US07766405B2
A robot hand apparatus (1) includes four of finger mechanisms (20) each elongates from a base (10), a motor (30) actuating each finger mechanism (20), four of rotation rollers (50) each connects with corresponding finger mechanism (20) for actuating each finger mechanism (20), and a power transmission mechanism (60) transmitting a power from the motor (30) to each rotation roller (50) at different timing.
US07766401B2
A latch set clip for use with a vehicle door and method of assembly are disclosed. The latch set clip may include a clip main body that mounts to a latch lever of a door latch assembly and a clip pivoting body that, with the main body, secures a lever rod to the latch set clip. The latch set clip may allow for components of a latch/window regulator module to be assembled before assembly into the vehicle door.
US07766399B2
The invention is directed at a door set assembly comprising a latch portion; a first magnetic material, located within the latch portion; a strike plate, the strike plate including a plate portion and a latch receiving portion; a second magnetic material, located within the latch receiving portion, the second magnetic material having a polarity opposite the first magnetic material; wherein when a door is closed, the magnets attract each other thereby pulling the latch portion into the latch receiving portion to secure the door closed. The door set assembly can also include a cushioned portion which fits within the latch receiving portion.
US07766393B2
A female element for a coupling that includes a body having a duct for receiving a male element along a coupling axis (X-X′) and a locking member including a locking portion, a connecting portion, and a control portion, wherein the locking member extends along the axis (X-X′) and is movable between a locked and an unlocked position, and wherein an annular element moves the locking member from the locked to the unlocked position and a resilient member urges the locking member to the locked position, and the female element includes a lateral guide for the connecting portion and the control portion, and a surface of the locking portion that is to come into contact with the male element generally having a shape of a portion of a surface of revolution and a width, in a circumferential direction, that is greater than a width of the control portion and the connecting portion.
US07766391B2
A pipe connecting structure including a male flange block combined with a first pipe and a female flange block combined with a second pipe, which is fastened to the male flange block by a fastener, where a protrusion having a hole that communicates with the first pipe is formed through the male flange block, and an insert portion into which the protrusion is inserted is formed through the female flange block, and a sealing member to closely contact with the end face of the protrusion is seated on the bottom inside the insert portion, and the sealing member includes an inner sealing part of soft metal and an outer sealing part of rubber tightly fitted around the outer circumference of the inner sealing part. Therefore joints between pipes, a heat exchanger and a pipe, or two components can bear high pressures in a refrigerating cycle system using a CO2 refrigerant, air tightness can be maintained under low and high temperatures without changes in quality and shape of a sealing members, and it is possible to prevent and minimize leakage of the refrigerant by preventing permeation of CO2.
US07766382B2
A predetermined tension force is generated to an air belt even when an expandable portion is expanded in a narrow space. An air belt 30 includes a first normal belt 31, a second normal belt 32, and an expandable portion 33 therebetween. In order to regulate a thickness of the expandable portion 33 in an expanding operation, portions of the expandable portion 33 facing each other are coupled by means of a coupling portion 34 formed of a stitching thread. The expandable portion 33 includes a bag-shaped belt 33a and a knit cover 33b that is not extended in a longitudinal direction. When an inflator is operated, the expandable portion 33 is expanded and the air belt 30 fits an occupant. At this moment, since the knit cover of the expandable portion 33 is not extended in the longitudinal direction of the air belt 30, a length of the expandable portion 33 is reduced along with an expansion of the expandable portion 33 and the tension force is generated to the air belt 30.
US07766370B2
An interior trim structure covers a stowed side curtain airbag and allows deployment of the side curtain airbag through an interface joint to a position along a sidewall of a passenger compartment adjacent a rear seat location of a two-door coupe style vehicle. A center pillar trim piece and a rear pillar trim piece can be assembled to one another with at least one projection releasably interlocking with a corresponding aperture formed along adjacent edges of the trim pieces. Each projection is located in a complementary position with respect to a corresponding aperture formed along the adjacent edge to temporarily secure an interface joint defined between first and second edges when in an abutting relationship with respect to one another in a closed position. The interface joint defines an openable passage along the first and second abutting edges allowing deployment of a side curtain airbag through the interface joint.
US07766365B2
A mission adaptable multi-purpose, collapsible portable cart/utility table, for use in emergency response and disaster situations, camping, hunting and other outdoors activities, which carries medical rescue carts, canoes, small boats, game, or hauled cargo by hand. The portable cart/utility table can be converted to a various uses and the portable cart/utility table can be folded down and transported within a wheeled bin, backpack, hand carried bag, canoe or boat. It transports injured persons or cargo over long, rough terrain and it can broken down into a carrying position, by hand or by back. The objects being carried can be held by clamps, by fasteners, or through the use of insertions with longitudinally extending channels. An optional pivotable kickstand and/or tie rods can stabilize the cart in a position of rest. The portable cart/utility table can also be the basis of a reconfigurable, modular, expandable medical critical care point of need field installation system deployable by land, sea, and air to reach very remote and rugged regions.
US07766345B2
A telescopic actuator includes a housing, an output rod which is slidable in an axial direction with respect to the housing, at least two slide bearings via which the output rod is supported by the housing, and a stopper disposed between the two slide bearings. The stopper regulates a moving end position of the output rod.
US07766343B2
The invention concerns a hydraulic spring support system including a double acting hydraulic cylinder with a piston chamber and a rod chamber, a first accumulator that is connected constantly with the piston chamber, and a second accumulator that is connected constantly with the rod chamber. The invention proposes that the piston chamber and the rod chamber are connected to each other by a variable flow resistance.
US07766334B2
Aspects of the present invention provide systems and methods relating to online gaming utilizing virtual playing instruments generated from physical playing instruments. According to one aspect of the invention, physical playing instruments are utilized in a gaming environment that may be scrambled, shuffled, and/or played remotely over a network. In one embodiment, the physical playing instruments are traditional poker-style gaming playing cards. The playing instruments include at least one identifier that may be read upon being dealt, such as identified and stored on a computer-readable medium before a game. In one such embodiment, computer-executable instructions may utilize the information on the computer-readable medium in conjunction with one or more games. Further aspects relate to validating the playing instruments and/or systems before, during, and/or after conducting one or more games with the playing instruments.
US07766329B1
A game unit including an indicator wheel and an award dispenser. In certain embodiments, when players achieve a predetermined result on a game unit, they receive a non-monetary award such as a ticket or token. Preferably, a game unit may take the form of a game with a rotating wheel which displays a result of a game event or status.
US07766326B2
The sheet conveyance apparatus includes a controller which controls a moving unit. The moving unit moves a sheet conveyance unit for conveying a sheet toward a direction intersecting with a sheet conveyance direction. The controller performs the control such that a moving speed of a shift moving unit is reduced when a shift amount of the sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus main body is small. Therefore, generation of a noise and vibration can be suppressed to save electric power consumption. When the shift amount of the sheet is large, the moving speed of the shift moving unit can be increased to shorten an operation time necessary to the movement.
US07766322B2
A sheet transfer direction changing apparatus having a plurality of discharge sections, a direction changing device, discharge sheet transfer device and transfer device wherein a sheet transferred from an image forming apparatus is changed by its direction, obverse side and reverse side, and transfer direction according to a process command from the image forming apparatus and transferred to the discharged section.
US07766319B2
A recorded medium feeding device includes a pickup roller that feeds recorded medium downstream from a setting position by contacting with the recorded medium and rotating and a separating means for separating recorded medium to be fed and subsequent recorded media from the next page onward. The positions of a nip point of the separating means and a place where the pickup roller contacts the recorded medium in the direction orthogonal to the recorded medium feeding direction with respect to a recorded medium of a predetermined size to be fed by the pickup roller are located within a range deviated to one side from the center of the recorded medium of the predetermined size. A path elongating portion that elongates the feed path length of the recorded medium by abutting the recorded medium is apart from the nip point and the place where the pickup roller contacts the recorded medium.
US07766315B2
A sheet stacking apparatus which is capable of efficiently stacking sheets of various sizes while making efficient use of space therein to realizing compactness of the apparatus. Stacker trays that are driven by respective tray lift motors perform a lifting/lowering operation to have sheets stacked thereon. Selection is made according to the size of sheets between a first stacking mode for stacking sheets having a size not larger than a predetermined size on one of the stacker trays and a second stacking mode for stacking sheets having a size larger than the predetermined size in a state extending on the stacker trays. When it is determined that one of the stacker trays is faulty, execution of the second stacking mode is inhibited, and execution of the first stacking mode using the other stacker tray is permitted.
US07766310B2
A steam humidifier having a water tank with a quick assembly feature. The steam humidifier includes a removable tank, where the removable tank is configured to contain water to be heated to generate steam and a handle that is configured to selectively secure the removable tank to the humidifier. The handle defines at least a first rotational position in which a tank support feature on the tank is engaged with a handle support feature on the handle such that the tank is attached to the humidifier. The handle further defines at least a second rotational position in which the tank support feature is disengaged from the handle support feature such that the tank is unattached from the humidifier. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US07766301B2
The present invention involves, in some embodiments, mechanisms and methods of occluding collapsible tubing with an occluder to prevent fluid flow therethrough. In some embodiments, a tube occluding mechanism is disclosed that includes a bendable occluding member for creating a force that can be applied to a collapsible tube to occlude the tube. In some embodiments, the collapsible tube can be an inlet/outlet tube on a removable pumping cartridge that is coupled to a reusable pump drive component when the system is in operation. In such embodiments, the occluding mechanism can be attached to the reusable component and can be used to block fluid flow to and from the pumping cartridge. In some embodiments, the occluding member can comprises a spring plate which can create a force to occlude tubing when in a relaxed, unbent configuration, and which can be bent to unocclude the tubing. In some preferred embodiments, in a default configuration of the tube occluder mechanism (when no external force is applied to the occluding member) the tubes are occluded, so that the tube occluder mechanism provides a fail-safe configuration preventing fluid flow to and from a pumping cartridge to which the tubes can be connected.
US07766297B2
A rotatable mechanism includes a U-shaped holding seat having left and right arm, a spring unit having a limiting stem received in a reception space defined between the right arm and a protection sheath extending from the left arm toward the right arm, a control shaft extending from the left arm toward the right arm and a torsion spring sleeved the control shaft to provide a torque, and a U-shaped holding frame fastened securely to the control shaft simultaneous rotation of the holding frame together with the spring unit with respect to the holding seat.
US07766284B2
A wreath is provided. The wreath includes a candle holder having a support portion, a container having a recess extending from the support portion, and a first threaded portion extending from the support portion away from the container. A support wire formed into a ring shape is fixed to opposite sides of the candle holder such that the recess of the container faces toward a center of the ring shape. A plurality of plant components are arranged around the support wire, the plant components substantially obstructing the support wire from view. A coupling member has a second threaded portion. The coupling member is removably coupled to the candle holder via the first and second threaded portions. An engagement unit has a first end part held in position between the coupling member and the candle holder and a second end part held in position between a window and a window sill or a door and a threshold, and an elongated support bracket extending between the first end part and the second end part to support the wreath in a central portion of the window or door.
US07766269B2
A refiner including: a rotor disc including a rotor plate including concentric rows of rotor teeth; a stator disc arranged opposite to the rotor disc, wherein the stator disc includes a stator plate; the stator plate includes concentric rows of stator teeth intermeshing with the rows of rotor teeth, and the rows of stator teeth include an outer row of stator teeth having leading sidewalls angled to deflect particles flowing between the teeth of the outer row.
US07766268B2
A shredder blade set with low resistance combines pressed blades and polished blades in various ways to form a shredder blade set. The shredder blade set has an appropriate friction for solving the problems with tilted or wrinkled paper due to insufficient friction or power waste due to large friction.
US07766267B2
An apparatus for reducing and separating an associated agricultural product into two or more sub-parts is provided. A first housing includes an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being configured to receive the associated agricultural product to be reduced. A first reducing assembly is disposed between and in communication with the inlet and the outlet of the first housing and includes a first rotatable reducing member, a second rotatable reducing member, and a reaction member. The first reducing member, the second reducing member and the reaction member are disposed adjacent to the other and cooperate to receive and reduce the associated agricultural product to a plurality of first sub-parts. A second housing includes an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being configured to receive select ones of the plurality of first sub-parts. A second reducing assembly is disposed between the inlet and the outlet of the second housing and includes a reducing rotor and a stationary reducing ring. The reducing ring is secured to the second housing and is disposed between the reducing rotor and the outlet of the second housing. The select ones of the plurality of first sub-parts are further reduced to a plurality of second sub-parts by the second reducing assembly and discharged via the outlet of the second housing.
US07766266B2
A sound generator help system of a shredder is disclosed. A disorder signal during the operation of the shredder is transmitted to the sound generator help system which then suggests the user how to correct operate the shredder and fix the problem in voice. When a problem occurs, the system flashes light to notify the user. By making a switch, the user can determine whether to play voices of the suggestion.
US07766263B2
A granulator mill has a mill housing which has an openable part and a fixed part, and an infeed hopper; the fixed part includes a rotor with a number of blades which co-operate with fixed blades in the mill housing; the openable part has a discharge section which is discrete from the interior of the mill housing by means of a grid which surrounds approximately 160° of the rotor and extends in beneath it; where the fixed part and the openable part are connected to one another by the intermediary of a pivot device with a vertical pivot axis and the end of the openable part facing away from the pivot axis is fixedly lockable in the fixed part at the journal box of the rotor and is centered there by a guide surface at the journal box and a guide surface on the openable part, the openable part is thus horizontally pivotal and may be opened manually; the infeed hopper is vertically pivotal about a horizontal axis and opened by means of a motor, where the infeed hopper and the openable part have mutually engaging locking means which lock the infeed hopper in the closed position when the openable part is closed.
US07766262B2
Valves for use in irrigation systems include a moveable sealing member disposed within a valve body. The moveable sealing member is configured to close automatically the valve when the magnitude of a pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet of the valve body reaches a predetermined threshold value and to open automatically the valve when the magnitude of the pressure differential falls below the predetermined threshold value. Irrigation systems include such valves and methods for flushing debris out of the irrigation systems using such valves.
US07766259B2
An irrigation sprinkler spray nozzle is provided that includes a first deflector surface defining a first configuration to project a fluid spray having a first distribution pattern, and a second deflector surface defining a second configuration to project a second fluid spray having a second, different distribution pattern. To select the fluid spray, the nozzle further includes a selector having a first position to select the first deflector surface and a second position to select the second deflector surface.
US07766254B2
A heated fuel injector includes a heated body, liquid fuel flowing through a fuel passage within the body, and a member that increases heat transfer from the heated body to the fuel within the fuel passage. The thermal efficiency of the fuel injector is increased separately or in combination by diverting the fuel flow along an inner circumferential contour of the heated body, by limiting the volume of fuel bypassing the heated inner surface of the body, by redirecting heat from the body to unheated portions of the fuel flow field within the fuel passage, and by increasing the available contact surface area for heat transfer. Improved heat transfer from the heated body to the fuel is achieved by integrating features that increase the contact surface area into the inside surface of the body or by positioning an insulating or a thermally conductive spacer within the fuel passage.
US07766252B2
A dry pipe sprinkler assembly is provided including a sprinkler body having a thermally responsive trigger mounted thereto. A housing, including an inlet end and an outlet end is provided with the outlet end being connected to the sprinkler body. A seal member is disposed at the inlet end of the housing, and a load mechanism extends between the thermally responsive element and the seal member. The load mechanism may include a support portion, a passage tube portion, and an outlet orifice portion slidably received within the housing and movable within the housing upon activation of the thermally responsive trigger to allow the seal member to be dislodged from the inlet end of the housing to allow suppressant fluid to flow therethrough. The dry pipe sprinkler assembly allows the use of different outlet orifice members to provide dry pipe sprinkler assemblies having different K factors while utilizing common components for the remaining dry pipe sprinkler assembly.
US07766251B2
A fuel injection and mixing system is provided. The system includes an injector body having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, and defines a fuel flow path between the inlet and outlet. The fuel flow path may include a generally helical flow passage having an inlet end portion disposed proximate the fuel inlet of the injector body. The flow path also may include an expansion chamber downstream from and in fluid communication with the helical flow passage, as well as a fuel delivery device in fluid communication with the expansion chamber for delivering fuel. Heating means is also provided in thermal communication with the injector body. The heating means may be adapted and configured for maintaining the injector body at a predetermined temperature to heat fuel traversing the flow path. A method of preheating and delivering fuel is also provided.
US07766249B2
A rail-carrying plate lies on an upper surface of a base. An anchor-bolt assembly has an elastomeric buffer sheet between the rail plate and the base upper surface and a bolt set in the anchor sleeve passing through the rail plate. An inner ring surrounds the bolt, bears directly on the base surface, is pressed downward by the bolt against the base surface, has an annular outwardly directed outer surface. An outer ring is transfixed by the bolt, has an annular inner surface spaced outward from the inner-ring outer surface, and bears upward on the rail plate. An annular elastomeric body between the inner and outer rings is bonded to the respective outer and inner surfaces thereof so that vertical displacement of the outer ring relative to the inner ring tends to self-center the two rings.
US07766243B2
The described embodiments relate generally to devices, methods and systems for managing access to a memory card, such as a smart card, by a plurality of accessing devices. Certain embodiments relate to a smart card reader (SCR) for managing access to a smart card by a plurality of accessing devices. The SCR comprises: a processor; a channel manager responsive to the processor for interfacing with the smart card; and a communication interface responsive to the channel manager for communicating with the plurality of accessing devices.
US07766242B2
A carousel used in a restocking system is comprised of a drive track. A plurality of bins are arranged into rows, with the rows being driven by said drive track. A drive mechanism, e.g. an electric motor, drives the drive track. A sensor is provided to sense the position of the rows of bins. A processor is responsive to the sensor and data representative of a plurality of picks for more than one order for controlling the drive mechanism. By combining picks from different orders into a batch, the time spent driving the rows and time between picks is minimized. The carousel may be divided into a plurality of columns, each with its own drive track, drive mechanism, and sensor, to enable several rows to be brought into a pick position simultaneously. Various methods and forms of restocking packages are also disclosed.
US07766240B1
A pre-printed case label is provided for labeling cases that contain item-level packages such as clamshells of produce or loose bulk produce. The pre-printed case label includes a common identifier and space for adding a tag that includes a unique identifier. A case that includes the pre-printed case label and the tag provides case-level traceability through the distribution chain. Additionally, the item-level packages, or items of loose bulk produce, can include their own individual traceability codes to extend the traceability down to the item level. Methods provided herein associate non-lot-specific information, like brand and quantity, and lot-specific information, like harvest event data, with the unique identifier.
US07766239B2
A code-reading apparatus determines the type of data in recorded code data and carries out appropriate processes depending on the determined type of data. The code-reading apparatus comprises an imaging unit 7 for photographing encoded data. The encoded data comprises a header portion and a body portion, the body portion including encoded ring tone data, the header portion including a data identifier D indicating the type of data in the body portion. The apparatus further comprises a data identifier unit 19a for identifying the type of the encoded data photographed by the imaging unit 7 based on the data identifier D, and control units 13 and 19 for reading the encoded data depending on the identified data type and for reproducing the ring tone data that has been read.
US07766236B2
A method for reading data using a magnetic head having a first array of elements associated with a first data format, and a second array of elements associated with a second data format, the elements being selected from a group consisting of readers, writers, and combinations thereof, wherein the first and second arrays of elements are generally laterally adjacent each other in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of a magnetic medium over the head, the method comprising: determining a format of data on a medium; selecting one of the arrays of elements to read the data on the medium based on the determined format of the data; and positioning the selected array over the data on the medium.
US07766213B2
Method and device (2) for monitoring a welding area of an object (14) in connection with welding, which device includes arrangements (3) for reproduction of the welding area, at least one filter (4) arranged in front of or in the reproduction arrangement (3), and an illumination arrangement (5) of the welding area with ultraviolet radiation. The filter (4) consists of a band-pass filter which is adapted for filtering around a wavelength within the ultraviolet wavelength range.
US07766200B2
Disclosed herein is a cross bar locking device of a roof carrier for a vehicle. The cross bar locking device includes a link, which is movably provided in the cross bar and has protrusion pins, and locking members, which are coupled to respective ends of the link so as to be axially movable. The locking member has a locking protrusion, to be locked to the corresponding locking hole of the associated side rail, and a plurality of protrusion pins. The cross bar locking device further includes levers, which are rotatably coupled to respective ends of the cross bar by a hinge. An operating slot is formed in each lever so that the protrusion pins of the corresponding locking member and the link are inserted into the operating slot. Movement guide slots are formed in the lever and communicate with the operating slot.
US07766194B2
A household liquid dispensing apparatus includes a container for holding a household liquid and a pump for pumping the household liquid out of the container. The pump includes a pump chamber. A dip tube is adapted to be positioned in the container and communicates with the pump chamber. An exhaust tube communicates with the pump chamber and an outlet for the household liquid. A pump actuator mechanically drives the pump. A motor operatively engages the pump actuator. The motor is electrically connected to a power source. A switch is electrically connected to the motor and the power source. A trigger assembly is operatively connected to the switch to control power delivered to the motor. The trigger assembly is positioned under the outlet for the household liquid for easy actuation by an upturned hand.
US07766192B2
A fluid dispenser assembly comprising a fluid dispenser (101), a pack (120) for co-operating with the dispenser in such a manner as to fasten the pack to the dispenser, the pack including a fastener zone, and the dispenser including reception means for receiving the fastener zone, the assembly being characterized in that the reception means comprise at least one set of two opposite longitudinal grooves (111) for receiving the fastener zone (121) of the pack.
US07766189B2
A removable and replaceable dispensing head for a fluid dispenser system adapted to deliver the fluid to a user includes a hollow shank extending on an axis. A shank hub is attached to the hollow shank, and an aperture aligned with the hollow portion of the shank extends through the shank hub. A first fixed body is removably attached to the shank hub, the first fixed body and shank hub each having corresponding first attachment means arrayed in a predetermined pattern. A fluid conveyance path is provided through the hollow shank, first fixed body and shank hub. A second fixed body is provided having a second attachment means arrayed in the same predetermined pattern, the second attachment means corresponding to the first attachment means in the shank hub enabling removable attachment of the second fixed body to the shank hub upon removal of the first fixed body from the shank hub. A sensor attached to either the fixed body, or to a hub spacer connected to the shank hub, automatically detects the presence of a user and activates the fluid dispensing system.
US07766182B2
A closure cap comprises a base having at an inner side thereof an annular gland for receiving an annular seal. The annular gland has a bottom surface and an annular side surface depending from the bottom surface. A skirt depends from base and has an internal fastening thread for attaching the cap to a correspondingly but externally threaded body. Additionally, the annular side surface of the annular gland has a venting thread depending from the bottom surface of the gland to enable venting of air that may otherwise be trapped behind the annular seal when fitted in the gland. Also disclosed is a method of molding the cap.
US07766180B2
A liner cassette for use with an existing intermediate bulk container includes a box and a liner. The box is configured to unfold within the intermediate bulk container and the liner is configured to fit within the box. The liner cassette includes two configurations. In a first configuration, the box and liner may be folded substantially flat to facilitate transportation. In a second configuration, the box and liner are configured to provide a liquid containment system for the existing intermediate bulk container.
US07766178B2
A closure for maintaining pressure against a seal affixed to a container lip during a thermal sterilization process includes a top wall and an annular skirt depending from said top wall, at least one retaining structure extending from the annular skirt, a reseal structure rotatably disposed above said retaining structure and adjacent said top wall, an inner seal rotatably disposed above the retaining structure and beneath a lower surface of said reseal structure, wherein said inner seal and said reseal structure are both rotatable relative to said closure.
US07766176B2
A mobile lift crane includes a central crane unit, a boom unit and a counterweight unit. The central crane unit has a carbody, moveable ground engaging members and a rotating bed mounted to the ground engaging members with a rotatable connection such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the ground engaging members. The boom unit has a support member, at least one moveable ground engaging member, and a boom pivotally mounted on the support member. The counterweight unit has counterweight on a support member. Rigging connects the boom and counterweight unit such that a load lifted by the boom can be counterbalanced by the counterweight. The boom unit and counterweight unit are connected to the central crane unit by structural members that carry compressive loads and maintain the boom unit, the rotating bed and the counterweight unit in lateral alignment with each other, but allow relative vertical movement between the boom unit, the rotating bed and the counterweight unit. A main mast is pivotally mounted on the combination of the central crane unit, the boom unit and the structural member between the central crane unit and the boom unit. In another embodiment, a counterweight unit with a swing axis and boom unit are connected directly together with a structural member. Ground engaging members on the boom unit can be rotated relative to a boom unit support member such that the boom unit i) can travel in an arc around the swing axis of the counterweight unit and ii) travel in direction in line with the structural member.
US07766172B2
A method and apparatus are provided for separating elastomeric materials from mixed material streams. A separator includes a bank of parallel rollers extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end. The bank of parallel rollers having a predefined inclination with the first end elevated higher than the second end. Mixed material streams are fed onto a top surface of the high end of the inclined parallel rollers. A material having less friction and elasticity slides down the inclined roller bank top surface are collected into a collection bin positioned adjacent the second, lower end of the roller bank. Other materials having a higher friction coefficient grip the rollers more and are lifted out of the valley due to friction migrating perpendicular to the rotating rollers and are collected in a collection bin positioned adjacent one side of the roller bank parallel to the longitudinal roller axis.
US07766164B2
Medical tray and cover apparatus includes a tray body having an open top and an open front; the cover is removable and covers the tray top and front. The tray body includes a plurality of oppositely disposed grooves that provide for the insertion of closure and divider panels. The tray grooves are configured to allow the tray to be loaded with ampoules or vials without being snagged by the grooves. The trays are transparent so that its contents are visible without removing the cover. The trays are stackable with the cover in place. The trays are lockable such that the ability to stack the trays is not interfered with. The tray and cover eliminate particle generation from use and wear that can contaminate the contents of the tray. The tray and cover are capable of being autoclaved.
