US08176526B1
Techniques are described for managing failover in redundant network devices. In particular, each device in a set of redundant network devices includes redundant processing modules. Each module provides a separate operating environment for a set of network services. Each network device includes a control unit that receives configuration information that specifies individual weight values for each of the modules and a threshold value for the network device. The control unit detects failures of the modules and transfers primary responsibility for performing the network service to a second network device when the threshold value is exceeded by a weighted sum of the weight values for the failed modules.
US08176515B2
A system and method for review of news content (audio, video and/or textual news content), such that an overview of the news content can be quickly ascertained and flexibility in the manner in which it is presented are provided. News programs (e.g. television news programs) and news stories (e.g., on-line news) are acquired and the system enables the user to easily move among and randomly access the segments of news programs and quickly locate the segments of a particular subject. News stories related to the segment of news program being viewed can be identified and displayed. Flexible playback allows speeding-up the display of the news program while displaying summary of one or more program segments and accelerating playback of a paused program after resuming from the pause. The system can additionally indicate to the user which news story is currently being viewed, and which news stories have already been viewed.
US08176506B2
A system may automatically send a request for a list of programs over a network, obtain, in response to the request, a user profile that includes a list of programs that a viewer has accessed, send information identifying at least one of the programs over the network, and output the at least one of the programs to a preview window of a display.
US08176497B2
A method to handle peak database workloads is disclosed. In one form of the disclosure, the method can include requesting resources, receiving virtual-machine information in response to requesting, and allocating first and second portions of a workload according to the virtual-machine information. The method can also include processing the first portion on a virtual machine to generate a first result, processing the second portion on a cloned virtual machine to generate a second result, and aggregating the first and the second results to form a response.
US08176493B1
Management of contexts that execute on a computer system is described. More specifically, context scheduling in a virtual machine environment is described. A set of coscheduled contexts is monitored. If a skew metric associated with a first context of the coscheduled contexts fails to satisfy a condition, then a subset of the coscheduled contexts is descheduled although the first context remains scheduled.
US08176491B1
A mechanism is disclosed for implementing fast synchronization of simple synchronized methods in a virtual machine. The mechanism provides for determining, during runtime, whether a set of instructions can be fully executed in lieu of invoking a synchronized method, which requires locking of a particular object. The set of instructions provides equivalent functionality to the synchronized method but with less locking overhead. In response to a determination that the set of instructions can be fully executed, the set of instructions is fully executed to achieve equivalent functionality to the synchronized method in lieu of invoking the synchronized method. In response to a determination that the set of instructions cannot be fully executed, the synchronized method is invoked. With this mechanism, simple synchronized methods can be executed with less locking overhead.
US08176486B2
Various embodiments of a system and method for managing virtual machines on a server computer are described. According to one embodiment of the method, a pool of free virtual machines may be maintained on the server computer, e.g., where the number of virtual machines in the pool is specified by an administrator. In response to receiving a request to assign a virtual machine to a first user, the server computer may assign a first virtual machine from the pool to the first user and add a new virtual machine to the pool to replace the first virtual machine. In some embodiments the server computer may be one of a plurality of server computers in a server computer system. An administrator may be able to configure different pool sizes for different server computers in the system through a central user interface.
US08176484B2
Techniques are provided for deploying applications hosted by an application service provider. An application in a first environment is automatically deployed to a second environment in response to receiving a request over a network from the party for whom the second environment is being hosted. The first environment may be an environment where applications are developed by the party over the network. Deployment of the application may entail provisioning of an environment for the application.
US08176478B2
Programs having a given instruction-set architecture are executed on a multiprocessor system comprising a plurality of processors, for example of a VLIW type, each of said processors being able to execute, at each processing cycle, a respective maximum number of instructions. The instructions are compiled as instruction words of given length executable on a first processor. At least some of the instruction words of given length are converted into modified-instruction words executable on a second processor. The operation of modifying comprises in turn at least one operation chosen in the group consisting of: splitting the instruction words into modified-instruction words; and entering no-operation instructions in the modified-instruction words.
US08176464B2
A framework for securing a source code base during the development phase of a software development lifecycle is provided. The framework includes an aspect package module and a validator package module. The aspect package module integrates security routines into the source code base. The aspect package module includes a custom interface module and a validator aspect module. The custom interface module includes a function declaration, wherein the custom interface module is implemented by at least one class of the one or more classes. The validator aspect module includes a controller code for controlling the flow of the execution, based on the context for the security validation of the at least one class, wherein one or more security routine integration points are defined in the at least one class. The validator package module validates the at least one class, based on the defined context, by using one or more validation classes.
US08176461B1
A method for generating a design-specific timing specification includes inputting a first timing specification of a target device corresponding to a first timing yield. The first timing specification contains timing delays of elements located in at least first and second regions of the target device. A circuit design is placed and routed. With a programmed processor, the timing delay of the first timing specification is increased for one or more elements implementing the circuit design in the first region to produce a second timing specification, and a second timing yield of target device is determined from the second timing specification. In response to the second timing yield being larger than a target timing yield, the programmed processor decreases the timing delay of the second timing specification for one or more elements in the second region to compensate for a difference between the second timing yield and the target timing yield to produce a design-specific timing specification.
US08176459B2
For each of a plurality of interconnected gates forming one or more non-critical timing paths through a logic block, a gate size may be selected based on (i) a gate delay, (ii) a change in gate delay and gate power associated with downsizing the gate to a next available gate size, and (iii) signal arrival times at one or more inputs and outputs of the gate to minimize power consumed by the logic block while maintaining a specified cycle time.
US08176450B1
A method for managing an electronic design automation tool includes importing a component. A graphical user interface is generated to allow a user to enter values for parameters of the component. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08176448B2
Techniques are generally described for designing an integrated circuit (IC). In various embodiments, the techniques include designing, at a functional specification level, N-variants of a particular circuit. The various embodiments may then implement the designed N-variants as hardware in the IC. Additional variants and embodiments may also be disclosed.
US08176446B2
A method of for compensating for variations in structures of an integrated circuit. The method includes (a) selecting a mask design shape and selecting a region of the mask design shape; (b) applying a model-based optical proximity correction to all of the mask design shape; and after (b), (c) applying a rules-based optical proximity correction to the selected region of the mask design shape.
US08176443B2
Exemplary embodiments provide a method for laying out an IC design and the IC design layout. The IC design layout can include one or more gate features placed on an active region including a first pitch (p1) between any two adjacent gate features. Additionally, the IC design layout can include a printable-gate-assist feature placed adjacent to at least one side of the active region, and placed parallel to and at a second pitch (p2) from one first gate feature of the one or more gate features. In various embodiments, a printable-gate-extension feature can be drawn in the design to extend a second gate feature to match a length with a longer neighboring gate feature of the one or more gate features.
US08176440B2
In a particular embodiment, a system to present search results is disclosed that includes a search system to retrieve search results from multiple data sources and to extract data from the search results. The system also includes a visualization system to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) including a visualization of data related to the search results and including multiple control options. The multiple control options include a first option and a second option related to the extracted data, where the first option is accessible to alter the visualization.
US08176436B2
Techniques are disclosed for displaying information to a user on a display device of a computer system. In one general aspect, a first view is displayed on the display device, where the first view has at least a first work area. In response to the receipt of a first input received by the computer system, a second view is displayed on the display device. The second view includes the first work area and a temporary communication area, or “pop-in window,” included within the first work area. The temporary communication area has a defined function associated therewith requiring input from a user. The temporary communication area may close after the user provides the necessary input and the defined function is performed.
US08176433B2
A method and system for monitoring a computer program window define an area of a computer program window and compute a hash value for the defined area. The computed hash value is stored and the hash value is recomputed for the defined area after a predetermined time period. The recomputed hash value is compared with the stored. If the stored hash value and the recomputed hash value are different, the method and system overwrite the stored hash value with the recomputed hash value, and generate a notification. Recomputing, comparing, overwriting and generating are performed periodically to monitor the changes in the defined area.
US08176426B2
An image reproduction apparatus that sequentially reproduces and displays a plurality of images, includes: a display effect setting unit that sets a display effect for each image based upon image data of the image stored in a storage means; and a display unit that reproduces and displays the image with the display effect set by the display effect setting unit when sequentially reproducing and displaying the plurality of images.
US08176422B2
There is provided an apparatus for aligning document actions specified in a documented procedure with demonstrated user actions. The apparatus includes an alignment device for computing an alignment between the document actions and the demonstrated user actions based on at least one similarity metric.
US08176418B2
A system for generating a summary of a plurality of documents and presenting the summary information to a user is provided which includes a computer readable document collection containing a plurality of related documents stored in electronic form. Documents can be pre-processed to group documents into document clusters. The document clusters can also be assigned to predetermined document categories for presentation to a user. A number of multiple document summarization engines are provided which generate summaries for specific classes of multiple documents clusters. A summarizer router is employed to determining a relationship of the documents in a cluster and select one of the document summarization engines for use in generating a summary of the cluster. A single event engine is provided to generate summaries of documents which are closely related temporally and to a specific event. A dissimilarity engine for multiple document summary generation is provided which generates summaries of document clusters having documents with varying degrees of relatedness. A user interface is provided to display categories, cluster titles, summaries, related images.
US08176415B2
The method for communicating structured information, such as a report or an account, between a first user and at least one second user, includes a step of defining a document standard, which determines the general frame of the document in the form of a series of titles and/or conventional meanings and authorized values of certain conspicuous information fields. The transmitting user inputs data to be supplied incorporating a step of inputting text and/or titles as a supplement to the general frame and/or a step of selecting values on the conspicuous fields and transmitting data of the document addressed to the second user. Each recipient user selects a sorting criterion based on the titles or conspicuous fields. The document is then reorganized in accordance with the selected criterion and a step of supplying to the second user the document reorganized in accordance with the criterion.
US08176410B1
Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices and systems associated with content cropping are disclosed. One exemplary method comprises extracting one or more portions of content from a first file and cropping at least one portion of the one or more portions of content, and displaying the cropped extracted at least one portion of content as at least a portion of a second file.
US08176407B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media to compare values of a bounded domain are disclosed. A particular method includes, for each value in a bounded domain, determining a corresponding set of allowable errors associated with the value. The sets of allowable errors are stored at a memory. The method includes determining a comparison score between a first value of the bounded domain and a second value of the bounded domain based on a comparison of a first set of allowable errors corresponding to the first value and a second set of allowable errors corresponding to the second value.
US08176404B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing retries. As an example, a data processing retry circuit is discussed that includes a stepped erasure window register, and an erasure flag set circuit. The stepped erasure window register includes: an erasure flag location, an erasure flag length, and a step size. The erasure flag set circuit is operable to assert a first erasure flag beginning at the erasure flag location and having the erasure flag length at a first time. In addition, the erasure flag set circuit is operable to assert a second erasure flag beginning at the erasure flag location plus the step size, and having the erasure flag length at a second time.
US08176402B2
A decoding apparatus includes a memory and a receiving unit and is adapted to decode data in units of codewords each including a parity part. The memory has a storage capacity capable of storing at least data with a length equal to the length of one codeword. The receiving unit receives, as received values, elements of a codeword in a bit-interleaved form, performs bit deinterleaving and parity permutating on the received values, and stores the resultant received values in the memory.
US08176396B2
Various methods and systems for implementing Reed Solomon multiplication sections from exclusive-OR (XOR) logic are disclosed. For example, a system includes a Reed Solomon multiplication section, which includes XOR-based logic. The XOR-based logic includes an input, an output, and one or more XOR gates. A symbol X is received at the input of the XOR-based logic. The one or more XOR gates are coupled to generate a product of a power of α and X at the output, wherein α is a root of a primitive polynomial of a Reed Solomon code. Such a Reed Solomon multiplication section, which can include one or more multipliers implemented using XOR-based logic, can be included in a Reed Solomon encoder or decoder.
US08176394B2
An LFSR module is configured according to a characteristic polynomial for generating an output stream according to an input stream. The LFSR module has several LFSRs coupled together and an output generator. Each LFSR respectively receives a sub-input stream and at least one feedback stream, and respectively generates a sub-output stream and a feedback stream according to the received sub-input stream and the received at least one feedback stream, wherein the sub-input stream is generated according to the input stream, and at least one of the received feedback streams is generated by another LFSR. The output generator generates the output stream according to a plurality of inputs, wherein some of the inputs are the sub-output streams of the LFSRs.
US08176389B2
A decoder device includes: a decoder that decodes data stored in a storage medium by performing error correction on the data, the error correction being capable of correcting code error and code erasure included in the data; a memory that stores a history of an address in the storage medium of a code included in the data, the code being detected to have the code error by the decoding unit; and a controller that controls the decoder to change a detail of the error correction based on the history stored in the memory.
US08176386B1
A disk drive system-on-chip (SOC) includes a read-channel module and a processor. The read-channel module reads data, includes a first error-correcting module for correcting errors in the data, corrects errors in a first portion of the data using the first error-correcting module, and is unable to correct errors in a second portion of the data using the first error-correcting module. The processor includes a processor core and processor memory, receives the second portion of the data in the processor memory, and corrects errors in the second portion of the data using a second error-correcting module that is different than the first error-correcting module.
US08176385B2
The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for performing cyclic redundancy check (CRC) on partial protocol data units (PDUs). The disclosed apparatus is designed to off-load the CRC calculation for transmit or receive from a host computer. According to the disclosed method, when generating CRC for partial PDUs, for each such PDUs a decision is made to determine whether a CRC action is required, i.e., if CRC should be calculated, checked or placed in the outgoing byte stream. When partial CRC calculation is performed the intermediate value is saved into memory and later is used for calculating the CRC for a consecutive partial PDU. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the need to re-calculate the CRC in a case of a re-transmit request is eliminated.
US08176376B2
Error protection based on a nonlinear code set may be used in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) radio communications system. A decoder decodes received MIMO data streams and generates an automatic repeat request (ARQ) message for data units received for the MIMO data streams for each transmission time interval. An encoder codes the ARQ message using a code word from a nonlinear code set. At the data transmitter, which transmits one or more data units in transmission time intervals from two or more MIMO data streams, the ARQ message associated with the transmitted data units is decoded using a code word from the nonlinear code set.
US08176372B2
A one-hot data generating unit generates one-hot data for the maximum data bit width in which a state of one bit is exclusively inverted with respect to states of other bits while sequentially shifting a bit position to be inverted, and writes the one-hot data in an area of a memory designated by an address. A short defect between wirings connected to the memory is detected by comparing the one-hot data written in the memory with the one-hot data before being written.
US08176371B2
Electronic apparatus, systems, and methods of operating and constructing the electronic apparatus and/or systems include an embedded processor disposed in a logic chip to direct, among other functions, self-testing of an electronic device structure in conjunction with a pattern buffer disposed in the logic chip, when the electronic device structure is coupled to the logic chip. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08176365B2
A computer apparatus includes a first processor, a second processor, and a main memory. The computer apparatus further includes a memory-diagnostic unit, a diagnostic-program loading unit, and a defective-function identifying unit. The memory-diagnostic unit causes the second processor to execute a memory-diagnostic program to diagnose the main memory, and identifies a defective area in the main memory. The diagnostic-program loading unit loads a processor-diagnostic program for diagnosing a plurality of functions of the first processor into an area of the main memory other than the defective area identified by the memory-diagnostic unit. The defective-function identifying unit causes the second processor to execute the processor-diagnostic program loaded by the diagnostic-program loading unit, and identifies a defective function that is disabled from the functions of the first processor.
US08176354B2
A selectively synchronous wave pipeline segment and an integrated circuit (IC) including the segment. The segment includes a normally opaque input stage and output stage and multiple internal stages that are normally transparent. A programmable local clock control circuit provides internal stage clock selection control to internal stages. The internal clock selection control determines whether each internal pipeline stage is gated opaque by a local clock. The programmable local clock control circuit is programmed to allows data items to propagate as data waves in a wave pipeline until each wave reaches a point where beyond, a race condition is likely to exist. Multiple pipeline data items pass as data waves between input and said output stage selectively unclocked.
US08176352B2
Two clock domains of a data processing device are each synchronized with a different clock signal. The clock signals are generated by clock generation logic. The clock generation logic also generates a transfer enable signal based on the relative frequency of each clock signal to indicate when data can be transferred between the clock domains. Further, as the relative frequency of the clock signals change, the timing of the transfer enable signal also changes to ensure reliable data transfer.
US08176345B2
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a media drive having a normal operation mode and a power saving operation mode in which less power is consumed than in the normal operation mode, a control module configured to control the media drive, and a determination module configured to shift, when it is determined that the control module does not execute data access to the media drive for a predetermined period, the media drive from the normal operation mode to the power saving operation mode.
US08176344B2
An information processing apparatus used to reduce power supply to nonvolatile memory when in power saving mode. To accomplish this, the information processing apparatus stores data in the nonvolatile memory that can be used in power saving mode to a volatile memory to which power will still be supplied while in power saving mode. Further, the information processing apparatus enables the operating system to recognize the storage area in which the data is stored as a replacement for the nonvolatile memory.
US08176338B1
Methods are provided for detecting the processing status of data blocks in systems having intermittent connections. A hash value is used at times in place of a block's data content, thereby reducing processing of the block. Hash values may be maintained locally. Blocks collected locally may be stored locally at least until a connection to a server becomes available again. Systems and configured storage media are also provided.
US08176335B2
The present invention provides a detachable add-on card unit to a host system that combines mass storage capability and a processor on the same card. The card can receive data from the host, process the data, and store it in processed form, as well as the reverse process of retrieving stored data, processing it, and supplying it to the host. The non-volatile mass storage memory may contain program storage as well as card system data and user data. The end user of the card can program applications into the program storage. The combination of mass storage and a processor also adds to the capabilities of the on-card processor, allowing the card to store and execute programs. The present invention is able to provide a programmable add-on card unit to a host system. A number of applications can be stored in the card's mass storage and loaded as needed by the on-card micro-controller.
US08176333B2
The present invention is generally directed to a method, system, and article of manufacture that ensures the integrity of programs having variable portions. One aspect of this invention is a method for protecting software products having variant portions. This method includes identifying a reference to an external target in a software product, creating an identifier for the external target, and adding the identifier to the reference. In some embodiments, the unique identifier is a digital signature and the reference to an external target is a call to an external library.
US08176321B1
Methods and apparatus for installing browser extensions using sandboxed processes are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a browser extension installation package in a main browser process, placing the browser extension installation package in a temporary directory and launching a sandboxed sub-process of the browser application, where the sandboxed sub-process has access to the temporary directory. The example method includes, in the sandboxed sub-process: unpacking a compressed, archived file of the installation package into the plurality of constituent files of the browser extension and transcoding or recoding at least one of the plurality of constituent files, where the transcoded and recoded files replace their corresponding original constituent files. The example method includes, after the transcoding and/or recoding, passing the constituent files back to a main browser process and installing the browser extension to the browser application using the transcoded and recoded constituent files.
US08176320B1
The present invention provides techniques for granting access to secured data. An access candidate may access some or all of the secured data by gaining access to two sequential levels of security. The first security level secures access to the resources used to manipulate the secured data and the second security level secures access to the secured data by the resources. Attributes associated with the access candidate are considered in deciding whether to grant or deny access to the resources. Based on a comparison of access requirements of the secured data with the applicable attributes of the access candidate, a decision on whether to grant access to the requested portions of the secured data is made. If access is not prohibited, the access candidate may use the resources to access the secured data. If access is prohibited without authorization, a resolution request may be submitted to a resolution authority.
US08176311B1
Techniques are described for providing a kernel with the ability to execute functions from a kernel module during processor initialization and initializing a platform using platform-specific modules. An initialization function of the platform-specific module is executed before a platform-independent phase of the kernel of the operating system is executed. In one example, a device includes a computer-readable medium that stores instructions for a platform-specific module comprising an initialization function, and instructions for an operating system comprising a kernel, wherein the kernel comprises a boot sequence comprising a platform-dependent phase and a platform-independent phase, and a processor to execute instructions stored in the computer-readable medium. The processor executes the initialization function of the platform-specific module to initialize the device during the platform-dependent phase of the kernel boot sequence, and wherein the processor executes the platform-independent phase of the kernel boot sequence after executing the initialization function of the platform-specific module.
US08176305B2
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an activation method, and a program which allow activation to be performed more quickly so as to enter a state according to a user's operation. A host CPU (11) causes a state to transition to an initial state, which is an initial state of a working state and in which execution of application processing is inhibited, before entering a suspend state. An embedded controller (33) acquires from an input unit (11) a signal indicating an activating factor that serves as an activation trigger. When activating from the suspend state, the host CPU (11) executes return processing to the initial state, and upon returning to the initial state by activation, causes a state to transition to an application execution state in which the application processing according to the activating factor is executed. The present invention can be applied to a digital still camera.
US08176301B2
Millicode store access checking instructions are provided via an operand access control register (OACR) including a test modifier indicator, which is communicatively coupled to an instruction unit subsystem, the instruction unit subsystem for fetching and decoding instructions. The instructions include a millicode instruction with an operand defining an address to check for a store access exception. In addition, an execution unit for executing the millicode instruction performs a method. The method includes receiving the millicode instruction from the instruction unit subsystem, testing for the store access exception at the address as if the test modifier is set absent an update to the OACR, and outputting a result of the testing for the store access exception.
US08176295B2
A method for making memory more reliable involves accessing data stored in a removable storage device by translating a logical memory address provided by a host digital device to a physical memory address in the device. A logical memory address is received from the host digital device. The logical memory address corresponds to a location of data stored on the removable storage device. A physical memory address corresponding to the local address is determined by accessing a lookup table corresponding to the logical zone.
US08176292B2
Example apparatus, methods, and computers control configurable, variable data reduction. One example method includes identifying data reduction controlling attributes in an object to be data reduced by a configurable variable data reducer. The attributes provide information upon which decisions concerning whether and/or how to data reduce the object can be based. The example method also includes controlling a configurable variable data reducer to selectively data reduce the object based, at least in part, on the data reduction controlling attributes. The control exercised can determine whether, where, when, and/or how data reduction will proceed.
US08176286B2
Execution of a processing task within a data processing system is controlled by executing the processing task including allocating memory areas for data storage and then suspending an actual execution path of said processing task at a given execution point to perform memory management. The memory management involves identifying one or more data items occurring in the course of execution and accessible to the processing task at the given execution point, which specify reference values pointing to respective ones for the memory areas. A correlation is determined between reference values corresponding to identified data items and memory areas allocated during the execution up to the given execution point. A memory management operation is performed on allocated memory areas in dependence upon results of the correlation.
US08176285B2
Systems and techniques are disclosed for allowing a user to view and edit media content items while those media content items are being transferred from one location to another. For example, a method can include receiving a request to transfer a media content from a source memory location where the media content item resides to a destination memory location; reading from the source memory location a sufficient amount of data to create in a database associated with the application a first record corresponding to the media content item to be transferred, the first record including a pointer to the source memory location of the media content item; initiating a transfer of the media content item to the destination memory location, and making the media content item available for manipulation prior to completion of the transfer of the first media content item.
US08176283B1
A data object is stored in a hosted storage system and includes an access control list specifying access permissions for data object stored in the hosted storage system. The hosted storage system provides hosted storage to a plurality of clients that are coupled to the hosted storage system. A request to store a second data object is received. The request includes an indicator that the first data object stored in the hosted storage system should be used as an access control list for the second data object. The second data object is stored in the hosted storage system. The first data object is assigned as an access control list for the second data object stored in the hosted storage system.
US08176261B2
One aspect of the embodiments utilizes an information processing apparatus having a plurality of system boards connected via a bus, each system board including a CPU having a cache memory, a main memory that forms a shared memory, and a system controller that manages the CPU and the main memory as well as controls a data transfer of at least one of the cache memory and the main memory by a memory access request, wherein each system controller including a snoop controller that selects a transfer source CPU from transfer source candidate CPUs each having cache memory including a data requested by the memory access request when the data is available in a plurality of cache memories.
US08176249B2
Method for embedding a session secret, within an application instance, comprising the steps of generating an ephemeral session secret by a master application. Embedding, by master application, secret bytes, within application bytes of a slave application. Calculating said ephemeral session secret, by slave application, from said embedded secret bytes, when slave application is executed.
US08176242B1
A network apparatus comprises a plurality of ports, and a forwarding engine coupled to the plurality of ports. The forwarding engine is configured to transfer data units received via at least some of the plurality of ports to one or more appropriate ports in the plurality of ports. The forwarding engine comprises a content addressable memory (CAM) device to store a plurality of data patterns organized in a plurality of groups, wherein the CAM device is configured to, responsive to input data, output in a single cycle a plurality of match indications corresponding to the plurality of groups. The forwarding engine also comprises a logic device coupled to the CAM device and configured to generate an action value based on the plurality of match indications, wherein the action value indicates an action to be taken by the forwarding engine.
US08176239B2
A predetermined number of erasable blocks positioned at a start of a volume area in a semiconductor memory card are provided so as to include volume management information. A user area following the volume management information includes a plurality of clusters. A data length NOM of an area from a master boot record & partition table sector to a partition boot sector is determined so that the plurality of clusters in the user area are not arranged so as to straddle erasable block boundaries. Since cluster boundaries and erasable block boundaries in the user area are aligned, there is no need to perform wasteful processing in which two erasable blocks are erased to rewrite one cluster.
US08176235B2
Enhanced write performance for non-volatile memories including a memory system that includes a receiver for receiving a data rate of a data sequence to be written to a non-volatile flash memory device. The memory system also includes a physical page selector for selecting a physical address of an invalid previously written memory page from a group of physical addresses of invalid previously written memory pages located on the non-volatile memory device, and for determining if the number of free bits in the invalid previously written memory page at the selected physical address is greater than or equal to the data rate. The memory system also includes a transmitter for outputting the selected physical address of the invalid previously written memory page, the outputting in response to the physical page selector determining that the number of free bits is greater than or equal to the data rate.
US08176231B2
A method for handling data updating of a flash memory is disclosed, in which the flash memory comprises a mother block with a plurality of pages to be updated, and each page comprises a plurality of sectors. In such method, a first data for updating a target page in the mother block is obtained, and then whether the first data comprises data for updating an ending sector in the target page is determined. The first data is written into a replacing page in a first FAT block when the first data does not comprise data for updating the ending sector in the target page. The first data is written into a corresponding page in a second FAT block when the first data comprises the data for updating the ending sector, in which the corresponding page in the second FAT block and the target page in the mother block have the same page indexes.
US08176213B2
A user PC 20 prepares a retrieve request by storing a SNMP command and a predetermined processing execution condition into a retrieve request of a SLP and transmits and outputs the prepared retrieve request to a printer 40 and others by multicast. Receiving the retrieve request, the printer 40 obtains and executes the SNMP command stored in the retrieve request of the SLP and processes a response to the retrieve request when the execution result meets the processing execution condition. Thus, the SNMP command is executed by receiving the retrieve request of the SLP and the response to the retrieve request of the SLP is processed corresponding to the execution result, it is not necessary to separately transmit or to obtain the request process of the SLP and the retrieve request of the SNMP through the network and the execution result of the SNMP command may be reflected to the process of the SLP.
US08176211B2
A computer system which enables more efficient use of a storage system shared by plural host computers and optimizes the performance of the whole system including the host computers and storages. A computer device has a first control block which logically partitions computing resources of the computer device and makes resulting partitions run as independent virtual computers. The storage system has a second control block which logically partitions storage resources of the storage system and makes resulting partitions run as independent virtual storage systems. The system also has a management unit incorporating: a first control table which controls computing resources of the computer device; a second control table which controls storage resources of the storage system; and a third control table which controls the relations between the virtual computers and the virtual storage systems. The first control block logically partitions the computing resources according to the first control table; and the second control block logically partitions the storage resources according to the second control table.
US08176208B2
An object is to improve reliability and availability of a storage system.A single service processor (SVP 20) manages a plurality of storage apparatuses 10. The storage apparatus 10 includes a channel substrate 11, a drive substrate 13, a cache memory 14, and a processor substrate 12 as well as a sub-service processor (SSVP 18) that has an environment monitor unit 181 acquiring operation state information and a service processor monitoring unit (SVP monitoring unit 182) monitoring a SVP 20 and that is coupled to the processor substrate 12. The SVP 20 includes a communication control unit 203 coupled via a communication network 52 to the respective processor substrates 12 of the storage apparatuses 10 and a power control unit 205 coupled via a communication line to the SSVP 18 and powering off or on the SVP 20 according to a control signal sent from the SVP monitoring unit 182 via the communication line 55.
US08176207B2
An adapter card for testing the functionality of a particular interface configuration may include an interface core. The interface core may comprise an electric circuit including electronic components and control logic for interfacing with an information handling system device. The adapter card may include a front end data channel coupled with the interface core for transmitting data between the electronic components and the information handling system device. The adapter card may include firmware for setting an indicator and causing the control logic to report a memory requirement to the information handling system device larger than a programmed memory space expected by the control logic.
US08176196B2
A user specifies a group by a user-defined query. An input order is assured among data of a same group. By outputting data belonging to a same group from the same node, an order inputted for a necessary portion is assured. By outputting data belonging to different groups from another node, processing in plural nodes is achieved to avoid reduction in performance.
US08176192B2
Disclosed is a networked transmission system and method for stream data. The system comprises a network, a streaming server and an ordered series of a first up to n-th cooperative-sharing groups. There is a cooperative relationship among all users' terminals in a cooperative-sharing group. The streaming server provides a plurality of programs with stream data, each program being divided into one or more audio/video clips by a time-slot unit. The streaming server transmits the one or more audio/video clips to the leader node of the first cooperative-sharing groups. The leader node of each cooperative-sharing group transmits the currently received audio/video clip to the users' terminals within the same cooperative-sharing group, and passes the received audio/video clip to the leader node of the next cooperative-sharing group after one time slot.
US08176190B2
A computer performs a control including (1) receiving a request for monitoring a station to-be-handled which is a communication apparatus different from a pertinent station including the computer, (2) transmitting a request for a response based on the station to-be-handled, to the station to-be-handled at a predetermined time interval, on the basis of the monitoring request, and (3) transmitting a message expressing that the station to-be-handled will be detached from a network, to the network if the response to the response request was not received within a predetermined wait time.
US08176186B2
Self-discovering transaction accelerators improve communications between a client and a server. A client directs a message to a server. A client-side transaction accelerator intercepts the message, terminates the connection with the client, and accelerates the request by replacing segments of data with references. The accelerated request is forwarded to a server-side transaction accelerator through a new connection. The server-side transaction accelerator reconstructs the message by replacing the reference with segment data in a persistent segment store accessible to the server-side transaction accelerator. The reconstructed request is then provided to the server. Accelerations may occur in any direction of communication. Persistent segment stores can be pre-populated with segment data from other transaction accelerators and anticipated transactions. The persistent segment store can store segments that are data segmented based on content of the data and can be independent of transaction protocol, application, and device.
US08176183B2
A technique for downloading multiple objects from at least one server in an accelerated manner. Typically, in a TCP/IP environment, a client is limited in the number of sockets that can be opened for a single server. A spoofer (410) is utilized to intercept traffic between the server and the client and modify the traffic so that from the client's perspective, it appears as though objects from a single server are actually being sourced from multiple servers. Thus, the client is able to open additional sockets to receive objects from the server thereby allowing for a parallel download of the objects. This greatly reduces the amount of time necessary to download the objects.
