| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07653947B2 |
Image forming system, image forming apparatus, control method therefor and program implementing the control method
An image forming system which is capable of enhancing security in an i-copy function. A server apparatus stores document data once having been printed in association with a sheet identifier recorded on a print sheet on which the document data has been printed. An image reader section reads the sheet identifier from the print sheet when a copy command is issued by the user authenticated based on an entered user identifier by a CPU of a MFP. A printer section reads out and prints the document data from the server apparatus. When the sheet identifier has not been read from the print sheet based on the copy command over a predetermined time period, the document data is inhibited from being printed by the printer section. |
| US07653946B2 |
Method and system for secure distribution of digital documents
The secure circulation of digital documents to be reproduced includes providing each user with a smart card containing identification information associated therewith, and identifying from a server connected to a digital data transmission network the smart card connected thereto. Information identifying a document to be played back is transmitted to the server from a terminal connected to the smart card. In response, a decryption key specific to the document to be reproduced is transmitted to the smart card for storing therein. The document to be played back is decrypted using an adapted reader connected to the smart card, and includes the stored decryption key for document playback with the reader. Information identifying the readers is inserted into the smart card, and fraudulent use of the smart card is determined according to the reader identification information stored in the smart card. |
| US07653936B2 |
Distributed expression-based access control
A distributed access control technique assigns permission to a user without permission explosion, thereby facilitating the system administration of user access to a piece of content represented by a Web service. Permissions are granted to pieces of content through expressions rather than explicitly coupled between a piece of content and a user. Each expression defines an access scope for either a user or a piece of content. An expression defining the access scope for a user can be created and maintained independently of an expression defining the access scope to a piece of content, hence simplifying management information system implementation and administration. |
| US07653935B2 |
File server for translating user identifier
Upon integration of a file system, user identifier recorded in a storage as management data is translated. A file server connected to a storage storing the data of a file system therein has a file system operation unit for managing the file system, a file server operation unit for receiving the access request to the file, and a user identifier translation unit for carrying out translation between first user identifier, which is used by the client and second user identifier, which is recorded in the storage as management data of the file system. Receiving the access request to the file from the client, the user identifier translation unit translates the second user identifier included in the management data of the file that is an access target of the access request into the first user identifier, and the file server operation unit transmits the management data to the client. |
| US07653934B1 |
Role-based access control
A computer-implemented method for authorizing a user request from a user to perform an action with respect to one of at least one of the plurality of nodes and at least one of the plurality of packages of a cluster is disclosed. The user request is received from a host coupled to communicate with the cluster. The method includes consulting an authorization map to ascertain a role associated with the user. The authorization map is kept in a memory space in one of the plurality of nodes. The method further includes authorizing the user to perform the action if the role associated with the user includes a granted privilege that is higher than a privilege required to perform the user request. |
| US07653933B2 |
System and method of network authentication, authorization and accounting
A network authentication, authorization and accounting system and a method thereof, wherein said system comprises: a subscriber device, via which a subscriber is connected with the network; an access server, connected with the subscriber device and designed to enable the subscriber device to access the network; an AAA server, connected with the access server and designed to collaborate with the access server to accomplish authentication, authorization, and accounting for the subscriber accessing the network; a service server, connected with the access server, designed to provide specific services, to exchange authentication and authorization information with the AAA server, and to interact with the subscriber device to provide the service; a service accounting server, connected with the service server, designed to collaborate with the service server to accomplish accounting for service resource use of the subscriber, and to send the accounting data to the AAA server. Accordingly, the present invention also discloses a network authentication, authorization and accounting method. The present invention enables a subscriber to access different types of services with only the subscriber identification information (user name and password) through a single identity authentication process, and supports centralized accounting. |
| US07653932B2 |
Method and system for layer-3 subscriber login in a cable data network
A subscriber login server is used for managing a subscriber login session. The login server is associated with a DHCP server for configuring a premise equipment device and operator-managed device. A subscriber login client at the premise equipment device securely communicates login username and password identifiers to the subscriber login server without using PPP technology. The login server retrieves matching identifiers from a RADIUS server and authorizes service with messages to the DHCP server and the CMTS.The login client can emulate a PPP login client so that a user's interface is similar to a PPPoE client. However, a layer-3 CMTS can be used instead of a layer-2 CMTS. In addition, subscriber authentication and accounting using RADIUS are preserved, positive network access control at the CMTS is maintained, and native IP traffic is routed or switched for maximum performance and QoS treatment. |
| US07653928B2 |
Remote user interface for media player
A portable media player communicates with a host computer for enabling a user of the player to manage media distribution using the control software of the host computer. The host computer can send a GUI that is displayed on the otherwise “dumb” player, and the user can view the GUI and press a single button to command the control software to download a media title to the player. The host computer can periodically poll the player to determine its status. |
| US07653925B2 |
Techniques for receiving information during multimedia presentations and communicating the information
Techniques for receiving information during multimedia presentations and for communicating the received information to one or more information access devices. A presentation recorder adapter receives information during a multimedia presentation and communicates the information to access devices. The adapter may receive multimedia presentation information, comprising video information and audio information, from a first source. The adapter may also receive information from a second source separate from the first source during the multimedia presentation. For example, the second source may be an attendee of the multimedia presentation. The adapter may transmit the multimedia presentation information received from the first source and the information received from the second source to one or more information access devices. |
| US07653923B2 |
Scheduling and presenting IPG ads in conjunction with programming ads in a television environment
A method and system whereby conventional television advertisements (i.e., those delivered to viewers while they watch television programming) can be delivered in conjunction with and correlated with advertisements that are presented to viewers in the Interactive Program Guide (IPG). Moreover, the invention described herein provides for delivering highly targeted ads to viewers in both conventional programming avails and in the IPG, and for linking the targeted ads in these two media to provide for enhanced and highly effective advertising campaigns. |
| US07653921B2 |
System and method for providing user control over repeating objects embedded in a stream
Many media streams contain “objects” that repeat. Repeating objects in a media stream are defined as any section of non-negligible duration, i.e., a song, video, advertisement, jingle, etc., which would be considered to be a logical unit by a human listener or viewer. An “object controller” identifies such repeating objects as they occur, and provides an interactive user interface for allowing users to specify how individual repeating objects are to be handled either in real time, or upon subsequent occurrences of particular repeating objects. In general, the object controller includes a mechanism for identifying repeating objects, a mechanism for identifying temporal endpoints of those objects, a user interface for specifying actions to be taken when a particular object repeats within a media stream, and, in one embodiment, a buffer having sufficient length to allow for real-time deletion of objects from the media stream without obvious interruption in the str. |
| US07653920B2 |
Method and system for protecting cable television subscriber-specific information allowing limited subset access
A television program ratings method and system includes transferring information associated with households from a cable provider to a ratings provider such that the ratings provider has access to information associated with sampled households and lacks access to information associated with non-sampled households. To this end, identity information and usage information associated with the households are respectively anonymized and encrypted. Knowledge of the identities of the sampled households enables the anonymized identity information and the encrypted usage information for the sampled households to be respectively de-anonymized and decrypted. The ratings provider knows which households are sampled households. As such, the ratings provider de-anonymizes and decrypts the information associated with the sampled households and then uses the de-anonymized and decrypted information to determine television program ratings. The cable provider anonymizes and encrypts the information for all households as the cable provider does not know which households are sampled households. |
| US07653919B2 |
Optical article having anti-theft feature and a system and method for inhibiting theft of same
An optical article that can transform from a pre-activated state of functionality to an activated state of functionality is provided. The optical article includes a radio frequency circuitry coupled to the optical article for interacting with a signal, wherein the signal comprises a thermal signal, an electrical signal, or both, and a convertible material in operative association with the radio frequency circuitry for altering the functionality of the optical article from the pre-activated state to the activated state upon interaction with the thermal energy. |
| US07653917B2 |
Disk apparatus for limiting the vertical movement of a cam mechanism
A disk apparatus includes a chassis outer sheath with a base body and a lid. A slider mechanism is disposed on one end of a traverse, the slider mechanism includes a vertically moving cam mechanism which brings the traverse close to and away from the base body. A cam groove of the vertically moving cam mechanism has a first cam portion which moves together with the slider mechanism and a second cam portion which is displaced with respect to the first cam portion. When a vertically moving pin of the vertically moving cam mechanism exceeds a predetermined height in the cam groove, the second cam portion rises and the second cam portion limits movement of the vertically moving pin. When the vertically moving pin is equal to or lower than the predetermined height in the cam groove, the second cam portion is held at its lowered position. |
| US07653911B2 |
Implicit interprocess communications (IPC) versioning support
Compatibility between applications in a network node with a distributed architecture is maintained after application upgrades by associating version compatibility information with interprocess communications (IPC) message structures and then utilizing the version compatibility information to identify IPC message structures that are used for communications between applications. Once the version compatibility information is associated with the IPC message structures, applications are configured to use only those IPC message structures that are compatible with the currently running version. |
| US07653910B2 |
Apparatus for thread-safe handlers for checkpoints and restarts
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for executing a handler in a multi-threaded process handling a number of threads in a manner that avoids deadlocks. A value equal to the number of threads executing in the data processing system is set. The value is decremented each time a lock count for a thread within the number of threads is zero. A thread within the number of threads is suspended if the thread requests a lock and has a lock count of zero. A procedure, such as a handler, is executed in response to all of the threads within the number of threads having no locks. |
| US07653907B2 |
Method and apparatus to manage multi-computer supply using a model based on an economic model of supply and cost of supply
A method and structure for determining a listing of host processors on a network to perform a parallel application, including determining a listing of all possible hosts on the network for performing the parallel application, determining for each of the possible hosts a current capacity and a current utilization, calculating for each of the possible hosts a difference between the current capacity and the current utilization, and selecting from the listing of all possible hosts a listing of hosts based on sorting the calculated differences. |
| US07653903B2 |
Modular imaging download system
A system and method of modular image downloading (MINDS) from a network for configuring computers, or computer-based devices. The program images typically comprise a foundation image (operating system) and application module images. The system is configured as software which executes in response to a tree of actions defined in configuration data and not embedded within the executable of the MINDS program. The action tree can be controlled by the user interface, started, paused, terminated, stepped forward or backward, and so forth. The executable operates on the action tree and need not be re-compiled for each action tree change, the modules for the action trees are dynamically linked prior to execution. The action tree approach allows the user to readily change, add, or delete actions, or entire action trees from the system without the need of recoding or additional program testing. |
| US07653902B2 |
Determining software deployment parameters
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for matching software requirements against target system landscape descriptions and for applying rating metrics to intermediate results during the matchmaking process. Data are received as inputs describing the requirements and dependencies of a particular software application and the resources available in the target system that may be able to meet these requirements. These data are searched for combinations of system resources that will satisfy the requirements of the application as well as optimization metrics and other requirements supplied by the user. Once a match is found, it is given a rating and ranked against any other matches. |
| US07653898B1 |
Method and apparatus for generating a characteristics model for a pattern-based system design analysis using a schema
A method for analyzing a target system that includes generating a characteristics model using a schema defining a domain, obtaining a plurality of characteristics from the target system using a characteristics extractor, wherein the plurality of characteristics is associated with the characteristics model storing each of the plurality of characteristics in a characteristics store, and analyzing the target system by issuing at least one query to the characteristics store to obtain an analysis result. |
| US07653885B2 |
Selection of cells from a multiple threshold voltage cell library for optimized mapping to a multi-Vt circuit
A method is provided to select circuit cells for use in optimization of an integrated circuit design from among a plurality of circuit cells within a cell library, the method comprising: obtaining a value for each cell of the plurality that is indicative of both the cell's power dissipation and the cell's rate of output voltage change; ordering the cells of the plurality based upon the values; identifying a difference between values of cells that are proximate each other within the ordering of the cells that meets a threshold; and designating a cut point within the ordering of the cells based upon the identified difference. |
| US07653882B2 |
Method for representing animated menu buttons
Optical storage media often contain data structures for a menu suitable for selection of a title, a chapter, a parameter or others. Such menus usually comprise a number of buttons to be displayed, with each button having a state. Possible states of buttons are “unselected”, “selected” or “activated”. According to the invention, the representation of a menu button may vary, depending on its state. An image or an image sequence, e.g. cartoon, may be associated to a buttons state, providing user animation. Further, a sound or sound sequence, e.g. melody or click, may be associated to a buttons state, and may be played back when the button enters this state. A data structure is disclosed which allows storage of such menu data e.g. on a Blu-ray disc. |
| US07653881B2 |
Failure handling and debugging with causalities
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that improve failure handling and debugging in message driven environments. A diagramming tool allows a user to graphically nest one or more functional components of the data flow diagram to create a fault handler. The fault handler is associated with a failure component to be called when a failure occurs within any one or more of the nested functional components. One or more application executables are synthesized from the data flow diagram. When the nested component is created at runtime, a causality is created for the nested component. The causality has an exception port for receiving fault messages that are unhandled within the nested data flow associated with the nested component. The causality also has a coordination port to allow any messages in the causality context and/or other applications to access the error history and the message coordination history. |
| US07653876B2 |
Reversible document format
Systems and techniques to create and use a reversible format document. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes: obtaining an electronic document in a binary format, reforming the electronic document in a markup language format using information selected from the binary format document according to predefined extraction parameters, and inserting an encoded version of the electronic document in the binary format into the electronic document in the markup language format. A markup language document can include a first and second portions, the first portion including a subset of information, including rules governing how the electronic document is processed by a machine, from a binary format document corresponding to the second portion, and the second portion including an encoded version of the binary format document, where the electronic document is fully transformable to the binary format after a modification to the electronic document in the markup language format. |
| US07653875B2 |
Browser sensitive web content delivery
Systems and methods directed at providing browser sensitive web content are provided. A web server is configured to receiving a request from a client and to identify a browser in the client from which the request was initiated. A browser specific cascading style sheet (CSS) corresponding to the identified browser is determined. The browser specific CSS includes instructions that enable the browser to handle elements that are provided by a certain version of a CSS standard. The web server incorporates the browser specific CSS into web content and provides the web content with the browser specific CSS to the client in response to the request. |
| US07653871B2 |
Mathematical decomposition of table-structured electronic documents
Systems and methods for automatically decomposing table-structured electronic documents are described. The systems and methods of this invention generally comprise utilizing mathematical relationships, together with textual and positional clues to the mathematical relationships, in a collaborative manner, to derive a mathematical construct of the table-structured document. Embodiments of this invention automatically process a multitude of table-structured documents, thereby eliminating the need for human interaction with such documents in many cases and lowering the costs associated with processing such documents. |
| US07653869B2 |
System and method for error correction in high definition TV signal
An input signal such as a HDTV signal is split into a primary signal, which can be decoded if desired, and an secondary signal, which can remain compressed. The primary signal may be delayed and then both signals are transmitted to a receiver. If no error in the primary signal is detected, the primary signal is used to display data. Otherwise, the secondary signal, which arrives before the primary signal and consequently which is available for substitution, is displayed. |
| US07653860B2 |
Transmit driver data communication
Aspects describe a transmit driver that processes data communication between a scheduler and a turbo encoder. Transmit driver receives a request for a super frame and ascertains whether it has enough information to start the super frame. If there is enough data, the super frame is written to an appropriate hardware register. Both Direct Memory Access (DMA) and non-DMA hardware can be supported with the one or more aspects. In an aspect, a method is provided for data transmission. The method includes obtaining data comprising one or more logical channels wherein each of the logical channels comprises one or more code blocks, and wherein each of the code blocks comprises one or more turbo groups, organizing the data based on the one or more code blocks to produce time-sequenced turbo groups, and outputting the time-sequenced turbo groups. |
| US07653858B2 |
Low complexity decoding schemes for single-parity-check (SPC) based concatenated codes
This invention provides an iterative PCZZ data decoder that includes circuitry for utilizing all extrinsic information during iterative decoding by updating likelihood information for parity bits LPi, i=1, . . . , M during iterations. The extrinsic information for the parity bits is included in iterations by re-calculating soft values for parity bits LPi(k) for each iteration k. In one embodiment the parity bit soft values are re-calculated in a plurality of circuit blocks following Max-Log-APP (MLA) decoder blocks, based on soft values for data bits LDi(k). In another embodiment the parity bit soft values are re-calculated recursively within the plurality of MLA decoders. The decoder operates to control the convergence of the decoder by monitoring a soft value of one parity check symbol, e.g., L(k−1)[p(IM)], where p(IM) represents the last parity check bit in an I×M parity check array. A decoder iteration stopping rule may be implemented by testing a likelihood measure associated with a last parity check symbol in a parity check column. In one case the likelihood measure may be given by L(k−1)[p(IM]>threshold, and in another case the likelihood measure may be given by L(k−1)[p(I)]>threshold. The likelihood measure is given in general by: L(k−1)[p(I)]>threshold, L(k−1)[p(2I)]>threshold, . . . , L(k−1)[p(IM)]>threshold, where the value of the threshold is a function of data block size. |
| US07653855B2 |
Random number test circuit, random number generation circuit, semiconductor integrated circuit, IC card and information terminal device
A random number test circuit includes a counting unit to count number of repetitions of a certain-value bit in a random number sequence, the repetitions occurring in series, a detecting unit to detect a plurality of numbers corresponding to a kind of bits in the random number sequence, and a determining unit to determine whether the random number sequence is normal, based on the numbers. |
| US07653853B1 |
Integrated circuit internal test circuit and method of testing by using test pattern and signature generations therewith
A test circuit in an integrated circuit and method of testing therewith are described. A test pattern generator provides a test pattern. A reference circuit includes a first sequential circuit coupled in series with a second sequential circuit. A circuit under test is coupled between a source sequential circuit and a destination sequential circuit to form a series. The source sequential circuit and the first sequential circuit are coupled to the test pattern generator to receive the test pattern. A comparison circuit is coupled to receive a first output from the destination sequential circuit and a second output from the second sequential circuit. The comparison circuit is configured to compare the first output with the second output to provide a signature output. |
| US07653845B2 |
Test algorithm selection in memory built-in self test controller
An integrated circuit chip is provided that comprises on-chip memory and test circuitry. The test circuitry is configured to perform operational testing of the on-chip memory. The test circuitry comprises a controller which is configured to perform a selection out of a plurality of test algorithms to perform the operational testing. The plurality of test algorithms includes a fault detection test algorithm to perform operational testing of the on-chip memory in order to detect whether or not there is a memory fault, without locating the memory fault. The plurality of test algorithms further includes a fault location test algorithm to perform operational testing of the on-chip memory in order to detect and locate a memory fault. Further, a method to perform a memory built-in self test and an MBIST (Memory Built-In Self Test) control circuit template are provided. |
| US07653841B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information notification method therefor, and control program
To enable the host server side to be aware of the recovery of an error when the error is recovered by the user's power off/on operation, the most recent state regarding occurrences of errors at printer 16 (steps S61 and S62) is stored in the backup RAM 12a each time a status change occurs (steps S63 and S64), and when an user performs a power off/on operation and a printing device is re-activated (step S65), if a most recent state at the time of the previous activation was in a state of service call error occurrence (step S66), the current status of the printer 16 is then sent (steps S68 and S69). |
| US07653840B1 |
Evaluating and repairing errors during servicing of storage devices
A storage management module for evaluating and repairing errors during monitoring or testing of storage devices of a storage system is described herein. When a storage device exhibits errors that reaches (in number) an error threshold, the storage management module determines whether any errors are due to damaged sectors localized in a single physical area of a predetermined size (referred to as a “patch”) of a platter of the storage device using the physical addresses of the errors. Two or more errors may be grouped as a single error if they are located within a predetermined threshold distance from each other on a platter and counted as a single error against the error threshold. A patch containing two or more damaged sectors is referred to as a “damaged” patch. In some embodiments, all sectors of a damaged patch (including undamaged sectors) are reassigned to spare sectors. |
| US07653837B2 |
Microcontroller system and operating method for secure device locking using counter and timer
A microcontroller system includes a microcontroller, a device which is controllable by the microcontroller, and a monitoring device. Under the control of a normal operation program, the microcontroller outputs a normal operation indicating signal. If the normal operation indicating signal is absent, the monitoring device transfers the device into a secured state and, if it is absent over a predefined period of time, locks the device in that state. When predefined exceptional conditions occur, the microcontroller changes to an operation preparation program, and the monitoring device increments a register. If the contents of the register reach a predefined value, the monitoring device locks the device in the secured state. |
| US07653836B1 |
Logging metadata modifications in a data storage system
A method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for logging metadata modifications in a storage system are provided. According to one method, modifications to storage system metadata are detected and described in a log string data structure. The log strings are collected and periodically committed to a mass storage device in the data storage system. The log strings may be collected in a log buffer data structure that includes the collected log strings and one or more unique, constantly increasing timestamps. The time stamps are written at the end of each sector of the log buffer. The log buffer may be committed to the mass storage device when the log buffer is full, when a predefined period of time has elapsed since the previous commitment of the log strings to disk, or in a manner designed to ensure that one write of the log buffer is always outstanding. A logger module is operative to collect the log strings, build the log buffer, and to commit the log buffer to disk. |
| US07653834B2 |
Power sparing synchronous apparatus
Embodiments include a system, an apparatus, a device, and a method. An apparatus includes a synchronous circuit including a first subcircuit powered by a first power plane having a first power plane voltage and a second subcircuit powered by a second power plane having a second power plane voltage. The apparatus also includes an error detector operable to detect an incidence of a computational error occurring in the first subcircuit. The apparatus includes a controller operable to change the first power plane voltage based upon the detected incidence of a computational error. The apparatus also includes a power supply configured to electrically couple with a portable power source and operable to provide a selected one of at least two voltages to the first power plane in response to the controller. |
| US07653833B1 |
Terminating a non-clustered workload in response to a failure of a system with a clustered workload
The present invention provides for check-pointing an non-clustered workload to make room for a clustered workload that was running on a computer system that has suffered a hardware failure. |
| US07653830B2 |
Logical partitioning in redundant systems
A plurality of processing nodes in a storage system are partitioned into a plurality of logical processing units, wherein the plurality of logical processing units can respond to I/O requests from a host coupled to the storage system. At least two logical processing units are grouped, wherein data in a first storage coupled to a first logical processing unit of the least two logical processing units is mirrored by data in a second storage coupled to the second logical processing unit of the at least two logical processing units. In response to a failure of the first logical processing unit, an I/O request from the host is responded to via the second logical processing unit. |
| US07653829B2 |
Method of data placement and control in block-divided distributed parity disk array
A method of data placement and control in a block-divided distributed disk array is provided. At first, data to store is divided into logical blocks, and each of the divided logical blocks is further divided into a plurality of data blocks. Then, a parity block is created through performing an XOR operation on the data blocks of each logical block in a unit of a strip, and the parity block is arranged at the first block of a strip unit. Then, parity blocks are arranged at a next block of a previous logical block's the last data block through a left/right shifting for uniformly arranging the parity blocks through out all disks in order to fill an empty block between the logical blocks. |
| US07653826B1 |
Method and apparatus for query optimization and management of sleepy drives
The invention, in an embodiment, relates to optimizing database performance by taking advantage of sleepy drives. The invention analyzes queries to indexes based on usage frequency, and determines whether to access an index stored on a sleepy drive, or perform an alternate access plan based on green optimization. Furthermore, the invention transfers data, such as, for example, indexes, files, data areas, journals, and statistics, between active and sleepy drives based on usage frequency. In another embodiment, the invention provides an improved sleepy drive which optimizes energy savings by a graduated degree based on a speed setting. In yet another embodiment, the invention controls when read-write heads are unloaded from disks to reduce drag and power consumption by a disk drive. |
| US07653824B2 |
System and method of managing heat in multiple central processing units
An information handling system is disclosed and can include at least one memory and at least two processor cores coupled thereto. Further, the information handling system can include a controller coupled to the at least two processor cores and the at least one memory. The controller can monitor the temperature within each processor core. Based on the temperature the controller can selectively steer one or more program threads away from an overheating processor core. |
| US07653822B2 |
Entry into a low power mode upon application of power at a processing device
A processing device asynchronously enters a first mode in response to an application of power at the processing device. The processing device receives a wake signal at the processing device subsequent to entering the first mode. The processing device asynchronously enters a second mode from the first power mode in response to receiving the wake signal. A clock at the processing device is disabled in the first mode and enabled in the second mode. |
| US07653818B2 |
System and method for user authentication with enhanced passwords
A system and method for enhancing passwords, access codes, and personal identification munbers by making them pace, rhythm, or tempo sensitive. The password includes a sequence of characters and an associated timing element. To access a restricted device or funcion a user enters the correct character sequence according to the correct pace, rhythm, or tempo. The entered sequence and timing elementare compared with stored values and access is granted only if the entered and stored values match. In an alternative embodiment the stored timing element is set, and periodically altered, by a computer or program without consent from the user and visual, auditory, and/or tactile prompts indicate the correct timing element to the user during the authentication process. The meaning of the prompts are provided to the user in advance. |
| US07653817B2 |
Signature schemes using bilinear mappings
Methods and systems are provided for generating and verifying signatures of digital messages communicated between signers and verifiers. Using bilinear mappings, such as Weil or Tate pairings, these methods and systems enable generation and verification of efficient multisignatures, identity-based ring signatures, hierarchical proxy signatures, and hierarchical online/offline signatures. |
| US07653814B2 |
System and method for securely hyperlinking graphic objects
Systems and methods and computer programs for verifying the authenticity and integrity of hyperlink addresses and files that are accessible by means of these hyperlink addresses. A system and a method are disclosed for authenticating a file such as an HTML document hyperlinked to a graphic object such as a digital image or to a graphic icon. The hyperlink network address (e.g., the URL of the hyperlink on the Internet) is encoded on a first portion of the graphic object. Checking information such as a MAC digital signature and the hyperlinked file are encoded into a second portion of the same graphic object. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a system and a method are disclosed for verifying the authenticity and integrity of a hyperlink and a file when this hyperlink is activated. |
| US07653810B2 |
Method to automate the renewal of digital certificates
The disclosure relates to the management of PKI digital certificates, including certificate discovery, installation, verification and replacement for endpoints over an insecure network. A database of certificates may be maintained through discovery, replacement and other activities. Certificate discovery identifies certificates and associated information including network locations, methods of access, applications of use and non-use, and may produce logs and reports. Automated requests to certificate authorities for new certificates, renewals or certificate signing requests may precede the installation of issued certificates to servers using installation scripts directed to a particular application or product, which may provide notification or require approval or intervention. An administrator may be notified of expiring certificates, using a database or scanning or server agents. Interaction with certificate authorities may be by an abstractor providing a common intefface for issuing signing requests to disparate certificate authorities. Digital certificate management may also be applied to network-connecting client devices. |
| US07653808B2 |
Providing selectable processor abstraction layer components within one BIOS program
A system abstraction layer enables selection from among at least two different processor abstraction layer components. By allowing the selection from a plurality of compressed components, better system adaptability may be achieved. For example, updates may be provided so that it is not necessary to update the entire basic input/output system each time a component of the processor abstraction layer needs to be updated. In addition, a variety of different platforms may be supported by one basic input/output system having a plurality of selectable processor abstraction layer component images. |
| US07653805B2 |
Processing in pipelined computing units with data line and circuit configuration rule signal line
A semiconductor device for performing data processing by performing a plurality of computations in cycles includes a pipeline formed by connecting a plurality of computing units in series, each of the computing units including: a data line for receiving data; a control line for receiving a rule signal; a circuit information control unit configured to store, before data processing, several circuit information items, and to output a first one of the several circuit information items according to the rule signal received via the control line in a first cycle of the data processing; a processing element configured to construct an execution circuit according to the first circuit information item, to perform a computation using data from the data line, and to output a computation result; a data register for storing the computation result, and for outputting the computation result in a second cycle; and a control register for storing the rule signal and for outputting the rule signal in the second cycle. The semiconductor further includes a controller configured to control output timing of the rule signal to the control line of a first-stage one of the computing units in the pipeline and to control output timing of the data to the data line of the first-stage computing unit in the first cycle, so that the plurality of computing units are operated as a pipeline. |
| US07653804B2 |
Resource sharing in multiple parallel pipelines
A signal processing network and method for generating code for such a signal processing network are described. Pipeline blocks are each coupled to receive control signaling and associated information signaling from a scheduler. Each of the pipeline blocks respectively includes an allocation unit, a pipeline, and section controllers. The allocation unit is configured to provide a lock signal and sequence information to the section controllers in each of the pipeline blocks. The section controllers are configured to maintain in order inter-pipeline execution of the sequence responsive to the sequence information and the lock signal. |
| US07653801B2 |
System and method for managing metrics table per virtual port in a logically partitioned data processing system
A method, computer program product, and distributed data processing system that allows a single physical I/O adapter, such as a PCI, PCI-X, or PCI-E adapter, to track performance and reliability statistics per virtual upstream and downstream port, thereby allowing a system and network management to be performed at finer granularity than what is possible using conventional physical port statistics, is provided. Particularly, a mechanism of managing per-virtual port performance metrics in a logically partitioned data processing system including allocating a subset of resources of a physical adapter to a virtual adapter of a plurality of virtual adapters is provided. The subset of resources includes a virtual port having an identifier assigned thereto. The identifier of the virtual port is associated with an address of a physical port. A metric table is associated with the virtual port, wherein the metric table includes metrics of operations that target the virtual port. |
| US07653800B2 |
Continuous data protection
A method for continuous data protection in a storage system, including receiving a first write command to write first data to a partition of a logical volume and then generating a first partition descriptor record (PDR) having a first timestamp. The method further includes storing the first data at a first location, associating the first PDR with the first location, and receiving a second write command, subsequent to the first command, to update the first data with second data. Responsively to the second command, a second PDR having a second timestamp is generated. The second data is stored at a second location, and the second PDR is associated with the second location. The method includes generating a pointer between the first PDR and the second PDR, and accessing the first PDR using the pointer in response to a read command indicating a time prior to the second timestamp. |
| US07653798B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling memory allocation for variable size packets
A memory management apparatus and method for storing data in units of various packet sizes in appliances utilizing memory devices are provided. The memory allocation apparatus includes data memory which includes a plurality of data blocks, each of which includes a plurality of sub data blocks having a predetermined size, and when there is a request for allocating memory space of a variable size, allocates memory space in units of any one of the sub data blocks and the data blocks, a free list memory which manages an free memory space of the data memory as at least one or more lists, and registers that store head location information and tail location information of the list. |
| US07653795B2 |
Control of metastability in the pipelined data processing apparatus
A method and integrated circuit for accessing data in a pipelined data processing apparatus in which the operating conditions of the pipelined data processing apparatus are such that metastable signals may occur on at least the boundaries of the pipelined stages is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: receiving an indication that an instruction is to be processed by the pipelined data processing apparatus; generating a memory access prediction signal, the memory access prediction signal having a value indicative of whether or not the instruction is likely to cause a read access from a memory; generating a predicted memory access control value from the memory access prediction signal, the predicted memory access control value being generated to achieve and maintain a valid logic level for at least a sampling period thereby preventing any metastability in the predicted memory access control value; and in the event that the predicted memory access control value indicates that a read access is likely to occur, causing a read access to be initiated from the memory. Through this approach, an indication that an instruction is to be processed by the pipelined data processing apparatus is received and a memory access prediction signal indicative of whether or not the instruction is likely to cause a read access from a memory is then generated. The predicted memory access control signal is generated in a way which prevents any metastability being present in that signal. Hence, the signals used in a read access are prevented from being metastable which removes the possibility that metastable signals are used directly in the arbitration of data accesses. Also, the metastable signals may be prevented from being propagated from stage to stage. |
| US07653792B2 |
Disk array apparatus including controller that executes control to move data between storage areas based on a data protection level
A disk array apparatus capable of effecting saving and operation of data through a simple construction. When a host computer sets “write inhibit” or “read/write inhibit” for an LDEV which is set on a first storage device, this setting is registered in an access attribute management table and is also reflected onto a migration management table. A migration control program moves the LDEV for which access limitation has been set to a lower-speed (lower-performance) second storage device or to an external storage device. When the access limitation is released, the moved LDEV is restored to the first storage device from the storage device to which the LDEV has been moved. By performing migration control in interlocking relation to control of access attributes, it is possible to obtain a simple data saving function and data management function. |
| US07653790B2 |
Methods and apparatus for responding to a request cluster
According to the present invention, methods and apparatus are provided for increasing the efficiency of data access in a multiple processor, multiple cluster system. A home cluster of processors receives a cache access request from a request cluster. The home cluster includes mechanisms for instructing probed remote clusters to respond to the request cluster instead of to the home cluster. The home cluster can also include mechanisms for reducing the number of probes sent to remote clusters. Techniques are also included for providing the requesting cluster with information to determine the number of responses to be transmitted to the requesting cluster as a result of the reduction in the number of probes sent at the home cluster. |
| US07653789B2 |
Multiprocessor system that supports both coherent and non-coherent memory accesses
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that reduces coherence traffic in a multiprocessor system by supporting both coherent memory accesses and non-coherent memory accesses. During operation, the system receives a request to perform a memory access. Next, the system obtains a page table entry (PTE) associated with the memory access. The system then determines if the memory access is coherent or non-coherent by examining an indicator in the PTE. If the memory access is coherent, the system performs the memory access using a coherence protocol. On the other hand, if the memory access is non-coherent, the system performs the memory access without generating coherence traffic. |
| US07653786B2 |
Power reduction for processor front-end by caching decoded instructions
A power aware front-end unit for a processor may include a UOP cache that disables other circuitry within the front-end unit. In an embodiment, a front-end unit may disable instruction synchronization circuitry, instruction decode circuitry and, optionally, instruction fetch circuitry while instruction look-ups are underway in both a block cache and an instruction cache. If the instruction look-up indicates a miss, the disabled circuitry thereafter may be enabled. |
| US07653781B2 |
Automatic RAID disk performance profiling for creating optimal RAID sets
A method, information handling system, and software are disclosed for creating a RAID set from a plurality of hard disks. A performance profile for the plurality of hard disks is determined. The performance profile associated with each of the hard disks is stored at a location on the hard disk. The performance profiles on one or more of the hard disks are read. A RAID set is created. The RAID set includes a subset of the hard disks. The disks in the RAID set have similar performance profiles. |
| US07653768B2 |
Method, system, and program for master and slave units connected in daisy chain wherein appended error code is transferred between the units
A data transfer method for connecting a master unit on an upstream side and a plurality of slave units on an downstream side in series with serial bus by a daisy chain system and transferring data having an appended error check code or error correction code between a data transmitter and a data receiver, the data transfer method including: transferring the data flowing in the serial bus in the slave unit from the data transmitter to the data receiver without performing an error check or error correction; performing an error check of the data in a circuit provided in the slave unit aside from a circuit in which the data flow; and informing a result of the error check to the master unit individually by the slave unit, which has performed the error check of the data. |
| US07653765B2 |
Information communication controller interface apparatus and method