US07766161B2
A portable tool box is disclosed. The portable tool box can be utilized in two positions by the user. The portable tool box has shelves coupled at an angle that is configured to retain the tools within the portable tool box during transport, while providing easy access when in use. The angled shelves allow the user to easily access the tools from the tool box when in the vertical position as well as in the horizontal position.
US07766157B2
A wear detection device for a conveyor belt capable of automatically, easily, and accurately detecting the wear amount of the conveyor belt during the operation, formed in a simple structure, and manufacturable at low cost. A rubber magnet (3) magnetized in the thickness direction is buried in the conveyor belt (2) diagonally relative to both the advancing and thickness directions of the conveyor belt. A magnetic sensor (4) detecting the change of a magnetic force due to the wear of the rubber magnet (3) resulting from the wear of the conveyor belt (2) is disposed at a position through which the rubber magnet (3) is passed.
US07766156B2
A abutment module for automatic processing and conveying equipment having an abutment member arranged on a base for objects moving in a movement plane in a current direction of working motion. The abutment member being able to be moved in and out of the movement plane by electrical actuating apparatus. An electrical rotary drive is provided for the electrical operation.
US07766154B2
A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.
US07766143B1
A rear hub for a bicycle includes a mandrel, a hub body, a first locking nut, a freewheel, an auxiliary threaded post, and a second locking nut. The mandrel has a primary threaded section and a secondary mounting portion which has a diameter smaller than that of the primary mounting portion. Thus, the secondary mounting portion of the mandrel has a smaller diameter so that the freewheel has a smaller diameter to reduce the tooth number of the driven gear to reduce the tooth number of the chainwheel to reduce the diameter of the chainwheel so as to reduce the whole volume and weight of the bicycle.
US07766140B2
The invention concerns a freewheel bearing device including an outer element and inner element arranged inside the outer element, and a free wheel provided with at least a wedging element, arranged between the inner element and the outer element to allow a free rotational movement in one direction between the outer element and the inner element and for transmission of a torque in the other direction between the outer element and the inner element, the free wheel including a ring provided with a cylindrical inner surface and a cylindrical outer surface, substantially aligned on a radial plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the device, and a torque limiting member adapted to limit the torque transmitted by the free wheel, the torque limiting member being arranged radially between said ring and the outer element or the inner element in contact with said ring and said element.
US07766132B2
A disc brake caliper (4) comprising a first half caliper on the support side and a second half caliper on the wheel side (20, 24), at least one of said portions comprising a seat (28) having a prevailing extension that defines an axial direction (X-X). The caliper comprises at least one inclined bridge element (40) suitable for structurally connecting said first and said second half caliper (20, 24), said at least one bridge element (40) defining a substantial longitudinal prevailing extension direction (S-S) inclined by a predetermined angle (A) relative to the axial direction (X-X).
US07766130B2
Apparatus including a carbon-carbon composite pressure plate (32, 42) having a friction surface (33, 43) on one side thereof, a non-friction surface (37, 47) on the opposite side thereof, and a body (39, 49) between said surfaces. A wear pin housing (36, 46) containing a wear pin retainer (35, 45) is located in the pressure plate body (39, 49), the wear pin housing opening to the non-friction surface (37, 47) but not opening to the friction surface (33, 43). A wear pin (31), preferably made of carbon-carbon composite material, is located in the wear pin retainer (35, 45). The wear pin retainer (35, 45), which may be made of carbon-carbon composite material, is held in place in the wear pin housing (36, 46) by the interaction of threading in the wear pin housing (36, 36) and threading in the wear pin retainer (35, 45) and optionally also by a carbonizable resin adhesive located between the wear pin housing threading and the wear pin retainer threading.
US07766128B2
An actuator used in a safety stop device for an elevator has: a movable portion displaceable between an actuation position where the safety stop device for the elevator is actuated and a normal position where the actuation of the safety stop device is released; and an electromagnetic coil for displacing the movable portion when a current flows through the electromagnetic coil. A device for inspecting operation of the actuator has a feeder circuit for supplying an amount of electricity required for a semi-operation which is less than that required for a full operation for displacing the movable portion from the normal position and the actuation position to the electromagnetic coil.
US07766121B2
A method and apparatus are provided for the controlled application of ultrasonic energy for conditioning of mixtures of gas and liquids by evolving and/or agglomerating gas bubbles existing with or in a liquid or for coalescing droplets of liquid dispersed in another liquid. The invention in preferred embodiments thereof comprises a coalescing apparatus for increasing the droplet size of a mixture formed as a liquid dispersed in another liquid, and a de-gassing apparatus arranged to evolve and/or agglomerate gaseous bubbles in a gas/liquid mixture. In the apparatuses, ultrasonic transducers are used to impart vibrational energy to the mixtures.
US07766106B2
A wheelchair includes a frame, a chair, a pair of drive wheels, a pair of rear wheels, and a pair of front wheels. Each front wheel is part of a front arm assembly that is rigidly coupled to a drive via a mounting plate. The mounting plate is connected to the wheelchair frame by a pivot. The drives are transversely mounted. The batteries are disposed rearward of the drives. The wheelchair seat can be moved forward to provide access to the batteries without fully removing the wheelchair from the frame.
US07766098B2
A system for steering the direction of a borehole advanced by cutting action of a rotary drill bit by periodically varying the rotation speed of the drill bit. The steering system comprises a motor disposed in a bent housing subsection and operationally connected to a drill string and to the drill bit. The rotation speed of the drill bit is periodically varied by periodic varying the rotation speed of the motor or by periodic varying the rotation speed of the drill string. Periodic bit speed rotation results in preferential cutting of material from a predetermined arc of the borehole wall which, in turn, resulting in borehole deviation. Both the drill string and the drill motor are rotated simultaneously during straight and deviated borehole drilling.
US07766090B2
A fire fighting system for fighting forest and brush fires under dry, hot and windy conditions which includes a jet engine for generating a high speed air stream, a water source for supplying water to a cooling system which lowers the water temperature to between forty and fifty degrees fahrenheit, a nozzle for injecting cold water into the air steam and a filter which provides very fine particles of cold water within the stream. The stream of cold water is directed to a forest or brush fire dropping the temperature of the fire which eventually extinguishes the fire.
US07766089B2
Disclosed herein is a packer system. The packer system includes, a first packing element settable to create a seal against a downhole structure, and a contingency packing element in operable communication with the first packing element, maintainable in reserve and settable at a time after which the first packing element is set.
US07766072B2
A molding machine able to detect a burr or other abnormality by detecting the position of tie bars. A control device detects an occurrence of burrs according to whether or not displacement amounts of pistons associated with the tie bars, using position sensors which detect the position of the pistons. The position sensors detect position from the start of injection to the completion of the injection to determine whether detected values are within a permissible range.
US07766054B2
A method of producing a dimensionally stable, fire-resistant fabric including the steps of spinning yarn from wool and fire-resistant synthetic fibers, weaving the yarn to form a fabric, and dimensionally stabilizing the fabric to produce a textile that passes aircraft manufacturer specifications.
US07766044B2
A two-way damper is provided including a retaining member and a baffle. The baffle comprises a flexible member with a first portion secured and held in a fixed position by the retaining member and a second portion normally oriented in a first position, but free to move relative to said first position. The baffle also comprises a third portion, arranged between the first and second portions, being flexible and resilient and allowing the second portion to move to a second position relative to the first position upon the application of a pressure differential across the baffle above a threshold pressure and causing the second portion to return to the first position upon the application of a pressure differential across the baffle below the threshold pressure.
US07766040B2
A pressure control valve assembly including a valve body with a valving cavity, a metal insert, a member and ball, a plastic internal ball guide, and a plug. The metal insert, which is received within the valving cavity, includes an exhaust port, a pressure control port, a supply port, and a plug-receiving end. The plastic internal ball guide is included within a portion of the metal insert. The member extends within a portion of the insert and is movable with respect to the exhaust port, the member moving a ball with respect to a supply port. In an embodiment, a plug is received within the plug-receiving end of the insert. A method for making a valve body for a valve assembly is also disclosed.
US07766028B2
A variable device for regulating the outlet pressure of a fluid from a valve body, includes a pressure-sensing chamber having a wall formed by a resilient self-restoring diaphragm which is responsive to pressure in the chamber. A valve element connected to the diaphragm controls flow into the chamber. Increased pressure in the chamber decreases the flow into the chamber and decreasing pressure increases flow whereby fluid flow out from the chamber is maintained at a desired pressure. The outlet pressure is adjusted by deflecting the diaphragm in a direction to open the valve while permitting a section of the diaphragm connected to the valve member to remain responsive to the pressure in the chamber. An adjustment cover is provided to adjustably deflect the diaphragm and includes a catch mechanism to allow adjustment of the fluid outlet pressures and also retain the device at a desired value. An indicator arrangement may be provided to visually indicate the fluid outlet pressure.
US07766026B2
A faucet control system comprises a valve apparatus, sensors or a touch panel to be activated by a user, and a controller that controls the valve apparatus. A first sensor may start fluid flow and a second sensor may alter the proportion of fluids delivered from two fluid sources. Alternatively, a first sensor may initiate hot water flow, a second sensor may initiate cold water flow, and a third sensor may initiate flow of a mixture of hot and cold water to create a warm water flow. The sensors may be activated without being touched and may include infrared sensing elements. The touch panel may be activated with hand pressure and may include electrically conductive sheets. Alternatively, hot, cold and/or warm touch sensors may be provided separately. The touch panel may have a first portion for allowing fluid flow from a cold fluid source, a second portion for allowing fluid flow from the cold fluid source and a hot fluid source, and a third portion for allowing fluid flow from the hot fluid source. The controller may include an adjustable timer so that fluid flow can be stopped automatically after a selected period of time. Other systems include a one sensor system, a two sensor system, a three sensor system and a five sensor system. In the five sensor system, one sensor activates hot water flow, another sensor activates cold water flow, and three sensors activate various levels of warm water flow.
US07766023B2
A portable structure includes first and second support poles, each having one lower end for resting on a ground surface. First and second connectors attach at upper ends of the first and second support poles, respectively and two or more linking poles connect the first support pole with the second support pole via the first and second connectors. The linking poles form obtuse angles with the first and second support poles at the first and second connectors. The linking poles form an eye shape between the first and second support poles when joined with the connectors.
US07766020B2
A hair retaining clip includes clip members that are pivotally connected to one another and movable between a generally open configuration and a generally closed configuration. A hair gripping component is fixedly attached to one of the clip members and is made from a relatively soft material. The hair gripping component is generally shielded from contact with hair within the hair retaining clip when the clip members are in the generally open configuration, and the hair gripping component contacts hair within the hair retaining clip when the clip members are in the generally closed configuration.
US07766014B2
The present invention provides a wearing article for absorbing bodily substance discharge from mouth or nose. The article is formed from a material which is capable of receiving a holding bodily substance device and which is simply retained on the forearm or elbow of the user. The invention also provides a wearing article for delivering medicinal substance to mouth or nose.
US07766002B2
An apparatus for pitching and splitting a masonry block is provided. The apparatus includes a first pitching blade configured to move in a first direction. A second pitching blade is disposed adjacent to the first pitching blade, and the two pitching blades are separated by a distance that is small enough so that the splits initiated by each blade join into a single plane, thereby pitching and splitting the masonry block without the need for a splitting blade.
US07765999B1
An apparatus for firing a projectile, such as a paintball, that comprises a trigger frame assembly that is detachable from either a mechanical cartridge or an electronic cartridge. The trigger frame assembly includes a trigger, a sear, and a frame on which the trigger and the sear are mounted. The trigger has a mechanical actuating surface and an electronic actuating surface. Both the mechanical cartridge and the electronic cartridge are configured to selectively attach to and detach from the frame. It is an aspect of the invention to allow a user to selectively and readily convert the apparatus between mechanical firing actuation and electronic firing actuation.
US07765996B2
A control input (DUT) for controlling a heater (13) which heats an active element (10) of an exhaust gas sensor (8) includes at least one of another component depending on the difference between temperature data of the active element (10) and a target temperature, a component depending on the target temperature, and a component depending on the temperature data of the active element (10). The control input is determined by an optimum control algorithm. A component depending on the temperature of an exhaust gas and the component depending on the target temperature are determined based on a predictive control algorithm. The temperature of the active element (10) of the exhaust gas sensor (8) is thus controlled stably at a desired temperature.
US07765994B2
A method for controlling exhaust gas recirculation is presented. In one embodiment, exhaust gases are routed from the exhaust manifold through a cylinder and into an intake manifold. In some embodiments, the method may be used when a large amount of EGR is desired.
US07765992B2
A path (24) is formed in an intake tube (6), which supplies external air to a reciprocating engine (4). External air flowing from an inlet port to an outlet port of the path (24). A gaseous fuel path (26) is connected to the path (24) at an intermediate location thereof. A gaseous fuel, lighter than air, is supplied through the gaseous fuel path (26) into the path (24). A plurality of nets (8) are disposed in an area of the path (24) between the outlet port and the gaseous fuel path (26). The nets (28) are spaced along the length of the path (24) with the outer peripheral surface of each net (28) being in contact with the inner surface of the path (24).
US07765984B2
The fuel injection device according to the present invention is distinguished by a particularly effective sound-decoupling construction. The fuel injection device has at least one fuel injection valve, a receptacle bore for the fuel injection valve in a cylinder head, and a fuel distributor line having a fitting in which the fuel injection valve is placed in partially overlapping fashion. A connecting element is situated in the receptacle bore in such a way that the fuel injection valve is held in the connecting element in such a way that the fuel injection valve and the connecting element are held so that they do not contact any surfaces or walls of the receptacle bore of the cylinder head that do not run axially parallel to the fuel injection valve. The connecting element is attached immediately on the fitting of the fuel distributor line. The fuel injection valve is particularly well-suited for use in fuel injection systems of mixture-compressing externally ignited internal combustion engines.
US07765977B2
An engine component is composed of an aluminum alloy containing silicon, and includes a plurality of primary-crystal silicon grains located on a slide surface. The plurality of primary-crystal silicon grains have an average crystal grain size of no less than about 12 μm and no more than about 50 μm.
US07765975B2
An engine cylinder block formed with an integral pump housing that reinforces the cylinder block and which has a communicating passage with the interior of the cylinder block that has an outer surface that is inclined upwardly of the cylinder block to permit gasses to escape during a casting process to avoid metallic voids from forming. In addition the block is further reinforced by longitudinal and vertical external ribs.
US07765970B2
A valve cover includes a base that attaches to an engine and a display window that attaches to the base. The display window is made of material that can withstand the operating environment of the engine, including temperature and resistance to petroleum-based substances. The display window is secured to the base using a flexible gasket that encircles the display window and snaps into a groove in the base to secure the display window to the base. The display window may be see-through so the valves are visible. The display window may also include one or more display elements, such as light-emitting diodes, optical fibers, electro-luminescent panels, incandescent bulbs, liquid crystal displays, etc. The display window may include embossed or etched portions, and may include multiple colors and sequenced operation to provide any desired effect on the display panel.
US07765968B2
An actuator operation amount setting unit prepares the rotational speed command value for an electric motor such that the phase of an intake valve changes in accordance with the target phase. An electric-motor EDU controls the motor supply electric power such that the electric motor operates in accordance with the rotational speed command value. An overheating determination unit determines whether at least one of the electric motor and the electric-motor EDU needs to be restricted from heating up based on a result of comparison between the information indicating the motor supply electric power and the reference value. A rotational speed command value restriction unit restricts the rotational speed command value provided to the electric-motor EDU to a value within a predetermined range, when it is determined that the at least one of the electric motor and the electric-motor EDU needs to be restricted from heating up. A reference value setting unit variably sets the reference value based on the rotational speed of the electric motor.
US07765956B2
A cat scratching system for providing at least one surface suitable for cat scratching. This system includes a shell being capable of accepting at least one cat scratching surface having sides, an opening for inserting and removing the first cat scratching surface and a top and bottom. At least one of the surfaces, such as the top, is further characterized as having an open region for displaying the at least first cat scratching surface to the exterior of the shell, the first cat scratching surface being insertable within the opening of the shell.
US07765950B2
An apparatus for sensing a spin chuck for a spin coating unit includes a spin chuck which sucks a wafer with vacuum pressure to allow the wafer to be placed thereon, a rotary shaft which is rotated by driving of a motor below the spin chuck correspondingly thereto, and whose upper end is engaged with the spin chuck so as to interlock with the rotation of the spin chuck and a shaft guide shaped so as to surround a tubular stationary shaft of the spin chuck engaged with the rotary shaft. The apparatus further includes a sensing unit which senses whether or not the stationary shaft of the spin chuck is inserted into the shaft guide to a predetermined height a control unit which determines whether or not the spin chuck has been assembled normally from a signal sensed by the sensing unit and a notifying means which is controlled by the control unit to allow a user to recognize an assembled state of the spin chuck.
US07765931B2
A golf ball having an indicia produced by ink jet printing is disclosed. An ink composition containing a coloring agent and a resin is dispensed on a transfer medium, using an ink jet printer, to form an indicia. The indicia is transferred from the transfer medium to the dimpled surface of a golf ball. In another form of the invention, an indicia is applied directly to a golf ball, without a transfer medium. In this method, an indicia receiving layer is applied on at least a portion of the golf ball surface, then the indicia is printed directly on the indicia receiving layer using an ink jet printer. The indicia on the golf ball has an impact resistance suitable for use in competitive play.
US07765928B2
Printing plate material supply spool (PMSS) for a printing machine or plate-imaging machine and a method of loading it is provided. An exemplary PMSS can comprise a printing plate material film that is wrapped around a hollow core (HC), wherein the HC is adapted to be engaged with a heavy duty core (HDC) prior to be placed in the printing machine. The method for loading the printing plate material supply spool (PMSS) in a printing machine or plate imaging machine may comprise inserting a heavy-duty core (HDC) inside the HC of the PMSS forming an integrated core. Then the PMSS and the integrated core can be placed in the printing machine.
US07765918B2
An oven for heating a product is provided. The oven includes a partially enclosed housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening and a conveyor to move a product through the housing. The oven additionally includes a steam system for boiling liquid with an associated steam pipe and a heating element provided within the housing.
US07765910B2
Disclosed is a blast containment vessel. A body has an opening. An external door is configured to form a seal surrounding the opening when the external door is in a closed position. A yoke is configured to retain the door in the closed position. A first automatic system is configured to automatically move the external door into and out of the closed position. A second automatic system is configured to automatically move the yoke when the external door is in the closed position. During and after a blast event, the body and the external door contain products of the blast event and the seal remains intact.
US07765903B2
The invention relates to a method for processing the surfaces of optical workpieces (3) such as optical or eye glass lenses carried out with the aid of a tool (5) and consisting in holding at least one workpiece (3) in a work piece receiving support (4) which is rotatable around the axis of a workpiece spindle (1′). The invention is characterized in that the workpiece (3) is received in the receiving support (4) in such a way that the axis of rotation (2) of the workpiece spindle is placed remotely from the axis (8) of at least one workpiece (3) and the axis (18) of the workpiece support is at least partially in a parallel position to the axis of rotation of the workpiece spindle.
US07765899B2
A socket assembly includes a socket having a mounting hole which includes a plurality of insides and yield recesses located alternatively between the insides. A control member is rotatably mounted to the socket and has a through hole, a plurality of stops extend inward from an inner periphery of the through hole. The stops are deformable when being applied with a force along the axis of the through hole. A polygonal object can be forced into the mounting hole by squeezing and bending the stops. After the object is loosened and received in the socket, the stops support the nut from dropping from the mounting hole. When the control member is rotated to off align the stops from the path that the corners of the polygonal object may drop, the object is easily take out from the socket.
US07765894B2
A torsional vibration damper has two mutually pivoted masses and a friction device that is active between the masses. This friction device can include a first friction device that is a spring friction device and an auxiliary friction device comprising at least one entraining wedge. The entraining wedge can function as dual wedge having at least two frictional surfaces for contacting at least one of the two mutually pivoted masses. There can also be at least one additional entraining wedge disposed parallel to the at least one entraining wedge inside of a chamber formed between the two mutually pivoted masses. The friction device and the auxiliary friction device frictionally couple the two mutually pivoted masses together.
US07765888B2
A steering apparatus comprises a bearing for supporting a pinion shaft so as to be rotatable and a high-rigidity member for holding the bearing in a state where it is positioned with respect to a housing. The housing comprises cylindrical first and second housings whose respective ends are fitted to each other. The first and second housings respectively comprise first and second receiving sections directly or indirectly receiving an outer ring of the bearing in an axial direction. The outer ring of the bearing is held between the high-rigidity member and the second receiving section, so that the axial movement of the bearing relative to the first and second housings is regulated.
US07765867B2
A transmitter for providing inventory or inventory transfer information on industrial sites is described, for measurement of mass (M), weight (W), volume (V), level (L) and/or density (p) of a product (1) in a vessel (3) comprising: a level sensor (5), comprising: a conductive probe (9) extending into the vessel (3), means (11, 13) for generating and sending short electromagnetic pulses (S) down the probe, means (15) for reception of echoes (E) of the pulses (S) reflected at a surface of the product (1), means (17) for determining a time of flight (t) needed for a pulse (S) to travel down the probe (9) and its echo (E) to return, a pressure sensor (7), mounted on the probe (9), and a signal processing unit (45) for determining mass (M), weight (W), volume (V), level (L) and/or density (p) based on measurement signals supplied by the level sensor (5) and the pressure sensor (7).
US07765862B2
A drilling operation wherein a borehole can be drilled through earth formations with a drill bit at the end of a drill string, using recirculating drilling mud that flows downward through the drill string, exits through the drill bit, and returns to the earth's surface in the annulus between the drill string and the borehole wall, at least a portion of which has a mudcake thereon, and a surface pumping system for pumping the mud to recirculate. Determining true formation pressure, including the following steps: providing a measurement device, having a probe, on the drill string; controlling the mud flow rate to obtain a first measured borehole pressure and measuring, with the probe of the measurement device, as a corresponding first probe pressure, the pressure in the formation adjacent the mudcake; controlling the mud flow rate to obtain a second measured borehole pressure and measuring, with the probe of the measurement device, as a corresponding second probe pressure, the pressure in the formation adjacent the mudcake; and deriving the true formation pressure from the first and second measured borehole pressures and the first and second probe pressures.
US07765860B2
A method for measuring road surface friction of a road surface uses a vehicle that moves across the road surface wherein (1) an auxiliary independent wheel assembly is towed behind the vehicle and is in contact with the road surface, an auxiliary wheel of the wheel assembly is freely rotatable by movement of the vehicle and is one or more of toed in or toed out with respect to a direction of travel of the vehicle so as to create an isolated axial force on the auxiliary wheel: (2) the axial force on the auxiliary wheel is measured while the vehicle moves across the road surface, and the measured axial force is correlated with the road surface friction. The independent wheel assembly is load isolated from the weight of the towing vehicle and the independent wheel assembly is loaded by placing ballast thereon.
US07765858B2
A method for measuring low amplitude dynamic properties of a steering column includes mounting the steering column into a test fixture and performing test runs. The test runs include subjecting the input end of the steering column to input excitations and measuring output conditions, which include at least one of acceleration, velocity and position, and determining whether the output conditions are within a predetermined output range. Input excitations may include sinusoidal excitations having a selected frequency range, torque, or displacement; or dither excitations. The selected torque or displacement is determined using open loop calculations from the output conditions, to achieve target acceleration levels. Data is interpreted to determine the natural frequency or rim gain of the steering column, which are compared to predetermined permissible ranges. The maximum steering wheel rim gain permissible level may be equal to approximately 1 divided by the polar moment of inertia of the wheel.
US07765856B2
A method for monitoring a flame in a combustion chamber comprising a wall with an outer side is provided, wherein the radiation which is emitted from a part of the outer side of the wall is optically detected by a sensor. Furthermore, a burner is provided, especially for use in a gas turbine. The burner comprises a wall section with an inner side, which shows towards a combustion zone, and an outer side. The burner further comprises a sensor for optically detecting the radiation emitted from the outer side of said wall section.
US07765854B2
This invention relates to a microcantilever stress sensor for detecting and quantifying low levels of contaminants in liquids and gases. The invention uses a chemical agent to impart chemical specificity to the microcantilever stress sensor. The microcantilever deflects when the chemical agent is replaced by a more strongly adsorbing chemical species. The magnitude of the deflection is then used as a measure of the quantity of contaminant present.
US07765853B2
Optical metrology methods, apparatuses, and systems for detecting seal integrity. These comprise changing an air pressure inside a chamber to an excitation pressure level when the chamber is placed over a segment of a surface of a structure having one or more seal features and determining whether the integrity of any of the one or more seal features has been compromised by determining, using an optical system, whether any of the one or more seal features have been deformed by the changing of the air pressure.
US07765850B2
The present invention provides a mechanical pipe-end expander comprising a cone and a die having tapered wedge bodies whose outer radius is larger towards a flangeless end direction from a flange end, wherein a pipe-end zone is expanded by a wedge effect of the die, which results from a procedure that the cone and the die are inserted together into the pipe-end zone to be expanded, and that then only the cone is axially drawn outwards leaving the die within the pipe-end zone. A seamless steel pipe with an expanded pipe-end zone is manufactured by applying a mechanical pipe-end expander comprising a die having tapered wedge bodies whose outer radius is larger towards a flangeless end direction from a flange end. The resulting seamless steel pipe has satisfactory pipe-end dimensional accuracy, and exhibits characteristics with excellent field welding workability.
US07765849B2
A press for crimping longitudinal edges of a plate for the manufacture of pipe has a closed press frame, an upper press platen, and a lower press platen extending longitudinally through the frame. A pair of transversely spaced and transversely shiftable upper supports are provided on the upper platen, and a pair of transversely spaced and transversely shiftable lower supports on the lower platen. Respective upper dies are fixed in the upper supports and have downwardly directed lower faces, and respective lower dies are fixed in the lower supports and have upwardly directed upper faces. A piston/cylinder assembly braced between the frame and one of the platens and pressurizable to shift the one platen vertically toward the other of the platens. Hydraulic actuators may position the holders and their dies transversely and also lock them in place.