US08176181B2
A communications system and method comprises the steps of performing at least one Layer 2 transaction comprising a plurality of wave cycles, each Layer 2 transaction including performing a first wave cycle, concatenating the received first responses from each of the one or more nodes, and performing a second wave cycle. The first wave cycle includes broadcasting a first request from a network coordinator to a plurality of nodes connected to a coordinated network, and receiving a first response from one or more of the nodes indicating that the nodes have opted to participate in a next subsequent wave cycle. The second wave cycle includes transmitting a subsequent request from the network coordinator to each of the one or more nodes based upon the concatenated first responses.
US08176177B2
Methods and systems for reducing burst usage of a networked computer system are described herein. In an embodiment, resource requesters can request, within a time window, resources over a computer network before the resources are available. The resources can then be allocated in batch mode when the resources are available. Thus, resource requests do not have to be processed in real-time, and resource requests can be received before the resources are available.
US08176173B2
Embodiments locate a botmaster on a network. A honeynet host is configured to join a botnet and generate a watermarked packet flow by applying a watermark to an outgoing packet flow in response to commands from the botmaster. The watermark is applied to the outgoing packet flow by: choosing distinct packets from the outgoing packet flow; forming packet pair(s) from the distinct packets, that include a reference packet and an encoding packet; and encoding bits in the watermark to the packet pair(s) by increasing the length of the encoding packet when watermark bits have a predetermined value. The cooperating node(s) are configured to: inspect passing packet flows for the watermarked packet flow and generate tracking information related to detection of the watermarked packet flow. The path determination processor is configured to analyze the tracking information to locate a path taken by the watermarked packet flow.
US08176171B2
An information processing device and an information processing method are provided which can provide services to all clients (users) at a certain service level while preventing a server from being overloaded by reducing concentration of access from some clients without requiring special processing on the client side. The server monitors requests sent from clients and does not execute business logic as an error when receiving intervals of requests do not exceed a threshold. Also, timing of a request being resent from a client next time is controlled by controlling return timing when an error response is returned to the client.
US08176165B2
A method is provided for managing the MS over the air (OTA) and at the same time maintaining backward compatibility with existing protocols and standards. The proposed method uses Wireless Telephony application (WTA).
US08176157B2
Methods of experience-based exception grouping are described. A number of exceptions are read. The exceptions are intelligently associated with one of a number of exception groups. Each exception group corresponds to a common user experience.
US08176146B2
Control list management may be provided. First, it may be detected that an event has occurred on a data network. Then, it may be determined, in response to the detected event, that a device on the data network needs to be provided with an access control list. Next, the access control list may be obtained from a database central to the data network. Then, the device may be provided with the obtained access control list.
US08176140B2
Provided are a home network device service and/or Internet service method and apparatus in a home network with a web-based open architecture, the method comprising: receiving script based software for controlling the service from a server using a controller in a home network; reproducing a user interface screen for controlling the service by parsing the script based software using the controller; and controlling the home network device control service and/or the Internet service using the controller according to the selected service when a service is selected based on the UI screen. Accordingly, a home network which can be expanded easily can be obtained.
US08176134B2
A mechanism to enable multiple message threads management in the context of the Converged IP Messaging (CPM) service and in the context of CPM inter-working with SMS is provided. A CPM user can simply start a message-based conversation with another CPM or Short Message Service (SMS) user without explicitly establishing a session beforehand. All messages that belong to a given conversation are displayed in the corresponding conversational view (i.e. window) in the CPM user device, even if the conversation is stopped and restarted at a later time, and even if there are multiple message threads available (currently active or stored) in the CPM device. Message structures and behavior of the CPM system elements to enable the functionalities above as well as a mechanism makes the message threads management possible even between a CPM user and an SMS user are also provided.
US08176133B2
A system and method is disclosed for extracting and maintaining in a virtual address book one or more electronic mail addresses from one or more of the various address fields (e.g., “From,” “To,” “Cc,” “Bcc”) of one or more e-mail messages either transmitted from or received at a predetermined network node (e.g., a client or server). Electronic mail addresses stored in the virtual address book may be made available to “auto-complete” capabilities utilized during the addressing of electronic mail messages.
US08176130B2
Systems and methods for handling email messages are described. Some embodiments are directed to determining whether an email message meets a predefined condition, and executing an action in an instant messaging (IM) system in response to determining that the email message meets the predefined condition. Other embodiments are directed to providing a programming interface, and storing inputs provided by a user at the programming interface. For those embodiments, the programming interface is adapted to receive user input in the form of a markup language. The inputs include a condition and an action. Yet other embodiments are directed to determining whether a digital message meets a predefined condition, and executing a filtering algorithm on the digital message in response to determining that the digital message does not meet the predefined condition. The digital message may be, for example, an email message or an IM message.
US08176122B2
The present invention relates to a system and method for providing a communication network. The system comprises a network-connected server having input and access capabilities, a site builder, a transmitter, a communicator, and memory. The site-builder receives instructions input from a first user and creates a dedicated network site based on the received instructions. The transmitter communicates the existence of the dedicated network site to a nominated second user. The communicator provides accesses to the contents of the dedicated network site by the first and second users. The memory stores information input by the first and the second user in the dedicated network site.
US08176118B2
An information processing method of an information processing system including a client device functioning as a client and a server device functioning as a server which are capable of communication via a network, includes the steps of: at the server device, managing format identification information provided so as to be unique for each content data within the range of each data format, corresponding to the contents of each content; at the client device, causing execution of communication via network, for specifying a content, as to the server device; at the server device, transmitting, to the client device, format identification information correlated with a specified content in response to specification of a content via network from the client device; and at the client device, managing the received and obtained format identification information as corresponding to the specified content.
US08176106B2
The present invention relates to a method and a device (11) using a physical token (14), which provides measurable parameters, to derive at least one data set. A plurality of values of one or more of the parameters are measured. From these measured values, a measure of variance is calculated. Quantization intervals into which a measured value is to be quantized are then determined. A possible value of a data set, which subsequently can be derived from a measured value provided by the physical token, is associated with each quantization interval. Further, information which subsequently enables determination of these quantization intervals is stored. Hence, an enrolling phase has been completed. When the preparing phase has been completed, a deriving phase may commence. When a data set is to be derived, for example to be used as a cryptographic key, a value of any one of the parameters provided by the PUF is measured. This measured value is quantized into a determined quantization interval, and a data set may be derived from the quantization interval into which the measured value is quantized.
US08176103B2
Disclosed is a file accessing method of a file system which manages data by a block unit of a fixed size having an index and provides information associated with a file via a plurality of entries having an index and linked information of each of blocks forming the file. The file accessing method includes providing a hint information area to each of the plurality of entries so as to record an access mode or continuous allocation information for the file, allocating the plurality of blocks to record contents of the file, and recording the access mode in each of the hint information areas of entries corresponding to a first chain group of the allocated blocks and the continuous allocation information in the hint information area of at least one entry corresponding to a second chain group of the allocated blocks.
US08176094B2
A system and method for efficiently building virtual appliances in a hosted environment is provided. In particular, a plurality of image archives may be stored in a build database, with each image archive including a file system having a directory structure and a plurality of files installed within the directory structure. In response to a build request containing an image description, a build engine may create a file system layout defining a directory structure for an image. The build engine may then copy the file system for one of the image archives to the file system layout for the image, wherein the copied file system may provide a subset of the file system for the image. The build engine may then build the image, which may include a file system having various files installed within various directories in accordance with the directory structure defined for the image.
US08176082B2
A local search engine geographically indexes information for searching by identifying a geocoded web page of a web site and identifying at least one geocodable web page of the web site. The system identifies a geocode contained within content of the geocoded web page of the web site. The geocode indicates a physical location of an entity associated with the web site. The system indexes content of the geocoded web page and content of the geocodable web page. The indexing including associating the geocode contained within content of the geocoded web page to the indexed content of the geocoded web page and the geocodable web page to allow geographical searching of the content of the web pages.
US08176081B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to deploying XForms in an enterprise environment and provide a method, system and computer program product for forms integration of an external data model not implemented through a DOM accessible API. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for forms integration of an external data model not implemented through a DOM accessible API can include generating a data graph for an external data model for a forms based application and transforming the data graph into a DOM representation of the data graph. Value changes for fields of a form in the forms based application can be applied to nodes of the DOM representation and mutations in the nodes of the DOM representation can be synchronized to corresponding nodes in the data graph.
US08176074B2
Methods and systems are provided for querying a tag database. The tag database is stored in a storage. An XML document including a database query is received. The database query is written in a query language supported by an agent of the tag database. The XML document is parsed to extract the database query from the XML document. The tag database is accessed to perform at least one or a read or write operation on the tag database, based on the database query.
US08176073B2
There is provided an imaging device including a first processor for, when a group and a data position in a group are specified for data divided to one or plurality of groups, transmitting data of the specified data position through a first signal line; and a second processor including a first display for displaying a group element for selecting each group by a number determined based on number of groups, a second display for displaying, when the group element displayed is selected, data element for selecting each data by a number determined based on number of data belonging to the group of the selected group element, and a data transmission requesting unit for, when the data element is selected, specifying a group to which the data of the selected data element belongs and the data position in the group, and requesting data transmission to the first processor.
US08176068B2
A method and system implementing a process for suggesting search queries on an electronic device is provided. The process involves displaying terms related to content accessed by a user for selection by the user, obtaining one or more key terms related to a user-selected term, and displaying the one or more key terms to the user as query suggestions corresponding to the selected term. Obtaining one or more key terms involves obtaining one or more key terms related to the selected term, based on local content information and/or external content information.
US08176067B1
A set of search requests may be analyzed to detect fixed phrases suitable for inclusion in a search index. Sets of candidate phrases may be identified among the search requests. Fixed phrases may be detected among the candidate phrases using statistical techniques, for example, by identifying phrases having a relatively high pointwise mutual information (PMI) with respect to component keywords. Fixed phrase detection may include keyword and/or phrase clustering. Clusters may correspond to topics defined using a latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) procedure. Fixed phrase detection may include identifying phrases having relatively high PMI within particular clusters.
US08176062B2
Providing a dynamic data translation service in a framework that encapsulates other valuable service functions is disclosed. An information technology infrastructure operates in different environments, uses different formats and accesses complex and frequently changing data schemas. The service provider framework provides core computing process automation and dynamic data translation functionality in an encapsulated service that shields requesting systems from data schemas that are often both complex and prone to frequent changes.
US08176056B1
A ranking component ranks documents, such as web pages or web sites, to obtain a ranking score that defines a quality judgment of the document. The ranking score of a particular document is based on the ranking score of the documents which link to it and based on affiliation among the documents.
US08176046B2
Systems and methods for identifying trends in web feeds collected from various content servers are disclosed. One embodiment includes, selecting a candidate phrase indicative of potential trends in the web feeds, assigning the candidate phrase to trend analysis agents, analyzing the candidate phrase, by each of the one or more trend analysis agents, respectively using the configured type of trending parameter, and/or determining, by each of the trend analysis agents, whether the candidate phrase meets an associated threshold to qualify as a potential trended phrase.
US08176043B2
Content items and other entities may be ranked or organized according to a relevance to a user. Relevance may take into consideration recency, proximity, popularity, air time (e.g., of television shows) and the like. In one example, the popularity and age of a movie may be used to determine a relevance ranking. Popularity (i.e., entity rank) may be determined based on a variety of factors. In the movie example, popularity may be based on gross earnings, awards, nominations, votes and the like. According to one or more embodiments, entities may initially be categorized into relevance groupings based on popularity and/or other factors. Once categorized, the entities may be sorted within each grouping and later combined into a single ranked list.
US08176042B2
A computer-implemented method of linking a predefined set of electronic data sources comprises electronically identifying a query data item and one or more query dimensions based on a query statement, electronically determining first data sources in which at least one of one or more source fields is equivalent to the query data item, determining whether any one of the first data sources has the ability to provide the data related to the one or more query dimensions, and identifying one or more second data sources within the database corresponding to one or more of the first data sources if it is determined that the first data sources do not have the ability to provide data related to the one or more query dimensions. The one or more second data sources meet the following criteria: (1) one or more source fields of the one or more second data sources are equivalent to the one or more query dimensions not contained in the first data source; and (2) each source dimension of the one or more second data sources are either: (A) equivalent to a source field of the first source or (B) have values that are capable of being obtained from the query statement. One or more first data sources are linked with the corresponding one or more second data sources to generate one or more composite data sources to provide the necessary data in response to the query statement.
US08176039B2
One embodiment includes receiving user input specifying a plurality of result fields for an abstract query. Each result field corresponds to a logical field specification of a data abstraction model abstractly describing the data in the database. The method further includes receiving user input selecting one of the plurality of result fields, and receiving user input specifying a classification definition for the selected result field. The classification definition is suitable for dividing data to be returned for the selected result field into a plurality of categories. Then, a classification field for the abstract query is generated on the basis of the selected result field and the classification definition. The classification field is included with the abstract query. The method further includes receiving a user request for execution of the abstract query against the database.
US08176037B2
Systems and methods for SQL query load balancing are disclosed. A method may include establishing a ranking scheme, assigning a rank to an SQL query from the ranking scheme based on a plurality of rank assignment parameters, determining a threshold rank based on a plurality of gathered operational characteristics, comparing the assigned rank to the threshold rank, and, if the assigned rank is greater than the threshold rank, executing the SQL query on a database server. Otherwise, if the assigned rank is not greater than the threshold rank, executing the SQL query on a centralized storage system.
US08176035B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for detecting monotonicity. A determination is made as to whether a function that is assumed to be monotonic will remain monotonic after performing an operation in response to receiving the operation. The operation is allowed to be performed in response to a determination that the function will remain monotonic after performing the operation.
US08176034B2
The present invention is directed to a method for integrating road names recorded in a source data, particularly comprising steps of merging all interconnected segments having this road name into a user road group and merging these user road groups if they belongs to the same physical road entity. The present invention also relates to a method for integrating points of interest recorded in a source data, particularly comprising steps of, beginning from node with highest priority in the tree to the other nodes one at a time, finding nodes with same point of interest to redirect all child links of lower priority node to higher priority node among the same point of interest nodes and delete link between the same point of interest nodes; creating geometry relationship based on above new arrangement.
US08176032B2
Systems and methods are disclosed to automatically publish data items associated with a news event. In one example embodiment, a method comprises monitoring search queries associated with a search query category, detecting a change in a search request frequency associated with the search query category with respect to a baseline frequency, determining an event associated with the search query category, identifying one or more data items associated with the event, and generating a visual representation of a relationship between the one or more data items and the event. The search query category may be associated with at least one search term a baseline frequency.
US08176029B2
A composite display method and system for a search engine of same resource information based on the degree of attention. The search engine finds all the target stations that correspond to some conditions as original results. The original results are combined to a title search result depending on the content, quality, and information of a user, etc. The title search result is displayed on the browser of the user as a search result, and can be expanded when being viewed. The system uses a statistic server and network browser, and all operations of user are converted into the degree of attention for the web pages. The grade value for the degree of attention is sent to the statistic server as the standard of arrangement for the presentation of content and quality. Another method capable of judging the status of the user automatically and providing the suitable web page is also disclosed.
US08176028B2
A multimedia administration system with a central media data repository. The system repository contains metadata utilized for various queries including search, channels of distribution and account information. The system organizes and distributes media over an area wide broadcast network. The system uses custom meta tags to selectively update media files and metadata on a scheduled basis automatically without having to manually update this data in the system. The system spiders these meta tags on a scheduled basis to automate the programming of the media content over the broadcast network Platform System. The system also groups, associates, and affiliates various networks into nodes for broadcast over networks. Clients can communicate with users who are watching their videos. The clients can upon demand present content to viewers with more content related to the original video content in the form of another video, web links URLs, PDF literature, and/or voice files.
US08176027B1
A method and system of managing computer data files are disclosed. Each computer data file on at least one data storage device is associated with at least one physical geographic location. Alternatively, the location may be an actual physical geographic location, a virtual location, a historical location, a fictional location, and so on. A function provides for searching and accessing the computer data files by location.
US08176022B1
The present invention discloses a Locking Protocol using Dynamic Locks and Dynamic Shared Memory which provides a method whereby a designated critical section monitors object status through employment of counters attached to the object=s definition that will increment and decrement during reading and writing.
US08176015B1
A method and apparatus for selectively storing data on a server. The method operates by accessing a computer file and defining a data block as a current block of data. The current block is subsequently checksummed using a rolling error identification code. The method then determines if the calculated checksum for the current block has been previously stored in a database. If a matching checksum for the data is found in the database, then a duplicate of the current block already exists and the process repeats by selecting a new block of data. Alternatively, if the calculated checksum is absent from the checksum and the process has advanced one block length, the process moves back one block length and stores the current block in an archive. Otherwise, the checksum advances one byte forward to form a new current block of data and the process repeats.
US08176014B2
Servers in a network cluster can each store a copy of a data item in local cache, providing read access to these copies through read-only entity beans. The original data item in the database can be updated through a read/write entity bean one of the cluster servers. That cluster server has access to an invalidation target, which contains identification information relating to copies of the data item stored on servers in the cluster. Once the read/write bean updates the data item in the database, an invalidate request can be sent or multicast to all cluster members, or to any read-only bean or server contained in the invalidation target. Each server or read-only bean receiving the request knows to drop any copy of the data item in local cache, and can request a current copy of the data item from the database.
US08176010B2
In a system in which data employed by a computer is stored in a storage system, the storage system transfers this data to another storage system and a copy of the data is maintained in the other storage system. The consistency of the copy is maintained even when data is written, to the storage system by a computer, without having a write time applied. A source storage system, when a write time is applied to a write request, records the write time and applies this write time to the received write data and, when no write time is applied, applies the recorded write time to the received write data and transfers the write data with this write time applied thereto, to a target storage system. The target storage system stores the write data in a logical volume in the target storage system in accordance with the write time.
US08176007B2
A method and apparatus for performing an action in response to a file system event is provided. According to one aspect, sets of “event listeners” are associated with a file hierarchy and/or the nodes thereof. Each event listener contains a set of “event handlers.” Each event handler corresponds to a separate type of event that may occur relative to the file hierarchy's nodes. When an event is going to occur relative to the hierarchy or a node thereof, all event listeners that are associated with that hierarchy/node are inspected to determine whether those event listeners contain any event handlers that correspond to the event's type. Those event handlers that correspond to the event's type are placed in an ordered list of event handlers to be invoked. As the event handlers in the list are invoked, programmatic mechanisms that correspond to those event handlers are executed to perform customized user-specified actions.
US08175999B2
Methods for optimizing the cost of executing a set of tests including finding the optimal ordering of the tests for some important cases such as set of tests having series-parallel structure with no statistical dependencies, and near-optimal orderings for the rest of the cases, such that the resources required for executing the tests are minimized.
US08175985B2
A system for implementing a hierarchical temporal memory (HTM) network using a plugin infrastructure. The plugin infrastructure registers the plugins to be used in instantiating the HTM network. The plugin may include one or more functions for creating one or more components of the HTM network in a runtime engine. The plugin is associated with a component specification describing the components of the HTM network created by invoking the functions of the plugin. After the plugin is registered, the plugin infrastructure allows functions of the plugin to be invoked to instantiate The HTM network on a runtime engine. After the HTM network is instantiated, the runtime engine may run the instance of the HTM network to learn and infer the causes of input data. The system may also include one or more external programs to provide various supporting operations associated with the runtime engine by referencing the component specification. The supporting operations that can be performed by the external programs include, among others, validating a netlist defining the structure of the HTM network, build help information for the component, and generating a graphical user interface associated with the HTM network.
US08175983B2
A communication system has: a portable communication device; and an in-vehicle communication device that communicates with the portable communication device through synchronous communication. The potable communication device transmits dummy signals simulating the vehicle information to the in-vehicle communication device in a first period. The in-vehicle communication device learns and records a first filter coefficient for filtering the dummy signals that are received in the first period and a second filter coefficient for filtering signals that are received from the sensors in a second period in which the portable communication device do not transmit the dummy signals, and the in-vehicle communication device calculates a third filter coefficient for removing noises on signals received from the sensors based on the first and second filter coefficients and then filters the received signals using the third filter coefficient.
US08175979B2
A method for conducting transactions, includes: encoding concatenated transaction information at a cash point; sending the encoded concatenated transaction information from the cash point to a mobile device; receiving verification information from the mobile device formed in response to the encoded concatenated transaction information; confirming the received verification information; completing a transaction in the event of successfully confirming the received verification information.
US08175968B2
Embodiments of the invention include a method and system for effectuating an electronic payment between a payor and a payee using an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) network. The method is implemented by a system having multiple processors. The payor may hold a payor account at a payor institution and the payee may have a payee account at a payee institution. The method includes generating a payment authorization identifying the payee institution, the payee account, and an amount of the payment and transmitting the payment authorization to the payor institution. The method further includes debiting the payor account by the amount of the payment; transmitting from the payor institution to the payee institution through the EFT network an EFT credit message representing a credit in the amount of the payment; and crediting the payee account in the amount of the payment in response to the receipt of the EFT credit message.
US08175964B2
A method for financing renewable energy systems includes offering a home loan to a homeowner in which the interest payable by the homeowner are tax deductible. A lease is also offered to the homeowner for the installation and use of a renewable energy system. A deposit of cash proceeds from the home loan is put into a trust held by an escrow agent for the single purpose of paying lease payments for the lease as each payment becomes due. Such that the proceeds from the home loan are effectively used to defease the debt represented by the lease.
US08175955B2
A user interface for an electronic trading exchange is provided which allows a remote trader to view in real time bid orders, offer orders, and trades for an item, and optionally one or more sources of contextual data. Individual traders place orders on remote client terminals, and this information is routed to a transaction server. The transaction server receives order information from the remote terminals, matches a bid for an item to an offer for an item responsive to the bid corresponding with the offer, and communicates outstanding bid and offer information, and additional information (such as trades and contextual data) back to the client terminals. Each client terminal displays all of the outstanding bids and offers for an item, allowing the trader to view trends in orders for an item. A priority view is provided in which orders are displayed as tokens at locations corresponding to the values of the orders. The size of the tokens reflects the quantity of the orders. An alternate view positions order icons at a location which reflects the value and quantity of the order. Additionally, contextual data for the item is also displayed to allow the trader to consider as much information as possible while making transaction decisions. A pit panel view is also provided in which traders connected to the pit are represented by icons, and are displayed corresponding to an activity level of the trader.
US08175946B2
A system, method and computer program product are described for providing the execution probability of a limit order within a given time period based on historical and current information and for adaptively and dynamically adjusting to intra-day trade data. For a given financial interest, the frequency of trade execution, the time evolution of the price, the time evolution of the trade volume, and the current state of the market, among other parameters, are captured and/or calculated. A probability function is generated based on the parameters corresponding to various time spans, and the execution probability of a limit order within a given time period is provided. Embodiments of the invention can be employed to estimate the probability of a limit order being executed within a given time period in the future, e.g., the next two minutes, based on the parameter data of a given time period in the past, e.g., the previous five minutes.
US08175945B2
Commercial size of spending wallet (“CSoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“CSoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. A modeling approach utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. Marketing companies that sell lists compile those lists by searching one or more databases for names and/or businesses that match certain criteria. Those marketing companies can use the CSoW/CSoSW modeling approach to show predicted spend and/or revenues for each company on a list. This makes the list more valuable to list buyers.
US08175937B2
Systems and methods are provided for evaluating financial information, including systems and methods with computational/evaluation capability to process data sets comprising financial data. In one of the implementations, the systems and methods may be utilized for asset accounting. A calculation module may be provided that includes an evaluation engine that operates internally on a flat, generic data structure that is independent of the particular application. The externally-defined data structure of the data set may be mapped onto the internal data structure. Further, rules-based modules may provide information related to the client-defined rules. A user interface may enable a user to receive back the evaluated financial information, for a specified time period, the financial information being responsive to an original user request entered via the user interface. As a result, the evaluation engine can be used for a variety of different applications.
US08175936B2
Methods, systems, and software for identifying reusable development components or other enterprise knowledge—whether developed internally or by third parties—are described herein. One method for identifying reusable development components includes receiving a request for development components according to search criteria. A catalog with at least a first development component of a first type and a second development component of a second type is then provided to a user on any suitable client.
US08175934B2
A system for automatically preparing customized replies in response to communications from a plurality of clients. To facilitate automation and tracking, each original communication to the client (or each original response from the client) is tagged with a unique label, and replies to client responses are each correspondingly labeled. The system provides individualized replies to each of a variety of response options that a client might exercise in response to a received communication, whether an original communication or a reply to a previous response. The system is applicable to mass marketing communications, and is particularly well suited to the generation of personalized replies to each and every one of a multitude (tens of thousands and up to millions) of communications from clients. The system is also capable of continuing to generate replies to follow-up responses from clients and to thereby maintain an ongoing “conversation” until the client makes a purchase decision, or no longer responds. Communications may be delivered through a variety of means, such as the internet, the mails, by facsimile, on a host communication, etc.
US08175922B2
Advertisements displayed in a web page are enabled to be changed as a context of the web page changes without reloading the web page. A first set of one or more advertisements may be displayed on a web page. One or more of the displayed advertisements may be replaced with one or more alternative advertisements. Selection of the alternative advertisements is triggered based on the occurrence of one or more events that cause a change in a context of the web page. The display of the alternative advertisements is performed dynamically, without the web page needing to be reloaded. In this manner, the advertisements displayed on a web page may be changed based on the change in web page context, to provide advertisements to users that correspond to the changing context.
US08175921B1
A product placement and advertising method utilizes a video signal having a product placement with an active hypertext link and/or a linking advertisement. If the user of a mobile terminal receiving the video signal clicks on the product placement or linking advertisement, the server obtains the location of the mobile terminal and generates or selects an advertisement which is related to the location.
US08175920B2
A subscriber-based sales leads exchange system and method for efficiently maximizing revenue to lead sellers and for providing high quality, temporally relevant sales leads to lead buyers based on a transaction between a lead seller and a customer of said lead seller.
US08175918B2
A computer-implemented system and method are provided for automatically determining rebate eligibility for purchased products. In one example, the purchased products may be travel-rebated products such as booked air travel itineraries. A database stores purchase information associated with purchased products purchased at corresponding purchase prices. A product administration system having a computer software-based product administration application interacts with the database and purchase information of a first purchased product is compared with purchase information of subsequently purchased products. The product administration application interacts with the database to determine if the first purchased a product matches a subsequently purchased product based on a set of matching criteria. The first purchased product may be eligible for a rebate if the product administration application determines that the subsequently purchased product was purchased at a lower purchase price than the purchase price for the first purchased product.
US08175911B2
A system and method for inferring and visualizing correlations of different business aspects for business transformation are provided. Business models, for instance, that may include business component model, business process model, value drivers and metrics model, application model, organization model, and solutions model are organized into a model topology data schema, and qualitative relationships and quantitative relationships may be configured among the entities or components of the business models. Correlations are inferred and visualized based on those relationships.
US08175906B2
Techniques are provided for automating allocation of resources based on business decisions. An impact of a business decision is quantified in terms of information technology (IT) metrics. The resources that may be needed to address the impact are estimated. The estimated resources are provisioned.
US08175903B2
System and method for optimizing composition of a pool from which members are selected to serve on market research panels are described. In one embodiment, the system includes a database comprising a plurality of member profiles and survey data associated with the members and a datamart for periodically scanning the database to discover events and subsequently logging each of the discovered events in an event log. The system further includes an offense module for periodically evaluating the event log to determine whether one of the discovered events comprises an offense committed by one of the members and logging the offense in an offense log and an audit module for performing an audit of the one of the members and logging results of the audit in an audit log.
US08175896B2
Computers, computer program products, and methods for identifying a plurality of subjects for a clinical trial are provided. A candidate set of molecular profiles in a stored plurality of molecular profiles are identified. Each such profile has measurements for a discriminating set of cellular constituents that match the measurements of corresponding cellular constituents in a responder set of biological samples, thereby identifying the plurality of subjects for the trial from those subjects from which the candidate set of molecular profiles were derived. Each respective molecular profile in the stored plurality of profiles has measurements of a plurality of cellular constituents from a respective biological sample in a plurality of samples obtained from a first plurality of subjects. The discriminating set of cellular constituents is identified from those cellular constituents in the plurality of cellular constituents whose measurement values discriminates between the responder and nonresponder sets of biological samples.
US08175893B2
The present invention is directed to a method for recommending a disposable incontinence device to be used by an incontinent person. The method comprises the steps of: (a) receiving information, from a user, about incontinence devices which are currently used by the incontinent person; (b) receiving information about the situation which is experienced by the user; and (c) selecting at least one device, based on the information received, among predetermined disposable incontinence devices. By this method, an appropriate disposable incontinence device(s) to be used are recommended depending on the user's situation. The present invention is also directed a method for evaluating the quality of life of a caregiver who takes care of an incontinent person.
US08175890B2
An algorithm for generating of a program, as well as an associated method for handling of radioactive pharmaceuticals by a pharmacy so that data may be maintained on the acquisition, dispensing and handling of the radioactive pharmaceuticals and the disposition thereof. The algorithm and method allow for data to be electronically introduced in generally temporal relationship to the performance of physical activities. In addition, the algorithm and the method allow for computerized generation of required governmental reports, which thereby reduces the amount of manual operator attention which would otherwise be required. In addition, the algorithm and method allows for periodic information to be sent to quality control assurance personnel for generation of reports and information by such personnel.
US08175889B1
A computer-implemented system for updating mailing address or other contact information using service disconnect and connect information, such as for telephone, utility, or other service, is described. Electronic information about service disconnect requests and service connection requests is received and compared to identify requests that are linked to the same individual, household, or other entity. A confidence assessment module may produce an indicator, such as a score, of a confidence level in a correct matching of a disconnect and a connect request, based at least in part on similarity of names or other account information, proximity of addresses, and proximity of effective dates associated with potentially matching service connect and disconnect requests. In some embodiments, service disconnect and connect records from a plurality of services are used.
US08175882B2
A method for task execution improvement, the method includes: generating a baseline model for executing a task; recording a user executing a task; comparing the baseline model to the user's execution of the task; and providing feedback to the user based on the differences in the user's execution and the baseline model.
US08175881B2
A phoneme sequence corresponding to a target speech is divided into a plurality of segments. A plurality of speech units for each segment is selected from a speech unit memory that stores speech units having at least one frame. The plurality of speech units has a prosodic feature accordant or similar to the target speech. A formant parameter having at least one formant frequency is generated for each frame of the plurality of speech units. A fused formant parameter of each frame is generated from formant parameters of each frame of the plurality of speech units. A fused speech unit of each segment is generated from the fused formant parameter of each frame. A synthesized speech is generated by concatenating the fused speech unit of each segment.
