| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07676846B2 |
Binding content to an entity
The present invention enforces digital rights within the confines of a content license by validating an entity certificate. Cryptographic information within a entity certificate is utilized to unlock protected content and authenticate the entity certificate. The entity certificate includes personal credentials, which have information that the entity is unwilling or uncomfortable to share publicly. For example, the personal credentials may include private information, or information associated with a personal object that cannot consume the protected content, or both. |
| US07676845B2 |
System and method of selectively scanning a file on a computing device for malware
In accordance with this invention, a system, method, and computer-readable medium that selectively scans files stored on a computing device for malware is provided. One or more files may be sent from a trusted source to a computing device that implements the present invention. The integrity of the files that originate from a trusted source is validated using a signature-based hashing function. Any modifications made to files stored on the computing device are tracked by a component of the operating system. In instances when the file is not modified after being validated, an aspect of the present invention prevents the file from being scanned for malware when a scanning event is directed to the file. As a result, the performance of the computing device is improved as static files from trusted sources are not repeatedly scanned for malware. |
| US07676844B2 |
Signal reproducing system
Based on user identification data transmitted together with a compressed data from a portable reproducing apparatus, if an apparatus recognizes that a user who purchased and downloaded the compressed data is the same as a user who owns the apparatus, the audio apparatus stores and holds the compressed data after reproducing the signal from the compressed data by the decoder unit and the data processing unit. Alternatively, if it recognizes that the user who purchased and downloaded the compressed data is not the same as the user who owns the apparatus, it removes the compressed data after reproducing the signal from the compressed data by the decoder unit and the data processing unit. |
| US07676842B2 |
System and method for detecting malicious code
A method of detecting malicious code in computer readable code includes performing an initial determination to determine whether a first portion of the computer readable code may potentially have malicious code and if it is determined that the computer readable code potentially has malicious code, performing another determination to determine whether a second portion not including the first portion of the computer readable code has malicious code. |
| US07676839B2 |
Systems and methods for access control
The disclosure describes various systems and methods for access control. One such method includes providing an access control module that is capable of operating at least a first carrier frequency and a second carrier frequency. In addition, the method includes providing a first access credential that operates at the first carrier frequency, and providing a second access credential that operates at the second carrier frequency. Various other systems, methods and features are also described herein. |
| US07676836B2 |
Firewall system protecting a community of appliances, appliance participating in the system and method of updating the firewall rules within the system
The invention relates to the protection by firewall of a domestic community of interconnectable appliances.The invention allows distributed and totally decentralized management of the firewall policy, implemented at the level of each appliance, which is consistent and adapts dynamically to the changes occurring within the domestic network. We shall speak of ubiquitous firewalls. |
| US07676835B2 |
System and method for regulating access to objects in a content repository
A content management system integrated with a web caching proxy that delivers content according to access control rules. An access control token is generated using a secret key when a user selects a desired object (to be provided only upon token validation, thus the object retrieval and delivery task can be delegated). However, tokens for other content and/or for other users could be generated by a rogue resource manager. If the desired object is already cached, the proxy asks the resource manager to validate the token and then selectively provides the desired object without contacting a library server. Alternately, the proxy itself performs the token validation, but must coordinate with the library server to ensure it has the latest secret key. Finally, the tokens may contain digital signatures generated with a private key and validated with a corresponding public key, so that private keys need not be distributed. |
| US07676833B2 |
Login screen with identifying data
Techniques are described which may be employed to provide a login screen with identifying data. In an implementation, a login screen is displayed having an image that identifies a user. Credentials are received via the login screen to log the user onto a service provider over a network. |
| US07676831B2 |
Role-based access control management for multiple heterogeneous application components
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to access control and provide a method, system and computer program product for access control management for a collection of heterogeneous application components. In a first embodiment, a data processing system for role-based access control management for multiple heterogeneous application components can include at least one business role descriptor associating a business role with multiple, different application roles for corresponding, disparate application components. The system also can include at least one access policy associating a user with the business role. Finally, the system can include policy deployment logic include program code enabled to process the access policy to assign the user to the different application roles in the disparate application components. |
| US07676826B2 |
Technique for communicating relatively high and low priority data between a terminal and a remote location
In a cable network providing, among others, interactive video services, data cells carrying real-time data concerning, e.g., trick mode commands (pause, rewind and fast-forward) initiated by a user are instantly transmitted to a headend facility for immediate processing. The invention is premised upon a recognition that such real-time data typically does not fully utilize the transport capacity of the data cells. In accordance with the invention, non-real-time (NRT) data to be transmitted to the headend facility, although accorded a lower priority than the real-time data, is inserted into those underutilized data cells before their transmission, thereby fully exploiting the transport capacity of the data cells. |
| US07676825B2 |
Method for transmitting audi-visual programs proposed by users, terminal and server
The present invention concerns a method of receiving audiovisual programs transmitted to terminals. The users of the terminals choose a program from a catalogue and make a proposition to a server to download it to their terminals. The proposition is accompanied by a price and/or deadline. The server analyzes the propositions it receives and, taking account of its profitability constraints, decides whether or not it will transmit the program. Depending on the case, it sends the acceptance to each user who has made a proposition with profitable parameters for the transmission of the program and gives the users the means of receiving the program for viewing. The decision to transmit the program is determined according to various strategies the common criterion of which is profitability. The invention also concerns a terminal and a server for the implementation of the method. |
| US07676822B2 |
Automatic on-screen display of auxiliary information
A system, method and apparatus for displaying real time auxiliary information from a secondary source or input signal in combination with a program from a separate primary source. The auxiliary information (e.g. textual, graphical or video images) is selectable and is received through a second, integral or stand-alone tuner. The selected information can be displayed (1) continuously, (2) at predefined regular intervals, or (3) as the (defined) event(s) occur either in real time or in memory to provide a short delay time. The auxiliary information may be part of a currently transmitted data stream or as a separate data stream. |
| US07676816B2 |
Systems and methods for integrating services
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for executing a service using a set of software plug-ins. The method may include generating, at a first computer, a service request to execute the service. The method may also include processing, at a second computer, the generated service request using the set of software plug-ins associated with the service to create a modified service request by executing each of the software plug-ins in a sequence. Further, the method may include executing, at a third computer, the service using the modified service request and processing, by a second set of software plug-ins based on the sequence, a result from the executing step. |
| US07676814B2 |
Four layer architecture for network device drivers
The present invention is a four layer architecture that includes reusable components that can be used in varied operating environments and with varied network devices. The architecture includes an operating system dependent layer, an operating system independent layer, a media independent layer, and a media dependent layer. The operating system dependent layer can vary for differing operating system. In contrast, the operating system independent layer is identical or substantially similar for differing operating systems. Similarly, the media independent layer is identical or substantially similar for different network devices (e.g., a family or group of network devices). The media dependent layer can vary according to differing and varied network devices. |
| US07676809B2 |
System, apparatus and method of enhancing priority boosting of scheduled threads
A system, apparatus and method of enhancing priority boosting of scheduled threads are provided. If, while being executed by a second CPU, a second thread determines that it has to wait for a lock on a shared resource held by a first thread that is scheduled to be executed by a first CPU, the second thread may boost the priority of the first thread by passing its priority to the first thread if its priority is higher than the first thread's priority. Further, to enhance the priority boost of the first thread, the second thread may reschedule the first thread to be processed by the second CPU. By having been rescheduled on the second CPU, the second thread may be dispatched for execution right thereafter. |
| US07676807B2 |
Method and system for cascaded processing a plurality of data objects
Systems and methods are provided for cascaded processing a plurality of data objects. Each data object may be assigned to a folder among a plurality of folders, wherein a main process distributes the plurality of folders to a corresponding number of parallel processes of a first tier of processes. Each parallel process may select the data objects to be processed for the respective folder, split the selected data objects into packages of appropriate size, respectively, and distribute the packages similar to a cascade to a corresponding number of further parallel sub-processes of a second tier of processes, whereupon each package is processed. |
| US07676805B2 |
Wireless sensor node executable code request facilitation method and apparatus
A wireless sensor node can request, responds to requests for, and maintain executable code (101), including executable code for which the wireless sensor node is itself tasked with executing. Upon receiving (102), however, a request for executable code that the wireless sensor node is not itself tasked with executing, one determines (103) whether to forward that request. This determination can be based upon any of a variety of decision-making criteria as may pertain to a given application setting (such as whether a different wireless sensor node is, in fact, already responding to this request for executable code, information regarding a number of hops to a known point of executable code injection as may be required to facilitate transport of the executable code from that source to a requesting wireless sensor node, and whether the wireless sensor node itself has locally cached the requested executable code). |
| US07676804B2 |
Systems and method for remotely modifying software on a work machine
A method and system are provided to perform a process of wirelessly providing software updates to a target module located in a work machine. In one embodiment, the process includes determining whether a software update condition exists for software stored in the target module and when such a condition does exist, delivering software update data from a remote off-board system to the work machine. Further, the work machine may determine a location of the target module and whether an update delay condition exists. Also, the process may include delivering the software update to the target module if no update delay condition exists, and delaying the delivery of the software update data to the target module if an update delay condition does exist. |
| US07676802B2 |
System, and associated method, for downloading an application
A method for facilitating the downloading of an application from a server computer to a client device, whereby the client device generates to the server computer an initiation request for information describing available applications. In response to receipt of the initiation request, the server computer retrieves, for each available application, information describing the respective application, and a link to an application descriptor for the respective application. The server computer transmits the information and link to the client device, which in turn displays the information and stores the link. When the user selects an application, the link for the selected application is recalled and is reached on the server computer for retrieval of the application descriptor. From the application descriptor, the client device may determine whether the application fits the device profile and, hence, whether to download the application. |
| US07676801B1 |
Scanning of evacuated objects in a generation managed by the train algorithm
In computer systems including memory which execute programs of instructions, vtables associated with objects contain pointers which invoke operations to be performed by the program which are related to the objects. The operation invoked may include the step of modifying the pointer such that upon a subsequent reference to the vtable a different operation is invoked. In one embodiment, such vtables are utilized in conjunction with garbage collection methodologies such as those that invoke the train algorithm, such that operations such as reference processing, insertion and scanning during garbage collection may be invoked by pointers in vtables associated with cars or objects in the cars, and the vtables may invoke differing versions of the said operations depending on the characteristics and past history of the car or object, and upon an operation being executed the operation may change the pointer so that a different version of the operation is performed upon a subsequent reference to the vtable associated with the car or object. |
| US07676799B1 |
Address simplification by binary transformation
A method for optimizing executable code includes identifying a plurality of instructions in the executable code matching a predetermined instruction pattern, assessing whether the binary number conforms to a predetermined bit pattern, and transforming the plurality of instructions into transformed instructions when the binary number conforms to the bit pattern. |
| US07676790B1 |
Plasma processing system component analysis software and methods and systems for creating the same
A method for generating plasma processing system component analysis software is provided. The method includes defining component specifications for a plurality of components. Each of the plurality of components implements at least one of a user-interface function, a logic operation function, an input function, and an output function for analyzing a plasma processing system component. Defining includes selecting the plurality of components from a component panel of a visual integrated design editor architecture (VIDEA), thereby causing the plurality of components to be disposed in a layout format in the VIDEA. Defining also includes specifying properties of each of the plurality of components by performing at least one of selecting from predefined properties and defining parameters for the properties. The method also includes saving the plurality of components after the defining in a mark-up language configured to be executable by a browser without requiring prior compiling. |
| US07676788B1 |
Architecture and method for executing program builds
A method is described comprising: scheduling jobs for a program build to execute in parallel across a plurality of nodes; predicting the files required to complete each of the jobs; and preloading the files to each node prior to the execution of each job. |
| US07676781B1 |
Method and mechanism for implementing a minimum spanning tree
Disclosed is an improved method, system, and mechanism for using and constructing a minimum spanning tree. In one approach, each iteration of the process for constructing a minimum spanning tree calculates at most two additional point-pairs for nearest neighbors of points previously added to the tree. These additional point-pairs are appended to a list of point pairs, and the point-pair having the shortest distance is selected and added to the minimum spanning tree. Any metric can be employed to determine nearest neighbors, including Euclidean or Manhattan metrics. An advantage is that not all point-pairs need to be examined, greatly increasing speed and efficiency. Since every point-pair does not have to be examined, a preprocessing step is not required to reduce the number of point-pairs being considered. The resultant minimum spanning tree can be used to facilitate the routing process for an integrated circuit. |
| US07676779B2 |
Logic block timing estimation using conesize
A system for logic block timing analysis may include a controller, and storage in communication with the controller. The storage may provide delay-versus-conesize values of a logic block. The system may further include a fitting module to provide a delay-cone based upon the delay-versus-conesize values of the logic block. The system may also include a conesize parser that uses the delay-cone to provide delay values through the logic block. The conesize parser may be used to validate the design of the logic block by comparing the delay-cone with a desired cycle time. |
| US07676777B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting verification, and computer product
A verification support apparatus receives description data. Upon receiving the description data, the apparatus automatically generates and outputs a verification property, a verification scenario, specification data, review information, etc. In addition, the apparatus checks the description data for any element of deficiency or inconsistency before the automatic generation of the verification property. Therefore, the amount of description data can be reduced by sorting out the types of verification items and listing parameters, and various verification properties can be automatically generated by allowing a computer to read verification data. Furthermore, a design TAT can be reduced by generating the specification data. Furthermore, even a designer not familiar with a verification language such as PSL can easily execute assertion-based verification. |
| US07676775B2 |
Method to determine the root causes of failure patterns by using spatial correlation of tester data
A method for determining the root causes of fail patterns in integrated circuit chips is provide wherein a known integrated circuit chip layout is used to identify a plurality of potential defects and a plurality of potential fail patterns in the integrated circuit chip. Correlations between the potential defects and the potential fail patterns that result from those defects are identified. Based on this identification, the potential fail patterns are grouped by common potential defect. An actual integrated circuit chip that is manufactured in accordance with the test layout is tested for failure patterns. These failure patterns are then compared to the groupings of potential fail patterns. When a match is found, that is when a given group of fail patterns is found in the actual integrated circuit chip, then the potential defect associated with the potential fail patterns to which the actual fail patterns are matched is identified. This defect is the root cause of the failure pattern in the actual chip. |
| US07676768B1 |
Automatic asynchronous signal pipelining
An electronic design automation (EDA) tool alters a user's netlist to provide timing success for distribution of asynchronous signals. Distribution networks are used with the addition of pipeline registers before and/or after the distribution buffer. Or, a tree of pipeline registers is inserted between the asynchronous source and the destination registers. Or, any number of distribution networks are stitched together and pipeline stages may be inserted before and/or after each distribution buffer. Or, beneficial skew is utilized by introducing a delay component that skews a clock signal. The skewed clock signal drives a pipeline register that is inserted before a distribution buffer in order to improve timing margin. Any of various compilation techniques may be used within the EDA tool to solve the problem of distributing high-speed, high-fanout asynchronous signals. The technique has utility for high-performance FPGAs and structured ASIC families, as well as for low-cost FPGAs and other types of logic devices. |
| US07676767B2 |
Peel back user interface to show hidden functions
A user is able to access additional functions not represented in a current image displayed by a graphical user interface. At least one function not presented on the current image is represented by a symbol on an underlying image that is at least partially covered by the current image. When the user performs a predetermined user input (e.g., selecting a corner of the current image), the underlying image and the at least one function represented thereby become accessible. When the user input is performed, a visual effect depicts the current image being at least partially removed from over the underlying image, thereby revealing and permitting access to the at least one additional function. The user input is made by the user performing an action with the user's hand or another object adjacent to a responsive display, or by using a pointing device to manipulate a displayed image. |
| US07676766B2 |
Graphic object designating to edit apparatus, method, and computer readable medium thereof
A graphic object designating apparatus for designating a graphic object to be edited among graphic objects present in an edit area of a graphics editing system according to the position of a mouse cursor. The apparatus includes an object managing section that manages object information and the mouse cursor position, and a rule storage section in which assignments of key entries for indicating a direction in which the mouse cursor should move and for designating an object directly under the mouse cursor have previously been stored as rules. A trigger processing section generates a mouse cursor moving trigger or an object designating trigger according to the key entries and the rules. An object designating section moves the mouse cursor or designates the object to be edited on the basis of the object information and the triggers. The apparatus allows an operator to designate a desired object easily within the object display screen. |
| US07676765B2 |
Three dimensional graphical manipulator
A method and apparatus for manipulating a computer generated model and visualizing a change in projection plane before entering a projection creation command. After selection of a projection plane on the 3-D model, a generative drafting document can be created wherein the projection plane becomes the plane of the screen. The system can display a visualization of the projection of the model in plane with the screen, without generating a fully computed projection. Display of the visualization can provide increased efficiency in processing time as compared to a fully computed projection. The system can also display a graphical manipulator including a circular central region with a button in the middle, wherein clicking on the button can be used as a command to the system requesting creation of the projection. The graphical manipulator software tool can also include quadrants, wherein each quadrant is associated with a direction in relation to an orthogonal axis. The four quadrants can be defined as left, right, up and down: Clicking on a quadrant can cause the projection plane to rotate by 90 degrees, or other predetermined amount, around two orthogonal axes of the model in the projection plane. The direction of rotation will correlate with the quadrant selected. In addition, the manipulator tool can include a pin tracking the circumference of a circle displayed on a computer screen. Selection of the pin and rotation can cause the projection plane of a computer generated model to rotate about an axis which is perpendicular to the projection screen. |
| US07676758B2 |
Interactive inventor's menu
An interactive inventive pictorial menu is provided, which may be superimposed over internet art obtained, for instance, from the internet. The interactive inventive pictorial menu provides controls by which images can be created, manipulated and supplemented by overlaying additional images accessed through menu software providing Internet Art Programs and Menu Art Programs. The combination of images may be utilized to facilitate creating further inventions or creative prospects. In one non-limiting embodiment, the images created by the user of the interactive inventive pictorial menu may then be used with the Inventor's Menu Tic Tac Toe model. The internet art and program or menu art may be adjusted in size and location to produce an image that is well proportioned and realistic. The user may draw over the art to produce innovations and creations. Also, the art selected from menu and program art, and internet art, may be selected from a wide ranging list of subjects in menus or sub-menus. Innovations and creations may also be produced on a touch screen embodiment using the images displayed on the interactive inventive menu. |
| US07676757B2 |
User customization of language of menu items
Mechanisms are disclosed that enable a user to customize selection elements of a GUI. For example, menu entries in a GUI can be customized so that the user can specify the font, the language, character sets, color, and other attributes of the text of one menu item (or less than all menu items); to have the ability to selectively activate multimedia options associated with selected menu items (e.g., to play a sound whenever the cursor/pointer passes over a particular menu item); and/or to assign an animation sequence that is unique to selected menu items. The menu item properties are defined by the user, using, for example, a dialog box that allows specification of the attributes. When the application is installed, a default set of menu item properties is defined by the software manufacturer, which can be further customized by the user. |
| US07676755B2 |
Apparatus and method for linking objects created in a rapid application development environment
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to invoke a rapid application development graphical user interface to define fields associated with a set of objects. The creation of new objects derived from the set of objects is facilitated using the rapid application development graphical user interface to select existing fields of the set of objects and define new object fields. Tabs are associated with the new objects. A set of tabs is selected to create a new application. |
| US07676753B2 |
Methods, systems, devices and computer program products for collecting and sharing selected personal data
Methods, systems, devices and computer program products obtain and share personal data of celebrities and others over a communications network. The methods include; (a) electronically capturing personal data associated with a plurality of celebrities; (b) electronically storing the captured data in a database of electronic personal data records, the records being correlated to a respective celebrity; (c) accepting user input to request data of interest for a particular celebrity; (d) electronically automatically extracting records in the historical data base related to the user input; and (e) electronically publishing celebrity personal data to the user based on the extracting step. |
| US07676750B2 |
Method of printing, scanning, and faxing using device location
A method of printing includes providing a computer server linked to a plurality of printers, initiating a print job on a user computer device, querying the computer server for one or more available printers; transmitting identification information and location information of each printer from the computer server to the user computer device; displaying the information in the form of a list to the user computer device; selecting by a user one of the printers in the list; transmitting the selection to the computer server; transmitting configuration information for the selected printer to the user computer device; configuring the print data by with the configuration information; and transmitting the configured print data from the user computer device to the selected printer for printing. |
| US07676748B1 |
System graphics for security shield
A method for providing a secure lockout from executing application programs is provided. An opaque graphical component obscures graphical components for all executing software (applications) programs on a display apparatus and prevents events from reaching the executing application programs. |
| US07676745B2 |
Document segmentation based on visual gaps
A document may be segmented based on a visual model of the document. The visual model is determined according to an amount of visual white space or gaps that are in the document. In one implementation, the visual model is used to identify a hierarchical structure of the document, which may then be used to segment the document. |
| US07676744B2 |
Automated markup language layout
Methods and computer programs for automatically creating a text layout in a markup language design for a product to be printed. A number of defined text elements are available for user text. The layout is based on the text elements having user text content. Text elements without text content are disregarded. Positioning of the text elements is determined based on the height of the text elements, defined text element spacing distances, and a defined positioning order. Creating a layout may include positioning design elements relative to the text elements. Font sizes and spacing distances are automatically reduced if necessary to create a suitable layout. |
| US07676743B2 |
Applying type fitting across grouped text frames in a page layout application
Methods are disclosed for type-fitting text in multiple text frames of a page layout application. The text frames are associated with a group, and permissible variances of parameters of type fitting attributes are assigned to the group using a graphical user interface. In one embodiment, to type-fit the text, a best-individual-fit setting for the text of each text frame is first individually assessed to determine parameters of the attributes that would result in the text substantially fitting within its associated text frame. Thereafter, one best-group-fit setting for all frames in the group is determined by sorting through the best-individual-fit settings for each of the frames to determine which frame's best-individual-fit parameters results in the highest degree of text shrinkage or the least degree of text expansion. In accordance with this embodiment, the frames, when fitted, will be uniformly scaled in accordance with a scaling factor. |
| US07676742B2 |
System and method for processing of markup language information
A system and method for processing of markup language information, such as extensible markup language (XML) based control information is disclosed. The system comprises a compression sender entity and a decompression receiver entity. The sender entity uses its internal, binary representation derived from textual XML-based protocol header and encodes the binary representation as a tag-length-value (TLV) binary value. The TLV binary value is embedded as encoded data in a specifically marked comment, which may be detected by the receiver entity. The receiver entity builds up an internal, binary data structure based on the encoded data representing the original XML data. The system avoids the usage of string data to represent a small set of well known strings and uses a more compact binary encoding which reduces space and time to process the data. |
| US07676741B2 |
Structural context for fixed layout markup documents
Techniques relating to structural context for fixed layout markup documents are described. In one instance, a process defines content and associated positional information of a document with a set of content markup. The process also specifies a structural configuration for the document relative to at least some of the content markup, such that the structural configuration is separate from the content markup. |
| US07676740B2 |
XML serialization and deserialization
An object instance is serialized to a serial format, such as an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) document, based on a mapping between an arbitrary annotated source code file and a schema. The arbitrary annotated source code contains at least one programming type that describes a shape of an object instance and the schema describes a format of a document having a serial format. The mapping defines a correspondence between the shape of the object instance and the format of the document having the serial format. Subsequently, an object instance is converted to the serial format by converting public properties, public fields and method parameters of the object instance to a document having the serial format based on the mapping. Once the mapping is defined, an XML document can also be converted to an object instance based on the mapping. |
| US07676735B2 |
Forward error-correcting (FEC) coding and streaming
In a data decoder for decoding data from received symbols received over a channel from an encoder, a method for decoding data wherein the received data includes erasures and includes source symbols and repair symbols organized into one or more source blocks. The decoder uses a generator matrix, any square submatrix of which is invertible, such that the decoder performs decoding operations concurrently with the arrival of the source symbols and repair symbols that are a part of a source block. Novel methods for interleaving and specifying encoding structure for a large class of FEC codes, scheduling the sending of packets and the like, are also applied in conjunction with the method for decoding data. |
| US07676730B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing error correction coding in a random access memory
Apparatuses and methods for utilizing error correction code in a data buffer or data storage device. In one variation, a single memory device is utilized to store both the data and the associated error correction code. The data and the associate error correction codes are stored on separate memory banks on the memory device. The error correction code may be consolidated into one or more regions on the memory device to improve the utilization of the available memory space on the memory device. In addition, by utilizing separate memory banks to store the data and the associated error correction code, the data and the error correction code can be accessed in an overlapping manner. |
| US07676729B2 |
Data corruption avoidance in DRAM chip sparing
A memory controller, system, and methods are disclosed. The system comprises a memory controller interconnected to a plurality of memory chips. Each memory chip stores data at a plurality of locations. The memory controller performs a sparing transaction comprising reading data from a given location of one or more of the memory chips including a first memory chip, writing the data to a given location of one or more of the memory chips including a second memory chip, wherein during writing, data from the first memory chip is written to the second memory chip, and allowing additional memory transactions directed to the memory chips between the start of reading and the end of writing unless the additional memory transaction is targeted to the given location. In a further embodiment, the sparing transaction comprises correcting errors in the data before writing the data. |
| US07676725B1 |
Method of code generation that minimizes error propagation
A method of generating a code that minimizes error propagation by selecting integers m, n, mrl, and a range of fractions od, where m represents the number of bits in an unencoded sequence, where n represents the number of bits in an encoded sequence, where mrl represents the maximum run length of an encoded sequence, and where od represents a range of ones densities of an encoded sequence. Next, generating an encoding map M that maps each unencoded sequence to an n-bit encoded sequence that satisfies od and mrl. Next, generating a decoding map N that maps each n-bit sequence to an m-bit sequence. Next, determining an error-propagation score for M and N. Then, returning to the step of generating M if a user requires a lower error-propagation score. |
| US07676724B2 |
Feedback for data transmissions
Methods and apparatus are presented for dynamically controlling the re-transmission scheme of acknowledgment signals. A source transmits a first data packet over a slot s1. If channel conditions are favorable, source transmits a second data packet over slot s2, which precedes the reception of any acknowledgment signals. A destination receives first data packet over slot d1 and second data packet over slot d2. Destination decodes first data packet during slots d2 and d3, and second data packet over slots d3 and d4. Destination transmits an acknowledgment signal (ACK1) associated with first data packet during slot d4. Rather then transmitting the second ACK1 associated with first data packet over slot d5, destination preempts this slot with an acknowledgment signal ACK2, which is associated with second data packet transmitted by source. Hence, destination is configured to overwrite the repetition of a previous acknowledgment in order to transmit a new acknowledgment. |
| US07676722B2 |
Multimedia content delivery using pre-stored multiple description coded video with restart
An embodiment of the present invention includes a buffer, a selector, and an analyzer. The buffer stores at least a default stream coded by a multiple description (MD) coding and a restart stream coded by a predictive coding. The default and restart streams correspond to a media content. The selector selects a transmit frame from the default and restart streams according to a transmission status. The transmit frame is transmitted to a receiver. The analyzer provides the transmission status based on feedback information provided by the receiver. |
| US07676714B2 |
Extender strip and test assembly for testing memory card operation
A system and method are disclosed for testing operation of a memory card within an electronic host device. The system includes a flat flexible cable, or strip, for electrically coupling between the memory card slot in a host device and a test assembly. The test assembly may have a card slot for accepting an external memory card, and a debug header for receiving a cable connected to a debug apparatus such as a logic analyzer and/or an oscilloscope. |
| US07676711B2 |
Test circuit for testing command signal at package level in semiconductor device
A test circuit for testing a command signal at a package level in a semiconductor device includes: a logic level determining unit for determining logic levels of a plurality of command flag signals in response to a plurality of internal command signals in a test mode; a storage unit for storing the plurality of command flag signals in response to a store control signal and outputting the plurality of command flag signals in series in response to an output control signal; and an output unit for driving an output signal of the storage unit to a data pad. |
| US07676705B2 |
User interface messaging system and method permitting deferral of message resolution
A user interface messaging system and method that allows a user to defer resolution of the substance of a message, such as a user-initiated error, and adds the message to a queue. The messaging system may remind the user to resolve the substance of the messages in the queue. After a message has been added to the queue, the message layer may be closed, allowing the user to continue using the application. |
| US07676704B2 |
Resource management for scalable file system recovery
A system and method for storing data. In one embodiment, a file system stores data including associated metadata. In response to detecting that a file system error has occurred, the file system identifies a container including data in which the error occurred and performs a consistency check of the data included in the container. If a bidirectional link exists between the container and another container and if an error is found in the bidirectional link, the file system performs a consistency check of data included in the other container and determines if another bidirectional link exists between the other container and a third container. If another bidirectional link exists between the other container and a third container and if an error is found in the other bidirectional link, the file system performs a consistency check of data included in the third container. |
| US07676702B2 |
Preemptive data protection for copy services in storage systems and applications
A common interface and communication methodology are provided for interaction between the components of a storage area network for them to activate “triggers” that cause actions to be taken by the devices to utilize copy service functions to create additional copies of data, and to potentially route load to other resources. The actions can be taken by any of the elements of the storage area network to mitigate the impact of the pending failure. The advantage of this system over current methods is that it can detect both failure and impending failure in any component in the system and use resources in any other component to mitigate the failure. This creates a much more comprehensive recovery strategy and the potential to save more data than in current systems. |
| US07676701B2 |
Computer readable medium storing an error recovery program, error recovery method, error recovery apparatus, and computer system
A computer readable medium stores a program causing a computer to execute a process for error recovery. The process includes: when an error is detected during transfer of dummy data for maintaining a link, executing device reset to recover from the error, and monitoring whether or not another error occurs during an error monitoring period starting from the device reset; when the other error occurs during the error monitoring period, executing the device reset to recover from the other error, monitoring whether or not still another error occurs during the error monitoring period starting from the device reset; counting number of the successive error monitoring periods in each of which the error occurs; and judging an error occurrence state based on a result of the counting. |
| US07676690B2 |
Mirroring of activity between electronic devices
Two or more electronic devices each include an output engine and an output device for presenting data, including mirrored data. A consumer electronic device receives a request from a mirroring device for mirrored data or transmits a request for customer service to the mirroring device. Thereafter, the consumer electronic device provides the mirrored data to the mirroring device. The mirroring device may be similar or different from the consumer electronic device. The mirroring device presents the mirrored data to a user of the mirroring device. Alternately or additionally, the mirroring device analyzes the mirrored data to identify problems with the consumer electronic device. The consumer electronic device and/or the mirroring device can transmit identifiers associated with the other device over a network connection to determine whether the other device is online. |
| US07676689B1 |
Browsing and selecting items in recovery storage groups to perform recovery onto production server
A method and system for restoring data on a production server by recovering individual data objects from a recovery storage group to a database residing on the production server. In one example method, a recovery interface accesses a recovery storage group containing a recovered database. The recovered database has been recovered from a backup storage location and contains a copy of a database residing on the production server. The method then identifies each data object residing in the recovery storage group and displays each of the data objects on a graphical user interface configured to allow a user to select and individual data objects for recovery from the recovered database. The selected data objects are restored to the appropriate location on the production server. |
| US07676688B1 |
Concurrent data broadcast of selected common groups of data blocks
Mechanisms for data source computing system(s) to provide data to data targets. The data source(s) access an identification of common groups of blocks, each group being common amongst all or a subset of the data target(s). The common groups of blocks may have different scope such that one common group of blocks is to be provided to a different set of the data targets than another common group of blocks. Optionally, a selection mechanism may be used to assign priority in initiating multicasting of the identified common groups of blocks. The data source(s) then initiate multicasting of the common groups of blocks in the appropriate order to the appropriate data targets. Since the common groups of blocks are provided in a single multicast, rather than separately, the data is provided in a more efficient manner to the data targets. |
| US07676681B2 |
Method, system, and apparatus for identification number authentication
A computer based method, system and apparatus of authentication which compares a first number associated with a user with a second number, wherein the second number is a mathematical function of at least two predetermined digits within the user's identification number, preferably a Social Security Number. A computer based method, system and apparatus for authenticating a user's identification number, which compares a first code associated with a user with a second code, wherein said second code is an alphabetic translation of at least two predetermined digits within the user's identification number. |
| US07676676B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing mutual authentication within a network
A method and apparatus for mutual authentication of a first and a second node is provided herein. During operation the first node sends a first authentication message to the second node comprising information needed for the second node to authenticate the first node and information needed by the second node for the second node to be authenticated by the first node. A second authentication message is received from the second node comprising information needed by the first node for the first node to be authenticated by the second node and information needed for the first node to authenticate the second node. Because the first and the second authentication messages comprise information needed for both the first and the second node to authenticate each other, messaging within the network is greatly reduced. |
| US07676675B2 |
Architecture for connecting a remote client to a local client desktop