US07765848B2
In a press working apparatus 10, while a servo motor 24 is acting, an upper die 38 is made to come close to a lower die 52 and press working of the first time is conducted on a steel plate 12. A slider 32 is raised to a movable punch preparation position. A movable punch 90 is protruded from a die face 38a of the upper die 38 by width H and locked by a mechanical lock 94. The upper die 38 is made to come close to the lower die 52 again and the steel plate 12 is pushed with the upper die 38 and at the same time an additional worked portion 12a is pushed and deformed with the movable punch 90 so as to conduct press working of the second time. After the movable punch 90 has been retracted, the slider 32 is raised.
US07765842B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a can body (2) which is characterized in that a film piece (3c) is cut from a film web (3b), said film piece (3c) is wound up on a winding spindle (7) from its front edge to its rear edge and is maintained on the winding spindle (7) so that it somewhat overlaps. The film piece (3c) is transferred from the winding spindle (7) to a concave inner surface (11a) and the film areas of the front edge and the rear edge resting against each other are sealed with each other on the concave inner surface (11a) in the area of overlapping (14). According to the invention, a closed film piece (3d) can be transferred without complication onto a can body (2), thereby conferring on the can body (2) the function of the stable structure and on the film piece (3d) the function of the décor or the inner barrier in such a manner that both functions can be optimized in a substantially independent manner.
US07765840B2
By providing a single housing and shackle assembly constructed for enabling the shackle to be opened and/or closed using either a rotatable dial combination construction or a key activating tumbler construction, with the movement of the shackle being controlled by a trigger member, an effective, easily produced, padlock is achieved which incorporates two separate and independent locking systems formed in a single padlock. In addition, the trigger member and shackle each incorporate uniquely constructed, cooperating surfaces, each of which comprise a grooved zone or concave curved zone which is positioned directly adjacent a cooperating convexly curved zone. By employing these two curved surfaces on both the shackle and trigger member, the controlled pivotal movement of the shackle is realized.
US07765833B2
An adjustable stacker bar assembly includes a pad assembly having a lower pad that is mounted to a push bar. The lower pad is in direct contact with and independently mounted to the push bar. An upper pad is mounted to and spaced apart from the lower pad by a spacer. The spacer is free of contact with the push bar. The pads contact and push glass articles into an annealing furnace.
US07765825B2
A system and method for thermal management of a memory device is described. In an embodiment, one or more thermal sensors sends a signal to a thermal control module indicating that a pre-determined temperature threshold for a memory device or devices has been reached. The thermal control module may then begin tracking memory thermals or initiate thermal management operations based on the signal and history of memory device temperatures over time.
US07765805B2
The invention refers to a supercharging system for an internal combustion engine incorporating in combination, a turbine, a compressor and an electrical driven system that is connected by any power transmission system to the crankshaft or any other vehicle drive shaft of an internal combustion engine and which are arranged along a common axis, where the turbine inlet is subjected to exhaust gases, causing the turbine wheel to rotate and thereby via the drive shaft causing mechanical rotating power.
US07765804B2
A motor mounted on a structural support with a pivot at its center line which comprises a cylindrical vessel for holding a fluid in a closed system and in which a buoyant cylinder containing a lighter fluid is allowed to free float so that a cable attached to either end of the buoyant cylinder may be used to transfer energy to a energy storage unit, a crank or a generator. Two moment arms having a weight attached at the exterior end and inside attachably connected to the surface of two drive pistons that operate in pressure tanks which force a compressed gas against the pistons through pre-sequenced automatic activated valves to extend or retract the moment arms at the end of a cycle. The motor then becomes top heavy and rotates 180 degrees by gravity and relocks in place to repeat the cycle.
US07765801B2
An exhaust gas treatment device for internal combustion engines and the like includes inlet and outlet end caps, two catalyst substrates, and a two-piece housing. A first, cylindrically-shaped housing member has a hollow interior in which one of the substrates is retained, a first end sealingly connected with the inlet end cap, and an opposite second end with a radially reduced section. A second cylindrically-shaped housing member has a hollow interior in which the other one of the substrates is retained, a first end sealingly connected with the outlet end cap, and an opposite second end with a radially enlarged section sized to receive therein the second end of the first housing member, whereby the reduced section of the first housing member and the enlarge section of the second housing member are spaced radially apart a predetermined distance to define an annularly-shaped space or gap which thermally insulates the associated portion of the exhaust gas treatment device.
US07765797B2
An exhaust gas purification system for a motor vehicle having a reducing agent storage tank, and an associated operating method. In particular, an exhaust gas purification system for a motor vehicle, for which predetermined maintenance intervals is provided. The system includes a reducing agent storage tank for storing a reducing agent intended for exhaust gas purification. A method for operating a motor vehicle having an exhaust gas purification system and a reducing agent storage tank for storing a reducing agent intended for the exhaust gas purification, which comprises predetermined maintenance work after predetermined maintenance intervals is also provided.
US07765791B2
The inventive system comprises means (10) for determining the vehicle running mode, means (11) for determining the mass of elementary carbon exhausted by the engine according said running mode, means (15) for accumulating said elementary masses during the engine operation and obtaining a total mass thereof, means (18) for calculating the volume of ash from engine lubrication oil, means (20) for calculating the volume of ash from engine feed fuel, means (21) for calculating the effective volume of the depollution means on the basis of the total volume of the means thereof as they are new or cleaned, the already calculated volume of ash and means for calculating the degree of soot loading of the depollution means on the basis of the total mass, the effective volume and the maximum density of deposits on the depollution means.
US07765790B2
A ramjet engine (3, 4, 5), flying at Mach 3 has 64% efficiency, and at Mach 4 has 76% efficiency. Ramjet engines are currently only used for supersonic flight and have not been used as stationary engines with mechanical output. The present invention, in addition to subsonic flight, can be operated as a stationary engine, and can expand the use of the ramjet engine for mechanical output in vehicles, power plants, and in generator sets for large buildings, homes, and industry. The present invention provides the means to use ramjet engines as stationary engines by building nearly adiabatic compressors (1, 2, 12, 13, 14, 15) and expanders (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) capable of (de-)compression ratios up to about 92:1 to supply the high energy gas/air required by ramjet engines, and shows how to replace de Laval nozzles with sonic converters (49, 50, 51) that convert supersonic to subsonic flow and sonic converters (45, 46, 47) that convert subsonic to supersonic flow without having choke areas.
US07765776B1
In some embodiments, containers can be, for example, labeled with a uniquely identifiable customer label. The labeled containers can be loaded into a carrier that caries containers. The carrier can be transported to and from various stations by a transport system. The container carrier can travel through, for example, a solid pharmaceutical dispensing system where all or some of the containers in the carrier can be filled with a specific quantity of pharmaceutical product. The carrier can be transported to a capping and branding station where the containers can be capped and branded. The caps can be pre-branded, blank, or a combination of pre-branded and blank. Where at least some of the containers are branded with blank caps, a carrier and/or container can be transported to a branding station that can brand caps with cap labeling information (e.g., logos, graphics, artwork, text, etc.) that can be specific to each cap.
US07765770B2
A service line distribution base (10) comprises a ground anchor (18) having an upstanding cruciform portion adapted to extend into the ground. A cabinet (20) suited to support a utility pole (14) extends upwardly from the ground anchor (18). The cabinet (20) defines and internal space for receiving buried wire conduits (28) incorporated to the cruciform ground anchor (18). The cruciform shape of the ground anchor (18) advantageously permits to incorporate a greater number of wire conduits (28) into the base of a utility pole as compared to conventional concrete bases.
US07765768B2
The present invention relates to a wood composite panel having a major planar portion, at least one panel portion, and an inwardly extending contoured portion surrounding the panel portion and interconnecting the major planar portion and the panel portion. The contoured portion defines an inter-relationship between a vector angle and a deep draw depth that achieve a satisfactory stretch factor. The present invention also relates to a door having the disclosed wood composite door facings, and methods of forming the facing and door.
US07765763B2
This invention relates to an underlayment for use under a plurality of courses of roofing shingles. The underlayment includes a water impermeable membrane layer containing at least one flap extending horizontally across the membrane layer. The flap is movable between a flat position and a raised position. In the raised position, an upper edge of a roofing shingle can be positioned under the flap. The upper edge of the roofing shingle can then be subsequently overlapped by the flap when the flap is moved into the flat position. The flap can then subsequently be overlapped by another course of roofing shingles.
US07765762B2
A ceiling panel is provided for use in a grid-type suspended ceiling, wherein the grid includes a plurality of spaced grid runners. The ceiling panel comprises a tile base with perimeter segments and perimeter profiles along at least a portion of at least two of the perimeter segments. Each profile is supportable by the grid runners during suspension. A facing material is secured across the perimeter segments, and extends beyond the perimeter profiles in order to at least partially conceal two of the grid runners when the tile is suspended from the two grid runners and viewed from below.
US07765759B2
A concrete wall forming system including a plurality of mold units for forming a wall of concrete. The mold units include a bond beam form extending into the body lengthwise, defined by a first wall, a second wall, a bond beam form bottom, a first end and a second end where the first wall and second wall extend a depth defined by a portion of the distance from the top surface to the bottom surface and where the bond beam form does not touch the first side or the second side. First and second ledges extend lengthwise along the body from the first and second sides respectively to the first and second walls respectively of the bond beam form. The bond beam form bottom extends from the first wall to the second wall. At least two column forms extend from the bond beam form bottom to a bottom surface.
US07765758B2
Reinforced wood flooring for truck trailers and containers and methods for making and using the same. A reinforced wood flooring may include a wood member. The wood member may include a plurality of wood strips that are attached together. The wood member may also have a top surface and a bottom surface. An essentially water impermeable underlay may be attached to the bottom surface of the wood member with a discontinuous layer of adhesive.
US07765755B2
A system and method is provided for a cement building which may utilize cement floor panels, cement wall panels, cement roof panels, cement joist panels, and cement roof support panel. Although each type of cement panel will vary in construction depending on the function, preferably each panel comprises a synthetic foam core and a cement outer shell. Molds may be utilized at the building site or offsite to create the panels which are then secured together to form the building. Once a panel is raised, it is substantially complete thereby reducing time required to complete the building. Floor panels may comprise an internal cement arch to provide a sturdy panel that provides a sturdy support for loads placed thereon.
US07765752B2
An anchor system for a tendon includes a load transfer device having at least one wedge receiving bore therein. The wedge receiving bore has a tapered interior surface. The anchor system also includes a wedge configured to be affixed to an exterior surface of a tendon. The wedge has a tapered exterior surface configured to cooperate with the tapered interior surface of the wedge receiving bore to laterally compress the wedge against a tendon when the wedge is moved longitudinally into the bore. Taper angle of the wedge and a taper angle of the wedge receiving bore are selected such that longitudinal compressive force exerted by the wedge is substantially evenly longitudinally distributed.
US07765750B2
Attic vents and methods of their use and manufacture are provided. The air vent of this invention includes an bottom panel member, a pair of side rails and a plurality of support members that connect the bottom to the side rails. The vent is foldable to allow portions of it to lie substantially flat during shipping, and to be deployed at the work site. The foldable configuration allows the vent to be pre-attached to an insulation batt using glue or other fastening means, and then folded and compressed along with the insulation batt for shipping. When deployed at the work site and installed in a roof structure along with the insulation batt, the vent defines at least one channel on the roof facing side thereof, for directing ventilated air from a soffit region of the roof to the roof peak.
US07765745B2
Consideration is given to parameters for providing re-use of worker housing in similar, or the same, applications at other sites or other projects as well as parameters governing re-use for alternate secondary uses usually common to the area of initial use, thereby avoiding transport for long distances or wasteful disposal of worker housing structures. Secondary uses for manufactured worker housing modules according to the present invention can be, for example, smaller or reconfigured dormitory-style housing or residences or family housing.
US07765744B2
A construction block is provided that includes at least one base member that includes a plurality of lower side wall receptacles. The construction block further includes a plurality of side wall assemblies. Each of the side wall assemblies includes a plurality of interconnected panels. Each of the panels is hingedly connected to each adjacent one of the panels of the respective one of the side wall assemblies. Each of the side wall assemblies defines a hollow load chamber having an open top and an open bottom. At least some of the panels of each of the side wall assemblies are angled relative to one another. Each of the lower side wall receptacles receives one of the side wall assemblies.
US07765738B2
A sliding window assembly has at least one sliding pane mounted for travel along a travel path between a closed position in a first plane and an open position in an offset second plane substantially parallel to the first plane. The window assembly has travel guide apparatus for guiding its movement along the travel path between the open and closed positions. The travel guide apparatus includes a track defining an elongate slot corresponding to the travel path, a fixed guide surface having a fixed position relative to the track, e.g., a pivot pin, and components cooperatively operative as a cam and slide movement for guiding travel of the sliding pane between its open and closed positions. Typically, for generally rectilinear sliding panes, a track, guide surface and cam and slide movement are provided for each corner of the sliding pane. The cam and slide movement comprises a traveler mounted for longitudinal travel in the track and having an elongate slot at an angle to the main travel path, a travel pin mounted to the sliding pane and extending into the elongate slot of the track and the traveler slot, and a cam mounted to the sliding pane. The cam is operative to contact the fixed guide surface as the sliding pane approaches the closed position, to guide the sliding pane from the offset second plane to the first plane as the sliding pane travels further toward the closed position.
US07765736B1
The invention as presently conceived discloses a unique system and method that incorporates a self-watering tree stand that is an improvement on a conventional floor-standing holiday tree stand and watering system. The design of this novel tree stand is that it supports the tree from the tree's midsection that allows gravity to self-level the tree held within the stand. The stand comprises a large circular base for stability as well as adjustable height watering cup that can be brought up to the bottom of the tree and is fed from a water reservoir located on the vertical section of the stand at the outside perimeter of the tree. Also integral to the system and apparatus is a power receptacle fed from a power cord located near the top of the stand in order to power decorative lights or other electric tree decorations.
US07765733B1
In one exemplary embodiment the invention provides methods for post harvest disinfection of agricultural commodities. The methods are practiced on agricultural commodities without damaging or otherwise injuring the commodities by way of the treatment. In other exemplary embodiments, the invention provides containers appropriate for carrying out the disclosed methods of disinfective treatment.
US07765722B2
A sandal comprised of layered footwear components includes a lower base, a middle member replaceable platform which secures the straps, and an upper member replaceable insole. A hollowed out center area creates a perimeter side wall on the top of the base into which the platform is stored. A frontal (toe area) and rear (heel area) ledge crosses the toe and heel areas of the superior base horizontally. The straps are attached to a platform and secured by a present choice of a hook and loop fastener. The front and rear of the platform is eased under the front and rear ledges on the base. A midpoint lock on the platform further secures the platform to the base. A final top layer insole is secured on top of the platform and under the overlapped straps and placed into the remaining hollow area of the base hiding the shoes components. The straps and insole cooperate to form a shoe upper for receiving the foot. Platforms and insoles are interchangeable to heel, flat or wedge style bases. Exchangeably connected straps to platforms are repeatedly adjustable in horizontal and vertical directions for comfort and mix and match to create many shoe styles.
US07765720B2
An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper. The sole assembly includes a lower ground engaging surface portion and an upper surface portion. The upper surface of the first portion is in contact with the upper. At least part of the lower ground engaging surface portion is a polymer material formed from a blend of polybutadiene polymer and a carboxylated butadiene-acrylonitrile or partially hydrogenated carboxylated butadiene acrylonitrile; wherein the polymer material has a density of 1.00-1.25 g/cm3 and a hardness of at least 55 Asker C.
US07765718B2
A dance shoe comprising a foot compartment or portion thereof that is malleable at a temperature above a temperature of intended use, and when malleable, the shoe is hand moldable to a conformation desired by a user. The invention particularly relates to en pointe shoes for ballet and other forms of dance.
US07765711B2
Disclosed is a linear guiding system (1) comprising at least one guide rail (2), at least one guide carriage (3) that is supported on the guide rail and can be moved therealong, and a device (5) for measuring a distance traveled by the guide carriage relative to the guide rail and/or determining a position of the guide carriage relative to the guide rail. The measuring device (5) encompasses a measuring rule (10) and a measuring head (21) that is provided with at least one sensor for scanning the measuring rule (10). The measuring rule extends in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail while being arranged along or on a surface (2.1) of the guide rail (2) facing the support zone (40) of the guide carriage (3). A cavity (25) for accommodating the measuring head is embodied in the guide carriage. Said cavity (25) is configured entirely or partly outside the support zone (40) while the measuring head (21) is disposed entirely or partly in the cavity (25) and entirely or partly outside the support zone (40).
US07765709B2
A scale base is fixed to a base in a plurality of locations which are aligned in a measuring direction (a Y direction) in which measurement by a scale is carried out, slits are provided in the scale base in positions lying between the locations where the scale base is fixed to the base, the scale is supported by the scale base in two or more of the locations where the scale base is fixed to the base, and the scale base has gaps between the base and the scale base in positions other than the locations where the scale base is fixed to the base and between the scale and the scale base in the positions other than the locations where the scale base is fixed to the base.
US07765704B2
A method of aligning a property for testing in a dynamometer cell is provided, including the steps of: mounting a laser travel car to each of four risers in a repositionable manner; mounting a laser to each of the laser travel cars in a repositionable manner; securing a dyno cart into a cart receiving station between the four risers; calibrating each of the lasers; preparing the dyno cart to receive the property; mounting the property to the dyno cart; orienting the various lasers based, at least in part, upon predetermined optimal alignment dimensions to thereby provide a set of target locations; orienting the property such that predetermined locations of the property align with the set of target locations to ensure appropriate property orientation during testing; and removing the dyno cart from the cart receiving station for delivery to the dynamometer cell.
US07765701B2
In the safety cutter knife provided, a blade slide holding a blade is rotated in the direction nearly perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of the housing of the cutter knife by virtue of a reaction force from a work material when the cutting edge of the blade extended from the housing is pressed into the work material while the blade slide and the actuator slide are located at the extended position. With this rotation of the blade slide, the engagement between the blade slide and the actuator slide is released, such that the blade slide with the blade can return automatically from the extended position to the retracted position by virtue of the energizing force of a spring when the blade is released from the work material.
US07765698B2
A method of making an electret article, from a polymeric article that has a zeta potential of greater than or less than −7.5 millivolts. The article is charged by contacting it with an aqueous liquid that has a pH and conductivity as follows: (i) if the article has a zeta potential of −7.5 mV or less, then the contacting liquid has pH greater than 7 and a conductivity of 5 to 9,000 microSiemens per centimeter; and (ii) if the article has a zeta potential of greater than −7.5 mV, then the contacting liquid has a pH of 7 or less and a conductivity of 5 to 5,500 microSiemens per centimeter. An electret article made in this manner can provide improved electret performance, particularly in electret filtration articles.
US07765697B2
A process for producing a honeycomb body includes a) producing a tubular casing from sheet metal; b) introducing a hole, delimited by a rim, into the sheet metal; c) fitting a flange piece for a measurement sensor to the hole rim; d) introducing a honeycomb structure into the tubular casing; and e) joining the tubular casing to the honeycomb structure and the flange piece by brazing or welding in a single, common, heat treatment process. Steps a), b) and c) are carried out in any desired order. A honeycomb body includes a honeycomb structure. A tubular casing surrounds the honeycomb structure, has a hole delimited by a rim, and has a necked region surrounding the hole. A flange piece for a measurement sensor is brazed to the hole rim. The process allows a flange piece to be connected to the tubular casing in an advantageous manner as part of an on-going heat treatment process, resulting in a simple and fast production and consequently a reduction of costs.
US07765693B2
A method and apparatus for electrically connecting two substrates using resilient wire bundles captured in apertures of an interposer by a retention film. The interposer comprises an electrically non-conductive carrier having two surfaces and apertures extending from surface to surface. A resilient wire bundle is disposed in each aperture. An electrically non-conductive retention film is associated with one or both surfaces of the carrier and has an orifice overlying each aperture. The width of each orifice is smaller than that of the underlying aperture to thereby enhance retention of the resilient wire bundle within the aperture. Pin contacts of one or both of the substrates make electrical contact with the resilient wire bundles by extending through the orifices of the retention film and partially through the apertures. In one embodiment, the interposer is a land grid array (LGA) connector that connects an electronic module and a printed circuit board (PCB).
US07765690B2
The invention relates to a method for producing electronic components consisting in carrying out a first anodization of a carrier material (1) for forming at least one first pore (3) extending in a first direction in said carrier material (1) and in carrying out a second anodization for forming at least one second pore (17) extending in the carrier material (1) in a second direction different from the first direction.
US07765680B2
There is provided a method of producing a printed circuit board incorporating a resistance element capable of adjusting resistance after the resistance element has been formed and assuring a high accurate resistance. A method of producing a printed circuit board incorporating a resistance element using carbon paste includes the steps of: forming through holes 5, 6, 25 and 26 or a bottomed hole in a double-sided copper clad laminate; applying noble metal plating into the through hole or the bottomed hole; filling the through hole or the bottomed hole with carbon paste; subjecting the carbon paste with which the thorough hole or the bottomed hole is filled to noble metal plating, conducting treatment and plating to form a conductive layer; forming an opening 18 in the conductive layer on the end of the through hole filled with the carbon paste; and performing trimming through the opening to adjust the resistance of the resistor formed by the carbon paste.
US07765677B2
A method of manufacturing a write pole that prevents P2 pedestal consumption during ion milling removal of coil and pole seed layers. The write head can be constructed by forming a first pole and then forming a magnetic pedestal (P2) over the first pole. A protective layer of, for example, alumina is deposited over a portion of the pedestal in the pole tip region, leaving a portion of the pedestal uncovered in the flare region. A coil seed layer can then be deposited and a coil formed. When the coil seed layer is removed, such as by ion milling, the pole tip region of the pedestal is protected from the ion milling by the protective layer. Similarly, a top pole can be deposited by first depositing an electrically conductive, magnetic seed layer and then plating the top pole. When the top pole seed layer is removed by ion milling, the pole tip region of the pedestal is protected from removal by the protective layer.
US07765674B2
In a magnet cover caulking method of an electric motor, the method achieves caulking and fixation by forming a taper-shaped outer peripheral portion, a diameter of which is reduced toward an outer side in an axial direction, in an outer periphery of a magnet holder, arranging an annular caulking jig in an outer periphery of a rotating shaft, pressing a taper-shaped forming portion a diameter of which is increased toward an outer side in an axial direction, provided in one end side of an inner periphery of the caulking jig to a straight end portion of a magnet cover installed to the outer periphery of the magnet and the magnet holder from the axial direction, and forming the end portion of the magnet cover according to the taper-shaped outer peripheral portion of the magnet holder.
US07765662B2
A holding fixture is disclosed for machining bearing caps that have a generally semi-cylindrical bearing bore on an interior surface and bolt shoulders on opposite sides that are drilled to receive bolts. The holding fixture comprises a fixture frame to which a mandrel is attached that receives the bearing caps with the bearing bore centered relative to the mandrel. A plurality of clamps engage an exterior portion of the bearing caps to retain the bearing caps on the mandrel. A method of manufacturing a bearing cap is also disclosed using a fixture that has a mandrel that is received in the bearing bore and clamps that engage the outer surface of the bearing caps. A pair of bolt shoulders of the bearing caps are machined and a bolt hole is drilled in each of the bolt shoulder portions. The bearing bores are subsequently machined with the bearing caps being located based upon the location of the bolt holes to form a plurality of finished bearing caps.
US07765657B2
A system and method for producing a barbed taped product is controlled by an electronic controller to provide a predetermined pattern of attachment points. The system automatically clips adjacent loops of product strands together in the predetermined pattern. The system is capable of varying the pattern from roll to roll, within a given roll, and between rolls. The system and method eliminates the need for ceasing production between rolls in order to re-thread.
US07765651B2
The present invention provides a method for forming preferably a unitary polymeric hook fastener comprising a flexible backing, and a multiplicity of spaced hook members projecting from the upper surface of the unitary backing wherein each hook member comprises a multiplicity of hook head elements projecting in substantially the same direction. The hook members each comprise a stem portion attached at one end to the backing, and a head portion at the end of the stem portion opposite the backing. The head portion can also extend from a side of a stem portion or be omitted entirely to form alternative projections which can be other forms than a hook member. The head portion preferably projects past the stem portion on at least one of two opposite sides. At least the hook head portions have two or more hook head elements on at least one of the two opposing sides of the stem. The hook head portions preferably have been heat treated so as to decrease the hook head thickness and thereby reducing or eliminating molecular orientation in at least the hook head in the machine direction.
US07765643B2
A connection for hinges of the type having two elements which can rotate relative to one another; the connection comprises a box-shaped body having a base wall and two parallel lateral walls, and can be stably connected to a fixed frame of an electrical appliance.
US07765627B2
A sanitary ware with an annular mount has a body, an inlet pipe and an annular mount. The inlet pipe is mounted inside the body. The annular mount is mounted through the body for hanging the sanitary ware. A structure of the annular mount is simple to prevent leaking and could be used in any sanitary ware. Therefore, the sanitary ware with annular mount can be hung anywhere by the annular mount.
US07765626B2
A drain clearing device includes a first hollow tube having opposed first and second ends and a plunger head coupled to the first end. A second hollow tube includes a first end operatively coupled to the first end of the first tube, the first and second tubes being configured for telescoping movement between extended and retracted configurations. A snaking member is situated in the first and second tubes for movement between storing and operating configurations when the tubes are moved between extended and retracted configurations, respectively. A crank handle connected to the snaking member enables a user to rotate and extend the snake as needed. A plug is included for separating an inner tube area from an inner area of the plunger head and to prevent water spillage from the tubes.
US07765622B2
A replacement pad kit for use in an Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) system helmet comprises a plurality of replacement pads for disposition within an ACH helmet. At least one of the replacement pads comprises a fabric layer for contacting the skin of a wearer, an anti-bacterial hydrophilic foam layer, a shock absorption SRF foam layer, and a hook and loop fastener material for engaging some of the plurality of pad receiving hook and loop type fasteners.
