and a bit line electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the selection transistor; alternatively, the capacitance between the bit line and the word line is used. In data writing, the timing of selecting the word line is earlier than the timing of selecting the bit line.
US08614908B2 Bit line sense amplifier layout array, layout method, and apparatus having the same
A bit line sense amplifier layout array includes N sense amplifier layout regions, which are arranged adjacent each other and have a sense amplifier, respectively. (N+1−i) bit lines and i complementary bit lines are arranged in an ith sense amplifier layout region among the sense amplifier layout regions. An ith bit line among the (N+1−i) bit lines and an ith complementary bit line among the i complementary bit lines are connected to a sense amplifier formed in the ith sense amplifier layout region. The values N and i are natural numbers and i>=1 and <=N.
US08614907B2 Semiconductor memory device, method of controlling read preamble signal thereof, and data transmission system
A controller, includes a plurality of external terminals configured to supply a command and an address to a semiconductor memory device, communicate a data with the semiconductor memory device, and communicate a strobe signal related to the data, at least one external terminal among the plurality of external terminals being configured to be capable of supplying an information specifying a length of a preamble of the strobe signal before the semiconductor memory device communicates the data.
US08614906B2 Power inverter suitable for a vehicle
A power inverter comprises at least a box-shaped housing; and a power module, a smoothing capacitor, a base plate made of a flat plate, and a rotating electric machine control circuit board arranged in order in the housing. The base plate is arranged with the fringes fixed to the inner wall surfaces of the housing, and the smoothing capacitor and rotating electric machine control circuit board are fixed.
US08614901B2 Inverter employing a boost chopper circuit and a resonant converter circuit
An inverter with galvanic separation including a resonant converter and an upstream mounted boost chopper is intended to provide galvanic separation in the context of a variable input and output voltage as it exists in photovoltaic systems, with the efficiency being intended to be optimized over the entire input voltage range. This is achieved in that a boost chopper or a buck chopper is mounted upstream of the resonant converter.
US08614897B2 Chip card holding mechanism and portable electronic device using the same
A chip card holding mechanism includes a bracket, an unlock assembly and a tray. The bracket defines a receiving chamber. The unlock assembly is assembled adjacent to the opening of the bracket. The movable tray is assembled to and received within the receiving chamber of the bracket via the unlock assembly, for receiving a chip card. The unlock assembly includes an ejecting member and an unlock member, the ejecting member is slidably assembled to the opening of the bracket and pushes against the tray. The unlock member is an included accessory for driving the ejecting member to slide, thereby ejecting the tray. An electronic device using the chip card holding mechanism is also provided.
US08614894B2 Electronic device assembly having protecting mechanism
An exemplary electronic device assembly includes a cabinet and electronic devices received in the cabinet. The cabinet includes four columns substantially positioned at four corners of the cabinet. A window is defined between two front columns. Each electronic device includes a casing, which includes a bottom plate, a lateral side and an actuator. The bottom plate defines an inserting opening therein. The lateral side defines an engaging opening therein. The actuator movably connects to the casing and includes an engaging portion and an abutting portion. The abutting portion extends through the inserting opening. The engaging portion extends through the engaging opening and engages with one of the columns. When the abutting portion is pushed up, the actuator moves and the engaging portion disengages from the column.
US08614883B2 Assembly of a hand held computer terminal housing
A bottom cap of a housing of a hand held computer terminal is provided. The bottom cap comprises a strap mount and a releasable fastener. The releasable fastener can releasably fasten the bottom cap to a main body of the housing. The strap mount comprises an electrical connector opening for mounting an electrical connector to the bottom cap.
US08614880B2 Solid electrolytic capacitor including positive and negative electrode lead terminals
A solid electrolytic capacitor in which a capacitor element having a positive electrode lead wire protruded from a front face of the capacitor element and a positive electrode lead terminal connected to the positive electrode lead wire is sealed with an exterior sealing element of synthetic resin except for a part of the positive electrode lead terminal. The positive electrode lead terminal is provided with a positive electrode base frame arranged along a lower surface of the exterior sealing element so as to correspond to the positive electrode lead wire, a raised connecting piece arranged to extend upward from an edge of the positive electrode base frame along a front end face and having an upper edge to which the positive electrode lead wire is connected, and reinforcing pieces provided at both side edges of the raised connecting piece.
US08614875B2 Anchor group for monolayers of organic compounds on metal and component produced therewith by means of organic electronics
An anchor group anchors organic dielectric compounds used in the production of organically based capacitors. The capacitors referred to are those that can be produced in a parallel process on a prepeg or other common printed circuit board substrate without additional metallization on copper. The pre-fabricated capacitor layer can then be built into the printed circuit board, thereby gaining on space and cost for the surface of the printed circuit board.
US08614868B2 Graded resistance solid state current control circuit
A circuit fault detector and interrupter which consists of parallel current conduction paths, including a path through a mechanical contactor and a path through a power electronics switch having active feedback control. A fault can be detected by a fault detection circuit within 50 μS of the occurrence of the fault, causing the mechanical contactor to be opened and the fault current to be commutated via a laminated, low-inductance bus through the power electronics switch. The power electronics switch is thereafter turned off as soon as possible, interrupting the fault current and absorbing the inductive energy in the circuit. The fault current can be interrupted within 200 microseconds of the occurrence of the fault, and the device reduces or eliminates arcing when the mechanical contactor is opened.
US08614866B2 Hybrid switch circuit
A hybrid switch circuit includes a hybrid switch that couples an input conductor connected to an AC power supply to an output conductor connected to a load. The hybrid switch includes a power semiconductor in parallel with an electromagnetic relay. A control circuit turns on the hybrid switch by turning on the power semiconductor at a zero-voltage crossing of the AC voltage to provide a conductive path and then closing the relay to provide a conductive bypass path that bypasses the power semiconductor. The control circuit turns off the hybrid switch by opening the relay and subsequently turning off the power semiconductor at a zero crossing of the load current. The control circuit operates in response to at least one switch control signal that indicates whether an operating fault condition exists.
US08614864B1 Magnetoresistive device with a hard bias capping layer
A magnetoresistive device is provided. The device includes at least one magnetoresistive element having at least one side, at least one hard bias layer in proximity to the at least one side of the at least one magnetic element, and a hard bias capping structure on the at least one hard bias layer. The hard bias capping structure includes a protective layer covering at least a first portion of the at least one hard bias layer and a planarization stop layer covering a second portion of the at least one hard bias layer. A portion of the protective layer resides between the planarization stop layer and the at least one hard bias layer.
US08614863B2 Row bar with smart sensor for forming sliders and method of manufacturing slider
A row bar with smart sensor for forming sliders, which comprises a row of slider forming portions, each slider forming portion comprising a slider to be cut from the row bar and a medial region adjacent the slider; each slider comprises a slider body and a magnetic writer disposed in the slider body, with the magnetic writer having a main pole which includes a pole face for being lapped, and all the main poles are arranged in a row; the row bar has at least one smart sensor disposed therein, with the smart sensor having at least three dummy poles, whose structure is identical to that of said main pole, arranged in the row of the main poles, there is a space between every two adjacent dummy poles of said smart sensor, and there is a offset in the direction vertical with the pole face between every two adjacent dummy poles of said smart sensor. The invention also discloses a method of manufacturing the slider.
US08614859B2 Stopping method for a spindle motor and related device
A method and circuit to stop a spindle motor in the absence of the external supply voltage in which the spindle motor is structured to move a hard disk provided with at least one reading or writing head moved by a voice coil motor, the spindle motor provided with a plurality of coils. The method includes rectifying the backelectromotive force of the spindle motor to produce a braking current, driving the voice coil motor with at least a portion of the braking current until the speed of the spindle motor becomes lower than a predetermined stop speed, and, after the parking of the at least one reading or writing head of the voice coil motor, stopping the spindle motor by short-circuiting the coils of the spindle motor.
US08614856B2 Imaging lens for solid-state imaging element
An aperture stop, a first lens directing a convex surface toward an object near an optical axis and having positive refractive power, a second lens directing a concave surface toward an image near the optical axis and having negative refractive power, a meniscus-shaped third lens directing a convex surface toward the image near the optical axis and having positive refractive power, and a biconcave-shaped fourth lens directing concave surfaces toward the object and the image near the optical axis are arranged in this order from an object side of an imaging lens. The following Conditional Expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied. −0.95
US08614852B2 Elongated microparticles having an optically detectable code configured to at least one of reflect or filter light
An encoded microparticle including an optical substrate including a material that permits light to propagate therethrough. The optical substrate has an elongated body that extends in a direction along a central axis. The optical substrate includes an outer region that extends about the central axis. The encoded microparticle also includes an optically detectable code that is disposed within the optical substrate and extends along the central axis. The outer region surrounds the optically detectable code about the central axis. The optically detectable code is readable when the light propagates through the outer region and is at least one of reflected or filtered by the optically detectable code. Said at least one of reflected or filtered light propagates through the outer region to be detected for reading the optically detectable code.
US08614851B2 Surgical fluorescence stereomicroscope
A surgical fluorescence stereomicroscope (1) for detecting and operating on fluorescing areas of an object field (7) is described, which microscope encompasses a first illumination device (2) for irradiating the object field (7) with light in an excitation wavelength region (E). The surgical fluorescence stereomicroscope (1) further encompasses an observation beam path (21) for guiding the reflected and emitted light received from the object field (7), and a first observation filter (9) in the observation beam path (21) which is transparent in the excitation wavelength region (E) and in a fluorescence wavelength region (F). According to the present invention, means (10a to 10c) for controllable attenuation in the excitation wavelength region (E) are additionally arranged in the observation beam path.
US08614848B2 Electrochromic element and method of forming same
An electrochromic element includes a pair of transparent electrodes, and an electrolyte layer and an electrochromic layer disposed between the pair of transparent electrodes. Transmittance of light is changed by a voltage applied to the pair of transparent electrodes. The electrochromic layer includes a first electrochromic layer and a second electrochromic layer stacked upon each other. Both of the first and second electrochromic layers are made of titanium oxide. The first electrochromic layer is in contact with one of the pair of transparent electrodes. The second electrochromic layer is in contact with an electrolyte-layer side of the first electrochromic layer. A refractive index n0 of the transparent electrode in contact with the first electrochromic layer, a refractive index n1 of the first electrochromic layer, and a refractive index n2 of the second electrochromic layer satisfy the relationship n0
US08614842B2 Volume hologram replicator for transmission type gratings
A holographic replicator configured to mass-manufacture volumetric transmission holograms and including an imaging tank having a holographic master plate opposing a pneumatic absorber. When a segment of a recording film, moveable with respect to the master plate, is placed between the master plate and the pneumatic absorber, the pneumatic absorber is repositioned in space to locks the segment of the recording film between the master plate and the pneumatic absorber.
US08614840B2 Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes an image reading member disposed in one of two regions that face each other with a transport path of a document therebetween, the image reading member being used for reading an image on the document, the image reading member including a light-receiving portion, a light-collecting member that collects reflected light reflected from the document onto the light-receiving portion, and a protruding portion that protrudes toward the transport path; and an opposing member disposed in the other of the two regions, the opposing member having a recess formed therein, the recess allowing the protruding portion of the image reading member to enter thereinto, the opposing member being disposed opposite the image reading member with the transport path therebetween.
US08614838B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
According to the present invention, it is possible to create electronic document data capable of highlighting an object detected through a search so that a user can easily recognize it. An image processing apparatus extracts an object from an input image and extracts metadata related to the object. The image processing apparatus, when determines to describe with a shape in accordance with the shape of the object, creates a vector path description of frame described with a shape in accordance with the shape of the object. Then, the image processing apparatus creates an electronic document including data of the input image and the vector path description of frame with which the metadata is associated. When a keyword search is performed on the created electronic document, highlight display is performed in accordance with the vector path description of frame with which metadata that matches the keyword is associated.
US08614834B2 Method of generating patterns representing a halftone image
A method is described for generating patterns representing a halftone image, said method comprising the generation of a first set of patterns consisting of lines and curves dimensionally modulated so as to produce variations in tones reproducing the halftones of the image using an intaglio rendering technique. The method comprises the generation of a second set of patterns consisting of microstructures separate from the lines and curves of the first set of patterns, said microstructures being dimensionally modulated so as to produce variations in tones reproducing the halftones of the image. According to a first aspect of the invention, the microstructures consist of stochastic microstructures that can be likened to a grain. According to a second aspect of the invention, the microstructures consist of repetitive microstructures reproducing information that can be recognized by an observer, which repetitive microstructures comprise microletters and/or microsymbols. The second set of patterns is interlaced with the first set of patterns in such a way that the microstructures of the second set of patterns occupy the spaces between the lines and curves of the first set of patterns and so that the halftones reproduced by the second set of patterns supplement the halftones reproduced by the first set of patterns.
US08614833B2 Printer, printer driver, printing system, and print controlling method
A printer driver for holding the setting of various parameters for a printer and effecting conversion of print data from an application, the printer driver includes: a specific character string detecting unit which detects from the print data a specific character string designated by a user; a code converting unit which converts the specific character string detected by the specific character string detecting unit to a code; and a code imparting unit which imparts the code converted by the code converting unit to the print data.
US08614831B2 Actuator and optical scanner
An actuator includes a movable portion which can swing around a swing axis, a connecting portion which extends from the movable portion, and a support portion which supports the connecting portion, wherein the movable portion is formed in a cross shape which includes a pair of first protrusions protruding along a direction perpendicular to the swing axis and a pair of second protrusions protruding along a direction parallel to the swing axis, and when a length of the movable portion in the direction perpendicular to the swing axis is A, a length of the movable portion in the direction parallel to the swing axis is B, a length of the first protrusion in the direction perpendicular to the swing axis is a, and a length of the second protrusion in the direction parallel to the swing axis is b, the following equations (A) and (B) are satisfied. 0.8 × { 1 2 ⁢ ( A - 1 3 A 2 + 1 B 2 ) } ≤ a ≤ 20 × { 1 2 ⁢ ( A - 1 1 3 ⁢ A 2 + 1 B 2 ) } ( A ) 0.8 × { 1 2 ⁢ ( B - 1 1 3 ⁢ A 2 + 1 B 2 ) } ≤ b ≤ 2.0 × { 1 2 ⁢ ( B - 1 3 A 2 + 1 B 2 ) } ( B )
US08614829B2 Ink jet printing apparatus, image processing apparatus, and method for processing image
An ink jet printing apparatus which inhibits possible bleeding by thinning color data adjacent to black data and enables printing free from image quality degradation such as gradation skip is provided. Specifically, when only one pixel has color data and pixels located vertically and horizontally adjacent to that pixel have no color data, an isolated point pixel containing a color dot is detected only in that pixel. Then, the dots other than the isolated point are thinned-out. This makes it possible to inhibit possible bleeding at the boundary between a color area and a black area and to achieve proper printing with the appropriate gradation of the entire image maintained.