Architecture for generating and maintaining a terminal services connection from an external client to an internal intranet client behind a firewall and/or router. The external user is first authenticated after which the external client is passed to a remote user portal. A listing of available internal computers is presented to the external client user, the selection of one that initiates an intranet server to create a listening socket thereon, and a socket on the selected internal client. The server creates a thread that manages the terminal services connection between the external client and the internal client by listening for traffic and forwarding the traffic between the ports. |
| US07676666B2 |
Virtual BIOS firmware hub
A baseboard management controller (BMC) of a blade server module in an information handling system may operate as a virtual system BIOS firmware hub that may have automatic firmware updating through a TFTP transfer from a chassis management controller (CMC) or for rack/tower servers from a remote assistant card (RMC). The system BIOS may be stored in a RAM drive or a ROM of the BMC. Valuable printed circuit board real estate and hardware for a firmware hub is no longer necessary since the BMC may have the capacity to act as a virtual system BIOS firmware hub in addition to its other functions. |
| US07676664B2 |
Symmetric multiprocessor operating system for execution on non-independent lightweight thread contexts
A multiprocessing system including a multithreading microprocessor and multiprocessor operating system (OS) is disclosed. The microprocessor includes a first and a second plurality of thread contexts (TCs), each TC having a program counter and a general purpose register set for executing a thread. The microprocessor also includes a first and a second shared privileged resource, shared by the first and second respective plurality of TCs rather than being replicated for each of the respective first and second plurality of TCs, and privileged to be managed only by operating system-privileged threads rather than by user-privileged threads. The OS manages the first and second shared privileged resource and schedules execution of both the operating system-privileged threads and the user-privileged threads on the plurality of TCs. |
| US07676658B2 |
Data processing apparatus configured to load a program corresponding to each of a plurality of functions into a memory and execute the loaded program, and method for loading programs in the data processing apparatus
A data processing apparatus and method configured to load a program corresponding to each of a plurality of functions into a memory, the apparatus and method including storing a program for a specific function from among the plurality of functions, storing a program for a function different from the specific function from among the plurality of functions, loading the program for the specific function into the memory, and loading the program for the function different from the specific function into the memory after power is supplied to the second storage unit based on a request for accessing the second storage unit generated during execution of the program for the specific function. |
| US07676655B2 |
Single bit control of threads in a multithreaded multicore processor
A method and mechanism for controlling threads in a multithreaded multicore processor. A processor includes multiple cores, each of which are capable of executing multiple threads. A control register which is shared by each of the cores is utilized to control the status of the threads in the processing system. In one embodiment, the shared register includes a single bit for each thread in the processor. Depending upon the value written to a bit of the shared register, one of three results may occur with respect to a thread which corresponds to the bit. In one embodiment, writing a “0” to a bit of the shared register will cause a corresponding thread to be Parked. Writing a “1” to a bit of the shared register will cause a corresponding thread to either be UnParked or be Reset. Whether writing a “1” to a bit of the register causes the corresponding thread to be UnParked or Reset depends upon a state of the processor. |
| US07676654B2 |
Extended register space apparatus and methods for processors
Methods and apparatus for accessing an extended register space associated with a processor are disclosed. In an example method, an instruction indicating a tag value is received. It is then determined whether information is stored in a first group of registers or a second group of registers based on a comparison of the tag value and an identifier value indicative of the second group of registers. The information is then accessed in the second group of registers in response to the tag value matching the identifier value. |
| US07676652B2 |
Executing variable length instructions stored within a plurality of discrete memory address regions
Within a system supporting execution of variable length instructions a program is stored within discrete memory regions with a variable length instruction spanning a gap between two such discrete memory regions. When execution is attempted of such a variable length instruction spanning a gap, an abort handler is initiated which serves to copy the end portion of one of the memory regions together with the start portion of the other memory region into a separate fix-up memory region where these may be concatenated such that the whole of the variable length instruction will appear in one place. Execution of that variable length instruction from out of the fix-up memory region can then be triggered. This execution is constrained by the setting of a single step flag which causes the hardware to only execute the single instruction which span the gap before returning control to a single step exception handler which can then restore program flow to the point in the following memory region after the variable length instruction which spanned the gap. |
| US07676648B2 |
Method for manipulating data in a group of processing elements to perform a reflection of the data
A method for generating a reflection of data in a plurality of processing elements comprises shifting the data along, for example, each row in the array until each processing element in the row has received all the data held by every other processing element in that row. Each processing element stores and outputs final data as a function of its position in the row. A similar reflection along a horizontal line can be achieved by shifting data along columns instead of rows. Also disclosed is a method for reflecting data in a matrix of processing elements about a vertical line comprising shifting data between processing elements arranged in rows. An initial count is set in each processing element according to the expression (2×Col_Index) MOD (array size). In one embodiment, a counter counts down from the initial count in each processing element as a function of the number of shifts that have peen performed. Output is selected as a function of the current count. A similar reflection about a horizontal line can be achieved by shifting data between processing elements arranged in columns and setting the initial count according to the expression (2×Row_Index) MOD (array size). The present invention represents an efficient method for obtaining the reflection of data. |
| US07676647B2 |
System and method of processing data using scalar/vector instructions
A processor device is disclosed that includes a register file with a combined condition code register for scalar and vector operations. The processor device utilizes the combined condition code register for scalar and vector operations. Further, a compare operation can store resulting bits in the combined condition code register and a conditional operation can utilize the combined condition code register bits for evaluating a condition. |
| US07676643B2 |
Data interface device for accessing memory
The data interface device accesses a memory operating in synchronization with a clock. A board clock and selective data capturing improve the operating rate of a memory interface and time-synchronize data flow from memory to memory controller with a internal clock produced by the memory controller; or time-synchronize data flow from the memory controller with the board clock. The internal clock is passed through a sequential path of an output pad of the memory controller, the memory, and an input pad of the memory controller and then re-inputted into the memory controller thereby the feedback clock is generated. The selective data capturing uses a register part for storing data inputted into the memory controller. The register part for storing the data is configured by double registers that are operated in an alternative manner according to a correlation between the inputted data and the feedback clock. |
| US07676638B2 |
Combined pessimistic and optimistic concurrency control
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that improve implementation of concurrency control modes in a transactional memory system. A transactional memory word is provided for each piece of data. The transactional memory word includes a version number, a reader indicator, and an exclusive writer indicator. The transactional memory word is analyzed to determine if the particular concurrency control mode is proper. Using the transactional memory word to help with concurrency control allows multiple combinations of operations to be performed against the same memory location simultaneously and/or from different transactions. For example, a pessimistic read operation and an optimistic read operation can be performed against the same memory location. |
| US07676633B1 |
Efficient non-blocking storage of data in a storage server victim cache
A network storage server has a non-volatile mass storage facility, a main cache and a victim cache. A technique of efficient, non-blocking storage of data in the victim cache includes, responding to a caller process by, without blocking the caller process, selecting a first storage unit for eviction from the main cache, destaging the first storage unit for storage in the victim cache without copying the first storage unit, and identifying a second storage unit to the caller process as available to be overwritten in the main cache. |
| US07676631B2 |
Methods for operating a CPU having an internal data cache
A CPU 3 having a processor 1 and an internal data cache 7 IS operated in combination with a dummy interface 13 which simulates the existence of an external memory 17 having the same address space as the cache memory 7 but which does not store data written to it. In this way, a conventional CPU can be operated without read/write access to an external memory in respect of at least part of its memory address space, and therefore with a higher performance resulting from faster memory access and reduced external memory requirements. The CPU 3 may be one of a set of CPU chips 20, 21 in a data processing system, one or more of those chips 20 optionally having read/write access to an external memory 23. |
| US07676627B2 |
Single segment data object management
A single segment data structure and method for storing data objects employing a single segment data object having a header and a data record. The header includes a segment length field describing the length of memory reserved for the data record and the data record contains at least one data instance object. Each of the data instance objects has a data instance header and data field. The header includes a data instance state field and a data instance length field. The data instance length field contains data representing the length of the data instance data field allowing for variable length “in place” updating. The data instance state field contains data representing an object state of the instance data. Only one of the data instance objects of the data record of the single segment data object has a valid object state. The state field facilitates a power loss recovery process. |
| US07676625B2 |
Cross-coupled peripheral component interconnect express switch
A plurality of PCIe switch complexes are interposed between a plurality of I/O devices and a plurality of microprocessor complexes. Each PCIe switching complex comprises a plurality of PCIe switches wherein each switch possesses at least one non-transparent port. The non-transparent port is used to cross-couple each PCIe switch creating an active matrix of paths between the HBAs associated with each I/O device and each microprocessor. The paths between each HBA (I/O device) and each microprocessor are mapped using a recursive algorithm providing each I/O device with direct memory access to each microprocessor. |
| US07676623B2 |
Management of proprietary devices connected to infiniband ports
Methods and systems for discovering whether a given connection to an InfiniBand port is a standard InfiniBand connection or a non-standard connection (e.g., indicating the presence of a proprietary device) are provided. The discovery may be performed by an end node, such that the end node interoperates with all standard InfiniBand components. Specific actions that are vendor unique, and potentially not compliant with the InfiniBand architecture, may not be done until after the discovery is complete and it has been verified that the noncompliant action will only be directed to entities know to be capable of processing them. These actions may include assuming the configuration responsibilities that would have been performed by the Subnet Manager in a standard InfiniBand network. |
| US07676621B2 |
Communications bus transceiver
A computer system is disclosed that includes: a communications bus implemented in accordance with an Inter-IC bus specification; a bus controller coupled to the communications bus; a send machine coupled between a host processor and the bus controller; and a first-in first-out (FIFO) buffer coupled to the send machine and coupled between the host processor and the bus controller. |
| US07676619B2 |
Portable computer apparatus with thermal enhancements and multiple modes of operation
A portable computer adapted for electrical connection to a docking station having multiple power modes of operation is described. The portable computer has one or more CPU chips which have at least two power modes of operation, a low power mode and a high power mode. When the portable computer is operated as a stand-alone computer, it operates in the low power mode. When the portable computer is operated while electrically connected to the docking station, it operates in a high power mode. The docking station has greater cooling capacity than the portable computer alone to provide enhanced cooling of the high power mode of operation. |
| US07676616B2 |
Method, apparatus and program storage device for providing asynchronous status messaging in a data storage system
A method, apparatus and program storage device for providing asynchronous status messaging in a data storage system Asynchronous events are returned from a target to an initiator in response to a Read Message from the initiator. The return status message may or may not be associated with a previously given command or Logical Unit (LUN). |
| US07676614B2 |
Redundant storage virtualization computer system
A redundant storage virtualization computer system is provided. The redundant storage virtualization computer system comprises a host entity for issuing an IO request, a redundant storage virtualization controller set coupled to the host entity for performing an IO operation in response to the IO request issued by the host entity, and a plurality of physical storage devices for providing storage space to the computer system. Each of the physical storage devices is coupled to the redundant storage virtualization controller set. The redundant storage virtualization controller set comprises a first and a second storage virtualization controller both coupled to the host entity, the storage virtualization controllers communicate therebetween via a PCI-Express interconnect. In the redundant storage virtualization controller set, a storage virtualization controller will take over the functionality originally performed by the alternate storage virtualization controller when the alternate storage virtualization controller is not on line. |
| US07676612B2 |
Video camera device and control method thereof
A device determines whether a speed mode between the device and an external device is a first speed mode or a second speed mode, communicates with the external device at first speed if the speed mode is the first speed mode, and communicates with the external device at second speed slower than the first speed if the speed mode is the second speed mode. The device enables transfer of image data and displays the image data being transferred to the external device, if the speed mode is the first speed mode. The device disables the transfer of the image data and stops displaying the image data, if the speed mode is the second speed mode. |
| US07676608B1 |
System for extending Multiple Independent Levels of Security (MILS) partitioning to input/output (I/O) devices
The present invention is a system for providing Multiple Independent Levels of Security (MILS) partitioning. The system includes a memory, a bus controller communicatively coupled to the memory via a memory bus, and a MILS controller communicatively coupled to the bus controller via a host-side bus, the MILS controller configured for monitoring and controlling system transactions. The system further includes a plurality of input/output (I/O) devices communicatively coupled to the MILS controller via a plurality of corresponding device-side buses. The system further includes a MILS separation kernel configured for mapping regions of the memory to a plurality of user partitions. Each I/O device included in the plurality of I/O devices is allocated to a partition included in the plurality of partitions and is isolated from MILS separation kernel space. The MILS separation kernel is configured for guaranteeing isolation of the partitions of the memory. The system further includes a processor connected to the bus controller via a processor front-side bus. The MILS controller is configured for extending MILS partitioning to the plurality of I/O devices. |
| US07676606B1 |
Method and system for monitoring and controlling status of programmable devices
A method for programming programmable devices includes monitoring a status pin for each of the programmable devices, maintaining state information for the programmable devices indicating whether each programmable device is programmed, and transitioning each programmable device from a programmed state to an operating state. A monitoring module includes detectors, a memory and a processor. The detectors detect indications on the status pins of programmable devices that the programmable devices are programmed. The memory stores state information about the programmable devices. The processor communicates control signals to the programmable devices instructing them to transition from the programmed state to the operating state. |
| US07676604B2 |
Task context direct indexing in a protocol engine
A method and apparatus for managing task context are provided. Upon initialization, a protocol engine provides context resources available for processing tasks to a task issuer. Based on available context resources, the task issuer creates and manages a free list of available task context indices and assigns an index to a task prior to storing task context in a context memory accessible to both the task issuer and the protocol engine and issuing the task to the protocol engine. |
| US07676601B2 |
Method and system for processing financial data objects carried on broadcast data streams and delivering information to subscribing clients
A system for delivering data objects containing data subject to periodic updates to a plurality of clients is disclosed and which is configured to connect to at least one input data stream which carries a specific type of data objects, such as objects related to financial product offerings, and also establish a communication session with various clients. Each client has an associated profile which indicates data stream to which the client has subscribed and further contains rules related to how data in the streams should be treated. When an object is received on a data stream, a local data cache is updated and the rules specified by clients subscribing to that data stream are executed to determine whether information about the object should be forward to the various subscribing client. In a particular configuration, the data channels are provided by one or more information managers which pre-process raw data from source data providers, format and type the data, and broadcast it on appropriate channels in substantially real time. |
| US07676595B2 |
Anycast addressing for internet protocol version six
A protocol associated with an Internet protocol version six (IPv6) network address included within a network packet provides both unicast and anycast addressing, while having the same bit locations and bit functions associated with a top-level aggregation identifier, a next-level aggregation identifier, and a site-level aggregation identifier. A prefix associated with the three most significant bits of the network address identifies the network address as being a unicast address, an anycast address, or both a unicast and an anycast address. The prefix that identifies the network address as being both a unicast and an anycast address allows routers to have smaller routing tables. |
| US07676593B2 |
Method of bandwidth control by rewriting ACK number
A network relay apparatus installed with a TCP shaper has a packet converter that changes an ACK number of a confirmation reply packet in response to downstream data transmitted from a WAN side host to a lower value while transferring the packet. |
| US07676592B2 |
10/100 Mbs network device
A scheme by which a network device may be made to locate data signals from a plurality of potential data sources in the context of a network environment having devices that employ autonegotiation over an autonegotiation period. The scheme involves switching an input port on the network device between the various potential data sources on a one-by-one basis. If an idle signal indicating no ensuing autonegotiation period is detected, the switching action is terminated and the input port assignment is maintained for as long as the link is detected. Thereafter, the device returns to the switching state. If an idle signal indicating an ensuing autonegotiation period is detected, the switching action is stopped for a period equal to or longer than the autonegotiation period. Thereafter, if an idle signal is detected, the input port assignment is maintained for as long as the link is detected. |
| US07676591B2 |
System and method for transferring multiple data channels
A system and a method transfer multiple data channels between a server and a terminal via a stream session over a network. The system and the method utilize a bitstream switching, a fast buffer filling and/or a fast playback start to facilitate a switch from a first data channel and a second data channel. The first data channel and/or the second data channel is delivered to and/or is transferred to the terminal from the server over the network via a streaming session. The server transfers second data of the second data channel to the terminal via one or more tracks which are encoded at more than one bitrate and/or are configured in one or more configurations. The terminal requests a change between the first track and/or the second track without terminating the stream session for the first data channel between the terminal and the server. As a result, the system and/or the method minimizes the delay period of time between requesting the switch to the second data channel and displaying the second data channel. |
| US07676588B2 |
Programmable network protocol handler architecture
An architecture that achieves high speed performance in a network protocol handler combines parallelism and pipelining in multiple programmable processors, along with specialized front-end logic at the network interface that handles time critical protocol operations. The multiple processors are interconnected via a high-speed interconnect, using a multi-token counter protocol for data transmission between processors and between processors and memory. Each processor's memory is globally accessible by other processors, and memory synchronization operations are used to obviate the need for “spin-locks”. Each processor has multiple threads, each capable of fully executing programs. Threads within a processor are assigned the processing of various protocol functions in a parallel/pipelined fashion. Data frame processing is done by one or more of the threads to identify related frames. Related frames are dispatched to the same thread so as to minimize the overhead associated with memory accesses and general protocol processing. |
| US07676580B2 |
Message delivery with configurable assurances and features between two endpoints
A single programming model is provided for accessing a plurality of distinct message transports while developing one or more applications for message delivery between two endpoints. The programming model allows for independently configurable assurances and features for transporting the messages. The configurable assurances may be selected from at least once delivery, at most once message delivery, in order message delivery, and message time to live. The independently chosen features may include a session state storage, an extension of time to live, and transacted message buffering. |
| US07676577B2 |
Scalable presence distribution system and method
Scalable presence distribution system and method are described. In one embodiment, a presence distribution system comprises a plurality of presence servers and a centralized management function for coordinating registration of a presentity with one or more of the plurality of presence servers. |
| US07676576B1 |
Method and system to clear counters used for statistical tracking for global server load balancing
Server load-balancing operation-related data, such as data associated with a system configured for global server load balancing (GSLB) that orders IP addresses into a list based on a set of performance metrics, is tracked. Such operation-related data includes inbound source IP addresses (e.g., the address of the originator of a DNS request), the requested host and zone, identification of the selected “best” IP addresses resulting from application of a GSLB algorithm, and the selection metric used to decide on an IP address as the “best” one. The data includes a count of the selected “best” IP addresses selected via application of the GSLB algorithm, and for each of these IP addresses, the list of deciding performance metrics, along with a count of the number of times each of these metrics in the list was used as a deciding factor in selection of this IP address as the best one. This tracking feature allows better understanding of GSLB policy decisions (such as those associated with performance, maintenance, and troubleshooting) and intelligent deployment of large-scale resilient GSLB networks. The counters can be cleared as needed and without having to reload the system. |
| US07676572B2 |
Diagnostic information management system
A diagnostic information management system having a field controller which sends diagnostic information indicating contents of a failure which occurs in the field, to a viewer via a network; and the viewer which displays the diagnostic information sent from the field controller, on a screen. The field controller has a storage section which stores diagnostic information that becomes master diagnostic information of the whole system. The viewer compares the diagnostic information held by itself with the master diagnostic information, and obtains the difference diagnostic information from the field controller side. |
| US07676561B1 |
Method and apparatus for adaptive load balancing
Determining server capabilities during a discrete time period, or interval, allows for more efficient processing of client requests. Updating a proportional server capability load balancing information encoding at intervals allows a load balancer to handle client requests without the overhead of determining current server capabilities. Decision-making can be reduced to quick selection of one of a group of servers without considering the server's capability, since the server's capability has previously been considered when collecting the load balancing information. |
| US07676558B2 |
Configuring shared devices over a fabric
Provided are a method, system, and program for configuring shared devices over a fabric. A module in a first processing complex configures a first part of a fabric enabling communication with a set of devices accessible through the first part of the fabric. The module detects a located device accessible through a second part of the fabric, wherein a second processing complex is designated to configure the second part of the fabric and the located device. The module determines whether the second processing complex is available in response to detecting the uninitialized device. The module passes to a device driver in the first processing complex an uninitialized property for the located device. The device driver requests the module to configure the second part of the fabric to enable access to the located device over the second part of the fabric in response to determining that the located device has the uninitialized property. |
| US07676557B1 |
Dynamically adaptive portlet palette having user/context customized and auto-populated content
An event to initialize a portlet palette within a user interface having an open portal to which the portlet palette is associated can be detected. The portlet palette can be a user interface control that includes a portlet set of at least one portlet. The portlet palette can be configured so that a selection of a portlet from the portlet set causes the portlet to be added to the open portal. A set of portlets can be automatically determined from a set of stored portlets that are relevant to the open portal based upon previously defined programmatic rules and contextual information associated with the open portlet. The portlet palette can be dynamically populated with the determined set of portlets. The populated portlet palette can be presented within the user interface. |
| US07676552B2 |
Automatic provisioning of services based on a high level description and an infrastructure description
The present invention is directed to provisioning and managing computing services in a computing utility system. It receives as an input an infrastructure independent description of a set of requirements on the new desired state of a computing service. It uses a knowledge plane to represent the infrastructure. The method generates a Concrete Model that describes a resource structure that refines the input and is implementable over the infrastructure. It then generates and possibly executes provisioning actions to create an identical resource structure on the infrastructure. The method can be used to create new computing services, to destroy existing computing services, to modify the resource combinations allocated to a computing service, or the configuration of these resources. Provisioning actions can be executed immediately, or saved and executed later, and possibly many times. Provisioning actions may be regenerated using the method whenever infrastructure characteristics, or the service requirements change. |
| US07676550B1 |
Multiple access presence agent
A multiple access presence agent that collects and stores presence information on a presentity from presence contributors is configured to define access rules for each of the presence contributors, in which the access rules define respective rights and privileges of the presence contributors to the presence information of the presentity. The multiple access presence agent is further capable of authenticating one of the presence contributors to determine the access rules associated with that presence contributor, and in response to a valid authentication, enabling access to the presence information of the presentity by that presence contributor based on the access rules associated with that presence contributor. |
| US07676549B2 |
Techniques for providing accessibility options in remote terminal sessions
Techniques relating to enabling accessibility functionality in remote terminal session scenarios are described. In one instance, a process detects a request from an accessibility functionality regarding a display element in a remote terminal session. The process sends a query relating to the request to a component located on a computing device which generated the display element. The process also receives a response to the query. |
| US07676547B2 |
System for processing information including a mail subject of an e-mail not including all contents of the e-mail for controlling delivery of the mail subject requested by a host and method thereof
A system for processing an e-mail is disclosed. The system includes: a host, for issuing a first request to get a mail subject of the e-mail; a first server, for sending a first information associated with the e-mail, wherein the first information includes at least the mail subject and does not include all mail contents of the requested e-mail; a second server, for analyzing a second information to determine whether or not the mail subject is delivered to the host and then outputting an analysis result; and a parser, for receiving the information, outputting the second information to the second server, and directing the mail subject to the host if the analysis result indicates the parser should deliver the mail subject to the host. |
| US07676545B2 |
Method and apparatus for composing, browsing, replying, forwarding e-mail
Method for composing, browsing, replying, forwarding e-mail's in an e-mail system and an e-mail client that can reduce e-mail traffic by not sending the original e-mail content in replying or forwarding e-mail's. In accordance with this invention, each e-mail has a Global-ID and each reply e-mail has a Reply-to-ID which corresponds to the Global-ID of the original e-mail, thereby the content of the original e-mail is not contained in the reply e-mail. During browsing e-mail's, the original e-mail is retrieved from repositories which stores sent and received e-mail's, and is incorporated into the browsed e-mail. |
| US07676537B2 |
Address generation method for combining multiple selection results
A method in an integrated circuit for generating an address value having a contiguous address range from a first selection result and a second selection result each being an one-of-k selection result includes selecting multiple multiplication factors being power-of-two multiplication factors and the sum of the multiplication factors being equal to k; shifting the first selection result towards the most significant bit by each of the multiplication factors to generate multiple shifted input values where each shifted input value is shifted towards the most significant bit by one of the multiplication factors; adding the shifted input values and the second selection result; and generating the address value having a contiguous address range. The method can be extended to combine more than two selection results by applying the shifting and addition steps in a hierarchical manner. |
| US07676536B1 |
Efficiently determining a floor for a floating-point number
An apparatus, method and computer program product for processing a binary floating-point number having a sign bit and a mantissa having a fraction portion. It includes identifying the fraction portion of the binary floating-point number; and replacing each bit of the fraction portion with the sign bit, thereby producing a floor of the binary floating-point number. |
| US07676535B2 |
Enhanced floating-point unit for extended functions
An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to perform floating-point operations. A floating-point (FP) squarer squares a first argument to produce an intermediate argument. The first and intermediate arguments have first and intermediate mantissas and exponents. A FP multiply-add (MAD) unit performs a multiply-and-add operation on the intermediate argument, a second argument, and a third argument to produce a result having a result mantissa and a result exponent. The second and third arguments have second and third mantissas and exponents, respectively. |
| US07676532B1 |
Processing system and method for transform
A system includes M memories, wherein a first mapping assigns each point of an N-point input sequence to one of the M memories. A pipelined data path receives an input from each of the M memories, stores an output to each of the M memories, and iteratively processes pairs of points of the N-point input sequence. A control module designates the pairs of points from the M memories for processing by the data path, wherein only one point of each of the pairs is designated at one time. |
| US07676530B2 |
Duration minimum and maximum circuit for performance counter
A circuit for tracking the minimum and maximum duration of an event of interest is described. The circuit is connected to a counter for counting a number of clock cycles that the event of interest is active and comprises logic for detecting deactivation of the event of interest and generating a duration end signal; logic responsive to the duration end signal for comparing a count value with a shadow value; and logic for updating the shadow value based on results of the comparing. |
| US07676529B2 |
System and method for efficient rectangular to polar signal conversion using cordic algorithm
A system and method is provided for converting an input signal from a sequence of rectangular coordinate pairs to a sequence of polar coordinate pairs. The input signal includes a sequence of input vectors each including a pair of rectangular coordinates. A plurality of N input registers is configured to store an input vector of the input signal. The system includes a plurality of N CORDIC algorithm instances, each in communication with a corresponding one of the N input registers. Each CORDIC algorithm instance is configured to receive the input vector stored in the corresponding input register and to convert the received input vector to a corresponding output vector including a pair of polar coordinates. A recombiner is configured to receive the N output vectors and to recombine at least the N output vectors in sequence to form an output signal. |
| US07676528B2 |
Image data processing apparatus and image data processing method
An image data processing apparatus includes: a data dividing unit dividing arithmetic image data into arithmetic pixel data corresponding to a signal line of a display device; an adder adding first data and second data; and a data delaying unit delaying the added data, wherein the first data is the divided arithmetic pixel data from the data dividing unit, and the second data is the delayed added arithmetic pixel data from the data delaying unit. |
| US07676524B2 |
Hierarchical cursor-based object model
An object data manipulation system is provided. The system includes a definition object model that includes a set of dynamic group definitions over a data hierarchy. A cursor component points to a subset of the data hierarchy, where the subset is loaded into memory for further processing. |
| US07676523B2 |
Method and system for managing data quality
A method and system are described for managing data quality. An example method may include obtaining a first data stream interval including a first group of data items and a first aggregated data quality value associated with a quality of obtaining the first group, each data item including data attribute values, each data quality item including data quality attribute values associated with one of the data items. The first aggregated data quality value, a first indicator associating the first aggregated data quality value with the first group, and the first group may be selected. The first group and the first indicator may be stored in a user table of a database. A data quality table associated with the user table may be determined based on an entry in a system table. The first aggregated data quality value and the first indicator may be stored in the data quality table. |
| US07676520B2 |
Calculating importance of documents factoring historical importance
A method and system for determining temporal importance of documents having links between documents based on a temporal analysis of the links is provided. A temporal ranking system collects link information or snapshots indicating the links between documents at various snapshot times. The temporal ranking system calculates a current temporal importance of a document by factoring in the current importance of the document derived from the current snapshot (i.e., with the latest snapshot time) and the historical importance of the document derived from the past snapshots. To calculate the current temporal importance of a web page, the temporal ranking system aggregates the importance of the web page for each snapshot. |
| US07676517B2 |
Search results injected into client applications
Architecture is provided that transcends a division offered by conventional query architectures by providing a query input box in a client application which provides rich look-ahead query results by integrating results from a network-based service with results from the client application. Realtime network-based search results are injected into the query as the user types the query into a client input box. When a user enters a query character into a query input box of a client application, a search is conducted via an Internet-based index service using the existing query character. In response, the search returns suggested results that are then processed to complete the query as presented for selection by the user in the query input box. |
| US07676514B2 |
Distributed maintenance of snapshot copies by a primary processor managing metadata and a secondary processor providing read-write access to a production dataset
A primary processor manages metadata of a production dataset and a snapshot copy, while a secondary processor provides concurrent read-write access to the primary dataset. The secondary processor determines when a first write is being made to a data block of the production dataset, and in this case sends a metadata change request to the primary data processor. The primary data processor commits the metadata change to the production dataset and maintains the snapshot copy while the secondary data processor continues to service other read-write requests. The secondary processor logs metadata changes so that the secondary processor may return a “write completed” message before the primary processor commits the metadata change. The primary data processor pre-allocates data storage blocks in such a way that the “write anywhere” method does not result in a gradual degradation in I/O performance. |
| US07676510B1 |
Space reservation monitoring in a fractionally reserved data storage system
A mechanism by which a server system executing a host application monitors utilization of a fractionally reserved space on a volume storing application data. The server system executes space reservation policies to ensure that the host application is not halted due to inability to create snapshots on the volume. In one implementation, the server system alerts a system administrator if the rate of change in the size of data snapshots exceeds a specified threshold and initiates deletion of backup datasets stored on the volume if the size of a data snapshot exceeds the available space on the volume. |
| US07676504B2 |
Device and method for processing content and an information file related to the content
It is possible for an information processing device to read or write a large amount of contents-related information more quickly if the device has a relatively small processing capacity. The file format identifier information and the block identifier information that correspond to contents-related information are identified in Step S11 and it is determined in Step S17 if the file format version information read out from the file identified by the file format identifier information and the predefined file format version information agree with each other or not. If it is determined that the two pieces of file format version information agree with each other, the related information is read out from the block identified by the block identifier information of the identified file according to the block position information of the identified file in Step S22. |
| US07676501B2 |
Document integrity verification
A system and method enable reliable tamper detection for printed documents. Embodiments determine whether tampering has occurred and, if detected, isolate it to a specific section, such as a single page of a multi-page document. Embodiments render classes of documents tamper evident with cryptographic level security, where such security was previously unavailable, for example, documents printed using common printers without special paper or ink. Embodiments enable proving the date of document content without the need for expensive third party archival, including documents held, since their creation, entirely in secrecy or in untrustworthy environments, such as on easily-altered, publicly-accessible internet sites. Embodiments can extend, by many years, the useful life of currently-trusted integrity verification algorithms, such as hash functions, even when applied to binary executable files. Embodiments can efficiently identify whether multiple document versions are substantially similar, even if they are not identical, thus potentially reducing storage space requirements. |
| US07676500B2 |
System and method for the transformation and canonicalization of semantically structured data
A method of transforming and canonicalizing semantically structured data includes obtaining data from a network of computers, applying text patterns to the obtained data and placing the data in a first data file, providing a second data file containing the obtained data in a uniform format, and generating interface specific sentences from the data in the second data file. |
| US07676495B2 |
Advanced streaming format table of contents object
A computer memory product having stored thereon a digital media file, the memory product comprising a computer readable memory, and a data file including at least two digital data portions; a header object including a table of contents (TOC) object containing data regarding the data file; and a second data object following the first header object containing data representing digital media wherein the TOC object is disposed between the first header object and the second data object. |
| US07676494B2 |
System and method of matching vehicle ratings using a central database
A computer reservation system matches vehicle ratings using a central database. Vehicle information and rental equipment information are stored in the central database. A user specifies a vehicle description including make, model, and year of the vehicle on a website. The central database is searched based on the vehicle description to find related vehicle information including physical characteristics of the vehicle. The rental equipment in the central database is identified which is compatible with the vehicle as determined by a comparison of the rental equipment information to the vehicle information. The physical characteristics of the vehicle are compared to physical characteristics of the rental equipment to determine compatibility between the vehicle and the rental equipment. The compatible rental equipment is displayed on the website for the user. |
| US07676492B2 |
Migration of database using serialized objects
Methods, systems, and apparatus for migrating a database of a workflow processing system from a current version to a new version by serializing the data into serialized objects and then deserializing the objects into the new version of the database. The current version of the database may include elements of data associated with base features and extension features of the workflow processing system. The new version of the database is initially generated to include only base features associated with a new version of the programmed instructions of the system. Deserializing the serialized objects into the new version of the database is effective to merge the object types of the information in the current version of the database into the object type of the new version of the database. |
| US07676488B2 |
Conditional formatted reporting using syntax checking
A design in a markup language for rendering a report may be generated such that the design and conditions associated therewith are written in a single markup language. Based on this arrangement, both the design and the conditions may be parsed according to a pre-defined grammar to facilitate rapid debugging. |
| US07676486B1 |
Method and system for migration of legacy data into a content management system