An apparatus and method for communicating information within a network having one or more communication buses (5, 6, 7, 8), consisting of one or more elements (20, 30, 40) to maximise throughput and minimise CPU involvement by executing the following. Compare incoming message identifiers (14) against a set of predetermined identifiers (22). Transpose data sets (12) within the incoming message data frame and where necessary, save and/or transmit new frames as defined by operations dependent upon the incoming identifier. By utilising an optimal set of operands the memory requirement is satisfied by a minimal size of standard type. |
| US07653763B2 |
Subsystem boot and peripheral data transfer architecture for a subsystem of a system-on- chip
A subsystem (200) is provided at least Direct Memory Access (DMA) device (220) utilized to provide instructions to facilitate the operation of a subsystem processor (210). In one embodiment, a system level processor (102) initiates the provision of instructions for a subsystem (210). The DMA device may be additionally or alternatively utilized to provide data transfer capabilities to a plurality of data channels in a subsystem (200). The DMA device processes channels in a time limited manner to ensure that data is processed in a manner appropriate for time critical data. |
| US07653762B1 |
Profiling circuit arrangement
Various approaches for tracing events in an electronic system are disclosed. In one approach, a circuit arrangement includes a bus, a random access memory (RAM), a plurality of programmable logic resources, and coupled configuration memory cells. A circuit arrangement is implemented in the programmable logic. The circuit arrangement receives a plurality of event indication signals from an application circuit and writes event data to the RAM in response to a change in the state of any one of the event indication signals. A bus interface circuit is coupled to the bus and to the read port of the RAM. Responsive to a read transaction on the bus for the RAM, the bus interface circuit reads data from the RAM and outputs the data on the bus in a reply bus transaction. |
| US07653760B2 |
Information playback apparatus and information playback method with use of vendor ID comparison
According to one embodiment, an information playback apparatus according to one embodiment includes a storage module configured to store a vendor table including a formal vendor ID of a self apparatus and one or more registered vendor IDs, and vendor commands respectively associated with the formal vendor ID and the registered vendor IDs, a connection module configured to connect a partner device so as to transfer video data, audio data, and vendor commands, a detection module configured to detect a vendor ID of the partner device, and a vendor ID control module configured to transmit either one of the formal vendor ID of the self apparatus and a temporary vendor ID of the self apparatus selected from the registered vendor IDs to the partner device based on the vendor ID of the partner device. |
| US07653758B2 |
Memory system with memory controller and board comprising a digital buffer wherein input/output data and clock signals are applied in parallel
A digital registered data buffer is disclosed that has data paths each with a data input for receiving a digital data input signal (Dn), a clock input for receiving a clock input signal (CLK) and a data output providing a digital data output signal (Qn) for application to a data destination device such as memory devices. The buffer further has a clock output for providing an output clock signal (QCLK) to the data destination device and a phase-locked loop (PLL) with a clock input, a feedback input, a feedback output and a plurality of clock outputs. The buffer uses a pair of data registers, i.e. flip-flops (FF1, FF2) connected in series in each data path. The first data register in each data path is clocked by the clock input signal (CLK) and the second data register in each data path is clocked by one of the clock outputs (PDCLK) from the PLL. |
| US07653756B2 |
Recording/reproducing apparatus
A control method for controlling a recording/reproducing apparatus having plural storage units and an equipment to which the recording/reproducing apparatus is connected. The recording/reproducing apparatus has first and second storage units in which data and management data are stored. The equipment, to which is connected the recording/reproducing apparatus, has a third storage unit in which are stored the data and the management data. It is detected whether the equipment to be connected to the recording/reproducing apparatus has been connected to the recording/reproducing apparatus. If such connection is detected, the management data are read out from the first and second storage units. Based on the read-out management data and the management data stored in the third storage unit of the equipment, connected to the recording/reproducing apparatus, new management data, supervising the first to third storage units as one storage unit, is generated. The writing and readout for the plural storage units are controlled based on the generated new management data. |
| US07653755B1 |
Method and apparatus for determining communication paths
Disclosed herein is a system for determining communication paths, especially for AV/C devices. The system includes gathering pertinent information about drivers in each available communication between nodes in the system and ordering the driver information in a communication path list string. The system may be employed with multiple nodes having one or more communication paths between nodes. The system may also be employed with multiple nodes where at least one of the nodes is a bridge. |
| US07653754B2 |
Method, system and protocol that enable unrestricted user-level access to a network interface adapter
A method for preventing deadlock in communication between a host software application and a network interface card (NIC), comprises writing a doorbell associated with at least one descriptor having a descriptor context to a buffer in the NIC, dropping at least one doorbell from the buffer if the buffer is full, thereby allowing a write of a new doorbell to the buffer, and recovering each dropped doorbell for further execution of descriptors associated with this doorbell. The descriptor execution is in order of posting by the application to the NIC. A system implementing the method comprises a doorbell drop mechanism and a doorbell recovery mechanism. |
| US07653751B2 |
Methods of providing published content
Methods of providing published content are presented. Content providers, including advertisers, can have their network addresses become black listed through no fault of their own. Content providers can utilize one or more intermediary providers each having their own distinct network address, possibly a registered domain name. An advertiser or other content provider can engage members of a distribution channel to disseminate promotional information to consumers where the promotional information comprises a network address of the intermediary provider. Upon a request directed toward the network address, the intermediary transforms published content obtained from the primary provider to make the content appear as though it originated from the intermediary provider. Should a black listing event occur, only the intermediary provider would be affected. An updated or new intermediary provider having a new, distinct network address can be instantiated to replace the black listed provider. |
| US07653750B2 |
Using a directory service for a user registry
An apparatus and method provide an architected way for a web server to access a user registry in a directory service such as LDAP. In the preferred embodiments, the logic for presenting and processing a web page is encapsulated from the logic that interacts with the directory service, making it easy for a programmer to make changes to the a user registration form without having to have a detailed knowledge of the directory service and its interfaces. |
| US07653745B1 |
Method and apparatus for distributed network address translation processing
Methods and apparatuses for distributing network address translation. By having a gateway inform inside devices of global addresses, the gateway can avoid performing many functions of a traditional NAT box. Specifically, an inside device is informed of a global address shared by all devices on the inside device's network segment. Each device on that segment would be assigned a range of ports to distinguish messages from separate devices that use the same global address. |
| US07653743B2 |
Protocol for throttling high volume messages
A scalable messaging system for data transmission between the network devices, such as set top boxes, and a central system server, such as a server which maintains a database of event logs for the network. Individual routers at the data center broadcast an announcement packet indicating that they are available to accept messages from the network devices. The announcement message contains at least an identification of the router and the manner in which messages may be sent to it, e.g., one or more connection socket numbers and/or network addresses. The frequency at which availability messages are sent by the routers is preferably dependent upon the relatively loading of the individual router. Thus, the more heavily loaded a particular router becomes, the less often it will broadcast an availability message; the more lightly loaded it becomes, the more often such messages are broadcast. The network devices then transmit messages to the data center only in response to having received such a router availability announcement. The information in a router availability message can be used in various ways to construct a payload message back to the data center, such as by using ports numbers, persistent identification numbers, or Media Access Control (MAC) layer addresses, depending upon the topology of the data network. This protocol thus permits control over the generation of messages, such as connection request messages, which might otherwise flood a network with large numbers of end node devices. |
| US07653741B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing system management messages
Method and apparatus for processing system management messages are described herein. In one embodiment, a throttling policy associated with a network node is determined for throttling system management messages to be sent to a system management server over a network. The system management messages are then sent to the system management server according to the throttling policy, where the system management server is configured to manage multiple network nodes over the network. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
| US07653737B2 |
System and method for communication of streaming data
A system and method for the communication of streaming data is disclosed. In an exemplary method of the present invention, a first set of data is received by an information handling system. A second set of data is received via a network wherein the second set of data is continuously streaming. During times when a sufficient amount of streaming data of the second set of data is available for communication, the second set of data is communicated to a user. Otherwise, the first set of data is communicated to the user. In one embodiment, the second set of data may include a video stream viewable by a user. In another embodiment of the present invention, the first data set and the second data set may be transmitted from a first source. In yet another embodiment, during the time that a first set of data is being communicated due to a presently insufficient amount of streaming data of the second set of data, the second set of data may be monitored such that when a sufficient amount of streaming data is available, the second set of data is communicated. |
| US07653732B1 |
Providing session services with application connectors
Providing session services is disclosed. An indication is received that a session established to provide access to a resource from within an application environment not provided by the resource is about to expire. A response is provided, automatically and in a manner transparent to a user of the application environment, to maintain the session. |
| US07653730B1 |
System and method for latency assurance and dynamic re-provisioning of telecommunication connections in a carrier virtual network
A system and method for dynamic provisioning of telecommunication connections in a carrier virtual network is provided. Information regarding the layer one resources available for forming a connection is maintained, and may include connection information and latency information. Using connection information and latency information, possible connections complying with service level latency requirements are identified. One of the possible connections may be provisioned. If a linking provisioned connection becomes impaired, another of the possible connections may be provisioned. |
| US07653729B2 |
Information processing system, server apparatus, information processing apparatus, and control method thereof
This invention enables an operation checker to easily select a specific one of a plurality of servers on a load distribution system and cause the selected server to respond to a request for a server test or operation monitoring. To accomplish this, a Web service system (1) includes Web servers (10, 20, 30) in which service applications to respond to a request transmitted from a client (2) are installed, and a general-purpose load distribution apparatus (40) which transfers the request from the client (2). Each of the Web servers (10, 20, 30) acquires, from the request received from the client (2), server designation information to designate a Web server that should respond to the request from the client (2). The Web server transmits, to the client (2), cookie information of the client (2) together with the server designation information. |
| US07653727B2 |
Cooperative embedded agents
Cooperative embedded agents as well as manageability and security operations that can be performed on a host system having cooperative embedded agents are disclosed. |
| US07653725B2 |
Management system selectively monitoring and storing additional performance data only when detecting addition or removal of resources
To solve a problem in that reliable detection of a performance problem caused by a configuration change needs detailed performance information, which is costly to keep and analyze, a management computer which manages a computer system having a host computer and a storage system is provided. The management computer is configured to: store performance information obtained from resources that belong to paths at first time intervals until a predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of an addition or removal of the resources to the paths; store performance information obtained from the resources that belong to the paths at second time intervals, which are longer than the first time intervals, without storing performance information obtained from the resources that belong to the paths at the first time intervals after the predetermined length of time elapses since the detection of the addition or removal of the resources to the paths. |
| US07653723B2 |
Event notifying arrangements showing reason of generation of event and/or prompting a process corresponding to the event
For enabling to deal with various kinds of events, but without knowing the meaning of the event issued by network equipments, an event notifying equipment notifies URL for an event receiving equipment to access a HTML file corresponding to the event, in the form of an event parameter, thereby providing a HTML file for indicating a reason of generating the event and a HTML file for prompting a process corresponding to the event, in response to a request from a Web browser. An event receiving apparatus is able to execute the event process only by accessing to the URL included in the event parameter. |
| US07653719B1 |
Automatic detection of channel bandwidth
A step-wise approach to automatically determining the bandwidth of a communication channel includes dividing the channel's potential bandwidth into a number of ranges. An initial range is then selected and a series of data packets specific to the selected range are transmitted from a first endpoint to a second endpoint, with the second endpoint determining one or more channel metrics based on the transmitted packets (e.g., measured transmission rates). If the metrics indicate the current range accurately reflects the channel's bandwidth, a measured transmission rate of the transmitted data packets is used as the channel's bandwidth. Otherwise, another range is selected and the process is repeated. The described approach rapidly determines channel bandwidth, even when the channel between the two endpoints is asymmetric. Techniques described herein are particularly beneficial when used in conjunction with multimedia conferencing applications. |
| US07653717B2 |
Equipment management apparatus, equipment management system, and equipment management method
When a trouble has occurred in any one or more of copying machines, a data terminal (i.e. an equipment management apparatus) transmits to the computer of the management center the trouble data and the management data about the copying machines in which no trouble has occurred. Therefore, the management data about a plurality of copying machines can be efficiently transmitted to the computer of the management center. The copying machine of which management data is to be transmitted together with the trouble data is determined in accordance with the count number remaining until the time for the next regular maintenance comes. As a result, the management data about the copying machine which is scheduled to have regular maintenance in a near future can be transmitted to the computer of the management center prior to other data. The management center can know which copying machine is scheduled to have maintenance in a near future. As a result, a service engineer can be efficiently dispatched. |
| US07653711B2 |
Method and system for information distribution
A method and system for information distribution. A response to a message is received from a first member of a group G of a cascade of groups. The cascade of groups includes at least two groups. The message originated from a member of an originating group. The message was adapted to be sent one group at a time in accordance with a specified delivery sequence to each group of the cascade of groups. The message was received by the group G. The originating group does not include the first member. The response falls into a first response class of a plurality of response classes. A category of membership in the originating group is assigned to the first member. The category of membership is based on the first response class. |
| US07653710B2 |
Hardware task manager
A hardware task manager for managing operations in an adaptive computing system. The task manager indicates when input and output buffer resources are sufficient to allow a task to execute. The task can require an arbitrary number of input values from one or more other (or the same) tasks. Likewise, a number of output buffers must also be available before the task can start to execute and store results in the output buffers. The hardware task manager maintains a counter in association with each input and output buffer. For input buffers, a negative value for the counter means that there is no data in the buffer and, hence, the respective input buffer is not ready or available. Thus, the associated task can not run. Predetermined numbers of bytes, or “units,” are stored into the input buffer and an associated counter is incremented. When the counter value transitions from a negative value to a zero the high-order bit of the counter is cleared, thereby indicating the input buffer has sufficient data and is available to be processed by a task. |
| US07653707B2 |
Data-providing apparatus, data-providing method and program storing medium to provide requested content data to a user
In the present invention, a moving-picture editing program (12) controls the recording of the data transmitted from a personal computer (1-1), into a user video-data management database (4). The program (12) determines whether the data should be supplied to another personal computer (1-2) in response to a demand made by the personal computer (1-1). The moving-picture editing program(12) supplies the data to the other personal computer (1-2) in response to the demand from the other personal computer (1-2) when it is determined that the data should be supplied to the personal computer (1-1). Hence, the data can be utilized by many other users. |
| US07653705B2 |
Interactive recording and playback for network conferencing
The present interactive recording and playback technique provides the ability to archive the content, the discussions and the metadata of a meeting or similar event; then aggregate, search and annotate across this data; and finally edit, combine, or split various recordings to create new presentations. This interactive recording and playback technique provides rich productivity and innovation that is unavailable today. |
| US07653700B1 |
System and method for performing client-centric load balancing of multiple globally-dispersed servers
Presented is a system and a method for load balancing multiple globally-dispersed servers based on client-centric performance criteria. The infrastructure of the system includes load balancing domain name servers (DNS-LBs) deployed in close physical proximity to the Internet service providers' points of presence. The DNS-LBs are then able to monitor the performance of the servers from a location close to the clients, which allows the DNS-LBs to select a server that will yield the best performance from that location for the client. A second level of the infrastructure utilizes domain name servers (DNS-Bs) that are deployed on the Internet backbones and regional provides. The authoritative domain name servers (DNS-As) for the servers to be load balanced refer all name queries to these DNS-Bs. The DNS-Bs then refer the queries to one of the DNS-LBs based on a mapping of the DNS-ISP address to its physically proximate DNS-LB. The DNS-LB then returns the IP address of the server that will provide the best performance from that location. |
| US07653699B1 |
System and method for partitioning a file system for enhanced availability and scalability
A method and system are provided for partitioning a file system. The system may include one or more server computer systems and a plurality of physical file systems. The physical file systems may be hosted by the one or more server computer systems. The physical file systems may be accessible to clients through a virtual file system having a single namespace. The virtual file system may include metadata which are partitioned across the plurality of physical file systems. The server computer systems may be configured to independently perform file system consistency checks on each of the physical file systems, in order to independently validate each partition of the metadata. |
| US07653696B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing digitally signed messages to determine address mismatches
A method and apparatus for processing digitally signed messages in which address mismatch errors are detected. In at least one aspect, the number of address mismatch errors reported to a user for a message may be minimized for messages that properly incorporate message portions signed by someone other than the sender of the message, as may be the case where the message contains a conversation thread for example, by performing at least one predetermined action for digital signatures corresponding to signed data appearing after a message separator. The message separator may indicate that the message contains data from an older forwarded message or from an older message that has been replied to, for example. The at least one-predetermined action may comprise bypassing verification of address matches for those digital signatures, or verifying address matches for those digital signatures but suppressing user notification of any address mismatch errors, for example. |
| US07653695B2 |
Collecting, aggregating, and managing information relating to electronic messages
A method and apparatus for managing information relating to electronic messages is provided. A first set of data related to one or more message senders is obtained from a first source, such as an email sever or email gateway. Each message sender has sent one or more electronic messages. A second set of data related to the one or more message senders is obtained from a second source. Message volume information that describes the messages sent by the one or more message senders for a period of time is determined based on the first set of data and the second set of data. The message volume information may be used to determine whether a particular message sent by a particular message sender is unsolicited. If a particular message is determined to be unsolicited, various actions may be performed on messages sent by the sender of the particular message. |
| US07653694B2 |
E-mail containing a web-based form
A system and method is provided to enable an e-mail to display a Web-based form. A definition concerning an e-mail address may include form schema owned by a Web site. Alternatively, the definition may contain a link to a Web service that provides the form schema. An e-mail client may download the form schema from the Web service, preferably along with additional data such as information concerning previous e-mails sent to the e-mail address, a FAQ list concerning an e-mail distribution list if the e-mail address represents the e-mail distribution list, etc. The Web site owning the form schema may receive and process e-mail containing the form according to the metadata of the Web-based form. |
| US07653691B2 |
Systems and methods for communicating using voice messages
A communication system comprises a communication device configured to receive a data message, such as a text message, and to generate and send a voice reply to the data message using a simple transmit action. The data message comprises an identifier that can be used to determine a reply path related to the data message. Thus, when a user receives the data message, they can read the message initiate the simple transmit action, and reply to the data message by speaking an appropriate reply into the communication device. The spoken response is stored as a voice message and attached to a data message that is sent using the reply path identified by the identifier. |
| US07653686B2 |
Content reproducing device and content reproducing method
Disclosed is a content reproducing device and a content reproducing method capable of quickly starting reproduction by making a pause state before starting the reproduction. The present invention provides a content reproducing device which requests content data of a desired content from a server storing content data and reproduces the content while receiving the content data requested, which includes a communication section which requests desired content data from the server and receives the content data, a receive buffer which buffers the content data received by the communication section, a reproducing section which reads the content data buffered in the receive buffer and reproduces the content, and a control section which controls reproduction of the content, wherein when a stop state in which reproduction of a content is stopped is switched to a pause state in which the reproduction of the content is paused, the control section lets the communication section request the content data from the server to receive the content data, lets the receive buffer a constant volume of the content data, and also lets the reproducing section stop reading the content data from the receive buffer. |
| US07653681B2 |
Software architecture for managing a system of heterogenous network processors and for developing portable network processor applications
A method for developing portable network processor applications and/or managing heterogeneous network processors in a network is disclosed. The network includes host processor(s) utilizing system configuration application(s) that are network processor independent. In one aspect, the method and system include using standardized interface(s) for each network processor, using a standardized transport layer compatible with the interface(s), and providing a generic message application layer. The generic message application layer defines generic payload(s) and message type(s) for configuration communications between the network and host processors. In another aspect, the method and system include providing packet processing shell(s) and generic protocol software that is coupled with the packet processing shell(s) through standard interface(s), network processor independent, and performs operations for packet processing. The method also include providing a library that includes network processor specific information for performing the operations and providing block(s) for performing other network processor specific operations. |
| US07653680B2 |
Mobile software distribution system, server, terminal and method
A mobile communication system capable of efficiently updating software in a group of target terminals only when the software needs to be rewritten. When there is a mobile terminal (UE#1, UE#2) that needs the update of the software version, the server transmit an OTASP request that contains terminal type and software version information to GGSN. The OTASP request is forwarded via the GGSN, SGSN, and RNC to the mobile terminal (UE#1, UE#2). The mobile terminal (UE#1, UE#2) compares its type and software version with those contained in the paging channel, and if they match, transmits an RRC connection request to the RNC. |
| US07653678B2 |
Direct digital synthesis circuit
A direct digital synthesis circuit (108) includes a plurality of current sources (210, 211, 212), an output circuit (200), and a logical multiplier circuit (202). The output circuit (200) provides a synthesized waveform (164) output and includes a first (206) and second branch (208). The logical multiplier circuit (202) is operatively coupled to the plurality of current sources (210, 211, 212) and to the output circuit (200). The logical multiplier circuit (202) is operative to receive a plurality of signals. The logical multiplier circuit is also operative to selectively increase a first current flow through the first branch (206) by a determined magnitude and decrease a second current flow through the second branch (208) by the determined magnitude based on the plurality of signals. The synthesized waveform (164) is based on the first and second currents. |
| US07653674B2 |
Parallel operations on multiple signed elements in a register
The present invention provides methods, apparatus, and article of manufacture for performing parallel operations on multiple signed elements which have been packed into a binary value, each element being associated with a different set of bits. A signs binary value is obtained which contains the sign bits for each element in the register. The signs binary value is then used to remove and/or restore sign bits to each element in single operations. This enables parallel operations to be performed efficiently on multiple signed elements loaded into a register, without incurring loss of data. |
| US07653672B2 |
Heap dump acquiring method
Under program execution environment, a file size of a heap dump is reduced which is acquired so as to detect memory leaks, and so as to investigate occurrence causes of the memory leaks. In order to provide a memory leak investigating means which can be used even in a large-scaled system, the below-mentioned heap dump acquiring method is provided: When a heap dump is acquired, only such an object within objects stored in a heap memory is outputted which is adapted to the following conditions: That is, in a condition (1), an object exists among objects which are newly produced within a designated time period, and in another condition (2), an object is present on a reference path defined from a root set to the object which satisfies the above-explained condition (1). |
| US07653670B2 |
Storage-efficient and collision-free hash-based packet processing architecture and method
An architecture and method for data storage and retrieval which also addresses a number of key problems associated with systems employing hash-based techniques. The architecture and method employs a collision-free hashing scheme called Bloomier filter while eliminates its false positives in a storage efficient way. Wildcard support is added through the use of a scheme called prefix collapsing, while introducing only a small additional storage requirement and reduced hardware complexity. Real update traces indicate that both fast and incremental updates are provided—features generally not available in prior-art collision-free hashing schemes. |
| US07653669B2 |
Snapshots of file systems in data storage systems
The present invention relates to methods and systems of snapshot management of a file system in a data storage system. To represent the snapshots, the invention maintains pointers to the root block pointer of each snapshot. When the active file system is modified, this invention avoids overwriting any blocks used by previous snapshots by allocating new blocks for the modified blocks. When the invention needs to put an established block in a new location, it must update a parent block to point to the new location. The update to the parent block may then require allocating a new block for the new parent block and so forth. Parts of the file system not modified since a snapshot remain in place. The amount of space required to represent snapshots scales with the fraction of the file system that users modify. To maintain snapshot integrity, this invention keeps track of the first and last snapshots that use each block in space map blocks spread throughout the file system data space. When users delete snapshots, this invention may use a background process to find blocks no longer used by any snapshot and makes them available for future use. |
| US07653668B1 |
Fault tolerant multi-stage data replication with relaxed coherency guarantees
A system for fault tolerant multi-stage data replication with relaxed coherency comprises one or more processors and memory coupled to the processors, where the memory stores program instructions executable by the processors to implement a data replication service. In response to an update request directed at a data object, in a first stage of replication, the data replication service is configured to update respective primary replicas at a plurality of primary replica sites for the data object, and to store metadata descriptors at each of the plurality of primary replica sites. The data replication service is configured to determine whether a notification of the update is to be sent to any other replica sites. In response to identifying such other replica sites, an update notification including contents of a metadata descriptor may be sent to the other replica sites in one or more additional replication stages. |
| US07653665B1 |
Systems and methods for avoiding database anomalies when maintaining constraints and indexes in presence of snapshot isolation
A system and method avoids anomalies in presence of data manipulation language (DML) plans maintaining dependent objects and snapshot isolation. An anomaly due to using a snapshot isolation level within the transaction is detected within a database transaction and the transaction is aborted based upon that detection. Involved in making the anomaly detection is determining whether a view of particular data accessed during the transaction under a snapshot isolation view to ensure read consistency differs from a view of the data under another isolation level, such as the read committed isolation level. Then a detection is made that an anomaly may occur if it is determined that the view of the data accessed during the transaction under the snapshot isolation differs from the view of the data under the other isolation level. Such anomaly avoidance prevents an indexed view being maintained nor a referential integrity constraint validated based on incorrect data. |
| US07653664B2 |
Anchor for database synchronization excluding uncommitted transaction modifications
Described is a technology in which an anchor value is determined, for example to synchronize a destination database or data store with modifications made to a source database. The new anchor value is determined in a manner that excludes modifications corresponding to any uncommitted transactions. The new anchor value may be based on a counter value or a date and time value stored with each modification. The new anchor value may be determined by comparing a first set of committed modifications that do not include uncommitted modifications against a second set of modifications that includes committed modifications and uncommitted modifications. Alternatively, the new anchor value may be determined from the earliest start date and time among the modifications that are part of any uncommitted transactions. The anchor may be used (e.g., via queries) to enumerate modifications for synchronization, and also for detecting conflicts between the source and destination databases. |
| US07653663B1 |
Guaranteeing the authenticity of the data stored in the archive storage
A method, computer program product and system for archiving data from an operational database. Data to be archived from the operational database may be stored either as received or transformed in a manner that allows the transformed archived data to be retrieved bit-for-bit identical to the original input received. Further, the data stored in the archive storage is read-only meaning that the data cannot be updated, deleted or modified. Further, backup copies of each of the storage units, which store the archived data, in the archive storage are created for disaster recovery purposes. Additionally, hash values are computed for each of the storage units in the archive storage which are used to detect unauthorized changes to the data stored in the storage units. In this manner, the authenticity of the data stored in the archive storage may be substantially guaranteed. |
| US07653657B2 |
Strategies for discovering media resources
Strategies are described for navigating through a database of media resources. The strategies present a user interface presentation that employs different display paradigms depending on the type of media resource being investigated. If the consumer is interrogating a media resource that has different associated “child” resources associated therewith, then a first kind of user interface presentation may be appropriate. If the consumer is interrogating a media resource that is a standalone resource having no child resources, then a second kind of user interface presentation may be appropriate. Still other kinds of display paradigms are possible. |
| US07653651B1 |
System and method for transparent persistence management
One embodiment of the invention employs “transparent object persistence” techniques in which persistent data objects (i.e., the objects that represent persistent data from a database) are separated from business processing objects (i.e., the objects that handle the requests, process specific business operations, manipulate the persistent data and respond to clients). Within a Java 2 Enterprise Edition (“J2EE”) environment, the business processing objects are entity beans managed by an Enterprise Java Bean (“EJB”) container. A persistence manager manages the persistent data objects, which provide an in-memory representation of a set of database data. The entity beans manipulate the persistent data by invoking get/set accessor methods on the persistent data objects. In one embodiment, the persistence manager associates a state with each of the persistent data objects which indicates an operation to be performed within tables of a relational database when the modifications to the persistent data objects are committed to the relational database. |
| US07653650B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for synchronizing change histories in enterprise applications
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for synchronizing change histories in enterprise applications. An access module accesses a source data object container provided by a source EIS and a destination data object container provided by a destination EIS. The source data object container comprises a source change history, and the destination data object container comprises a destination change history. A transformation module may retrieve a transformation definition from an integration server, or the transformation definition may be provided in some other fashion. An interpretation module interprets the transformation definition to determine the relationships between the source data object container and the destination data object container. A copy module may copy select portions of the source change history to the destination change history. |
| US07653644B2 |
Hierarchy structure data generating system
The mapping data include a substituting element describing area, a repeat number describing area, and a repeat element describing area. In the substituting element describing area, it is described that the input data is set to which tag in the XML file. In the repeat number describing area, the repeat number specified in the repeat number specifying area is described. In the repeat element describing area, it is described that the tag name of the tag output repeatedly in the XML file. The hierarchy structure data generating system outputs the repeat tag to belong to the same rank as the tag of the repeat element describing area. On putting out the repeat tag, the hierarchy structure data generating system outputs it repeatedly the same number of times as the number of the value of the repeat number describing area. |
| US07653642B2 |
Auto quota
Method and system for establishing and maintaining quotas. An auto quota is defined and applied to a directory. Input and output is monitored to detect a successful operation that involves a subdirectory of the directory. A determination is made as to whether to apply a quota associated with the auto quota to the subdirectory. If the determination is that the quota is to be applied to the subdirectory, it is automatically applied. |
| US07653640B2 |
Two-way and multi-master synchronization over web syndications
Synchronization of a web syndication item over a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) format between a publisher and a subscriber. The publisher creates the web syndication item by including a media content associated therewith. The synchronization metadata is defined to include a first virtual clock value associated with the created web syndication item. The first virtual clock value indicates when the web syndication item was last updated. A request for subscribing the published web syndication item is received from the subscriber. In response to the received request, the published web syndication item is transmitted to a location remote from the publisher and accessible by the subscriber. The first virtual clock value is provided to the subscriber for use by the subscriber to modify the first virtual clock value when the subscriber modifies the media content associated with the web syndication item. |
| US07653636B2 |
Systems and methods for streaming XPath query
An improved XML query system represents an XML document as a stream of discrete ‘events,’ with each event representing a portion of the document as the document is being parsed. Expression-based event matching such as XPath can be performed against the event stream using a stack to keep only the relevant contexts in memory. Observers can be used to listen for matching events. Matching events can then be routed for processing by appropriate objects or components and returned to the event stream if necessary.This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims. |
| US07653629B2 |
Priority differentiated subtree locking
A locking arrangement for data structures is provided that prevents deadlocks, but still allows different threads to simultaneously obtain locks on different nodes of a data structure for both read and write operations. The locking system differentiates locks based on a priority hierarchy. The locking system will fail a request to lock one or more resources in a data structure if access to those resources has already been restricted by a conflicting lock of an equal or higher priority. The locking system may also employ preemptable and non-preemptable locks such that, if a preemptable lock with a lower priority has restricted access to resources, then the locking system will preempt the lower priority lock in favor of a conflicting higher priority lock. Alternately, if a non-preemptable lock with a lower priority has restricted access to resources, then the locking system will wait until the lower priority lock is removed before implementing a requested conflicting higher priority lock. This locking arrangement allows high priority operations that require higher performance and efficiency to receive preferential access to a data structure without preventing lower priority operations from accessing the data structure, while preventing deadlocks between different operations. |
| US07653627B2 |
System and method for utilizing the content of an online conversation to select advertising content and/or other relevant information for display
Systems and methods for analyzing the content of online conversations using data mining technologies are provided. Methods and systems for utilizing the results of data mining technology implementation to retrieve relevant advertising content and/or other relevant information for display in association with the content of an online conversation are also provided. |
| US07653626B2 |
Method for detecting regularly appearing patterns
Methods for detecting regularly appearing pattern without excessive memory. The method comprises providing a matrix, and each row of the matrix comprises a location index and a count value. The count value is associated with the location index for indicating the number of the predetermined value that appears at certain locations. After a symbol is received, a current location index representing a current location is translated. A comparing row is picked from the matrix. The matrix is arranged in a circular manner such that the first row is a preliminary comparing row. The count value of the first row is incremented when the current location index equals the location index of the comparing row and the received symbol equals the predetermined value. The received symbol is determined as a regularly appearing pattern according to the count values in the matrix. |
| US07653623B2 |
Information searching apparatus and method with mechanism of refining search results
An information searching apparatus and method capable of producing good search results even in the case where specified search keywords are found separately on a plurality of documents. Upon receipt of a search request from a client, a first search process searches an index memory to find tentative search results. According to predetermined rules, it is determined to which group each tentative search result should belong. A second search process then searches documents at an upper hierarchical level in the same group, thus finding keyword hits in an upper-level document. A higher priority is then given to a group of documents in which the second search process has found keyword hits. Finally a list of locators is compiled and sent back to the requesting client to indicate the locations of relevant documents, where the locators are arranged in descending order of the display priority of corresponding groups. |
| US07653622B2 |
Automated content categorization
When a user submits a content resource to a content database, an automated content categorizer facilitates the task by suggesting a list of relevant content categories in the content database. The automated content categorizer receives a search descriptor attributed to the content resource, performs a relevance search, and proposes a ranked list of category branches that are expected to provide a good match with the described content resource. Metadata associated with individual categories and content resources stored in the content database are searched relative to the search descriptor provided by the user. From the proposed content categories, the user can simply select the category he or she feels is most appropriate and store the content resource under that category in the content database, or propose a new category. |
| US07653620B2 |
Dynamic optimization of prepared statements in a statement pool
An apparatus, program product and method dynamically optimize prepared statements resident in a statement pool to permit subsequent reuses of such statements to utilize the optimized representations of such statements. The optimization of pooled statements may be performed responsive to the tracked usage of the statements in a statement pool, to direct the overhead associated with such optimization to those statements that are more likely to be utilized in the future. Among a multitude of possible optimizations, a pooled statement that requests data in a format other than that utilized by the database being accessed may be modified to request the data in the format used by the database, thereby decreasing the overhead in the database associated with format conversions. |
| US07653616B2 |
Source and destination determination system and method
In a first general aspect, a computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier is described. The computer program product includes instructions that, when executed, perform operations for identifying a source or destination for stock. The operations include receiving an electronic request to determine a source or destination for stock, identifying, using a primary rule, a logistic area database object that represents a storage location at one of multiple levels of a hierarchy of storage locations. The logistic area database object is associated with a value that indicates an amount of stock that is associated with the storage location. The operations also include transmitting an identifier specifying the logistic area database object if the value indicates that associated storage location is available as a source or destination. The identifier is used to assign the storage location as the source or destination for the stock. |
| US07653614B2 |
Method of searching across media and source types
A method, system, signal, user interface, and software for searching information across different media types and sources is disclosed. The method includes identifying a search criteria and subsequently searching for information across one or more media types or sources based upon the search criteria. The search may also be conducted giving regard to user interaction information such as most recently viewed, most frequently viewed, preferences, etc. The media information may be stored locally or remotely and is presented to a user using a single user interface. |