US08614825B2 Image printing apparatus, image printing method, and storage medium
A risk of a disadvantage was caused where the entire face of an image subjected to an interpolation or thinning processing causes an increased boundary length between a region including pixels (printing region) and a region not including pixels (paper background region) or causes a broken texture in the image. To prevent this, a transition area is provided in the image so that only the transition area can be subjected to an interpolation or thinning processing.
US08614823B2 Technique for processing print data in parallel using plural raster image processors in order to increase printing speed
An image processing system includes plural intermediate data generators, a first memory, and plural drawing data generators. Each of the plural intermediate data generators interprets an assigned data portion of document data, written in a page description language, to generate intermediate data. The first memory stores the intermediate data generated by each of the plural intermediate data generators. Each of the plural drawing data generators reads out the intermediate data from the first memory and generates drawing data in accordance with the read out intermediate data. The drawing data includes information about each pixel included in a printed image. Once an amount of intermediate data stored in the first memory exceeds a first threshold that is set in advance, the plural drawing data generators start reading out the intermediate data from the first memory.
US08614822B2 Print data processing apparatus, print data processing method, and storage medium
A print data processing apparatus allocates memory from an unused area of memory to one processor out of two processors so that a size of the memory allocated to the processor is equal to a fallback threshold value, and then allocates an unused area of the remaining memory to the other processor.
US08614817B2 Computer readable medium having print control program, print controller and computer executable method using the print control program
A computer readable medium having a computer program product stored thereon configures a print controller to perform as a generation section, a storing section, a determination section and an execution section. The generation section is configured to generate a print command based on printing object data that is sequentially input. The storing section is configured to store the print command in a memory without outputting to an image forming section. The determination section is configured to determine which one of processing including outputting, deleting and keeping storing is executed for the stored print command based on a content of printing object data that is input after the printing object data for which the print command has been generated. The execution section is configured to execute the processing that is determined by the determination section for the stored print command.
US08614816B2 Communications device and control method for transmitting an image by electronic mail
A communications device and method for transmitting e-mail with image data attached as an attachment file can select whether to send the e-mail directly to the recipient or via a mail server, depending on the address of the e-mail to be transmitted. As a result, the disclosed device and method can reduce the load on the mail server and transmit large volumes of data reliably.
US08614811B2 Remote control system, image processing apparatus, control method therefor, and recording medium storing program therefor
An image processing apparatus capable of being remotely controlled by an information processing apparatus via a network includes a request transmission unit configured to transmit a remote control request to the information processing apparatus via the network, a detection unit configured to receive changing information for changing a setting value for the image processing apparatus from the information processing apparatus via the network and detect a content of the change of the setting value based on the changing information, and a display unit configured to display a message for prompting an operator of the image processing apparatus to determine whether to permit changing of the setting value according to the content of the change of the setting value detected by the detection unit.
US08614809B2 System and method for providing contextual exception page programming within a print job
A system having an operative set of processor executable instructions employed in connection with an exception page programming tool for programming exceptions to a print job. The system comprises a visual representation module and a graphical user interface module. The visual representation module may be configured to operatively generate at least one visual representation of at least one of a page in a page description language file, and a programmed exception related to the page description language file. The graphical user interface module may further be configured to operatively generate and operatively display a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface module may be configured to operatively display the at least one visual representation of the programmed exception related to the page description language file within context of the print job.
US08614805B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and computer readable medium storing program
An information processing apparatus includes an accepting unit, a memory, a controller, and a switch unit. The accepting unit accepts an identifier and a storage site information item representing a storage site for storing a usage amount information item representing a usage amount. The memory stores one or more identifiers and plural storage site information items in association with each other. The controller performs, if the accepted identifier matches one of the stored identifiers and if the accepted storage site information item matches one of the stored storage site information items, control so that the usage amount information item is stored in the storage site represented by the storage site information item. The switch unit switches, if a different storage site information item is accepted when the storage site is a target, the storage site as the target to the storage site represented by the different storage site information item.
US08614804B2 Document management system, document management method and computer readable medium
According to an aspect of the invention, a document management system includes a document state storage unit, a manipulation control unit, a stamp image storage unit, and a state change unit. The document state storage unit stores document state information representing states concerning document validity of electronic documents stored in a document storage unit. The manipulation control unit refuses a request from a user for manipulating one of the electronic documents when the document state information corresponding to the one of the electronic documents indicates that the one of the electronic documents is invalid at present. The stamp image storage unit stores a plurality of stamp images each corresponding to any one of possible states represented by the document state information.
US08614802B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer program product configured to execute data processing for plural requests without duplicating common data processing
An image processing apparatus subjects input image information to a predetermined image processing and outputs the image information. The image processing apparatus includes an UI processor that receives a plurality operation requests for the image information; and a request processor that interprets a combination of an input mode, of a plurality of input modes, which performs input processing, and an output mode, of a plurality of output modes, which performs output processing, and that requests the input processing from the input mode and requests the output processing from the output mode.
US08614798B2 Pattern generators, calibration systems and methods for patterning workpieces
A pattern generator includes: a writing tool and a calibration system. The writing tool is configured to generate a pattern on a workpiece arranged on a stage. The calibration system is configured to determine a correlation between a coordinate system of the writing tool and a coordinate system of a calibration plate on one of the stage and the workpiece. The calibration system is also configured to determine the correlation at least partly based on an optical correlation signal, or pattern, in a form of at least one optical beam being reflected from at least one reflective pattern on the surface of the calibration plate.
US08614793B2 Flow chamber for online fluorometer
A fluorescence analysis system may include a sensor head that has a light source configured to emit light into a flow of fluid, a detector configured to detect fluorescent emissions from the flow of fluid, and a temperature sensor. The system may also include a flow chamber that includes a housing defining a cavity into which the sensor head can be inserted. In some examples, the housing is configured such that, when a flow of fluid enters the housing, the flow of fluid divides into at least a major stream passing adjacent the light source and the detector and a minor stream passing adjacent the temperature sensor. Such a flow chamber may direct fluid past different sensors components while inhibiting a build-up of solids particles, the generation of air locks, or other flow issues attendant with continuous or semi-continuous online operation.
US08614791B2 Spectroscope
Provided is a spectroscope that can be manufactured easily, can be reduced in size, and can provide high wavelength resolution of a specific spectral band. Specifically, provided is a spectroscope with a diffraction grating 331 that deflects and separates incident light in different directions depending on to an element of the incident light, at least one optical element 332a, diffusing a light that has passed through this diffraction grating 331 and has entered the optical element 332a, a line sensor 333, which receives the light that has passed through the optical element 332a, thereby only light that has a specific deflection angle within a specific range of wavelengths from among all the light that entered said optical element 332a is selectively expanded and received.
US08614789B2 Microplate mount system and sensing methods
The invention is a microplate mounting system for mounting a microplate relative to an optical reader to control an angle of incidence of an interrogation beam at the microplate and includes a reference plane with at least one set of mount features that engage one or both of the bottom of the microplate and the skirt of the and a first positioning mechanism that provides a reversible and predetermined separation in the z direction between a plane formed by the bottom of the microplate and the reader, to control the angle of incidence of the interrogation beam at the microplate by reversibly controlling the relative positioning of the microplate in the z direction through the engagement between the bottom and/or skirt of the microplate and the at least one set of mount features.
US08614786B2 Robot for in-vacuum use
A robot positions a workpiece within a vacuum chamber of a lithographic apparatus. A first component of the robot is located within a vacuum chamber to position a workpiece along a translational axis. A shaft supports the first component such that an axis of symmetry of the shaft is perpendicular to the translational axis, and a second component rotates the shaft about the axis of symmetry and moves the shaft in a direction parallel to the axis of symmetry. The second component includes a gas bearing configured to introduce gas along a circumferential surface of the shaft and a scavenging seal configured to evacuate the gas introduced by the second component gas bearing. The robot substantially reduces, or eliminates the out-gassing of hydrocarbon molecules in a range from about 0 to 200 a.m.u., thus rendering the robot suitable for use in extreme ultra-violet (EUV) photolithography applications.
US08614783B2 Encoder-type measurement system, lithographic apparatus and method to detect an error on or in a grid or grating of an encoder-type measurement system
An encoder-type measurement system is configured to measure a position dependent signal of a movable object. The measurement system includes a light source and a sensor. The light source and the sensor are mounted on one of the movable object or a substantially stationary frame. The measurement system also includes a reference object that includes a grating or grid mounted on the other of the movable object or the substantially stationary frame. The light source is configured to emit a light beam towards the reference object. The sensor is configured to detect light of the light source reflected by the reference object. The measurement system also includes an error detector capable of detecting errors in or on the grating or grid of the sensor target object during a continuous production process.
US08614781B2 Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof having particular capping layer
A liquid crystal display is provided. The liquid crystal display includes a substrate. A thin film transistor is disposed on the substrate. A passivation layer is disposed on the thin film transistor. A pixel electrode is disposed on the passivation layer. A minute space layer is disposed on the pixel electrode and includes a liquid crystal injection hole. A first overcoat is disposed on the minute space layer. A common electrode is disposed on the first overcoat. A capping layer covers the liquid crystal injection hole. The capping layer includes graphene.
US08614779B2 Lateral electric field type active-matrix addressing liquid crystal display device
A lateral electric field type active-matrix addressing liquid crystal display device suppresses the lateral cross talk induced by the coupling capacitances (i.e., the parasitic capacitances) between the drain bus lines and the common bus line corresponding thereto with a simple structure. In each of the pixel electrodes, at least one electrically isolated light-shielding electrode is formed to extend along the drain bus lines that define the pixel electrode near the same drain bus lines. The light-shielding electrode is overlapped with a part of a corresponding one of the pixel electrodes to the pixel region in such a way that an insulating film intervenes between the light-shielding electrode and the part, the part extending along these drain bus lines in the vicinities thereof. The light-shielding electrode may be electrically connected to the corresponding one of the pixel electrodes at a point in the pixel region.
US08614778B2 Pixel array substrate and liquid crystal display
A pixel array substrate and a liquid crystal display are provided. The liquid crystal display includes the pixel array substrate, an opposite substrate and a liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the pixel array substrate and the opposite substrate. The pixel array substrate has plural pixel electrodes. Each pixel electrode has a first main portion, a second main portion, a plurality of first and second branches. The first main portion is substantially vertically connected to the second main portion and sequentially defines a first quadrant, a second quadrant, a third quadrant and a fourth quadrant. Each first branch is connected to the first main portion and/or the second main portion. The orientation angles of the first branches in the same quadrant are substantially identical. Each second branch is connected to a plurality of the first branches. Each quadrant has at least one of the second branches.
US08614774B2 Image display device with pixel sections arrayed in a matrix
In an image display device where a lenticular lens, a display panel, and a light source are provided in order from a viewer side, when cylindrical lenses of the lenticular lens are arrayed in a horizontal direction, in first-viewpoint pixels and second-viewpoint pixels of the display panel, openings whose sides which intersect with straight lines in the horizontal direction are not parallel to a vertical direction are formed. And, a shape of the openings of a pair of pixels mutually adjacent in the vertical direction is made line-symmetric with respect to edges of the pixels extending in the horizontal direction as an axis.
US08614766B1 Systems and methods for controlling a power state of a remote device using camera body backlighting control signaling
A control system for communicating with a wirelessly remote device, such as a lighting device, a special effects device and an in-scene device, in a photographic image-acquisition setting using a camera body. The control system is configured to detect a camera body backlighting control signal. In response to detecting of the camera body backlighting control signal, the control system generates a power state control signal for controlling the power state of the wirelessly remote device. The control system then causes the power state control signal to be wirelessly transmitted to the remote device so as to cause the remote device to operate in a first power state. The control system also causes the remote device to change from the first power state to a second power state. Such a system can allow a photographer to easily control the remote device while remaining at the camera body.
US08614762B2 Auto-focusing apparatus
An auto-focusing apparatus controls backlash compensation driving of a focus lens during exposure preparation when focusing is performed by moving the focus lens to a target position of the focus lens. A shutter release time lag can be reduced, and in particular, the auto-focusing apparatus can be usefully applied to the case where a moving subject is photographed.
US08614760B2 Device and method for inserting captured image data into a document
A mobile device with an integrated camera responsive to signals from a camera activator. The mobile device includes application programs capable of editing documents. The user triggers the device operating system to switch from an active application program in which the user is editing a document to a camera application by activating the camera activator. The user then captures an image by again triggering the camera activator, whereupon the active application is restored and the image data is inserted within the document. The captured image is directly inserted into an input field within the open document in the active application.
US08614752B2 Electronic still camera with peaking function
An image signal resulting from an image-capturing operation performed at a CCD undergoes analog processing at an image processing unit. Image data resulting from the analog processing are first digitized at an A/D conversion circuit and then undergo image processing at a DSP. The image data having undergone the image processing are stored in a frame memory. At a peaking processing circuit, a brightness signal Y stored in a Y signal memory of the frame memory is read out and differentiated at a differentiation circuit. The differentiated signal is amplified at an amplifier circuit and then the amplified signal is added to the original brightness signal Y at an adder circuit. A brightness signal Y′ representing the sum is output to a display LCD. The edges in the image signal are emphasized in the display on the display LCD.
US08614742B2 Miniature low cost pan/tilt magnetic actuation for portable and stationary video cameras
A pan/tilt apparatus for a camera includes a base, a stage mounted on the base to rotate around a vertical pan axis, an optical apparatus mounted on the stage, a pan actuating mechanism, and a tilt actuating mechanism. The optical apparatus includes a frame that supports a magnetic structure and a mirror such that they are pivotable around a horizontal tilt axis. The mirror receives an image directed along an incident axis, and redirects the image along the pan axis, e.g., to a camera that is disposed on or below the base. The pan actuating mechanism engages and rotates the stage into a desired pan direction. The tilt actuating mechanism modulates (alters) a magnetic field applied to the mirror/magnetic structure by, for example, moving a permanent magnet that is mounted on the base.
US08614741B2 Method and apparatus for intelligent and automatic sensor control using multimedia database system
Techniques for intelligent and automatic control of sensors for capturing data associated with real time events. Preferably, the sensors are associated with a multimedia database system. For example, a technique for controlling one or more sensors used to capture data associated with an event comprises the following steps/operations. First, sensor data captured in accordance with the event is processed. Then, the one or more sensors are automatically controlled based on information pertaining to the continual activity of at least one of one or more objects and one or more persons associated with the event in real time obtained using at least a portion of the processed data captured in accordance with the event.