US08175879B2
The inventive system can automatically annotate the relationship of text and acoustic units for the purposes of: (a) predicting how the text is to be pronounced as expressively synthesized speech, and (b) improving the proportion of expressively uttered speech as correctly identified text representing the speaker's message. The system can automatically annotate text corpora for relationships of uttered speech for a particular speaking style and for acoustic units in terms of context and content of the text to the utterances. The inventive system can use kinesthetically defined expressive speech production phonetics that are recognizable and controllable according to kinesensic feedback principles. In speech synthesis embodiments of the invention, the text annotations can specify how the text is to be expressively pronounced as synthesized speech. Also, acoustically-identifying features for dialects or mispronunciations can be identified so as to expressively synthesize alternative dialects or stylistic mispronunciations for a speaker from a given text. In speech recognition embodiments of the invention, each text annotation can be uniquely identified from the corresponding acoustic features of a unit of uttered speech to correctly identify the corresponding text. By employing a method of rules-based text annotation, the invention enables expressiveness to be altered to reflect syntactic, semantic, and/or discourse circumstances found in text to be synthesized or in an uttered message.
US08175874B2
A method of transferring a real-time audio signal transmission, including: registering voice patterns (or other characteristics) of on more users to be used to identify the voices of the users, accepting an audio signal as it is created as a sequence of segments, analyzing each segment of the accepted audio signal to determine if it contains voice activity (314), determining a probability level that the voice activity of the segment is of a registered user (320 & 322); and selectively transferring the contents, of a segment responsive to the determined probability level (324).
US08175871B2
Multiple microphone noise suppression apparatus and methods are described herein. The apparatus and methods implement a variety of noise suppression techniques and apparatus that can be selectively applied to signals received using multiple microphones. The microphone signals received at each of the multiple microphones can be independently processed to cancel echo signal components that can be generated from a local audio source. The echo cancelled signals may be processed by some or all modules within a signal separator that operates to separate or otherwise isolate a speech signal from noise signals. The signal separator can include a pre-processing de-correlator followed by a blind source separator. The output of the blind source separator can be post filtered to provide post separation de-correlation. The separated speech and noise signals can be non-linearly processed for further noise reduction, and additional post processing can be implemented following the non-linear processing.
US08175865B2
A method of text script generation for a corpus-based text-to-speech system includes searching in a source corpus having L sentences, selecting N sentences with a best integrated efficiency as N best cases, and setting iteration k to be 1; for each case n of the N best cases, selecting Mk+1 best sentences with the best integrated efficiency from the unselected sentences in the source corpus; keeping N best cases out of the total unselected sentences for next iteration, and increasing iteration k by 1; and if a termination criterion being reached, setting the best case in the N traced cases as the text script, otherwise, returning to the (k+1)th iteration of searching in the unselected sentences for (k+1)th sentence; wherein the best integrated efficiency depends on a function of combining the covering rate of the synthesis unit type, the hit rate of the synthesis unit type, and the text script size.
US08175864B1
This specification describes technologies relating to identifying nearest neighbors are provided. In one implementation, a method includes using a first and a second collections of n-grams and their associated probabilities to generate a plurality of randomized ranked collections of n-grams of each of the first natural language and the second natural language, each ranked collection of n-grams of the plurality of randomized ranked collection of n-grams having an ordering of n-grams according to a rarity of the n-grams in the respective first collection and the second collection of n-grams; using each of the plurality of ranked collections of n-grams to determine a plurality of signatures, each signature corresponding to a text of a collection of texts; and using the plurality of signatures to identify candidate text pairs within the collection of texts including a plurality of texts in the first and the second natural languages.
US08175859B1
A computer software program provides an algorithm that solves for unknown demands (and junction pressures) within a modeling system that uses a generalized, unified loop-node formulation. The program can be used to calculate the available demand (i.e., the amount of water that is to be supplied) according to the nodal pressure. Both nodal heads and flows are simultaneously solved using a gradient algorithm, which allows, in accordance with the present invention, the model to simulate situations where a change in pressure affects the quantity of water used. Criticality analyses for segments of a system in such pressure dependent scenarios can also be performed using the software program of the present invention.
US08175857B2
A system and method for viewing models and model variables within a sophisticated modeling environment is disclosed. The system provides varying levels of insight into a modeling infrastructure to help the user understand model and model variable dependencies, usage, distribution, and/or the like. The method includes storing model and model variable data within a relational database system, receiving a request from a user interfacing with the system via a web interface, extracting search criteria and presentation preferences from the request, formulating and executing one or more queries on the database to retrieve the required data, formatting the data in accordance with the request, and retuning the data to the requesting user in the form of a web page.
US08175854B2
An exemplary method enables implementation of a universal circuit capable of emulating each gate of a circuit designed to calculate a function. A first selection module receives inputs associated with the function. It generates outputs that are an ordered series of the inputs. A universal module receives these outputs and generates another set of outputs. A second selection module receives the outputs from the universal module and generates final function outputs that are an ordered series inputs received from the universal module. The selection modules and universal module themselves are also aspects of the present invention.
US08175837B2
In a method of estimating one of mechanical supporting states of a housing for an electronic apparatus, a drive signal is supplied to an oscillation device from which first oscillation is applied to the housing. A sensor detects a second oscillation transferred through the housing in response to the first oscillation to generate an oscillation signal, and a measurement response characteristic is obtained based on the drive signal and the oscillation signal, and is compared with reference response characteristics which are correlated with the mechanical supporting states, respectively, to estimate one of the mechanical supporting states of the housing.
US08175823B2
A device, comprising a monitoring slicer adapted to repeatedly sample an internal analog signal to provide a sequence of digital outputs indicating a result of a comparison of the level of the internal analog signal to a reference voltage and an operative unit adapted to perform a task of the device and provide a result without using digital outputs from the monitoring slicer.
US08175821B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a measurement system that measures physical quantity distribution over the entire region using a sensor for physical quantity distribution (PQD sensor) that realizes high stretchability, flexibility, etc., in at least a partial region, in order to measure the physical quantity distribution that is regionally distributed in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional manner, as well as a method for measuring physical quantity distribution. Such measurement system comprises: a body for converting physical quantity distribution (PQDc body) structured in such a way that the condition of injection current changes according to the action of the target physical quantity; multiple electrodes arranged in such a way that they can supply injection current to the PQDc body and measure data of the electric potential distribution generated by the PQDc body as a result; a PQD sensor comprising the PQDc body, electrodes, and an electric signal processing unit that processes electrode signals; and a processing part that processes data with the PQD sensor; wherein the measurement method comprises a data acquisition procedure to cause electrodes to generate injection current and measure the electric potential distribution that generates in the PQDc body, which is used as measured data, and an estimation procedure to read the measured data and use the read data to obtain the distribution of the target physical quantity that acts upon the PQDc body.
US08175817B2
Various methods for visualization of output from a liquid-liquid chromatographic instrument are provided. One or more analytes detected by a liquid-liquid chromatographic instrument are visualized by providing a data set comprising a plurality of data points corresponding to one or more analytes detected by the instrument, wherein the data points comprise at least one parameter related to a K-value or a parameter from which a K-value can be determined. A K-value is calculated for at least a portion of the data set, and at least a portion of those K-values transformed by a reciprocal transformation to generate output data having a transformed K-value, wherein the transformed K-value is a real number for all K undergoing the transformation, thereby ensuring that all analytes detected by the instrument are plotted in a single chromatogram. The output data is provided to a user. The output data may be used for instrument performance testing, design, calibration, or for selecting suitable solvent systems to detect analytes of interest.
US08175815B2
The invention deals with a method for the assessment of the effect of excipients, pH and combinations thereof on the predicted absorption properties of low solubility compounds, comprising the step of assessing a change in a flux function for a combination of a low solubility compound and an excipient at at least one predefined pH value. The method allows a fast, accurate, and economic evaluation of an excipient being capable of optimizing the absorption of drug molecules, i.e. low solubility compounds. Furthermore, animal experiments can be excluded and use of compounds can be reduced in such evaluation. Thus, screening for future formulation efficacy (pH and excipient effects on solubility and permeability) of drug candidates can be justified, since the method is fast, compound-sparing, cost-effective, and reasonably accurate.
US08175810B2
A sample processing apparatus prevents samples and reagents from being degraded due to a prolonged waiting time other than for reaction and improves the operation efficiency of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a plurality of processing sections for causing at least two samples to react independently, an input/output terminal 15 for inputting the upper limit of the waiting time and the reaction time for each of the samples, a schedule management section for determining at least the clock time of introducing each of the samples, the processing section to be used for processing the sample and/or the waiting time for the sample, and a general control section for controlling the processing of the samples at the plurality of processing sections according to the determination by the schedule management section.
US08175809B2
A fluorescence analyzing method includes the steps of irradiating a board, to which oligonucleotide is fixed, with light for fluorescence measurement; focusing produced fluorescence to form an image; and detecting the fluorescence with a two-dimensional sensor. Here, the board is provided with plural regions to which the oligonucleotide is fixed, and the plural regions are spaced apart from one another on the board substantially equidistantly in the vertical and horizontal directions. A fluorescent image is detected in a condition where the following equation is satisfied: dd=ds×M/n where ds denotes the interval between the regions, M denotes the imaging magnification of an optical focusing/imaging system, dd denotes the pixel pitch of the two-dimensional sensor, and n denotes an integer (n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
US08175808B2
Techniques for determining optimal duration for treatment of disease include receiving an untreated series of measurements and a treated series of measurements. The untreated series indicates temporal progression of a physical property related to a disease while the disease is untreated. The treated series of measurements indicates temporal progression of the physical property of the disease while a particular treatment is administered. A series of effectiveness values is determined based on the untreated and treated series. Each effectiveness value indicates a ratio between an untreated and a treated rate of change of the physical property at a corresponding time. An elapsed time is determined from start of treatment to an earliest time when an effectiveness value reaches an extreme compared to adjacent effectiveness values. Duration for treatment is based on the elapsed time, and is especially useful for each cycle of dose dense regimes for treatments with toxic side effects.
US08175807B2
A method for determining properties of a subterranean formation. The method includes determining at least one characterization parameter based on wave velocity measurement data, determining a plurality of elastic coefficients based on the at least one characterization parameter using a plurality of equations, determining an anisotropic stress profile of the subterranean formations based on the stiffness matrix of the subterranean formation comprising the plurality of elastic coefficients wherein the elastic coefficients are approximated using the plurality of equations, and displaying the anisotropic stress profile of the subterranean formations.
US08175798B2
An electronic mobile device includes a display for displaying a graphical element. A tilt sensor is configured to sense first and second tilt angles of the mobile device. A processor is coupled to the display and the tilt sensor and configured to move the graphical element relative to the display in a first direction based on the first tilt angle, and to move the graphical element relative to the display in a second direction based on the second tilt angle.
US08175789B2
As a compression-ignition direct-injection engine combustion controller, a program for detecting ignition timing of a main injection Mn (main ignition timing), a program for correcting a command value of main injection execution timing in a direction to the side where a detection value is converged within a predetermined range, a program for determining whether or not the corrected command value is within a predetermined range, and a program for, when it is determined that the command value is not within the range, correcting a command value related to an injection amount of a pilot injection Pt based on whether or not the command value is on a delay side or an advance side of the range.
US08175787B2
An engine control system having primary and secondary fuel tanks comprises a fuel monitoring module and a transfer pump (TP) diagnostic module. The fuel monitoring module determines a measured fuel level of the secondary fuel tank based on a fuel level signal received from a fuel level sensor when a fuel TP is on for greater than a predetermined time period required for the fuel TP to reduce the measured fuel level from a predetermined fuel level to below the predetermined fuel level. The TP diagnostic module diagnoses a condition of the fuel TP based on the measured fuel level.
US08175783B2
An organ type accelerator pedal assembly may include a vibration generating module coupled to a carrier connected with a foot plate, and engaged with a first actuator through a power transfer member to bring a vibration to the carrier, a pushing-force generating module actuated by a second actuator and movably disposed under the vibration generating module to provide a pushing-force to the foot plate when contacting with the vibration generating module, and/or a control unit controlling the first actuator and/or the second actuator.
US08175775B2
A system and method for enabling the communication to and establishment among a plurality of generally like and like-purpose agricultural machines designed to perform generally similar agricultural operations within a given area generally like performance parameters, especially based upon the performance parameters of a particular agricultural machine that is considered or deemed to be the expert or exemplar machine, which system and method employ short range communications systems included in or associated with the operating systems of the individual agricultural machines to effect the distribution of the exemplar performance parameters to the plurality of agricultural machines, through a peer-to-peer wireless network between and among the plurality of agricultural machines for point-to-point communications, for use by the individual agricultural machines in controlling and performing the agricultural operation.
US08175770B2
A system is provided for determining a distance between a vehicular suspension assembly and the ground, wherein the suspension assembly has a first member. The system comprises a first transceiver coupled to the first member for emitting a first interrogation signal toward the ground, and for receiving a first reflection of the first interrogation signal from the ground, and a processor coupled to the first transceiver for determining the distance of the first transceiver from the ground.
US08175767B2
A diagnostic apparatus (10) in which a drive circuit (2) is configured of switching means (3) for supplying an electric current to a linear solenoid valve and variably regulating a valve opening degree on the basis of inputted ON-OFF signals, current detection means (4) for detecting an electric current flowing from the switching means (3) to the linear solenoid valve (1), and control means (5) for outputting ON-OFF signals to the switching means (3) on the basis of a detected current value from the current detection means (4) so that the linear solenoid valve has a target opening degree, and which diagnoses a ground short between the drive circuit (2) and the linear solenoid valve (1), the diagnostic apparatus including ground short detection means (5) for detecting a switching of ON-OFF signals inputted in the switching means (3) and determining a ground short fault when the number of ON-OFF switching cycles per a predetermined interval is equal to or less than a predetermined number of cycles.
US08175764B2
A system for identifying at least one condition of at least one upcoming feature of at least one track in a track network. The system includes a positioning system for determining an estimated train position on a track within the track network, and at least one database including track data and feature data. A computer (i) obtains the determined estimated train position on at least one track from the positioning system; and (ii) for the at least one track, identifies at least one condition for at least one upcoming feature based at least in part upon the track data and the feature data in the at least one database. The feature data is dynamically updated while the train is traversing the track in the track network. A method and apparatus for identifying a condition of an upcoming feature are also provided.
US08175763B2
An automatic landing apparatus for an aircraft includes: an altitude sensor; an airspeed sensor; an attitude angle sensor; a direction sensor; a position sensor; a landing command inputting section; and a control device, including: an approaching flight control section for realizing an approaching flight along a predetermined path by controlling a propulsion device and a control surface, in response to a landing command; a flare control section for controlling the propulsion device to provide a minimum output and controlling the control surface to perform a flare when the altitude of the aircraft becomes less than a predetermined landing altitude; and a landing run control section for realizing a landing run by controlling the propulsion device to maintain the minimum output and controlling the control surface to maintain the attitude angle and the traveling direction of the aircraft when the airspeed of the aircraft becomes less than a predetermined landing speed.
US08175760B2
A device comprises means for computing the air-craft (A) current position, means for determining at least one maximum permitted deviation (E1) around a set position of the flight path of the flight plan according to accuracy and integrity performances of said current position computation and to the restriction of a flight range authorized in a flight corridor (6A, 6B), and a display system (7) for displaying at least one a distance scale (9) on a viewing screen (8), at least one a fixed symbol (10) displaying the current position and two movable pointers (13, 14) displaying the limits of said maximum permitted deviation (E1).
US08175759B2
Systems and methods for validating predetermined events in reconfigurable control systems are provided. One method includes receiving, by a plurality of redundant processors operating in a first mode, a notice from two of three redundant sensors that the predetermined event occurred and reconfiguring the plurality of redundant processors to operate in a second mode in response to the notice. Another method includes receiving a first notice that one or more sensors detected that a first vehicle is coupled to a second vehicle at a primary control system and a secondary control system and reconfiguring the primary control system and the secondary control system to operate in another mode at substantially the same time in response to the notice.
US08175754B2
A method of providing configuration information for a process fluid flow device is provided. The method includes receiving a process fluid selection and providing at least one selectable fluid property relative to the selected process fluid and receiving at least one process fluid property selection. Information relative to a primary element is also received. Reception of a reset relative to the process fluid selection, the process fluid property, and the primary element selection, clears the respective information. The configuration information is provided to a process fluid flow device based on the process fluid selection, the process fluid property and the primary element information.
US08175752B2
Disclosed is a control system for controlling a plurality of fluidly and operably connected water heaters to meet a hot water demand such that overall efficiency is maximized and usage disparity between water heaters is minimized. There is further disclosed a method for detecting a small system demand in said network by adjusting the setting of each flow limiting valve of each water heater. There is still further disclosed a method for enabling seamless addition or removal of a heater in service and heating load distribution to water heaters.
US08175751B2
Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for screening among various EOR process for application to a reservoir. Also provided are computer-implemented systems and methods for screening the feasibility of a waterflood process for application in a reservoir and for recommending a waterflood injection scheme to be applied. In addition, computer-implemented systems and methods for predicting the performance of a waterflood process in a reservoir are provided. Computer-implemented systems and methods for predicting the performance of a polymer flood technique in a reservoir also are provided. The performance of the polymer flood process may be compared to the performance of a waterflood process.
US08175748B2
A technology is provided that easily acquires the location where an article is placed and then moves to that location, even in cases where the article was originally placed in a location shielded from GPS radio wave, and subsequently moved to another location. Marks and RFID tags are affixed to a movable tray. A transfer robot includes a camera, a reader, and a sensor. The transfer robot detects the tray location from the location of a region in an image photographed by the camera that matches mark information. Furthermore, the reader in the transfer robot detects the tray location from the intensity of a radio wave whose information, when read, matches an ID retained in the RFID tag. The transfer robot moves with the camera and the reader, detecting the tray that is the target destination.
US08175746B2
A weight-based dispensing system is disclosed. The system includes a platform and a container, coupled to the platform, including a lid configured to move between a closed state restricting access to items in the container and an open state allowing access to the items in the container. The system also includes at least two weight sensors, wherein each of the weight sensors is coupled to the platform and is configured to determine a change in weight on the platform, and a controller configured to determine a change in the number of items in the container based on the state of the lid and the change in weight on the platform. A method for dispensing items is also disclosed.
US08175740B2
Yarn processing system for simultaneously processing a plurality of yarns in a processing machine, such as a twisting machine, a texturizing machine, or a dyeing machine. A yarn tensioning assembly is provided and has, for each yarn entering the processing machine, at least an individual controlled tensioner and an individual tensiometer. The controlled tensioner and the tensiometer are integrated into a closed yarn tension feedback regulation loop for regulating and maintaining a set yarn tension. The tensiometer is connected in parallel to one superimposed common tension monitoring and setting system for centrally setting and monitoring the yarn tension.
US08175737B2
Method and apparatus for designing an integrated circuit by adding a plurality of control points to an integrated circuit wafer design. Each control point has at least one attribute. Then, an integrated circuit wafer is manufactured using the integrated circuit wafer design. A defect on the integrated circuit wafer is then located. The control points are adjusted such that they correspond with the defect.
US08175736B2
A processing system and method for chemical oxide removal (COR) is presented, wherein the processing system comprises a first treatment chamber and a second treatment chamber, wherein the first and second treatment chambers are coupled to one another. The first treatment chamber comprises a chemical treatment chamber that provides a temperature controlled chamber, and an independently temperature controlled substrate holder for supporting a substrate for chemical treatment. The substrate is exposed to a gaseous chemistry, such as HF/NH3, under controlled conditions including surface temperature and gas pressure. The second treatment chamber comprises a heat treatment chamber that provides a temperature controlled chamber, thermally insulated from the chemical treatment chamber. The heat treatment chamber provides a substrate holder for controlling the temperature of the substrate to thermally process the chemically treated surfaces on the substrate.
US08175734B2
The present invention relates to a system and method of transforming an inconsistent 3D (three-dimensional) model of one or more 3D objects into a valid printable 3D model, said method comprising: (a) receiving an input model file and/or receiving modeler data, giving rise to an input 3D model having one or more parts; (b) analyzing said input 3D model and removing its one or more inconsistencies; (c) thickening the one or more parts of said 3D model, while preserving their functionality; and (d) unifying the union of interior volumes of said one or more parts, thereby removing self intersections and/or intersections between the two or more parts, giving rise to a valid printable 3D model.
US08175731B2
A digital mixer has a custom component specified by a configuration ID. Further, the same configuration ID is provided to another custom component for ensuring compatibility of scene data which is used for operating the custom component. When a custom component of the mixer configuration is edited, the edited custom component is provided with the same configuration ID as the initial custom component before the editing. Scene data of the initial custom component can be copied to scene data of the edited custom component or vice versa provided that their configuration IDs match with each other.
US08175720B2
Patient efficacy inputs are received over a period of time during which posture-responsive therapy is delivered to the patient while the patient occupies a plurality of posture states. The patient inputs are correlated with the times at which the inputs were received, a sensed posture state of the patient, and a therapy program defining therapy delivery at each of the times the posture state was sensed. Posture-responsive therapy is adjusted based on the historical posture-responsive therapy information correlating the patient input, patient input time, sensed posture state, and therapy program.
US08175717B2
A stimulator includes an implantable pulse generator comprising circuit elements, a first power source, such as an ultracapacitor, that provides operating power for the circuit elements of the pulse generator. The pulse generator can also have a memory associated therewith, such as a volatile memory for storing programming data. A second power source that has higher voltage retention than the first power source can also be included. The second power source can be dedicated to the volatile memory and can provide operating power for the volatile memory.
US08175715B1
A system enables high-frequency communication between an external communication device and one or more implantable medical devices. The system implements a communication protocol in which the external communication device interrogates any implantable medical devices within range to establish one-to-one communication links for purposes of exchanging data and/or programming the medical devices.
US08175704B2
An exemplary method includes acquiring cardiac electrical activity information; detecting cardiac events within the information including T waves, QRS complexes and/or P waves; and calling for delivery of matter to the heart during a period of time based on the cardiac events. The delivery may occur between a detected T wave and its immediately subsequent QRS complex. The matter being delivered may include stem cells, progenitor cells, nutrients and/or drugs.
US08175701B2
Various system embodiments comprise a neural stimulator, a premature ventricular contraction (PVC) event detector, a heart rate detector, an analyzer, and a controller. The neural stimulator is adapted to generate a stimulation signal adapted to stimulate an autonomic neural target. The analyzer is adapted to, in response to a PVC event signal from the PVC event detector, generate an autonomic balance indicator (ABI) as a function of pre-PVC heart rate data and post-PVC heart rate data. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
US08175700B2
One or more inductors and one or more capacitors are physically disposed relative to one another in series and are electrically connected to one another in parallel to form a bandstop filter. Chip inductors and chip capacitors having spaced apart conductive terminals are physically arranged in end-to-end abutting relation to minimize electrical potential between adjacent conductive terminals. The bandstop filter may be hermetically sealed within a biocompatible container for use with an implantable lead or electrode of a medical device. The values of the inductors and the capacitors are selected such that the bandstop filter is resonant at one or more selected frequencies, such as an MRI pulsed frequency.
US08175693B2
An exemplary method includes providing a mechanical activation time (MA time) for a myocardial location, the location defined at least in part by an electrode and the mechanical activation time determined at least in part by movement of the electrode; providing an electrical activation time (EA time) for the myocardial location; and determining an electromechanical delay (EMD) for the myocardial location based on the difference between the mechanical activation time (MA time) and the electrical activation time (EA time).
US08175678B2
MRI based molecular imaging is strongly supported by the accurate quantification of contrast agents. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, contrast agent is applied on the basis of a multiple injection application scheme, during which changes in relaxation rate are determined. This may provide for an accurate determination of tumor vascularity via MRI relaxometry.
US08175659B2
A mobile terminal device includes a wireless communication interface and a wired communication interface. The device further includes a wired communication determination unit configured to determine whether or not communication with a network by the wired communication interface, an external power source supply unit configured so as to be supplied power from the outside for charge or replacement of a built-in battery, a power supply state detection unit configured to detect that a state, in which power is supplied from the outside to the external power source supply unit, is attained, and a control unit configured to set a state in which the wireless communication interface is available regardless a determination result of the wired communication determination unit after the power supply state detection unit detects the state in which the power is supplied from the outside.
US08175658B2
A wireless communication apparatus includes: a wireless communication unit which performs wireless communication; a converter which converts an input voltage into an output voltage in a switched-mode to supply the output voltage to the wireless communication unit; and a frequency adjusting unit which adjusts a frequency of a high frequency noise caused by a parasitic component of the converter, if the converter is switched, to prevent the frequency of the high frequency noise from interfering with a frequency of the wireless communication performed by the wireless communication unit.
US08175656B2
A method of providing an alert of an incoming communication is disclosed and includes receiving an incoming communication at a wireless device and determining whether the wireless device has access to a photograph that is associated with an identified source of the incoming communication. Further, the method includes displaying the photograph and an alert message that is associated with the incoming communication.
US08175654B2
This relates to a method for controlling illumination of a display screen on a mobile device. A light source is turned on to illuminate the display screen. An amount of information displayed on the display screen is identified. An amount of time to keep the light source turned on is determined based at least in part on the identified amount of information. The light source is kept turned on at a first intensity level for the amount of time and then turned to a second intensity level.
US08175650B2
A method of providing a telephony service can include creating a database of subscriber identities and subscriber voice prints and telephony services associated with the subscriber identities and receiving a spoken utterance from a subscriber. A subscriber identity can be determined according to voice print identification of the spoken utterance and a telephony service associated with the subscriber can be activated according to the determined subscriber identity.
US08175647B2
A combined base station controller (12) and base transceiver station (14) comprises a selector distribution unit (SDU, 20), a main call control (MCC, 22) coupled to the SDU, a radio call control (RCC, 18) coupled to the MCC, and a channel element control (CEC, 16) coupled to the RCC.
US08175635B2
Methods and apparatus for system selection in a multimode wireless device are disclosed. The method and apparatus afford selection of a wireless communication system access technology from a number of wireless system access technologies supported by a wireless device. Selection is accomplished by storing identification information concerning access technologies pertaining to a first group of wireless system access technologies, such as 3GPP2, in a search database, which concerns the priority of access technologies pertaining to another group of access technologies, such as 3GPP. Selection of a preferred wireless communication system access technology from one of the wireless access technology groups is then based on the identification information stored in the search database.
US08175630B2
A method and apparatus for controlling the transmit power of a mobile device in a mobile communication network takes the level of self-interference into account to perform inner-loop power control. For normal inner-loop power control, a signal quality estimate is compared to a signal quality target and power control commands are generated based on the comparison. When self-interference is the dominant impairment in the received signal, a “fast break” is introduced to change inner-loop power control command generation. The amount of self-interference is determined based on the delay spread of the channel.
US08175629B2
Apparatus and method to monitor the coupling of one or two audio devices and to augment the function of a PTT switch to causes the PTT function of one audio device to be engaged regardless of which of the two operated positions into which the switch is moved in response to there being only the one audio device coupled to the apparatus and in response to the one audio device being a radio, to cause the PTT function of either one of two audio devices to be selected to be engaged depending on which operated position to which the PTT switch is moved in response to there being only one audio device in the form of an intercom system (ICS) coupled to the apparatus with the other audio device in the form of a radio being coupled through the ICS, and to allow the PTT to be used to select the PTT function of either one of two audio devices to be engaged in response to there being two audio devices in the form of radios coupled to the apparatus.
US08175627B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving data in a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN). The method typically includes the steps of: ascertaining characteristics of data whose transfer is requested; ascertaining a Link Quality Indication Value (LQIV); determining a level of a link state in consideration of the characteristics of the data and the LQIV; and controlling the link transfer of the data in consideration of the level of the link state. The apparatus includes a module for transmitting/receiving data in the network layer thereof having a link level determination unit for predefining a level of a link state, depending on characteristics of data and a Link Quality Indication Value (LQIV) to store a predefined level of the link state, and to determine a level of the link state. A link control unit controls the link transfer of the data in consideration of the determined level of the link state.
US08175626B2
A method for delivering a short message service (SMS) message to an interworking wireless local area network user equipment (UE) begins by registering the UE with an Internet Protocol short message gateway (IP-SM-GW). A capability report is sent from the UE to the IP-SM-GW, the capability report including the capabilities of the UE. A SMS message is transmitted from a short message service center (SMSC) to the IP-SM-GW. The capabilities of the UE are evaluated at the IP-SM-GW to determine whether the UE can receive the SMS message, and the SMS message is delivered to the UE via the IP-SM-GW if the UE has the capabilities to receive the SMS message.
US08175625B2
Methods, devices, and computer readable media for switching communications from a first messaging protocol/service to a second messaging protocol/service by use of messaging information being embedded in a header of a first message of the first messaging protocol/service to enable the recipient to contact the sender over the second messaging protocol/service, is provided.
US08175614B1
There is disclosed herein a method, system and computer software product for associating a location with a wireless modem, wherein the modem has a modem identifier and a registered address associated therewith and wherein the method comprises: receiving a communication transmitted by the modem wherein the communication includes the modem identifier; determining whether the base station first receiving the communication is located within a predetermined proximity of the registered address; associating with the communication a receiving base station identifier of the base station that first received the communication; associating with the registered address a registered address base station identifier associated therewith; and comparing the registered address base station identifier with the receiving base station identifier.
US08175609B2
It is an object to provide a sequence allocating method that, while maintaining the number of Zadoff-Chu sequences to compose a sequence group, is configured to make it possible to reduce correlations between different sequential groups. This method comprises the steps of setting a standard sequence with a standard sequence length (Nb) and a standard sequence number (rb) in a step (ST101), setting a threshold value (Xth(m)) in accordance with an RB number (m) in a step (ST103), setting a sequence length (N) corresponding to RB number (m) in a step (ST104), judging whether |r/N−rb/Nb|=Xth(m) is satisfied in a step (ST106), including a plurality of Zadoff-Chu sequences with a sequence number (r) and a sequence length (N) in a sequence group (rb) in a step (ST107) if the judgment is positive, and allocating the sequence group (rb) to the same cell in a step (ST112).
US08175601B2
By transmitting the Measurement cell identity (MCI), in addition to the PCI PLMN cell identity (PCI), in a request to a node, an MCI to PCI mismatch is early discovered by the node and reported to the source eNode B. The handover procedure can be aborted in an earlier stage, saving time and resources. The node can then also include information in the response to the source eNode B, which makes it possible for the source eNode B to blacklist MCIs and MCI to PCI combinations. This way faulty or faked MCIs or PCIs can be discovered already in the source eNode B, saving even more time and resources.
US08175596B1
Systems and methods of extending base station coverage are provided. Idle mode mobile stations supported by a base station are identified, and at least one of the idle mode mobile stations is selected based on a location of the at least one idle mode mobile station. A communication with an active mode mobile station that is associated with the at least one idle mode mobile station is established. The active mode mobile station is not able to directly receive communications from the base station, and the identification and selection of idle mode mobile stations and the establishment of the communication are performed by the base station.