| US07653610B2 |
System for facilitating problem resolution
Disclosed is a data processing system for facilitating problem resolution. The data processing system-implemented system includes a configuring module for configuring a system pathway that leads to a solution, and an associating module for associating a usage indicator with the symptom pathway, the usage indicator indicating a frequency in which the symptom pathway was previously implemented for successfully resolving previously experienced problems. |
| US07653608B2 |
System and method for ranking academic programs
A computer-implemented method for ranking a plurality of academic programs includes receiving a plurality of records corresponding to the plurality of academic programs, respectively, combining elements of the plurality of records to determine respective z-scores according to a predetermined metric, and ranking the plurality of academic programs according to the respective z-scores. |
| US07653607B2 |
Remote execution of materials library designs
Methods, apparatus, and business processes enabling individual chemists to design, order, and obtain data for multiple experiments or measurements in a timely and cost-effective manner. In particular implementations, the invention includes methods and apparatus for designing sets of custom experiments, ordering the execution of the experiments, communicating the order to a remote laboratory, executing the experiments at that laboratory using high-throughput technologies, and communicating the experimental results to the user. |
| US07653601B2 |
Cash dispensing ATM system with multiple entity interface
A method of operating a cash dispensing automated banking machine includes causing through operation of a processor of a cash dispensing automated banking machine, a card reader of the machine to read data from a card which corresponds to an entity with which a customer operating the machine has an account. The method also includes providing through operation of the processor, at least one visual output through a display device on the automated banking machine, The visual output uniquely corresponds to the entity with which the customer has the account. |
| US07653599B2 |
Methods and systems for exchanging and/or transferring various forms of value
Methods and systems for exchanging various forms of value, including coins, currency, credit, debit, and/or bank account funds, for prepaid cash cards, credit cards, phone cards, and the like. In one embodiment, a value exchange machine includes a coin input region, a coin sorting/counting apparatus, a card reader, and a communications facility configured to communicate with a remote computer network. In another embodiment, a value exchange system includes one or more of the value exchange machines connected to one or more remote computers via a communications link. A user wishing to purchase, for example, a prepaid cash card can visit one of the value exchange machines, select the desired transaction, and pay for the card with coins, currency, a credit card, a debit card, and/or bank account funds. After confirming payment, the value exchange machine dispenses the card to the user. |
| US07653598B1 |
Payment processing with selection of a processing parameter
A technique for making a payment to a payee on behalf of a payor is provided. A selection is made, based upon a received payment request, of a processing parameter from a group of processing parameters. The group of processing parameters consists of at least two of three processing parameters. The three processing parameters are a speed of processing, cost of processing, and a risk of processing. The payment is made according to the selected processing parameter. |
| US07653596B2 |
System and method for dividing a remittance and distributing a portion of the funds to multiple investment products
A known charge card billing system communicates with an investment broker system, wherein the investment broker system includes an instruction arrangement database, payment hierarchy and an investment account. An interested cardholder suitably appoints the charge card administrator as a processing agent to collect and promptly remit the cardholder's voluntary, periodic payments for investment into preselected investment products, such as, for example, mutual fund shares, fixed annuities, variable annuities, CDs, insurance, certificates, equities and/or the like. The billing system distributes a billing statement at the end of each month, wherein the statement includes all of the charges for that month and a reminder to remit an additional dollar amount for the preselected investments. The cardholder then sends a single payment for the charges and the investments to the charge card administrator. After receiving the payment, the system appropriately unbundles the payment and distributes the remitted payment to the card account to satisfy the captured financial events and to the investment broker system for the purchase of investment products. |
| US07653594B2 |
Targeted incentives based upon predicted behavior
A system and method for anticipating consumer behavior and determining transaction incentives for influencing consumer behavior comprises a computer system and associated database for determining cross time correlations between transaction behavior, for applying the function derived from the correlations to consumer records to predict future consumer behavior, and for deciding on transaction incentives to offer the consumers based upon their predicted behavior. |
| US07653592B1 |
System and method for processing a loan
A computer-implemented mortgage loan application data processing system comprises user interface logic and a workflow engine. The user interface logic is configured to receive mortgage loan application data for a mortgage loan application from a borrower. The workflow engine has stored therein a list representing tasks that need to be performed in connection with the mortgage loan application, including tasks for fulfillment of underwriting conditions. The workflow engine is configured to cooperate with the user interface logic to prompt the borrower to perform the tasks. The system is configured to provide the borrower with a fully-verified approval for the mortgage loan application. The fully-verified approval indicates that the mortgage loan application data received from the borrower has already been verified as accurate using information from trusted sources. The mortgage loan application may then be provided to different lenders with the different lenders being able to authenticate the fully-verified approval status. |
| US07653587B2 |
Automated account statement generation process
Computer-implemented methods are executed by a software application that allows users to create or edit account statements designated or queued for batch printing runs. This application also allows a test generation of a statement for confirmation of report formats assigned to the statement prior to the month-end statement generation. Finally, the application allows statements to be selected and grouped for generation based upon various account or corporate criteria. Once statements have been selected and generated, they may be sent to a quality review management program for final approval prior to batch printing. |
| US07653582B2 |
Interactive financial charting and related news correlation
Techniques are disclosed by which users looking for financial information about publicly traded or private companies may richly and interactively navigate both pricing and material news information about those companies. The techniques facilitate and encourage the user's use and understanding of financial information presented. Related company information can also be provided to the user, where related companies are organized by hierarchal categories for a meaningful display. |
| US07653576B2 |
Method for pricing items
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code are provided for real time pricing of items by a customer located in a store. A customer sends a request to price an item using a mobile device to a Web service server. The Web service server identifies the customer's location and queries a set of information sources for prices from several vendors within a selected distance of the customer's location. The Web service server may include price information for items comparable to the item requested by the customer. The Web service server applies competitive rules defined by a vendor to determine pricing for the item from that vendor. The Web service server may also create special price quotes based on the verified location and identity of the customer. The Web service server sends the result to the customer and enables a real time purchase from the result displayed on the mobile device. |
| US07653573B2 |
Customer messaging service
A messaging and alerting service is described. An implementation includes enrolling a customer in the messaging and alert service, storing a list of businesses selected by the customer, storing a customer contact hierarchy list, and contacting the customer according to the contact hierarchy list. The messaging and alerting service enables real-time, interactive alerts to be delivered to customers in the customer's preferred media. In addition, customers may respond to the alerts to provide important directions to a business. |
| US07653570B2 |
Systems and methods for intelligent communicating storage of condition monitorable replaceable components
An intelligent communicating supply storage unit is provided, tailored to storing one or more replaceable components for one or more supply-consuming devices. The storage unit may provide capabilities: (a) to sense a presence or absence of replaceable components for associated devices, which may include determining that the correct components are available, and to monitor a status of an internal characteristic of a stored replaceable component by accessing information stored on an externally readable component monitoring module attached to the stored replaceable component; (b) to maintain an updated inventory of the status of supplies on hand to include introduction of supplies into the storage unit for storage, and removal of supplies from the storage unit for use of disposal; and/or (c) to communicate storage unit supply status or inventory from the storage unit to an external source such as, for example, a supply providing organization. |
| US07653567B2 |
Integrated online job recruitment system
The present invention provides an easy to use system and method for assisting job seekers in locating job opportunities and applying for the same using an online connectivity protocol which is simple to use and highly efficient in terms of time consumption. The system identifies and extracts keywords from the job postings in an accessible job database to create a keyword targeted list that excludes common words and phrases. The keyword targeted list is then processed to form a keyword targeted prefix list which in turn is inserted into a search engine. Upon appropriate query by a potential job seeker, the search engine returns its results while giving prominent placement to one or more job postings sponsored by a recruiter. An interested job seeker clicks on the sponsored job posting is directed to the job details through a website mediated application programming interface. |
| US07653564B2 |
Methods and systems for providing a measure of supervision over the activities of representatives of a business
Systems and methods are provided for helping businesses provide a measure of supervision over the activities of their representatives without requiring a significant amount of manual data sorting and/or cross-correlation. This is accomplished by providing a database in which each representative records his/her activities. Predefined reports are then run against the database, preferably at preset intervals, which identify potentially unacceptable activity. The reports generate one or more alerts that flag the unacceptable activity, and each alert is reviewed and/or investigated as desired. The systems and methods preferably are arranged to be consistent with industry hierarchies, allowing each supervisor in the hierarchy to maintain unique report parameters. |
| US07653563B2 |
Method and apparatus and program storage device adapted for automatic qualitative and quantitative risk assessment based on technical wellbore design and earth properties
A Software System, known as an Automatic Well Planning Risk Assessment Software System, is adapted to determine and display risk information in response to a plurality of input data by: receiving the plurality of input data, the input data including a plurality of input data calculation results; comparing each calculation result of the plurality of input data calculation results with each logical expression of a plurality of logical expressions; ranking by the logical expression the calculation result; and generating a plurality of ranked risk values in response thereto, each of the plurality of ranked risk values representing an input data calculation result that has been ranked by the logical expression as either a high risk or a medium risk or a low risk; generating the risk information in response to the plurality of ranked risk values; and displaying the risk information. |
| US07653557B2 |
Client driven healthcare system and process
An advanced primary nurse care system and process is disclosed which is client-driven for processing a number of clients in a timely manner with enhanced healthcare outcomes. The system and process are sized to provide an optimum patient flow and healthcare. The system includes a computer network having a central system computer. A computer program resides on the system computer for creating a real-time client record as the client proceeds through the system and process. There is a client station connected in the computer network where the client record is initially created and accessed on subsequent visits using a unique client ID code. A client station display monitor displays medical questions regarding the client's health state whereupon the client inputs responses to the questions into the client record. A nurse station is connected in the computer network for receiving the client in the healthcare flow for collecting vital signs and other laboratory information. There is a nurse station input device provided for inputting the information into the client record. There is a practitioner station connected in the computer network where the client record is accessed and displayed to a medical practitioner and the client during an examination and consultation. Exam data originating at the practitioner station is input into the client record such as prescriptions and alternative remedies. At the end of the visit, the client leaves with a take-home report compiled from the real-time client record containing the information needed for the client's healthcare. |
| US07653553B2 |
Method and system for enterprise-level unassisted customer shipping
A system and method for unassisted enterprise-level unassisted customer shipping is described providing for payment of shipping and item costs in a single transaction. In one configuration, a customer utilizes a kiosk to process a shipping bill of materials for presentment at a point of sale terminal. |
| US07653552B2 |
Digital file marketplace
A method and system for providing a digital file marketplace is disclosed, where the digital marketplace includes a plurality of digital files for access by consumers over a network. The method and system include allowing a content owner to post a file on the marketplace for access by users by, providing information about the file, setting a retail price that users will be charged for downloading the file, and setting a reseller commission for the file. A first user may then search for files posted on the digital marketplace for one to resell on a third party website. A second user may further search the files posted on the digital marketplace for one to download. If the second user selects a particular file to download, then the user is charged the retail price set for the file. If the second user downloads the particular file from the third party website, then the first user is paid the reseller commission set for the file. In addition, the content owner is provided with a payment based on the retail price minus the reseller commission. |
| US07653550B2 |
Interface for providing modeless timeline based selection of an audio or video file
A timeline-based approach for selecting and manipulating audio tracks is presented. This is accomplished via a graphical user interface that provides users with a series of visual cues and enhancements when selecting a particular area of an audio track depicted within the interface. These visual cues are rendered as a display region having multiple other display areas, components or interface components that provide the user with a location for initiating actions upon the file. User input provided to the timeline component generates a selection overlay that indicates a selected area of the audio file. The user can perform numerous actions with that audio file, such as copying and pasting. The user can do this more quickly and efficiently because the user is not required to switch tools. Everything is accomplished “modelessly.” Multiple instances of the selection overlay applied, for example, across multiple audio tracks may achieve even more powerful results. |
| US07653545B1 |
Method of developing an interactive system
A method of developing an interactive system, including inputting application data representative of an application for the system, the application data including operations and parameters for the application, generating prompts on the basis of the application data, and generating grammar on the basis of the application data. The prompts and grammar are generated on the basis of a predetermined pattern or structure for the prompts and grammar. The grammar also includes predefined grammar. Grammatical inference is also executed to enhance the grammar. The grammatical inference method for developing the grammar may include processing rules of the grammar, creating additional rules representative of repeated phrases, and merging equivalent symbols of the grammar, wherein the rules define slots to represent data on which an interactive system executes operations and include symbols representing at least a phrase or term. The grammar is hierarchical and the rules include a reference count representing the number of other rules that reference the rule. Additional rules to be created during grammatical inference are determined on the basis of attribute constraints. |
| US07653543B1 |
Automatic signal adjustment based on intelligibility
The present invention is directed toward a method, device, and system for providing a high quality communication session. The system provides a way of determining speech characteristics of participants in the communication session and adjusting, if necessary, signals from a speaker to a listener such that the listener can more intelligibly understand what the speaker is saying. |
| US07653538B2 |
Playback apparatus and playback method
Noise is prevented when decoding an audio stream not containing syncwords or CRC bits in the elementary stream. When decoding a current frame, the private header of the next frame is analyzed and the current frame is muted if the private header of the next frame is not valid. When there is a data discontinuity caused by editing, decoding resumes from the start address of the next frame determined. |
| US07653533B2 |
Removing time delays in signal paths
The disclosed embodiments include systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable mediums for compensating one or more signals and/or one or more parameters for time delays in one or more signal processing paths. |
| US07653529B2 |
System and method for providing dynamic multiple language support for application programs
In response to a user activating a language switching mechanism to indicate a newly selected language, a language switch component sends a language key that corresponds to a first language sensitive element displayed in the user interface to a language resource manager. The language resource manager retrieves from a language resource bundle, which corresponds to the newly selected language, a second language sensitive element. The language switch component then replaces the first language sensitive element with the second language sensitive element. The replacement process is then repeated for all language sensitive elements in the user interface. |
| US07653525B2 |
Enterprise service delivery technical architecture
An Enterprise Service Delivery Technical Architecture includes a Technical Model, and a Technical Delivery Framework, and is designed to facilitate the development of complete enterprise service management solutions. The use of the Enterprise Service Delivery Technical Architecture as the framework for an enterprise systems management technical solution results in solution designs created to be independent of the technology platform being managed with a view that meets the overall business requirements that span the technology platforms within a business environment. An information technology infrastructure already in place for a customer is analyzed and broken down to its very lowest level building blocks. Then the building blocks within the model of the technical architecture are mapped with the building blocks of the customer's information technology infrastructure to determine which of the building blocks of the model are to be used for the customer's information technology operation. |
| US07653524B2 |
Analog and radio frequency (RF) system-level simulation using frequency relaxation
Analog and radio frequency system-level simulation using frequency relaxation. Embodiments of the invention use a frequency relaxation approach for analog/RF system-level simulation that accommodates both large system size and complex signal space. The simulator can determine an output response for a system by partitioning the system into blocks and simulating the propagation of an input signal through the blocks. The input signal can take various forms, including a multi-tone sinusoidal signal, a continuous spectra signal, and/or a stochastic signal. Frequency relaxation is applied to produce individual responses. The output response can be computed based on obtaining convergence of the individual responses. The input to embodiments of the simulator can be a circuit netlist, or a block-level macromodel. |
| US07653520B2 |
Method for combining decision procedures with satisfiability solvers
The invention provides bounded model checking of a program with respect to a property of interest comprising unfolding the program for a number of steps to create a program formula; translating the property of interest into an automaton; encoding the transition system of the automaton into a Boolean formula creating a transition formula; conjoining the program formula with the transition formula to create a conjoined formula; and deciding the satisfiability of the conjoined formula. |
| US07653518B2 |
System and method for generating matched contour profiles
A method for generating matched contour profiles includes the steps of trimming or extending an input wire to create a modified input wire and slicing a solid part in the plane of the modified input wire to create an intersection wire. The method also includes the steps of imprinting the modified input wire and the intersection wire on a disk to create one or more faces of interest, determining which faces of interest constitute matched contour faces, and extracting edges of an identified matched contour face to create a closed wire. Matched contour profiles enable solid modeling programs to generate solid models that are less prone to failure because the matched contour profile automatically adapts to changes in the shape of the solid model. |
| US07653512B2 |
Precision diagnostic method for the failure protection and predictive maintenance of a vacuum pump and a precision diagnostic system therefor
According to the present invention, the most challenging issues in this work have been to find systematic ways of enabling maintenance engineers to decide an adequate time for the replacement of vacuum pumps on the basis of their current performance assessment result. Further, the comparison of the currently evaluated diagnostics analysis results and the initial (or reference) data set is shown to enable maintenance engineers to decide the replacement of the considered vacuum pump according to the evaluated pump performance indicators. This quantitative diagnostic analysis result is expected not only to enable maintenance engineers to decide an adequate time for the replacement of vacuum pumps on the basis of their current performance assessment results but also to improve the reliability and confidence of the predictive maintenance of low vacuum pumps. |
| US07653511B2 |
Thermoconductimetric analyzer for soldering process improvement
Performance of a flux in a soldering process is assessed by monitoring the activity of the flux via its electrical conductance measured using a probe having interdigitated metallic traces and a temperature sensor. The measured conductance-temperature time profile provides information useful for selecting a suitable flux formulation and soldering conditions for a given application, for determining the cause of soldering process problems, and for developing improved flux formulations. |
| US07653506B2 |
Tensile support strength monitoring system and method
A system and method monitoring the health of a support structure for an elevator based on an electrical characteristic, such as resistance, of the support structure and not the temperature of the structure. The resistance of a virgin support structure under the same temperature conditions as the support structure being monitored is calculated and subtracted from the measured resistance of the monitored support structure. The resistance value of the virgin support structure and the monitored support structure may be translated to a reference temperature to simplify calculations and monitoring of the support structure. |
| US07653504B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing shorted pin information for integrated circuit testing
Method and apparatus for providing shorted pin information for constructing a device under test (DUT) board for integrated circuit testing is described. In one example, an interface to an application module that implements pin-shorting rules associated generally with a plurality of integrated circuits and stores package files associated with specific ones of the integrated circuits is provided. A device and a package defining one of the plurality of integrated circuits are selected via the interface. At least one query is executed against the pin-shorting rules and the package files stored in the database via the interface. A shorted pin plan for the device and the package as selected is generated based on information obtained in response to the at least one query. |
| US07653503B2 |
Temperature-compensating sensor system
A temperature compensating fluid flow sensing system is provided that comprises a resistance-based sensor element that is included in a constant voltage anemometer circuit configured to establish and maintain a command voltage across the first sensor element and to provide a constant voltage anemometer (CVA) output voltage corresponding to the resistance change in the first sensor element due to heat transfer between the first sensor element and the fluid. A controller is configured to establish the command voltage based on a desired overheat across the sensor and an actual overheat across the first sensor element. A power dissipation (PDR) module is configured to determine at least one fluid flow parameter and an actual overheat value based at least in part on the CVA output voltage and to transmit to the controller the actual overheat for use by the controller in updating the command voltage. |
| US07653497B2 |
Energy flow measurement in gas pipelines
Thermodynamic properties of a natural gas stream can be determined in real time utilizing modeling algorithms in conjunction with one or more sensors for quantifying physical and chemical properties of the natural gas. Related techniques, apparatus, systems, and articles are also described. |
| US07653496B2 |
Feature selection in mass spectral data
The present invention provides, inter alia, methods of analyzing mass spectral data. In some embodiments, the methods can be used for differential profiling of samples, such as comparing a sample comprising a compound and a sample comprising metabolites of the same compound. The methods can also be used to identify and isolate biomarkers. Systems for performing the methods, as well as computer-readable media for performing the methods, are also described. |
| US07653493B1 |
Proteomic sample analysis and systems therefor
Analysis of a group of proteomic samples is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, ion mass spectrometry data is collected for a group of samples. For each sample, at least one grouping of ions is identified and used to generate another estimated grouping of ions relating to the sample. Using these groupings, characteristics of the sample are detected. |
| US07653491B2 |
Computer systems and methods for subdividing a complex disease into component diseases
A method for identifying a quantitative trait loci for a complex trait that is exhibited by a plurality of organisms in a population. The population is divided into a plurality of sub-populations using a classification scheme. Depending on what is known about the population, either a supervised or unsupervised classification is used. The classification scheme is derived from a plurality of cellular constituent measurements obtained from each organism in the population. For each sub-population in the plurality of sub-populations, a quantitative genetic analysis is performed on the sub-population in order to identify one or more quantitative trait loci for the complex trait. |
| US07653490B2 |
Nuclear magnetic resonance assembly of chemical entities
The invention provides a method for obtaining a binding compound for a protein family, wherein the members of the protein family bind a common ligand. The method includes the steps of (a) providing a sample containing a protein from the protein family, a first ligand and a second ligand under conditions wherein the first ligand, the second ligand and the protein form a bound complex; (b) detecting magnetization transfer between the first ligand and the second ligand in the bound complex, thereby determining that the two ligands are proximal in the bound complex; and (c) obtaining a candidate binding compound including the first ligand, or a fragment thereof linked to the second ligand, or a homolog thereof, whereby the population contains binding compounds that bind to members of the protein family. |
| US07653485B2 |
Route guidance system and method
A routing guide system includes route calculating means for calculating the route of a vehicle to a destination, image providing means for reading from storage means scenery images on the route calculated by the route calculating means, and display means for displaying the scenery images on the calculated route generated by the image providing means. The routing guide system also includes route confirming means for confirming as a set route the route calculated by the route calculating means, according to an operation, during or after display of the scenery images on the calculated route by means of the display means. |
| US07653483B2 |
System and method for determining a position of a vehicle
A method and system for determining the position of a vehicle comprises a transmitter or transceiver for transmitting a transmission signal from a vehicle to beacons associated with the work area. A data processor determines an elapsed time including at least one of a first propagation duration and a second propagation duration. The first propagation duration refers to a propagation time of the transmission signal from the vehicle to the particular beacon; the second propagation duration refers to a propagation time of a return signal from the particular beacon to the vehicle. A compensator compensates for the following associated with the transmitter and the particular beacon: bias delay, noise, and measurement error. A data processor processes the elapsed times into corresponding position curves or temporal curves to estimate a position of a vehicle at a confluence or intersection of the position curves or temporal curves. |
| US07653480B2 |
Traffic information providing system
A system for providing a vehicle with traffic information reflecting the real traffic condition in each traveling direction is provided, even if the vehicle travels in either branch direction in a branch point area including the branch point. A traffic information server collects information on the time required for traveling in the branch point area from an information providing vehicle and generates information on the time required for traveling in each traveling direction in the branch point area on the basis of the information. Upon receiving a request for providing the traffic information from a navigation system of a vehicle the traffic information server transmits the information on the time required for traveling in each traveling direction or the information on the time required for traveling on each route in the branch point area generated from the above information. |
| US07653479B2 |
Control device of internal combustion engine
A fuel cut failsafe function monitoring section of a microcomputer sets a fuel cut failsafe function diagnosis period in a period, in which an operation of an engine is stopped (e.g., a period before engine start), and sends a fuel cut failsafe execution command signal to a fuel cut failsafe execution section of an abnormality monitoring device during the fuel cut failsafe function diagnosis period. Thus, the fuel cut failsafe execution section is caused to output a fuel cut failsafe signal to an injector driver to stop an operation of the injector driver. The fuel cut failsafe function monitoring section monitors an output level of a disablement port of the injector driver at the time, thereby performing abnormality diagnosis of a fuel cut failsafe function. |
| US07653475B2 |
Fuel injection control apparatus and control method of internal combustion engine
A fuel injection correction coefficient for a first fuel injection valve and a second fuel injection valve with respect to a second fuel injection proportion in a second combustion is learned (step 107) in each of learning regions based on the fuel supply amount supplied into a cylinder, by carrying out a first combustion whose fuel injection proportion is set to the second fuel injection proportion, in the operation region of the second combustion (step 106). |
| US07653473B2 |
Inter-vehicle communication system and method
An inter-vehicle communication control system, inter-vehicle communication control method, an on-vehicle communication system and a communication state display, usable in an inter-vehicle communication control system, and on-vehicle communication and communication state display methods that enable on-vehicle communication devices to perform inter-vehicle communication, to reduce or prevent collision or intervention with other inter-vehicle communication or road-vehicle communication. |
| US07653470B2 |
Method to prevent chain jump in a drivetrain
A method to prevent chain jump in a drivetrain of a four-wheel drive vehicle including receiving sensed vehicle parameters from sensors in the four-wheel drive vehicle, generating transfer case chain-jump parameters based on the sensed vehicle parameters and sending a command signal to initiate disengagement of a clutch pack in a transfer case of the drivetrain responsive to the generated transfer case chain-jump parameters. |
| US07653469B2 |
Automatic transmission shift point control system and method of use
An automatic transmission control system for controlling gear shifting in an automatic transmission in a motor vehicle having an automatic transmission in a motor vehicle in operative communication with a transmission control unit, the transmission control unit has adaptive gearshift logic that operates to compensate for variations in vehicle conditions and road conditions, wherein the transmission control unit outputs at least one gearshift command to the transmission to control shifting of gears in accordance with the adaptive gearshift logic. A control method uses the adaptive gearshift logic to control gear shifting within the transmission in accordance with adaptive gearshift points that compensate for variations in vehicle conditions and road conditions. |
| US07653467B2 |
Method for pre-setting a passenger protection system for a vehicle
A vehicle occupant protection system of a vehicle having a plurality of adaptive protection system components assigned to a seat in the vehicle, is preset using data relating to the individual occupant of the seat. The identity of the occupant is determined for at least one seat, and a stored safety profile which is assigned to the identified person is retrieved. The protection system components which are assigned to the seat are then set using the safety profile. |
| US07653466B2 |
Control apparatus for electric vehicles
A control apparatus for a vehicle controls the input power of an AC motor to reduce the difference between a target value and detected value of the system voltage. When a rotation speed of the AC motor increases to be higher than a predetermined value or when a command value of a torque generated by the AC motor increases to be greater than a predetermined value, a current vector is adjusted to a value on a lagging side in order to control the input power of the AC motor. Thus, an input power operation quantity required for stabilizing the system voltage can be realized with a high degree of reliability. When the rotation speed and the command value decrease, the current vector is adjusted to a value on a leading side in order to control the input power of the AC motor. |
| US07653465B1 |
System and method for remote control of locomotives
The present invention is directed to the remote control of locomotives, and more particularly to various methods and apparatus employed in implementing systems for such remote control. Contemplated in the present invention are systems and methods for not only reliable remote-control communications, but also the use of repeaters and communications servers to assure reliable, centralized communication between locomotives and operator control units. In another embodiment, there is described a reliable distributed communication mode using an uncorrelated time sequence that does not interfere with a time division multiple access network. Differentiation between the centralized mode and the distributed mode is accomplished by assessing whether a locomotive and control unit is within a rail yard's infrastructure. Moreover, reliability is assured using a coordination server that dynamically routes packets between multiple satellite RCL repeaters based on received signal strength. Lastly, the present invention further contemplates the use of an out-of-band transmission to upgrade and test operator control units, thereby allowing for field maintenance and software upgrades. |
| US07653462B2 |
Control unit for vehicle and total control system therefor
A vehicle control unit includes interface software memory means storing an interface software program for connecting an application software program with an OS (operating system) in an internal ROM, a CPU (central processing unit) for performing computation for the application software program and the interface software program, a RAM (erasable memory) storing data such as the result of computation, an I/O unit for extending the control unit, and extending means for communicating memory data through a bus or a LAN. A single-chip micro-computer used in vehicle control permits an increase in input/output points or the addition of functionality, in which case an application software program can continue to be used simply by rewriting the interface software program, without further remanufacturing of the core unit. |
| US07653460B2 |
Thermal management of extruder of molding system, amongst other things
Disclosed is a method of a molding system, the method comprising: determining whether a change in a thermal condition of an extruder is required based on a thermal condition of a zone of a melt passageway of the molding system, wherein setting of a threshold temperature of an extruder heater is adjusted based on a non-extruder sensor positioned away from the extruder but positioned proximate to the melt passageway, the melt passageway is also positioned external of the extruder, so that the non-extruder sensor is not negatively influenced by heat retained in the extruder. |
| US07653458B2 |
Robot device, movement method of robot device, and program
A robot device, which autonomously performs actions, includes a moving unit that moves the robot device, and a target position acquiring unit that acquires position information of a target. A movement method judging unit receives an instruction for a movement from a user, and judges whether or not a destination can be designated by fixed position information. When it is judged that the destination can be designated by the fixed position information, control is performed by a position movement control unit. When it is judged that the destination cannot be designated by the fixed position information, control is performed by a target movement control unit, which acquires position information from the target position acquiring unit, to operate the moving unit. |
| US07653455B2 |
Computer-aided implanting of orthodontic anchorage devices using surgical guides
A system for implanting a temporary anchorage device in a jaw bone of a patient makes use of a digital representation of at least a portion of the patient's dental arch, including teeth and corresponding roots, in order to select a temporary anchorage device (TAD) implant site that does not interfere with a tooth root. A surgical guide relates the information from the digital representation to an actual location in the patient's jaw bone. The surgical guide is formed to fit over at least a portion of the occlusal, buccal, labial, and/or lingual surfaces of the dental arch proximate to the selected TAD implant site and includes a physical and/or visual marker that indicates the selected TAD implant site. |
| US07653451B2 |
Method for autonomic control of a manufacturing system
Disclosed is a method of controlling a manufacturing system. The invention automatically monitors current levels of partially completed products waiting to be processed by a tool (or group of tools) and determines whether the current levels exceed a predetermined limit. If the current levels do exceed the predetermined limit, the invention performs an optimization process. However, if the current levels do not exceed the predetermined limit, the invention performs a dispatching process. In this dispatching process, the invention automatically projects future levels of partially completed products that will be supplied to the tool to identify a future work-in-process (WIP) bubble. The WIP bubble occurs when larger than normal amounts of partially completed products are supplied to the tool. The invention automatically adjusts the operating parameters of the tool based upon both the current levels and the future levels. |
| US07653447B2 |
Integrated audio video signal processing system using centralized processing of signals
Integrated processing of audio/video signals can eliminate unnecessary signal processors and converters without losing the functionality of typical home entertainment system components. The integrated system includes a main player that captures and processes signals digitally, a dummy display, and a dummy speaker. The dummy display may only have a display panel and a panel driver. The dummy speaker may only have a driving unit and no crossover logic. The main player may have a PC architecture and process all signals digitally for outputting signals tailored for the display device and the individual driving units of the dummy speaker. The integrated system may also provide dynamic signal adjustments based on the surrounding environment. The main player may include a storage device and can process media content stored therein to produce supplemental information to provide an optimal audiovisual experience. This supplemental information can be shared among users over a network connection. |
| US07653446B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic configuration of equipment
An architecture for automatically configuring equipment. A piece of equipment connected externally to a user PC has one or more machine-resolvable codes (MRCs) associated therewith. The piece of equipment receives configuration information from a remote location disposed on the network in response to reading a select one of the one or more MRCs with a reader. Configuration information associated with the select one of the one or more MRCs is transmitted from the remote location to the piece of equipment via the user PC, and the piece of equipment is then configured according to the configuration information. |
| US07653444B2 |
Electronic device and data storage medium
An electronic device which has a plurality of hardware which function as a predetermined model in accordance with model dependent data is disclosed which prevents easy modification of the model dependent data. An image forming device includes a plurality of control circuit boards, a plurality of memory units, and a main circuit board. The plurality of control circuit boards each control the operation of designated hardware. The plurality of memory units are readable and writable, and are each arranged in a plurality of locations which include the plurality of control circuit boards. The main circuit board writes the model dependent data to at least one of the plurality of memory units, reads the model dependent data upon startup, and identifies the model. |
| US07653443B2 |
Methods, systems, circuits and computer program products for electrical service demand management
Methods of controlling activation of electrical appliances can include reducing overlapping activation time of different electrical appliances located at a single customer location of an electrical service provider during at least one time interval during a day. Related systems, circuits, and computer program products are disclosed. |
| US07653439B2 |
Electrode structure and methods for making and using same
An electrode structure made of noble metal or a noble metal alloy having a thickness of ≦100 μm is provided for implants. The electrode structure has an electrode core made of gold, silver, copper, or an alloy of at least two of these elements, and the electrode core is completely encased by a first coating, which is formed from platinum, iridium, or ruthenium. |
| US07653433B2 |
Method of treating depression, mood disorders and anxiety disorders using neuromodulation
The present application involves a method and a system for using electrical stimulation and/or chemical stimulation to treat depression. More particularly, the method comprises surgically implanting an electrical stimulation lead and/or catheter that is in communication with a predetermined site which is coupled to a signal generator and/or infusion pump that release either an electrical signal and/or a pharmaceutical resulting in stimulation of the predetermined site thereby treating the mood and/or anxiety. |
| US07653432B2 |
Catheter-based, dual coil photopolymerization system
A system for applying a polymer (hydrogel) to the inner surface of a vessel by photopolymerization includes an inner catheter received within an outer catheter and a fluid channeling structure mounted on the catheters with its proximal end attached to the outer catheter and its distal end attached to the inner catheter. The fluid channeling structure includes an elastomeric sleeve sandwiched between an inner elastic coil and an outer light emission coil. Light emission coil loops are interspaced with elastic coil loops. The light emission coil has a smaller diameter than the elastic coil, drawing the elastomeric sleeve down between loops of the elastic coil to form a helical channel. The coils and sleeve are stretched to provide a narrowed crossing profile for delivery, and are contracted at a treatment site to form a helical cavity between the sleeve and the vessel wall within which to perform interfacial photopolymerization. |
| US07653430B2 |
Method and system for verifying the integrity of normal sinus rhythm templates
A method and system for verifying the integrity of normal sinus rhythm (NSR) templates and updating the NSR template after selected time intervals. At selected time intervals after establishing a NSR template, cardiac complexes are sensed and values for one or more cardiac parameters are measured. The values of the cardiac parameters are compared to predetermined value ranges for NSR cardiac complexes. When the values of the cardiac parameters fall within the predetermined value ranges, values for the differences between the values of the cardiac parameters for the cardiac complexes and the values for the cardiac parameters of the NSR cardiac complexes are calculated. When the values of the differences are greater than one or more threshold values, the NSR template is updated as a function of the sensed cardiac complexes. |
| US07653428B2 |
Methods for diagnosing a neurodegenerative condition
The invention provides a method of diagnosing, prognosing, staging, and/or monitoring a mammalian amyloidogenic disorder or a predisposition thereto by detecting a protein or polypeptide aggregate in the cortical and/or supranuclear regions of an ocular lens of the mammal. |
| US07653427B2 |
Method and instrument for minimally invasive sentinel lymph node location and biopsy
The present invention is directed to instruments and instrumental techniques for locating cancer cells in lymph nodes which utilize a radiation detector operatively connected to an ultrasound probe for locating the exact position of radiation tagged tissue, particularly in sentinel lymph nodes followed by placement of a biopsy device. Also described are unique new interoperative radiation detection probes for use in these techniques which include structure for placement of a biopsy device or biopsy needle into the located lymph node and procedures for removal of small portions of detected radiation emitting sentinel lymph nodes for evaluation in a pathology laboratory by measurement of expressed genes located in the removed tissue. The instruments and instrumental techniques also facilitate the subsequent delivery of materials to reverse the unfavorable immune response or environment conducive for metastasis in the sentinel lymph node once cancer cells are located therein. |
