| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07661141B2 |
Systems and methods that optimize row level database security
The systems and methods of the present invention facilitate database row-level security by utilizing SQL extensions to create and associate named security expressions with a query initiator(s). Such expressions include Boolean expressions, which must be satisfied by a row of data in order for that data to be made accessible to the query initiator. In general, a query is augmented with security expressions, which are aggregated and utilized during querying rows of data. The systems and methods variously place security expressions within a query in order to optimize query performance while mitigating information leaks. This is achieved by tagging security expressions as special and utilizing rules of predicate to pull or push non-security expressions above or below security expressions, depending on the likelihood of a non-security being safe, as determined via a static and/or dynamic analysis. |
| US07661139B2 |
System and method for detecting invalid access to computer network
A method for detecting the invalid access to a computer network is disclosed. The method preferably operates in a computer network having computer servers operating on different operating systems and a plurality of computer devices. Each computer device is managed by a computer server at the operating system level. The computer network includes a plurality of information databases that contain information associated with the users and with the computer devices of the computer network. On each computer server, the method, system, and program generates a set of identifying files for each computer device managed by the computer server. All sets of identifying files from the plurality of computer servers are next gathered into a unique central violation database. Links are created between each set of identifying files and the plurality of information databases in order to determine a level of network access violation for each computer device. Violation messages for each computer device are generated based on the level of network access violation. |
| US07661137B2 |
Distributed computation in untrusted computing environments using distractive computational units
An apparatus, program product and method initiate the execution of distractive computational units along with the execution of other computational units on an untrusted computer to inhibit the reconstitution of a computation by an untrusted party. In particular, along with partitioning a particular computation into a plurality of computational units, one or more distractive computational units are generated and supplied to one or more resource providers for execution along with those of the partitioned computation. |
| US07661134B2 |
Apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture for securing computer networks
Apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture are claimed for securing, maintaining, monitoring and controlling computer networks and clients located therein by use of client hash code tables, which are stored on a server. Clients subsequently provide client state codes which are compared to the hash code tables to ensure only acceptable client modifications have taken place. In the event of unacceptable client modifications, mechanisms are used to notify appropriate resources. |
| US07661133B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, information processing system and recording medium
A member-store functional unit transfers the name of a member store and the title of a campaign to an ID-assigning functional unit which assigns IDs to the title of the campaign and the name of the member store. The ID-assigning functional unit then transmits the IDs to an encoding functional unit. A broadcasting functional unit broadcasts the IDs, encoded by the encoding functional unit, by multiplexing the IDs in an audio signal. A reception functional unit receives the IDs whereas a decoding functional unit extracts and decodes the IDs. The decoding functional unit then outputs the IDs to a customer-number-assigning functional unit with a receiver ID. The customer-number-assigning functional unit forms a judgment on validity of the member-store ID, the campaign ID and the receiver ID, and assigns a customer number to the receiver ID if the member-store ID, the campaign ID and the receiver ID are found valid. An anonymous-customer management functional unit sends the customer number to a member-store functional unit so as to make a request for a transmission of a service identified by the campaign ID to the reception functional unit by way of an anonymous-service management functional unit. |
| US07661132B2 |
Tag privacy protection method, tag device, backend apparatus, updater, update solicitor and record medium carrying such programs in storage
A tag device causes a second calculator to read a confidential value from a confidential value memory and to apply a second function F2 which disturbs a relationship between elements of a definition domain and a mapping thereof to generate tag output information. The tag device delivers the tag output information to a backend apparatus. Subsequently, a first calculator reads out at least part of elements of the confidential value from the confidential value memory, and applies a first function F1, an inverse image of which is difficult to obtain, and a result of such calculation is used to update a confidential value in the confidential value memory by overwriting. |
| US07661131B1 |
Authentication of tunneled connections
Systems and methods are described for authentication of tunneled connections. A method includes establishing a first connection (CIO) from an inner agent to an outer agent including making a first TCP connection from the inner agent to the outer agent, negotiating a first SSL/TLS session (SSLSessionIO) between the inner agent and the outer agent over the first TCP connection and applying the second SSL/TLS session (SSLSessionIO) between the inner agent and the outer agent over the first TCP connection; establishing a second connection (CCO) from a client and the outer agent including making a second TCP connection from the client to the outer agent, negotiating a second SSL/TLS session (SSLSessionCO) between the client and the outer agent over the second TCP connection and applying the second SSL/TLS session (SSLSessionCO) between the client and the outer agent over the second TCP connection; and then negotiating a third SSL/TLS session (SSLSessionCI) between the client and the inner agent via both the first SSL/TLS session (SSLSessionIO) and the second SSL/TLS session (SSLSessionCO) and applying the third SSL/TLS session (SSLSessionCI) between the client and the inner agent layered over both the first SSL/TLS session (SSLSessionIO) and the second SSL/TLS session (SSLSessionCO), wherein negotiating the second SSL/TLS session (SSLSessionCO) includes verifying at the outer agent that the client possesses a certificate signed with a certificate associated with the inner agent. |
| US07661129B2 |
Secure traversal of network components
A method and apparatus for authenticating a client to a content server. A ticket authority generates a ticket associated with the client. The ticket comprises a first ticket and a second ticket. The ticket authority transmits the first ticket to the client and the client uses the first ticket to establish a communication session with an content server proxy. The ticket authority then transmits a second ticket to the content server proxy and the content server proxy uses the second ticket to establish a communication session with the content server. |
| US07661120B2 |
Automated transport stream apparatus and method
A mapping processor is configured to receive a current PAT from the input data stream, and to compare input program numbers in the current PAT to known program numbers in the stored format table. If the input program numbers in the current PAT are the same as the input program numbers in the stored format table, then another data stream is output having output program numbers from the stored format table. If the input program numbers in the current PAT are not the same as the input program numbers in the stored format table, then another data stream is output having reassigned output program numbers. The reassigned output program numbers may be from another stored format table in the memory, if the other stored format table has input program numbers that match the input program numbers in the current PAT. If not the reassigned output program numbers may be newly generated. |
| US07661116B2 |
Auction for targeted content
Displaying personalized content to content observers by content providers (e.g., advertisers) who disseminate content over a network is disclosed. In particular, enabling the display of targeted content to television viewers is disclosed. Identification of the content observer(s) observing a content display device at a particular time (and/or identification of the content display site) is made, and targeted content for display is selected based on a determination of content appropriate for display to those content observer(s) in accordance with a criterion based on the identity and/or a characteristic of the content observer(s) (and/or the content display site). The attention of each content observer can be sold to the content provider that places the highest value on that content observer's attention. In particular, the value paid by content providers over time can be maximized. |
| US07661112B2 |
Methods and apparatus for managing a buffer of events in the background
A background event buffer manager (BEBM) for ordering and accounting for events in a data processing system having a processor includes a port for receiving event identifications (IDs) from a device, a queuing function enabled for queuing event IDs received, and a notification function for notifying the processor of queued event IDs. The BEBM handles all event ordering and accounting for the processor. The BEBM in preferred embodiments queues events by type with priority and by priority within type, and also handles sending acknowledgement to the device when processing on each event is concluded, and buffers the acknowledgement process. In particular embodiments the apparatus and method is taught as a packet processing router engine. |
| US07661111B2 |
Method for assuring event record integrity
A method for assuring event record integrity including registering at least one callback function, the callback function being associated with a first callback function identifier, receiving an event having a second callback function identifier, identifying the callback function based on matching the second callback function identifier to the first callback function identifier, and calling the identified registered callback function to validate authenticity of the event. |
| US07661104B2 |
Task following between multiple operating systems
A processor may utilise two operating systems (Non-Secure, Secure) between which calls may be made. In order that a second operating system can track task switches made by a first operating system, each time a call is made to the second operating system, this call includes an identifier to enable discrimination between the task which was executing on the first operating system when that call was made. The identifier can be a call identifier and/or a target thread identifier and may include further parameters. |
| US07661103B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for decentralized data conversion
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for decentralized data conversion. The present invention includes providing a server configured to be accessible over the Internet and receiving a payment from a user through a payment gateway module, the gateway module operated by the server. Additionally, the invention includes receiving a data source over the Internet into the server, transforming data in the data source to create converted data adapted to a target, the transformation directed by one or more integration objects configured to perform conversion steps, the integration objects in a hierarchical structure defining an order of execution, the transformation controlled by the server, and returning the transformed data over the Internet from the server. The present invention allows customers who would otherwise be unable to access powerful data conversion tools to convert data at a reasonable cost. |
| US07661100B2 |
Method and system for determining total code execution time in a data processor
A method and a processing system for a communications network, including receiving a program code including multiple instructions for the communications network dividing the program into multiple sequences, defining multiple relocation objects, each corresponding to a dependency relationship between two or more of the sequences, and allocating the sequences to a processor instruction memory. |
| US07661099B2 |
Using idempotent operations to improve transaction performance
A method for optimizing a transaction consisting of an initial sequence of computer operations, the method including identifying one or more idempotent operations in the initial sequence. The method further includes reordering the initial sequence to form a reordered sequence consisting of a first sub-sequence of the computer operations followed by a second sub-sequence of the computer operations. The second sub-sequence has only the one or more idempotent operations. |
| US07661090B2 |
Task generation runtime engine
A system and method for automating the generation and execution of sequences of manual operations, using a structured process and grammar, suitable for implementation in systems integration. The method of the invention allows manual operations to be defined by local or remote subject matter experts (SMEs), using a Manual Operations Grammar, with the system allowing the definition of methods for validating measurements, reporting, and optimizing a set of one or more operations and/or processes. As part of the system, generated scripts can automate a plurality of manual tasks, operation and/or process steps, and a plurality of automated tasks, operation and/or process steps. |
| US07661082B1 |
System and method for abstraction refinement verification
An apparatus and methods for the verification of digital design descriptions are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method of verifying a property in a digital design description is provided. The method includes deriving an abstraction of the digital design description, determining a counterexample by an approximate reachable state computation, justifying the counterexample, determining a justification frontier, updating the abstraction from the justification frontier, and producing a verification result for the digital design description. One feature of this embodiment is that it provides for efficient digital circuit verification. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims. |
| US07661081B2 |
Content based yield prediction of VLSI designs
An integrated circuit system and program product for predicting yield of a VLSI design. An integrated circuit system is provided including a system for identifying and grouping sub-circuits contained within an integrated circuit design by circuit type; a critical area calculation system for determining critical area values for different regions, wherein each different region is associated with a circuit type; a tallying system for calculating a plurality of tallies of critical area values based on circuit type; and a plurality of modeling subsystems for separately modeling each of the plurality of tallies based on circuit type. |
| US07661079B2 |
Designing and operating of semiconductor integrated circuit by taking into account process variation
A method of designing a semiconductor integrated circuit includes defining a tolerable range in which an operating temperature and an operating power supply voltage of a semiconductor integrated circuit are allowed to vary, computing a target temperature and a target power supply voltage that cancel variation in circuit characteristics caused by process variation of the semiconductor integrated circuit, separately for each circuit characteristic responsive to the process variation, and designing the semiconductor integrated circuit such that the semiconductor integrated circuit properly operates with any temperature and power supply voltage within the tolerable range based on an assumption that the semiconductor integrated circuit is to operate within the tolerable range centered substantially at the target temperature and target power supply voltage. |
| US07661077B2 |
Structure for imagers having electrically active optical elements
A design structure embodied in a machine readable medium for use in a design process, the design structure representing a CMOS image sensor device comprising an array of active pixel cells. Each active pixel cell includes a substrate; a photosensing device formed at or below a substrate surface for collecting charge carriers in response to incident light; and, one or more light transmissive conductive wire structures formed above the photosensing device, the one or more conductive wire structures being located in an optical path above the photosensing device. The formed light transmissive conductive wire structures provide both an electrical and optical functions. An optical function is provided by tailoring the thickness of the conductive wire layer to filter light according to a pixel color scheme. Alternately, the light transmissive conductive wire structures may be formed as a microlens structure providing a light focusing function. Electrical functions for the conductive wire layer include use as a capacitor plate, as a resistor or as an interconnect. |
| US07661074B2 |
Keyboard accelerator
Improved keyboard accelerators are provided for executing functionalities of a software application utilizing text-based and non text-based buttons or controls. Upon selection of a prescribed keyboard accelerator initiation key, for example, the “Alt” key, a keyboard accelerator key tip in the form of a small window is displayed over the functionality buttons or controls displayed in a deployed user interface. Each key tip is labeled with one or more text characters for informing a user as to a secondary keyboard selection that must be made to execute the associated functionality. |
| US07661073B2 |
User interface of a machine tool
A user interface of a machine tool includes a display that is divided into at least a first display region and a second display region. The first display region permanently displays a main menu, and the main menu includes a menu bar that provides a selection of different main modes of the user interface. Each main mode is associated with a main window that is opened in the second display region when a main mode is selected in the main menu. At least one of the main windows includes a permanently displayed submenu that provides selection of different submodes, with each submode being associated with a subwindow that is opened when an associated submode is selected. One or more of the main windows and the subwindows include input fields. The user interface also includes an input unit for selecting the individual modes and for processing the input fields provided in a window. The display permanently displays which one of the main modes is selected. |
| US07661065B2 |
Systems and methods that facilitate improved display of electronic documents
A computer-implemented word processing system comprises an interface component that receives a features vector associated with an electronic document. An analysis component communicatively coupled to the interface component analyzes the features vector and determines a viewing mode in which to display the electronic document. In accordance with one aspect of the subject invention, the viewing mode can be one of a conventional viewing mode and a viewing mode associated with enhanced readability. |
| US07661055B2 |
Partial-parallel implementation of LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) decoders
Partial-parallel implementation of LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) decoder. A novel approach is presented by which a selected number of cycles is performed during each of bit node processing and check node processing when performing error correction decoding of an LDPC coded signal. The number of cycles of each of bit node processing and check node processing need not be the same. At least one functional block, component, portion of hardware, or calculation can be used during both of the bit node processing and check node processing thereby conserving space with an efficient use of processing resources. At a minimum, a semi-parallel approach can be performed where 2 cycles are performed during each of bit node processing and check node processing. Alternatively, more than 2 cycles can be performed for each of bit node processing and check node processing. |
| US07661052B2 |
Using statistical signatures for testing high-speed circuits
A method and system for testing a high-speed circuit is disclosed. The method and system include obtaining a high-speed statistical signature of the high-speed circuit using a conventional tester. The method and system further include comparing the high-speed statistical signature of the high-speed circuit to an expected signature. Consequently, it can be determined whether the high-speed circuit functions within the desired parameters. |
| US07661048B2 |
Apparatus and method for embedded boundary scan testing
Embedded boundary scan testing apparatus and methodologies are disclosed for testing processor-based circuit boards without processor intervention. A boundary scan controller is embedded in a circuit board along with a boundary scan chain having JTAG devices connected with an electrical circuit of the board. Upon power up, the boundary scan controller holds an on-board processor system in reset, loads boundary scan test vectors and commands from an on-board non-volatile memory, and runs boundary scan testing while holding the processor system in the reset state. The boundary scan controller preferably includes a test access port controller that implements only a subset of the JTAG standard 16 machine states to optimize performance and minimize controller hardware. The test results may be stored in an externally accessible on-board memory for subsequent retrieval in order to facilitate board troubleshooting and/or repair, where the provision of on-board boundary scan testing allows testing of boards while installed in the field, and the embedded scan controller allows field testing of on-board processor systems and related circuitry to enhance the test coverage over processor-driven boundary scan testing. |
| US07661045B2 |
Method and system for enterprise memory management of memory modules
A method and system for enterprise memory management of memory modules of a computer system. The method includes scanning memory chips of a memory module for errors, analyzing a scrub error map corresponding to a scrubbing operation of the memory module, generating a scrub map summary based upon the scrub error map analyzed, creating an error history map by adding the scrub map summary generated, analyzing the error history map created and tracking a chip location for each memory chip of the memory module including errors, and determining a scrubbing algorithm of the memory module based on the analyzed error history map. The enterprise memory management system includes a plurality of computers each including memory modules, and an enterprise memory manager which collects and analyzes error history maps corresponding to each computer and determines a scrubbing algorithm of the memory modules of each computer. |
| US07661042B2 |
Low-power content-addressable-memory device
A plurality of content-addressable-memory sub-arrays simultaneously performs a parallel comparison between data sequences arranged in a row direction of memory cells and a search data sequence input from outside, and outputs a result of the comparison for each data sequence. A first input pin receives an input of the search data sequence. A second input pin receives an input of a search data sequence arbitrarily designating a content-addressable-memory sub-array. Each of the content-addressable-memory sub-arrays includes an activation control unit that controls activation of the content-addressable-memory sub-arrays based on the search data sequence. |
| US07661037B2 |
LDPC concatenation rules for IEEE 802.11n systems
Improved LDPC code structure and concatenation rules for IEEE 802.11n systems, providing two code sets per rate, one longer codeword and one shorter codeword. The longer codeword length is determined by the system parameters, while the shorter codeword length is ⅓ of the longer codeword length. A LDPC concatenation rule is provided, wherein a maximum of one extra OFDM symbol is added in padding in order to reduce the code set granularity. In order to provide improved code performance, more bits are shortened compared with puncturing, by transmitting the extra OFDM symbol. Further, all the required puncturing and shortening bits are distributed across all codewords. This scheme provides a preferred tradeoff between code complexity and over-the-air efficiency. |
| US07661036B1 |
Cache for collecting events on a monitored computer
Embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, software and data structures for monitoring, analyzing, storing and/or collecting events on a monitored computer. In a set of embodiments, a monitoring process monitors one or more applications for events occurring in those application. The monitoring process, in some cases, runs in common a thread of execution with one or more of the applications. If the monitoring process detects an event, it might notify an event capture process, which might capture the event. In some embodiments, an analysis process might determine whether the event should be collected, and if so, maintain a representation of the event (perhaps in a specialized data structure). In other embodiments, a data management process is configured to store information about one or more events in an event cache, which might comprise a plurality of file streams and/or metafile streams, enabling efficient storage of information about events. |
| US07661035B2 |
Method and system for instruction tracing with enhanced interrupt avoidance
A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product is presented for tracing operations. A set of related methodologies can be used within instruction tracing software, such as a tracing program, to reduce its tendency to generate interrupts that cause unwanted effects in the system that is being captured. A first methodology allows access to protected memory blocks so that instructions may be read from those memory blocks. A second methodology provides for the trace output buffer to be accessed using physical addressing. A third methodology traces only instruction addresses, which are resolved later during a post-processing phase of operation. A fourth methodology comprises multiple different methods for obtaining copies of instructions that have already executed rather than obtaining them before they are executed. |
| US07661027B2 |
SIP server architecture fault tolerance and failover
The SIP server can be comprised of an engine tier and a state tier distributed on a cluster network. Engine nodes in the engine tier can process SIP messages and can read/write state information from/to the state tier. State tier can maintain state information in a set of partitions of one or more replicas which contain duplicate information. The engine nodes can be adapted to detect and report replica failures and the replicas can in turn be adapted to detect and report engine node failures. Replicas can detect faults with an engine node if the engine node fails to poll the replica for a specified period of time and can then report the failure. The engine node can detect failures of a replica when reading or writing state information and can report the failure to another replica, which can be responsible for updating the partition view to exclude dead replicas. |
| US07661026B2 |
Access by distributed computers to a same hardware resource
A computer system and method for allowing either a primary computer or a backup computer to access a hardware resource, depending on which computer is executing an application that needs the hardware resource. A switch is connected to the hardware resource, the primary computer and the backup computer such that in one state, the switch connects the hardware resource to the primary computer, and in another state, the switch connects the hardware resource to the backup computer. Initially, the primary computer executes the application using the hardware resource. However, when the primary computer ceases to execute the application, the switch connects the hardware resource to the backup computer, and the backup computer executes the application or copy thereof using the hardware resource. |
| US07661024B2 |
Bus terminator/monitor/bridge systems and methods
Computing systems including first and second processors configured to control first and second buses, respectively, and a terminator-monitor-bridge (TMB) device coupled between the first and second buses are provided. The TMB device is configured to selectively enable the first processor and the second processor to control at least a portion of the second bus and the first bus, respectively. TMB devices and methods for operating the TMB devices in accordance with the above configuration are also provided. |
| US07661021B2 |
Method for defect management in rewritable optical storage media
A method for defect management of a rewritable optical disc is provided. The rewritable optical disc has a data area comprises recording units for storing a target data and a replacement area comprising first replacement units for replacing defective recording units of the data area. First, a fragmented status of the target data is calculated, wherein the fragmented status reflects a dispersion level of the first replacement units in view of a distribution of the defective recording units. The fragmented status is then compared with a threshold value to determine whether to perform a defragment operation about the target data. Finally, the defragment operation about the target data is performed by rearranging the first replacement units in accordance with the sequence of the defective recording units. |
| US07661016B2 |
Method for a checkpoint library to detect corruption by an application
A method of identifying the source of a memory corruption error during operation of a checkpoint library includes receiving an error detection request and, in response to the request, write protecting all memory regions allocated to a checkpoint library. The method further includes detecting when a memory region is accessed for modification during operation of the checkpoint library and, in response to the detection, identifying the source of a memory corruption error affecting the memory region. |
| US07661008B2 |
Real time clock circuit having an internal clock generator
Under the present invention a real time clock circuit, within a set-top box, is provided with an internal clock generator for generating multiple clock signals. Once generated, a first clock signal is divided into an initial set of values representing time and optionally day/date intervals, and then communicated to a set of clock registers. The initial set of values can then be communicated (directly or via a set of DCR registers) to a display component within the set-top box. Updated clock signals are received by the set of DCR registers from an external source such as a satellite or the like thus making the clock very accurate, and are communicated to the display component. Similar to the initial set of values, the updated set of values could be communicated to the display component directly from the set of DCR registers, or via the set of clock registers. |
| US07661006B2 |
Method and apparatus for self-healing symmetric multi-processor system interconnects
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing symmetric multiprocessor interconnects. The process identifies functional communication connections between each processor in a plurality of processors on a multiprocessor to form identified functional communication connections. The process maps every functional communication connection between any two processors in the plurality of processors, based on the identified functional communication connections, to form an interconnect matrix. The process creates a path map using the interconnect matrix. The path map comprises a sequence of communication connections between the plurality of processors. The process initializes the plurality of processors using the path map. |
| US07661005B2 |
Individual storage device power control in a multi-device array
Method and apparatus for controllably applying input power to storage devices in a multi-device array. The array preferably includes a circuit which changes input power state of the storage devices in a time-staggered sequence. Preferably, the change of input power state transitions the array from an operationally deactivated state to an operationally activated state, or vice versa. The storage devices preferably store data in accordance with a selected RAID configuration. A power supply preferably supplies respective first and second direct current (dc) voltages to each of the storage devices, and the circuit respectively connects the dc voltages to the storage devices in a selected sequential order. The circuit further preferably changes an input power state of a single storage device of the array in accordance with a selected time-varying profile. The profile is preferably applied to a gate of a switching device to control a source-drain conduction path. |
| US07661000B2 |
Information processing device, information recording medium and information processing method, and computer program
A configuration is provided which improves scrambling processing of content and eliminates unauthorized use of content. Scramble rules which differ for each content are used for content scrambling processing. For example, in the event of using shuffling processing, various shuffle states are specified as scramble rules. In the event of using Exclusive-OR processing, a value applicable to EXOR is specified as the scramble rule. Also, in the event of using rotation processing, a shift amount is specified as the scramble rule. In the event of using 32 shuffle elements in shuffling processing, 32! different shuffle states, that is to say, 32! different scramble rules can be specified. Also, the values for EXOR or the rotation shift amount can be set as various values, and many scramble rules can be set. |
| US07660999B2 |
MIME handling security enforcement
A model restricts un-trusted data/objects from running on a user's machine without permission. The data is received by a protocol layer that reports a MIME type associated with the DATA, and caches the data and related cache file name (CFN). A MIME sniffer is arranged to identify a sniffed MIME type based on the cached data, the CFN, and the reported MIME type. Reconciliation logic evaluates the sniffed MIME type and the CFN to determine a reconciled MIME type, and to update the CFN. A class ID sniffer evaluates the updated CFN, the cached data, and the reconciled MIME type to determine an appropriate class ID. Security logic evaluates the updated CFN, the reported class ID, and other related system parameters to build a security matrix. Parameters from the security matrix are used to intercept data/objects before an un-trusted data/object can create a security breach on the machine. |
| US07660998B2 |
Relatively unique ID in integrated circuit
A method of manufacturing a series of integrated circuits having related functionality, the method including the steps of: (a) determining an identifier; (b) permanently storing the identifier on one of the integrated circuits; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for each integrated circuit in the series; and wherein the identifiers for the series are determined in such a way that knowing the identifier of one of the integrated circuits does not improve the ability of an attacker to determine the identifier of any of the other integrated circuits. |
| US07660997B2 |
Using biometrics on pervasive devices for mobile identification
A method, system, and computer program product for using biometrics on pervasive devices for purposes of mobile identification. A biometric device of the prior art is attached to, or incorporated within, a pervasive device. This augmented pervasive device may then be used for capturing biometric information from an arbitrary third party in an arbitrary location. The captured information is analyzed to determine the third party's identification, access rights, etc. as needed by a particular application. This solution capitalizes on the portability and functionality of the pervasive device, as well as its built-in communication capability, to provide an extremely flexible, powerful biometric identification technique at relatively low cost. |
| US07660994B2 |
Access control
An administration entity controls access to an electronic device by generating credentials and a plurality of corresponding proofs, wherein no valid proofs are determinable given only the credentials and values for expired proofs. The electronic device receives the credentials and, if access is authorized at a particular time, the electronic device receives a proof corresponding to the particular time and confirms the proof using the credentials. A single administration entity may generate the credentials and generate the proofs and/or there may be a first administration entity that generates the credentials and other administration entities that generate proofs. The credentials may be a digital certificate that includes a final value that is a result of applying a one way function to a first one of the proofs. |
| US07660990B1 |
Method for establishing a secure Ad Hoc wireless LAN
Secure communications on a network. An unauthenticated client on an network sends start packets to locate other clients. The unauthenticated client receives responses to the start packets from other clients on the network. The responses may be advertise packets that are from advertising clients that may be authenticated clients or other unauthenticated clients in authenticated mode. The unauthenticated client prioritizes the received packets so that authentication can be performed with the most desirable advertising client. Authentication packets are sent and received between the unauthenticated client and the advertising client in an attempt to authenticate. |
| US07660984B1 |
Method and system for achieving individualized protected space in an operating system
Aspects for achieving individualized protected space in an operating system are provided. The aspects include performing on demand hardware instantiation via an ACE (an adaptive computing engine), and utilizing the hardware for monitoring predetermined software programming to protect an operating system. |
| US07660982B1 |
Subscription broadcast security system
A subscription broadcast security system for preventing theft of an encrypted program datastream utilizes an encryption protocol with steganographic supplementation. A decoder includes a decryption chip containing numerous decryption codes and an ID chip having a continually changing unique identification code for authenticating subscriber access. The ID chip and the decryption chip each receive decoding instructions through a combination of hidden data in the audio signal and from service provider communication directly with the ID chip. |
| US07660980B2 |
Establishing secure TCP/IP communications using embedded IDs
Methods and systems for establishing secure TCP/IP communications for individual network connections include the steps of intercepting a conventional TCP SYN packet prior to transmission from a source node to a destination node, embedding unique identifiers into standard fields of the packet header, wherein the unique identifiers are associated with the specific connection attempt and wherein the unique identifiers identify the user account and/or the computer hardware initiating the communication attempt, then forwarding the modified TCP SYN packet to the destination node and intercepting the modified TCP SYN packet prior to arrival, determining whether secure communications are required based on the unique identifiers extracted from the packet headers, based on other TCP/IP information, and based on predefined rules associated with the same. If secure communications are required, such requirement is communicated within either an RST or a SYN-ACK back to the source node. |
| US07660979B2 |
Multi-mode computer systems and operating methods thereof
Multi-mode computer systems and operating methods thereof. The computer system comprises a storage device and a boot program. The storage device includes a single disk partition comprising a first operating system corresponding to PC mode, and a second OS image and a file system image corresponding to media mode. If an instruction for PC mode is received, the boot program loads the first OS on the computer system, enabling the computer system to operate in PC mode. If an instruction for media mode is received, the boot program starts the computer system according to the second OS image and the file system image, enabling the computer system to operate in media mode. |
| US07660975B2 |
Electronic apparatus and control method thereof
An electronic apparatus wherein an abnormal control routine of the control unit can be prevented, or an abnormal control routine that has been started by the control unit can be rapidly halted is provided. An electronic apparatus having a control unit, peripheral circuits whose operations are controlled by the control unit, and a rechargeable battery for feeding operation power to the control unit and the peripheral circuits, wherein an initialization signal RT4 is continuously output to the control unit during a period of time (during time t1 to t4) that the voltage fed to the control unit is equal to or less than the voltage V1 for assured operation of the control unit, and is equal to or greater than the start voltage VX for starting the operation of the control unit. |
| US07660973B2 |
System and apparatus for group data operations
Systems and apparatuses are presented relating a programmable processor comprising an execution unit that is operable to decode and execute instructions received from an instruction path and partition data stored in registers in the register file into multiple data elements, the execution unit capable of executing a plurality of different group floating-point and group integer arithmetic operations that each arithmetically operates on multiple data elements stored registers in a register file to produce a catenated result that is returned to a register in the register file, wherein the catenated result comprises a plurality of individual results, wherein the execution unit is capable of executing group data handling operations that re-arrange data elements in different ways in response to data handling instructions. |
| US07660972B2 |
Method and software for partitioned floating-point multiply-add operation
A method and software for improving the performance of processors by incorporating an execution unit operable to decode and execute single instructions specifying three registers each containing a plurality of data elements, the execution unit operable to multiply the first and second registers and add the third register to produce a catenated result containing a plurality of data elements. Additional instructions provide group floating-point subtract, add, multiply, set less, and set greater equal operations. The set less and set greater equal operations produce alternatively zero or an identity element for each element of a catenated result, the result facilitating alternative selection of individual data elements using bitwise Boolean operations and without requiring conditional branch operations. |
| US07660971B2 |
Method and system for dependency tracking and flush recovery for an out-of-order microprocessor
A method for dependency tracking and flush recovery for an out-of-order processor includes recording, in a last definition (DEF) data structure, an identifier of a first instruction as the most recent instruction in an instruction sequence that defines contents of the particular logical register and recording, in a next DEF data structure, the identifier of the first instruction in association with an identifier of a previous second instruction also indicating an update to the particular logical register. In addition, a recovery array is updated to indicate which of the instructions in the instruction sequence updates each of the plurality of logical registers. In response to misspeculation during execution of the instruction sequence, the processor performs a recovery operation to place the identifier of the second instruction in the last DEF data structure by reference to the next DEF data structure and the recovery array. |
| US07660970B2 |
Register allocation method and system for program compiling
Disclosed is a data processing system and method. The data processing method determines the number of static registers and the number of rotating registers for assigning a register to a variable contained in a certain program, assigns the register to the variable based on the number of the static registers and the number of the rotating registers, and compiles the program. Further, the method stores in the special register a value corresponding to the number of the rotating registers in the compiling operation, and obtains a physical address from a logical address of the register based on the value. Accordingly, the present invention provides an aspect of efficiently using register files by dynamically controlling the number of rotating registers and the number of static registers for a software pipelined loop, and has an effect capable of reducing the generations of spill/fill codes unnecessary during program execution to a minimum. |
| US07660969B2 |
Multithreading instruction scheduler employing thread group priorities
A concurrent instruction dispatch apparatus includes a group indicator for each of a plurality of threads that indicates which one of a plurality of groups of the threads the thread belongs to. A group priority indicator for each group indicates an instruction dispatch priority relative to the other groups. Selection logic selects a thread for dispatching an instruction thereof based on the group and group priority indicators. A bifurcated scheduler includes first scheduler logic that issues instructions of the threads to an execution unit, second scheduler logic that enforces a thread scheduling policy, and an interface. A group indicator indicates which group each thread belongs to, a priority for each group, and execution information for each thread. The first scheduler logic issues the instructions based on the group priorities and group indicators, and the second scheduler logic updates the group indicators based on the instruction execution information. |
| US07660968B2 |
Reconfigurable interface for coupling functional input/output blocks to limited number of I/O pins
A reconfigurable processor includes a processor core for operating on a set of instructions to carry out predefined processes and includes a plurality of input/output pins in addition to a plurality of functional input/output blocks. These functional blocks allow the processing core to interface with the plurality of input/output pins, each of the functional input/output blocks having an associated and predetermined functionality. This functionality comprises the output as a function of the input, the function defined by the functionality. Each of the functional input/output blocks has a requirement for a defined number of the plurality of input/output pins wherein the total of the defined number for all of the plurality of functional input/output blocks exceeds the number of the plurality of input/output pins and wherein the processor core is interfaced with one of the input or output of each of the functional blocks. A reconfigurable interface selectively interfaces between the other of the input or output of the functional blocks and a select one or ones of the plurality of input/output pins, such that the processor core can be interfaced with the select one or ones of the input/output pins. The reconfigurable interface is operable to define how each of the plurality of input/output pins interfaces with the select ones of the plurality of functional blocks and the associated functionality in accordance with configuration information. A non-volatile memory is provided for storing information for use in association with the configuration information, such that the stored information can be altered. |
| US07660962B2 |
Use of memory compression algorithm to assess efficiency of memory usage
A method of monitoring runtime memory usage by a program. The method can include retrieving data from a first region of virtual memory that has been allocated to the program and compressing the data. A data compression rate can be measured. The method further can include generating a notification comprising notification data indicating that the first region of memory was not efficiently used by the program during execution when the data compression exceeds a threshold value or the data compression rate exceeds a statistical value determined from an application's memory usage. |
| US07660959B2 |
Managing encryption for volumes in storage pools