US08175595B2
Scanning neighboring base stations in a wireless access system is provided. In one embodiment, a method of scanning neighboring base stations for assessing channel quality includes receiving from a serving base station information associated with at least one neighboring base station, and transmitting a scanning request message from a mobile subscriber station to the serving base station, wherein the scanning request message comprises a requested scan duration and a requested scan iteration, the requested scan iteration being associated with a requested number of iterations of the scanning of the at least one neighboring base station. The method also includes receiving a scanning response message from the serving base station, wherein the scanning response message comprises an allowed scan duration and an allowed scan iteration, the allowed scan iteration being associated with an allowed number of iterations of the scanning of the at least one neighboring base station.
US08175594B2
Techniques for managing communications in a cellular network are disclosed. The cellular network can include one or more sectors in which hotspot carriers are deployed. The hotspot carriers can be available to mobile devices beyond sector boundaries defined by the signal strength of ubiquitous carriers. A mobile device can measure a signal strength of a candidate hotspot carrier and estimate a reverse link mobile device transmit power level for communicating on the hotspot carrier. The mobile device may determine whether to add, remove, or maintain the hotspot carrier in its active set based on the estimated transmit power level so as to limit interference to the reverse link of non-hotspot sectors.
US08175593B2
Disclosed is a method for displaying condition information of a portable terminal, the method including determining if a signal requesting output of the condition information is detected while an application is run by the portable terminal; checking a predetermined output type of condition information when the signal requesting output of the condition information is detected; and outputting the condition information in accordance with the output type of condition information.
US08175591B2
A system includes a wireless speech transmission device that communicates a wireless transmission of speech representing data in a first protocol via a wireless network. The speech representing data conveys substantially noise-free human speech. A wireless speech communication device receives the speech representing data in the first protocol via the network and couples representations of the data to a speech communication apparatus in a second protocol. A moveable barrier operator is within receiving range of the wireless transmission of the data from the wireless speech transmission device, intercepts the wireless transmission from the wireless speech transmission device, and recognizes a speech pattern from the data in the wireless transmission. A barrier movement apparatus actuates the barrier based upon the speech pattern.
US08175582B2
A system for delivering to a wireless subscriber terminal multimedia content related to a spectator event comprises an event application server, a wireless network coupled to the event application server and a wireless subscriber terminal that interacts with the network. The event application server acquires, converts, and manages content related to a spectator event. The event application server (or its adjunct) also manages preferences and priorities established by subscribers for event-related content. When such content is available, the event application server reconciles available content with subscriber preferences and priorities to determine an optimal set of content to be delivered to the subscriber terminal, and requests that the wireless network establish a connection to the subscriber terminal for such content. Multiple streams of content, of various types of media, may be delivered simultaneously to the subscriber terminal.
US08175581B2
A method, system and apparatus for the selective notification of incoming electronic messages. In this regard, a selective message notification method can include selectively generating a notification for a received message based upon pre-determined criteria irrespective of how the received message is handled. The pre-determined criteria can include a manually specified criteria, a rules based criteria, or a profile based criteria.
US08175571B2
A communication system includes: sender-side communication equipment including a detection unit configured to detect information indicating the condition of a user, and a transmission unit configured to transmit information indicating the condition of the user detected through the detection unit to a communication partner; and receiver-side communication equipment including a reception unit configured to receive information indicating the condition of the user transmitted from the sender-side communication equipment, a notification unit configured to notify the condition corresponding to the condition of the user received through the reception unit, and a control unit configured to control the notification unit based on information indicating the condition of the user received through the reception unit.
US08175569B2
A device control is disclosed for controlling a device with a high-priority signal without interference by a low-priority signal. Panel keys, which serve as a high-priority signal receiver unit, receives a high-priority signal. A panel key signal processing unit, which is a high-priority signal processing unit, processes the signal received by the panel keys. A remote control signal receiver unit, which is a low-priority signal receiver unit, receives a low-priority signal. A remote control signal processing unit, which is a low-priority signal processing unit, processes the signal received by the remote control signal receiver unit. A remote control signal reception control unit, which is a low-priority signal processing control unit, disables the processing in the remote control signal processing unit when the panel key signal processing unit is performing the processing.
US08175568B2
The specification and drawing figures describe and show an apparatus, system and method of extending and improving battery life that includes identifying one or more parameters that affect linearity of a receiver, assigning the one or more parameters to one or more modes, and adjusting the linearity of the receiver based on the one or more parameters.
US08175559B2
The present invention is intended to be able to ensure detecting whether an open-circuit occurs to a feeder within short time with simple configuration. A receiving apparatus 2 according to the present invention receives image information transmitted from a capsule endoscope 3 through a coaxial cable and a receiving antenna selected and switched to from among coaxial cables 9a to 9d connected to receiving antennas 8a to 8d, respectively by a changeover switch 20. The receiving apparatus 2 includes a changeover switch 22, an open-circuit detecting circuit 23, and a control unit 26. The changeover switch 22 branches the coaxial cables 9a to 9d near the changeover switch 20, and selects and switches to one of the branched coaxial cables. The open-circuit detecting circuit 23 applies a direct-current voltage to the coaxial cable selected by the changeover switch 22 through a constant-current source 203, and detects whether an open-circuit occurs to the coaxial cable by determining whether a voltage of the coaxial cable is grounded. The control unit 26 controls the changeover switch 22 to perform selection/switching, and controls the open-circuit detecting circuit 23 to perform open-circuit detection synchronously with the selection/switching control over the changeover switch 22.
US08175556B2
Electronic devices such as cellular telephones may include wireless communications circuitry such as power amplifiers. Power amplifiers, transmission lines, and other circuit associated the power amplifiers may generate different amounts of heat depending on their operating frequency. High-heat-producing power amplifiers may be biased at lower bias voltages than low-heat-producing amplifiers to equalize temperatures and enhance performance. Performance may also be optimized by placing power amplifiers on a printed circuit board so that the high band amplifiers are placed in regions that can dissipate more heat, whereas low band amplifiers are placed in regions that dissipate less heat.
US08175540B2
A wireless communications device comprising duplexing means for directing signals from a transmit path towards an antenna and for providing signals from the antenna to a receive path, wherein the transmit path is arranged to send a first signal to the duplexing means, the receive path is arranged to recover a second signal and the device further comprises detecting means for detecting the presence in the receive path of a third signal that will interact with the first signal to produce intermodulation distortion tending to hamper recovery of the second signal and control means responsive to the detecting means for enhancing linearity in the receive path to reduce said intermodulation distortion.
US08175539B2
A system, method, software and related functions are provided for managing activity in a radio frequency band that is shared, both in frequency and time, by signals of multiple types. An example of such a frequency band is an unlicensed frequency band. Radio frequency energy in the frequency band is captured at one or more devices and/or locations in a region where activity in the frequency band is happening. Signals occurring in the frequency band are detected by sampling part or the entire frequency band for time intervals. Signal pulse energy in the band is detected and is used to classify signals according to signal type. Using knowledge of the types of signals occurring in the frequency band and other spectrum activity related statistics (referred to as spectrum intelligence), actions can be taken in a device or network of devices to avoid interfering with other signals, and in general to optimize simultaneous use of the frequency band with the other signals. The spectrum intelligence may be used to suggest actions to a device user or network administrator, or to automatically invoke actions in a device or network of devices to maintain desirable performance.
US08175516B2
A communication terminal according to the invention aims at improving convenience by proper reflection of a user's intention changing in accordance with a status of the terminal. A portable phone terminal provided with a broadcast program reception function, including: a program reservation unit 31 for reserving a process for a broadcast program; a terminal status detection unit 42 for detecting a status of the terminal; and a terminal operation control unit 43 for performing control to correct the reserved process in accordance with the terminal status up to a predetermined point of time.
US08175510B2
A fixing device includes: a fixing member that touches an unfixed toner image formed on a sheet; a pressing member that causes the sheet to come in pressure contact with the fixing member; a pressing belt that is interposed between the fixing member and pressing member to rotate; a lubricant coating member that coats lubricant on an inner surface of the pressing belt; a pair of first blade members each that touches, through a counter method, an inner surface of both edge portions of the pressing belt in a width direction perpendicular to a rotating direction of the pressing belt, to scrape the lubricant; and a first lubricant guide member arranged from a tip of the first blade members to an inner side, receives the scraped lubricant, and guides the lubricant to the inner side to return to the inner surface of the pressing belt.
US08175509B2
A fixing unit of an image forming apparatus includes a magnetism adjusting unit switching the position of a shielding member between a shielding position where the shielding member is positioned inside the sheet-conveyed region to shield the pass of the magnetism and a retracted position where the shielding member is positioned outside the sheet-conveyed region to permit the pass of the magnetism. The shielding member is provided in a plural number in the axial direction of the movable core. The shielding members have a different length in the axial direction and a different width in a circumferential direction of the movable core, the length and the width corresponding to a plurality of sizes of the sheet in the width direction of the sheet. The magnetism adjusting unit switches each of the shielding members between the shielding position and the retracted position in accordance with the width-direction size of the sheet.
US08175507B2
According to aspects described herein, there is disclosed an apparatus and method for controlling a position of a belt in a printing system. The apparatus including a roller assembly for engaging at least a portion of a belt, a pair of laterally spaced support arms and an actuating assembly for pivotally moving at least one support arm. The belt being generally moveable in a process flow direction within the printing system, wherein a lateral direction extends substantially along the belt and substantially perpendicular to the process flow direction. The roller assembly extending laterally across the belt. The pair of laterally spaced support arms each rotatably supporting opposed ends of the roller assembly. Each support arm being pivotally coupled to the printing system for movement about a pivot axis extending substantially in the lateral direction. The pivotal movement pivoting one support arm relative to the other.
US08175503B2
A developing device is provided with a developing roller arranged to face a photoconductor for forming an electrostatic latent image and adapted to supply a toner to the photoconductor, an agitating member for agitating a developer, a supply roller that holds the developer agitated by the agitating member, and supplies the toner to an area facing the developing roller; a restricting member for blocking the developer supplied onto the supply roller and restricting the amount of the developer conveyed by the supply roller, and an intermediate roller including a first magnetic pole facing in a direction toward the staying developer by being restricted by the restricting member for attracting the staying developer and arranged at such a position as to face the developer blocked by the restricting member. Thus, the developing device can avoid image quality deterioration even when a developing process continues over a long period of time.
US08175495B2
A position regulation member, provided in one of a base unit and a removable unit that is attached to the base unit in a removable state, that positions the removable unit relative to the base unit, the positions regulation member including a position regulation arm provided so as to be mobile between a first position and a second position through the use of a cam mechanism, and a biasing spring attached to the position regulation arm. When the position regulation arm is moved from the first position to the second position or from the second position to the first position, the biasing spring biases the position regulation arm in the direction of the movement of the position regulation arm by first elastically deforming and then switch the direction of biasing by passing a inversion point.
US08175494B2
An intermediate transfer device includes an endless-belt-form intermediate transfer material; a first moving member that is movable between a first position-1 and a second position-1, which is farther from the intermediate transfer material than the first position-1; a second moving member that is movable between a first position-2 and a second position-2, which is farther from the intermediate transfer material than the first position-2; a first tension applying member; a second tension applying member; and a third tension applying member that applies tension to the intermediate transfer material when at least either the first moving member is moved to the second position-1 or the second moving member is moved to the second position-2, and that is separated from the intermediate transfer material when the first moving member is in the first position-1 and the second moving member is in the first position-2.
US08175493B2
A toner cartridge having a magnetically coupled drive apparatus is provided. The cartridge provides a first toner holding member that houses toner and a second toner holding member adjacent to the first member that houses toner. A dividing wall separates the first toner holding member from the second toner holding member. A toner shifting component shifts the waste toner housed in the first toner holding member and a toner stirring component stirs the fresh toner housed in the second toner holding member. The toner shifting component and toner stirring component are magnetically coupled through the dividing wall so that when the toner stirring component rotates the toner shifting component rotates. The magnetic coupling disposed between the toner shifting component and toner stirring component engages without an opening through the dividing wall. As a result, waste toner cannot pass through the dividing wall into the fresh toner housing and vice versa.
US08175492B2
A developing unit and image formation device in which a developer carrier is reliably pressed towards and separated from an image carrier is described. A separation and pressing mechanism is provided for separating and pressing the developer carriers of developing cartridges installed in a drum unit onto image carriers. This separation and pressing mechanism has a pair of direct cam members. Each direct cam member has a release action portion that engages with the releasing projection of a developing cartridge when the developer carrier is to be separated from the image carrier. Each direct cam member may also have a pressing action portion that engages with the pressing projection of the developing cartridges when the developer carrier is to be pressed onto the image carrier.
US08175490B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; an intermediate transfer belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to receive developer images formed on the photoconductor drums and to transfer the developer images onto a recording sheet; a cleaning unit comprising a cleaning member positioned in contact with the intermediate transfer belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the intermediate transfer belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning unit is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the intermediate transfer belt; and a support member configured to support the image forming unit and the cleaning unit and to be pulled out from a main body.
US08175489B2
An image forming apparatus is provided that includes multiple process cartridges. Each process cartridge includes a photosensitive element, an electrification unit, and a process frame. The electrification unit includes a discharging unit and an electrification frame which contains the discharging unit. The electrification frame has a first opening formed between the photosensitive element and the discharging unit and a second opening formed at a position opposite the first opening across the discharging unit. The process frame includes an exposure opening opposing the photosensitive element. The process cartridges are arranged such that one process cartridge opposes the second opening and the exposure opening of the electrification unit of an adjacent process cartridge. A regulation member is provided between the pair of process cartridges to regulate airflow. The regulation member has elasticity and is disposed in a position between the second opening and the exposure opening of the electrification unit.
US08175480B2
A fixing device includes a heat applying system having an exciting coil that creates a magnetic flux for generating induction heat in a heat generation layer provided in a fixing roller. Plural demagnetizing coils are stacked in plural layers partially overlying the exciting coil to cancel the magnetic flux at one end of the fixing roller. The plural demagnetizing coils partially overlap each other.
US08175479B2
An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt, a photosensitive belt, a primary transfer roller, a secondary-transfer opposing roller, and a secondary transfer roller. The photosensitive belt comes into contact with a surface of the intermediate transfer belt to form a primary transfer nip. The secondary-transfer opposing roller comes into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt to form a secondary transfer nip. The closest distance between a surface of the photosensitive belt and that of the primary transfer roller is greater than the thickness of the intermediate transfer belt. A toner image on the intermediate transfer belt is transferred onto a recording sheet at the secondary transfer nip while a transfer bias is applied to the secondary transfer roller.
US08175477B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, an endless intermediate transfer member having a transport surface and being tensioned to transport a developer image, transferred from the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member, from a first transfer position to a second transfer position, a first transfer member that brings the intermediate transfer member in contact with the image carrier and transfers a developer image present on the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member at the first transfer position, a second transfer member that transfers the developer image to a recording medium at the second transfer position, a position adjusting member that adjusts a position of the transport surface of the intermediate transfer member downstream of the first transfer position, and a controller that controls the position adjusting member responsively to a type of the recoding medium to which the second transfer member transfers the developer image.
US08175476B2
A developing apparatus including a developing container for containing developer, the developing container having an opening portion, a developer carrying member for carrying the developer at the opening portion, a detecting member for detecting a developer amount, the detecting member detecting a capacitance between the developer carrying member and the detecting member, and a force receiving portion for receiving a force and moving the developing container between a first position in which a developing operation is performed by the developer carrying member and a second position in which the developing operation is not performed, wherein the capacitance can be detected in the second position, and the detecting member is a rotatable developer supplying member for supplying the developer to the developer carrying member, the developer supplying member including a foam layer in which the developer can enter.
US08175475B2
An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearer for carrying a toner image, a charger for contacting a surface of the image bearer, a cleaning blade for contacting the image bearer surface to remove toner thereon after toner image transfer onto a transfer material, and a controller for controlling a voltage applied to the charger. The controller applies to the charger a first potential which includes a peak-to-peak voltage larger than a discharge starting voltage in an image forming operation, and applies to the charger a second voltage which includes a peak-to-peak voltage smaller than the discharge starting voltage, for at least one full rotation of the image bearer, after completion of image formation and before an AC voltage component applied to the charger is shut off.
US08175471B2
An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes an image density control unit that performs control operations based on an image density control condition that is adjustably set to control an output image to have a predetermined image density, an image density control condition modifying unit that calculates a modified image density control condition based on information on an amount of toner exchanged at a developing apparatus within a predetermined period and a parameter for image density control condition calculation and sets the modified image density control condition as the image density control condition to be used by the image density control unit, and a parameter modifying unit that modifies the parameter for image density control condition calculation used by the image density control condition modifying unit based on a toner pattern detection result obtained by detecting a toner pattern formed on a belt member.
US08175470B2
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires a plurality of types of operation control information of the image forming apparatus that indicate deterioration of a toner in the image forming apparatus or deterioration of a component of the image forming apparatus. An index value calculating unit calculates an index value indicating a state of the image forming apparatus based on the acquired operation control information. An abnormality judging unit judges whether the image forming apparatus abnormality has occurred and predicts an occurrence of a failure that requires maintenance of the image forming apparatus due to deterioration of the toner in the image forming apparatus or deterioration of the component of the image forming apparatus based on the index value.
US08175468B2
A printing apparatus, method and storage medium therefor for executing trial printings. The apparatus includes a printing unit, a setting unit, an inputting unit, and first and second controlling and accepting units. The first controlling unit controls to execute first trial printing according to inputted image data and a set printing condition. The first accepting unit can accept a changing instruction for changing the printing condition. The second accepting unit can accept an execution instruction for executing a second trial printing. The second controlling unit controls to execute the second trial printing according to the inputted image data and the changed printing condition. When the first accepting unit accepts a changing instruction, the second accepting unit can accept an executing instruction. When the first accepting unit does not accept a changing instruction, the second accepting unit cannot accept an executing instruction.
US08175467B2
An apparatus, method, system, computer program, and product, each capable of detecting a state of an apparatus. The apparatus includes a plurality of devices. When at least one of the plurality of devices is determined to be in a first state, a second state of at least one of the plurality of devices is determined. When a state of the apparatus is determined to be in the first state, the second state of another apparatus is determined.
US08175462B2
A fiber optic transceiver (FOT) module is provided that has a circuit board attached to the FOT leadframe. The circuit board, which is typically a printed circuit board (PCB), provides several advantages over typical FOT module designs in that it provides additional surface area for mounting additional components, enables components to be moved from the motherboard into the module, allows the I/O pin count of the FOT module to be increased without increasing the width or footprint associated with the module, allows bond wires to be shortened, provides improved performance over changes in temperature, allows manufacturing yield to be improved, and enables improvements in signal integrity to be realized.
US08175458B2
Techniques, apparatus and systems for optical communications, including fiber ring networks with protection switching to maintain optical communications when an optical failure occurs and to automatically revert to normal operation when the optical failure is corrected, fiber ring networks that provide a circulating optical probe signal at an optical probe wavelength within the gain spectral range of optical amplifiers used in a fiber ring network to detect an optical failure, and fiber ring networks that support broadcast-and-select optical WDM signals carrying communication traffic to the optical ring nodes without regeneration at each optical ring node and one or more overlaid in-band node-to-node optical signals carrying communication traffic with regeneration at each node.
US08175454B2
A system and methods include generating an optical time domain reflectrometry signal; transmitting the optical time domain reflectrometry signal on a first fiber path in a first direction through at least one optical amplifier; receiving a reflection of the optical time domain reflectrometry signal on the first fiber path in a second direction opposite the first direction; transmitting the reflected optical time domain reflectrometry signal on a second fiber path in the second direction, where the second fiber path is not the first fiber path; and determining a location of a fault on the first fiber path based on the reflected optical time domain reflectrometry signal.
US08175451B2
The electronic viewfinder 3 includes a reflective type liquid crystal display 315, a finder optical system 32, and a transmission plate 34 that transmits a part of the optical image signal collected by the finder optical system 32 therethrough and reflects at least a part of a remaining optical image signal. The reflective type liquid crystal display 315 includes a light source 311 that emits light, a liquid crystal plate 315, a reflecting plate 316, and a polarizing plate 314. The transmission plate 34 is disposed to be inclined in a direction opposite to a inclined direction of the polarizing plate such that a transmission plane 341 thereof is not perpendicular to the optical axis of the finder optical system 32.
US08175448B2
An imaging apparatus includes a shake detector to detect a shake applied to the imaging apparatus, a first calculation unit to calculate a first shake correction amount, a vector detector to detect a motion vector on an imaging surface, a first integration unit to integrate an output of the vector detector, a second calculation unit to calculate a second shake correction amount, a shake correction unit to correct an image-shake based of the first shake correction amount and the second shake correction amount; and an angle-of-view change determination unit to detect an angle-of-view changing operation of the imaging apparatus.
US08175441B2
A plurality of audio object (AOB) files and a plurality of picture object (POB) files are stored. Default Playlist Information and sets of Playlist Information each show an order in which AOBs stored in the plurality of AOB files are to be reproduced. The DPLGI includes DPLI_POB_SRPs that specify at least one POB to be displayed during the playback period of AOBs indicated by the playback order given in the Default Playlist Information. The TKGI includes TKI_POB_SRPs that specify at least one POB to be displayed only during the playback period of a particular AOB out of the AOBs indicated by the playback order given in the Default Playlist Information.
US08175440B2
A broadcast receiver includes: an image analyzer configured to perform an analysis on a series of images; a recorder configured to record a result of the analysis and the series of images; and an image processor configured to perform image processing on a target image included in the series of images recorded in the recorder based on the result of the analysis performed for images subsequent to the target image.
US08175437B2
Microstructured optical fiber for single-moded transmission of optical signals, the optical fiber including a core region and a cladding region, the cladding region including an annular void-containing region that contains non-periodically disposed voids. The optical fiber provides single mode transmission and low bend loss.
US08175434B2
An all-dielectric self-supporting optical fiber cable utilizes a single layer reverse oscillated lay (ROL) design and includes a fiber count of more than 288 fibers. By arranging buffer tubes in a single layer, the ADSS cable effectively isolates the tensile and thermo strain of the cable in central and outer strength members, thus preventing strain from aerial installation from impairing or otherwise inversely impacting the performance of the optical fibers. Moreover, fibers are loosely housed in bundles to permit fiber movement and further prevent strain on the fibers.
US08175433B2
A fiber optic cable including at least one optical fiber disposed within a cavity of a cable jacket and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The cavity has a first cavity cross-sectional area and a second cavity cross-sectional area located at different longitudinal locations along the cable, where the first cavity cross-sectional area is greater than the second cavity cross-sectional area. The region of the second cavity cross-sectional area of the cable provides and/or increases the coupling level of the at least one optical fiber to the cable jacket. In further embodiments, the fiber optic cable is a dry cable having one or more dry insert within the cavity for cushioning and/or optionally providing water-blocking for the cable.
US08175430B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to multiplexer/demultiplexer systems. In one aspect, a multiplexer/demultiplexer system includes an input/output waveguide, two or more output/input waveguides, and a planar, non-periodic, sub-wavelength grating. The grating is configured so that when the system is operated as a multiplexer, each wavelength of light output from one of the two or more output/input waveguides is reflected by the grating toward the input/output waveguide. When the system is operated as a demultiplexer, each wavelength of light output from the input/output waveguide is reflected toward one of the two or more output/input waveguides.
US08175428B2
An optical communications system has a selective block/add capability of an optical channel. An optical beam separator receives and separates an input mixed optical beam into a separated optical channel and a remainder optical beam. A block/add unit receives as an input the separated optical channel and produces as an output a controllably modified separated optical channel. The block/add unit includes a source of an add input optical signal, and a controllable mirror. The controllable mirror is controllable between a first state in which the controllable mirror does not block the path of the separated optical channel, so that the separated optical channel is the output of the block/add unit, and a second state in which the controllable mirror blocks the path of the separated optical channel, and also reflects the add input optical signal as the output of the block/add unit. An optical beam combiner receives the output of the block/add unit and combines the output of the block/add unit with the remainder optical beam.
US08175421B2
There is disclosed a label image editing apparatus for editing a label image on a recording media having a data side on which data is recorded, and a label side on which a label image is plotted to visually confirm recording contents on the data side. The label image editing apparatus comprises: a data analyzing section that analyzes data to be recorded on the recording media and/or data to be reproduced from the recording media; and a layout display section that displays, as a layout of the label image, a layout according to an analyzing result by the data analyzing section.
US08175418B1
A method of and system for enhanced storage allows more data to be backed up than would otherwise be possible. Instead of storing uncompressed base images and incremental images, differentials of non-current base images are compressed and stored. Furthermore, incremental images that are older than the current base image are removed. By only saving differential base images that are compressed, aside from the newest base image, and deleting older incremental images, a significant amount of space is saved. A removable drive is used as temporary storage in the process of generating a compressed differential base for previous base images. Additionally, a process ensures that previous base images are differentials of the most recent base image and not each other.
US08175417B2
A disclosed pixel interpolation apparatus for converting an image to a predetermined resolution includes a first interpolating part configured to calculate a first interpolation pixel value by performing high order interpolation using pixel values of plural first reference pixels and a distance between the plural first reference pixels and a first interpolation pixel; a second interpolating part configured to calculate a second interpolation pixel value by performing weighted interpolation using pixel values of plural second reference pixels, an edge gradient of the second reference pixels, and the distance between the second reference pixels and a second interpolation pixel; an overshoot area detecting part configured to detect an overshoot area in the image; and an interpolation pixel selecting part configured to determine whether to perform the high order interpolation or the weighted interpolation according to a detection result of the overshoot area detecting part.
US08175408B2
An image signal processing apparatus for performing signal processing with respect to output from an image pickup device, which includes an image signal correcting unit for receiving an output signal corresponding to each of divided areas of the image pickup device to perform correcting processing. The image signal processing unit includes a calculating unit for calculating a total sum of pixel values of a string of pixels on a boundary between the divided areas, and further calculating a difference between the total sums of pixel values corresponding to the respective divided areas, and a correcting unit for making a comparison between the difference calculated by the calculating unit with a predetermined threshold, and then determining a correction mode of a divided area image based on the result of the comparison, followed by performing pixel value correcting processing with respect to the divided area image according to the determined correction mode.
US08175401B2
An image processing apparatus includes an image partitioning unit that partitions an image represented by input image information into image partitions, each containing plural pixels; a run coding unit that run-length encodes image partitions for which all pixels contained in any of the image partitions match with a pixel value in a predetermined position in another image partition; and an independently coding unit that encodes image partitions other than image partitions encoded by the run coding unit, so that the resulting codes are decoded independently for each image partition.
US08175400B2
In order to process image data including a plurality of pixels, a plurality of pixel groups, each of which includes a plurality of pixels, are extracted from the image data sequentially. Next, it is judged whether each of the pixel groups includes only at least one of a white pixel and a black pixel. At least one first pixel group in the pixel groups is binarized in accordance with an arrangement of the at least one of the white pixel and the black pixel therein, in a case where it is judged that the first pixel group includes only at least one of the white pixel and the black pixel, thereby generating at least one first data item. A first resolution of at least one second pixel group in the pixel groups is reduced to a second resolution, in a case where it is judged that the second pixel group includes at least one pixel other than the white pixel and the black pixel, thereby generating at least one second data item.
US08175399B2
Multi-resolution images of a reference image and a target image are generated. Then, whole-range matching is performed on an image of a lower resolution to detect a two-dimensional displacement between the images. Block matching is performed on an image of a higher resolution to detect a displacement at each feature point. The accuracy of motion data is increased by correcting the motion data with an image of a higher resolution by using the previously calculated motion data of the lowest resolution through higher resolutions as an initial value.
US08175397B2
The present invention relates to a device configured to determine whether to perform transform processing from image data into vector data in accordance with characteristics of an object. The device is configured: to separate an object from image data; then to determine whether to transform image data corresponding to the object into vector data; subsequently, to extract contour data of the object that has been determined to be transformed into vector data; and to perform function approximation for the extracted contour data.
US08175394B2
Systems, methods and computer program products on storage devices for shape clustering and applications in processing various documents, including an output of an optical character recognition (OCR) process. The output of an OCR process is classified into a plurality of clusters of clip images and a representative image for each cluster is generated to identify clusters whose clip images were incorrectly assigned character codes by the OCR process.
US08175393B2
Method and system for utilizing multiple phenomenological techniques to resolve closely spaced objects during imaging includes detecting a plurality of closely spaced objects through the imaging of a target area by an array, and spreading electromagnetic radiation received from the target area across several pixels. During the imaging, different phenomenological techniques may be applied to capture discriminating features that may affect a centroid of the electromagnetic radiation received on the array. Comparing the locations of the centroids over multiple images may be used to resolve a number of objects imaged by the array. Examples of such phenomenological discriminating techniques may include imaging the target area in multiple polarities of light or in multiple spectral bands of light. Another embodiment includes time-lapse imaging of the target area, to compare time lapse centroids for multiple movement signal characteristics over pluralities of pixels on the array.
US08175390B2
In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file, identifying a boundary in the image, calculating a representation of the boundary extending to segments of the image at either side of the boundary, performing feature calculations on the representation and classifying the boundary as caused by a material change, as a function of the feature calculations.
US08175389B2
Recognizing handwritten words at an electronic device. A plurality of strokes is received at a common input region of an electronic device. The plurality of strokes in combination defines a word comprising a plurality of symbols, a relative geometry of a first subset of the plurality of strokes defines a first symbol and a relative geometry of a second subset of the plurality of strokes defines a second symbol such that the relative geometry of the first subset of the plurality of strokes is not related to the relative geometry of the second subset of the plurality of strokes, and at least one stroke of the first subset of the plurality of strokes is spatially superimposed over at least one stroke of the second subset of the plurality of strokes. The word is determined using a processor of the electronic device based on the plurality of strokes without requiring recognition of the plurality of symbols, wherein a word is determined based at least in part on an entry sequence of subsets of the plurality of strokes.
US08175388B1
Systems, methods, and apparatus, including software tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, involve identifying text in an electronic document. An electronic document that includes an image object is received. In a first region of the image object, a first set of text characters having a first orientation in the image object are recognized. In a second region of the image object, a second set of text characters having a second orientation in the image object are recognized. The electronic document is modified to include a first text object containing an identification of the first set of text characters and a second text object containing an identification of the second set of text characters. The identification of the first set of text characters includes a first set of values. Each value in the first set of values represent an individual text character recognized in the first region. The identification of the second set of text characters includes a second set of values. Each value in the second set of values represent an individual text character recognized in the second region.
US08175383B2
From the target image data, a luminance component, a first color difference component, and a second color difference component which represent color of respective pixels are acquired; and a maximum magnitude smoothing process is carried out on the first color difference component.
US08175382B2
Image enhancement techniques are described to enhance an image in accordance with a set of training images. In an implementation, an image color tone map is generated for a facial region included in an image. The image color tone map may be normalized to a color tone map for a set of training images so that the image color tone map matches the map for the training images. The normalized color tone map may be applied to the image to enhance the in-question image. In further implementations, the procedure may be updated when the average color intensity in non-facial regions differs from an accumulated mean by a threshold amount.