| US07653423B2 |
Enhancing signals in a two-way radio system
Embodiments of the present invention can be used to enhance signals in a peer-to-peer radio system, such as a two-way radio system. In one embodiment, the invention includes receiving a communications signal on a channel from a remote radio at a radio using a plurality of antenna elements, such as an antenna array. The received communications signal includes a squelch code. The radio detects the squelch code, and enhances the received communications signal using the squelch code. |
| US07653415B2 |
Method and system for increasing data rate in a mobile terminal using spatial multiplexing for DVB-H communication
A method and system for increasing data rate in a mobile terminal using spatial multiplexing for digital video broadcasting for handhelds (DVB-H) communication are provided. A reconfigurable orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) chip may be utilized in a mobile terminal to process received spatially multiplexed signals. The mobile terminal may be utilized in a spatially multiplexed multiple-input-multiple-output (SM-MIMO) wireless system. The spatially multiplexed signals may be quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulated and may utilize OFDM subcarries. A processor may be utilized to configure the OFDM chip to process signals such as IEEE 802.11 and 802.16, and DVB. The OFDM chip may generate channel weights to be applied to the spatially multiplexed signals received in multiple receive antennas. The weighted signals may be combined to generate multiple RF received signals from which channel estimates may be generated. Subsequent channel weights may be dynamically generated from generated channel estimates. |
| US07653414B2 |
System, method, and device for providing communications using a distributed mobile architecture
An authentication, authorization, and accounting module of a first distributed mobile architecture system is disclosed and includes a destination preference register. The destination preference register includes a preferred call path for calls to be routed outside of a distributed mobile architecture network that is accessible to the first distributed mobile architecture system. The preferred call path can be selected from a group comprising a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) call path, a mobile switching center (MSC) call path, and an integrated services digital network (ISDN) call path. Further, calls that are placed outside of the distributed mobile architecture network from the first distributed mobile architecture system can be established via the preferred call path. Additionally, calls that are routed outside of the distributed mobile architecture network from a mobile subscriber in communication with the first distributed mobile architecture system can be established via the preferred call path. |
| US07653411B2 |
Electronic apparatus having infrared communication function
The infrared communication unit of the mobile phone receives a first data series transmitted from the other-party mobile phone by infrared communication, and, when transmitting a second data series by infrared communication, the controller of the mobile phone controls the infrared communication unit so as to transmit the second data series in response to completion of reception of the first data series. Alternatively, the controller controls the infrared communication unit so as to receive the first data series in response to completion of transmission of the second data series. |
| US07653410B2 |
Radio communication device, radio communication system and measurement method capable of conducting appropriate transmit power control
When a radio communication device receives a communication permission signal assigning a communication right permitting transmission of signals, if a received signal analysis portion determines that the received signal is the communication permission signal assigning the communication right to another radio communication device, it measures communication quality with the other radio communication device within a prescribed period. |
| US07653406B2 |
Enabling a participant of a communication session to initiate a communication according to another communication service
A method is provided to enable a participant of a communication event established using a first communication service to initiate a communication with at least one other participant of the communication event using a second communication service. The method includes receiving, from the participant of the communication event, a communication, the communication being received via the second communication service, determining at least one other current participant of the communication event, and initiating at least one other communication with at least the other current participant. |
| US07653399B2 |
Wide area differential satellite positioning with local area updates
Wide area corrections are used substantially continuously. Local area corrections are used once or sparsely. For example, an initial position is determined with local area corrections. Wide area corrections are subsequently used. The initial position information is used in the wide area position determination to limit or avoid delay for convergence. Other sparse uses of local area corrections include verifying or updating positions based on substantially continuous use of wide area corrections. |
| US07653397B2 |
Managing unscheduled wireless communication in a multiradio device
A system for managing the operation of a plurality of radio modules integrated within the same wireless communication device. A control strategy may be employed to manage both more predictable and more spontaneous wireless communication mediums, wherein a local controller may be employed in a radio module utilizing an unscheduled wireless medium, like WLAN, for determining whether adequate time has been allocated to complete a transaction. If the transaction cannot be completed in the allowed time, it may be delayed until adequate time exists, and the delay may be reported so that the time may be reallocated to other radio modules. The radio module may then enter a power-saving mode until the transaction can be completed. |
| US07653396B2 |
Method for assigning uplink and/or downlink capacities based on available capacity
A method is provided for use in communication involving first and second parties. The method includes determining a first capacity associated with a first channel of a communication link between the first and second parties. The method also includes assigning a second capacity to a second channel of the communication link based on the first capacity and a third capacity associated with at least the first and second channels. |
| US07653391B2 |
Mobile terminal and mobile communication method
A mobile terminal in a mobile communication system in which a server performs routing control based on registration information sent from the plurality of mobile terminals, including; an exchanging unit configured to exchange, with another mobile terminal, link information showing a link set in the another mobile terminal, and operational information showing whether the another mobile terminal is operating as a registering terminal which sends the registration information to the server or the another mobile terminal is operating as a non-registering terminal which does not send the registration information to the server; and a judgment unit configured to make a judgment on whether the mobile terminal should operate as the registering terminal or the mobile terminal should operate as the non-registering terminal, based on the link information and the operational information which are received from the another mobile terminal. |
| US07653387B2 |
Methods and systems for providing application level presence information in wireless communication
Methods and apparatus for determining and maintaining user presence information include capturing user presence data with an application presence server. The application presence server can be configured to update user presence data as a user initiates or exits an application. Applications associated with user presence data are configured to query an application proxy client concerning user presence data of a selected user and, based on a returned user status, deliver, discard, or redirect a message intended for the user. User presence data is stored in a user presence repository and can be provided via Internet-based or other connections to applications executed on external networks. User activity status can be used to select or update user presence data. In some examples, an application server of an external network is configured to receive user presence data from the presence server. |
| US07653386B2 |
Access point multi-level transmission power control supporting periodic high power level transmissions
A wireless access point and multiple wireless terminals exchange utilization, status, mobility and reception characteristics. Each wireless terminal generates reception characteristics based on transmissions received from the wireless access point and from other devices in the network. In one operating mode, the characteristics gathered by the wireless devices are forwarded to the wireless access point, and, based on all received characteristics, the wireless access point selects its own transmission power for different types of the transmissions. The access point transmits to client devices at reduced power levels, however, periodic beacons and other selected non-beacon transmissions are transmitted at a high power level to facilitate association by other client devices. In another mode, all characteristics are exchanged between every wireless terminal and the access point so that each can independently or cooperatively make transmission power control decisions. The utilization, status, mobility, and reception characteristics include received signal strength, error rates, estimated battery life, availability of unlimited power, active versus sleep mode ratios, anticipated bandwidth utilization, coding schemes available, deterministic/non-deterministic requirements, encryption and security requirements, quality of service requirements, position, velocity, stationary status, etc. Gathering of such characteristics involves both retrieval of preset parameters from memory and generating parameters based on received transmissions (including test packets). |
| US07653382B2 |
Radiocommunication module executing a main software and a client software comprising several client applications
The invention concerns a radiocommunication module, of the type hosting and executing a main software providing in particular radiocommunication functions and comprising means for executing drive controls, sent to it by at least a driver client software. The invention is characterised in that the radiocommunication module further hosts and executes at least a client software comprising a main client application and at least a secondary (slave) client application. The processing operations carried out by the onboard client software are distributed between the main and secondary client applications. The onboard client application acts: as a driver client software, sending drive controls to the main software, and receiving from it responses, resulting from the execution of some of the drive controls; and/or as a supervising client software, managing the execution of the drive controls sent by an (external) driver client software hosted and executed by a third party equipment co-operating with the radiocommunication module. |
| US07653378B2 |
Authentication system for mobile terminal having electronic money function
A user of a mobile phone photographs himself/herself, and sends a password to an authentication server. After the authentication server authenticates the user, the mobile phone stores the photographed image of the user in a memory accessible only by authentication software. When the authentication software detects a billing apparatus at the time the user makes a purchase, the image is read from the memory and displayed while an indicator is on. A store clerk can confirm whether the person carrying the mobile phone is the legitimate user by judging whether the face image matches the person and whether the indicator is on at the same time. |
| US07653376B2 |
Method and system for network resources allocation
A method of recording allocation of resources in response to a request for a data item to be transmitted to a device in the network where the request comprises data indicative of one or more requested items. The device is typically a mobile device and the requested items can be key words making up a search request or can be web site names indicating web sites of interest to the user. In response to the request, data listings having items generating a match with the requested data item are identified and data indicative of a network location corresponding to the or each matched data item are retrieved. In addition data indicative of an amount of data and a resource allocation associated with the set of data accessible via the network location are retrieved and these data, together with a network subscription associated with device and the amount of data, are used to evaluate actual usage of network resources when accessing the set of data. If data are subsequently requested from the network location the evaluated actual usage is offset against the resource allocation so as to identify an amount of usage of network resources to be charged to the network subscription, and a record associated with said data listing is updated so as to log said resource allocation event. |
| US07653375B2 |
Mobile telephone network-based system for detection and location of hazardous agents
A system for detecting hazardous agents is based on cellular telephone networks. The cellular telephones in public circulation have at least one detector for detecting at least one hazardous agent and broadcast alarm packets upon detecting the hazardous agent. A computer or computer network interconnected with telephones by the cellular telephone network processes the alarm packets and sets an alarm condition for the hazardous agent in a vicinity of the cellular telephone by calculations based upon alarm packets from other telephones with detectors for the hazardous agent in the vicinity. A map of the contaminated area is also created. |
| US07653369B2 |
Combined discrete automatic gain control (AGC) and DC estimation
A wireless communications receiver includes a memory configured to store offset values corresponding to respective gain settings. A gain controller is configured to continuously select one of the gain settings based on amplitude of a received signal. An amplifier is configured to amplify the signal based on the selected gain setting. An offset estimator is configured to determine an updated offset value as a function of both a time-average value of the signal and a previously-stored offset value. The previously stored offset value is an offset value that was stored in the memory at a time prior to the gain controller switching to the currently-selected gain setting from a previously-selected gain setting. |
| US07653355B2 |
Signal strength guided intra-cell upstream data forwarding
Intra-cell upstream data forwarding is utilized in a wireless network such as a wireless local area network. A network forwarding path is determined based on the signal strength of an access point signal received at client stations within the network, referred to as the OASS. In particular embodiments, a station that is either originating or forwarding a frame inserts its own OASS into the frame before transmitting it and a client station that receives a frame forwards it only if its own OASS exceeds the frame-enclosed OASS, illustratively by at least a predetermined amount. |
| US07653352B2 |
Method and apparatus for self-assigning addresses
A method and apparatus for an electronic device 101 operating in a piconet 100 to assign itself a unique identifier 112 is provided. Once the device 101 assigns itself the unique identifier 112, which may be temporary in nature, the device 101 may use the temporary identifier 112 to identify itself to other devices 102-105 operating within the piconet 100, which may be a Bluetooth local area network. In accordance with one embodiment of the method, a device 101 may first scan the piconet 100 to determine device identifiers 113-116 corresponding to devices 102-105 that are operating within the piconet 100. After scanning the device 101 stores the device identifiers 113-116 in a list and queries the list to determine which identifiers are included in the list. The device 101 then selects the temporary, unique identifier 112 that is not found in the list. The unique identifier 112 may then be used to identify the device 101 to the piconet. |
| US07653347B2 |
Doppler compensation control for radio transmission
A Doppler compensation method is used for radio transmission between a mobile body possibly but not exclusively a train and some base station, both mobile body and base station comprise respectively a transceiver connected to an antenna for the radio transmission. The method comprises the step of determining the direction of motion of the mobile body with respect to the active base station i.e. the base station to which a radio transmission link is just built. The method is then followed by the step to apply a constant Doppler compensation corresponding to the cancellation of the Doppler effect for a mobile body moving in the same direction at predefined limiting speed of motion (vlimit) at which a quality threshold is reached with the used radio transmission technology in the case without a Doppler compensation. |
| US07653344B1 |
Wireless digital audio/video playback system
The present invention discloses methods and systems for providing very high quality audio and video playback using all-digital wireless paths from the source to the speaker transducers, video displays and headphones located anywhere within a distance allowed by the FCC. Each speaker has a separate digital amplifier dedicated to each transducer within it (e.g. woofer, tweeter). The present invention also discloses a system that provides a data link capable of sending an all-digital, full-bandwidth, signal from the original digital source material to each separate transducer in the system without using sound degrading lossy data compression. This system is designed to read, broadcast, and reproduce with accurate audio loudspeaker time-alignment (<100 uS) and low overall latency (less than 7 milliseconds) all popular audio and video formats in full-bandwidth and without data compression in the effort to maintain the integrity of the entire audio and video signal. |
| US07653338B2 |
Fusing unit and image forming apparatus including the same
A fusing unit of an image forming apparatus, includes: a heating lamp having a heating unit, and a tubular unit accommodating the heating unit; a heating roller accommodating the heating lamp; and a pressing roller to be pressed toward the heating roller; the tubular unit includes a reflecting film formed on at least one of an external circumference surface and an internal surface thereof so as to have a different reflectivity along a lengthwise direction of the heating unit. |
| US07653336B2 |
Developing apparatus featuring multiple magnetic rollers for developing a latent image multiple times
A developing apparatus in which a first magnet of a first developing sleeve includes a first magnetic pole near a potion opposing to an image bearing member, and a second magnetic pole being downstream of the first magnetic pole; and a second magnet of a second developing sleeve includes a third magnetic pole near a portion opposing to the first sleeve. Assuming that a magnetic force obtained by combining normal direction forces Fr1 and Fr2 of magnetic forces generated by the first and second magnets, respectively, near the first sleeve is Fr, a center direction component of the first sleeve of the force Fr becomes positive between the first magnetic pole and a peak value position of the second magnetic pole, and a center direction component of the force Fr becomes negative between the peak value position and the closest position between both sleeves. |
| US07653321B2 |
Image forming apparatus, fixing device, and image forming method
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device configured to form a toner image on a sheet and a fixing device configured to fix the toner image on the sheet. In the fixing device, a heater heats a fixing belt. A pressing roller applies a pressure to a fixing roller via the fixing belt to form a nip between the pressing roller and the fixing belt. A controller switches the fixing device between an increased pressure mode and a decreased pressure mode in a state in which the fixing roller and the pressing roller rotate. In the increased pressure mode, the pressing roller applies an increased pressure capable of fixing the toner image on the sheet to the fixing roller. In the decreased pressure mode, the pressing roller applies a decreased pressure incapable of fixing the toner image on the sheet to the fixing roller. |
| US07653318B2 |
Photonic phase locked loop detector/discriminator
Disclosed is a Photonic Phase Locked Loop (PPLL) detector/discriminator, which makes possible a system for optically transmitting electromagnetic signals through a transmission medium (such as optical fiber, optical waveguide, underwater, in biological tissue, or in free space) with high sensitivity and extremely high dynamic range exceeding what is possible with present optical intensity modulated (AM) systems. Information is encoded on an optical carrier through the use of phase modulation (PM) or frequency modulation (FM). This information is subsequently demodulated into an accessible form through the use of the PPLL. |
| US07653317B2 |
Semiconductor laser device
A first light feedback element is arranged at an optical distance L1 from a front facet of a semiconductor laser from which an output light is emitted on an optical path of the output light. An i-th light feedback element is arranged at an optical distance Li from the front facet on the optical path of the output light, where i=2 to n, n is a positive integer not less than 2, and Li>L1. L1 and Li satisfies ((M−1)+0.01)<(Li/L1)<(M−0.01), where M is a positive integer not less than 2, satisfying (M−1)<(Li/L1)≦M. |
| US07653313B2 |
Wireless remote access base station and pico-cell system using the same
A wireless remote access base station for converting a downstream optical signal to a downstream radio frequency (RF) signal, transmitting the converted downstream RF signal wirelessly, converting a received upstream RF signal to an upstream optical signal, and transmitting the upstream optical signal is provided. The remote base station includes: an electro-absorption modulator (EAM) for converting a downstream optical signal to a downstream RF signal and an upstream RF signal to an upstream optical signal; an antenna for transmitting the downstream RF signal wirelessly and outputting the upstream RF signal received wirelessly to the EAM; and an amplifier, which is located between the EAM and the antenna, amplifies the downstream RF signal and outputs the amplified downstream RF signal to the antenna. |
| US07653312B2 |
Multiple bit rate optical communication method, optical network unit and optical line terminal
The present invention is a method of transmitting data of different bit rates in a simple manner and, if positive minimal multiples whose multiple operation values on the bit time lengths 1/Ai for a plurality of communication bit rates Ai become common are minimal multiples ai respectively, an optical line terminal constitutes a time division multiplex signal composed of a first data area having a bit rate Ai/ai and including frame synchronization information and a second data area in which packets addressed to each optical network unit of the bit rate Ai are time division multiplexed, and transmits the time division multiplex signal to a plurality of optical network units via a branching/multiplexing means. |
| US07653305B1 |
Optical transport system and device
The present disclosure is directed to an optical transport system and device that conserves power, provides for efficient transport of photonic signals and is capable to accommodate a number of different nodes. The system and device are implemented with the major components at the nodes to provide easy maintenance. In a first aspect, the disclosure is directed to an optical transport system that provides for low power and efficient transport of photonic signals. The optical transport system can be implemented with a plurality of similar or identical network interface units that correspond with each node of the system. Also disclosed is an optical transport system architecture having an example architecture that includes a primary system and a secondary system, which is redundant to the primary system and is adapted to be operational when the primary system is inactive, or an example architecture that includes just a primary system. |
| US07653301B2 |
Electronic device and camera
The object of the present invention is to enable reliable supply of oxygen which is necessary for a fuel cell to generate electric power, to the fuel cell.In a camera, air orifices for linking the space inside a cell compartment with the outside of a casing are disposed in a position other than the portion (grip portion) which is held by a user, in the vicinity of the center of the front surface of the casing, that is, in the vicinity of a lens-barrel, and a concave-convex portion serving as an air orifice guard is formed at the side opposite to that where the lens-barrel is disposed with respect to the air orifices. As a result, even when the user takes a picture of an object by holding the camera with his/her own hand, the air orifices are prevented from being closed by the user's hand, oxygen (air) can be constantly supplied to the fuel cell accommodated inside the cell compartment, and the fuel cell can continuously generate a sufficient quantity of electricity. The present invention can be employed in a camera. |
| US07653300B2 |
Image recording apparatus for microscopes
An image recording apparatus for a microscope having a still camera function and/or a video photography function is disclosed. Automatic exposure (AE) adjustment is performed at appropriate time intervals in the photographic period so as to obtain sample images of roughly uniform brightness. Also, image data and data of plural photographic conditions are recorded in a single photographic session by setting up an AE adjustment time (Tae) and an exposure time (Texp) so as not to exceed a photographic interval (Tint) that is constant. |
| US07653298B2 |
Image capturing apparatus, image capturing method, image capturing program, image recording output system and image recording output method
To provide an image in which a plurality of subjects are focused and which has an extended depth of field even if the image capturing apparatus captures a plurality of subjects with different focus distances each other. The image capturing apparatus includes: a focus control section for focusing on each of the plurality of subjects; an image capturing section for capturing a first captured image when the focus control section focuses on a first focus distance, and for capturing a second captured image when the focus control section focuses on a second focus distance; an image generating section for generating capturing range image information by combining the first captured image and the second captured image; and a moving image recording section for recording plural pieces of capturing range image information as moving image data. |
| US07653294B2 |
Image blur correction apparatus, lens apparatus and image pickup apparatus
An image blur correction apparatus includes a correction lens, a first guide section, a second guide section, a first driving section, a second driving section, and a position detection section. In the image blur correction apparatus, the first and second driving section has first and second coils, a magnet to apply magnetic force to the first and second coils, and a yoke to support the magnet. The two coils are disposed in an intersecting and overlapping relationship with each other such that the direction of propelling force generated by the first coil and the direction of propelling force generated by the second coil are directed to the first direction and the second direction, respectively. The position detection section detects the magnetic force of the magnet to detect the position of the correction lens. |
| US07653290B2 |
Information outputting apparatus and information outputting method, information recording apparatus and information recording method, information outputting recording system and information recording medium
An example outputting apparatus repeatedly transmits contents such as music or movies reproduced a player while attaching order information such as sector address numbers to the contents. An example recording apparatus records the contents on a recording medium such as a DVD based on the transmitted order information. |
| US07653284B2 |
Method and apparatus for editing a data stream
The invention relates to a method of editing a data stream, the data stream having a first unique identifier of an identifier space and having assigned metadata, the metadata comprising meta information and a metadata link, the metadata link comprising the first unique identifier and at least one data packet identifier. When performing an editing operation on the data stream, a second unique identifier of the identifier space is assigned to the data stream and the first unique identifier for a resolver task is stored, using a decision metric for updating the meta link. |
| US07653280B2 |
Polymer optical waveguide and method for manufacturing the same
A polymer optical waveguide includes: an optical waveguide portion that includes a core and a cladding each formed of polymer material; and a conductive line that is installed along the core integrally with the optical waveguide portion, and that has an electrode surface for external connection exposed on a surface different from an end surface of the optical waveguide portion. |
| US07653274B2 |
Optoelectric subassembly
An optoelectric subassembly including a receptacle assembly with an optoelectric device mounted therein to define a light axis. The receptacle assembly includes an optical fiber mounting structure defining an opening with an end of an optical fiber received therein. The mounting structure and opening are designed to position the received optical fiber with an end facet substantially perpendicular to the light axis. A first lens is mounted in the receptacle assembly adjacent the optoelectronic device in the light axis and a ball lens is mounted in the receptacle assembly and positioned in the light axis. The ball lens is mounted so as to be in abutting engagement with the facet of an optical fiber inserted into the opening. By forming the ball lens with a diameter equal to the diameter of a mounting ferrule on the end of the fiber and also equal to the diameter of the ferrule receiving opening, the ball lens is self-aligning. |
| US07653273B2 |
Optical switch
The optical switch includes: a spectroscopic device which separates wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) light into its component wavelengths; and a plurality of movable reflectors, arranged in a spectral direction at different intervals, for reflecting light of an individual component wavelength separated by said spectroscopic device. With this optical switch, deterioration of the characteristic of the pass band is avoided, so that the pass band characteristic is increased. |
| US07653271B2 |
Distributed feedback laser array
The present invention provides a low-cost, high-bandwidth optical laser array where subsequent streams of data are injected in a serial fashion. The invention permits the creation of multiple channels of data on a single optical substrate without the use of costly multiplexer arrays to consolidate various optical signals. Further, the serial array eliminates the need for the parallel alignment of optical data sources, such as lasers, and instead allows for the serial alignment of the optical data sources, resulting in decreased footprint applications. |
| US07653269B1 |
Quasi PM fused coupler devices and methods for forming the same
A quasi-PM fused optical coupler device and method for forming the same. The optical coupler device includes a first polarization maintaining (PM) input section providing a first PM input for the fused optical coupler device for receiving a linearly polarized signal and a first PM input section output. A non-PM fiber including fusion region has an input optically coupled to the first PM input section output, the fusion region including a fusion region output. A first intermediate non-PM output and a second intermediate non-PM output are both optically coupled to the fusion region output. A first support structure is provided for securing the fusion region thereto, wherein the first intermediate non-PM output includes a cleaved output near an outer edge of the first support structure to provide a shortened first intermediate non-PM output. A first PM pigtail section has a first PM input optically coupled to the shortened first intermediate non-PM output and an output that provides a first device output for the fused optical coupler device. The first PM pigtail is rotationally aligned to said shortened first intermediate non-PM output to provide a polarization extinction ratio (PER) measured at the first device output of ≧20 dB. |
| US07653266B2 |
Image pickup apparatus, solid-state imaging device, and image generating method
In an image pickup apparatus of the present invention, a CCD 11 in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional array, thereof the number of effective horizontal pixels is H and the number of effective vertical pixels is V; a aspect switching operator 18 that sets one of a plurality of aspect modes including a first aspect mode and a second aspect mode; an image processor 141 that generates first image data for recording in the first aspect mode, and generates second image data for recording in the second aspect mode, wherein the first image data for recording is generated using image data that is generated with pixels being H1 horizontal pixels by V1 vertical pixels included in the pixels on the CCD 11 or image data that is obtained by subjecting said image data to predetermined processing, the second image data for recording is generated using image data that is generated with pixels being H2 horizontal pixels by V2 vertical pixels included in the pixels on the solid-state imaging device or image data that is obtained by subjecting said image data to predetermined processing, and the first image data for recording and the second image data for recording satisfy the following relationships: H2 |
| US07653262B2 |
Collision detection having cylindrical detection regions
A video game device calculates an angle of an object 71, etc., with respect to a reference direction in a three-dimensional space. Then, the video game device defines a virtual cylindrical model for each of a plurality of objects so that a bottom surface of each cylindrical model is perpendicular to the reference direction. The video game device defines a plurality of cylindrical models for a predetermined object if the inclination of the predetermined object with respect to the reference direction is greater than a predetermined angle. Then, the video game device determines whether or not the defined cylindrical models have an overlap therebetween. Then, if two cylindrical models are determined to be overlapping with each other, the video game device gives a predetermined change to the two objects in response to the collision. |
| US07653260B2 |
System and method of registering field of view
Disclosed is a system for and a method of registering images captured by a computer-controlled microscope. The imaging system of the present invention includes a computer-controlled microscope electrically connected to a controller having a display device. The microscope further includes a barcode reader, a camera, a serial interface, one or more sensors, one or more motors, a light source, a turret, and a data interface. The method of image registration includes the steps of defining areas of interest on a microscope slide, creating a database of microscopic image locations, commanding a microscope to each location, capturing and storing an image, calculating correlation with neighbors, registering correlation scores and offsets, determining an anchor, and attaching neighbors using correlation scores and offsets. |
| US07653258B2 |
Enhanced isotropic 2D and 3D gradient method
A system and method use 2D and 3D numerical gradient operators for reducing anisotropic inaccuracies in digital image processing. Enhanced isotropic operators are derived by first parameterizing corresponding numerical operators, followed by determining the parameters for the operators by matching analytical gradients with numerical gradients, which produces generic frequency-independent operators. The system and method also optimize the design of operators for use at any given frequency range needed for any special purpose application. |
| US07653256B2 |
Method of evaluating image information, storage medium, and image-information evaluating apparatus
The present method of evaluating image information, includes: extracting, from image information to be evaluated, a plurality of edge pixels located in a boundary of an image expressed by the image information; calculating, for each of the edge pixels, a number of pixels that include the edge pixel targeted for calculation, that exist in the boundary, and that are arranged in a direction intersecting with the boundary; and performing out-of-focus blurring evaluation of the image information on the basis of the number of pixels that exist in the boundary and a number of the edge pixels. |
| US07653253B2 |
Moving image decoder
When a quantized DCT coefficient and a quantization parameter are input from an entropy decoder, a controller outputs them to a switch and gives a load detector an instruction to detect system load. The load detector requests system load information from OS. If the system load is light, the load detector controls the switch to execute first inverse quantization of general load by a general processor and obtain a DCT coefficient. If the system load is heavy, the load detector controls the switch to execute second inverse quantization whose processing load is lighter than the first inverse quantization by a specific processor and obtain a DCT coefficient. |
| US07653242B2 |
Dynamically adjusting and predicting image segmentation threshold
A method of dynamically adjusting and predicting a segmentation threshold is provided. The method comprises calculating a threshold factor, calculating an actual average image pixel intensity for an entire image frame, and predicting a future average image pixel intensity for future time t, wherein the predicted future average image pixel intensity is based on past actual average image pixel intensities. The method also comprises combining the predicted future average image pixel intensity with the threshold factor to provide an adaptive threshold that adapts to changes in pixel intensity due to movement of an object in the image frame. |
| US07653241B2 |
Signal detection method, signal detection system, signal detection processing program, and recording medium recorded with program thereof
A signal detection system of the invention comprises: a target signal feature quantity calculation section which derives a feature quantity series from a target signal; a stored signal feature quantity calculation section which derives a feature quantity series from a stored signal; a target signal histogram calculation section which searches for a histogram of feature quantities in a target signal feature quantity series; a stored signal histogram series calculation section which obtains a histogram series in regard to a stored signal feature quantity series, by calculating a histogram of feature quantities; a stored signal histogram grouping section which groups histogram series, for which a similarity level satisfies a criteria; a stored signal histogram group selection section which selects groups which include an area to be output from a histogram group; a stored signal collation section which performs collation with respect to histograms of a histogram group, and obtains a similarity value; and a collation result output section which outputs the area collated by the similarity value, as a detection result. |
| US07653239B2 |
Image processing method and image processing apparatus for correcting for color shift occurring in color image data
An image processing method and an image processing apparatus is provided wherein, regardless of the color of a character, color shift that occurs at a contour portion is corrected, and even with a background other than white, a clear image can be output for which color shift at the contour has been corrected. |
| US07653238B2 |
Image filtering based on comparison of pixel groups
Picture elements of a digitally coded image are each represented by a color value. The value of an element x is adjusted by firstly making a number of comparisons between elements elsewhere in the image. This comparison involves comparing a first picture element group (which may comprise the picture element x under consideration and at least one further picture element in the vicinity thereof) with a second picture element group. The second picture element group comprises a base picture element y and at least one further picture element, the number of picture elements in the second group being the same as the number of picture elements in the first group and the position of each further element of the second group relative to the base picture element of the second group being the same as the position of the respective further element of the first group relative to the picture element under consideration. The comparison determines whether the two groups match in the sense that they meet a criterion of similarity. When at least one comparison results in a match, a replacement color value for the picture element under consideration is generated, as a function of the color value for the base picture element of the second group for which a match was obtained. |
| US07653237B2 |
Method of manufacturing ball array devices using an inspection apparatus having two or more cameras and ball array devices produced according to the method
A calibration and part inspection method for the inspection of ball grid array, BGA, devices. Two cameras image a precision pattern mask with dot patterns deposited on a transparent reticle. The precision pattern mask is used for calibration of the system. A light source and overhead light reflective diffuser provide illumination. A first camera images the reticle precision pattern mask from directly below. An additional mirror or prism located below the bottom plane of the reticle reflects the reticle pattern mask from a side view, through prisms or reflective surfaces, into a second camera and a second additional mirror or prism located below the bottom plane of the reticle reflects the opposite side view of the reticle pattern mask through prisms or mirrors into a second camera. By imaging more than one dot pattern the missing state values of the system can be resolved using a trigonometric solution. The reticle with the pattern mask is removed after calibration and the BGA to be inspected is placed with the balls facing downward, in such a manner as to be imaged by the two cameras. The scene of the part can thus be triangulated and the dimensions of the BGA are determined. |
| US07653235B2 |
Surface anomaly detection system and method
A system and method is provided to detect surface anomalies. The detection system and method provides the ability to automatically detect and characterize anomalies on a surface, such as detecting and characterizing pitting corrosion on metal surfaces. The surface anomaly detection system and method uses an image of the surface under evaluation. The image data is passed to a noise filter. The noise filter uses an estimated characterization of the background noise to remove the background noise from the image data. The smoothed pixel intensity is then compared to a threshold to identify significant departures. The detected anomalies are then passed to a contour detector, which determines the contours of anomalies in the surface to provide more precise characterization of the detected anomalies. The detected closed contours of anomalies may then be passed to a defect severity estimator that provides an anomaly factor metric. |
| US07653233B2 |
Confirming cancellation of truncated checks
A method of operating a check processing system includes scanning a check on a first occasion to generate a first image of the check. The first image is transmitted to a financial institution. The check is scanned on a second occasion later than the first occasion to generate a second image of the check. The second image of the check is transmitted to the financial institution. The second image of the check is examined to determine whether the check was cancelled prior to the second occasion. |
| US07653228B2 |
Organ-specific backprojection
A method for selective imaging of body structures includes acquiring first image data set by a first tomography method, acquiring a second image data set by a second tomography method which has a resolution which is higher than that of the first method, the image data of the first and the second image data set coinciding at least partly in space, reconstructing an image from the first image data set, and selecting the image data to be reconstructed from the first image data set using the second image data set. In order to achieve a higher imaging quality while using a low-resolution tomography method, image reconstruction of the image data selected from the first image data set at least one image region to be imaged is selected from the second image data set, and subsequently the image reconstruction is calculated from the image data of the first image data set which are situated in the selected image region. |
| US07653226B2 |
Flexible generation of digitally reconstructed radiographs
A system and corresponding method for flexible generation of digitally reconstructed radiograph (DRR) images on a graphics processing unit (GPU) are provided, the system including a processor, an imaging adapter in signal communication with the processor for receiving volumetric data, an integration unit in signal communication with the processor for integrating the volumetric data into incremental line integrals, and a modeling unit in signal communication with the processor for modeling composite line integrals from the incremental line integrals; and the corresponding method including receiving three-dimensional (3D) volumetric data into a graphics pipeline, integrating the 3D volumetric data into incremental line integrals along a plurality of viewing rays, modeling composite line integrals from the incremental line integrals, and adding the incremental line integrals for each composite line integral to form pixels of the DRR image. |
| US07653225B2 |
Method and system for ground glass nodule (GGN) segmentation with shape analysis
A method for segmentation of a ground glass nodule included in a volume of interest in a medical image and segmented by a process such as a Markov random field process, includes: identifying vessels in the volume of interest; segmenting the vessels; and removing segmented vessels from the segmented ground glass nodule. |
| US07653223B2 |
Digital multifunction peripheral that has fingerprint reader capability
In a digital multifunction peripheral that has a fingerprint reader capability, a display panel displays the duration of time from when the user places his finger immovably at the fingerprint read position until a carriage of the scanner actually starts reading the fingerprint. Consequently, the user becomes careful not to move his finger during the fingerprint scan or before or after the scan starts, and a rate of erroneous reading in fingerprint reading can be lowered. |
| US07653214B2 |
Accelerometer utilizing image-based movement tracking
An accelerometer captures multiple frames of image information and uses the image information to generate acceleration data related to an object. In particular, multiple image frames are used to determine relative movement between a target and an image collection system. The relative movement between the target and the image collection system is tracked over time to generate acceleration data related to the object. |
| US07653206B2 |
Digital audio device
A digital audio device. According to one aspect of the invention, the device includes a memory and an analog input system configured to record analog audio signals to the memory as digital audio data. The device further includes a digital input configured to download digital audio data to the memory, as well as an analog output system configured to generate analog playback signals decoded from digital audio data stored in the memory. Furthermore, the device includes a digital output configured to upload digital audio data from the memory. |
| US07653199B2 |
Quantum key distribution
Apparatus and methods for establishing a secret key to encrypt and share data using quantum signals represented by an equiangular spherical code and using classical signals in authenticating the key. |
| US07653198B2 |
Recording medium for data including concealment data and recording/reproducing method for such data
This invention is directed to a recording medium on which contents data of movie, etc. is recorded. At the position where reproduction is carried out prior to first data consisting of contents data in reproducing the first data, there is recorded second data like advertisement data in which contents concealment data for concealing contents data is buried. In reproduction of the first data recorded on this recording medium, contents concealment data is extracted from the second data, and cipher implemented to the first data which has been read out from the recording medium is decoded by using the extracted contents concealment data. Thus, the first data is reproduced subsequently to the second data. |
| US07653193B2 |
User information management system for controlling conference bridge connections