Systems and methods are described which facilitate the integration of data into a content management system. Legacy data is inspected, and content types are generated based on a data model. From these content types, content type objects may be generated. The data may then be examined to acquire a key set, and a content instance object generated for each datum found which matches a content type. This content instance object can then be associated with the datum using one or more key values, saved, and subsequently used to manage the data. These methods and systems allow data to be migrated to a content management system without any modification to the existing data repository or its associated structures. |
| US07676481B2 |
Serialization of file system item(s) and associated entity(ies)
A system and method for serialization and/or de-serialization of file system item(s) and associated entity(ies)is provided. A file system “item” comprises a core class which can include property(ies). Through serialization, a consistent copy of the item and associated entity(ies), such as fragment(s), link(s) with other item(s) and/or extension(s),if any, can be captured. The serialization system includes an identification component that identities entity(ies) associated with an item and a serialization component that serializes the item and associated entity(ies). The serialization component can further serialize a header that includes information associated with the item and associated entity(ies). The header can facilitate random access to the item and associated entity(ies). The serialization system can expose application program interface(s) (API's) that facilitate the copying, moving and/or transfer of an item and its associated entity(ies) from one location to another location. |
| US07676475B2 |
System and method for efficient meta-data driven instrumentation
A method for gathering management information about an asset that includes receiving a first request for the management information about the asset, wherein the first request complies with the information model format, identifying a data acquisition (DAQ) definition for the DAQ definition complies with the DAQ format, triggering a protocol handler according to the DAQ definition, receiving the management information from the protocol handler about the asset, and updating a cache entry with the management information. |
| US07676473B2 |
Propagation of user preferences to end devices
In one embodiment, a method of providing propagation of user preferences to multiple end devices can comprise receiving a request for user preference information, the request originating from a requesting end device. One or more sewers storing preference information for a user associated with the requesting end device can be identified. The preference information for the user associated with the requesting end device can be read from the one or more servers and a response message can be generated. The response message can include the preference information for the user associated with the requesting end device from the one or more servers. The response message can be sent to one or more recipient end devices. |
| US07676471B2 |
Graphical, matrixed method for SAS fabric management
In an embodiment of the present invention, in a matrixed method for serial attached SCSI (SAS) fabric management, a user is provided with a graphical dynamic matrix table, which illustrates a plurality of matrixed cells corresponding to a plurality of zone groups in a one-to-one relationship. The matrixed cells are organized as a graphical dynamic table on an X-axis and a Y-axis. The table is a packed table, meaning the X and Y axes only display populated (or active) zone groups. To modify the zoning configuration the user uses a pointing device such as a mouse to left click the appropriate matrixed cell to toggle between states. There are four states ‘mutual access’, ‘previous mutual access’, ‘proposed mutual access’, and ‘no access’. |
| US07676469B1 |
Maintaining and displaying user ordered lists
A system and method for updating a source copy of an ordered list (the source list) comprising a plurality of list items according to modifications made to the order of the list items in a local copy of the ordered list (the local list) is provided. Each list item includes an order value. The order of the list items is determined according to the order values. To update the source list, the list items that have been moved in the local list are identified and placed on a temporary list, retaining the ordinal position in the local list. For each list item in the temporary list, the list item is placed back in the local list and its order value is set according to the average of the previous list item's order value and the subsequent list item's order value. The list item is then written to the source list. |
| US07676465B2 |
Techniques for clustering structurally similar web pages based on page features
Web page clustering techniques described herein are URL Clustering and Page Clustering, whereby clustering algorithms cluster together pages that are structurally similar. Regarding URL clustering, because similarly structured pages have similar patterns in their URLs, grouping similar URL patterns will group structurally similar pages. Embodiments of URL clustering may involve: (a) URL normalization and (b) URL variation computation. Regarding page clustering, page feature-based techniques further cluster any given set of homogenous clusters, reducing the number of clusters based on the underlying page code. Embodiments of page clustering may reduce the number of clusters based on the tag probabilities and the tag sequence, utilizing an Approximate Nearest Neighborhood (ANN) graph along with evaluation of intra-cluster and inter-cluster compactness. |
| US07676462B2 |
Method, apparatus, and program for refining search criteria through focusing word definition
A search engine is provided that includes a refinement mechanism. The search engine receives and parses a search expression and delimits the expression into individual terms or words. The refinement mechanism includes a directory of related terms and a directory of compound terms. The refinement mechanism also includes a hierarchical data structure of refinement terms. The mechanism then identifies related terms for the individual terms in the search expression, compound terms that may be formed from individual terms in the expression, and terms in the expression that have sub structures or “sub trees” in the hierarchical data structure. An interface is generated in a graphical tree structure to present identified related terms, compound terms, and refinement terms. Based upon user interaction with the interfaces, the mechanism forms an enhanced search expression. |
| US07676460B2 |
Techniques for providing suggestions for creating a search query
Provided are techniques for providing suggestions for a search query. As input of a search query is received, it is determined that the input corresponds to a stem. It is determined whether the stem resolves to a predetermined term. In response to determining that the input resolves to a predetermined term, a new query is generated based on the predetermined term and zero or more previously resolved terms. In response to executing the new query, results are received and suggestions for completing the search query are provided based on the received results. |
| US07676458B2 |
System and method for historical diagnosis of sensor networks
A method of querying a hierarchically organized sensor network, said network being sensor network with a global coordinator node at a top level which receives data from lower level intermediate nodes which are either leader nodes for lower level nodes or sensor nodes, wherein a sensor node i at a lowest level receives a signal Y(i,t) at time t, said method including constructing a sketch Swkt=(Swkt1, . . . , Swktn) for an internal node k from S wkt j = ∑ i ∈ LeafDescendents ( k ) ∑ q = 1 i b wiq · r iq j , wherein component Swktj is a sketch of a descendent of node k, ritj is a random variable associated with each sensor node i and time instant t wherein index j refers to independently drawn instantiations of the random variable, bit bwit represents a state of sensor node i for signal value w=Y(i,t) at time t, and LeafDescendents(k) are the lowest level sensor nodes under node k, wherein said sketch is adapted for responding to queries regarding a state of said network. |
| US07676457B2 |
Automatic index based query optimization
A method and apparatus for automatic index query optimization for a Lightweight directory Access Protocol (LDAP) system. Embodiments include a method for receiving a query for an LDAP repository. The method may further include reorganizing search terms in the query based on a uniqueness value of corresponding LDAP indexes to generate a modified query, and executing the modified query. |
| US07676455B2 |
Identifying and/or extracting data in connection with creating or updating a record in a database
The invention provides systems, methods, and computer programs to improve the accuracy and efficiency with which data analysts can use news stories, press releases, and other sources of information to maintain databases that contain information about individuals and businesses and other organizations. Documents containing material information are acquired in computer-readable form and optionally may then be reduced to raw text. One or more computerized systems process the text and tag important terms such as proper nouns, job titles, awards, and other terms indicating professional, educational, corporate, or other developments. The invention provides a user interface with which a data analyst can review, confirm, remove, modify, introduce, and link the tags, ultimately adding the information and links to a database and storing the source document in an electronic warehouse for future retrieval. |
| US07676450B2 |
Null aware anti-join
Techniques for performing a “null-aware” anti-join operation are described. Unnesting using anti-join of NOT IN/ALL subquery uses null-aware anti-join operation, resulting in a rewritten query that, when computed, produces results consistent with the NULL semantics of NOT IN/ALL subquery. The semantics of the “null-aware” anti-join operation allow the query having the NOT IN/ALL subquery to be rewritten even though a no-NULL restriction requirement, for the operands of the anti-join condition in the query, may not be met. |
| US07676449B2 |
Creating and viewing private events in an events repository
Techniques for accessing an events information repository are provided. An events repository contains event records defining real world events. A programmatic interface is exposed to third-party applications for accessing the event records within the repository. Specifically, the programmatic interface provides a set of routines that perform operations on the repository. Using the programmatic interface, third-party applications may call the set of routines to cause operations to be executed on the repository. Further, techniques are provided for creating and viewing private events within an events repository and also for associating user-defined tags with events using the events repository. |
| US07676447B2 |
Control system and method for controlling execution of scientific experiments by laboratory instruments
A scientific experiment control system includes a main controller for high-level control, an experimental manager for lower-level control of scientific experiments, and a roll-up engine for automatically propagating modifications (or “changes”) within the system to ensure consistency across the system and instruments which are linked to it in an automatic and dynamic manner. When any of experiment control objects automatically detects a change event as defined by any of the metrics inherited from the metric objects it transmits a notification to an interface. The latter automatically instantiates a change event object, which is managed in a queue by an input interface of the roll-up engine. The roll-up engine automatically interrogates the network of objects contained in the program object to determine the identity of every object in the hierarchy down to the notifying object which is involved in performance of the current experiment run. It then automatically transmits a notification to each of these identified objects. |
| US07676443B2 |
System and method for processing data elements in retail sales environment
A system for processing rules on data elements is described. The system includes a memory queue configured to receive and store a listing of data elements and a rule processing engine configured to apply one or more processing rules to one or more data elements. The rules processing engine further includes a rule condition processing engine configured to apply a condition to a data element and store the data element in the memory queue if the condition is satisfied and a rule action processing engine configured to iteratively perform an action on the elements stored in the memory queue. |
| US07676435B1 |
Method and system for triggering enhanced security verification in response to atypical selections at a service-oriented user interface terminal
A method and system for prompting a repeat user of a payment card at an interface terminal with additional security-related questions when the user selects responses that deviate from his or her typical selections. The payment card is read at the terminal, its line of credit is authorized, and a profile of the user's purchasing habits is retrieved. The user then enters his or her current selection of options. A determination is then made as to whether the user's current selections match his or her user profile. If the user's current selections match the user profile, the process allows the user to obtain the services or facilities. If the user's current selections do not match the user profile, the process queries the user with additional security questions to ascertain whether the current user is an authorized user. If the user is unable to answer the security questions correctly, the process prevents the user from accessing the services or facilities. If the user is able to answer the security questions correctly, the process allows the current user to begin fueling his or her vehicle. |
| US07676432B2 |
Methods and apparatus for transacting electronic commerce using account hierarchy and locking of accounts
Apparatus and methods are provided for facilitating electronic commerce in an environment in which a service provider handles business transactions between registered users and participating vendors and shipping companies, wherein users may establish and manage primary accounts and sub-accounts to purchase goods and services from participating vendors' web sites. |
| US07676429B2 |
Credit instrument and system providing multiple services including access to credit services and access to a service provider club
An apparatus and methods for a card that allows a cardholder to set up auto-charge payment of dues and fees to a series of clubs, merchants or service providers. The card also may be used for other transactions that accept credit cards. The apparatus includes a database containing information of the associated clubs, merchants and service providers, so that applicants and cardholders can easily configure auto-charging for multiple business concerns in one sitting. The apparatus may process auto-charge transactions in an automated fashion without requiring a cardholder to submit payment authorization or the business concern to submit a charge for each payment. Inconvenience and administrative costs to the cardholder and the business concern are reduced. The system and method provide a competitive advantage to the associated business concerns to secure the initial account and then to maintain it. The system and method encourages card loyalty of both the card members and the business concerns to the card provider. |
| US07676425B1 |
Method and system for providing flexible financing
Methods and systems for providing flexible financing are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a business card product with a customer activated credit line extension for accommodating large ticket purchases where the credit line extension may be linked to other business loan/lease products so that balances may be transferred to a customer's preferred financing product (or products). The purchases may be considered secured or unsecured loans/leases that may be capitalized as well as appreciate and depreciate in value. The purchases may include various types of revenue producing property, such as computer, office equipment, office furniture, copiers, farm equipment, and other types of revenue producing property. |
| US07676423B2 |
Method and system for optimal pricing and allocation with allotments
A method and system for the determination of optimal pricing and allocation of securities in an open, competitive environment. The method and system may also be used in developing pre-markets of other items that are difficult to price and allocate in a competitive manner, such as the underwriting/securitization of contracts for property; future revenue/earning streams from an asset and/or group of assets; underwritten insurance portfolios, intellectual property and other goods and services. The system of price optimization and allocation is accomplished by interactive feedback of information using a display and including competitive participation of individual members of the public (and/or their agents) or institutional buyers over a data network e.g., the Internet, uncovering the nature and identification of demand in a self-organizing fashion. Demand emerges through participants' interaction with the system and with each other, via a graphically-supported, interactive reservation process. Indications of interest (e.g., bids) may be treated as an allotment. |
| US07676422B2 |
Hedge fund weight in a hedge fund index
This invention relates to hedge fund indexing in general and methods and systems for constructing and maintaining investable hedge fund indices in particular. |
| US07676420B1 |
Electronic settlement of petroleum and gas distributions
In one embodiment, a system can include a centralized storage module, for example a database, that stores data relating to petroleum, natural gas and other related products taken from several different sources and entities. The entity storing and maintaining this data can be an entity independent from the operators, producers and/or other working interests. This system can use automated techniques to reconcile distributions to all entities associated with a well due to the removal of a mineral, for example, petroleum, natural gas and/or other related products, from that well, on a periodic basis. These automated techniques include, for example, reconciling all agreements associated with the well, reconciling the amount of mineral removed at the well, reconciling the spot market price associated with the well at the time of removal, automating approval by the removing entity, automating payment and the like. |
| US07676418B1 |
Credit portfolio benchmarking system and method
A portfolio benchmarking system comprises a repository of trade data, a repository of consumer data, a build computer, and a benchmarking query application. The repository of trade data comprises a plurality of data items regarding trade lines. The repository of consumer data comprises a plurality of data items regarding consumers, wherein at least some information in the consumer data is not in the trade data and at least some information in the trade data is not in the consumer data. The build computer periodically generates at least one data file comprising a plurality of data items, each data item combining information from the trade data and the consumer data, such that searches can be performed on the combined data without joining trade data and consumer data at query run time. The benchmarking query application executes queries on the data file generated by the build computer. |
| US07676417B2 |
Method and system for unified management of plurality of assets using computer network
A method and system for collectively displaying in real-time on the Internet the status of personal assets and transactions. The system comprises a plurality of asset databases corresponding to a plurality of financial institutions; storing portfolio information related to total assets in the above-mentioned plurality of financial institutions; a unified asset management server for receiving asset information from the above-mentioned plurality of financial institutions and storing same respectively in the above-mentioned plurality of asset databases, and preparing the above-mentioned portfolio based on the above-mentioned plurality of asset databases and storing the same; an asset management database for managing a user's assets; and a financial institution server connected to the above-mentioned authentication database, the above-mentioned asset management database, and the above-mentioned transaction management database. The unified asset management server prepares a portfolio of all assets. |
| US07676416B2 |
Systems, methods and computer program products for performing a contingent claim valuation
Systems, methods and computer program products for performing a valuation of a contingent claim, such as a call or a put, are provided that initially determine the present value distribution of contingent future benefits that is attributable to the exercise of a contingent claim, such as according to a jump-diffusion model. The present value of an exercise price, such as a distribution of contingent future investments of a distribution of contingent future investments, required to exercise the contingent claim is also determined. An average of the difference between the present value distribution of contingent future benefits and the present value of the contingent future investment is determined. By utilizing appropriate discount rates, the benefits and investment can be effectively valued, which, in turn, permits the contingent claim project to be effectively valued in an intuitive manner. |
| US07676414B1 |
Annuity having interest rate coupled to a referenced interest rate
An annuity provides a guaranteed rate of return for a guarantee period while at the same time providing upward adjustments to the interest rate if there is a corresponding increase in a specified referenced rate. The guaranteed base interest rate is set at the beginning of the guarantee period, and the annuity account is credited with the base interest rate for an initial pre-defined period. Periodically, the then-current referenced rate is compared to a base referenced rate defined at the establishment of the guarantee period. If the referenced rate has increased, the interest rate that will be credited to the annuity account value will increase by an amount that is based on the amount of increase in the referenced rate. If the referenced rate has not changed or has decreased, the interest rate that will be credited to the annuity account value will be the guaranteed base interest rate. |
| US07676413B2 |
System, method and computer program product for determining a minimum asset value for exercising a contingent claim of an option
A system, method and computer program product are provided for determining a minimum future benefits value for exercising a contingent claim of an option. The method may include determining a present value distribution of contingent future benefits at an expiration exercise point, and present values of respective exercise prices at the expiration exercise point and one or more decision points before that point. Determining these present value distribution and present values may include discounting a distribution and respective values according to first and second discount rates, respectively. The method may also include repeatedly determining, for a plurality of forecasted asset values at a selected decision point, respective values based upon the present value distribution and the present values, where the respective values may be conditioned on the forecasted asset values. A forecasted asset value that maximizes the value may then be selected. |
| US07676411B2 |
Click based trading with intuitive grid display of market depth
A method and system for reducing the time it takes for a trader to place a trade when electronically trading on an exchange, thus increasing the likelihood that the trader will have orders filled at desirable prices and quantities. The “Mercury” display and trading method of the present invention ensure fast and accurate execution of trades by displaying market depth on a vertical or horizontal plane, which fluctuates logically up or down, left or right across the plane as the market prices fluctuates. This allows the trader to trade quickly and efficiently. |
| US07676409B1 |
Method and system for emulating a private label over an open network
According to one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method and a system for emulating a private label network over an open network where settlement occurs at varying discount rates with one or more merchants or providers. A computer implemented method and system for settling a transaction at a discount rate may include receiving an authorization record for the transaction initiated by a customer over an open payment network; identifying payment plan data associated with a transaction; creating a settlement record based at least in part on the authorization record and the payment plan data; determining a discount rate for the settlement record; and settling with a provider for the transaction at the discount rate. |
| US07676406B2 |
Method and system for consolidating commodity futures contracts having guaranteed physical delivery
A guaranteed physical delivery futures contract and method and system for consolidating same are disclosed. The method includes guaranteeing physical delivery for future positions of market participants having open first-nearby time positions of a particular size, making additions to or subtractions from open first-nearby time positions of market participants that are less than the particular size and offsetting the additions to and subtractions from market participants' open first-nearby time positions with opposite positions in a second-nearby time. The system includes one or more servers and communications links, the communications links for receiving position data, including open positions, and the servers are configured to make additions to or subtractions from open first-nearby time positions less than a certain size and adjust market participant second-nearby time positions based on the additions to or subtractions from open first-nearby time positions. In certain embodiments, the underlying commodity is crude oil and the particular size is the size of a cargo shipment, about 600,000 barrels. |
| US07676397B2 |
Method and system for predicting the outcome of an online auction
A method and related system for predicting, possibly a software program executing on a computer system, an online auction outcome for each of a plurality of feedback rules. |
| US07676394B2 |
Dynamic bidding and expected value
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for receiving data associated with a mobile content, calculating an expected value of the mobile content based at least in part on the data received, and determining a bid amount for a sponsorship of the mobile content based at least in part on the expected value. |
| US07676392B2 |
Electronic toll management
Identifying a vehicle in a toll system includes accessing a set of toll transaction entries. Each entry in the set designates a toll transaction between a vehicle and the toll system and includes a transaction descriptor and a transaction time stamp. A series of toll transaction pictures is accessed. The series includes a plurality of pictures, each of which is associated with a picture time stamp. A toll transaction entry is identified from the set as a violation transaction entry based on the transaction descriptor. A toll transaction picture is selected from the series. The transaction time stamp of the violation transaction is compared, using a processing device, with the picture time stamp of the selected toll transaction picture. The selected toll transaction picture is identified as a violation picture corresponding to the violation transaction entry based on a result of the comparison. |
| US07676386B2 |
Systems and methods for scheduling and sequencing sessions or appointments
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for scheduling patients in an organized and uniform way using a batch follow-up system. Such batch follow-up methods help a research site conducting research to prepare one or more of study supplies, patient charts, study goals, and data collecting requirements in preparation for the batch follow-up visits. Embodiments of the invention also relate to systems and methods for communicating initial and follow-up visit dates to patients. In certain instances, various communications (e.g., between the patients and the study site or between the study site and the study sponsor) may be electronic communications. Methods of scheduling and sequencing patient visits may be conducted over a network wherein reminders about follow-up visits are electronically generated. |
| US07676385B2 |
Method and equipment adapted for verifying presence of a medical implant within a patient
One embodiment of the disclosures made herein is a method adapted for verifying presence of a medical implant within a patient. Such an embodiment includes performing an operation for authenticating a medical implant patient, whereby the patient includes an authenticated-patient. In response to successfully authenticating the medical implant patient, an operation is performed for creating an authenticated-patient medical implant verification account (MIVA) for the medical implant patient. An operation is performed for issuing an authenticated-patient medical implant verification card (MIVC) to the medical implant patient in response to creating the authenticated-patient MIVA for the medical implant patient. After creating the authenticate-patient MIVA and issuing the MIVC, an operation is performed for facilitating patient-authorized access to the MIVA. |
| US07676383B2 |
Method and article of manufacture for performing clinical trial budget analysis
An electronic method is provided of analyzing budgets for clinical trials. A clinical trial budget is entered into a processor. The budget includes activities and associated activity costs. The activities are classified into a set of standardized service categories. The processor then electronically allocates the associated activity costs with the respective standardized service category so that budget costs can be objectively analyzed. The budget further includes assumption specifications. The processor further calculates per unit costs of the assumption specifications. The activities and the associated activity costs are then equalized against reference assumption specifications using at least the per unit costs via calculations performed in the processor. |
| US07676381B2 |
Medical support system
The present invention provides a medical support system capable of properly supporting entry of medical information by a medical professional. A medical support system stores, as medical data, first medical information entered by a medical professional as an operator, and second medical information entered without direct intervention of the medical professional. Further, the medical support system generates and outputs support information for supporting entry of the first medical information by the medical professional. In the medical support system, the support information is generated on the basis of the first medical information and second medical information being entered. Therefore, in the medical support system, when the first medical information and second medical information being entered changes, the support information to be generated also changes. |
| US07676377B2 |
System for analyzing transportation infrastructure and minimizing repair costs
A system, method, and software product analyzes transportation infrastructure that includes roadways and bridges. Condition indicators are associated with each roadway and bridge, and costs involved with first repairing each bridge and roadway at different points in time considering the condition indicators are determined and compared. Costs involved with maintaining the bridges and roadways are determined and compared. Priority values are associated with each roadway and bridge. Predetermined condition parameters and secondary predetermined condition parameters associated with the priority values are compared to the condition indicators to determine if the roadways and bridges are in need of repair or in definite need of repair. Aggregate costs are determined and compared to current and projected budgets. |
| US07676373B2 |
Displaying text of speech in synchronization with the speech
Displays a character string representing content of speech in synchronization with reproduction of the speech. An apparatus includes: a unit for obtaining scenario data representing the speech; a unit for dividing textual data resulting from recognition of the speech to generate pieces of recognition pieces of recognition data; a unit for detecting in the scenario data a character matching each character contained in each piece of recognition data for which no matching character string has been detected to detect in the scenario data a character string that matches the piece of recognition data; and a unit for setting the display timing of displaying each of character strings contained in the scenario data to the timing at which speech recognized as the piece of recognition data that matches the character string is reproduced. |
| US07676367B2 |
Method of producing alternate utterance hypotheses using auxiliary information on close competitors
A method of constructing a list of alternate transcripts from a recognized transcript includes generating a list of close call records, matching partial sub-histories from the recognized transcript with one of the history pairs stored in each of the records, and substituting the other of the history pairs for the partial sub-history of the recognized transcript. A close call record is generated each time a pair of partial hypotheses attempt to seed a common word. Each close call record includes history information and scoring information associated with a particular pair of partial hypotheses seeding a common word. Alternate transcripts are constructed by substituting close call histories for partial histories of the recognized transcripts, and also by substituting close call histories for partial histories of other alternate transcript. |
| US07676364B2 |
System and method for speech-to-text conversion using constrained dictation in a speak-and-spell mode
For improving the accuracy of a speech recognition system, for the specific task of speech-to-text (dictation style speech) translation, a constrained dictation methodology using speak-and-spell mode is disclosed. The invention is perfectly suited for modern day “text-messaging” applications wherein the number of words being dictated is very small (limited by the 140-160 characters message length constraint). Additionally, the invention adds a control on the way users interact with machines, thereby making the speech recognition task easier and improving system accuracy. |
| US07676359B2 |
System and method for synchronizing languages and data elements
Data languages, executable programs, and user interfaces are synchronized by a database for storing data enumerations in a first language, a configuration file for mapping language neutral tags to the data enumerations, a user interface operable responsive to the language neutral tags for presenting to a user interface view selected data enumerations in the second language; the user interface responsive to user selection at the user interface view of a data enumeration in the second language corresponding to a selected language neutral tag for accessing the configuration file to retrieve a corresponding data enumeration in the first language, and for returning the corresponding data enumeration to the database. |
| US07676357B2 |
Enhanced Chinese character/Pin Yin/English translator
A method for the rapid, dynamic conversion of Pin Yin words is disclosed. The present invention comprises a web-based computer program. The user identifies an input which may be a hybrid or unaccented Pin Yin word. The character is translated dynamically into an accented Pin Yin word, a Simplified Chinese character or a Traditional Chinese character. The translated character is then displayed. The translation is done in the web page without a round trip to the server. |
| US07676356B2 |
System, method and data structure for simulated interaction with graphical objects
Object simulation and interaction of and between computer-generated or graphical objects in a virtual space includes neutral scene graphs, data structures and procedures for using such graphs and data structures. |
| US07676354B2 |
Method of and system for simulating a light-emitting device
A system for simulating a characteristic of a light-emitting device includes a transport calculating module for calculating a concentration of carriers in the light-emitting device. The system includes an optical calculating module for calculating data sets including a total emission power factor of excitons set and a light extraction efficiency data. A diffusion calculating module uses the exciton formation rate and the total emission power factor to calculate a concentration of excitons and a total deactivation rate of the excitons. A device characteristics calculating module uses the light extraction efficiency data set and a radiative deactivation rate calculated from the total deactivation rate to calculate a device characteristic of the light-emitting device. |
| US07676346B2 |
System and a method for observing and predicting a physiological state of an animal
A system for observing and predicting a physiological state of an animal has been provided. The system includes a computer including a processor and being operatively connected to a database, at least one sample providing device for repetitively providing at least one sample of a body fluid of the animal, an analysis apparatus for analyzing the at least one sample, so as to obtain at least one sample value of at least one parameter of the body fluid, a data interface for repetitively entering the sample value of the at least one parameter in the database, where the database is adapted to store multiple database entries representing the sample value of the at least one parameter at various points in time, and where the processor is programmed to: perform at least one mathematical analysis of the at least one sample value, and selecting, on the basis of the at least one mathematical analysis, the point in time for providing a subsequent sample and performing a subsequent analysis of the subsequent sample for at least one of the parameters. |
| US07676342B2 |
Sensor assembly, digital serial bus and protocol, sensor network, and lithographic apparatus and system
An sensor assembly according to one embodiment includes a sensor, an analog-to-digital converter configured to digitize a data signal received from the sensor, and an array of logic elements configured to receive a first data transmission over a serial bus and to transmit a second data transmission including information in the digitized signal over the serial bus. The array of logic elements is configured to transmit the second data transmission according to information received in the first data transmission. |
| US07676341B2 |
Magnetic sensor control device
A magnetic sensor control device has an input section, a selection section, a calculation section, and a setting section. The input section inputs a plurality of magnetic data each having 3 components sequentially output from a 3-dimensional (3D) magnetic sensor. The selection section selects 4 magnetic data satisfying a predetermined 4-point selection condition from the plurality of the input magnetic data. The calculation section calculates a center point equally distant from 4 points corresponding to the 4 selected magnetic data. The setting section sets 3 components representing the center point as an offset of the magnetic data. |
| US07676340B2 |
Geomagnetic sensor and geomagnetic sensor correction method, temperature sensor and temperature sensor correction method, geomagnetism detection device
With regard to a temperature sensor, a control logic circuit conducts control of the temperature sensor. During preparation of the temperature sensor, the control logic circuit reads the result of measurement of the property pertaining to the ambient temperature from the temperature sensor circuit, obtains the initial value and correction value from the result, and stores the pertinent values in the fuse memory. At times of operation of the temperature sensor, the control logic circuit reads the initial value and correction value from the fuse memory, and corrects the measurement values of the temperature sensor circuit using the pertinent values. |
| US07676339B2 |
Apparatus and method of compensating a seat offset for a load applied to the seat
A method of compensating a measurement. The method includes determining a zero-point, determining a rate of change of the zero-point, and compensating the measurement based on the rate of change of the zero-point and/or the zero-point. In one embodiment, the compensated measurement is used to control a safety device in a vehicle. |
| US07676337B2 |
Irreversible-reaction measurement method
An irreversible-reaction measurement method comprising: a step in which a perturbation is applied to one of the divided portions of a measurement sample placed in a light path of a Fourier-transform spectrophotometer to cause an irreversible-reaction while a mirror of the spectrophotometer remains at a data point; a step in which interferogram is detected from the sample portion placed in the path at predetermined time intervals after the application of the perturbation; a step in which the mirror moves to and remains at the next data point after the reaction of the sample portion reaches an end point; a step in which the sample portion placed in the light path is changed to the next sample portion each time the mirror moves to the next data point; and a step in which the irreversible-reaction of the measurement sample is analyzed in accordance with the interferogram obtained by repeating the steps. |
| US07676332B2 |
System and method for processing raw activity energy expenditure data
According to one embodiment, a method is provided for calculating, by an activity monitor comprising one accelerometer, a raw activity energy expenditure data based on movement by a user. The method includes determining if the raw activity energy expenditure data is associated with a high intensity physical activity, wherein the high intensity physical activity causes the raw activity energy expenditure data to differ from an expected activity energy expenditure data. The method includes calculating a corrected activity energy expenditure data, if the raw activity energy expenditure data is associated with the high intensity physical activity, based on the raw activity energy expenditure data, wherein the corrected activity energy expenditure data is substantially identical to the expected activity energy expenditure data. |
| US07676331B2 |
Torque estimating device of compressor
A compressor drive torque estimating device suppresses a discrepancy between an estimated drive torque, which is based on a torque estimating device of a compressor, and an actual drive torque of the compressor. The discrepancy is due to delay in switching between employment of the torque estimating device and the actual drive torque of the compressor in judging the compressor torque. Thus, even in a transitional state immediately after the start of compression, the idling speed of an engine driving the compressor is controlled based on an accurate estimate of the compressor torque, to improve the stability of the engine idle speed. |
| US07676330B1 |
Method for processing a particle using a sensor structure
A method for processing KStore sensors for use by a KEngine in a KStore system to process a K includes providing a stream of particles, instantiating a KStore sensor structure, identifying particles to be included in a sensor set and processing said identified particles. The KStore sensor structure can provide a correspondence between a particle and a sensor K node. Furthermore, the KStore sensor structure can be a list of K nodes, an indexed array or a hash table. |
| US07676328B2 |
Method for identifying cell-specific proteins
The present invention relates to a method for identifying cell-specific proteins comprising the following steps: a) determining cell-specific protein combination patterns of n cells; b) comparing the protein combination patterns of healthy and pathologically or physiologically modified cells of one cell type or comparing the protein combination patterns of cells of a different cell type affected by the same disease; c1) subtracting the coincident parts of the protein combination patterns of healthy and pathologically or physiologically modified cells of one cell type compared in step b) and determining a cell-specific protein resulting therefrom; or c2) subtracting the non-coincident parts of the protein combination patterns of cells of a different cell type affected by the same disease compared in step b) and determining a cell-specific protein resulting therefrom; and d) identifying the resulting cell-specific protein in terms of molecules and spatial structure. |
| US07676327B2 |
Method for optimal wave field separation
A technique for decomposing a recorded wave field represented in a set of multicomponent, marine seismic data centers around a computer-implemented method including: estimating the statistics of the noise terms in each one of a predetermined group of seismic measurements in a seismic data set acquired in a marine survey; modeling the physical propagation of a recorded wave field represented in the seismic data set from the estimated statistics; and estimating a directional component of the recorded wave field from the physical propagation model that minimizes error relative to the seismic measurements. |
| US07676326B2 |
VH Reservoir Mapping
A method and system of detecting and mapping a subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir includes determining ratio data for a plurality of orthogonal spectral components of naturally occurring low frequency background seismic data. The ratio data may be compared, plotted, contoured and displayed as a subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir map or a hydrocarbon potential map. The ratio data may represent a vertical spectral component of the seismic data over a horizontal spectral component of the seismic data. The subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir map may include contouring the ratio data over a geographical area associated with the seismic data. |
| US07676319B2 |
Intake air amount control apparatus for engine and control method thereof
The present invention provides an intake air amount control apparatus for an engine and a control method of an intake air amount of an engine, in which, when the atmospheric pressure exceeds a threshold value, a target lift amount of an intake valve is determined based on a target intake air amount and an electronically controlled throttle is controlled to generate a target boost pressure. On the other hand, when the atmospheric pressure does not exceed the threshold value because of a vehicle traveling at a high altitude, the target lift amount of the intake valve is fixed to a maximum lift amount and the opening angle of the electronically controlled throttle is determined in response to the target intake air amount. Consequently, an actual intake air amount is controlled to be brought to the target intake air amount thereby generating negative pressure necessary for exhaust gas recirculation. |
| US07676316B2 |
Methods for optimizing the operation parameters of a combustion engine
A method for optimizing operation of an engine driven by an electronic or digital system incorporating at least one parameter or one law or one mapping for engine injection, combustion or post-treatment comprising analyzing fuel composition from at least one sensor located in a fuel circuit of an engine comprising a filling system, a fuel tank, a pump, a fuel filter, an engine fuel system and a return circuit to the fuel tank, and selecting or modifying the parameter, law or mapping for injection, combustion or post-treatment according to a result of the analysis, wherein the fuel composition analysis comprises, spectroscopic analysis of the molecular structure of the hydrocarbons composing the fuel. |
| US07676315B2 |
Vehicle response during vehicle acceleration conditions