US08175374B2
The present invention relates to a volume recognition method comprising the steps of: a) capturing three-dimensional image data using a 3D imaging system 3, wherein said image data represent a plurality of points 5, each point 5 having at least a set of coordinates in a three-dimensional space; b) grouping at least some of the points 5 in a set of clusters 6; c) selecting, according to a first set of parameters such as position and size, a cluster 6 corresponding to an object of interest 1 located in range of said imaging system 3; d) grouping at least some of the points 5 of the selected cluster 6 in a set of sub-clusters according to a second set of parameters comprising their positions in the three-dimensional space, wherein each sub-cluster has a centroid 11 in the three-dimensional space; and e) associating a volume 12 to each of at least some of said sub-clusters, wherein said volume 12 is fixed to the centroid 11 of said sub-cluster. The present invention also relates to a volume recognition system for carrying out this method.
US08175373B2
Defects observed by imaging tools may be classified by automatic comparison of features observed in a defect image with design information relating to corresponding portions of the image. Defect information may be generated from a defect image from a defect imaging tool. Design information relating to one or more structures to be formed on the substrate in a vicinity of the defect may be retrieved. The defect may be classified based on a combination of the defect information from the defect image and design information relating to one or more structures to be formed on the substrate in the vicinity of the defect.
US08175369B2
Methods and systems for counting nuclei for cells in a cell-containing sample are disclosed, such as carried out on a computer. The methods comprise: receiving a raw image of the cell-containing sample; transforming the raw image into a segmented image comprising one or more nuclei clusters. The methods further comprise: for each of the one or more nuclei clusters, obtaining a convex hull of the nuclei cluster; locating any indentations on the nuclei cluster by comparing the nuclei cluster to the convex hull of the nuclei cluster; calculating a first nuclei count based on a tally of the indentations; and assigning the nuclei cluster to a cell among the plurality of cells. The methods further comprise: calculating a second nuclei count for each cell by totaling the first nuclei counts of its constituent nuclei clusters; and presenting a result based on the second nuclei count for at least one of the plurality of cells.
US08175367B2
Methods, systems, and related computer program products for computer-aided detection (CAD) of anatomical abnormalities in digital (or digitized) x-ray mammograms are described. The inventive techniques are based on using a foundational CAD processing algorithm that is characterized by at least one of non-shift-invariance, non-rotational-invariance, and non-inversional-invariance. According to one preferred embodiment, a first x-ray mammogram image of a breast is received, and at least one altered version thereof is generated that differs therefrom by at least one of image shift, image rotation, and image inversion. The first x-ray mammogram image and each of the at least one altered versions thereof are individually processed using the foundational CAD algorithm to generate a respective plurality of individual CAD detection sets. The plurality of CAD detection sets are then compared to generate an overall CAD detection set.
US08175359B2
An image reconstruction method includes reconstructing an initial composite image of a subject using a conventional reconstruction method. The initial composite image employs the best information available regarding the subject of the scan and this information is used to constrain the reconstruction of a highly undersampled or low SNR image frames. This highly constrained image reconstruction is repeated a plurality of iterations with the reconstructed image frame for one iteration being used as the composite image for the next iteration. The reconstructed image frame rapidly converges to a final image frame.
US08175355B2
A method for estimating kinetic parameters from image data includes using a processor to execute instructions for providing a model of kinetic contributions from first and second physiological regions; grouping voxels of the image data into first and second groups; determining an average value of the factors associated with the first group, the factors corresponding to blood-flow time activity curves; incorporating the average value of the factors associated with the first group into the model of kinetic contributions from the first and second physiological regions; and estimating the kinetic parameters based on the model of kinetic contributions.
US08175353B2
A method for producing an image of a layer of an object by a wide field optical element on a resolving detector. The object is illuminated in a focused manner on at least one object plane having at least two binary illuminating patterns. The corresponding images are detected. Light and/or the dark areas of the illuminating patterns completely cover the object when the illuminating pattern is superimposed. A layer image determined from the detected images, includes a partial segment that respectively reproduces a partial area of the object that is arranged inside the light area of one of the used illuminating patterns. Edges are arranged at a distance from the edges of the light area about at least one predefined minimum distance.
US08175347B2
An object of the present invention is to alleviate an image diagnosing work in a work station or the like. In a viewer 7 for displaying, on a display unit 11, image data based on a radio signal transmitted from a capsule endoscope to be inserted into a subject, an image processing circuit 35 processes image data received from a receiving apparatus 5 via an interface 34, so as to produce an image processing result of the image data, and further, a control unit 38 displays the image and the image processing result on the display unit 11 in real time, so as to enable a body-cavity image to be observed with reference to the image processing result.
US08175342B2
The detection of red-eye defects is enhanced in digital images for embedded image acquisition and processing systems. A two-stage redeye filtering system includes a speed optimized filter that performs initial segmentation of candidate redeye regions and optionally applies a speed-optimized set of falsing/verification filters to determine a first set of confirmed redeye regions for correction. Some of the candidate regions which are rejected during the first stage are recorded and re-analyzed during a second stage by an alternative set of analysis-optimized filters to determine a second set of confirmed redeye regions.
US08175341B2
In case of an image region having a property of abrupt changes in luminance and tint, even when a region made up of pixels having luminance values and tint levels similar to those of one point designated by the user is extracted as a correction region with reference to the user designated point, it is difficult to extract a region to be corrected without omission. To solve this problem, a user instruction indicating a point inside or near an image region which is to undergo correction is input, and a plurality of origin pixels corresponding to start points of region expansion are set in a region which includes the input point and has a predetermined size. The region expansion is executed from each origin pixel, and a correction region is decided according to the result of the region expansion.
US08175338B2
A method is disclosed for determining the aesthetic quality of a document page. The method partitions the document page into a plurality of regions according to a predetermined map. Each region is then evaluated to determine whether the region is of acceptable aesthetic quality according to a predetermined profile corresponding to the region and defined by the map. The profile comprises (i) one or more measures of region properties; (ii) an acceptability rule corresponding to each measure; and (iii) a region decision rule (435, 440) based on the results of one or more of the acceptability rules. The method then determines the aesthetic quality for the document page based on the aesthetic quality acceptability of each region and a predetermined page rule defined by the map.
US08175331B2
A vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus, method, and program capable of reducing a possibility of overlap between a detection object and a background object in a standard image when detecting objects around the vehicle from images obtained by a plurality of image sensors so as to detect the objects accurately. The vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus detects the objects existing around the vehicle (10) from the images obtained by the image sensors (2R, 2L) mounted on the vehicle (10). The vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus includes an object extraction process unit (1) which performs a process of extracting the objects for a predetermined standard image of the images obtained by the image sensors (2R, 2L), a driving environment detection process unit (1) which detects a driving environment of the vehicle (10), and a standard image selection process unit (1) which selects the standard image for use in the process of the object extraction process unit (1) anew according to the detected driving environment.
US08175327B2
A system for determining in near real-time the product density value of a zone of preferable small fungible products within an acceptable size range in a flow of products includes a sample input piping from a bin or piping of products, a sampling volume for fixing the size of a sample, a scale, a processor, an imaging table and an associated camera. The system may include a sample output pipe, and may include or be associated with a bagger/scale. Operation of these components provides for successively sampling of each zone in the bin to determine the quantity of acceptable product per unit weight and to control the flow of those products. The system therefore can compensate for variations among supplying entities where product supplies are subsequently piled atop one another. The system makes the density calculation available to the plant information system and an automated packaging system, which may be via a 16 bit scaled analoge or a serial interface, among other systems. In addition the image information is stored for future analysis, audit support, and process improvement activities.
US08175318B2
A speaker apparatus comprising a housing and a speaker member. The speaker member is configured to rotate relative to the housing and translate relative to the housing so as to move between a retracted position within the housing and an extended position relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the speaker member axially translates independent of the rotational orientation of the speaker member relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the speaker member rotates through substantially 360 degrees relative to the housing.
US08175316B2
An ear speaker device includes an electroacoustic transducer including a housing mounted at a predetermined position of listener's head, a speaker unit mounted on one surface in the housing, and positioned away from an entrance of the listener's external acoustic meatus for a predetermined distance when the housing is mounted on the listener's head, and a tubular duct extended so as to allow a sound generated by the housing in the inner space thereof to reach the vicinity of the entrance of the listener's external acoustic meatus, and a hole for emitting sound of the duct is oriented to the opposite direction with respect to the entrance of the external acoustic meatus; and a mounting part used for mounting the electroacoustic transducer on the listener's head in a manner that the predetermined distance is provided between the speaker unit and the entrance of the listener's external acoustic meatus.
US08175311B2
An acoustic waveguide system, having source of acoustic radiation and a source of opposing acoustic radiation. An acoustic waveguide has an open end and an interior. A first acoustic driver having a first radiating surface and a second radiating surface is arranged and constructed so that the first radiating surface radiates sound waves into free air and the second radiating surface radiates sound waves into the acoustic waveguide so that sound waves are radiated at the open end. A source of opposing sound waves in the acoustic waveguide opposes a predetermined spectral component of the sound waves radiated into the acoustic waveguide to reduce the acoustic radiation of the predetermined spectral component from the acoustic waveguide.
US08175310B2
The present invention relates to an adaptor for a BTE hearing aid with a housing to be worn behind the ear, an earpiece for insertion in the earcanal, and a signal transmission member for transmission of a signal from the housing at a first end of the member to the earpiece at a second end of the member, the signal transmission member having a connector at the first end, wherein the housing and the connector of the signal transmission member are not adapted for mutual mechanical interconnection, wherein the adaptor has a first end that is geometrically adapted for mechanical connection with the connector of the signal transmission member and a second end that is geometrically adapted for mechanical connection with the housing, so that the signal transmission member and the housing can be mechanically interconnected through the adaptor whereby the variety of signal transmission member units to be kept in stock by a hearing aid dispenser is substantially minimized.
US08175300B2
Provided are a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) microphone and a method of manufacturing the same. A manufacturing process is simplified compared to a conventional art using both upper and lower substrate processes. Since defects which may occur during manufacturing are reduced due to the simplified manufacturing process, the manufacturing throughput is improved, and since durability of the MEMS microphone is improved, system stability against the external environment is improved.
US08175292B2
A method for processing and transducing audio signals. An audio system has a first audio signal and a second audio signal that have amplitudes. A method for processing the audio signals includes dividing the first audio signal into a first spectral band signal and a second spectral band signal; scaling the first spectral band signal by a first scaling factor proportional to the amplitude of the second audio signal; and scaling the first spectral band signal by a second scaling factor to create a second signal portion. Other portions of the disclosure include application of the signal processing method to multichannel audio systems, and to audio systems having different combinations of directional loudspeakers, full range loudspeakers, and limited range loudspeakers.
US08175291B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus for processing an M-channel input signal are described that include outputting a signal produced by a selected one among a plurality of spatial separation filters. Applications to separating an acoustic signal from a noisy environment are described, and configurations that may be implemented on a multi-microphone handheld device are also described.
US08175288B2
A media application for providing outputs (e.g., audio outputs) in response to inputs received from an input device is provided. The media application may connect input mechanisms of an input device with parameters of channel strips (e.g., which may define output sounds) using an intermediate screen object. The media application may first assign an input mechanism to a screen object, and separately map a screen object to a channel strip parameter. The media application may map a screen object to several channel strips simultaneously such that, based on the value of the screen object, the volume of each of the several channel strips changes. The media application may provide a graphical representation of available channel strips using layers. As the media application accesses a channel strip, the appearance of the portion of the layer associated with the channel strip may change. The media application may also allow the patches, which may include several channel strips, to survive after a new patch is selected instead.
US08175285B2
An audio player apparatus includes a first speaker disposed to output a sound from a front face of a flat panel television apparatus to the outside, a second speaker disposed to output a sound from a backside of the flat panel television apparatus to the outside, a microphone disposed on the backside of the flat panel television apparatus to receive the sound output from the second speaker and to convert the received sound into an electric signal, an analysis unit configured to detect a reflected sound and reflection time of the sound output from the second speaker based on a second audio signal supplied to the second speaker and the electric signal output from the microphone, and a phase correction unit configured to correct a phase of at least one of a first audio signal supplied to the first speaker and the second audio signal based on the reflection time.
US08175284B2
A method and apparatus in a sound-reproduction system, in which method an electrical calibration signal is formed, an audio signal is formed in the loudspeaker from the calibration signal, the response of the audio signal is measured and analysed, and the loudspeaker system is adjusted on the basis of the measurement results. The operator is permitted to made additional alterations to the settings of the loudspeaker system on the basis of the measurement performed, the effects of the alterations are calculated and displayed to the operator without additional measurements, and the additional settings are implemented in real time in the loudspeaker system.
US08175283B2
A device and a method for analyzing sound based on a biomorphic design are disclosed. The device comprises a plurality of amplification/filtering stages (S1, . . . , Sn) connected in a series configuration. Each amplification/filtering stage comprises at least one nonlinear amplification module (100a, . . . , 100c), preferably a Hopf amplifier, and at least one filter module (200a′ . . . , 200c; 200a′, . . . 200c′) providing high-frequency attenuation.
US08175279B2
A loudspeaker, amplifier, media source, user interface, and mechanical interface are all contained in a single unit. The unit has a first portion configured to mount in a vehicle radio mounting location and a second portion configured to extend significantly outside the vehicle radio mounting location.
US08175278B2
The present invention involves establishing a top-level key and optionally also a verification tag. The top-level key is used as the MDP key for encrypting a broadcast medium. Only the part of the key message that contains the encrypted top-level key is authenticated, e.g. using a signature or a Message Access Code (MAC). Any known group-key distribution protocol can be used that is based on the creation of a hierarchy of keys. Examples of such methods are the LKH and SD methods. The group-key distribution protocol output key H, traditionally used as the MDP key, or a derivative thereof is used to encrypt the top-level MDP-key. The invention, further, includes optimization of a group-key message by eliminating unnecessary message components relative a specified group or sub-group of users. The optimization can be made in dependence of contextual data such as user profile, network status, or operator policies.
US08175264B2
An encryption and decryption processing method, system and computer-accessible medium for achieving SMS4 cryptographic procedure/algorithm can be provided. First, constant arrays can prepared, the external data are input into a data registering unit and the first data conversion is addressed. Secondly, the second data conversion is addressed. Thirdly, the second data conversion is repeated until completing all the prescribed data conversion. Then, the results of repeating encryption and decryption processing are achieved.
US08175254B2
A contact center includes a real time threshold prediction module that determines that a selected performance measure will, during a future time interval, likely cross a selected threshold and, in response, performs at least one of the following operations: (i) determines, for the likely crossing of the selected threshold, a consequence in a selected service level agreement and determines a set of corrective actions to reduce a likelihood that the selected performance measure will cross the selected threshold.
US08175239B2
A system comprising an abbreviated digit constructor, an abbreviated digit analyzer and a calling line identification data store. The abbreviated digit constructor is communicatively coupled to the calling line identification data store and abbreviated digit analyzer, the abbreviated digit analyzer sends a set of abbreviated dialed digits to the abbreviated digit constructor and the abbreviated digit constructor constructs a set of unabbreviated dialed digits from the set of abbreviated dialed digits and a calling line identification retrieved from the calling line identification data store.
US08175235B2
Methods relating to prepaid services include determining an unlocked status of an account configured to track usage of prepaid services. The methods further include locking the account for a length of time after the determining step. The methods further include providing, for a service period, a service to a user associated with the account subsequent to the locking step, and continuously extending the locking for an additional length of time throughout the service period.
US08175234B2
The present invention is directed to a method for simultaneously rendering one or more conversations on a communication device. The method includes receiving at the first communication device media associated with the one or more conversations over a network and defining a set of conversations among the one or more conversations to be simultaneously rendered. The received media associated with the one or more conversations is simultaneously rendered regardless if the received media overlaps or not.
US08175232B2
Solutions which address a growing and compelling need recognized in connection with rendering VOIP systems on laptops, or even on other mobile devices, even more versatile and user-friendly so as to even better replicate the advantages of cell phones. Broadly contemplated herein two modes of network access and two modes of user interface, which modes can be combined in any way as deemed suitable or appropriate. Preferably, a commonality between the contemplated network access and user interface modes is the use of a low-powered secondary processor, a secondary operating system, and non volatile storage applications which could be networking applications (e.g., an Always On subsystem).
US08175229B2
In one embodiment, a translation gateway is for use between a network of a messaging service provider and a hostile data network. The gateway is to forward messages using a secure connection through the hostile network, to a customer's network. Different types of inbound messages (e.g., voice; fax) can be delivered to a single client process running on a customer machine on the customer network. In addition, the translation gateway may be used to securely forward different types of outbound messages originating from the client process to the service provider's network (where the messages are retransmitted as voice calls or facsimiles into a telephone network). Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08175212B2
A seed counting device where accuracy is maintained at higher counting rates. The seed counting device has a hopper in communication with a tray. An activator is connected to the tray to vibrate the tray. Connected to one end of the tray is a separator having sensors. Below the tray and in partial alignment with the separator is a projecting device. The projecting device projects seeds that fall from the tray past the sensors and into a seed chamber.
US08175207B2
An inter-symbol interference (ISI) pattern-weighted early-late phase detector is provided. I and Q clocks are generated. The I clock frequency is divided by n, creating a reference clock. A serial data stream is sequentially sampled with the I clock, and with Q clocks having fixed and varied phase delays from the I clock, creating digital I-bit and Q-bit values. The I-bit values and Q-bit values are segmented into n-bit digital words. I clock phase corrections are identified and a modulation factor is determined in response to comparing Q-bit values sampled by the varied delay Q clock. Also identified are bit sequence patterns associated with each I-bit value. Each I-bit value is weighted in response to the identified bit sequence pattern and the identified I clock phase correction. The modulation factor is applied to the weighted average, and I and Q clock phase error signal are generated.
US08175196B2
A channel equalizer includes an overlap unit, an estimator, a calculator, a compensator, and a save unit. The overlap unit overlaps a group of data packets in a broadcast signal. The group data packets include a head, a body, and a tail, and a known data sequence is periodically included in the body. The estimator estimates a CIR of each data region the body using the known data sequence, and it further estimates CIRs of data regions in the head or tail using the CIRs obtained for the data regions in the body. The calculator calculates equalization coefficients based on the CIRs estimated by the estimator, and the compensator compensates channel distortion of the overlapped data using the equalization coefficients. The save unit saves the compensated data.
US08175190B2
Information is modulated onto frequency components of a signal. The resulting modulated signal includes at least some redundancy in frequency enabling a portion of the information modulated onto selected frequency components to be recovered from fewer than all of the selected frequency components. Controlling the spectrum of the modulated signal includes enabling the amplitude of at least some frequency components of the modulated signal to be set below a predetermined amplitude used for modulating the information.
US08175178B2
A communications device includes communications data and a training sequence corresponding to a preamble. A modulation and mapping circuit modulates the communications data and training sequence into a plurality of multiple subcarriers that are orthogonal to each other to form an OFDM communication signal having modulated subcarriers carrying the communications data forming a data payload and modulated subcarriers forming the preamble. A circuit turns OFF and ON selected subcarriers based on an encryption algorithm to increase transmit power and signal-to-noise ratio and reduce the Inter-Carrier Interference (ICI). The modulation and mapping circuit applies a quadratic modulation to the subcarriers carrying the training sequences to produce a low peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) preamble with a PAPR value of approximately 2.6 decibels (dB).
US08175177B2
The present invention is related to a method for reducing a peak to average power ratio (PAPR) of a signal in a wireless communication system. PAPR is reduced by modulating a data stream into a plurality of symbols, dividing the plurality of symbols into symbol groups, applying a Fourier transform to each of the symbol groups, applying a delay to at least one of the transformed symbol groups, and calculating a peak to average power ratio of the symbol groups.
US08175172B2
Various types of high-speed digital galvanic isolators and corresponding integrated low voltage differential signal (“LVDS”) interfaces are disclosed herein. According to some embodiments, phantom power is provided to one side of a galvanic isolator from the other side of the isolator via a twisted pair cable with shielding interconnecting the two sides, and therefore eliminate the need to provide power to both sides of the galvanic isolator through different power supplies or by way of separate physical wiring being routed and connected to the two opposing sides of the isolator. Such phantom power supply configurations reduce cost, lower power consumption, and increase the number of engineering design options available in a device where high speed serial data communication with low noise are required.
US08175171B2
A transmitter for use in a variable-length serial burst data transmission system having the transmitter and a receiver that are connected by at least two data signal lines and a burst start line includes a dual-rail encoder and a burst start signal receiving part. While transmitting variable-length serial data, the dual-rail encoder encodes each bit of the serial data into a corresponding symbol, inserts a null symbol delimiting the data symbols, and sends out the symbols via the two data signal lines to the receiver. For a period of non-transmission state, the transmitter sends out an invalid symbol representing a non-transmission state via the two data signal lines to the receiver. The burst start signal receiving part receives a burst start signal, which indicates a start of burst transmission of the variable-length serial data, via the burst start line from the receiver. In the transmitter, the dual-rail encoder sends out the null symbol to the receiver at the start of the burst transmission, and performs the burst serial transmission of the variable-length serial data in response to the burst start signal sent out by the receiver.
US08175167B2
The present embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, systems for use in encoding and/or formatting content, such as multimedia content. Some embodiments provide methods for use in encoding content. These methods receive source content, encode the source content producing encoded content, evaluate a first encoded segment of the encoded content relative to a plurality of buffer models, determine whether the first segment of encoded content is to be re-encoded relative to one or more of the plurality of buffer models based on the evaluation; and re-encode the first segment when it is determined that the first segment is to be re encoded.
US08175164B2
A device for data compression includes a domain transformer unit, a classifying unit, a variable length encoder, a fixed length encoder and a memory unit. The domain transformer unit transforms time-domain data into frequency-domain data. The classifying unit determines an encoding type of the frequency-domain data based on occurrence probability of the frequency-domain data. The variable length encoder encodes first frequency-domain data that are determined to be encoded by variable length coding. The fixed length encoder encodes second frequency-domain data that are determined to be encoded by fixed length coding. The memory unit stores the encoded first and second frequency-domain data by relocating the encoded first and second frequency-domain data such that the encoded first frequency-domain data are placed adjacently and the encoded second frequency-domain data are placed adjacently. Therefore, the time for decoding the corresponding data may be reduced.
US08175160B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for refining motion vectors. In operation, a plurality of motion vectors associated with a current frame and a first resolution are created. Furthermore, the motion vectors are refined utilizing information including at least one of first information describing motion vectors associated with a previous frame and second information describing motion vectors associated with the current frame and a second resolution.
US08175156B2
A method of video coding/decoding that includes transforming to/from transform coefficients and residual pixel data in moving pictures by a set of vectors. Two alternative vector sets are disclosed both providing an optimal balance between good performance and simplified computation.
US08175151B2
An encoder. A first encoding unit discrete cosine transforms an input frame, quantizes the transformation result, and generates a first frame according to a motion vector. The first encoding unit includes a first feedback unit dequantizing the transformation result, generating a processing signal and a first reconstruction signal according to the dequantization result, and re-quantizing the processing signal to generate a requantization signal. A second encoding unit encodes according to the first reconstruction signal to generate a second frame and an encoding signal. The third encoding unit generates a third frame according to the encoding signal and the re-quantization signal.
US08175148B2
A method and device for coding of digital video sequence, wherein an indication of quantization parameter (QP) is provided in the encoded bit-stream for decoding purposes. The QP related information is indicated by introducing a sequence level quantization parameter value SQP. More specifically, instead of coding the absolute values of picture/slice QPs, an indication of the difference ΔQP between the sequence level quantization parameter SQP and the picture/slice QP is provided. This eliminates the need to transmit a full QP for every picture/slice, and enables a statistically smaller difference value to be transmitted, thus providing a reduction in transmission bit-rate. The difference value is subsequently used in a corresponding decoder to reconstruct the picture/slice QP.
US08175136B2
A noise cancellation method includes: inputting an interference wave signal detected near a receiver section, and changing the phase and the amplitude of the input signal to generate a cancellation signal that cancels the input signal; performing correlation calculations on a signal obtained by adding the cancellation signal to a communication signal received by the receiver section and a code replica of a PRN code used for the communication signal, within a given correlation calculation target range that is included within a code phase range and a frequency range; and performing the correlation calculations within a non-signal range outside the correlation calculation target range, and controlling a phase shift amount and an amplitude change rate of the input signal based on the correlation calculation result.
US08175131B2
Laser media with controlled concentration profile of active laser ions and method of making the same
A laser medium comprises a solid-state host material and dopant species provided within the solid-state host material. A first portion of the dopant species has a first valence state, and a second portion of the dopant species has a second valence state. In an embodiment, a concentration of the first portion of the dopant species decreases radially with increasing distance from a center of the medium, and a concentration of the second portion of the dopant species increases radially with increasing distance from the center of the medium. The laser medium further comprises impurities within the solid-state host material, the impurities converting the first portion of the dopant species having the first valence state into the second portion of dopant species having the second valence state.
US08175126B2
This invention relates to opto-electronic systems using semiconductor lasers driven by optical phase-locked loops that control the laser's optical phase and frequency. Feedback control provides a means for precise, wideband control of optical frequency and phase, augmented further by four wave mixing stages and digitally stitched independent optical waveforms for enhanced tunability.
US08175124B2
A frit sealing system for combining a first substrate and a second substrate using frit comprises a laser generating a laser beam, and a homogenizer normalizing the intensity of the laser beam within a cross section of the laser beam in the transverse direction. The frit sealing system further comprises a support apparatus configured to hold a first and a second substrate with frit interposed between them, wherein the frit is configured to be cured by heat generated from the laser beam and thereby solidifying and binding the first and the second substrates.
US08175104B2
As described herein, a gateway device may include one or more expansion ports to add functionality. The added functionality can be of any desired type, such as adding telephone call routing capabilities, or high-definition radio capabilities. The added functionality can include new wireless communication abilities, such as adding Bluetooth capability, and the combination may allow greater networked communication.
US08175095B2
Application Specific Integrated Circuit (“ASIC”) devices, such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (“FPGAs”), may be interconnected using serial I/O connections, such as high speed multi-gigabit serial transceiver (“MGT”) connections. For example, serial I/O connections may be employed to interconnect a pair of ASICs to create a high bandwidth, low signal count connection, and in a manner so that any given pair of multiple ASIC devices on a single circuit card may communicate with each other through no more than one serial data communication link connection step. A reconfigurable hardware architecture (“RHA”) may be configured to include a communications infrastructure that uses a high-bandwidth packet router to establish standard communications protocols between multiple interfaces and/or multiple devices that may be present on a single circuit card. Dynamically-sized data packets, sized in accordance with the amount of data ready to be sent, are transferred between the devices and/or interfaces on the card.
US08175086B2
A network unit for use in a switching fabric includes multiple units collectively constituting a single network entity, each having ports for the reception and forwarding of data packets. The network unit has at least one fabric port for connection to a partner port on another one of the units by at least one link. The network unit is organized to send and receive via the at least one fabric port protocol packets which contain information on the path costs between said units in the fabric and to perform an algorithm to determine, on the basis of said information, routes for data packets within the fabric to other units of the fabric.
US08175085B2
A scaling device or striper improves the lane efficiency of switch fabric. The striper controls or adjusts transfer modes and payload sizes of a large variety of devices operating with different protocols. The striper interfaces between network devices and the switch fabric, and the resulting switching system is configurable by a single controller. A source device sends a data packet to its corresponding striper for transmission across the switch fabric to a destination device. The corresponding striper parses the packet to determine its type and payload length, and divides the packet into numerous smaller segments when the payload length exceeds a predetermined length. The segments may be stored in the striper to adapt to the available bandwidth of the switch. The segments are sent across the switch fabric and reassembled at a destination striper. The packet as reassembled is forwarded to the destination device.
US08175083B2
Method for transmitting data in a telecommunications network and switch for implementing said method
A method for transferring data from a first switch to a second switch selectively by line-switching or by packet-switching as well as to a switch for carrying out the method. Data packets are thereby first transferred packet-switched through a packet-switching network to the second switch. With the presence of a corresponding control signal a line-switching connection is established from the first switch to the second switch and the data are then transferred through this connection. Where applicable a renewed changeover to a packet-switching transfer is carried out. A flexible packet-switching or line-switching data transfer linked with dynamic costs between the junctions of a telecommunications network is enabled.
US08175080B2
Systems, methods and computer products for placing phone calls via Internet Protocol Television call logs. Exemplary embodiments include a method for generating communication requests via an Internet-Protocol-enabled device, the method including receiving a request to initiate a communication request from an Internet-Protocol-enabled device having an Internet-Protocol-enabled device address, mapping the Internet Protocol-enabled device address of a calling party to a calling party number and sending a first communication request to a calling party communication device associated with the Internet Protocol-enabled device.
US08175070B2
A method for generating a transmission signal to transmit a modulated signal generated using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, from a transmitting apparatus with a plurality of antennas, toward a plurality of terminals. The method includes assigning transmission data for the plurality of terminals to a plurality of carrier groups, each carrier group including a plurality of carriers and selecting, from the plurality of antennas, an antenna to be used for transmission toward each of the plurality of terminals. As a transmission mode for each of the plurality of carrier groups, a selection is made of one of a first transmission mode, in which one modulated signal is transmitted, and a second transmission mode in which a plurality of modulated signals are transmitted by using the selected antennas. A transmission signal is generated for transmitting the transmission data assigned to the plurality of carrier groups during an identical time period, using the selected transmission mode.
US08175066B2
An apparatus and method for providing a packet data service by using a plurality of heterogeneous networks is provided. The apparatus includes: a controller for allocating a representative IP address to the terminal and for binding sub-IP address, which are allocated to the terminal by the heterogeneous wireless networks, to the representative IP address; a copy unit for copying an IP packet received from an IP network according to the number of wireless networks to which the terminal is currently connected; and a converter for performing packet conversion on the copied IP packets by using corresponding sub-IP addresses and for transmitting the converted IP packets to the heterogeneous wireless networks. Accordingly, a seamless data service can be provided to a terminal in a service environment where a plurality of wireless communication systems is used.
US08175057B2
The invention relates to a method for managing the movement of a mobile node from a first router in a first network to a second router in a second network, wherein the mobile node communicates with a corresponding node. In order to enable seamless communication between the mobile node and the corresponding node, the second router is dynamically configured by the first router to transmit a router advertisement message to the mobile node, the router advertisement message comprising a subnet prefix of an IP address of the mobile node, said subnet prefix belonging to the first network. A layer 3 link change as observed by the mobile node can be postponed and a default router of the mobile node can be changed to the new access router immediately after the layer 2 handover, thus enabling very fast handovers without requiring modifications to the mobile node implementations.
US08175049B2
A method and apparatus for reference transport channel (TrCH) selection includes tracking characteristics on each of a TrCH. Whether or not any TrCHs meet a predetermined criteria is determined. A reference TrCH is selected based upon the determination of TrCHs that meet the predetermined criteria.
US08175046B2
A wireless system and method including a medium access control (MAC) layer adapted to notify a wireless station of the presence or absence of an incumbent wireless are described.
US08175039B2
A method and an apparatus for reporting a buffer status of a buffer storing packet data to be transmitted by a user equipment for a scheduling assignment of an uplink packet data service in a mobile communication system supporting the uplink packet data service are disclosed. A user equipment stores packet data having a priority corresponding to a plurality of priority queues having inherent priorities and relating to at least one service, and transmits buffer status information containing queue identifiers of the priority queues and buffer payload information representing an amount of the packet data stored in the priority queues. Herein, the user equipment inserts the buffer status information into a header part of a protocol data unit for the uplink packet data service, inserts the packet data into a payload part of the protocol data unit, and then transmits the protocol data unit.