An apparatus and method is provided for managing and controlling connections to conference bridges for proposed conference call participants to access a scheduled conference call. A first call is made to a conference bridge. Next, an attempt is made to contact the proposed conference call participant for the conference call via a telephone call, an SMS message, or both. If contacted, the proposed conference call participant has options such as a) connecting to the conference call, b) not connecting to the conference call, or c) recording the conference call. If the proposed conference call participant cannot be contacted or is unavailable, then the conference call can be recorded for listening at a later time. |
| US07653192B1 |
Multimedia augmented conference bridge
The present invention provides an effective and efficient way to link multimedia sessions involving multimedia clients with a conference call involving telephony devices associated with the multimedia clients. In operation, the telephony system will recognize a call directed to an audio bridge, as well as trigger a message indicating the same. The message includes the telephony device's directory number, which is used to access an address for an associated multimedia client. The address for the multimedia client is sent to a multimedia bridge, which is associated with the audio bridge. The multimedia bridge will use the multimedia client's address to send the multimedia client the address for the multimedia bridge, addresses for other participating multimedia clients, and various types of information bearing on the multimedia aspect of the conference call. |
| US07653189B1 |
Telecommunications service negotiation
A service tender node functions as an intermediary between subscribers and adjunct telecommunications services from multiple service providers to facilitate negotiation of services in real-time. The service tender node includes an index of services which is maintained and employed to search for applicable services in response to a tender request generated by a subscriber. Records in the index are described with an adaptive service definition which includes standard parameters and subjective parameters. The standard parameters identify types of service pursuant to telecommunications industry standards. The subjective parameters may be specified by individual service providers in order to differentiate their services within the service type defined by the standard parameters. Services generated from a search of the index pursuant to the standard parameters may be further sorted and filtered according to a comparison between a subscriber profile and the subjective parameters. |
| US07653184B2 |
Selective fax transmission denial within a telephone network
Whether a facsimile transmission tone is within a call is detected before routing the call from a switch of a telephone network to a first telephone line. When the facsimile transmission tone is detected, whether an incoming facsimile transmission transmitted by the call is permitted to be routed to the first telephone line is determined based at least partially on restriction information. Routing of the call from the switch to the first telephone line is denied when the incoming facsimile transmission is not permitted to be routed to the first telephone line. |
| US07653180B2 |
Method for assessing DSL capability of telephone lines
A test system and method for performing DSL assessments of a telephone line along a prescribed test path is disclosed. The disclosed test system and method includes a loop diagnostic test unit adapted for testing said telephone line using narrow-band and mid-band frequency test signals; a test system controller and a test system server to provide the DSL assessments to a user via an appropriate interface. In addition, the disclosed analysis methods utilize primary line condition information, secondary line condition information, historical line information, together with real-time measurements and external data inputs to perform line imbalance analysis, fault identification analysis, trend analysis, and jurisdictional analysis all of which have relevance to quality, performance and assurance of DSL service through the telephone line. |
| US07653178B2 |
X-ray generating method, and X-ray generating apparatus
A method for generating an X-ray includes the steps of: flattening an electron beam with a circular cross section by means of Lorentz force to form a flat electron beam with a flat cross section under the condition so that an intensity of the flat electron beam per unit area can be set higher than an intensity of said electron beam per unit area; and irradiating the flat electron beam onto a target, thereby generating an X-ray. |
| US07653176B2 |
Inspection system with material identification
An angular analysis system that can be controlled to receive radiation at a defined angle from a defined focus region. The angular analysis system is used for level 2 inspection in an explosive detection system. Level 2 inspection is provided by a three-dimensional inspection system that identifies suspicious regions of items under inspection. The angular analysis system is focused to gather radiation scattered at defined angles from the suspicious regions. Focusing may be achieved in multiple dimensions by movement of source and detector assemblies in a plane parallel to a plane holding the item under inspection. Focusing is achieved by independent motion of the source and detector assemblies. This focusing arrangement provides a compact device, providing simple, low cost and accurate operation. |
| US07653171B2 |
Method for image reconstruction of an object with the aid of projections, and apparatus for carrying out the method
A method is disclosed for image reconstruction of an object with the aid of at least one-dimensional projections of the object into a three-dimensional volume image data record, it being possible to generate the projections by at least one detector/source system with reference to different positions and angles relative to the object, and at least two projections forming a reconstruction volume in an overlap region as basis for a backprojection of the projections into the three-dimensional volume image data record, in particular computed tomography. An apparatus for carrying out the method is further disclosed. In at least one embodiment, supplemented reconstruction volumes are generated by supplementing reconstruction volumes, covered only partially by projections, by way of virtual projections that are derived from volume image data records. By comparison with reconstruction volumes that are merely interpolated, supplementing a reconstruction volume with the aid of virtual projections can decisively improve the image quality of the computed tomography images that are backprojected therefrom. |
| US07653170B2 |
Electrical circuit for measuring times and method for measuring times
An electrical circuit used for measuring times is disclosed. In one embodiment, the electrical circuit has a counter, a decoder and a multiplicity of time trap elements. At least the counter and the time trap elements are located together on an integrated semiconductor component. Each time trap element has a data input, a clock input, a delay output and a output port. The time trap element contains a delay element and a flip flop. The delay element outputs a signal change at the data input with a time delay at the delay output. The flip flop has a data input, a clock input and an output port, the data inputs, the clock inputs and the output ports of the flip flop and of the time trap element being connected to one another. The time trap elements are connected as ring oscillator. |
| US07653169B2 |
Timing adjustment for data transmitting/receiving circuit
In order to provide a timing adjustment circuit capable of transmitting/receiving data without being affected by process unevenness and power voltage/temperature fluctuations even at a high data transfer rate, the phase of data outputted by a data transmitting unit is compared with the phase of a clock for regulating a data receiving timing of a data receiving unit, and the phase of a clock for regulating a data transmitting timing of the data transmitting unit is adjusted according to the comparison result. |
| US07653168B2 |
Digital clock dividing circuit
Disclosed is a digital dividing circuit for dividing a timing signal. Memory elements are disposed in opposed pairs at opposed sides of a data loop. Each memory element is clocked to change the data bit it stores on each clock pulse. At least two opposed nodes along the data loop are coupled to one another by a memory content check MCC sub-circuit. The MCC checks for a desired relation between nodes. If the desired relation exists, then data values and phases rotate a step around the data loop during each clock cycle. If the desired relation does not exist, then the data value on one node is used to correct the data value on the opposed node so to achieve the desired relation. The clock signal is divided based on the number of memory elements around the data loop, and some or all pairs of opposed memory elements may be coupled through the MCC. |
| US07653164B2 |
Adaptive IQ imbalance correction for multicarrier wireless communication systems
Embodiments of an adaptive in-phase (I) and/or quadrature-phase (Q) imbalance correction for multicarrier wireless communication systems is generally described. |
| US07653160B2 |
Method of estimating noise and interference covariance matrix, receiver, and radio system
The invention relates to a method of estimating a noise and interference covariance matrix and to a receiver. The method comprises: estimating an initial noise and interference covariance matrix on the basis of a received signal; reducing the impact of the background noise of the receiver from the initial noise and interference covariance matrix for obtaining a residual matrix; accepting the obtained residual matrix when the residual matrix is at least approximately positive semidefinite; modifying the obtained residual matrix such that the positive semidefinity of the residual matrix is achieved when the residual matrix is not at least approximately positive semidefinite; and adding the impact of background noise back to the residual matrix for estimating a final noise and interference covariance matrix. |
| US07653146B2 |
System and method for delivery of video, content on demand and IP packets
The present application describes a method and filter for shaping a series of pulses spaced in time for subsequent transmission in a communications system, each of the pulses having a magnitude comprising the steps of providing a generic shaped pulse, for each pulse in the series, generating a shaped pulse by scaling the generic shaped pulse by an amount proportional to the magnitude, wherein at least a portion of each generated pulse overlaps in time with at least a portion of at least one subsequent generated pulse, and combining the overlapping portions of the generated pulses.The present application also describes a method and apparatus for modulating an input signal comprised of an ordered series of samples separated by a substantially constant period T comprising the steps of providing a carrier signal, the carrier signal comprised of a series of samples separated by a substantially constant period T, wherein one of the carrier samples corresponds to each of the input signal samples, selecting a plurality of N successive samples from the series of input signal samples, the series of samples having an input order, for each of the N selected samples in parallel, multiplying the selected sample by the corresponding carrier sample and recombining the N multiplied samples while maintaining the input order. |
| US07653143B2 |
Digital television transmitter and receiver for transmitting and receiving dual stream using 4 level vestigial side band robust data
The present invention relates to a Vestigial Side Band (VSB) Digital Television (DTV) in agreement with the DTV standards (A/53) of the Advanced Television System Committee (ATSC), and to a method thereof. More particularly, it provides 4-VSB DTV transceiver that improves reception performance of a receiver by transmitting and receiving dual streams formed of normal data and robust data without increasing average power, regardless of a mixing ratio of the normal and robust data. The 4-VSB DTV transceiver of the present research includes an encoding unit for encoding the robust data to be mapped to one of two groups having 4 levels {−5, −3, 1, 7} and {−7, −1, 3, 5}. |
| US07653142B2 |
Channel estimation and spatial processing for TDD MIMO systems
Channel estimation and spatial processing for a TDD MIMO system. Calibration may be performed to account for differences in the responses of transmit/receive chains at the access point and user terminal. During normal operation, a MIMO pilot is transmitted on a first link and used to derive an estimate of the first link channel response, which is decomposed to obtain a diagonal matrix of singular values and a first unitary matrix containing both left eigenvectors of the first link and right eigenvectors of a second link. A steered reference is transmitted on the second link using the eigenvectors in the first unitary matrix, and is processed to obtain the diagonal matrix and a second unitary matrix containing both left eigenvectors of the second link and right eigenvectors of the first link. Each unitary matrix may be used to perform spatial processing for data transmission/reception via both links. |
| US07653136B2 |
Decoding method and decoding apparatus
A decoding method of detecting a transmission error region and recovering correctly decoded data and a decoding apparatus using the same. The decoding method includes comparing encoding status information with decoding status information by receiving encoded data and the encoding status information of at least one synchronization point set in every predetermined period to detect a transmission error and to obtain the decoding status information of a corresponding synchronization point while decoding the encoded data, and continuing to decode the received data if the encoding status information of the at least one synchronization point is the same as the decoding status information of the corresponding synchronization point, and recovering previously decoded data before a previous synchronization point by detecting a transmission error region between the corresponding synchronization point and the previous synchronization point if the encoding status information is different from the decoding status information. It is possible to detect an error for each synchronization point and recover data positioned in a region having no error. |
| US07653133B2 |
Overlapped block motion compression for variable size blocks in the context of MCTF scalable video coders
A method, computer program product, and computer system for processing video frames. A current frame is divided into M blocks that include at least two differently sized blocks. M is at least 9. Each block in the current frame is classified as being a motion block or an I-BLOCK. Overlapped block motion compensation (OBMC) is performed on each block of the M blocks according to a predetermined scan order. The block on which OBMC is being performed is denoted as a self block. The OBMC is performed on the self block with respect to its neighbor blocks. The neighbor blocks consist of nearest neighbor blocks of the self block. Performing OBMC on the self block includes generating a weighting window for the self block and for each of its neighbor blocks. |
| US07653131B2 |
Identification of replay segments
Identification of segments based upon scoreboards and logos. |
| US07653128B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program
An information processing apparatus for decoding compression-coded video data includes at least one decoder decoding the compression-coded video data, a supply controller controlling the supply of the compression-coded video data to the decoder, and a controller controlling processing executed by the supply controller and the decoder. The controller determines the order of decoding processing performed by the decoder so that, among pictures contained in a decoding processing unit for the decoding processing performed by the decoder, I-pictures and P-pictures are decoded before B-pictures. The controller selects pictures to be output from the decoder from among the pictures contained in the decoding processing unit on the basis of a playback speed instruction provided by a playback speed instruction unit. |
| US07653126B2 |
Apparatus for and method of controlling the operation of an equalizer
A method of controlling the operation of an equalizer (210, 216), wherein the equalizer is adapted to receive a transmitted signal (76, 78) comprising at least one predetermined sequence of symbols, includes the step of developing a set of samples from a received signal. At least one plurality of samples is identified, wherein the at least one plurality of samples corresponds to the at least one predetermined sequence of symbols. The equalizer is then operated in a selected one of three modes. A first mode is selected if the at least one plurality of samples is identified, wherein the first mode includes the step of developing a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) (100). A second mode is selected if the at least one plurality of samples is identified and the SNR is greater than a first predetermined threshold. A third mode is selected if the at least one plurality of samples is identified and the SNR is greater than a second predetermined threshold. |
| US07653123B1 |
Dynamic data rate using multiplicative PN-codes
An improved method and apparatus is described for using a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) system that takes advantage of multiplicative pseudo-noise codes (PN-Codes) in order to wirelessly connect multiple peripherals in a computer system at different data rates. The use of multiplicative PN-Codes allows the system to use multiple-length PN-Codes within the same system while minimizing the hardware needed to implement such a system. The improved method and apparatus also uses an identifier in the transmitted packet header in order to communicate the choice of PN-Code to the receiver. By using multiple-length PN-Codes in conjunction with an identifier in the packet header the improved method and apparatus allows for remote peripherals to choose a suitable data rate on a packet-by-packet basis while minimizing the system complexity. |
| US07653118B1 |
Chirped surface acoustic wave (SAW) correlator/expander
A surface acoustic wave (SAW) expander based transmitter and correlator based receiver comprises SAW devices that perform expander or correlator functions based on the types of signals inputted to the SAW devices. The SAW devices incorporate chirp with adaptive interference and programmable coding capabilities. The SAW devices and method of operating the devices allow the implementation of very low power radios that overcome problems with temperature drift, lithography constraints and interference and jamming suffered by prior art implementations. |
| US07653114B2 |
Semiconductor laser diode and the manufacturing method thereof
A multibeam semiconductor laser diode having: an n-type semiconductor substrate; an n-type clad layer, an active layer, a p-type clad layer and a contact layer; a plurality of partitioning grooves extending from one end to the other end of the substrate and formed from the contact layer to a predetermined depth of the p-type clad layer; a stripe-shaped ridge sandwiched between two separation grooves; an insulating layer covering an area from each side wall of the contact layer of each ridge to an end of the partitioning region via the separation groove; a first electrode formed on a second plane of the substrate; and a second electrode formed in each partitioning region covering an area above the ridge, separation grooves and multilayer semiconductor layers outside the separation grooves, the second electrode being constituted of a lower second electrode layer and an upper second plated layer. |
| US07653113B2 |
Pump laser integrated vertical external cavity surface emitting laser
Provided is a pump laser integrated vertical external cavity surface emitting laser (VECSEL). The VECSEL may include a surface emitting laser unit including a first active layer having a multiple quantum well structure emitting light having a first wavelength, a reflective layer may be formed on the first active layer, and an external mirror may be disposed opposite to a lower surface of the first active layer and defining a cavity resonator together with the reflective layer. A pump laser unit may be formed on a part of the surface emitting laser unit and may have a perpendicular light emissive surface emitting a pump beam having a second wavelength for exciting the first active layer. A beam reflector may be formed on the light emissive surface of the pump laser unit and reflecta pump beam that is incident from the pump laser unit to the first active layer. |
| US07653112B2 |
Line narrowing module
A line narrowing method and module for a narrow band DUV high power high repetition rate gas discharge laser producing output laser light pulse beam pulses in bursts of pulses, the module having a nominal optical path are disclosed which may comprise: a dispersive center wavelength selection optic moveably mounted within an optical path of the line narrowing module, selecting at least one center wavelength for each pulse determined at least in part by the angle of incidence of the laser light pulse beam containing the respective pulse on the dispersive wavelength selection optic; a first tuning mechanism operative in part to select the angle of incidence of the laser light pulse beam containing the respective pulse upon the dispersive center wavelength selection optic, by selecting an angle of transmission of the laser light pulse beam containing the pulse toward the dispersive center wavelength selection optic. |
| US07653110B2 |
Semiconductor laser apparatus and method for mounting semiconductor laser apparatus
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor laser apparatus including: a laser device including: a semiconductor substrate, first and second resonators formed on the semiconductor substrate, and first and second electrodes that are respectively connected with the first and the second resonators and extend away from each other; and a submount including: third and fourth electrodes respectively adhered with the first and the second electrodes; wherein each of the first and the second electrodes includes: an energizing portion covering the corresponding resonator, an adhering portion being disposed separately from the energizing portion and having a height larger than that of the energizing portion, and a stress-absorbing portion formed in the adhering portion. |
| US07653109B2 |
Multi-channel laser pump source for optical amplifiers
An optical assembly, such as a multiple output diode laser pump source for EDFAs, is formed by pressing an optical array emitter chip against a standoff structure protruding from a submount such that the emitter chip deforms to match the curvature of the standoff structure. An IO chip is also juxtaposed against the standoff structure such that its optical receivers can receive optical energy from the emitter chip. The IO chip can provide various optical functions, and then provide an optical array output for coupling into an optical fiber array. The standoff structure preferably contacts the emitter chip over an aggregate contact area much smaller than the area by which the emitter chip overlaps the submount. The materials used for bonding the emitter chip and the IO chip to the submount are disposed in the recesses between standoffs and not on the contact surfaces of the standoff structure. |
| US07653106B2 |
Semiconductor laser apparatus and optical amplifier apparatus
A method of bonding a compound semiconductor on a silicon waveguide is used for attaining a laser above a silicon substrate. While it is essential to attain laser oscillation by injection of a current, since amorphous is formed at the bonding surface of a silicon compound semiconductor, it is difficult to directly inject the current through the silicon waveguide to the compound semiconductor. Further, even when an electrode is formed near the waveguide and the current is injected, since the current is not injected near the silicon waveguide, laser oscillation through the silicon waveguide can not be attained. The problem is solved by forming a structure of laterally injecting a current to the silicon waveguide and concentrating the current near the silicon waveguide in a compound semiconductor. Specific methods includes the following two methods, that is, a method of forming a tunneling junction structure in the compound semiconductor and another method of laterally forming a P-I-N junction to the compound semiconductor. |
| US07653105B2 |
Semiconductor laser, method of manufacturing semiconductor laser, optical pickup and optical disk system
A semiconductor laser using a nitride type Group III-V compound semiconductor includes: an n-side clad layer; an n-side optical waveguide layer over the n-side clad layer; an active layer over the n-side optical waveguide layer; a p-side optical waveguide layer over the active layer; an electron barrier layer over the p-side optical waveguide layer; and a p-side clad layer over the electron barrier layer. A ridge stripe is formed at an upper part of the p-side optical waveguide layer, the electron barrier layer and the p-side clad layer, and the distance between the electron barrier layer and a bottom surface in areas on both sides of the ridge stripe is not less than 10 nm. |
| US07653095B2 |
Active bandwidth control for a laser
In a first aspect, a lithography apparatus may comprise a mask designed using optical proximity correction (OPC), a pulsed laser source, and an active bandwidth control system configured to increase the bandwidth of a subsequent pulse in response to a measured pulse bandwidth that is below a predetermined bandwidth range and increase a bandwidth of a subsequent pulse in response to a measured pulse bandwidth that is above the predetermined bandwidth range. In another aspect an active bandwidth control system may include an optic for altering a wavefront of a laser beam in a laser cavity of the laser source to selectively adjust an output laser bandwidth in response to the control signal. In yet another aspect, the bandwidth of a laser having a wavelength variation across an aperture may be actively controlled by an aperture blocking element that is moveable to adjust a size of the aperture. |
| US07653085B2 |
Methods and apparatus for enhanced delivery of content over data network
Methods and apparatus for enhanced delivery of content over a data network. In an aspect, a method is provided for transmitting services over a network. The method includes receiving one or more services having associated delivery requirements, determining that network bandwidth is available to meet the delivery requirements, and allocating the network bandwidth to the one or more services based on the delivery requirements to produce network bandwidth allocations. In an aspect, an apparatus is provided that includes receiving logic configured to receive one or more services having associated delivery requirements, and multiplexer logic configured to determine that network bandwidth is available to meet the delivery requirements, and to allocate the network bandwidth to the one or more services based on the delivery requirements to produce network bandwidth allocations. |
| US07653082B2 |
Communication systems
An SDH network has a network management system to monitor the functionality of SDH network elements in the SDH network. The SDH network is arranged to transport Ethernet information in SDH format across the SDH network, and is at least partially situated at a host site. An Ethernet network is situated at a user site. An SDH network element converts the SDH format Ethernet information into Ethernet format information for transportation between the host and user sites via a link. An Ethernet network element receives the Ethernet format information. The SDH network element can request the status of the Ethernet network element when the SDH network element is required to update the SDH network management system with status information on the functionality of the SDH network element and the Ethernet network element. |
| US07653080B2 |
Station side communication device
An allocation determining unit determines a bandwidth allocation for each of a plurality of subscriber devices in each data-collection cycle. A history managing unit takes a history of a request increment from a bandwidth request amount acquired from more than one time of data collections and an allocation amount allocated by the allocation determining unit for the bandwidth request amount, and presents a bandwidth request amount for the allocation determination to the allocation determining unit by dividing the bandwidth request amount into a plurality of request increments indicated by the history. |
| US07653079B2 |
Signal message compression
A method for compressing a signalling message in a compressor in a communication system. The compressor comprising a compression memory, wherein the compression memory comprises a first memory in a virtual machine and a second memory external to the virtual machine. The method comprising the steps of: receiving a part of the signalling message; searching the second memory for a copy of the received part of the signalling message; and determining a reference to the received part of the signalling message on the basis of the searching step; outputting the reference as a part of the compressed signalling message representing the received part of the signalling message. |
| US07653076B2 |
Method and apparatus for gateway control protocol message transmission
A method of interface communication between entities in soft switch system in NGN, and a method and apparatus for Gateway Control Protocol (GCP) message transmission are disclosed, so that H.248 messages can be transmitted between Media Gateway Controller and Media Gateway over MTP3B/ATM, hence full advantages of resources are taken in existing optical fiber networks and E1/T1 networks, so as to improve the networking flexibility and reduce the cost. The internal data transmission mechanism between MTP3B protocol layer and H.248 protocol layer is established via an M3H adaptation layer; load sharing between H.248 processing modules is enabled by establishing mapping between H.248 links and MTP3B signaling points; the adaptation relationship between MTP3B layer and H.248 layer is implemented by configuring and maintaining logic relationship between table of LinkSets, H.248-MTP3B mapping table, and table of H.248 processing modules, thus implementing the mechanism of bearing H.248 messages over MTP3B. |
| US07653073B2 |
Methods and systems for delivery of broadband services to customer premises equipment
In accordance with the method, a request for a broadband service is provided to a service portal via a communication session established therewith. Configuration data associated with the requested broadband service is received from the service portal via the communication session. The configuration data is then provided to a broadband content server, and the requested broadband service is received via a second communication session, established with the broadband content server. Also, there is provided customer premises equipment, which comprises a first apparatus operative to support a first logical connection for data communications and a second apparatus operative to support a second logical connection for video communications. The present invention allows prioritization of video relative to data, as well as increased security from the perspective of the video content owner and increased simplicity from the perspective of the user. |
| US07653068B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing call admission control in packet networks
A method and apparatus for providing call admission control in a packet network such as an internet protocol (IP) network are provided. More particularly, a terminating endpoint of a logical connection on a packet network, e.g. an IP network, is provided with the ability to make a decision on whether to accept or reject an incoming call based on quality of service (QoS) indicator based on QoS metrics. These metrics indicate quality of service levels for specific logical connections and are accumulated over specified time periods. |
| US07653061B2 |
Method of generating IPv6 flow label
A method of generating a flow label of an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is provided. A terminal generates a flow label to have four tuple information selected from five tuple information according to the provided method when the terminal creates a header. A network device classifies flows based on the four tuple information in the flow label generated according to the provided method. Since the flow label is generated to include only selected information and the network device analyzes less amount of information to classify the flows, the processing overhead is reduced. Also, since the terminal generates the flow label with selected essential information to classify the flows, the network device can finely classify the flows. Therefore, the differentiated service can be provided. |
| US07653057B1 |
Preventing forwarding of a packet to a control plane
This invention includes tools that prevent forwarding of a packet to a control plane of a packet switch. The tools receive a packet comprising indicia suggesting that the packet be forwarded to a control plane of a packet switch. After receiving the packet, the tools may modify the packet to prevent the packet from being forwarded to the control plane, intercept the packet before it is received by the control plane, or otherwise prevent the packet from being forwarded to the control plane. The tools may also forward the packet from a source port of a packet switch to a destination port of the packet switch without forwarding the packet to the control plane of the packet switch. |
| US07653053B2 |
Programmable bit rates in a constant bandwidth TDM switch
A method and a TDM digital switch are provided for switching data at a variety of data rates. Input streams having a data rate less than the maximum data rate of the switch are grouped and multiplexed to form multiplexed streams carrying data at the maximum data rate. A switching state machine switches the data from each input stream to form grouped output streams comprising multiplexed output streams, each grouped output stream carrying data at the maximum data rate. The grouped output streams are demultiplexed, and the output streams transmitted through respective output shift registers. The method and TDM digital switch allow streams with programmable data rates to be switched while still maximizing use of resources, including memory, within the switch. |
| US07653049B2 |
IP telephone system, IP telephone apparatus and calling method
An IP telephone system includes IP telephone apparatuses and an ENUM server. The IP telephone apparatuses, connected to an IP network, perform a voice communication. The ENUM server stores NAPTR resource records containing file transfer protocols supported by the IP telephone apparatuses and returns the NAPTR resource records, responding to a query of the IP telephone apparatuses. In the IP telephone system, when receiving a voice communication instruction from a user of a source IP telephone apparatus the source IP telephone apparatus inquires the ENUM server for NAPTR resource records of a destination IP telephone apparatus. When receiving a file transfer instruction during a voice communication, the source IP telephone apparatus transfers a file to the destination IP telephone apparatus, using a file transfer protocol specified in the NAPTR resource records. |
| US07653047B2 |
Guaranteeing quality of service (QoS) using bandwidth reservation in switch
A method for guaranteeing Quality of Service (QoS) using bandwidth reservation in a switch includes: establishing a MAC table including MAC addresses of terminals connected to each port of the switch and an identifier indicating whether or not the corresponding terminal is a VoIP terminal; calculating a VoIP bandwidth necessary for each port based on information of the MAC table, calculating a ratio of an entire bandwidth to a bandwidth equal to the entire bandwidth minus the VoIP bandwidth, and setting the ratio as a port ratio of the switch; determining whether or not the corresponding packet is a VoIP packet by filtering the MAC address of the corresponding packet upon an arbitrary packet of the switch being input; and passing the corresponding packet upon a determination that the corresponding packet is a VoIP packet, and passing the corresponding packet only when the bandwidth of the corresponding packet is within a permissible limit of the set port ratio by performing port ratio control upon a determination that the corresponding packet is not a VoIP packet. |
| US07653045B2 |
Reconstruction excitation with LPC parameters and long term prediction lags
A media over packet networking appliance provides a network interface, a voice transducer, and at least one integrated circuit assembly coupling the voice transducer to the network interface. The at least one integrated circuit assembly provides media over packet transmissions and holds bits defining reconstruction of a packet stream having a primary stage and a secondary stage. The secondary stage has one or more of linear predictive coding parameters, long term prediction lags, parity check, and adaptive and fixed codebook gains. The packet stream has an instance of single packet loss, and the reconstruction includes receiving a packet sequence represented by P(n)P(n−1)′, [Lost Packet], P(n+2)P(n+1)′, and P(n+3)P(n+2)′, obtaining as information from the secondary stage one or more of the linear predictive coding parameters, long term prediction lags, parity check, and adaptive and fixed codebook gains, and performing an excitation reconstruction utilizing said packet sequence thus received. |
| US07653036B2 |
Method and system for automatic registration security
Aspects of a method and system for automatic registration security are presented, and may comprise registering a client station with an access point without requiring a user to enter configuration information at the access point and at the client station. The method may comprise activating a button at an access point and activating a button at a client station to effectuate the registering. Aspects of a system for enabling communication of information in a secure communications network may comprise an access point that registers a client station without requiring a user to enter configuration information at the access point and at the client station. The system may comprise a button that is activated at an access point, and a button that is activated at a client station. |
| US07653035B2 |
Interference rejection in wireless receivers
The effects of interference are mitigated in a wireless system through update noise variance estimates. Noise variance estimates may be update after the reception of a preamble in an OFDM receiver. Noise variance estimates may include averages of signal energy over multiple symbols in one OFDM tone and over multiple OFDM tones. A co-located wireless personal area network (WPAN) interface may signal its presence a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface, which may select a noise variance estimate algorithm based therein. |
| US07653033B2 |
Infrastructure for wireless LANs
A wireless data communications system includes simplified access points which are connected to ports of an intelligent switching hub. The switching hub relays data packets to the access points in accordance with destination address data in the data communications. In a preferred arrangement the access points are provided with power over the data cable from the switching hub location. |
| US07653022B2 |
System and method for updating a sleep ID of a mobile station in a BWA communication system
A system and method for updating a sleep identifier (SLPID) of a mobile station (MS) in a broadband wireless access (BWA) communication system having a sleep mode in which there is no transmission data and an awake mode in which there is transmission data. Upon recognizing a need to update an SLPID allocated to an MS in the sleep mode in the initial phase of the sleep mode, a base station (BS) reallocates a new SLPID to be allocated to the MS and transmits SLPID update information to the MS. Upon receiving the SLPID update information for its current SLPID during the sleep mode, the MS updates its current SLPID with the reallocated SLPID according to the received update information. |
| US07653018B2 |
Differential update for data broadcasting
Systems and methods for differential updates in a data broadcasting environment are disclosed. A data broadcasting system receives profile information representative of information desired by subscribers to the data broadcasting system. Broadcast content may be adjusted in response to changes in the aggregate status of document versions stored on subscriber units. |
| US07653016B2 |
Method of controlling access to resources of a radiocommunication network and base station for implementing the method
A radio terminal is organized to send a first access signal then, when it receives a positive acknowledgement from a base station, a second access signal, resources of the communication network being allocated to the radio terminal after receipt of the said second access signal at the base station. At a base station, the first access signal sent by a radio terminal is received and the communication service requested by the terminal is detected therein. In conditional manner, depending on the detected communication service, a receive power of the first access signal is measured, the measured receive power is compared with a threshold, and the transmission of a positive acknowledgement of the first access signal to the radio terminal is inhibited, when the measured receive power is greater than the said threshold. |
| US07653014B2 |
Configuring a transmission mode between devices
Provided are a method, system, and program for configuring a transmission mode between devices. A connection is established with a link partner at a common transmission speed. A duplex mode is set to a first duplex mode. A transmission error rate is monitored with the link partner and the duplex mode is changed to a second duplex mode in response to detecting that the transmission error rate exceeds a threshold. |
| US07653013B1 |
Conferencing systems with enhanced capabilities
A method of conferencing involves forming a main conference between a plurality of users, providing a user with an option to request a subconference with a subset of other users, forming a subconference between said user and the subset of other users, and at least partially removing those users in the subconference from the main conference during the subsistence of the subconference. The conference is preferably a multimedia conference and the subconference can be conducted in an arbitrary mix of one or more of the media used in the main conference. Subconference participants have the option of monitoring proceedings in the main conference by receiving some of the main conference media signals while the subconference is in progress. The invention also provides conference servers, terminals and software for use in the subconferencing method. |
| US07653010B2 |
System and method for wireless mesh networking
According to an embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a method of operating a wireless mesh network. The method comprises: seeding the network from a first node; allocating a network address to each member node of the network to form a tree-like structure of the nodes, such that the network address is reversibly derived from the network address of the member node from which it is derived in the tree-like structure; and mapping out cross-branch network connections between nodes that are determined not to be immediate neighbour nodes according to the addresses of the tree-like structure. Further related system embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US07653007B2 |
Per-flow traffic estimation
A method of estimating per-flow traffic in a network of nodes interconnected by links samples an incoming traffic stream to a node. A sampling interval is derived based on a desired level of accuracy. The number of two-run occurrences for each flow is tracked in the sample stream. The number of two-runs per flow is then employed to generate an estimate of the traffic of the flow. |
| US07653004B2 |
Method and system for improving time of arrival (TOA) measurements in a wireless communication network
A technique for improving the capability of measuring the distance between nodes of a wireless communication network is provided. Technique (800) includes receiving a measured signal, correlating the measured signal with a reference signal to output a measured correlated function, comparing the correlation function to a predetermined reference correlation function, the reference correlation function being based on a predetermined direct path sequence and an estimation of the phase delay of the measured correlated function. A score is assigned to the measured correlation function based on how close the measured correlation function resembles the predetermined reference correlation function. Technique (800) provides improved location accuracy, even in multipath environments, by indicating the quality of the TOA measurement and enabling the selection of a correction mechanism. |
| US07653001B2 |
Managing differences in user devices when sharing content on mobile devices
Sharing content among users of mobile devices is facilitated and controlled by a system and method that employs a content sharing application to receive and process requests to share content amongst users of devices such as mobile devices and personal computers. Recipients receive share content messages from the content sharing application. The messages may contain links to shared content. The content sharing application is associated with an application program interface made available to content providers so that they can create user-selectable share content links or options displayed on display descriptions associated with the content. The content sharing application performs device capability checks so that selected recipients do not receive share content messages that contain links to content that is not compatible with their devices. In this way, users can select to share both device-dependent and device-independent content, even if the content provider does not always perform device compatibility checks. |
| US07653000B2 |
Method and device for provision and efficient utilization of resources for generating and outputting information in packet-oriented networks
According to the invention, an information output, e.g. a voice output, video information output, or a simultaneous output of video and audio information, which is to be transmitted via a packet-oriented network, is generation by means of pre-coded information output components. Said pre-coded information output components are present in a memory system and are retrieved as part of the processing of a request for the output of information by an information output system. Similarly, generation rules for the information output can be stored in the memory system and accessed by the information output system in order to generate the information output. According to one embodiment, information output components or generation rules are created in an information output configuration system and are subsequently made available in the memory system. The invention optimizes the use of resources for information-output services. The inventive distribution of functions permits the advantageous utilization of the performance of the related components for processing services of this type. The recorded announcement services capability known in TDM (time division multiplexing) networks can thus also be implemented in packet-oriented networks. |
| US07652995B2 |
Autonomic reassociation of clients in a wireless local area network
A wireless network access point is described which provides the resources of a backbone network to wireless clients. The access point is able to detect a degraded condition on the backbone network. Upon detecting the degraded condition, the access point transmits or broadcasts a reassociation request to one or more clients associated with the access point. In addition, the rate at which new associations are made is halted or reduced during the degraded backbone condition. In one embodiment, the association rate is reduced by increasing the interval between beacons transmitted by the access point which identify the access to the backbone network. |
| US07652991B2 |
Network with distributed authentication control
A bridged network system (10). The system comprises at least one network server (NS) for receiving and responding to authentication session requests. The system also comprises a plurality of bridge nodes (BRNx). Each bridge node in the plurality of bridge nodes is connected to communicate with at least one other neighboring bridge node in the plurality of nodes, and each bridge node comprises at least one port (BPx), circuitry for communicating with at least one of either another bridge node in the plurality of nodes or the at least one network server, and circuitry for limiting (40, 42) a number of authentication sessions active at a same time through the at least one port. The system also comprises a central resource (e.g., BRN0). The central resource comprises circuitry for directing (74) the circuitry for limiting, for at least two bridge nodes in the plurality of bridge nodes, in response to a number of authentication sessions active at a same time through two or more bridge nodes in the plurality of bridge nodes. |
| US07652990B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing quality of service level in broadband communications systems
An access terminal having user applications identified by product keys used to determine a QoS level to be granted to invoked user applications for the establishment of connections by an access network. The access terminal invokes the user applications, identifies the product key of the invoked user applications and determines a quality of service (QoS) level to which the invoked user applications are to be granted. The user applications may be formed into preferred and non-preferred categories with preferred user applications generally having a higher QoS than the non-preferred user applications. Access network connections using a high QoS are established from the preferred user applications to preferred servers of the access network. Connections from the non-preferred user applications are extended, using a lower QoS, by the access network to servers of a public data network. |
| US07652989B2 |
Method of performing adaptive connection admission control in consideration of input call states in differentiated service network