A vehicle control method for transitioning through transmission lash regions is described using a variety of information, such as, for example, gear ratio, clutch slippage, etc. Further, different adjustment of spark and throttle angle is used to provide a rapid torque response while still reducing effects of the lash. Finally, transitions taking into account both slipping and non-slipping transmissions are described. |
| US07676314B2 |
Motion control apparatus for a vehicle
When the absolute value of the steering angle equals or is greater than a prescribed angle, a vehicle motion control apparatus sets a control gear ratio so that when an estimated vehicle-body speed is equal to or greater than a prescribed value, the control gear ratio becomes a value equal to or greater than a certain value and which increases with estimated vehicle-body speed as the absolute value of the steering angle increases. When the estimated vehicle-body speed is less than the prescribed value, the control gear ratio becomes a value not greater than the certain value and which decreases with estimated vehicle-body speed as the absolute value of the steering angle increases. The apparatus then calculates a target yaw rate making use of the control gear ratio, and controls a braking force applied to each wheel so that the actual yaw rate coincides with the target yaw rate. |
| US07676311B2 |
Method for controlling a safety device in a motor vehicle
In a method for controlling a safety device in a motor vehicle, wherein the safety device is controlled as a function of at least one preset characteristic of a vehicle seat in the motor vehicle, an electric adjusting mechanism, which is provided for adjusting the preset characteristic of the vehicle seat, detects the measured adjustments, which relate to the preset characteristic, and that the preset characteristic is determined with the aid of the measured adjustments. |
| US07676310B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle steering system
Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle steering system are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes receiving a desired front road wheel angle signal at a controller. The desired front road wheel angle signal is indicative of a desired front road wheel angle of vehicle wheels. The method further includes receiving a parking assist request signal at the controller indicating a parking assist operational mode is desired. The method further includes generating a desired motor torque signal for controlling a power steering motor in the parking assist operational mode utilizing the controller, based on the desired front road wheel angle signal and the parking assist request signal. |
| US07676309B2 |
Motor-driven power steering apparatus
A motor-driven power steering apparatus is provided with a self-aligning torque computing means for computing a self-aligning torque based on of a steering angle and a vehicle speed, a friction torque computing means for computing a friction torque in accordance with a steering angle change from a steering angular velocity, an apparent steering torque computing means for computing an apparent steering torque from the friction torque and a steering torque, and a steering torque feedback control means for driving and controlling an assist motor in such a manner that a difference between the self-aligning torque and the apparent steering torque becomes 0. |
| US07676307B2 |
System and method for controlling a safety system of a vehicle in response to conditions sensed by tire sensors related applications
A control system for a vehicle (10) is described for use in conjunction with the safety system (44) of the vehicle (10). A tire sensor or plurality of tire sensors generates tire force signals. The tire force signals may include lateral tire forces, longitudinal (or torque) tire forces, and normal tire forces. Based upon the tire force signals, a safety system (44) may be activated. The tire force sensors may be used to monitor various conditions including but not limited to sensing a roll condition, wheel lift detection, a trip event, oversteering and understeering conditions, pitch angle, bank angle, roll angle, and the position of the center of gravity of the vehicle. |
| US07676305B2 |
Method and apparatus for assigning weighting coefficients for performing attitude calculations with a star sensor
Methods and apparatus for assigning weighting coefficients to measurements of a succession of stars acquired by a star sensor connected to a client device in order to determine a spatial orientation, characterized in that higher or lower preference is given to refreshment of the positions of measurements with the highest weights and/or stars on which these measurements are made by the star sensor and/or its client device, so as to displace part of the power of the error associated with the set of star measurements within the frequency spectrum. |
| US07676303B2 |
System and method for converting an aircraft from a flight condition lying outside a permissible flight condition range to a flight condition lying within the permissible flight condition range
A system and method for converting an aircraft from a flight condition lying outside a permissible flight condition range to a flight condition lying within the permissible flight condition range, that can be assigned to a sensor system and a control device of the aircraft. The system includes a control override module for taking over or returning the control authority over the aircraft based on a control take-over signal and for feeding control set points if the control takeover signal is set; a maneuver selection module; a threshold value generator for calculating the flight range limit on the basis of measured variables of the sensor system; a decision module; a command generator that is functionally connected on the one hand to the decision module and the maneuver selection module and on the other hand to the control override module and, when the control takeover signal is set, calculates the control set points based on the maneuver information and transmits them to the control override module. |
| US07676302B2 |
System and method of operating a cooling fan
A computer program product stored in a computing device has a processor and a communication interface to determine cooling specifications of a remote housing. The computer program product includes a machine-readable storage medium and machine-readable program code, stored on the machine-readable storage medium. The machine readable program code includes instructions, which when executed, to cause the processor, via the communication interface set a speed of a fan within the remote housing, set an alarm condition for the fan within the remote housing, set a temperature threshold for the fan within the remote housing, capture the cooling specifications of the fan for the remote housing, the cooling specification including a measured temperature; and increase the speed of the fan if the temperature threshold is exceeded. |
| US07676298B2 |
Method and apparatus for surface shaping of polymer composite components
A method of precision surface re-profiling of a composite polymeric component comprising a region capable of being re-profiled, comprising the steps of locating the polymeric composite component with a formable surface relative to a supporting fixture, the thickness of component comprising the formable surface being greater than the desired final thickness in a region to be re-profiled, moving a forming head into position into contact with the formable surface of the composite component with the aid of precision location or measurement sensors, causing the formable surface of the component to flow under the tool and creating a precisely defined local thickness or profile of component under the forming tool, and moving the forming head along the region of the component to be re-profiled, while maintaining the forming tool at a predetermined height profile or while leaving the re-profiled component with a predetermined thickness profile. |
| US07676297B2 |
Spring-forming control system and its control method for a spring forming machine
A spring-forming control system and its control method for a spring forming machine in which the spring-forming control system uses a host computer to provide graphical spring parameter setting, program modification, and dragline-method program modification graphical interfaces that are selectively switchable on a display monitor. After setting of spring processing parameters through the spring parameter setting interface, a trial production is done subject to a spring parameter auto-generation software built in the spring-forming control system, and then the production is started if the trial meets the requirements, or the spring processing parameters are modified through the spring parameter setting interface, program modification interface, or dragline-method program modification interface if the trial does not meet the requirements, and then a further trial production is performed till the shaped spring meets the requirements. A spring preview is available during running of the spring-forming control system. The graphic interface operation has the advantages of convenience, rapidness, and accuracy. |
| US07676296B2 |
Substrate processing system, substrate processing method and computer-readable storage medium storing verification program
Disclosed is a method of verifying a recipe execution program. When a computer executes a recipe execution program, the computer sends instructions, which are issued based on a process recipe data defining specific operations to be performed by a substrate processing apparatus, to the substrate processing apparatus. When a computer executes a log output program, the computer outputs a log data indicating the instructions sent to the substrate processing apparatus. When a computer executes a comparing and checking program, the computer compares the log data which the process recipe data corresponding to the log data. |
| US07676293B2 |
Production schedule creation device and method, production process control device and method, computer program, and computer-readable recording medium
A production schedule creation device includes: a production simulator (100) simulating a production process expressing the production state and the production constraint of the production process; a mathematical expression holding device holding a mathematical model (110) created by acquiring information relating to creation of the production schedule in attention as a mathematical model expressing, in a mathematical expression, the production state and the production constraint of the production process; and an optimization calculation device (120) performing the optimization calculation by using a predetermined evaluation function for the mathematical model (110) and calculating a production instruction for the production simulator. The production instruction obtained by the optimization calculation device is supplied to the production simulator (100) so as to execute simulation. Thus, an optimum solution can be obtained by performing only one simulation. |
| US07676291B2 |
Hand microphone interfaced to game controller port of personal computer
A hand microphone and an adaptor module form an assembly which is a peripheral device for a personal computer. The hand microphone is used to control dictation functions to be carried out by the PC. Two separate analog control signal channels are output from the hand microphone and applied, respectively, as X- and Y-axis inputs for the game port on the PC. Control signals carried in the two signal channels are generated by actuating control switches mounted on the hand microphone. |
| US07676287B2 |
Configuration system and method for abnormal situation prevention in a process plant
A system for gathering data associated with a process plant, in which parameters are generated by a plurality of signal processing data collection blocks, automatically determines parameters to be monitored. The signal processing data collection blocks may generate data such as statistical data, frequency analysis data, auto regression data, wavelets data, etc. Then, the system monitors the determined parameters. |
| US07676282B2 |
Compression of servo control logging entries
In controlled mechanical hardware, such as servo-controlled hardware, data from the control algorithm is obtained and logged for possible later analysis. Loss-less compression is provided without increasing the size of the storage memory. Instead of continuously storing the complete (absolute) value of a monitored control parameter, an absolute value is stored in an absolute entry and one or more values of the parameter which are relative to each preceding value are stored in a sequence of associated relative entries. The space required to store a relative value is less than the space required to store an absolute value. Updated absolute values and groups of associated relative values may also be recorded periodically or when a relative value is too large for the allotted space. The size of relative values may be variable and appropriate information data entries may be generated to indicate the size of associated relative entries. |
| US07676281B2 |
Distributed database in an industrial automation environment
A distributed database system within an industrial automation environment comprises a plurality of associated programmable logic controllers, wherein each of the programmable logic controllers includes data relating to one of a process and a device. Furthermore, the data within the plurality of programmable logic controllers can conform to a hierarchically structured data model, which, for example, can be based upon ISA S95, ISA S88, OMAC, or any suitable combination thereof. A reception component receives and services a request for data that is located within at least one of the programmable logic controllers. |
| US07676278B2 |
Fault tolerant transport mechanism in storage and method of controlling the same
First and second mobile carriers are accessible to individual cells defined in a storage. The first and second mobile carriers move along overlapped paths. First and second controller circuits are connected to the first and second mobile carriers, respectively. The second controller circuit is also connected to the first mobile carrier. Even when a defect occurs in the first controller circuit, the transport mechanism allows the second controller circuit to take over the control on the first mobile carrier from the first controller circuit. The control on the first mobile carrier serves to avoid interference between the first mobile carrier and any obstacle on the path. If the first mobile carrier is removed from the path of the second mobile carrier, the second mobile carrier is allowed to keep operating. The operation of the transport mechanism can be kept without any interruption. |
| US07676274B2 |
High-density array of micro-machined electrodes for neural stimulation
The present invention is a micro-machined electrode for neural-electronic interfaces which can achieve a ten times lower impedance and higher charge injection limit for a given material and planar area. |
| US07676266B1 |
Monitoring ventricular synchrony
An exemplary method includes providing a maximum right ventricular systolic pressure value and corresponding time during a cardiac cycle, providing a left ventricular displacement value for the corresponding time, determining a product of the maximum right ventricular systolic pressure value and the magnitude of the left ventricular displacement value and assessing ventricular synchrony for the cardiac cycle based at least in part on the product. Such a method may include adjusting one or more cardiac pacing parameters based at least in part on the product. Other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US07676263B2 |
Minimally invasive system for selecting patient-specific therapy parameters
The present invention provides systems and methods for ambulatory, long term monitoring of a physiological signal from a patient. At least a portion of the systems of the present invention may be implanted within the patient in a minimally invasive manner. In preferred embodiments, brain activity signals are sampled from the patient and are transmitted to a handheld patient communication device for further processing. |
| US07676259B2 |
Dynamically optimized multisite cardiac resynchronization device
A cardiac rhythm management device in which amplitudes of electrograms from one or more cardiac sites are measured in order to ascertain the extent of hypertrophy. The device may then pace the heart by delivering pacing therapy in a manner that unloads the hypertrophied myocardium to effect reversal of undesirable remodeling. |
| US07676254B2 |
System and method for detecting pain and its components using magnetic resonance spectroscopy
A system and method identifies different components of the pain experience (nociceptive (tissue damage), neuropathic (nerve damage) and psychological) and their relative contributions by the use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure absolute and relative concentrations of metabolites in specific brain regions in the central nervous system or brain. The system and method can be used as a diagnostic tool for the assessment of the relative contribution of different aspects of the pain experience as well as monitoring of response to interventions directed at modifying these components. |
| US07676251B2 |
Wireless communication system, electronic price tag system, wireless communication apparatus, communication terminal apparatus, and wireless communication method
A wireless communication system is provided for establishing wireless communication between a wireless communication apparatus and a battery-driven communication terminal apparatus in which system the power consumption rate of the communication terminal apparatus can be reduced. The wireless communication system includes a trigger signal transmission line for transmitting a trigger signal from the wireless communication apparatus to the communication terminal apparatus, and a data communication line for establishing data communication between the wireless communication apparatus and the communication terminal apparatus. The data communication between the wireless communication apparatus and the communication terminal apparatus is established in response to the trigger signal that is transmitted by the trigger signal transmission line. |
| US07676246B2 |
Secure audio-visual communication device
A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing audio-visual communication between registered users. Similar to the traditional walkie-talkie, a user depresses a button to transmit audio information, such as voice, and releases the same button to receive audio information from a transmitting device. Additionally, when communicating to another unit, the transmitting unit can also simultaneously send streaming video or still pictures in conjunction with audio communication. Both the audio and streaming video are transmitted and received in real-time. Still pictures may be stored or transmitted at any time. Each unit comprises a transmitter, antenna, camera, speaker, display screen and battery that are compact enough to be taken anywhere and allow for mobility. To enable security of the device, users must register with each other while within range before any communication can begin. This invention will allow users to communicate with each other for both business and recreational purposes. |
| US07676245B2 |
Receiver module comprising a wideband antenna
A receiver module 11 comprises a loop antenna 14 for receiving signals from a digital broadcast network 3. The receiver module 11 may be an integral component of, or attached to, a mobile terminal 1 that comprises a cellular transceiver 8. For example, the receiver module 11 may be incorporated in a battery pack and inserted into a battery compartment of the mobile terminal 1, so that the receiver module 11 and mobile terminal 1 are powered by battery 13. The loop antenna 14 is substantially resistant to electric fields produced by the transceiver 8 and other sources, and may be arranged within the receiver module 11. Where an external loop antenna 41 is provided instead of, or in addition to, loop antenna 14, the receiver module 11 may be arranged to monitor the quality of signals received from the digital broadcast network 3 and alert a user to deploy the external antenna 41 if the signal quality is low or decreasing. |
| US07676243B2 |
Interoperability improvement between receivers and transmitters in a mobile station
A mobile station is disclosed that includes a first antenna, at least one second antenna, and a receiver coupled to the first antenna. The receiver includes first control logic configured to generate a notification of the receiver being able to receive a reception frequency band and includes a transmitter coupled to the at least one second antenna and the receiver. The transmitter communicates radio frequency (RF) signals in a transmission frequency band over an RF transmit path to the at least one second antenna. The transmitter includes a tunable filter coupleable to the RF transmit path, and second control logic configured to adjust at least one characteristic of the tunable filter based at least in part on the notification. The adjustment is performed to reduce, when the tunable filter is coupled to the RF transmit path, interference caused by transmission in the transmission frequency band with reception in the reception frequency band. |
| US07676242B2 |
Compact and durable thin smartphone
The subject innovation and/or methods relate to a compact durable communication device that can include a plurality of improvements to provide durability and thinness. The devices can be a clamshell smartphone, a messenger device, a thin smartphone, and/or any other suitable mobile communication device. The improvements can include a magnesium plate, an opening for an electrical component associated with the plate, internal antenna placement, an extended backlight for a dual display, and/or a mono hinge to provide connectivity. |
| US07676239B1 |
System and method for providing a power controller with flat amplitude and phase response
A method for operating a power controller in a wireless communication device is provided that includes generating a power controller output signal using an open loop polar modulation scheme. The power controller output signal is operable to control the power delivered to a high-band power amplifier and a low-band power amplifier. A band state is determined for the wireless communication device. The power controller output signal is provided to the high-band power amplifier when the band state is a high-band state and to the low-band power amplifier when the band state is a low-band state. |
| US07676238B2 |
Mobile radio equipment and method of controlling transmission rate for mobile radio equipment
Mobile radio equipment and a transmission rate controlling method thereof for reducing the rate of transmission between the mobile radio equipment and a base station when the transmission rate is beyond the capability of the application function of the mobile radio equipment to thereby use the resources of the radio base station effectively. A radio transmitter/receiver receives data or radio signals via an antenna. A transmission system function CPU converts or customizes the data to a data format acceptable to an application function CPU. Subsequently, the transmission system function CPU inputs the data via a data input/output section into a data input/output section of the application function CPU. A decoder 16 is fed with the data input to the data input/output section. After that, the data is decoded by the decoder, and output from an input/output section according to the format of the decoded data. |
| US07676236B2 |
Distributed hierarchical scheduling in an ad hoc network
An ad hoc network with distributed hierarchical scheduling is disclosed. In one aspect, stations in a network mesh detect interfering neighbor stations and form interference lists. Stations transmit their interference lists. Scheduling stations schedule allocations for child stations in response to interference lists, received remote allocations, or a combination thereof. Coordination messages are transmitted including frame structure, allocations, and interference lists, among others. In another aspect, an ad hoc mesh network may be organized into a tree topology. In an example wireless backhaul network, this matches traffic flow. Distributed, hierarchical scheduling is provided where parents schedule communication with children while respecting already scheduled transmissions to/from interferers and to/from interferers of their respective children. Procedures to construct interference constraints for distributed, hierarchical scheduling are described, resulting in efficient scheduling and reuse in an ad hoc wireless network, without centralized scheduling. Various other aspects are also disclosed. |
| US07676234B2 |
Routing of a short message originated by a mobile device
Methods (200, 400) and systems (300, 500) in a wireless communication network for routing a short message to a local destination are provided. A wireless communication network (104) has a list of predefined short message destinations, receives a short message having a message destination from a wireless mobile communication device (102), compares the message destination with the list of predefined short message destinations, and if the message destination matches a predefined short message destination of the list of predefined short message destinations, routes the short message to a local destination (106) corresponding to the matching predefined short message destination of the list of predefined short message destinations. |
| US07676233B1 |
System and method for accessing computer services via a wireless network
Server access is provided to a wireless apparatus via a wireless network. A message is received containing a service request. The service and sever capable of servicing the service request is determined. The service is requested from the server and a reply is received. The reply is formatted for communication over the wireless network and sent. Location dependent information may also be requested with a wireless apparatus including a global positioning device and a two-way wireless communication device. Such an apparatus can “know” its global location and therefore can request information dependent on that location. The apparatus receives signals from a global positioning system and calculates a location. The calculated location is included in the service request sent over the wireless network. |
| US07676230B2 |
System and method for allocating a channel quality information channel in a communication system
A method for allocating a channel quality information channel (CQICH) in a communication system is disclosed. After fast switching from a serving anchor base station (BS) to a target anchor BS, a mobile station (MS) detects absence of a CQICH allocated from the target anchor BS. Upon detecting the absence of the allocated CQICH, the MS sends a request for allocating the CQICH to the target anchor BS. Upon receiving the CQICH allocation request, the target anchor BS detects a need to allocate a CQICH to the MS. |
| US07676229B2 |
Cellular-to-VoIP call establishment systems, methods, devices, and computer software
Various embodiments of systems, methods, devices, and computer software for establishing a cellular-to-VoIP call are provided. One embodiment is a method for establishing a VoIP media session between an originating cellular telephone and a VoIP destination device. One such method comprises: receiving a first data message from an originating cellular telephone, the first data message comprising an identifier associated with a VoIP destination device; sending a second data message to the originating cellular telephone, the second data message comprising information identifying a temporary directory number (TDN) associated with the VoIP destination device; detecting an incoming voice call to the TDN from the originating cellular telephone; sending an invite message to the identifier associated with the VoIP destination device; sending a ringing indication to the originating cellular telephone; receiving an accept reply from the VoIP destination device; and answering the incoming voice call from the cellular telephone and establishing a VoIP media session between the originating cellular telephone and the VoIP destination device. |
| US07676228B2 |
Radio interoperability system and method
A method, system and memory are provided for enabling interoperability. A communication session between different communication systems, such as radio systems, operating using different protocols is initiated by receiving a scenario identifier from one of the user devices. An interoperability server receives the scenario identifier and accesses interoperability data to obtain the connection information corresponding the scenario matching the scenario identifier. The data includes scenarios for communication sessions and the connections required for each scenario. Once the interoperability server obtains the connection information, the communication session is initiated. |
| US07676227B2 |
Communication system and handover communication method
When a downlink transmission is performed in the handover state in a mobile communication system having a mobile station, base stations and a base station controller, user data from the base station controller is transmitted from a first base station to the mobile station and error correction code for the user data from the base station controller is transmitted from a second base station to the mobile station. The mobile station subjects the received user data to error correction processing using the received error correction code and decodes the user data. Also, at the time of an uplink transmission in the handover state, user data and error correction code are transmitted from the mobile station to the base station controller via separate transmission paths. |
| US07676226B2 |
Fast handover method optimized for IEEE 802.11 networks
A fast handover method optimized for IEEE 802.11 networks. In a wireless local area system including a mobile terminal and at least two wireless access points (APs) that communicate with the mobile terminal over a unique radio channel, the fast handover method includes receiving a beacon frame signal from the serving AP and the neighbor APs of the mobile terminal; generating a first signal to determine a state of each of the neighbor APs based on the beacon frame signal received from each of the neighbor APs; comparing the first signal with predefined thresholds, classifying the neighbor APs into a detected AP, a candidate AP, and a target AP according to a result of the comparison, and storing the classification result in a neighbor AP list; and selecting an AP for the handover based on the classification result in the neighbor AP list. |
| US07676225B2 |
Area entertainment system including digital radio service and associated methods
An area entertainment system includes a headend unit, and electronic boxes spaced throughout the area. The headend unit includes a digital satellite radio receiver. A local area network (LAN) connects the digital satellite radio receiver for providing digital satellite radio signals to the electronic boxes. The entertainment system further includes user control units connected to the electronic boxes, with each user control unit permitting user selection of the digital satellite radio signals. |
| US07676223B2 |
Method for controlling a flow of information between secondary agents and a mobile device in a wireless communications system
In one aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a communications session with a mobile device is provided. The method comprises selecting a plurality of base stations, where at least a portion of the base stations are adapted to operate as a secondary agent, and wherein the secondary agent is capable of communicating with a mobile device. Substantially similar data is then delivered to a plurality of the secondary agents, and a first one of the secondary agents is selected as a first serving secondary agent to communicate with the mobile device. The first serving secondary agent transfers the data to the mobile device during the communications session. |
| US07676221B2 |
Call intercept methods, such as for customer self-support on a mobile device
A method for intercepting calls from a remote or mobile device for customer self-support detects when users or subscribers dial one or more predetermined numbers. If the number corresponds to one of the predetermined numbers (such as a customer support number), the phone may intercept the call and display a list of potential solutions to the subscriber's problems. Various other features and embodiments art disclosed. |
| US07676220B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamic voice response messages
A computing device implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product to generate dynamic voice response messages in a mobile computing device. In response to receiving an incoming call from a caller, the process displays a list of response messages in a set of response messages. In response to receiving a selection of a response message from the list of response messages, the process sends the selected response message to the caller. |
| US07676218B2 |
System and method for detection of a rouge wireless access point in a wireless communication network
Described are a system and method for detecting an unauthorized access point accessing a communication network. An authorized access point and/or an authorized mobile unit detects a beacon generated by a transmitting access point. The beacon includes identification information of the transmitting access point. A computing arrangement verifies the identification information of the transmitting access point with a preexisting database of the communication network. The preexisting database includes data corresponding to identification information of a plurality of authorized access points. The computing arrangement initiates a tracking procedure to determine a location of the unauthorized access point where the verification of the transmitting access point identification information with the preexisting database fails. |
| US07676212B1 |
Signal mixer having a single-ended input and a differential output
A mixer comprises a differential input circuit that is configured to receive an input signal. The mixer comprises a tank circuit including a tuning capacitor arranged in parallel with an inductor. A resonant frequency of the inductor and tuning capacitor is substantially centered around a predetermined frequency of the input signal. The mixer comprises a mixer circuit that communicates with the differential input circuit and that is configured to receive first and second current signals and a second input signal. The mixer circuit is configured as a Gilbert cell double-balanced switching mixer for generating a differential mixer output signal as a product of the first and second current signals and the second input signal. |
| US07676211B2 |
Reconfigurable baseband filter
A reconfigurable baseband filter for use in a multimode communication system is disclosed. One or more filter elements can each be configured as a plurality of sub-elements. The value of each of the filter elements can be varied by switching between at least two of the plurality of sub-elements. Switching noise within a desired passband can be reduced by switching at a rate that is greater than the desired passband. The switching noise in the passband can be further reduced by pseudo-randomly switching between the sub-elements. The filter can use a delta-sigma modulator to generate a pseudo-random switching signal. |
| US07676208B2 |
Automatic gain control device having variable gain control interval and method thereof
An exemplary automatic gain control device includes: a radio frequency receiver for receiving a plurality of first signals through a plurality of antennas, respectively controlling gains of the plurality of first received signals, and outputting the plurality of the first signals having the controlled gain as a plurality of second signals; a signal saturation detecting unit for outputting a saturation index determination value when the number of plurality of second signals that are greater than a threshold value is greater than a predetermined number; and a gain controlling unit for comparing power values of the plurality of second signals to detect one power value, and outputting a gain value determined based on a detected power value and a saturation index determination value to the radio frequency receiver. |
| US07676206B2 |
Low noise, low distortion radio receiver front-end
A radio receiver front-end includes a tunable antenna interface and a low noise amplifying section. The tunable antenna interface is operably coupled to receive a wide bandwidth signal from an antenna, wherein the wide bandwidth signal includes a plurality of channel signals, and wherein the tunable antenna interface is tuned to pass a selected one of the plurality of channel signals substantially unattenuated and to attenuate remaining ones of the plurality of channel signals to produce a filtered wide bandwidth signal. The low noise amplifying section is operably coupled to amplify the filtered wide bandwidth signal to produce a filtered and amplified wide bandwidth signal. |
| US07676205B2 |
Active receiver detection and ranging
Method (500) and system (402) for actively detecting and determining a range of a remotely located radio receiver (100). The invention also provides a method and system to determine whether a remote receiver (100) is receiving a transmitted signal (418) and the minimum necessary transmitter power required to establish a communication link to the receiver (100). Finally, the invention also provides a method and system to resolve directional ambiguities due to multipath. |
| US07676204B2 |
Radio receiver having ignition noise detector and method therefor
An AM receiver including an AM demodulator for demodulating an AM signal received by an antenna coupled to the AM demodulator is provided. The AM receiver further includes a bandpass filter for receiving the demodulated signal and generating a bandpass filtered signal. The AM receiver further includes a moving average filter for receiving the bandpass filtered signal and generating a moving averaged signal and a highpass filter for receiving the moving averaged signal and generating a highpass filtered signal. The AM receiver further includes an averaging filter for receiving the highpass filtered signal and generating an averaged signal and a summer for receiving the averaged signal and the highpass filtered signal and generating a difference signal. The AM receiver further includes a comparator for generating a noise blanking signal based on a comparison of the difference signal with a threshold. |
| US07676201B2 |
Selectable sideband transmission
The sideband used by a low-intermediate-frequency transmitter for transmitting signals on a channel is selectable. In some embodiments of the invention, the sideband used for transmitting signals is selected based on the location of the channel within a band of channels. In such embodiments, the lower sideband may be selected for transmitting signals if the channel is the lowest-frequency channel in the band, and the upper sideband may be selected for transmitting signals if the channel is the highest-frequency channel in the band. Such sideband selection results in image power falling within the band, which can be helpful in complying with out-of-band power limitations. |
| US07676200B2 |
Circuits and methods for high-efficiency on-chip power detection
Power detector integrally formed within a printed transmission line to capacitively couple a portion of signal power propagating on the printed transmission line and a power detector circuit that receives coupled power output from the power detector to detect a power level of the signal power. The power detector is designed such that capacitance of the coupling capacitor is absorbed into a distributed capacitance of the transmission line to maintain continuity of a characteristic impedance of the transmission line. |
| US07676198B2 |
Spread spectrum transceiver module utilizing multiple mode transmission
A data transceiver module for digital data communications in a portable hand-held data terminal has multiple data spread spectrum modes which include direct sequence and frequency function modulation algorithms. The transceiver module has multiple user or program configurable data rates, modulation, channelization and process gain in order to maximize the performance of radio data transmissions and to maximize interference immunity. Various module housings, which may be PCMCIA type, are able to be mated with a suitably designed data terminal. Media access control protocols and interfaces of multiple nominal operational frequencies are utilized. Wireless access devices in a cell based network each consider a variety of factors when choosing one of a plurality of modes of wireless operation and associated operating parameters. Such selection defines a communication channel to support wireless data, message and communication exchanges. In further embodiments, the wireless access devices also support a second channel, a busy/control channel, for managing communication on the main communication channel and to overcome roaming and hidden terminal problems. Roaming terminal devices are also configured to support the dual channel design. Such configuration in both circumstances may involve the use of a multimode radio that is timeshared between the two channels or two radios, one dedicated to each channel. |
| US07676188B2 |
Developer conveying member, developer container, image forming apparatus, and method of assembling a developer conveying member
A developer conveying member includes: a conveying member body; an end-portion supporting member; and a supported member including: a first radiation direction extending portion; and a second radiation direction extending portion, the end-portion supporting member including: a cylindrical portion, and the supporting portion defining: a through hole; and a groove. |
| US07676187B2 |
Enhanced fuser stripping system
An improved fuser includes a fuser member, a pressure member that forms a nip with the fuser member through which copy sheets pass to have images fused thereon and an air knife to assist in peeling copy sheets from the fuser member. The air knife has a device connected to it that blocks entrained airflow between the fuser and air knife to reduce fuser cooling and power loss. |
| US07676185B2 |
Toner container and image forming apparatus including same
A toner container of the present invention includes a cylindrical portion containing toner used in an electrophotographic type complex machine. When the cylindrical portion is driven to rotate, the toner gets out via an outlet thereof. The cylindrical portion of the toner container has an inner wall provided with a coat layer containing fluorine-containing silica fine particles, which are obtained by modifying a property of the surfaces of silica fine particles by using a fluorine-based silane coupling agent. This coat layer effectively prevents the toner from being adhered to the inner wall of the toner container. |
| US07676184B2 |
Developing apparatus
A developing apparatus is disclosed that includes a developer carrier for carrying a developer used for developing a latent image, a developer supplying chamber having a developer supplying member for supplying the developer to the developer carrier by rotation, a developer storing chamber positioned above the developer supplying chamber for storing the developer and supplying the developer to the developer supplying chamber, and a partitioning member positioned between the developer supplying chamber and the developer storing chamber. The partitioning member has an opening through which the developer is supplied from the developer storing chamber to the developer supplying chamber. The developing apparatus includes a conveying member positioned above the partitioning member for conveying the developer in a substantially horizontal direction. The conveying member has an opening facing part situated directly above the opening for conveying the developer with less force than the other parts of the conveying member. |
| US07676182B2 |
Image forming apparatus equipped with a buffering mechanism
This invention provides a buffering block with a Mylar bonded on the upper surface of an urethane rubber made base material on the bottom surface of the inserting port of an inserting side frame to support a toner bottle. When a toner bottle is slid and taken out from a copying machine, its inclined portion and cap portion run against the buffering block. Thus, a shock given to the toner bottle when taken out from the copying machine is eased and toner adhered around the cap portion is prevented from dropping to and contaminating the periphery of the inserting side frame. |
| US07676176B2 |
Image forming apparatus including cover and supporting unit
An image forming apparatus includes a cover and a supporting unit. The supporting unit includes a holding member, a supporting member, a first biasing unit, and a positioning unit. The holding member holds the transferring member. The supporting member movably supports the holding member, so that the transferring member can move toward or away from a specific member arranged in the main body. The first biasing unit biases the transferring member toward the specific member. When the cover is in a closed state, the transferring member is pressed against the specific member. The positioning unit performs positioning of the supporting member with respect to the main body. |
| US07676170B2 |
Toner density detection apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same
A toner density detection apparatus has a sensor unit and a controller. The sensor unit irradiates a toner patch formed on an image carrier with light, splits the light reflected by the toner patch into first and second light components, receives the first and second light components, and outputs first and second light reception signals. The controller causes an analog/digital converter to convert, based on a reference voltage, the output first and second light reception signals into first and second digital data, and detects the density of the toner patch based on the first and second digital data. The toner density detection apparatus adjusts the toner density detection value based on a comparison between a first reference value stored in advance and the first digital data, and a comparison between a second reference value stored in advance and the second digital data. |
| US07676169B2 |
Multipath toner patch sensor for use in an image forming device
A toner patch sensor for use in an image forming device may be operated in different modes according to the color of the patch being sensed. The toner patch sensor may include a detector and a source adapted to transmit light that is reflected off a toner patch and towards the detector. The detected light may be specular and/or diffuse. A controller may selectively change the amount of one or both of the specular and diffuse light received by the detector. The source may include separate emitters for the specular and diffuse light, with the controller selectably turning off one of the emitters or selectably adjusting a ratio of illumination power between the emitters. Alternatively, the source may include a single emitter and an optical element to split light between specular light and diffuse light. Diffuse light may be blocked when sensing black toner patches. |
| US07676167B2 |
Apparatus and method for forming an image with variable processing speed or variable developer mixing speed
An apparatus for forming an image according to the present invention includes a coverage rate finder, a developing unit, and a control unit. The coverage rate finder finds the coverage rate of the image. The developing unit holds developer in it and includes a stirring means for stirring the held developer at a stirring speed. The developing unit supplies the stirred developer to a surface of an image carrier. When the apparatus forms the image consecutively on sheets of paper, the control unit changes the stirring speed in proportion to the coverage rate. When the apparatus forms an image with a higher coverage rate consecutively on sheets of paper, the control unit makes the stirring speed higher. |
| US07676166B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus that can provide a quality image in a stable manner without lowering the productivity. A reference image forming unit forms reference images on a transfer member. A plurality of sensing units detect densities of the formed reference images. A control unit adjusts respective output values from the plurality of sensing units according to a difference between the output values from the plurality of sensing units. The control unit performs error processing according to the difference between the output values from the plurality of sensing units when the control unit adjusts the output values from the plurality of sensing units. |