US08614740B2 Device and method for inspecting a tire, in particular using an interferometric measuring method
A device for inspecting a tire (10), in particular by means of an interferometric measuring method, is provided with a measuring head, which is used to scan the tire in order to produce a measured result. The device is also equipped with a location element, which allows the measuring head to be located and aligned in a monitoring position. In addition, the device is provided with a control and display unit, which allows the location element to be controlled and the measured result to be displayed. To achieve the simple control of the measuring head and a reliable evaluation of the measured result, the control and display unit has at least one display field for displaying the monitoring position or the monitoring direction of the measuring head in relation to the tire.
US08614738B2 Stereoscopic image display method and stereoscopic image display apparatus
In a stereoscopic image imaging method which captures an image of an object to be displayed as a stereoscopic image, a three-dimensional image is generated in real time from multi-viewpoint images captured by a multi-camera, and is displayed on a viewer provided to the multi-camera, thus allowing a photographer to adjust an imaging condition. The photographer is informed of parameters, which implements a display state adjusted by an observer of a three-dimensional display while observing the three-dimensional image, via the viewer, and the photographer can capture appropriate multi-viewpoint images.
US08614730B2 Method of conveying emotion in video telephone mode and wireless terminal implementing the same
Provided is a method and wireless terminal for enabling the user of the wireless terminal to transmit an emoticon representing an emotion to another party. The method and terminal are provided where at least one emoticon may be displayed in a video telephone mode and a selected emoticon may be displayed and transmitted to the other party.
US08614727B2 Image forming apparatus for controlling exposure intensity of a photosensitive member
A first mark and a second mark are provided on a photosensitive drum and a rotation reference position sensor detects these marks. A counter is reset according to a detection signal corresponding to the first mark, and is incremented its count value according to a detection signal corresponding to the second mark. A CPU controls an exposure intensity based on light amount correction data read from a memory according to the counted value.
US08614724B2 Method and system of fabricating PZT nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor
The disclosure provides in one embodiment a method of fabricating a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor. The method has a step of formulating a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanoparticle ink. The method further has a step of depositing the PZT nanoparticle ink onto a substrate via an ink deposition process to form a PZT nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor.
US08614723B2 Apparatus and method for increasing compensation sequence storage density in a projection visual display system
An apparatus for, and method of, increasing compensation sequence storage density in a projection visual display system and a projection visual display system incorporating the apparatus or the method. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: (1) a memory containing a first compensation sequence portion that is common to a plurality of effective transmission factors and a plurality of second compensation sequence portions that are unique to a corresponding plurality of effective transmission factors and (2) a compensation sequence generator coupled to the memory and configured to construct a compensation sequence for use in the projection visual display system using the first compensation sequence portion and one of the plurality of second compensation sequence portions selected as a function of a particular effective transmission factor.
US08614721B2 Liquid crystal display device and potential setting method for the same
A liquid crystal display device includes source bus lines, gate bus lines intersecting with the source bus lines, pixels arranged in a matrix to correspond to intersections between the gate bus lines and the source bus lines, each of the pixels including a TFT, a pixel electrode, a common electrode, and a liquid crystal layer, and a potential control section for controlling the potential of the common electrode. The potential control section sets a voltage, obtained by reducing potential Vcenf255 of the common electrode at which flicker is minimum in display of gray level as black display and gray level as white display alternately every pixel by a predetermined voltage, as center voltage Vcen255 of the potential of the common electrode in display of gray level for all the pixels.
US08614720B2 Driving device and display device including the same
A display device includes a driving device, which includes a signal controller which receives an input image signal and an input control signal and outputs an image data and a data control signal; a reference voltage generator which generates a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage; and a data driver which receives the image data and the data control signal from the signal controller and outputs a data voltage. The data control signal includes a first color gamma control signal, a second color gamma control signal, and a third color gamma control signal. The data driver includes a reference gamma voltage generator which receives the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage from the reference voltage generator, receives the first color, second color, and third color gamma control signals from the signal controller, and generates a reference gamma voltage according to color information of the image data.
US08614719B2 Method for gamma correction and a device having gamma correction capabilities
A device can perform gamma correction by receiving a non-gamma compensated input; selecting, in response to the input value, a selected approximating interval out of a group of low-brightness approximating intervals and out of a group of high-brightness approximating intervals; multiplying a portion of the input value by a selected approximating interval slope to provide an intermediate result; adding the intermediate result to a selected approximating interval offset to provide the gamma compensated output value; and outputting a gamma compensated output value.
US08614718B2 Method and system for producing a rich multimedia interaction
There is provided a method of producing a rich multimedia interaction comprising identifying a theme of the rich multimedia interaction, determining its dynamic display attributes based on the theme, determining a cooperation protocol governing interplay amongst the dynamic display attributes, and designating a background. The method further comprises selecting a display motif of the rich multimedia interaction, and generating the rich multimedia interaction for display, using one or more sub-applications configured to apply the cooperation protocol to the dynamic display attributes to produce enhanced dynamic display attributes and to adapt the enhanced dynamic display attributes to the display motif and integrate the enhanced dynamic display attributes with the background. A system for producing a rich multimedia interaction comprises a rich multimedia interaction host server, a publication database storing elements suitable for use by an interaction software application, and the interaction software application stored on a data storage unit.
US08614717B2 Device and method for selecting image processing function
A device for selecting an image processing function is provided. The device comprises an analog-to-digital converting unit outputting a first image in response to an image signal having a first frequency; a frame buffer unit having a frame buffering function; and an over-driving unit having an over-driving function, wherein the device for selecting the image processing function enables one of the frame buffering function and the over-driving function according to the first frequency.
US08614714B1 Combining shapes for animation
A system includes a computing device that includes a memory for storing instructions. The computing device also includes a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method that includes combining, in a nonlinear manner, a first set of vertex displacements that represent the difference between a first animated expression and a neutral animated expression with a second set of vertex displacements that represent the difference between a second animated expression and the neutral animated expression. The number of vertices associated with the first set of vertex displacements of the first animated expression is equivalent to the number of vertices associated with the second set of vertex displacements of the second animated expression.
US08614709B2 Programmable effects for a user interface
A programmable effects system for graphical user interfaces is disclosed. One embodiment comprises receiving one or more effect elements to apply to an element in a graphical user interface for a device, ordering the effect elements in a pipeline of operations, and storing the pipeline of operations in an effect template. Then, after the graphics hardware capability for a device is determined, the effect template may be used to create a shader that includes supported effects to render an element in the graphical user interface.
US08614703B1 Automatic border alignment of objects in map data
A map editing system for processing map data in order to reduce discrepancies between geometric objects in the map data through the use of a cost function. The system selects a polygon shaped object (e.g., a park) for processing. The polygon may be located close to several polyline objects (e.g., streets) or other polygon objects so that discrepancies, such as open spaces, appear between the objects when displayed together in a map. To eliminate these discrepancies while maintaining the overall appearance of the polygon, the system repeatedly adjusts the border of the polygon until the attributes of the polygon minimize a cost function.
US08614701B2 Scan signal line driver circuit, display device, and method of driving scan signal lines
A gate driver of on embodiment of the present invention includes: a scan signal output circuit for performing alternately scanning whereby either odd-numbered scan signal lines or even-numbered scan signal lines are sequentially driven and scanning whereby the remaining scan signal lines are sequentially driven; a rise counter circuit for sensing the rise count for a clock signal in a HIGH level period of an externally supplied start signal; a scan sequence setup circuit for setting up a scan sequence to be followed by the scan signal output circuit according to the rise count; and a start signal generating circuit for generating a start signal to be supplied to a next scan signal line driver circuit. Hence, the resultant scan signal line driver circuit and method of driving a display device is capable of producing high quality images at low cost while restricting power consumption and heat generation by a data signal line driver circuit.
US08614696B2 Display device, position correction method, and program
A display device includes an operating body detection unit detecting an operating body disposed over a display screen, a position determination unit determining a three-dimensional position of the operating body from the detection result and outputting the three-dimensional position as position information for the operating body, a position designation unit designating a three-dimensional position over the display screen, a guide information generation unit generating guide information which requests a user to perform a predetermined action for an operating body around the designated three-dimensional position and then dispose the operating body at the designated three-dimensional position, a correction information generation unit generating correction information from an error between the designated three-dimensional position and a determination result of the three-dimensional position of the operating body disposed according to the guide information, and a position correction unit correcting a three-dimensional position of the operating body based on the correction information.
US08614692B2 Touch screen module with protector window
A touch screen module which includes an LCD panel working as a touch screen, a protector window disposed over the LCD panel, and an adhesive to affix the protector window to the LCD panel. The LCD panel may be a hybrid Touch Screen Pad (hTSP) type touch screen and have a first substrate comprising a first surface on which a plurality of switching elements are formed, a second substrate comprising a second surface that faces the first surface, and liquid crystal material disposed between the first surface and the second surface. The protector window may have a plurality of pressing patterns on a third surface facing the second substrate. In operation, pressure from a touch applied to the protector window engages the pressing patterns against the second substrate, transferring touch pressure to the second substrate as well.
US08614677B2 Mouse with adjustable switch
A mouse with adjustable switch is provided. The mouse includes a bottom cover, a switch assembly, a main board and a top cover. The switch assemblies are movably disposed on the bottom cover, where the switch assemblies may slide along a moving direction relative to the bottom cover. The main board is disposed on the bottom cover and electrically connected with the switch assemblies. The top cover is assembled with the bottom cover, and the switch assembly and the main board are accommodated between the top cover and the bottom cover.
US08614668B2 Interactive video based games using objects sensed by TV cameras
A method and apparatus for interactive TV camera based games in which position or orientation of points on a player or of an object held by a player are determined and used to control a video display. Both single camera and stereo camera pair based embodiments are disclosed, preferably using stereo photogrammetry where multi-degree of freedom information is desired. Large video displays, preferably life-size may be used where utmost realism of the game experience is desired.
US08614665B2 Touch screen
One embodiment of the present invention comprises a mobile computing device comprising processing components, memory components, a wireless receiver/transmitter, and an electronic display. The electronic display is adapted to detect a location of a touch and comprises a first icon adapted to toggle the mobile computing device between a mobile computing device browsing mode and a mobile computing device editing mode, wherein the mobile computing device editing mode comprises a second icon comprising a first element and a second element. The first element is adapted to select one or more objects displayed on the electronic display and display a menu. The second element is adapted to move the second icon, change editing mode functions, establish an editing start position, and establish an editing end position.
US08614662B2 Display control apparatus and method, and program
The present invention relates to a display control apparatus and method, and a program that are capable of appropriately controlling the luminance of light to be emitted by backlights with simple processing. On the basis of an input image signal, a peripheral-representative-value computation unit (141) computes, as a peripheral representative value, luminance that is output by backlights of a block of interest and blocks in the periphery thereof among the backlights formed from a plurality of blocks. A peripheral-contribution-amount computation unit (142) divides the peripheral representative value by light-emission efficiency based on a light-emission profile that is an output luminance distribution when the block of interest emits light so as to compute the amount of peripheral contribution by peripheral blocks to the block of interest. A light-emission level computation unit (143) computes the backlight luminance as a light-emission level by dividing a necessary amount of light emission of the block of interest by the amount of peripheral contribution. The present invention can be applied to a display device, such as a liquid-crystal display.
US08614660B2 Organic electroluminescent display device and driving method thereof
A method and apparatus for driving an organic electroluminescent display device includes sequentially outputting first and second prior gate signals to first and second pixels on first and second row lines, respectively; outputting a first post gate signal to the first pixel using the first and second prior gate signals to the first pixel; switching a switching device according to the first prior gate signal; and switching a driving device according to the first post gate signal.
US08614648B2 Antenna module, magnetic material sheet and double-sided adhesive spacer, and methods for the manufacture thereof
An antenna module and methods for manufacturing an antenna module, the antenna module including a magnetic material sheet for focusing a magnetic flux, an antenna conductor deposited on the magnetic material sheet and formed in a predetermined pattern, and a protection layer deposited on the antenna conductor for protecting the antenna conductor.
US08614647B2 Antenna device and electronic device including antenna device
According to one embodiment, an antenna device includes a first element, a stub, and an open end element. The first element has a folded monopole structure in which a conductor is folded at a folding portion to form a forward portion and a backward portion. A base end of the forward portion is connected to a feeding point, and a distal end of the backward portion is connected to a ground via a first lumped parameter. The stub is provided between the forward portion and the backward portion of the first element so as to shunt the forward portion and the backward portion. The open end element includes a conductor placed in parallel to the first lumped parameter. A base end of the conductor is connected between the stub of the backward portion of the first element and the ground, and the distal end of the conductor is open.
US08614646B2 Adaptive tunable antennas for wireless devices
Techniques for adjusting one or more antenna parameters to optimize the performance of a wireless device are disclosed. In an embodiment, a variable antenna match is provided with a control signal for selecting a preferred antenna match setting. The preferred antenna match setting may correspond to the setting having a best signal quality metric. In a further embodiment, a variable antenna electrical length module is provided with a control signal for selecting a preferred antenna electrical length. Further techniques for accommodating multiple antennas are disclosed.
US08614642B2 GNSS signal processing methods and apparatus with geometric filter
Methods and apparatus are provided for processing a set of GNSS signal data derived from signals of a first set of satellites having at least three carriers and signals of a second set of satellites having two carriers. A geometry filter uses a geometry filter combination to obtain an array of geometry-filter ambiguity estimates for the geometry filter combination and associated statistical information. Ionosphere filters use a two-frequency ionospheric combination to obtain an array of ionosphere-filter ambiguity estimates for the two-frequency ionospheric combinations and associated statistical information. Each two-frequency ionospheric combination comprises a geometry-free two-frequency ionospheric residual carrier-phase combination of observations of a first frequency and observations of a second frequency. Auxiliary ionosphere filters use an auxiliary ionospheric combination to obtain an array of auxiliary-ionosphere-filter ambiguity estimates for the auxiliary ionospheric combinations and associated statistical information. Each auxiliary ionospheric combination uses carrier-phase observations of a third frequency and carrier-phase observations of at least one of the first frequency and the second frequency. A combined array of ambiguity estimates is prepared for all carrier phase observations and associated statistical information by combining the arrays of the geometry filter and the ionosphere filters and the auxiliary ionosphere filters.
US08614640B2 Forward facing sensing system for vehicle
A forward facing sensing system for a vehicle includes a radar sensor device disposed within the vehicle cabin and having a sensing direction forward of the vehicle, and an image sensor disposed within the vehicle cabin and having a viewing direction forward of the vehicle. A control includes an image processor that is operable to analyze images captured by the image sensor in order to, at least in part, detect an object forward of the vehicle. The control, at least in part, determines that a potentially hazardous condition may exist in the path of the vehicle, with the potentially hazardous condition including at least one of (i) another vehicle, (ii) a person and (iii) an animal in the path of the vehicle. The radar sensor device and the image sensor collaborate to enhance the sensing capability of the sensing system for the potentially hazardous condition in the vehicle's path.