In the adaptive connection admission control method of the present invention, a corresponding ingress edge node performs connection admission control for a new connection within the amount of bandwidth initially allocated to each of paths between the ingress and egress edge nodes. The amount of remaining bandwidth allocated to a specific path Pr is compared with an amount of bandwidth required for a call requesting new connection setup input to the corresponding ingress edge node. The amount of additional bandwidth to be requested from the bandwidth broker is predicted when the amount of the remaining bandwidth does not satisfy the amount of bandwidth required for the connection setup requesting call. The ingress edge node requests additional bandwidth from the bandwidth broker on the basis of the predicted amount of the additional bandwidth, changing bandwidth information of the corresponding path Pr, and performing connection admission control. |
| US07652985B2 |
System and method of data transmission and method of selecting communication path for dual-controller system
A data transmission system and method and a method of selecting a communication path for a dual-controller system are provided, which are applied in a first controller and a second controller of the dual-controller system. First of all, a corresponding transmission medium is selected according to a feature of a data request issued by a controller, then the data request is converted into a data format compatible with a medium interface corresponding to the selected transmission medium and is sent to a corresponding medium driving portion connected with the medium interface, and the data request is sent to another controller through the medium driving portion and a connected corresponding medium controller, so as to select a path of the highest transmission performance, and realize the data transmission between the two controllers. |
| US07652982B1 |
Providing high availability network services
The principles of the invention allow a network device, such as a router, to maintain a high level of services during a failure without substantially utilizing redundant hardware components. During execution, the network device stores a subset of state information associated with applications executing on the network device. In the event of a failure, the network device reconstructs data structures associated with at least one of the applications based on the stored subset of state information. Next, the network device restarts at least one of the applications to resolve the failure. While restarting, the network device may continue to receive and forward information, such as packets, and, therefore, may continue to provide a high level of access to client devices previously connected to the network device. Thus, because the network device need not transfer control to a redundant hardware component, the network device may provide high availability without utilizing redundant hardware components, thereby potentially reducing the cost of high-availability routers. |
| US07652977B2 |
Hybrid automatic repeat request combining method in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system
The present invention provides a HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) combining method in an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) system, which adopts improved Chase combining method weighted by SNR and variance of SNR to realize HARQ combining. The method can improve system performance in processing power and time delay, particularly in low SNR environment, and will not make the system more complex. |
| US07652975B2 |
Interoperability verification for implementation according to communication standard
A method for verifying interoperability of an implementation of a communication standard includes monitoring a symbol comprising a set of subcarrier symbols in a communication stream, in which some of the subcarrier symbols of the symbol are generated from pilot symbols, transmitted on subcarriers in accordance with the standard. For a given implementation and a given symbol, it is known which subcarriers will be pilot symbols, and what their pilot symbol values will be. A communication stream, generated by an implementation that is interoperable with the standard, will contain expected pilot information. Using the implementation to be verified, a communication stream is generated, containing pilot information. The generated pilot information is compared with the expected pilot information, and interoperability is determined based on the result of the comparing. |
| US07652974B2 |
Information recording carrier and information reproducing apparatus for the same
Plural grooves or lands formed in an information recording carrier include at least a wobbling region and data is recorded wobblingly in this wobbling region by phase shift modulation while recorded digitally with a single or multiple waves as a channel bit. |
| US07652973B2 |
Information storage medium, and recording/reproducing apparatus and method
An information storage medium, and a recording/reproducing apparatus and method, the information storage medium including a plurality of recording layers, each layer including a lead-in area or a lead-out area, a data area, a middle area, and a dedicated area, wherein the data area is flexibly allocated according to data capacity to be recorded in each of the recording layers, the middle area is allocated behind the data area, and the dedicated area is allocated behind the middle area. The dedicated area for a special purpose may selectively be allocated in an outer circumferential area of the information storage medium, i.e., an optical disk including a plurality of recording layers. In particular, optical disks in various formats are provided in which dedicated areas for special purposes can selectively be allocated in outer circumferential areas of the optical disks depending on recording characteristics of the optical disks and the outer circumferential areas. |
| US07652972B2 |
Nano data writing and reading apparatus using cantilever structure and fabrication method thereof
A nano data writing and reading apparatus using a cantilever structure includes a cantilever formed by patterning a deposition material deposited on a sacrificial substrate, a probe formed at a front end portion of one surface of the cantilever and formed simultaneously with the cantilever as the deposition material is filled in a probe groove pattern formed on the sacrificial substrate when the deposition material is deposited on the sacrificial substrate, a heater formed of polycrystalline silicon at the cantilever, for heating the probe, a data sensing unit formed at the cantilever and sensing data written on media, a signal connection pad connected to the data sensing unit and formed at the cantilever to provide an electrical connection with an external signal line, a signal transfer circuit unit connected to the signal connection pad, for controlling writing and reading of data on and from the media, and a bonding unit allowing the cantilever to be supported at the signal transfer circuit unit and providing a passage for an electrical connection between the signal connection pad and the signal transfer circuit unit. Accordingly, the cantilever and the probe can be precisely formed by a molding technique through the removal of a sacrificial substrate and are formed of a deposition material such as a silicon nitride material, thereby remarkably reducing variations in a thickness of the cantilever and improving the durability of the probe. Also, because a bonding process with a glass wafer for fabricating the cantilever structure is not required, the process is facilitated and a fabrication coast is greatly reduced. |
| US07652969B2 |
Holographic optical accessing system
A holographic optical accessing system includes a light source for emitting a light beam; an optical assembly module for receiving the light beam and generating a signal beam and a reference beam that are parallel to each other rather than overlap with each other, and have the same first polarization state; a lens module for focusing the signal beam and the reference beam on a focal point at the same time; and a storage medium for recording the focal point. The optical assembly module includes at least a data plane for displaying image information so that the signal beam contains the image information. |
| US07652966B2 |
Information recording method and apparatus, information reproducing method and apparatus, and recording medium
A clock mark for extracting a clock when reproducing information from a recording medium and a synchronization mark for detection a bit-slip are recorded so that a part of the synchronization mark is identical to a pattern of the clock mark. A bit-slip detection and a clock detection are performed simultaneously with a single mark by multi-value recording. |
| US07652965B2 |
Method and apparatus for optical information recording capable of precisely controlling laser light emission
This patent specification describes a novel optical information recording method for recording mark and space information. The method for recording optical information comprises the steps of generating a peak level current waveform having a high level, generating a bias level current waveform having a low level generating a normal boost level current waveform and a low boost level current waveform, driving a laser light source with the normal boost level current waveform superimposed on the low level current waveform in a normal boost level light emission and switching a drive current waveform for the laser light source to the low boost level current waveform superimposed on the low level current waveform in a peak level sampling operation. |
| US07652963B2 |
Circuit for detecting recorded area
In a circuit for detecting a recorded area of an optical disk, when unnecessary noise is superimposed on the space portion of the digitized signal (RF) of an RF signal from the optical disk, a counter (20) for detecting a space portion detects the noise and resets a counter (81) for detecting a recorded area with an output signal S21 therefrom. This prevents the counter (81) for detecting a recorded area from erroneously outputting a recorded area detection signal (S12) due to the noise. As a result, a counter (80) for detecting an unrecorded area outputs an unrecorded area detection signal (S20) with high accuracy to bring a recorded area signal (RECD) from a flip-flop circuit (82) to the L level. Accordingly, an unrecorded area can be detected as it is inherently with high accuracy without being erroneously recognized as a portion in which a mark portion has been recorded. |
| US07652962B2 |
Using PRML read channel ADC for blank/defect and ripple detection
An apparatus including a photo detector circuit, a first circuit, a second circuit and a third circuit. The photo detector circuit may be configured to generate an RF signal in response to a laser spot on a surface of an optical disc. The first circuit may be configured to generate a first digital signal in response to an AC-coupled version of the RF signal. The second circuit may be configured to generate a second digital signal in response to a DC-coupled version of the RF signal. The third circuit may be configured to generate one or more detect signals in response to the first digital signal and the second digital signal. Each of the one or more detect signals may indicate a respective condition of the surface of the optical disc. |
| US07652958B2 |
Track locking method for optical pickup head
A track locking method for use in an optical disc device comprising a pickup head. The pickup head comprises an actuator equipped with an optical lens controlling a laser focus on the optical disc. The pickup head is moved to a predetermined position. A track error signal in the optical disc device is detected. Whether a flicker frequency of the track error signal is less than a threshold is determined. Based on the determination, the actuator is provided with a braking force to pre-deviate the optical lens, and a track locking signal is delivered to the actuator and control parameters of the pickup head is stored to lock the laser focus on a destination track of the optical disc. |
| US07652951B2 |
Method of generating directional low frequency acoustic signals and reflected signal detection enhancements for seismic while drilling applications
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for using an acoustic logging tool conveyed in a borehole in an earth formation for determining a characteristic of the formation. The method comprises using a first acoustic source for generating an acoustic signal in the earth formation at a first frequency. A second acoustic source spaced apart from the first source is used for generating an acoustic signal in the earth formation at a second frequency different from the first frequency. An acoustic receiver is used for receiving a third acoustic signal indicative of said characteristic. The third acoustic signal has a frequency substantially equal to a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency. The third acoustic signal is produced by a nonlinear interaction between the first signal and the second signal in a portion of said earth formation. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US07652949B2 |
Memory module and register with minimized routing path
A memory module includes a first memory group including a plurality of memory devices, a second memory group including a less number of memory devices with respect to the memory devices in the first memory group, a register configured to provide a command/address signal to the first memory group and a delayed command/address signal to the second memory group, a first signal line configured to transfer the command/address signal to the first memory group, and a second signal line configured to transfer the delayed command/address signal to the second memory group. |
| US07652947B2 |
Back-gate decode personalization
A novel methodology for the construction and operation of logical circuits and gates that makes use of and contact to a fourth (4th) terminal (substrates/bodies) of MOSFET devices is implemented by the present invention to realize a novel decode personalization. The novel construction and operation of the decode personalization provides for maintaining body-contacted MOSFET devices at a lower threshold voltage (VTh) when actively on (to increase overdrive and performance), and at a higher relative threshold voltage when off (to reduce leakage power). Because the threshold potential of a transistor moves inversely to its body potential, the body of each device is tied to the inverse of the device's drain voltage to achieve such a desirable threshold potential modulation effect for improved device, circuit, gate, decode personalization and logical family operation. |
| US07652944B2 |
Semiconductor device for reducing soft error rate with reduced power consumption
A semiconductor device is composed of a first circuit receiving a first power supply voltage; and a second circuit receiving a second power supply voltage. The second power supply voltage is higher than the first power supply voltage. Such device arrangement is effective for reducing the soft error rate, when the second circuit is more susceptive to a soft error than the first circuit, especially when the second circuit is a memory device. |
| US07652943B2 |
Semiconductor memory device, test circuit and test method
Disclosed is a semiconductor memory device having memory cells that are in need of refresh for data retention, includes control circuits for necessarily generating the refresh immediately before the read/write operation, and for setting the latency to a first fixed value at all times, for the first mode during the testing, and for necessarily generating the refresh immediately after the read/write operation, and for setting the latency to a second fixed value at all times, for the second mode during the testing. |
| US07652940B2 |
Column access control apparatus having fast column access speed at read operation
A column access control apparatus comprises a column signal control unit for controlling a write CAS pulse signal and an internal CAS pulse signal in response to a first signal, and a column decoder for outputting a column decoding signal using an output signal of the column signal control unit and the first signal. The column signal control unit delays the internal CAS pulse signal and the write CAS pulse signal to output delayed signals when the first signal is activated. |
| US07652937B2 |
Programmable linear receiver for digital data clock signals
Receiver architectures and related bias circuits for a data processor are provided. One embodiment of a receiver architecture includes three linear receiver stages coupled in series. The first stage receives a differential data strobe (DQS) input signal associated with a plurality of data (DQ) signals, and the first stage has a first programmable swing voltage associated therewith. The second stage has a programmable shift voltage associated therewith, and the third stage has a second programmable swing voltage associated therewith. The receiver architecture also includes a programming architecture coupled to the first stage, the second stage, and the third stage. The programming architecture is configured to set the first programmable swing voltage, the programmable shift voltage, and the second programmable swing voltage. |
| US07652932B2 |
Memory system having incorrupted strobe signals
A memory system circuit and method therefor are included. The circuit is adapted to detect a transition in a data timing signal from an indeterminate logic level to a selected one of a high logic level and a low logic level. The circuit includes a comparator having a first input, a second input and an output. The first and second inputs receive the data timing signal and a reference voltage respectively. The output changes logic levels in response to a change in polarity of a voltage difference between the voltage of the timing signal and the reference voltage. The reference voltage is sufficiently closer to the selected one of the logic levels as compared to the other of the logic levels so as to at least substantially prevent potential false positive detections. |
| US07652931B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device with NAND cell strings
A nonvolatile memory device comprises a memory cell array wherein a plurality of memory cell transistors are divided into multiple erase blocks. The multiple erase blocks are separated from each other by dummy word lines. During an erase operation of one of the multiple blocks, a dummy word line separating the one of the multiple blocks from other erase blocks is driven with a coupling inhibition voltage. |
| US07652930B2 |
Method, circuit and system for erasing one or more non-volatile memory cells
The present invention is a method circuit and system for erasing one or more non-volatile memory (“NVM”) cells in an NVM array. One or more NVM cells of a memory array may be erased using an erase pulse produced by a controller and/or erase pulse source adapted to induce and/or invoke a substantially stable channel current in the one or more NVM cells during an erasure procedure. The voltage profile of an erase pulse may be predefined or the voltage profile of the erase pulse may be dynamically adjusted based on feedback from a current sensor during an erase procedure. |
| US07652929B2 |
Non-volatile memory and method for biasing adjacent word line for verify during programming
Various programming techniques for nonvolatile memory involve programming a memory cell relative to a target threshold level. The process includes initially programming relative to a first verify level short of the target threshold level by a predetermined offset. Later, the programming is completed relative to the target verify level. For verifying with the first verify level, a virtual first verify level is effectively used where the target threshold level is used on a selected word line and a bias voltage is used on an adjacent unselected word line. Thus, the verify level in a first programming pass or programming phase is preferably virtually offset by biasing one or more adjacent word line instead of actually offsetting the standard verify level in order to avoid verifying at low levels. |
| US07652923B2 |
Semiconductor device and memory and method of operating thereof
A memory applicable to an embedded memory is provided. The memory includes a substrate, a gate, a charge-trapping gate dielectric layer, a source, and a drain. The gate is disposed above the substrate. The charge-trapping gate dielectric layer is disposed between the gate and the substrate. The source and the drain are disposed in the substrate beside the gate respectively. |
| US07652918B2 |
Retention margin program verification
A memory system, comprising an array of storage elements divided into logical blocks and pages within said logical blocks and a managing circuit is provided. The managing circuit is in communication with said array of storage elements and performs programming and reading operations. The programming operations include programming a plurality of multi-state storage data. The reading operations include defining an retention margin between adjacent data thresholds, determining whether bits are present in a portion of the data retention margin, and if the number of bits in the portion of retention margin exceeds a threshold, generating an error. |
| US07652915B2 |
High density spin torque three dimensional (3D) memory arrays addressed with microwave current
One embodiment of the present invention includes a three dimensional memory array having a plurality of memory elements coupled to form the array through a single top lead and a single bottom lead, each memory element including a magnetic free layer in which non-volatile data can be stored, wherein each memory element possesses unique resonant frequencies associated with each digital memory state, thereby enabling frequency addressing during parallel write and read operations, each memory element further including a fixed layer and a spacer formed between the free layer and the fixed layer. |
| US07652914B2 |
Memory including two access devices per phase change element
A memory includes a bit line and a phase change element. A first side of the phase change element is coupled to the bit line. The memory includes a first access device coupled to a second side of the phase change element and a second access device coupled to the second side of the phase change element. The memory includes a circuit for precharging the bit line and one of selecting only the first access device to program the phase change element to a first state and selecting both the first access device and the second access device to program the phase change element to a second state. |
| US07652909B2 |
2T/2C ferroelectric random access memory with complementary bit-line loads
The signal margin of a small array 2T/2C memory is increased by writing the ferroelectric load capacitors on the bit lines to complementary states. A ferroelectric memory array includes rows and columns of 2T/2C memory cells, wherein each column of the memory array includes a first memory subcell having a first node coupled to a word line, a second node coupled to a first bit line, and a third node coupled to a first plate line, the first memory cell being poled in a first direction; a second memory subcell having a first node coupled to the word line, a second node coupled to a second bit line, and a third node coupled to the first plate line, the second memory cell being poled in a second direction; a first load subcell having a first node coupled to the word line, a second node coupled to the first bit line, and a third node coupled to a second plate line, the first load cell being poled in the first direction; and a second load subcell having a first node coupled to the word line, a second node coupled to a second bit line, and a third node coupled to the second plate line, the second load cell being poled in the second direction. |
| US07652903B2 |
Hit ahead hierarchical scalable priority encoding logic and circuits
In this invention a hit ahead multi-level hierarchical scalable priority encoding logic and circuits are disclosed. The advantage of hierarchical priority encoding is to improve the speed and simplify the circuit implementation and make circuit design flexible and scalable. To reduce the time of waiting for previous level priority encoding result, hit signal is generated first in each level to participate next level priority encoding, and it is called Hit Ahead Priority Encoding (HAPE) encoding. The hierarchical priority encoding can be applied to the scalable architecture among the different sub-blocks and can also be applied with in one sub-block. The priority encoding and hit are processed completely parallel without correlation, and the priority encoding, hit generation, address encoding and MUX selection of the address to next level all share same structure of circuits. |
| US07652892B2 |
Waterproof USB drives and method of making
A data storage device and methods of manufacture are provided which tend to protect the device against moisture and shock. The device includes a circuit board, a coating, a housing, and preferably a sealant. The circuit board is in electrical communication with an electrical interface. The coating is disposed at least on the circuit board to generally encapsulate the circuit board. The housing is sized and configured to generally encompass the circuit board and the coating. The housing includes a housing opening being sized and configured with the electrical interface being at least partially exposed therethrough. The sealant is preferably disposed within the housing substantially intermediate the interior surface of the housing and the coating on the circuit board. Further, at least one of the coating and the sealant may be disposed substantially intermediate the electrical interface and the housing opening. |
| US07652888B2 |
Controller housing with connector retention assembly and method
A method and a housing assembly including a case defining an opening, and a coupler positioned within the opening and configured for coupling to a connector, wherein the case defines a securing portion positioned proximate to the opening and is configured for securing a portion of the connector when coupled with the coupler. |
| US07652887B2 |
Coupling arrangement for electronic device to a vehicle body
An electronic control module mounted to an adaptive vehicle mount or directly onto a car body. The control module includes a casing which may have at least one leverage tab integral with the casing. The casing also includes an integral fastening tab, and may act as a lever such that the leverage tab and fastener tab withstand forces which counterbalances the force exerted on the casing when the casing is mounted to an adaptive vehicle mount or directly onto the car body. |
| US07652885B2 |
Electronic device, cooling device and loop heat pipe
According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing, a heat generating part contained in the housing, and a loop heat pipe contained in the housing. The loop heat pipe includes a heat receiving portion, a heat radiating portion, a vapor flow path and a liquid return flow path. The heat receiving portion includes a first region connected to the liquid return flow path and provided with a wick, and a second region formed to be hollow, connected to the vapor flow path. The heat receiving portion is thermally connected to the heat generating part at a position across the first region and the second region. |
| US07652880B2 |
Combined-natural-and-forced-convection heat sink
A combined-natural-and-forced-convection heat sink system including a plurality of fins protruding from a first surface of a conductive material, a plurality of air channels formed between the first surface and an opposing second surface of the conductive material and at least one fan. The plurality of fins forms a natural-convection heat sink. The plurality of air channels forms a forced-convection heat sink. The natural-convection heat sink and the forced-convection heat sink form a combined-natural-and-forced-convection heat sink. Each air channel has an input end opening on an input surface of the conductive material and each air channel has an output end opening on an output surface of the conductive material. The at least one fan is configured to generate an air flow through the air channels when at least one of the fans is operating. |
| US07652876B2 |
Graphics and monitor controller assemblies in multi-screen display systems
A multi-monitor display system is described having an arm adapted for supporting a plurality of monitors containing display screens. The system also includes a column for supporting the arm, a monitor controller assembly for electronically controlling images displayed on the screens, and a graphics assembly for sending signals to the monitor controller assembly to produce the images. The system is used in conjunction with a central processor located in a computer housing. The monitor controller assembly is disposed outside of the monitors and/or the graphics assembly is disposed outside the computer housing. |
| US07652875B2 |
Display device equipped with hard disk drive
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a housing, a chassis which holds a display panel inside the housing, and an HDD unit which is located behind the display panel. The HDD unit includes a case which has an opening portion opened toward rear of the display panel, a bracket which is provided inside the case, and an HDD which is housed inside the case by the bracket and has a heat-generating portion. The bracket has a heat-radiating portion which is thermally connected to the heat-generating portion. The heat-radiating portion is located on a side of the HDD, which is opposite to a side of the HDD facing the display panel, and exposed to inside of the housing through the opening portion. |
| US07652872B1 |
Memory module adapter
Memory module adapters and methods for connecting memory modules to computing systems are disclosed. The memory module adapter includes memory connectors, a multi-memory connector, and a support that supports the memory connectors and multi-memory connector. The memory connectors are electrically connected to the multi-memory connector. Memory modules are connected to a computing system by inserting the memory modules along a first insertion axis into a memory connector of a memory module adapter and inserting the memory module adapter along a second insertion axis to a platform connector of a computing platform within the computing system. |
| US07652870B2 |
Multilayer ceramic capacitor
A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a plurality of ceramic dielectric layers, a plurality of inner electrode layers and and external electrodes. The ceramic dielectric layers includes barium titanate crystal grains having pores inside. The inner electrode layers are between the ceramic dielectric layers. The external electrodes are electrically connected to the inner electrode layers. The barium titanate crystal grains each have a core-shell structure which include a core and a shell around the core. The the pores are mainly formed in the cores. |
| US07652869B2 |
Multilayer capacitor
A multilayer capacitor comprises a multilayer body and a plurality of terminal electrodes formed on a side face of the multilayer body. The multilayer body includes an inner layer portion in which a plurality of dielectric layers and a plurality of inner electrodes are alternately laminated, and an outer layer portion in which a plurality of dielectric layers are laminated. In the outer layer portion, a conduction path electrically connecting a plurality of different positions in at least one of the plurality of terminal electrodes to each other is arranged. A current flowing through the terminal electrode electrically connected to the conduction path is shunted into the conduction path. This lowers the equivalent series inductance of the multilayer capacitor. |
| US07652867B2 |
Mobile, transportable, electrostatic chuck for wafers made of semiconductor material
A mobile, transportable, unipolar electrostatic chuck for clamping thin wafers is described, which avoids unintentional discharging of the package of Mobile Chuck and wafer during wet processing. Short circuits between the contact holes of the chuck and the clamped wafer can lead to the loss of clamping force. A pn-junction within the semiconductor substrate material electrode of the chuck is disclosed, which is using a diode effect to avoid the loss of charges. Dielectric protection layers of PTFE, Y2O3 or ferroelectric materials can be used to cover the open contacts of the chuck. This enables the application of Mobile Chucks also for wet etch-, photo- and cleaning processes. Mobile Chucks are made of semiconductor material and semiconductor manufacturing processes are applied. Those Mobile Chucks have nearly identical properties as the clamping substrate itself. This reduces the risk of cross-contamination, particle generation and the risk of mechanical stress due to different coefficients of thermal expansion. |
| US07652866B2 |
Flexible conductive static control brush assembly
A flexible conductive static control brush assembly includes first and second brushes disposed on a common backing strip. Each brush includes a plurality of filaments disposed inwardly from opposite edges of the backing strip. Bands overlie outer end portions of the filaments adjacent edges of the backing strip, with the bands covering only a portion of each filament length. The backing strip includes parting lines for tearing to remove an intermediate portion of the backing strip between the brushes to expose the filaments. |
| US07652864B2 |
Thermal protection of a switch
A method and a circuit for detecting an overheating of an electronic switch of power supply of a load by an A.C. voltage, in which a voltage representative of the temperature in the vicinity of the switch is compared with a threshold, the result of this comparison being sampled at frequency corresponding to an even multiple of the frequency of the A.C. power supply voltage, to provide a signal indicative of the fact that a temperature threshold has been exceeded. |
| US07652862B2 |
Hardware based over-current protection circuitry for power distribution systems
A power distribution unit that switches off power outlets in the event of an over-current condition by using circuitry that measures how long input current has exceeded a threshold and sending a reset signal to the power outlets when input current has exceeded the threshold for a predetermined time duration. |
| US07652847B2 |
Minimized skew angle slider
One embodiment of the present invention pertains to a suspension assembly comprising a suspension, a slider, and a suspension interface by which the slider is rotatably connected about a yaw axis to the suspension. |
| US07652845B2 |
Stress relief features for an overmolded base
A base assembly for use in an airtight enclosure. The base assembly includes a metal stamped section and an overmold section formed adjacent to the metal stamped section. The overmold section includes at least one stress relief feature for eliminating distortion stresses exerted on the metal stamped section by the overmold section. |
| US07652844B2 |
System and method for protecting removeable media playback devices
A mounting system for a media playback device is provided having an outer module for rigidly mounting the media playback device to a surface, and a corresponding cartridge which is capable of being inserted and removed from the outer module. While inserted in the outer module, a first mounting subsystem functions to fixedly mount the cartridge within the outer module such that shock, vibration, and other physical environmental factors are not amplified in the cartridge. A second mounting subsystem is provided to protect the cartridge while removed from the outer module, and generally comprises a resilient material around a portion of the cartridge. |
| US07652843B2 |
Completely circumferential motor bracket shroud for motor hub flange outside diameter for hard disk drive
A completely circumferential shroud is provided around the motor hub flange of a hard disk drive spindle motor. The shroud is continuous, smooth, and uniform, and formed at the same axial height as the flange to reduce air flow disturbances that are generated by the rotating motor hub flange. Unlike prior art designs that provide openings to accommodate the actuator, the present design has no openings or irregular shapes that can cause air flow disturbance. Air flow disturbance, especially when near the actuator arms or head suspensions, can impact track misregistration. In addition, the probability of circulating contamination particles inside the motor out into the disk drive enclosure is also reduced due to less irregular airflow patterns. |
| US07652841B2 |
Servo controlling method, recording/reproducing apparatus, magnetic tape, and magnetic tape cartridge
A servo controlling method of the present invention is a servo controlling method for controlling a position of a magnetic head against a magnetic tape that is accommodated in a cartridge and has at least a data track and a servo track, and the method includes the steps of: reading tape variance information from a magnetic tape cartridge (23) side, the magnetic tape cartridge (23) being composed of a cartridge (20) and a magnetic tape (21); reading a servo signal recorded in the servo track by the magnetic head and converting the servo signal into head position information; and controlling the position of the magnetic head according to an off-track value based on the tape variance information and an off-track value calculated from the head position information. With this configuration, even in the case where a recording track width is narrowed and a tape speed is increased, the magnetic head can follow a recording track accurately at a high speed. |
| US07652840B2 |
Head damage detection based on actuation efficiency measurements
An actuation efficiency for a head is determined based on a displacement of the head relative to a storage media responsive to excitation of a heater element. Damage to the head is detected based on the determined actuation efficiency. Related circuits and devices are also discussed. |
| US07652839B2 |
Magnetic recording disk with identical servo patterns formed on each disk surface by single master template and disk drive using the disk
A magnetic recording disk in a disk drive has identical pre-patterned servo patterns on its front and back surfaces. The servo patterns on each disk surface are pre-patterned with a single master template, resulting in the identical pattern on each disk surface. The servo sectors on the two disk surfaces can form identical patterns of angularly spaced arcuate-shaped lines or straight lines that extend radially across the data tracks. However, because the lines on at least one of the disk surfaces do not replicate the path of the recording head, the sampling rate of the servo sectors on that surface is not constant but varies with radial position of the head. To accommodate this, the disk drive's servo control system calculates a timing adjustment from an estimate of the radial position of the head and uses this timing adjustment to adjust the time to open a time window to allow detection of the servo sectors. |
| US07652838B2 |
Library device
A feeding mechanism includes a first feeding mechanism and a second feeding mechanism that operates during non-operation of the first feeding mechanism. A movement control unit that performs a control of moving the feeding mechanism towards a housing cabinet. A swivel mechanical unit swivels an inclination angle of the feeding mechanism to a predetermined angle along with an operation by the movement control unit. A movement stopping unit stops a movement of the feeding mechanism based on the inclination angle of the feeding mechanism. |
| US07652837B2 |
Data erasure apparatus and data erasure method
Embodiments of the invention relate to erasing data recorded on a magnetic disk with increased certainty by using an external magnetic field. One embodiment is directed to a method for erasing data recorded on a magnetic disk, which is housed in a magnetic disk drive, by using an external erasure magnetic field generated by an external erasure magnetic field generator. The method comprises the steps of: moving a first magnetic disk drive within an external erasure magnetic field in a moving state appropriate for the type of the first magnetic disk drive, and erasing data recorded on a magnetic disk in the first magnetic disk drive; and moving a second magnetic disk drive, which differs in type from the first magnetic disk drive, within an external erasure magnetic field in a moving state that differs from the moving state of the first magnetic disk drive, and erasing data recorded on a magnetic disk in the second magnetic disk drive. |
| US07652834B2 |
Driving unit for optical pick-up including lens
A lens driving unit includes a housing, a lead screw extending in an optical axis direction to be rotated and driven by a driving source, a nut screwed with the lead screw, a lens frame holding a lens and supported movably in the optical axis direction, a contact portion provided at the lens frame to be brought into contact with the nut from one end side of the optical axis direction, and a spring urging so that the nut and the contact portion are brought into contact with each other. The nut is engaged with a guide slit unrotatably with respect to the housing, and the contact portion and the nut are formed so that they are brought into partial contact with each other in a projected plane of the nut in the optical axis direction. |
| US07652833B2 |
Camera module
A camera module for small-sized electronic apparatuses such as digital cameras and cellular phones includes a lens unit; and a holder which houses the lens unit and is displaceable along an optical axis direction of the lens unit. A coil is provided on the holder of octagon shape in cross section having eight outside surface portions with a yoke having an outer cylindrical wall portion formed to have an octagon shape similar to the octagon shape of the coil and having eight magnet mounting inner surfaces. Eight flat plate-shaped magnets on the mounting surfaces for providing a magnetic field are arranged to face the outside surface portions of the coil through a predetermined constant spacing. Upper and lower leaf springs respectively support the holder so as to be displaceable along the optical axis direction of the lens unit; a base for supporting the yoke and the lower spring. |
| US07652832B2 |
Collimated optical system with clip ring eccentric locking mechanism
An optical system includes a lens cell having a generally cylindrical lens cell body. The lens cell body has a lens cell central longitudinal axis and a lens cell optical axis eccentrically offset from the lens cell central longitudinal axis. A sleeve includes a generally cylindrical sleeve body having an outer surface with a first longitudinal axis and an inner surface with a second longitudinal axis eccentrically offset from the first longitudinal axis. The lens cell is inserted into the sleeve. A housing has a generally cylindrical body with the sleeve at least partially inserted into the housing. A clip is disposed about at least a portion of the circumference of the housing. The lens cell and the sleeve are rotated relative to each other and to the housing such that the lens cell optical axis is aligned in a desired location. After the lens cell optical axis is aligned in the desired location, the clip is releasably coupled to and inserted through the housing and into the sleeve to restrict rotation of the sleeve relative to the housing. |
| US07652829B2 |
Lens barrel and image pickup apparatus
In a lens barrel having an image pickup optical system including a first lens frame held movably in the optical axis direction for holding at least one lens and a second lens frame held movably in the optical axis direction for holding at least one lens, the first lens frame has a movable member which moves in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis in correspondence with the movement of the first lens frame in the optical axis direction, and has a cam connection with the second lens frame, thus the second lens frame moves in correspondence with the movement of the first lens frame in the optical axis direction. |
| US07652828B2 |
Zoom lens assembly controlled by shape memory material
A zoom lens assembly comprises a first optical component, a second optical component, and an actuator. The actuator comprises a shape memory material that changes its shape in response to electrical or thermal fields to change the distance between the first and second optical components. |
| US07652823B2 |
Non-polarizing beam splitter
A non-polarizing beam splitter has a first prism; one or more ground layer(s) made of a dielectric material which is (are) formed on a slant face of the first right angle prism; an Au layer having thickness of 13 to 35 nm which is formed on the ground layer; one or more protective layer(s) made of a dielectric material which is (are) formed on the Au layer; and a second prism which is jointed to an outermost layer of the protective layer via adhesive. The non-polarizing beam splitter divides light at wavelength of 640 nm to 820 nm into transmission light and reflection light by a predetermined ratio. |
| US07652821B2 |
Controlling lens shape in a microlens array
A semi-conductor based imager includes a microlens array having microlenses with modified focal characteristics. The microlenses are made of a microlens material, the melting properties of which are selectively modified to obtain different shapes after a reflow process. Selected microlenses, or portions of each microlens, are modified, by exposure to ultraviolet light, for example, to control the microlens shape produced by reflow melting. Controlling the microlens shape allows for modification of the focal characteristics of selected microlenses in the microlens array. |
| US07652819B2 |
Projection-type image display apparatus
A Fresnel lens collimates a light modulated by an image signal and outputs a collimated light. A diffusion member diffuses the collimated light and outputs a diffused light. A driver continually moves the Fresnel lens or the diffusion member on a predetermined trajectory within a plane parallel with a screen. A spring member couples the Fresnel lens or the diffusion member with a casing, including a first deformation plane flexible in a first direction within the plane, and a second deformation plane flexible in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction within the plane, while it is not flexible in a direction perpendicular to the plane. |
| US07652814B2 |
MEMS device with integrated optical element
MEMS devices are fabricated by a method that involves forming an optical element (e.g., etalon) over a substrate and then forming a light modulating element (e.g., interferometric modulator) over the optical element. In an embodiment, a support structure for the light modulating element is aligned with the underlying optical element to thereby alter the appearance of the support structure to a viewer. Such an optical element is separated from the support structure by one or more buffer layers. |
| US07652813B2 |
Mirror device
A mirror device comprises: an electrode which is covered with a protective film made of a material containing a semiconductor material and is placed on a substrate; a mirror placed above the electrode; and an electrically conductive hinge placed between the mirror and the electrode, wherein an opening part is formed in a part of the protective film, and the hinge penetrates the protective film in the opening part thereof. |
| US07652811B2 |
Small mechanical optical shutter with non-imaging concentrating optics
In one embodiment, there is provided a method comprising positioning a light concentrating component, having a body comprising a near end and a far end, an exit pupil at the far end, and an internal reflective surface shaped and dimensioned to concentrate light entering the body at the near end to exit the body at the far end via the exit pupil, to a position relative to an modulating component in which position light exiting the body through the exit pupil impinges on an active area of the modulating component; and securing the light concentrating component relative to the modulating component in said position. |
| US07652810B2 |
High speed, high efficiency optical pattern generator using rotating optical elements
An optical pattern generator includes one or more multi-faceted rotating optical elements that introduce an offset that is rotation insensitive. The component that generates the offset is rotationally symmetric around the rotational axis of the optical element. Thus, as the optical element rotates, the effect of the offset component does not change. In addition, rotating optical elements may be designed to counteract unwanted optical effects of each other. |
| US07652807B2 |
Image generating apparatus, image generating method and computer readable medium
An image generating apparatus includes a color correcting unit, a setting unit and an image generating unit. The color correcting unit corrects a drawing color of each image element. When at least one of color components of the corrected drawing color of each image element meets a predetermined condition, the setting unit sets the at least one of the color components to a predetermined value. The image generating unit draws each image element with the drawing color subjected to the correcting and the setting, to generate an image. When the image element, which is to be drawn with the drawing color including the at least one of the color components, is drawn to overlap another image element, the image generating unit draws a color component, which is same as the at least one of the color components, of a drawing color of the other image element without overwriting. |
| US07652806B2 |
Optimal node placement for multi-dimensional profile luts for arbitrary media and halftones using parameterized minimization
A method and system for optimal node placement of a color correction table first generate a high resolution color correction table. A low resolution color correction table is generated. Each node of the low resolution color correction table has a corresponding color correction value generated by interpolating the color correction values of the high resolution color correction table. A reconstructed color correction table is generated, and each of the nodes of the reconstructed color correction table has a corresponding color correction value generated by interpolating the color correction values of the low resolution color correction table using an interpolation method identical to an output device interpolation method. Differences between the color correction values of the reconstructed and the high resolution color correction table are quantified into a measure of error, and the node locations of the low resolution color correction table are adjusted, and the procedure is repeated. |