US07765615B2
A chest protector, in sports medicine, adapted for players of the athletic games, is light in weight and reasonably comfortable to wear. It will protect the heart and chest cavity area of players in such games as lacrosse, field hockey, and baseball. The chest protector includes a shirt, preferably of two-way stretch fabric, having a large front pocket across its chest area. A protector plate is positioned within the pocket. The protector plate is an assembly of molded layers, comprising inner-most and outer-most layers of plastic, preferably polyethylene sheets; a central layer of a high impact polymer pad, preferably a dry polyurethane gel; and two layers of high impact resistant fabric of high tensile strength fibers, preferably para-aramid fibers, with the polymer pad being sandwiched between the two layers of impact resistant fabric.
US07765613B2
A nursing assembly for use in nursing an infant is provided. The nursing assembly includes a blanket and a strap. The strap includes a first end and an opposite second end, a tightening mechanism slidably coupled to the strap, the tightening mechanism configured to adjust a length of the strap, and at least two coupling mechanisms coupled to the strap. A first of the at least two coupling mechanisms is coupled between the first end and the tightening mechanism, and a second of the at least two coupling mechanisms is coupled to the strap second end. The strap is removably coupled to the blanket using the at least two coupling mechanisms.
US07765611B2
A reversible and water resistant garment includes a first side comprising a fabric layer and a second side comprising a polymeric layer. The garment resembles a cape and may comprise a hood, wherein the hood may be integral with at least one of the two layers. The garment may include one or more fasteners to secure the garment closed. The garment has one or more openings for the wearer to pass an arm through.
US07765610B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to an athletic cup to direct forces away from soft tissue. In an embodiment, the athletic cup has a convex structure to direct a force associated with an impact to the athletic cup to a pelvic bone of a wearer and away from soft tissue of the wearer. In one embodiment, the athletic cup directs the force of an impact away from a penis, a scrotum, and a perineum of a wearer.
US07770203B2
The invention relates to the integration of a security operations policy into a threat management vector. In one embodiment, a method according to the invention includes receiving at least one threat management vector (TMV) from a TMV generator, the TMV including a root vulnerability vector, at least one system vector, at least one system level vector, and a countermeasures payload including intrusion detection countermeasures (IDC), intrusion response countermeasures (IRC), and vulnerability remediation countermeasures (VRC); forwarding to the TMDC a TMV including only the root vulnerability vector, the at least one system vector, and the at least one system level vector; propagating the TMV through a hierarchy of policy mediation regions (PMRs), each PMR being operable to refine at least one of the IDC, the IRC, and the VRC; refining at least one of the IDC, the IRC, and the VRC to conform to a security operations policy of the PMR; forwarding the refined TMV to a threat management domain controller (TMDC); recording refinements made by each PMR to each of the IDC, the IRC, and the VRC; transferring the recorded refinements to a threat management control book (TMCB); and marking the refined TMV as having been refined by each PMR making a refinement.
US07770198B1
Techniques are described for detection of repeated video content to reduce an amount of high bandwidth traffic transmitted across a network from a video source device to remote subscriber devices. In particular, the invention relates to a first intermediate device capable of recognizing patterns of video content and sending a communication to a second intermediate device that transmits a cached version of the video content. In this way, the first intermediate device does not have to resend the high bandwidth video content over the network. The network may comprise any private or public network.
US07770193B2
The present invention discloses an apparatus and a method for calculating audience rating on a designated content based on user history record for an interactive television, in which the interactive television is able to provide user-oriented services by receiving the consumption type and the consumption behavior record information in the user history recorder of the interactive television; storing information on the user's action on the content and information on the content in the user history record; transferring the user record information to the content provider every designated cycle; and calculating the user's audience rating on each section in the designated content based on the analysis on the user record information.
US07770191B2
A tray door attachment structure for a disk device has a tray door and a torsion coil spring. The tray door is pivotably attached to a front panel of the disk device. The tray door includes a door body, a door arm on which a spring receiving portion and a spring supporting portion located adjacent to the spring receiving portion are formed and a rotational axle formed on the door arm and attached to the front panel. The torsion coil spring biases the tray door in a closing direction. The torsion spring includes a coil attached to the rotational axle, a first arm abutting the front panel and a second arm abutting the spring receiving portion. The second arm has a distal end portion. The distal end portion is supported by the tray door and is latched by the spring supporting portion.
US07770183B2
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that indirectly correlate event streams on multiple computers. Event details are retrieved for multiple data streams from each of the computers. The event details include a task identifier and ordering identifier for each event in the data streams on each computer. The task identifiers and ordering identifiers are unique to each computer, allowing the events to be correlated with the other events on the same computer only. A uniqueness token is retrieved that provides direct correlation information about how a particular event on the first computer is directly correlated to a particular event on the second computer. An indirect event stream correlation process uses the directly correlated information in combination with the respective task identifiers and respective ordering identifiers from the first and second computers to establish an ordering between the events on the first computer and the events on the second computer.
US07770181B2
A system and method for securely transferring computer-readable objects across a remote boundary is provided. The method decomposes any type of object into a hierarchy of sub-components based on a list of known object types. Each sub-component either corresponds to a known object type or an unknown object type. The unknown object types may be decomposed further into known object types at another level in the hierarchy. The known objects in the hierarchy are serialized into a package that is transmitted to a remote entity. The remote entity reconstructs the hierarchy. For any of the known object types, the remote entity instantiates an object of the known object type and populates the object with information transmitted in the package. The decomposition may be limited by specifying a level for the hierarchy, specifying a number that limits the known objects that are serialized, or specifying the properties within the object to serialize.
US07770175B2
The present invention is directed to balancing resource loads. In particular, the present invention is directed to assigning work to service locations having the greatest probability of servicing the work within a target time. Because an average wait time is not necessarily equal to a probability of servicing work within a target time, the present invention is useful in meeting service target goals. Because the present invention operates by comparing the probability of a defined set of service locations to one another, absolute probabilities need not be calculated. Instead, relative probabilities may be used in assigning work.
US07770173B2
An apparatus, program product and method improve management of available computing resources by adjusting use of the resource over a first interval according to actual use of the resource during a second interval. This feature enables a computing resource to exceed its normal limits during the first interval of operation. Use during the second interval may be limited to balance out the burst, or excessive resource usage of the first interval.
US07770169B2
Techniques for assuring thread rendezvous for a plurality of threads executing in a computing system are disclosed. Techniques can be used to assure thread rendezvous for read-only code in a manner that is more efficient than polling techniques. A Light-weight, Yet Trappable On Demand (LYTOD) instruction can be generated for code that is executed by one or more threads. Typically, a LYTOD instruction is generated at critical points of the code in order to assure safe-point thread rendezvous. The LYTOD is a lightweight instruction that can change its behavior from a lightweight instruction to an instruction that causes a trap when executed. The LYTOD can, for example, be implemented as a read-from-memory instruction that operates to load a register with a content of a valid memory location.
US07770167B1
Method and system are disclosed for providing multiple installations of a software application. The method/system creates an installation template from a single correct or “golden” installation of the software application and uses the installation template to produce additional installations of the software application. In one embodiment, any references to a specific host or computing system in the files or directories of the installed software application are replaced with a temporary variable in the installation template. The installation template may then be stored on a designated server and uploaded to any computing system needing a new installation of the software application. Once uploaded, the variable is replaced with system-specific references to complete the new installations. Since the installations are produced from the installation template and not from floppy disks or CD-ROMs, the process takes significantly less time.
US07770163B2
Synchronizing clones of a software method to be executed by at least one thread while the software method is compiled. The software method is cloned to generate a software method clone. At least one transition is created between equivalent program points in the software method and the software method clone. A lock object is inserted into one of the software method and the software method clone. Then, code that controls the at least one transition between a profiling clone and a non-profiling clone is changed to access thread-local storage. The non-profiling clone is the one of the software method and the software method clone into which the lock object was inserted. A first synchronization operation is performed at or after an entry point of the non-profiling clone. Then, the profiling clone is executed using thread-local storage.
US07770157B2
A system, method, and computer readable medium, for automatically improving performance of, and optimizing, a program based on on-line profile data of the program and profile data (302) collected across multiple runs of the program and stored in a persistent off-line repository (114). The method includes executing a program in an execution environment. Profile data (302) is collected for the program across multiple runs thereof. The performance of the program is improved, such as by optimization of the program, based on on-line profile data of the executing program and the collected profile data in the persistent off-line repository.
US07770155B2
A debugger inserts instrumentation hooks in a multi-threaded computer program that allow collecting a program trace and that provide timestamps that correspond to the program trace. When a breakpoint in a first thread is encountered, a timestamp corresponding to the breakpoint is retrieved. Execution of the other threads may continue until the debugger is able to halt their execution. Once the execution of all threads has been halted, the program trace for each thread is traced backwards to a point where the timestamp is less than the breakpoint timestamp. Instructions are then executed, one by one, until the execution time of the instructions plus the timestamp is approximately the same as the breakpoint timestamp. The instruction in the program trace display is then highlighted to indicate the instruction that was likely being executed when the breakpoint in the first thread is encountered.
US07770153B2
A dynamic analysis tool uses anomaly detection to find heap-based bugs. In spite of the evolving nature of the heap, programs generally exhibit several of properties of their heap usage that remain stable. Periodically, during the execution of the program, the analysis tool computes a suite of metrics which are sensitive to the state of the heap. These metrics track heap behavior, and the stability of the heap reflects quantitatively in the values of these metrics. The ranges of stable metrics, obtained by running a program on a multiple input training set, are then treated as indicators of correct behavior, and are used in conjunction with an anomaly detector to find heap-based bugs.
US07770152B1
A system that includes a shared variable scope configured to store at least one shared variable binding, a first interpreter configured to search the shared variable scope to determine a variable binding for a variable, and a second interpreter configured to search the shared variable scope to determine the variable binding for the variable.
US07770148B2
In one embodiment, a method is provided for use in a system in which a user may edit an artifact and a diagram representing the artifact. The method includes acts of temporarily removing, in response to a request by the user, an artifact portion which corresponds to a diagram element on a diagram (e.g., a class diagram); removing the diagram element from the diagram; replacing, in response to a request by the user, the artifact portion in the artifact; and replacing the diagram element in the diagram, wherein the diagram element retains at least a portion of customization performed by the user previous to its removal from the diagram. In one embodiment, the method includes creating a representation of the diagram element which provides an indication of the customization performed by the user, storing the representation in a data structure when the artifact portion is temporarily removed, and retrieving the representation from the data structure to recreate the diagram element when the artifact portion is replaced.
US07770143B2
This invention relates to a system and methods for developing designs. In one embodiment, a method includes electronically distributing a specification for a design to a distributed community of designers, receiving designs from each of a subset of the community of designers in response to the distributed design specification, screening received designs that do not meet the specification, facilitating evaluation of a subset of the received designs by a number of evaluators; and selecting a preferred design in response to the facilitated evaluation of the designs.
US07770136B2
Example embodiments provide for (i) suggesting proper gesture sequences based on a user's initial gesture input; and/or (ii) providing visual or other gesture example(s), which may alternatively be compared with the user's mimic thereof. For example, a user may input a gesture into a touch/display surface. Based on the user's movement, recognized or proper application gesture commands are suggested. In other embodiments, a tutorial session may be presented to the user for teaching or educating the user on numerous types of gestures. As such, a visual representation of a gesture example may be presented to the user, and feedback provided based on the user's mimicking thereof.
US07770135B2
The present invention is a system that includes a tracking menu that tracks the movement of a position transducer, such as a stylus or a mouse, as the transducer is moved about in association with a display. The menu is typically displayed on top of other objects in the display. The menu includes a tracking symbol, such as an arrow or cursor, positioned corresponding to inputs from the transducer as it is moved by a user. A mobile tracking region is also included. This tracking region has a tracking boundary or edge enclosing the tracking symbol where the tracking symbol is movable within the boundary or hits without the menu moving. The tracking region or entire menu moves in correspondence to the tracking symbol when the tracking symbol encounters the boundary or hits while the symbol is moving. The tracking region also has menu controls or buttons that are activatable when the tracking symbol corresponds to the controls.
US07770133B2
A system and method for managing non-user initiated focus changes in a computing device detects, in one embodiment, an operating system generated message indicating a focus change from a first window to a second window. Once detected, user input is inhibited for a predetermined time. The predetermined time is configurable by the user. After the predetermined time elapses, subsequent user input is permitted to be sent to the second window, which has the focus.
US07770129B2
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media that include computer-executable instructions stored thereon for displaying electronic documents keep track of portions of an electronic document that have appeared in a user interface window at some point in time (i.e., the portions that have been actually viewed by the user). These portions of the electronic document that have actually been viewed are designated the “viewable document section” of the electronic document. In some examples, scrolls bars and/or other electronic document view shifting elements become available to the user only if the electronic document includes a viewable document section that does not appear in the user interface window, and these scroll bars and/or other view shifting elements may be limited based on the content of the viewable document section (not the entire electronic document). If the user changes the user interface window to include portions of the electronic document that previously had not been in view, the viewable document section then changes to include this new, previously unseen portion. Accordingly, as the user inputs electronic ink or other information into the document, scroll bars or the like will not appear until the user takes steps to bring previously unseen ink or other information into view in the user interface window.
US07770123B1
The present invention discloses a method for dynamically generating an HTML-based information help system. The information help system provides a user with a table of contents of the information that is currently available on the system. The table of contents is generated by scanning specific files for meta-tag information. The gathered information is merged with pre-defined HTML template files that control the formatting and presentation of the information. The resulting table of contents which is provided to the user accurately reflects the current content of the information system. By dynamically generating the table of contents for the information help system, the present invention allows authors to add, remove, and change individual components of the system while ensuring that users are presented with an accurate and complete list of the information available for use.
US07770121B2
Described herein is technology for, among other things, a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface is made up of multiple user interface components. The multiple user interface components are hosted by a host user interface, which encapsulates and exposes the user interface components together to present a unified view of the user interface components as a single user interface. Moreover, the host user interface presents the capabilities of the user interface components as a whole.
US07770110B1
The XML conversion system provides methods and architecture for defining an interface between a spreadsheet application and a COM server independent of the areas that the interface is defined. In support of defining the interface, an add-in function defines the interface using extensible markup language (“XML”). An add-in XML file is scanned for instructions. An instruction is analyzed to determine the interface it will expose. An interface XML file having a function specification can be retrieved from a COM server based on the interface exposed in the instruction. Function qualifiers are taken from the instruction and applied to the function specification. The function specification is converted to an intermediate function and implementation specifiers are applied to the intermediate function. The intermediate function is then converted to an add-in function and applied in the spreadsheet application.
US07770107B2
Methods and systems for extracting and processing translatable and transformable data from XSL files
This disclosure describes systems, methods and software programs for transforming and/or translating a variety of documents, including without limitation XSL documents. In one aspect, any static information may be removed from XSL/FO files before transforming those files. This can greatly enhance the speed of transformation of such files. In another aspect, an XSL/FO file can be tagged in order to allow for the identification of the translatable data, such that the translatable data can be removed from the XSL/FO file and inserted into an XLIFF file. The translatable data can be then translated (e.g., by an automated process, by a human translator, etc.) and/or inserted back into an XSL file after translation.
US07770106B2
The claimed method and system provides programmers of client-server applications the ability to implement extensions to a standard style sheet language by using a preprocessor at a client to first parse, extract, and transform noncompliant, proprietary code. A new standards compliant style sheet may be created based on the transformed noncompliant code. This style sheet may then be executed on a client browser. The claimed system may be used to conform a client application schema with a client operating system schema.
US07770096B1
A method of operating a matrix checksum includes the steps of determining a column checksum for the data bytes in an information packet. A row checksum for the data bytes in an information packet is determined. The information packet including the column checksum and the row checksum is transmitted.
US07770087B2
A serial concatenated convolutional code (SCCC) decoder is provided. The SCCC decoder is comprised of an input buffer memory (102), one or more processing loop modules (120), and an output buffer memory (112). Each processing loop module is comprised of a permutation module (110), an inner decoder module (104), a depermutation module (106), and an outer decoder module (108). The inner decoder module is subdivided into two (2) or more inner decoding engines (2021-202N) configured for concurrently performing a decoding operation based on an inner convolutional code. The outer decoder module is subdivided into two (2) or more outer decoding engines (4021-402N) configured for concurrently performing a decoding operation based on an outer convolutional code. The inner convolutional code and the outer convolutional code are designed in accordance with a maximum aposteriori probability based decoding algorithm.
US07770070B2
A method and system receives test requirements and test settings in order to design a test. An identifier is assigned to the test that was designed and the test is stored in a database using the identifier to identify the test. In addition, the test is printed on at least one sheet or form and a wireless read/write device is programmed with the identifier assigned to the test. The wireless read/write device is attached to the sheet on which the test was printed. Thus, the sheet and the wireless read/write device can be provided to a test operator to allow the test operator to wirelessly read the identifier from the wireless read/write device. Then, the test operator can access the test from the database based on the identifier read from the wireless read/write device. The test instructions (comprising the test requirements and test settings) are provided from the database to the operator to perform the test and potentially produce a physical test output. The test instructions are provided to the operator through a graphic user interface.
US07770069B2
User input defines transmission filter rules to be met when sending an error report to a support provider. User input also defines collection filter rules to be met when including failure data within an error report. Error reports corresponding to crash failures at clients are filtered with the transmission filter rules to determine which of the error reports to send to the support provider, and each error report to be sent to the support provider is further filtered to remove any failure data that fails to satisfy the collection filter rules. Each error report that satisfies the transmission filter rules, along with the failure data satisfying the collection filter rules, is sent to the support provider for analysis. Standard and or custom failure responses corresponding to the failures at the clients may be retrieved and sent to the clients in accordance with the collection filter rules.
US07770068B2
Described herein are systems and methods for website or web based application monitoring and load testing. A server is configured to execute monitoring or load testing agents on various agent devices that are placed in various locations across a network. The agents receive a playback script from the server and execute the script to simulate a user session that is part of a website monitoring or load testing project. Execution of the playback script may cause the agent to send commands to a generic browser application that in turn carries out those commands. Alternatively, or in combination, execution of the script may cause the agent to simulate operating system commands such as mouse, keyboard, and voice commands. The results of the script execution by the agent are stored and sent back to the server for potential real time alerting notification and compilation into a related report. Methods for recording the playback scripts are also provided.
US07770052B2
Analyzing system malfunction data and associated direct and indirect effects in a collaborative tool to determine relationships between the effects and the system malfunction information. System malfunction cases and other data are received and stored. A user may view and/or modify the system malfunction data. The data may be presented in a relational structure. Each system malfunction case is linked to one or more direct effects, and each direct effect is linked to one or more indirect effects.
US07770048B2
An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a device and a counter system coupled thereto. The counter system provides an indication of a number of times the device is inserted into a slot. Through the use of the device disclosed above, a history and a number of insertions of a particular device within a system can be known and therefore it can be determined if the integrity of the device is threatened.
US07770042B2
A microprocessor includes core logic that operates according to a core clock signal in order to execute program instructions, clock generation circuitry controllable to generate the core clock signal having one of N different possible frequencies, wherein N is more than two, and a control circuit. The control circuit, in response to a request to operate the core logic at a destination frequency, iteratively controls the clock generation circuitry to generate the core clock signal having a new frequency until the core clock signal frequency is the destination frequency. The new core clock signal frequency on each iteration is one of the N different possible frequencies monotonically closer to the destination frequency. The number of iterations is between zero and N−1 depending upon the destination frequency specified and the core clock signal frequency when the request is received.
US07770039B2
A method and circuit for reducing power consumption during idle mode to ultra-low levels, such as about 1/10th to 1/1000th or less of active power is disclosed. An ultra-low idle power supply comprises a primary circuit, a secondary circuit and a control circuit. The control circuit monitors behavior of the primary circuit and determines whether an idle state or no load condition exists, and if so the primary circuit is disengaged. By disengaging the primary circuit, the power consumption of the ultra-low idle power supply is reduced to ultra-low levels.
US07770034B2
Voltage and frequency scaling techniques that are based upon monitored data are provided. The techniques may be used to better manage the power and energy consumption of a processor in an embedded system, such as a cellular telephone, personal data assistant, smart device, or the like. The techniques may be used with processors that offer a performance monitoring capability. The performance monitor may monitor thread-level utilization at runtime. Instructions per cycle and memory references per cycle are example metrics that may be monitored by the performance monitor. The voltage and frequency scaling techniques may adjust the operating voltage and operating frequency of the processor based on the values of these two metrics. For example, the techniques may include accessing a voltage and frequency scheduler lookup table. The techniques may be employed with non-embedded systems, as well, embedded systems.
US07770024B2
A method, system and computer program product for computing a message authentication code for data in storage of a computing environment. An instruction specifies a unit of storage for which an authentication code is to be computed. An computing operation computes an authentication code for the unit of storage. A register is used for providing a cryptographic key for use in the computing to the authentication code. Further, the register may be used in a chaining operation.
US07770020B2
A face image obtaining apparatus which includes: a biological information preliminarily obtaining means for preliminarily obtaining biological information of a user; a biological information determining means for determining whether the biological information obtained by the biological information preliminarily obtaining means is applicable to biometric authentication; a biological information storing means for storing the biological information as biometric authentication information if the biological information is determined to be applicable to biometric authentication by the biological information determining means; an input means for obtaining biological information of the user through inputting action of the user for obtaining a face image of the user; and a face image obtaining and storing means. The face image obtaining and storing means obtains and stores the face image of the user if the biological information obtained through the inputting action of the user matches the biometric authentication information.
US07770017B2
A method for applying a digital watermark to a content signal is disclosed. In accordance with such a method, a watermarking key is identified. The watermarking key includes a binary sequence and information describing application of that binary sequence to the content signal. The digital watermark is then encoded within the content signal at one or more locations determined by the watermarking key.
US07770013B2
The present invention relates generally to systems for creating and authenticating printed objects using authentication information. One implementation recites: An apparatus for determining authenticity of a digital representation of an object. The digital representation includes embedded first authentication information. The apparatus includes: a storage system in which stored second authentication information is associated with stored reference codes; and a processor which receives the digital representation and a reference code associated therewith. The processor includes: an authentication information reader, and the processor: i) employs the reference code to retrieve the second authentication information associated therewith from the storage system, ii) employs the authentication information reader to recover the embedded first authentication information, and iii) employs recovered first authentication information and the second authentication information to determine authenticity of the digital representation. Other implementations are provided and claimed as well.
US07770008B2
A method of generating and sending a message from a first entity is provided in which a message including an action is determined, an authentication code is generated on the basis of the determined action and a parameter, and the message and authentication code are sent from the first entity. The parameter is indicative of an attribute of the action.
US07770001B2
A method and system provide digital certificates of authentication for authenticating software installed on computer devices. The digital certificates of authentication authorized the use of software installed on computer devices by binding such a digital certificate to an attribute of the computer device. In one example, the digital certificate of authentication is bound to a motherboard serial number of a computer device. The method and system further provide a secure environment for transmitting one or more digital certificates of authentication.
US07769995B2
Secure network access is provided by connecting a secure network provisioning device to a security authority, acquiring one or more network profiles, configuring one or more network interfaces of the secure network provisioning device with data corresponding to attributes of the acquired network profiles, switching the secure network provisioning device from an acquisition mode to a gateway mode, and connecting the secure network provisioning device to a client device. The secure network provisioning device includes a first set of network communication interfaces requiring configuration blocks to enable access to associated networks, a second set of network communication interfaces free from a requirement for configuration prior to network access, a communication interface gateway module configured to gate network traffic between network communication interfaces and a network profile acquisition module configured to acquire network profiles containing data required to configure the communication interfaces of the first set.
US07769990B1
Systems, methods, and computer-readable memory media for performing various computer configuration tasks are disclosed. One such configuration task is dissimilar system restore (DSR). Another such task is software deployment. In various embodiments, these configuration tasks operate on a target computer system using a utility operating system to perform detection of certain target system devices, determination of critical device classes on the source computer system, and updating of target computer configuration settings. Other tasks may be performed upon a computer system such as a backup server. These tasks include locating device drivers for the target operating systems and the installing utility operating system, as well as creating device driver packages that are usable to install device drivers for a plurality of devices.
US07769987B2
A method and apparatus for forwarding data in a processor. The method includes providing at least one cascaded delayed execution pipeline unit having a first pipeline and a second pipeline, wherein the second pipeline executes instructions in a common issue group in a delayed manner relative to the first pipeline. The method further includes determining if a first instruction being executed in the first pipeline modifies data in a data register which is accessed by a second instruction being executed in the second pipeline. If the first instruction being executed in the first pipeline modifies data in the data register which is accessed by the second instruction being executed in the second pipeline, the modified data is forwarded from the first pipeline to the second pipeline.
US07769986B2
A method and apparatus for register renaming are provides in the illustrative embodiments. A mapper receives a request for a data in a logical register. The mapper searches an in-flight map table and a set of architected map tables for the data in the logical register. The mapper identifies an entry in one of the in-flight map table and an architected map table in the set of architected map tables that corresponds with the logical register in the request. The mapper returns a location of a physical register, which holds the requested data.
US07769982B2
A data processing apparatus and method are provided for processing data under control of a program having program instructions including sequences of individual program instructions corresponding to computational subgraphs identified within the program. Each computational subgraph has a number of input operands and produces one or more output operands. The apparatus comprises an operand store for storing the input and output operands, and processing logic for executing individual program instructions from the program. Also provided is configurable accelerator logic which, in response to reaching an execution point within the program corresponding to a sequence of individual program instructions corresponding to a computational subgraph, evaluates one or more output functions associated with the computational subgraph. The evaluation of each output function generates an output operand for storing in the operand store, and each output operand corresponds to an output that would have been generated had the sequence of individual program instructions corresponding to the computational subgraph have been executed by the processing logic. Configuration storage stores a single look-up table (LUT) configuration for each output function, and for each output function to be evaluated, the accelerator logic is configured dependent on the associated single LUT configuration from the configuration storage, such that on receipt of the input operands of the computational subgraph, the accelerator logic will generate the output operand. This technique has been found to provide a particularly efficient accelerator logic for evaluating output functions associated with computational subgraphs.