US08614638B1 Hybrid successive approximation analog-to-digital converter
A hybrid SAR ADC can be implemented to reduce the number of operations that are executed to convert an analog input signal into its digital representation. Pipeline processing operations can be executed on the analog input signal to generate pipeline bits (MSBs of the digital representation) and an analog residue signal. The analog residue signal can be compared against a plurality of thresholds to generate comparator bits that are indicative of a range associated with a subset of the predetermined thresholds that correspond to the analog residue signal. Successive approximation analog-to-digital conversion operations can be executed on the analog residue signal to generate successive approximation bits. The digital representation can be determined based, at least in part, on the pipeline bits, the comparator bits, and the successive approximation bits.
US08614637B2 Semiconductor device having oscillators, counters and comparator
An AD converter includes a first oscillator outputting a first frequency in accordance with a reference voltage; a second oscillator outputting a second frequency in accordance with an input voltage; a first counter measuring the first frequency; a second counter measuring the second frequency; and a comparator comparing a measurement result of the first frequency and a measurement result of the second frequency and outputting a digital value in accordance with the input voltage.
US08614633B1 Integrated smart hazard assessment and response planning (SHARP) system and method for a vessel
A hazard assessment and strategy formulation system and method for a vessel may comprise a hazard assessment element receiving alarms and/or data for assessing the type and severity of a hazard, a plurality of models for modeling different hazards, and a strategy formulation element for formulating a strategy of tasks for responding to the type and severity of hazard represented by the hazard assessment, wherein the strategy formulation element and one or ones of the plurality of models are in communication. Tasks may be communicated for implementation, for display or for implementation and display.
US08614632B1 Method of and apparatus for controlling a source of light in accordance in a source of sound
This device, by its organization and operation, processes sound, usually music. It provides output voltages, for driving lights, which is proportionally representative of input sound levels. Range of sound perception of the human ear exceeds the range of perception of the human eye. It is necessary to adjust the sound level by compression and Automatic Gain Control, particularly by compression, to accommodate the eyes.A requirement to have the output drive voltage drive the lights is to have a linear response to the compressed audio signal. This requirement is met with an output drive circuit which, has a linear response to the compressed signal. This is achieved with a linear firing circuit when providing output voltage using SCR's or Triacs. In a straightforward variation of the output circuit to improve the power factor, the linear response is maintained by modulating the output with transistors instead of using SCR's or Triacs.
US08614631B2 Flood data collection and warning mechanism
Techniques for automatically providing flood warnings to individuals are provided. The techniques include receiving a message regarding a water level observed in connection with a totem display at a geographic area, using the message and one or more items of available data to generate a flood level prediction for the geographic area, and sending a flood warning to one or more registered individuals if the flood level prediction for the geographic area exceeds a predetermined threshold.
US08614628B2 System and method for providing a task reminder
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for providing a task reminder are disclosed herein. A computer readable medium including programming instructions for performing a method that includes identifying task information including a task location. The method includes receiving a location of a user of a mobile communication device. The method includes receiving historical presence information identifying least one of a number of times the user is present at the location and an amount of time the user is present at the location. The method includes providing a reminder of the task for presentation based on the historical presence information, the task location, and the location of the user.
US08614624B2 Method of transferring energy between a first unit and a second unit
A method for transferring energy between first and second units with first and second meters and subscriptions to first and second backend platforms, as well as a first unit for supporting such energy transfer, where the backend platforms execute an authentication procedure and a switch is unbarred by the first control box upon successful execution of the authentication procedure. A second control box sends an amount of the transferred energy measured by the second meter to the first control box energy consumption data is sent to the backend platforms, and a consumption clearing procedure is executed between the first and the second units at the backend platforms by means of the received energy consumption data.
US08614620B2 Method for parameterizing a process automation field device by simulating the acyclic services
In a method for parametering a field device of process automation technology, wherein the field device is connected via a bus system with a control unit, parameter values are packaged in telegrams of cyclic services and transmitted to the field device whose parameter values are to be changed. No acyclic services are required for changing parameter values.
US08614617B2 Reactor
Provided is a reactor that enables high inductance to be generated with stability in a wide current range, while minimizing noise, processing cost, and eddy-current loss. The reactor (D1) has the ratio (t/W) of the width (W) to the thickness (t) of a conductive member that composes an air-core coil configured to be 1 or less, and preferably, 1/10 or less. Furthermore, the reactor also has the absolute value of a value ((L1−L2)/L3) that has had: the difference (L1−L2) between; the space interval (L1) between an inner wall face of a first core member (3) and an inner wall face of a second core member (4), at the innermost circumference position of the air-core coil (1); and the space (L2) between the inner wall face of the first core member (3) and the inner wall face of the second core member (4), at the outermost circumference position of the air-core coil (1); divided by an average value (L3); configured to be 1/50 or less. The ratio (R/W) of the radius (R), from the axis-center (O) of the air-core coil (1) to the outer circumference of the air-core coil (1), to the width (W) of the air-core coil (1) (conductive member), is 2=R/W=4.
US08614615B2 Energy transfer assembly with tuned leakage inductance and common mode noise compensation
An energy transfer assembly with tuned leakage inductance and common mode noise compensation is disclosed. An example energy transfer assembly for use in a resonant power converter includes a first winding wound around a bobbin mounted on a magnetic core. The first winding has a first number of layers proximate to a first end along a length of the bobbin and a second number of layers proximate to a second end along the length of the bobbin. The energy transfer assembly also includes a second winding wound around the bobbin. The second winding has a third number of layers proximate to the first end along the length of the bobbin and a fourth number of layers proximate to the second end along the length of the bobbin. The first and second windings are wound around the bobbin such that at least a portion of one of the first and second windings overlaps at least a portion of an other one of the first and second windings around the bobbin. A degree of overlap between the first and second windings is non-uniform between the first and second ends along the length of the bobbin such that a ratio of the first number to the third number does not equal a ratio of the second number to the fourth number.
US08614614B2 Submersible dry distribution transformer
It is described a single-phase or three-phase distribution electric transformer, of solid insulation, for use in aerial installation, in poles, in platforms or pedestals, or installation in underground distribution network for operation in air environment, semi-submerged or submerged. Such transformer comprises at least one high voltage winding (3) and at least one low voltage winding (2) concentrically assembled around a core column (1.2,1.3), the low voltage and high voltage windings (2,3) being electrically isolated from a solid material, a core window (20) being defined as a space between two core columns (1.2,1.3), the transformer comprising at least one electrical insulation sheet (4) assembled on at least a core window (20) of said transformer, the assembly of the electrical insulation sheet (4) being defined in the longitudinal direction (300) of the transformer. Such sheet (4) avoids the formation of spiral around the core by immersion water or conductive dust. The use of this dry transformer in the underground distribution networks in the cities offers more safety to the population, because the dry transformer does not explode, apart from eliminating the risk of environmental contamination through the leakage of oil from transformers in oil. Once the dry transformer of the invention does not explode, the underground installation chambers can be simpler and more economic once they do not need to be resistant to explosion.
US08614609B2 Resonant filter based on an N/MEMS matrix
A resonant filter including a matrix of n×m resonators of N/MEMS type, each resonator including an actuating mechanism and a detection mechanism. An input of the filter, configured to receive an electrical input signal, is electrically connected to the resonator actuating mechanism. The outputs of the resonator detecting mechanism are electrically connected together and to an output of the filter, such that the signal to be obtained as an output of the filter is an image of the sum of the mechanical responses of the resonators. The resonators are not mechanically coupled together.
US08614606B2 Delay-line self-oscillator
An electrical, magnetic or electromagnetic delay line self oscillator is described with a delay line arrangement, an oscillator control circuitry, and a frequency selection impedance connecting the delay line arrangement and the oscillator control circuitry and presenting an impedance to the delay line arrangement. The oscillator control circuitry includes an amplifier, a non linear amplitude control element (N-LACE) such as an active device with a negative differential conductance that provides an output amplitude has a negative second derivative with respect to an input signal, and a driver. The modal characteristics of electromagnetic delay lines can thus be exploited across a wide range of instrumentation applications, and a means is provided to enhance the achievable functionality and/or performance of the instrumentation without the need for expensive additional electrical hardware or electronics.
US08614603B1 Auto leveling receiver
An auto leveling circuit suitable for use in an RF receiver. The auto leveling circuit comprises a plurality of automatic gain control (AGC) circuits each having at least one amplifier stage to amplify an RF signal according to at least two incrementally discrete levels. In order to selectively control gain, the AGC circuits further comprise peak detectors to detect the amplitude of the amplified RF signal and comparators to compare the amplitude of the RF signal with a threshold value indicative of a saturation point of the amplifiers.
US08614596B2 Systems and methods for initializing a voltage bus and medical devices incorporating same
Systems, apparatus, and methods are provided for initializing a voltage bus. An exemplary system includes an input interface, a voltage bus, discharge circuitry coupled to the voltage bus, connection circuitry coupled between the voltage bus and the input interface, and a control module coupled to the connection circuitry and the discharge circuitry. The control module activates the discharge circuitry prior to activating the connection circuitry.
US08614593B2 Differential current signal circuit
A differential current signal circuit is described which includes a voltage to differential current converter circuit that generates a differential pair of current output signals in response to receiving a voltage input signal, where the differential pair of current output signals are linearly proportional to the voltage input signal within a voltage operating range from a minimum operating voltage to a maximum operating voltage. The differential pair of current output signals are linear over a wide range of voltage input signals. A correction circuit is included which eliminates voltage offsets in the voltage operating range due to process and temperature variations. The correction circuit also provides the capability to adjust the minimum operating voltage, and eliminates variations in the minimum operating voltage due to process and temperature variations.
US08614589B2 Method of fabricating semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device, including forming semiconductor chips having a test circuit electrically connected to an input pad and an output pad, the input pad having a first pad located on a first principal surface and a second pad located on a second principal surface of the semiconductor wafer, placing the semiconductor wafers on an inspection apparatus, each input pad brought into contact with each input pad adjacent semiconductor wafer, bringing each of probing tips on the input pad of the semiconductor chips of an uppermost or lowermost semiconductor wafer in the semiconductor wafers and performing a test on the semiconductor chips in one batch.
US08614588B2 Active filtering of oil
Fuel contamination in oil is measured by using a sensor in contact with oil whereby fuel intrusion into the oil will change the electrical, mechanical, and/or chemical properties of the material as compared to the same electrical, mechanical, and/or chemical properties of the material when in contact only with mineral or synthetic oil only. The oil quality sensor provides real-time feedback so that an oil monitoring system can actively remove contaminates and/or increase an additive package as necessary.
US08614587B1 Capacitance sensing circuits and methods
A capacitance sense system can include a capacitance sense input configured to receive an input signal that varies according to a sensed capacitance; an integrator/discharge circuit configured to integrate the input signal and discharge the integrated input signal toward the reference level in conversion operations; and a remainder retainer section configured to quantize the discharging of the integrated input signal, and retain any remainder of the integrated input signal that follows a quantization point for a next conversion by the integrator/discharge circuit.
US08614582B2 Method of simultaneously screening a plurality of people
A detector system with a portal including a plurality of output ports that direct a plurality of output airstreams in an essentially horizontal direction, and a plurality of intake ports that pull in air. The system also includes at least one concentrator coupled to at least one of the intake ports, and a detector coupled to the concentrator. The horizontally oriented output airstreams and multiple intake ports provide a system that can rapidly screen multiple people for explosives and other substances.
US08614578B2 Attenuation of electromagnetic signals passing through conductive material
The present disclosure relates to determining the attenuation of an electromagnetic signal passing through a conductive material. An antenna is provided and placed in relatively close proximity to the conductive material. An alternating current is passed through the antenna and the impedance of the antenna is measured. The attenuation is determined using the measured impedance. A single frequency measurement may be made, or multiple measurements using different frequencies may be made. Grouped parameters based on properties of the material and the frequency of the current are used to relate the coil impedance to the attenuation. A current frequency for which the ratio of the antenna's resistive part of the impedance to the angular frequency of the current is substantially insensitive to at least one of the parameters is preferred.
US08614574B2 Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus is provided, which is capable of reducing SAR while maintaining S/N ratio and image contrast in a GrE-type pulse sequence, regardless of whether a synchronous imaging is performed or not.The present invention controls a flip angle as to each measurement set 409 that is obtained by division according to the size of phase encoding and a body motion cycle of a subject in the GrE-type pulse sequence. In a set 501 which measures echoes with phase encoding having a minimum absolute value, the flip angle is maximized as to the RF pulse having a minimum phase encoding amount and at least one RF pulse irradiated immediately before. As for the other RF pulses, the flip angle varies within a range less than the maximum, irrespective of the non-imaging mode, the imaging mode, or the size of phase encoding.
US08614569B2 Method of controlling a switched-mode power supply having a single inductive element and several outputs, and corresponding power supply, in particular for a cellular mobile telephone
The switched-mode power supply includes a switching cell having an inductive element with two connections and several individually selectable outputs, and in which the two connections of the inductive element are joined respectively to at least two of the individually selectable outputs. It is thus possible to generate and regulate at least two different voltages, one positive and one negative.
US08614568B2 Gate drive circuit of the voltage drive type semiconductor element and power converter
A power converting apparatus having a gate drive circuit including a push-pull circuit consisting of two transistors at its output stage; a diode connected in series with the push-pull circuit; a gate power source connected in parallel with the series circuit of the push-pull circuit and the diode; a negative voltage generating circuit connected in parallel with the push-pull circuit; a transistor connected between the output terminal of the negative voltage generating circuit and the negative terminal of the gate power source, wherein the output voltage of the push-pull circuit is switched from positive polarity to negative polarity and vice versa depending on the signal applied to the base terminals of the transistors.
US08614564B2 Systems and methods for providing power to a load based upon a control strategy
Systems and methods are provided for an electrical system. The electrical system includes a load, an interface configured to receive a voltage from a voltage source, and a controller configured to receive the voltage from the voltage source through the interface and to provide a voltage and current to the load. Wherein, when the controller is in a constant voltage mode, the controller provides a constant voltage to the load, when the controller is in a constant current mode, the controller provides a constant current to the load, and when the controller is in a constant power mode, the controller provides a constant power to the load.
US08614563B2 Battery cell state of charge balancing
Methods and systems for balancing a state of charge of cell units of a battery pack of a vehicle are provided. Voltage sensors each measure a first value of state of charge of respective cell units at a first time, and a second value of state of charge of the respective cell units at a second time that is subsequent to the first time. A current sensor measures a current of the battery pack. A controller is coupled to the voltage sensors and the current sensor. The controller balances the state of charge around a predetermined calibrated value using the first values of state of charge, the second values of state of charge, and the current.
US08614558B2 Motor control apparatus and motor control method thereof
Disclosed herein are a motor control apparatus and a motor control method thereof. The motor control method includes estimating a current torque of a motor based on dynamics of a body driven by the motor, judging whether the estimated torque is higher than a predetermined torque value, compensating for a velocity profile to drive the motor from the predetermined torque value, upon judging that the estimated torque is higher than the predetermined torque value, and driving the motor using the compensated velocity profile. Thereby, the velocity profile is compensated for in real time, and thus the velocity of the motor is raised while preventing the motor from stepping out.