| US07652803B2 |
Driving device of light source
The object of the invention is to extend the life of the light source while uniformizing the illuminance intensity in the main scanning direction. The invention is based on a light source of image reading apparatus comprised of film layers laminated on a transparent substrate in the order of a transparent electrode, an area light emitter and a metal electrode, and emitting light by impressing a specific voltage on these two electrodes. And an area light emitter column configured by arranging area light emitters corresponding to each color of R (red), G (green) and B (blue) in the sub scanning direction, or a monochrome area light emitter is arranged repeatedly in the main scanning direction. Accordingly, even when somewhere in the light emitting element has a defect like the film thickness is thin, the current gathering at this point with the low resistance value becomes a very small volume. Therefore, it would not occur that the film burns out from here. |
| US07652800B2 |
Apparatus and method for image forming
An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention reads an original by mechanically moving an axial light source in a subscanning direction perpendicular to the axis. The image forming apparatus includes: a sensor whose resolution in a main scanning direction parallel to the axis of the axial light source is higher than a designated resolution; a controller that controls the driving speed of the axial light source so that the resolution in the subscanning direction is higher than the designated resolution; an original-image-data generating unit that generates original image data with a resolution higher than the designated resolution in response to the output from the sensor; and an image reducing unit that generates reduced pixels fewer than a specified number of pixels in the original image data to generate a reduced image with a resolution equal to the designated resolution. |
| US07652799B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
When copying an object that has faded markings of color fadable toner and is printed with the color fadable toner, a threshold value changing key is displayed on a liquid crystal display of an operation panel to be pressed down. A main CPU sets a threshold value 1a and a threshold value 2a in an image processing unit upon detecting the threshold value changing key displayed on the liquid crystal display of the operation panel via a touch panel. The image processing unit eliminates a background image by using the set threshold value 1a and threshold value 2a, thereby providing dark printing with an excellent image. |
| US07652798B2 |
System and method for storing of print job data
This invention is directed to a system and method for storing print jobs. The system and method comprise acquiring print job data representative of a desired print job, which print job data is comprised of a PDL format associated with a selected printer device and selectively storing the print job data in a selected storage location or cabinet in a storage medium. The system and method further comprises acquiring print status information including data representative of a name associated with the print job data and data representative of a size of the print job data and selectively storing the print status information associatively with the print job data. The system and method also comprises selectively communicating the print job data to generate an image for display in an associated display device and selectively communicating the print job data to the selected printer device to obtain a printout thereof. |
| US07652796B2 |
Image processing device, image processing system, computer readable recording medium, and image processing method
An image processing device includes: an image reader that optically reads a first image of an image processing object having a non-contact element attached thereto, the non-contact element including a memory member; an identification information reader that reads identification information from the memory member, the identification information being used for identifying the image processing object; an incorporating unit that combines the first image and a second image corresponding to the identification information; and a controller that performs a control operation so that the first image reduced to a size corresponding to the output region of the second image is recovered to the original size of the first image and is output, when a combined image of the first image and the second image is output. |
| US07652794B2 |
Prepress workflow methods for generating images with improved misregistration tolerance utilizing global and/or local processing techniques
A prepress workflow process suitable for generating a reproduction composite image from a source image that may be tolerant to or exhibit improved tolerance to misregistration when printed is provided. Embodiments of the prepress workflow process include obtaining a source image. Next, N≧2 color separations are generated from the source image. The color separations may be process or non-process color separations. The N color separations are first processed globally for improving the misregistration tolerance of a reproduction composite image to be formed therefrom. If the misregistration tolerance of the reproduction composite image is not acceptable to be user, at least a portion of each N color separation may be further processed at a local level for producing an improved misregistration tolerant reproduction composite image. |
| US07652790B2 |
Image forming apparatus, gradation correction method and control method of image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit for forming a correcting image for correcting gradations of an output image, on a bearing body; a sensor for measuring reflected light quantity of the correcting image formed on the bearing body; a gradation correcting unit for correcting the gradations of the output image, based on a measurement result of the measured reflected light quantity of the correcting image; and a timing correcting unit for detecting a shift of measurement timing, based on the measurement result by the sensor, and for correcting the detected shift of the measurement timing. |
| US07652788B2 |
Apparatus, method, mobile station and computer program product for noise estimation, modeling and filtering of a digital image
An apparatus, method, mobile station and computer program product are provided for filtering noise from a digital signal. In particular, a signal-dependent noise model is used that provides the pointwise (or pixelwise) standard deviation of the temporal noise of raw data outputted from a digital imaging sensor as a function of the image intensity. In addition, unlike conventional noise models, the standard deviation of the noise (σ) is a parameterized function, where the parameters are key characteristics of the digital imaging sensor. These parameters may include, for example, the pedestal level (p), the quantum efficiency (q), and the analogue gain (α) associated with the digital imaging sensor. |
| US07652780B2 |
Web-enabled live scanner and method for control
A web-enabled live scanner is provided. In one embodiment, a live scanner includes an image interface capable of being coupled to a network. A camera detects an image of a print. The image is stored in a memory. The image interface includes a web server, socket server, and a picture taker. A remote user can use a browser to control the web-enabled live scanner over a network. |
| US07652771B2 |
Interferometer with Double Polarizing Beam Splitter
An interferometer has a first reflective surface having a nominal orientation; a second reflective surface having a nominal orientation orthogonal to the nominal orientation of the first reflective surface; a retroreflector facing the first reflective surface; a double polarizing beam splitter (DPBS) between the first reflective surface and the retroreflector; and a respective quarter-wave plate between the DPBS and each of the reflective surfaces. The DPBS has first and second beam-splitting surfaces each having a nominal orientation with respect to the first reflective surface. At least part of at least one of the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface and the beam-splitting surfaces is effectively tilted relative to the respective nominal orientation of such surface, and constitutes a respective tilted surface. |
| US07652770B2 |
Optical nonliner evaluation device and optical switching element
An optical nonlinear evaluation device (1) capable of accurately evaluating the optical nonlinearity of a Kerr medium in accordance with a phase difference caused by cross-phase modulation generated in the Kerr medium includes: a polarization Sagnac interference path (3) provided with a Kerr medium (4); an optical pulse light source (7) for supplying a signal beam (Dsig); a polarization beam splitter (PBS1) for splitting the signal beam (Dsig) into a signal beam (Hsig) and a signal beam (Vsig) polarized in a direction orthogonal to the signal beam (Hsig), for supplying the signal beam (Hsig) to a first side of the Kerr medium (4), and for supplying the signal beam (Vsig) to a second side of the Kerr medium (4); a glass plate (14) for entering, onto the signal beam (Hsig), a control beam (Vcont) for causing a change in phase difference between the signal beam (Hsig) and the signal beam (Vsig); separating means for separating the control beam (Vcont) from the signal beam (Hsig) having traveled through the Kerr medium (4); and a detection section (10) provided so as to detect the phase difference between the signal beam (Hsig) and the signal beam (Vsig). |
| US07652764B2 |
Method for reconstructing a fluorescence-enhanced optic tomography image of an object with any outline
The method enables a heterogeneous object containing fluorophores to be examined. A first face of the object is illuminated with an excitation light exciting the fluorophores. The light emitted by a second face of the object, opposite the first face, is detected by means of a matrix of detectors. The fluorophore distribution is determined by means of relevant Green's functions each associated with a selected source and/or detector, able to be assimilated to a point of the surface of the object. Thus, a first spatial coordinate of each of the relevant Green's functions corresponds to a point of the first face of the object and/or a second spatial coordinate of each of the relevant Green's functions corresponds to a point of the second face of the object. |
| US07652763B2 |
Apparatus for depth-selective Raman spectroscopy
Apparatus and methods for detecting Raman spectral features non destructively from sub-surface regions of a diffusely scattering sample are disclosed. Incident radiation is supplied at one or more sample surface entry regions, and light is collected from one or more collection regions spaced from the entry regions. Raman features are detected in the collected light, and depth information is derived according to the entry-collection spacings. |
| US07652762B2 |
Antiglare supports and contrast amplifying supports for polarized light reflection
A support designed for observing between intersecting polarizers an object located in its vicinity in a medium (3) of index n0 with incident convergent incoherent illumination under an angle θ0 at a wavelength λ. The support includes a substrate (1) with complex refractive index n2 and a layer (2) of refractive index n1 and thickness e1. The value of the thickness e1 of the layer (2) is at ±2% such that d2√/de21 lnIóI2=0 with Ó=Ó01+Ó12 (1+π01)e(−2jβ1)+Ó01 π12e (−4jβ1)/1+r01(p)+r12(p)e(−2jβ1))(1+r01(s)r12(s)e(−2jβ1)). Observation devices incorporating such a support are also disclosed. |
| US07652758B2 |
Method of performing resist process calibration/optimization and DOE optimization for providing OPE matching between different lithography systems
A method of optimizing a process for use with a plurality of lithography systems. The method includes the steps of: (a) determining a calibrated resist model for a given process and a target pattern utilizing a first lithography system; (b) selecting a second lithography system to be utilized to image the target pattern utilizing the given process, the second lithography system capable of being configured with one of a plurality of diffractive optical elements, each of the plurality of diffractive optical elements having corresponding variable parameters for optimizing performance of the given diffractive optical element; (c) selecting one of the plurality of diffractive optical elements and simulating the imaging performance of the second lithography system utilizing the selected one of the plurality of diffractive optical elements, the calibrated resist model and the target pattern; and (d) optimizing the imaging performance of the selected one of the plurality of diffractive optical elements by executing a genetic algorithm which identifies the values of the parameters of the selected one of the plurality of diffractive optical elements that optimizes the imaging of the target pattern. |
| US07652755B2 |
Apparatus and method for color measurement and color grading of diamonds, gemstones and the like
The present invention discloses an apparatus that comprises a spectrometer, and computer and a dual integrating sphere measurement arrangement comprising a measurement integrating sphere, a sample integrating sphere, a sample platform, a filter, a lens system, a baffle and a light source. The sample integrating sphere encloses a sample to provide a constant environment for simulating the visual color grading environment. The computer controls the spectrometer and provides measurement parameters calculated from physical parameters of the measured sample, including, but not limited to, shape, dimensions, refractive index, intensity of fluorescence and cut grade. The computer then calculates spectral reflectance and colorimetric data, and determines an average color grade by checking a look-up-table that represents the relationship between the CIELAB coordinate and the average color grade. The computer also determines a true color grade based upon the average color grade and the physical parameters, using mathematical analytic algorithms. |
| US07652747B2 |
Immersion exposure method and immersion exposure apparatus which transfer image of pattern formed on mask onto substrate through immersion medium
This invention discloses an immersion exposure method which executes immersion exposure for an exposure target film by transferring an image of a pattern formed on a mask onto the exposure target film through an immersion medium. A first vapor pressure as the target value in an immersion exposure atmosphere which surrounds the immersion medium is set. A second vapor pressure in the immersion exposure atmosphere is measured. The first vapor pressure is compared with the second vapor pressure. Whether to adjust the vapor pressure in the immersion exposure atmosphere is selected in accordance with the comparison result. |
| US07652730B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device is disclosed. The device may include a case; and a square-shaped flat liquid crystal panel incorporated inside of the case. In the device, the case may include a square-frame-shaped rear wall abutting a rim portion of a rear surface located on a side opposite to a display surface of the liquid crystal panel, and a square-frame-shaped front wall abutting a rim portion of the display surface of the liquid crystal panel, and sandwiching the liquid crystal panel with the rear wall, a pair of positioning pieces may be provided to either the rear wall or the front wall for positioning of the liquid crystal panel with respect to the case by respectively coming in contact with side portions of the liquid crystal panel that are opposing each other, and the positioning pieces may each be formed to be elastically deformable along a plane direction of the liquid crystal panel. |
| US07652729B2 |
Display device including a flexible guide member between the display device and a cushioning member
An electronic apparatus includes a cover, a rib, an elastic member, and a mask. A non-display surface of a display device is covered with the cover. The cover has a bottom wall and an side wall. The rib is disposed between a side portion of the display device and the side wall of the cover so as to be located in a position separate from the side wall. The rib rise out of the bottom wall of the cover. The elastic members is attached to at least one of an inner surface of the bottom wall and an inner surface of the rib facing the side portion of the display device. The elastic members retain the display device. The mask is fixed to the cover while exposing a display surface of the display device. |
| US07652728B2 |
Liquid crystal display device comprising a first conductive film surrounding reflective electrodes and a second conductive film surrounding the first conductive film and projector having the same
A liquid crystal display device prevents an abnormal picture-frame-like frame being displayed outside an effective display region of a liquid crystal display panel even when burrs are generated in a dicing step. A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having a first substrate and a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates. The first substrate includes a common electrode on a surface thereof which faces the second substrate in an opposed manner. The second substrate includes reflective electrodes, a first conductive film arranged to surround a periphery of the reflective electrodes, and a second conductive film arranged to surround a periphery of the first conductive film, a common voltage applied to the common electrode is applied to the first conductive film, and a reference voltage (GND) is applied to the second conductive film. |
| US07652725B2 |
Liquid crystal display and thin film transistor array panel therefor
A thin film transistor array panel is provided, which includes: an insulating substrate; a gate line formed on the substrate and including a gate electrode; a gate insulating layer formed on the gate line; a semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating layer opposite the gate electrode; a data line formed on the gate insulating layer and including a first source electrode located on the semiconductor layer; first and second drain electrodes formed on the semiconductor layer, separated from each other and overlapping the gate electrode; a passivation layer formed on the data line and the first and the second drain electrodes; and first and second pixel electrodes electrically connected to the first and the second drain electrodes, respectively, wherein an overlapping area between the gate electrode and the first drain electrode is different from an overlapping area between the gate electrode and the second drain electrode. |
| US07652724B2 |
Image display apparatus having speakers incorporated into cabinet
There is provided electronic equipment which includes: a cabinet; an image display apparatus incorporated into the cabinet; and speakers incorporated into the cabinet, in which the image display apparatus is disposed with an image display surface thereof facing a front of the cabinet, the speakers are disposed with sound radiating surfaces thereof inclined as viewed from the front of the cabinet, and a sound reflecting surface for reflecting sounds radiated from the speakers frontward is disposed in the cabinet. |
| US07652723B1 |
Composite video signal correction unit for video imaging and video recording systems
In one embodiment, a signal processing system is provided that includes: (a) a video input 400 operable to receive a first analog video signal and remove the DC voltage offset component from the video signal to form a DC-adjusted analog video signal; and (b) DC restore circuitry 416 operable to set an average DC voltage of a first portion of the DC-adjusted analog video signal to a ground reference voltage to yield a DC-adjusted analog video signal. The DC-restored analog video signal is then provided to an Analog-to-Digital or A/D converter 112 for conversion into a digital video signal. |
| US07652721B1 |
Video interlacing using object motion estimation
One embodiment disclosed relates to the use of object motion estimation to interlace a progressive video sequence. One of a plurality of consecutive frames is segmented and motion vectors for each segment are determined though object motion estimation. Interpolated motion vectors are used to construct at least one intermediate frame, and interlaced fields are extracted from the new sequence of frames that includes intermediate frames. An interlaced sequence with smooth, incremental motion is thus constructed from a progressive video sequence. |
| US07652718B2 |
Camera module and electronic apparatus
The present invention provides a camera module that includes: a camera body including a lens-barrel, a substrate, an image pickup device, and a signal processing unit; and a shield case. The shield case has a substrate-covering plate part and a lock part. An insulating and elastic cushion material is disposed between the substrate and the substrate-covering plate part. The cushion material is disposed in a compressed state between the substrate and the substrate-covering plate part by the locking of the lock part to the camera body. |
| US07652716B2 |
Computer-controlled lighting for video communication
A video communication system may include a computer program that implements a feedback control process for automatically controlling a light. The feedback control process may include receiving an image from a video camera and determining an initial difference between the received image and a stored image. For example, the feedback control process may determine, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, whether the color and intensity of a facial region in the captured image is sufficiently close to the color and intensity of a facial region in the stored image. If the difference between the captured image and the stored image exceeds a threshold, the feedback control process includes transmitting an optimization instruction to the light. This optimization instruction, when performed by the light, decreases the difference between the received image and the stored image. |
| US07652715B2 |
Photographing apparatus with improved system initialization and movement of optical system
A photographing apparatus includes an imaging optical system to guide light from a subject, a movement mechanism to move the imaging optical system, a sub control section to move the imaging optical system toward a predetermined position with the aid of the movement mechanism when a power supply is turned on, and a main control section to execute system initialization when the power supply is turned on, and to move the imaging optical system with the aid of the movement mechanism and interrupt the movement of the imaging optical system at the predetermined position. The sub control section may also start a lens barrel initialization processing to drive the lens barrel from a non-photographing position to a photographing standby position while the main control section executes system initialization, and the main control section may drive the lens barrel to the photographing standby position after the system initialization is finished. |
| US07652709B2 |
Image forming device, image output device, image processing system, image retrieving method, image quality determining method and recording medium
An image search method for searching image data includes the steps of searching identifying information for identifying the image data by using search information, informing the image data including the identifying information in correspondence with the search information, and causing a user to select image data to be executed a predetermined processing from the informed image data. |
| US07652708B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a pixel section having two-dimensionally arrayed pixels each having a photoelectric conversion means, a memory means for storing photoelectric conversion signal, a transfer means for transferring the photoelectric conversion signal to the memory means, a reset means for resetting the memory means, a discharge means for discharging photoelectric conversion signal accumulated, a read means for reading photoelectric conversion signal; an A/D converter; a noise suppressing means for suppressing noise of signal from said A/D converter, having a frame memory and an adder; and a controller for, in reading signal from the same one pixel, effecting control so that there is a difference corresponding to one frame period between timing at which a first signal level is read out after transfer and timing at which a second signal level is read out at the time of resetting the memory means. |
| US07652707B2 |
Pixel circuit with reduced wiring
A pixel circuit of an image sensor includes a floating diffusion node and a reset transistor. The reset transistor is coupled between the floating diffusion node and a reset control signal node of another pixel circuit of the image sensor. A voltage applied on the reset control signal node of the other pixel circuit is a reset voltage transmitted to the floating diffusion node via the reset transistor. |
| US07652706B2 |
Pixel analog-to-digital converter using a ramped transfer gate clock
An image sensor includes a photosensitive region that accumulates charge corresponding to received incident light; a transfer gate for transferring charge from the photosensitive region; a voltage supply having an increasing voltage over time; a floating diffusion for receiving the charge from the photosensitive region and converting the charge to a voltage; an amplifier for receiving and amplifying a signal from the floating diffusion; a comparator for comparing a voltage from the amplifier to a reference voltage; and a counter for counting clock cycles between initiation of the increasing voltage until a signal is received from the comparator indicating charge transfer from the photosensitive region to the floating diffusion; wherein a digital signal is generated that represents an unfilled capacity of the photosensitive region. |
| US07652704B2 |
Pixel for boosting pixel reset voltage
A pixel cell in which a capacitance is coupled between a storage node and a row select transistor. The pixel cell utilizes a readout timing sequence between operation of a reset transistor and a row select transistor to boost a reset voltage. |
| US07652698B2 |
Shading correction circuit of electronic camera
A shading correction circuit of the present invention includes an image pickup device having photo detectors arranged on its receptive surface, and a shading correction part for performing shading correction on an output signal of the image pickup device. The image pickup device has an effective pixel area and an upper optical black part. The shading correction part has a correction coefficient generating part and a correction processing part. The correction coefficient generating part thereof extracts shading variation according to an output of the upper optical black part, and generates a correction coefficient for the shading variation. The correction processing part thereof performs shading correction on an image signal by using the correction coefficient generated by the correction coefficient generating part. |
| US07652696B2 |
CCD solid-state image pickup device and method of driving the same
A method of driving a CCD solid-state image pickup device, the device comprising: a plurality of vertical charge-transfer channels that vertically transfers signal charges responsive to amounts of light received; a signal-charge temporary accumulation section, provided at an end of each of the vertical charge-transfer channels, that is driven independently of driving of the vertical charge-transfer channels; and a horizontal charge-transfer channel through which signal charges transferred from the signal-charge temporary accumulation section are transferred to an output terminal side, wherein the method comprising performing vertical transfers of signal charges through the vertical charge-transfer channels during a period of a horizontal transfer of signal charges through the horizontal charge-transfer channel, while the horizontal transfer through the horizontal charge-transfer channel is brought to a temporary stop for each pulse-edge time of driving pulses to drive the vertical charge-transfer channels. |
| US07652694B2 |
Image pick-up apparatus
An image pick-up apparatus loaded in a body of the apparatus with a monitor for displaying a captured image is provided. The image pick-apparatus includes an input device which inputs a character and an image to be combined with an image displayed on the monitor, a composition device which combines the character and the image input through the input device with the image displayed on the monitor, and generates a composite image, an instruction device which instructs a record of the composite image generated by the composition device, and a record control device which records a composite image generated by the composition device in accordance with an instruction of the instruction device in a record medium, and adds an identification symbol for identifying that the image recorded in the record medium is a composite image to a part of a file name, thereby recording data in the record medium. |
| US07652691B2 |
Imaging apparatus, control method thereof, and imaging system for performing appropriate image capturing when a driving method is changed
An imaging apparatus includes a control unit which has a first mode in which image signals are read out successively from every predetermined line of a first photoelectric conversion element group arranged in a first region of an imaging plane; and a second mode in which image signals are read out successively from every predetermined line of a second photoelectric conversion element group arranged in a second region which is different from the first region of the imaging plane. In addition, the control unit performs control so as to cause a period from starting readout of the signal of the predetermined line to starting next readout of the signal of the predetermined line in the first mode to be the same as that from starting readout of the signal of the predetermined line to starting next readout of the signal in the second mode. |
| US07652684B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method thereof having main scan length correcting feature
An image forming apparatus forms an image by scanning on a photosensitive member in the main-scanning direction with a plurality of beams aligned in the sub-scanning direction. To detect differences in the main-scanning length of each beam on a photosensitive member, patterns for correction are formed on the photosensitive member using first and second beams at both ends among the plurality of beams. The positions of a first pixel and a last pixel in the main scanning direction on the photosensitive member, which pixels are to be formed by a third beam arranged between the first and second beams, are determined based on the detected first and second locations of the first and second test patterns respectively formed by the first and second beams, without forming a third test pattern by the third beam. |
| US07652683B2 |
Line head and image-forming apparatus
A line head includes: a first substrate having a plurality of organic electroluminescent devices; a bonding layer disposed on the first substrate and having optical transparency; a second substrate bonded to the first substrate with the bonding layer therebetween and having a reflective film that covers at least a part of the bonding layer; and a plurality of exit portions respectively from which light that has passed through the bonding layer is exited, the light emitted from the organic electroluminescent devices. |
| US07652681B2 |
Systems for displaying images involving display panels
Systems for displaying images are provided. A representative system comprises a display panel. The display panel comprises first, second and third signal lines, and first and second pixel areas. The first and second signal lines are extended straight along a first direction. The third signal line is extended straight along a second direction and interlaced with the first and second signal lines. The first pixel area is coupled to the first signal line, and the second pixel area is coupled to the second signal line and the first signal line and has a second driving area. A relative position of a first driving area in the first pixel area is different from that of a second driving area in the second pixel area and the first and second pixels display the same color. |
| US07652679B2 |
Image display method, program, image display apparatus and image display system
An image display method includes a display step of synthesizing and displaying a predetermined image and a moving image, a detecting step of detecting a specific target in the moving image, and a decision step of deciding whether the specific target detected in the moving image is positioned to be overlapping with the predetermined image. In addition, a signal processing step displays a predetermined mark at a position of the detected specific target, if it is decided that the specific target detected in the moving image is positioned to be overlapping with the predetermined image. |
| US07652672B2 |
Systems and methods for texture management
Methods for texture image management are provided. An embodiment of a method for texture image management comprises the following steps. A texture image is acquired from a non-writable memory device. The received texture image is directly applied to a fragment. |
| US07652671B2 |
Image processing device and method and storage medium storing program
An image processing device including a storage section, a parallel processing controller, a sequential processing controller, and a selection section which selectively operates the two control sections. The parallel processing controller connects one or more of the image processing modules such that first buffer modules are connected at least one of preceding and following each image processing module, to formulate a first image processing section, and controls such that individual image processing modules perform image processing in parallel with one another. The first buffer modules perform exclusive access control. The sequential processing controller connects one or more of the image processing modules such that second buffer modules are connected at least one of preceding and following each image processing module, to formulate a second image processing section, and controls such that the individual image processing modules perform image processing sequentially. The second buffer modules do not perform exclusive access control. |
| US07652670B2 |
Polynomial encoding of vertex data for use in computer animation of cloth and other materials
An alternative to cloth simulation in which a plurality of different poses for a material are established, and then each component of each vertex position of the material is encoded into a polynomial by using corresponding vertices in the plurality of different poses for the material. The vertices are encoded relative to a neutral bind pose. The polynomial coefficients are calculated offline and then stored. At runtime, the poses are interpolated by using key variables which are input into the polynomials as different states, for example the turning speed of the player wearing the material, which may comprise a cloth jersey. The bind pose vertices are transformed into world space using the character skeleton. A smooth interpolation is achieved, and the polynomials can encode a large number of pose-meshes in a few constants, which reduces the amount of data that must be stored. |
| US07652662B2 |
Portable electronic device and a method of controlling the same
A portable communication device. The portable communication device comprises a touch screen, a key code generator, and a controller. The touch screen generates event information in response to a manipulation on the screen, wherein the event information specifies position information corresponding to the manipulation. The key code generator generates a key code corresponding to the event information according to the position information thereof, wherein the key code indicates an upward, downward, leftward, or rightward key code, and the key code does not correspond to any visual item displayed on the touch screen. |
| US07652657B2 |
Method and system for determining characteristics of optical signals on spatial light modulator surfaces
The present application describes a system and method for determining characteristics (e.g., exact band location, orientation and height and the spot shape and size of a single wavelength and the like) of an optical signal projected on a spatial light modulator. In an embodiment, images with sharper edges (i.e. clear boundary between ‘on’ pixels and ‘off’ pixels) on the spatial light modulator are used to obtain spectral information from a referenced broadband source. The spectral information can be used to determine the desired characteristics of optical signals projected on the spatial light modulator. |
| US07652655B2 |
Backlight driver circuit and liquid crystal display device having the same
In a backlight driver circuit and a liquid crystal display (LCD) device employing the same, separate forward driving currents are applied to red (R), green (G) and blue (B) backlights, respectively, thereby overcoming the problem of brightness variation resulting from forward voltage Vf variation in a light emitting diode (LED). The LCD includes: a backlight unit provided with R, G and B backlights for emitting light toward an LCD panel in sequence; and a backlight driver for supplying driving currents and pulse width modulation (PWM) signals to the backlight unit so as to control brightness and chromaticity of the R, G and B backlights. The backlight driver includes: a driving current generator for supplying R, G and B driving currents to the respective R, G and B backlights, and for causing the respective R, G and B backlights to emit light with predetermined brightness; and a PWM signal generator for supplying R, G and B PWM signals to the R, G and B backlights, respectively, so as to adjust the chromaticity of the light emitted from the R, G and B backlights, respectively. |
| US07652650B2 |
Current output drive circuit and display device
A circuit having a plurality of driver IC's 101-1 to 101-n provided corresponding to divided areas of a display panel 102, each driver having an output circuit for outputting a supplied reference current IREF as a drive current to corresponding divided areas DRVA1 to DRVAn of the display panel 102 and reference current source circuits 200-1 to 200-n for sampling and holding the reference current input from the reference current input terminal, then supplying the same to the output circuit, the reference current input terminal being connected to the reference current input terminal of another driver by a common current interconnect CML1, and the reference current being distributed to the reference current source circuits of drivers by time division. According to the present invention, luminance steps among drivers driving the display (driven object) by division can be made sufficiently small, and a large size, high dynamic range display organic EL display, which cannot be realized by the conventional method of supply of the reference current, can be realized. |
| US07652648B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus and method of driving the same
In a method for driving a liquid crystal display apparatus in which in each field, scan lines are successively scanned in order to display an image, the scanning sequence or the polarity of a signal voltage is reversed between a first field and a second field. A liquid crystal display apparatus driven by the method is also disclosed. It is possible to provide a high contrast, high brightness liquid crystal display apparatus which is not affected by electrical asymmetry. |
| US07652647B2 |
Image display device
Improvement is to be achieved against poor image quality attributable to voltage drops on wirings, and the image quality especially of large image display devices is to be ameliorated. The circuit configuration comprises a scanning circuit for controlling a plurality of pixel circuits; a plurality of scanning wirings for conveying the signals of the scanning circuit to the pixel circuits; a plurality of first and second wirings for supplying image signals and power to the pixel circuits, arranged in parallel to each other and crossing said scanning wirings; and a drive circuit for supplying image signals and power to the first and second wirings; all disposed over a glass substrate, wherein the drive circuit supplies power to both first and second wirings when the light-emitting devices emit light in response to image signals. |
| US07652642B2 |
Plasma display apparatus and driving method thereof
There is provided a plasma display apparatus and a driving method of a plasma display panel. The plasma display apparatus comprises a plasma display panel comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, and an electrode driver alternatively applying a sustain pulse of a first polarity to the first electrode and the second electrode and applying a pulse of a second polarity opposite to a first polarity after a magnitude of a voltage of a sustain pulse of a first polarity is maximized. Therefore, it is possible to increase discharge efficiency without rising a driving voltage or increasing an electrode space by increasing an amount of space discharge. |
| US07652640B2 |
Plasma display apparatus and method of driving the same
A plasma display apparatus is disclosed. The plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel comprising a scan electrode and a sustain electrode. When an image displayed on the plasma display apparatus is a fixed image pattern which has a rate of change equal to or less than a threshold rate of change in input image data and is displayed as a picture for a duration equal to or more than a threshold duration of time, the number of sustain pulses or a magnitude of a voltage of a sustain pulse supplied to at least one of the scan electrode or the sustain electrode in a sustain period of a subfield subsequent to the threshold duration of time is controlled. |
| US07652637B2 |
Antenna, and radio-frequency identification tag
An antenna connected to a circuit portion and configured to effect transmission and reception of information by radio communication, the antenna including a driven meander line portion which has a feed section connected to the circuit portion and which is a line conductor formed in a meandering pattern, and a parasitic meander line portion which does not have a feed section connected to the circuit portion and which is a line conductor formed in a meandering pattern and positioned relative to the driven meander line portion, so as to influence an input impedance of the driven meander line portion. Also disclosed is a radio-frequency identification tag including the antenna. |
| US07652636B2 |
RFID devices having self-compensating antennas and conductive shields
A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag includes an antenna configuration coupled to an RFID chip, such as in an RFID strap. The antenna configuration is mounted on one face (major surface) of a dielectric material, and includes compensation elements to compensate at least to some extent for various types of dielectric material upon which the antenna configuration may be mounted. In addition, a conductive structure, such as a ground plane or other layer of conductive material, may be placed on a second major surface of the dielectric layer, on an opposite side of the dielectric layer from the antenna structure. |
| US07652634B2 |
Antenna with integrated parameter storage
An antenna identifier is coupled to the antenna. The antenna identifier is a memory device that stores at least one attribute to identify the antenna. The antenna includes an electromagnetic radiation element coupled to a signal port and a coupling device coupled in-between the signal port and the antenna identifier. A data signal received at the signal port is isolated by the coupling device and provided to the antenna identifier. The data signal is provided by a radio device and/or an information handling system (IHS) coupled to the antenna via the signal port. The radio device and/or the IHS is operable to read one or more values for the attribute stored in the antenna identifier. |
| US07652631B2 |
Ultra-wideband antenna array with additional low-frequency resonance
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, methods and systems for radiating elements are provided. In a method embodiment, a method of forming a radiating element includes forming a pair of conductive fingers having first and second portions. The first portion is a dipole arm. The conductive fingers are separated by a tapered notch that has a width at a first end that is less than a width of a second end. For each conductive finger, the method also includes capacitively coupling the first portion of the conductive finger to the second portion of the conductive finger. |
| US07652629B2 |
Antenna device and radio apparatus having a broadband characteristic
An antenna device including a ground plane, a plane conductor and a line conductor is provided. The plane conductor is shaped like a polygon having a first side, a second side and an angle between the first side and the second side. The plane conductor is arranged almost on a same plane as the ground plane. The plane conductor has a feed portion around the angle. The first side faces a side of the ground plane. The line conductor is arranged almost on the same plane as the ground plane. The line conductor has a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to an end of the second side being opposite the feed portion. |
| US07652627B2 |
System for providing GPS information indoors and method of acquiring indoor GPS information by mobile device
A system for providing position information by using a wireless personal area network (WPAN), and a method of acquiring the position information of a mobile device thereof where the system includes: a first node including referenced position information; and a plurality of second nodes calculating their respective position information based on the reference position information of the first node, wherein the mobile device calculates its position information by using the reference position information received from the first node and/or one or more of the respective position information of the second nodes. According to the system and method, at an indoor place where a global positioning system (GPS) signal is weak or absent, the GPS position information can be acquired through the position information providing system using a low-price wireless LAN communication network. |
| US07652625B2 |
System and method for the mitigation of multipath and the improvement of signal-to-noise ratios in time division multiple access(TDMA) location networks
A positioning system that includes a plurality of chronologically synchronized Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) Positioning-Unit Devices and a position receiver incorporating a TDMA Adaptive Directional Antenna Array is disclosed. The plurality of chronologically synchronized Positioning-Unit Devices, positioned at known locations, transmit positioning signals in a predetermined Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) sequence, such that each Positioning-Unit Device has a unique transmission time slot. The TDMA Adaptive Directional Antenna Array is configured to consecutively steer a directional receive antenna in spatial synchronization with the plurality of Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) Positioning-Unit Device transmissions, such that the directional receive antenna is oriented toward the currently transmitting Positioning-Unit Device, or the directional receive antenna is oriented toward the origin of the currently received positioning signal. The TDMA Adaptive Directional Antenna Array is controlled by a deterministic algorithm based on the knowledge of the Positioning-Unit Device locations, TDMA Adaptive Directional Antenna Array location, TDMA Adaptive Directional Antenna Array attitude, network Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) transmission sequencing, Positioning-Unit Device positioning signal propagation delays, and network time. |
| US07652624B2 |
Millimeter-wave communication stations with directional antennas and methods for fast link recovery
Embodiments of millimeter-wave communication stations with directional antennas and methods for fast link recovery are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, a transmitting station retransmits a packet in an adjacent direction when an acknowledgement is not received from a receiving station after a number of retransmission attempts. In other embodiments, a receiving station changes its reception to an adjacent direction when a packet is not received from a transmitting station after a number of missed reservations. |
| US07652622B2 |
Transfer of position information of mobile terminal
The invention provides a method of combining satellite positioning system signals and position information derived from such signals in a mobile terminal, when these are available at a first location, with cellular communication signals and a method, system and apparatus for determining the approximate position information for the said mobile terminal when SPS signals are not available at a second location. The approximate position is determined in the mobile terminal only using a position difference vector derived from the cellular communication signals using time offsets in a method based on the observed time difference of arrival. The computations of cellular position and position difference information are made within the network infrastructure. The invention provides for the security of the user as only position difference information is communicated over the air interface, or transmission time offset measurements which require non-transmitted information to determine a solution. In a further aspect of the invention, the approximate position information is used to provide position assistance information to an SPS receiver for the purposes of (a) satellite signal acquisition with reduced search time and/or (b) initial position information for the calculation of SPS location which thereby avoids the ‘integer ambiguity’ problem resulting from the repetitive nature of the SPS ranging signals. In a further aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed whereby a plurality of cellular positioning measurements are combined, initially with SPS measurements and then without such measurements, to provide a combined cellular position information with improved accuracy and a dynamic model. |
| US07652621B2 |
Method for automatically selecting radionavigation beacons