| US07676165B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method therefor
This invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of adjusting the image sync signal output timing in the subscanning direction and the speed of a primary transfer process so as to obtain a proper throughput of a printer engine when successively forming images, and a control method therefor. To accomplish this, when the speed of an intermediate transfer member is to change upon changing the print speed, a toner image to be secondarily transferred after changing the speed is primarily transferred at an intermediate transfer member speed before the change. After the speed of the intermediate transfer member is switched, the image primarily transferred before changing the speed is secondarily transferred. Primary transfer, which has conventionally been performed after changing the print speed, can be executed before changing the print speed. |
| US07676163B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
In an image forming apparatus of the present invention, a developing unit for magenta contains magenta-type toner for pseudo full-color image forming whose chromaticity point is shifted closer to yellow hue on a chromaticity diagram, in comparison with genuine-magenta toner for full-color image forming, and likewise, a developing unit for cyan contains cyan-type toner for the pseudo full-color image forming whose chromaticity point is shifted closer to yellow hue on the chromaticity diagram, in comparison with genuine-cyan toner for the full-color image forming. |
| US07676158B2 |
Method and system for optimum channel equalization from a SerDes to an optical module
Certain aspects of a method and system for optimum channel equalization between a host Serializer-Deserializer (SerDes) and an optical module may compensate and reduce dispersion loss along an electrical transmit path of a transmitter and an optical transmit path coupled to the transmitter via pre-emphasis. The data degradation as a result of the dispersion loss along the electrical transmit path of the transmitter and the optical transmit path coupled to the transmitter may be recovered by equalizing signals received via an electrical receive path of a receiver communicatively coupled to the transmitter. |
| US07676157B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing gain equalization to an optical signal in an optical communication system
An optical switch includes at least one input port for receiving a plurality of channel wavelengths of an optical signal and a plurality of output ports. A plurality of wavelength selective elements are also provided, which each select a channel wavelength from among the plurality of channel wavelengths received at the input port. A plurality of optical elements are respectively associated with the plurality of wavelength selective elements. Each of the optical elements direct one of the selected channel wavelengths, which are selected by the associated wavelength selective element, to any one of the output ports independently of all other channel wavelengths and with a selectively variable degree of attenuation. The switch also includes a controller for adjusting a configuration of the optical elements to provide the channel wavelengths with the selectively variable degree of attenuation. |
| US07676155B2 |
Dynamic wavelength allocation device using 3R wavelength converter having limited wavelength conversion range and method thereof
In a wavelength allocation method in a wavelength division multiplexing network, a 3R wavelength converter having a limited wavelength conversion range is disposed according to a wavelength conversion band of each node, at least one path set between transmitting/receiving nodes is selected, routing paths corresponding to the number of the selected at least one path set between the transmitting/receiving nodes having a request for a new optical path generation are extracted, it is determined whether there is a wavelength consecutive segment set that satisfies a maximum transmission distance for guaranteeing transmission quality of an optical signal and that includes one consecutive wavelength among the extracted routing paths, and a path using a first-fit wavelength is selected from paths of each wavelength consecutive segment and the wavelength is allocated when determining that there is a wavelength consecutive segment set. |
| US07676153B1 |
Digital delay device
A digitally controlled optical delay apparatus providing optical signal delays electrically selectable in the picosecond to nanosecond range by way of selectable signal path lengths. Path lengths are incremented in physical length and path delay time according to digital ratios. The delay element includes micro-miniature path changing mirrors controlled in path length selecting positioning by input signals of logic level magnitude. Fiber optic coupling of signals to and from the delay element and a combination of fixed position and movable mirror included optical signal path lengths are included. |
| US07676151B2 |
Film cartridge type digital camera
A film cartridge type digital camera is provided and includes: a film cartridge type case having a compatible shape with a film cartridge into which a film camera is loaded; and an imaging device loaded into the film cartridge type case in a curved state. |
| US07676137B2 |
Optical sight
An optical sight is provided and may include a housing, at least one optic supported by the housing, and a fiber supported by the housing and selectively supplying light to the at least one optic. A sleeve may be supported by the housing and may include an opening that selectively exposes the fiber to vary an amount of light supplied to the at least one optic and a cover extending over the opening and movable with the sleeve relative to the fiber. |
| US07676127B2 |
Optical communication system using WDMA and CDMA
In a PON system, an OLT periodically transmits a channel resource information block specifying a carrier wavelength and a spreading code on a first downstream channel to which a spread-spectrum spreader having a first spreading code is applied; one of ONUs receives the channel resource information block with a spread-spectrum despreader having the first spreading code and transmits a connection request to the OLT, using the carrier wavelength and the spreading code specified by the channel resource information block; the OLT having received the connection request transmits a new channel resource information block specifying a carrier wavelength and a spreading code to be used on an upstream data channel to the requester ONU through the first channel; and the requester ONU transmits data, using the carrier wavelength and the spreading code specified by the new channel resource information block. |
| US07676126B2 |
Optical device with non-equally spaced output ports
The invention relates to multiport routing devices for routing optical signals which also provide beam attenuation by imparting a controllable offset between an optical beam and a selected optical port. A multiport optical routing device of the present invention has a plurality of non-equally spaced optical ports disposed in a row to enable beam offset for attenuation without substantially increasing optical crosstalk between adjacent ports in a compact port arrangement. |
| US07676117B1 |
Systems and methods for using image duplicates to assign labels to images
A system analyzes multiple images to identify similar images using histograms, image intensities, edge detectors, or wavelets. The system retrieves labels assigned to the identified similar images and selectively concatenates the extracted labels. The system assigns the concatenated labels to each of the identified similar images and uses the concatenated labels when performing a keyword search of the plurality of images. |
| US07676116B2 |
Information processing system and information processing method, and information processing program used therein
An information processing system stores image files formed by an image forming apparatus in a desired storage position in an information processing terminal through simple operations. The information processing terminal, in accordance with an instruction to incorporate an image file, sends to the image forming apparatus information that includes at least identification information by which to identify a storage destination for the image file, a file name for the data file corresponding to a selected icon and storage position information that indicates the storage position in a folder of a directory in the storage destination in which the data file is to be stored. The image forming apparatus registers the information, and causes a selection key for the registered information to be displayed. A new selection key is created for information to be displayed when new settings information is registered based on the information sent from the information processing terminal. |
| US07676114B2 |
Imaging system for three-dimensional reconstruction of surface profiles
A system for three-dimensional reconstruction of a surface profile of a surface of an object is provided that utilizes a binary pattern projected onto the surface of the object. A binary string consisting of a series of “1”s and “0”s is first created, and a binary pattern of light that is constructed in accordance with the binary string such that bright and dark bands of light of equal widths correspond to “1”s and “0”s from the binary string respectively is projected onto the surface. The binary pattern is shifted with respect to the surface multiple times, during which an image of the binary pattern illuminating the surface is obtained at each position of the binary pattern. Thereafter, a height of each predetermined point on the surface is calculated relative to a reference plane based upon the images cumulatively obtained at said predetermined point. |
| US07676106B2 |
Methods and apparatus for video size conversion
Methods and apparatus for performing 2:1 downscaling on video data are provided. At least one input matrix of N×N (e.g., N=16) Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) coefficients is formed from the video data by combining four N/2×N/2 field-mode DCT blocks. Vertical downsampling and de-interlacing are performed to the input matrix to obtain two N/2×N/2 frame-mode DCT blocks. An N×N/2 input matrix is formed from the two frame-mode DCT blocks. Horizontal downsampling is performed to the N×N/2 matrix to obtain one N/2×N/2 frame-mode DCT block. |
| US07676105B2 |
Method, apparatus, article and system for use in association with images
According to some embodiments, a set of images may be determined, including at least one training image and at least one image to be provided to a viewer. A reduced training image may be created based on the training image, and at least one enlarging parameter may be calculated based on a portion of the training image and a corresponding portion of the reduced training image. The enlarging parameter may then be used to facilitate an enlargement of a reduced image to be provided to the viewer. |
| US07676101B2 |
Method and apparatus for compensating for motion prediction
A process burden for code processing is reduced by the present system and method while possibly avoiding the lowering of image quality. When compensating for motion prediction by using a multi-reference frame while sequentially changing the pixel-based sizes of motion compensating blocks, a size-reduced block is generated depending upon a motion compensating block having the greatest pixel-based size to be taken as the uppermost layer among the pixel-based sizes. Thereafter, motion vector search ranges are determined respectively within the reference frame images, on the basis of a plurality of size-reduced reference images reduced in size respectively corresponding to the size-reduction ratios of the size-reduced blocks and the size-reduced blocks. Using the determined search range, an optimal motion vector is detected while sequentially changing the pixel-based sizes of the motion compensating blocks. This can detect a motion vector by only a limited search range within the reference frame image. |
| US07676099B2 |
Method of down-sampling data values
The present invention relates to a method of down-sampling data values. A first set of data values comprise a central data value and peripheral values of original data spatially surrounding the central data value. The central and peripheral values are compared to determine whether any differences exceed a threshold. Whenever a difference does exceed a threshold, a clipped value based upon the central data value replaces the corresponding peripheral value, thereby producing a second set of data values. |
| US07676094B2 |
Road surface reflection detecting apparatus
A road surface reflection detecting apparatus includes a road recognition unit for recognizing a road in a picture taken by a camera of a road existing in front of a vehicle. A road surface reflection detection unit extracts a picture from the road recognized by the road recognition unit and determines the degree of reflection of light from the surface of the road based on the picture extracted from the road. The picture includes the reflection of light beam radiated from vehicle headlights. If the reflection is determined to be high, the direction or intensity of the light beam from the vehicle headlights is regulated. |
| US07676090B2 |
Systems and methods for content-based document image enhancement
A system can include a system processor that is programmed or adapted to classify pixels in a document image, and in some instances, to enhance the document image based upon such classification. Image data including pixels is received. For each pixel in some subset of the image data, a feature vector is generated. Each pixel in the subset is classified as text or image based upon its associated feature vector. The classifications can be outputted for storage and/or further processing. Further processing can include pixel level enhancement processing. Such enhancement processing can include application of a sharpening filter to pixels classified as text and of a smoothing filter to pixels classified as image. In some instances, background suppression can be performed upon a subset of the image data prior to classification. |
| US07676089B2 |
Document layout analysis with control of non-character area
An apparatus, method, system, computer program and product, each capable of applying document layout analysis to a document image with control of a non-character area. A non-character area is extracted from a document image to be processed. A character image is generated from the document image by removing the non-character area from the document image. The character image is segmented into a plurality of sections to generate a segmented image. The segmented image is adjusted using a selected component of the non-character image to generate an adjusted segmented image. A segmentation result is output, which is generated based on the adjusted segmented image. |
| US07676080B2 |
Method of creating color chart for color evaluation, and information processing apparatus thereof
There is provided a method of creating a color chart for color evaluation used in color evaluation, including: an obtaining step of obtaining standard color chart data corresponding to a standard color chart including a plurality of patches; a display step of displaying an evaluation target image on a display screen; a setting step of setting an area in the evaluation target image, which is used to create a color chart for color evaluation; a computing step of computing color element data which represent color features of an image within the set area based on image data of the set area; and a creating step of creating the color chart for color evaluation by extracting patch data corresponding to the computed color element data from the standard color chart data. |
| US07676078B2 |
Inspection method, processor and method for manufacturing a semiconductor device
An inspection method for an illumination optical system of an exposure tool includes coating a surface of an exposure target substrate with a resist film; placing a plurality of imaging components deviating from an optical conjugate plane of a surface of the resist film; generating a plurality of inspection patterns of the resist film having a plurality of openings, by projecting exposure beams output from a plurality of effective light sources onto the resist film via the imaging components; measuring one of the inspection patterns as a reference image, and processing the reference image so as to provide reference image data; and determining an abnormal inspection image by measuring inspection images of the inspection patterns and comparing a plurality of inspection image data provided by processing the inspection images with the reference image data. |
| US07676075B2 |
Quantitative single image-based magnetization transfer weighted imaging using an inter-subject normalization reference within the image
Disclosed is a system and method for generating quantitative imagery of demyelination in the spinal cord. The method includes acquiring a magnetization transfer weighted (MTw) MR image of the spinal column, identifying a reference region of interest within the image corresponding to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), averaging the signal intensity corresponding to the reference region of interest, and computing a ratio, on a voxel-by-voxel basis, of the signal intensity of each voxel by the averaged reference signal intensity. In doing so, normalized MTw images are obtained such that detrimental artifacts such as motion-induced errors, coil loading, and RF coil sensitivity variations are obviated. |
| US07676072B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
A superimposed image generation unit generates a two-dimensional superimposed image obtained by superimposing pieces of information of a plurality of volume data as corresponding objects along a predetermined direction (e.g., a direction crossing a body axis at right angles). A correspondence processing unit performs correspondence (positioning) between different volume data in accordance with a position of a characteristic portion on the superimposed image. |
| US07676068B2 |
Biometric authentication
A biometric authentication system, including a database of digital images of biometrics of known people, a camera for capturing a digital image of a biometric of an unknown person, a two-dimensional gradient filter coupled with said database and said camera for deriving a spatial gradient of a digital image, and a match processor coupled with the two-dimensional gradient filter for processing two spatial gradients and determining the extent to which the unknown biometric corresponds with a known biometric. A method and a computer-readable storage medium are also described and claimed. |
| US07676063B2 |
System and method for eye-tracking and blink detection
A real-time low frame-rate video compression system and method that allows the user to perform face-to-face communication through an extremely low bandwidth network. The system and method employs novel eye tracking and blink detection techniques in order to select images for transmission. Experimental results show that the system is superior to more traditional video codecs for low bit-rate face-to-face communication. |
| US07676056B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining encoding availability, and computer product
An embedding-availability determining unit determines an availability of embedding data into an image based on an input/output characteristic of a predetermined feature amount related to a combination of an output device that outputs an image in which the data is embedded to a medium and an input device that inputs the image that is output to the medium. A result output unit outputs a result of determination by the embedding-availability determining unit. |
| US07676052B1 |
Differential microphone assembly
A differential microphone assembly with multiple membranes in a single package and oriented in mutually exclusive directions. |
| US07676051B2 |
Hearing device and corresponding method for inserting the hearing device
A linking element is provided for a hearing device, which connects the first behind-the-ear part and second behind-the-ear-part. In one embodiment the linking element is rigid. In another embodiment the linking element may be made of a memory material or have a spring component, so that the second behind-the-ear part is automatically pushed into the auditory canal. A helical groove around the second behind-the-ear part is also advantageous, thereby ensuring automatic_insertion into the auditory canal and also ventilation for an open fitting. |
| US07676050B2 |
Cover fixture for at least one microphone input of a hearing device
Protective facilities in microphone inputs of a hearing device should be able to be exchanged in a more user-friendly manner. For this purpose, provision is made for a cover fixture for at least one microphone input of a hearing device with an essentially acoustically permeable protective facility to protect the at least one microphone input against solid particles. The cover fixture can be fixed to the surface of the hearing device in a friction-fitted or form-fitted manner. The cover fixture can however also be designed in one piece with the upper shell of the hearing device. |
| US07676047B2 |
Electroacoustical transducing with low frequency augmenting devices
A method for processing a multichannel audio signal. The method includes mounting electroacoustical transducers in a low frequency augmenting device. The electroacoustical transducers radiate different high frequency acoustic energy and common low frequency acoustic energy. The transducers may be part of directional arrays. The method is applied to multimedia entertainment devices. |
| US07676043B1 |
Audio bandwidth expansion
Bandwidth expansion for audio signals by frequency band translations plus adaptive gains to create higher frequencies; use of a common channel for both stereo channels limits computational complexity. Adaptive cut-off frequency determination by power spectrum curve analysis, and bass expansion by both fundamental frequency illusion and equalization. |
| US07676040B2 |
Changing encryption key of encrypted data
A method, a system and a computer program for changing an encryption key of data encrypted by a first key and stored on an archive server (40), wherein a conversion is applied to the data, generating recrypted data decryptable by means of a second key, the conversion being generated on a second server (30) and associated with the first key and the second key via a functional operation and transferred from the second server (30) to the archive server (40) via a transfer channel (38). |
| US07676035B2 |
Systems and methods for distributing remote technical support via a centralized service
The solution described herein provides an innovative use of remote services technology integrated with service personnel onsite at the point of service, such as a consumer repair outlet, to provide a pool of technical support resources to service a widely distributed resource need, such as support and repair resource needs of a chain of consumer outlets or an aggregated group of single proprietor consumer outlets. With this solution, qualified technical resources are provided from a central location to service a widely distributed retail environment. This is on-demand online remote support service is called or referred to as “support from a spigot.” The distribution method enables the delivery of higher quality, more reliable and overall lower cost services. Instead of requiring dedicated technical resources at each location, lower skilled labor may be deployed at the location to enable the remote technical support services process. |
| US07676032B2 |
Method and system for determining maximum transactions within a communications network
A call-transaction forecasting tool taking the form of a computer-implemented method and medium in some embodiments is provided for retrieving, aggregating, sorting, and determining one or more maximum transactions within a communications network. The tool automates the process of manually extracting and analyzing call transactions pertaining to call-duration, call volume, traffic usage, bandwidth usage, processing usage and memory usage in order to properly forecast and predict future network growth and capacity within a providers network. The computer-implemented method includes retrieving transaction data files from a switch or server, merging the files in a commonly shared data structure, identifying one or more maximum transaction counts based upon an associated period of time, and displaying the maximum counts and associated period of time. |
| US07676025B2 |
Method of listening in to calls
The invention relates to a method of listening in to calls between two or more subscribers of a communications network comprising one or more IP networks as well as to a listening server, a call control server, and an IP router for carrying out the method. When the listening server detects a request to monitor one of the subscribers, it determines at least one call control server assigned to the subscriber. Further, at least one IP router is determined which is responsible for a network access point of the subscriber to the IP network or IP networks. The listening server causes the at least one determined call control server to acquire call data associated with calls in which the subscriber is involved. Further, the at least one determined IP router is caused to acquire contents data associated with calls in which the subscriber is involved. |
| US07676019B2 |
Compression arrangement
The present invention relates to a compression arrangement for use in an x-ray imaging apparatus, the arrangement comprising a compression paddle and an actuator for displacing said compression paddle in a distance, said paddle having an extension direction substantially transverse to an object insertion direction. The actuator is operatively arranged to incline said paddle along said extension direction. |
| US07676016B2 |
Manifold system for the ventilated storage of high level waste and a method of using the same to store high level waste in a below-grade environment
A system and method for storing multiple canisters containing high level waste below grade that afford adequate ventilation of the spent fuel storage cavity. In one aspect, the invention is a system comprising: an air-intake shell forming a substantially vertical air-intake cavity; a plurality of storage shells, each storage shell forming a substantially vertical storage cavity; a hermetically sealed canister for holding high level waste positioned in one or more of the storage cavities so that a gap exists between the storage shell and the canister, the horizontal cross-section of each of the storage cavities accommodating no more than one canister; a removable lid positioned atop each of the storage shells so as to form a lid-to-shell interface, each lid containing an outlet vent forming passageways between an ambient environment and the storage cavity; and a network of pipes forming a passageway between a bottom portion of the intake cavity and a bottom portion of each of the storage cavities. |
| US07676001B2 |
MLD demapping using sub-metrics for soft-output MIMO detection and the like
A method for detecting a symbol encoded in one or more received signals, wherein the detected symbol corresponds to a combination of values of n components, n>1, comprises (a) for each of a plurality of different combinations of values of the n components, generating a set of two or more sub-metric values based on the one or more received signals. Each sub-metric is a function of one or more of the n components, and at least one sub-metric is a function of fewer than all n components. The method further comprise (b) detecting the symbol based on the sets of sub-metric values. In another embodiment, an apparatus for detecting a symbol encoded in one or more received signals, wherein the detected symbol corresponds to a combination of values of n components, n>1, comprises (a) means for generating a set of two or more sub-metric values based on the one or more received signals for each of a plurality of different combinations of values of the n components. Each sub-metric is a function of one or more of the n components, and at least one sub-metric is a function of fewer than all n components. The apparatus further comprises (b) means for detecting the symbol based on the sets of sub-metric values. |
| US07675998B2 |
Method and circuit for determining a clock signal sampling instant for symbols of a modulation method
The invention relates to a method for determining the sampling instant of a clock signal (ti) for a circuit for determining symbols (Se) from a digitized signal (sd, S) which is coupled to at least one quadrature signal pair of a modulation method (QAM), wherein the digitized signal is converted to polar signal coordinates (R, α) with a radial component (R). |
| US07675995B2 |
Apparatus and method for conditioning a modulated signal in a communications device
A device for transmitting information in a communications signal is envisioned. The information is modulated, at least in part, with a first angle-related characteristic. The device has a digital conversion circuit operable to convert information to be broadcast into a digital form. A constellation mapper is coupled to the digital conversion circuit, and is operable to convert the digital information into information associated with a constellation. A trajectory generation circuit generates samples denoting a trajectory within the constellation for the information. A transition analysis circuit determines a change in value of an angle-related characteristic in a transition between two samples, and a threshold detection circuit detects whether the change in value fails to meet a particular threshold. An angle-related characteristic distribution circuit can then distribute a portion of the change in value associated with the transition to at least one other transition. |
| US07675993B2 |
Reduction of average-to-minimum power ratio in communications signals
This invention, generally speaking, modifies pulse amplitude modulated signals to reduce the ratio of average power to minimum power. The signal is modified in such a manner that the signal quality remains acceptable. The signal quality is described in terms of the Power Spectral Density (PSD) and the Error Vector Magnitude (EVM). |
| US07675992B2 |
Method of dynamically assigning spreading sequences to users of a multi carrier transmission network
A method of dynamically assigning spreading sequences of a group of spreading sequences to users of a Multi-Carrier transmission network and/or to at least a common signal for a plurality of users of the Multi-Carrier transmission network. The spreading sequences are put in a natural order and are dynamically assigned according to their order to users of the Multi-Carrier transmission network and/or to at least a common signal to a plurality of users of the Multi-Carrier transmission network. |
| US07675988B2 |
Apparatus and method for beamforming in a multi-antenna system
An apparatus and method for performing beamforming or transmitting a plurality of bit streams output through Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) via a plurality of transmission antennas in a base station using a multi-antenna scheme. The apparatus and method include classifying the plurality of transmission antennas into a plurality of transmission antenna groups; selecting one of the transmission antenna groups depending on a group selection signal being fed back from a mobile station; and outputting each of the bit streams to its associated transmission antenna among the transmission antennas constituting the selected transmission antenna group. |
| US07675985B1 |
Digital channelizer unit for processing multiple digital input signals
A digital channelizer unit is proposed for a satellite digital payload capable of processing multiple digital input signals. The input signals are downsampled and converted to complex baseband signals for processing with the digital channelizer unit. Each complex baseband signal is then channelized into multiple channels. A routing module rearranges the channels, which are then reconstructed as new complex baseband signals. The new complex baseband signals are upsampled to a higher data rate and converted to digital passband signals. |
| US07675983B2 |
Mitigation of DC distortion in OFDM receivers
A baseband receiver and corresponding methods are arranged and configured to mitigate effects of direct current (DC) distortion and process an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signal as provided from a direct conversion radio or receiver. The baseband receiver includes an OFDM demodulator configured to demodulate the OFDM signal, a post processor coupled to the OFDM demodulator and configured to provide symbols corresponding to the OFDM signal, and a compensator coupled to at least one of the OFDM demodulator and the post processor and configured to reduce error rates out of the baseband receiver that result from DC distortion in the direct conversion radio. |
| US07675979B1 |
Methods, algorithms, software, circuits, architectures, and systems for improved communications over cyclostationary channels
Methods, software, receivers and systems for communicating information over a cyclostationary channel. The method generally includes interleaving sections of a control sequence with bits of the information. The software and receivers are generally configured to implement one or more aspects of the methods disclosed herein, and the systems generally include those that embody the inventive receivers disclosed herein. The present invention is particularly useful in powerline channels, where certain parameters (such as noise) have time-dependent or periodic variations in value. By distributing the control sequence, the incidence of carrier recovery is reduced, the likelihood of successful packet or frame transmissions is increased, and data may be more reliably communicated. |
| US07675976B2 |
Video coding using wavelet transform and sub-band transposition
A video encoding system and method utilizes a three-dimensional (3-D) wavelet transform and entropy coding that utilize motion information in a way to reduce the sensitivity to motion. In one implementation, the coding process initially estimates motion trajectories of pixels in a video object from frame to frame in a video sequence to account for motion of the video object throughout the frames. After motion estimation, a 3-D wavelet transform is applied in two parts. First, a temporal 1-D wavelet transform is applied to the corresponding pixels along the motion trajectories in a time direction. The temporal wavelet transform produces decomposed frames of temporal wavelet transforms, where the spatial correlation within each frame is well preserved. Second, a spatial 2-D wavelet transform is applied to all frames containing the temporal wavelet coefficients. The wavelet transforms produce coefficients within different sub-bands. The process then codes wavelet coefficients. In particular, the coefficients are assigned various contexts based on the significance of neighboring samples in previous, current, and next frame, thereby taking advantage of any motion information between frames. The wavelet coefficients are coded independently for each sub-band to permit easy separation at a decoder, making resolution scalability and temporal scalability natural and easy. During the coding, bits are allocated among sub-bands according to a technique that optimizes rate-distortion characteristics. |
| US07675972B1 |
System and method for multiple channel video transcoding
A system and a method for transcoding multiple media channels is disclosed herein. The system includes a first processor to parse a media data stream having one or more media data channels and a vector processor to decompress, scale, and then compress the parsed media channel. A parsed media data channel, in one embodiment, is accessed using a bit manipulator and packetized into decoder instruction packets and transmitted to the vector processor using a sequencer. The vector processor decompresses the decoder instruction packets, scales a macroblock generated from the packets, and then compresses the scaled macroblock. As a result, the scaled and compressed output has less data associated with the media channel, allowing for faster and/or more efficient storage or transmission. A reduced sized scale buffer is associated with another disclosed embodiment. |
| US07675966B2 |
On-chip detection and measurement of data lock in a high-speed serial data link
A method for on-chip detection of data lock and measurement of data lock time in a high-speed serial data link, including: permitting one or more incoming data streams into the high-speed data link; establishing a pattern to be searched in the one or more incoming data streams; comparing patterns in the one or more incoming data streams to a programmable data pattern; holding a repetitive pattern of bits in the one or more incoming data streams by one or more programmable data pattern registers, wherein when one or more occurrences of a byte are detected, an appropriate bit in the one or more programmable data pattern registers is set to indicate the byte's relative position; and filtering false indications in the repetitive pattern by using a byte detection state machine, the state machine controlling and keeping track of a search progress. |
| US07675963B2 |
Method and device for passing parameters to rake receiver
A device and associated method for passing parameters to a finger in a rake receiver are disclosed. The finger is initially operated with a first parameter set which is held in a first memory area (PAR_RAM). To change the parameter set, a second parameter set is loaded into a second memory area (PAR_CHG_RAM1/2), a check is carried out to determine whether a switching condition (SCHED_RAM) is satisfied, and if it is an access for that finger is switched (MUX) from the first memory area (PAR_RAM) to the second memory area. |
| US07675961B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving high speed data using code division multiple access channels
The present invention describes a spread spectrum communication system wherein the frequency of carriers and the code channels of the carriers or both for transmission to a given remote station user vary in time. This provides for a direct sequence spectrum communications system which changes frequency or code channel according to a predetermined pattern. The code channels and frequencies can be determined in accordance with a deterministic function or based upon a subset of the data to be transmitted. A receiver structure is also described for receiving the same. |
| US07675957B2 |
Laser and monitoring photodetector with polymer light guide
A surface emitting laser (100) and a monitoring photodetector (MPD) 158 are mounted in a TO (transistor outline package) can (150) on the same plane as one another. Light from a rear facet (108) of the laser is directed to the MPD through a polymer light guide (164). |
| US07675956B2 |
Vertical cavity surface emitting laser and method for manufacturing the same
A Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser capable of being easily and inexpensively manufactured and stabilizing the polarization direction of laser light in one direction is provided. The VCSEL includes a semiconductor lamination structure including a first multilayer film reflector, an active layer having a light emitting region, and a second multilayer film reflectors, in this order over a substrate from the substrate side. The semiconductor lamination structure has a pair of grooves provided with a region opposed to the light emitting region in between, and one or a plurality of first oxidation layers including a first non-oxidation region provided at least in a region opposed to the light emitting region and a first oxidation region provided on each side face of the pair of grooves. |
| US07675953B2 |
Method and device for producing laser used directly as a frequency standard of optical frequency
The present invention provides a method for producing laser used directly as a frequency standard of optical frequency, comprising: a collimated atomic beam used as laser gain medium; the laser gain medium being put in vacuum; before the particles of the laser gain medium entering a laser resonant cavity, a laser device controlled independently providing pump laser irradiation to produce an inversion of atomic population number between energy levels of the particles of the laser gain medium for achieving cavity mode frequency line width Γcavity of longitudinal mode of the laser resonant cavity larger than frequency line width Γgain of gain of the used laser gain medium. And the frequency line width of the laser outputted used by the laser device contracted by the present invention can attain less than 1 Hz and the outputting laser frequency is very steady. So the laser produced by the present invention can be used directly as a quantum frequency standard of optical frequency. |
| US07675949B2 |
Dynamic reconfiguration of solid state memory device to replicate and time multiplex data over multiple data interfaces
Multiple interfaces dedicated to individual logic circuits such as memory arrays are capable of being dynamically reconfigured from operating separately and in parallel to operating in a more collective manner to ensure that data associated with all of the logic circuits will be communicated irrespective of a failure in any of the interfaces. Specifically, a plurality of interfaces, each of which being ordinarily configured to communicate data associated with an associated logic circuit in parallel with the other interfaces, may be dynamically reconfigured, e.g., in response to a detected failure in one or more of the interfaces, to communicate data associated with each of the interfaces over each of at least a subset of the interfaces in a time multiplexed and replicated manner. |
| US07675944B2 |
Method and system for communicating content on a broadcast services communication system
An outer decoder and an inner decoder encode a block of information to be transmitted, to improve protection by adding redundancy. The redundancy permits decoding of the information from less than a complete encoded block of information. Time re-alignment of two transmissions of the same content from two base stations can mitigate the problem of duplicated frames. The user of the subscriber station can experience seamless service without repetition of content, even when handing over to a new cell while receiving a buffer of broadcast content. |
| US07675940B2 |
Method and system for providing cross-layer quality-of-service functionality in a wireless network
A method for providing cross-layer quality-of-service (QoS) functionality in a wireless network is provided. The method includes obtaining QoS data from each layer of an application stack for a particular application. A QoS matrix is generated based on the obtained QoS data. Packet distribution for the particular application may then be prioritized based on the QoS matrix. |
| US07675938B2 |
Flexible upstream PHY burst profile parameters to improve performance of short bursts in impulse noise
A single carrier cable modem can be initialized on multiple channels. By initializing a cable modem on more than one channel, the error rate performance of short data packets in cable modems in an impulsive noise environment is improved. The advantage of low symbol rate transmission for short packets in an impulse noise environment is achieved without sacrificing burst capacity at a cable modem and without the complexity of transmitting multiple symbol waveforms simultaneously at a cable modem. |
| US07675927B2 |
Trace information queueing system
A trace information queueing system receives a plurality of trace information signals and transmits them through a common connector. The multiple trace information signals may be multiplexed. Each edge of a clock signal may be used to enable transmission of different trace information signals. Alternatively, separate clocks signals may be provided for each trace information signal. A programmable logic device may be used to both multiplex the trace information signals and produce the clock signals necessary to enable their transmission. |
| US07675924B2 |
Gigabit switch on chip architecture
A data switch for network communications includes a first data port interface and a second data port interface is provided supporting at least one data port transmitting and receiving data. A CPU interface is provided, with the CPU interface configured to communicate with a CPU. A common memory is provided, and communicates with the first data port interface and the second data port interface. A memory management unit is provided, and communicates data from the first data port interface and the second data port interface and a common memory. At least two sets of communication channels are provided, with each of the communication channels communicating data and messaging information between the first data port interface, the second data port interface, and the memory management unit. |
| US07675923B2 |
Home network bridge-based communications method and apparatus
A privately addressed home network bridge is provided for each of two privately addressed home networks. These bridges couple to corresponding gateways for each of the networks. A network tunnel connection is established between the two bridges via the gateways and an intervening publicly addressed network. At least one, and preferably both, of the home network bridges then serve as a proxy/router to facilitate an exchange of messages as between network devices of the two privately addressed home networks. Pursuant to a preferred approach the home network bridges use a mapping technique to correlate private addresses as used in the two privately addressed networks. |
| US07675920B1 |
Method and apparatus for processing network traffic associated with specific protocols
A system that includes a network interface for receiving a packets from a network, a classifier operatively connected to the network interface that analyzes each of the packets and determines to which temporary data structure to forward each of packets, wherein the classifier analyzes each packet to determine with which of a plurality of protocols the packet is associated with. Each temporary data structure within the system is configured to receive packets from the classifier, wherein each of the temporary data structures is associated with at least one virtual serialization queue and wherein each of the temporary data structures is configured to store packets associated with at least one of the plurality of protocols. The at least one virtual serialization queue is configured to queue packets from the one of the temporary data structures associated with the at least one virtual serialization queue. |
| US07675918B2 |
Hash-based preemption
Methods and systems for preemption in a network having a core device with at least one egress interface are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes performing flow-based hash utilizing a plurality of hash-buckets each set to a first state or a second state and computing a load based on a rate measurement that excludes flows which hash into hash-buckets having a state set to the second state. The computed load is compared to a preemption threshold and if the computed load exceeds the preemption threshold, the state of at least one of the hash-buckets is changed from the first state to the second state. An action, such as dropping all packets or marking all packets, is performed on flows hashing in a hash-bucket in the second state. |
| US07675913B2 |
Port addressing method and apparatus for link layer interface
A packet, cell or other data segment received in a physical layer device from a link layer device via an interface bus is processed to determine a port address for the data segment in the physical layer device. The port address, which may be an MPHY address, is determined using a combination of a first address value obtained from a link layer address portion of the data segment and a second address value obtained from a payload portion of the data segment. The data segment is stored in a memory location identified by the port address. The memory location may comprise a particular queue of the physical layer device. |
| US07675911B2 |
Method and system for acknowledgements in wireless communications