US07769980B2
In arithmetic/logic units (ALU) provided corresponding to entries, an MIMD instruction decoder generating a group of control signals in accordance with a Multiple Instruction-Multiple Data (MIMD) instruction and an MIMD register storing data designating the MIMD instruction are provided, and an inter-ALU communication circuit is provided. The amount and direction of movement of the inter-ALU communication circuit are set by data bits stored in a movement data register. It is possible to execute data movement and arithmetic/logic operation with the amount of movement and operation instruction set individually for each ALU unit. Therefore, in a Single Instruction-Multiple Data type processing device, Multiple Instruction-Multiple Data operation can be executed at high speed in a flexible manner.
US07769979B1
A technique for caching page access parameters, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, includes translating a given virtual address to a particular physical address using an address translation data structure. One or more page access parameters related to the particular physical address is stored in a separate page access data structure. The technique may further include accessing the page access data structure to manage access to memory as a function of the page access data.
US07769972B2
A method and/or a system of storage system management based on a backup and recovery solution embedded in the storage system is disclosed. A method of a storage system includes coordinating with a host system through a backup coordinator module embedded in the host system during at least one of a backup operation and/or a recovery operation associated with the host system, performing the at least one of the backup operation and/or the recovery operation associated with the host system using a backup and recovery module embedded in a controller firmware of the storage system. The method may include the backup and recovery module which interfaces with the host system through the backup coordinator module is agnostic to an operating system of the host system.
US07769969B2
A host computer acquires remote copy status information of storage subsystems that are not directly coupled to the host computer.Each storage subsystem comprises: a unit which receives a status information acquisition command from the host computer; a unit which analyses the received command to judge whether the storage subsystem in question is a target of the command; a unit which sends the command to a downstream storage subsystem connected to the storage subsystem in question when the storage subsystem in question is not the target; and a unit which sends status information to an upstream storage subsystem connected to the storage subsystem in question when the status information is received from the downstream storage subsystem.
US07769967B2
A system and method are disclosed for providing efficient data storage. A plurality of data segments is received in a data stream. The system determines whether a data segment has been stored previously in a low latency memory. In the event that the data segment is determined to have been stored previously, an identifier for the previously stored data segment is returned.
US07769960B2
Provided are techniques for transmitting blocks of data. It is determined whether any high priority out of sync (HPOOS) indicator is set to indicate that a number of modified segments associated with a block of data are less than or equal to a modified segments threshold. In response to determining that at least one high priority out of sync indicator is set, one or more sub-blocks of data in the modified segments associated with the block of data and with one set high priority out of sync indicator are transferred.
US07769955B2
A data processing apparatus is provided wherein processing circuitry executes multiple program threads including at least one high priority thread and at least one lower priority thread. Instructions required by the threads are retrieved from a cache memory hierarchy comprising multiple cache levels. The cache memory hierarchy includes a bypass path for omitting a predetermined level of the cache memory hierarchy when performing a lookup procedure for a required instruction and for bypassing said predetermined level of the cache memory hierarchy when returning said required instruction to said processing circuitry. The bypass path is used by default when the requested instruction is for a lower priority thread.
US07769951B2
Apparatus and methods for storing user data for use in real-time communications (e.g., IM or VoIP) are provided. The apparatus comprises at least a first cache device (e.g., a cache server) and a second cache device for storing user data, wherein the user data stored with the first cache device is mirrored with the second cache device. The apparatus further comprising a server having logic for causing access to the user data (e.g., to respond to or process messages) from the first cache device, if accessible, and from the second cache device if the user data is not accessible form the first cache device. The apparatus may further include logic for causing user data to be restored to the first cache device from the second cache device if the first cache device loses user data (e.g., if the first cache device goes down).
US07769949B1
Methods, systems, and computer program products to provide temporal storage in a fabric-based virtualization environment are presented. Such capacity is provided through the association of a temporal storage appliance, which is configured as a member of a linked VLUN with a non-temporal disk volume. The linked VLUN is provided by a virtualizing fabric switch to a network node such as a network node.
US07769933B2
Bus communication for components of a system on a chip. In one aspect of the invention, a serializer for interfacing bus communications for a master in a bus system includes one or more shift registers that serialize information to send over a communication bus and deserialize information received from the communication bus. A mechanism provides parallel bus information from the master to the shift registers for serialization, where the mechanism provides deserialized information received from the shift registers to the master, and where the mechanism inserts one or more wait cycles in communication with the master during the serialization and deserialization.
US07769930B2
The present invention discloses a Keyboard-Video-Mouse (KVM) cable capable of indicating at least one switching status of a KVM switch for at least one computer coupled thereto. The KVM cable further comprises a set of transmission lines for transmitting indicating signals from the KVM switch to the indicator. The KVM cable comprises a plurality of connectors. A first indicator may be disposed on a first connector for indicating a console switching status. A second indicator may be disposed on a second connector for indicating a peripheral switching status. Alternatively, both the first and second indicators can be disposed on the same connector for indicating the console switching status and the peripheral switching status respectively. Moreover, a color mixing LED may also be disposed on either of the first and second connectors for indicating the console switching status and the peripheral switching status by different colors.
US07769914B2
An electronic device includes a universal serial bus (USB) interface therein. This USB interface is configured to support at least first and second different USB interface standards. These different interface standards are selected by the electronic device in response to comparing a voltage level of a signal provided to said USB interface relative to a reference voltage generated within the electronic device. The signal provided to the USB may be a power supply signal, the first USB standard may be a USB 2.0 interface standard and the second USB standard may be an inter-chip USB interface standard.
US07769904B2
An extensible binary mark-up language is disclosed that is compatible with existing XML standards yet provides significantly improved efficiencies for XML-based data storage and communications, particularly for narrow and low bandwidth communication media. A corresponding extensible non-binary mark-up language is also disclosed that is compatible with the XML standard. This dual-representation common message format (CMF) allows standard XML tools to be utilized in viewing and editing XML-based data and allows a CMF parser to be utilized to convert the XML formatted information into an extensible binary representation for actual communication through a medium or storage on a wide range of media. Advantages include a very compact, yet flexible and extensible binary data representation (CMF-B) for a corresponding extensible mark-up language (CMF-X), a data packaging scheme that allows for the effective transport of XML-based data over existing data channels, including narrow-bandwidth channels that utilize existing network protocols, and a CMF parser that allows for seamless conversion between CMF-B and CMF-X.
US07769901B2
An Internet Protocol (IP) headers decompressor node, a method and an IP headers manager in an IP network for fast IP headers compression initialization is thereby provided. The invention teaches how to exchange IP packets between at least two nodes of the IP network for establishment of a session therebetween, to initialize, at a first one of the at least two nodes, a static portion of a decompression context prior to completion of the establishment of the session and to uncompress application related IP packets exchanged with a second of the at least two nodes. In an optional embodiment of the present invention, it is further taught how exchanging IP packets between at least two nodes of the IP network may further comprise extracting information from the IP packets at a first one of the at least two nodes of the IP network.
US07769900B1
A visual server system (10) includes a visual server (12) that provides graphics images through execution of a graphics application (20). The server (12) includes a plurality of compression modules (28) that compress frames of a served visual for transport to a client terminal (14). The compression modules (28) keep track of differences between successive frames of a served visual and compress and transport only those differences to the client terminal (14). In this manner, traffic can be reduced on the network link between the server (12) and the client terminal (14) and a reduction in latency is achieved to enhance the interactive ability for the served visual. The client terminal (14) includes decompression modules (42) that can recreate the served visual in response to receipt of an update to the served visual which contains only the differences between successive frames.
US07769898B2
An object is to implement automatic selection of an optimal combination of a communication network with a web browser according to a connection environment, thereby improving user's convenience during browsing a website. A cell phone achieving this object is composed of a first browser for browsing web data described in cHTML; a second browser for browsing web data described in HTML; a radio information collector for acquiring radio intensity information about a base station device and an access point; a communication network selector for selecting a communication network, based on the radio intensity information; a data transmitter-receiver for receiving web data from a WWW server via the selected communication network; a browser selector for determining a description language of the web data and thereby selecting either of the first browser and the second browser; and a data output controller for outputting the web data to the selected browser.
US07769897B2
System and method for creating a wireless application from a web service definition language employs an algorithm that analyzes each message of the web service definition an maps the message to a wireless application message and a wireless application data structure. The message maps are used by a proxy at an edge of a wireless network to convert web service messages to wireless messages, and vice versa.
US07769894B2
A location and mapping application takes device information and produces location information for display on a communication-enabled computing device (e.g., a personal digital assistant or wireless phone). A current location of a wireless device may be provided with an announcement of an incoming call or message and may be in the form of a street address or a map. Location information for a wired (or fixed-location) device may be provided in the form of a map. Location information for nearby wireless and wired devices may also be provided. Location information may be updated for wireless devices that are moving.
US07769892B2
A method, computer program product, and system are provided for selecting, from a plurality of routes through the data processing system, an indirect route for transmitting data. Data that includes address information is received at a first processor that is to be transmitted to a destination processor. Using routing table data structures, indirect route entries are identified that correspond to indirect routes for transmitting data. An accessed priority table data structure comprises a priority entry for each entry in the routing table data structures. The priority entry specifies a priority of a corresponding entry in the routing table data structures. An indirect route entry is selected that corresponds to an indirect route from the routing table data structures, based on specified priorities. Then the data is transmitted from the first processor to the destination processor using a path corresponding to the selected indirect route entry.
US07769891B2
A method, computer program product, and system are provided for selecting, from a plurality of routes through the data processing system, a direct route for transmitting data. Data that includes address information is received at a first processor that is to be transmitted to a destination processor. Using routing table data structures, direct route entries are identified that correspond to direct routes for transmitting data. An accessed priority table data structure comprises a priority entry for each entry in the routing table data structures. The priority entry specifies a priority of a corresponding entry in the routing table data structures. A direct route entry is selected that corresponds to a direct route from the routing table data structures, based on specified priorities. Then the data is transmitted from the first processor to the destination processor using a path corresponding to the selected direct route entry.
US07769886B2
A distributed data center topology having at least a pair of active data centers that can recover from a disaster at one of the data centers and achieves load balancing using IGP (Interior Gateway Protocol) between data centers. The distributed data centers use virtual IP addresses, route health injection and Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) for business continuance, disaster recovery and load balancing. Active applications are deployed at each data center to provide a logical active/standby configuration for certain applications. Alternatively, active applications are deployed at both sites and BGP routes traffic to the closest data center edge router. Load balancing occurs over an internal IGP link between sites.
US07769883B2
A general input/output communication port implements a communication stack that includes a physical layer, a data link layer and a transaction layer. The transaction layer includes assembling a packet header for a message request transaction to one or more logical devices. The packet header includes a format field to indicate the length of the packet header and to further specify whether the packet header includes a data payload, a subset of a type field to indicate the packet header relates to the message request transaction and a message field. The message field includes a message to implement the message request transaction. The message includes at least one message that is selected from a group of messages. The group of messages to include a message to unlock a logical device, a message to reset a logical device, a message to indicate a correctable error condition, a message to indicate an uncorrectable error condition, a message to indicate a fatal error condition, a message to report a bad request packet, a message to indicate power management and a message to emulate an interrupt signal.
US07769878B2
Methods, systems, and products are provided for tunneling IPv6 packets. Embodiments include receiving, by an origin IPv6 border router from an origin IPv6 host, an IPv6 packet having an IPv6 destination address; receiving, by an origin IPv6 border router from an origin IPv6 host, an IPv4 address for a destination IPv6 border router retrieved from a data structure associating IPv6 destination addresses with IPv4 addresses for destination IPv6 border routers; encapsulating, by the origin IPv6 border router, the IPv6 packet in an IPv4 packet; and sending the encapsulated packet to a destination IPv6 border router at the IPv4 address. In many embodiments, encapsulating, by the origin IPv6 border router, the IPv6 packet in an IPv4 packet is carried out by adding an IPv4 header to the IPv6 packet.
US07769875B1
Techniques for classifying and managing network flows associated with a network service using application classification information and active signaling relay are described. A network device, for example, includes a signaling interceptor and a network flow interface. The signaling interceptor monitors a communication between a customer device and an application server, and identifies a network flow associated with a network service provided to the customer device by the application server. The network flow interface applies a policy to the identified network flow. An active signaling relay module communicates with the application server using data injected within the signaling communications, and utilizes the injected data to further control the network flows and the delivery of the network service.
US07769867B2
A communication system in which data stored in a memory card mounted in a host apparatus, such as a digital camera, can be sent to an external apparatus with ease without relying on operations carried out on the host apparatus. The memory card includes a communication control section controllable by the external apparatus so that data can be read out from a memory of the memory card and sent to the external apparatus in accordance with control executed by the external apparatus. Even if the host apparatus is a mobile apparatus such as a digital camera, picture data stored by the digital camera in the memory card can be sent to the external apparatus by wireless communication without the need to change the digital camera serving as the mobile apparatus specially by, for example, installing driver software. That is to say, the memory card can be applied to contemporary digital cameras.
US07769862B2
A method and apparatus is directed towards managing fail-over in a network. At least one back-up device is configured to process traffic if a fail-over condition occurs. The back-up device includes a physical interface. A logical interface X associated with the physical interface is monitored to determine if the fail-over condition has occurred. If it is determined that the fail-over condition has occurred on interface X, then the back-up device processes traffic for another logical interface Y, associated with the physical interface. Accordingly, logical interface Y may be unmonitored. According to one embodiment, if it is determined that the fail-over condition has occurred, the back-up device processes traffic for every logical interface associated with the physical interface.
US07769846B2
In one aspect a communication system is provided. A terminal generates predetermined music information on a reproduced piece of music and reproduction frequency information including a reproduction count of the piece of music. The terminal transmits the reproduction frequency information and its own apparatus ID to a server. The server computes a similarity coefficient between pieces of music reproduced by the terminal and another terminal on the basis of the terminals' reproduction frequency information and apparatus IDs. The server catalogs the computed similarity coefficient on a favorite list by associating the similarity coefficient with the reproduction frequency information and the apparatus IDs. The server identifies a similar piece of music reproduced by the terminal and the other terminal by referring to the favorite list and selects a piece of music reproduced by the other terminal but not reproduced by the terminal.
US07769837B2
A computer program product for a wireless LAN system is configured such that connection settings necessary for a first communication terminal to connect with a wireless access point are made in accordance with an instruction from a second communication terminal, the second communication terminal being capable of performing data communication with the first communication terminal, the computer program product comprising computer readable instructions that cause a computer to function as the second communication terminal, the instructions defining procedures of determining, with performing data communication with the first communication terminal, whether the first communication terminal is capable of realizing a predetermined process regarding the connection settings by itself, and instructing the first communication terminal by sending the instruction for the connection settings to the first communication terminal in accordance with a result of determination made by the determining procedure.
US07769832B2
A system and method facilitating media browsing is provided. The invention includes a browsing component and a media display system that provides a focus media and related media. The focus media and the related media are associated based, at least in part, upon metadata. The invention further provides for an association identifier that identifies related media based, at least in part, upon metadata associated with the focus media and the related media. The association identifier can further cluster the related media based upon metadata associated with the related media.
US07769822B2
In a content delivery network comprising multiple servers positioned at different locations, and including clients respectively located closer to one of the servers than to others, a method distributes specified file content to respective clients. The method initially uploads the specified content to a particular server, and generates a download plan for replicating the specified content at one or more other servers in successive stages, wherein each of the other servers is designated as a target server. The clients are notified, when the specified content is available for downloading at each target server. One mode of operation, of the target servers, immediately serves the specified content to a given client from the target server; another mode notifies the given client of the amount of time remaining until the target server completes replicating the specified content.
US07769809B2
Techniques for associating one or more real-time sessions, which are each signaled separately, into one logical conversation without a centralized control, are provided. Some techniques share a conversation identifier that uniquely identifies a logical conversation across the real-time sessions that belong to the logical conversation. The conversation identifier is generated before the first real-time session belonging to the logical conversation is signaled, and distributed to the other participants in the logical conversation via the signaling channel. A called participant can use the conversation identifier for associating the previous real-time sessions belonging to the logical conversation, and for making new invitations for other real-time sessions that are associated with the same logical conversation.
US07769806B2
Switching real-time data stream connections between network nodes sharing a virtual area is described. In one aspect, the switching involves storing a virtual area specification. The virtual area specification includes a description of one or more switching rules each defining a respective connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type and sinks of the real-time data stream type in terms of positions in the virtual area. Real-time data stream connections are established between network nodes associated with respective objects each of which is associated with at least one of a source and a sink of one or more of the real-time data stream types. The real-time data stream connections are established based on the one or more switching rules, the respective sources and sinks associated with the objects, and respective positions of the objects in the virtual area.
US07769802B2
The present invention provides a novel technique for Web-based asynchronous processing of synchronous requests. The systems and methods of the present invention utilize a synchronous interface in order to couple with systems that synchronously communicate (e.g., to submit queries and receive results). The interface enables reception of synchronous requests, which are queued and parsed amongst subscribed processing servers within a server farm. Respective servers can serially and/or concurrently process the request and/or portions thereof via a dynamic balancing approach. Such approach distributes the request to servers based on server load, wherein respective portions can be re-allocated as server load changes. Results can be correlated with the request, aggregated, and returned such that it appears to the requester that the request was synchronously serviced. The foregoing mitigates the need for clients to perform client-side aggregation of asynchronous results.
US07769800B2
The present invention relates to a digital system integration process through a virtual server (5), which comprises a process that distributes instances of message management and processing application according to the number of processors (9) present in each server (10). A message reader component (2) removes the message from one of the input queues (1) and verifies if it is a valid message. Then the messages are stored in the internal processing queue (3) according to the environment configurations and the application server (4) marks the message with the respective virtual server (5). The application server (4) removes the message from the processing queue (3) and delivers the message to the client application (6). Finally, the message is validated and, after it is processed, excluded from the database (8).
US07769794B2
A file system shell is provided. One aspect of the shell provides virtual folders which expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. Users are able to work with the virtual folders through direct manipulation (e.g., clicking and dragging, copying, pasting, etc.). Filters are provided for narrowing down sets of items. Quick links are provided which can be clicked on to generate useful views of the sets of items. Libraries are provided which consist of large groups of usable types of items that can be associated together, along with functions and tools related to the items. A virtual address bar is provided which comprises a plurality of segments, each segment corresponding to a filter for selecting content. A shell browser is provided with which users can readily identify an item based on the metadata associated with that item. An object previewer in a shell browser is provided which is configured to display a plurality of items representing multiple item types.
US07769791B2
We have developed a methodology for transforming garbage collection-dependent algorithms, shared object implementations and/or concurrent software mechanisms into a form that does not presume the existence of an independent, or execution environment provided, garbage collector. Algorithms, shared object implementations and/or mechanisms designed or transformed using techniques described herein provide explicit reclamation of storage using lock-free pointer operations. Transformations can be applied to lock-free algorithms and shared object implementations and preserve lock-freedom of such algorithms and implementations. As a result, existing and future lock-free algorithms and shared object implementations that depend on a garbage-collected execution environment can be exploited in environments that do not provide garbage collection. Furthermore, algorithms and shared object implementations that employ explicit reclamation of storage using lock-free pointer operations such as described herein may be employed in the implementation of a garbage collector itself.
US07769784B2
A system, method, and computer program for dynamically changing the weightings used by a workload distribution program to distribute Enterprise JavaBeans among a group of application servers handling EJBs. The changes are made in response to real-time measurements of the performance of EJBs involved in e-business transactions based on the dynamic insertion of monitors within the EJBs to measure their class and method performance from within the J2EE server. The performance data can be tracked for specific users or specific types of transactions, so that the servers are weighted for optimal handling of the most critical EJBs.
US07769782B1
A system and method are provided for summarizing dynamic data from distributed sources through the use of wavelets. The method comprises receiving a first data signal at a first location, where the first data signal is dynamic, determining a first array sketch of the first data signal and constructing a first wavelet representation by manipulating the first array sketch with a B-term wavelet expansion to produce a first representation. The method further comprises receiving a second data signal at a second location, where the second data signal is dynamic and where the second location is distinct from the first location, determining a second array sketch of the second data signal, and constructing a second wavelet representation by manipulating the second array sketch with a B-term wavelet expansion to produce a second representation. In one embodiment, the method further comprises obtaining first and second array sketches from first and second locations respectively, and constructing a wavelet representation of a linear combination of the first and second array sketches. In one embodiment, the expansion is done using a Haar wavelet.
US07769775B2
A method of selecting graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer. Identifiers are created by searching an area within a web page near a graphic or video file for searchable identification terms and searching an area within a web page near links to a graphic or video for searchable identification terms. The identifiers are stored in a database. User requests for graphic or video file content are received and the database of identifiers is searched to find graphic and video files corresponding criteria of the user. Graphic or video file content is then provided to the user.
US07769773B1
A development environment is described that includes identifying relevant code or rules applicable to various elements of a hierarchical document and displaying the relevant code or rules to a user within a display interface of the development environment. The system recognizes document elements highlighted by a user and searches through a data structure of the code or rules applied to the hierarchical document for code or rules that expressly reference the element selected by the user. The system then searches the data structure of the code or rules applied to the parent elements of the selected element. The discovered code or rules are then displayed to the user in the development environment along with any properties that are associated with the code or rules. The development system determines which of the properties do not apply to the selected element and render a marker indicating the non-applicability of that property.
US07769764B2
Improved mobile advertisement syndication capabilities are disclosed for mobile communications facilities, such as cell phones. These and other capabilities are employed to improve delivery of mobile advertisements and their syndication, such as associating advertising content with websites, to appropriate or desirable mobile communication facilities.
US07769760B2
An information processing apparatus that has an identification unit for identifying categories to which contents belong among predetermined categories based on metadata indicating the details of the contents. The processing apparatus also includes a clustering unit for classifying a group of contents into clusters by performing clustering processing with respect to the group of contents belonging to the categories based on the metadata.
US07769757B2
A method, system and article of manufacture therefor, are disclosed for automatically generating a query from document content.
US07769756B2
Media content is paired with context-relevant supplemental content, and the media and supplemental content are provided to a user. A media stream containing the media content may be received from a source system, and context information about the media content is determined from information about the media stream. The supplemental content may be selected based on the determined context information. This may enable a business model in which third parties can register advertising or other supplemental content and specify the criteria that cause it to be combined with the media content.
US07769755B2
A query language system is provided that includes a query component that specifies operations for one or more items in a data set. An aggregator component identifies one or more keys associated with the data set, the keys are supplied to one or more aggregators that perform direct computations from the keys in order to determine at least one aggregated value for the data set.
US07769745B2
The visualization of datasets by associating text (keywords) with location and optionally with time is provided. This visualization may help the user better understand and analyze the contents of the dataset. The visualization takes as input a keyword and related parameters such as location, importance/relevance factors, time, visualization level, and keyword category, and displays the selected keywords on a map, at their associated location, with the size or other characteristic of the keyword varying according to its relevance.
US07769739B1
Searching for an item using an accessing application as a search parameter is described, including receiving a search query to perform a search for an item, the search query having at least an accessing application that has accessed the item, searching for the item using the search query, and presenting a search result based on the search.
US07769732B2
An apparatus and method to streamline updates to an index in a shared-nothing architecture. The apparatus may include an association module, a consolidation module, and a processing module. The association module may associate index update requests with an index. The index update requests may be configured to update the index in response to a redistribution of data in a data table. The consolidation module may compile the index update requests prior to processing and consolidate the index update requests into a smaller number of simplified index update requests to achieve substantially the same result. The processing module may then independently process the simplified index update requests and update the index accordingly.
US07769730B2
The present invention provides a method and system for lossless manipulation of a data file size. The method comprises receiving the data file in an original format (205) and performing an action (210) of compression (215) or decompression (220) on the data file. The data file can be compressed or decompressed using a transliteration procedure. The present invention also provides a method for compressing or decompressing a data file using an abbreviation procedure, as well as a referencing procedure. A method for compressing the data file using any combination of the transliteration procedure, the abbreviation procedure and the referencing procedure is provided. The present invention further provides a system for performing compression or decompression on a data file based on the transliteration procedure, the abbreviation procedure and the referencing procedure.
US07769729B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for block compression of tables with repeated values. In general, value identifiers representing a compressed column of data may be sorted to render repeated values contiguous, and block dictionaries may be generated. A block dictionary may be generated for each block of value identifiers. Each block dictionary may include a list of block identifiers, where each block identifier is associated with a value identifier and there is a block identifier for each unique value in a block. Blocks may have standard sizes and block dictionaries may be reused for multiple blocks.
US07769728B2
A database compression system includes a compression plug-in that allows a database to be compressed using multiple compression algorithms. As well, implementations of the present; invention allow inter-row compression to be used with fixed-page sizes in a page-based database. For example, the compression plug-in inter-row decompresses a requested page from sub-storage, and allocates a page buffer that corresponds at least to the size of the page data when inter-row decompressed. The compression plug-in then adds data to the page buffer using intra-row compression, such as gamma compression. When the page data is no longer needed, the compression plug-in compresses the page data using inter-row compression, and passes the compressed page data from the page buffer to the corresponding page, which is fixed in size, in sub-storage.
US07769724B2
A content or document management system includes a content or document repository; a dedicated e-mail account; and a mail agent associated with the dedicated e-mail account. The mail agent processes a received e-mail message to determine a sender's identity; authenticates the identity of the sender and an authorization of the sender with respect to the content or document repository; parses, when a sender is authenticated and authorized, document request information from the e-mail message; and either stores a document to or retrieves a document from the content or document repository. The mail agent may authenticate the identity of the sender using a digital signature, or may authenticate the identity of the sender using an e-mail address in a FROM header field of the received e-mail message header. The mail agent may decrypt encrypted messages from the sender, and may sign and encrypt responses to the sender.
US07769718B2
Techniques to create physically and transactionally consistent copies of one or more database objects without impacting the availability of the target database objects are described. In one technique, a consistent copy is created as of the time a copy utility is executed. In another technique, a consistent copy is created as of an arbitrary specified time. This approach modifies a prior copy to bring it “up-to-date.” In yet another technique, a consistent copy is created by starting with a current snapshot of the target database objects and selectively removing updates from it back to a user specified arbitrary point-in-time. Each of the described techniques generate consistent copies of the target database objects without blocking users from accessing the target objects during the copy operation.