US08614556B1 Down sampling method for hard disk speed control loop
In some implementations, a method includes receiving rotational speed information corresponding to a rotational speed of a spindle motor having a plurality of poles, down sampling the rotational speed information to obtain speed-related information associated with the spindle motor, and adjusting the rotational speed of the spindle motor based on the speed-related information.
US08614550B2 Supervision for a light display device
A device and method may include, in a display device, emitting visible light in a humanly imperceptible manner and sensing said light to verify operation of the display device.
US08614548B2 Electroluminescent display and method for production
The present invention relates to an electroluminescent display. The display includes a front conductive layer, a first dielectric layer, a light emitting layer, a second dielectric layer, and a rear conductive layer. The rear conductive layer defines a continuous void, where the void separates the rear conductive layer into a first area to be energized to electroluminate and a second area that is not energized.
US08614545B2 Organic EL display device having a bank formed to fill spaces between pixel electrodes
A method of manufacturing an organic EL element according to the present invention comprises the steps of forming pixel electrodes (801), (802), (803) on a transparent substrate' (804) and forming on the pixel electrodes by patterning luminescent layers (806), (807), (808) made of an organic compound by means of an ink-jet method. According to this method, it is possible to carry out a high precise patterning easily and in a short time, thereby enabling to carry out optimization for a film design and luminescent characteristic easily as well as making it easy to adjust a luminous efficiency.
US08614543B2 Light source
A lamp comprises a light source in the form of a light emitting resonator 1, a magnetron 2 and a stub tuner 3. A reflector 4 is fitted at the junction of the light source and the stub tuner, for directing the light in a generally collimated beam 5. The light emitting resonator comprises an enclosure 11 formed of inner and outer envelopes 12,13 of quartz. These are circular cylindrical tubes 14,15, with respective end plates 16,17. A tungsten wire mesh 18, of a mesh size to exhibit a ground plane to microwaves within the resonator, is sandwiched between the tubes and the end plates respectively. Each envelope, comprised of its tube and end plates is hermetic. An earth connection 18′ extends from the mesh to the outside of the envelope. The length axially of the enclosure between the wire mesh sandwiched between the end plates is λ/2 for the operating microwave frequency. At one end of the enclosure, a molybdenum drive connection 19 extends to a tungsten disc 20. This is arranged transverse the axis A of the enclosure at 1/16λ from the mesh at its end of the enclosure. The enclosure is filled with excitable plasma material, such as a dose of metal halide in a rare earth gas. The disc acts as antenna and is driven by the magnetron 2, via the matching circuit 3.
US08614541B2 Spark plug with ceramic electrode tip
A spark plug (20) for igniting a mixture of fuel and air of an internal combustion engine comprises a center electrode (22) and a ground electrode (24). At least one of the electrodes (22, 24) includes a body portion (28, 30) formed of thermally conductive material and a firing tip (32, 34) disposed on the body portion (28, 30). The firing tip (32, 34) includes a ceramic material, providing an exposed firing surface (36, 38). The ceramic material is an electrically conductive, monolithic ceramic material. Examples of preferred ceramic materials include titanium diboride, silicon carbide, ternary carbide, and ternary nitride. The ceramic material can also include oxides, borides, nitrides, carbides, silicides, or MAX phases.
US08614540B2 HF ignition device
The invention relates to an HF ignition device for igniting a fuel in an internal combustion engine with a corona discharge, comprising an ignition electrode, an insulating body on which the ignition electrode is mounted, the insulating body having a continuous channel in which an inner conductor leading to the ignition electrode is disposed, and an outer conductor which encloses the insulating body and, in combination with a section of the inner conductor, forms a capacitor, wherein the channel is filled with an electrically conductive filling material which encloses at least one conductor piece that forms at least one section of the inner conductor.
US08614538B2 Electric machine cooling system and method
Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module and a method for cooling an electric machine. The electric machine module contains an electric machine including a stator with stator end turns and a housing with at least two removably-coupled frame members. Each of the at least two removably-coupled frame members include an inner wall, an outer wall, and a coolant cavity defined between the inner wall and the outer wall. The coolant cavity can be positioned substantially around one of the stator end turns radially and substantially beside the one stator end turn axially.
US08614536B2 Piezoelectric element, and piezoelectric actuator and vibration wave motor including piezoelectric element
Provided is a piezoelectric element including: an electrode portion including a piezoelectric layer and an electrode layer that are laminated; and a non-electrode portion that is in contact with the electrode portion and includes a piezoelectric layer without an electrode layer, in which the non-electrode portion includes a region having a density smaller than a density of the piezoelectric layer of the electrode portion.
US08614535B2 Substrate, manufacturing method of substrate and saw device
A substrate having appropriate strength and allowing firm bonding to a piezoelectric substrate and the like can be obtained at a lower cost. The substrate for an SAW device is formed of spinel, and PV value representing difference in level of one main surface of the substrate is at least 2 nm and at most 8 nm. Preferably, average roughness Ra of one main surface of the substrate is at least 0.01 nm and at most 0.5 nm. With such characteristics, the main surface of the substrate to be bonded to a piezoelectric substrate of the SAW device can be bonded satisfactorily to the piezoelectric material forming the piezoelectric substrate utilizing van der Waals interaction.
US08614528B2 Electric machine having radial dividers for guiding cooling air
An electric machine has a housing, a rotor shaft mounted in the housing, a rotor laminate stack arranged on the rotor shaft and having axial cooling channels and radial cooling channels, and a stator laminate stack having radial cooling channels which are open radially inwards and radially outwards and interact with the radial cooling channels of the rotor laminate stack. The housing has a lateral surface to delimit the housing interior in a radial direction and radial dividers arranged between end windings of the stator winding and the axial ribs, when viewed in the radial direction, and are spaced in the radial direction from the lateral surface delimiting the housing interior and forming tangential cooling air channels for the cooling air.
US08614527B2 Motor and vehicle
This disclosure discloses a motor comprising: a motor main body; and a winding switching unit configured to switch windings of the motor main body; the motor main body including: a motor housing that a first coolant channel is formed inside; and a stator having the windings and fixed to an inner surface of the motor housing, the winding switching unit including: a winding switching housing that a second coolant channel is formed inside and being disposed on an outer surface of the motor housing, and heat-generating components disposed at an outer surface of the winding switching housing and used to switch the windings.
US08614526B2 System and method for magnetic power transfer
System and method for wireless power transfer based on values set to comply with limits from multiple different agencies.
US08614524B2 Onboard power supply and method for operating an onboard power supply
An onboard power supply, contains a starter power supply having a high-power load, particularly a starter and a first energy storage, particularly a double-layer capacitor. The onboard power supply further has an intermediate power supply with a second energy storage, particularly a rechargeable lithium polymer battery and a load power supply with at least one electric load. The starter power supply is electrically coupled to the intermediate power supply via a first voltage converter. The intermediate power supply is electrically coupled to the load power supply via a second voltage converter, and the onboard power supply has a controller, which controls or regulates the electric voltage in the intermediate power supply in dependence on a parameter of the second energy storage.
US08614523B2 Turbine assembly
A turbine assembly comprising a blade assembly having a plurality of curved blades with an inner end of each of the curved blades terminating at a cavity. The cavity has an open side with a generator located within the cavity and coupled to the blade assembly. The turbine assembly is suitable for underwater use. Multiple turbine assemblies may be connected to form a power generation station.
US08614519B2 Electric power storage power plant
An electric power storage power plant that utilizes an existing electric power source to capture and store electricity, and then instantly retransmit it on demand, is disclosed. An electric motor transfers rotational energy to at least one energy storage spring that rotationally connects to an electric generator via a variety of rotational energy connecting elements. Utilizing energy storage springs in this manner enables intermittent generation from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, to provide base load electric power, as well as providing frequency regulation, by providing storage to the national electric power grids. Electric grid power may be utilized when the price is low, and then released and transferred to an electric generator when the price of electricity is higher. Rotational energy storage may be utilized to provide backup power for applications of all sizes. It is efficient, scalable, and deployable almost anywhere.
US08614512B2 Solder ball contact susceptible to lower stress
A solder ball contact and a method of making a solder ball contact includes: a first insulating layer with a via formed on an integrated circuit (IC) chip and a metal pad; an under bump metallurgy (UBM) structure disposed within the via and on a portion of the first insulating layer, surrounding the via; a second insulating layer formed on an upper surface of an outer portion of the UBM structure that is centered on the via; and a solder ball that fills the via and is disposed above an upper surface of an inner portion of the UBM structure that contacts the via, in which the UBM structure that underlies the solder ball is of a greater diameter than the solder ball.
US08614511B2 Three dimensional semiconductor memory device and method of fabricating the same
Provided are a three dimensional semiconductor memory device and a method of fabricating the same. The method includes forming a stepwise structure by using mask patterns and a sacrificial mask pattern formed on the mask patterns as a consumable etch mask.
US08614510B2 Semiconductor device including a metal wiring with a metal cap
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an insulating film including silicon, oxygen, carbon and hydrogen above a semiconductor substrate, forming a wiring trench in the insulating film, forming a metal film to be a metal wiring on the insulating film such that the metal film is provided in the wiring trench, forming the metal wiring by removing the metal film outside the wiring trench, performing a hydrophobic treatment to the surface of the insulating film after the forming the metal wiring, and forming a metal cap selectively on an upper surface of the metal wiring by plating after the performing the hydrophobic treatment.
US08614506B1 RFID tags with bumped substrate, and apparatuses and methods for making
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are provided, along with apparatuses and methods for making. In some embodiments, the RFID tags include an RFID tag chip that is attached to an inlay and/or a strap. The inlay or strap has one or more contact bumps formed thereon. In some of these embodiments, the RFID tag chip includes pads for electrical contacts, but not chip-bumps, thanks to the contact bump.
US08614505B2 Semiconductor device with heat spreader
A BGA type semiconductor device includes: a substrate having wirings and electrodes; a semiconductor element disposed on the substrate, having a rectangular plan shape, and a plurality of electrodes disposed along each side of the semiconductor element; a plurality of wires connecting the electrodes on the semiconductor element with the electrodes on the substrate; a heat dissipation member disposed on the substrate, covering the semiconductor element, and having openings formed in areas facing apex portions of the plurality of wires connected to the electrodes formed along each side of the semiconductor element; and a sealing resin member for covering and sealing the semiconductor element and heat dissipation member.
US08614502B2 Three dimensional semiconductor assembly board with bump/flange supporting board, coreless build-up circuitry and built-in electronic device
A semiconductor assembly board includes a supporting board, a coreless build-up circuitry and a built-in electronic device. The supporting board includes a bump, a flange and a via hole in the bump. The built-in electronic device extends into the via hole and is electrically connected to the build-up circuitry. The build-up circuitry extends from the flange and the built-in electronic device and provides signal routing for the built-in electronic device. The supporting board provides mechanical support, ground/power plane and heat sink for the coreless build-up circuitry.
US08614501B2 Method of producing a layer of cavities
A method of producing a layer of cavities in a structure comprises at least one substrate formed from a material that can be oxidized or nitrided, the method comprising the following steps: implanting ions into the substrate in order to form an implanted ion concentration zone at a predetermined mean depth; heat treating the implanted substrate to form a layer of cavities at the implanted ion concentration zone; and forming an insulating layer in the substrate by thermochemical treatment from one surface of the substrate, the insulating layer that is formed extending at least partially into the layer of cavities.
US08614500B2 Film forming apparatus, film forming method, and semiconductor device
According one embodiment, a film forming apparatus includes a stage, a coating section, a vapor supply section, a blower section, and a controller. On the stage, an coating target is placed. The coating section applies a material to a predetermined region on the coating target placed on the stage to form a coating film. The vapor supply section generates solvent vapor capable of dissolving the coating film. The blower section blows the solvent vapor generated by the vapor supply section onto the coating film on the coating target placed on the stage. The controller controls an amount of the solvent vapor to be blown by the blower section so that: the coating film is dissolved; viscosity in a part of the coating film on a surface layer side is lower than that in a part thereof on the coating target side; and the viscosity in the part on the surface layer side and the viscosity of the coating target side take such values that prevent the coating film on the coating target from spreading.
US08614496B2 Method to scale down IC layout
A method scales down an integrated circuit layout structure without substantially jeopardizing electronic characteristics of devices. First, a conductive line set includes a first conductive line and a second conductive line respectively passing through a first region and a second region. Second, a sizing-down operation is performed so that the first conductive line and the second conductive line respectively have a first region scaled-down line width, a first region scaled-down space and a first region scaled-down pitch in the first region as well as selectively have a second region original line width, a second region scaled-down space and a second region scaled-down pitch in the second region. The first region scaled-down line width and the second region original line width are substantially different from each other.
US08614487B2 Split dual gate field effect transistor
A semiconductor device with at least two gate regions. The device includes a substrate region including a surface, a source region in the substrate region, and a drain region in the substrate region. The drain region and the source region are separate from each other. Additionally, the device includes a first gate region on the surface, a second gate region on the surface, and an insulation region on the surface and between the first gate region and the second gate region. The first gate region and the second gate region are separated by the insulation region. The first gate region is capable of forming a first channel in the substrate region. The first channel is from the source region to the drain region. The second gate region is capable of forming a second channel in the substrate region. The second channel is from the source region to the drain region.
US08614484B2 High voltage device with partial silicon germanium epi source/drain
A semiconductor device is provided which includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate structure formed on the substrate, sidewall spacers formed on each side of the gate structure, a source and a drain formed in the substrate on either side of the gate structure, the source and drain having a first type of conductivity, a lightly doped region formed in the substrate and aligned with a side of the gate structure, the lightly doped region having the first type of conductivity, and a barrier region formed in the substrate and adjacent the drain. The barrier region is formed by doping a dopant of a second type of conductivity different from the first type of conductivity.
US08614483B2 Insulated gate semiconductor device
An insulated gate semiconductor device includes a first conductivity-type semiconductor substrate, a second conductivity-type base layer on a first surface side of the substrate, a trench dividing the base layer into channel and floating layers, and a first conductivity-type emitter region that is formed in the channel layer and in contact with the trench. The semiconductor device includes a gate insulation layer in the trench, a gate electrode on the insulation layer, an emitter electrode electrically connected to the emitter region and the floating layer, a second conductivity-type collector layer in the substrate, and a collector electrode on the collector layer. The floating layer has a lower impurity concentration than the channel layer. The floating layer has a first conductivity-type hole stopper layer located at a predetermined depth from the first surface of the substrate and at least partially spaced from the insulation layer.