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for managing encryption for volumes in storage pools. At least one storage pool is defined in a database, wherein storage pools are defined to include a plurality of data volumes, wherein each volume is included in at least one storage media. An encryption status is indicated for storage pools indicating whether encryption is enabled for the storage pool. An encryption key is provided for volumes included in storage pools for which encryption is indicated as enabled. The encryption keys for volumes included in the storage pools for which encryption is enabled are stored. The database associates the encryption keys with the volumes and the volumes with the storage pools. |
| US07660951B2 |
Atomic read/write support in a multi-module memory configuration
Efficient transfer of data to and from random access memory is described. Multiple request sources and a memory system comprise memory modules having memory banks, each bank containing rows of data. The retrieval comprises transferring all data pursuant to a given request by one source before any data is transferred pursuant to a subsequent request from said second source. This retrieval is achieved using a memory arbiter that implements an algorithm for atomic read/write. Each bank is assigned a FIFO buffer by the arbiter to store access requests. The access requests are arbitrated, and an encoded value of a winner of arbitration is loaded into the relevant FIFO buffer(s) before choosing the next winner. When an encoded value reaches the head of the buffer, all associated data is accessed in the given bank before accessing data for another request source. |
| US07660950B2 |
Output cache manager
A web page is generated by locating an area in a website to place the page and selecting a template for the page. An output cache manager allows a user to attach a cache profile in the form of metadata to the template and the area in the website. The output cache manager uses the metadata to identify the cache profile that is associated with the web page when the page is rendered. The cache profile identifies the page output directive caching parameters that are associated with a web page when the page is rendered. A cache profile may be inherited by web pages that are dependent on the site in which the page resides such that a previously established cache profile is overridden. The cache profile may be created and modified by any authorized user. Any modification to the cache profile may be applied to all web pages that are associated with the cache profile. |
| US07660946B2 |
Storage control system and storage control method
Provided is a storage control system in which a number of storage controllers are connected, and restored data is forwarded from one storage controller to the other storage controller. This storage control system is configured by a first storage controller and a second storage controller being connected in a mutually communicable manner, and which performs data processing according to a request from a host system, the first storage controller having a virtual volume associated with a logical volume of the second storage controller; a cache memory associated with the virtual volume; and a control unit for controlling the data processing between the cache memory and the virtual volume; wherein the control unit purges the storage area of the cache memory corresponding to the virtual volume accessed by the host system upon storing the restored data of the logical volume in the cache memory. |
| US07660940B2 |
Carrier having daisy chain of self timed memory chips
A carrier having at least one self timed memory chip in a daisy chain of memory chips. A first carrier has at least a portion of a daisy chain of memory chips attached to the first carrier. An address/command bus input on the first carrier carries an address/command word to a first memory chip in the daisy chain of memory chips. If the first memory chip determines that the address/command word is not directed to the first memory chip, the first memory chip re-drives the address/command word to a second memory chip in the daisy chain of memory chips using a point to point address/command bus link. If there are no more memory chips on the first carrier, the address/command word is re-driven to an address/command bus off-carrier connector. An array on a memory chip has an access time dynamically determined by how fast the array can be accessed. |
| US07660938B1 |
Flash card reader and data exchanger utilizing low power extended USB protocol without polling
A portable universal serial bus (USB) data exchanger device is described herein. In one embodiment, the portable USB data exchanger includes at least one flash memory chip having a multi-level cell (MLC) memory array, a flash memory controller coupled to the at least one flash memory chip, the flash memory controller having a USB on-the-go (OTG) capability and controlling reading and writing of the flash memory chip, a first extended USB (EUSB) connector coupled to the flash memory controller to be coupled to a host, and a second EUSB connector coupled to the flash memory controller to be coupled to a slave USB device. The Portable USB data exchanger can communicate with either a host or a slave USB device without polling. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
| US07660932B2 |
Composing on-chip interconnects with configurable interfaces
Embodiments of apparatuses, systems, and methods are described for a machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a machine, to cause the machine to generate a representation of an apparatus. The apparatus includes a bridge agent, a first interconnect, and a second interconnect. The bridge agent is configured by bridge control signals to control transmission of a communication between the first interconnect and the second interconnect. The representation may be a sequence of instructions written in a programming language to mimic in a computer simulation environment attributes derived from a projected fabricated hardware instance of the apparatus. |
| US07660931B2 |
System on a chip for networking
A system on a chip for network devices. In one implementation, the system on a chip may include (integrated onto a single integrated circuit), a processor and one or more I/O devices for networking applications. For example, the I/O devices may include one or more network interface circuits for coupling to a network interface. In one embodiment, coherency may be enforced within the boundaries of the system on a chip but not enforced outside of the boundaries. |
| US07660929B2 |
Connector interface system for a multi-communication device
A connector interface system for a communication device is disclosed. The interface includes a docking connector. The docking connector includes first make/last break contacts that minimize internal damage to the internal electronics. The docking connector also includes specific keying arrangement to prevent noncompliant connectors from being plugged in, and thereby minimizes potential damage to the multi-communication device. The connector interface system also includes a remote connector which provides for the ability to output audio, input audio, provides I/O serial protocol, and to provide an output video. Embodiments of the present invention allow for a standard headphone cable to be plugged in but also for special remote control cables, microphone cables, video cables could be utilized in such a system. The connector interface system also includes a serial protocol to control device features. These controls help a user sort and search for data more efficiently within the device. |
| US07660925B2 |
Balancing PCI-express bandwidth
Mechanisms for balancing bus bandwidth across a plurality of PCI-Express (PCIe) endpoints are provided. Firmware automatically operates in concert with established data structures to set operational parameters of the PCIe endpoints so as to maximize usage of the available bandwidth of a front-side bus while minimizing isochronous issues and the likelihood that the performance of the PCIe endpoints cannot be guaranteed. A first table data structure comprises various combinations of operational parameter settings for controlling bandwidth usage of each of the endpoints of the data processing system. A second table data structure contains a listing of the endpoints that the data processing system supports with their associated minimum data rates, priorities, and whether the endpoints have isochronous requirements. A setting of the desired bandwidth balancing level is used along with these data structures to determine how to adjust the operating parameters of the PCIe endpoints. |
| US07660920B2 |
Multi-rate optimized connection between industrial control scanner and industrial controller
An industrial controller may communicate with a number of input/output (I/O) modules using an optimized connection packet assembled by a scanner communicating directly with the I/O modules and forwarding the optimized connection packet to the industrial processor. The optimized connection packet is communicated over a connection as part of a connected messaging system used to ensure highly reliable network communication. The need for higher data rates for some I/O modules as part of the optimized connection packet may be accommodated through the opening of a second redundant connection that provides the high-data-rate data in an interleaving fashion with the optimized connection packet, without upsetting the optimized connection packet or changing the use of the data by the industrial control program. |
| US07660917B2 |
System and method of implementing multiple internal virtual channels based on a single external virtual channel
A method, system, and computer-usable medium for coupling a collection of devices to a bridge, wherein the collection of devices includes high-performance devices and low-performance devices, coupling a data bus to the bridge, utilizing a collection of transfer credits to allow transfer of commands to the collection of devices, transferring commands to the collection of devices only when at least one transfer credit is available, and in response to determining a number of transfer credits falls below a predetermined threshold, utilizing a command arbitration scheme that gives priority to commands to the high-performance devices among the collection of devices. |
| US07660912B2 |
I/O adapter LPAR isolation in a hypertransport environment
Disclosed are a data processing system and a method of isolating a plurality of input/output adapter units of that system. The data processing system comprises, in addition to the input/output adapter units, a set of processors, a host bridge, and a system bus connecting the set of processors and the host bridge. Each of the input/output adapter units has a respective identifier; and the set of processors send commands to the host bridge, said commands including one or more of the identifiers of the input/output adapter units. In the preferred embodiment, these identifiers are HyperTransport defined Unit IDs, and the commands issued by the set of processors include a Unit ID field including one or more of the Unit IDs of input/output adapters. |
| US07660910B2 |
Secure communication port redirector
A method and system that allows a host system application to securely communicate with a legacy device is provided. A redirector software module receives data that is destined for a host system serial COM port. Data is secured and re-directed to a legacy device via a network port instead of the serial COM port. Conversely, data destined for the host system is provided to a device server via a server COM port by the legacy serial device. The data can be encrypted and sent to the host system via the network. The redirector software module decrypts the encrypted data and presents it to the consumer application as if the data had arrived via the local COM port. |
| US07660909B2 |
Preallocation of client network address translation addresses for client-server networks
An improved client network address translation (“NAT”) system is provided. Methods are provided for initializing connection control blocks with the client NAT addresses when a storage pool of connection control blocks are allocated. This avoids the costly overhead as connections are created and destroyed. Unlike the prior art solutions, once the connection control blocks of the present invention are allocated, they remain in effect until the storage subpool is deleted. Secondly, in order to provide as large a pool of client NAT addresses as possible, methods are provided for using intervals to allocate and reclaim client NAT addresses as subpools are allocated and freed. |
| US07660907B2 |
Transmission packet for performing multi-functions over network and communication method and apparatus using the transmission packet
A transmission packet usable to perform multiple operations including scanning and is transmitted via a network in order to achieve communications in at least one server shared by at least one client via the network. The transmission packet includes a version field, a packet form display field, an operation form display field, an attribute group field and/or a data group field, and an end field. The packet form display field has packet form display information that represents a form in which the transmission packet is generated. The operation form display field has operation form display information that represents a form of an operation using the transmission packet. The attribute group field and/or a data group field have one of first information associated with attributes of the operation and second information associated with data regarding the operation. |
| US07660903B2 |
Communications network
A registration server in a network implementing an API (application programming interface) authenticates services and provides discovery of network resources, prior to registering services with selected network resources. Multiple instances of services and/or multiple service nodes are registered in a single service agreement. |
| US07660900B2 |
System and method for connecting client to host
A system includes a support box containing hardware and software for connecting to a host application sever. The support box has an input for providing local settings. A memory connector is adapted to couple to a separate memory device containing connectivity and licensing information pertaining to a specific customer and enabling access to selected host application functions. |
| US07660898B2 |
Presence enhanced telephony service architecture
A telecommunications network is enhanced with a presence component. A session initiator requests a session with a session terminator by contacting a presence server. The presence server receives the request for presence information and processes the request by comparing the session initiator's identity to preferences of the session terminator to identify a preferred treatment. The presence server returns the preferred treatment to the session initiator. The session is then initiated or not initiated based upon the preferred treatment. |
| US07660897B2 |
Method, system, and program for distributing application transactions among work servers
Provided are a method, system, and program for distributing application transactions among work servers. Application transaction rates are determined for a plurality of applications supplying transactions to process. For each application, available partitions in at least one server are assigned to process the application transactions based on partition transaction rates of partitions in the servers. For each application, a determination is made of weights for each server including partitions assigned to the application based on a number of partitions in the server assigned to the application. The determined weights for each application are used to distribute application transactions among the servers including partitions assigned to the application. |
| US07660895B2 |
Communication terminal accommodation apparatus and scheduling method
A DL resource control section 203 controls the status of communication resource assignment of a direct link type network. An MS resource control section 204 controls the status of communication resource assignment of a master-slave type network. When carrying out communications between terminal apparatus held in different networks, a transmission resource assigning section 205 refers to the status of communication resource assignment of the two networks controlled by the DL resource control section 203 and the MS resource control section 204 and assigns the same communication resources to both terminal apparatus of a transmitting side and a receiving side. Thus, the communication resources can be utilized effectively when carrying out communications between the terminal apparatus held in different networks respectively. |
| US07660891B2 |
Node discovery involving stealth node enumerators
A network node discovery method allows multiple enumerators to concurrently accept and interpret the same enumeration responses from responder nodes on a network. In this manner, the responder nodes do not have to issue individual responses for each enumerator. Each responder maintains a discovery state and one or more per-enumerator session states to manage when the responder should transmit enumeration responses. The enumeration, therefore, proceeds at a target network load, irrespective of the number of enumerators present, and completes in a short time by making efficient use of the network capacity available. Furthermore, an enumerator can determine that it need only wait for responses solicited by other enumerators, rather than requesting them, thereby reducing network traffic in the presence of many concurrently enumerating nodes. |
| US07660890B2 |
RFID edge server with socket multiplexing
An RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) edge server associates with multiple RFID readers at a location. The RFID edge server includes an application server to run applications. The RFID edge server having TCP/IP socket connections with the multiple RFID readers. The RFID edge server having a fewer access threads for the RFID readers than there are socket connections. |
| US07660888B2 |
Indicating network resource availability methods, system and program product
Methods, system and program product for determining network resource availability in order to avoid time delays caused by querying unavailable resources are disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention queries the network resource to determine network resource availability and response time, and indicates the network resource is available only if the network resource is determined to be available within a specified response time. |
| US07660885B2 |
Communication performance analyzing program, communication performance analyzing apparatus and communication performance analyzing method
A communication performance analyzing program, a communication performance analyzing apparatus and a communication performance analyzing method make it possible to highly reliably grasp the communication performance of a computer system by automatically analyzing the communication performance. The communication performance analyzing program that causes a computer to analyze a data tendency of communication performance of a plurality of execution periods of a computer system formed by connecting a plurality of computers by a network, the program comprises a communication time acquisition step S2 that acquires communication time data among the computers of the computer system and a statistical analysis step S3 that analyzes the tendency of communication performance data of each execution period of the computer system, using the communication time among the computers, by statistically analyzing the communication time data acquired by the communication time acquisition step. |
| US07660882B2 |
Deploying network element management system provisioning services
A method and apparatus for deploying EMS provisioning services is provided. A communication to administer a particular service on a network element is transmitted from an EMS client to an EMS server. The communication contains service data that describes a particular service to be administered on the network element. The EMS server constructs an instance of a generic record that stores the service data. The EMS server selects a service module to process the instance based on which service is associated with the service data stored in the instance. The instance is processed to produce result data that describes the result of processing the service data at the network element. The EMS server stores the result data in a persistent store. This generic framework enables communications between EMS clients and the EMS server involving different services to be processed similarly. New services are added without modification to the generic framework. |
| US07660879B2 |
System and method for application deployment service
A transactional distribution infrastructure enables multiple participants to work together to deploy changes to an executing context. Embodiments can prepare new changes to executing applications based on a copy of the running context or domain rather than the actual running domain. Performing the changes on a copy of the running domain rather than on the actual running domain allows the changes to be examined, therefore providing an opportunity to detect errors and prevent the changes from causing failures on the domain. |
| US07660876B2 |
Electronic file management
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of accessing, by a client, one or more files residing in a server includes requesting, by the client, downloading of a selected file residing in the server. The selected file is associated with at least one associated file. The method also includes initiating downloading of the selected file and automatically determining the identify of, and initiating downloading of, the at least one associated file in response to requesting downloading of the selected file. The method also includes initiating storing, in a memory associated with the client, of the selected file and the at least one associated file under respective local identifiers. |
| US07660875B2 |
Bidirectional remote communication via browser plug-in
A browser plug-in, system for bidirectional communication and method for bidirectional communication between a download device, a first computing device and a second computing device is provided. The system includes a download device communicatively connected to a first computing device, a second computing device communicatively connected to the first computing device and a computer program stored on the first computing device. A first data set is transferred from the first computing device to second computing device via the Internet and the second set of data is bidirectionally communicated from the second computing device to the first computing device via Internet and does not trigger a fire wall. |
| US07660874B1 |
Registry for trading partners using documents for commerce in trading partner networks
A market making node in a network routes machine readable documents to connect businesses with customers, suppliers and trading partners. The self defining electronic documents, such as XML based documents, can be easily understood amongst the partners. Definitions of these electronic business documents, called business interface definitions, are posted on the Internet, or otherwise communicated to members of the network. The business interface definitions tell potential trading partners the services the company offers and the documents to use when communicating with such services. Thus, a typical business interface definition allows a customer to place an order by submitting a purchase order or a supplier checks availability by downloading an inventory status report. Also, the registration at a market maker node of a specification of the input and output documents, coupled with interpretation information in a common business library, enables participants in a trading partner network to execute the transaction in a way which closely parallels the way in which paper based businesses operate. |
| US07660872B2 |
Managing location information for a group of users
A user designated as a group leader of a group of users manages location information for the group of users using a base device. In particular, a client device is identified for each user in the group of users and an area within which each user in the group of users is to remain is defined. Subsequently, the base device can obtain location information for the client device(s) and process the location information for use by the group leader. For example, the base device can display the current location of one or more users, display the relative location of one or more users with respect to the group leader, and/or determine if one or more users are outside of the area. The group leader can then coordinate the group by communicating with one or more users in the group. In this manner, the group leader can make more informed decisions about the status of each group member and more efficiently coordinate the re-grouping and/or movement of the group of users. |
| US07660871B2 |
System and method for automatically generating networked service installation based on subscription status
A system and related techniques prepare and condition the installation of new networked service or application components, such as Internet services, based on an individual subscriber's subscribed-to services, features and other components. A subscriber to an Internet service may choose to add, for example, a componentized subscription to a music or video download service to their access plan. When the user inserts a CDROM or accesses a Web site for installation, the user may be prompted for a username or passport-type object to authenticate their account. The user may then be presented with a set of available service selections, extensions or enhancements to choose to add to their plan. Those available selections may be prefiltered or prequalified, for example, based on geographic location, account spending or access limits, language or other criteria. Because the installation engine delivers components which are intelligently filtered at time of installation, the service components or applications can be tailored to that specific user's needs and options, instead of downloading or installing a monolithic package which may contain services not available or of interest to that user. |
| US07660867B2 |
Virtual computer system and virtual computer migration control method
A migration source virtual server and a migration destination virtual server respectively include a volume information management unit for associating and managing volume identifying information for identifying the logical volumes and the logical volumes managed by the management OS of the migration source virtual server and the management OS of the migration destination virtual server; an identification unit for the migration source virtual server and the migration destination virtual server to identify the same logical volume as a target logical volume based on the volume identifying information; and a virtual OS migration unit for migrating data in an memory area used by a virtual OS of the migration source virtual server to the migration destination virtual server, and migrating update data in the memory area to be updated during the migration to the migration destination virtual server. |
| US07660865B2 |
Spam filtering with probabilistic secure hashes
Disclosed are signature-based systems and methods that facilitate spam detection and prevention at least in part by calculating hash values for an incoming message and then determining a probability that the hash values indicate spam. In particular, the signatures generated for each incoming message can be compared to a database of both spam and good signatures. A count of the number of matches can be divided by a denominator value. The denominator value can be an overall volume of messages sent to the system per signature for example. The denominator value can be discounted to account for different treatments and timing of incoming messages. Furthermore, secure hashes can be generated by combining portions of multiple hashing components. A secure hash can be made from a combination of multiple hashing components or multiple combinations thereof. The signature based system can also be integrated with machine learning systems to optimize spam prevention. |
| US07660861B2 |
System and method for verifying the identity of a sender of electronic mail and preventing unsolicited bulk email
The present invention provides a method and system for preventing unsolicited bulk email (UBE). Spammers sending UBE typically capitalize on the weakness of SMTP. The present invention affixes a subscriber key value to the local part of an email address. The email and associated key value are sent to a server where the subscriber key value, and subscriber and recipient email addresses are associated and stored into a database. Once stored, the email is sent to the ultimate recipient. A recipient is in possession of a subscriber key value can use this key value to sign an email they intend to send to the original subscriber/sender. Recipient will then send this signed email to a server where the association between the subscriber and the subscriber key value is verified. Once verified the email is sent to the subscriber. In some embodiments, the verification process is not controlled by a server. |
| US07660859B2 |
Tracking of electronic mail messages
Electronic mail messages are tracked for the sender by allowing the sender to flag the electronic mail messages. Flagging the electronic mail messages allows for various notifications to be provided to the sender. For example, notification may be provided to the sender by placing an item in a to-do bar for the sender that corresponds to the electronic mail message. As another example, notification may be provided to the sender by firing a reminder at some future time that corresponds to the electronic mail message. As another example, notification may be provided to the sender by including an indication in a related incoming electronic mail message that the incoming electronic mail message is related to the electronic message sent by the sender. |
| US07660853B2 |
Hashing algorithm used for multiple files having identical content and fingerprint in a peer-to-peer network
The present invention provides an improved technique for accessing information in a peer-to-peer network. According to specific embodiments of the present invention, each file accessible in the peer-to-peer network is assigned a respective hash ID or fingerprint ID which is used to describe the contents of that file. Files in the peer-to-peer network may be identified and/or accessed based upon their associated hash ID values. In this way it is possible to identify identical files stored in the peer-to-peer network which have different file names and/or other metadata descriptors. Since the content of all files having the same hash ID will be identical, an automated process may be used to retrieve the desired content from one or more of the identified files. |
| US07660848B2 |
Information terminal, and server for efficiently exchanging messages via a network
An instant messaging communication system including information terminals and an instant messaging server is provided. The information terminals are configurable for use by searching users or search target users. The information terminal of a searching user acquires, from the instant messaging server, search target user information, and searches the search target user information for a search target user matching a profile created by the searching user. The information terminal of a search target user registers the search target user profile with the instant messenger server. The instant messenger server is a conduit among the searching users and the search target users, automatically sending updated information to the searching users upon registering a new search target user or updating the information of a search target user. Because the terminals perform the search and the server acts as a conduit, reliability and efficiency of the instant messenger network is improved. |
| US07660846B2 |
Method for dynamically targeted instant messaging
A network communication system for instant messaging comprising: a client-server network system with a server in communication with a client and a server and a network for communication therebetween, each of the server and the client operating as at least one of a sender and a recipient of a combined message; wherein the combined message includes a code and a communications message; and wherein the sender transmits at least one of the code and the combined message to the recipient. A method for instant messaging in a network communication system comprising: formulating a combined message to a recipient, the combined message including a code and a communications message; and transmitting at least one of the code and the combined message to a recipient. |
| US07660845B2 |
Methods and apparatus for verifying context participants in a context management system in a networked environment
Methods and apparatus related to context management in a networked environment are provided. According to one aspect, a technique is provided for facilitating communication between a client and a context management (CM) server, comprising establishing a network connection between the client and the CM server to enable communication, and maintaining the connection for the period of time during which the context is maintained. According to another aspect, a requested change in at least one aspect of a context is facilitated by publishing a change decision from the context management server to the participant applications. In another aspect, a technique is employed to verify that a remote application is emulated on the same client as at least one other application in a context by receiving from the client and the remote application server information that uniquely identifies the client. In a further aspect, a technique is employed for verifying that two remote applications are emulated on a same client by receiving information from the remote applications that uniquely identifies the client on which they are emulated. |
| US07660835B2 |
Information processing system, information processing method and information processing program
An information processing system for management of various pieces of information, the information processing system includes: a plurality of display record media, each having a unique identifier; an information selection section that selects information to be displayed; an information rewrite section that rewritably writes the information; a manipulation detection section that detects a selective manipulation of a user on the display record medium; a history storage section that records a history of the information and a history of the manipulations in association with a unique identifier of the display record medium, respectively; a manipulation history determination section for a user to determine any manipulation history out of a list of the histories of the manipulations; and an information search section that searches for at least one of a history of the information, a history of other manipulations and a unique identifier of the display record medium. |
| US07660833B2 |
Granular control over the authority of replicated information via fencing and unfencing
A method and system for controlling which content gets precedence and is replicated. A replica set is comprised of a set of resources. Each resource is associated with resource data and resource meta-data. For files-based systems, resource data includes file contents and attributes, while resource meta-data includes additional attributes that are relevant for negotiating synchronization during replication. An extra field called a “fence value” is added to the meta-data associated with each resource. During synchronization, first fence values are compared. The resource with the highest fence value includes the content that is controlling and replicated. If fence values are equal (and greater than a particular value), the controlling resource is determined based on other meta-data. |
| US07660826B2 |
Implementing adaptive buffer management on network fetches of directory contents and object attributes
A method, system, and computer-usable medium for implementing a file directory in a server. An application including a buffer for retrieving and storing at least one entry is interfaced with the file directory. Utilizing a determined average filename length, an estimate of a number of entries among the collection of entries that can be stored by the buffer is determined. In response to determining at least one attribute data field has been requested, the number of entries that can be stored by the buffer is recalculated. Recalculating the number of entries includes determining an amount of data required for storing the collection of filenames, a collection of fixed-length attribute data fields, and a collection of variable-length attribute data fields. The recalculated number of entries is then requested from the file directory, and the buffer is loaded, with the recalculated number of entries. |
| US07660815B1 |
Method and system for occurrence frequency-based scaling of navigation path weights among online content sources
A method and system for scaling navigation path weights among online content sources. A method may include determining a first probability of users traversing a first navigation path from a first to a second online content source, dependent upon a ratio of traversals of the first navigation path and traversals of all navigation paths to the second online content source. The method may also include determining a second probability of users traversing navigation paths from the first online content source to any of the online content sources, dependent upon a ratio of the plurality of online content sources to which navigation paths from the first online content source exist and a total number of the plurality of online content sources. The method may further include generating from the probabilities a scaling factor indicative of a strength of the first navigation path relative to other navigation paths among the online content sources. |
| US07660814B2 |
Techniques for mapping a physical table to multiple virtual tables
Techniques are presented for mapping a physical table to multiple virtual tables. One or more fields within a results set from a query are mapped or associated to one or more virtual tables. The virtual tables are organized as sub graphs and connected together as a set. A reference to the set is provided to a table join analysis service and a join is performed against the set to produce a single logical reference to a table. The single table reference may be treated as a single table for purposes of subsequent search and retrieval by a searcher. |
| US07660812B2 |
Tracking physical inventory of data storage media
The invention is directed to a business technique for supplying customers with a set of data storage media and a database for tracking physical inventory of the set of data storage media. The media tracking database is generated by the media supplier from a proprietary manufacturer database that stores a unique identification number, volume/serial (VolSer) number, purchase order data, and other manufacturing data. Accordingly, the media tracking database includes a subset of the plurality of fields that form the manufacturer database. Specifically, the media tracking database is populated with the manufacturer assigned unique identification umber, VolSer number, and purchase order data for each of the data storage media prior to selling the database to the customer. When the customer receives the media tracking database, it can be relationally linked to tape management, library management, and off-site storage software thereby providing complete cradle-to-grave traceability of the set of data storage media. |
| US07660809B2 |
Using a file server as a central shared database
Various entities need to share data among team members working on the same project without investing in specialized server software. To address this need, an existing standard file server is used to host data for sharing among the team. The file server has not been customized to share the data for the particular application. A user creates a special folder for a project at a user specified location on the file server. Data associated with the project is converted to files and stored in a structure of folders used by the file server to represent the data that is shared. Each client that has subscribed to this shared data synchronizes the data on their local computing device with the data on the file server. Security is provided by using the file server's built-in access controls. |
| US07660808B2 |
Automatically indexing a collection of files of a selected type
Media clips on a hard drive or other storage are automatically organized in collections and metadata automatically assigned to facilitate subsequent searching for media clips. A Clip Organizer software application initially scans a user's hard drive to identify folders containing user files of sound, picture, clip art, video and other media clips. Predefined types of folders are omitted in the scan to avoid identifying media clips that do not belong to the user or are part of another application program. A partially “flattened” collection hierarchy is created to simplify browsing the media clips. Sufficient empty files are included to enable a user to readily locate the collections, and metadata comprising keywords derived from the path of each media clip are associated with each of the media clips to facilitate subsequent searching for the files. In addition, the collection hierarchy is automatically updated as changes are made. |
| US07660807B2 |
Systems and methods for cataloging metadata for a metabase
Systems and methods for managing electronic data are disclosed. Various data management operations can be performed based on a metabase formed from metadata. Such metadata can be identified from an index of data interactions generated by a journaling module, and obtained from their associated data objects stored in one or more storage devices. In various embodiments, such processing of the index and storing of the metadata can facilitate, for example, enhanced data management operations, enhanced data identification operations, enhanced storage operations, data classification for organizing and storing the metadata, cataloging of metadata for the stored metadata, and/or user interfaces for managing data. In various embodiments, the metabase can be configured in different ways. For example, the metabase can be stored separately from the data objects so as to allow obtaining of information about the data objects without accessing the data objects or a data structure used by a file system. |
| US07660804B2 |
Joint optimization of wrapper generation and template detection
A method and system for generating wrappers for hierarchically organized documents by jointly optimizing template detection and wrapper generation is provided. A wrapper generation system generates a wrapper for documents with similar templates by identifying a cluster of document trees and generating a wrapper tree for the cluster. A wrapper tree defines the wrapper for documents that match the template of the cluster. The wrapper generation system clusters document trees by generating a wrapper tree for the cluster based on an initial document tree. The wrapper generation system then repeatedly determines whether any other document tree matches or nearly matches the wrapper tree for the cluster and, if so, adds the document tree to the cluster and adjusts the wrapper tree as appropriate so that all the document trees, including the newly added one, match the wrapper tree. |
| US07660802B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating components for pattern-based system design analysis using a characteristics model
A method for analyzing a target system that includes obtaining a characteristics model, generating at least one selected from the group consisting of a schema, characteristics store API, and a characteristics extractor, using the characteristics model, obtaining a plurality of characteristics from the target system using characteristics extractor, wherein each of the plurality of characteristics is associated with the characteristics model, storing each of the plurality of characteristics in the characteristics store using the schema, and analyzing the target system by issuing at least one query to the characteristics store to obtain an analysis result. |
| US07660801B2 |
Method and system for generating a serializing portion of a record identifier
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to software for automatically generating alphabetic or alphanumeric representations for assigning as serializing portions of record identifiers. |
| US07660800B2 |
Systems and methods for classifying and transferring information in a storage network
Systems and methods for data classification to facilitate and improve data management within an enterprise are described. The disclosed systems and methods evaluate and define data management operations based on data characteristics rather than data location, among other things. Also provided are methods for generating a data structure of metadata that describes system data and storage operations. This data structure may be consulted to determine changes in system data rather than scanning the data files themselves. |
| US07660797B2 |
Scanning data in an access restricted file for malware
The present invention is directed toward a system, method, and computer-readable medium that scan a file for malware that maintains a restrictive access attribute that limits access to the file. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method for performing a scan for malware is provided when antivirus software on a computer encounters a file with a restrictive access attribute that prevents the file from being scanned. More specifically, the method includes identifying the restrictive access attribute that limits access to the file; bypassing the restrictive access attribute to access data in the file; and using a scan engine to scan the data in the file for malware. |
| US07660796B2 |
Information processing method and apparatus
There is provided an information processing method for setting the exclusive control right of a data item by a specific process in a system in which a plurality of clients connected via a network share data including a plurality of data items. In this method, when a desired data item is designated so as to set its exclusive control right, data items which belong to layers lower than the designated data and are related to the designated data item are retrieved on the basis of the hierarchical structure information of the plurality of data items. Then, the exclusive control right is set for the designated data item and retrieved data items. |
| US07660792B2 |
System and method for spam identification
A system and method are provided for improving a user search experience by identifying spam results in a result set produced in response to a query. The system may include a user interface spam feedback mechanism for allowing a user to indicate that a given result is spam. The system may additionally include an automated spam identification mechanism for implementing automated techniques on the given result to determine whether the given result is spam. The system may further include a merging component for merging the determinations of the user interface spam feedback mechanism and the automated spam identification mechanism for deriving an indicator of the likelihood that a given result is spam. |
| US07660790B1 |
Method and apparatus for utilizing a file change log
A method and apparatus for utilizing a file change log is described. In one example, the access of a file is initially detected. The identifier of the entity accessing the file is recorded. Similarly, an indicia of identifying at least one portion of the file that was accessed by the entity is recorded. The file change log is then updated to reflect the identifier and the indicia. |
| US07660789B2 |
Entity agent
An abstraction for rich data access for consumers of a service in a service oriented system. The abstraction is created by the author of a service which owns the data, and includes a number of service-public properties and associations. Further, the abstraction can contain metadata and logic that provides for a rich, interactive experience for the consumer interacting with the data encapsulated by the entity agent. These can include verifying that the data conforms to the contract published by the owning service, validating and defaulting properties, and validating associated data. Also the abstraction can contains metadata and logic for transmitting of the data back to the owning service and optionally saving to the local data store of the consumer. |
| US07660779B2 |
Intelligent autofill
The present invention provides a unique system and method that can employ machine learning techniques to automatically fill one or more fields across a diverse array of web forms. In particular, one or more instrumented tools can collect input or entries of form fields. Machine learning can be used to learn what data corresponds to which fields or types of fields. The input can be sent to a central repository where other databases can be aggregated as well. This input can be provided to a machine learning system to learn how to predict the desired outputs. Alternatively or in addition, learning can be performed in part by observing entries and then adapting the autofill component accordingly. Furthermore, a number of features of database fields as well as constraints can be employed to facilitate assignments of database entries to form values—particularly when the web form has never been seen before by the autofill system. |
| US07660777B1 |