A packet communication process for a wireless system that includes a sender and a receiver, is provided. The packet communication process dispenses with the need to send multiple block acknowledgments, one per Traffic Identifier (TID), from the receiver to the sender. This involves aggregating multiple MPDUs having a plurality of different TIDs; for each TID, generating a BAR to request an acknowledgment for one or more MPDUs with that TID from the receiver; transmitting the aggregated MPDUs and the BARs from the sender to the receiver over a wireless channel; receiving the aggregated MPDUs and the BARs at the receiver; in response to the BARs, generating a single block acknowledgement that includes an acknowledgment for each MPDU with a different TID; and transmitting the single block acknowledgement to the sender. |
| US07675909B2 |
Method and apparatus for horizontally slicing a multi-stage switch fabric
A method and apparatus are provided for horizontally slicing a multi-stage switching fabric having transmission inputs and transmission outputs to and from the switch fabric. The switching fabric includes switch elements arranged in at least first and second stages, each switch element having element inputs and outputs with each switch element being configured to join one of the element inputs with an associated one of the element outputs. The switch fabric includes a first logic device that contains a stage-1subset of the switch elements that is arranged within, and configured to operate as part of, the first stage. The first logic device also contains a stage-2 subset of the switch elements arranged within, and configured to operate as part of, the second stage. The switch fabric includes a second logic device that contains a stage-1 subset of the switch elements that is arranged within, and configured to operate as part of, the first stage. The second logic device also contains a stage-2 subset of the switch elements that is arranged within, and configured to operate as part of, the second stage. The first and second logic devices are physically discrete from one another. |
| US07675901B2 |
Method and an apparatus for mapping an MPEG transport stream into IP packets for WLAN broadcast
A method for mapping from an MPEG-2 transport stream to an IP-based RTP/UDP/IP stack for broadcasting service in a WLAN. All the mapping functions may be performed in a receiver transcoder (FIG. 2). Mobile devices such as laptop computers, cell phones and PDAs have limited battery power, CPU processing and memory resources. To reduce CPU processing power and consumption battery power in these devices certain data processing functions are achieved in the communicating systems, such as the de-multiplexer function that typically prepares an MPEG-2 for retransmission at the local level. When a transcoder, capable of de-multiplexing and MPEG-2 transport stream receives a program it de-multiplexes the stream based on PIDs assigned to each transport packet. This de-multiplexing function extracts several components from a transport stream: video and audio PES/ES associated with programs and PSI (PAT and PMTs). |
| US07675900B1 |
System and method for interfacing between signaling protocols
A telecommunications network (10) includes a gateway (18) receiving signaling information in a media gateway and call session control format from a Class 5 softswitch (26). The gateway (18) converts the media gateway and call session control format to a broadband loop emulation service signaling protocol for transfer to integrated access devices (20) at a customer premises (22) through a broadband loop emulation services network (14). The gateway (18) also receives signal information in a broadband loop emulation service signaling protocol from the integrated access devices (20) through the broadband loop emulation services network (14). The gateway (18) converts the broadband loop emulation service signaling protocol to the media gateway and call session control format for transfer to the Class 5 softswitch (26). The Class 5 softswitch (26) places the media gateway and call session control format into a network signal format for transfer over a signaling network (24). |
| US07675896B2 |
Communication apparatus and control method thereof
The claimed invention is directed to a communication apparatus connectable to a plurality of networks, which comprises a setting unit that adjusts and setting, in accordance with a communication condition of each of the plurality of networks, a communication hold period in which the communication apparatus does not communicate with any one of the plurality of networks; a notification unit that notifies each of the plurality of networks of the communication hold period set by said setting unit; and a stop unit that stops communication with the plurality of networks on the basis of the setting of the communication hold period, wherein said setting unit sets the communication hold period of each network so as to overlap portions of the communication hold periods of the plurality of networks without any overlap of communication participation times of the plurality of networks. |
| US07675895B2 |
Method and apparatus for wireless communication using voice over internet protocol
The present invention provides a method of wireless telecommunication is provided. The method includes accessing a plurality of first data packets having a first size, accessing at least one second data packet having a second size, the second size being larger than the first size, forming a plurality of third data packets comprising portions of the at least one second data packet based upon the first and second sizes, and selecting at least one of the plurality of first data packets based upon the plurality of third data packets. |
| US07675894B2 |
Method for sending channel quality information in a multi-carrier radio communication system, corresponding user terminal and base station
The present invention relates to a method for gaining channel quality information at a base station of a multi-carrier radio communication system having a plurality of orthogonal frequency sub-carriers.According to the present invention, the method comprises the steps of: measuring a Channel Frequency Response at a user terminal of said multi-carrier radio communication channel; extracting samples of said Channel Frequency Response represented in the frequency domain at a predefined oversampling factor; sending said samples on a signaling channel from said user terminal to said base station; performing a windowing operation on the received samples in the time domain; determining a channel quality information for each of said sub-carriers on a representation in the frequency domain of said received samples after windowing operation. |
| US07675893B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication method, and communication system
A physical frame is constructed, the physical frame including a medium access control super-frame payload which in turn includes a plurality of medium access control frames. With respect to the constructed physical frame, virtual carrier sense information is set in the plurality of medium access control frame so that a result of carrier sense is identical to another by virtual carrier sense based on the plurality of medium access control frames in the medium access control super-frame payload. The physical frame in which the virtual carrier sense information has been set is transmitted to a destined communication apparatus. |
| US07675891B2 |
Multimedia reception in communication networks
Functionalities for a user equipment (UE) in a communication system in order to be able to receive broadcast information, such as TV and other multimedia, with good quality are described. In particular, methods and apparatus that schedule system measurement procedures such that the risk of interrupting the broadcast reception is minimized are described. |
| US07675886B2 |
Rate adaptive transmission scheme for MIMO systems
A rate adaptive transmission scheme for MIMO systems, which can transmit a variable number of data symbol streams, provide transmit diversity for each data symbol stream, and fully utilize the total transmit power of the system and the full power of each antenna. In one method, at least one data symbol stream is received for transmission from a plurality of antennas. Each data symbol stream is scaled with a respective weight corresponding to the amount of transmit power allocated to that stream. The scaled data symbol stream(s) are multiplied with a transmit basis matrix to provide a plurality of transmit symbol streams for the plurality of antennas. The transmit basis matrix (e.g., a Walsh-Hadamard matrix or a DFT matrix) is defined such that each data symbol stream is transmitted from all antennas and each transmit symbol stream is transmitted at (or near) the full power for the associated antenna. |
| US07675881B2 |
Interfacing a WLAN with a mobile communications system
An interface for connecting networks includes an interworking function provided between a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a public mobile land network (PLMN) to provide communication interactions between the PLMN and the WLAN. The interworking function includes a dual-protocol stack, which interfaces the WLAN protocols and PLMN protocols to provide seamless communications between the WLAN and the PLMN such that an increase in available service bandwidth provided for users of the PLMN is maintained. |
| US07675875B2 |
Data loss control in a push to communicate network
An audio data retransmission method in a push to communicate (PTx) terminal for transmitting data by pressing a PTx key is provided. The method comprises transmitting data using a transmitting PTx terminal; storing the data in a buffer; and retransmitting the data when receiver requests retransmission due to a loss in communications. |
| US07675874B2 |
Peer-to-peer instant messaging and chat system
Disclosed is a method for controlling access to a chat room using a peer-to-peer (“P2P”) network. The method includes the steps of sending a search request to a first set of nodes in the P2P network, the first set of nodes neighboring a node requesting the search and including at least one node; forwarding the request to a second set of nodes neighboring the at least one node in the first set, the second set of nodes including at least one node; comparing the search request to a local profile topic list in each node in the first and second sets; receiving a zero or more responses from nodes in the first and second sets; and establishing a network connection between the node requesting the search and at least one of the nodes responding to the request to form a community. |
| US07675873B2 |
Enhanced IP-voice conferencing
A system and method are provided for providing users of voice conferencing with indications of the quality perceived by other users of the voice conferencing system. A voice conferencing bridge measures the quality of the each user's channel, and provides real-time feedback to users whose channel quality is inadequate and that other users cannot hear them clearly. The feedback may be in the form of in-band or out-of-band signals, indicating for example that the user should speak louder, should mute while off-line, or warning the user that his or her channel may be muted automatically. The last option is particularly useful if a participant has temporarily left the conference and is playing music or hold tones while absent. |
| US07675870B2 |
IP-TV broadcasting service system and method using physical layer's multicast switch
An Internet Protocol Television (IP-TV) broadcasting service system and method using a physical layer multicast switch are provided. The system comprises: a head end which converts an Ethernet signal to a virtual concatenation group (VCG) signal of a synchronous digital hierarchy/synchronous optical network (SDH/SONET); a multicast switch which multicasts the VCG signal in a physical layer; and a tail end which receives the multicasted VCG signal through a Synchronous Transmission Module level n (STM-N) optical link and restores the VCG signal to the Ethernet signal. Therefore, high quality TV broadcasting can be provided in an IP multicast network. |
| US07675869B1 |
Apparatus and method for master election and topology discovery in an Ethernet network
An apparatus, method and computer memory for electing a master unit from multiple candidate units on a ring or chain topology network is provided. Master proposal data packets are transmitted onto a plurality of stacking links. At least one message data packet is received on the one candidate unit. A candidate unit is elected as the master unit if it receives message data packets corresponding to the transmitted master proposal data packets. |
| US07675867B1 |
One-way data transfer system with built-in data verification mechanism
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a one-way data transfer system with built-in data verification mechanism, comprising three nodes (Send Node, Receive Node, and Feedback Node) wherein (1) the three nodes are interconnected with each other by a one-way data link, and (2) the Feedback Node is designed solely for processing and relaying data verification information from the Receive Node to the Send Node. In these embodiments, the Send Node is capable of verifying the status of data it transferred to the Receive Node over a one-way data link without sacrificing the unidirectionality of data flow in the system and thereby compromising the level of security provided by use of one-way data links. |
| US07675866B1 |
Method and system for analyzing resource needs for a configurable computing system
A method and system for analyzing resource needs for a configurable computing system representing the configuration in a tree structure. The tree structure has a plurality of nodes representing stored data. A first set of the nodes comprises childless nodes and a second set of the nodes comprises parent nodes. Each parent node has at least one child node. The method for analyzing comprises the steps of: (a) determining the worst case resource needs of the childless nodes during an execution cycle by evaluating the worst case values of any selected attributes that the childless node may have; (b) determining the worst case resource needs of the parent nodes during an execution cycle; and, (c) recursively applying the rules used for evaluating the worst case resource needs of the individual nodes, above, starting with a root node of the plurality of nodes, to determine the worst case resource needs of the entire tree structure. |
| US07675865B2 |
Transfer of error-analysis and statistical data in a fibre channel input/output system
A computer Input/Output system having a fabric, a control unit (CU) and a host computer including a channel, the channel having a channel port connected by a first link to a channel neighbor port of the fabric, and the control unit having a CU port connected by a second link to a CU neighbor port on the fabric. Then an error is detected in the link or protocol between the channel and the control unit, error data are reported to the channel by the channel, the channel port, the channel neighbor port, the control unit, the CU port and the CU neighbor port and sent to the channel. The error data are provided to the host computer for analysis. |
| US07675861B2 |
Active probe target management
A technique manages targets to which probe packets are sent from a source of a computer network. The novel target management technique dynamically selects an optimal set of valid targets for a particular (monitored) prefix of the computer network. Specifically, one or more targets are selected from a pool of possible learned and configured targets to be used as representatives of the monitored prefix. Probe packets are sent from the source to the selected targets for the duration of an evaluation period. Targets that do not respond to the probe packets during the evaluation period are invalid and deselected, and if available, an unused target is selected from the pool of possible targets to replace each non-responding target for a next evaluation period. Invalid learned targets are discarded, while invalid configured targets are returned to the pool of possible targets for potential re-selection in a later evaluation period. |
| US07675860B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining a preferred backup tunnel to protect point-to-multipoint label switch paths
A method, apparatus and computer program product for determining a preferred backup path to protect a point-to-multipoint label switching path is presented. A point-to-multipoint backup path is computed for each node located upstream from a branching node, the backup path originating at the node and including a set of nodes downstream from said branching node. A cost metric associated with each backup path is determined, as is a distance metric associated with each backup path. From the cost and distance metrics associated with each backup path a preferred backup path is selected using a distributed algorithm. |
| US07675856B2 |
Bandwidth estimation in broadband access networks
Measurement systems according to embodiments of the invention allow accurate bandwidth estimation even in non-FIFO scheduling and frame-level contention environments. In an embodiment of the invention, the approximate fraction of time that a link is idle is found by probing for idle periods (“gaps”). The fraction of idle time is then multiplied by the capacity to obtain an estimate of the available bandwidth. Gap time is estimated in an embodiment of the invention fraction by gathering samples of one-way delay (OWD) over the link in question. After the OWD is normalized and plotted, the knee in the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of OWD samples is used to identify the fraction of time that the channel is idle. |
| US07675855B2 |
System and method for providing traffic flow control in a communication network
The present invention provides a system and method for establishing a data transmission rate in a communication network for data transmission from a first communication module to a second communication module. Generally, the method comprises: (a) reading at the first module a predetermined data reception rate limit of the second module; and (b) for the data at the first module to be transmitted to the second module, establishing a first module data transmission rate in dependence upon the predetermined data reception rate limit read in step (a). |
| US07675854B2 |
System and method for an adaptive TCP SYN cookie with time validation
Provided is a method and system for TCP SYN cookie validation. The method includes receiving a session SYN packet by a TCP session setup module of a host server, generating a transition cookie including a time value representing the actual time, sending a session SYN/ACK packet, including the transition cookie, in response to the received session SYN packet, receiving a session ACK packet, and determining whether a candidate transition cookie in the received session ACK packet comprises a time value representing a time within a predetermined time interval from the time the session ACK packet is received. |
| US07675847B2 |
Hardware implementation of a programmable FFT based on a half length FFT core
A method of designing a IEEE 802.11n modem starting from a IEEE 802.11a/g modem using a programmable FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) based on a half length FFT core, modifies data in a reception chain implemented in a IEEE 802.11n standard application. The method uses a N/2 FFT which is validated, along with a wrapper; and, extends and applies the validated N/2 FFT, (e.g., 64 FFT) to a N FFT (e.g., 128 FFT) by splitting the N FFT into two smaller first and second FFTs. The first FFT is applied to selected data samples (e.g., even samples) from the N FFT and the second FFT is applied to remaining data samples (e.g., odd samples) from the N FFT to complete data-handling, wherein the extending step is based on Danielson-Lanczos formula using a reduced number of Cordics. The method is also suitable for IFFT computations in IEEE 802.11n MIMO OFDM modem designs. |
| US07675839B2 |
Information recording medium having a wobbling groove structure
An information recording medium having at least a read only area and a recording and reproducing area is composed of at least: a substrate; a recording layer formed on the substrate so as to record and reproduce information; and a light transmission layer having transparency formed on the recording layer. The information recording medium is further characterized in that a wobbling groove corresponding to the read only area and another wobbling groove corresponding to the recording and reproducing area is formed on the substrate without overlapping with each other, the recording and light transmitting layers are continuously adhered over at least two areas of the read only area and the recording and reproducing area, reflectivity of the recording layer is more than 5%, and a push-pull signal output T3 reproduced from the read only area and another push-pull signal output T4 reproduced from the recording and reproducing area before recording satisfies relations of T3≧0.1, T4≧0.1 and 1.5≧T3/T4≧0.5. |
| US07675834B2 |
Optical pickup for three different types of optical discs and recording and/or reproducing apparatus using same
An optical pickup including a light source unit having a first radiating unit for radiating a light beam of a first wavelength, a second radiating unit for radiating a light beam of a second wavelength and a third radiating unit for radiating a light beam of a third wavelenght, a collimator lens having different focal lengths dependent on the first to third wavelengths, and an objective lens for condensing light beams, radiated from the first to third radiating units, on an information recording surface of an optical disc, and a recording and/or reproducing apparatus employing the optical pickup, are disclosed. The optical pickup and the recording and/or reproducing apparatus are used for recording and/or reproducing the information for plural sorts of the information recording medium of different formats. Certain components of the optical pickup are used in common for the different light beams to reduce the size of the device as well as to correct the spherical aberration. |
| US07675830B2 |
Write-once-type recording medium having a plurality of management areas, recording apparatus for the recording medium and method for the same, reproducing apparatus for the recording medium and method for the same, and computer program
A write-once-type recording medium (10) is provided with: a data area (11) to record therein record data; and a plurality of management areas in which a plurality of types of management information for managing the record data and index information for indicating newest management information can be recorded a plurality of times, each of the plurality of management areas having a setup area for recording therein a management information block including a plurality of types of management information constructed from the newest management information and the index information indicating the plurality of types of management information constructed from the newest management information. |
| US07675826B2 |
Automatic write strategy calibration method for optical drive
A write strategy calibration system for an optical media playback device comprises memory for storing a write strategy table. A control module generates a write signal to write a training pattern to an optical storage medium according to calibration data stored in the write strategy table. A write strategy analysis module receives a read signal indicative of the training pattern written to the optical storage medium and adjusts the calibration data according to the read signal. |
| US07675820B2 |
Method of characterizing a vehicle crash event based on shear waves in the vehicle frame
A vehicle crash event is detected and characterized based on the transmission of acoustical shear waves through the vehicle frame. At least three, and preferably four or more, acoustical emission sensors longitudinally and laterally distributed on the vehicle frame produce acoustical signals that are processed to extract the shear wave energy due to impacts. Since shear waves are non-dispersive and travel through the vehicle frame at a known velocity, they can be detected in any part of the frame. The extracted shear wave signals are used not only to judge the severity of the impact, but also to characterize the type of crash and determine the direction of the impact based on when the shear wave is detected by each of the acoustical emission sensors. |
| US07675818B2 |
Method for tomographic inversion by matrix transformation
Method for reducing instability and increasing computational efficiency in tomographic inversion for velocity model building. A system of tomographic equations is developed for a uniform grid. A non-uniform parameterization is found for which a linear mapping exists between the space of the uniform grid and the space of the non-uniform grid. The matrix that relates velocity to the tomographic data in the non-uniform representation is then given by the matrix product of the corresponding matrix in the uniform grid representation and the mapping matrix. Inversion can then be performed for the non-uniform parameterization on a smaller, more stable matrix. |
| US07675814B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating acoustic signals with a single mode of propagation
A method and apparatus for generating an acoustic signal having a single mode of propagation along borehole walls. The method includes generating an n-pole (monopole, dipole, quadrupole, and so on) acoustic signal and calculating the tool position and borehole shape from the signals received at one or more receivers. If the tool contains matched sources and balanced receivers, is in the center of the borehole, and the borehole is circular, the pure, single mode acoustic signal will propagate along the borehole walls with a single mode of propagation. If the acoustic signal traveling along borehole walls does not have a single mode of propagation, the signal's amplitudes and time delays are adjusted to produce a second acoustic signal. The second acoustic signal's amplitudes and time delays are further adjusted until the signal traveling along the borehole walls has a single mode of propagation. |
| US07675808B2 |
Semiconductor device
An object is to realize high-capacity of a memory while reducing power consumption and making the power consumption even throughout the memory. A memory includes a plurality of memory block arranged to be symmetrically to each other. Also, a specific combination of signals among address signals supplied to the memory, a memory block including a memory cell to be read from or written to is specified. Further, signals supplied to other memory blocks than the above memory block is maintained at a constant value. Consequently, a wiring length of a bit line in a memory array can be shortened, and current consumption can be made to be even among data reading or writing from/to memory cells of a variety of addresses within the memory, at the same time as reducing load capacitance. |
| US07675800B2 |
Semiconductor memory, memory controller, system, and operating method of semiconductor memory
When a main block address held in a memory refresh address counter coincides with an access block address corresponding to an access request, its counter value is transferred to a sub refresh address counter. Thereafter, a sub refresh address counter operates with priority over a main refresh address counter until its counter value reaches a final value. Consequently, an access operation and a refresh operation can be simultaneously executed without interfering with each other. As a result, it is possible to execute the refresh operation with a minimum increase in circuit scale and without any deterioration in access efficiency. |
| US07675792B2 |
Generating reference currents compensated for process variation in non-volatile memories
In a current reference generator device, a voltage reference generator stage generates a reference voltage (Vref) and an active element output stage receives the reference voltage (Vref) and outputs a reference current (Iref) as a function of the reference voltage (Vref). A control stage is operatively coupled to the voltage reference generator stage and to the active element output stage and controls a first trimmable parameter (m) associated to the voltage reference generator stage and a second trimmable parameter associated to the active element output stage, so as to compensate for changes in a value of the reference current (Iref) due to manufacturing process deviations. |
| US07675786B2 |
Method of operating a semiconductor memory device having a recessed control gate electrode
A semiconductor memory device may include a semiconductor substrate, a control gate electrode recessed in the semiconductor substrate, a storage node layer between the control gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate, a tunneling insulating layer between the storage node layer and the semiconductor substrate, a blocking insulating layer between the storage node layer and the control gate electrode, and first and second channel regions surrounding the control gate electrode and separated by a pair of opposing separating insulating layers. A method of operating the semiconductor memory device may include programming data in the storage node layer by charge tunneling through the blocking insulating layer, thus achieving relatively high reliability and efficiency. |
| US07675784B2 |
Semiconductor memory device with dummy bit lines for charge and discharge timing
The invention provides a semiconductor memory device which realizes high speed reading by automatically adjusting and optimizing charge and discharge timings even when a change in an operation environment such as a variation in an operation voltage, an operation temperature, a process parameter and so on occurs. First and second dummy bit lines are provided for a bit line, each having a wiring load twice the wiring load of the bit line. A first sense circuit sensing the voltage of the first dummy bit line is provided to control a charging time according to a first sense signal. A second sense circuit sensing the voltage of the second dummy bit line is further provided to control a discharging time according to a second sense signal. A sense amplifier sensing the voltage of the bit line is activated in response to the second sense signal. |
| US07675781B2 |
Memory device, method for operating a memory device, and apparatus for use with a memory device
A memory device, including a non-volatile memory device, a method for operating a memory device, and an apparatus for use with a memory device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the memory device includes at least one evaluation circuit for amplifying a signal resulting from the reading of a memory cell, and a device for precharging an output of the evaluation circuit to a predetermined voltage level. |
| US07675780B2 |
Program time adjustment as function of program voltage for improved programming speed in memory system
In a non-volatile memory system, the programming time period allocated for the program pulse is adjusted as a function of the voltage level of the pump pulse required so that the total number of pump pulses required to program the charge storage element to the required threshold voltage is reduced. For example, programming time period may be increased with an increase in the voltage level of the pump pulse required. This allows the programming time period of the program pulse to be increased to a value that compensates for the increased charge-up time that is required for the higher amplitude program pulses to reach the desired programming voltage. |
| US07675779B2 |
Non-volatile memory devices and methods of operating the same
A non-volatile memory device includes memory transistors disposed on a semiconductor substrate in a NAND string. A string select transistor is disposed at a first end of the NAND string, and a ground select transistor is disposed at a second end of the NAN string. Bit lines are electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate outside of the string select transistor and a gate electrode of the ground select transistor. |
| US07675777B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory device using adjacent bit lines for data transmission and method of driving the same
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device, including a memory array having a plurality of first bit line groups and a plurality of second bit line groups that are alternately arranged to be adjacent each other, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of first page buffers, a plurality of second page buffers, and a plurality of switches. Each of the first page buffers is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the first bit line groups and arranged on a first side of the memory array. The first page buffers transmit data to the data lines. Each of the second page buffers is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the second bit line groups and arranged on a second side of the memory array. Each of the switches enables data transmission between a corresponding one of the first page buffers and a corresponding one of the second page buffers. |
| US07675775B2 |
Combined volatile nonvolatile array
A memory circuit includes volatile memory cells coupled to bit lines, and nonvolatile memory cells coupled to the volatile memory cells via the bit lines but not via complement bit lines. |
| US07675772B2 |
Multilevel memory cell operation
One or more embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices, and systems for operating non-volatile multilevel memory cells. One method embodiment includes programming a memory cell to one of a number of different threshold voltage (Vt) levels, each level corresponding to a program state. The method includes programming a reference cell to a Vt level at least as great as an uppermost Vt level of the number of different Vt levels, performing a read operation on the reference cell, and determining a number of read reference voltages used to determine a particular program state of the memory cell based on the read operation performed on the reference cell. |
| US07675769B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
In a semiconductor integrated circuit having a register file of a multiport configuration, a first holding circuit 20A is dedicated to a first functional block having one first write port section 21AW and two first read port sections 21AR1 and 21AR2. A second holding circuit 30B is dedicated to a second functional block having one second write port section 31AW and one second read port section 31BR. When it is necessary to read data held in the first holding circuit 20A from the second read port section 31BR, for example, a data interchange operation is performed as follows. After the data of the second holding circuit 30B is latched in a latch circuit 40, the data of the first holding circuit 20A is transferred to the second holding circuit 30B, and then the data of the second holding circuit 30B latched in the latch circuit 40 is transferred to the first holding circuit 20A. Thus, the area necessary to provide a register file is significantly reduced. |
| US07675768B1 |
Low power carbon nanotube memory
Low power carbon nanotube memory is realized such that a first dynamic circuit serves as a local sense amp for reading a memory cell through a lightly loaded local bit line, a second dynamic circuit serves as a segment sense amp for reading the local sense amp, a first tri-state inverter serves as an inverting amplifier of a global sense amp, and a second tri-state inverter serves as a bypass circuit for bypassing output from previous memory block. When reading, a voltage difference in the local bit line is converted to a time difference for differentiating high data and low data by the sense amps for realizing low power with dynamic operation. In particular, amplify transistor of the sense amps is composed of relatively long channel transistor for reducing turn-off current. And buffered data path is used for achieving fast data transfer. Additionally, alternative circuits and memory cell structures are described. |
| US07675767B2 |
Semiconductor memory device for achieving high reliability without increasing process complexity and cost
A semiconductor memory device is provided with a DRAM array and a control circuit. The DRAM array includes first and second storage areas. The control circuit controls an access to said DRAM array so that data hold characteristics of said first storage area are superior to those of said second storage area. |
| US07675764B2 |
Power converter employing integrated magnetics with a current multiplier rectifier and method of operating the same
A power converter having input and output nodes and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the power converter includes a switching circuit including first, second and third active phase legs. Each of the first, second and third active legs includes a first switch coupled to one of the input nodes and a second switch coupled to another of the input nodes and has a common switching node therebetween. The power converter further includes a magnetic device including first, second and third primary windings, and first, second and third secondary windings. The first, second and third primary windings are coupled to the common switching node of the first, second and third active phase legs, respectively. The power converter still further includes a rectifier including first, second and third rectifier elements interposed between the first, second and third secondary windings, respectively, and one of the output nodes. |
| US07675760B2 |
Power supply
A power supply (V1) for an electrical device comprising a transformer (X1) having primary and secondary windings. The primary winding is connectable to an AC voltage supply and circuitry on the secondary side is arranged to provide a DC output voltage for the electrical device. The power supply also comprises a switch (111—transistors Q1 & Q2) between the primary winding of the transformer and the AC supply, and a rectifier (Diode D6) for rectifying the AC voltage. The switch is arranged to switch on at some point as the rectified AC voltage increases, once it has reached a non-zero value, thereby providing a current flow through the primary winding and hence through the secondary winding when the switch (111—transistors Q1 & Q2) is switched off. The switch is further arranged to switch off before the rectified AC voltage starts to increase again. |
| US07675759B2 |
Power system with power converters having an adaptive controller
A power system having a power converter with an adaptive controller. The power system is coupled to a load and includes a power system controller that receives a signal indicating a system operational state of the load and selects a power converter operational state as a function thereof. The power system also includes a power converter with a power switch that conducts for a duty cycle to provide a regulated output characteristic at an output thereof. The power converter also includes a controller that receives a command from the power system controller to enter the power converter operational state and provides a signal to control the duty cycle of the power switch as a function of the output characteristic and in accordance with the command, thereby regulating an internal operating characteristic of the power converter to improve an operating efficiency thereof as a function of the system operational state. |
| US07675758B2 |
Power converter with an adaptive controller and method of operating the same
A controller for a power converter, and method of operating the same. The controller improves power converter operating efficiency by regulating an internal power converter operating characteristic depending on a value of a power converter parameter measured after a manufacturing step, or an environmental parameter, preferably employing a table with entries dependent on the parameter value. The internal operating characteristic may be an internal bus voltage, a voltage level of a drive signal for a power switch, a number of paralleled power switches selectively enabled to conduct, or a basic switching frequency of the power converter. The controller may regulate an internal operating characteristic of the power converter using a functional relationship dependent on the parameter value. The environmental parameter may be received as a signal from an external source. The parameter measured after a manufacturing step may be a parameter measured from representative power converter(s). |
| US07675756B2 |
Thin film-capacitor-embedded printed circuit board and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a printed circuit board with an embedded thin-film capacitor, and a method of manufacturing the same.Specifically, the present invention relates to a printed circuit board with an embedded thin-film capacitor, comprising a lower electrode formed on an insulating substrate; an amorphous paraelectric film formed on the lower electrode; a metal seed layer formed on the paraelectric film; and an upper electrode formed on the metal seed layer and having a surface roughness (Ra) of more than 300 nm; anda method of manufacturing a printed circuit board with an embedded thin-film capacitor, comprising forming a lower electrode on an insulating substrate; forming an amorphous paraelectric film on the lower electrode, using a low-temperature film formation process; forming a metal seed layer on the paraelectric film; and forming an upper electrode having a surface roughness (Ra) of more than 300 nm on the metal seed layer, using an electroplating method. |
| US07675747B1 |
Reversible, counter-rotating fan modules for a computer chassis
A fan module for use with fan trays or decks within a computer chassis for forced-air cooling with counter-rotating flow to provide higher static pressure. The fan module may have a conventional side-by-side form factor with a first and second fans supported within first and second housings. The first and second housings are spaced apart and arranged side-by-side. The first fan has a clockwise-rotating blade, and the second fan has a counterclockwise-rotating blade. In the fan module, the first and second fans may be axial fans with the blades rotating about first and second axes that are offset and parallel. In some embodiments, the fan module may have airflow through the first fan in a first direction along the first axis and airflow through the second fan in a second direction along the second axis, with the first and second directions generally matching. |
| US07675742B2 |
Rack-mounted KVM module with positioning mechanism
A rack-mounted KVM module is configured for a server rack. An L-shaped supporting frame, which has a vertical plane and a horizontal plane, is coupled to the sever rack. A flat panel display is coupled to the vertical sliding rail to move along the L-shaped supporting frame horizontally. A keyboard module is coupled to the horizontal sliding rail to move along the L-shaped supporting frame horizontally. A positioning mechanism is disposed in the horizontal sliding rail. The positioning mechanism consists mainly of an outer rail, an inner rail, a link bracket, a latch and a positioning switch. The latch is swiveled to engage a notch of the latch in a block portion of the outer rail or to remove the notch thereof from the block portion to respectively lock or unlock a fixed position when the link bracket is slid along the inner rail by moving the positioning switch. |
| US07675738B2 |
Gas insulated switchgear
A gas insulated switchgear has: circuit breakers, circuit breaker vessels, first disconnector and maintenance earthning switches connected to first bus bars connected to circuit breaker vessels and also to main bus bars, second disconnector and maintenance earthning switches connected to second bus bars connected to the circuit breaker vessels, circuit breaker operating mechanisms, first and second disconnector and maintenance earthning switch operating mechanisms, and first and second disconnector and maintenance earthning switch operation links for linking the disconnector and maintenance earthning switches and the operating mechanisms for three phases. The second disconnector and maintenance earthning switch operation links are arranged so as to pass through inter-phases of the first bus bars and the operating panels of the circuit breaker operating mechanism and the first and second disconnector and maintenance earthning switch operating mechanisms of each phase are arranged on a common flat plane. |
| US07675732B2 |
Multilayer capacitor array
A multilayer capacitor array includes a capacitor body having rectangular first and second main faces opposing each other. In the capacitor body having a dielectric characteristic, first inner electrodes are arranged in a first region, second inner electrodes are arranged in a second region, and third and fourth inner electrodes are arranged so as to extend over the first and second regions. Each of the third inner electrodes opposes at least one of the first inner electrodes and at least one of the second inner electrodes. Each of the fourth inner electrodes opposes at least one of the first inner electrodes and at least one of the second inner electrodes. The third inner electrodes are adjacent to the fourth inner electrodes, respectively. |
| US07675729B2 |
Internally shielded energy conditioner
An energy conditioner structure comprising a first electrode (120), a second electrode (80), and a shield structure (70, 110, 150) provides improved energy conditioning in electrical circuits. The structures may exist as discrete components or part of an integrated circuit. The shield structure in the energy conditioner structure does not electrically connect to any circuit element. |
| US07675723B2 |
Transient to digital converters
A digital converter including a first adjustment unit and a first transient detection unit. The first adjustment unit adjusts amplitude of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) pulse to generate a first adjustment signal when an ESD event occurs in a first power line and a second power line is at a complementary level. The first transient detection unit generates a first digital code according to the first adjustment signal. |
| US07675720B1 |
Motor protection using accurate slip calculations
An accurate slip calculation for providing monitoring and protection to an electric motor. The slip calculation is made using a minimum value of stator resistance as the initial stator resistance, where the minimum value of stator resistance is the minimum value of stator resistance calculated during an initiation period of the motor. The initiation period may be a predetermined time period or a predetermined number of cycles during the motor startup. The initiation period may start after a predetermined settling time or after a predetermined condition is met. |
| US07675715B2 |
Magnetoresistive head and fabricating method thereof, and read write separation type head
In one embodiment, a seed layer, an underlayer, and a magnetic domain control layer are laminated on both sides of a magnetoresistive sheet unit. A lower electrode film is thinly formed on an upper portion of the magnetic domain control film. A portion of the lower electrode film near the magnetoresistive sheet unit does not protrude substantially from an upper surface of the magnetoresistive sheet unit. Should the portion protrude, a step from the upper surface of the magnetoresistive sheet unit is about 14 nm or less. This portion and the upper surface of the magnetoresistive sheet unit are formed into a flat surface. An upper electrode film is formed thickly on an upper portion of the lower electrode film on an outside thereof so as to circumvent the flat surface. A protective layer, an upper gap film, and an upper magnetic shield film are also formed. |
| US07675713B2 |
Head suspension with flexure vibration clearance
A head suspension for a hard disk drive has a base attached to a carriage of the hard disk drive and is turned around a spindle. A load beam includes a rigid part and a resilient part which applies load onto a head at a front end of the load beam to write and read data to and from a disk arranged in the hard disk drive. The rigid part is supported to the base through the resilient part. A flexure is attached to at least the rigid part of the load beam and has read/write wiring patterns connected to the head. A recessed portion or a through-hole portion is formed in at least one of the load beam and the base for avoiding vibration contact of the flexure. |
| US07675711B2 |
Measuring and neutralizing the electrical charge at the interface of a magnetic head and media
A system and method for measuring and neutralizing the electrical charge at the interface of a magnetic head and a magnetic storage medium, such as a disk, is disclosed. A surface treatment material is applied to the magnetic head. The surface treatment material matches the medium surface material on the surface of the magnetic storage medium. The surface treatment material on the magnetic read/write head may be a fluorinated carbon, such as a Fomblin Z-derivative, perfluoro alkyl trichlorosilane, a FC-722, or a fluorinated polymer. The surface treatment material can be applied to the magnetic head by a vapor deposition process or by a liquid immersion process. The charge on the head-disk interface can be measured by applying varying external charges to the head while reading a signal previously written to the disk. |