US08175037B2
The present invention concerns method for updating a routing entry BC for a communication partner node CN communicating with a communication originating node MN via a network containing at least one routing node HA, the method comprising the steps of: requesting 1. a routing entry update from said communication originating node MN to said communication partner node CN, wherein said update request contains at least an identification BUIN of the request, submitting 2. request verification information, associated to said identification BUIN of the update request, from said communication originating node MN to said at least one routing node, requesting 4. verification of said routing entry update by said communication partner node CN to said routing node HA using said identification BUIN of the update request, retrieving 5. said request verification information from said routing node based on said identification BUIN of the update request.
US08175033B2
Provided are an apparatus and a method for changing a network attach mode in a mobile communication terminal using a GSM (Global System for Mobile) scheme and a GPRS scheme. The method includes determining whether a GPRS attach procedure fails due to a network problem in a predetermined auto attach mode; and changing the predetermined auto attach mode into a manual attach mode when the GPRS attach procedure fails due to the network problem.
US08175031B2
A method of providing packet data service is based on selectively switching packet data traffic for a mobile station operating in a boundary region between two service areas from a shared packet data channel to a dedicated packet data channel, or vice versa. For example, a source base station can be configured to switch packet data traffic for a mobile station from a shared packet data channel to a dedicated packet data channel as it approaches a shared channel service boundary. Additionally, the source base station can be configured to change the packet data service to the mobile station from a dedicated packet data channel to a shared packet data channel, such as when the mobile station moves back into the source base station's service area.
US08175027B2
A communication method in a gateway apparatus includes a transmission step of transmitting and receiving packets to and from a mobile station device, and transmitting and receiving packets to and from a home agent; and a setting step of establishing settings such that the packets from the mobile station device can be transmitted to at least a first and a second home agent, and the packets from at least the first and second home agents can be received.
US08175025B2
A wireless communication apparatus prepared in each of wireless terminals configuring a wireless network adapted to transmit and receive a data signal and terminal information to and from peripheral wireless terminals of a subject wireless terminal; to manage the terminal information received from the peripheral wireless terminals; to determine a relay network to which the subject terminal belongs on the basis of the terminal information of the peripheral wireless terminals when the subject terminal can be connected to at least one of the relay networks provided within the wireless network; to transmit terminal information including information indicating the relay network of the subject terminal to the peripheral wireless terminal; and to use the relay network of the subject terminal as a data signal transfer route to perform forward processing. Thus, the apparatus can prepare plural transfer routes to avoid wireless signal interference and collision and balance the power consumption among the terminals.
US08175021B2
Embodiments of the invention provide methods for maximizing the bandwidth utilization in the uplink of a communication system supporting time division multiplexing between unicast and multicast/broadcast communication modes during transmission time intervals in the downlink of a communication system. This is accomplished by multiplexing at least unicast control signaling for UL scheduling assignments in TTIs supporting the multicast/broadcast communication mode. Moreover, multiplexing of unicast control signaling can also be accomplished by splitting a symbol of the multicast/broadcast TTI into two shorter symbols with the first of these two shorter symbols carrying at least unicast control signaling and the second of these shorter symbols carrying multicast/broadcast signaling.
US08175020B2
A system for the end-to-end delivery of digital television signals. In a preferred embodiment a digital television signal is: received from production equipment, typically in HD format at approximately 1.4 gigabits per second (Gbps); the received signal is transmitted to a venue point-of-presence; converted for transmission via a 270 Mbps local loop; transmitted to a fiber network point of presence/video service edge; packetized into TCP/IP packets in a video gateway; and routed to one or more destination addresses via the fiber network; received at one or more video service edge destinations; converted to a digital television format, typically SDI; and either transmitted via a second 270 Mbps local loop for delivery to a customer site and subsequent conversion to a 1.4 Gbps HD signal, or converted directly to a 1.4 Gbs HD signal at the receiving video service edge.
US08175019B2
A wireless network connection device and method are provided for setting a wireless connection to an access point (AP). The device includes a radio frequency (RF) module, a base band (BB) module, and a control module. The RF module receives a packet transmitted by the AP. The BB module processes the packet to generate a signal strength (SS) corresponding to the AP. The control module generates an adjustment signal according to the SS, and adjusts a gain of the RF module according to the adjustment signal.
US08175014B2
Methods and apparatus are described for performing automatic repeat request (ARQ) and hybrid-ARQ (HARQ) assisted ARQ procedures in a relay-based wireless communication system. Triggers for radio link control (RLC)/ARQ retransmissions and RLC/ARQ status reporting are also described.
US08175012B2
A decoding method for booting from a NAND Flash including a booting page storing a plurality of copies of NAND booting information and a plurality of corresponding parities, each parity generated by an predetermined error correction code (ECC) bit number. The decoding method includes reading the booting page, for obtaining a plurality of configuration data and a plurality of ECC data, and performing a voting scheme and an ECC decoding process on the plurality of configuration data and the plurality of ECC data, for obtaining the NAND booting information. Besides, an encoding method for encoding such booting information is disclosed the same.
US08175007B2
A method and system of prioritizing calls based on audio stream analysis includes receiving a plurality of calls, wherein each call comprises an audio stream. The audio stream associated with one of the calls is analyzed for pre-determined audio characteristics. The call is processed based on the audio characteristics of the call. A system for prioritizing calls includes a multipoint control unit for receiving calls. An audio stream capture system captures an audio stream from the calls. The audio stream is analyzed by the capture system according to one or more selected criteria and an urgency priority ranking is determined for each call. The calls are ranked in a queue database according to urgency priority. A controller manages the audio stream capture system, the audio analyzer and queue database computer system.
US08175006B2
Systems and methods are described that employ multi-path BGP to realize dynamic multi-path load balancing based on an Intelligent Route Service Control Point (IRSCP) router control architecture that uses dynamic traffic flow information to perform dynamic load balancing to enable precise and effective load balancing.
US08175003B2
When it is advantageous to do so, a wireless LAN station sends data packets to a destination station via an intermediate station, instead of to the destination station directly. That is, the intermediate station, which serves as a helper to the source, forwards packets received from the source station to the intended destination station. This cooperative data transmission approach can result in system performance improvement, as long as the total time consumed by two-hop transmission (i.e., transmission via the helper station) is less than direct transmission. Such a determination may be made using rate information stored at each station. Specifically, using the rate information, signaling needed to set up a transmission, the amount of data to be transmitted, etc., transmitting the data directly and via a help station may be compared.
US08175000B2
A method for measuring a forward load in a sector includes: acquiring the amount of best-effort (BE) service data respectively transferred by each BE service user in a sector in a predetermined period of time; acquiring a time used by each BE service user for transferring BE service data in the predetermined period of time; and calculating a user equivalent rate of the BE service in the sector for the forward load by using the used time and the amount of the BE service data. The measurement apparatus includes a data amount acquiring unit, a time length acquiring unit, and a rate calculating unit. The measurement method and apparatus can measure a forward load of a BE service in a sector accurately.
US08174999B2
A home network, in one embodiment including a home wiring system; a demarcation point unit in electrical communication with the home wiring system; and a home network module in electrical communication with the home wiring system. The home network module is adapted for connection to a home electronic device. The demarcation point unit passes data to and receives data from the home electronic device through the home network module.
US08174996B2
A method may include receiving a first set of parameters associated with a test environment, the test environment including a test system for testing a network, receiving a test objective, conducting a first test case based on the received first set of parameters and the test objective, automatically determining, by the test system, whether the test objective has been satisfied based on a first test result associated with the first test case, and automatically adapting, by the test system, a second test case based on the first test result when it is determined that the test objective has not been satisfied.
US08174992B2
A method of localizing a fault in a network is disclosed. The network comprises nodes (SW1 . . . SW4) links, and edge-nodes (EN1 . . . EN4) arranged as a plurality of spanning trees (T1, T2,T3), the spanning trees being partially disjoint. The network further comprises means for network management. The method comprising the steps of receiving information on the configuration of the plurality of tree topologies in the network; monitoring connectivity in the network; upon detection of a loss of connectivity in the network, identifying the failed tree(s), and determining the network elements common to the failed tree(s).
US08174987B2
A method and apparatus for implementing output queue-based flow control is provided. The method includes: implementing queue scheduling and flow control by using an output port-based cell queue and by counting the number of cells from different angles. In this system, the flow control and queue management are performed separately. The queue management is directly applied to the cell scheduling. The flow control does not directly depend on the cell statistical results in the queue management. Instead, it is implemented on the basis of the cell statistical results that are obtained according to the cell priority, output port and source chip number of the cells. Therefore, the provided method and apparatus may reduce and simplify the number of queues to be scheduled and implement fine and flexible back pressure control.
US08174983B2
There is provided apparatus including at least one pre-capture filter, operative to receive at least some of a plurality of packets transmitted in a network, and to identify an application type of each of the received packets and a plurality of application-type specific post capture filters, each associated with at least one of a plurality of application-type specific monitoring stations, the plurality of application-type specific post capture filters being operative to receive from the at least one pre-capture filter packets of a specific application type and to transmit the packets of the specific application type to the at least one of the plurality of application type specific monitoring stations associated therewith.
US08174981B2
Method of processing a transmitted encoded media data stream is received. If a data element arrives prior to, or at, a predetermined playout deadline, the data element is decoded, the media represented by the decoded data element is played, and the data element is provided to a decoder state machine to update a decoder state. If a data element arrives after the predetermined playout deadline, the data element is provided to the decoder state machine to update the decoder state. In one embodiment, if the specified data element fails to arrive by the playout deadline, a subsequently received data element is saved in memory. Then, if the specified data element arrives after the predetermined playout deadline, the specified data element and the saved, subsequently received, data element are provided to the decoder state machine to update the decoder state.
US08174977B2
A network node within a network includes a first receive buffer, first buffer management, a second receive buffer and second buffer management. The first buffer management performs link level credit based flow control for network packets that the first buffer management places in the first receive buffer. The second buffer management performs end-to-end credit based flow control for network packets that the second buffer management receives from the first receive buffer and processes before placing data in the second receive buffer.
US08174976B2
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling message traffic licenses. The method includes: controlling message traffic through an ordinary license; judging whether the triggering conditions of using the first extended license are fulfilled, and, if the triggering conditions are fulfilled, using the first extended license to control the message traffic. The apparatus includes: a license management module, adapted to switch between the licenses according to the triggering conditions of the message traffic license; and a control module, adapted to control the message traffic by using the license selected by the license management module. The method and the apparatus for controlling message traffic licenses provided in an embodiment of the present invention perform hierarchical control on the short message traffic to overcome waste of system resources in the prior art caused by unitary setting of the maximum traffic and reduce the system resources occupied by invalid license traffic in the Short Message Service Center (SMSC).
US08174973B2
There is provided a procedure for wireless network management and a station supporting the procedure. In the procedure, non-AP station which wants to us a traffic filter service (TFS) transmits a TFS request message including one or more TFS request elements for defining information about the requesting traffic filters to an access point (AP). And, the non-AP station receives, from the AP in response to the first TFS request message, a TFS response message including one or more TFS response elements for defining information about the status of the requesting traffic filters.
US08174972B2
A method is described including determining if a packet length parameter included in received data matches a first pre-determined value, determining if an address parameter included in received data matches an address of a receiving device, determining if a length parameter included in received data matches a second pre-determined value, determining if a packet destination port number parameter included in received data matches a third pre-determined value, determining if a packet payload type parameter included in received data matches a fourth pre-determined value and dropping the packet responsive to the matches.
US08174968B2
A communication network apparatus and method for routing communication signals from a source device to a receiving device. The apparatus performs only local processing on communication signals to thereby increase the speed of processing the signals. A plurality of the processing nodes are combined into a plurality of sub-networks that comprise the network apparatus. Each processing node of a sub-network need only process address information pertaining to the node's current layer, one layer above it, if any, and one layer below it, if any. Additionally, each processing node has associated communication signal frequencies/wavelengths that identify the processing node as the intended recipient of the communication signal. When a communication signal having a carrier signal with a frequency/wavelength corresponding to the processing node is received, the processing node demodulates the carrier signal and forwards the communication signal data to a processing module used to process address information to determine how to route the communication signal through the network. Communication signals may be assigned “express” frequencies/wavelengths, in which case, all of the processing nodes, except the destination processing node, of the network pass the communication signal without performing processing on the communication signal.
US08174954B2
An optical information recording and reproducing method for recording or reproducing information by irradiating pulsed laser diode light from a laser diode (LD) light source in which the resistance value of the LD light source is measured in an operating state, the measured LD light source resistance value is compared with a target resistance value, and the LD light source is heated when the LD light source resistance value is higher than the target resistance value, in order to maintain the LD light source resistance at a specified value or less.
US08174945B2
There are provided a multi-layered optical disk and an optical disk device capable of swiftly reproducing control information recorded into a predetermined recording layer in advance. The object can be accomplished by employing the following configuration: When the optical disk device performs a focus lead-in operation into the multi-layered optical disk, the device positions its optical pickup at a BCA radius position, and takes advantage of a signal which is generated such that an influence exerted on the signal by BCA is avoided. Also, the object can be accomplished by employing the following configuration: An angle index unit for indicating a rotation reference position is provided in the multi-layered optical disk, and a partial area of the BCA is selected as an unrecording area. The optical disk device starts the focus lead-in operation in synchronization with rotation angle information created from the rotation reference position.
US08174943B2
An optical disc apparatus according to the present invention includes: a laser light source for emitting multiple light beams, of which the wavelengths are different from each other and include a first wavelength and a second wavelength that is longer than the first wavelength; an optical system for converging an arbitrarily selected one of the light beams on an optical disc that has a surface and at least one information storage layer; a focus control section for controlling the focus position of the light beam with respect to the optical disc; and a defect detecting section, which senses light reflected from the surface of the optical disc with the focus position of the light beam set on the surface, thereby determining, based on the intensity of the reflected light, whether or not there is a fingerprint on the optical disc.
US08174937B2
A thin-film magnetic head having microwave magnetic exciting function includes a write magnetic field production means for producing, in response to a write signal, a write magnetic field to be applied into a magnetic recording medium, and at least line conductor of a microwave radiator of a plane-structure type, formed independent from the write magnetic field production means, for radiating, by feeding there through a microwave excitation current, a microwave band resonance magnetic field with a frequency equal to or in a range near a ferromagnetic resonance frequency FR of the magnetic recording medium.
US08174935B2
[Object] To provide an adaptive array control method, device, and program, and an adaptive array processing method, device, and program, capable of performing accurate coefficient update control independent of frequency characteristics and incoming directions of signals. [Achieving Means] The present invention is characterized as to array-process signals received from a plurality of pairs of sensors having a plurality of different sensor intervals, and using the array processing result, estimate interference power accurately. More specifically, the present invention includes a multiple blocking matrix circuit 320 which processes signals receiving from sensors having a plurality of different intervals, and an accurate coefficient update control is performed based on the output array-processed signal. Thereby, deterioration of output signals and breathing noises are reduced, and high-quality array processing can be performed.
US08174924B2
A power saving method for a semiconductor memory is provided. The power saving method for a semiconductor memory including the steps of receiving a plurality of address codes, each of which has a first part code and a second part code; and activating a first boost process when the first part code of a currently received address code is different from the first part code of a last received address code, otherwise a second boost process is activated.
US08174921B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory banks; a plurality of temperature sensing circuits, and a shared control circuit. The temperature sensing circuits correspond to the memory banks and each is disposed in the vicinity of a corresponding memory bank. The shared control circuit is connected to the plurality of temperature sensing circuits and a plurality of refresh circuits for refreshing the plurality of memory banks, performs calibration on the plurality of temperature sensing circuits, performs digital processing on signals for separately controlling refresh intervals for the plurality of memory banks, and transmits the processed signals to the plurality of refresh circuits. Therefore, the refresh intervals for individual channels or banks are separately or selectively controlled. Further, since the plurality of temperature sensing circuits are connected to the shared temperature control circuit, the occupied area of the circuits in a chip is reduced or minimized.
US08174920B2
A memory includes a first and a second bit lines (BL); a first and a second sense nodes (SN); a first transfer gate between the 1st-BL and the 1st-SN; a second transfer gate (TG) between the 2nd-BL and the 2nd-SN; a latch circuit latching data to the 1st and 2nd-SN; a first data line (DQ) from the 1st-SN to outside; and a 2nd-DQ from the 2nd-SN to outside, wherein write data is transmitted from the 1st and 2nd-DQ to the 1st and 2nd-SN corresponding to selected cells before the 1st and 2nd-TG are set to be a conductive state, when writing data into the selected cells to be written out of the cells, and write data in the 1st and 2nd-SN corresponding to the selected cells are started to be written into the selected cells, when the 1st and 2nd-TG are set to be a conductive state.
US08174919B2
Circuits and methods for improving noise tolerance in memories are disclosed such as those that include biasing a data line above a normal threshold voltage, either by providing a higher data line charge voltage with a voltage source, or by providing a higher data line charge voltage with a current source.
US08174918B2
A dynamic circuit utilizing a passgate on a bit line is disclosed. In one embodiment, a precharge circuit is coupled to a first bit line, while a discharge circuit is coupled to a second bit line. A passgate transistor is coupled between the first bit line and the second bit line. A gate terminal of the passgate transistor may be hardwired or otherwise held to a static voltage such that it remains active when the circuit is operating. During a precharge phase, the precharge circuit may precharge the first bit line to a voltage that is at or near a supply voltage of the circuit. The second bit line may be precharged, through the passgate transistor, responsive to the precharging of the first bit line. The second bit line may be precharged to a voltage that is at least a threshold voltage less than the supply voltage.
US08174912B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and circuits for memories and utilization thereof. As one example, memory devices are disclosed that include a plurality of non-volatile memory blocks, and a memory write circuit. The memory write circuit is operable to write subsets of the plurality of non-volatile memory blocks at locations identified by a pointer, and to update the pointer to implement a circular buffer in the plurality of non-volatile memory blocks. In some cases, the non-volatile memory blocks are flash memory blocks.
US08174911B2
In some embodiments related to a memory array, a sense amplifier (SA) uses a first power supply, e.g., voltage VDDA, while other circuitry, e.g., signal output logic, uses a second power supply, e.g., voltage VDDB. Various embodiments place the SA and a pair of transferring devices at a local IO row, and a voltage keeper at the main IO section of the same memory array. The SA, the transferring devices, and the voltage keeper, when appropriate, operate together so that the data logic of the circuitry provided by voltage VDDB is the same as the data logic of the circuitry provided by voltage VDDA.
US08174910B2
A semiconductor device includes a first input circuit to which a first supply voltage is supplied, a second input circuit to which a second supply voltage that is lower than the first supply voltage is supplied, and a control circuit which activates the first input circuit in a first mode and activates the second input circuit in a second mode. The control circuit controls the first input circuit and the second input circuit such that the first input circuit and the second input circuit are activated during a certain time period when switching between the first mode and the second mode.
US08174907B2
To provide a semiconductor device including: first and second bus lines; a first buffer connected between the first and second bus lines; second and third buffers connected to the first bus line; fourth and fifth buffers connected to the second bus line; first to fourth banks connected via the first, second, and third buffers to the second bus line; fifth to eighth banks connected via the fourth and fifth buffers to the second bus line; and a data input/output unit connected to the second bus line. Transfer delay times of the fourth and fifth buffers are longer than transfer delay times of the first, second, and third buffers. Thereby, it becomes possible to eliminate differences in data transfer times resulting from differences in distances between far and near ends without causing significant increase in wire density, increase in power consumption, or the like.
US08174905B2
A method for data storage includes predefining an order of programming a plurality of analog memory cells that are arranged in rows. The order specifies that for a given row having neighboring rows on first and second sides, the memory cells in the given row are programmed only while the memory cells in the neighboring rows on at least one of the sides are in an erased state, and that the memory cells in the given row are programmed to assume a highest programming level, which corresponds to a largest analog value among the programming levels of the cells, only after programming all the memory cells in the given row to assume the programming levels other than the highest level. Data is stored in the memory cells by programming the memory cells in accordance with the predefined order.
US08174904B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a memory array including a plurality of bit lines, a plurality of memory cells and a device. Each of the plurality of memory cells has a first node, a second node and a third node, wherein the third node is coupled to one of the plurality of bit lines. The device couples the plurality of bit lines together to form a common node for one of the plurality of memory cells.
US08174901B2
This invention is to reduce the number of memory gate drivers, while lessening the number of times of disturb occurrence in a memory array configuration that implements writing in small byte units. A memory array comprises a plurality of sub-arrays, MG transfers, SL drivers, and CG drivers. Each sub-array includes a plurality of memory gate lines, control gate lines, source lines, and bit lines. Memory cells are arranged in positions of intersections of these lines. The control gate lines, CG drivers, source lines, and SL drivers are common to the sub-arrays, whereas the memory gate lines and MG buffer circuits are provided for each sub-array. Thereby, the units in which data is written are decreased and adverse effects of disturb are reduced without increasing the circuit size of the memory array.
US08174887B2
Memory and methods of operating a memory adjusting an output voltage of an analog storage device, such as a data cache capacitor holding a voltage level representative of data, in response to an estimated charge loss are useful for compensating for the effects of charge leakage from the analog storage devices.
US08174886B2
A semiconductor memory cell includes a floating body region configured to be charged to a level indicative of a state of the memory cell; a first region in electrical contact with said floating body region; a second region in electrical contact with said floating body region and spaced apart from said first region; a gate positioned between said first and second regions; and a back-bias region configured to inject charge into or extract charge out of said floating body region to maintain said state of the memory cell. Application of back bias to the back bias region offsets charge leakage out of the floating body and performs a holding operation on the cell. The cell may be a multi-level cell. Arrays of memory cells are disclosed for making a memory device.
US08174877B2
An electric device has a resistor including a phase change material changeable between a first phase and a second phase within a switching zone. The resistor has a first resistance when the phase change material is in the first phase and a different second resistance, when the phase change material is in the second phase. The resistor may conduct a first current. The device has a heating element that may conduct a second current for enabling a transition of the phase change material from the first to the second phase. At the position of the switching zone, the resistor is arranged as a first line and the heating element is arranged as a second line. The first and second line may conduct the first current and the second current respectively, wherein the first line and the second line cross at the position of the switching zone.
US08174872B2
A nonvolatile latch circuit includes: first and second inverters cross-coupled to hold 1-bit data; first and second magnetoresistive elements each having first to third terminals; and a current supply circuitry configured to supply a magnetization reversal current for changing the magnetization states of the first and second maqnetoresistive elements in response to the 1-bit data. The power terminal of the first inverter is connected to the first terminal of the first magnetoresistive element and the power terminal of the second inverter is connected to the first terminal of the second magnetoresistive element. The current supply circuitry is configured to supply the magnetization reversal current to the second terminals of the first and second magnetoresistive elements. The third terminal of the first magnetoresistive element is electrically connected to the third terminal of the second magnetoresistive element.
US08174868B2
An embedded SRAM chip in a 32 nm or smaller technology generation includes a first SRAM array of first SRAM unit cells. Each first SRAM unit cell includes a data latch for data storage and at least two pass gates for data reading and writing access. The cell area is defined by a first X-pitch and a first Y-pitch, the X-pitch being longer than the Y-pitch. A plurality of logic transistors are formed outside of the first SRAM array, the plurality of logic transistors including at least first and second logic transistor having first and second gate pitches defined between their source and drain contacts. The second gate pitch is the minimum logic gate pitch for the plurality of logic transistors. The first Y-pitch is equal to twice the first gate pitch and the ratio of the first Y-pitch to twice the second logic gate pitch is greater than one.
US08174861B2
A memory module having a high data processing rate and high capacity is provided. The memory module may include a memory chip, a controller controlling an operation of the memory chip, an optical detector converting an external input signal into an internal input signal to transmit the converted signal to the controller, and an optical generator converting an internal output signal received from the controller into an external output signal. The optical detector converts an external input optical signal into an internal input signal to transmit the converted signal to the controller. The optical generator converts an internal output signal received from the controller into an external output optical signal.
US08174860B2
Provided are a semiconductor memory device and a method of driving the device which can improve a noise characteristic of a voltage signal supplied to a memory cell of the device. The semiconductor memory device includes a first semiconductor chip and one or more second semiconductor chips stacked on the first chip. The first chip includes an input/output circuit for sending/receiving a voltage signal, a data signal, and a control signal to/from an outside system. The one or more second semiconductor chips each include a memory cell region for storing data. The second semiconductor chips receive at least one signal through one or more signal paths that are formed outside the input/output circuit of the first chip.
US08174842B2
A light-emitting diode (LED) module includes a plurality of LED units and a converter having a first side. The LED units respectively include a circuit board having a second side perpendicular to the first side and a third side parallel to the first side, a plurality of LEDs positioned on the circuit board, and a connector positioned on the second side proximal to the converter. The LED module further includes a plurality of flexible flat cables (FFCs) used to electrically connect the connectors to the converter, respectively.
US08174840B2
A multi-functional composite substrate structure is provided. The first substrate with high dielectric constant and the second substrate with low dielectric constant and low loss tangent are interlaced above the third substrate. One or more permeance blocks may be formed above each substrate, so that one or more inductors may be fabricated thereon. One or more capacitors may be fabricated on the first substrate. Also, one or more signal transmission traces of the system impedance are formed on the second substrate of the outside layer. Therefore, the inductance of the inductor(s) is effectively enhanced. Moreover, the area of built-in components is reduced. Furthermore, it has shorter delay time, smaller dielectric loss, and better return loss for the transmission of high speed and high frequency signal.
US08174835B2
Embodiments are described including a device comprising a carrier frame. The device includes a first connector on a first side of the carrier frame, and the first connector connects to a host system when the carrier frame is inserted into the host system. The device includes a second connector on a second side of the carrier frame, where the second side of the carrier frame is perpendicular to the first side. The second connector electrically couples to the first connector and connects to an input/output (I/O) adapter card inserted into a third side of the carrier frame, where the third side perpendicular to the first side. Consequently, the device has a flat structure that receives an adapter card and reorients the electrical connection of the adapter card. The device includes external visual status indicators and a switch for hot-swapping of the adapter card carrier in a running host system.
US08174834B2
A molded housing for an electronic circuit, for installation in electronic devices and/or sensors or pick-ups includes at least one force-fit zone, and a force-fit component assigned each of said at least one force-fit zone. The force-fit component is mounted by welding on a die pad of the molded housing.
US08174828B2
Electronic circuit boards are arranged as respective parallel pairs defining a narrow gap there between. One or more such pairs of boards are supported within a hermitically sealable housing and cooled by way of spraying an atomized liquid coolant from a plurality of nozzles into each narrow gap. Transfer of heat from the circuit boards results in vaporization of at least some of the atomized liquid within the narrow gap. The housing further serves to guide a circulation of vapors out of each narrow gap, back toward the nozzles, and back into each narrow gap. A heat exchanger exhausts heat from the housing and overall system, wherein vapor is condensed back to liquid phase during contact and heat transfer therewith. Condensed liquid is collected and re-pressurized for delivery back to the nozzles such that a sustained cooling operation is performed.
US08174825B2
Apparatus and methods for managing a connection cable that is used for interconnecting a small form factor (SFF) portable optical disk drive (ODD) or other similarly configured ODD to an information handling system such as notebook or desktop computer. A retractable fixed connection cable may be provided inside an internal cavity within the external enclosure of a portable ODD apparatus that has an inner chassis with a disk receiving section that is configured to receive an optical disk media and that extends beyond the outer boundary of an electronics section of the inner chassis of an ODD that contains electronic components so as to form a cut-out section that defines the internal cavity between the inner ODD chassis and the inside of an outer ODD enclosure when these components are assembled together.
US08174808B2
A load driving device according to an aspect of the present invention may includes an output transistor and a load connected in series between first and second power supply lines, a protection transistor connected between a gate of the output transistor and the second power supply line, the protection transistor turning on the output transistor when a polarity of a power supply connected between the first and second power supply lines is reversed, and a resistor arranged on a line, which supplies a voltage to a back gate of the protection transistor.
US08174804B2
A circuit breaker apparatus may be used to interrupt overcurrent and ground fault in a circuit. The circuit breaker apparatus may include an overcurrent coil for tripping the circuit breaker apparatus, a voltage coil also for tripping the circuit breaker apparatus located proximate to the overcurrent coil, ground fault electronics connected to the voltage coil and structured to detect a ground fault in the circuit when the ground fault exceeds a threshold level, and a solid state switch. The ground fault electronics can be structured to send a trip signal to close the solid state switch when a ground fault is detected, the solid state switch is configured to force a current through the voltage coil when the solid state switch is closed, the current being of sufficient magnitude to trip the circuit breaker apparatus.
US08174798B2
In a spin-torque oscillator, a first ferromagnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer are stacked. A pair of electrodes perpendicularly applies a current onto each plane of the first ferromagnetic layer, the non-magnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The current induces a precession of a magnetization of at least one of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The at least one of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer is formed by an in-plane magnetization film having a uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. A magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field to control a direction of the magnetization so that a non-linearity frequency shift of the precession by the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy cancels a non-linearity frequency shift of the precession by a demagnetizing field on the in-plane magnetization film.
US08174797B2
A head suspension has a conductive base plate, a piezoelectric element, and a load beam. The piezoelectric element deforms in response to a voltage applied thereto, thereby moving the load beam relative to the base plate in a sway direction. The head suspension includes an actuator base integral with the base plate, an auxiliary plate laid on and fixed to the actuator base and having a surface support and a side support, the surface support facing a periphery of a surface of the piezoelectric element, the side support facing in the sway direction a side face of the piezoelectric element, an attaching part formed of the actuator base and auxiliary plate, the attaching part being present between the base plate and the load beam and being configured to attach the piezoelectric element thereto, a nonconductive adhesive layer interposed between the attaching part and the piezoelectric element, to adhere the piezoelectric element to the attaching part, and a conductive material configured to electrically connect an electrode plane of the piezoelectric element and the side support to each other. The head suspension is thin and secures conductivity between the electrode plane of the piezoelectric element and the actuator base.
US08174794B2
A slider resistant to lubricant accumulation. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation includes a positive-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to levitate the slider above a magnetic-recording disk and a negative-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to bring the slider into proximity with the magnetic-recording disk at a fly height sufficient for writing data to and reading data from the magnetic-recording disk. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation also includes a lubricant-accumulation barrier disposed in proximity to a trailing edge of the slider. The lubricant-accumulation barrier is configured to reduce lubricant accumulation on the slider. The lubricant-accumulation barrier also includes a plurality of lubricant-accumulation-barrier portions disposed at a plurality of respective depths below an outer-most surface of a disk-facing side of the slider.