Using data narrowing rule for data packaging requirement of an agent
A method for determining a data package requirement of an agent in an execution environment, utilizing a rule engine and a set of canonical data narrowing rules, comprising collecting the data narrowing rule, asserting narrowing data into a working memory and executing the rule engine with the data narrowing rules and the working memory. |
| US07660776B1 |
System for automatically identifying power system type and identifying likely errors of wiring and connection
A system which automatically identifies a power system type, anomalies in the output of the power system, and/or likely errors of wiring and connection to the power system or a system under test connected to the power system is presented. A measurement processing module reduces measurement signals to characterized measurements and a rule base applies knowledge bases of standard power systems and wiring and connection errors to the processed measurements to determine the power system type, the most likely anomalies in the output of the power system, and/or the most likely wiring and/or connection errors. |
| US07660767B1 |
Application banking machine gift certificate dispensing system
An automated teller machine (ATM) (10) includes a display device (14), an input device (16), a cash acceptor (22), and a cash dispenser (24). The ATM also has access to a network, such as the Internet. The ATM enables a user thereof to make online purchases of goods and to receive from the user a cash payment for the purchase through a cash acceptor. The ATM administrator pays the merchant who supplies the goods. An ATM may be operative to also dispense purchased digital content and/or gift certificates. Purchased goods may also be hand delivered to an indicated address. The ATM may be further operative to charge a user fee for transactions. |
| US07660763B1 |
Customer activated multi-value (CAM) card
The Customer Activated Multi-Value (CAM) card provides a customer with a primary use as a transaction card which can be further activated to have a secondary use as a credit card. The CAM card can be activated as a transaction card or as a transaction card with a credit card feature. Activation of the CAM card as a transaction card allows the customer to purchase goods and services from one specific vendor and to establish a relationship with that vendor for the goods or services rendered (for example, telephone calling card or gasoline product purchasing card) while enjoying reward benefits based on those purchases. Activation of the credit feature of the card allows the customer to interact with any merchant that accepts traditional credit cards such as VISA®, MASTERCARD®, AMERICAN EXPRESS®, or DISCOVER®. The combination of features allows a customer to purchase various goods and services from several different merchants. If the customer chooses to activate the CAM card as both a transaction card and a credit card, the customer is given the benefit of using the card in both manners described above. |
| US07660762B1 |
Method and system for efficiently matching long and short positions in securities trading and transacting a series of overnight trades for balance sheet netting
A method and system for trading long and short inventory positions in securities for participants involves systematically obtaining long and short position information from each participant, processing the information in accordance with participant-controlled parameters, matching the participants' short positions to other participants' long positions and feeding the resultant activity back to each participant in the form of system-generated repo and reverse repo trades, while maintaining the anonymity of the participants. Another aspect enables trading baskets of serial overnight trades, each of which is treated as an independent overnight repo/reverse trade for financial reporting purposes, with corresponding notional amount, that involves, for example, cancellation of a basket trade and creating in its place a series of overnight trades corresponding to the basket trade. |
| US07660761B2 |
System and method for automated trading
The present invention relates to systems and methods for automated trading. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for processing trade orders essentially instantaneously and filling trade orders with improvement over the National Best Bid and Offer (NBBO) by internalizing certain customer trade orders. |
| US07660760B2 |
Processing of deal tickets
A deal feed system for passing deal tickets to back office systems comprises a deal feed contributor which receives tickets from trades on a plurality of trading systems on a plurality of trading floors, a database for storing the tickets, and a distributor for passing the tickets to back office systems. Virtual deal codes are defined to which a plurality of real deal codes map. The virtual deal codes to which a ticket relates is stored in a table with a reference to the stored ticket. A deal code table is updated with the range of the virtual deal code and the update transmitted to the bank office systems and to traders. |
| US07660755B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer-readable-mediums for managing rollover usage units of communication services
A rollover management system (RMS) receives and stores rollover data that includes subscriber identification and a balance of the rollover usage units that may be “rolled-over” to offset overage units used by a subscriber in excess of package plan usage units in a subsequent billing cycle. In response to receiving requests, the RMS presents rollover data elements to the requesting entities. The balance of the rollover usage units may be rolled over and measured in at least one of a plurality of billable units and may be shared by the subscriber's multiple communication services. The rollover usage units expire after a predetermined number of billing cycles where the predetermined number may vary between package plans. The RMS receives post-billing data elements to update the rollover data elements. The RMS is further operative to account for and present for review unbilled communication service usage to subscribers. |
| US07660750B1 |
Viewing and ordering customized resin panels through web-based interfaces
A web-enabled resin panel customization website, hosted through a web portal, provides, through a client computer system, one or more user interfaces configured to receive a plurality of user selections, and provide a realistic display of the resulting output. In one implementation, a processing module overlays transparent portions of images representing a translucent resin substrate with one or more images representing decorative objects, films, or the like. The processing module can also combine pixel information from each of the added/overlain layers. In either case, the processing module sends a combined pixel data stream that can be rendered by a client system, and thus provide a user with a realistic depiction of the user's resin panel selections. The customization website further includes one or more user interfaces that enable a user to store specific resin panel design profiles, and order resin panels corresponding to those specific design profiles. |
| US07660748B2 |
Website user account linking
In one aspect the invention is of a method for linking separate accounts of related organizations on a commercial website which comprises establishing a tree structure defining the relationship of the various accounts in the tree, obtaining approval of the tree structure by authorized personnel responsible for the accounts, and linking the separate accounts in accordance with the relationship defined by the approved tree structure. The step of establishing a tree structure may be performed on-line. In another aspect the invention includes selecting various accounts to be linked while connected to the website, selecting at least one data parameter from a plurality of data parameters to be included in aggregated form from the selected accounts, and aggregating data for the selected data parameters from the selected accounts. In still another aspect the invention includes establishing a plurality of rules regarding the authority for users of various linked accounts to purchase goods or services from a commercial website, and assigning at least one group of users to whom the rules apply, wherein the step of establishing said plurality of rules is performed by a person representing an account at a higher level in the tree structure than the level of at least one of the accounts of the users to whom the rules apply. |
| US07660747B2 |
Media enabled shopping cart system with point of sale identification and method
A media enhanced shopping cart system comprises a shopping cart comprising a frame, a basket, a handle, a base tray, and a plurality of wheels, an inventory component for determining an inventory contained by the shopping cart, an identification component for associating a unique identity of the shopping cart, a correlation component of a modular computing device for correlating the inventory contained by the shopping cart with the unique identity of the shopping cart, and a communication component for conveying to a retailer system the correlation between the inventory and the unique identity of the shopping cart. |
| US07660746B1 |
Providing automated gift registry functionality to assist a user in purchasing an item for a recipient
Techniques are described for providing automated functionality to assist a user in purchasing an item for a recipient. An automated system may track various information about a series of item purchases from one or more services through which items can be purchased, and use information about past item purchases to provide various automated functionality for users that want to purchase items for various recipients. Types of functionality provided by the system include assisting in preventing recipients from receiving inappropriate items by monitoring item gift purchases and item self-purchases and responding to user requests to determine whether a specified gift would be appropriate for a recipient. In addition to information about past item purchases (e.g., whether a recipient has already received a copy of an item), the system can also use other information when determining whether a purchase of an item for the recipient is appropriate. |
| US07660745B2 |
System and method for price analysis and negotiation
Systems and techniques for management and negotiation of prices of goods purchased from a vendor. Pricing information is collected by a purchaser. This information reflects factors influencing pricing of components used by a vendor and intended for use in products sold to the purchaser. The pricing information is processed to develop models that can be used to compute expected prices for components. The models and other available information are then used to compute target prices for components. When a price quotation for a product is received from a vendor, the price quotation is analyzed, and the quoted price is compared against an overall target price generated by identifying the components making up the product and adding the target prices for components and elements making up the product. If the quoted price exceeds the target price, the price quotation is rejected. Negotiations may then be undertaken to resolve the pricing differences. |
| US07660733B2 |
Method of arranging supplemental meeting services
A method of scheduling meetings within a calendaring system can include receiving a meeting request specifying a meeting time, at least one participant, and a supplemental meeting service to be scheduled concurrently with the meeting. A determination can be made that a supplemental meeting system is not available. Accordingly, participants can be notified of the meeting time and that supplemental meeting service information has not been determined. The method also can include attempting to obtain the supplemental meeting service information from the supplemental meeting system until a predetermined time prior to the meeting time. If the supplemental meeting service information is obtained before the predetermined time prior to the meeting time, the participants can be notified of the supplemental meeting service information. |
| US07660732B2 |
Incompatibility processing
A method of processing incompatibilities for a transportation plan comprising the following steps: Receiving data which is descriptive of orders, data which is descriptive of available vehicles, and data which is descriptive of available cross-docking locations; reading a set of compatibility types, and a set of compatibility rules with respect to the plurality of orders, vehicles, and cross-docking locations, each compatibility rule specifying a combination of two values which refer to first and second attributes of a defined compatibility type, and being indicative whether or not they are compatible; associating a value with each order, the value being descriptive of the characteristics of the order, such that orders having the same characteristics have the same value associated therewith; replacing the data descriptive of the characteristics by the value associated therewith; and outputting the order data resulting from the preceding step. |
| US07660730B2 |
Method of creating production plan of demand variation input type and method of creating production plan minimizing risk of demand variations
A production plan is created so as to minimize risk of demand variations. Forecasted values of amounts of requests are entered for each different item of products, markets, dates, past accuracy of demand forecasts, and order achievements at the time when the plan is created. Scenario information is created in which assumable amounts of request for each different item of the products, markets, and dates and probabilities at which the amounts of requests agree with actual amounts of requests are defined. Management indexes are found from the amount of stockout and amount of stock calculated in each different scenario, based on the scenario information, target values of the management indexes, and information on strongpoints. An amount of production that maximizes the achievement ratios of the management ratios to their targets within the ranges of supplied materials and within the range of the production capacity is calculated by an optimization algorithm. |
| US07660728B2 |
System and method for selecting and reserving airline seats
The present invention relates to a system and method for selecting and reserving airline seats. The system or method receives first data representing payment information over the network from a general purpose computer. The system or method also transmits second data to an application running on the general purpose computer, the second data including information descriptive of available individual seats on one or more airplanes, the second data processed by the application to generate a graphical user interface on the general purpose computer that comprises an interactive seating map representing individual seats on the one or more airplanes, the second data processed by the application to generate an additional display of information about one or more of the individual seats in response to a user interaction with the graphical user interface, the interaction being triggered when placing a mouse over a portion of the graphical user interface. In addition, the system or method receives from the general purpose computer third data representing one or more seats selected by one or more mouse clicks. |
| US07660724B2 |
Waste sorting system utilizing removable liners
A liner for use in a waste sorting and disposal system is configured for placement in a container is provided. The liner includes an internal space and an opening that provides access to that internal space. In some embodiments, the liner may also include a machine-readable identification key that is configured to identify a type of waste that the liner may receive. In some embodiments, the machine-readable key is optical, color-coded, alphanumeric or graphical. The liner can include one or more closure members to allow a user to securely seal the liner when it is removed from the container. In some embodiments, the liner can include a flange, lip, hook or other protrusion to secure its position relative to a container. |
| US07660713B2 |
Systems and methods that detect a desired signal via a linear discriminative classifier that utilizes an estimated posterior signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)
The present invention provides systems and methods for signal detection and enhancement. The systems and methods utilize one or more discriminative classifiers (e.g., a logistic regression model and a convolutional neural network) to estimate a posterior probability that indicates whether a desired signal is present in a received signal. The discriminative estimators generate the estimated probability based on one or more signal-to-noise ratio (SNRs) (e.g., a normalized logarithmic posterior SNR (nlpSNR) and a mel-transformed nlpSNR (mel-nlpSNR)) and an estimated noise model. Depending on the resolution desired, the estimated SNR can be generated at a frame level or at an atom level, wherein the atom level estimates are utilized to generate the frame level estimate. The novel systems and methods can be utilized to facilitate speech detection, speech recognition, speech coding, noise adaptation, speech enhancement, microphone arrays and echo-cancellation. |
| US07660706B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating link bandwidth as function of QOS requirement
A method is provided for determining a bandwidth allocation needed to provide a specified QOS requirement that takes appropriate account of statistical variations for packet streams in a transmission link. In particular, a statistical model of the packet stream is formed using fractional sum difference statistical models and the model is evaluated in respect to synthetically generated traffic streams. The bandwidth allocation approach is specified in terms of the bandwidth, β, required for a traffic load, τ, subject to the requirements of a maximum queuing delay, δ, and a packet loss limitation parameter, ω. Accordingly, that bandwidth allocation approach is implemented as a statistical model for β as a function of τ, δ and ω. |
| US07660700B2 |
Method and device for monitoring and analyzing signals
A method and system for monitoring and analyzing at least one signal are disclosed. An abstract of at least one reference signal is generated and stored in a reference database. An abstract of a query signal to be analyzed is then generated so that the abstract of the query signal can be compared to the abstracts stored in the reference database for a match. The method and system may optionally be used to record information about the query signals, the number of matches recorded, and other useful information about the query signals. Moreover, the method by which abstracts are generated can be programmable based upon selectable criteria. The system can also be programmed with error control software so as to avoid the re-occurrence of a query signal that matches more than one signal stored in the reference database. |
| US07660699B2 |
Knowledge-based statistical method and system to determine reliability compatibility for semiconductor integrated circuits
A method for determining whether a first group of a product, a component or a system in reliability life testing has longer lifetime than a second group. This method is non-parametric and free from a pre-assumption of statistical distributions and can be applied to all kinds of data and distributions. Errors from goodness-of-fit of distribution fitting and parameter estimations are thus eliminated. After pre-check on bimodal, early failures, and the failure mechanisms, the method employs numerical solutions with good accuracy by the nonparametric approach. The data under consideration can be censored, interval or bimodal, and not limited to simple cases of complete type. The method can be used to determine multiplicities of reliability tests for all product types and at all levels. Based on a comparability index derived from integrating the weighted difference between the reliability functions of the two groups under comparison. Several indices are proposed for effectiveness of reliability comparability. |
| US07660692B2 |
Ballistic impact detection system
A wearable ballistic impact protection system detects impacts to a body. The system includes multiple sensors for detecting vibration. The sensed vibrations are converted to electrical signals which are filtered. Electronic components are provided to determine whether the filtered signal have frequency and amplitude characteristics of impact that cause injury to a body. Preferably, the sensors are Piezo-electric film sensing elements. Information regarding the extent of the impact and injuries to the body may be transmitted to a remote location so that medics or other personnel may be informed to the extent of injuries to the body so that they may provide medical assistance. |
| US07660681B2 |
Compensating for frequency change in flowmeters
A method for calculating a property of a fluid includes inducing motion in a conduit such that the conduit oscillates in a first mode of vibration and a second mode of vibration. The first mode of vibration has a corresponding first frequency of vibration and the second mode of vibration has a corresponding second frequency of vibration. The conduit contains a fluid. The first frequency of vibration is determined, and the second frequency of vibration is determined. A property of the fluid based on the first frequency of vibration and the second frequency of vibration is calculated. |
| US07660679B2 |
Method for evaluating the difference between the situation at a given moment on a worksite and a reference state for the operating conditions for tires of civil engineering vehicles on the site
A method for evaluating the difference between the situation on a site at a given moment and a reference state in regards to the operating conditions of tires of heavy vehicles of the civil engineering type, wherein a user determines at least one zone on the site and determines n parameters which are characteristic of the operating conditions for tires in the zone. The user allocates to each parameter a variance dimension (xi) and enters this dimension in a processor capable of performing an automatic consolidation I of the dimensions of the n parameters. The processor performs a consolidation of the dimensions of the n parameters to give I, the variance dimension index for the zone. |
| US07660673B2 |
Coarse wellsite analysis for field development planning
A new method for assessing the probability of production at a wellsite. The process includes the four steps of: 1) Data Collection and Uncertainty Analysis; 2) Wellsite Preparation; 3) Treatment Selection/Job Execution; and 4) Evaluation and Upscaling to Field Level. |
| US07660672B2 |
Method and computer program product for drilling mud design optimization to maintain time-dependent stability of argillaceous formations
A method and computer program product of either preventing or minimizing pore pressure increase near the wellbore wall within argillaceous formations through which a borehole has been drilled. By interpreting relevant drilling experience data, the type, extent and time-dependency of wellbore instability mechanisms are determined. The impact of drilling mud designs on the time-dependent wellbore instability and hole enlargement is determined by back-analyzing observed drilling events. At least one field-based criterion relationship between net mud weight reduction percentage ratio and hole enlargement is determined. A maximum allowable percentage ratio(s) of net mud weight reduction and either breakout mud weight or mud weight used for the adopted maximum hole enlargement that the wellbore may experience during drilling is determined. Drilling mud salinity value and salt type to satisfy maximum allowable percentage ratio(s) is then determined. |
| US07660664B2 |
Information service system
An information service system includes a contents service provider for providing contents data of a content together with an application software for providing an informational service intended by the content, a service center for collecting the contents data and the application software provided by the contents service provider, and terminals of plural kinds coupled with the service center through communication. The service center includes an information service control means for providing the informational service suitable for the kind of the terminal by executing the application software collected from the contents service provider, and the terminal uses the informational service provided by the service center. |
| US07660663B2 |
Traffic information transmitting apparatus, transmitting method, and transmitting program
A traffic information transmitting apparatus, method, and program store accumulated traffic information including past traffic information and estimate traffic information at a time when a vehicle passes through a predetermined link based on the accumulated traffic information. The apparatus, method, and program determine whether the estimated traffic information is substantially different from traffic information stored in the vehicle. The apparatus, method, and program transmit, when the estimated traffic information and the traffic information stored in the vehicle are substantially different, the substantially different estimated traffic information to the vehicle. |
| US07660662B2 |
Fault code memory administrator with a driving cycle state machine concept
A method to operate an electronic controlled diesel engine to provide enhanced fault code administration responsive to the variable driving cycle. |
| US07660660B2 |
Systems and methods for regulation of engine variables
A method for controlling an engine output with at least two actuators, including applying inputs to actuators which regulate a variable of an engine, evaluating the response of the system, determining the ability of the actuators to change the engine variable, determining the capability of the actuators to reject a disturbance, calculating an optimum actuator feedforward control function based upon the ability and capability determined and controlling the actuators using the calculated function and a feedforward control algorithm. |
| US07660646B2 |
System and method providing control of reticle stocking and sorting
A reticle stocking and sorting system. The reticle management system comprises first reticle storage, second reticle storage, third reticle storage, and a host system. The first reticle storage stores a first reticle currently in use. The second reticle storage stores a second reticle not currently in use. The third reticle storage stores a third unused reticle temporarily before it is disposed of. The host system is adapted to rearrange the first, second, and third reticles among the first, second, and third reticle storages, based on demand data pertaining to a product requiring least one article during fabrication. |
| US07660645B2 |
Production management method and production management system
Processing apparatuses A, B, C, and D are included in a job-shop production line, and process 1 to process 6 are performed by the processing apparatuses A, B, C, B, D, and B, respectively. The processing apparatus B is repeatedly used in process 2, process 4, and process 6; therefore, these processes are key processes. Based on the key processes, process 1 to process 6 are classified into a plurality of groups, and the number of in-process products of each of the groups is counted by a counting unit. According to this, a determining unit determines priority orders of the key processes such that a higher priority is given to a key process in a group having a large number of the in-process products. Thus, it becomes possible to perform determination of the priority orders further according to an actual situation, and to improve production efficiency. |
| US07660643B2 |
Solder material test apparatus, and method of controlling the same
A solder material test apparatus includes a control unit and a storage unit which stores master data in advance in which a printing process time when a printing process is performed by using a test-sample solder material is associated with deterioration degree data of the test-sample solder material at the printing process time. The control unit includes a deterioration degree data acquiring unit which acquires deterioration degree data for indicating a deterioration degree of a test-sample solder material, a reading unit which reads a printing process time associated with deterioration degree data set as a limit value with reference to master data and reads a printing process time associated with the deterioration degree data acquired by the deterioration degree data acquiring unit, an operating unit which operates an available remaining time that indicates difference between the printing process times, and a display control unit which informs the available remaining time to a user. |
| US07660640B2 |
Apparatus and method for predictive control of a power generation system
A method for controlling a power system control area according to a first and a second control performance standard, wherein operation of the control area determines area control parameter values. The method comprises (a) determining a first compliance target for the first performance standard and a second compliance target for the second performance standard (100/200); (b) determining a first performance standard statistical measure responsive to the control area parameter values from a beginning of a first compliance period to a time at which the first average is determined (108); (c) determining a second performance standard statistical measure responsive to the control area parameter values from a beginning of a second compliance period to a time at which the second average is determined; (d) determining a first area control parameter target responsive to the first performance standard statistical measure (116); (e) determining a second area control parameter target responsive to the second performance standard statistical measure (204); (f) determining a first area control parameter correction responsive to the first area control parameter target and the area control parameter values (150); (g) determining a second area control parameter correction responsive to the second area control parameter target and the area control parameter values (228) and (h) controlling the power system according to one or both of the first and the second area control parameter corrections (154/232). |
| US07660638B2 |
Business process execution engine
The claimed subject matter provides a controller that facilitates implementing a workflow within an industrial automation environment system. An interface component can facilitate the receipt of data associated with a workflow at the programmable logic controller. A controller communicatively coupled to the interface component incorporates an execution engine that can execute the workflow and allow a seamless data flow between applications to provide at least one service. |
| US07660632B2 |
Method and apparatus for hypoglossal nerve stimulation
A method of treating sleep disordered breathing in a patient includes the steps of monitoring the patient for a pre-inspiratory drive signal indicative of the breathing cycle by sensing electroneurogram activity of a hypoglossal nerve of the patient; and electrically stimulating the hypoglossal nerve of the patient following each detection of the pre-inspiratory drive signal. An implantable apparatus for stimulating a hypoglossal nerve of a patient for the treatment of sleep disordered breathing includes an electrode positioned at least partially around the hypoglossal nerve with a monitoring contact and a stimulation contact and a controller operatively coupled to the monitoring contact and the stimulation contact. The monitoring contact monitors the electroneurogram activity of the hypoglossal nerve for a pre-inspiratory drive signal indicative of the onset of inspiration and sends a signal to the controller which in turn causes the stimulating electrode to electrically stimulate the hypoglossal nerve. |
| US07660630B2 |
Variable implantable medical device power characteristics based upon implant depth
An implantable medical device (“IMD”) as described herein includes adjustable power characteristics such as variable transmitter output power and variable receiver front end gain. These power characteristics are adjusted based upon the intended or actual implant depth of the IMD. The IMD may process an IMD implant depth value (provided by an external IMD programming device) to generate power scaling instructions or control signals that are interpreted by the IMD transmitter and/or the IMD receiver. Such adjustability enables the IMD to satisfy minimum telemetry requirements in a manner that does not waste power, thus extending the IMD battery life. |
| US07660624B2 |
Method and x-ray system for detecting position changes of a medical implant
In a method and apparatus to detect position changes of an implant x-ray detectable markers are arranged in the environment of the implant, and 2D x-ray exposures are obtained at temporal intervals of a region containing the implant in which a distribution of the markers as well as of marked points of the implant are visible in each 2D x-ray exposure. A first of the 2D x-ray exposures is obtained at a first point in time from one projection direction, and a second of the 2D x-ray exposures is obtained at a second point in time from another projection direction. The distribution of the markers and marked points is determined in the first and second 2D x-ray exposure by an evaluation device, and from the distributions a degree of probability is calculated that the distribution of the first 2D x-ray exposure and the distribution of the second 2D x-ray exposure are projections of the same three-dimensional distribution of markers and marked points. An automated detection of position changes by implants with reduced x-ray exposure for the patient is facilitated. |
| US07660620B2 |
Timing techniques for magnetic resonance imaging
The invention is directed to techniques in which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is coordinated with the operation of an implantable medical device (IMD). By using an IMD to sense conditions, MRI can be improved because the sensed conditions can accurately define timing for application of electromagnetic radiation bursts. Moreover, by applying stimulation pulses specifically to coordinate the electromagnetic radiation bursts, the MRI may also be improved. |
| US07660619B2 |
Method for determining the condition of an object by magnetic resonance imaging
A method for determining the condition of an animate or inanimate object by magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, particularly for determining the pathologic condition of rheumatoid arthritis (“arthritis rheumatoides”) and carrying out a patient follow-up. |
| US07660617B2 |
Electrical impedance tomography using a virtual short measurement technique
Typical electrical impedance tomography (“EIT”) systems apply current to a body under test and measure the induced voltages on the surface and then through an inverse process, reconstruct an approximation to the electrical conductivity in the interior. The EIT system described herein employs a new approach to evaluating the interior electrical conductivity by using a virtual short that allows both current and voltages to be measured at various locations on the body under test. The architecture of this system is described, distinguishability of embedded conductive anomalies is evaluated, typical error sources associated with a virtual short measurement is discussed in the context of electrical impedance tomography, and a new imaging system is discussed. |
| US07660602B2 |
Full-duplex radio speaker system and associated method
A speaker assembly, and an associated method, is operable in conjunction with operation of a content capable mobile station, such as a mobile station that stores and plays out MP3-formatted files. A Bluetooth™, or other, transceiver of the speaker assembly communicates with a corresponding transceiver of the mobile station. When content is played out by the mobile station, signals representative of the content are communicated to the transceiver of the speaker assembly, and converted into acoustical form. When the mobile station is operated in a telephonic mode, the speaker assembly operates in a full-duplex mode in which hands-free operation is provided to a user by way of the speaker assembly. |
| US07660600B2 |
Adjustment of target signal-to-interference in outer loop power control for wireless communication systems
A method for outer loop power control which compensates for changing channel conditions. A target metric, preferably target signal-to-interference ratio (SIR), is adjusted with differing step up and step down levels to converge on a relatively low steady state level of step up and step down target metric adjustments. The initial target SIR remains fixed during an inner loop settling state, followed by incremental target SIR adjustments during a transient state, and smaller incremental target SIR adjustments in a steady state. Step sizes of the adjustments are preferably based on the target block error rate (BLER) and the number of errors detected within predetermined time intervals. |
| US07660592B2 |
Mobile communication terminal equipped with function of indicating direction of destination and method of indicating direction of destination
A method for indicating a direction of a destination in a mobile communication terminal includes: receiving network identification information from a mobile communication network that is currently accessed; reading current location and declination information corresponding to the network identification information from a mobile communication network information table; obtaining true north information by using the declination information to correct magnetic north information of a current location measured with a geomagnetic sensor; obtaining direction information of the destination from the current location information on the basis of the true north information; and displaying the direction information of the destination. |
| US07660591B1 |
Propagation loss model based indoor wireless location of stations
A method and apparatus for determining a location of a transmitter includes taking a Received Signal Strength (RSSI) measurement at a plurality of locations. Next, a known transmit power is subtracted from each of the RSSI measurements to produce a Propagation Loss Vector (PLV) for each location of the plurality of locations. A model is developed from the PLVs, the model including a plurality of grid points. A candidate Transmit Power Vector (TPV) is produced by subtracting the PLV for a candidate location from the RSSI measurement. Each of the RSSI measurements are matched against each TPV of the model. Once all the grid points have been evaluated, the grid point having a best match is selected as a location of the transmitter. |
| US07660587B2 |
Communications from hypertext documents
Efficient and effective communications are initiated from the selection, at a first user device, of a link in a resource. Based on this selection, a communications request is transmitted to a server. In addition, identification information of a second user device (such as a telephone number or an Internet Protocol (IP) address) is transmitted to the server. As a result of this request and identification information, a communication response is received at the second user device. This communications response may be of various types, such as a voice call, a message, or a rich call. |
| US07660586B2 |
System and method relating to mobility in a mobile communication system
The present invention relates to a communication system supporting data communication and comprising at least a first core network with a plurality of circuit switched (CS) core network functional server nodes and a second core network with a number of packet switched (PS) core network functional sever nodes for packet switched communication. The CS core nodes are arranged in a pool and an interface (Gs) between CS core nodes and PS core nodes is used for providing information to CS core nodes from PS core nodes relating to mobility related events provided from an MS to a PS core node. When a mobile station moves from a first CS core node to a second CS core node the PS core node to which the MS is connected is provided with information relating to the change from said first to said second CS core node. |
| US07660582B2 |
Method and apparatus to facilitate broadcast packet handling
A first network element determines (11) that a given mobile node using mobile Internet Protocol should receive subsequent broadcast packets as may be sourced by a corresponding Home Agent. This first network element can then determine (12) whether to support such subsequent broadcast packets using a first broadcast packet handling approach or a second broadcast packet handling approach. |
| US07660579B2 |
Communication network acceleration system and method
A system and method for mobile ground-to-air and air-to-ground communication network acceleration. The system and method can reduce the cost of airborne communication services by creating a faster connection and thus increasing data throughput. In one embodiment, the communication network acceleration system and method provide as much as a four-fold increase over standard high-speed data rates. This increase is made possible in part through the integration, implementation, and use of acceleration and compression technologies in the ground system that supports communications to and from an airborne terminal. |
| US07660578B2 |
Method for saving power in a wireless terminal and a terminal
The object of the invention is a method for controlling the power saving properties in a terminal, which utilizes cellular phone technology and short range radio frequency wireless communication features in order to increase the operative life of the batteries, and a terminal utilizing the method. In the method of the invention the activity state of the short range wireless communication utilization in the terminal determines the level of the short range wireless communication power save mode. |
| US07660577B2 |
Network testing systems and methods
The present invention is directed at systems and methods for gathering wireless communication data within a target geographic area. More specifically, selected fleet vehicles are equipped to gather wireless communication data from transmission towers while simultaneously performing other tasks. A signal testing device gathers the signal data while temporarily positioned in a selected fleet vehicle that passes within a target geographic area. The signal testing device is then transferred to other fleet vehicles that also traverse the target geographic area until the desired data from the identified area is collected. |
| US07660576B2 |
Portable information terminal and information transmitting method
The disclosed invention provides a portable information terminal making it possible to easily transmit a plurality of kinds of information. The portable information terminal allows its user to select information categories to transmit from items stored as personal and/or schedule information in its memory. The selected categories are associated with one of data class of business use, private use, and the like. When the user selects the name and instructs the terminal to transmit, the terminal reads the information belonging to selected categories of the data class from the memory and transmits them, according to the specified transmission distance or destinations. |
| US07660574B2 |
Cellular telephone device having a non-contact type integrated circuit card processing section
When a card remaining balance for a non-contact type integrated circuit card processing chip 114 has been updated, a CPU 101 indicates that the card remaining balance has been updated by performing drive control of a notification portion (information LED 8, information speaker 9) having a cellular telephone function. |
| US07660571B2 |
Programmable attenuator using digitally controlled CMOS switches
A programmable attenuator includes a resistor ladder having a plurality of taps to provide a coarse gain control. Coupled to each tap is a plurality of switches. Control logic activates or deactivates individual switches in the plurality of switches to provide a fine gain control. More specifically, a set of activated switches provides fine gain control by determining an overall attenuation level interpolated between an adjacent pair of taps. |
| US07660569B2 |
Methods and apparatus for digital jammer detection
Methods and apparatus for digital jammer detection. In an aspect, a method is provided for detecting a jammer in a received waveform. The method includes filtering the received waveform to produce a filtered waveform and subtracting the filtered waveform from the received waveform to produce a difference waveform. The method also includes determining a power differential associated with the difference waveform, and detecting the jammer if the power differential exceeds a selected threshold. In an aspect, an apparatus is provided that includes a filter configured to filter the received waveform to produce a filtered waveform and combining logic configured to subtract the filtered waveform from the received waveform to produce a difference waveform. The apparatus also includes power determination logic configured to determine a power differential associated with the difference waveform, and decision logic configured to detect the jammer if the power differential exceeds a selected threshold. |
| US07660568B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating a channel estimate using a non-pilot portion of a signal
An apparatus and a method for generating a channel estimate using a non-pilot signal. More specifically, there is provided a receiver comprising a device configured to receive a transmitted signal having a pilot portion and non-pilot portion and a channel estimator configured to calculate a channel estimate based on the non-pilot portion of the transmitted signal and to send the channel estimate to the device. A method for implementing the improvement is also provided. |
| US07660564B2 |
High-power amplifier apparatus for TDD wireless communication system
Provided is an HPA apparatus for a TDD wireless communication system. In the HPA apparatus, a power amplifier amplifies the power of an input signal. A gate bias controller turns on/off a gate bias of the power amplifier in accordance with a TDD control signal. A constellation error optimizer circuit removes a current fluctuation and a power noise, which occur when the gate bias controller turns on/off the power amplifier in a TX mode, to stabilize a drain bias thereof. |
| US07660562B2 |
Combined matching and filter circuit
A combined matching and harmonic rejection circuit with increased harmonic rejection provided by a split resonance for one or more of the capacitive or inductive elements of the circuit. At a fundamental frequency, the circuit comprises an inductive series arm with capacitive shunt arms. The capacitance of a shunt arm may be provided by two or more parallel paths, each having a capacitor and an inductor in series so that, in addition to providing the effective capacitance necessary for impedance matching at the fundamental frequency, two separate harmonics represented by the series resonances of the parallel paths are rejected. In this manner, an extra null in the circuit's stop-band may be achieved using the same number of shunt elements necessary to achieve impedance matching at the fundamental frequency. |
| US07660553B2 |
Image heating apparatus
In an image heating apparatus having an endless belt for heating an image T on a recording material P in a nip portion N, nip forming means for forming the nip portion N between itself and the belt, and regulating means for regulating the bias of the belt in the width direction thereof, even when in the rotation shape of the endless belt, there is a portion changing greatly in curvature, the damaging of the end portion of the endless belt resulting from the long-period use of the endless belt is prevented to thereby improve the durability of the belt. The regulating means is characterized by a flat plate-shaped rotary member provided at a predetermined distance from the belt and capable of being driven to rotate by contacting with the end surface of the belt with the bias of the belt. |
| US07660552B2 |
Image forming apparatus and test pattern
An image forming apparatus includes a conveying unit that conveys a transferred medium in a first direction, an image forming unit, a controller that controls the image forming unit to form a test pattern including first and second line segments slanting toward directions opposite to each other, wherein the first line segment is offset, in an offset direction, from a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second line segment is offset, in a direction opposite to the offset direction, from the second direction, a detection unit that detects passage of at least respective parts of the first and second line segments; and a calculating unit that calculates a position where the image forming unit forms an image based on a time difference between times at which the detection unit detects the passage of the at least part of the first and second line segments. |
| US07660551B2 |
Apparatus and methods for loading a donor roll