US07769713B1
Various systems and methods for performing coordinated distributed write logging are provided. A method may involve one of several hosts, each of which has an associated log, requesting permission to perform a write to data in a storage volume from a coordinator. The coordinator coordinates access to the storage volume between the hosts. Prior to receipt of a response from the coordinator granting permission to perform the write to the storage volume, the host may initiate logging the write data for the write to a respective log. The host may signal completion of the write to an application that initiated the write in response to both logging the write data to the respective log and receiving the response from the coordinator. The host may perform one or more underlying block operations to update the storage volume according to the write subsequent to signaling completion of the write to the application that initiated the write.
US07769711B2
A method of managing segments in a distributed-file system implemented by a plurality of file servers includes determining a segment of the distributed-file system controlled by a first file server for which control is to be migrated, selecting a second file server, that is different from the first file server, to take control of the segment, and moving control of the segment from the first file server to the second file server.
US07769708B2
A database includes a repository of data segments to be searched, called standard streams. But rather than searching all possible segments of each standard stream, the database includes a set of index files that reference a number of different segments in the repository. Each index file provides information about whether various data segments in the repository are likely to match a given test stream, although in the presence of noise there may be multiple possible matches. By consulting a number of the index files, a searching algorithm identifies a set of candidate data segments to test and thus reduces the number of streams that must be tested.
US07769702B2
This invention relates to a system (100) and method for selecting a signal processing program to be executed by a signal processor in a hearing aid. The system (100) comprises a single layer of neurons (200) each having one or more neighbours and being arranged in a memory device (106), wherein each neuron comprises a neuron vector referring to a specific acoustic situation and a neuron label referring to signal processing program associated with said specific acoustic situation. The system (100) further comprises a sensor adapted to detect an external acoustic situation and to define a sensor vector associated with said external acoustic situation, and wherein a processor (102) calculates a vector difference between said sensor vector and each of the neuron vectors, identifies that neuron providing the smallest vector difference, and selects a signal processing program referred to by a neuron label of that neuron.
US07769698B2
This disclosure provides various embodiments of software for navigating through components. In one aspect, the software associates a transactional process with a first component, triggers navigation from the first component to a second component, and performs the transactional process associated with the first component upon triggering navigation from the first component to the second component. In some implementations, the transactional process comprises validating modifications made to the data of the first component. In other implementations, the transactional process further comprises saving the modifications to the data of the first component if the validation is successful, and if the validation is unsuccessful, not saving the modifications to the data of the first component.
US07769689B2
Methods and systems enable a transaction to be processed with a customer at a point of sale with a combined stored-value and credit instrument. A cost for the transaction is received at a point-of-sale device. In addition, instrument-identification information is received identifying an instrument associated with a stored-value account and a credit account. The stored-value account and the credit account were linked substantially contemporaneously with issuance of the instrument to the customer. A request is generated to select a distribution of the cost for the transaction among the stored-value and credit accounts for presentation at the point-of-sale device. Instructions are transmitted from the point-of-sale device to apply the cost for the transaction to the stored-value and credit accounts in accordance with a received response to the request.
US07769683B1
Disclosed are systems and methods for providing a loan having an interest rate and a loan period. The systems and methods dynamically adjust the interest rate during the loan period based on actual payment performance of a borrower, thereby resulting in an improved reward structure, greater borrower loyalty and an improved experience for the borrower.
US07769681B2
An Interchange Party Computer System (“IPCS”) comprising: a plurality of units of allocated resources, configured for a lender party, broker party, transaction party and/or investor party, each unit of allocated resources including one or more administrator user interfaces that allow a participating party to manage its allocated resources and define which of its users and which other participating parties may access its allocated resources and use elements thereof, wherein at least one of the allocated resources include database allocated resources that are managed by the participating party assigned the resources, the allocated resources for the database being accessible and usable by a participating party on terms defined by the participating party responsible for managing the database allocated resources wherein at least one of the allocated resources include at one or more modules selected from the group of: a Rate and Loan Program Module that includes means to define loan programs or search defined loan programs in a database, an Automated Underwriting Module, a Mortgage Pools Module; a File Status and Transaction Party Module, which includes means to do two or more of: assign tasks, present task status, control viewing of task status, assign viewing privileges, monitor satisfaction of lender conditions, and upload loan documentation that are managed by the participating party assigned the resources; the allocated resources for the selected modules being accessible and usable by a participating party on terms defined by the participating party responsible for managing the selected modules allocated resources.
US07769674B2
Techniques are described for securitizing, administrating and trading various index shares securitized by derivative, cash-settled instruments on the underlying index. In some aspects, a method includes determining in a computer system, a value for a tradable index share that tracks increases in a value of an index. The tradable index share is backed by a fractional interest in a creation unit that includes a long index futures contract and one of a long put index options contract and a long put index futures options contract. The long, put index options contract has a strike price that is the same as a mark price of the long index futures contract and each having the same expiration date.
US07769673B2
An automated ticket auctioning system receives and evaluates bid information records received from a plurality of remote terminals. Each bid information record corresponds to at least one bid for one or more desired seats at a venue. Each bid information record may also include a plurality of additional bids identified for different seats in the venue. The separate bids in each bid information record are prioritized. The automated ticket auctioning system includes a central controlling computer operable to receive the bid information records and determine, in order of priority, whether any of the bids in a bid information record is accepted. If one bid in a bid information record is accepted, all lower priority bids in that bid information record are dismissed.
US07769667B2
A system and method for factoring in a trader's trading activity into the margin requirements is disclosed. In the securities arena, day traders are assessed different margins than non-day-traders, however, the specific profile of the trader is analyzed (that is, the same rule applies to all day traders).
US07769665B2
A multi-dimensional display of data related to market movement displays relative market movement, trend, and potential changes in trend for stocks futures, or options. The inventive system and method includes a unique graphical display of market information using static and dynamic elements of a multi-dimensional view. A Cylinder is provided as one potential geometrical shape or element for representing a single security (stock, futures or options contract). A Plate represents a reduced profile object (typically a thin plate) which contains sets or groups of Cylinders. A Map represents the surface on which Plates rest. A World represents a collection of all Maps. Measurements calculate data representative of market movement and changes in market movement and are displayed to the system user as variations in the geometry and color of the individual geometric elements. The system and method of the invention allows the user to visually observe changes in security and market performance by merely viewing changes in the shape and color of geometric elements rather than seeking to extract security and market information from conventional two dimensional graphic displays. The Clock Display summarizes movement across an entire Map. The Sky is the area above the Map.
US07769664B2
A financial system with at least one equity profile, one or more non-guaranteed investment instruments and at least one target-risk profile to provide a return on an initial investment amount a portion of which includes at least a predetermined sum certain principal amount. In certain aspects, one or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method of providing an investment portfolio includes steps for providing a sum certain principal amount that includes at least a portion that is guaranteed and a portion that is non-guaranteed and earns an investor selected return.
US07769663B1
Systems and methods for determining a value for a global market index based on market data of publicly traded companies in a plurality of markets are disclosed. In one embodiment, indices may target a desired market coverage range subject to a universal minimum size range. In another embodiment, the indices may combine elements of percentile, number of companies, and market capitalization cutoff approaches.
US07769651B2
A billing data extraction and processing system for use in connection with a first billing system and a second billing system is disclosed. The billing data extraction and processing system includes a first input to receive rated billing data from the first billing system, a second input to receive rated billing data from the second billing system, and a data processing module, the data processing module responsive to the first input and to the second input, the data processing module processing the aggregated data extracted from at least one of the first and the second billing system. A first set of aggregated billing data at a first point in a billing period of the first billing system and a second set of aggregated billing data at a second point in the billing period of the first billing system are extracted and received at the first input. A first set of aggregated billing data at a first point in a billing period of the second system and a second set of aggregated billing data at a second point in the billing period of the second billing system are extracted and received at the second input.
US07769648B1
A method and system for generating, management, and determining the cost effectiveness of keywords used in paid searches. Target objects for which customer traffic for an electronic storefront web site is to be targeted to are identified. Keywords corresponding to those target objects are automatically generated, and associated keyword purchase data is sent to one or more search partners to initiate purchase of the keywords from those partners. Cost-effectiveness of each keywords is determined based on partner reports containing billing and keyword activity data and monitoring customer session activities that are initiated via clickthroughs contained in search results generated by the search partners.
US07769647B1
A process for providing a year-round tax monitor whereby baseline tax data and current year-to-date tax data for a user is obtained. Data representing current tax year directives made by the user, and/or data representing tax related choices made by the user in the current tax year to date, and/or data representing tax related events associated with the user in the current tax year to date is also obtained. Using the baseline tax data, and/or current year-to-date tax data, and/or the data representing current tax year directives made by the user, and/or the data representing tax related choices made by the user in the current tax year, and/or the data representing tax related events associated with the user for the current tax year, an estimate and/or projection of tax liability for the current tax year is calculated and a projected tax refund that will be owed to, or a tax liability that will owed by, the user for the current tax year is estimated. The estimated tax refund that will be owed to, or a tax liability that will be owed by, the user for the current tax year is then provided to the user via a tax monitor widget displayed on a display device accessible by the user.
US07769642B2
A system and method for notifying salespersons of customer communications including a target item is provided. Individual customers are mapped to one or more salespersons. Target items of interest to a salesperson are defined and a salesperson is associated with a customer. For each salesperson, on-line communication channels are monitored for the occurrence of a communications involving a customer associated with the salesperson and including a target item defined by the salesperson. When such an occurrence happens, a notification is directed to the salesperson. Salesperson access to the system and customer access to the on-line communication channels requires authorization.
US07769637B2
A method for providing a plurality of users with the ability to engage in the swap of a plurality of items comprising the following: providing a system for the entry of a plurality of items into inventory of a system by a plurality of users; providing a fixed number of credits for each said item entered which can be then used to obtain other items in the system's inventory wherein the number of credits received for each item will be automatically set by the system depending on each item's characteristics and where the total number of credits allocated represent the total value of all entered items.
US07769629B1
A system and method for providing online incentive programs that allows participants in the programs to access hierarchical reports detailing the current status of the incentive programs. The incentive programs include means to restrict access to the various hierarchical reports to prevent the different levels of management from accessing information relating to higher levels of management. Participants may therefore monitor their performance, as well as the performance of those individuals who are under their control.
US07769628B2
A method is provided that includes modeling future demand and/or future supply for a good at one or more segments of a period of time. In accordance with the method, future demand/supply at a respective time segment is modeled based upon a price sensitivity distribution of a unit purchase of the good, as well as a market potential distribution of a number of units of the good in a market associated with the good, during the respective time segment. The price sensitivity distribution and/or the market potential distribution for a respective time segment is based upon a growth rate and an uncertainty for the respective time segment. The method can further include modeling cost and/or profitability of the good at a respective time segment. Profitability can be modeled based upon the demand model and the cost model for the respective time segment.
US07769626B2
A method and system is disclosed that provides: (a) a theoretical framework for designing psychological research that uncovers individual decision-making networks, both in terms of sampling requirements and questioning methods, (b) an implementation interface to schedule and administer the appropriate question sequences between an interviewer and a given individual, in real-time, via a web-based system, and (c) a coding and analysis system to summarize and quantify the potential of alternative decision structures to be used to optimize the development of marketing and communication strategies.
US07769624B1
The present invention relates to a method and system for virtual mentoring of a group of individuals based on the management of their work-related knowledge. According to the embodiments of the present invention, collective experience and intellectual capital of an organization and its personnel are efficiently and intelligently gathered to provide “just-in-time” training/mentoring of the organization's personnel to enhance job performance and satisfaction and to achieve Quality Management (QM) results/outcomes. The training/mentoring can be requested by or automatically provided to the personnel via various designated access locations.
US07769616B2
The present invention provides a method, system and computer program product for quoting a business service wherein a large variety of predefined scenario may be exercised to assess a business quotation in real time. The invention allows to establish relationships between an infrastructure design and the various components of the solution to offer a flexible solution that automatically check the impact of changes and new requirements.
US07769609B1
Methods and systems use regions defined by ZIP codes to adjust loss cost data. First, historical loss costs are identified by ZIP code, and then organized into an order. The organized historical loss costs are assigned a unique loss cost value for each ZIP code, which are then compared to surrounding ZIP codes using a neighborhood model. ZIP codes are grouped into regions of similar loss costs and the regions are organized into territories.
US07769608B1
Systems and methods provide optimized property risk ratings and, more particularly, optimized property risk ratings defined by evaluating ratings on a by peril basis. Systems and methods also price insurance products and underwrite insurance products using risk data that has been optimized on a by peril basis. A territory is subdivided into a plurality of regions determined in accordance with at least one predetermined factor. Loss costs representing historic costs for various insured perils are retrieved from a computerized database using a data processor. The loss costs are sorted on a per-peril basis for each of the regions using the data processor. Peril zones are created for each peril that represent related regions in which loss costs for a particular peril are roughly equivalent.
US07769606B2
A method for administrating healthcare services allows providers to select cost-sharing levels for each service. Cost-share selections and other provider practice characteristics are stored in a dynamic, cost-sharing database. Individuals seeking a provider can access the database through a network and perform a provider search based on selected criteria. Individuals that receive services from a provider pay the appropriate cost-share at the time of service, and an administrator pays an additional amount based on a fee schedule specifying the amount the administrator will pay for the specified service.
US07769605B2
A system and method for monitoring a group of patients having a chronic disease or ongoing health condition. The method includes the step of collecting from each patient a corresponding set of measurements of a control parameter of the health condition. Each set of measurements has a collection date. A control value is calculated for each patient from the corresponding set of measurements. The method further includes the steps of generating and displaying a group overview chart having one data point for each patient. Each data point indicates the control value calculated for the corresponding patient and a time period which has elapsed since the collection date of the patient's corresponding set of measurements. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes the additional steps of selecting from the group overview chart at least one of the patients represented thereon and transmitting supervisory instructions to the at least one selected patient.
US07769603B2
Methods and systems are described for receiving a parameter relating to a specific patient, and for customizing one or more attributes of a stent ex situ as an at-least-roughly contemporaneous response to receiving the parameter relating to the specific patient or for customizing one or more junctions of a stent ex situ in response to the received parameter relating to the specific patient.
US07769601B1
A method and system for implementing an on-line pharmacy website that allows customers of a particular pharmacy company to order new prescriptions, refill prescriptions and transfer existing prescription. The method and system also afford a user access to personal information such as their prescription history. Integration of an internet server hosting the website with a pharmacy company's intranet server and customer database allows a customer full on-line access to their information stored by the pharmacy company, as well as access to drug information. A further feature includes allowing the user to format and print their prescription history and records. Another feature of the system and method includes a “click-free” registration of customers with the website by entry of customer data by company personnel at any company location connected to the intranet server, such as at a pharmacy store. Personnel solicit information from the customer including, for example, an e-mail address. Registration of the customer is then performed by the company personnel and website access information is, in turn, communicated to the customer via e-mail.
US07769594B2
The invention relates to a system and a method for evaluating the reputation of a given entity by a primary evaluation centre, comprising the following steps: reception at the primary evaluation centre of a request by an applicant transmitting a request for an evaluation of the reputation of the given entity, processing by the primary evaluation centre of the applicant's request in order to formulate a personalized evaluation of the reputation of the given entity according to processing rules dependent on the characteristics of the applicant known to the primary evaluation centre, and sending of an answer to its request by the primary evaluation centre, to the applicant.
US07769591B2
A distributed voice user interface system includes a local device which receives speech input issued from a user. Such speech input may specify a command or a request by the user. The local device performs preliminary processing of the speech input and determines whether it is able to respond to the command or request by itself. If not, the local device initiates communication with a remote system for further processing of the speech input.
US07769583B2
A system, method and computer program product for classification of an analog electrical signal using statistical models of training data. A technique is described to quantize the analog electrical signal in a manner which maximizes the compression of the signal while simultaneously minimizing the diminution in the ability to classify the compressed signal. These goals are achieved by utilizing a quantizer designed to minimize the loss in a power of the log-likelihood ratio. A further technique is described to enhance the quantization process by optimally allocating a number of bits for each dimension of the quantized feature vector subject to a maximum number of bits available across all dimensions.
US07769581B2
The present invention relates to a method of coding a signal, in particular an audio or speech signal, wherein a codebook comprising k code vectors is provided for vector quantization of a signal vector representing a set of signal values of said signal(s), and wherein an optimal code vector of said codebook is determined by performing a codebook search. Parallelism is employed to accelerate the coding procedure. In particular, the codebook search is highly parallelised.
US07769579B2
A method and system of learning, or bootstrapping, facts from semi-structured text is described. Starting with a set of seed facts associated with an object, documents associated with the object are identified. The identified documents are checked to determine if each has at least a first predefined number of seed facts. If a document does have at least a first predefined number of seed facts, a contextual pattern associated with the seed facts is identified and other instances of content in the document matching the contextual pattern are identified. If the document includes at least a second predefined number of the other instances of content matching the contextual pattern, then facts may be extracted from the other instances.
US07769576B2
A system for modeling, simulating and analyzing chemical and biochemical reactions includes a modeling environment for constructing a model of a chemical or biochemical system comprising a plurality of chemical reactions. Each chemical reaction has a probability distribution associated therewith based on the kinetics of the particular chemical reaction. The probability distribution may be set by a user, determined automatically, or experimentally determined. The system also includes a simulation engine accepting as input said constructed model of the chemical or biochemical system and generating as output an expected result. The simulation engine calculates a reaction time for each chemical reaction based on the probability distribution associated with the particular chemical reaction. An analysis environment communicates with the simulation engine and displays the expected result.
US07769562B2
A system that monitors telemetry from a host computer system to detect degradation in a remote storage device. During operation, the system monitors performance parameters from a host computer system which accesses the remote storage device, wherein the performance parameters relate to the interactions between the host computer system and the remote storage device. The system then determines whether the monitored performance parameters have deviated from predicted values for the performance parameters. If so, the system generates a signal indicating that the remote storage device has degraded.
US07769561B2
A method for monitoring machine conditions is based on machine learning through the use of a statistical model. A correlation coefficient is calculated using weights assigned to each sample that indicate the likelihood that that sample is an outlier. The resulting correlation coefficient is more robust against outliers. The calculation of the weight is based on the Mahalanobis distance from the sample to the sample mean. Additionally, hierarchical clustering is applied to intuitively reveal group information among sensors. By specifying a similarity threshold, the user can easily obtain desired clustering results.
US07769559B2
A test system with multiple instruments. Some instruments act as controller instruments and others act as controlled instruments. Each instrument includes a clock generator that synthesizes one or more local clocks from a reference clock. The reference clock is a relatively low frequency clock that can be inexpensively but accurately generated and distributed to all of the instruments. A communication link between instruments is provided. Timing circuits within instruments that are to exchange time information are synchronized to establish a common time reference. Thereafter, instruments communicate time dependent commands or status messages asynchronously over the communication link by appending to each message a time stamp reflecting a time expressed relative to the common time reference. The test system includes digital instruments that contain pattern generators that send command messages to analog instruments, which need not include pattern generators. The architecture simplifies design of analog instruments and avoids redesign of analog instrument as pattern rates of digital instruments change.
US07769558B2
A waveform generation and measurement module that may be used in automated test equipment. The waveform generation and measurement module includes high speed SERDES (or other shift registers) that are used to digitally draw a test waveform. Additional high speed SERDES may also be used to receive (in serial form) a response waveform from a device under test and convert it to parallel data for high speed processing. The waveform generation and measurement module may be implemented in field programmable gate array logic.
US07769556B2
A method for correcting the measuring errors caused by the lens distortion of an objective in a coordinate measuring machine is disclosed. For a plurality of different types of structures, the lens distortion caused by an objective is determined in an image field of the objective. The position of a type of structure is determined in the image field of the objective by a measuring window. The correction of the lens distortion required for the type of structure to be measured is retrieved from the database as a function of the type of structure to be measured.
US07769555B2
A method is provided for calibration of a vectorial network analyzer, having n measurement ports (n>1) and at least m measurement sites with n+1
US07769549B2
A method for on-line acoustic detection of the quality of foams and aerated fluids whereby at least one emitter/receiver pair is placed in a close vicinity to the foam flow. At least one acoustic pulse is emitted and the time within which the acoustic pulse travels from the emitter to the receiver is recorded. Sound speed in the foam is determined by analyzing an acoustic response of the receiver and a pressure in the foam is also measured.
US07769547B2
A biological tissue sample is scanned to produce an image and corresponding optical-density data. A computerized algorithm is used to identify, segregate, and produce images of nuclei contained in the image. The OD values corresponding to nuclear chromatin are used to identify numerical patterns known to have statistical significance in relation to the health condition of the biological tissue. These patterns are analyzed through discriminant analysis and a non-supervised learning algorithm to predict changes that suggest a risk for the recurrence of a cancer event, such as a malignant lesion.
US07769546B2
A method of determining a horizon volume. In one embodiment, the horizon volume is determined from obtained seismic information, and maps the obtained seismic information onto a flattened volume such that in the flattened volume, horizons represented in the obtained seismic information are shifted to be substantially coplanar with a surface defined by the horizon volume as an estimate of a single chronostratigraphic time such that the parameters of the flattened volume include (i) a two-dimensional position in a surface plane, and (ii) a metric related to chronostratigraphic time.
US07769545B2
A method of determining geological information related to a subsurface volume. In one embodiment, the method comprises obtaining a seismic information related to a subsurface volume; determining a horizon volume that automatically maps the seismic information into a flattened volume, wherein one axis of the flattened volume corresponds to chronostratigraphic time, and wherein horizons represented by the seismic information are automatically accounted for in the horizon volume, and are shifted by the horizon volume into the flattened volume to be substantially planar and substantially perpendicular to the axis of the flattened volume that corresponds to chronostratigraphic time; determining a derivative of the horizon volume with respect to chronostratigraphic time; and determining geological information related to the subsurface volume based on the derivative of the horizon volume with respect to chronostratigraphic time.
US07769539B2
A bearing calculator provided with a geomagnetic sensor for detecting earth-geomagnetism and a control unit for calculating a geographical bearing based on detection values of the geomagnetic sensor. The control unit can execute offset error correction processing for correcting the offset error to the geomagnetic sensor based on a change in the magnetic field inside the bearing calculator. When detection values of the geomagnetic sensor enter an abnormal state, it performs said offset error correction processing when the abnormal state continues for a predetermined time, while does not perform the offset error correction processing when the abnormal state ends within a predetermined time.
US07769529B2
At the time of reference position learning, an operation amount of an actuator is set such that intake valve phase changes to a position of most retarded angle in a region where the amount of change in intake valve phase relative to the actuator operation amount is small (S110). When the intake valve phase reaches the position of most retarded angle and the change in the intake valve phase stops (YES at S140), it is determined that the intake valve phase has reached the position of most retarded angle as the reference phase, and learning is completed. Further, in response to completion of learning, power supply to the electric motor as the actuator is stopped. Consequently, it becomes possible to reduce power consumption and to protect the apparatus at the reference position learning for ensuring accuracy in detecting valve opening/closing timing.
US07769528B2
A fuel injection controller for an engine that injects fuel to an inlet passage in an upstream side of an inlet valve from a fuel injection unit, includes: a first calculator, configured to calculate a basic fuel injection quantity from the fuel injection unit based on an operating condition of the engine; a second calculator, configured to calculate a first direct transport rate of fuel directly transported into a cylinder of the fuel injected from the fuel injection unit when the inlet valve is closed; a third calculator, configured to calculate a second direct transport rate of fuel directly transported into a cylinder of the fuel injected from the fuel injection unit when the inlet valve is opened; and a corrector, configured to correct the basic fuel injection quantity based on the first direct transport rate and the second direct transport rate.
US07769522B2
A method is disclosed for preventing an underspeed event of a turbocharger. The method includes interpreting a turbocharger speed, a compressor differential pressure (CDP) and a turbocharger differential pressure (TDP). The method further includes calculating a thrust load capacity (TLC) based on the turbocharger speed, and calculating a current thrust load (CTL) based on the CDP and the TDP. The method further includes calculating a thrust margin based on the TLC and the CTL, and controlling an actuator in response to the thrust margin. Controlling the actuator includes maintaining the thrust margin to a thrust margin target, which may be a function of the turbocharger speed. The actuator is a turbine bypass valve, a compressor bypass valve, a variable geometry turbocharger position, an exhaust throttle and/or an exhaust gas recirculation valve that controls the turbocharger speed.
US07769512B2
A vehicle steering control method including the steps of obtaining a heading error, obtaining a velocity value, obtaining a distance error, applying the heading error, inputting a measure of operator aggressiveness and defuzzifying an output from a steering rule base. The velocity value and the distance error are applied along with the heading error to fuzzy logic membership functions to produce an output that is applied to a steering rule base. A measure of the operator aggressiveness is input to the steering rule base. An output from the steering rule base is defuzzified to produce a steering signal.
US07769507B2
An apparatus for assessing health of a device comprising a data alignment module for receiving a plurality of sensory outputs and outputting a synchronized data stream, an analysis module for receiving the synchronized data stream and outputting at least one device health feature, and a high level diagnostic feature information fusion module for receiving the at least one device health feature and outputting a device health assessment.
US07769504B2
A marine vessel running controlling apparatus is applicable to a marine vessel which includes a propulsive force generating unit, a steering unit, and an operational unit to control a steering angle. The marine vessel running controlling apparatus includes a target characteristic storage unit arranged to store a target characteristic line which represents a target marine vessel maneuvering characteristic defining a relationship between a target turning behavior with respect to an operation amount of the operational unit and a traveling speed of the marine vessel, a target characteristic change inputting unit arranged to change a shape of the target characteristic line, and a target characteristic line updating unit arranged to update the target characteristic line according to an input from the target characteristic change inputting unit. The target characteristic change inputting unit includes an inflection point position change inputting unit arranged to change a position of an inflection point of the target characteristic line.