US08174790B2
A thin-film magnetic head including a structure in which a main magnetic pole layer including a magnetic pole end part on a side of a medium-opposing surface opposing a recording medium, a write shield layer opposing the magnetic pole end part so as to form a recording gap layer on the medium-opposing surface side, and a thin-film coil wound about the write shield layer or main magnetic pole layer are laminated. The main magnetic pole layer is incorporated in a magnetic pole forming depression of a base insulating layer, the magnetic pole forming depression being sunken into a form corresponding to the main magnetic pole layer. The thin-film magnetic head has a remnant insulating film, formed on the outside of the magnetic pole forming depression so as to substantially surround the magnetic pole forming depression, covering the base insulating layer.
US08174789B2
Provided is a vertical magnetic recording head having a main pole, a return yoke, and a coil, all of which are formed on a substrate, and a method of manufacturing the same. The main pole includes a vertical portion which is vertical to the substrate, a horizontal portion that connects a lower part of the vertical portion to the return yoke, and a main pole tip formed on the vertical portion of the main pole. The main pole tip has a conical shape vertical to the substrate.
US08174785B2
This application discloses a hard disk drive using a self-resonant frequency band of a Voice Coil Motor far above its operational frequency band to predict Rapid Off Track events before its head stack assembly can deliver the disruption to the slider writing a track. A circuit board and/or an integrated circuit are disclosed in various embodiments to predict the ROT events using the self-resonant frequency band and/or to respond to the prediction to suppress the slider writing.
US08174784B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for controlling access to a magnetic storage medium. As one example, a method for controlling access to a magnetic storage medium is disclosed that includes providing a location count indicating a location between a portion of a first servo data sector of a magnetic storage media and a portion of a second servo data sector of the magnetic storage media, and asserting an enable window signal based upon the location count.
US08174780B1
A disk drive is disclosed including a disk, and a head actuated over the disk. Control circuitry within the disk drive is operable to receive a write operation for a refresh zone of the disk, measure a write operation quality parameter that affects the quality of the write operation, and perform the write operation. An update function is enabled in connection with performing the write operation, wherein the update function is operable to update a refresh monitor as a function of the write operation and the write operation quality parameter. Data stored in the refresh zone of the disk is refreshed in response to the refresh monitor.
US08174779B2
One embodiment in accordance with the invention is a method that comprises testing a first number of physical devices using a first test sequence that comprises an item. A second number of physical devices are tested using a second test sequence. It is noted that the second test sequence comprises the item of the first test and a second item.
US08174772B1
A display device with a plurality of electrofluidic display cells may be used to display images to a viewer. The electrofluidic display cell could include a transparent electrowetting electrode and a fluid pathway that includes a viewable fluid channel and a fluid reservoir. The viewable fluid channel in each electrofluidic display cell can be controllably filled with a first or second fluid so as to modulate the viewable contrast, reflectance, and/or color of the cell. A photovoltaic device can be integrated within each electrofluidic display cell directly under the viewable fluid channel. Thus, when ambient light is transmitted through the viewable fluid channel, the photovoltaic device could convert at least some of the ambient light into electrical energy. This electrical energy could be used to power the display device or other devices.
US08174771B2
A method for manufacturing a preferably asymmetrical lens element (5a) from a tempered blank (1) is characterized by: producing the lens element (5a) from a first partial volume (1a) of the tempered blank (1), whose thickness d is less than approximately 70%, preferably less than approximately 60%, particularly preferably less than approximately 50% of the thickness D of the tempered blank (1). Preferably, from a second partial volume (1b) of the tempered blank (1) at least a further lens element (5a′) is produced, wherein before the lens elements (5a, 5a′) are produced the tempered blank (1) is divided into the first and second partial volume (1a, 1b).
US08174754B2
An electrophoretic display includes a plurality of pixels. A display method applied to the electrophoretic display includes the following steps. Firstly, a first frame is displayed on the pixels at a first time. Next, a difference amount between the pixels at the first time and the pixels at a second time predetermined for displaying a second frame is calculated. The second time is later than the first time. Next, whether the difference amount is larger than a predetermined value is determined. Next, corresponding part of the second frame is displayed on part of the pixels corresponding to the difference amount at the second time if the difference amount is not larger than the predetermined value.
US08174753B2
Methods and circuits for distributing power to suspended-particle-device (SPD) film products including SPD windows, SPD shades, and other SPD products, which are referred to generally as SPD loads. A driving voltage derived from a primary power source is provided to an SPD load by backbone wiring which carries a low AC or DC voltage derived from the primary power source, and a conversion stage which converts the low voltage to an AC driving voltage which is then supplied to the SPD load.
US08174749B2
A light-beam-scanning system includes two counter-rotating prism wheels. Each prism wheel has a set of prisms at its periphery, selected so that prisms of equal half-angle deflections are sequentially aligned. A light transceiver structure directs a light beam parallel to the rotational axes of the prism wheels and at a distance from the rotational axes so that the light beam passes through the aligned prisms. A prism-wheel drive is operable to drive the prism wheels in opposite rotational directions.
US08174738B2
The image read-out device comprises an integrally formed scanning optical unit in which a light source which emits light toward a document, a plurality of reflective mirrors reflecting the light which is emitted from the light source to the document and then reflected, an image forming lens converging the light reflected by a final reflective mirror which finally reflects the light, among the plurality of mirrors, and a light receiving sensor for receiving the light converged by the image forming lens are integrally mounted on a housing, the integrally formed scanning optical unit moving in a scanning direction and reading out an image of the document, wherein an opening is provided on each of top and bottom surfaces of the housing, and wherein the area of the opening provided on the bottom surface is equal or more than that of the opening provided on the top surface.
US08174736B2
An image reading apparatus is configured to read an image of a document. The image reading apparatus includes a main body, a document receiving surface configured to receive a document to be read, an operation panel disposed on the main body and a document cover configured to move between a first position covering the document receiving surface and a second position exposing the document receiving surface. The operation panel has a first inclined surface inclined relative to the document receiving surface and operation keys arranged on the first inclined surface. The document cover has a second inclined surface inclined relative to the document receiving surface. When the document cover is in the first position, the second inclined surface may generally align with the first inclined surface, may be immediately adjacent to the first inclined surface, and may be inclined less than the first inclined surface relative to the document receiving surface.
US08174731B2
An image processing device includes an original image inputting unit, an original-image characteristic quantity data determining unit, an outputting unit, a selecting unit, and a correcting unit. The original image inputting unit is configured so as to be capable of inputting an original image. The original-image characteristic quantity data determining unit determines original-image characteristic quantity data expressing a characteristic of the original image inputted by the original image inputting unit. The outputting unit outputs at least one set of image data or indication concerning at least one set among a plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data. The selecting unit enables a user to select one set of image data among the at least one set of image data. The correcting unit corrects the original image based on one set of sample-image characteristic quantity data corresponding to the selected set of image data and the original-image characteristic quantity data.
US08174727B2
A first display area and a second display area are disposed in each setting screen concerning setting of photocopy processing, a draft graphical image and a finished graphical image are set in which present set contents are reflected every time the set contents are changed in response to user's operation, the set draft graphical image is displayed in the first display area, and the set finished graphical image is displayed in the second display area.
US08174726B2
There is provided a printing device including a face detection unit for detecting a face area including a face of a person in an image to be a target for printing, and a print setting determination unit for determining a setting of a size of a print image used for a marginless printing based on a position of the face area detected by the face detection unit.
US08174721B2
A system for outputting an image includes first and second image output apparatuses. The first image output apparatus includes a display processing portion that displays an image to be outputted on electronic paper based on a first condition under which a job to output the image is executed, a conditions storing processing portion that stores, in a conditions storage, the first condition in association with a job identifier for identifying the job, and a job identifier storing processing portion that stores the job identifier in the electronic paper. The second image output apparatus includes a reading portion that reads out the job identifier from the electronic paper, an obtaining portion that obtains, from the conditions storage portion, the first condition corresponding to the job identifier thus read out, and a job execution portion that executes a whole or a part of the job based on the first condition thus obtained.
US08174717B2
A communication apparatus includes: a receiving unit which receives reception data transmitted from an external apparatus; an acquiring unit which acquires identification information for identifying the external apparatus which transmits the reception data; and a tag writer which wirelessly write the identification information into a wireless tag.
US08174711B2
In a printing system in which a digital camera (DSC) and photo-direct (PD) printer apparatus are directly connected via a USB, and image data is transmitted from the DSC to the PD printer apparatus and printed, Capability of the PD printer apparatus is transmitted from the PD printer apparatus to the DSC after communication procedures are established by an application New Camera Direct Print (NCDP) installed in the PD printer apparatus and DSC. The PD printer apparatus is caused to execute a print operation in accordance with print conditions set by the DSC on the basis of the transmitted Capability.
US08174709B2
The image data processing apparatus includes a storage unit to store image data having a process setting. The image data processing apparatus includes a selection screen display unit to display the one or more image data stored in the storage unit and to display a selection screen to select whether to use a process content associated with image data selected from the displayed image data if the one segment of image data is used. The image data processing apparatus includes a display control unit to display, on the display device, a preview image reflecting the process content based on the associated process content.
US08174702B2
Speckle, a factor reducing image quality in optical coherence tomography (“OCT”), can limit the ability to identify cellular structures that are important for the diagnosis of a variety of diseases. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can facilitate an implementation of an angular compounding, angular compounding by path length encoding (“ACPE”) for reducing speckle in OCT images. By averaging images obtained at different incident angles, with each image encoded by path length, ACPE maintains high-speed image acquisition and implements minimal modifications to OCT probe optics. ACPE images obtained from tissue phantoms and human skin in vivo demonstrate a qualitative improvement over traditional OCT and an increased signal-to-noise ratio (“SNR”). Accordingly, exemplary embodiments of an apparatus probe catheter and method can be provided for irradiating a structure. In particular, an interferometer may forward forwarding an electromagnetic radiation. In addition, a sample arm may receive the electromagnetic radiation, and can include an arrangement which facilitates a production of at least two radiations from the electromagnetic radiation so as to irradiate the structure. Such exemplary arrangement can be configured to delay a first radiation of the at least two radiations with respect to a second radiation of the at least two radiations.
US08174700B2
This specification discloses various improvements in the field of SPR sensing systems. One improvement relates to a portable SPR sensing system, e.g., a system contained within a suitcase that can be hand-carried to a monitoring site. Another improvement relates to a portable, cartridge-based SPR sensing system. In this system, selected portions of the system's electrical and fluidics systems are allocated between a base unit and a removable/disposable cartridge. Other improvements relate to methods or protocols for operating an SPR sensing system. Such methods provide for the elimination of false positives and increased sensitivity, e.g., by using secondary antibodies with specificity for different target epitopes and by sensor element redundancy. In addition, protocols are provided for the detection of small molecules. Such protocols may employ a competition type assay where the presence of the analyte inhibits the binding of antibodies to surface immobilized analyte, or a displacement assay, where antibodies bound to the analyte on the sensor surface are displaced by free analyte.
US08174699B2
A system for detecting the presence of one or more fluids in a rotating component of a gas turbine engine. A first reflector structure includes a first face that receives light from the light source. The first reflector structure reflects at least a substantial portion of the received light from the light source if a second face thereof is in the presence of a first fluid and does not reflect a substantial portion of the received light from the light source if the second face is in the presence of a second fluid. A reflection receiver structure receives light reflected by the first reflector structure. If the reflection receiver structure receives a first predetermined amount of light reflected by the first reflector structure it can be determined that the second face of the first reflector structure is not in the presence of the second fluid.
US08174695B2
A spectrometer system includes an array of micro-zone plates (MZP) each having coaxially-aligned ring gratings, a sample plate for supporting and illuminating a sample, and an array of photon detectors for measuring a spectral characteristic of the predetermined wavelength. The sample plate emits an evanescent wave in response to incident light, which excites molecules of the sample to thereby cause an emission of secondary photons. A method of detecting the intensity of a selected wavelength of incident light includes directing the incident light onto an array of MZP, diffracting a selected wavelength of the incident light onto a target focal point using the array of MZP, and detecting the intensity of the selected portion using an array of photon detectors. An electro-optic layer positioned adjacent to the array of MZP may be excited via an applied voltage to select the wavelength of the incident light.
US08174686B2
A focal position determining method determines a focal position of an objective lens focused on an observed target region in a specimen. The focal position determining method includes measuring any one of the focal position of the objective lens at a near point and the focal position of the objective lens at a far point or both so as to determine the focal position of the objective lens focused on the observed target region based on the measured focal position.
US08174678B2
A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system to condition a radiation beam; a patterning device support to support a patterning device, the patterning device capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam; a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate, and a projection system to project the patterned radiation beam in a scanning exposure along a scanning direction onto a target portion of the substrate. The illumination system is configured to form in a plane of the patterning device a slit shaped image. The slit shaped image has a curved shape with a slit curvature in the scanning direction, with a length in the scanning direction and a width perpendicular to the scanning direction. The slit shaped image is configured to create a curved pattern image portion of the patterned radiation beam in an image plane of the projection system.
US08174675B2
The present invention provides a processing apparatus which executes sampling of data and represents the sampled data by linear combination of orthogonal functions, the apparatus including a device configured to execute the sampling, and a processor configured to process the data sampled by the device, wherein the processor is configured, if the data sampled by the device includes an invalid sampling point, to obtain a degree of break of orthogonality of an orthogonal function system caused by the invalid sampling point, and to evaluate reliability of the sampling based on the obtained degree.
US08174673B2
A method for wafer alignment includes the following steps. First, a wafer including a first material layer and a second material layer on the top of the first material layer is provided, wherein the first material layer includes a first alignment mark. Then, the wafer is aligned in an exposure tool. After that, the second material layer is patterned to form a second alignment mark. Finally, an offset distance between the first alignment mark and the second alignment mark is measured in the exposure tool.
US08174670B2
A method of measuring an optical characteristic of an optical system using a measurement apparatus, comprises determining a position of each of object points by arranging, on a side of the object plane, an object point measurement device array, and sequentially inserting the object point measurement devices in an optical path, determining a position of each of image points by arranging, on a side of the image plane, an image point measurement device array, and sequentially inserting the image point measurement devices in the optical path, calculating an error attributed to the measurement apparatus based on the positions of object points and the positions of the image points, obtaining a measured value by measurement to obtain information representing the optical characteristic of the optical system using the measurement apparatus, and correcting the measured value based on the error.
US08174669B2
There is disclosed is a liquid immersion optical tool, which comprises a light source, an optical lens system, a stage which moves an object base on which an object is to be placed, a head comprising a liquid immersion medium fluid supply device and a liquid immersion medium fluid discharge device to provide a layer of liquid immersion medium fluid between the optical lens system and the object, a fence which limits a region of the layer of liquid immersion medium fluid, and a cleaning device which cleans a portion having been contacted with the liquid immersion medium fluid by means of a cleaning solution.
US08174668B2
A lithographic apparatus includes a substrate table which holds a substrate, a projection system which projects a patterned beam of radiation onto the substrate, the projection system having a final optical element adjacent the substrate, a liquid supply system which provides a liquid to a space between the projection system and the substrate table, and a cleaning system which cleans the substrate table.
US08174667B2
A transparent conductor including a conductive layer coated on a substrate is described. More specifically, the conductive layer comprises a network of nanowires that may be embedded in a matrix. The conductive layer is optically clear, patternable and is suitable as a transparent electrode in visual display devices such as touch screens, liquid crystal displays, plasma display panels and the like.
US08174660B2
Provided are a metal line, a method of forming the same, and a display using the same. To increase resistance of a metal line having a multilayered structure of CuO/Cu and prevent blister formation, a plasma treatment is performed using a nitrogen-containing gas and a silicon-containing gas or using a hydrogen or argon as and the silicon-containing gas. Accordingly, a plasma treatment layer such as a SiNx or Si layer is thinly formed on the copper layer, thereby preventing an increase in resistance of the copper layer and also preventing blister formation caused by the damage of a copper oxide layer. Consequently, it is possible to improve the reliability of a copper line and thus enhance the reliability of a device.
US08174647B2
A display includes a plurality of pixel circuits, each pixel circuit including a first electrode, a second electrode, a reflective region, and a transmissive region. The reflective region reflects ambient light and includes a first portion of a liquid crystal layer and a polarization dependent reflector. The transmissive region transmits backlight and includes a second portion of the liquid crystal layer. A dielectric layer is between the first and second electrodes in one of the reflective region and the transmissive region, the dielectric layer configured such that when a pixel voltage is applied to the first and second electrodes, the percentage of the pixel voltage applied across the first portion of the liquid crystal layer is different from the percentage of the pixel voltage applied across the second portion of the liquid crystal layer. The display includes a backlight module to generate the backlight.
US08174643B2
Disclosed herein is a light guide plate including: a side end face on which light from a light source is incident; an incoming part which forms the side end face and by which the light coming in through the side end face is guided; a principal surface which is formed in a direction perpendicular to the side end face and through which the light guided by the incoming part is let go out; and a main body part which forms the principal surface and which is continuous with the incoming part on the opposite side from the side end face.
US08174642B2
In a light guide unit (40) of the present invention, a light source (22) is provided on a first end section (24d) of a light guide (24). Further, a side reflective member (26b), which can reflect light in the light guide (24), is provided on a second end section (24e) opposite to the first end section (24d) which is provided with the light source (22). The light guide (24) is continuously increased in thickness (D2, D4, and D5) (i) from the first end section (24d) provided with the light source (22) toward a center of the light guide (24) and (ii) also from the second end section (24e) provided with the side face reflective member (26b) toward the center of the light guide (24).
US08174632B2
A stereoscopic liquid crystal display includes an LCD panel with an upper substrate, a lower substrate disposed opposite the upper substrate, and a liquid crystal material between the upper and lower substrates. A lenticular plate is disposed above the LCD panel. An hole is formed in the lenticular plate. The hole provides and air conduit that communicates in a space between a surface of the LCD panel and a surface of the lenticular plate. The hole is configured to facilitate evacuation of air from the space between LCD panel and the lenticular plate. A sealant material is disposed in a predetermined pattern between the surfaces of the LCD panel and the lenticular plate. Air is evacuated through the hole and a vacuum is formed in the space between the LCD panel and the lenticular plate. The vacuum minimizes or eliminates a gap between the surfaces of the LCD panel and the lenticular plate.
US08174631B2
A display device that is capable of reliably sensing a contact with a touch panel is presented. The device includes: a first insulating substrate; a first sensing line disposed on the first insulating substrate in a predetermined direction; a first pixel disposed on the left side of the first sensing line; a second pixel disposed on the right side of the first sensing line; a first data line disposed on the left side of the first pixel; and a second data line disposed on the right side of the second pixel. The first pixel is connected with the first data line and the second pixel is connected with the second data line.
US08174628B2
A flexible LCD (2) is a flexible display. The flexible LCD (2) is pulled out from an upper cabinet to change a display area of the flexible LCD (2). An amount-of-sliding detecting section (4) measures the pullout amount (amount of sliding) of the flexible LCD (2) when the flexible LCD (2) is pulled out from a mobile terminal unit (1) or is retracted into the mobile terminal unit (1). A display controller (3) causes the flexible LCD (2) to display in a manner responsive to the amount of sliding that is measured by the amount-of-sliding detecting section (4). The foregoing makes it possible to utilize effectively the display having a display area that is revealed when the display is pulled out.
US08174620B2
High definition media content processing techniques are described in which enhanced media content rendering techniques may be performed to output high definition media content. In an implementation, luma keying may be provided to define clear pixels in a composite output using an optimum set of graphics processing instructions. In another implementation, techniques are described which may provide clear rectangles in a composite output of one or more video streams. Clear rectangles to appear in the composite output are configured by a media playback application. A texture is arrived at to represent a union of each of the clear rectangles and is applied to form the clear rectangles in the composite output. In another implementation, capture techniques are described in which an image to capture is resolved as strips to an intermediate texture and then from the texture to a capture buffer in system memory.
US08174613B2
The present invention provides a camera device including: an image pickup element; a substrate mounted with the image pickup element thereon; and a housing accommodating the image pickup element therein. The housing is provided with a plurality of support members which extend upright and to which an external edge portion of the substrate is stuck with an adhesive. The substrate is provided with an application area to which the adhesive is applied, at the external edge portion stuck with the support members.
US08174611B2
A digital camera function, such as can be implemented in a cellular telephone handset, and that includes automated segmentation of foreground subjects in acquired digital photos and images. Successive images are captured by the digital camera function at different flash exposure levels, for example using existing light only and using flash exposure. After alignment and registration of the images, luminance difference values in the two images are determined for each pixel, and the luminance difference values compared against a threshold value on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Those pixels with luminance difference values exceeding the threshold are segmented from the image as foreground subjects.
US08174610B2
A camera includes an image sensor, and a plurality of metering areas are assigned to an object scene captured by the image sensor. A CPU evaluates a luminance of the object scene for each metering area, and binarizes each of the plurality of obtained luminance evaluated values. Furthermore, on the basis of the plurality of binarized luminance evaluated values, a width of a high luminance area included in the object scene is calculated while a width of an adjacent area adjacent to the high luminance area out of a low luminance area included in the object scene is calculated. Then, each of the plurality of luminance evaluated values is corrected on the basis of a ratio between the width of the calculated adjacent area and the width of the calculated high luminance area. An exposure amount to the image sensor is adjusted on the basis of the luminance evaluated values thus corrected.
US08174609B2
In a camera module 1 of the present invention, a mechanical shutter 2 is provided above a top surface of a lens unit 3, and a protrusion section formed to an end of a lens 31 is held in a depression section formed on a back surface of the mechanical shutter 2. With the arrangement, it is possible to cause the camera module 1 employing the mechanical shutter 2 to be smaller and thinner at the same time.
US08174603B2
An image sensor of various embodiments includes a pixel array. The pixel array includes a pixel having a photodiode and a transfer gate. The pixel array in various embodiments further includes an antiblooming channel extending from the photodiode to either (i) a pixel output area, or (ii) a drain of a source follower transistor. A method of some embodiments includes (i) driving from a first row driver one or more control signals over one or more control lines to one or more pixels, and (ii) driving from a second row driver the one or more control signals over the one or more control lines to the one or more pixels.
US08174598B2
A solid-state image capture device includes: a pixel section in which pixels are arranged in a matrix; control lines; a pixel drive section that performs control, through the control lines, an operation of the pixels so as to perform a shutter operation of the pixel section and so as to perform reading; a reading circuit that reads signals from the pixels; and a shutter-mode switching section that controls an operation of the pixel drive section in accordance with a rolling shutter system in which exposure is performed for each row or a global shutter system in which exposure is simultaneously performed on all the pixels. The pixel drive section includes a shutter-mode corresponding section that causes an impedance value from the control lines to a power supply in a global shutter operation to be greater than an impedance value in a rolling shutter operation.
US08174595B2
A drive unit for an image sensor of the present invention comprises, for horizontal scanning, a drive section performing addition and readout of a first FD (floating diffusion) shared by two pixels of the same color that are adjacent in a diagonal direction by simultaneously transferring electrical charge of the two pixels of the same color, and for a second FD shared by two pixels of different colors that are adjacent in a diagonal direction, transferring and reading out electrical charge of a pixel of one color among the two pixels of different colors.
US08174587B2
The present invention is applied to imaging apparatuses including video cameras for recording moving pictures, electronic still cameras, monitoring devices and such. An image pickup means 3 and an image compressing means 5 are connected integrally by a wiring layer formed on a surface of the image pickup means 3 opposite a light-receiving surface of the image pickup means 3. The image pickup means 3 provides processing units of image data S1 relating to an image compressing process sequentially. Image data on a partial area in an effective image area is compressed to detect a code amount in advance. A data compressing ratio is determined on the basis of the code amount, and the image data is compressed at the image compressing ratio.
US08174574B2
An optical apparatus includes a zoom lens unit, a pan/tilt unit configured to at least one of pan the zoom lens unit and tilt the zoom lens unit, and a center-shift information storage portion configured to store a shift amount of an optical axis for every zooming position, and has a mechanism configured to correct a shift of the optical axis caused by zooming, by driving the pan/tilt unit by the shift amount of the optical axis stored in the center-shift information storage portion.
US08174566B2
A stereoscopic image display apparatus is provided which includes an image display panel and a parallax barrier having parallax barrier pieces in the front of the image display panel. In the stereoscopic image display apparatus, the image display panel has a pixel pattern in which left-eye sub pixels and right-eye sub pixels are alternately arranged in horizontal and vertical directions. The parallax barrier is spaced apart from the image display panel by a predetermined distance and the parallax barrier pieces with a predetermined size are arranged at a predetermined interval in the horizontal and vertical directions so as to allow a left eye and a right eye to separately recognize a left-eye image and a right-eye image formed by the left-eye sub pixels and the right-eye sub pixels, respectively. Accordingly, since a strip pattern is removed from s stereoscopic image, it is possible to obtain a natural stereoscopic image. In addition, since a strip pattern and a color mixing phenomenon are removed from s stereoscopic image, it is possible to obtain a natural and clear stereoscopic image.
US08174563B2
An object detecting system includes stereo-image taking means for taking images of an object and outputting the images as a reference image and a comparative image, stereo matching means for calculating parallaxes by stereo matching, and determination means for setting regions of objects in the reference image on the basis of the parallaxes grouped by grouping means, and performing stereo matching again for an area on the left side of a comparative pixel block specified on an epipolar line in the comparative image corresponding to a reference pixel block in a left end portion of each region. When a comparative pixel block that is different from the specified comparative pixel block and provides the local minimum SAD value less than or equal to a threshold value is detected, the determination means determines that the object in the region is mismatched.
US08174555B2
A method and device for adapting a display image on a hand-held portable wireless display and digital capture device. The device includes a camera for capturing a digital video and/or still image of a user, means for adjusting the captured digital image in response to poor image capture angle of said image capture device so as to create a modified captured digital image; and means for transmitting said modified captured digital image over a wireless communication network to a second hand-held portable wireless display and digital capture device.
US08174544B2
Previously, image display apparatuses using phosphors each having a different persistence time have a problem of reducing a motion blur caused by persistence of the phosphors in an image and improving color shift caused by the motion blur. To overcome this problem, an image display apparatus (1) includes: a motion detecting unit (2) calculating motion information from an inputted image signal, such as a region, a velocity, a direction of a motion, and a matching difference; a correction signal calculating unit (3) calculating a correction signal for correcting the motion blur caused by persistence in the inputted image signal, using the motion information; and a correcting unit (4) correcting the input image signal using the calculated correction signal.
US08174542B2
A video display apparatus includes a converting circuit for executing nonlinear conversion for an input signal, a display brightness featured value detecting circuit for detecting a display brightness featured value indicating a brightness of a display screen from the input signal, and an adjustment circuit receiving an output of the converting circuit for adjusting the received signal on the basis of the display brightness featured value. In addition, a superimposing circuit superimposes a signal for displaying textual information to be superimposed or a signal for displaying an icon to be superimposed on the input signal. The superimposing circuit is placed on a stage after the adjustment circuit, and the display brightness featured value detecting circuit is placed on a stage after the converting circuit and after the superimposing circuit. The display brightness featured value detecting circuit detects a display brightness featured value indicating brightness of the display screen in a state that the textual information or the icon is superimposed, and an image is displayed on the basis of an output of the superimposing circuit.
US08174530B2
A data processing apparatus includes a plurality of processing elements arranged in a single instruction multiple data array for processing data relating to graphical primitives. Vertex data relating to graphical primitives is used as feedback data for the processing elements for additional processing.
US08174529B2
According to one embodiment, a graphics processing unit detects characteristics of video data by analyzing frames of the video data by using at least one first processing core of a plurality of processing cores, and applies a process, which is associated with the detected characteristics of the video data, to audio data on a memory, by using at least one second processing core of the plurality of processing cores. The graphics processing unit includes an audio signal output interface and outputs an audio signal corresponding to the audio data, to which the process has been applied, to a sound device.
US08174528B1
Among other disclosure, a computer-implemented method for retaining a surface detail includes identifying a surface that is to be used for generating an image in a rendering process. The surface includes polygons to be changed from an initial size to a larger size as the surface is changed to a lower resolution as part of tessellating the surface. The surface includes at least one surface detail smaller than the larger polygon size. The method includes storing information corresponding to at least a portion of the surface that includes polygons forming the surface detail. The method includes tesselating the surface, wherein the surface assumes the lower resolution. The method includes determining, while the image is at the lower resolution and using the stored information, a shading sample for at least one of the polygons of the larger size that includes the surface detail. The method includes storing the shading sample.
US08174527B2
A system and method for environment mapping determines a computer-generated object's reflective appearance, based upon position and orientation of a camera with respect to the object's location. An embodiment of the present invention is implemented as a real-time environment mapping for polygon rendering, however, the scope of the invention covers other rendering schemes. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a vector processing unit (VPU) uses a modified reflection formula—r=e−(e·(n+eo))(n+eo)/(1−nz)=e−(e·[nx, ny, nz−1])[nx, ny, nz−1]/(1−nz), wherein eo=[0,0,−1], and nx, ny, and nz are the components of the surface normal vector n—to compute reflective properties of an object.
US08174525B2
A tetrahedral mesh generating method for finite-element analysis executable by a computer, using edge collapse and quality conserve arrangements.
US08174520B2
A driving circuit includes a receiving module, a data mapping module, a shift register module, a plurality of output channels, and a switching module. The receiving module receives data from a first number of parallel inputs. The data mapping module is coupled to the receiving module for mapping the data from the first number of parallel inputs to a second number of data buses according to a bus mode signal. The shift register module is used for generating a plurality of shift control signals. Each of the output channels latches data on the data buses based on the corresponding shift control signal. The switching module is connected between the shift register module and the output channels for outputting the shift control signals to the plurality of output channels according to the bus mode signal.
US08174497B2
A method is described that involves identifying one or more images of respective one or more fixed markers. Each marker is positioned on or proximate to a display. The images appear on a pixilated sensor within a handheld device. The method also involves determining a location on, or proximate to, the display where the handheld device was pointed during the identifying. The method also involves sending from the handheld device information derived from the identifying of the one or more images of respective one or more fixed markers. The method also involves triggering action taken by electronic equipment circuitry in response to the handheld device's sending of a signal to indicate the action is desired.
US08174493B2
An electrophoresis display pixel including an electrophoresis display film, a substrate, a first active device, a second active device, a first electrode, and a second electrode is provided. The substrate is disposed on the electrophoresis display film, and the substrate has a transparent region and a non-transparent region. The first active device and the second active device are disposed on the substrate and located in the non-transparent region. The first electrode is disposed on the substrate, located in the transparent region, and electrically connected to the first active device. The second electrode is disposed on the substrate, located in the non-transparent region, and electrically connected to the second active device. A light passes through the transparent region and enters the electrophoresis display film to be displayed. A display apparatus including the abovementioned electrophoresis display pixel is also provided.
US08174489B2
A method and device for providing a dual-sided display device having increased viewability are provided. A display device includes a dual-sided display assembly and a power supply. The dual-sided display assembly includes a first viewable side and a second viewable side. A first electrochromic layer is formed over the first viewable side and a second electrochromic layer is formed over the second viewable side. Each of the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer are switchable between a substantially transparent state and a substantially reflective state upon application of a switching voltage from the power supply, the state being selected based on an operational configuration of the display device.