An apparatus for loading one or more donor rolls of a developer unit, comprising a developer housing having a reservoir for a developer material, a rotatable first donor roll that delivers the toner onto a moving photoconductive member, a rotatable first magnetic brush roll that receives the developer material from the reservoir and delivers the toner to the first donor roll, and a rotatable second magnetic brush roll that receives the developer material from the first magnetic brush roll and delivers the toner to the first donor roll. The apparatus may further comprise a rotatable second donor roll that receives the toner from the second magnetic brush roll and delivers the toner onto the photoconductive member, and a rotatable third magnetic brush roll that receives the developer material from the second magnetic brush roll and delivers the toner to the second donor roll. |
| US07660549B2 |
Electrophotographic image forming apparatus
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus detachably mounts a process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The apparatus includes a frame, a door, and a tray carrying the cartridge. The tray is movable among a first position inside the frame when the door is closed and the drum forms a latent image, a second position when the door is open and the tray protrudes from the frame to permit cartridge mounting and demounting, and a third position between the first and second positions where the tray is movable to the first position with closing of the door. Also, a regulating member moves between a regulating position regulating movement of the door from an opening position to a position where the tray is beyond the third position, and a permitting position permitting movement of the door from the opening to the closing position when the tray is at the third position. |
| US07660545B2 |
Coupling part, photosensitive drum, process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the electrophotographic photosensitive drum when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, the cartridge side grounding contact being provided on the projection so as to be electrically connectable with the main assembly side grounding contact |
| US07660543B2 |
Operation panel for an electrical apparatus having interchangeable sheets bearing character information dependent on a specific language
An electrical apparatus has an apparatus main body and an operation panel with operation buttons for the apparatus main body. The operation panel includes a panel base portion having the operation buttons provided on the outer surface thereof, a first sheet written with the function names of the operable buttons in the form of character information dependent on a specific language, and a second sheet written with the functions of the operation buttons in the form of specified visual information not dependent on the specific language. The first and second sheets are mounted on the outer surface of the panel base portion in such a manner that the second sheet is placed on the first sheet and the first sheet is exchangeable. The second sheet is formed with windows for enabling the character information related to the function names written on the first sheet to be seen. |
| US07660542B2 |
Image forming method and image forming apparatus for forming an image on a surface of a transfer member
In an image forming method, an intermediate transfer body made of an endless flexible member is rotated, and an image is formed on a surface of a transfer member by undergoing a secondary transfer of a developer image onto a second transfer position from the intermediate transfer body to the transfer member, the developer image undergoing a primary transfer onto a first transfer position from an image carrier to a surface of the intermediate transfer body. |
| US07660538B2 |
Optical burst mode receiver
An optical burst mode receiver comprises a photo-detector receiving an optical signal for conversion to a current signal, a transimpedance amplifier receiving and converting the current signal into first and second transmit signals, a limiting amplifier comprising first and second input terminals and an output terminal generating a data signal, and a control circuit coupled to the first and second transmit signals to verify that if the optical signal is valid. The control circuit is further coupled to the first and second input terminals of the limiting amplifier. When the optical signal is valid, the control circuit provides the first and second input terminals with the first and second transmit signals respectively to generate the data signal. When the optical signal is invalid, the control circuit provides the first and second input terminals with distinct voltage levels to maintain the data signal at a steady level. |
| US07660531B2 |
Remote access unit and radio-over-fiber network using same
A remote access unit (RAU) apparatus, coupled to a central station (CS) of an RoF network through at least one optical fiber, and which RAU apparatus includes at least one antenna, includes: first and second antenna ports coupled to the at least one antenna; first and second optical fiber ports coupled to the at least one optical fiber; a first coupler for decoupling a first downstream signal of a first duplexing method and a second downstream signal of a second duplexing method, which are input through the first optical fiber port; a circulator for outputting the first downstream signal input from the first coupler to the first antenna port and outputting a first upstream signal of the first duplexing method input from the first antenna port to the second optical fiber port; and a second coupler for outputting the second downstream signal input from the first coupler to the second antenna port and outputting a second upstream signal of the second duplexing method input from the second antenna port to the second optical fiber port. |
| US07660530B2 |
Optical transmission apparatus, optical transmission system, and optical transmission control method
An optical transmission apparatus includes a transmitting unit for transmitting an optical signal with a specified wavelength, a multiplexing unit for multiplexing the optical signal with the specified wavelength and an optical signal with a wavelength other than the specified wavelength and outputting the multiplexed signal as a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal, an optical amplifier for amplifying the wavelength division multiplexed optical signal outputted from the multiplexing unit, a level detecting unit detecting a variation of an optical power of the wavelength division multiplexed optical signal inputted to the optical amplifier, and a level adjusting unit for adjusting, when a variation of the optical power of the wavelength division multiplexed optical signal is detected by the level detecting unit, a transmitting power of the optical signal with the specified wavelength transmitted from the transmitting unit so that an output power becomes a level before the variation. |
| US07660528B2 |
Method and system for mitigating Raman crosstalk in an Ethernet passive optical network
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for mitigating Raman crosstalk between downstream data and video transmission in an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON), wherein the EPON includes an optical line terminal (OLT) and one or more optical network units (ONU's). During operation, the system transmits a data stream from the OLT to the ONU's on a first wavelength that is substantially at 1490 nm. The system also transmits a video signal stream from the OLT to the ONU's on a second wavelength that is substantially at 1550 nm. The system modifies the bit sequence for the data stream to change the power spectral distribution (PSD) for the data stream, thereby reducing power spectral content in the frequency range where significant Raman crosstalk can occur between data and video signal streams. |
| US07660526B2 |
Through channel loss prevention at a WDM node
At a WDM add/drop node of an optical fiber, an add/drop multiplexer system with opto-electric components in the through channel path has an optical switch connected in parallel with an add/drop multiplexer. Upon a power loss to the add/drop multiplexer, the optical switch bypasses the add/drop multiplexer so that WDM channel signals pass through the WDM add/drop node without interference from the unpowered add/drop multiplexer. Loss of through channels at the node is prevented. Upon a return of power, the optical switch reroutes the WDM signals on the optical fiber to the add/drop multiplexer but after the add/drop multiplexer is fully operational. |
| US07660525B2 |
Methods and apparatus for optimizing utilization in a ring network
Techniques are disclosed for generating a hitless migration plan to optimal state, given an optimal routing and wavelength assignment for demands. For example, a technique for use in performing a circuit transition in accordance with an optical ring-based network comprises the following steps/operations. First, a first (e.g., initial) circuit layout and a second (e.g., final) circuit layout for a given set of demands to be routed on the optical ring-based network are obtained. Then, a minimum number of free wavelengths required to transition the network from the first circuit layout to the second circuit layout is determined such that substantially no network service disruption occurs due to the circuit transition. |
| US07660524B2 |
Temperature compensation for transmission between nodes coupled by a unidirectional fiber ring
Transmissions over a unidirectional optical fiber coupling multiple nodes are compensated for temperature-induced effects. A round-trip delay time is determined for a signal sent from a first node to travel around the unidirectional optical fiber loop and be received back at the first node. That measured round-trip delay time is then used to account for temperature-induced effects on signal transmissions over the unidirectional optical fiber loop. This temperature compensation is particularly beneficial in applications that require a high level of timing accuracy. |
| US07660522B2 |
Camera with display panel
A camera with a display panel comprises a camera body and an LCD panel unit. The LCD panel unit is swingably attached to the camera body by a hinge portion. The LCD panel unit is provided with the display panel. A speaker portion is located on one surface (on the same side as an image display screen) of the LCD panel unit. A microphone portion is located on the other surface of the LCD panel unit, that is, a surface opposite from the image display screen. The LCD panel unit houses a circuit board including sound circuits. The circuit board is connected electrically with a speaker and a microphone through a connector portion. |
| US07660517B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing rain effects in images
Systems and methods for reducing the visibility of rain in acquired images are provided. One or more inputs relating the scene desired to be acquired by the user are used to retrieve camera settings that will reduce the visibility of rain in acquired images. Additionally, features relating to the scene may be automatically determined and used alone, or in combination with user inputs, to retrieve camera settings. The acquired images may be part of a video. Another feature of the invention is its use as a rain gauge. The camera settings are adjusted to enhance the visibility of rain, then one ore more images are acquired and analyzed for the amount and size of raindrops. From this analysis the rain rate can be determined. |
| US07660516B2 |
Recording medium, reproduction device, program, and reproduction method
An AV Clip formed by multiplexing a video stream and a graphics stream and recorded on a BD-ROM as a recording medium. The video stream constitutes a moving picture while the graphics stream enables graphics to be overlaid on the moving picture, and includes pieces of control information called a PCS and an ICS. When the AV Clip is played back immediately following playback of another digital stream, the control information indicates to the reproduction device that the presence of data already in memory of a graphics decoder is to be continuous. |
| US07660514B2 |
Video recorder and method for reserve-recording a broadcast program
A video recorder for recording a program video in a built-in HDD (hard disk drive) or the like on the basis of EPG data is easily put in a reserve-recording mode. To this end, reserve-recording candidate data is generated from the EPG data with use of recorded program information to facilitate selection of the reserve-recording mode. In a method for reserve-recording a broadcast program, similar program information is extracted from the EPG data on the basis of recorded title data held as the recorded program information, the extracted similar program data is converted to a data format usable for the reserve-recording, and is stored as reserve-recording candidate data upon reserve-recording. |
| US07660512B2 |
Systems and methods for managing frame rates during multimedia playback
Systems and methods for managing frame rates during multimedia playback are described herein. The ideal playback timing associated with video data is determined. If an actual playback timing of the video data lags the ideal playback timing, a frame rate associated with the video data is varied using a smoothing function to recover toward the ideal playback timing. An iterative frame-dropping algorithm is applied to vary the frame rate in accordance with the smoothing function. The smoothing function incorporates as a variable an average delay associated with playback of frames in the video data. |
| US07660511B2 |
Recording medium, playback device, recording method, playback program, and playback method designating cue-up position using playlist mark information
An AVClip, and a PLMark specifying a playback start position in the AVCLip, are recorded on a BD-ROM. A cue-up operation for choosing a playback start position in the AVClip is performed by three types of instructions, namely a user-skip operation, a chapter search operation, and a Link command.Among these three types of instructions, attribute information included in marker information indicates whether only a branching command operation is allowed for choosing a corresponding playback start position, or the user-skip operation and the chapter search operation are allowed adding to the branching command. |
| US07660508B2 |
Terminal shields for protecting optical components in optical assemblies
Terminal shields are provided that are configured to protect an optical terminal device. The terminal shield comprises a first portion configured to be secured with respect to the optical terminal device. The terminal shield further comprises a second portion pivotally attached to the first portion. The second portion is configured to be pivoted relative to the first portion between an open orientation to provide access to an area of the optical terminal device and a closed orientation with the terminal shield disposed about a portion of the optical terminal device. |
| US07660504B2 |
Connectorized nano-engineered optical fibers and methods of forming same
Connectorized nano-engineered optical fibers and method for forming them are disclosed. The methods include heating a mid-span bare fiber portion of the nano-engineered fiber to substantially collapse the airlines therein so as to form a substantially airline-free portion. The fiber is then inserted into a ferrule channel so that the fiber end protrudes beyond the ferrule end face, but with the substantially airline-free portion positioned at the ferrule end face. The fiber is then cleaved at or near the ferrule end face in the substantially airline-free portion, and the new fiber end face polished to create a solid fiber end face that coincides with the ferrule end face. The methods result in relatively small changes to the mode field diameter (MFD) and/or to the outer cladding diameter. |
| US07660500B2 |
Light emitting array
A light emitting device including an array of light emitters to emit first light pulses. Each of the light emitters includes a saturable absorber and a waveguide having an electrically pumped gain region to emit the first light pulses. At least one reflector structure reflects the first light pulses into a nonlinear crystal by changing the direction of the first light pulses by an angle that is in a range of 70 to 110 degrees. The reflector structure includes a sub-wavelength grating structure to change the polarization of the first light pulses. A nonlinear crystal generates second light pulses such that the optical frequency of the second light pulses is two times the optical frequency of the first light pulses. |
| US07660498B2 |
Multimode reflective tap
A glass optical reflective tap is described that optically connects two optical fibers and may tap a portion of the light that is being communicated between the optical fibers. In one embodiment of the invention, the optical filter includes two D-lenses that operate as focusing or collimator lenses. The first D-lens focuses an optical signal onto a tap filter that allows a majority of the light within an optical signal to pass and also reflects a small portion of optical signal light to a reflective port. The second D-lens focuses the passed light into a transmission port of an optical fiber. |
| US07660497B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting optical signals between components which can be rotated relative to one another (rotary transmitter)
A rotary transmitter for transmitting optical signals between two components is described. In accordance with the invention, provision is made for a fiber optic cable, optionally also a second fiber optic cable to be used to transmit the signals, the latter being suited, due to their surface treatment, to coupling signals of send elements and forwarding them to an interface in order to be registered there by a receive element. The fiber optic cables are laid such that they describe a circle upon which the transmission elements rotate about an axis of rotation. As a result, a complete data transmission is possible by way of the waveguide. The components (send elements, receive elements and the optical fiber cables) can be fastened to an annular printed circuit board by SMT. |
| US07660494B2 |
Fiber optic fuel detection system
A method and apparatus for an optical fuel detection system. The optical fuel detection system comprises an outer tube, and inner tube, and a set of optical fibers. The outer tube has a reflective inner surface capable of reflecting light and is configured to allow a liquid fuel to enter an interior of the outer tube on which the reflective inner surface is located. The inner tube is located within the outer tube in which an area is present between the reflective inner surface. The set of optical fibers are mounted to an outer surface of the inner tube. Each optical fiber has a core that is exposed on each part of an optical fiber opposite to the reflective inner surface and the optical fiber has a refractive index that is lower that the liquid fuel but higher than a gaseous form of any gas that may enter the area. |
| US07660490B2 |
Sensing device
A sensing device for sensing region identity data and generating movement data when the sensing device is moved relative to a region of a surface, the region identity data being indicative of an identity of the region, the movement data being indicative of the movement of the sensing device relative to the region, the surface having disposed upon it coded data indicative of at least one region associated with the surface, the sensing device including: region identity sensing means configured to sense the region identity data using at least some of the coded data; motion sensing means configured to generate the movement data; and communications means configured to communicate the region identity data and the movement data to a computer system. |
| US07660487B2 |
Image processing method and apparatus with image resolution conversion related to relative movement detection
When an output unit is capable of operation at a frame rate F and a resolution of x×y pixels, an imaging unit or an image input unit converts an image into an imaged frame in an internal data format having the frame rate F and a resolution of ix×jy pixels. An image converter converts the resolution of the imaged frame supplied from the imaging unit or the image input unit into a resolution that can be represented by the output unit, generating an output frame having x×y pixels. At this time, the image converter carries out predetermined resolution conversion based on a moving velocity of the image by blocks each having a predetermined size. Thus, such visual effect that an observer of the image of the output frame perceives the image at a resolution exceeding the actual resolution of the output frame is achieved. |
| US07660486B2 |
Method and apparatus of removing opaque area as rescaling an image
A method of resizing an image having a plurality of data unit blocks is disclosed. Each data unit block is a pixel matrix. The method includes the steps of generating column pseudo-pixel matrix corresponding to a data unit block, decimating/interpolating the data unit block in column direction to generate a scaled column-pixel matrix, filtering the scaled column-pixel matrix and the column pseudo-pixel matrix to generate a filtered column-pixel matrix, storing the filtered column-pixel matrix in a first buffer, generating a row pseudo-pixel matrix corresponding to the filtered column-pixel matrix stored in the first buffer, decimating/interpolating each the filtered column-pixel matrix to generate a scaled row-pixel matrix, and filtering the scaled row-pixel matrix and the row pseudo-pixel matrix to generate a resized row-pixel matrix. |
| US07660478B2 |
Method of determining PSF using multiple instances of nominally scene
A digital image acquisition system includes a portable apparatus for capturing digital images and a digital processing component for detecting, analyzing and informing the photographer regarding motion blur, and for reducing camera motion blur in an image captured by the apparatus. The digital processing component operates by comparing the image with at least one other image, for example a preview image, of nominally the same scene taken outside the exposure period of the main image. In one embodiment the digital processing component identifies at least one feature in a single preview image which is relatively less blurred than the corresponding feature in the main image, calculates a point spread function (PSF) in respect of such feature, and de-convolves the main image using the PSF. In another embodiment, the digital processing component calculates a trajectory of at least one feature in a plurality of preview images, extrapolates such feature on to the main image, calculates a PSF in respect of the feature, and de-convolves the main image using the PSF. In another embodiment the digital processing unit after determining the degree of blur notifies the photographer of the existing blur or automatically invokes consecutive captures. |
| US07660477B2 |
Multiple image artifact correction of images for a display having a partially-silvered surface
An apparatus, a method and a computer program product for correcting image data for the presence of a ghost image. The image data is for acceptance by a device that includes a partially-silvered finite-thickness reflector or similar element to provide a reflection of an image for display. The ghost image is a shifted, attenuated version of the image data. The method includes subtracting a first correction term from the image data, the first correction term being a shifted and attenuated version of the image data, the shift being the same as that between the image data and the ghost image, and the attenuation matching the attenuation of the ghost image caused by the device. The processed image data is input to the device. For a small enough attenuation of the ghost image, substantially no ghost image of the image data is displayed by the device. |
| US07660476B2 |
Image processing method and image processing apparatus
There are provided an image processing method and image processing apparatus, which can suitably access a necessary partial image, and can suppress wasteful data transfer by returning data with a small number of tiles for a thumbnail image of a low resolution or the like so as to reduce the number of times of file seek operations, and returning data with a large number of tiles for an image of a high resolution to be returned in response to an enlargement request. To this end, a server encoded data fragmentarily transmits encoded data which is hierarchically encoded by dividing an image into a plurality of tiles in response to a request from a client. The server calculates an occupation ratio of the displayed area of the image requested from the client to the entire image. When the ratio is equal to or lower than a threshold, the server selects encoded data divided to have a larger number of tiles. Otherwise, the server selects encoded data with a smaller number of tiles. The server extracts data corresponding to the displayed area from the selected encoded data, and transmits the extracted data to the client. |
| US07660470B2 |
System and method for generating superimposed image data
An image processing system is disclosed that includes a superimposing merger operation unit. The superimposing merger operation unit receives the encoded data of a main image and the encoded data of a sub image, and generates superimposedly merged encoded data by merging the encoded data of the main and sub images superimposedly. The superimposedly merged encoded data generated by the superimposing merger operation unit is configured so that the main image is stored therein and that when the superimposedly merged encoded data is decoded, each of the main image and sub image is reproduced with the sub image being reproduced superimposedly with respect to the main image. |
| US07660468B2 |
System and method for enabling image searching using manual enrichment, classification, and/or segmentation
Embodiments described herein provide for a system for creating a data collection of recognized images. The system includes an image analysis module that is configured to programmatically analyze individual images in a collection of images in order to determine information about each image in the collection. The system may also include a manual interface that is configured to (i) interface with one or more human editors, and (ii) displays a plurality of panels concurrently. Individual panels may be provided for one or more analyzed images, and individual panels may be configured to display information that is at least indicative of the one or more images of that panel and/or of the information determined from the one or more images. Additionally, the manual interface enables the one or more human editors to view the plurality of panels concurrently and to interact with each of the plurality of panels in order to correct or remove any information that is incorrectly determined from the image of that panel. |
| US07660464B1 |
User interface for high dynamic range merge image selection
Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for creating high dynamic range images. One method includes actions of establishing a current set of digital image; displaying a high dynamic range image and information identifying the current set of images, the high dynamic range image being computed from the current set of images; and repeatedly, as long as the user provides user input changing the current set of images, receiving user input changing the current set of images and in response to each user input displaying a high dynamic range image and information identifying the current set of images, where the high dynamic range image is computed from the current set of images. |
| US07660461B2 |
Automated histogram characterization of data sets for image visualization using alpha-histograms
Methods and apparatus are configured to provide data to generate and/or render (medical) images using medical volumetric data sets by electronically analyzing a medical volume data set associated with a patient that is automatically electronically divided into a plurality of local histograms having intensity value ranges associated therewith and programmatically generating at least one α-histogram of data from the local histograms used for at least one of peak detection, transfer function design or adaptation, tissue detection or tissue classification. |
| US07660455B2 |
Pattern inspection apparatus, pattern inspection method, and recording medium
First, a pattern inspection apparatus detects the first edge from an image of a pattern to-be-inspected. Next, the pattern inspection apparatus conducts matching of the image of the pattern to-be-inspected and the first reference pattern by comparing the first edge and an edge of the first reference pattern. Since, as a result of the matching, a shift quantity S1 can be obtained, and then the first reference pattern is shifted by this shift quantity S1. Subsequently the pattern to-be-inspected is inspected by comparing the first edge and the edge of the first reference pattern so shifted. In this first inspection, pattern deformation quantities are obtained and defects are detected. A shift quantity S2 can be obtained as one of the pattern deformation quantities. Next, in order to detect the second edge from the pattern image to-be-inspected, the corresponding second reference pattern is shifted by a shift quantity S1+S2. Using the second reference pattern so shifted, a profile is obtained on the pattern image to-be-inspected and the second edge is detected. Then, by comparing the second edge and the edge of the second reference pattern so shifted, the pattern to-be-inspected is inspected. Also in this second inspection, the pattern deformation quantities are obtained and defects are detected. A shift quantity S3 can be obtained as one of the pattern deformation quantities. |
| US07660454B2 |
Process for identifying FISH signals
The invention herein includes a method for combining immuno staining and FISH using covalently bound small molecule tags. Among embodiments included are methods of tagging immuno and FISH probes for treatment of biologic material. Embodiments comprise directing the fluorescently labeled immuno probe(s) to non-chromosomic portions of a biologic sample and directing labeled FISH probe(s) to chromosomic portions of the biologic sample for further identification of subcellular components. Embodiments also comprise the automatic connection of information regarding the sample to image analysis, to subcellular component identification and enumeration in order to affect biomedical decisions. |
| US07660453B2 |
Methods and devices for analysis of x-ray images
The present invention relates to methods and devices for analyzing x-ray images. In particular, devices, methods and algorithms are provided that allow for the accurate and reliable evaluation of bone structure from x-ray images. |
| US07660450B2 |
Imaging system, an x-ray imaging apparatus, a method and a computer program arranged for reducing an artifact in a three-dimensional reconstructed volume
An imaging system including an artifact reducer arranged to correct for a ring-shaped artifact in a three-dimensional reconstructed volume. The artifact reducer includes a first stage correction arranged to eliminate structured noise of an output screen of an image intensifier of an X-ray imaging apparatus using a first corrective image. A raw image of a patient is first processed with the first corrective image. The gain-corrected images are forwarded to an image deformation correction where a suitable unwarping function performed. The gain-corrected unwarped images are then made available to a second stage gain correction where a second corrective image is applied resulting in a final set of images with a substantially reduced ring-shaped artifact. The final set of images is made available to an image reconstructor arranged for further processing of the final set of images, the result thereof being visualized on a computer monitor for inspection purposes. |
| US07660449B2 |
Automated method for image analysis of residual protein
A method for measuring residual protein in a cellular specimen including obtaining a low magnification image of a candidate object of interest, filtering the candidate object of interest pixels with a low pass filter, morphologically processing the candidate object of interest pixels to identify artifact pixels, identifying the candidate object of interest by eliminating artifact pixels, acquiring a higher magnification image of the subsample for the candidate object of interest, transforming pixels of the higher magnification image in a first color space to a second color space to differentiate higher magnification candidate object of interest pixels from background pixels, identifying an object of interest from the candidate object of interest pixels in the second color space, and determining the optical density of the protein in a cell contained in a subsample, wherein the optical density is indicative of the residual component of a cellular protein. |
| US07660447B2 |
Detection of fingerprint distortion by deformation of elastic film or displacement of transparent board
A fingerprint matching apparatus includes a fingerprint distortion detection unit for detecting whether or not a correlation object intentionally distorts the finger put on the fingerprint reading face by, for example, applying excessively large force to the finger, or dragging or rolling the finger. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent a distorted fingerprint image from flowing into the fingerprint matching apparatus and therefore the probability of accurate fingerprint correlation can be increased. |
| US07660445B2 |
Method for selecting an emphasis image from an image collection based upon content recognition
A method for selecting an emphasis image from a collection of images based on facial identification comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a collection of digital images; (b) detecting image patterns indicative of the presence of one or more faces in the digital images, thereby identifying one or more detected faces for each image in which a face is detected; (c) recognizing one or more faces from the detected faces for each of the images in which a face is detected; and (d) scoring an image based on the relative frequency of occurrence of a recognized face within the collection of images, thereby producing an emphasis image characteristic of the most frequently occurring face in the collection of images. |
| US07660444B2 |
Method and apparatus for user recognition using CCD cameras
A user recognition system that utilizes two CCD cameras to obtain two images of the user from two different angles of view. A three-dimensional model of the user's face is created from the obtained images in addition. The generated model and an additional facial texture image of the user are compared with a stored user profile. When the obtained 3D model and facial texture information matches the stored profile of the user, access is granted to the system. |
| US07660442B2 |
Method and system for capturing fingerprints, palm prints and hand geometry
A system and method for capturing biometric data from a hand includes a low resolution camera for recognizing the existence of a hand and determining when the hand is in an optimal position and orientation to capture the biometric data. A plurality of high resolution cameras photographs respective sections of the palm and fingers while several lights illuminate the sections from different directions in rapid sequence. A processor then tiles together the respective images, matches the friction ridges between adjacent images, adjusts the images to account for curvature, and selects individual pixels from the several images to obtain maximum contrast. Conversions of the resulting images into standard formats, such as grayscale, black and white, or simulated rolled ink fingerprint equivalents are also included. |
| US07660441B2 |
System and method for fusing geospatial data
Automatic conflation systems and techniques which provide vector-imagery conflation and map-imagery conflation. Vector-imagery conflation is an efficient approach that exploits knowledge from multiple data sources to identify a set of accurate control points. Vector-imagery conflation provides automatic and accurate alignment of various vector datasets and imagery, and is appropriate for GIS applications, for example, requiring alignment of vector data and imagery over large geographical regions. Map-imagery conflation utilizes common vector datasets as “glue” to automatically integrate street maps with imagery. This approach provides automatic, accurate, and intelligent images that combine the visual appeal and accuracy of imagery with the detailed attribution information often contained in such diverse maps. Both conflation approaches are applicable for GIS applications requiring, for example, alignment of vector data, raster maps, and imagery. If desired, the conflated data generated by such systems may be retrieved on-demand. |
| US07660437B2 |
Neural network systems for vehicles
Method for obtaining information about an occupying item in a space in a vehicle in accordance with the invention includes obtaining images of an area above a seat in the vehicle in which the occupying item is situated and classifying the occupying item by inputting signals derived from the images into a trained neural network form which is trained to output an indication of the class of occupying item from one of a predetermined number of possible classes. The method is applicable for various vehicles including automobiles, trucks, buses, airplanes and boats. The images may be pre-processed to remove background portions of the images and then converted into signals for input into the neural network form. |
| US07660429B2 |
Error diffusion halftone watermarking
A watermarked halftone image is generated from a continuous tone image by performing error diffusion halftoning on the continuous tone image while adding a watermark to the halftone image during the halftoning. A location of the watermark in the halftone image may be based on prediction criteria. Error caused by adding the watermark may be diffused into the halftone image. |
| US07660426B2 |
Hearing aid fitting system with a camera
A hearing aid fitting system comprising a computer with fitting software and having a display for displaying parameter settings of a hearing aid and input means for adjustment of the parameters, characterized in that the system further comprises a camera for recording images of the wearer's head including the ear with the hearing aid, and a display for displaying at least one image received from the camera. |
| US07660423B2 |
Method and apparatus for maintaining ephemeral keys in limited space
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that maintains keys using limited storage space on a computing device, such as a smart card. During operation, the system receives a request at the computing device to perform an operation involving a key. While processing the request, the system obtains an encrypted key from remote storage located outside of the computing device, wherein the encrypted key was created by encrypting the key along with an expiration time for the key. Next, the system decrypts the encrypted key to restore the key and the expiration time, wherein the encrypted key is decrypted using a computing-device key, which is maintained locally on the computing device. Finally, if the expiration time has not passed, the system uses the key to perform the requested operation. Note that by storing the encrypted key in remote storage, the computing device is able to use the key without consuming local storage space to store the key. |
| US07660419B1 |
System and method for security association between communication devices within a wireless personal and local area network
The present application describes a method and system for discovering and authenticating communication devices within a wireless network. According to an embodiment, communication devices exchange public keys using multiple messages each including at least a portion of the public key of the sending device. The devices authenticate the receipt of the public key and establish a shared master key. The shared master key is used to further derive a session key for securing the application data between the communicating devices for a current session. |
| US07660417B2 |
Enhanced security design for cryptography in mobile communication systems
A basic idea according to the invention is to enhance or update the basic cryptographic security algorithms by an algorithm-specific modification of the security key information generated in the normal key agreement procedure of the mobile communication system. For communication with the mobile terminal, the network side normally selects an enhanced version of one of the basic cryptographic security algorithms supported by the mobile, and transmits information representative of the selected algorithm to the mobile terminal. The basic security key resulting from the key agreement procedure (AKA, 10) between the mobile terminal and the network is then modified (22) in dependence on the selected algorithm to generate an algorithm-specific security key. The basic security algorithm (24) is then applied with this algorithm-specific security key as key input to enhance security for protected communication in the mobile communications network. |
| US07660415B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling access to storage media
A method and apparatus for controlling access to a storage medium, such as an optically readable medium. Light sensitive or other materials that are adapted to change state and affect reading of a storage medium are used to control access to data that may be stored on optical medium and/or to control use of the medium. |
| US07660413B2 |
Secure digital couriering system and method
A digital couriering system and method for electronically moving records and images through a central user interface with a centralized security and access mechanism is disclosed. The disclosed system and method is a network that makes it possible for records comprising personal information and other non-personal information to be delivered in seconds via the Internet, instead of days through the use of the current standard couriers, such as messenger services or regular mail. Using the disclosed system and method, vital documents not only reach their destination more quickly but also in a more cost effective manner. |
| US07660412B1 |
Generation of debug information for debugging a network security appliance
Debugging of a network security appliance is facilitated by allowing for generation of debug information in a user-friendly manner. In one embodiment, the network security appliance automatically detects a presence of a file in a removable non-volatile memory and, in response, places at least one of its components in debug mode. This allows the component to write debug information to the removable non-volatile memory. Removal of the removable non-volatile memory from the network security appliance automatically triggers placement of the component in non-debug mode. The debug information generated in the network security appliance may be forwarded to a server computer for analysis. |
| US07660410B2 |
Cellular phone apparatus with keyboard
A cellular phone has a three-stage stacked structure including a ten-key case of a lower stage, a full-key case of a middle stage and a display case of an upper stage. When the cellular phone is in call style, the ten-key case is slid in the longitudinal direction to expose a dial key. When the cellular phone is in keyboard style, the display case is turned on its rotating shaft above the full-key case to expose a full keyboard. The rotating shaft is located in the middle of the display case and close to a long side thereof. |
| US07660406B2 |
Systems and methods for integrating outsourcers
Systems and methods for integrating outsourcers are provided. In this regard, a representative method includes: receiving information corresponding to resources of a first contact center; and correlating the information with other information in order to improve integration of resources of the first contact center with resources of one or more other contact centers. |
| US07660400B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatically building conversational systems
A system and method provides a natural language interface to world-wide web content. Either in advance or dynamically, webpage content is parsed using a parsing algorithm. A person using a telephone interface can provide speech information, which is converted to text and used to automatically fill in input fields on a webpage form. The form is then submitted to a database search and a response is generated. Information contained on the responsive webpage is extracted and converted to speech via a text-to-speech engine and communicated to the person. |
| US07660398B2 |
Captioned telephone service
Captioned telephone are devices intended to provide text captions to persons needing assistance with telephone communications. Captioned telephones provide text by using the services of a relay interposed between the assisted user and the hearing user, the relay providing the captioning for the assisted user. While captioned telephone service can be delivered over a single telephone line, if the assisted user has two telephone lines available for the captioning service, additional features and advantages are possible in the delivery of captioned telephone service to the user. |
| US07660396B2 |
Splitter card with integral test access
A splitter card having integral test access devices. The splitter card allows test access to be readily provided at any location where splitter cards are typically mounted (e.g., a splitter chassis). |
| US07660395B2 |
Communication channel capacity estimation
Prediction of a channel capacity is accomplished based on a TDR echo without explicitly estimating the topology of the line. The prediction is based on obtaining a measured TDR echo, determining a theoretical TDR echo for a plurality of loop lengths, estimating the equivalent TDR length based on an optimization, updating the equivalent TDR length and utilizing the updated TDR length to predict one or more of the upstream and downstream data rates. |
| US07660389B1 |
Sample alignment mechanism for X-ray diffraction instrumentation
In an X-ray diffraction apparatus, a sample holder has a sample mounted on a pin extending a known distance from a cap that mates with a magnetized base on a goniometer. The sample is mechanically positioned in the center of an X-ray beam by a first movable arm which is located in a precise position relative to the goniometer base by a positioning mechanism and a mechanism that forces the pin into engagement with the first arm. The sample has a known height on the pin with respect to the cap and therefore, the sample can repeatedly be located in the center of the X-ray beam without the use of complex centering arrangements. In order to allow the sample holder to be removed from the goniometer base, a linkage is provided that releases the pin from the first arm. |
| US07660382B2 |
Examination apparatus for perfusion studies
The invention relates to an examination apparatus and a method for perfusion studies in a patient (1). According to the method, a rotational X-ray device (10) is moved on a closed, preferably non-planar trajectory (T) while continuously generating projections of the patient (1) after the injection of a contrast agent with an injection device (20). The projections are used by a data processing system (30) in a sliding window technique to reconstruct three-dimensional images of the body volume. The resulting sequence of 3D images may be displayed on a monitor (31) to reveal the desired information about the perfusion process. |
| US07660379B2 |
Method for correcting truncation artifacts in a reconstruction method for computer tomography recordings
The invention relates to a method for correcting truncation artifacts in reconstructing computer tomography recordings. The projection images of the computer tomography recordings are extended by extrapolation. An equivalent body is determined which in the peripheral region of the projection image attenuates the radiation emanating from a radiation source of the computer tomography according to the object to be examined, and the attenuation is determined outside the projection image for extrapolated image points. A smoothing of the signal of a projection data line is effected with a digital polynomial filter to reduce the noise portion of the signal. The truncated portion of the projection data line is computed from the smoothed signal of the projection data line by an extrapolation method. |
| US07660373B2 |
Data demodulation from weak navigational satellite signals
A method to determine the polarity of navigation data from weak satellite signals is disclosed. After bit edge is detected, a method in frequency domain is used to determine the present bit polarity with the help of several prior data bits which are already known, is disclosed. The impact of residual frequency can be mitigated by frequency transform. This method is especially useful in removing the data modulation in the weak signal for subsequent long coherent integrations. |
| US07660372B2 |
Efficient header acquisition
In an integrated satellite receiver, improved header acquisition techniques are described for quickly locating a header symbol sequence in a data stream substantially implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit. To identify the location of a header symbol sequence in a data stream, a selected header acquisition technique employs a real time correlator followed by an accumulator. Once accumulation over a predetermined number of frames is finished, the largest or maximum value among the accumulated correlator values is identified. If the maximum value exceeds a threshold, it will be declared as a peak and the address associated is the peak timing. |