US07769491B2
The present invention provides an obstacle avoiding apparatus, an obstacle avoiding method, an obstacle avoiding program, and a mobile robot apparatus that can accurately model a robot apparatus and plan a highly precise moving route for the robot apparatus that avoids obstacles. The obstacle avoiding apparatus, to be used for a mobile robot apparatus to avoid obstacles, includes an obstacle environment map drawing section that divides the range of height from the reference surface for the mobile robot apparatus to move thereon to the height of the mobile robot apparatus into a plurality of layers corresponding to predetermined respective ranges of height and draws obstacle environment maps, each showing the condition of being occupied by one or more than one obstacles existing in the corresponding layer, and a route planning section that plans a route for the robot apparatus to move along according to an enlarged environment map prepared by enlarging the area occupied by the obstacle or obstacles in the obstacle environment maps as a function of the cross sectional profile of the mobile robot apparatus in each of the layers.
US07769490B2
An autonomous robot, that is for example, suitable for operations such as vacuuming and surface cleaning includes a payload configured for vacuum cleaning, a drive system including a steering system, a navigation system, and a control system for integrating operations of the aforementioned systems.
US07769488B2
A reconfigurable structure includes a plurality of selectively extensible and retractable limbs, at least one node pivotably receiving respective ends of at least two limbs, and an actuator associated with each limb for extending and retracting the limb. The structure may further include an addressable module associated with each actuator to control the actuator.
US07769485B2
Systems and methods for optimizing the process of segregating undesired mail using an incoming mail sorter are described and in certain examples, systems including those for using information feed-forward and/or feedback systems for making selective physical delivery decisions in the process of sorting and delivering incoming physical mail are described.
US07769479B2
An audio recording apparatus sequentially records encoded data in an audio file of a predetermined format. In this case, the encoded data is generated by encoding audio. The audio recording apparatus subsequently generates, while the encoded data is being recorded in the audio file, a new audio file before the size of the audio file where the encoded data is being recorded reaches an upper limit of the audio file. The audio recording apparatus then changes the place where the encoded data is recorded to the new audio file.
US07769477B2
The manipulation of audio data can be simplified, such as, for example, with regard to the combination of individual audio data streams to multi-channel audio data streams or the general manipulation of an audio data stream, by modifying a data block in an audio data stream divided into data blocks with determination block and data block audio data, such as by completing or adding or replacing part of the same, so that the same includes a length indicator indicating an amount or length of data, respectively, of the data block audio data or an amount or length of data, respectively, of the data block to obtain a second audio data stream with modified data blocks. Alternatively, an audio data stream with pointers in determination blocks, which point to determination block audio data associated to this determination blocks, but distributed among different data blocks, is converted into an audio data stream, wherein the determination block audio data are combined to contiguous determination block audio data. The contiguous determination block audio data can then be included in a self-contained channel element together with their determination block.
US07769469B2
Medical catheter apparatus for minimally invasive applications includes a probe for radiating electromagnetic waves of a first frequency capable of heating tissue and detecting thermal emissions from that tissue of a second frequency indicative of tissue temperature. The probe has an inner conductor extending along the probe to a conductive probe tip and a concentric tubular outer conductor having a leading end spaced rearwardly from the probe tip and a closed trailing end shorted to the inner conductor. A dielectric sheath surrounds the outer conductor which sheath has a leading end spaced rearwardly from the leading end of the outer conductor. A diplexer integrated into the probe includes a filter circuit positioned inside the outer conductor and a coupling capacitor connected between a point on the inner conductor and the input of the filter circuit such that the conductors between that point and the shorted trailing end of the outer conductor constitute a quarter wave stub at the second frequency.
US07769464B2
Systems and methods for adjusting a therapy delivered to a patient include detecting a value of at least one sensed patient parameter and adjusting a therapy program to accommodate different patient parameter values. A data structure including a plurality of patient parameter values and associated therapy programs may be stored within a medical device or a programming device. Upon detecting a patient parameter value, an associated therapy program from the data structure may be selected. If no therapy program is associated with the detected patient parameter value, an intermediate program that best suits the detected patient parameter value may be generated by interpolating between the most recently implemented therapy program and a stored therapy program. In some embodiments, the rate of shifting between parameters of two stored or interpolated therapy programs may be based on the rate of change of the patient parameter value over time.
US07769456B2
The present disclosure relates to an RF telemetry system and method for enabling communication between an implantable medical device and an external device with an improved tolerance to noise from external sources. Multiple communications channels at different frequencies are provided which are synchronously switched between during a communications session by both devices.
US07769452B2
A method of detecting a cardiac event in a medical device that includes sensing cardiac signals from a plurality of electrodes forming a first sensing vector and a second sensing vector, determining whether the first sensing vector and the second sensing vector is corrupted by noise, and determining, in response to one of the first sensing vector and the second sensing vector being corrupted by noise, whether the other of the first sensing vector and the second sensing vector is one of a first cardiac event and a second cardiac event different from the first cardiac event.
US07769445B2
In a cardioverter/defibrillator system, an electrical circuit includes an energy storage device, an output circuit for controlling delivery of pulse therapy from the energy storage device to a patient, and a sensing circuit coupled across the patient to sense the patient's heart signal. The output circuit may be in the form of an H-bridge switching circuit wherein a pair of switches of the output circuit is simultaneously turned on to discharge residual voltage across the patient that remains after delivery of pulse therapy. Thus, interference with sensing of the patient's heart signal is avoided.
US07769442B2
Stimulation of one or more neurons of the sympathetic nervous system, including the splenic nerve, is provided to attenuate an immune response, including an inflammatory immune response. Devices such as pulse generators and drug pumps may be used to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system to attenuate an immune response. Systems optionally having one or more sensors and operator instructions may also be used. In specific examples, stimulation of the splenic nerve of pigs with a pulse generator is shown to be safe and effective in attenuating a lipopolysaccharide-induced immune response.
US07769441B2
The present invention relates in general to methodologies for the treatment quenching preconditioning and communication between the intrinsic cardiac nervous system and an electrical stimulus. In particular, the present invention utilizes spinal cord stimulation to alter and/or affect the intrinsic cardiac nervous system and thereby protect the myocytes, stabilize myocardial electrical instability and/or alleviate or diminish cardiac pathologies.
US07769436B1
Techniques are described for adaptively adjusting detection thresholds for use in detecting cardiac ischemia and other abnormal physiological conditions based on morphological parameters derived from intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) signals, impedance measurements, or other signals. In one example, where ST segment elevation is used to detect cardiac ischemia, default detection thresholds are determined in advance from an examination of variations in ST segment elevations occurring within a population of patients. Thereafter, an individual pacemaker or other implantable medical device uses the default thresholds during an initial learning period to detect ischemia within the patient in which the device is implanted. During the initial learning period, the pacemaker also collects data representative of the range of variation in ST segment elevations occurring within the patient. The pacemaker then adaptively adjusts the thresholds based on the range of variation so as to improve detection specificity within the patient.
US07769431B2
Methods and systems for evaluating external beam radiation therapy delivered to a subject include: (a) placing at least one wireless implantable sensor in a first subject at a target location; (b) administering a first dose of radiation therapy into tile first subject; (c) obtaining radiation data from the at least one wireless implantable sensor; and (d) calculating a radiation dose amount received by the first subject at the target location based on the radiation data obtained from the at least one wireless sensor during and/or after exposure to the first administered dose of radiation to determine and/or verify a dose amount of radiation delivered to the target location.
US07769426B2
A method for performing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) guided core biopsies is tendered more accurate and efficient by precisely positioning a disengaged probe assembly with respect to a localization fixture attached to a breast coil platform. The precise position is defined by MRI stereotopic location of suspicious tissue with respect to a fiducial marker on the localization fixture. With the probe inserted, dual lumens in the probe assembly are used for drainage or insertion of fluids as well as inserting diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Core biopsies are performed by engaging a biopsy instrument handle containing a cutter, with the localization fixture providing support and position to the handle. Repeated MRI scans are facilitated by the ability to disengage the handle without risk of displacing the probe assembly from the biopsy site.
US07769423B2
Methods and compositions useful for detecting an in vivo blood pool, monitoring the distribution of a compound of interest to a desired site in an organism by magnetic resonance imaging, monitoring the accumulation of a compound of interest at a desired site in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging, and monitoring the release of liposomal contents to an external stimulus at a desired site in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging are disclosed. Some compositions comprise envirosensitive or non-sensitive liposomes. Contrast agents, such as manganese-based compounds, are also disclosed.
US07769417B2
The present invention comprises products and processes for providing haptic feedback at a location other than an input device. For example, when an input device disposed in a hand-held device is activated, instead of providing haptic feedback at the input device itself or to the entire device, haptic feedback is provided to a different area of the device (such as, for example, the side of the device opposite the side on which the input device resides).
US07769413B2
A battery charging assembly for charging a battery of a mobile device includes a charging unit, an output assembly and an input assembly. The input assembly is detachably associated with the charging unit and includes an adapter for removable attachment to the charging unit, a power cord, and a plug configured to mate with a style of electrical outlet such that the charging unit is positionable at a remote location from the electrical outlet. The adapter has a latching mechanism for latching the adapter in a receptacle defined in the charging unit.
US07769410B2
A module structure for expanding and enhancing functions of a SIM card is composed of one or more than one slots and a control chip, wherein the slot is used for emplacing a subscriber identity card, and the control chip is installed with a new application interface and application service for providing a subscriber to operate. The control chip can proceed with a change of application interface and application service through a wireless transmission, a wired transmission, an external loading device, and other related techniques for loading data, so as to facilitate the subscriber to operate additional functions provided by the control chip, other than ordinary application services provided by a common subscriber identify card, thereby achieving purposes of expanding and enhancing the functions.
US07769407B2
A system, apparatus, computer program product, and method for controlling output power levels of over-the-air (OTA) transmission signals from a terminal operable on a network. At least one parameter used by the terminal in establishing its proper RF output power level is provided by the network in a channel assignment message(s). The terminal can then define the proper output power level in changing circumstances, such as where the common broadcast channel is mapped on a different band than traffic channels, in connection with handover or DTM operations, etc. Further, the parameter is provided via the channel assignment message(s) in connection with DTM operation after handover, where the common broadcast channel is mapped on the same frequency band as the traffic channel. When the proper output power level has been defined using the parameter received from the channel assignment message, the terminal can communicate information to the network using the proper output power level.
US07769401B2
To schedule uplink transmission time slots for a collection of mobile communication devices, a set of base station target interference patterns is associated with base stations. A time slot target interference pattern is assigned for each time slot and it repeats after several time slots. The time slot target interference pattern in a given time slot specifies the interference allowed by each time slot to a given base station by any single mobile. A priority index may be determined for each time slot for each mobile associated with the particular base station. The priority index may be based, in part, on a determined correlation between the time-slot target interference patterns and a potential interference profile of a mobile to which a time slot is to be allocated. A mobile's throughput requirement, the throughput already received over a specified past duration, the system fairness requirement, as well as the amount of data available for transmission are also used for evaluating the priority index.
US07769400B2
Methods and systems of connectivity for forwarding an e-mail message from an e-mail server to a mobile terminal having an e-mail address under the e-mail server are provided. An e-mail address may be associated with a permanent identifier and encryption information of the mobile terminal. After receipt of an e-mail message addressed using the e-mail address from the e-mail server, the e-mail message may be encrypted using the stored encryption information. The mobile terminal may be identified using the association between the e-mail address and the permanent identifier of the mobile terminal. The e-mail message may then be provided to a messaging center for forwarding to the identified mobile terminal. The mobile terminal can decrypt and/or unpack the message using the encryption information.
US07769392B2
In a particular embodiment, a system is provided that includes a wireless beacon to provide wireless data communication with a mobile telephone to detect a location of the mobile telephone within a wireless detection area provided by a wireless beacon, and a communication interface to send a call forwarding message to a cellular switch. The call forwarding message provides an instruction to route future calls destined for the mobile telephone to an alternate network address. In another embodiment, a method of selecting a destination telephone is disclosed that includes detecting a location of a mobile telephone within a wireless detection area provided by a wireless beacon, and sending a call forwarding message to a wide area switch having a communication path targeted to the mobile telephone. The call forwarding message provides an instruction to route future calls destined for the mobile telephone to an alternative communication path.
US07769383B2
The disclosure is directed to a mobile communication device that is capable of accessing different types of networks such as a circuit-switched network and a packet-switched network. When supplementary services are invoked involving the device, a protocol is used that signals between the device and a central server that maintains the state information for the supplementary services. In this way, hand-over between the two different types of networks may occur without interrupting supplementary services.
US07769378B2
A system, wireless device (306) and method determine that a wireless device (306) is detecting a triggering event. The triggering event includes detecting a WLAN border cell (210), detecting a first signal from an egress portal (302), or detecting a degradation in signal quality. The wireless device (306) then detects at least one signal from an egress portal (302), determines that the wireless device (306) is moving from the coverage area of a first communications system to the coverage area of a second communications system according to the order of signals received from the egress portal (302), initiates a registration sequence with the second wireless communication system in response to determining that the wireless device (306) is moving from the coverage area of the first communications system to the coverage area of the second communications system, and conducts present and subsequent calls via the second wireless communication system.
US07769374B2
A technique for protecting location information of a subscriber in a mobile network is disclosed which forwards a registration request from the subscriber to an S-CSCF including the subscriber's TA and then forwarding a location update from the S-CSCF to an HSS including the subscriber's TA. Upon the S-CSCF losing data, lost data may be restored to the S-CSCF from the data stored in the HSS. The HSS may store data in a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk drive. The technique may also include forwarding a registration request from the subscriber to an S-CSCF including the subscriber's TA and then forwarding a location update from the S-CSCF to an HSS and storing data in a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk drive in the S-CSCF so as to be protected against loss. Upon the S-CSCF losing data, lost data including the subscriber's TA may be restored to the S-CSCF from the data stored in the S-CSCF.
US07769357B2
An improved multi-channel receiver for satellite broadcast applications or the like. In an exemplary embodiment, an AGC loop, under the control of an AGC processor, controls the gain of an analog sub-receiver adapted to simultaneously receive multiple signals to achieve a desired AGC setpoint signal intensity from the sub-receiver. Multiple digital demodulators, coupled to the sub-receiver by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), demodulate the multiple received signals. The AGC controller, based upon which of the received signals are being demodulated, selects the desired AGC setpoint from a table of setpoints. The AGC controller may also provide selective power control to circuitry in the receiver and select the resolution of the ADC. The controller updates the AGC loop with step values selected from a group of values by an AGC control algorithm. Different groups of step values may be used by the controller depending on whether the signals are fading or not.
US07769355B2
A substantially rectangular shaped power amplifier module includes a power amplifier for amplifying radio frequency signals, a bias control terminal and a power sensing terminal disposed on the same side of the power amplifier module, an input terminal and a ground terminal disposed on the same side of the power amplifier module, and an output terminal and one or more power supply terminals disposed on the same side of the power amplifier module.
US07769351B2
A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting user equipment (UE) status information in communication with one serving Node B and at least one non-serving Node B in a mobile communication system. The method and apparatus comprise generating transport channel data including UE status information; transmitting the transport channel data to the serving Node B and the at least one non-serving Node B, receiving a response signal for the transport channel data from the serving Node B, and retransmitting the transport channel data if the response signal received from the serving Node B is a non-acknowledge (NACK) signal, and ending the retransmission of the transport channel data if the response signal received from the serving Node B is an acknowledge (ACK) signal.
US07769346B1
A wireless electrical connectivity system for use in a vehicle includes a first transceiver coupled to at least one utility carrier and to a first plurality of electrical devices. The first transceiver is configured to communicate a plurality of utility signals. A control module is coupled to a second plurality of electrical devices and configured to control the selection and distribution of utility signals to the second plurality of electrical devices. The control module includes a second transceiver configured to communicate a plurality of utility signals with the first transceiver via a communication link and a user interface configured to receive user input commands regarding the selection of utility signals distributed to the second plurality of electrical devices.
US07769344B1
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.
US07769342B2
A communication apparatus comprising a media device outputly configured to include various telecommunication and Internet applications. The communication apparatus being configured with an antenna apparatus communicatively connected to a chip in communication with the communication apparatus being responsive to a full access wireless communication connections. The communication apparatus being operatively configured with a communication control apparatus being operable for wireless device applications. Signal transmissions for the radio, the cell phone, and the Internet are separated and outputly communicated to the monitoring screen and the speakers for the media device to allow hands free-communication while driving.
US07769340B2
A method and system for providing a user of a mobile vehicle with informational associated with a transmitted satellite radio program. The call center receives a data request for informational data associated with a radio program at a call center from a telematics unit via a wireless network. A determination is made of at least one informational data associated with the data request. The determined informational data is sent to a user communication device.
US07769336B2
A fixing step before smoothing by a smoothing device causes the phenomenon that a photo-medium is not properly separated from a fixing device due to a toner receiving layer of the photo-medium. Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of defective separation in the fixing device, a predetermined image pattern is formed using a toner containing a wax component in a margin, i.e., a non-image forming region, at the leading end of the photo-medium.
US07769328B2
An image forming apparatus, includes a first image bearing member; a first transfer member that comes into contact with either an intermediate transfer member or a recording material bearing member; a colored toner image forming portion; a second image bearing member; a second transfer member; and a transparent toner image forming toner. The transparent toner image forming portion is positioned on an upstream side with respect to the colored toner image forming portion in a movement direction of the intermediate transfer member or the recording material bearing member. As a result, a distance between a most upstream end of an area of contact between the intermediate transfer member or the recording material bearing member and the second transfer member in a rotation direction is larger than a distance between a most upstream end of an area of contact between the intermediate transfer member or the recording material bearing member and the first transfer member in a rotation direction.
US07769325B2
An image forming apparatus includes a reservoir base section with a recess that receives liquid developer scraped off of a developing roller by a cleaning blade. The recess is substantially U-shaped with an opened top side and an arc angle of not less than 180°. A conveying base station is continuous with the reservoir base section and has a conveying port formed thereon. A conveying member arranged in the reservoir and conveying base sections conveys liquid developer through a hollow path from the recess to the conveying port by rotating about its axis. The radius r1 of the outer periphery of the conveying member, the radius r2 of the conveying port and the radius r3 of curvature of the recess have the relationship r1
US07769318B2
The tandem photosensitive-member unit includes a plurality of photosensitive-member and a pair of side plates. The plurality of photosensitive-member holding units each extends in a first direction. The plurality of photosensitive-member holding units is arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The pair of side plates each extends in the second direction. The pair of side plates is disposed at both ends of the arranged plurality of photosensitive-member holding units with respect to the first direction. The tandem photosensitive-member unit is configured to be detachably mounted as an integral unit in a main body of an image-forming device.
US07769316B2
A developing unit for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier includes a developer carrier, a developer regulator, and a sealing member. The developer carrier bears a developer, and is disposed facing the image carrier at a first position. The developer regulator regulates an amount of the developer, and is disposed facing the developer carrier at a second position upstream of the developer carrier in a moving direction thereof relative to the first position. The sealing member comes into contact with the image carrier at a third position upstream of the image carrier in a moving direction thereof relative to the first position. Therefore, gas is prevented from flowing from an outside area of the developing unit into an area defined by the second position to the third position.
US07769314B2
A cleaning device is provided and includes: three or more cleaning members for cleaning a wire member, the three or more cleaning members being separately disposed along a longitudinal direction of the wire member and including a pair of side cleaning members and an intermediate cleaning member, the intermediate cleaning member being disposed opposite to the pair of side cleaning members with respect to the wire member and disposed between the side cleaning members in the longitudinal direction of the wire member; a mechanism that moves at least one of the cleaning members so as to contact all of the cleaning members with the wire member or separate all of the cleaning members from the wire member; and a mechanism that moves all of the cleaning members along the longitudinal direction of the wire member in a state where all of the cleaning members are contacted with the wire member.
US07769313B2
A charging device includes a rotatable screw gear, a motor, a support, and a protruding member. The screw gear is positioned along length of a linear electrode. The motor rotates the screw gear in forward and reverse directions. The support holds the cleaning member mounted so as to be in contact with the electrode, and is mounted unrotatably but reciprocably between a first end and a second end of the electrode. The member extends perpendicular to the length of the electrode from the support, and has a projection for being elastically fitted into a thread groove of the screw gear along a radial direction of the screw gear. The member is configured in such a manner that a distance between a starting point of elastic deformation of the member and a contact point between the projection and a thread of the screw gear differs according to whether the support is moved forward or backward.
US07769311B2
An image forming apparatus and an image forming method are provided which form high-quality fixed images having no fogs and the like defects, in which apparatus and method a toner entering a pressure-contact area between rollers is prevented from scattering. A control is performed on preheating conditions for preheating an unfixed toner image on a recording medium, which unfixed toner image indicates a toner image transferred but not yet fixed, and a control is further performed such that an amount of toner attached to the recording medium at a coverage rate of 100% is 0.4 mg/cm2 or less, with the result that the toner is prevented from scattering when the recording medium carrying the unfixed toner image passes through a pressure-contact area formed between a heating roller and a pressurizing roller in a fixing step.
US07769308B2
An image forming apparatus and a method of controlling the image forming apparatus. When print data is printed, the remaining amount of toner of each of the CMYK colors is analyzed. When print data is printed, the apparatus analyzes an original color of the print data and analyzes respective remaining amounts of toner of a plurality of colors. If the remaining amount of toner of any of the plurality of colors is insufficient, the apparatus generates a plurality of corrected sample images having colors similar to the original color, the similar colors being obtained by combining colors of toner other than that of the insufficient remaining amount of toner, and prints a report including the generated plurality of corrected sample images. This allows the user to print their preferred colors even if the remaining amount of toner of any color is insufficient, thereby increasing convenience and economic efficiency.
US07769299B2
A chromatic dispersion monitoring apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a photodetector which photo-electrically converts an optical signal; a low-pass filter which limits a frequency bandwidth of the photo-electrically converted electrical signal to be within a range set according to a modulation format of the optical signal and a bit rate thereof; a DC elimination circuit which eliminates a direct current component of the bandwidth limited electrical signal; and a power detector which detects the power of the bandwidth limited electrical signal to detect the residual dispersion of the optical signal. As a result, it becomes possible to easily realize the chromatic dispersion monitoring apparatus of low cost, which is also capable to be arranged on an in-line.
US07769298B2
The present invention provides a pulse train generator comprising: a dual-frequency signal light source for generating a dual-frequency signal; a soliton shaper for soliton-shaping output light from the dual-frequency signal light source; and an adiabatic soliton compressor for performing adiabatic soliton compression on output light from the soliton shaper, and also provides a waveform shaper used in this pulse train generator, including a plurality of highly nonlinear optical transmission lines and a plurality of low-nonlinearity optical transmission lines which has a nonlinearity coefficient lower than that of the plurality of highly nonlinear optical transmission lines and which has a second-order dispersion value of which an absolute value is different from that of the plurality of highly nonlinear optical transmission lines. Further, the present invention provides a light source comprising a plurality of continuous light sources of which at least one oscillates in a multimode; a multiplexer for multiplexing output light from the continuous light sources; and a nonlinear phenomenon producer for producing a nonlinear phenomenon on output light from the multiplexer so as to suppress SBS (Stimulated Brillouin Scattering).
US07769296B1
Multiplex-demultiplex (mux/demux) “groups” multiplex and demultiplex a predetermined maximum number of optical wavelengths. A method for assigning wavelengths of fiber links and mux/demux groups to given traffic (or traffic segments) in an optical communications network, minimizes over all terminals a total number of mux/demux groups required. The method (FIG. 5) involves (510) sorting the terminals in order of size of load. Further, for each traffic segment between pairs of first and second terminals, the method involves (516) assigning a smallest wavelength that is available between the first and second terminals and that is available on the segment path between the terminals; and in the terminals, (518) deploying mux/demux groups supporting the assigned wavelengths. A modified method (FIGS. 6A, 6B), as well as a method for dynamically assigning and deploying newly arriving traffic segments (FIG. 7), are also provided.
US07769292B2
The introduction of automation of testing configuration and the extensive use of protocol adaptation to provide a consistent user interface for a test apparatus across multiple vendor implementations through the use of programmable adapter modules facilitates systematic and efficient testing. Proper functionality of a given optical switch implementation, quantification of a system's parameters, and determination of switching performance measures can be obtained.
US07769288B2
A relatively small current is supplied to an LED arranged on a center portion, of two or more LED's, and a relatively large current is supplied to an LED arranged on a peripheral portion, of the two or more LED's. This feature makes it possible to substantially equalize rise of temperature.
US07769287B2
An aspect of the present invention provides an image taking apparatus comprising an imaging device which takes an image of a subject, an imaging instruction device for inputting an imaging instruction to take the image of the subject, a face detection device which detects a face image of the subject from a live view image taken by the imaging device in response to the imaging instruction from the imaging instruction device, an eye direction judgment device which detects an eye direction of the subject from the face image and judges whether the eye direction of the subject is directed to the imaging device, and an imaging control device which, when it is judged that the eye direction of the subject is directed to the imaging device, immediately causes the imaging device to take an image of the subject.
US07769283B2
A lens apparatus includes an imaging optical system including a focus lens unit, a branching optical unit disposed at the image side of the focus lens unit, a focus-state detecting unit including a focus detecting element having a focus detection area that receives light beams from the branching optical unit, and detecting a focus state by using the focus detecting element, an actuator that drives the focus lens unit in an optical axis direction thereof, a controller that controls the actuator, in accordance with an output from the focus-state detecting unit, and a movable image-side optical unit disposed at the image side of the branching optical unit. The controller changes the size of the focus detection area of the focus detecting element within a range in accordance with the position of the image-side optical unit.
US07769280B2
A camera hand piece (1) with camera housing (12) has a microscopic probe (2) at the front end. On the rear side is a transmission cable (13) which is attached to the camera hand piece (1) with the aid of a coupling nut (14). The camera housing (12) accommodates a microscope housing (11) and includes a motorized drive (4), which drives an eccentric (7) via a gear (6) mounted in a gear housing (9). The eccentric (7) actuates a pusher (5), which moves a connecting rod (8) and thereby displaces a focusing lens system (3) attached to it in the axial direction. This axially displaceable focusing lens system (3) together with a condenser lens system (10), forms a microscopic lens system arranged in a microscope housing (11).