US08174485B2
The method of driving a liquid crystal display device includes calculating a brightness average value of pixel data of at least one frame period supplied to a liquid crystal display panel, and storing the average to a memory unit; generating a brightness control signal having a duty ratio according to the brightness average value of the pixel data adjusted taking variation of transmissivity with an angle of view into account in a white or black driving mode of the liquid crystal display panel; and supplying the brightness control signal to a light source unit.
US08174480B2
A gate driver including a shift register, a level shifter, an output buffer, and a processing unit. The shift register generates a shifted signal. The level shifter generates a level signal according to a first operation voltage, a second operation voltage and the shifted signal. The output buffer provides a scan signal according to the level signal. The processing unit controls the level signal to follow the second operation voltage when the first operation voltage equals to a first preset value and the second operation voltage is higher than a second preset value less than the first preset value.
US08174478B2
A gate driving circuit and a display apparatus having the gate driving circuit include a pull-up part and a carry part pull up a present gate signal and a present carry signal, respectively, to a first clock during a first period within one frame. A pull-down part receives a next gate signal to discharge the present gate signal to a source power voltage. A pull-up driving part is connected to control terminals of the carry part and pull-up part (Q-node) to turn the carry part and pull-up part on and off. A floating preventing part prevents an output terminal of the carry part from being floated in response to the first clock during a second period within the one frame.
US08174472B2
A liquid crystal display includes a first gate electrode, a storage electrode having a body and an extension, a first semiconductor formed on a gate insulating layer, a first drain electrode formed on the first semiconductor, separated from a first source electrode, and having an end portion overlapping the first gate electrode, and an expansion overlapping the body of the storage electrode and distanced from the end portion with a connection connecting the end portion and the expansion and overlapping the extension of the storage electrode, a passivation layer having a contact hole exposing the expansion of the first drain electrode, and a first field-generating electrode connected to the first drain electrode through the contact hole.
US08174471B2
An array substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes a substrate including a display area and a non-display area, the non-display area having a link area and a pad area, array elements in the display area on the substrate, first to nth pads in the pad area (n is a natural number), first to nth link lines in the link area and connected to the first to nth pads, respectively, wherein the first to (n/2−1)th link lines are symmetrical with the nth to (n/2+1)th link lines with respect to (n/2)th link line, the first to (n/2−1)th link lines have inclined portions, and the inclined portions of the first to kth link lines have decreasing widths and decreasing lengths toward the kth link line from the first link line, wherein k is larger than 1 and smaller than (n/2).
US08174470B2
An LCD device, which is cost effective, is discussed. According to one embodiment, the LCD device includes a timing controller to generate an initial POL signal; a signal stabilizer to receive the initial POL signal from the timing controller and a constant voltage from a source, and to generate a stabilized POL signal using the received constant voltage and the received initial POL signal; and a common voltage generator to generate a common voltage signal using the stabilized POL signal and to supply the generated common voltage signal to an LCD panel.
US08174466B2
Disclosed herein is a display device including: a pixel array unit having pixel circuits arranged in a form of a matrix; and a control unit having a writing scanning unit for outputting, to the sampling transistor, a writing scanning pulse. The control unit effects control to supply a control input terminal of the drive transistor with a fixed potential for a threshold value correcting operation for retaining a voltage corresponding to a threshold voltage of the drive transistor in the storage capacitor. When setting a voltage across the storage capacitor to the threshold voltage of the drive transistor by repeating the threshold value correcting operation a plurality of times on a time division basis, the control unit effects control to perform each the threshold value correcting operation and the sampling transistor to a conducting state.
US08174460B2
An implantable medical device can include an implantable antenna for communication with external devices or other internal devices. Changes in the patient's body position, weight, composition or other factors may change the efficiency of the implantable antenna and hinder communication. The disclosed circuit can calculate a value for a matching network for an implantable telemetry circuit to decrease an impedance difference between the implantable telemetry circuit and the implantable antenna or increase or maximize a communication power transfer value associated with the implantable medical device.
US08174458B2
The invention relates to a dual-feed antenna. The dual-feed antenna includes a substrate, a first antenna unit and a second antenna unit. The second antenna unit includes a second radiating unit and a second grounding unit. The second radiating unit includes a second radiator which has a first groove. The first groove has a first bottom and a pair of first arms. The second grounding unit includes a first sub-grounding-area and a second sub-grounding-area. The second sub-grounding-area has a second groove which includes a second bottom and a pair of second arms. The first sub-grounding-area is cross-wise connected with the second sub-grounding-area at the bottom of the groove, and the second arms symmetrically distribute to both sides of the first sub-grounding-area, and the first groove has an opening direction opposite to the opening direction of the second groove.
US08174455B2
An antenna element is disclosed. A substrate is made of dielectric material and has a first face. A first antenna element is made of conductive material and is provided on the first face. A first power feeding portion is made of conductive material and is disposed on the first antenna element. A second antenna element is made of conductive material, is provided on the first face, and forms a loop surrounding the first antenna element with a gap. A second power feeding portion is made of conductive material. The second power feeding portion is extended from the second antenna element toward the first antenna element and is arranged to form an electromagnetic coupling with the first antenna element. A perturbation element is made of conductive material and is extended from the second antenna element. A length of loop is twice a circumferential length of the first antenna element.
US08174448B2
In a multilateration apparatus a correlator is provided with a time of arrival correlation window which is set to cater for the path lengths that may be experienced before a signal from an object to be located is received by receivers in the system. This may be on the basis of the largest possible path length in the system or on a receiver by receiver basis.
US08174447B2
An apparatus for localizing a position on a path, radio signals of fixedly positioned radio transmitters being receivable along the path, the apparatus including a determiner for determining properties of the radio signals of the fixedly positioned radio transmitters at the position, and a comparator for comparing the determined electromagnetic properties with previously recorded properties which characterize a reference path, and for determining a relation between the position and the reference path on the basis of a result of the comparison.
US08174444B2
Systems and methods of correlating potential transmitters with received radio signals is provided. Image data is provided including paths traveled by potential transmitter. Potential transmitters are identified within the image data along with path segments traveled by potential transmitters. A first and second transmitter calculate certain parameters of received signals assuming that signals originated along the path segments. The calculated signal parameters are then compared to measured signal parameter to determine whether a transmitter is associated with a particular path.
US08174443B2
An HPEM module (1,10) is provided, wherein the output pulse or the trigger pulse is transmitted on a single input trigger pulse (Trigger 2, 11) with an intermediate TTD network (5, 14) in a phase-defined and time-defined manner independent of frequency depending on the selected input of the electromagnetic lens via the geometric form of the lens. The trigger signal defines the time point for the generation of an UWB pulse in the pulse generator (3, 16). The main lobe of an antenna array (1*n) of several antennae (7, 15) is thus altered in the same number of positions in a plane accordingly as the number of adjustable phase differences or time differences. For an m*n array the alignment of the antenna lobe is no longer restricted to the plane.
US08174441B2
A configurable calculating circuit includes a multiplexer, a mixer and an accumulator. The multiplexer is for receiving input signals including at least a first and a second input signals, and selectively outputting at least one of the input signals. The mixer is for mixing a selected input signal outputted from the multiplexer with a local oscillation signal to generate a mixed signal. The accumulator is for accumulating the mixed signal to generate an accumulated signal. When the configurable calculating circuit is operated under a first mode, the multiplexer selects the first input signal, and the accumulator performs a first accumulating operation upon the mixed signal; and when the configurable calculating circuit is operated under a second mode, the multiplexer selects the second input signal, and the accumulator performs a second accumulating operation, different from the first accumulating operation, upon the mixed signal.
US08174440B2
A positioning method includes (a) executing a cumulative addition for either one of the polarities on each of an I Q components of0 a received positioning signal, which is spread-modulated with a spread code reversed in polarity by navigation data, (b) calculating sum of squares of the result of the cumulative addition, (c) calculating correlation between the sum of squares and a replica code of the spread code, and (d) executing a positioning calculation of the present location based on the result of the correlation calculation.
US08174433B1
According to one embodiment, bias estimation and orbit determination include receiving measurements in real time. The measurements include radar measurements and radar array orientation measurements. The radar measurements are generated by a radar system and indicate the location of a target. The radar array orientation measurements are generated by a navigation system and indicate the orientation of a radar array of the radar system. A state variable set is used. The state variable set includes measurement variables and dynamic bias variables. For example, a state variable set may include orbit position, orbit velocity, radar orientation, and radar measurement variables, which in turn may include dynamic bias variables such as orientation bias variables and measurement bias variables. A measurement variable is associated with a measurement, and a dynamic bias variable is associated with bias of a measurement. The following are performed for a number of iterations to yield state value sets for the state variable set: updating a state value set according to the measurements to yield an updated state value set; and predicting a next state value set in accordance with the updated state value set. An orbit path is of the target determined from the state value sets in real time.
US08174426B2
A method and a system for converting time intervals are provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises a first time-to-digital converter having a first resolution configured to convert a first time interval, a second time-to-digital converter having a second resolution configured to convert a second time interval, and a third time-to-digital converter having a third resolution and coupled to the first time-to-digital converter and the second time-to-digital converter, the third time-to-digital converter configured to convert a third time interval and a fourth time interval.
US08174418B2
Systems and methods for improving resolution of low-noise signals in an analog-to-digital conversion circuit. A simple, low cost pseudo-noise generating circuit is disclosed that, when connected to the signal conditioning circuitry of A/D conversion circuit, adds pseudo-noise to an analog input voltage signal. Additional pseudo-noise is beneficial for improving the resolution of analog-to-digital conversion when oversampling and summing or averaging are used in post-conversion processing operations. The circuit is composed of a plurality of resistors configured in at least two parallel branches. An individually switchable voltage source output is connected to each branch. A resulting analog voltage can be measured at a common termination point for the branches, depending on the combination of switchable voltage source output turned on, and the branch to which the voltage output is applied. By varying the combination of switchable voltage source outputs turned on over time, a known analog pseudo-noise signal is developed.
US08174404B2
A mud pulse telemetry system comprises a surface located fluid supply line having a drilling fluid flowing therein. A non-venting pulser is disposed in the drilling fluid in the supply line, and the non-venting pulser is adapted to generate pressure fluctuations in the flowing drilling fluid. A downhole receiver in hydraulic communication with the non-venting pulser is adapted to detect the pressure fluctuations in the drilling fluid. A method for transmitting pressure signals from a surface location to a downhole location in a wellbore, comprises disposing a non-venting pulser in a surface located fluid supply line having a drilling fluid flowing therein. The non-venting pulser is actuated to generate pressure fluctuations in the flowing drilling fluid according to a predetermined encoding scheme. The pressure fluctuations are detected with a downhole receiver in hydraulic communication with the non-venting pulser.
US08174403B2
Remote sensing systems are provided including a recorder, a cable network and a plurality of downhole sensor nodes. The cable network comprises a first cable and a second cable. The first and second cables form a loop. The recorder and the plurality of downhole sensor nodes are connected to the cable network in series. The first cable delivers power to the nodes and the second cable comprises a power return and closes the loop to the recorder.
US08174400B2
Abnormal conditions within an RF-powered plasma process chamber are detected by detecting whether the frequency of a variable-frequency RF power supply moves outside established lower and upper limits. In a first aspect, a first pair of lower and upper limits are established as a function of the frequency of the power supply sampled after a new process step begins or after a sample control signal changes state. In a second aspect, a second pair of lower and upper limits are not adapted to the frequency of the power supply. Both aspects preferably are used together to detect different occurrences of abnormal conditions.
US08174379B2
A network of power and communication receptacle devices having a plurality of power and communication receptacle devices. Each power and communication receptacle device has at least one power receptacle, at least one communication receptacle, and a power cable assembly having a dual power head. The power cable assembly is configured to provide electrical power to the power receptacle. The network includes a plurality of interconnecting power cables. Each power cable has a first power feeder electrically connected to the dual power head of one of the power and communication receptacle devices and a second power feeder electrically connected to the dual power head of a next power and communication receptacle device. The network includes a power feeding cable having electrically connected thereto a power feeder for connection to a dual power head of a first one of the power and communication receptacles and a device for connection to a power source. The network also includes a communication signal switching device having a plurality of ports. The communication receptacle of each power and communication receptacle device is in electronic signal communication with a corresponding port of the communication signal switching device.
US08174378B2
Provided is a human guard enhancing multiple site security system comprising one or more human guards, peripheral equipment positioned at one or more sites, said peripheral equipment comprising one or more of a plurality of sensors, video cameras, positioning systems, and mobile communication and data processing equipment, said peripheral equipment being further capable of collecting and transmitting event-related and environmental data, one or more checkpoint systems capable of receiving, processing into a standardized protocol, and further relaying the data received from said peripheral equipment, and of providing said one or more guards with information based on the data, and one or more stations capable of logging, processing, and reporting the data relayed from said one or more checkpoint systems to provide a security system status and to facilitate human supervision, situation analysis, decision making, and intervention. The system includes a computer implemented communications protocol, which is an XML based communications protocol for real time security alert monitoring purposes. The XML based communications protocol consists of numerous modules which receive and convert data messages from varying security devices and sensors, standardize, translate and send converted messages, and encrypt and decrypt said data messages.
US08174374B2
A road surface includes lane marking that store digital information. Images of the road surface and lane markings are acquired by a camera. The digital information is decoded from the images, analyzed so that a feedback signal can be generated according to the decoded digital information.
US08174369B2
Systems for encoding and reading RFID tags on a collection of items are shown. One embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of items, where each item possesses an item identifier string, and a plurality of RFID tags, where an RFID tag is affixed to each of the items and each RFID tag is encoded with a code word element generated using at least all of the item identifier strings. In many embodiments, the collection is a plurality of goods contained within a case, pallet, container or storage area.
US08174368B2
Transmission and reception of the identification number to/from an interrogator includes an interrogator that reads a recognition number from a responder by radio. When a clock pulse is modulated on a high-frequency carrier and transmitted to the responder from the antenna of the interrogator, there are a first case when the clock pulse interval is short and a second case when the clock pulse interval is long. By combining the clock pulse of the first case and the clock pulse of the second case so as to control the read of the recognition number from the interrogator, it is possible to realize reduction of the semiconductor chip size of the responder and suppress the cost of the semiconductor chip.
US08174366B2
An interrogator, methods of discerning the presence of an object, and interrogation systems employing the same. In one embodiment, the interrogation systems include multiple interrogators that communicate with a base command unit to track a location of an object. In another embodiment wherein the object is an RFID object (e.g., an object with an RFID tag), the interrogators employ signal processing techniques such as precharging the RFID object, and correlating a reference code with a reply code from the RFID object using selected techniques to increase a sensitivity of the interrogator, especially for adverse environments. In other embodiments, the interrogation systems include variations of metal instruments and sponges employed therewith. In yet another embodiment, the interrogation system includes metal interrogators capable of discerning the presence of a metal object, especially in a presence of another metal object.
US08174363B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide RFID systems having a centralized frequency source and controller. The centralized frequency source generates a reference signal, having a frequency below the RF band of interest, which is transmitted to a plurality of reader nodes. The centralized controller generates and transmits data to the plurality of reader nodes. At each reader node, the reference signal is converted to an RF carrier signal that is modulated and transmitted within corresponding read field of the reader node. This modulated RF carrier signal may interrogate and communicate with one or more RFID tags within this read field. The RF carrier signal may also be held constant to enable communication from RFID tags to the reader node, which is subsequently transmitted back to the centralized controller or processor.
US08174354B2
A thermistor device includes include supports, contacts and offset posts configured to assist the fracturing of failed thermistor “pills” and to distribute the fragments of the fractured pills into compartment away from electrically conductive contacts in order to minimize arcing and overheating.
US08174332B1
A phase lock loop pre-charging system and method are described. In one embodiment, a phase lock loop pre-charge system includes a bias component for generating a pre-charge voltage, and an activation component for activating the bias component. In one exemplary implementation the pre-charge voltage is utilized to facilitate pre-charging of a phase lock loop voltage controlled oscillator. In one embodiment, the bias component includes replica bias components that track the voltage controlled oscillation control voltage over varying process, voltage and temperature characteristics. The phase lock loop pre-charging systems and methods can be utilized to reduce lock time for a circuit.
US08174327B2
Example embodiments are directed toward configuration of a phase lock loop (PLL) circuits for low power operation. In particular embodiments, a fraction related to a desired gain of a PLL circuit is determined. A set of possible frequency-divider values and a set of possible feedback divider values are determined. A PLL configuration is selected from a combination of the sets of frequency divider and feedback divider values that forms a ratio indicated the determined fraction.
US08174323B2
A high frequency amplifier includes a package substrate, an amplifying active device disposed on a top surface of the package substrate, a transmission line connected to the amplifying active device and transmitting a high frequency signal, a surface mounted device (SMD) component shunt-connected at a first end to the transmission line, a SMD component terminal connected to a second end of the SMD component and partially exposed at a back surface of the package substrate, and an external terminal partially exposed at the back surface of the package substrate and connected to a first end of the transmission line, opposite a second end of the transmission line that is connected to the amplifying active device.
US08174322B2
Various embodiments relate to a reconfigurable integrated digital Chireix out-phasing power amplifier for use in high power base stations is described and a related method of said design. The power amplifier may include a power transistor circuitry having plurality of power transistors and shunt-series circuitry (L1C1, L2C2), a broadband combiner having Chireix compensation elements, and an impedance matching filter. In one embodiment, the power amplifier is implemented in a real switch-mode to facilitate integration of the Chireix compensation elements so as to make the Chireix power amplifier tunable. A method of driving Chireix power amplifier structure is also described. In some embodiments, a variable supply voltage may power the transistor circuitry based on the desired output power of the Chireix power amplifier. In some embodiments, the variable supply voltage may depend upon an out-phasing angle between the two drivers in the transistor circuitry.
US08174313B2
An apparatus for controlling a power amplifier configured to amplify radio frequency (RF) signal includes a detector and a controller. The detector is configured to detect a power level of the RF signal with respect to a predetermined power threshold and to generate a corresponding detection signal. The controller is configured to provide a control voltage to an output transistor of the amplifier based on the detection signal. The control voltage has a low voltage value, which is substantially the same as a value of a supply voltage, when the detection signal indicates that the power level is below the power threshold, and the control voltage has a high voltage value when the detection signal indicates that the power level is above the power threshold. The controller generates the high voltage value by boosting the supply voltage.
US08174311B2
A switching amplifier (200; 300; 400; 500) comprising: a switch (202; 302) configured to electrically connect and disconnect a first pin (202a; 302a) of the switch (202; 302) to a second pin (202b; 302b) of the switch (202; 302) in accordance with a pulse width modulated input signal (216; 316; 516). The second pin (202b; 302b) is connected to a ground connector (204; 304). The switching amplifier also comprises a feed inductor (206; 306; 406) connected between a voltage supply connector (208; 308) and the first pin (202a; 302a) of the switch (202; 302), and a circuit (210; 310; 522) comprising a variable component having a variable imaginary impedance. The circuit (210; 310; 522) is connected between the first pin (202a; 302a) of the switch (202; 302) and an output connector of the amplifier (212; 312. The switching amplifier further comprising a controller (214; 314; 514) configured to generate a control signal (315; 515) for the circuit (210; 310; 522) such that the variable component of the circuit is adjustable in accordance with the duty cycle of the pulse width modulated input signal (216; 316; 516).
US08174310B2
A quadrature demodulation circuit includes: first to fourth mixers to receive a modulation signal; a phase shifter to supply to the first and third mixers a first local frequency signal, to supply to the second mixer a second local frequency signal having a designated phase difference relative to the first local frequency signal, and to supply to the fourth mixer a third local frequency signal that is an inverse in phase to the second local frequency signal; a first adder to add a signal output from the first mixer and a signal output from the second mixer and to output a first demodulation signal; and a second adder to add a signal output from the third mixer and a signal output from the fourth mixer and to output a second demodulation signal.
US08174308B2
A system for generating a tunable DC slope includes: a first stage, supplied with an external voltage, for receiving a process, voltage and temperature (PVT) insensitive reference voltage and generating a voltage independent current; a second stage, coupled to the first stage and supplied with the external voltage, for generating a voltage dependent current and summing the voltage dependent current and the voltage independent current to generate a sloped voltage; and a third stage, coupled to the second stage and supplied with the external voltage, for amplifying the sloped voltage, and tapping the resultant sloped voltage at a desired point for generating the output DC slope.
US08174306B2
According to one embodiment, an electrostatic actuator apparatus includes a first voltage generation circuit configured to generate a first voltage, a first switch connected between the first voltage generation circuit and a first node, a second voltage generation circuit configured to generate a second voltage, a second switch connected between the second voltage generation circuit and a second node, a capacitor connected between the first node and the second node, an electrostatic actuator having a drive electrode connected to the first node, and a control circuit configured to perform an operation of sequentially turning on the first switch, turning off the first switch and turning on the second switch when the electrostatic actuator is driven.
US08174303B2
A level shifter, or method, producing a final output from a driver supplied by a high-side source driver providing VDD or common, and a low-side source driver providing common or VSS. A delay is introduced to prevent a source driver output at common from beginning to transition toward a supply rail until a delaying source driver at a rail begins transitioning toward common. The level shifter may be single-ended or differential, and the delaying source driver may be coupled to the same final output driver as is the delayed source driver, or may be coupled to a different final output driver. The level shifter may have a second level shifter front end stage, which may have high-side and low-side intermediate source driver outputs coupled by a capacitor, and/or may couple one of the supplies to all intermediate source drivers via a common impedance or current limit Zs.
US08174294B1
A buffer circuit includes a current source circuit, first and second switch circuits that are coupled to the current source circuit, a first resistor coupled to the first switch circuit, a second resistor coupled to the second switch circuit, and a third switch circuit coupled to the first and the second resistors. The third switch circuit couples the first and the second resistors to a node at a first voltage when the buffer circuit is configured to function in a current mode logic buffer mode. The third switch circuit couples the first and the second resistors to a node at a second voltage when the buffer circuit is configured to function in an H-bridge buffer mode.
US08174293B2
A time to digital converter includes: a delay circuit having a plurality of delay stages that delay an input clock signal in multiple stages, at least one of the delay stages being a variable delay stage; a plurality of flip flops that capture outputs of the delay stages corresponding thereto in a one-to-one relation in response to input of a reference signal; an edge detecting circuit that detects changing edges of respective outputs of the flip flops; a counter circuit that counts a number of edges detected by the edge detecting circuit; and a control circuit that controls a delay amount of the variable delay stage according to the number of edges counted by the counter circuit.
US08174289B2
A level shifter includes a first level-switching device and a second level-switching device. The first level-switching device includes a first switch device, a second switch device, a first control switch and a third switch device. The first switch device is for receiving the input voltage and outputting a first voltage. The second switch device is coupled to the first switch device for outputting a first operational voltage as the output voltage according to the first voltage. The first control switch is coupled to the first switch device for receiving the first voltage. The third switch device is coupled between the first control switch and the first operational voltage and controlled by the output voltage. The second level-switching device is coupled to the first level-switching device for receiving the input voltage and accordingly outputting a second operational voltage as the output voltage.
US08174284B1
Methods and structures for implementing repairable input/output (IO) circuitry in an integrated circuit (IC) are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention includes repairable IO circuitry along a right, left, or inner column of an IC. Another embodiment includes repairable IO circuitry along a top, bottom, or inner row of an IC. In one embodiment, normal and redundant mode routing is provided between IO buffer circuits and IO register circuits. In another embodiment, normal and redundant mode routing is also provided between IO register circuits and routing to core regions of the IC. One embodiment provides normal and redundant mode routing between two or more IO registers that may span more than one row and/or more than one IO block. One embodiment provides normal and redundant mode routing for different types of IO registers. In some embodiments, redundant mode IO connections shift along with redundant mode connections in a core logic region of the IC. In other embodiments, redundant mode IO connections operate to repair IO circuitry independently of any redundancy scheme in the IC's core regions.
US08174283B2
This invention discloses a method for calibrating a gate resistance measurement of a semiconductor power device that includes a step of forming a RC network on a test area on a semiconductor wafer adjacent to a plurality of semiconductor power chips and measuring a resistance and a capacitance of the RC network to prepare for carrying out a wafer-level measurement calibration of the semiconductor power device. The method further includes a step of connecting a probe card to a set of contact pads on the semiconductor wafer for carrying out the wafer-level measurement calibration followed by performing a gate resistance Rg measurement for the semiconductor power chips.
US08174282B2
A leak current detection circuit that improves the accuracy for detecting a leak current in a MOS transistor without enlarging the circuit scale. The leak current detection circuit includes at least one P-channel MOS transistor which is coupled to a high potential power supply and which is normally inactivated and generates a first leak current, at least one N-channel MOS transistor which is coupled between a low potential power and at least the one P-channel MOS transistor and which is normally inactivated and generates a second leak current, and a detector which detects a potential generated at a node between the at least one P-channel MOS transistor and the at least one N-channel MOS transistor in accordance with the first and second leak currents.
US08174277B2
Providing reliable testing of a device under test (DUT) by compensating for a reduced voltage inside the device without changing the internal circuitry of the device. The DUT has multiple connection terminals for connecting to the test equipment including at least first and second power connection terminals that both connect to an internal power bus of the DUT. An adapter board connects to the multiple connection terminals of the DUT via a removably attachable socket which holds the DUT. A tester supplies power to the DUT through the adapter board. The adapter board is configured to supply power from the tester to the DUT through the first power connection terminal and to monitor voltage at the second power connection terminal. The tester includes a compensation unit which controls power based on the voltage monitored at the second power connection terminal.
US08174272B2
Several apparatuses and a method for enabling of analysis of a material based on capacitive technology are disclosed. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a first conductive surface. A second conductive surface is located substantially parallel to the first conductive surface. A measurement module measures a change in capacitance produced when a material is passed between the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface. The apparatus may include a database comprising a capacitance value of the material. A change in capacitance may be compared to the database to generate an identity of the material. A reference capacitor may enable the measurement module to adjust the measurement based on an environmental condition.
US08174271B2
Scanning rate in a capacitance change measuring circuit for a capacitive sensor device is enhanced. The circuit includes: an electrode drive section line-sequentially applying an input pulse signal to a plurality of columns of first electrode patterns in the capacitive sensor device; a peak hold circuit storing a peak level of a detection signal extracted from each column of second electrode patterns into a capacitive element as a corresponding potential; a current source initializing the potential in the capacitive element within one period of the input pulse signal; a comparator comparing the potential in the capacitive element with a reference value; and determination sections each determining whether or not an input operation using a human body or the like is executed, based on a timing information and a reference timing information, the timing information representing a timing when the potential held in the capacitive element crosses the reference value.
US08174269B2
The present invention relates to an abnormal switching monitoring device and method. A time point when a high-side switch in which a first electrode receives an input voltage is turned on, a time point when a low-side switch that is connected to a second electrode of the high-side switch is turned on, a time point when a charge current begins to flow to a bootstrap circuit, and a time point when a charge current stops flowing to the bootstrap circuit are compared so as to determine whether or not non-zero voltage switching occurs. The bootstrap circuit supplies an operating current to a gate driver controlling a switching operation of the high-side switch.
US08174265B2
In some embodiments, an apparatus (200) includes a tubular to operate downhole. The tubular has a longitudinal axis and has a cutout (210N) that has a direction that is other than 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the tubular. The apparatus also includes an antenna (202A) positioned in the cutout of the tubular. The antenna is to perform at least one of a transmission or reception of an electromagnetic signal that has a path that is to traverse a subsurface formation.
US08174264B2
An magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus which includes a main unit and a coil unit, the magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus including a sampling clock generating unit which generates a sampling clock signal, a sampling clock transmitting unit wirelessly transmits the sampling clock signal, a sampling clock receiving unit which receives the transmitted sampling clock signal, a receiving coil which outputs an electrical magnetic resonance signal in response to a magnetic resonance signal emitted from a subject as electromagnetic radiation, a digitization unit which digitizes, synchronously with the received sampling clock signal, the outputted magnetic resonance signal, a resonance signal transmitting unit which wirelessly transmits the digitized magnetic resonance signal, a resonance signal receiving unit which receives the transmitted magnetic resonance signal, and a reconstruction unit which processes, synchronously with the generated sampling clock signal, the received magnetic resonance signal and thereby reconstructs an image of the subject.
US08174263B2
A magnetic resonance imaging device includes a predetermined pulse sequence, the predetermined pulse sequence including an unnecessary material suppressing sequence unit for canceling a signal from an unnecessary material which is not a measurement target and a main imaging sequence unit for measuring a nuclear magnetic resonance signal used to create an image of an examinee. The unnecessary material suppressing sequence unit generates at least two or more high frequency magnetic field pulses so that the longitudinal magnetization of the unnecessary material is made spatially uniform in the imaging space under application of a first high frequency magnetic field pulse in the main imaging sequence unit.
US08174253B2
Systems, methods and sensors detect changes in incident optical radiation. Voltage is applied across one or more active areas of a detector while the incident optical radiation illuminates the active areas. Current is sensed across one or more of the active areas, a change in the current being indicative of the changes in incident optical radiation.
US08174251B2
A series regulator with an over current protection circuit regulates output current by controlling an output transistor. A current sense transistor output depends on the conductivity of the output transistor. A current limiting transistor controls the conductivity of the output transistor. A current supply provides current to a constant current source and a converter output of a current to voltage converter. The converter output is connected to a control electrode of the current limiting transistor. A first differential transistor couples the current sense transistor to the constant current source and a second differential transistor couples the current supply to the constant current source. The current sense transistor controls the second differential transistor to vary a control current. When the control current matches a threshold value, the current limiting transistor limits maximum current flow through the output transistor.
US08174244B2
A test circuit first detects whether or not a relay unit is normal, and then examines an operation of leakage detecting circuit. This allows relay unit to interrupt an electric power supply path including power lines more securely if electrical leakage occurs in the electric power supply path. If welding in the contact of the relay unit is detected before starting charging of a power storage device included in an electrical device, a control device does not allow the charging of the power storage device, which can prevent a problem from occurring in the electrical device.
US08174243B2
In one embodiment, a switching controller uses an auxiliary winding voltage of a transformer to form a signal representative of current flow through a secondary winding of the transformer. The controller is configured to limit a current through a secondary winding to a maximum value.
US08174241B2
A method protects a battery in a fuel cell vehicle, in which an inverter-driven motor is supplied with electric power from the battery and a fuel cell. If a battery voltage of the battery falls outside of a prescribed range, a primary current and a secondary current that flow through the DC/DC converter, or currents in branch paths that correspond to the primary current and the secondary current, are reduced in order to limit a charging current flowing into the battery or a discharging current flowing from the battery.
US08174239B2
For laptops or other mobile devices, a battery charging arrangement wherein fast-charging and/or slow-charging is governed by something other than a fixed, immovable battery level threshold. Particularly, a variable threshold is broadly contemplated herein which may be governed by any of a very wide variety of conceivable factors, including (but by no means limited to) information relating to a user's schedule or calendar, especially as regards “free” time when a user is not using a computer. Accordingly, if there is a long uninterrupted period of computer “downtime” (i.e., when a user is not using the computer), the battery level threshold below which fast-charging takes place can be lower. By the same token, for short periods of computer downtime, this threshold can be higher. In this manner, fast-charging is reserved only for the most compelling, time-based circumstances.