| US07660371B2 |
Normalized auto-correlators
Embodiments of methods and systems for auto-correlating wireless signal samples are provided. Such embodiments include local normalization of each signal sample by a root mean square level of samples that preceded it, prior to any summation of the auto-correlation procedure. These auto-correlated signal samples are then used to distinguish downlink from uplink signals present within the signal sample set. Other embodiments include auto-correlation techniques in which no normalization is performed at any time with respect to the summation procedure. Such auto-correlated samples are then scanned to detect a preamble symbol or symbols within the signal samples. Reliable and expeditious wireless communications under WiMAX 802.16e and other protocols can be achieved in accordance with the present embodiments. |
| US07660365B2 |
Communications device and communications method
A communications device 100, which performs data communication, includes an AC cycle sensor 30 which is connected to a power line 106 supplied with an a.c. voltage and generates a synchronous signal SS at timing of an a.c. voltage waveform AC of the power line 106; a data communicator 10 for performing data communication; and a communications controller 20 which performs communication of a control signal including information showing at least one of a communications device and a communications standard and controls the data communicator 101. When the a.c. voltage supplied to the power line 106 is an N-phase and when the cycle of the a.c. voltage waveform is T, data communication to be performed in a communication period subsequent to the period is controlled on the basis of the control signal included in the period of T/2M on condition that M is a natural multiple of N. |
| US07660364B2 |
Method of transmitting serial bit-stream and electronic transmitter for transmitting a serial bit-stream
The present invention relates to an electronic transmitter for serially transmitting bit sequences. The electronic transmitter includes a detection device 10 and a transmitting device 12. The detection device 10 is adapted to detect a predefined bit sequence for transmittal. The predefined bit sequence is susceptible to inter-symbol-interference. The transmitting device 12 is adapted to transmit serially the detected predefined bit sequence in such a way, that a duration for transmittal of a particular bit in said predefined bit sequence is longer than a duration of transmittal of remaining bits in said predefined bit sequence. |
| US07660363B2 |
Minimum error rate lattice space time codes for wireless communication
A lattice space time coding arrangement for transmission systems is disclosed which enables construction of lattice space time codes with improved error rate performance for arbitrary receiver structures. |
| US07660360B2 |
Peak-to-average power ratio reduction with threshold limited selection for coded OFDM systems
Disclosed is a coded orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) system and method for reducing a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). The system and method include a modulator configured to modulate (e.g., using quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM)) coded bits into symbols. The system and method also include an inverse discrete fourier transform (IDFT) module to perform an IDFT on the symbols to produce an OFDM signal. The system and method measure the PAPR of the OFDM signal and transmit the signal to a receiver if the PAPR of the signal is less than a threshold PAPR. |
| US07660357B2 |
PES data processing
A system and method for detecting PES headers is presented herein. PES headers are detected by a combination of hardware and firmware. Hardware logic is used to detect the PES start codes while multithreaded firmware us used to process the packet. |
| US07660356B2 |
Compressed video format with partial picture representation
A method for decoding a digital video bit-stream comprising the steps of (A) receiving the digital video bit-stream having (i) a first portion containing image information and (ii) a second portion containing overscan information and (B) extracting the overscan information from the video bit-stream. The overscan information describes a shape of a overscan region absent from the digital video bit-stream. |
| US07660354B2 |
Temporal error concealment for bi-directionally predicted frames
A method and apparatus to process erroneous bi-directionally predicted multimedia data is described. The method includes determining temporal prediction data for the erroneous multimedia data, and estimating the erroneous multimedia data based on the determined temporal prediction data. The temporal prediction data includes data that was used to predict a forward reference section and/or a backward reference section. In some aspects, the temporal prediction data comprises motion vector data of the reference frames which is scaled to correspond to a frame containing the erroneous data. |
| US07660353B2 |
Picture level adaptive frame/field coding for digital video content
A method and system of encoding and decoding digital video content. The digital video content comprises a stream of pictures which can each be intra, predicted, or bi-predicted pictures. Each of the pictures comprises macroblocks that can be further divided into smaller blocks. The method entails encoding and decoding each picture in said stream of pictures in either frame mode or in field mode. |
| US07660350B2 |
High-speed multi-mode receiver
A data receiver is provided which is operable to receive a signal controllably pre-distorted and transmitted by a transmitter, to generate information for adjusting the pre-distortion applied to the signal transmitted by the transmitter, and to transmit the information to the transmitter. The receiver is further operable to perform adaptive equalization to receive the signal transmitted by the transmitter. |
| US07660349B2 |
Transmit equalizer compensation for probe receivers
Transmit equalization over high speed digital communication paths may be compensated in a receiver for a probe on that path. In one example, a probe input provides a signal from an electronic communications path, the signal having been processed by a transmit equalizer. A filter circuit processes the signal to compensate for the transmit equalizer, and a decoder decodes the processed signal and produces an output for use by test equipment. |
| US07660348B2 |
Discrete multitone transmission and reception
Discrete multitone transmission assigns bits to tones for transmission. The bits are assigned using permutations of bits and tones that cycle through a sequence of permutations in successive frames. |
| US07660338B2 |
Hybrid spread spectrum radio system
Systems and methods are described for hybrid spread spectrum radio systems. A method, includes receiving a hybrid spread spectrum signal including: fast frequency hopping demodulating and direct sequence demodulating a direct sequence spread spectrum signal, wherein multiple frequency hops occur within a single data-bit time and each bit is represented by chip transmissions at multiple frequencies. |
| US07660337B2 |
Lifting apparatus and method of lifting carbon based electrodes
A lifting apparatus for transporting a carbon based electrode having a threaded male end. The apparatus includes a casing having a top end and a bottom end. The casing defines an electrode aperture from the bottom end shaped to accept the threaded male end of the carbon based electrode to secure the lifting apparatus to the electrode. An attachment aperture is positioned in the top end while an attachment element is positioned in the attachment aperture and operatively engaging the top end of the casing. The attachment element is positioned to accept engagement from a crane or other powered lifting device, while the lifting apparatus is preferably manually attachable to the electrode. |
| US07660334B1 |
Single printed circuit board configuration for a data storage system
A data storage system includes a first storage processor for storing and retrieving data from a data storage array for at least one host computer; a second storage processor, coupled to the first storage processor by a communication link, for storing and retrieving data from the data storage array for the at least one host computer; a number M of multiplexers, M being greater than one, each of the multiplexers being coupled to the first storage processor and the second storage processor for receiving data signals from the first storage processor and the second storage processor and transmitting the data signals to a disk drive device; a number A of arbiters, each being coupled to the first storage processor, the second storage processor and a number N of the plurality of multiplexers, for receiving arbiter control signals from the first storage processor and the second storage processor and transmitting multiplexer control signals to each of the number N of the plurality of multiplexers; and a midplane device coupled between the plurality of multiplexers and the data storage array for transferring the data signals from the plurality of multiplexers to the data storage array. The first storage processor, the second storage processor, the plurality of multiplexers, the plurality of arbiters and the midplane are all mounted on a single printed circuit board. |
| US07660331B1 |
Method and apparatus for aligning communication signals
A pilot signal is prepended to a communication signal to form a test signal. The test signal is transmitted through a communication network and received from the communication network. A temporal marker in the pilot signal portion of the received test signal is identified. The communication signal portion of the received test signal is known to begin at a specified time following the temporal marker. Using the identified temporal marker and the specified time, a beginning of the communication signal portion is identified within the received test signal. The identified beginning of the communication signal portion in the received test signal is then aligned with a beginning of an undegraded version of the communication signal. |
| US07660330B1 |
Clock synchronization and distribution over an optical Ethernet network
A novel clock synchronization mechanism for recovering and distributing a centralized clock source synchronously over asynchronous networks such as optical Ethernet. A clock conversion scheme is provided whereby multiple clocks having diverse rates are converted to clock signals all having a common rate. One of the converted clocks is chosen and all downstream clock signals is derived from this clock. A high quality clock source located anywhere on the network is distributed throughout the network thus turning an asynchronous Ethernet network into a synchronous one. Synchronous TDM data streams can then be easily transported over the Ethernet network. |
| US07660329B2 |
Managing protocol information used in exchanging communications
A method and apparatus for managing protocol information used in exchanging communications is provided. One or more protocol profiles are stored. Each of the protocol profiles is associated with a protocol. One or more transaction profiles are stored. Each of the transaction profiles identifies a combination of protocol profiles. One or more trading partner transaction profiles are stored. Each of the trading partner transaction profiles identifies a configuration of protocols for exchanging communications with a receiving party. After storing the profiles, a particular parameter value of a particular protocol profile is updated to identify an updated value without updating any of the transaction profiles. Updating the particular parameter value causes the updated value to be inherited by at least one of the transaction profiles. An application may obtain the updated value by accessing a profile that references the particular protocol profile. |
| US07660323B2 |
Cascade control system for network units
A network unit for the reception and forwarding of data packets and for use in a stack of similar units includes a data processor and cascade control logic for the exchange of control frames with others of said units in the stack. The cascade control logic is operative to cooperate by means of the control frames in an automatic process for incrementally applying stack numbers to the units in the stack. The cascade control logic can retain a stack number in storage and the data processor is operative to execute a program to apply to the network unit and the other units progressive stack numbers which accommodate previously applied and retained stack numbers. The network unit can act as a master applying the program to the other units and as a slave whereupon it receives a stack number determined by another unit in the stack. The program may determine the validity of a set of numbers applied to units in the stack by computing the aggregate of numbering gaps between numbered units and comparing the aggregate with a predetermined maximum. The program distinguishes between units which are in an automatic numbering mode and a non-automatic numbering mode and disregards units in the non-automatic numbering mode in the application of progressive stack numbers. |
| US07660322B2 |
Shared adapter
In a first aspect, a first method is provided for sharing a multiple queue Ethernet adapter. The first method includes the steps of receiving a frame or packet in the adapter and determining whether the frame or packet is for one or more of a plurality of partitions that share the adapter. If the frame or packet is for one or more of the plurality of partitions that share the adapter, the method further includes (1) storing the frame or packet in an adapter cache memory; (2) determining one or more of the plurality of partitions to which the frame or packet is to be sent; and (3) transferring the frame or packet from the adapter cache memory to a receive queue of each of the one or more partitions to which the frame or packet is to be sent. Numerous other aspects are provided. |
| US07660321B2 |
System and method for prioritizing session initiation protocol messages
There is provided a system and method for prioritizing session initiation protocol (“SIP”) messages. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a method of prioritizing SIP messages in a network, the method comprising receiving SIP messages in a first order from one or more other servers of the network, wherein each of the received SIP messages comprises one or more priority indicators, scheduling the received SIP messages into a second order based on one or more of the priority indicators, and processing the scheduled SIP messages in the second order. |
| US07660319B2 |
Mobile terminal device, topology management device, location management device, and communication method
A mobile communication system is constructed including a plurality of cluster heads, cluster members, a topology management device, and a location management device. Each cluster head exchanges routing information with only each cluster member in a cluster to which the terminal itself (host terminal) belongs, and with only a cluster head in another cluster adjacent to the cluster to which the host terminal belongs. Each cluster member exchanges routing information with only a cluster head in a cluster to which the host terminal belongs. The topology management device and location management device receive the routing information from each cluster head only. |
| US07660314B2 |
Apparatus and method for multi-protocol route redistribution in a massively parallel router
A router for interconnecting external devices coupled to the router. The router comprises: i) a switch fabric; ii) a plurality of routing nodes coupled to the switch fabric, wherein each of the plurality of routing nodes is capable of exchanging data packets with the external devices and with other ones of the plurality of routing nodes via the switch fabric; and iii) a first control processor associated with a first one of the plurality of routing nodes capable of generating a first refined redistribution metric associated with a first route in a routing table of the first routing node. The first control processor generates the first refined redistribution metric based on 1) a first default redistribution metric associated with a first routing protocol associated with the first route and 2) a first routing protocol metric received from the first routing protocol associated with the first route. |
| US07660308B2 |
Transmission apparatus
A transmission apparatus that does not include a plurality of switches, that cross-connects a signal, and that can handle various redundancy settings determined by a user. An address information generation section generates address information indicative of the destination of a signal, from redundancy setting information and cross connect setting information. An activation information setting section activates and deactivates activation information included in the address information when failure occurs. An address information insertion section inserts the address information stored in an address information storage section into the signal and outputs the signal to a bus. A signal output section receives the signal having the address information that is the same as own address information and outputs the signal to a next stage in the case of the activation information indicating activation. |
| US07660305B1 |
Method of and device for transmitting data packets on a network
Data packets are transmitted from a network device having plural network interfaces. One of the plural network interfaces is designated for receiving data packets from a source address. First and second data packets are received from a device at the source address. It is determined if the second data packet was received over a network interface on the network device other than the designated network interface. If the second data packet was received over a network interface other than the designated network interface, it is determined if the first and second data packets were received within a predetermined period of time. If the first and second data packets were received within the predetermined period of time, the second data packet is discarded. If the first and second data packets were not received within the predetermined period of time, the second data packet is transmitted from the network device and a forwarding table on the network device is updated. |
| US07660302B2 |
Method and system for inter-fabric routing
A Fibre Channel Switch element and method for Inter-Fabric routing is provided. The switch element includes a switch port whose worldwide port number is used in a zone set to enable Inter-Fabric frame routing without using Inter-Fabric frame headers. The method includes querying a Name Server to determine world wide port numbers of devices; storing query results in an Inter-Fabric Name Server module; extracting world wide port numbers for each switch port; registering Proxy Devices with the Name Server, wherein the Proxy Devices interface with the switch ports as if it was they were actual devices to route Inter-Fabric frames; and establishing Fabric Address Translator entries so that source identification values and destination identification values are mapped to route Inter-Fabric frames without using Inter-Fabric frame headers. |
| US07660301B2 |
System and method for network coding and/or multicast
A system and/or method for relaying messages in a network (e.g., a mobile network) are provided. Certain example embodiments allow communications between nodes to be network coded, multicast, and compressed (e.g. compressed within layers and/or among layers). Preferably, rateless forward error correction (FEC) packets, or simulations and/or approximations thereof, are included by network coding. Furthermore, data preferably is transmitted along the max-flow min-cut of the network. |
| US07660299B2 |
Network-based call interface device for real-time packet protocol calls
A network-based call interface device is used for real-time packet protocol calls, such as, but not limited to, interfacing real-time calls between client devices and call services/destination devices. The network-based call interface device includes a virtual phone and a virtual server-phone communicating with each other. The virtual phone communicates with the call server making the network-based call interface device appear to the call server as a client device; and the virtual server-phone communicates with the client device making the network-based call interface device appear to the client device as call server. |
| US07660294B2 |
Voice-over-IP enabled chat
A network-based system and method for providing anonymous voice communications using the telephone network and data communications links under the direction of a Call Broker and associated network elements. A user (the call initiator) present in a text chat room session establishes a data connection to Call Broker and, after qualifying for access (e.g., using credit card information) and providing a callback number, receives voice session information and participant access codes for each desired participant in a voice call. The initiator causes session information and participant codes to be passed to one or more selected chat participants in the current text chat room. When a selected participant uses the received session information, and enters the received participant code and a callback number, the Call Broker in cooperation with a Network Adjunct Processor (NAP) completes voice links to the initiator and the selected participant(s). |
| US07660288B2 |
Radio communication device
Disclosed is a wireless communication system capable of performing demodulation at the receiving side without substantially deteriorating BER characteristics, regardless of carrier frequency error existing among plural wireless communication systems in SDMA of uplink. The wireless communication system includes plural antennas; a MIMO processor that decomposes a reception signal the plural antennas received from plural transmitters into transmission signals transmitted from the respective transmitters; a FFT processor that carries out OFDM demodulation; and a demapping unit that obtains data from signals which were previously converted into sub-carrier signals by the FFT processor, in which the MIMO processor is installed ahead of the FFT processor for sake of the processing sequence of a receive signal, and even though a carrier frequency offset exists in the reception signal MIMO processing is performed prior to OFDM demodulation to split the reception signal from plural transmitters. |
| US07660286B2 |
Jitter management for packet data network backhaul of call data
Managing packet data network jitter is disclosed. A first call data associated with a mobile network communication session is received. A second call data that is older than the first call data is dropped from a buffer if required to make room in the buffer for the first call data. |
| US07660283B2 |
Wireless communication terminal and control method therefor
A dual mode mobile wireless communication terminal detects a reception field level of another second communication system when the reception field level of a first communication system, with which communication is currently taking place, has dropped to or below a prescribed threshold. When the second communication system has priority, the terminal selects the second communication system. When prescribed operation is executed on the terminal, the terminal can also detects a reception field level of another second communication system. |
| US07660282B2 |
Congestion control in a wireless data network
Techniques for congestion control are disclosed. In one embodiment, a base station allocates a shared resource using a combination of zero or more individual grants and zero or more common grants, and generates a busy signal in response to loading conditions that exceed a pre-determined level. In another embodiment, a subset of transmitting mobile stations reduce their transmission rate in response to a busy signal. The subset may include autonomous transmission, commonly granted transmission, individually granted transmission, or any combination thereof. In various embodiments, rate adjustment may be probabilistic or deterministic. In one embodiment, a rate table is deployed, and a mobile station decreases or increases the transmission rate from one rate in the table to a lower or higher rate in the table, respectively, in response to the busy signal. Various other aspects are also presented. These aspects have the benefit of providing efficient congestion control, avoiding excessive interference and increasing capacity. |
| US07660281B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing enhanced messages on common control channel in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for providing new configurations for transmitting control information between a mobile terminal and a network using a common control channel (CCCH) logical channel/transport channel. The new configurations enable messages to be sent that are larger than currently allowed and the availability of the new configurations is indicated such that mobile terminals that do not support the new configurations are not impacted. |
| US07660277B2 |
Apparatus and an associated method for facilitating communications in a radio communication system that provides for data communications at multiple data rates
Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating operation of a radio communication system that provides for multi rate data communications, such as a CDMA 2000 system that provides for 1xEV-DV communication services. A supplemental pilot, or control, signal generator embodied at a mobile station generates a supplemental pilot, or control, signal that is sent on a newly defined supplemental pilot, or control, channel. As the data rates of data communicated upon a reverse supplemental channel changes, corresponding changes are made to the power level of the reverse supplemental pilot, or control, signal. |
| US07660268B2 |
Determining the presence of IP multicast routers
A method for determining the presence of the multicast routers using existing protocols is disclosed. The method includes setting a time interval between a first set of query messages to each of a plurality of routers to a number greater than a querier timeout period used by the routers. The querier timeout period transitions each of the routers into a querier. The presence of each of the routers is revealed by sending a second set of query messages. Membership report messages are then sent to the routers. |
| US07660266B2 |
Automatic functionality generating mechanism for network connecting appliances
To provide a system enabling a function for implementing providing of a service desired by an end user to be automatically generated in a network connecting appliance.When a resource server (RS) receives a request for a specification which is desired to be implemented from a particular service adapter (SA), the requested specification is analyzed by a specification analyzing device, a virtual service adapter is formed by collecting functional modules required to implement the specification, and the formed virtual service adapter is provided for the requesting service adapter. The virtual service adapter is automatically set as a physical service adapter to implement an actually requested function in a service adapter at an end user's place. |
| US07660251B2 |
Method and apparatus for hierarchial scheduling of virtual paths with underutilized bandwidth
A method and apparatus are provided for implementing hierarchical scheduling of oversubscribed virtual paths with underutilized bandwidth that works for both ATM (cell) and IP (frame) scheduling. A scheduler includes a first calendar for pipes and autonomous flows and a second calendar for pipe flows. A winner of a pipe or an autonomous flow is identified from the first calendar. Responsive to an identified winner pipe, a pipe queue is checked for an associated pipe flow for the winner pipe. Responsive to identifying an empty pipe queue for the winner pipe, a pipe win credit is assigned to the pipe without reattaching the winner pipe to the first calendar. Then a next winner is identified from the first calendar. When a winner pipe flow is identified from the second calendar and the pipe win credit is assigned to the pipe for the winner pipe flow, then the winner pipe flow is serviced without delay. |
| US07660246B2 |
Method and apparatus for scaling input bandwidth for bandwidth allocation technology
A method and apparatus are provided for scaling an input bandwidth for bandwidth allocation technology. An original bandwidth count value of an input flow is received. A bandwidth scaler constant is provided and used for scaling the received original bandwidth count value to provide a scaled bandwidth value between zero and one. The scaled bandwidth value is stored and used for calculating a transmit probability for the input flow. |
| US07660243B2 |
Method for management of voice-over IP communications
Method for admitting new voice calls to a VoIP network. Various points in the network are polled to generate a link utilization parameter. Parameters denoting threshold values of link utilization in the network are compared to the link utilization parameter. A first comparison is made between a first (current) link utilization parameter and first and second link utilization threshold parameters. Then, a second comparison is made between the current link utilization parameter and a second (previous) value of link utilization. A calculation of new calls allowed into the network is performed based on these comparisons and whether the current level of link utilization is rising or falling when compared to a previous level of link utilization. |
| US07660241B2 |
Load balancing in a virtual private network
A network system (10). The system comprises a plurality of nodes (PE, CE). Each node in the plurality of nodes is coupled to communicate with at least one other node in the plurality of nodes. Further, each node in the plurality of nodes is coupled to communicate to another node via a respective primary path and via a respective backup path. Still further, each node in the plurality of nodes is operable to perform the steps of, when receiving network traffic as a receiving node, detecting delay (110, 120; 130, 140; 160, 170) in traffic received from a transmitting node, and, in response to detecting delay, communicating a signal to the transmitting node. In response to the signal, the transmitting node is operable to dynamically adjust (150; 190) a distribution of traffic through a respective primary path and a respective backup path from the transmitting node to the receiving node. |
| US07660237B2 |
Synchronous clock supply system and synchronous clock supply method
A switching unit (1011) receives video data (103) sent from a device (102), and sends an ATM cell synchronized with the clock to switching units (1012-1014) by a signal (including optical data) containing a frequency component serving as a synchronous clock supply source. If a fault occurs midway along a line, the switching unit (1012) which detects the fault sends an AIS cell to an OAM connection (109). The termination switching unit (1014) switches a port f for receiving a synchronous clock to a port g, and sends back an RDI cell. The switching units (1013, 1012) which have received the RDI cell switch the synchronous clock to ports e and c and receive it, thus obtaining an identical clock. |
| US07660235B2 |
Low latency shared data path allocation
A fast shared path allocation technique is disclosed. Network nodes are pre-configured such that data from multiple data sources or multiple primary data paths may be sent via a shared secondary data path. Merge nodes merge input from a plurality of input ports onto an output port. The merge nodes implement a blocking function such that upon receipt of a signal from one of the input ports, the signals from the other input ports are blocked from reaching the output port. Upon a triggering event indicating a need to allocate the shared path, the data is first sent to the merge node where it is appropriately merged onto the output link and transmitted towards its destination. Only after the data has been sent does the merge node block the remaining input ports from reaching the output port. This blocking may be performed automatically by the merge node or by conventional network signaling. |
| US07660233B2 |
Reporting dial-up access problems using a real-time automated system
A method for reporting and responding to dial-up connectivity problems can include the step of establishing a voice connection between a caller and an automated response system. The caller can be automatically prompted for a dial-up access number that is problematic for the caller. A determination can be automatically made as to whether the received dial-up access number is valid. A potential problem can be automatically reported to a network operations center responsible for the access number via a data connection. The caller can be automatically presented with at least one alternative dial-up access number via the voice connection. |
| US07660231B2 |
Interference cancellation method and receiver
The invention relates to an interference cancellation method and a receiver including interference canceller for suppressing a narrow-band interference signal from a received signal, converter for performing an orthonormal conversion of the signal into subspace components of a desired subspace, a decoder connected operationally to the output of the interference canceller, in which decoder an estimate for the received signal is obtained. The output of the decoder is operationally connected to the interference canceller, and the converter is arranged to determine an estimate for narrow-band interference properties, in which determination the estimate obtained from the output of the decoder is subtracted from the received signal before the orthonormal conversion is performed. By using the determined estimate, the interference canceller is arranged to reduce effect of the subspace components including narrow-band interference signals from the received signal. |
| US07660227B2 |
Optical information recording medium based on interference of converging spherical waves
An improved light-readable information recording medium is provided that comprises an optical data storage structure having lands and pits, in which the depth of the pits is about: λ 2 n m 1 + M T 2 , wherein λ is the wavelength of light used to read the information recording medium, m is the order of interference selected from a group consisting of odd integers, MT is the transverse magnification, and n is the refractive index encountered by the reading light inside the pits. The invention also provides an improved optical reading system with the parameters satisfying the relationship: nd = λ 2 n m 1 + M T 2 , wherein λ is the wavelength of light used to read the information recording medium, m is the order of interference selected from a group consisting of odd integers, MT is the transverse magnification, n is the refractive index encountered by the reading light inside the pits, and d is the depth of the pits. |
| US07660226B2 |
Optical system, optical pickup apparatus, and optical disk apparatus
The present invention discloses an optical system for extracting signal light components from a beam including the signal light components and stray light components. The optical system includes a condensing optical element situated on an optical path of the beam for condensing the beam, a polarization changing unit for changing the state of polarization of at least one of the signal light components and the stray light components included in the incident beam transmitted through the condensing optical element, and an extracting element for extracting the signal light components included in the beam transmitted through the polarization changing unit. |
| US07660222B2 |
Optical disk apparatus and information recording/reproduction method
An optical disk apparatus including: a light source; an objective lens for converging light emitted from the light source toward an optical disk; a first photodetection device for detecting reflected light from the optical disk and outputting a first signal; a signal processing section for receiving the first signal and generating a signal containing information recorded on the optical disk; a second photodetection device for detecting a portion of the light emitted from the light source and outputting a second signal; a light source driving section for receiving the second signal, and based on the second signal, driving the light source so that output power of the light source equals a target value; and an amplitude fluctuation detection section for detecting an amplitude fluctuation amount of the second signal, and if the amplitude fluctuation amount exceeds a predetermined value, changing driving characteristics of the light source driving section. |
| US07660220B2 |
Optical disc drive apparatus and signal recording method
An optical disc drive apparatus includes: a laser beam source; a collector device disposed as facing a disc that can record a signal, which collects a laser beam emitted from the laser beam source onto the disc; a record processing module which records the signal on the disc through the collector device while modulating laser power of the laser beam source; a reflecting light level detecting module which receives the reflecting light when the signal is recorded and detects a level of the reflecting light; a laser power control module which controls the laser power when the signal is recorded based on the detected level of the reflecting light; a tilt control module which controls a tilt angle between the disc and the collector device based on the detected level of the reflecting light; and a switching module which switches between control of the laser power and the tilt angle. |
| US07660216B2 |
Disk reproducing apparatus and method
To provide a disk reproducing apparatus capable of reading data at a lower error rate without requiring a complicated circuit configuration. An embodiment of the present invention provides a disk reproducing apparatus for reproducing a data signal based on a signal read from a disk and having a clock cycle that is an integral multiple of a cycle of a reproduction clock, including: a clock generating unit generating the reproduction clock based on an input signal obtained by binarizing the signal read from the disk; an error component detecting unit detecting an error component in the input signal; a threshold storage unit storing a threshold value for determining the error component; and a data signal reproducing unit reproducing the data signal in the input signal based on the error component detected by the error component detecting unit and the threshold value stored in the threshold storage unit. |
| US07660213B2 |
Focus layer jump control circuits and methods of controlling focus layer jumps used by the same
A focus layer jump control circuit may include a signal processing block that converts an analog focus error (FE) signal into a digital FE signal, in response to the analog FE signal and a FE selection signal; a layer jump control block that outputs a second control signal, in response to the digital FE signal and a reference clock signal; a focus main filter block that outputs first and second compensation signals that amplify the digital FE signal and that compensate for a phase of the digital FE signal, in response to an internal selection signal; an exponent signal generator that generates an exponent signal, in response to a focus layer jump indicating signal and a first control signal; and an output circuit that outputs a first-order difference signal using the exponent signal, the first compensation signal, and the second compensation signal, in response to the second control signal. |
| US07660207B1 |
Digital audio devices
An alarm clock radio is provided that handles downloaded audio files and streaming digital audio files. The alarm clock radio may have buttons and displays that allow the user to adjust various alarm clock radio settings. The user may also adjust settings remotely over the Internet or over an in-home network. The user may customize the audio content that is provided with the alarm clock radio. Advertisements may be provided to the user. The user may be provided with an opportunity to subscribe to a content service. Content such as Internet radio station content, e-mail, news and other audio content may be provided to the user from the service. The user may set reminders for particular times and dates using the alarm clock radio. The alarm clock radio may also have a telephone handset. The alarm clock radio may have buttons and knobs and may provide on-screen options that allow the user to tune to AM and FM and Internet radio stations and to control the operation of the alarm clock radio. |
| US07660204B2 |
Data acquisition method of non-real time transmitting seismic data acquisition system applied in mountainous area
A data acquisition method of a non-real time transmitting seismic data acquisition system applied in mountainous areas. The format of original record file names is an 8 digit file name representing absolute time together with 3 digit extension names representing the equipment's serial number. The detonating units generate SPS format spreadsheets according to the above file name generation method. SPS format spreadsheets of several detonating units are combined on the basis of the SPS format spreadsheets generated by every detonating unit and then put in a data retrieval unit. The effective file names, which are recorded in the SPS format spreadsheets while detonating units are operating, are based on the former 8 digits. The acquisition unit and the data retrieval unit are connected by network lines, and a data retrieving program will run by the data retrieval unit. This method is exclusive and feasible to manage and search the seismic data. The method solves the technically difficult problems of data management for original record files and the difficulties of retrieving data as result of non-real time transmitting characteristics of the system. |
| US07660203B2 |
Systems and methods for seismic data acquisition employing asynchronous, decoupled data sampling and transmission
Systems and methods for asynchronously acquiring seismic data are described, one system comprising one or more seismic sources, a plurality of sensor modules each comprising a seismic sensor, an A/D converter for generating digitized seismic data, a digital signal processor (DSP), and a sensor module clock; a seismic data recording station; and a seismic data transmission sub-system comprising a high precision clock, the sub-system allowing transmission of at least some of the digitized seismic data to the recording station, wherein each sensor module is configured to periodically receive from the sub-system an amount of the drift of its clock relative to the high precision clock. |
| US07660195B2 |
Attenuation mapping apparatus, systems, and methods
In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may include generating attenuation values associated with a set of multiple signals received by multiple receivers from a transmitted signal as a function of reception time and material velocity. The attenuation values may be stored in a memory and/or displayed on a display, perhaps in conjunction with a semblance map. |
| US07660193B2 |
Integrated seismic sensor cable
A seismic cable (110) and a method for producing a seismic cable are disclosed. The seismic cable (110) comprises a sensor module (130); at least one lead (210) to or from the sensor module (130); a stress member (225) extending continuously through the sensor module (130); and a sheath (230) enclosing the leads (210) and the stress member (225), the sheath (230) terminating at each end of the sensor module (130), and at least one mechanical guide (240) in the sensor module (130) deflecting the stress member (230). The method comprises providing a cable core including a stress member (225) and a lead (210); enclosing the cable core in a sheath (230); providing an opening in the sheath (230); and assembling a sensor module (130) to the cable core over the opening such that the stress member (225) extends continuously through the sensor module (130). |
| US07660192B2 |
Seismic streamer receiver selection systems and methods
Systems and methods for determining inline skew of one or more seismic streamers are disclosed. One system embodiment includes a seismic streamer including a plurality of receivers, a skew detector adapted to detect inline skew of the streamer, and a receiver selector adapted to select which receivers in the streamer to use in data acquisition based on the detected streamer inline skew. 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. |
| US07660189B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for determining position of marine seismic acoustic receivers
Apparatus, systems and methods for calculating position of marine seismic acoustic receivers, and for estimating sound velocity profile of a fluid, are disclosed. One position calculation system includes a vessel, two or more vessel hull-mounted transmitters, a plurality of acoustic receivers on a cable being deployed from the vessel into the fluid, and a calculation unit. The calculation unit may be adapted to calculate position of the receivers, and may be used in calculating the sound velocity profile in the fluid and correcting raw seismic data. 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. 37 CFR 1.72(b). |
| US07660186B2 |
Memory clock generator having multiple clock modes
An integrated circuit 2 with a memory 4 is provided with clock generator circuitry 18. The clock generator circuitry 18 operates in a first mode in which the memory clock signal mclk is generated in dependence upon both the rising edge and the falling edge of a source clock signal sclk. In a second mode of operation the clock generator circuitry 18 generates the memory clock signal mclk following the rising edge of the source clock signal sclk and then using a self-timing delay path 26 to trigger the falling edge of the memory clock signal mclk. The first mode of operation can be used during write operations and during read operations at the lowest one of a plurality of different dynamically selectable voltage levels of operation of the memory 4. The second mode of self-timed memory clock signal can be used during reads at operating voltages other than the lowest operating voltage. |
| US07660183B2 |
Low power memory device
In a memory device having a memory core and a signal interface, receiving a command that specifies at least a portion of a memory access. During the memory access, transferring data between the memory core and the signaling interface, and transferring the data between the signaling interface and an external signal path, and prior to transferring the data between the signaling interface and the external signal path, receiving enable information to selectively enable at least a first memory resource and a second memory resource, wherein each of the first memory resource and the second memory resource performs a control function associated with the memory access. |
| US07660179B2 |
Apparatus for controlling activation period of word line of volatile memory device and method thereof
An apparatus for controlling an activation period of a word line of a volatile memory device is disclosed. The apparatus adjusts the activation period of the word line using a member for adjusting a pulse width of a pulse signal that activates the word line according to an operation mode of the volatile memory device. |
| US07660174B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having wafer burn-in test mode
A semiconductor memory device includes an enable signal generator configured to generate an enable signal in response to a plurality of burn-in test signals; a test mode signal generator configured to generate a plurality of peripheral region test mode signals and a plurality of core region test mode signals corresponding to the burn-in test signals in response to the enable signal; a core region controller configured to control circuits in a core region in response to the core region test mode signals; and a peripheral region controller configured to control circuits in a peripheral region in response to the peripheral region test mode signals. |
| US07660172B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing data from memory arrays
According to one embodiment, a combination is comprised of a plurality of sense amps, each having an input for receiving a clock signal. A data bus is for receiving data from the plurality of sense amps in response to a clock signal being input to the plurality of sense amps. A tracking circuit is responsive to the clock signal for producing a control signal. A plurality of latches is responsive to the control signal for latching data from the bus. The control signal has a delay that is equal to the time needed for a last data bit to arrive at the plurality of latches. That delay may be equal to a delay associated with inputting the clock signal to a last one of the plurality of sense amps, plus a delay of the last sense amp, plus a delay of the data bus. That amount of delay may be achieved in a number of ways which combines electrical delay with delay inherently associated with the tracking circuit's location. For example, the delay of the control signal may be achieved by locating the tracking circuit proximate to the last one of the plurality of sense amps and providing the tracking circuit with an electrical delay equal to the delay of the last one of the plurality of sense amps. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims. |
| US07660170B2 |