US08614480B2 Power MOSFET with integrated gate resistor and diode-connected MOSFET
A power MOSFET is formed in a semiconductor device with a parallel combination of a shunt resistor and a diode-connected MOSFET between a gate input node of the semiconductor device and a gate of the power MOSFET. A gate of the diode-connected MOSFET is connected to the gate of the power MOSFET. Source and drain nodes of the diode-connected MOSFET are connected to a source node of the power MOSFET through diodes. The drain node of the diode-connected MOSFET is connected to the gate input node of the semiconductor device. The source node of the diode-connected MOSFET is connected to the gate of the power MOSFET. The power MOSFET and the diode-connected MOSFET are integrated into the substrate of the semiconductor device so that the diode-connected MOSFET source and drain nodes are electrically isolated from the power MOSFET source node through a pn junction.
US08614477B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device provided with memory cell transistors arranged in a direction and a select transistor to select the memory cell transistors, each of the memory cell transistors of a charge trap type are at least composed of a first insulating layer and a first gate electrode respectively, and the select transistor is at least composed of a second insulating layer and a second gate electrode. The first gate electrode is provided with a first silicide layer of a first width formed on the first insulating layer. The second gate electrode is provided with an impurity-doped silicon layer formed on the second insulating layer and with a second silicide layer of a second width formed on the impurity-doped silicon layer. The second silicide has the same composition as the first silicide. The second width is larger than the first width.
US08614475B2 Void free interlayer dielectric
A method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device includes forming a number of memory cells. The method also includes depositing a first dielectric layer over the memory cells, where the first dielectric layer is a conformal layer having a substantially uniform thickness. The method further includes depositing a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer. Together, the first and second dielectric layers form an interlayer dielectric without voids.
US08614472B1 Systems and methods for adjusting ultra-small metal-oxide-metal capacitors
An integrated circuit metal oxide metal (MOM) variable capacitor includes a first plate; one or more pairs of second plates positioned on both sides of the first plate; one or more pairs of control plates positioned on both sides of the first plate and positioned between the pairs of second plates; and a switch coupled to each control plate and a fixed potential.
US08614467B2 Method of gate work function adjustment and metal gate transistor
A method of gate work function adjustment includes the steps as follow. First, a substrate is provided, wherein a metal gate is disposed on the substrate, a source doping region and a drain doping region are disposed in the substrate at opposite sites of the metal gate, wherein the metal gate is divided into a source side adjacent to the source doping region, and a drain side adjacent to the drain doping region. Later, a mask layer is formed to cover the source doping region and the drain doping region. After that, an implantation process is performed to implant nitrogen into the metal gate so as to make a first nitrogen concentration of the source side higher than a second nitrogen concentration of the drain side. Finally, the mask layer is removed.
US08614464B2 Nitride-based semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein are a nitride-based semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same. The nitride-based semiconductor device includes: a base substrate having a front surface and a rear surface opposite to the front surface; an epitaxial growth film formed on the front surface of the base substrate; a semiconductor layer formed on the rear surface of the base substrate; and an electrode structure body provided on the epitaxial growth film.
US08614454B2 Semiconductor light-emitting device, manufacturing method thereof, and lamp
A semiconductor light-emitting device which includes: a single-crystal substrate formed with a plurality of projection portions on a c-plane main surface; an intermediate layer which is formed to cover the main surface of the single-crystal substrate, in which a film thickness t2 on the projection portion is smaller than a film thickness t1 on the c-plane surface, in which the film thickness t2 on the projection portion is 60% or more of the film thickness t1 on the c-plane surface, and which includes AlN having a single-crystal phase on the c-plane surface and a polycrystalline phase on the projection portion; and a semiconductor layer which is formed on the intermediate layer and includes a group III nitride semiconductor.
US08614453B2 Chip-type light emitting device having precisely coated wavelength-converting layer and packaged structure thereof
The invention relates to a chip-type light emitting device including one or more light emitting semiconductors and one or more frames provided over a top of the one or more light emitting semiconductors.
US08614451B2 Light emitting diode device
A plurality of separate lead frames can be insert-molded in a reflector composed of a white resin having a high reflectivity to form a package for an LED device. A cavity is formed in the reflector. The cavity can have an inner circumferential surface that opens wider in an upward direction. Cups can be located in the cavity. Each cup has an outer wall that can be in the form of a cylinder with the bottom formed of each of two separate lead frames. A red LED chip and a green LED chip can be adhesively fixed to the lead frames located on the bottoms of the respective cups. The LED chips can have lower electrodes, which are electrically brought into conduction with the lead frames one by one. The LED chips can also have upper electrodes, which are electrically brought into conduction with the lead frames one by one via bonding wires. A light transmissive resin can be filled in the cavity.
US08614447B2 Semiconductor substrates using bandgap material between III-V channel material and insulator layer
Improved semiconductor substrates are provided that employ a wide bandgap material between the channel and the insulator. A semiconductor substrate comprises a channel layer comprised of a III-V material; an insulator layer; and a wide bandgap material between the channel layer and the insulator layer, wherein a conduction band offset (ΔEc) between the channel layer and the wide bandgap material is between 0.05 eV and 0.8 eV. The channel layer can be comprised of, for example, In1-xGaxAs or In1-xGaxSb, with x varying from 0 to 1. The wide bandgap material can be comprised of, for example, In1-yAlyAs, In1-yAlyP, Al1-yGayAs or In1-yGayP, with y varying from 0 to 1.
US08614443B2 Display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
A display apparatus includes a substrate and a plurality of pixels disposed on the substrate. Each pixel includes a gate electrode disposed on the substrate, a gate dielectric layer disposed on the substrate and the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor pattern disposed on the gate dielectric layer, a first insulating pattern disposed on the oxide semiconductor pattern that overlaps the gate electrode, a second insulating pattern disposed on the oxide semiconductor pattern and spaced apart from the first insulating pattern, source and drain electrodes spaced apart from each other on the oxide semiconductor pattern, a pixel electrode pattern disposed on the second insulating pattern to make contact with the source electrode, and a channel area defined where the oxide semiconductor pattern overlaps the gate electrode. A high carrier mobility channel is formed in the channel area when a turn-on voltage is applied to the gate electrode.
US08614441B2 Methods for forming banks and organic thin film transistors comprising such banks
Disclosed is a method for forming banks during the fabrication of electronic devices incorporating an organic semiconductor material that includes preparing an aqueous coating composition having at least a water-soluble polymer, a UV curing agent and a water-soluble fluorine compound. This coating composition is applied to a substrate, exposed using UV radiation and then developed using an aqueous developing composition to form the bank pattern. Because the coating composition can be developed using an aqueous composition rather than an organic solvent or solvent system, the method tends to preserve the integrity of other organic structures present on the substrate. Further, the incorporation of the fluorine compound in the aqueous solution provides a degree of control over the contact angles exhibited on the surface of the bank pattern and thereby can avoid or reduce subsequent surface treatments.
US08614438B2 Photoelectric conversion device, imaging device, method for manufacturing imaging device, and imaging apparatus
An organic photoelectric conversion device having: a first electrode; a second electrode opposing to the first electrode; and an organic material-containing photoelectric conversion layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein an electron spin number of the photoelectric conversion layer is not more than 1.0×1015/cm3.
US08614436B2 Solid state klystron
A solid state Klystron structure is fabricated by forming a source contact and a drain contact to both ends of a conducting wire and by forming a bias gate and a signal gate on the conducting wire. The conducting wire may be at least one carbon nanotube or at least one semiconductor wire with long ballistic mean free paths. By applying a signal at a frequency that corresponds to an integer multiple of the transit time of the ballistic carriers between adjacent fingers of the signal gate, the carriers are bunched within the conducting wire, thus amplifying the current through the solid state Klystron at a frequency of the signal to the signal gate, thus achieving a power gain.
US08614433B2 Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same
A memory device includes a lower interconnection in a semiconductor substrate, the lower interconnection being made of a material different from the semiconductor substrate, a selection element on the lower interconnection, and a memory element on the selection element.
US08614432B2 Crystalline silicon-based memristive device with multiple mobile dopant species
A memristive device includes a first and a second electrode; a silicon memristive matrix interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a mobile dopant species within the silicon memristive matrix which moves in response to a programming electrical field and remains substantially in place after the removal of the programming electrical field. A method for using a crossbar architecture containing a silicon memristive matrix includes: applying a programming electrical field by applying a voltage bias across a first conductor and a second conductor; a silicon memristive matrix containing mobile dopants being interposed between the first conductor and the second conductor, the programming voltage repositioning the mobile dopants within the silicon memristive matrix; and reading a state of the silicon memristive matrix by applying a reading energy across the silicon memristive matrix, the reading energy producing a measurable indication of the state of the silicon memristive matrix.
US08614431B2 Automated response to and sensing of user activity in portable devices
The various methods and devices described herein relate to devices which, in at least certain embodiments, may include one or more sensors for providing data relating to user activity and at least one processor for causing the device to respond based on the user activity which was determined, at least in part, through the sensors. The response by the device may include a change of state of the device, and the response may be automatically performed after the user activity is determined.
US08614429B2 Multi-axis/multi-field charged particle cancer therapy method and apparatus
The invention relates to method and apparatus for treatment of solid cancer. More particularly, the invention comprises a multi-axis and/or multi-field charged particle cancer therapy system. The system independently controls patient translation position, patient rotation position, two-dimensional beam trajectory, delivered beam energy, delivered beam intensity, timing of charged particle delivery, and/or distribution of radiation striking healthy tissue. The system operates in conjunction with a negative ion beam source, synchrotron, patient positioning, imaging, and/or targeting method and apparatus to deliver an effective and uniform dose of radiation to a tumor while distributing radiation striking healthy tissue.
US08614426B1 Light disinfection device
The present invention discloses a light disinfection device, and the disinfection device at least comprises a disinfection light tube, a controlling body, a circular reflector and a stowage platform. The disinfection light tube is a light source with a circular shape. The controlling body electrically connects with and controls the disinfection light tube. The circular reflector is disposed along the outer side of the disinfection light tube to cover part of light emitted from the disinfection light tube. The stowage platform connects with the controlling body via a rotatable shaft and comprises a transparent plate disposed at the end of the rotatable shaft. Furthermore, the stowage platform extends to the inner side of the disinfection light tube and rotates by the control of the controlling body to let the disinfection light tube irradiate an object on the stowage platform. The disinfection device disclosed in the present invention can disinfect the object by full angular (4π solid angle) irradiation, and the device structure is simple that can be disassembled into parts, including disinfection light tube, the circular reflector and the stowage platform from the controlling body. The configuration is to facilitate portability and convenience for users.
US08614425B2 Device for sterilizing water and use of same
A device for sterilizing water, comprising a UV lamp, at least one vessel through which water flows, an inlet and an outlet, a reaction chamber being arranged in said vessel. The outlet of the container forms a free down spout. The UV lamp and the vessel are arranged in a cartridge, the cartridge comprising at least fixing means for detachable fixing to a connection device, and connection means for supplying the current and water from a connection device.
US08614424B2 Device comprising means for guiding fluid from an inlet to an outlet
A device including a housing having an interior space for containing fluid, an inlet for letting in fluid to the housing, an outlet for letting out fluid from the housing, an element which is arranged inside the housing, and fluid guiding components which are arranged in the housing as well and which serve for guiding the fluid from the inlet side of the housing to the outlet side of the housing, around the element. The fluid guiding components may be zigzag-shaped extending along at least a portion of the element and, as a combination, providing complete coverage of the element in a circumferential direction.
US08614423B2 Solid-state radiation detector with improved sensitivity
A radiation detector includes a semiconductor substrate having opposing front and rear surfaces, a cathode electrode located on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate configured so as to receive radiation, and a plurality of anode electrodes formed on the rear surface of said semiconductor substrate. A work function of the cathode electrode material contacting the front surface of the semiconductor substrate is lower than a work function of the anode electrode material contacting the rear surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US08614422B2 Imaging apparatus, control method thereof, and program
A flat panel sensor control unit reads image data from each region formed by dividing a flat panel. A write access control unit writes the image data read by the flat panel sensor control unit in a frame memory. A read access control unit starts reading the image data from the frame memory in response to that the writing of the image data to the frame memory becomes a predetermined state.
US08614418B2 Methods for detecting catecholamines by mass spectrometry
Provided are methods for determining the amount of one or more of one or more of epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (D) in a sample using mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve ionizing one or more of E, NE, and D in a sample and detecting and quantifying the amount of the ion to determine the amount of one or more of E, NE, and D in the sample.
US08614416B2 Nonoparticulate assisted nanoscale molecular imaging by mass spectrometery
Methods and devices for mass spectrometry are described, specifically the use of nanoparticulate implantation as a matrix for secondary ion and more generally secondary particles. A photon beam source or a nanoparticulate beam source can be used a desorption source or a primary ion/primary particle source.
US08614410B2 Diffraction fields for guiding an object to a target
An object moving towards a target with a velocity can be accurately estimated and targeted based on keeping the object within a field of diffraction, the object being disturbed by effects caused by noise.
US08614409B2 Induction heating device with electromagnetic diverter
An induction heating element includes a primary conductive portion and a secondary conductive portion. The primary conductive portion is connected to a power source, and conducts electric current from the power source to generate a magnetic field that inductively heats a portion of the workpiece. The secondary conductive portion is electrically insulated from the primary portion, and receives an induced electric current from the primary portion to affect the magnetic field generated by the primary portion.
US08614404B2 Articulated thermal processing torch
A thermal processing torch can include a torch housing having a head portion pivotally coupled relative to a body portion with a joint portion. The torch also can include a pivotal connector simultaneously pivoting about a common axis with the joint portion of the torch housing. The pivotal connector can include an electrically conductive wall conducting an electrical current between the body portion of the torch housing and the head portion of the torch housing. The pivotal connector can also include a passage provide a processing gas between the body portion of the torch housing and the head portion of the torch housing.
US08614403B2 Electrostatic capacitance type input device
An electrostatic capacitance type input device is provided which has a structure in which translucent electrodes are aligned on the same layer in two axial directions, and has features that jumpers for connecting among the translucent electrodes in one of the two axial directions can be prevented from becoming conspicuous, and disconnection is less likely to occur. Jumpers 8 formed of an electrically conductive material are formed on a surface of a substrate 2, and thereafter an insulating film 6 is provided so as to cover the jumpers 8 and the substrate 2, and first translucent electrodes 3 and second translucent electrodes 4 are provided on the insulating film 6 so as to form a matrix. The first translucent electrodes 3 aligned in the leftward/rightward direction in the drawings are electrically connected to each other by the jumpers 8 via through holes 7 formed in the insulating film 6. On the other hand, the second translucent electrodes 4 aligned in the direction orthogonal to the surface of a sheet are connected to each other by connecting portions 5 which are formed by patterning so as to be integrated with the second translucent electrodes 4. Since the jumpers 8 for connecting among the first translucent electrodes 3 are formed on the substrate 2, the jumper 8 can be prevented from becoming conspicuous as viewed from the surface side.