| US07675707B1 |
Disk drive employing repeatable disturbance compensation for fly height control
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head actuated over the disk, and control circuitry operable to generate a fly height control signal. A fly height of the head is measured, and the measured fly height is combined with a target fly height and a feedforward signal, wherein the feedforward signal is generated according to: a1·cos(2πn1k/N)+b1·sin(2πn1k/N) where a1 and b1 are coefficients and 2πn1k/N represents a frequency of a repeatable disturbance in the fly height of the head. |
| US07675702B2 |
Reduced convolution for repetitive disturbance rejection
Methods according to some embodiments include writing servo patterns on a data storage medium including a plurality of timing patterns in response to phase correction values generated using a phase correction value (PCV) kernel having a length that is less than the number of timing patterns on the data storage medium. |
| US07675701B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting servo timing marks in a magnetic disk system
Detection capability of a servo timing mark (STM) is improved. Long STM is configured by pseudo-STM forming part of an AGC/PLL pattern and intrinsic STM. When a system can not recognize the intrinsic STM, it keeps a state that a sector detection window is opened, and is operated in a long STM detection mode to recognize the long STM, thereby generates an STM detection signal. After the STM detection signal has been generated, an STM detection window is closed, and the system is operated in an intrinsic STM detection mode. Since the long STM has longer bit length than the intrinsic STM, it has high discriminating power with respect to other bit patterns. Therefore, even if the sector detection window is remained to be in an opened state, bit strings of data sector, address information in a servo sector or the like is not falsely recognized. |
| US07675700B2 |
Disk drive device and method for production thereof
Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic disk device and a method for production thereof, the magnetic disk device being characterized in that the magnetic disk therein permits a plurality of tracks thereon to record correction data when necessary without decreasing its storage capacity. According to one embodiment, the magnetic disk device is characterized in that the magnetic disk has the first tracks and the second tracks formed thereon, the first tracks having servo data regions arranged cyclically, with a portion of a region between them being the correction data region and the remaining regions being the user data region, and the second tracks having the servo data regions arranged cyclically, with the region between them being the user data regions, and the multiprocessing unit (MPU) switches the servo extraction timing of the position information sampler depending on whether the track for servo reproduction by the magnetic head is the first track or the second track. |
| US07675699B2 |
Patterned-media magnetic recording disk and disk drive with data zones having nondata regions near the zone boundaries
A patterned-media magnetic recording disk has data islands arranged into concentric data tracks and the data tracks arranged into radially-spaced annular zones, with each zone having an inside-diameter (ID) perimeter and an outside-diameter (OD) perimeter and at least one annular nondata region near one of its perimeters. Each zone includes generally radially-directed synchronization (sync) marks that extend from the zone ID perimeter to the zone OD perimeter so as to extend into the annular nondata region or regions of the zone. In the disk drive that uses the patterned-media disks the read head and write head have an effective radial offset relative to one another, so the write head may be on a data track near a zone perimeter when the read head is located in a nondata region. The read head detects the sync marks that extend into the nondata region so that the write head can be synchronized with the data islands in the data track. |
| US07675691B2 |
Zoom lens system and imaging optical device employing the same
A zoom lens system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of lens units, in order from an object side to an image side, including at least: a first lens unit having positive optical power; a second lens unit having negative optical power; and a third lens unit having positive optical power, wherein magnification change is performed by changing an interval between the individual lens units, wherein the second lens unit, in order from the object side to the image side, comprises: a lens element A having negative optical power; a lens element B that has an aspheric surface and has negative optical power; and a lens element C having positive optical power, and wherein the second lens unit satisfies the following conditions (1): 1.85 |
| US07675688B2 |
Zoom lens system, optical device with zoom lens system, and method of manufacturing zoom lens system
A zoom lens system comprising, in order from an object along an optical axis: a first lens group having a negative refractive power; a second lens group having a positive refractive power; and a third lens group having a positive refractive power; the following conditional expression being satisfied: 0.6 |
| US07675682B2 |
Optical film and backlight unit having the same
An optical film and a backlight unit having the same are disclosed. The optical film includes a base film and a first prism disposed on the base film, the first prism having a first peak height and a second prism disposed on the base film, the second prism having a second peak height. A difference between the first peak height and the second peak height is substantially 1 μm to 10 μm. |
| US07675678B2 |
Locking inter-pupillary distance and convergence adjustment mechanism
Improvement to an adornable binocular device having a telescope pair and an adjustable inter-pupillary distance (IPD) where both telescopes move simultaneously and substantially the same distance when the IPD is adjusted, the improvement including a mechanism for releasably preventing unintentional adjustment of the IPD and including a first releasably pivoting coupling between each telescope and arm and a second releasably slideable coupling between each telescope and arm. |
| US07675675B2 |
In vivo examination apparatus
An in vivo examination apparatus including an objective unit capable of being readily replaced during examination is provided. The in vivo examination apparatus includes a main body, a vibration suppressor configured to suppress vibrations in an examination region of an object under examination, and an objective optical system configured to observe the examination region where the vibrations are suppressed. The objective optical system and the vibration suppressor are attached to the main body. The objective optical system is attachable to and detachable from the main body in a direction crossing an optical-axis direction of the objective optical system. |
| US07675668B2 |
Barrier and image display device with the same
A 3D image display device with a 2D or 3D image mode switching barrier is provided. The image display device includes an image panel, color change regions spaced apart from each other in a repetitive pattern and selectively change into light transmission regions or light blockage regions, and a barrier having the color change regions. |
| US07675667B2 |
Electropolymerization of enhanced electrochromic (EC) polymer film
Devices including EC monomers polymerized using chronoamperometry to deposit a very thin homogeneous layer followed by cyclic voltammetry to increase the density of the EC polymer film. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to specific web like configurations for a grid of conductive material deposited onto a transparent substrate. The web like configuration is based either on concentric circles, or on concentric ellipses. Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to an imaging system including a digital window that is disposed between a prism and a patterned analytic layer. |
| US07675665B2 |
Methods and apparatus for actuating displays
This invention relates to display apparatuses having an array of light modulators and a plurality of apertures formed in a layer of material. Each light modulator corresponds to one or more apertures and has a portion which may overlap a corresponding aperture, where the size of the overlap is proportional to a distance between the array and the layer of material. |
| US07675662B2 |
Embedded information carrier for optical data
In a system for authenticating information, a holographic element, including a first layer of optical information in a first coded pattern and a second layer of optical information in a second coded pattern is inserted into a reader. The reader includes an opening into which the holographic element may be positioned, a light source, a first detector positioned at a first predetermined distance from the location of the holographic element when the holographic element is positioned in the opening, and a second detector positioned at a second predetermined distance from the location of the holographic element when the holographic element is positioned in the opening. |
| US07675654B2 |
Image reading apparatus and image processing method
An image reading apparatus includes a document positioning plate configured to have a document positioned thereon, a conveyance belt configured to convey the document to the document positioning plate, an image reading unit configured to read an image of the document positioned on the document positioning plate, and an image unevenness reducing unit configured to reduce image unevenness caused by the conveyance belt deflecting in a main scanning direction. The image unevenness reducing unit corrects the readout image based on correction coefficients each corresponding to a combination of a sub scanning position and a main scanning position of the image. |
| US07675647B2 |
Apparatus, method, and program for editing images
When a photo album on an event such as wedding is generated, images to be inserted in image insertion areas in a template can be selected easily. A professional photographer photographs the bride and groom on the day of wedding, and obtains images. Characteristic quantities of scenes represented by the images are calculated, and the images are classified into image groups of the scenes. With reference to a reference-value sequence table describing reference values of the characteristic quantities of the scenes in the event in order of occurrence of the scenes, the image groups are arranged in order of the scene occurrence. A catalog of the images is generated in the same order, and displayed in an editing screen. |
| US07675645B2 |
Displaying object information along with a print preview and object information changing unit
A print control apparatus carrying out a print control processing for print data undergoing a print processing in a print apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives print data; a processing unit that carries out image processing for the received print data, thereby generating image data; an image data analyzing unit that analyzes at least one draw object in the generated image data; a display control unit that displays object information relating to the draw object analyzed by the image data analyzing unit on a display unit; an object information change instruction receiving unit that receives a change instruction for the object information; an object information changing unit that changes object information relating to the draw object according to the change instruction for the object information received by the object information change instruction receiving unit; and a storage unit that stores image data and object information. |
| US07675643B2 |
Print controller, control method therefor and program
A printer controller performs processing of a print job by a processor which realizes various processings by executing a program, and by a hardware circuit which interacts with the processor. A part of hardware circuit is configured as a determination circuit which determines a type of a packet stored in a memory for reception, on the basis of data in a particular part of the packet. When the packet is determined to be a command packet, the hardware circuit provides the packet for the processor. When the packet is determined to be a data packet, the hardware circuit transfers print data in a data part of the packet to a memory for image processing. |
| US07675642B2 |
Print apparatus and print method
A print apparatus and print method are provided in which the efficiency of a raster operation is improved according to destination images. The print method includes the steps of extracting a source image, a halftone image and a destination image from an image to be printed, determining an attribute of the destination image and converting raster operations (ROPs) of the source image, the halftone image and the destination image in accordance with the determination result, and performing the converted ROPs. If the attribute of the destination image is a written state, the conversion of the ROPs may be omitted, and if the attribute of the destination image is an initial state, the ROPs may be converted to more simplified operations using an initial state value of the destination image. Accordingly, by determining an attribute of the destination image D in advance, before the ROPs are performed, and converting the ROPs to simplified ROPs, the time required for rendering a result can be reduced and an entire printing time can be reduced. |
| US07675641B2 |
Method and device for converting scanned text to audio data via connection lines and lookup tables
Methods and devices for converting printed media into audio data. In one embodiment, a device includes a scanning platform for supporting the document to be scanned, a scanning mechanism for converting images on the document into image data, and a processor configured to convert the scanned image data into audio data. The device may further include printer components configured to create a hardcopy of the image data, an audio device such as a speaker, and an interface for outputting the image data or audio data. |
| US07675640B2 |
Network printing system, printing terminal and printing method
In a network printing system, initial print setting information and save-mode print setting information are preparatorily set as print setting information in a server. In response to a request from PC1 or PC2, the server sends the save-mode print setting information as the “print setting information” if the total number of print copies exceeds a predetermined number. If a user does not agree with the save-mode print setting information displayed on the PC1 or PC2, the user operates a button “no” in a confirmation dialogue and then resets the print setting information. A printing apparatus performs save-mode printing or normal printing in accordance with the set or reset print setting information. Therefore, an administrator of the network printing system has only to set the initial print setting information and the save-mode print setting information in the server. Thus, the network printing system allows print setting to be simply achieved. |
| US07675637B2 |
Printing system, printing method, printing apparatus and output apparatus
A CPU of a printing apparatus stores print data that is output from an output apparatus in a storage portion, and waits for the print switch on an operation panel to be operated before printing. If the print data pertaining to printing is administrative-use print data for which the output result is to be provided to a store clerk only once, then the CPU deletes the print data from the storage portion after printing. If the print data pertaining to printing is service-use print data for which the output result is to be repeatedly provided to customers, then the CPU continuously stores the print data in the storage portion after printing. |
| US07675636B2 |
Document processing apparatus and document processing method
A document processing apparatus reads document data and carries out a preflight check. In the preflight check, the content of the document is interpreted page by page to determine resources that are needed for output. Then, it is determined for each page whether the resources needed for output are available in a printing system. If a resource that is not available is needed, a warning is issued for the page. If the resources are available, intermediate data for a printed output is generated for the page. Then, a result of the preflight check is output. |
| US07675633B2 |
Method for measuring positions of structures on a substrate with a coordinate measuring machine
A method for measuring structures (3) on a substrate (2) with a coordinate measuring machine (1) is disclosed. A predefined measuring method is used for measuring at least one structure (3) on the substrate (2), wherein the measuring includes the position and/or the width of the structure (3). The predefined measuring method consists of a plurality of processes linked with the coordinate system (1a) of the coordinate measuring machine (2). The measuring method for a substrate is defined by a first orientation with respect to the coordinate system of the coordinate measuring machine (1). The predefined measuring method is applied to a second orientation of the substrate (2). |
| US07675632B2 |
Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus for exposing shot areas on a substrate comprises a measuring device configured to measure a position of an alignment mark in each of the shot areas on the substrate, and a controller configured to generate sample shot sets from the shot areas on the substrate, to cause the measuring device to measure the position of the alignment mark in each of the sample shot sets under each of measurement conditions, to calculate a shot arrangement based on the measured positions with respect to each of combinations of the measurement conditions and the sample shot sets, to calculate a variation of the shot arrangements calculated with respect to the sample shot sets with respect to each of the measurement conditions, and to display the variation calculated with respect to each of the measurement conditions. |
| US07675630B2 |
System and method for selectively setting optical navigation resolution
A system and method for selectively setting an optical navigation resolution utilizes a comparison of a comparison displacement value to a threshold value to set the optical navigation resolution to an effective resolution selected from a plurality of effective resolutions. The comparison displacement value is based on at least one of a first displacement value in a first direction and a second displacement value in a second direction, which were derived for estimating motion. |
| US07675629B2 |
Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method using a common path interferometer to form an interference pattern and a processor to calculate optical characteristics of projection optics using the interference pattern
An exposure apparatus including an illumination system which illuminates an original, and projection optics which project a pattern of the original illuminated by the illumination system onto a substrate. The apparatus includes an interferometer which forms an interference pattern including aberration information on the projection optics using a polarized light beam emitted from the illumination system, in which the interferometer is a common path interferometer in which two light beams forming interference pattern pass along a path in the projection optics, and a processor which calculates optical characteristics of the projection optics on the basis of the interference pattern formed by the interferometer. The illumination system including a polarization controller which sequentially generates at least three difference polarized light beams with respective polarization states different from each other. The processor separates first aberration and second aberration from wavefront aberration represented by the interference patterns sequentially formed by the interferometer using the at least three different polarized light beams, by calculating a data of the interference patterns, the first aberration being aberration which does not change dependent on a polarization state of polarized light beam entering the projection optics. The second aberration is aberration which changes dependent on the polarization state of the polarized light beam entering the projection optics. |
| US07675625B2 |
Apparatus for examining flat panel display device and examining method thereof
An apparatus for examining a flat panel display device and a method thereof is provided. The tact time for examining a glass substrate is reduced as much as possible, manufacturing costs are reduced by simplifying a product, and a foot print is reduced. The apparatus includes a base frame, a carrier carrying a glass substrate from a side to the opposite side of the base frame, an auto-probe to capture an image of the glass substrate and examining whether or not the glass substrate is inferior using captured data, and a visual inspector inclining the front side of the glass substrate forward to allow inspection of the glass substrate with the naked eye. According to the apparatus, the tact-time is shortened and the foot print is reduced. |
| US07675620B2 |
Optical property measuring method and optical property measuring apparatus
In an optical property measuring method and an optical property measuring apparatus, a spectral transmittance characteristic of a reference colored layer prepared as a reference is corrected based on a measured spectral reflection characteristic of a colored layer, and the spectral reflection characteristic of the reference colored layer. With this arrangement, information on the measured spectral transmittance characteristic of the colored layer can be obtained with sufficient precision in conformity with a printing condition of a sample to be measured. Thus, colorimetry of a printed color of a fluorescent sample i.e. a colored surface on a fluorescent substrate can be accurately performed by using the corrected spectral transmittance characteristic of the reference colored layer. |
| US07675617B2 |
Optical array for the spectrally selective identification of light of a light beam
Disclosed is an optical array (2) for the spectrally selective identification of light of a light beam, particularly for identifying light of a detecting light beam (3) in a preferably confocal scanning microscope (1). Said optical array comprises a means (18) for the spatial spectral decomposition of the light beam, means for selecting a given continuous spectral range, and a detector (28). The inventive optical array (2) is characterized by at least one blocking element (25, 26, 27) which can be introduced into the light beam in order to stop down a given partial spectral region located within the selected continuous spectral range. |
| US07675615B1 |
Image-based fiber length measurements from tapered beards
An image-based method and corresponding apparatus for measuring, in scientifically basic terms, the complete fiber length distribution from a tapered beard. The method may be referred to as length by image analysis (Li). A calibration method is also disclosed. |
| US07675613B2 |
Defect inspection method
A method for inspecting a defect of a surface of a sample includes irradiating a laser beam on the sample surface a plurality of times so that at least part of an illumination field of the laser beam on the sample surface illuminates a first area of the sample surface each of the plurality of times, detecting a plurality of scattered light rays from the first area caused by the plurality of times of irradiations, correcting errors of detection timings for the plurality of detected scattered light rays, correcting at least one of adding and averaging the plurality of scattered light rays, determining a defect on the sample surface based on a calculation result in accordance with the at least one of the adding and averaging. |
| US07675611B2 |
Handheld infrared and Raman measurement devices and methods
We disclose apparatus that includes: (a) an enclosure including an aperture; (b) a prism mounted in the enclosure so that a surface of the prism is exposed through the aperture; (c) an optical assembly contained within the enclosure, the optical assembly including a radiation source and a radiation detector, the source being configured to direct radiation towards the prism and the detector being configured to detect radiation from the source reflected from the exposed surface of the prism; and (d) an electronic processor contained within the enclosure, the electronic processor being in communication with the detector. The apparatus can be configured so that, during operation, the electronic processor determines information about a sample placed in contact with the exposed surface of the prism based on radiation reflected from the exposed prism surface while it is in contact with the sample. |
| US07675604B2 |
Hood for immersion lithography
A lithography apparatus includes an imaging lens module; a substrate table positioned underlying the imaging lens module and configured to hold a substrate; a fluid retaining module configured to hold a fluid in a space between the imaging lens module and a substrate on the substrate stage; and a heating element configured in the fluid retaining module and adjacent to the space. The heating element includes at least two of following: a sealant insoluble to the fluid for sealing the heating element in the fluid retaining module; a sealed opening configured in one of top portion and side portion of the fluid retaining module for sealing the heating element in the fluid retaining module; and/or a non-uniform temperature compensation device configured with the heating element. |
| US07675603B2 |
Seal structure, seal method, liquid crystal device, manufacturing method thereof, and projector
A liquid crystal device of the present invention includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer that is provided between the pair of substrates, a first seal material that is arranged along the periphery of the liquid crystal layer between the pair of substrates and seals the liquid crystal layer, and a second seal material that is arranged along the periphery of the liquid crystal layer between the pair of substrates and has water-hardening properties. |
| US07675596B2 |
Liquid crystal device and information terminal device provided with the same
A semi-transparent homogeneous-alignment LCD device including a transmission part and a reflection part, a first linear dielectric protrusion disposed between a common electrode and a liquid crystal layer so as to extend over a plurality of pixels in a short side direction of pixels and be disposed nearly in center of the transmission part, anda second linear dielectric protrusion disposed in the reflection part between the common electrode and a first substrate so as to extend over a plurality of pixels in the short side direction, wherein an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules crosses the first and second linear dielectric protrusions at right angles and is parallel to a long side direction of pixels, and a tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules is approximately 0°, or even if there is a pre-tilt angle, the tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules is 2° or less. |
| US07675595B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel having rectangular liquid crystal domain arranging layers including crossed slits
A liquid crystal display panel (LCD) panel is provided. The LCD panel includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a pixel electrode layer and a plurality of liquid crystal domain arranging layers. The pixel electrode layer has a plurality of slits. The liquid crystal domain arranging layers are disposed near the pixel electrode layer. Each pixel is divided into a plurality of essentially closed liquid crystal domain fields by the arranging layers and the slits. Each liquid crystal domain field is formed by encircling at least one arranging layer and at least one slit. |
| US07675590B2 |
Array substrate, liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display device having the same
An array substrate including a plurality of pixel regions transmitting light includes a switching element disposed in each of the pixel regions defined by gate and source lines, wherein the switching element is electrically connected to the gate and source lines, a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching element, a first insulating layer disposed on the switching element, and a second insulating layer disposed under the first insulating layer, wherein a thickness of the second insulating layer is dependent on a peak wavelength of red light. |
| US07675589B2 |
Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal device includes adjacent sub pixels with adjacent reflection regions and adjacent transmission regions. The device also includes a liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer that is continuously formed between two of the sub pixels and provided at least in reflection region. The liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer is disposed between the first sub pixel and the second sub pixel having a groove extending from the transmission region and along a boundary between the first and second sub pixels. The color filter for the first sub pixel transmits a color light having the lowest visibility corresponds. Further, a spacer is optionally disposed on an extension line of the groove or at a location adjacent to the groove. |
| US07675588B2 |
System for displaying images including a liquid crystal display panel
A system for displaying images includes a liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel comprises a color filter substrate having a light shielding layer on a peripheral area and a common electrode on a display area and the peripheral area, and an array substrate having a pixel electrode on the display area and a separate and independent electrode with a fixed voltage on the peripheral area. The liquid crystal display panel further comprises a liquid crystal layer between the color filter substrate and the array substrate. |
| US07675586B2 |
Substrate structure of liquid crystal display and fabrication method thereof
In a substrate structure and a fabrication method thereof, light refracting members aligned with wirings or black matrix formed are integrally formed at a surface of a substrate. Light incident on the wirings or the black matrix can be refracted to a pixel region of the liquid crystal display panel. Accordingly, a flux of light being transmitted through the pixel region of the liquid crystal display panel can be improved significantly. |
| US07675583B2 |
Reflective liquid crystal display panel and device using same
There is disclosed an active matrix reflective liquid crystal display panel on which an active matrix circuit is integrated with peripheral driver circuits. Metal lines in the peripheral driver circuits are formed simultaneously with pixel electrodes. Thus, neither the process sequence nor the structure is complicated. |
| US07675580B2 |
Liquid crystal display with built-in touch screen having particles for pressure concentration
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel with a built-in touch screen capable of maintaining touch sensitivity at a certain level regardless of touch circumstances, and an LCD having the LCD panel with a built-in touch screen. According to the present invention, there are provided an LCD panel with a built-in touch screen, comprising a first substrate; a second substrate positioned opposite to first substrate; a liquid crystal layer injected between first and second substrates; a sensing unit including a conductive column spacer and a conductive pad spaced apart from conductive column spacer by a predetermined interval to sense a touch point; and a plurality of pressure particles with certain hardness positioned on an outer surface of first substrate. Further, there is provided an LCD having the LCD panel with a built-in touch screen. |
| US07675575B2 |
Display device with a detachable housing
A display device includes a detachable housing, a main body, and an interface unit. The interface unit electrically connects the detachable housing with the main body. The detachable housing includes an OSD unit for storing a plurality of OSD data; a command input unit for generating and sending signals in response to operations of a user; a processing unit for identifying operations of the user, and, if required by the operations, performing predetermined function to obtain OSD data, generating a corresponding control signal, and transmitting the OSD data and the control signal to the main body through the interface unit. The main body displays an OSD menu corresponding to the OSD data and adjusts the parameters of the display device, corresponding to the control signals. |
| US07675569B2 |
Image sensing apparatus having an image sensor
An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor configured to image an object to generate image data, a flash control unit configured to control a main flash, to be performed by a flash unit configured to emit flash to an object, according to preliminary image data generated by the image sensor in association with a pre-flash performed by the flash unit, a first drive unit configured to adjust starting timings of exposures performed at a plurality of lines of the image sensor to a same timing when the pre-flash is performed, and a second drive unit configured to shield the image sensor from light before the preliminary image data is read from the image sensor. |
| US07675567B2 |
Camera, camera system, and lens apparatus
A camera is provided which includes an image capturing element; a memory for recording images obtained from the image capturing element; and a controller for changing the number of recorded pixels of the images stored in the memory based on information about a lens apparatus that can be operatively connected to the camera. |
| US07675566B2 |
Camera module
A camera module 100 includes a movable section 10 that includes a lens 11, a fixed section 30 having a hollow space extending in the optical axis direction of the lens 11, and an elastic body 40 that elastically supports the movable section 10 and the fixed section 30, an imaging element 3 that is fixed to the fixed section 30 and has a light-receiving surface perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens 11, a plurality of magnets 31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d arranged along the fixed section 30, and a coil section 22 provided in the movable section 10. The elastic body 40 includes an upper spring 41a and a lower spring 41b, which support the fixed section 30 between adjacent ones of the magnets 31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d along the arrangement direction of these magnets on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens 11. With this configuration, it is possible to provide a camera module with an automatic focusing control function, whose thickness can be reduced remarkably. |
| US07675564B2 |
Digital camera with lens being automatically retractable and automatic retraction method thereof
A digital camera with a lens being automatically retractable and an automatic retraction method thereof are provided. After the digital camera is turned on, it can continuously capture images from the outside at a predetermined time interval, and convert the images into corresponding image characteristic values and then compare them. When the characteristic values of the current image differ from the previous one and reach a predetermined difference, the lens exposed outside is automatically retracted, so as to reduce damage to the lens due to falling or heavy shaking of the digital camera. |
| US07675561B2 |
Time delayed integration CMOS image sensor with zero desynchronization
A time delayed integration image sensor provides over-sampled image data on a time-shared column bus to maintain data synchronization. |
| US07675558B2 |
Image capturing apparatus and image capturing method
An image capturing apparatus represented by digital camera 200 is capable of accessing at least two storage media. Each time one of the storage media becomes full, the image capturing apparatus switches the image data recording destination to the other storage medium. While one of the storage media is serving as the image data recording destination, image data in the other storage medium is transferred to a host unit by communication. |
| US07675549B1 |
Imaging architecture for region and time of interest collection and dissemination
A server fulfills region and time of interest (RTI) requests for images from multiple users. The server includes a receiver for receiving a RTI request from a user, a processor for assembling a compressed image based on the RTI request, and a transmitter for transmitting the compressed image to the user. The processor is configured to extract a first portion of the compressed image from a local storage device. If the first portion is insufficient to fulfill the RTI request, the processor is configured to request a second portion of the compressed image from another server, and combine the first and second portions of the compressed image to fulfill the RTI request from the user. The compressed image includes an image compressed by a JPEG 2000 compressor. |
| US07675545B2 |
Camera module having image processing procedure and method for integrating the same with host
A camera module of image processing and a method for integrating the camera module with a host are described. The camera module has a display control interface, an image sensor, and a camera control circuit. The display control interface is used to control at least one display module. The image sensor is used to capture image and provide image data signals. The camera control circuit is used to control the camera module. The camera module bypasses the display data signals of a host to display control modules according to a bypass signal. The camera module also performs image processing according to the bypass signal and a command set. |
| US07675543B2 |
Analysis of video footage
Segments of interest within video footage are identified automatically. Such segments of interest include portions of the footage which were taken using a hand held camera and which show a static subject, portions which track the motion of a moving subject, and portions which show an abrupt event. Methods are presented for identifying such segments, based on motion and/or color analysis of the video footage or based on observations of discontinuities in the video footage following a period of stability. |
| US07675540B2 |
Concealed regions complementing system of free viewpoint video images
A sender produces a background video image 4 from a reference video image 1 and a depth map 3 and synthesizes the background video image 4 in a background buffer 5. A projection converting matrix 6 for synthesizing is calculated. A receiver receives the reference video image 1, the depth map 3 and the projection converting matrix 6. The receiver produces a free viewpoint video image 11 and a background video image 12. The background buffer 13 is dynamically renewed. The free viewpoint video image 11 and the image in the background buffer 13 are synthesized with each other, and the background video image in the concealed regions in the free viewpoint video image are complemented to obtain the complemented image 14. |
| US07675539B2 |
Camera control apparatus, camera system, electronic conference system, and camera control method
A camera control apparatus includes a storage section storing, for each person to be photographed, face direction information when each face of a plurality of persons to be photographed by a camera is positioned in the central portion of a photographing range by the camera; a face position detection section detecting a position of a face of a person from a photographed image signal of the camera; a registration section computing face direction information on the basis of a detection result by the face position detection section and information indicating a current photographing direction of the camera and registering the face direction information in the storage section; and a driving control section reading face direction information corresponding to a person specified by an operation input from a user and controlling the driving apparatus in accordance with the face direction information in order to change the photographing direction of the camera. |
| US07675536B2 |
Architectures for multi-functional image forming devices
Multi-functional image forming devices that may include a base color laser printer comprising a front side, a back side, a top, and a bottom. The color laser printer may further include a media path, a laser printhead, and a plurality of image forming units. A scanning mechanism comprising a scan bed may be mounted on the top of the base color laser printer. In one embodiment, the media path includes a first section positioned within the base color laser printer and a second section that extends between the scanning mechanism and the top of the base color laser printer. In one embodiment, the scanning mechanism is pivotally mounted to the base color laser printer and movable to access the second section of the media path. |
| US07675534B2 |
Printer with short print-to-print cycle times
A receiver medium transport system for a thermal printer, a method for operating a receiver medium transport system and a thermal printer are provided that enable the recording of at least a portion of a second superimposed image on a second receiver medium during the recording of a first superimposed image on a first receiver medium. |
| US07675533B2 |
Thermal transfer printer for film
A thermal transfer printer for film capable of thermal transfer printing on a plastic film. The thermal transfer printer for film is provided with a conveyance for conveying the plastic film along a predetermined path, an ink ribbon moving mechanism which includes a holder for holding a plurality of ink ribbons 11 and moves an ink ribbon selected arbitrarily from the plurality of ink ribbons to a print position arranged on the predetermined path, and a print head which prints on the plastic film by heating the ink ribbon moved to the print position. |
| US07675532B2 |
Image-forming apparatus and control method thereof
An image-forming apparatus sets a DAC output voltage 1602, a VI conversion current ID 1603, and a laser current IL 1604 using a correction profile 1601, and performs density nonuniformity correction that addresses various factors contributing to density nonuniformity. |
| US07675525B2 |
Deep pixel display and data format
A method, graphics card, system, and data stream for generating a deep pixel display on a display device are provided. A first set of data relating to a region associated with a display is provided. The first set of data is processed to define a pixel definition. A second set of data relating to the first pixel is determined. At least one portion of the first set of data is rearranged to form at least a portion of the second set of data. A deep pixel is defined based upon the second set of data. The present invention also includes a system that includes a display controller that is adapted to define a deep pixel based upon rearranging the portion of the first set of data. |
| US07675524B1 |
Image processing using enclosed block convolution
A system and method for performing convolutions on image data using pre-computed acceleration data structures is disclosed. The method may include calculating intermediate convolution values for each of a plurality of blocks of pixels by performing an associative operation on the pixel values in each block. Each intermediate value may be associated with the block and indexed dependent on index values of pixels in the block. An image pyramid may include intermediate convolution values for multiple levels of acceleration by calculating intermediate convolution values for multiple block sizes. A convolution result for a kernel of an image may be produced by performing the associative operation on intermediate convolution values for non-overlapping blocks enclosed within the kernel and on pixel values associated with pixels in the kernel but not in one of the non-overlapping blocks. The methods may be implemented by program instructions executing in parallel on CPU(s) or GPUs. |
| US07675522B2 |
Video signal processing circuit, control method of video signal processing circuit, and integrated circuit
A display error occurs upon contention between writing of pixel data in a GRAM and reading of pixel data representing a scanning line including pixels which correspond to the pixel data above. Pixel data corresponding to pixels representing a scanning line stored in a latch circuit is displayed on a display panel, and when contention occurs between writing of pixel data in a GRAM and reading of pixel data corresponding to pixels representing a scanning line to the latch circuit from the GRAM, a controller delays reading of the pixel data corresponding to the pixels representing the scanning line and controls so as to perform reading of the pixel data corresponding to the pixels representing the scanning line to the latch circuit from the GRAM once again. |
| US07675518B1 |
System and method for generating image shadows with ray-coherent integration of extruded transparency maps
System and method for generating hard and soft extruded image shadows with ray-coherent integration of extruded transparency maps. The ends of rays are positioned along a set of spokes radiating from the background point to be illuminated. In some embodiments, the weighted sum of integrals along a dense cone of rays from each point on the background is computed to determine the fraction of light obscured by the extruded artwork. The end points of the rays may be placed on lines that converge to the background point, according to some embodiments. Thus, intermediate line integrals of the alpha matte may be used to compute values for multiple rays. In other words, since the endpoints of multiple rays are placed along a single line, the results of computing the weighted sums for shorter rays may be used when calculating the sums for longer rays. |
| US07675516B2 |
Apparatus and method for triangulating 3D image and computer-readable recording medium storing computer program for controlling the apparatus
Provided are an apparatus and method for triangulating a three-dimensional (3D) image, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a computer program for controlling the apparatus. The apparatus includes: a surface expression unit expressing the surface of the 3D image as triangles without holes; and an information output unit outputting a result obtained by the surface expression unit. The apparatus quickly and easily finds surface points and expresses the surface of the 3D image as a combination of triangles reliably, generally, and efficiently, more accurately obtains the 4-sided polygons, reduces the number of holes to be formed, is edited by personally recognizing modification of the surface of the 3D image, and can be used as a tool for expressing intuitive data to edit a dynamic object. |
| US07675514B2 |
Three-dimensional object display apparatus, three-dimensional object switching display method, three-dimensional object display program and graphical user interface
A three-dimensional object display apparatus includes a three-dimensional object generation section that generates a three-dimensional object by laying out a plurality of image data to surfaces of a solid. The three-dimensional object is made in a three-dimensional shape to be displayed on a display section. The three-dimensional object display apparatus also includes a selection operation section that enables a user to select a manner of presenting the plurality of image data to the user on the display section. The three-dimensional object display apparatus further includes a control section that switches, in response to the manner selected by the user, the three-dimensional shape of the three-dimensional object. |
| US07675510B2 |
Image display system and method
A method of displaying an image with a display device including a plurality of display pixels includes receiving image data for the image, the image data including individual pixels of the image; buffering the image data and creating a frame of the image, the frame of the image including a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows of the pixels of the image; defining a first sub-frame and at least a second sub-frame for the frame of the image, image data of the second sub-frame being offset from image data of the first sub-frame by an offset distance of at least one pixel; and displaying the first sub-frame with a first plurality of the display pixels and displaying the second sub-frame with a second plurality of the display pixels offset from the first plurality of the display pixels by the offset distance. |