Methods of operating non-volatile memory devices to generate data strobe signals during data reading and related devices
A non-volatile memory device includes a latch unit, a non-volatile memory cell array configured to store data, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to receive a read command and a read address output from a memory controller, generate a data strobe signal based on the received read command, read data corresponding to the received read address from the non-volatile memory cell array, and output the read data to the latch unit. The latch unit is configured to output the data output from the control unit to the memory controller in response to the data strobe signal. Related methods of operation are also discussed. |
| US07660169B2 |
Device and method for non-volatile storage of a status value
A device for non-volatile storage of a status value indicating that there has been a condition, including a non-volatile storage, an energy storage for storing energy when applying a supply voltage, and a switching circuit to couple the energy storage to the non-volatile storage to write the status value thereto if the condition is present. |
| US07660168B2 |
Read operation of multi-port memory device
A multi-port memory device includes a plurality of ports, a plurality of bank control units, a plurality of banks, a read clock generation unit, and a data transmission unit. Each of the banks is connected to a corresponding one of the bank control units. The read clock generation unit generates a read clock toggling for four clocks in response to a read command. The data transmission unit transmits a read data from the banks to a corresponding one of the ports in response to the read clock. Every bank control unit is connected to all of the ports. |
| US07660166B2 |
Method of improving programming precision in flash memory
Data are stored in cells of a flash memory by assigning a first portion of the data to be stored in a first cell and a second portion of the data to be stored in one or more second cells. The first cell is programmed to store the first portion in accordance with the second portion. The second cell(s) is/are programmed to store the second portion. At least a portion of the programming of the first cell is effected before any of the programming of the second cell(s). |
| US07660163B2 |
Method and unit for verifying initial state of non-volatile memory device
A method of verifying an initial state of a non-volatile memory device, a command for verify an initial state of a unit and a unit address corresponding to the unit received from a memory controller. An initial state of memory cells, which correspond to the unit address, is verified in response to the command. A verification result of the unit is transmitted to the memory controller. |
| US07660153B2 |
Memory device and memory
A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a memory layer and a fixed-magnetization layer. The memory layer retains information based on a magnetization state of a magnetic material. The fixed-magnetization layer is formed on the memory layer through an intermediate layer made of an insulating material. The information is recorded on the memory layer with a change in a magnetization direction of the memory layer caused by injecting a spin-polarized electron in a stacked direction. A level of effective demagnetizing field, which is received by the memory layer, is smaller than a saturation-magnetization level of magnetization of the memory layer. |
| US07660145B2 |
Storage device and semiconductor device
An object of the present invention is to provide nonvolatile, rewritable, easily-manufactured, and inexpensive storage element, storage device, and semiconductor device, which are superior in switching characteristics and which has low operation voltage. In an element including a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer facing the first conductive layer, and a layer containing at least one kind of an organic compound provided between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, the organic compound can be electrochemically doped or dedoped. By feeding current in this element, the organic compound provided between the conductive layers is electrochemically doped, i.e., electrons are transported, whereby the conductivity can be increased by about three to ten digits. |
| US07660143B2 |
Multibit ROM memory
The invention concerns a ROM comprising a set of memory points arranged in rows and columns, each memory point capable of storing two bits of data and comprising a single switch controllable to connect together first and second terminals of said switch, each of said first and second terminals being connected to one of first, second and third conductive lines, wherein said switch is connected via said first and second terminals between said first and second lines to encode a first data value, between said first and third lines to encode a second data value, between said second and third lines to encode a third data value, and both of said first and second terminals being connected to the same one of said first, second and third lines to encode a fourth data value. |
| US07660141B2 |
Layout structures and methods of fabricating layout structures
Example embodiments may provide a layout structure and layout method for a memory device that may reduce the area of the memory device. Example embodiment layout structures may include a first region and/or a second region. First and second sensing MOS transistors of a sense amplifier that senses data of a bit line and a complementary bit line may be arranged in the first region. First, second and third equalization MOS transistors of an equalizer that equalizes the bit line and the complementary bit line may be arranged In the second region located apart from the first region, Sensing NMOS transistors and equalization NMOS transistors may share an N-type active region in the layout structure of a memory device, and the area of a sense amplifier may be reduced. |
| US07660140B1 |
Content addresable memory having selectively interconnected counter circuits
A content addressable memory (CAM) device includes a plurality of CAM rows, a number of sequencing logic circuits, and a programmable interconnect structure. Each CAM row includes a number of CAM cells to generate a match signal on a match line and includes an enable input. Each sequencing logic circuit includes an input and an output, and is configured to count sequences of match signals from the CAM rows. The programmable interconnect structure selectively connects the match line of any CAM row to the input of any sequencing logic circuit, and selectively connects the output of any sequencing logic circuit to the enable input of any CAM row. |
| US07660139B2 |
Output power factor control of pulse-width modulated inverter
An inverter operable to supply high power factor electrical power to an AC load including an AC power grid includes a DC bus and a DC to AC converter section of the full bridge type. The inverter further includes a voltage sensor configured to produce an instantaneous output voltage signal representing instantaneous output voltage of the inverter, a rectification circuit configured to produce a rectified output voltage signal, a power signal generator, an output current sensor configured for sensing an output current of the inverter, a rectification circuit configured to produce the rectified output current signal, a sign circuit for producing a signal representing the sign of the output voltage and a control apparatus. The control apparatus includes a scaled rectified voltage signal generator, a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generator configured to produce a pulse width modulation signal in response to the scaled rectified voltage signal and the rectified output current signal and a switching leg controller circuit configured to control the full bridge switches. |
| US07660138B2 |
Method for operating an inverter including boos, buck, and CUK converter topologies and arrangement for executing the method
The invention relates to a method for operating an electronically controlled inverter, said method being characterized in that the inverter is controlled during the positive half-wave of the output alternating voltage in such a way that it operates as a step-up converter/step-down converter cascade, and during the negative half-wave of the output alternating voltage in such a way that it operates as a CUK converter. |
| US07660137B1 |
High-voltage modulator system
A high-power modulation system includes drive circuitry that receives input signals from the signal source via a series of transformers. The drive circuitry amplifies the input signals and provides the resulting amplified signals to the high-power switch. The switch includes a series of stacked switching elements, each with a control terminal, first and second current-handling terminals, and feedback path extending between the first current-handling terminal and the control terminal. The feedback paths work in concert to turn the switches on and off together to prevent excessive voltage from developing across one or a subset of the switching elements. The feedback path includes a resistor that dampens the bandwidth of the feedback path to reduce turn-off and turn-on ringing and oscillation. The damping resistor may be coupled in series with a diode that holds charge against the control terminal of the switching element. |
| US07660133B1 |
Resonant switching converter having operating modes above and below resonant frequency
A resonant switching converter comprises a resonant tank having a resonant frequency; a synchronous rectifier coupled to the resonant tank, the synchronous rectifier drawing power from the resonant tank for forming an output voltage; and a controller coupled to the synchronous rectifier for controlling switching of the synchronous rectifier using frequency modulation. The controller operates in a first mode in which the switching of the synchronous rectifier is performed above the resonant frequency of the resonant tank. The first mode employs a duty cycle for the synchronous rectifier. In addition, the controller operates in a second mode in which the switching of the synchronous rectifier is performed below the resonant frequency and the duty cycle of the synchronous rectifier in the second mode is reduced from that of the first mode. |
| US07660132B2 |
Covered multilayer module
A highly reliable covered multilayer module includes a plurality of side electrodes extending in a lamination direction of ceramic layers are provided at least at one of side surfaces of a multilayer module body. At least one of inner conductor layers is exposed at the side surface provided with the side electrodes, in a region interposed between an adjacently arranged pair of the side electrodes. A claw portion of a metal case is soldered to the side electrodes and the inner conductor layer. The plurality of inner conductor layers may be exposed at the side surface of the multilayer module body in the region interposed between the adjacently arranged pair of side electrodes such that at least a part of the inner conductor layer is superposed on the other inner conductor layer when seen in the lamination direction of the ceramic layers. The inner conductor layer may be exposed at the side surface of the multilayer module body such that the inner conductor layer extends from one to the other of the adjacently arranged pair of side electrodes. |
| US07660127B2 |
Electrical components coupled to circuit boards
The present invention can facilitate the coupling between electrical components and a circuit board after the circuit board is inserted into a housing of an electronic device. An electrical component can be integrated with a flexible circuit of another electrical component. The flexible circuit can be electrically and mechanically coupled to the circuit board after the circuit board is inserted into the housing. Alternatively, electrical contacts can be disposed on a body of the electrical component and a complementary set of electrical contacts can be disposed on the circuit board. When the circuit board is disposed within a receptacle of the electrical component, the electrical contacts on the electrical component are coupled directly to the electrical contacts on the circuit board. |
| US07660123B1 |
Heat dissipating fin assembly for clamping dynamic random access memory to dissipate heat
An exemplary heat dissipating fin assembly for clamping the DRAM to dissipate heat includes a number of heat dissipating fins arranged in a stacked fashion and a shaft. Each of the heat dissipating fins defines a pivoting hole and a slot therein. The slots of the heat dissipating fins are configured for receiving the DRAM. The shaft goes through the pivoting hole of each of the heat dissipating fins so as to string the heat dissipating fins. The heat dissipating fin assembly can enhance heat dissipating efficiency of the DRAM and reduce cost greatly. |
| US07660118B2 |
Apparatus and data processing apparatus
An apparatus includes a heat generating component; a heat radiating member that absorbs heat from the heat generating component and radiates heat; a fan that sends air toward the heat radiating member; a housing incorporating the heat generating component, the heat radiating member and the fan, and including a first opening that discharges air warmed up by the heat radiating member to an outside and a second opening that exposes an air inlet portion of the heat radiating member in which air from the fan enters; and a cover member that is detachably attached to the housing and covers the second opening. |
| US07660117B2 |
Deformable duct guides that accommodate electronic connection lines
A duct work assembly is coupled to an end of an electronics enclosure that houses one or more heat generating devices, such as electronics servers. The duct work assembly includes individual duct guides that each have a deformable end, which is configured to locally deform around the electrical connection lines extending from the rear of one or more electronics servers. The deformable end can be made of bristles, as in a brush, or foam that includes slits and/or holes. |
| US07660112B2 |
Component bay
A component bay system includes a first component bay having a first bay chassis coupling member and first bay stacking member. The system also includes a second component bay having a second bay chassis coupling member. The first bay chassis coupling member is operable to couple to a chassis by engaging the chassis. The second bay chassis coupling member is operable to couple to either of the chassis, by engaging the chassis, and to the first component bay, by engaging the first bay stacking member. In an embodiment, the first component bay and the second component bay are identical and allow the component bay system to be added to a chassis to support multiple configurations for modular components. |
| US07660110B2 |
Computer system with motor cooler
A computer system comprises a chassis, an electronic component disposed within the chassis, and a cooling fan that comprises a motor support fixed to a housing that is coupled to the chassis and a hub disposed within the housing. A plurality of blades extend radially from the hub. A motor is disposed within a motor enclosure formed by the motor support and the hub. The hub is rotatably coupled to the motor such that the plurality of blades generates a flow of air around the motor enclosure. The system comprises a motor cooler comprising a flow path through the motor enclosure, where the flow path has a first opening and a second opening, and where the second opening is disposed within an area of lowered downstream pressure so as to develop a differential pressure between the first and second openings and generate a flow of air through the motor enclosure. |
| US07660109B2 |
Apparatus and method for facilitating cooling of an electronics system
Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating air-cooling of an electronics system employing a vapor-compression heat exchange system, and front and back covers. An evaporator housing of the heat exchange system is mounted to a system housing of the electronics system and extends at least partially between air inlet and outlet sides of the system housing. The evaporator housing includes air inlet and outlet openings, and an evaporator. The front cover is mounted to the system or evaporator housing adjacent to the air inlet side or air outlet opening, and the back cover is mounted to the system or evaporator housing adjacent to the air outlet side or air inlet opening. Together, the system housing, back cover, evaporator housing and front cover define a closed loop airflow path passing through the system housing and evaporator housing, with the vapor-compression heat exchange system cooling air circulating therethrough. |
| US07660103B2 |
Electronic device and electronic system
An electronic device includes: a main unit; a cap unit that is capable of having a portable electronic device attached thereto; an instructing unit that issues an instruction to designate a tilt angle of the cap unit with respect to the main unit; a driving unit that drives the cap unit in accordance with the instruction from the instructing unit; and a controlling unit that controls the operation of the driving unit in accordance with the instruction from the instructing unit, when the portable electronic device is not attached to the cap unit. |
| US07660099B2 |
Case molded capacitor
A case molded capacitor has a metallized film capacitor, a pair of bus bars, a resin-made internal case, molding resin, a metal external case, and a buffer material layer. The bus bars are each connected to respective one of electrodes of the metallized film capacitor. The internal case contains the metallized film capacitor. The metallized film capacitor is submerged with molding resin in the internal case so as to expose parts of the bus bars. The external case contains the internal case and both cases are connected at a connecting part. A buffer material layer is put in a gap made at least at a part between the internal case and the external case. |
| US07660092B2 |
Network bus coupler and system
A system for coupling an avionics component to a bus includes a junction box electrically coupled to the avionics component and to the bus. A circuit card disposed in the junction box includes a plurality of sockets. The some of the sockets are electrically connected to the bus. Others of the sockets are electrically connected to the avionics component. A modular network bus coupler is mountable to the circuit card. The bus coupler includes a housing with electrical isolation circuitry disposed therein. A plurality of pins are disposed exterior of the housing and engageable with at least some of the sockets of the circuit card. At least some of the pins are electrically coupled to the electrical isolation circuitry. |
| US07660089B2 |
Voltage rise suppression circuit and panel television
Included are a Zener diode D2 having a cathode connected onto a voltage output line, dividing resistors having one terminal connected to the anode of the Zener diode D2 and having the other terminal grounded, a transistor Q1 having a base connected to the junction point between the dividing resistors via a resistor and having an emitter grounded, a transistor Q2 having a base connected to the junction point between the dividing resistors and having an emitter grounded, and a microcomputer having an undervoltage detection terminal 10a which is connected to the collector of the transistor Q1 and to which 3.3 V is externally applied and a power supply terminal 10b which is connected to the collector of the transistor Q2 and via which a P-ON-H signal of 3.3 V that starts a power supply circuit 126 when the power supply is turned on is transmitted. |
| US07660087B2 |
Electrostatic discharge avoiding circuit
An ESD avoiding circuit includes a first ESD protection unit, an ESD detection unit, a switch unit, and an RC filter unit. The first ESD protection unit transmits an ESD current between a first conducting path and a second conducting path. The ESD detection unit is coupled to the first conducting path. The ESD detection unit includes an input terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the first ESD protection unit for detecting an ESD and controlling the first ESD protection unit to conduct the ESD current according to a detection result. The switch unit is coupled between the first conducting path and a core circuit and conducts the first conducting path to the core circuit according to signals of the input terminal and the output terminal of the ESD detection unit. The RC filter unit couples a first voltage to the input terminal of the ESD detection unit. |
| US07660085B2 |
Semiconductor device
A conventional layout of power supply protective element cannot sufficiently protect an internal circuit against a surge current that flows into a narrow branch line that branches off from a thick main wiring line. A semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a power supply protective element connected around a terminal; a main wiring line connected with a VCC pad or a GND pad; a branch line that branches off from the main wiring line and applies a power supply potential or a ground potential to a functional block of the semiconductor device; a branching portion at which the branch line branches off from the main wiring line; and an internal power supply protective element connected with the branch line. |
| US07660083B2 |
Electromechanical and solid-state AC relay with reduced arcing
An electromechanical/solid-state AC relay has an electromechanical winding coil that moves an armature to force mechanical contacts to open or close. Electrical arcing across the mechanical contacts that occur as the contacts are opening or closing can damage and severely reduce the lifetime of the relay. Contact arcing is prevented by pulsing a triac on for a short period of time just before and after the mechanical contacts make or break contact. The triac limits the voltage difference across the mechanical contacts to less than one volt to prevent arcing. The triac is turned off after the mechanical contacts finish moving, reducing the heating and average power through the triac. A zero-sampling circuit that detects when the AC input voltage switches across 0 volts and activates a control integrated circuit to switch on the triac during zero-crossings to minimize power surges. |
| US07660081B2 |
Superparamagnetic platelets field sensing devices
A ferromagnetic thin-film based magnetic field sensor having an electrically insulative intermediate layer with two major surfaces on opposite sides thereof with an initial film of an anisotropic ferromagnetic material on one of those intermediate layer major surfaces and thin-film platelets on the remaining one of the intermediate layer major surfaces. |
| US07660079B2 |
Method and system of using a step plate mechanically formed in a disk drive suspension flexure to mount a micro-actuator to the flexure
A head gimbal assembly includes a suspension including a suspension flexure. The suspension flexure includes a step plate mechanically formed in the suspension flexure. A micro-actuator is mounted to the step plate of the suspension flexure. The step plate is constructed and arranged to support the micro-actuator such that a substantially constant gap is maintained between a top support of the micro-actuator and the suspension flexure in use. |
| US07660078B2 |
Slider with a constant flying height
The present invention relates to a slider having a constant flying height for an optical drive which is operated at a constant angular velocity. It is an object of the invention to propose a simple and cost-effective solution to allow the flying height of the slider to be kept virtually constant over the entire area of a storage medium, despite a variable linear velocity during operation at a constant angular velocity. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a drive for a storage medium which is driven at a constant angular velocity, having a slider which is attached by means of a spring arm to a carriage and floats on an air cushion above or under the rotating storage medium, and having a guide which guides the carriage relative to the storage medium, in which the guide is arranged such that the attachment point of the spring arm to the carriage is guided closer to the surface of the storage medium as the radius of the storage medium increases. |
| US07660077B2 |
Method and system for reduction of off-track write errors in disk drives
In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one mechanical fastener is used to mount a voice coil magnet assembly of a hard disk drive on a housing of the hard disk drive. A layer of a material having a low friction coefficient is disposed between the housing and the voice coil magnet assembly. |
| US07660076B2 |
Helical gear actuator for tape drive systems
An actuator includes a leadscrew and a helical gear engaging the leadscrew, the helical gear having journals extending from opposite ends thereof. A carriage operatively engages the journals. A relative rotation between the leadscrew and the helical gear creates a relative movement between the carriage and the leadscrew in a direction parallel to an axis of the leadscrew. |
| US07660071B1 |
Disk drive with altitude detection air vane
A disk drive includes a rotatable data storage disk and a vane positioned adjacent to the disk that receives airflow generated during rotation of the disk. A sensor is operably coupled to the vane and measures airflow force on the vane. Because of a known relationship between altitude and airflow force, the amount of airflow force on the vane is indicative of altitude of the disk drive. The sensor provides an output signal that is indicative of measured airflow force on the vane. The vane surface may be oriented substantially orthogonal to a plane of the disk or substantially parallel with a plane of the disk. |
| US07660069B2 |
Technique for signal and transducer alignment in a tape drive
In an embodiment, a method is provided for improving signal and transducer alignment in a magnetic tape drive. The method includes writing a first track and a second track to a tape. Each track has an associated track characteristic, which may include fundamental frequency and test binary pattern, among other characteristics. The tracks are adjacent and substantially parallel to one another, and each track has a differing track characteristic value. Each track is read at multiple tracking positions to collect values corresponding to each position. An optimal offset is determined based on the collected values and the corresponding tracking positions. In another embodiment, a magnetic tape drive includes a data reader, a data writer, a processor, and a computer readable medium. The medium has stored instructions, executable by the processor, for carrying out the described method. |
| US07660067B1 |
Disk drive initializing a coil temperature estimation algorithm using a resistance of the coil estimated during a load operation
A disk drive is disclosed including a disk, a head coupled to a distal end of an actuator arm, and a voice coil motor (VCM) operable to rotate the actuator arm about a pivot to actuate the head radially over the disk, wherein the VCM comprises a coil. Control circuitry within the disk drive measures a load resistance of the coil prior to executing a load operation, wherein the load operation moves the actuator arm off a ramp to load the head onto the disk. The load resistance of the coil is then converted into an initial coil temperature estimate. |
| US07660061B2 |
Integrated circuit interface with locking signal
An integrated circuit for recovering a position and clock period from an input bi-phase encoded digital signal, such as an SPDIF signal, has a longest interval detector arranged to count the intervals between phase changes of the input digital signal to derive the longest interval between the phase changes. The longest interval indicates the position and period length of a preamble portion of sub-frames of the signal. A store arranged to store the longest interval between phase changes and an output provides a signal indicating the position of the longest interval between phase changes and an indication of the clock period of the input digital signal. The longest interval detector includes a pair of counters for even and odd phase transitions and counts in multiple intervals such that a clock period of 2 UI can be recovered directly from the longest pulse of 6 UI present in the preamble X of an SPDIF signal. |
| US07660051B2 |
Optical lens base with protective film and process for producing optical lens base
A protective film (10) is eccentrically adhered to a concave-side transfer surface (3b) of a first mold (3) which is used in a plastic lens forming mold, and part (10a) of the peripheral portion of the protective film is projected laterally from the mold (3). The protective film (10) comprises a film layer with an outer diameter smaller than that of the first mold (3), and an adhesive layer with a relatively low adhesive strength which is formed on one surface of the film layer. |
| US07660050B2 |
Imaging lens, camera module, and portable terminal apparatus
An imaging lens comprises, in order from an object side: a first lens having a positive refractive power and a meniscus shape and having a convex surface directed to the object side; a second lens having a negative refractive power in the vicinity of an optical axis of the imaging lens; and a third lens having a positive refractive power in the vicinity of the optical axis, wherein at least one surface of each of the second lens and the third lens is an aspheric surface; and the imaging lens satisfies the following conditional expression expressions: 0.7 |
| US07660048B1 |
Wide angle lens with large aperture
The invention is aimed at providing a lens having a wider angle of view, increased relative aperture, and higher quality of images. To achieve this technical object, there is a wide-angle lens with a large relative aperture, which contains an aperture diaphragm and seven optical components arranged along the pathway of luminous radiation from the object to the image as follows: the first positive component, the second one, which is a negative meniscus having the concave surface facing the image side, the third negative component, the fourth and the fifth components, the sixth negative component, the seventh positive component, and the aperture diaphragm located between the fifth and the sixth components, wherein the fourth component has a negative power and is made up of two lenses cemented together, the first lens being a biconcave one and the second lens being a biconvex one, the fifth component is a biconvex lens having a positive power, the sixth component is a single biconcave lens, the seventh component is a meniscus with its concave surface facing the object, and after the seventh component several additional ones are introduced, i.e. the eighth component, which is a biconvex lens, the ninth component having a positive power, which is cemented of two lenses, of which the first is a negative meniscus with its concave surface facing the image, and the second one is positive, the tenth component, which is a negative meniscus with its convex surface facing the image, and the eleventh component having a positive power, which is built up of two lenses cemented together, the first lens being a positive biconvex one and the second lens being a negative biconcave one. |
| US07660046B2 |
Lens barrel and image pickup device
A lens barrel, includes: an image pickup optical system comprising a plurality of lens groups; a plurality of barrel members which house the image pickup optical system therein; and a drive source which moves at least two lens groups in the image pickup optical system in a direction of an optical axis, wherein the plurality of barrel members are split from each other into one on an object side with respect to the optical axis and one on an image surface side with respect to the optical axis, and the plurality of barrel members are fixed by a holding member of the drive source, the holding member being formed integrally with the drive source. |
| US07660045B2 |
Object lens and condenser
An object lens includes a first optical system that obtains a magnified image of an object, a second optical system that guides dark field illumination light to the object, a barrel that contains the first optical system and the second optical system and has an optical path around the first optical system for the dark field illumination light, and a shield mechanism that is disposed on the optical path and that varies the incident area of the dark field illumination light to shield the dark field illumination light. |
| US07660041B1 |
Method of producing a sheet having lenticular lenses for a three dimensional display system
A method of manufacturing a lenticular sheet having as its primary steps the provision of a substantially transparent substrate material; forming a plurality of lenses on a first side of the substrate; and shaping the substrate to correspond to a display area of a display device, wherein the plurality of lenses are angled to correspond to the pixel size and pitch of the display area. A display system is also disclosed, wherein the display systems generally includes a computer for processing, saving and playing at least one image; software for interlacing the image; software for processing slides and movies comprised of multiple images; a lenticular screen overlaid upon a video display device for viewing the interlaced images in three dimensions. |
| US07660040B2 |
Diffuse reflective article
A diffuse reflective article is provided including a diffuse reflector of light positioned within a structure defining an optical cavity. The diffuse reflector is a nonwoven sheet containing a plurality of inter-fiber and intra-fiber pores of optimal light scattering dimension. Also provided is an optical display, including: (i) a structure defining an optical cavity; (ii) a light source positioned within the optical cavity; (iii) a display panel through which light from the light source passes; and (iv) a diffuse reflector positioned within the optical cavity for reflecting light from the light source toward the display panel, wherein the diffuse reflector is a nonwoven sheet containing a plurality of inter-fiber and intra-fiber pores of optimal light scattering dimension. |
| US07660030B2 |
Reciprocating optical modulation system
In order to provide a reciprocating optical modulation system capable of obtaining a broad bandwidth, a reciprocating optical modulation system (1) of the present invention is basically provided with an optical modulator (2) modulating an output light by controlling one of an intensity, a phase and a frequency of an input light; a first fiber grating (3) transmitting a light of a predetermined frequency domain among lights inputted to and outputted from the optical modulator while reflecting lights of other frequencies; a second fiber grating (4) transmitting a light of a predetermined frequency domain among lights inputted to and outputted from the optical modulator while reflecting lights of other frequencies; and a signal source (5) generating a modulating signal to be inputted to the optical modulator (2). |
| US07660029B2 |
Chromogenically tunable photonic crystals
Tunable photonic crystals offer an interesting possibility to adjust the photonic band gap (PBG) as per requirement. Various methods of achieving this have been tried that include polarization of liquid crystals, thermal effects and more. Chromogenic devices provided in accordance with the present invention include combinations and subcombinations of electrochromic, photochromic, thermochromic devices featuring TMO based inverse opals having tunable photonic band gaps (PBG) for certain frequencies. Electrochromic (EC) materials in which a reversible optical property change can be induced with the application of a small electric field offer a novel possibility to tune the PBG in a controlled and reversible way. The reversible chemical change and the ensuing change of optical constants in these periodically arranged EC materials make the PBG tunability possible. In a recent work we have demonstrated for the first time the PBG tunability of EC materials deposited in the form of periodic inverse opals. This earlier work was carried out with the well known Tungsten Trioxide (WO3) EC thin films into which lithium intercalation was done by a dry lithiation method. In the present work we report on the fabrication of a simple tunable photonic crystal device based on electrochemical insertion/extraction of lithium based on WO3 inverse opals. |
| US07660026B2 |
Method for forming electro-optic film
The invention is directed to a method for forming a flexible electro-optic film. The method comprises steps of providing a first substrate having a conductive layer formed thereon and then forming a first locating structure over the conductive layer, wherein the locating structure includes target regions and periphery regions. The surface tension of the target regions is difference from that of the periphery regions. Thereafter, an electro-optic medium placing process for forming an electro-optic droplet on each of the target regions is performed. A solidifying process for forming a capsule wall covering the electro-optic droplet on each of the target regions is performed. The first substrate is laminated with a second substrate. |
| US07660025B2 |
Reflective unit using electroactive polymer and flexible display employing the reflective unit
Provided are a reflective unit using an electroactive polymer and a flexible display. The reflective unit includes: an electroactive polymer layer which becomes strained when a voltage is applied thereto by an electrode; a light reflecting unit reflecting external light and having reflecting cells arranged on the electroactive polymer layer to be spaced apart from one another wherein a distance between the reflecting cells is changed according to the strain of the electroactive polymer layer; and a light blocking layer preventing external light from being reflected by the light reflecting unit and having blocking cells arranged over the light reflecting unit to be spaced apart from one another. |
| US07660017B2 |
Image processor, image processing method and image processing program
An image processor for converts input grayscale values into output grayscale values having two or more grayscales by dividing an input image into pixel groups each including pixels and applying a dither matrix to each pixel group a center of gravity position of the pixel group from the input grayscale value of each pixel included in the pixel group; the center of the dither matrix on the center of gravity position of the pixel group; and output the output grayscale values by corresponding the positioned dither matrix and the input grayscale value of each pixel included in the pixel group. By this, the center of the dither matrix is positioned on the center of gravity position of the pixel group. So dots are generated at the most appropriate positions to reproduce an input image faithfully. |
| US07660016B2 |
Image-processing apparatus, an image-forming apparatus, and a program
An image-processing apparatus for quantizing multi-level (M-level) image data into N-level values, where M>N>1, using a multi-level error-diffusion process or a minimum-average multi-level error method is disclosed.The image-processing apparatus includes: means for outputting correction data; means for setting a quantization-threshold value; means for comparing the correction data and the quantization-threshold value so as to output N-level image data; and means for calculating an error generated with generating the N-level image data. |
| US07660015B2 |
Color data conversion apparatus and method
A color conversion apparatus receives red-green-blue color data, calculates characteristic information and first hue region data from the color data, adjusts the first hue region data according to the characteristic information to obtain second to N-th hue region data, N being an integer equal to or greater than three, generates matrix coefficients for the second to N-th hue region data, and performs a matrix operation on the second to N-th hue region data to obtain color data with four or more color components. Color data with three primary components are thereby converted to color data with four or more primary components by simple calculations, without using a large amount of memory space. |
| US07660013B2 |
Method of converting a color recipe
A first recipe (10) is converted using a first colorant set to a second recipe (50) using a second colorant set. The first recipe (10) is converted into a CIE_Lab estimate (30) using a first model and a first database (20). The CIE_Lab estimate (30) is converted into the second recipe (50) using a second model and second database (40). |
| US07660007B2 |
Print management-relating technique
A print management device of the invention receives thumbnail images corresponding to object images of a print service and e-mail addresses of acquaintances specified by a user, from a printing apparatus, in response to the user's request. The print management device sends an e-mail including an URL for browsing the thumbnail images and a print permission password to each of the specified acquaintances. Each of the specified acquaintances may thus browse thumbnail images with the print permission password and provide an order for printing original images corresponding to selected thumbnail images. The print management device notifies the user of order information with regard to the order for printing the original images, asks the user to permit or deny execution of a print service with regard to the order, and sends the order for the print service to a photo studio for execution of the print service, in response to permission for the order. |
| US07660003B2 |
Image processing method, image processing system, and image forming apparatus
An image processing system according to the invention comprises a valuable information processing apparatus which manages valuable information equivalent to money, and an image forming apparatus which is connected to the valuable information processing apparatus and forms an image according to the valuable information. The image forming apparatus stores read or input image data into image data memory means. Then, image data stored in the image data memory means is invalidated when the valuable information to be managed by the valuable information processing apparatus fulfills a predetermined condition. |
| US07659991B2 |
Colorimetric three-dimensional microscopy
An optically reflective or translucent object (14) can be microscopically imaged in all three dimensions and in true color for observation by a human observer. An interferometric optical setup is employed, using the low temporal coherence of a tunable broad-band light source (10, 20) to resolve the axial dimension, a single opto-mechanical or electronic scanning mechanism for accessing different object depths, and a two-dimensional photo sensor device (15, 34) capable of demodulating the temporally or spatially modulated scanning signals to reconstruct the object's full volume. Three volume scans are carried out sequentially, and the tunable broad-band source (10, 20) is operated in such a way that its spectral distribution for each of the volume scans results in an effective system sensitivity corresponding to one of the three CIE (Commission Internationale d'Éclairage) tristimulus curves, or a linear combination thereof. The linear combination of the three volume images forms the full, true-color volume image for human observers. By using reference objects (43) in the imaged volume, the three-dimensional images can be corrected for spatially- and wavelength-dependent dispersion and absorption. |
| US07659985B2 |
Document transmission and routing with recipient control, such as facsimile document transmission and routing
Techniques for transmitting information to a recipient under their control are described. In some situations, the techniques are used in conjunction with a fax delivery system to, as part of a connection established to perform a fax transmission, provide a variety of functionalities to a human recipient that is participating as part of the connection, such as when the human recipient is contacted in error. In addition, in some situations an interactive voice response system is used to receive and interpret input from a human recipient, such as in response to one or more control selections or options provided to the human recipient. |
| US07659984B2 |
Device for controlling material
The invention relates to a device for controlling material comprising a sensor device and a lighting device, whereby the material which is to be controlled is guided on a transparent drum. |
| US07659983B2 |
Hybrid random bead/chip based microarray
A method and apparatus for performing an assay process, featuring providing microbeads in a solution, each microbead having a particle substrate with a grating with a superposition of different predetermined regular periodic variations of the index of refraction disposed in the particle along a grating axis and indicative of a code; placing the microbeads on an alignment substrate; reading codes of the microbeads and the position thereof on the alignment substrate; reading the fluorescence on each microbead and the position order thereof on the alignment substrate; and determining an assay result based on bead position order and bead code of the earlier reading steps. |
| US07659978B2 |
Photobleaching by high power pulses
A pulse photobleaching methodology wherein a monochromatic illumination (e.g., laser illumination) having a higher power intensity (photobleaching power) just below the photodamage threshold of a luminescent sample is initially used to significantly attenuate sample luminescence without photothermally destroying the sample material. Thereafter, the laser power density may be reduced to a significantly lower level (analytical power level) to carry out spectroscopic measurements (e.g., collection of Raman scattered photons) on the sample. In one embodiment, the laser illumination wavelength remains the same despite changes in laser power intensity. Some figures-of-merit may be computed from optical measurements made at the analytical power level to guide the photobleaching process. Sample-dependent combinations of laser power density and short exposure times may be obtained to significantly expedite photobleaching to assist in collection of sample spectral data in the field without a long wait. Portable spectroscopy systems employing pulse photobleaching may be devised for expeditious collection of spectral data from luminescent samples in the field. |
| US07659976B2 |
Devices and methods for inspecting optical elements with a view to contamination
Described is an examination system (1) for locating contamination (2) on an optical element (4) installed in an optical system (5), which examination system (1) comprises: a spatially resolving detector (6); imaging optics (7) that magnify in particular at a magnification of between 2 times and 100 times, for magnified imaging of a surface sub-region (3a) of the optical element (4) on the spatially resolving detector (6); as well as a movement mechanism (12), in particular a motorized movement mechanism (12), for displacing the imaging optics (7) together with the detector (6) relative to the surface (3) of the optical element (4) such that any desired surface sub-region of the surface (3) can be imaged at magnification. |
| US07659975B1 |
Methods and systems for inspection of a wafer or setting up an inspection process
Methods and systems for inspection of a wafer or setting up an inspection process are provided. One method for inspection of a wafer includes detecting first and second sets of defects on the wafer by performing different scans of the wafer with different focus offsets. The method also includes comparing results of the different scans for a defect of the first set and a defect of the second set that are detected at approximately the same location on the wafer. The method further includes determining if the defect of the first and second sets is a defect of an underlying layer or an uppermost layer formed on the wafer based on results of the comparing step. |
| US07659974B2 |
System and method for controlling light scattered from a workpiece surface in a surface inspection system
In one embodiment, a surface analyzer system comprises a radiation targeting assembly to target a radiation beam onto a surface; and a scattered radiation collecting assembly that collects radiation scattered from the surface. The radiation targeting assembly generates primary and secondary beams. Data collected from the reflections of the primary and secondary beams may be used in a dynamic range extension routine, alone or in combination with a power attenuation routine. |
| US07659973B2 |
Wafer inspection using short-pulsed continuous broadband illumination
An inspection system may be configured to inspect objects, such as semiconductor wafers, using narrow-pulse broadband illumination. The illumination may be obtained in some embodiments using a laser configured to emit light into a material having a spectral broadening effect. The inspection system can include various filters which may be selectively placed in the illumination and/or imaging path in order to tune the spectrum of light impinging on the wafer and the light that is detected. The filters may include selectable filters, fixed filters, and filters whose characteristics can be adjusted in-place. In some embodiments, filters may be used to match the illumination/detection spectra of different tools. Additionally, the broadband illumination may be tuned between inspections and/or during inspections for best results. The system may support Fourier filtering whereby light, related to repetitive features of the object and in one or more wavelength sub-bands of the illumination, may be filtered. |