US08614401B2 Keyswitch and keyboard
A keyswitch includes a base, a circuit board, a resilient support member and a key cap. The circuit board is disposed on the base and has a switch. The resilient support member is disposed on the circuit board. The resilient support member includes a trigger portion, a resilient portion and a support portion, wherein the resilient portion connects the trigger portion and the support portion, and the trigger portion faces the switch on the circuit board. The key cap is disposed on the resilient support member. The support portion of the resilient support member supports the key cap over the base. When the key cap is pressed, the trigger portion of the resilient support member triggers the switch and the resilient portion provides an elastic force for the key cap.
US08614400B2 Damming device for cable sealing
A damming device for a conductor in a cable gland connector is described herein. The damming device can include a first portion having a first thickness of a flexible elastomeric material disposed between a first diameter and a second diameter. The damming device can also include a second portion having a second thickness of the flexible elastomeric material disposed between a third diameter and the second diameter. The damming device can also include a hole having the third diameter. The first diameter is greater than the second diameter, and the second diameter is greater than the third diameter. Further, the first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The damming device can be disposed, under tension, within a slot formed between a top portion of a compound chamber and a bottom portion of a union body.
US08614395B1 Solar cell with back side contacts
A III-V solar cell is described herein that includes all back side contacts. Additionally, the positive and negative electrical contacts contact compound semiconductor layers of the solar cell other than the absorbing layer of the solar cell. That is, the positive and negative electrical contacts contact passivating layers of the solar cell.
US08614387B2 Keyboard musical instrument learning aid
A keyboard musical instrument learning aid having a plurality of keys including: sensing means operatively associated with the keyboard for sensing the presence of an object at a spaced disposition with respect to the keys of the keyboard; positioning means operatively associated with the sensing means for positioning the sensing means such that the spaced disposition is within a predetermined space with respect to the keys; and reporting means operatively associated with the sensing means and operable to report when an object is sensed to be present at the spaced disposition.
US08614385B2 Musical effects pedal retaining device and pedal board
A pedal board is provided that has an attachment mechanism, mounting member, and musical effects pedal retaining device. The attachment mechanism is carried by the musical effects pedal retaining device and functions to attach a musical effects pedal to the musical effects pedal retaining device. At least a portion of the musical effects pedal retaining device is releasably attachable to the mounting member to function to assist making the musical effects pedal releasably attachable to the mounting member. At least a portion of the musical effects pedal retaining device is releasably attachable to the mounting member through a mechanical engagement that is not a hook and loop type fastener.
US08614384B2 Keyboard for musical instrument, and instrument comprising such a keyboard
A polyphonic, chromatic keyboard, whose notes are alternately distributed across two sub-keyboards arranged in thirds on each sub-keyboard. On each sub-keyboard, the notes are distributed across a tiling of basic triangles that is symmetrical from one sub-keyboard to the other and that peaks at one note, i.e. the major third thereof, and the minor third thereof. Thus, the quality of an interval, and consequently that of a chord or mode, does not vary with a nearby symmetry/translation. The harmonic material is represented by easily memorizable shapes. The relationships between chords are represented by geometrical movements. The keyboard can thus be a pedagogical aid for learning and understanding harmonic rules. The keyboard enables the user to play a bass line and a harmonic or melodic accompaniment simultaneously, feel the harmonic rhythm, and play with virtuosity. The keyboard can be fit onto a portable instrument, thus making it possible to play comfortably.
US08614382B2 Damper action for upright piano with sostenuto spring tab using tension from the damper spring
A damper action for an upright piano that comprises a springed tab on the damper lever that “ratchets” or gives way or folds away in one direction and does not in the other, to provide retention when the spring tab passes by the longitudinal ridge on the sostenuto rod in one direction and non-retention when the spring tab passes by the longitudinal ridge on the sostenuto rod the other direction. The ratchet aspect of the spring tab uses tension from the damper spring and does not require a separate spring to apply tension to yield the ratchet effect.
US08614377B2 Variety corn line NPFX6247
The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated NPFX6247, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line NPFX6247 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line NPFX6247, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line NPFX6247, and plants produced according to these methods.
US08614371B2 Lettuce named BRP9321
A novel lettuce cultivar, designated BRP9321, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of lettuce cultivar BRP9321, to the plants of lettuce line BRP9321 and to methods for producing a lettuce plant by crossing the cultivar BRP9321 with itself or another lettuce line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other lettuce lines derived from the cultivar BRP9321.
US08614370B2 Nucleic acid sequences from Diabrotica virgifera virgifera leconte and uses thereof
Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) isolated from the Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, are disclosed. The invention encompasses nucleic acid molecules that encode D. v. virgifera protein homologs and fragments thereof. In addition, antibodies capable of binding the proteins are encompassed by the present invention. The disclosed ESTs have particular utility in isolating genes and promoters, identifying and mapping the genes involved in developmental and metabolic pathways, and determining gene function. The ESTs provide a unique molecular tool for the targeting and isolation of novel genes for plant protection and improvement. The invention also relates to methods of using the disclosed nucleic acid molecules, proteins, fragments of proteins, and antibodies, for example, for gene identification and analysis, and preparation of constructs.
US08614367B2 Nucleotide sequences mediating plant male fertility and method of using same
Nucleotide sequences mediating male fertility in plants are described, with DNA molecule and amino acid sequences set forth. Promoter sequences and their essential regions are also identified. The nucleotide sequences are useful in mediating male fertility in plants. In one such method, the homozygous recessive condition of male sterility causing alleles is maintained after crossing with a second plant, where the second plant contains a restoring transgene construct having a nucleotide sequence which reverses the homozygous condition. The restoring sequence is linked with a hemizygous sequence encoding a product inhibiting formation or function of male gametes. The maintainer plant produces only viable male gametes which do not contain the restoring transgene construct. Increase of the maintainer plant is also provided by self-fertilization, and selection for seed or plants which contain the construct.
US08614364B2 Renewable electricity conversion of liquid fuels from hydrocarbon feedstocks
A method for converting renewable energy source electricity and a hydrocarbon feedstock into a liquid fuel by providing a source of renewable electrical energy in communication with a synthesis gas generation unit and an air separation unit is described. Oxygen from the air separation unit and a hydrocarbon feedstock is provided to the synthesis gas generation unit, thereby causing partial oxidation reactions in the synthesis gas generation unit in a process that converts the hydrocarbon feedstock into synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is then converted into a liquid fuel.
US08614360B2 Method for the preparation of [18F]fluoroalkylhalides
The invention relates to new processes for preparation of 18F-fluoroalkyl halides suitable for use in labelling of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radiotracers. The process of preparation comprises the step of reacting a 18F-fluoroacylhalide with Wilkinson's catalyst.
US08614358B2 Process for preparing 2-methyl-3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)propanal with high para-isomer purity
The present invention relates to a process for preparing 2-methyl-3-(4-tert-butyl-phenyl)propanal with high para-isomer purity, and also to a process for preparing 4-tert-butylbenzaldehyde with high para-isomer purity.
US08614352B2 Method for producing color-stable MDA and MDI
The invention relates to a process for preparing methylenediphenyldiamine (MDA) by reacting formaldehyde and aniline in the presence of an acidic catalyst, wherein the oxygen content in the process for preparing MDA is <10 000 ppm, based on all compounds present in the process.The invention further relates to the phosgenation of MDA to methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI).
US08614351B2 Method of adsorbing and method of recovering fluorine-containing compound
An adsorption process in which high adsorption of C2-C6 fluorine-containing compound can be attained without any morphological change thereof by the use of active carbon; and a desorption process in which active carbon and adsorbed substances can be recycled by desorption from active carbon. A liquid containing the C2-C6 fluorine-containing compound is brought into contact with active carbon to thereby cause the active carbon to adsorb the fluorine-containing compound and thus obtain a liquid of low fluorine-containing compound content. The active carbon having the adsorbed fluorine-containing compound is heated so as to desorb the fluorine-containing compound from the active carbon.
US08614350B2 Carboxylic acid production process employing solvent from esterification of lignocellulosic material
Methods and apparatus for producing a carboxylic acid employing a solvent from esterification of lignocellulosic materials. An acid-containing composition from esterification of lignocellulosic materials can be employed in the oxidation of para-xylene to terephthalic acid. The acid-containing composition can comprise acetic acid, acetic anhydride, and one or more terpenes or terpenes derivatives.
US08614347B2 Fluorous dendrimers and methods for production thereof
The present invention concerns the design of an environmentally friendly and efficient fluorous phase based on dendritic architectures containing short semifluorinated groups on their periphery.
US08614346B2 Methods and compositions for preparation of amphetamine conjugates and salts thereof
The invention provides methods and compositions for preparing amphetamine conjugates, such as lisdexamfetamine, homoarginine-D-amphetamine, and salts thereof. In one embodiment, the invention provides methods of preparing an amphetamine conjugate from a chloramphetamine intermediate.
US08614345B2 Hydrogenation of esters or carbonyl groups with tetradentate amino/imino-thioether based ruthenium complexes
The present invention relates to the field of catalytic hydrogenation and, more particularly, to the use of specific ruthenium catalysts, or pre-catalysts, in hydrogenation processes for the reduction of ketones and/or aldehydes into the corresponding alcohol respectively. Said catalysts are ruthenium complexes comprising a tetradentate ligand (L4) coordinating the ruthenium with: —two nitrogen atoms, each in the form of a primary or secondary amine (i.e. a NH2 or NH group) or N-alkyl imine functional groups (i.e. a C═N group), and —two sulfur atoms, each in the form of thioether functional groups.
US08614344B2 Metathesis methods involving hydrogenation and compositions relating to same
Disclosed are improved methods for conducting metathesis utilizing polyunsaturated fatty acid compositions (e.g., polyunsaturated fatty acid polyol esters, polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty esters, and mixtures), such as those found in naturally occurring oils and fats, as the starting material. The inventive methods involve hydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acid compositions prior to metathesis, thereby providing partially-hydrogenation compositions having a relatively higher amount of monounsaturated fatty acid species. The partially hydrogenated composition can then be subjected to metathesis to provide a metathesis product composition containing industrially useful compounds.
US08614343B2 Process for the production of a fatty acid/carnitine derivative
The present invention discloses a process for the production of a fatty acid/L-carnitine derivative, whereby the educts are reacted in the presence of monochloroacetic acid.
US08614342B2 Process for preparing epoxycarboxylic esters
Process for preparing epoxides of the formula I where R is an organic group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, by reacting compounds of the formula II with an oxidant, wherein the preparation is carried out continuously in a tube reactor.
US08614340B2 Bicyclic compound and use thereof for medical purposes
Since a compound represented by the general formula (I) (wherein definition of each group is as described in the specification), a salt thereof, a solvate thereof, or a prodrug thereof has strong and sustaining intraocular pressure lowering activity and, further, has no side effect on eyes such as ocular stimulating property (hyperemia, corneal clouding etc.), aqueous humor protein rise etc., it has high safety, and can be an excellent agent for preventing and/or treating glaucoma etc.
US08614338B2 Method for stereospecifically recycling a PLA polymer mixture
The present invention relates to a method for the stereospecific chemical recycling of a mixture of polymers based on polylactic acid PLA, in order to reform the monomer thereof or one of the derivatives thereof. The latter may enter the traditional lactate market or once again serve as a raw material for synthesizing PLA.
US08614337B2 S-5-substituent-N-2′-(thiophene-2-yl)ethyl-tetralin-2-amine or chiral acid salts thereof and use for preparing Rotigotine
The chiral compound S-5-substituted-N-2′-(thienyl-2-yl-)ethyl-tetralin-2-amine or its chiral acid salts and preparation method thereof are disclosed, and the method for preparing Rotigotine by using the chiral compound is also disclosed. Racemic 5-substituted-N-2′-(thien-2-yl-)ethyl-tetralin-2-amine (compound 1) is resolved by using a conventional chiral acid to obtain an optically pure chiral acid salt of S-5-substituted-N-2′-(thien-2-yl-)ethyl-tetralin-2-amine, which is then dissociated to obtain S-5-substituted-N-2′-(thien-2-yl-)ethyl-tetralin-2-amine (compound 2). The compound 2 or chiral acid salt thereof is alkylated and deprotected to produce rotigotine (compound 5).
US08614336B2 Process for preparing N-methyl-N-hydroxyl-3-(1-naphthyloxy)-3-(2-thienyl)propylamine derivative
The present invention provides a process for preparing a N-methyl-N-hydroxyl-3-(1-naphthyloxy)-3-(2-thienyl)propylamine compound. The present invention also provides a process for preparing (S)-(+)-N-methyl-3-methyl-3-(1-naphthyloxy)-3-(2-thienyl)propylamine with higher yield and low treatment cost, which includes the preparation of the N-methyl-N-hydroxyl-3-(1-naphthyloxy)-3-(2-thienyl)propylamine compound.
US08614334B2 Organic compound, light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic device, and lighting device
A novel substance with which an increase in life and emission efficiency of a light-emitting element can be achieved is provided. A carbazole compound having a structure represented by General Formula (G1) is provided. Note that a substituent which makes the HOMO level and the LUMO level of a compound in which a bond of the substituent is substituted with hydrogen deep and shallow, respectively is used as each of substituents in General Formula (G1) (R1, R2, Ar3, and α3). Further, a substituent which makes the band gap (Bg) and the T1 level of a compound in which a bond of the substituent is substituted with hydrogen wide and high is used as each of the substituents in General Formula (G1) (R1, R2, Ar3, and α3).
US08614333B2 Acenaphtho heterocyclic compound and application thereof
The present invention relates to acenaphtho heterocyclic compounds and their uses in manufacturing the BH3 mimetics as Bcl-2-like protein inhibitors. Structures are shown in the following: Statistical analysis of their bio-activities showed these compounds exhibit better BH3 mimicking property than the reported compounds. These compounds can simulate BH3-only protein, competitively bind and antagonizing Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 proteins in vitro and in cells, and then induce apoptosis. Therefore, they all can be used in the manufactures of anticancer compounds.
US08614332B2 Substituted pyrazolylamides useful as glucokinase activators
Compounds are provided which are phosphonate and phosphinate activators and thus are useful in treating diabetes and related diseases and have the structure is a heteroaryl ring; R4 is —(CH2)n—Z—(CH2)m—PO(OR7)(OR8), —(CH2)nZ—(CH2)m—PO(OR7)R9, —(CH2)n—Z—(CH2)m—OPO(OR7)R9, —(CH2)nZ—(CH2)m—OPO(R9)(R10), or —(CH2)nZ—(CH2)m—PO(R9)(R10); R5 and R6 are independently selected from H, alkyl and halogen; Y is R7(CH2)s or is absent; and X, n, Z, m, R4, R5, R6, R7, and s are as defined herein; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A method for treating diabetes and related diseases employing the above compounds is also provided.