A method for selecting radionavigation beacons using an onboard navigation system aboard an aircraft from a list of eligible beacons, includes a step for formulating a criterion for selecting a pair of beacons (BX, BY) from among beacons forming part of a list of eligible beacons, and the selection criterion is based on a search for a maximum duration of membership, for instants subsequent to the instant t1, for which the 2D terrestrial position of the aircraft belongs to the zones of employment of all the pairs of beacons achievable from among the eligible beacons, on the basis of a given predictive trajectory of the aircraft. |
| US07652619B1 |
Systems and methods using multiple down-conversion ratios in acquisition windows
A system for processing a signal comprises a transmit unit to transmit a signal, and a receive unit receiving the signal and performing equivalent time sampling thereon by sampling each cycle of the received signal and reconstructing the received signal from the samples, wherein the receive unit applies a plurality of down-conversion rates to the equivalent time sampling for an acquisition window. |
| US07652618B2 |
Method and system for determining velocity by using variable or distinct sampling rates
A data processor applies transform processing to a first group of samples at a primary sampling rate, where the first group of samples is within a data window associated with at least one of the data blocks. A detector detects an estimated frequency shift between the transmitted signal and the reflected signal based on a primary peak frequency determined by the transform processing at the primary sampling rate. The data processor applies transform processing to a second group of samples at a secondary sampling rate, where the data window contains previously read samples and at least one new sample, if the estimated frequency shift falls within a target response frequency band. The detector detects an observed frequency shift between the transmitted signal and the reflected signal based on a secondary peak frequency determined by the transform processing at the secondary sampling rate. A velocity estimator for estimating a velocity of at least one of the object and the transmitter based on the estimated frequency shift, the observed frequency shift, or both. |
| US07652616B2 |
Target object detection system
A time needed until measurement values are obtained in a two-frequency continuous wave radar systems is reduced.An object detection system that emits transmission signals, as transmission waves, whose frequencies have been modulated successively into a plurality of stepped frequencies, and receives echoes of the transmission waves reflected from target objects, thereby calculating relative velocities of the target objects by frequency-analyzing reception signals obtained from the received echoes. The target object detection system includes: a frequency modulation component that repeatedly executes frequency-modulation processes to successively modulate the transmission signals into those of the stepped frequencies, within a minimum measurement time in which a desired velocity resolution is achieved; and a frequency-analysis component that frequency-analyzes throughout the repeated frequency-modulation processes the reception signals processed by the frequency-modulation component. |
| US07652614B2 |
Ground clutter mitigation using a parametric time domain method
Methods and systems are disclosed for investigating a region of interest with a radar. A radar signal is propagated to the region of interest. Sampled time-domain radar data scattered within the region of interest are collected. A likelihood function is calculated with the sampled time-domain data within a parametric model of the region of interest for a defined set of parameters. The set of parameters in varied to find an extremum of the likelihood function. |
| US07652612B2 |
Cyclic pipeline analog-to-digital converter
Some embodiments include apparatus and methods having a first module with a capacitor network configured to receive a sample of an analog input signal and an amplifier configured to couple to the capacitor network in a plurality of arrangements to successively generate a plurality of residue signals at an amplifier output node of the amplifier without resetting the amplifier between generation of least two of the plurality of residue signals, and a second module configured to generate a digital signal based on a plurality of intermediate codes generated from the sample signal and the plurality of residue signals, the digital signal including a digital value of the sample. |
| US07652609B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting motion with low power consumption in inertia sensor
A motion detector and method with low power consumption in an inertia sensor. The motion detector is selectively supplied with power for operation of the inertia sensor according to a power control signal. While the inertia sensor is supplied with power, three-dimensional analog signals are sampled, A/D converted, and outputted via a controller. A pulse width of the power control signal is determined by reflecting the sampling and A/D conversion period and reflecting the operation preparing period of the inertia sensor from the A/D converted value. |
| US07652607B2 |
Digital to analogue converters
In a digital to analogue converter, a plurality of digital inputs are used to select one of first and second binary voltage levels as binary inputs (10) to the converter. A capacitor circuit (C, 2C, . . . , 32C) is associated with each input, and these are controlled to output an effective voltage to an output load comprising the first binary voltage level, the second binary voltage level or an average of the first and second binary voltage levels in dependence on the bits of the digital input word. The plurality of capacitor circuits can be operated in either a voltage divider mode (to provide an average output) or a resistor mode depending on the value of the digital data. Operation of the capacitor circuits in this way can result in a reduction in the currents flowing and can therefore reduce the power consumption. |
| US07652605B2 |
Semiconductor device and audio processor chip
An audio processor chip includes a DSP for decoding audio data, a first DAC for performing a D/A conversion to the digital data obtained from the DSP, a PLL circuit for generating a clock signal for the first DAC to supply it to the first DAC and a clock output external terminal for outputting the clock signal obtained from the PLL circuit to a second DAC of an AFE. The first DAC 142 outputs an analog signal obtained from the D/A conversion to an analog mixer and the analog mixer performs a mixing process to the analog signal to output. |
| US07652604B2 |
Programmable analog-to-digital converter for low-power DC-DC SMPS
A voltage-to-time based windowed analog-to-digital converter (ADC) can have programmable reference voltage, conversion time, and accuracy of voltage regulation. The ADC can be fully implemented on a small silicon area and is suitable for implementation in various integrated digital controllers for high-frequency low-power switch-mode power supplies (SMPS). The programmable characteristics can be achieved through the utilization of the inherent averaging effect of the delay line or of the other voltage-to-time conversion structures and through the adjustments of delay cells' propagation times or the effective voltage-to-time conversion ratio in alternative structures. |
| US07652603B2 |
ΔΣ-type AD converter, class-D amplifier, and DC-DC converter
A ΔΣ-type AD converter includes a subtractor which receives an analogue input signal and a feedback signal and which outputs a signal pertaining to a difference between the signals, an integrator which integrates a signal output from the subtractor, a comparator which binarizes a signal output from the integrator by comparing with a predetermined threshold value, a counter which measures respective pulse widths of a signal output from the comparator, and a PWM circuit which outputs a pulse signal of a predetermined period having a duty cycle responsive to a count value output from the counter and which feeds back the pulse signal as the feedback signal to the subtractor. The counter measures the respective pulse widths in each PWM frame period in synchronism with the PWM circuit, and the PWM circuit feeds back to the subtractor a pulse signal whose duty cycle is set in accordance with a value of the measured pulse width in a next PWM frame. A count value output from the counter is extracted as a converted digital output value. |
| US07652602B2 |
Signal interface circuit
Interface unit for voltage input signals comprising two or more input channels. The input signals of these two or more input channels are connected alternately by an analog multiplexer to an analog-to-digital converter. The A/D converter comprises an integrated sigma-delta modulator circuit which generates a digitized 1-bit signal representing the input signal voltage level for a control unit irrespective of whether the input channel signal is digital or analog. By means of the invention all input voltage channels are made similar such that the input channels of the interface unit can receive an analog or digital signal irrespective of each other. |
| US07652597B2 |
Multimode decoder
A decoder comprising a decoding element arranged to operate in a first mode for decoding a turbo encoded data stream and in a second mode for decoding a viterbi encoded data stream, wherein the decoding element is responsive to a first control signal for switching from the first mode to the second mode during decoding of a turbo code block and responsive to a second control signal for switching from the second mode to the first mode to allow continued decoding of the turbo code block. |
| US07652596B1 |
Variable-length compression technique for encoding or decoding a sequence of integers
The described embodiments provide a system that encodes a sequence of integers using a variable-length compression technique. During operation, the system scans the sequence of integers and observes the sizes of the integers to determine a threshold value, K, from the observed sizes. For a given integer of length N bits, if N−K is greater than zero, the system generates a tag for the encoded integer comprising a sequence of N−K zeros followed by a one, and generates a set of remaining bits for the encoded integer as a sequence of the N−1 least-significant bits which make up the integer. Otherwise, the system generates a tag for the encoded integer as a single one, and generates a set of remaining bits for the encoded integer by padding the N bits which make up the integer with zeros so that the set of remaining bits is K bits in length. |
| US07652590B2 |
Thin emergency exit indication and warning device
A thin indication and warning device includes one or more self-powered indicator units 1 adapted to assemble together by means of a connector 2. The indicator unit 1 includes a channel member 11 including a recessed base 111 and a cover 112 including openings 115; light indicators 12 each including a housing 121 aligned with the opening 115, and a light-emitting member 122 mounted under the housing 121; a control circuit 14; and a rechargeable power supply 13. In response to power outage an abnormal voltage detection circuit 126 detects same and sends an activation signal to the power supply 13, the enabled power supply 13 supplies power to an alarm circuit 143 and each light indicator 12 respectively, the enabled alarm circuit 143 makes a warning sound, and each light indicator 12 emits light for indication. |
| US07652589B2 |
Selecting a function of components based on orientation
In at least some embodiments, a method comprises determining an orientation of a device, said device having at least one component with a selectable function. The method further comprises selecting a function for the at least one component based on the orientation. |
| US07652585B2 |
Method and device for detecting a degree of pollution of an operational converter
A method and a device for detecting the degree of pollution in an operational converter are disclosed. An operating state of at least one of the converter components that is exposed to the ambient air is determined and a corresponding operating state of said component in an unpolluted state is determined. The two operating states are then compared and the calculated comparison value is used as a measurement for the degree of pollution of the converter. Detecting the degree of pollution of an operational converter permits a reduction in the number of breakdowns caused by unprotected operation of a converter, and associated disadvantages such as costs and damage to a company's image. |
| US07652579B2 |
Article with wireless IC tag
A wireless IC tag mounted on a low magnetic permeability material is mounted on a holding part which has first and second surfaces and is made of a high magnetic permeability material. The holding part has a penetrating part which penetrates the first and second surfaces, and a notch which penetrates a part of the first and second surfaces at a periphery. A discontinuous region is formed on the holding part due to the notch, and at least on the penetrating part, the wireless IC tag is tightly held together with the low magnetic permeability material. An axis of reverse direction magnetic flux generated by an eddy current that flows in the periphery of the penetrating part and the notch is shifted from an axis of the magnetic flux produced by electromagnetic waves directed toward the wireless IC tag on the first and second surfaces. |
| US07652577B1 |
Systems and methods of beamforming in radio frequency identification applications
Systems and methods for beamforming in radio frequency identification (RFID) applications are disclosed. A beamforming system uses a distributed architecture and techniques for antenna beamforming using a feedback control loop to direct radio frequency (RF) energy onto a specific region, referred to as an interrogation zone, which includes a calibration node where one or more RFID tags may be located. The distributed architecture of the beamforming system is resistant to fading and shadowing effects, providing accurate RFID reader operation even in environments with multi-path reflections or environmental changes, such as people moving around or changes in the location of equipment. |
| US07652572B2 |
Methods, systems and devices for detecting and locating ferromagnetic objects
Methods for detecting and locating ferromagnetic objects in a security screening system. One method includes a step of acquiring magnetic data that includes magnetic field gradients detected during a period of time. Another step includes representing the magnetic data as a function of the period of time. Another step includes converting the magnetic data to being represented as a function of frequency. Another method includes a step of sensing a magnetic field for a period of time. Another step includes detecting a gradient within the magnetic field during the period of time. Another step includes identifying a peak value of the gradient detected during the period of time. Another step includes identifying a portion of time within the period of time that represents when the peak value occurs. Another step includes configuring the portion of time over the period of time to represent a ratio. |
| US07652565B2 |
Sensor network system, sensor node, sensor information collector, method of observing event, and program thereof
In a sensor network system, sensor data having a high precision (high resolution) is collected, and congestion of a communication network and an apparatus for processing the sensor data is suppressed. A sensor node has a contribution degree calculator for calculating an influence that the detected sensor information exerts upon the entire system precision (resolution). A first communicating circuit transmits sensor information responding to a calculated contribution so that no congestion caused by transmitting too large a quantity of data all at once occurs. |
| US07652562B2 |
Vehicle temperature warning system and method
A temperature warning system for a heavy-duty vehicle, having at least one axle formed with an inner diameter. The axle includes a pair of spindle ends, and a wheel end assembly rotatably mounted on each spindle end. A thermal switch is disposed in the inner diameter of at least one of the axle spindle ends. The switch is electrically connected to a control module to form a closed electrical circuit, and the control module is electrically connected to an indicator device. When the temperature of the switch reaches a predetermined minimum temperature, such as from undesirable increased temperature in the axle spindle end and/or the wheel end assembly, the switch opens, breaking the closed electrical circuit, and causing the control module to activate the indicator device. The indicator device is viewable by the vehicle operator during its operation, thus warning the operator of the undesirable high temperature condition. |
| US07652560B2 |
Obstacle detecting control device of vehicle
A radar device is configured to transmit an electric wave and receives a reflected wave that is generated by a reflection of the electric wave on an object, and to recognize the object is a potential obstacle that is to be hit by the vehicle when a received intensity of the reflected wave thereby is a specified threshold or more. And, the specified threshold has a plurality of preset values. Accordingly, a determination as to whether or not the obstacle detected by the radar device is the potential obstacle to be hit by the vehicle can be accurately made. |
| US07652557B2 |
Optical transponder containing identification tag
A transponder-equipped ID tag is provided, deriving its power from an incoming interrogating optical signal. The invention relates to a transponder-equipped ID tag that is able to extract power from the incident corresponding interrogation signal and temporarily store it in an internal energy storage device. Optionally, optical transmission is used as either a transmission mode only into the tag or a transmission mode only away from the tag. The inventive optical means of transmission may be combined with either RF transmission into the tag and/or RF transmission away from the tag. |
| US07652552B2 |
Fuse unit
A fuse unit for use in e.g. motor vehicles, includes an electrically conductive busbar and a plurality of connections for individual power consuming components which are connected to the busbar directly or by way of interposed fusible links so as to be electrically conductive. The busbar has a contact blade adapted to plug into a mating connector of a power supply without the interposition of a further connection between them. |
| US07652551B2 |
Toroidal inductive devices and methods of making the same
An inductive device comprises an electric winding component having a generally toroidal shape, and a plurality of discrete magnetic components at least partially embracing the electric winding component so as to complete a magnetic flux path and to form at least one gap between end portions of the plurality of discrete magnetic components. |
| US07652542B2 |
Signal generator, and transmitter, receiver and transceiver using same
A signal generator generates a first internal signal including frequency f1, a second internal signal including frequency f2, and a third internal signal including frequency f3 twice as high as frequency f2, and selects and delivers one from among a first output signal including frequency f1, a second output signal including frequency f1+f2, and a third output signal including frequency f1+f3, using the first, second, and third internal signals. |
| US07652540B2 |
Fine clock resolution digital phase locked loop apparatus
A digital phase locked loop apparatus includes an input signal time detecting device that detects a phase of an input signal with prescribed time resolution obtained by dividing a cycle of an operation clock generated by a clock generator at a prescribed time. An output clock generating device outputs output clock time data per the one cycle in accordance with frequency control data. The output clock time data has a value corresponding to a phase of a virtual output clock generated by dividing the operation clock in accordance with the time resolution. A phase difference detecting device detects a difference between phases of the input signal and the virtual output clock, and outputs a phase difference signal in accordance with the detection result. The frequency control device changes the frequency control data in accordance with the phase difference signal. |
| US07652539B2 |
Multi-stage broadband amplifiers
Provided herein are multi-stage broadband amplifier configured to achieve a high gain-bandwidth product in a non-distributed architecture and methods for designing the same. The broadband amplifier can include an input stage having a broadband matching unit and an input buffer unit, a gain stage having an RLC network and a amplifier unit and an output stage having a common collector amplifier and an RC compensation unit. |
| US07652538B2 |
Circuits and methods for improving slew rate of differential amplifiers
Circuits and methods are provided for providing high speed operational amplifiers and, in particular, operational amplifiers having frequency compensation circuits that provide improved slew rates with low power dissipation when configured with feedback. Frequency compensation schemes are provided to enable dynamic configuration of frequency compensation circuits implementing miller compensation whereby nodal connections of compensation capacitors are changed during driver setup and driving periods such that compensation capacitors are connected to source voltages to rapidly charge/discharge compensation capacitors using supply source currents during setup period, while providing frequency compensation during the setup and driving periods to maintain circuit stability and prevent oscillation of an output voltage due to the feedback. |
| US07652535B2 |
Continuous time common mode feedback circuit, system, and method
Embodiments of the present invention provide a low voltage continuous time common mode feedback (CMFB) module, for low voltage operational amplifiers, providing good linearity, wide bandwidth and low systematic offset. The common mode feedback module includes a controlling module and an initializing module. The controlling module and the initializing module are parallel common mode feedback loops. The controlling module is a main CMFB loop and the initializing module is an auxiliary CMFB loop and both the loops work simultaneously. The controlling module and the initializing module receive a first differential input voltage and a second differential input voltage supplied by differential outputs of a main differential amplifier. Both the CMFB loops are low gain amplifiers in order to provide operation as linear as possible over the entire differential output operating range of the main differential amplifier. |
| US07652532B2 |
Correlation method for monitoring power amplifier
The invention provides methods and devices for estimating power amplifier nonlinearity using simple correlation techniques. Methods and devices of the invention can monitor a power amplifier that has digitally modulated inputs and an output containing more than one signal stream. A preferred method of the invention creates a test signal by forming the products of several pseudorandom noise sequences from the digitally modulated inputs to the power amplifier. Nonlinear contributions of the power amplifier output are determined by cross-correlating the test signal and the total output signal of the power amplifier. In preferred embodiments, the determined nonlinear contributions of the power amplifier are used to introduce corrective predistortion in the power amplifier. |
| US07652528B2 |
Analog switch controller
Methods and systems for implementing an analog switch controller to improve linearity of analog switches are described. |
| US07652526B2 |
Narrow band pass filter
A switched capacitor narrow band pass filter includes a first switch including a first pole movable between two first switch terminals, a second switch including a second pole moveable between second switch terminals, and a third switch including additional poles movable between third switch terminals. The filter further includes an effective capacitor coupled to the first pole and a plurality of matchinq capacitors coupled respectively to the second and third switch terminals. The additional poles are coupled to the third switch terminals according to a first predetermined sequence and to the third switch terminals at a predetermined frequency. A differential amplifier assembly includes two positive and two negative terminals coupled to the additional poles in a second predetermined sequence wherein two of the additional poles are coupled to the positive terminals and two others of the additional poles are coupled to the negative terminals for signal summation. |
| US07652524B2 |
Voltage source for gate oxide protection
An electronic circuit. The electronic circuit includes a first circuit leg coupled to a first supply voltage node and a second supply voltage node. The first circuit leg includes a first reference current circuit configured to produce a first reference current and a second reference current circuit configured to produce a second reference current. The electronic circuit further includes a second circuit leg coupled in parallel with the first circuit leg. The second circuit leg includes a first transistor coupled to form a current mirror with the first reference current circuit and a second transistor coupled to form a current mirror with the second reference current circuit. The source terminals of each of the first and second transistors are coupled together to form a third supply voltage node. |
| US07652523B2 |
Ratioed feedback body voltage bias generator
A current mirror circuit includes a reference current source that generates a reference current, a reference transistor, a mirror transistor and a ratioed body bias feedback unit. The reference transistor has a first node that is coupled to the output of the reference current source, a gate that is coupled to the first node and a second node coupled to a common voltage. The mirror transistor has a gate coupled to the first node. The ratioed body bias feedback unit generates a body bias voltage coupled to the body of the reference transistor and the body of the mirror transistor. The ratioed body bias feedback unit is configured to adjust the body bias voltage in relationship to the common voltage so that the reference transistor and the mirror transistor each have a threshold voltage within a predefined range. |
| US07652519B2 |
Apparatus and method for exploiting reverse short channel effects in transistor devices
A method of implementing a transistor circuit comprises coupling first and second transistors in parallel, wherein the first transistor has a channel length corresponding to a peak in the transistor's voltage threshold curve arising from reverse short channel effects, and the second transistor has a longer channel length and, therefore, a lower threshold voltage. Exploiting reverse short channel effects in this manner enables the implementation of “composite” transistor circuits that exhibit improved linearity. |
| US07652518B2 |
Bus switch with level shifting
A bus switch with level shifting may include a first terminal configured to receive and output a first power supply voltage higher than a reference voltage, a second terminal configured to receive and output a second power supply voltage higher than the first power supply voltage, an output control terminal to which a control signal for controlling a switching between an output permitted state and an output prohibited state is inputted, a first switching element provided between the first terminal and the second terminal and having a gate, a gate control circuit to which signals are inputted from the output control terminal and the second terminal, which supplies gate voltage to the gate of the first switching element, and which controls the first switching element to be conducting or to be non-conducting, and a second switching device provided between a power source of the second power supply voltage and the second terminal, and configured to switch between conducting and non-conducting in accordance with the electric potential of the second terminal. |
| US07652514B2 |
Internal clock driver circuit
An internal clock signal driver circuit includes a delay block that delays a rising clock signal and a falling clock signal, and outputs a delayed rising clock signal and a delayed falling clock signal, a rising DLL clock signal generating block that receives and combines the rising clock signal, the falling clock signal, and the delayed rising clock signal, and outputs a rising DLL clock signal, and a falling DLL clock signal generating block that receives and combines the rising clock signal, the falling clock signal, and the delayed falling clock signal, and outputs a falling DLL clock signal. |
| US07652513B2 |
Slave latch controlled retention flop with lower leakage and higher performance
In a method and apparatus for data retention, a first latch latches a data input and a second latch that is coupled to the first latch retains the data input while the first latch is inoperative in a standby power mode. The second latch includes a second latch inverter having an inverter input and an inverter output. A switching circuit, which may be implemented as a tristate inverter, is coupled to the inverter output, the inverter input, and a retention signal. The switching circuit is operable in the standby power mode to assert a logic state at the inverter input responsive to the retention signal. The logic state is in accordance with the data input retained in the standby power mode. A standby power source is operable to provide power in the standby power mode to the second latch inverter, the switching circuit and the retention input. |
| US07652511B2 |
Slew-rate control circuitry with output buffer and feedback
The present invention proposed a slew-rate control circuitry without the use of external components such as amplifiers. Therefore slew-rate control circuitry of the present invention not only provides an IC with build-in slew-rate control, but also reduces number of transistors used externally which will increase gate-oxide reliability of the IC. The slew-rate control circuitry of the present invention is primarily comprised by an output buffer and feedback circuitry, the output buffer mainly consisted four transistors and depends on output of the IC, these four transistors will interact with each other to control the slew-rate of IC output. Additional feedback circuitry and gate-tracking circuitry are also disclosed to enhance the performance of the slew-rate control circuitry. |
| US07652508B2 |
Circuit device and electronic equipment provided with the same
In one embodiment, a circuit device that performs a certain processing operation with respect to an input signal by referring to a reference voltage and outputs the result is caused to have a function of switching the reference voltage, whereby a circuit device from which a stable output can be obtained is disclosed. The circuit device includes a comparator and a reference voltage setting circuit. The comparator compares an input voltage fed from outside with a reference voltage selected from a reference voltage set including a plurality of voltage values that are different from one another. The reference voltage setting circuit selects a voltage value lower than the reference voltage from the reference voltage set when it is detected that the input voltage in a rising transition reaches the reference voltage, selects a voltage value higher than the reference voltage from the reference voltage set when it is detected that the input voltage in a falling transition reaches the reference voltage, and sets the selected voltage value as the reference voltage of the comparator. |
| US07652507B1 |
Circuits and methods for detecting and assisting wire transitions
A circuit for assisting signal transitions on a wire, and a method thereof. The circuit includes a first subcircuit that causes a first transistor that is coupled to the circuit's output to turn on during a rising transition and then turn off. The first transistor drives the output to a high state to assist in the rising transition. The circuit also includes a second subcircuit that causes a second transistor that is coupled to the circuit's output to turn on during a falling transition and then turn off. The second transistor drives the output to a low state to assist in the falling transition. |
| US07652503B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes an external pin, a control parameter decision circuit, and a register update circuit. The control parameter decision circuit includes a register and an output selector. The register is initialized in accordance with resetting of the semiconductor device. The output selector, according to a level value of an external input signal supplied via the external pin, selects one of a signal whose level value is set equal to a register value of the register and a signal whose level value is set opposite to the register value of the register, and outputs the selected signal as a control parameter signal. The register update circuit updates the register value of the register when a level value of the control parameter signal need be changed. |
| US07652499B2 |
Embedding memory within tile arrangement of an integrated circuit
Some embodiments of the invention provide a configurable IC that includes several configurable computational tiles and several memory tiles. Each computational tile has a set of configurable logic circuits for configurably performing a plurality of computations and a set of configurable routing circuits. The routing circuits of the tiles configurably route signals between configurable logic circuits. Each memory tiles includes a set of routing circuits and a memory array for storing data on which the logic circuit perform computation. In this IC, at least a first memory tile has the same set of configurable routing circuits as at least a second computational tile. |
| US07652498B2 |
Integrated circuit with delay selecting input selection circuitry
Some embodiments provide an integrated circuit (IC) with a delay select input selection circuit. The delay select input selection circuit comprises a first input selection circuit, a first storage element, a second storage element, and a first input line branching into multiple input lines. The multiple input lines include at least a second, third, and fourth input line. The second input line is communicably connected to a first input of the first input selection circuit. The third input line enters the first storage element. The fourth input line enters the second storage element. An output from the first storage element is communicably connected to a second input of the first input selection circuit. An output from the second storage element is communicably connected to a third input of the first input selection circuit. |
| US07652496B2 |
Commutation failure detection circuit for back-to-back SCR circuit and controlling method thereof having relatively better efficiency
The configurations of a commutation failure detection circuit for a back-to-back SCR circuit and the controlling methods thereof are provided. The proposed commutation failure detection circuit includes a first detecting signal generator coupled to the back-to-back SCR circuit for detecting a commutation at a negative half cycle of an AC input voltage and including a first non-conductive signal amplifier circuit generating a first non-conductive signal when the back-to-back SCR circuit is not conductive at the negative half cycle of the AC input voltage and a second detecting signal generator coupled to the back-to-back SCR circuit for detecting the commutation at a positive half cycle of the AC input voltage and including a second non-conductive signal amplifier circuit generating a second non-conductive signal when the back-to-back SCR circuit is not conductive at the positive half cycle of the AC input voltage. |
| US07652494B2 |
Operating an integrated circuit at a minimum supply voltage
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit comprises at least one measurement unit configured to generate an output indicative of a supply voltage at which the integrated circuit is operable for a given operating frequency and a control unit coupled to receive the output. The control unit is configured to generate a voltage control output indicative of a requested supply voltage for the integrated circuit responsive to the output. The voltage control output may be output from the integrated circuit for use by circuitry external to the integrated circuit in generating the supply voltage for the integrated circuit. |
| US07652489B2 |
Multi-range clearance measurement system and method of operation
A system for measuring clearance between a stationary object and a movable object is provided. The system includes at least one sensor configured to be disposed on the stationary object and configured to measure an operating parameter corresponding to the movable object and a controller coupled to the at least one sensor, wherein the controller is configured to control an operating mode of the sensor based upon the measured operating parameter. |
| US07652488B1 |
Method for measuring the health of solid rocket propellant using an embedded sensor
The invented method for measuring the health of a solid rocket propellant includes embedding at least one piezoelectric capacitance sensor in the propellant, where the capacitance of the sensor is a function of a modulus of the propellant, and where the position is selected to measure manifestations of stress failure as a consequence of changes in the shear modulus. The capacitance of the sensor is measured at a predetermined frequency. The capacitance of the piezoelectric capacitance sensor is converted into a digital representation which is then converted into the digital representation of a modulus (or gradient modulus). In subsequent analysis, the modulus (or gradient of the modulus) is correlated to the health of the solid rocket propellant. |
| US07652484B2 |
Self calibration apparatus and methods
In one method of calibrating an instrument having N ports, where N>=2, cables of a first type are characterized by connecting a first cable between two of the ports; performing an “unknown-thru” full two-port calibration between the two ports; obtaining a S-parameter of the first cable; saving the S-parameter of the first cable; and then repeating the connecting, performing, obtaining and saving for additional cables having the first type. The cables having the first type are then disconnected from one of the two ports and a measurement plane is transferred from the connected end of the cable to the disconnected end of the cable. Cables of a second type are then characterized by connecting a second cable between the second of the two ports and the disconnected end of the first cable; measuring a S-parameter of the second cable; and saving the S-parameter of the second cable. |
| US07652480B2 |
Methods and systems for testing a functional status of a light unit
A method for testing a status of a light unit is provided, wherein the method includes electrically coupling the light unit to a controller and transmitting a negative voltage from the controller to the light unit. The method also includes detecting at least one of current and voltage passing through the light unit and determining a status of the light unit based on at least one of the detected current and detected voltage. |
| US07652471B2 |
Magnetic tagging of magnetoresistive sensors
A magnet's N and S polarity can be alternately assembled within a MR sensor housing to determine the type of sensor that is assembled. In an MR sensor package including a housing having a sensing face and adapted for containing a sensing transducer and magnet, it can be determined if the MR sensor package is to be an X-type or Y-type sensor by testing the MR sensor package prior to labeling, shipping and/or use to determine its type by measuring the magnetic field emanating from the sensing face using a magnetic gauss probe. During assembly, the magnets N or S polarity is positioned to face the sensing face of the sensor to indicate the sensor type. |
| US07652470B2 |
Ball and sleeve joint for a motor vehicle
A ball and sleeve joint for a motor vehicle has a housing (1) and a ball sleeve (5) which extends out of the housing (1) on both sides. The ball sleeve (5), has a through hole (8) and a bearing area (4) and is mounted with the bearing area (4) in the housing (1). Two joint parts, which are rotatable and pivotable in relation to one another, are formed by the ball sleeve (5) and the housing (1). A sensor (13), which interacts with a signal transmitter (2) arranged at the other joint part, is arranged at one of the joint parts. Both the sensor (13) and the signal transmitter (2) are arranged between the through hole (8) and the housing (1). |
| US07652469B2 |
Inductive position sensor
An inductive position sensor has a spatially periodic scale with a series of conducting or permeable features of pitch T and a reading head with drive windings and sense windings, facing the scale with a spatial period 2T along the scale. The windings are each divided in two identical winding elements,having the same relative location within two identical winding element patterns having a center-to-center distance along the scale of NT+T/2, N being an integer, and connected so that the winding element polarities in each winding are either opposed for drive windings and the same for sense windings or the same for drive windings and opposed for sense windings. Thereby, direct couplings in both patterns cancel each other, while the spatially periodic signals coupled via the scale reinforce each other. |
| US07652465B2 |
No dead time data acquisition
A “no dead time” data acquisition system for a measurement instrument receives a digitized signal representing an electrical signal being monitored and generates from the digitized signal a trigger signal using a fast digital trigger circuit, the trigger signal including all trigger events within the digitized signal. The digitized signal is compressed as desired and delayed by a first-in, first-out (FIFO) buffer for a period of time to assure a predetermined amount of data prior to a first trigger event in the trigger signal. The delayed digitized signal is delivered to a fast rasterizer or drawing engine upon the occurrence of the first trigger event to generate a waveform image. The waveform image is then provided to a display buffer for combination with prior waveforms and/or other graphic inputs from other drawing engines. The contents of the display buffer are provided to a display at a display update rate to show a composite of all waveform images representing the electrical signal. |
| US07652463B2 |
Power converter for compensating a maximum output power
A power converter for compensating a maximum output power includes a power switch, a control circuit, an oscillator and a frequency modulator. The control circuit generates a PWM signal in response to the pulse signal generated by the oscillator. The frequency modulator generates a second discharge signal to the oscillator for controlling the maximum output power of the power converter. The second discharge signal is decreased for prolonging a switching period of the PWM signal under a high-line voltage of the power converter. |
| US07652462B2 |
Constant current regulator with current sensing circuit loop
A constant current regulator includes a current sensing circuit loop connected to a switch unit of the constant current regulator to detect a current flowing through the switch unit and to generate a detection current that is in proportion to the current flowing through the switch unit. The detection current flows through a detection resistor to induce a detection voltage. A differential amplifier bases on a set voltage and the received detection voltage to generate an error voltage to a pulse width modulation controller, which in turn causes a gate driver circuit to control the switching operation of the switch unit thereby supplying a constant current to a load connected to an output voltage of the regulator. |
| US07652461B2 |
High efficiency power converter operating free of an audible frequency range
A DC-DC converter operates outside of an audible frequency range under light current load conditions with reduced switching frequency by reducing supply current and regulating output voltage. A control for the converter maintains the switching frequency above an audible frequency range and reduces supply current by modulating switch on-time, sinking supply current, or permitting negative supply current values. The output voltage of the converter is regulated by modulating switch on-time, clamping output voltage, or modifying feedback detector thresholds. The power converter operates with improved efficiency under light current load conditions, while avoiding operation in an audible frequency range to prevent the generation of audible noise in converter components. |
| US07652459B2 |
Adaptive controller with mode tracking and parametric estimation for digital power converters
A controller for a power stage may adaptively control power switches to improve the efficiency of power consumption by the power stage and detect continuous conduction mode (“CCM”) and discontinuous conduction mode (“DCM”) operations of the power stage without instantaneous or cycle by cycle sensing and sampling of the output inductor current. Additionally, the controller may be used to facilitate the estimation of output inductor value, the peak inductor current value, and other information on converter operations. |
| US07652458B2 |
Power converting apparatus, electronic apparatus comprising the same and power converting method
A power converting apparatus includes a power input part to which power is input; a power converting part converting the power input through the power input part; a converting current detecting part detecting a converting current of the power converted in the power converting part; a converting voltage detecting part detecting a converting voltage of the power converted in the power converting part; and a controlling part controlling the power converting part so that a value of power calculated by multiplication of the converting current detected in the converting current detecting part by the converting voltage detected in the converting voltage detecting part falls within a predetermined range of a preset reference value. |
| US07652455B2 |
Low-dropout voltage regulator with a voltage slew rate efficient transient response boost circuit
A low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator for generating an output voltage is disclosed. The voltage regulator includes a startup circuit, a curvature corrected bandgap circuit, an error amplifier, a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) pass device and a voltage slew rate efficient transient response boost circuit. The MOS pass device has a gate node which is coupled to the output of the error amplifier, and a drain node for generating the output voltage. The voltage slew rate efficient transient response boost circuit applies a voltage to the gate node of the MOS pass device to accelerate the response time of the error amplifier in enabling the LDO voltage regulator to reach its final regulated output voltage when an output voltage drop occurs in the LDO voltage regulator. |
| US07652454B2 |
Electronic equipment having a boost DC-DC converter
Provided is an electronic equipment including: a boost DC-DC converter and an electric power storage device, in which the electric power storage device is charged with a electric power outputted the DC-DC converter with efficiency, and in which stored electric power of the electric power storage device is not wastefully consumed even when supply of the electric power is stopped. The electronic equipment including the power supply, the boost DC-DC converter, a rectifier rectifying a pulse-like boosted electric power outputted the DC-DC converter to a second boosted electric power, and the electric power storage device for charging a first boosted electric power from the boost DC-DC converter, wherein an operation of the boost DC-DC converter is maintained by the second boosted electric power. |
| US07652453B2 |
Topology for a positive buck-boost switching regulator
A new topology for a buck-boost switching regulator is provided herein. Embodiments provide an efficient buck-boost switching regulator that provides a regulated output voltage from an unregulated input voltage. Embodiments include a buck-boost switching regulator topology, where the operating mode is determined separately from the pulse-width modulated (PWM) control signal. This topology, in one embodiment, provides a better transient response than typical buck-boost switching regulator topologies, where PWM control circuitry and operating mode circuitry are combined. Furthermore, embodiments provide a buck-boost switching regulator that allows for high efficiency when the output voltage is close to the input voltage. |
| US07652451B2 |
Charging control circuit
A primary cell and a secondary cell are distinguished from each other. A microcomputer of a digital camera determines a first cell (a primary cell) and a second cell (a secondary cell) as a built-in cell. When a dedicated charging device is connected to a digital camera, a microcomputer activates transistor switches to thus detect a terminal voltage of the second cell. When the terminal voltage shows a finite value, the second cell is determined to be incorporated. When the terminal voltage shows a value of essentially zero, the transistor switch is activated to thus apply a predetermined voltage. When a voltage drop attributable to a resistor has arisen, the second cell is determined to be overcharged. When both a terminal of the second cell and a terminal of the first cell show finite values, a short circuit is determined to have arisen. |
| US07652445B2 |
On-chip compensation for a fully differential voice coil motor control
A disk drive controller including a differential voice coil motor control function is disclosed. The differential voice coil motor control function includes an on-chip compensation network for the inner control loop, including a resistor formed of one or more MOS transistors connected in series. The gate of the MOS transistors in the compensation network is driven with a bias voltage based on a tuning current, where the tuning current is derived so that it varies with process and temperature variations of the integrated circuit, for example with variations in an on-chip capacitor. The on-chip compensation network can be tuned with sufficient precision to properly compensate the inner control loop to provide the desired frequency response in driving the voice coil motor in the disk drive. |