| US07659972B2 |
Rail measurement system
A system and method of continuously measuring the profile of a rail in real time is disclosed. The rail which the profile is obtained in position on a track bed, The system includes a means for transmitting a beam of light at a selected wavelength onto the rail to illuminate a portion of the rail. The light is preferably a beam of laser light. A digital image of said illuminated portion of said rail is recorded. The digital image is manipulated to filter all light except for the selected wavelength. Rail wear is determined from the digital image created by the selected wavelength of light. |
| US07659967B2 |
Translational optical flow sensor
An optical flow sensor is presented that directly measures the translational component of the optical flow experienced by the sensor while it is on a moving platform. The translational optical flow is measured by using a gyro to measure the platform's angular rates and then incorporating these angular rates in the optical flow computations in a manner that bypasses lags in the optical flow sensor measurement. In one embodiment, individual “velocity report” optical flow measurements have their rotational component removed before these velocity reports are utilized in the remainder of the optical flow algorithm. In another embodiment, a movable window and shifting techniques are used to form a windowed image that has no rotational optical flow components. In another embodiment, an optical flow sensor is mounted on a gimbal and held to point in one direction even as the platform on which the optical flow sensor is mounted moves. |
| US07659965B2 |
High throughput wafer stage design for optical lithography exposure apparatus
An optical lithography exposure apparatus which may be a stepper or a scanner, provides a wafer chuck that retains a wafer and at least one opaque exposure shield that extends over a discrete peripheral edge portion of the wafer thereby preventing illumination from exposing the portion of the wafer beneath the exposure shield. In a positive photoresist system, the portions of the wafer blocked from exposure by the shields, include alignment marks and the unexposed photoresist remains over the alignment marks thereby protecting the alignment marks from destruction or damage during subsequent patterning operations used to form patterns in the film being patterned. |
| US07659964B2 |
Level adjustment systems and adjustable pin chuck thereof
A level adjustment system. The level adjustment system includes an adjustable pin chuck, an evacuation device, a level detection device and a length control device. The adjustable pin chuck includes a base and a variable pin to support a substrate. The base includes a recess and an evacuation channel connected thereto. The variable pin is disposed in the recess. The evacuation device is connected to the evacuation channel to evacuate the recess, such that the substrate is attached to the base and variable pin. The level detection device is disposed on the adjustable pin chuck to detect the horizontality of a target surface of the substrate. The length control device is electrically connected to the level detection device and variable pin. The length control device changes the length of the variable pin to adjust level of the target surface of the substrate according to the detected horizontality. |
| US07659963B2 |
Liquid crystal dispensing apparatus with nozzle cleaning device
A liquid crystal dispensing apparatus includes a liquid crystal dispensing means and a nozzle cleaning means. The liquid crystal dispensing means includes a liquid crystal container for containing liquid crystal material and a nozzle through which the liquid crystal material may be dispensed on a substrate. The nozzle cleaning means is arranged around the nozzle and removes liquid crystal residue accumulated on a surface of the nozzle, moves to a lower portion of the nozzle to suck and remove the liquid crystal residue after liquid crystal material is dispensed by the liquid crystal dispensing means a predetermined number of times. |
| US07659962B2 |
Portable jig
A portable jig for facilitating the transport and storage a liquid crystal syringe includes a supporting die including at least one inspection hole, at least one receiving hole for receiving at least one liquid crystal syringe at an upper portion thereof and having a flange for fixing an upper end portion of the liquid crystal syringe, and an airtight lower face. |
| US07659954B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, electronic equipment, and method of manufacturing liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device of electrically controlled birefringence mode includes the combination of a liquid crystal cell having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of substrates, and a hybrid retardation layer in which liquid crystal molecules are hybrid-aligned, and the hybrid retardation layer is formed by deposition at the liquid crystal layer side on one substrate of the pair of substrates. |
| US07659951B2 |
Direct light type backlight unit and liquid crystal display
A direct light type backlight unit and a liquid crystal panel employing the same. The backlight unit includes a plurality of light emitting devices disposed at a predetermined angle on a substrate; and a grating which diffracts incident light from the light emitting devices at different diffraction angles to separate the incident light into a plurality of colored light beams. The backlight unit and the liquid crystal display include direct light type light sources emitting light at an optimal angle to provide maximum diffraction efficiency of the grating, which allows color image realization without the use of a color filter. |
| US07659950B2 |
Liquid crystal display module having electrode pairs in partitioned light emitting spaces, respectively
A liquid crystal display module includes: a liquid crystal display panel, a surface light-emitting lamp irradiating light to the liquid crystal display panel by a surface light-emission, and a power source supplying an electric power to the surface light-emitting lamp. The surface light-emitting lamp includes a frame having a light-emitting space, a first barrier rib formed partitioning the lamp into light-emitting spaces and electrode pairs for generating electric fields in the light-emitting spaces, respectively. |
| US07659947B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having gate wiring on interlayer insulting film which is over transistor, and light shielding layer(s)
A liquid crystal layer is provided between a pair of substrates, one of the pair of substrates is provided with a pixel region including a TFT and a light shielding layer in which an opening portion is formed, a semiconductor layer composing the TFT is overlapped with the light shielding layer and formed along one side of the opening portion, and an alignment of a liquid crystal molecule is controlled such that light which transmits through the liquid crystal layer is incident as polarized light perpendicular to the one side of the opening portion. The liquid crystal layer is particularly made of more a TN mode liquid crystal. |
| US07659942B2 |
Broadcast receiver
A broadcast receiver includes a varying unit which varies an output volume of broadcast audio, a display unit which displays a subtitle, which represents content of the broadcast audio, and a control unit which controls the display unit to display the subtitle when the broadcast receiver is in an operation mode in which subtitles are not displayed and when the output volume is less than a predetermined value. |
| US07659935B1 |
Video camera utilizing sequential diversity imaging for image clarification
A video camera with an adaptive optic device, digital images, and a sequential diversity processor can reduce the optical aberrations introduced by a changing optical medium so as to produce sharper clarified images. The change in the optics between sequential video frames is diversity information which allows the sequential diversity processor to estimate both the object under observation and the aberration. No additional information, such as a defocused image or other sensing device, is required. The concept could be used in any video camera which outputs digital images and uses a digital processor to control the adaptive optic device between sequential frames. |
| US07659933B2 |
Imaging device and driving method for solid-state imaging device
A solid-state imaging device of the present invention includes: photodiodes having a vertical overflow drain structure; vertical shift registers for temporarily storing signals transferred from the photodiodes; and a horizontal shift register for storing and horizontally transferring signals transferred from the vertical shift registers, wherein a φSUB pulse is applied to the substrate, the φSUB pulse having a larger pulse width than a φV pulse applied to the gate electrode of each vertical shift register. Thus, it is possible to sweep out smear charges from the photodiode toward the substrate. |
| US07659932B2 |
Solid state imaging apparatus and its driving method
A solid-state imaging apparatus comprising a semiconductor substrate, a multiplicity of photo electric conversion elements, a vertical electric charge transfer device having a plurality of vertical electric charge transfer channels, reading out parts, each comprising a reading out electrode, wherein the reading out electrode and at least one of transfer electrodes adjoining to the reading out electrode are adjoining to same photo electric conversion element is characterized by that electric charge accumulated in each photo electric conversion element is transferred by every other line of vertical electric charge transfer channels in the vertical direction. The solid-state imaging apparatus can prevent color mixture even when the inter-VCCD blooming is occurred. |
| US07659931B2 |
Apparatus for imaging objects of changing luminance
In an imaging apparatus, a function whose value increases in time is used as a threshold electric-signal level, and an electric-signal level of a photoreceptor element is compared with the threshold electric-signal level. Even if a light received by the photoreceptor element has a low luminance, the electric-signal level of the photoreceptor element crosses the threshold electric-signal level in a short time, allowing calculation of the amount of optical energy received by the photoreceptor element. Furthermore, when an object having a region where brightness changes in time and also having a region with a low luminance is imaged, imaging interval is changed in accordance with luminance. Accordingly, information regarding how the brightness of the object is rapidly changing in time can be obtained more precisely, and an image can be output without making a projection image of the dark region completely black. |
| US07659928B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing anti-eclipse operation for imaging sensors
An anti-eclipse circuit of an image pixel includes an output line for receiving a reset output signal from a pixel and a circuit coupled to the output line for detecting when a pixel reset voltage at a pixel output is below a predetermined level, and, in response, for increasing a reset voltage at the pixel output to a value above the predetermined level. The detecting and increasing circuit comprises a charge amplifier circuit for receiving the reset output signal at the output line and a voltage generating circuit coupled to the output line responsive to the output of the charge amplifier circuit. |
| US07659925B2 |
High speed CMOS image sensor circuits with memory readout
An image sensor circuit includes a pixel array, a plurality of column analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuits, and at least two memory blocks. Each column ADC circuit is connected to receive analog pixel signals provided from corresponding pixel circuits of the pixel array, and is configured to convert the received analog pixel signals into digital pixel signals. Each memory block is connected to receive digital pixel signals provided from corresponding column ADC circuits of the plurality of column ADC circuits. At least two of the at least two memory blocks are connected to receive digital pixel signals that are provided from corresponding column ADC circuits that are located to a same side of the pixel array. Each memory block of the at least two memory blocks includes a plurality of memory cells, one or more sense amplifiers connected to the memory cells by a readout bus, and a memory controller. |
| US07659923B1 |
Elimination of blink-related closed eyes in portrait photography
A system and method of eliminating closed or partially closed eyes of subject in photography, caused by subjects blinking at the moment of image capture. A digital camera is configured to capture two images in quick succession. The image processing unit of the camera identifies regions of difference between the two images that indicate that eyes are partially or fully closed in one of the two images, and creates a single composite image from the two original images, in which all eyes are open for all subjects in the image. |
| US07659919B2 |
Mobile television channel switching system and method
Presented is a method of displaying a newly requested channel in a mobile TV device prior to retuning the mobile TV device to the newly selected channel. The mobile TV device demodulator and tuner are cycled on for a short period of time at regular intervals to conserve battery power. Data is buffered from multiple channels in a buffer within the mobile TV device while the demodulator is cycled on. The mobile TV device displays data from one of the buffered channels upon a request to switch to the channel prior to retuning the mobile TV device to the newly selected channel. The mobile TV device is then retuned to the newly selected channel at the next instance the demodulator and tuner are cycled on. |
| US07659917B2 |
Method for labeling optical disc
A method for labeling an optical disc includes the following steps: receiving a command of a light scribe application program of a host to start labeling, reading an indication area of the optical disc to obtain information of labeling, transmitting the information of labeling to the host, and planning blocks capable of being labeled in the drawing area of the optical disc by the host. If planning the blocks capable of being labeled fails, labeling stops; and if planning the blocks capable of being labeled is successful, the drawing area of the optical disc is labeled, an indication is recorded at the indication area of the optical disc corresponding to the labeled block, and labeling then stops. |
| US07659916B2 |
Heating unit, erasing device, and information erasing and recording apparatus
A heating unit is disclosed that heats a heat-sensitive medium. The heating unit includes a heat generating body that converts electric energy into heat energy; a fixed member to which the heat generating body is fixed; and a holding member that directly holds the fixed member while contacting at least a part of the fixed member. |
| US07659915B2 |
Portable reading device with mode processing
A reading device includes a computing device and an image input device coupled to the computing device for capturing low resolution images and high resolution images. The reading machine also includes a computer program product residing on a computer readable medium. The medium is in communication with the computing device and includes instructions to operate in a plurality of modes to optimize performance for specific uses of the reading device and process low and high resolution images during operation of at least one of the plurality of modes. |
| US07659910B2 |
Hue diving and judging device
The invention discloses a hue dividing and judging device including a memory unit, a calculation module, and a judgment module. The memory unit is used for storing a look-up table, and the look-up table records N boundaries, wherein the N boundaries includes j+1 operative boundaries for defining j color areas. The calculation module is used for calculating the hue of each pixel of an input image. According to the look-up table, the judgment module is used for judging where the hue of each pixel falls within two of the operative boundaries, so as to judge that the hue of the pixel of the input image falls into which one of the color areas. Accordingly, if there are more operative boundaries recorded in the look-up table, the hue will be divided into more color areas, and the user will have more choices for adjusting the color of the input image. |
| US07659908B2 |
Image processing circuit, combined image processing circuit, and image forming apparatus
An image processing circuit comprising a plurality of line buffers is provided. Each line buffer stores pixel data of a plurality of pixels as line data, the plurality of pixels configuring a single image line of an image. A first image processing part performs a first image processing task on original image data provided from the exterior by using the line data stored in at least one of the line buffers, and provides processed image data. A second image processing part performs a second image processing task on the processed image data provided from the first image processing part by using the line data stored in at least one of the line buffers, and provides processed image data. A line buffer selector selectively connects the first image processing part and the second image processing part to any number of line buffers. An output path selector selects one of an output path that skips the second image processing task and an output path that performs the second image processing task. |
| US07659905B2 |
Method and system to pre-fetch data in a network
A system and method of pre-fetching data in a network includes displaying first data to a user, the first data being upstream of other data in a data flow. Before receiving a request from the user to view the other data, retrieving at least some of the other data and storing the retrieved other data in a memory device. After a request is received from the user to display the other data, using the stored data for the display to the user. |
| US07659901B2 |
Application program interface for programmable graphics pipeline
Systems and methods that optimize GPU processing by front loading activities from a set time/binding time to creation time via enhancements to an API that configures the GPU. Such enhancements to the API include: implementing layering arrangements, employing state objects and view components for data objects; incorporating a pipeline stage linkage/signature, employing a detection mechanism to mitigate error conditions. Such an arrangement enables front loading of the work and reduction of associated API calls. |
| US07659900B2 |
Video and graphics system with parallel processing of graphics windows
A display engine of a video and graphics system includes one or more processing elements and receives graphics from a memory. The graphics data define multiple graphics layers, and the processing elements process two or more graphics layers in parallel to generate blended graphics. Alpha values may be used while blending graphics. The processing elements may be integrated on an integrated circuit chip with an input for receiving the graphics data and other video and graphics components. The display engine may also include a graphics controller for receiving two or more graphics layers in parallel, for arranging the graphics layers in an order suitable for parallel processing, and for providing the arranged graphics layers to the processing elements. The blended graphics may be blended with HDTV video or SDTV video, which may be extracted from compressed data streams such as an MPEG Transport stream. |
| US07659898B2 |
Multi-execution resource graphics processor
A dynamically scheduled parallel graphics processor comprises a spreader that creates graphic objects for processing and assigns and distributes the created objects for processing to one or more execution blocks. Each execution block is coupled to the spreader and receives an assignment for processing a graphics object. The execution block pushes the object through each processing stage by scheduling the processing of the graphics object and executing instruction operations on the graphics object. The dynamically scheduled parallel graphics processor includes one or more fixed function units coupled to the spreader that are configured to execute one or more predetermined operations on a graphics object. An input/output unit is coupled to the spreader, the one or more fixed function units, and the plurality of execution blocks and is configured to provide access to memory external to the dynamically scheduled parallel graphics processor. |
| US07659893B1 |
Method and apparatus to ensure consistency of depth values computed in different sections of a graphics processor
At least two different processing sections in a graphics processors compute Z coordinates for a sample location from a compressed Z representation. The processors are designed to ensure that Z coordinates computed in any unit in the processor are identical. In one embodiment, the respective arithmetic circuits included in each processing section that computes Z coordinates are “bit-identical,” meaning that, for any input planar Z representation and coordinates, the output Z coordinates produced by the circuits are identical to each other. |
| US07659892B2 |
Display device and portable terminal
In order to increase the continuous operating time of a display device driven by a battery or the like, and a portable information terminal using the same, the volume and weight of the battery are increased. Thus, there arises a trade-off between the increased capacity of the battery and the portability of the device/terminal. Therefore, the invention provides a display device with portability ensured, which is capable of operating continuously for long periods and a portable information terminal using the same. In the display device, TFTs and an RFID tag are formed over the same insulating substrate. The RFID tag detects signals from a reader/writer, and generates DC power based on the signals. While the RFID tag is detecting signals, the display device is driven by the DC power generated in the RFID tag. |
| US07659889B2 |
Touch panel device
A touch panel device including: a substrate; a first sender element for sending surface acoustic wave, which is placed along a first direction on the substrate; a second sender element for sending surface acoustic wave, which is placed along a second direction, orthogonal to the first direction, on the substrate; a receiver element for receiving the surface acoustic wave from the second sender element, which is placed along the second direction on the substrate while facing the second sender element with an interval in between; and a reflector, which is placed on the substrate, for achieving the receiver element's reception of the surface acoustic wave from the first sender element by reflecting the surface acoustic wave from the first sender element, wherein a position of a contact body touching on a contact surface is detected by transmitting the surface acoustic wave that is sent from the sender element through the contact surface and receiving the surface acoustic wave on the receiver element. |
| US07659888B2 |
Electronic apparatus and circuit substrate
An electronic apparatus of the present invention has a first unit and a second unit coupled to the first unit through a coupling section which allows the second unit to be opened and closed relative to the first unit and the second unit has a display screen with a pen input function for detecting the contact of a pen or the close position of a pen. The first unit includes a bottom cover, a circuit substrate arranged above the bottom cover, and an upper cover arranged above the circuit substrate. The circuit substrate has a DC-DC converter that is disposed thereon and provided with one or more coils that generate power for operating the electronic apparatus, and at least one of the coils is disposed on the surface of the circuit substrate facing the bottom cover. |
| US07659887B2 |
Keyboard with a touchpad layer on keys
Various embodiments are disclosed relating to a keyboard with integrated key and touchpad. In an example embodiment, a keyboard is provided that includes a plurality of keys, each key being capable of being pressed to select one or more keyboard inputs. The keyboard also includes a micro touchpad provided on an upper surface of a first key of the keys to allow pointer control by moving a finger or other object across a top surface of the micro touchpad. |
| US07659886B2 |
Electrical apparatus with illumination device
An electrical apparatus comprises a casing, a light-guiding device and a light-emitting device. In this case, the casing has a keyboard setting area for accommodating a keyboard. An opening is located at one side of the keyboard setting area. The light-guiding device is set in the casing and is near to the opening. Light is emerged from the light-guiding device and a part of the light passes through the opening to one side of the keyboard. The light-emitting device is set at one side of the light-guiding device. |
| US07659881B2 |
Display device for vehicle
Embodiments of a display device for a vehicle and methods for the same can adjust operation velocity and stroke of a monitor by changing simple mechanical configurations of a driving apparatus for the monitor in the display device. The display device for a vehicle can include a monitor in a case for displaying an image on its front surface and a movable unit that can be installed to the case to reciprocally move the monitor. A control lever can be installed between the monitor and the movable unit to be inclined at a predetermined angle and configured to cooperate with the movable unit. Therefore, it is possible to provide an inexpensive display device capable of satisfying a variety of users' needs and design requirements. |
| US07659880B2 |
Image display device, image display method, and program
An image display device includes a total luminance value detection portion that detects a total luminance value in an entire image; a level detection portion that detects whether the total luminance value exceeds a specific level; and an incident light level lowering processing portion that performs processing to reduce an illumination light quantity from a light source that goes incident on a light modulation element in accordance with a function of the total luminance value when the level detection portion detects that the total luminance value exceeds the specific level. |
| US07659878B2 |
Display control device
A display control device has: a shift register generating n shift pulses in series; a data hold block configured to hold n gradation data; and a DA converter for converting the n gradation data into corresponding gradation voltages. The data hold block includes: n first latch circuits configured to respectively latch the n gradation data in series in synchronization with the n shift pulses; and n second latch circuits provided between the DA converter and the n first latch circuits. An electrical connection between the first latch circuits and the second latch circuits is cut off while the first latch circuits receive the n gradation data. After the first latch circuits finish latching all the gradation data, the n gradation data are simultaneously supplied to the DA converter from the first latch circuits through the second latch circuits. |
| US07659876B2 |
Driving a display with a polarity inversion pattern
This invention relates to a method for driving a display panel (DP) having pixels (P). The display panel (DP) is driven with a sequence of image frames. The image frames are converted to a drive signal (V2) comprising refresh frames with a refresh frame period (TR) shorter than the image frame period. A pixel (P) of the display panel (DP) is driven with an adapted drive signal having a first polarity during a first group of refresh frame periods, and having a reversed polarity during a subsequent second group of refresh frame periods. The first group and the second group each comprise at least two refresh frame periods. |
| US07659873B2 |
Current control circuit, LED current control apparatus, and light emitting apparatus
A counter circuit increments a count value bit by bit in synchronization with a clock pulse received from an oscillating portion. A lower order decoder receives the count value output from the counter circuit, compares a bit or bits on a lower side with a set value 1, and outputs an H-level only in a time period when the bit or bits match a bit pattern of set value 1. Similarly, an upper order decoder compares a bit or bits on an upper side with a set value 2, and outputs an H-level only in a time period when the bit or bits match the bit pattern of set value 2. An AND circuit renders a transistor conductive in a time period when both lower and upper order decoders are outputting signals of the H-level. |
| US07659871B2 |
Plasma display panel and method for driving same
Provided are a plasma display panel (PDP) and a driving method thereof. The PDP includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed in parallel and spaced apart from one another. Address electrodes are provided on the first substrate with a first dielectric layer over the address electrodes and the first substrate. Barrier ribs are provided on the dielectric forming a plurality of discharge spaces in which phosphor layers are provided. Sustain electrodes are formed on the second substrate facing the first substrate and are arranged crossing the address electrodes. A second dielectric layer is formed over the address electrodes and on the second substrate, and a protective layer including MgO of at least 99.6% purity by weight is formed over the second dielectric layer by a sintering process. The discharge can be stabilized by varying a Vset applying time or a Vnf voltage applying time according to the temperature of the plasma display panel, and wall charges can be sufficiently accumulated in the reset period. |
| US07659870B2 |
Method of driving plasma display panel
A method of driving a plasma display panel that is adaptive for improving brightness and efficiency. In the method, a sustaining pulse for sustaining a discharge of a cell selected in a sustaining interval is alternately applied to each of a sustaining electrode pair. A pulse signal synchronized with the sustaining pulse is applied to a data electrode to cause a discharge for inducing a long-path discharge between the sustaining electrode pair between any one of the sustaining electrode pair and the data electrode. |
| US07659869B1 |
System and method for authenticating an end user
A method for authenticating an end user. The method begins by generating a login field in response to receiving an authentication request from an end user. The login field comprises a login node matrix comprising a first set of transparent and opaque nodes in addition to at least one login offset. Next the method determines an authenticity status of the end user by comparing data received from the end user with said first set of transparent nodes. The data received being sent in response to sending the login field to the end user. The end user generated the data by overlaying a transparent credit card on top of the login field and aligning the login offset with a card offset and then selecting at least one node which is not opaque. Finally, the method sends the determined authenticity status to the end user via an output device. |
| US07659864B2 |
Broadband antenna
A broadband antenna has a substrate, a coupling conductor, a conductor string, a ground conductor and a ground plane. The coupling conductor has a first coupling member and a second coupling member being separated from each other. The conductor string and the ground conductor are connected to the second coupling member. The conductor string extends along a direction opposite to the second coupling member. The ground conductor is connected to the ground plane. The broadband antenna uses the coupling conductor and the ground conductor to adjust input impedance for impedance match. The conductor string functions as a multi level resonance circuit to increase impedance bandwidth. |
| US07659862B2 |
Antenna system for radio frequency identification
An antenna including an electrically conductive portion defined substantially by a self-similar geometry present at multiple resolutions. The electrically conductive portion includes two or more angular bends and is configured to radiate broadband electromagnetic energy. The antenna further includes an electrically non-conductive portion that structurally supports the electrically conductive portion. |
| US07659856B2 |
Extremely miniaturized digital antenna having switchable multiple bandwidths
An extremely miniaturized digital TV signal reception antenna built in a mobile device includes a substrate, an antenna unit and a switch unit. The substrate is provided with a plate having a grounding metallic surface and a first clearance surface. A second clearance surface is provided on the same side of the grounding metallic surface with a metallic microstrip line for electrically connecting to an output end of the switch unit. Input ends of the switch unit are electrically connected with a plurality of leads of the first clearance surface. The other ends of the plurality of leads are electrically connected with the antenna unit. Finally, when a tuner of a portable digital television switches the channels, signals of the switched channel are simultaneously output to the switch unit. According to the frequency of that channel, the switch unit automatically switches to a suitable range of bandwidth for receiving the digital TV signals, thereby performing the reception of the digital TV signals. |
| US07659855B2 |
Foldable portable radio device
Regardless of a user's hand holding condition, it is possible to obtain excellent antenna performance in both of folded and unfolded calling conditions.A folder type mobile radio apparatus includes an upper case 1301 having a first antenna element made of a metal plate 1305, a lower case 1302 having a second antenna element made of a circuit board 102, a hinge portion 1303 pivotably connecting the upper and lower cases 1301 and 1302, a first circuit board 101 having a ground pattern provided in an end side near the hinge portion 1303 in the lower case, an antenna switching unit 103 for selecting one of a first feed means for feeding the first antenna element for the radio circuit 1314 on the first circuit board 101 or a second feed means for feeding the second antenna element. |
| US07659852B2 |
Multi-band antenna with low-profile
A multi-band antenna includes a radiating element, a connecting element and a grounding element; the radiating element is made from a metal plate, and includes a first radiating portion and a second radiating portion having an end connect to one end of the first radiating portion. The first radiating portion, the second radiating portion and the connecting element is on the same planar, and the first radiating portion and the second radiating portion surround a rectangle rim. |
| US07659850B1 |
Method and system for determining locations of mobile stations using directional corrections
A base station almanac (BSA) stores directional forward link calibration (FLC) values that correct for differences between the listed locations of base station antennas and the actual locations of the antennas. Each directional FLC value is specific to wireless signals that are transmitted from a particular base station antenna and propagate toward a particular receiving area. A mobile station operating in a receiving area measures a wireless signal from a base station antenna located outside of the receiving area to obtain a signal measurement. The location of the mobile station is determined by applying a positioning algorithm that uses the signal measurement corrected by the directional FLC value for that particular combination of base station antenna and receiving area. |
| US07659849B2 |
Frequency scanning antenna
Embodiments of the invention are concerned with frequency scanning antennas for transceiving radio frequency energy for use in detecting and monitoring ground-based targets.In one arrangement the frequency scanning antenna is embodied as a structure that is capable of steering a radio frequency beam to a plurality of different angles about the antenna structure: the antenna structure comprises at least two array antennas and a controller for controlling input of energy to the two array antennas, and the array antennas are disposed within the antenna structure such that the antenna structure is capable of steering a beam to a first angle using one of said two array antennas and of steering a beam to a second angle, different to said first angle, using the other of said two array antennas.Thus in embodiments of the invention two or more array antennas are arranged to form an antenna structure, and the feed to a respective antenna array of the antenna structure is coordinated so that individual scan areas can be combined to generate an increased overall scan region. |
| US07659846B2 |
Method for creating interference, and jamming arrangement
A method for creating jamming within an area and a jamming arrangement. The arrangement includes a plurality of distributed jammers. The jammers include a transmitter, receiver and logic unit and communication is established with the jammers. Communication is established directly between jammers included in the arrangement and information that is to be transmitted from one jammer to the other jammers is transmitted by superposing the information on the jamming signal that is produced by the jammers. An autonomous distributed arrangement is achieved that is difficult to disable and that can be made relatively simple, reliable and cost-effective. |
| US07659842B2 |
Quantization error reduction in PWM full-MASH converters
Techniques for reducing quantization error in electronic components are described herein. |
| US07659841B1 |
Quadratic and cubic compensation of sigma-delta D/A and A/D converters
A circuit and method for compensating sigma-delta modulators in A/D and D/A converters is disclosed. Circuits according to the invention use a low-resolution Sigma-Delta encoded version of the signal to inexpensively encode quadratic and cubic compensation terms. These circuits can encode quadratic and cubic compensation signals with acceptably low quantization noise without requiring the use of expensive multi-bit multipliers to compute the square or cube of the signal. The method includes providing a binary word Q or a binary word C (or both) representing the desired amount of quadratic or cubic compensation to apply. Because the encoded quadratic and cubic signals have only one or a few bits, they can be multiplied by Q and C without the use of expensive multi-bit multipliers and applied to the modulator input or output to provide a compensated result. |
| US07659839B2 |
Methods and systems for modifying the statistical distribution of symbols in a coded message
A method for coding a message of a plurality of m-state symbols into a coded message of n-state symbols wherein n>m is disclosed. A method to make the distribution of states of n-state symbols a uniform distribution is also disclosed. A coding rule is initiated based on a distribution of states of m-state symbols. A method of coding the coding rule by transposition is also provided. In one embodiment a coded message of n-state symbols has symbols that each have a unique state. A system for executing the coding and decoding methods is also disclosed. |
| US07659838B2 |
Deserializer circuitry for high-speed serial data receivers on programmable logic device integrated circuits
Deserializer circuitry for high-speed serial data receiver circuitry on a programmable logic device (“PLD”) or the like includes circuitry for converting serial data to parallel data having any of several data widths. The circuitry can also operate at any frequency in a wide range of frequencies. The circuitry is configurable/re-configurable in various respects, at least some of which configuration/re-configuration can be dynamically controlled (i.e., during user-mode operation of the PLD). |
| US07659835B2 |
Method and apparatus for recognizing parking slot by using bird's eye view and parking assist system using the same
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for recognizing a parking slot by using a bird's-eye view and a parking assist system using the same. |
| US07659833B2 |
System and method for remotely controlling devices
A system and a method for remotely controlling at least a first device based on operation of a foot pedal apparatus are provided. The foot pedal apparatus has a movable member. The system includes a first module configured to transmit a first RF signal in response to at least partial displacement of the moveable member of the foot pedal apparatus from a first operational position. The first signal has a first identifier. The system further includes a second module configured to receive the first RF signal and to transmit a second RF signal having the first identifier and a second identifier in response to the first RF signal. The system further includes a third module configured to receive the second RF signal and to control operation of the first device in response to the second RF signal. |
| US07659831B2 |
Hand-held device with lamp for displaying playtime for storage medium
A hand-held device is provided. The hand-held device is used for playing a storage medium and has an indication apparatus. The indication apparatus is divided into a plurality of sections, and one of the sections is driven to twinkle according to the specific period having elapsed for playing the storage medium. |
| US07659830B1 |
Method and apparatus for visual silent alarm indicator
An apparatus and method thereof wherein a portable computer system or personal digital assistant generates a visual signal in response to an occurrence of a programmed event. For example, the portable computer system can use a light emitting diode to visually signal an alarm at a specified time. The visual signal can be varied in order to indicate the type of event associated with the alarm. In one implementation, the visual signal blinks at a particular rate depending on the type of event. In another implementation, the visual signal blinks a prescribed number of times or according to a particular pattern depending on the type of event. When enabled, the visual signal is generated in lieu of an audible signal, thus providing to the user a silent alarm that does not disturb other people in proximity, such as in a meeting, a theater, or some other gathering. |
| US07659829B2 |
Method of improving the detection of opening and closing of a slide-type mobile communication terminal and an apparatus thereof
An apparatus for detecting the opening and closing of a slide-type mobile communication terminal having a main body and a sub-body mounted on the main body. The apparatus includes a signal generating element of bar-type provided in the sub-body for generating a predetermined signal; a first and a second signal sensor provided at two positions separated by a predetermined interval in the main body so as to face the signal generating element respectively when the sub-body is slid up and down relative to the main body, the first and second signal sensors detecting the predetermined signal; and a control unit for performing corresponding functions according to the opening and closing operations of the mobile communication terminal represented by different signals generated by the first and second signal sensors. |
| US07659828B2 |
Industrial field device with automatic indication of solids
An industrial field device provides information indicative of a process variable. The field device includes a controller, communication circuitry, a process variable sensor and measurement circuitry. The communication circuitry is coupled to the controller. The process variable sensor has an electrical characteristic that changes based on a variable of a process fluid. The measurement circuitry is coupled to the process variable sensor and coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to generate communication via the communication circuitry relative to the process variable, and to provide an indication of sand flow or other solids in the fluid. |
| US07659824B2 |
Sanitizer dispensers with compliance verification
A system is provided for providing compliance verification of sanitizer use from a sanitizer dispenser. The system provides for identifying individual users of one or more sanitizer dispensers through technologies such as RFID. Individual's use of sanitizer dispensers is monitored to determine compliance with sanitizer use requirements. A compliance report may be generated based on data associated with one or more individuals' use of the sanitizer dispenser(s). Additionally, the sanitizer dispenser may identify containers having authorized sanitizer. |
| US07659823B1 |
Tracking variable conditions using radio frequency identification
A method and system for tracking variable conditions using radio frequency identification (RFID) are disclosed. In embodiments of the present invention, an RFID sensor tag is used to measure a condition. The condition can be any measurable condition such as location, temperature, humidity, pressure, time, date, inertial measurements, etc. Variable data representing the measured condition is read from the RFID sensor tag in order to track the measured condition. The variable data can be read from RFID sensor tags in addition to reading tag identification data from RFID tags, so that the variable data can be associated with tag identification data. |
| US07659816B2 |
Method and a device for detecting intrusion into or tampering with contents of an enclosure
A method and a device for detecting intrusion into or tampering with contents of an enclosure. According to the method at least one gas proof seal-barrier is provided in association with the enclosure and a first environment is produced within said gas proof seal-barrier. Said first environment is different regarding at least one characteristic feature from a second environment surrounding said gas proof seal-barrier. At least one detector is arranged within said gas proof seal-barrier for detecting a predetermined change of the characteristic feature of the said first environment. Said detector is transferred irrevocably from a first state to a second state when there is a predetermined change of the characteristic feature, and the state of the detector is supplied to a position outside said gas proof seal-barrier. |
| US07659814B2 |
Method for distributed sound collection and event triggering
The present invention provides a computer implemented method for sending alerts. A distributed sensor receives a sound and determines whether the sound matches a preset criterion. If so, the distributed sensor transmits an event to a central portal device. |
| US07659813B2 |
Asset performance optimization
Included are embodiments for asset management. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving, at a performance assessment and optimization center, data from at least one asset, the asset being configured to service an environment and performing at least one calculation, from the received data, to determine whether the asset is operating properly. Some embodiments include in response to a determination that the at least one asset is not operating properly, providing an indication related to operation of the asset. |
| US07659808B1 |
Automotive messaging display unit
The present invention relates to a communication systems, and more specifically to a vehicular messaging display unit. The unit allows one of a plurality of messages to be displayed on at least one of the front or rear windshield to other drivers. A remote control unit is provided for customizing messages by the user in terms of content and appearance as well as for controlling the display of the messages. The display is designed so that it does not impede the safety of drivers. |
| US07659803B2 |
Transformer with fixed pins
A transformer with fixed pins is disclosed. The transformer includes a bobbin, a primary winding, a secondary winding, a core set and a plurality pins. The primary and secondary windings are wound around the bobbin and both have a plurality of winding ends. The core set surrounds the primary and secondary windings. Each of the pins is fixed upon the bobbin and electrically connected with a corresponding winding end. The transformer further includes a fixing plate, and the pins are fixed upon the bobbin through the fixing plate. |
| US07659802B2 |
Bi-stable magnetic latch assembly
A bi-stable magnetic switch assembly comprises a stator having an axis and first and second magnetic portions angularly disposed there around, and a rotor having at least one magnetic region attracted to the first and second portions. The rotor is configured for rotation about the axis between (1) a first latched position wherein the region resides proximate to, but is spaced apart from, the first portion; and (2) a second latched position wherein the region resides proximate to, but is spaced apart from, the second portion. A spring biases the rotor to a position where the region resides intermediate the first and second portions. A coil, which is associated with at least one of the first portion, the second portion, and the region, may be energized to reduce the force of attraction between the region and the first and second portions when in the first and second latched positions, respectively. |
| US07659800B2 |
Electromagnetic relay assembly