US08614331B2 Process for preparation of esomeprazole sodium of high chemical purity and new forms of esomeprazole sodium
A process for preparing esomeprazole sodium comprises the steps of providing a solution of esomeprazole sodium in a solvent constituted mainly of methanol or only of methanol; and carrying out precipitation or crystallization of esomeprazole sodium from said solution. Esomeprazole sodium is preferably obtained from pure form of neutral racemate through chiral chromatography using methanol-based mobile phase, and a subsequent reaction with sodium source. Novel crystal and semicrystal forms of esomeprazole sodium can be provided repeatedly and in physically stable and highly pure form.
US08614330B2 Substituted benz-azoles and methods of their use as inhibitors of RAF kinase
New substituted benz-azole compounds, compositions and methods of inhibition of Raf kinase activity in a human or animal subject are provided. The new compounds compositions may be used either alone or in combination with at least one additional agent for the treatment of a Raf kinase mediated disorder, such as cancer.
US08614329B2 Polymorphs of sorafenib acid addition salts
The present invention provides amorphous and crystalline forms of acid addition salts of sorafenib, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and their use for the treatment of cancer. The present invention also provides processes for the preparation of acid addition salts of sorafenib.
US08614328B2 4′-O-substituted isoindoline derivatives and compositions comprising and methods of using the same
Provided are 4′-O substituted isoindoline compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, clathrates, stereoisomers, and prodrugs thereof. Methods of use, and pharmaceutical compositions of these compounds are disclosed.
US08614317B2 Sulfonamide derivatives of polycyclic dyes used for analytical applications
The invention concerns the production of quinoline compounds containing sulfonic acid groups, the said quinoline compounds and their conversion into dyes containing sulfonic acid groups. The dyes according to the invention are used especially to label analytes, for example to label biomolecules.
US08614314B2 Saccharide structures and methods of making and using such structures
Described are oligosaccharides having a protecting group at two, a plurality, a majority of, or each position in the oligosaccharide which is amenable to derivatization. Collections, libraries and methods of making and using such oligosaccharides are also described.
US08614312B2 Method for preparing nucleotides and related analogues by synthesis on soluble substrate, and biological tools thus prepared
The invention concerns a method for preparing monomer nucleotides or nucleotide analogues comprising the steps of: (1) coupling a soluble polyethylene glycol support provided with at least one diacid or ether-acid linker and a monomer nucleoside or nucleoside analogue to an amine group or hydroxyl group of the nucleoside with the aid of a coupling agent; (2) at least one step for phosphorylation of said nucleoside or nucleoside analogue coupled to said support with a phosphorylation agent; (3) cleavage of said support and recovery of at least one monomer nucleotide or nucleotide analogue. The nucleotides prepared are biological tools.
US08614307B2 Nucleic acids encoding human anti-kir antibodies
Compositions and methods for regulating an immune response in a subject are described. More particularly, described are human antibodies that regulate the activity of NK cells and allow a potentiation of NK cell cytotoxicity in mammalian subjects, and antibodies having antigen-binding properties similar to those of human monoclonal antibody 1-7F9 or 1-4F1. Described also are also fragments and derivatives of such antibodies, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same and their uses, particularly for use in therapy, to increase NK cell activity or cytotoxicity in subjects.
US08614306B2 Polynucleotides encoding humanized anti-factor D antibodies
The invention relates to anti-Factor D antibodies, their nucleic acid and amino acid sequences, the cells and vectors that harbor these antibodies and their production and their use in the preparation of compositions and medicaments for treatment of diseases and disorders associated with excessive or uncontrolled complement activation. These antibodies are useful for diagnostics, prophylaxis and treatment of disease.
US08614298B2 Humanized anti-amyloid beta antibodies
Humanized anti-Aβ antibodies derived from a murine antibody directed to a N-terminal epitope of Aβ are described. The humanized antibodies have reduced or no human T cell epitopes and bind Aβ with an affinity similar to that of the murine antibody.
US08614295B2 Antibody molecules having specificity for human OX40
The invention relates to antibody molecules having specificity for antigenic determinants of human OX40, therapeutic uses of the antibody molecules and methods for producing said antibody molecules.
US08614293B2 Concentrated aqueous silk fibroin solution and use thereof
The present invention provides for concentrated aqueous silk fibroin solutions and an all-aqueous mode for preparation of concentrated aqueous fibroin solutions that avoids the use of organic solvents, direct additives, or harsh chemicals. The invention further provides for the use of these solutions in production of materials, e.g., fibers, films, foams, meshes, scaffolds and hydrogels.
US08614292B2 Isolated protein comprising an activin type IIB5 receptor polypeptide and uses thereof
The present invention provides novel activin IIB5 receptor polypeptides capable of binding and inhibiting the activities of activin A, myostatin, or GDF-11. The present invention also provides polynucleotides, vectors and host cells capable of producing the receptor polypeptides. Compositions and methods for treating muscle-wasting, metabolic and other disorders are also provided.
US08614291B2 Phosphorylated polymers and conjugates thereof
The present invention is directed to absorbable polyesters comprising one or more monophosphate functionality; a conjugate comprising the foregoing polyester and a peptide and/or a bioactive agent; microparticles comprising an absorbable polyester; a conjugate comprising the microparticles and a peptide and/or a bioactive agent; an acylated or alkylated polysaccharide having one or more monophosphate functionality; a conjugate comprising the acylated or alkylated polysaccharide and a peptide and/or a bioactive agent; and pharmaceutical compositions thereof.
US08614279B2 Process to produce an acylated vinylamine-containing polymer and its application as a papermaking additive
A process for producing an acylated vinylamine-containing polymer is disclosed. The acylated vinylamine-containing polymer is produced by reacting a vinylamine-containing polymer with at least one acylating agent.
US08614278B2 Silicone acrylate hybrid composition and method of making same
A silicone acrylate hybrid composition includes the reaction product of a silicon-containing pressure sensitive adhesive composition, an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and an initiator. The silicon-containing pressure sensitive adhesive composition includes acrylate or methacrylate functionality. A method of making the hybrid composition includes polymerizing the ethylenically unsaturated monomer and the silicon-containing pressure sensitive adhesive composition in the presence of the initiator.
US08614273B2 Seal member
A seal member includes a hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR) and carbon nanofibers. The seal member has a number of cycles to fracture of 7000 or more when subjected to a tensile fatigue test at a temperature of 70° C., a maximum tensile stress of 4 N/mm, and a frequency of 1 Hz. The seal member exhibits excellent abrasion resistance.
US08614271B2 Propylene-alpha-olefin polymers, hot melt adhesive compositions that include propylene-alpha-olefin polymers and articles that include the same
A propylene-alpha-olefin polymer that includes at least 50% by weight propylene, has a ratio of z average molecular weight (Mz) to number average molecular weight (Mw) (Mz/Mw) from greater than 20 to no greater than 50, and a ratio of Mz to weight average molecular weight (Mw) (Mz/Mw) of greater than 2.5, and exhibits a viscosity of no greater than 2,500 centipoise at 190° C., and a hot melt adhesive composition that includes the propylene-alpha-olefin polymer, a first wax consisting of a functionalized wax, and a second wax different from the first wax, the adhesive composition exhibiting a viscosity of no greater than 2,500 centipoise at 177° C.
US08614268B2 Stabilized polymer compositions
This invention relates to the thermal stabilization of halogen-containing polymer compositions, more particularly, this invention relates to a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) or a chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (cPVC) composition comprising an alkyl tin stabilizer and at least one salt of a polymeric polyacid such as a polycarboxylic acid salt supported on a polymeric material.
US08614267B2 Method for producing mono-hydroxyfunctionalized dialkylphosphinic acids and esters and salts thereof by means of allyl alcohols and use thereof
The invention relates to a method for producing mono-hydroxyfunctionalized dialkylphosphinic acids and esters and salts thereof by means of allyl alcohols, characterized in that a) a phosphinic acid source (I) is reacted with olefins (IV) to yield an alkylphosphonic acid, salt or ester (II) thereof in the presence of a catalyst A, b) the thus obtained alkylphosphonic acid, salt or ester (II) thereof is reacted with compounds of formula (V) to yield a mono-hydroxyfunctionalized dialkylphosphinic acid derivative (III) in the presence of a catalyst B, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, are the same or different and stand independently of each other, among other things, for H, C1-C18 alkyl, C6-C18 aryl, C6-C18 aralkyl, C6-C18 alkylaryl, and X stands for H, C1-C18 alkyl, C6-C18 aryl, C6-C18 aralkyl, C6-C18 alkylaryl, Mg, Ca, Al, Sb, Sn, Ge, Ti, Fe, Zr, Zn, Ce, Bi, Sr, Mn, Cu, Ni, Li, Na, K and/or a protonized nitrogen base, and the catalyst A is formed by transition metals and/or transition metal compounds and/or catalyst systems composed of a transition metal and/or a transition metal compound and at least one ligand, and catalyst B is formed by compounds forming peroxides and/or peroxo compounds and/or azo compounds.
US08614266B2 Potting for electronic components
A potting material for an electronic component, an electronic component, and a process for positioning ferrites in an electronic material are disclosed. The potting material is formed by curing a mixture. The mixture includes an epoxy component, an organic amine hardener, a viscosity-controlling agent, and a silica. The potting material has a coefficient of thermal expansion between an inorganic ferrite coefficient of thermal expansion and an organic substrate coefficient of thermal expansion of the electronic component. The potting material includes a rigidity permitting via drilling by one or more of mechanical drilling and laser burning.
US08614264B2 Aqueous ink composition, ink jet recording method and recorded material
An ink jet recording method includes ejecting droplets of an aqueous ink composition on an ink-non-absorbent or ink-low-absorbent recording medium from an ink jet recording apparatus, and drying the aqueous ink composition on the recording medium by heating the recording medium to 40° C. or more. The aqueous ink composition used in the method contains a pigment, a first solvent and a second solvent, but does not contain glycerol. The first solvent content W‘is in the range of 3% to 6% by mass, and the ratio W2/W1 of the second solvent content W2 to the first solvent content W1 is 2 or more.
US08614262B2 Curable compositions, cured products produced therefrom and use thereof
A composition containing curable polymers is disclosed selected from the group of organopolysiloxanes that crosslink by means of an addition reaction, organopolysiloxanes that crosslink by means of a condensation reaction, polyethers that contain alkoxysilyl groups and crosslink by means of a condensation reaction, polyethers that contain aziridino groups and crosslink by means of an addition reaction, polyethers that contain alkenyl groups and crosslink by means of an addition reaction, polyethers that contain ester groups of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and crosslink by means of a radical polymerization reaction, or polyethers, silicones or rubbers that crosslink by means of a ring-opening metathesis reaction and also contain at least one nonionic and/or ionic fluorosurfactant.
US08614260B1 Cross-linked polyphosphonate composition for removal of metal ions from wastewater
The cross-linked polyphosphonate composition for the removal of metal ions from wastewater is a cross-linked anionic polyelectrolyte polymer having the formula: The cross-linked anionic polyelectrolyte is made by cyclocopolymerizing diallylaminomethylphosphonic acid and 1,1,4,4-tetraallylpiperazinium dichloride (a cross-linker) to form a cross-linked polyzwitterionic acid (CPZA). The CPZA is then treated with a base, such as sodium hydroxide, to form a cross-linked anionic polyelectrolyte polymer having the above formula. The composition may be used to remove heavy metal ions, such as Cu2+ and Pb2+, from wastewater.
US08614259B2 Process of recycling powder coat material and component made thereof
A process for making a solid component out of recycled powder coat is provided. The process can include providing a powder coat material and providing a second material. Thereafter, the powder coat and the second material are mixed to produce a powder coat-second material mixture. The powder coal-second material mixture is processed in order to produce a polymer containing precursor. The processing can include granulating or densifying the powder coat-second material mixture. After the precursor has been produced, it can be placed within a molding machine and a solid component is molded. The molding machine can be an injection molding machine, an extrusion molding machine or a blow molding machine.
US08614255B2 Pulmonary pharmaceutical formulations
The present invention provides improved pharmaceutical formulations for pulmonary delivery having improved chemical and physical stability of the therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agent as compared to formulations known in the art. The improved pharmaceutical formulations of the invention for administration to the respiratory system of a patient for the treatment of a variety of disease conditions comprise a mass of biocompatible particles comprising an active agent, and a hydrogenated starch hydrosylate (HSH). The improvement over the prior art comprises the presence of HSH in the pharmaceutical formulation. The invention further relates to a method of treating diseases comprising administering the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention to the respiratory system of a patient in need of treatment.
US08614253B2 IRE-1α inhibitors
Compounds which directly inhibit IRE-1α activity in vitro, prodrugs, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Such compounds and prodrugs are useful for treating diseases associated with the unfolded protein response and can be used as single agents or in combination therapies.
US08614247B2 Methods for preventing, attenuating or treating pulmonary hypertension using a serotonin transporter inhibitor, and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment thereof
The invention relates to a method for preventing, attenuating or treating pulmonary hypertension in an individual in need thereof, comprising administering at least one 5-HTT inhibitor to said individual.
US08614238B2 Cyclopentanecarboxamide derivatives, medicaments containing such compounds and their use
The invention relates to cyclopentanecarboxamide derivatives of formula 1, to their use as Fatty Acid Synthase inhibitors, to methods for their therapeutic use and to pharmaceutical compositions containing them, wherein R1, R2, R3, LO, W, AR1, n are as defined in claim 1.
US08614231B2 Immunosuppressor based on the blockage of TCR-Nck interaction
The present invention relates to a compound of structural formula (I) and its derivatives for use as medicinal drugs. They are preferably immunosuppressive agents, with mechanism of action based on the blockage of TCR-Nck interaction.
US08614227B2 Salt and solvates of a tetrahydroisoquinoline derivative
(S)-2-(Diphenylacetyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-methoxy-5-(phenylmethoxy)-3-isoquinoline carboxylic acid in substantially pure form is described together with its sodium salt and solvates. Methods for preparing the compound, its sodium salt and its solvates and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are also described.
US08614225B2 Process for the purification of palonosetron or its salt
The present application relates to a process for purification of palonosetron or its salt substantially free of its R-isomer and structure related impurities.
US08614223B2 Pyrimidine hydroxy amide compounds as protein deacetylase inhibitors and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to novel pyrimidine hydroxy amide compounds, and the use of such compounds in the inhibition of HDAC6 and in the treatment of various diseases, disorders or conditions related to HDAC6.
US08614219B2 Substituted pyrimidin-4-one derivatives
A pyrimidone derivative represented by formula (I) or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof or a hydrate thereof: wherein Y, R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as defined in the disclosure. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the compounds of formula (I), intermediates thereof and their use in therapeutics.