| US07675507B2 |
Position detecting system and position detecting apparatus
A position detecting apparatus transmits position detecting signals from internal and external transmission coils, which are electrically connected to each other and are wound in opposite directions. The signals are transmitted to a position indicator that is housed within a pen-shaped input member. Since the internal and external transmission coils are wound in opposite directions, the position indicator can be efficiently excited in the entire area of a sensor unit including the end portion thereof. The position indicator receives the position detecting signals and transmits position indicating signals indicating a position. Sensor coils receive the signals from the position indicator. The position detecting apparatus detects the position of the position indicator based on the signals detected by the sensor coils. |
| US07675503B2 |
Method of displaying information by a network kiosk
A method of displaying information by a network kiosk which causes different information to be displayed when someone passes within a predetermined distance of the kiosk. The method includes the steps of sensing a person within a predetermined distance of the kiosk, displaying first information, timing a time period, and displaying second information if the person did not begin use of the kiosk within the time period. |
| US07675502B2 |
Color electrophoretic display device
Set forth is an electrophoretic display device including a display region between substrates, at least one of which is transparent, the display region including a multiplicity of pixels, wherein one or more of the pixels have three or more subpixels, the three or more subpixels being made up of individual reservoirs that each contain a display medium of one or more set of colored particles in a dielectric fluid. The display mediums include two different colors therein so that the subpixel is capable of exhibiting each of the two different colors, and each of the three or more subpixels include a display medium having a combination of two colors that is different from the combinations of two colors of the display mediums of the other of the three or more subpixels. A method of displaying a full color image with the display device is also provided. |
| US07675493B2 |
Driving circuit for organic light emitting diode, display device using the same and driving method of organic light emitting diode display device
An organic light emitting diode drive circuit includes an organic light emitting diode which emits light with a current, a first transistor, a second transistor and a stress compensation circuit. The first transistor supplies a data voltage to a first node in response to a scan pulse. The second transistor controls a current flowing in the organic light emitting diode by the data voltage on the first node. The stress compensation circuit discharges the first node in response to a reset pulse. The organic light emitting diode driving circuit is adaptive to compensate characteristic changes of the organic light emitting diode drive circuit. |
| US07675492B2 |
Display device and driving method thereof
A display device includes: a plurality of pixels; a signal controller generating data accumulations for current image data for the pixels based on an accumulation of input image data, calculating modification coefficients according to the data accumulations, and modifying the current input image data based on the modification coefficients to generate modified image data; and a data driver generating data voltages corresponding to the modified image data and supplying the data voltages to the pixels. |
| US07675491B2 |
Display device and method for driving the same
A display device includes a pixel array in which a plurality of display pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional manner which is divided into a plurality of column groups composed of the display pixels of a predetermined number of columns, a signal drive circuit which produces a signal current based on display data, and sequentially outputs, in time series via a common terminals, the signal current that corresponds to the display pixels for one row of the pixel array for each of signal currents that correspond to each of the column groups, and a current latch circuit which sequentially captures and holds the signal currents output from the signal drive circuit for one row of the pixel array, generates gradation currents and simultaneously supplies the gradation currents to the plurality of data lines, wherein the pixel array and the current latch circuit are formed on a display panel substrate. |
| US07675489B2 |
Energy efficient column driver for electroluminescent displays
A driving circuit for driving a display panel having pixels arranged in rows and columns, wherein the driving circuit incorporates a resonant circuit that is able to efficiently recover capacitive energy stored on the row of pixels and transfer it to another row of pixels as the rows are addressed by the sequential application of a voltage on each row. The resonant circuit comprises a step down transformer, a capacitor across the primary winding, either the rows or columns of the display panel connected across the secondary winding and an input voltage and FET switches to drive the resonant circuit synchronous with the timing pulses governing the addressing of the display. The value of the capacitor connected across the transformer primary winding is chosen commensurate with the turns ratio on the transformer and the anticipated range of panel capacitance values to effectively limit variations in the resonance frequency with respect to the frequency of the timing pulses. The present invention is an improvement to the resonant driving circuit that employs column drivers that maximize energy recovery in the resonant circuit by employing a means to restrict current flowing through the FETs used to control the column voltage so that substantially all of the current that flows when charge is being removed from the display pixels during the time period between selection of active rows is constrained to flow back through the transformer to charge the primary capacitor. |
| US07675487B2 |
Simplified light-emitting diode (LED) hysteretic current controller
An LED current control device (100) includes an array of one or more LEDs (10) electrically connected to a current-sensing element (20). A sense signal produced by the current-sensing element may be amplified by a single-ended amplifier (30) and sent to a switching controller (40 and 50). The switching controller may perform hysteretic control on the amplified sense signal by controlling a switching element (60) to turn on and off. The on and off states of the switching element respectively enables and disables an external power supply (VEXT) for the LED array. As such, hysteretic control may be performed on the current flowing through the LEDs. |
| US07675486B2 |
Drive system of display device
This invention provides a drive system of a display device preventing an uneven display caused by output current values of current conversion circuits. A drive system of a display device of the invention has a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix of m rows and n columns and having current drive elements, n pieces of current conversion circuits converting digital display signals inputted from outside into analog signals corresponding to the digital display signals, a first selector circuit selectively supplying the digital display signals to the n pieces of the current conversion circuits, and a second selector circuit selectively supplying current outputs of n pieces of the current conversion circuits to pixel groups divided in columns. |
| US07675483B2 |
Dynamic false contour reducing method, dynamic false contour reducing circuit, display device, and program
A dynamic false contour reducing circuit which comprises a false contour detector, an error diffusion processing part, and a display controller. The false contour detector receives an input signal for displaying an image at a pixel of interest to detect a false contour magnitude at the pixel of interest when an image is displayed at the pixel of interest based on the input signal. The error diffusion processing part performs error diffusion processing for the input signal in a manner depending on the level of the false contour magnitude detected by the false contour detector. The display controller controls a display part such that an image is displayed based on the input signal which has undergone the error diffusion processing by the error diffusion processing part. |
| US07675481B2 |
Device for representing and/or displaying various process and/or controlled variables
A device for representing and/or displaying various process and/or controlled variables for selectable application cases on a display unit, with bar graphs being arranged in respective, predetermined surface elements (A, B, C), with each bar graph, respectively each surface element (A, B, C), having a defined form and/or a defined position on the display. A control unit assembles bar graphs, respectively corresponding surface elements (A, B, C), mosaic-like in a display in such a manner that the resulting bar graph display is matched to a selected application case. |
| US07675476B2 |
Internal antenna with rotatable mounting bracket assembly
A internal antenna with rotatable mounting bracket assembly is mounted on an edge of a flat panel television and has a mounting bracket, a clamp and a rotatable antenna seat. The mounting bracket is mounted on the edge of a flat panel television and has a mounting disk, a front jaw and a clamp socket. The clamp attaches to and holds the mounting bracket on the edge of a flat panel television and has an arm assembly and a rear jaw. The arm assembly is mounted slidably in the clamp socket and has a resilient element. The resilient element holds the clamp in the clamp socket. The rear jaw is formed on and protrudes down from the arm assembly. The rotatable antenna seat is mounted rotatably on the mounting bracket and has an antenna bracket. The antenna bracket clips the antenna and is formed on the disk. |
| US07675469B2 |
Tunable antenna device and radio apparatus
An antenna device configured to be fed at a feed portion included in a printed board of a radio apparatus is provided. The antenna device has a feed element connected to the feed portion. The antenna device has a first parasitic element at least a portion of which is arranged close and electrically coupled to at least a portion of the feed element. The first parasitic element is loaded with a first frequency shifter. The antenna device has a second parasitic element at least a portion of which is arranged close and electrically coupled to at least a portion of the feed element. The second parasitic element is loaded with a second frequency shifter. |
| US07675465B2 |
Surface mountable integrated circuit packaging scheme
An integrated circuit (IC) package is disclosed. The IC package includes a substrate having top, middle and bottom layers, an array of millimeter-wave antennas embedded on the top layer of the substrate and a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) mounted on the bottom layer of the substrate. In one embodiment, the second level interconnect for surface-mounting on a printed circuit board (PCB) is provided on the bottom layer of the substrate. |
| US07675462B2 |
Method and system for the alignment of an earth station antenna with a satellite antenna
There is described a method for the alignment of an earth station antenna with a satellite antenna, wherein a reference signal, emitted by the earth station antenna is analyzed in a monitoring station, wherein the reference signal is used as a carrier for authentication information about the earth station. |
| US07675461B1 |
System and method for displaying radar-estimated terrain
A circuit for a display used on an aircraft causes the display to display a composite terrain image. The composite terrain image can be formed from first terrain data from a terrain database and second terrain data from a radar system. A display control circuit can generate a display signal for the composite terrain image. The display signal is received by the display. The composite terrain image can be viewed by a pilot. |
| US07675459B2 |
Equivalent time sampling radar
A dither clock generating section 1 generates a dither clock. A transmission pulse generating section 2a generates a transmission pulse emitted to the outside from a transmitting antenna 2c on the basis of the dither clock. A sample hold section 6 samples a reception pulse, received by a receiving antenna 3a, on the basis of a sample pulse obtained by time sweeping of the changing timing of the dither clock, so as to produce a long-period reception pulse that is obtained by expanding the reception pulse on a time axis. |
| US07675452B2 |
Successive approximation register analog to digital converter with improved immunity to time varying noise
An SAR ADC provides increased immunity to noise introduced by time varying noise components provided on reference potentials (VREF). Reference voltage noise contributions are canceled by introducing a reference voltage component to a pair of binary weighted capacitor arrays (NDAC and PDAC) during bit trials, which are presented to a differential comparator as a common mode signal and rejected. During sampling, select elements in either the PDAC or the NDAC also obtain a reference voltage contribution. Although the sampled VREF signal may have a noise contribution, the noise is fixed at the time of bit trials, which can improve performance. Generally, the scheme provides a 50% reduction in noise errors over the prior art for the same VREF noise. Additional embodiments described herein can reduce noise errors to 25% or even 12.5% over prior art systems. |
| US07675445B2 |
Method and device for analog-digital conversion of a complex signal
In order to convert a complex analog signal into a complex digital signal in an analog-digital conversion device having two channels, I and Q respectively, in quadrature, each comprising an input and an associated output, each output being fed back onto said associated input so as to form a first and a second feedback loops each comprising a digital-analog converter, the device comprising a complex filter with a first stage and a last stage, after sampling (508), a signal integration is performed in a first stage (501) of the filter without introducing any substantial delay. Then, an integration is performed in the last stage (502) of the filter. A substantial delay (507) is then introduced and the output signal of the last stage is converted into a digital signal over several bits. The digital signal is injected into the feedback loop (108) of said channel and the digital signal is converted into a feedback signal. |
| US07675440B1 |
Thermometer-code-to-binary encoders
An encoder is provided for converting thermometer code data with bubbles to binary format. An integrated circuit may have circuitry such as digital phase-locked loop circuitry. A thermometer code data word may be used as a control signal for the circuitry. It may be desirable to monitor the thermometer code data word for testing or for downstream processing by control logic on the integrated circuit. The encoder performs thermometer code to binary encoding without requiring that the thermometer code be error corrected to remove bubbles. A bubble detection circuit may be used to detect when the thermometer code data contains bubbles. The encoder may use carry look-ahead adders and pipeline stages. |
| US07675438B2 |
Method and system for transmitting/receiving serial data in serial communication system and serial communication system for the same
A method and a system for transmitting/receiving serial data efficiently by minimizing the transitions of bits in a serial communication system, as well as a serial communication system for the same, are provided. The method for converting coded parallel data into serial data and transmitting the serial data in a serial communication system includes determining a position, in which an information bit of the coded parallel data is found first, the information bit being defined as a bit having a predetermined bit value so that the information bit is not compressed; and serially transmitting the information bit found first and at least one bit following the information bit found first as compressed serial data until the determined position is reached. |
| US07675437B2 |
Variable length decoding device and method for improving variable length decoding performance
A method for improving variable length decoding performance is provided. A variable length decoding module decodes a coded data to obtain a decoded data and a subsequent module receives the decoded data to perform further processing. A buffering module is coupled between the variable length decoding module and the subsequent module, and buffers the decoded data decoded by the variable length decoding module. A read part of the buffering module is cleared so that a content of an unused area of the buffering module is a predetermined value when the subsequent module reads the decoded data from the buffering module, wherein the unused area is a part of the buffering module except for the unread decoded data. The variable length decoding module does not write zero values of the decoded data into the buffering module when the variable length decoding module reads a zero output instruction among the coded data. |
| US07675436B1 |
Rate-7/8 direct-current free and runlength limited code
An encoder includes a mapping module that receives input words including first input words and second input words. The mapping module maps the first input words to first output words that are run-length limited and have a digital sum that is equal to zero. The mapping module maps the second input words to second output words that are run-length limited and have one of a positive and a negative digital sum. An inverter module selectively inverts the second output words based on a cumulative digital sum of the second output words. |
| US07675428B2 |
Rotating gauge pointer and light guide between LCD and LED
An indicating instrument for a vehicle may employ an analog type lighted pointer arranged on a rotatable, circular shaped pointer disk, a liquid crystal display arranged over the pointer disk, and a first dial with indicia located outboard of or adjacent to and/or inboard of the LCD. A second or inboard dial may be located over the liquid crystal display. The pointer disk may be a translucent light collector for the pointer yet also transmit light to provide backlighting for the LCD. Depending upon the analog gauge arrangement, the pointer may point outboard of the pointer disk or toward the LCD center. The dials, especially the second dial, may be in the shape of rings to permit viewing of the LCD from the perspective of a viewer, such as a vehicle driver. |
| US07675426B2 |
Relay
A light guide part (20) is provided along a Z-axis on a side surface of a case (2) of a relay (1). The light guide part is a thick portion formed of a material forming the side surface of the case, and is structurally integral with the other parts of the case. Also, a light emitting device which emits light in response to application of a voltage to coil terminals (41) is provided within the relay (1) (case). A reflection surface (201) which reflects illuminating light emitted from the light emitting device in a (+Y) direction in a (+Z) direction is placed at a lower end of the light guide part. Illuminating light reflected by the reflection surface is guided to a display surface (200) placed at an upper end of the light guide part, to illuminate the display surface. |
| US07675418B2 |
Synchronous command model for RFID-enabling applications
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates providing communication channels within a radio frequency identification (RFID) infrastructure. A radio frequency identification (RFID) network can include at least one device that can receive data from a tag. A mixed mode component can employ a synchronous command and an asynchronous event processing with the device. |
| US07675416B2 |
Intruder detection device
The intruder detection device for deciding the occurrence of an invasion if an electric wave, which is received by a leakage transfer passage on the receiving side juxtaposed to a leakage transfer passage on the transmitting side for receiving a leakage electric wave from the transmitting leakage transfer passage, changes, and the intruder detection device comprises: a plurality of reference spectrum diffusion signal generating means; a plurality of correlating means configured together with the reference spectrum diffusion signal generating means on a common sensor card, for collating the output reference spectrum diffusion signal of the reference spectrum diffusion signal generating means with the received signal from the receiving leakage transfer passage; and setting means for adjusting the detection precision which is determined by the reference spectrum diffusion signal generating means and the correlating means. |
| US07675415B2 |
Method for controlling security truck door locker and structure for controlling security truck door locker
A method for controlling security truck door lockers and a structure for controlling security truck door lockers are disclosed. A control device is configured to control electronic lockers respectively mounted on security truck doors by means of detecting the unlocked/locked status of the electronic lockers and changing or not changing their status accordingly, and then informing users of the locker's current status. The electronic locker includes a substrate, a fastener, a stopper, a micro switch, and a locker core. When a bolt of the door fastens the fastener, the stopper horizontally moves to contact a bottom of the fastener by means of controlling the operation of the micro switch, or the locker core drives an engagement portion to contact the fastener so that the fastener is fastened and the locker is locked. |
| US07675414B2 |
Methods and apparatus for an environmental and behavioral adaptive wireless communication device
Methods, devices, apparatus and systems are provided for adaptation of a wireless communication device based on current environmental conditions, historical environmental condition patterns and/or historical usage patterns. In this regard, the device senses such environmental conditions as light, sound, motion, temperature and the like and, automatically or at user discretion, adjusts functionality on the device that is affected by these conditions. Additionally, by determining environmental and usage patterns the device can adapt to the patterns by providing certain functionality and/or applications to the user at prescribed times of the day, week, month, etc. By being able to automatically adapt the functionality of a wireless communication device, the user of such a device experiences greater ease in using the device and an overall heightened user experience. |
| US07675413B2 |
Wireless intrusion sensor for a container
An intrusion sensing device includes an intrusion detection sensor enclosed within a housing and operable to detect an intrusion into a container. A mounting detection mechanism contacts the surface of the container when the housing is mounted thereto and is operable to detect when the housing is not in contact with the surface of the container. An access detection mechanism is operably connected to an access panel of the housing and operable to detect removal of the access panel from the housing. A control module is operable in a setup mode and an active mode. The control module is adapted to receive an alarm message from the intrusion detection sensor and operable to initiate an alarm event during the setup mode which varies from an alarm event initiated during the active mode. A wireless transmitter is operable to transmit an alarm indication signal to a remote monitoring system. |
| US07675412B2 |
System and method for dynamically tracking and state forecasting tagged entities
A method is provided for dynamically tracking a plurality of entities progressing through an operation each having an electronic tagging device associated therewith. The method includes sensing signals emitted by each of the plurality of tagging devices, at predetermined instances or when triggered by external events, by a plurality of sensors located at predetermined sites with respect to the operation, each signal including information uniquely identifying the corresponding tagging device, communicating the sensed signals and corresponding energy levels at which they were sensed by each of the plurality of sensors to a data processor, processing the unique identification information provided by the signals and their energy levels to determine a location of each tagging device relatively to the predetermined sites of the sensors, and dynamically updating a path of each tagging device and the associated entity based on the determined location with respect to at least a portion of a displayed map of the operation. |
| US07675410B2 |
Sensor-net systems and its application systems for locationing
The position of a node is identified. There is provided a module for identifying the position of a node using a locator node that sniffs communication of the node in a sensor network system capable of continuously tracking a situational change in the state, position or the like of people or an object. |
| US07675409B2 |
Environmental sensing
One apparatus embodiment includes an electronics assembly including an environmental sensor, memory that provides data storage, a logic circuit, an indicator component, and a power source for providing power to at least one of the logic circuit and the memory. The logic circuit can be designed to perform a time measurement, perform an environmental measurement with the environmental sensor, and/or initiate an alarm status when a calculated alarm event time occurs based upon the environmental measurement. The indicator component can be connected to the logic circuit for displaying the alarm status. |
| US07675408B2 |
Power line communication system, device and method
A signal is received from a first portion of a power line via a connection to the power line and at least a portion of the signal is converted to a non-electrically conducting signal. The non-electrically conducting signal may be communicated to a non-electrically conductive communication path. In this manner, the non-electrically conducting signal may have properties that do not provide imminent danger from human contact. |
| US07675407B2 |
Life safety device for the hearing impaired
The instant invention includes a central security and alarm system that operates to protect a home or business and includes a personal safety device to communicate with a hearing-challenged end-user at the protected home or business. The system includes at least one alarm event detection device, and a central panel in communication with the personal safety device and the at least one alarm event detection device, the central panel comprising a processor for carrying out a method of communicating to the hearing-challenged end-user at the detection of alarm events via the personal safety device. The method includes detecting an alarm event at the home or business and notifying a designated, hearing-challenged end-user that the alarm event has occurred by causing a life safety device in the possession of the hearing challenged end-user to communicate the detected event by a mechanical communication signal. |
| US07675406B2 |
Generation of timestamps within field devices
A field device in an industrial environment comprises a clock that is synchronized with a clock of at least one other field device. A timestamp generator component creates a timestamp for at least one of an alarm and an event created within the field device, the timestamp accords to the synchronized time. An alarm generator component analyzes data produced and/or consumed by the field device and generates an alarm and/or event based at least in part upon the analysis. |
| US07675405B2 |
Method and device for testing the measuring value of at least one level sensor arranged in a fuel tank
Disclosed is a method and device for testing the measuring value of at least one filling level sensor arranged in a fuel tank. A plurality of measurements are taken by the filling level sensors and are each compared with a physical variable to determine whether the measurements are plausible. If, based on the comparison, the measurements from the sensors are not plausible, a warning signal is fed to a warning device and a warning information item is triggered by the warning device. |
| US07675401B2 |
Electronic circuit board
A circuit board, for an electronic circuit having a passive circuit component, has a component region, a non-component region, and circuit wiring conductors on its surface. The component region includes a polymer composition comprising a mixture of polymer resin and filler material that, in combination with the circuit wiring conductors, forms the passive circuit component. |
| US07675399B2 |
Remote controller device and method for hand operation of floor-mounted audio effects processors
Disclosed is a device for the remote operation of the variable audio controls of floor-mounted audio effects devices, such devices typical of those used by performing artists on stage. The vast majority of devices of this type are operated by a foot pedal-controlled on/off switch and rotary operated potentiometer switch(es) to vary the audio output. The present inventive concept uses a variety of mechanical connectors, which couple the rotary switches of the floor device to a hand-operated controller mounted on a microphone or accessory stand. In this manner a performer is able to operate the effects device, with his/her hand, from a more natural standing position during a musical performance, rather than having to crouch down during said performance. |
| US07675395B2 |
Electromagnet having spacer for facilitating cooling and associated cooling method
An electromagnet and associated apparatus and method are provided. The electromagnet includes a core and at least one winding disposed circumferentially about the core such that the winding extends at least one revolution around the core. The electromagnet further includes at least one spacer having channels defined therein and disposed circumferentially about the core and adjacent to the at least one winding. The channels facilitate cooling by directing fluid about the windings of the coil as fluid is introduced into the electromagnet. |
| US07675393B2 |
MEMS switch
A MEMS switch according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a substrate; a fixing portion formed on the substrate; a movable beam including a lower electrode, a first insulation layer formed on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the first insulation layer, the movable beam having one end fixed by the fixing portion, the lower electrode and the first insulation layer having an opening going through both of the lower electrode and the first insulation layer; a fixed electrode formed on the substrate facing to a bottom surface of the other end of the movable beam, the fixed electrode facing to the opening; a contact electrode formed in the opening so as to project below the bottom surface of the movable beam and to be electrically connected to the upper electrode as well as to be insulated from the lower electrode; and a second insulation layer formed on the fixed electrode and having an opening facing to the contact electrode so as to insulate the lower electrode from the fixed electrode and to permit the contact electrode to come into contact with the fixed electrode. |
| US07675388B2 |
Switchable tunable acoustic resonator using BST material
An acoustic resonator includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a barium strontium titanate (BST) dielectric layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, where the acoustic resonator is switched on as a resonator with a resonant frequency if a DC (direct current) bias voltage is applied across the BST dielectric layer. The acoustic resonator is also switched off in no DC bias voltage is applied across the BST dielectric layer. Furthermore, the resonant frequency of the acoustic resonator can be tuned based on a level of the DC bias voltage, with the resonant frequency increasing as the level of the DC bias voltage applied to the BST acoustic resonator increases. |
| US07675384B2 |
Composite right/left handed (CRLH) hybrid-ring couplers
High-frequency couplers and coupling techniques are described utilizing artificial composite right/left-handed transmission line (CRLH-TL). Three specific forms of couplers are described; (1) a coupled-line backward coupler is described with arbitrary tight/loose coupling and broad bandwidth; (2) a compact enhanced-bandwidth hybrid ring coupler is described with increased bandwidth and decreased size; and (3) a dual-band branch-line coupler that is not limited to a harmonic relation between the bands. These variations are preferably implemented in a microstrip fabrication process and may use lumped-element components. The couplers and coupling techniques are directed at increasing the utility while decreasing the size of high-frequency couplers, and are suitable for use with separate coupler or couplers integrated within integrated devices. |
| US07675379B1 |
Linear wideband phase modulation system
Linear wideband phase modulation system. Apparatus is provided for linear phase modulation utilizing a phase-locked loop. The apparatus includes a limiting circuit that restricts a range of a modulation signal that is coupled to a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) associated with the phase-locked loop, and a linearizing circuit that reshapes the modulation signal to improve linearity. |
| US07675374B2 |
Voltage controlled oscillator with switching bias
Provided is a voltage controlled oscillator to which a switching bias technique is applied so as to lower flicker noise of a bias circuit and enhance phase noise characteristics, thereby reducing the overall chip area to make it possible to achieve integration. A common mode voltage applied to the bias circuit is negatively fed back to an oscillation waveform. Therefore, it is possible to stabilize the magnitude of the oscillation waveform of the voltage controlled oscillator with respect to a change in an external condition. |
| US07675373B2 |
Voltage controlled oscillator circuit and a method for configuring a voltage controlled oscillator circuit
The voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit comprises a tank circuit, a first tuning section comprising first capacitor elements wherein each one of the first capacitor elements is individually utilizable for the tank circuit, and a second tuning section comprising second capacitor elements wherein each one of the second capacitor elements is individually utilizable for the tank circuit and the capacitance of each one of the second capacitor elements is continuously adjustable in a predetermined capacitance range in dependence on a tuning voltage. |
| US07675368B2 |
Hybrid stochastic gradient based digitally controlled oscillator gain KDCO estimation
A novel hybrid stochastic gradient adaptation apparatus and method for calibrating the gain of an RF or non-RF digitally controlled oscillator (DCO). The adaptation algorithm determines a true stochastic gradient between a forcing function and its corresponding system measure to estimate the system parameters being adapted. A momentum term is generated and injected into the adaptation algorithm in order to stabilize the algorithm by adding inertia against any large transient variations in the input data. In the case of adaptation of DCO gain KDCO, the algorithm determines the stochastic gradient between time varying calibration or actual modulation data and the raw phase error accumulated in an all digital phase locked loop (ADPLL). Two filters preprocess the observable data to limit the bandwidth of the computed stochastic gradient providing a trade-off between sensitivity and settling time. |
| US07675365B2 |
Systems and methods for power amplifiers with voltage boosting multi-primary transformers
Systems and methods may be provided for a power amplifier system. The systems and methods may include a plurality of power amplifiers, where each power amplifier includes at least one output port. The systems and methods may also include a plurality of primary windings each having a first number of turns, where each primary winding is connected to at least one output port of the plurality of power amplifiers, and a single secondary winding inductively coupled to the plurality of primary windings, where the secondary winding includes a second number of turns greater than the first number of turns. |
| US07675363B2 |
Differential amplifier circuit and A/D converter
PMOS transistors are interposed parallel to each other between a node, which is a first output part, and a power supply; and PMOS transistors are interposed in parallel to each other between a node, which is a second output part, and the power supply. Output voltages in time of a balanced state in which an input potential difference between an input voltage and a reference voltage is “0” are both set to a reference output common voltage by a replica circuit and a comparator. The reference output common voltage of the replica circuit is set so that the potential difference between the power supply voltage and the output common voltage becomes a value lower than a threshold voltage of the diode connected PMOS transistors. |
| US07675359B2 |
Switch-around low noise amplifier
A switch-around low noise amplifier (LNA) device includes an input for receiving an input signal; an output for outputting an output signal; an LNA transistor coupled between the input and the output; a bypass switch circuit coupled between the input and the output; a current mirror circuit operatively connected to the LNA transistor to control a current flowing through the LNA transistor; a source follower switch operatively connected to the current mirror circuit to selectively turn on and off the current through the current mirror circuit in response to a mode select signal; and a driver adapted to selectively turn on and off the bypass switch circuit in response to the mode select signal. The LNA transistor receives the input signal at its control terminal, and one of the first and second terminals is directly connected to a supply voltage (e.g., ground). |
| US07675358B2 |
Semiconductor device
The invention provides a semiconductor device that generates a clock signal with a fixed pulse width from a carrier. The invention also provides a semiconductor device where data can be obtained accurately from a carrier using a clock signal with a fixed pulse width. Further, the invention provides a semiconductor device that has a simpler circuit configuration and a smaller scale, and consumes less power as compared to the PLL circuit. According to the invention, a signal obtained by dividing a carrier including 100% modulation is not used as a clock signal, and a correction circuit is used to generate a clock signal using a demodulated signal and a signal obtained by dividing the carrier including 100% modulation. According to the invention having such a configuration, a clock signal with a fixed pulse width can be generated. |
| US07675357B2 |
Multi-system module having functional substrate
A multi-system module having a functional substrate includes a substrate comprising therein at least one control circuit units, and a plurality of main circuit units provided on one side surface of the substrate. The main circuit units are electrically connected to the control circuit unit, whereby the control circuit unit is used to manage the operation of the main circuit units. Via the above module structure, the substrate can improve the function of controlling multiple systems. |
| US07675355B2 |
Semiconductor device that degrades leak current of a transistor
A semiconductor device, has a main transistor that is a first-conductivity-type MOS transistor and has the drain connected to a first potential; a first switch circuit that is connected between the source of said main transistor and a second potential; a dummy transistor that is a first-conductivity-type MOS transistor whose source serves also as the source of said main transistor; and a second switch circuit that is connected between the drain of said dummy transistor and said first potential or said second potential. |
| US07675354B2 |
Switching circuit for switchably connecting an input node and an output node
The application provides a switching circuit for switchably connecting an input node and an output node. The switching circuit comprises a switch operable to switchably connect the input node to the output node in response to a switching signal. A sensor is provided for sensing the voltage between the input and output nodes and providing a sense signal in response thereto. A driver coupled to the sensor adjusts the switching signal in response to the sense signal. |
| US07675353B1 |
Constant current and voltage generator
A compact constant current generator that can operate with a positive supply voltage of 1.22 V (or lower) and minimize noise is provided. The constant current generator can include a bandgap reference circuit and a single gain stage. Notably, the bandgap reference circuit can advantageously generate differential node voltages. The gain stage can amplify those differential node voltages and generate a constant current having a temperature coefficient substantially equal to zero. Advantageously, this single gain stage can minimize the number of components, thereby resulting in a compact and efficient current generator. |
| US07675351B2 |
Frequency output circuit
Unwanted electromagnetic waves are eliminated in a frequency output circuit comprising an open-collector output terminal whereby radio noise can be reduced. A frequency output circuit 10 comprises an open-collector transistor Q4 with an open-collector output terminal connected to a pull-up resistor Rf connected to an external power supply Vex. A current limiting circuit 16 limits a current through the output terminal such that a high potential and a low potential of the output waveform of a frequency signal outputted by an output circuit 12 are smoothly switched. The current limiting circuit 16 is formed by a differential pair circuit of transistors Q1 and Q2 each with a resistor provided in the emitter thereof, and a current mirror circuit comprising an open-collector transistor, for example. |
| US07675345B2 |
Low-leakage level-shifters with supply detection
Low-leakage level-shifters with reduced leakage are disclosed. In one example, a level-shifter circuit to reduce leakage when there is an invalid supply voltage is described, including a level-shifter configured to shift a voltage of an digital input signal based on a first supply voltage to a digital output signal based on a second supply voltage, comprising a first transistor and a second transistor configured to set the digital output signal based on the digital input signal, a supply detector configured to generate a detection signal based on the first supply voltage, a disabler configured to, based on the detection signal, set the digital output signal of the level-shifter to a predetermined state, and a leakage reducer configured to, based on the detection signal, electrically disconnect the first and second transistors from the level-shifter. |
| US07675343B2 |
Level shifter and display device using the same
A level shifter includes: a first transistor including a first electrode coupled to a first power source, a second electrode coupled to a first output terminal, and a control electrode coupled to a second output terminal; a second transistor including a first electrode coupled to the first power source, a second electrode coupled to the second output terminal, and a control electrode coupled to the first output terminal; a third transistor including a first electrode, and a second electrode coupled to the second output terminal; a fourth transistor including a first electrode, and a second electrode coupled to the first output terminal; a first capacitor including a first terminal and a second terminal; and a second capacitor including a first terminal and a second terminal. |
| US07675342B2 |
On-chip electrically alterable resistor
A programmable, electrically alterable (EA) resistor, an integrated circuit (IC) chip including the EA resistor and integrated analog circuits using on-chip EA resistors. Phase change storage media form resistors (EA resistors) on an IC that may be formed in an array of parallel EA resistors to set variable circuit bias conditions for circuits on the IC and in particular, bias on-chip analog circuits. The bias resistance is changed by changing EA resistor phase. Parallel connection of the parallel EA resistors may be dynamically alterable, switching one or more parallel resistors in and out digitally. |
| US07675341B2 |
Method and device for generating a clock signal
A method and device for generating a clock signal, the method including measuring, using a first clock signal, a characteristic of a reference event in a received signal, determining, using the first clock signal, a variation of a characteristic of a second event in a received signal, correcting the measurement according to the variation of the characteristic of the second event, and generating a second clock signal using the first clock signal according to the corrected measurement. |
| US07675339B2 |
System and method for generating a delayed clock signal of an input clock signal
A system and method for generating a delayed clock signal of an input clock signal involves selectively delaying the input clock signal to produce the delayed clock signal based on the duty cycle of the input clock signal and the duty cycle of a logic signal derived from a logic operation of the input clock signal and the delayed clock signal. |
| US07675338B2 |
Duty cycle correction circuit whose operation is largely independent of operating voltage and process
A Duty Cycle Correction (DCC) circuit is provide in which pairs of field effect transistors (FETs) in known DCC circuit topologies are replaced with linear resistors coupled to switches of the DCC circuit such that when the switch is open, the input signal is routed through the linear resistors. The linear resistors are more tolerant of process, voltage and temperature (PVT) fluctuations than FETs and thus, the resulting DCC circuit provides a relatively smaller change in DCC correction range with PVT fluctuations than the known DCC circuit topology that employs FETs. The linear resistors may be provided in parallel with the switches and in series with a pair of FETs having relatively large resistance values. The linear resistors provide resistance that pulls-up or pulls-down the pulse width of the input signal so as to provide correction to the duty cycle of the input signal. |
| US07675335B1 |
Phase detecting module and related phase detecting method
A phase detecting module includes a phase detecting unit, a comparator and a counter. The phase detecting unit is arranged to compare a first input signal and a second input signal to generate a phase detecting result. The comparator is arranged to compare the phase detecting result and a predetermined voltage to generate a comparing result. The counter is arranged to count one of the first input signal and the second input signal to generate a counting value. The phase detecting result and the counting value are reset if the counting value reaches a predetermined value, and the comparing result is outputted to a target device from the comparator if the counting value reaches a predetermined value. |
| US07675332B1 |
Fractional delay-locked loops
Phase detection circuitry in a delay-locked loop compares a periodic input signal to a feedback signal. The phase detection circuitry generates a delay signal that controls delays of the delay circuits. Two or more output signals of the delay circuits are transmitted to an input of the phase detection circuitry. The delay-locked loop can be configured so that the period of the periodic input signal divided by a delay of one of the delay circuits equals a non-integer rational number when the phase and frequency of the periodic input signal are constant. A frequency multiplier can be coupled to the delay circuits to generate a periodic output signal. The periodic output signal has an average frequency that is a product of the frequency of the periodic input signal multiplied by a fractional non-integer number when the phase and frequency of the periodic input signal are constant. |