An electromagnetic relay enables current to pass through switch termini and comprises a coil assembly, a rotor or bridge assembly, and opposing, balanced switch assemblies. The coil assembly comprises a coil and a C-shaped core. The coil is wound round a coil axis extending through the core. The core comprises core termini parallel to the coil axis. The bridge assembly comprises a bridge and a pair of actuators. The bridge comprises medial, lateral, and transverse field pathways. The actuators extend laterally from the lateral field pathway. The core termini are coplanar with the axis of rotation and received intermediate the medial and lateral field pathways. The actuators are cooperable with the switch assemblies. The coil creates a magnetic field directable through the bridge assembly via the core termini for imparting bridge rotation about the axis of rotation. The bridge rotation displaces the actuators for opening and closing the switch assemblies. |
| US07659794B2 |
Single-pole-double-throw switch integrated with band pass filtering function
A single-pole-double-throw switch is provided, which is configured to be integrated with a bandpass filtering function and includes four quarter-wavelength transmission lines connected in series, five resonators connected in parallel to each other, and four transistors connected in parallel to four of the five resonators. When two of the four transistors are turned on and the others are turned off, the single-pole-double-throw switch is equivalent to a third-order quarter-wavelength short-circuited stub bandpass filter. |
| US07659793B2 |
Antenna device including a high frequency circuit, a reactance circuit and first and second ground sections
An antenna device includes an antenna element, a high-frequency circuit connected to the antenna element, a first ground section connected to the high-frequency circuit, a reactance circuit connected to the first ground section, and a second ground section connected to the reactance circuit. Employing the structure above allows the antenna device to have a compact body and to easily control antenna characteristics, such as radiation characteristics and input impedance characteristics. |
| US07659791B2 |
Double comb guard trace pattern for reducing the far-end cross-talk and printed circuit board including the pattern
Provided is a guard trace pattern reducing far-end crosstalk and a printed circuit board having the guard trace pattern. The guard trace pattern includes a first guard trace pattern parallel with two signal lines and a plurality of second guard trace patterns perpendicular to the first guard trace pattern to increase mutual capacitance between the two signal lines and the guard trace pattern and increase mutual capacitance between the two signal lines. The printed circuit board includes the aforementioned guard trace pattern disposed between micro strip transmission lines. A characteristic impedance of the guard trace pattern is different from a characteristic impedance of the micro strip transmission lines, and resistances having the same value as a resistance component value of the characteristic impedance of the guard trace pattern are provided to both ends of the guard trace pattern. |
| US07659790B2 |
High speed signal transmission line having reduced thickness regions
Apparatus and associated systems and methods may include one or more features for high speed transmission line structures that may substantially reduce signal degradation due to effects, such as dielectric loss, parasitic capacitance, cross-talk, and/or reflections. For example, one such feature may include a dielectric layer having a reduced thickness within at least a part of a region that extends between two conductors fabricated on a PCB (printed circuit board). In some embodiments, the dielectric layer may include a solder mask layer that is partially or substantially absent in the region between two coplanar conductors. In another embodiment, a substrate layer made of a dielectric material may include a trench in the region between the two conductors. Another such feature, for example, may include a conductor having vias spaced less than a quarter wavelength apart to substantially reduce resonance effects on propagating high frequency signals. |
| US07659788B2 |
Amplitude regulating circuit
An amplitude regulating circuit for an oscillator with an input for a supply signal having an electrical quantity depending on an amplitude of an oscillation of the oscillator has a supply circuit with a control input for a first control signal and a supply output for the supply signal based on the first control signal, a reference circuit with an input for a reference supply signal having a reference quantity, a reference supply circuit with a reference control input for a second control signal and a reference supply output for the reference supply signal based on the second control signal and a comparator circuit with a first control signal output for the first control signal based on the electrical quantity and the electrical reference quantity and a second control signal output for the second control signal based on the electrical quantity and the electrical reference quantity. |
| US07659786B2 |
Ring oscillator
A ring oscillator includes a first logic block having a first input connected to a specific point along a delay path, a first output and a second output, and a second logic block having a first input connected to the first output of the first logic block, a second input connected to the second output of the first logic block, a third input connected to the end of the delay path, and a first output connected to the beginning of the delay path. The first logic block is arranged to alternately switch its first output and second output from logical HIGH to logical LOW, and vice versa, every time a rising edge is input into its first input. The second logic block is arranged to alternately select its first input and its second input every time a rising edge is input into its third input. |
| US07659784B2 |
Injection-locked frequency divider
An injection-locked frequency divider is provided. The injection-locked frequency divider includes a voltage control oscillator (VCO) and a mixer. The VCO includes a LC resonance tank and a negative-resistance generator for generating a differential oscillation signal including a first and a second oscillation signals. The LC resonance tank adjusts a VCO reactance and resonates for generating the differential oscillation signal. The negative-resistance generator coupled to the LC resonance tank eliminates an equivalent resistance generated by the LC resonance tank and maintains the VCO to continuously oscillate. The mixer has a first and a second local input terminals respectively receiving the first and second injected signals included in a differential injected signal, and the first and second radio frequency input terminals respectively receiving the first and second oscillation signals for mixing the differential injected signal with the differential oscillation signal to adjust the output frequency of the differential oscillation signal. |
| US07659783B2 |
System and method for phase-locked loop (PLL) for high-speed memory interface (HSMI)
A phase-locked loop (PLL) to provide clock generation for high-speed memory interface is presented as the innovate PLL (IPLL). The IPLL architecture is able to tolerate external long loop delay without deteriorating jitter performance. The IPLL comprises in part a common mode feedback circuit with a current mode approach, so as to minimize the effects of mismatch in charge-pump circuit, for instance. The voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) of the IPLL is designed using a mutually interpolating technique generating a 50% duty clock output, beneficial to high-speed double data rate applications. The IPLL further comprises loop filter voltages that are directly connected to each VCO cell of the IPLL. Conventional voltage-to-current (V-I) converter between loop filter and VCO is hence not required. A tight distribution of VCO gain curves is therefore obtained for the present invention across process corners and varied temperatures. |
| US07659782B2 |
Apparatus and method to reduce jitter in a phase locked loop
A circuit and method to reduce jitter and/or noise in a phase-locked loop (PLL). A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) control signal is tapped and filtered to create a low-noise, filtered VCO control signal. The filtered and unfiltered control signals are individually weighted and then combined to create a modified VCO control signal which reduces the jitter and/or the noise by reducing an effect of VCO gain on the jitter and/or the noise. |
| US07659779B2 |
Method and system for polar modulating OFDM signals with discontinuous phase
Aspects of a method and system for polar modulating OFDM signals with discontinuous phase may include amplifying an OFDM signal via a plurality of amplifiers such that a combined gain of the plurality of amplifiers comprises a coarse amplitude gain and an amplitude offset gain. A gain of one or more of the plurality of amplifiers may be adjusted to set the coarse amplitude gain, and a gain of one or more remaining ones of the plurality of amplifiers may be adjusted to set the amplitude offset gain. The setting of the coarse amplitude gain and/or the amplitude offset gain may be adjusted dynamically and/or adaptively. |
| US07659778B2 |
Apparatus and method for class D amplifier with sampling rate conversion
A class D amplifier is provided. The class D amplifier includes an interpolator, a sampling rate converter, a pulse width modulator, a sigma-delta modulator, and a pulse width modulation (PWM) pulse generator (PPG). The sampling rate converter interpolates the output of the interpolator such that the sampling rate converter up-samples the interpolator output by a factor that is greater than one and less than two. The pulse width modulator outputs a multi-bit digital signal. The sigma-delta modulator performs sigma-delta modulation on the pulse width modulator output, the order of the sigma-delta modulation is programmable, and the output of the sigma-delta modulator is a multi-bit, digital signal. At least one of the orders to which the sigma-delta modulator can be programmed is greater than two. The PPG provides a pulse signal such that the width of each pulse is based on the value of the sigma-delta modulator output. |
| US07659773B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device and power control method thereof
A semiconductor IC includes a logic block, and a voltage control circuit controlling an operating voltage supplied into the logic block. The voltage control circuit controls the operating voltage to be increased in a stepwise fashion during an initial operation of the logic block. |
| US07659769B2 |
Semiconductor device
A substrate voltage control technique that prevents the operating speed from being decreased and suppresses a leakage current due to a lower threshold voltage with respect to a low voltage use. Since a center value of the threshold voltages is detected by plural replica MOS transistors, and a substrate voltage is controlled to control a center value of the threshold voltages, thereby making it possible to satisfy a lower limit of the operating speed and an upper limit of a leakage current of the entire chip. On the other hand, the substrate voltage is dynamically controlled during the operation of the chip, thereby making it possible to decrease the center value of the threshold voltages when the chip operates to improve the speed, and to increase the center value of the threshold voltages after the operation of the chip to reduce the leakage current of the entire chip. |
| US07659768B2 |
Reduced leakage voltage level shifting circuit
A level shifting circuit includes a first stage and a second stage. The first stage and second stage are operatively coupled to a first and second power supply. The first stage translates a differential input voltage into an intermediate differential voltage. The second stage translates the intermediate differential voltage into a differential output voltage and provides feedback to the first stage in response to translating the intermediate differential voltage. The first stage reduces current flow between the first and second power supply through the second stage in response to the feedback. |
| US07659763B2 |
Conditioning input buffer for clock interpolation
A conditioning buffer is provided for a clock interpolator that controls the duration of the clock edges to achieve high-linearity interpolation. The conditioning buffer includes a first buffer and a second buffer, with a fixed or variable strength, that receive their respective inputs from a set of mutually delayed clock signals, such as a set of N equidistant clock phases with mutual delay of 360/N degrees, to form a two-tap transversal filter that is insensitive to changes in Process, Temperature, and Voltage (PVT). Use of an equidistant set of clock phases makes the time constant of such transversal filter proportional to the clock period thus making it insensitive to changes in clock frequency as well. Such transversal filtering action operated in conjunction with natural bandwidth limitations of the buffers yields an efficient clock conditioning circuit that is highly insensitive to PVT and clock frequency variations. |
| US07659761B2 |
Operation mode setting apparatus, semiconductor integrated circuit including the same, and method of controlling semiconductor integrated circuit
An operation mode setting apparatus includes an operation mode setting control unit that discriminates the phase of a reference clock from the phase of a feedback clock and generates a locking suspension signal, and an operation mode setting unit that generates a locking completion signal in response to a pulse signal and a phase comparison signal under the control of a reset signal and the locking suspension signal. |
| US07659756B2 |
MOSFET transistor amplifier with controlled output current
A switched current source has a first voltage source, a second voltage source, and a third voltage source. A first transistor has a drain terminal coupled to one terminal of a load and a source terminal coupled to the third voltage source. A second transistor has drain, gate and source terminals. The drain terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the first transistor. The source terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the source terminal of the first transistor. The gate terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the first voltage source. A third transistor has drain, gate and source terminals. The drain terminal of the third transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the first transistor. The source terminal of the third transistor is coupled to the second voltage source. The gate terminal of the third transistor is coupled to the first voltage source. |
| US07659755B1 |
Method and apparatus including a driver for driving a floating bipolar switch
A switch for switchably coupling a signal source to a high impedance load. The switch includes a first bipolar transistor and a floating switch driver. The first bipolar transistor is configured to switchably couple the signal source to the high impedance load responsive to a driver signal applied to a base thereof. The floating switch driver has a control input and an output terminal coupled to the base of the first bi-polar transistor to supply the driver signal thereto. The driver signal comprises a limited forward current during the “On” state of the floating switch driver and a voltage “Voff” not less than the reverse breakdown voltage nor greater than the forward voltage drop across a base-emitter connection of the first bipolar transistor during the “Off” state of the floating switch driver. |
| US07659746B2 |
Distributed supply current switch circuits for enabling individual power domains
An integrated circuit includes multiple power domains. Supply current switch circuits (SCSCs) are distributed across each power domain. When a signal is present on a control node within a SCSC, the SCSC couples a local supply bus of the power domain to a global supply bus. An enable signal path extends through the SCSCs so that an enable signal can be propagated down a chain of SCSCs from control node to control node, thereby turning the SCSCs on one by one. When the domain is to be powered up, a control circuit asserts an enable signal that propagates down a first chain of SCSCs. After a programmable amount of time, the control circuit asserts a second enable signal that propagates down a second chain. By spreading the turning on of SCSCs over time, large currents that would otherwise be associated with coupling the local and global buses together are avoided. |
| US07659744B2 |
Pixel testing circuit and method for liquid crystal display device
A testing circuit and method for a liquid crystal display device are presented. The circuit comprises: a substrate, a plurality of pixels formed on the substrate and having n sub-pixels, a plurality of signal paths, and a plurality of p shorting bars, The plurality of signal paths is formed on the substrate and connected to the sub-pixels correspondingly; the p shorting bars are formed on the substrate and respectively connected to (p×m+1)th, (p×m+2)th, (p×m+3)th . . . , (p×m+p)th numbered signal paths The method comprises: dividing the p shorting bars into n groups; and applying testing signals respectively to the shorting bars of every group. The method also comprises: dividing the p shorting bars into groups by odd-even sequence; and applying testing signals respectively to every group, so as to effectively increase the testing efficiency of array and cell tests in fabrication of the device. |
| US07659743B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing electronic components within horizontal and vertical boundary lines of a wafer
A method and an apparatus are provided which make it possible, when testing chips arranged on a wafer, to be able to test optionally both additional components arranged on horizontal boundary lines and on vertical boundary lines. The additional components arranged on horizontal boundary lines are tested in a first position of the wafer. For testing the additional components arranged on vertical boundary lines, the wafer is rotated about its vertical axis through 90° relative to the first position into a second position. The apparatus comprises a housing and, in the housing, at least one test probe for making contact with an electronic component, a chuck for moving the wafer and a rotatably mounted additional plate operatively connected to the chuck. |
| US07659741B2 |
Parallel scan distributors and collectors and process of testing integrated circuits
An integrated circuit (70) having parallel scan paths (824-842, 924-942) includes a pair or pairs of scan distributor (800,900) and scan collector (844,944) circuits. The scan paths apply stimulus test data to functional circuits (702) on the integrated circuit and receive response test data from the functional circuits. A scan distributor circuit (800) receives serial test data from a peripheral bond pad (802) and distributes it to each parallel scan path. A scan collector circuit (844) collects test data from the parallel scan paths and applies it to a peripheral bond pad (866). This enables more parallel scan paths of shorter length to connect to the functional circuits. The scan distributor and collector circuits can be respectively connected in series to provide parallel connections to more parallel scan paths. Additionally multiplexer circuits (886,890) can selectively connect pairs of scan distributor and collector circuits together. The scan distributor and collector circuits can be formed in core circuits (704). The core circuits then can be connected to other core circuits and functional circuits with simple connections to the parallel scan circuits through the scan distributor and collector circuits. |
| US07659739B2 |
Knee probe having reduced thickness section for control of scrub motion
An improved knee probe for probing electrical devices and circuits is provided. The improved knee probe has a reduced thickness section to alter the mechanical behavior of the probe when contact is made. The reduced thickness section of the probe makes it easier to deflect the probe vertically when contact is made. This increased ease of vertical deflection tends to reduce the horizontal contact force component responsible for the scrub motion, thereby decreasing scrub length. Here “thickness” is the probe thickness in the deflection plane of the probe (i.e., the plane in which the probe knee lies). The reduced thickness probe section provides increased design flexibility for controlling scrub motion, especially in combination with other probe parameters affecting the scrub motion. |
| US07659738B2 |
Test sockets having peltier elements, test equipment including the same and methods of testing semiconductor packages using the same
A test socket includes a socket body in which a semiconductor package is located, a socket head combined with the socket body, a Peltier element in the socket head, and power terminals connected to the Peltier element. A test equipment includes the test socket and a method of testing the semiconductor package uses the test socket. |
| US07659730B2 |
Measuring apparatus and method for recognizing foreign bodies in a product, particularly tobacco, cotton or another fibrous product
The invention concerns a measuring apparatus for the detection of foreign bodies in a product, in particular in tobacco, cotton or some other fibrous product, having a measuring device, a device for generating an alternating electromagnetic field in the measuring device, which is influenced by a product which is arranged in a measuring volume of the measuring apparatus, a circuit device which includes the measuring device and which is designed to determine at least one suitable measurable variable of the alternating field influenced by the product, and an evaluating device which is designed for detection of the foreign body by suitable evaluation of the measurable variable determined with the circuit device, and is distinguished in that the measuring device is a measuring capacitor and the frequency of the alternating field is in the high-frequency range below the microwave range. The application further concerns a corresponding measuring method. |
| US07659728B1 |
Method and apparatus for measuring degradation of insulation of electrical power system devices
A method for measuring degradation of electrical power system device insulation utilizes a conductive composite sensor. A selected polymeric matrix of the conductive composite provides a sensor resistance response that correlates to the mechanical degradation of the insulation. The sensor may be embedded in the windings, core or stator of the electrical power system device and wired to a connector on the electrical power system device for interrogation by an ohmmeter. |
| US07659726B2 |
Image forming apparatus with plural AC sources
An image forming apparatus includes two AC power input cords to be connected to an AC power source. The image forming apparatus can detect if at least one of the two AC power input cords is not connected to the AC power source. An input voltage detector or a zero-cross signal detector receives an input from the one AC input power cord, and detects a voltage state of connection to the AC power input cord. A controller utilizes signals from the input voltage detector or zero-cross signal detector to detect whether the one AC input power cord is connected to the AC power source. An operator can also be provided an indication if it is determined that the one AC power input cord is not connected to the AC power source. |
| US07659725B2 |
Method for assessing the suitability of metered dose inhaler actuators
A method of assessing the suitability of a metered dose inhaler actuator A test canister equipped with a valve and containing a pressurized propellant is provided. One or more actuators manufactured for use in a metered dose inhaler is provided and tested, wherein each actuator is tested by coupling the canister to the actuator, positioning the actuator with respect to an electrostatic measurement device and firing the canister such that electrostatic charge from an aerosol emitted by the canister is measured by the electrostatic measurement device. The measured electrostatic charge is compared to a predetermined specification range to make a determination whether the measured electrostatic charge is within or outside the predetermined specification range and accordingly whether the actuator is or is not acceptable. |
| US07659724B2 |
Surveying method using an arrangement of plural signal sources
The survey technique for use in a marine environment to survey a subterranean structure includes providing an arrangement of plural signal sources in a body of water to produce corresponding signals. The signals of the signal sources in the arrangement are set to cause reduction of at least one predetermined signal component in data received by a receiver in response to the signals. |
| US07659723B2 |
Broadband resistivity interpretation
Resistivity measurements are made at a plurality of frequencies. An asymptotic high-frequency limit is determined and the electrical efficiency is estimated as a ratio of the high frequency resistivity limit to the low frequency resistivity. From the electrical efficiency, petrophysical parameters of a rock such as porosity and water saturation can be estimated. |
| US07659720B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and method of setting slice-area/slice-volume orientation at each moved couch position
An observation-point arranging unit arranges an observation point indicating a portion to be included in a slice area on a positioning image displayed on a display device. A scanning-condition receiving unit receives a specification of a scanning condition including number of movements of a couch on which an object is placed during scanning and a size of the slice area. A slice-area setting unit sets the slice area including the observation point for each position to which the couch is to be moved, based on the observation point and the scanning condition. A scanning unit scans the object multiple times while moving the couch, based on the slice area. |
| US07659719B2 |
Cavity resonator for magnetic resonance systems
An magnetic resonance apparatus in embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features: (a) a coil having at least two sections, (b) the at least two sections having a resonant circuit, (c) the at least two sections being reactively coupled or decoupled, (d) the at least two sections being separable, (e) the coil having openings allowing a subject to see or hear and to be accessed through the coil, (f) a cushioned head restraint, and (g) a subject input/output device providing visual data to the subject, the input/output device being selected from the group consisting of mirrors, prisms, video monitors, LCD devices, and optical motion trackers. |
| US07659718B1 |
Blip design for random sampling compressed sensing of flyback 3D-MRSI
A method of providing a magnetic resonance spectral image (MRSI) is provided. A magnetic resonance imaging excitation is applied. Data is acquired, comprising applying an oscillating gradient in a first dimension and applying blips in at least a second dimension in a pseudo-random order to acquire pseudo-random temporally undersampled spectral data in at least two planes. The pseudo-random order is used to reconstruct a magnetic resonance spectral image in at least two dimensions. |
| US07659712B2 |
System and method for process measurement
Process measurement may be achieved by systems and techniques generating output signals based on the measured process. In certain implementations, process measurement systems and techniques may include the ability to generate a magnetic field and successively change the orientation of the magnetic field. The systems and techniques may also include the ability to sense the presence of at least a first orientation of the magnetic field with a magnetic field sensor including a conductor and at least two Wiegand-effect conductors as the magnetic field orientation is changed and to generate an electrical pulse in the conductor with each Wiegand-effect conductor when the first orientation of the magnetic field is sensed. |
| US07659704B2 |
Regulator circuit
A regulator circuit for efficiently and accurately outputting a target voltage with a simple circuit configuration. The regulator circuit includes an output circuit, a comparator, a counter block, a latch block, and a decoder block. When the target voltage is applied to an output terminal of the output circuit, the output circuit supplies the comparator with feedback voltage. Further, the feedback signal is provided to the counter block. The counter block performs counting in correspondence with the feedback signal. The latch block holds the signal acquired from the counter block and provides the held signal to the decoder block. The decoder block supplies the comparator with reference voltage. The comparator compares the reference voltage and the feedback voltage and controls the counting. |
| US07659697B2 |
Apparatus and method to provide power to battery-backup assemblies disposed in an information storage and retrieval system
A method to supply power to one or more battery-backup assemblies, wherein the method supplies a first controller, a second controller, a first battery-backup assembly, and a second battery-backup assembly. The method further supplies a power bus interconnected to the first controller, the second controller, the first battery-backup assembly, and the second battery-backup assembly, and a first power supply and a second power supply interconnected with the power bus. The method provides power to the first controller and to the second controller and to the first battery-backup assembly over a first period of time, and provides power to the first controller and to the second controller and to the second battery-backup assembly over a second period of time, where the first period of time differs from the second period of time. |
| US07659696B2 |
Battery charger and assembly
Battery chargers and combinations. In some aspects and in some constructions, the invention may provide a combination including a battery charger having a housing and a charging circuit, and protective structure separate from and connectable with the battery charger. The protective structure, when connected, extending from the housing beyond a battery connected to the battery charger. In some aspects and in some constructions, the invention may also provide a combination including a first battery charger, a second battery charger and a connecting structure operable to connect the first battery charger and the second battery charger as a unit. In some aspects and in some constructions, the invention may further provide a combination including a battery charger and a handle separate from and connectable with the battery charger. In addition, in some aspects and in some constructions, the invention may provide a battery charger including a housing having a base and an upper portion opposite the base. A height is defined between the base and the upper portion and the base having a width less than or equal to the height. |
| US07659694B2 |
Self-aligning terminal block for battery pack
A self-aligning terminal block in a tool terminal assembly having electrical contacts for connecting to a removable battery pack to be used in conjunction with hand-held power tools having a rechargeable battery. The electrical contacts of the terminal block are preferably female terminals with two resilient guideways that taper away from each other at distal ends, preferably forming an enlarged entry area to help receive and align the battery terminals as they are inserted into narrow sections of the female terminals. The guideways can be aligned with battery terminal blades functioning as electrical contacts of the battery pack. The self-aligning terminal block has clearance on at least one side to allow lateral movement within the tool body to keep constant contact with mating electrical contacts of the terminal block and the battery pack. |
| US07659690B2 |
Vehicular battery charging method
A method for charging a battery pack for an electric vehicle charges at a preselected maximum charging current until the battery pack voltage reaches a reference voltage level. The battery pack is then charged while maintaining the reference voltage until the charging current decreases to a first reference current level. Charging continues at the first reference current level until a time rate of change of the battery pack voltage reaches a first reference time rate of change. The battery pack voltage is determined and whenever the battery pack voltage is less than a decision voltage reference level, the battery pack is further charged at a second reference current level until the time rate of change of the battery pack voltage reaches a second reference value. A manually initiated pack recovery charge routine is also provided to address new battery pack installations. |
| US07659689B2 |
Power conversion apparatus and method and automobile
An apparatus and method for supplying a polyphase (AC) alternating current motor with driving voltages. A conversion unit is coupled to phases of the polyphase AC motor and includes a plurality of switching devices and includes, in at least one phase, a first switching device between a bus of an AC power supply and an output terminal, a second switching device between a bus of a direct current (DC) power supply and the output terminal, and a third switching device between a common bus for the AC power supply and the DC power supply and the output terminal. Driving voltages for the polyphase AC motor are generated by selecting a voltage from among voltages having potential values corresponding to the AC power supply and the DC power supply, and the selected voltage is used to operate a switch of the plurality of switching devices. |
| US07659688B2 |
Method and system for resolver alignment in electric motor system
Methods and systems are provided for aligning a resolver in an electric motor system. The method includes commanding a d-axis current command and a speed command, operating an electric motor without a load in response to the d-axis current command and the speed command, determining a rotor speed in response to the speed command, and determining an offset of the resolver based on the speed command and the rotor speed when the rotor speed has substantially stabilized. |
| US07659686B2 |
Motor-generator control system
In a motor-generator control system for controlling a motor-generator, first and second sets of multiphase windings of a motor-generator are arranged to be spatially shifted in phase from each other. An allocating unit is configured to, upon input of workload request for the motor-generator, determine a first torque to be allocated to the first set of multiphase windings and a second torque to be allocated to the second set of multiphase windings. A resultant torque of the first torque and second torque meets the input workload request for the motor-generator. An energizing unit is configured to energize the first set of multiphase windings to create the first torque and energize the second set of multiphase windings to create the second torque. |
| US07659684B2 |
Method and system for operating a motor to avoid selected pulse ratio values
A method and system for operating a motor are provided. Power is provided to the motor through at least one switch operating at a first switching frequency. A pulse ratio of the motor is calculated based on the first switching frequency. The at least one switch is operated at a second switching frequency if the calculated pulse ratio is less than a first pulse ratio value and greater than a second pulse ratio value. |
| US07659683B2 |
Resonant frequency identification
Systems and methods that determine resonant frequencies of a motor system via employing an output of a velocity regulator. The velocity regulator enables the motor drive to command the rotation of the motor at predetermined rotations, by setting rotational speeds of the motor. The output of the velocity regulator can then be stored as a function of time, and a Fast Fourier Transform performed on such time data to obtain a frequency data and a signal power spectrum. |
| US07659679B2 |
System and method for adjusting a dead-time interval in a motor control circuit
A system and a method for adjusting a dead-time interval between de-activating a first transistor and activating a second transistor in a motor control circuit are provided. The method includes determining a plurality of commanded torque values associated with a motor based on a received signal over time. The method further includes setting the dead-time interval value equal to a first value when one commanded torque value of the plurality of commanded torque values is within a first torque range. The method further includes decreasing the dead-time interval value as other commanded torque values of the plurality of commanded torque values increase over time within a second torque range. The second torque range is greater than the first torque range. The dead-time interval value is indicative of a desired dead-time interval. |
| US07659678B2 |
System for operating DC motors and power converters
A system is disclosed for driving a DC motor (15) under conditions of a controlled average current. An inductive element may be arranged for connection in series with the DC motor. A switch (14) is preferably coupled to the inductive element for connecting and disconnecting a terminal of the inductive element from the voltage source. A diode may be arranged for connection in parallel with a combination of the inductive element and the DC motor arranged in series, with the appropriate polarity so that current circulating through the inductive element circulates through the diode when the switch disconnects the terminal from the voltage source. A capacitor is arranged for connection in parallel with the motor, for limiting a resulting voltage over the motor or for storing charge depending on the embodiment of the invention. A device for measuring a current through the motor is provided, and a device (13) for controlling operation of the switch dependent upon the measured current in the motor is also provided. An airflow apparatus is also disclosed. |
| US07659677B2 |
Rotation brake method and device for working machine
To stop, in an emergency, a revolving superstructure quickly from rotating while preventing damage of a mechanical brake. A revolving superstructure is driven swiveling using a permanent magnetic-type swiveling electric motor; in an emergency, such as a malfunction in a drive or control system for the swiveling electric motor, allowing electric power generated in the electric motor due to inertial rotation to be consumed in an external braking resistor so as to make an electric braking action; and a mechanical brake is activated to stop the rotation and hold the stopped revolving superstructure when a rotation speed of the revolving superstructure becomes equal to or lower than a preset value. |
| US07659676B2 |
Lighting system using GPS receiver
A lighting system using a GPS receiver is provided. The lighting system includes: a GPS receiver for calculating sunrise time and sunset time from an inputted GPS signal and outputting an on/off signal and a satellite detection indicating signal according to the calculated sunrise time and sunset time; a security light configured to be turned on/off in response to the on/off signal; and an LED configured to be turned on/off in response to the satellite detection indicating signal. Accordingly, the GPS receiver itself receives GPS satellite signal, sunrise time and sunset time are automatically calculated from the received position information and reception information by using a baseband processor, and a security light is turned on/off at the calculated sunrise and sunset time, so that the number of components is greatly reduced. |
| US07659675B2 |
Device for illuminating the stope support at a longwall face
The light sources for illuminating the stope support at a longwall face are operated at low voltage, connected to the control network device, for low voltage supply of the system controllers. LEDs are particularly suitable as light sources. Measures for avoiding an impairment of the function of the system controllers are disclosed. |
| US07659674B2 |
Wireless lighting control methods and apparatus
Methods and apparatus involving at least two LEDs configured to generate at least two different spectra of radiation that are combined to produce white light. At least one parameter of the at least two different spectra of radiation generated by the at least two LEDs is controlled, based at least in part on at least one lighting control signal received by the apparatus over at least one wireless communication link, so as to control at least a color temperature of the white light. |
| US07659672B2 |
LED driver
The present invention provides a flexible light emitter driver circuit which adjusts the luminance of the light emitter diodes (LED) by a manual input signal. The light emitter driver circuit comprises a Duty Ratio Change Logic, a PWM Generate and Control Logic, an oscillator, and a gate driver. The Duty Ratio Change Logic adjusts the duty cycle of the output signal according to the manual input signal. The PWM Generate and Control Logic generates a PWM signal according to the output signal to control the current of the LED, thus adjusts the luminance of the LED. The present invention further provides a highly flexible display system that comprises a light emitter driver circuit which can adjust the LED luminance by manual input signal. |
| US07659668B2 |
Plasma display device
A plasma display device having a panel main body in which a pair of transparent substrates is arranged in opposition so as to form a discharge space between the substrates on at least a front side, barrier ribs are arranged on at least one of the substrates to divide the discharge space into a plurality of spaces, a group of electrodes is arranged on the substrates so as to generate discharge in the discharge space divided with the barrier ribs, and phosphor layers that emit by discharge are provided, in which the phosphor layers are equipped with a green phosphor layer including at least a mixture of Zn2SiO4:Mn and (Y, Gd)BO3:Tb, the surface of the Zn2SiO4:Mn is coated with magnesium oxide, and the ratio of the Mg element to the Si element on the surface measured with an XPS apparatus is 0.7 to 6.0. |
| US07659667B2 |
Plasma display device with chassis base formed of plastic and conductive material
A plasma display device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the plasma display device includes a plasma display panel on which an image is displayed, a chassis base coupled to the rear side of the plasma display panel and formed of a material in which plastic and a conductive material are mixed, and at least one circuit board mounted on the rear side of the chassis base and driving the plasma display panel. According to embodiments of the present invention, a lightweight plasma display device can be manufactured, since the weight of the chassis base can be reduced by manufacturing the chassis base from a mixed material of plastic and a conductive material. Also, the grounding and EMI shielding of the circuit board or a signal transmitting member can be achieved. |
| US07659665B2 |
OLED device with metal foil
An OLED device includes a substrate, electrode layers and organic layers arranged on the substrate and at least one metal foil on top thereof. The first metal foil is electrically connected to one of the electrode layers. An enclosure of at least the organic layers is provided by the metal foil in conjunction with a sealant 113. Thus, the metal foil plays a major role in forming an OLED package. In addition, the metal foil provides a low ohmic external connection, which for example can be used for applying a driving current to the OLED. |
| US07659663B2 |
Organic light-emitting display device and method for fabricating the same
Disclosed is an organic light-emitting display device capable of blocking the infiltration of oxygen and moisture, etc. by encapsulating an array of pixels by interconnecting first and second substrates with a frit. The organic light-emitting display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate opposing the first substrate, an array of pixels interposed between the first and second substrates, and a frit positioned between the first and the second substrate to adhere the first substrate to the second substrate. The frit is formed to overlap with at least a part of scan drivers. |
| US07659662B2 |
Electroluminescence display device with microlens
An electroluminescence (EL) display device is disclosed with a microlens layer positioned between a light-emission layer and a color converting layer or a color filter layer. The microlens layer can be formed separately or integrally with an electrode of the EL display device. Light emitted from the light-emitting layer passes through an electrode and then through the microlens layer, which has a higher refractive index than the electrode to focus light in a predetermined direction. The light then passes through the color converting layer or a color filter layer to emit red, green, or blue light from the device. The microlens layer and color converting layer or color filter layer can be disposed for either active matrix or passive matrix, and for either a top-emission type, bottom-emission type, or dual emission type EL display device for improved external light coupling efficiency and brightness. |
| US07659661B2 |
Full color OLED and method of fabricating the same
A full color organic light emitting display device (OLED) and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The OLED includes an element substrate and an encapsulating substrate. The element substrate includes a color filter layer or a color conversion layer, as well as an organic layer with an emission layer that emits light of a single color. The encapsulating substrate includes a color filter or a color conversion layer and a moisture absorbent, and a the color filter or color conversion layer corresponds to the emission region. Accordingly, there is no need to have a separate process for the moisture absorbent and the color filter layer or the color conversion layer may be formed without using a shadow mask, so that a high resolution OLED may be advantageously realized. |
| US07659658B2 |
White phosphor, and white light-emitting equipment or device
A white phosphor is provided, which is a white phosphor comprising a single material, wherein the light-emitting center is one element other than Mn, and emitting white light having excellent color rendering properties by near ultraviolet excitation. The white phosphor is represented by the formula SraSbMgcZndSieOf:Eu2+ (with the proviso that when e=1, 0<(c+d)/(a+c+d)≦0.2, 1.8≦a+c+d≦2.2, 0≦b/(b+f)≦0.07 and 3.0≦b+f≦4.4), among which, as one preferred example, the white phosphor is represented by the composition formula (SrO1-αSα)x.(Mg1-βZnβO)y.(SiO2)z:Eu2+ (in the formula, 4.5≦x/y≦27.5, 3≦z/y≦14.5, 0≦α≦0.3 and 0≦β≦0.7) is proposed. |
| US07659657B2 |
Flat fluorescent lamp with improved capability of luminance and reduced initial operational voltage
A flat fluorescent lamp which can be used with an LCD display includes a plurality of discharge channels. Pairs of electrodes are formed on both ends of the discharge channels. Each of the plurality of channels has an emitting section at the middle, and electrode sections on both ends thereof. A width of the electrode sections is the same as that of the emitting section. However, a height of the electrode sections is greater than a height of the emitting section, resulting in the electrode section having a cross-sectional area that is larger than that of the emitting section. |
| US07659655B2 |
Pre-chamber spark plug
A method and apparatus to maximize spark plug life in pre-chamber spark plugs operating with ultra-lean mixtures and/or elevated engine BMEP is presented. Electrode erosion is reduced by spreading discharge energy over a wider surface area, maintaining fuel concentration in the spark gap, controlling gas static pressure during discharge, and maintaining safe electrode temperature. Energy is spread via a swirling effect created by periphery holes in an end cap, resulting in a lower specific energy discharge at the electrodes. Divergently configured electrodes reduce the spark voltage at high operating pressures and the energy required for ignition. The flow field generated at the electrodes prevents electrical shorts due to water condensation and avoids misfire. The center electrode insulation provides an effective heat transfer path to prevent electrode overheating and preignition. The volume behind the electrodes provides a volume for burnt products from previous combustion cycles and leads to more reliable ignition. |
| US07659653B2 |
Acoustic wave device and filter
An acoustic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate, a first dielectric film formed on the piezoelectric substrate, and electrodes that are provided on the first dielectric film and excite an acoustic wave, the electrodes including electrode fingers. At least a part of the first dielectric film is cut out between adjacent electrode fingers among the electrode fingers. |
| US07659648B2 |
Motor with raised rotor
A motor has a stator, a rotor having a shaft, and a sleeve bearing in contact with the rotor shaft. The sleeve bearing also is fixedly secured to the stator. Additionally, the motor also has a movable support member axially supporting the shaft. The movable support member illustratively is movable relative to the shaft. The rotor center of gravity coincides approximately with the opening in the bearing-shaft interface. |