US07769277B2
In the data structure for managing reproduction of text subtitle data, a text subtitle information area stores at least one text subtitle information segment. The text subtitle information segment is represented by a single PES packet of transport packets. In one embodiment, the text subtitle information segment includes an identifier identifying the text subtitle information segment as a text subtitle information segment.
US07769274B2
A combined digital TV decoding and optical recording system includes a transport stream demultiplexer to demultiplex at least one compressed multimedia stream from an MPEG transport stream having multiplexed compressed multimedia streams. A video encoder compresses a video stream to generate a second compressed video stream. A common system controller controls operations of the transport stream demultiplexer and the video encoder, and allocates portions of a memory to the transport stream demultiplexer and the MPEG video encoder based on respective memory requirements.
US07769265B2
An apparatus for managing lengths of flexible elongate elements between two fixed points has a single spool with a track of predetermined width sufficient for winding alternate turns of the elongate element about opposite side regions of the track in a folded figure eight pattern. A first turn of the elongate element is wound about a first side region of the track, then the element is crossed over to the second side region of the track and a second turn is wound about the second side region of the track. The elongate element is crossed back over to the first side region and a third turn is wound about the first side region. The process is repeated until at least the majority of the slack between the fixed points on the element has been taken up.
US07769264B2
An optical waveguide includes: a core portion through which light propagates; a cladding portion enclosing the core portion along a direction of light propagation, and a colored resin for position recognition marking, the optical waveguide having substantially planar outer surfaces including principal surfaces thereof, and the colored resin being embedded in the optical waveguide at a position that does not substantially overlap the core portion when viewed from a direction perpendicular to a principal surface of the optical waveguide and does not substantially contact the core portion.
US07769255B2
A high port count instantiated wavelength selective switch comprising two or more discrete sets, or instances, of m fiber ports totaling N fiber ports co-packaged together, one or more shared optical elements and dispersive elements, and one or more steering elements in each instance. The steering elements steer λ(k) from each instance of m input fiber ports to a λ(k) mirror dedicated to that fiber port instance, and wherein λ(k) mirror of the instance of m fiber ports is utilized to select and switch one λ(k) from the instance of m fiber ports to a fixed mirror which in turn reflects λ(k) to the λ(k) output mirror. The λ(k) output mirror selects and switches one λ(k) from one of the one or more instances of m fiber ports of the N×1 optical switch to the 1 output fiber port for each wavelength, and vice-versa for the 1×N optical switch.
US07769250B2
A device for measuring an electromagnetic field and the temperature in an analysis zone includes a light source for sending a light beam into a polarization-maintaining optical fiber. The light beam is directed along one axis of the fiber. An anisotropic electrooptic material is placed in the zone for receiving the beam from optical fiber and for sending the beam into the fiber. The device further includes an arrangement for analyzing the intensity of the linear wave and a mechanism for determining the variations in the orientation of the linear wave output by phase-shifting means. A quarter-wave plate is inserted between the optical fiber and the crystal, wherein the plate has its axes oriented at substantially 45° to the axes of the optical fiber.
US07769249B2
A document OCR implementing device, includes a reading part configured to read a document and form a recognition image; an obtaining part configured to perform image processing of the recognition image and obtain a state of the recognition image; a plurality of OCR engines configured to perform a character recognition process of the recognition image; and a designating part configured to designate the OCR engine by combining the recognition image and the OCR engine; wherein the character recognition process is implemented by using the OCR engine designated by the designating part.
US07769240B2
Variable video stream delivery tools include methods and systems that detect activation of a zoom command during presentation of a first stream of data to a multimedia device and that selectively supplants a second stream of data having a higher resolution for a zoomed image plane of the first stream of data in order to conserve bandwidth. Further exemplary embodiments detect activation of a rotational command and that refreshes the second stream of data with a zoomed, spherical-panorama presentation. And, further exemplary embodiments enable restoration of the first stream of data. These tools may be utilized during presentation of media content, when the media content is initially ordered, or when future presentation of media content is selected to record.
US07769228B2
A method for training a system for detecting multi-class objects in an image or a video sequence is described. A common ensemble of weak classifiers for a set of object classes is identified. For each object class, a separate weighting scheme is adapted for the ensemble of weak classifiers. A method for detecting objects of multiple classes in an image or a video sequence is also disclosed. Each class is assigned a detector that is implemented by a weighted combination of weak classifiers such that all of the detectors are based on a common ensemble of weak classifiers. Then weights are individually set for each class.
US07769225B2
Computer-implemented methods and systems for detecting defects in a reticle design pattern are provided. One computer-implemented method includes acquiring images of a field in the reticle design pattern. The images illustrate how the field will be printed on a wafer at different values of one or more parameters of a wafer printing process. The field includes a first die and a second die. The method also includes detecting defects in the field based on a comparison of two or more of the images corresponding to two or more of the different values. In addition, the method includes determining if individual defects located in the first die have substantially the same within die position as individual defects located in the second die.
US07769222B2
A combination of arc tool user interface features and operations are provided for efficiently defining an arc tool region of interest in a machine vision inspection system. Multiple distinct types of parameter control features are provide in an arc tool GUI. The distinct types of parameter control features may be distinguished by their relative locations, or by distinct symbols, or the like. One or more of the types of control features may include at least two modes of operation. In one such mode of operation restricted to one type of control feature, a user may change the nominal radius of curvature of the arc tool using a single cursor motion. In another such mode of operation shared by multiple types of control features, a user may rotate the region of interest of the arc tool using a single cursor motion.
US07769218B2
A system and method for automatically adjusting parameters of an imaging machine are disclosed. The system comprises a storage device for storing demographic information of at least one person to be imaged. The system also includes a computerized platform to retrieve the demographic information from the storage deviced and to generate adjustment data based on the demographic data for a next person to be imaged. The system further includes an imaging machine to receive the adjustment data from the computer and to adjust at least one parameter of the imaging machine in response to the adjustment data.
US07769209B2
A biometric authentication device, which uses biometrics characteristic information to perform individual authentication, prevents declines in verification speed even when numerous biometrics information sets have been registered. A control unit registers broad characteristic quantities for blood vessel image data from an image capture device, together with characteristic data for verification. And at the time of authentication the control unit uses degrees of similarity of characteristic quantities to determine an order of verification, and performs verification of blood vessel image characteristic data in the verification order thus determined. The order of verification is determined based on captured blood vessel images, so that even when numerous characteristic data sets have been registered, verification can be performed in an order of verification based on a blood vessel image of the user, and the speed of verification can be improved.
US07769204B2
A system for detecting smoke in a monitored area includes: (a) a video device for capturing a series of successive video images of the monitored area as a series of two-dimensional bitmaps having a specified number of pixels, (b) a processing device having memory capability for storing said series of images and processing capability for analyzing the series of images, and (c) an analysis algorithm that runs on the processing device and has: (i) an identification portion for examining this series of bitmaps to identify indicator areas in successive bitmaps of adjacent pixels that have the potential for being used as indicators for the existence of smoke in the monitored area, (ii) a tracking portion for identifying the trends in the growth and movement of the indicator areas, and (iii) a trend comparison portion for comparing the identified trends to determine which of the trends are consistent with those produced by a smoke cloud.
US07769192B2
A speaker system comprising a magnetic circuit, a cylindrical shaped voice coil unit generating oscillation in the magnetic circuit, an oscillating plate extending in a circular conical shape from a outer peripheral surface of the voice coil unit, a dust cap connecting to the oscillating plate covering an open face of the voice coil unit on a side surrounded by the oscillating plate, a plurality of linking members connecting to the voice coil unit, and a detection unit. The link members extend toward a center axis of the voice coil unit. The detecting unit further comprises a first component part fastened to the linking members and positioned at the center axis of the voice coil unit closer to the voice coil unit side than the dust cap, and a second component part positioned facing the first component part and is independent of the voice coil unit such that the second component part is held between the first component part and the dust cap. The detecting unit optically detects the oscillations of the voice coil unit by means of a light that courses between the previously mentioned first component part and the second component part.
US07769189B1
Techniques for introducing background noise segments into signal data are provided. The background noise segments are constructed from a background noise print extracted from the signal data. The background noise print may be user specified, or automatically identified by the signal editing tool. The background noise print may be stored with, and subsequently loaded as part of, the project associated with a signal. The background noise segments that are generated based on the background noise print may have different durations than the background noise print itself.
US07769171B2
An aim to reach may be on one hand, to allow the reading of a content stored by a digital video recorder from a decoder of the local network regardless of the time elapsed between storage and reading, and on the other hand to prevent the transfer or improper copying of the content stored from one network to another. An aim may be achieved by a method of an embodiment, for transmitting digital data in a local network including members constituted by at least one first multimedia unit having a content storage device and at least one second multimedia unit intended to restore the content. The first multimedia unit may be connected, on one hand, to a broadcasting server of encrypted digital audio/video data and on the other hand to the second multimedia unit, each member possessing a security module including a network key. The first multimedia unit receives and decrypts the encrypted data forming a content broadcasted by the broadcasting server and re-encrypts the content previously decrypted. The method of an embodiment may include steps wherein the content is re-encrypted with a random key and transmitted to the second multimedia unit accompanied by an authorization block including the random key encrypted with the network key, the second multimedia unit decrypts the authorization block, and extracts the random key to be used for decrypting the content.
US07769163B2
A display apparatus for an electronic device which takes on the appearance of an unrelated object is disclosed. The electronic device display apparatus has an upper surface, wherein the upper surface is shaped to resemble an unrelated object. A portion of the upper surface is moveable between an open position and a closed position. When closed, the movable surface completes the upper surface and further enhances the display properties of the device. When open, the device is suitable for holding and displaying an electronic device. Interior to the apparatus are one or more electronic device supporting surfaces to support the electronic device at the desired display position. Also interior to the apparatus is a passage which permits a user to thread or otherwise route a battery charging cord into the apparatus. The apparatus also has a bottom surface which can resemble the underside of the unrelated object.
US07769160B1
A system, method, and computer readable medium for routing an agent to a preferred communications platform in order to receive a customer call comprises: a web server call notification module that receives an automatic number identification and information relating to an establishment whose phone number was dialed, a virtual automated call distributor (VACD), an interactive voice response (IVR) system that requests an agent's identification from the VACD, where the VACD and the web server are coupled to the IVR system, where the VACD selects the agent's identification and routes a customer's information to an agent desktop environment (ADE) coupled to the VACD, and an access platform that receives the customer's information and updates an ADE phone control state session on an agent's desktop, where the IVR system queries the ADE for user name information relating to the web server, where the ADE queries an agent table for a user name, and where the agent is routed to a preferred communications platform at any time based on at least one of: a site, a project identification, a project load, and an attribute of the agent.
US07769156B2
A method for facilitating a data session in a communications environment is provided that includes receiving, at a first endpoint, a call that was initiated by a second endpoint. The first endpoint is already engaged in a previous call. The method further includes invoking a reverse eCamp-On™ feature in response to receiving the call from the second endpoint such that the first endpoint initiates a new call to the second endpoint once the previous call is completed.
US07769155B2
A ringback/ringtone synchronization system for utilizing ringtones as replacement ringback announcements is disclosed. Communications devices activate and interact with the ringback/ringtone synchronization system to allow for modifications of the network service.
US07769154B1
A system for controlling the presence of a user perceived by contacts is provided. In particular, a rules engine receives a number of inputs related to the desired accessibility of the user, and from such inputs generates a perceived presence for the user that can be used to control how the user is notified of an incoming communication. Inputs may include an accessibility rating assigned to a contact, the physical presence of the user, the user selected desired accessibility level, and environmental factors. The system allows a user to limit distractions from unimportant contacts or while the user is engaged in other tasks, while allowing more important contacts to have immediate access to the user.
US07769152B2
A multifunction device previously stores a line connection condition of when a line interface received caller ID information in an EEPROM, and determines that a line with an exchange is connected based on a first ringing signal or a second ringing signal. When it is determined based on the first ringing signal that a line connection is a first type of connection, the line is connected according to the line connection condition. On the other hand, when it is determined based on the second ring signal that a line connection is a second type of connection, the line is connected using a line connection condition, which is adjusted by an adjustment device at the time of determination.
US07769134B1
In a method for use of x-ray diffraction to measure the strain on the top silicon germanium layer of an SOI substrate, the location of the peak diffraction area of an upper silicon layer of the SOI substrate is determined by first determining the peak diffraction area of the upper silicon layer on a reference pad (where the SOI thickness is about 700-900 Angstroms) within a die formed on a semiconductor wafer. The x-ray beam then moves to that location on the pad of interest to be measured and begins the XRD scan on the pad of interest to ultimately determine the strain of the top silicon germanium layer of the pad of interest.
US07769132B1
Effective atomic numbers associated with pixels in a region are received. An effective atomic number is associated with each pixel in the region. X-ray data for the region is received, and an item within the region is identified from the x-ray data. Some of the pixels in the region are correlated with the item such that the item is associated with an effective atomic number. An image of the region is rendered. The pixels of the item have a display style based on the effective atomic number of the item.
US07769130B2
An X-ray imaging apparatus is disposed with an imaging table that includes an imaging surface with which a breast of an examinee in an upright posture is brought into contact and handles that are disposed higher than the imaging surface during craniocaudal imaging. Grip portions of the handles slant so as to gradually become closer to a chest wall contacting portion as the grip portions approach the imaging surface. Thus, when an examinee is made to grasp the handles, the posture of the examinee can be made more natural.
US07769127B2
Cast collimators for use in CT imaging systems are described, as are methods of making them. Such collimators may comprise pre-patient collimators, pre-patient filter/collimator assemblies, and/or post-patient collimators. The filters and/or collimators may be made of any suitable high-density, high atomic number material such as lead, a lead alloy, tantalum, tungsten, tungsten suspended in an epoxy matrix, tungsten suspended in a slurry, or the like. Embodiments of these collimators comprise specially-designed channels and vanes that allow them to be precision cast to the necessary degree of accuracy. These channels and vanes are preferably tapered. These collimators and filter/collimator assemblies help minimize the x-ray dose to the patient by minimizing the scattered radiation creation mechanism and by collimating out much of the scattered radiation that would otherwise be subjected to the patient. These collimators may be cast as either single piece structures, or multiple pieces that can be operatively connected together.
US07769123B2
An apparatus for inspecting a nuclear reactor may include a track, arm, fixing device, and effector. The arm may be operatively connected to the track, the fixing device may be operatively connected to the track, and the effector may be operatively connected to the arm. The arm may have contracted and expanded lengths. The expanded length may be greater than two times the contracted length. The track may include one or more motors adapted to move the arm relative to the track. A method of inspecting, performing maintenance on, or repairing a reactor may include: operatively connecting a fixing device, track, arm, and effector to form an apparatus; inserting the apparatus into the reactor; fixing the apparatus within the reactor; and operating the apparatus. A method of operating a reactor may include shutting down; inspecting, performing maintenance on, or repairing the reactor; and starting up the reactor.
US07769117B2
A receiving method and a receiver of a telecommunication system are provided. The receiver comprises one or more antennas, a radio frequency unit connected to the antennas for receiving signals transmitted by one or more transmitters using a multitude of channels, and an estimator. The estimator is configured to select one or more channel pairs, each channel of each channel pair being a given distance from each other, determine symbol estimates for the signals of the channels of the channel pairs, remove the effect of data modulation from the signals of the channels of the channel pairs, obtain noise estimates by subtracting the signals of the channels of the channel pairs from each other, and determine a noise covariance matrix for the desired channel on the basis of the obtained noise estimates.
US07769116B2
Described herein is a method of automatic gain control and simultaneous digital correction of three types of variations in I/Q receivers: gain imbalance, phase imbalance, and DC offset. Three adaptation loops can operate simultaneously and use the output of an analog to digital converter (ADC) as their input, with the output driving digitally controllable analog components. With appropriate knowledge of signal statistics, the algorithm automatically optimally fills the ADC's full input signal range, providing an automatic gain control function and thus maximizing the signal-to-quantization-noise ratio. In so doing, it corrects gain imbalances between I and Q paths, while additional circuitry corrects DC offsets and phase imbalances.
US07769112B2
A method (1300) is provided for generating one or more waveforms (130, 140). The method includes: generating a first toggle signal (1130, 1330) in response to a clock signal (1110), the first toggle signal having one of a first positive shape, a null shape, and a first negative shape for each cycle of the clock signal; multiplying the first toggle signal by a first coefficient signal to create a first intermediate signal (1440); generating a second toggle signal (1140, 1330) in response to the clock signal, the second toggle signal having one of a second positive shape, the null shape, and a second negative shape for each cycle of the clock signal; multiplying the second toggle signal by a second coefficient signal to create a second intermediate signal (1440); and generating a first output signal (1170) by adding the first intermediate signal and the second intermediate signal together (1350).
US07769110B2
An adaptive algorithm is implemented that optimizes the slicer threshold by optimizing the tail distribution of a “+1” and “−1” histogram. Through the use of a low resolution and under-sampled ADC, a histogram of received bit may be created. The difference between the y-intersects of lines derived from the “+1” and “−1” histogram is used to determine an error function. The algorithm iteratively updates the threshold value based on this error function.
US07769101B2
Various systems and methods providing high speed decoding, enhanced power reduction and clock domain partitioning for a multi-pair gigabit Ethernet transceiver are disclosed. ISI compensation is partitioned into two stages; a first stage compensates ISI components induced by characteristics of a transmitters partial response pulse shaping filter in a demodulator, a second stage compensates ISI components induced by characteristics of a multi-pair transmission channel in a Viterbi decoder. High speed decoding is accomplished by reducing the DFE depth by providing an input signal from a multiple decision feedback equalizer to the Viterbi based on a tail value and a subset of coefficient values received from a unit depth decision-feedback equalizer. Power reduction is accomplished by adaptively truncating active taps in the NEXT, FEXT and echo cancellation filters, or by disabling decoder circuitry portions, as channel response characteristics allow. A receive clock signal is generated such that it is synchronous in frequency with analog sampling clock signals and has a particular phase offset with respect to one of the sampling clock signals. This phase offset is adjusted such that system performance degradation due to coupling of switching noise from the digital sections to the analog sections is substantially minimized.
US07769095B2
An apparatus for timing recovery in an OFDM system comprises a third order phase lock loop comprising a Fast Fourier Transform stage for receiving a number of input signals in the time domain and transforming the signals to the frequency domain. A phase rotation stage adjusts the phase of one or more of the transformed signals. A frequency offset estimation stage estimates frequency offset between sampled signals and a first accumulator accumulates the frequency offset estimates. A low pass filter couplable to an output of the first accumulator stabilizes the phase lock loop. A second accumulator accumulates outputs of the low pass filter and controls phase rotation in the phase rotation stage. A controller controls timing associated with the window of operation of the Fast Fourier Transform process and is itself controlled by the second accumulator. There is also disclosed a receiver comprising the above apparatus and a method for timing recovery in an OFDM system.
US07769091B2
A communication system includes a first device and a second device connected to the first device by a single communication line. The first device includes a first transmitting portion which transmits to the second device a pulse signal set to a predetermined cycle that differs according to data, and a first receiving portion which reads data transmitted from the second device based on a voltage value of a transmission signal transmitted over the communication line. The second device includes a second transmitting portion which transmits to the first device a voltage signal set to a predetermined voltage value that differs according to the data, and a second receiving portion which reads data transmitted from the first device based on a pulse signal cycle of the transmission signal transmitted over the communication line.
US07769089B1
A method of reducing noise levels in an input video signal comprising pixel data includes receiving input pixel data of the input video signal, where the input pixel data comprises luminance data and chrominance data, and estimating a noise level of the input video signal using the luminance data of the input pixel data. A plurality of filter parameters are identified based on the estimated noise level, and the input pixel data is filtered using a three dimensional spatiotemporal noise reduction filter that is controlled by a first set of the plurality of filter parameters. Thereafter, the method includes filtering the filtered input pixel data using a one dimensional temporal noise reduction filter with motion compensation that is controlled by a second set of the plurality of filter parameters, and generating a noise-filtered output video signal that includes the filtered input pixel data from the three dimensional spatiotemporal noise reduction filter and the motion compensated filtered input pixel data from the one dimensional temporal noise reduction filter.
US07769088B2
A CABAC decoding engine is devised to cover all aspects of decoding all CABAC-coded syntax elements for AVC. This CABAC decoding engine acts like a Co-processor to another Processor (CPU), which guides the decoding of the bit stream. The CABAC decoding engine or Co-processor has the following highlights: unique context model retrieving and storing method is developed to allow a complete syntax element to be decoded in one hardware (H/W) execution cycle (not necessarily one clock cycle.); H/W assisted approach is provided to accelerate context model initialization; H/W based approach is incorporated to allow fast de-binarization; H/W based approach is provided to allow a block of syntax elements to be decoded instead of one by one; and dedicated H/W accelerators are incorporated to decode special syntax elements.
US07769075B2
A method and apparatus for performing channel estimation using time-frequency localized pilots and de-noising techniques are disclosed. A transmitter sends pilot symbols which are localized in a joint time-frequency domain to a receiver for channel estimation. The receiver receives the pilot symbols and performs a time-frequency analysis, such as a discrete Gabor transform (DGT), to transform the received pilot symbols to a joint time-frequency domain. The receiver applies a de-noising technique, such as masking, to separate the pilot symbols from the embedded noise in the joint time-frequency domain. The receiver performs a time-frequency synthesis, such as an inverse discrete Gabor transform (IDGT), to generate a noise-removed pilot symbols in a time domain. The noise left after de-noising is only that part that overlaps with the pilot symbols in the joint time-frequency domain. The receiver then performs channel estimation with the noise-removed pilot symbols.
US07769070B2
Two end facets of a solid state laser medium function as resonating mirrors that cause a pumping light beam to resonate within the solid state laser medium, which becomes a resonator. A pumping means outputs the pumping light beam, having at least two longitudinal modes and a coherence length greater than or equal to the resonator length of the resonator, to be input to the solid state laser medium such that the laser beam resonates within the resonator.
US07769065B2
A semiconductor optical device includes a GaAs substrate having a surface with periodic projections and recesses for a diffraction grating; a III-V compound semiconductor layer provided on the surface of the GaAs substrate; and an active layer which is made of III-V compound semiconductor containing nitrogen and arsenic as constituent elements, the active layer being provided on the III-V compound semiconductor layer.
US07769059B2
The present invention discloses a high power Q-switched, intracavity frequency-doubled laser for laser ablation of soft tissue. Operating a high power Q-switched laser in a frequent on-off mode is highly desirable for laser prostatectomy. Giant first pulse may occur when a Q-switched laser is switched from laser-ready mode to pulse-on mode due to sudden depletion of stored energy in the gain medium. Such a giant first pulse may cause power damage of intracavity optics. Besides, temperature shock induced by sudden onset of a high power pulse train may cause optical damage on surface coating of intracavity optics. The present invention contemplates to suppress these giant first pulses and temperature shocks through pre-lasing and ramping profile of laser parameters. Reliable and frequent on-off operation of a diode-pumped, Q-switched, frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser is demonstrated for output power up to 100 W.
US07769056B2
A communication interface element for a communication module is provided, which module contains a message memory and a first data path to and from the message memory via which data and/or messages are transmitted to and from the message memory. The communication interface element provides an additional, second data path in the communication module and includes switching arrangement configured in such a way that predefinable data and/or messages of the first data path are transmitted over the additional, second data path.
US07769051B2
An optical transmission network is inherently asynchronous due to the utilization of a variable overhead ratio (V-OHR). The network architecture makes extensive use of OEO regeneration, i.e., deals with any electronic reconditioning to correct for transmission impairments, such as, for example, FEC encoding, decoding and re-encoding, signal reshaping, retiming as well as signal regeneration. The optical transmission network includes a plesiochronous clocking system with intermediate nodes designed to operate asynchronously with a single local frequency clock without complicated network synchronization schemes employing high cost clocking devices such as phase locked loop (PLL) control with crystal oscillators and other expensive system components. The asynchronous network operation provides for asynchronous remapping or remapping of any client signal utilizing any type of transmission protocol where the line side rate or frequency is always the same frequency for the payload signal and the local frequency at an intermediate node is set to a local reference clock in accordance with the payload type and its overhead ratio, i.e., the overhead ratio is varied to meet the desired difference between the line rate or frequency and the desired client signal payload rate or frequency for the particular client signal payload type.
US07769049B2
There is disclosed a packet generator and method of generating a packet flow. The packet generator may include a plurality of parallel transmit engines to form packets for transmission and a multiplexer to coherently interleave packets formed by the plurality of transmit engines.
US07769039B2
A system and method for complex determination of a user's busy state and for assigning a do not disturb (DND) filter. A first electronic device is configured to house a DND recognizer module. The first electronic device is further configured to store and execute a plurality of applications. A second electronic device operably associated with the first electronic device. The second electronic device having another DND recognizer module, a DND filter module, and a DND propagator module. The DND filter module is configured to determine whether a particular DND filter is associated with the current busy state of the user and to adjust the DND status provided a DND filter does exist. The DND propagator configured to propagate the DND status to all at least one device operably associated with the system provided a DND status exists for the current busy state of the user.
US07769038B2
A scheduler is adapted to schedule packets or other data blocks for transmission from a plurality of transmission elements in timeslots in a communication system. The scheduler determines scaled capacity measures for respective ones of the transmission elements, with each of the scaled capacity measures being scaled by a combination of a waiting time and an occupancy for a corresponding one of the transmission elements. The scheduler selects one or more of the transmission elements for scheduling in a given one of the timeslots based on the scaled capacity measures. The scheduler in an illustrative embodiment may be implemented in a network processor integrated circuit or other processing device of the communication system.
US07769032B1
A method, apparatus and computer product for assigning elements of a network into a plurality of domains is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining a weight for each of said network elements, creating at least one of said plurality of domains by assigning each of said network elements having a weight no greater than a desired weight threshold with a highest weighted neighboring network element wherein the weight of said network elements and the highest weight neighboring network element is no greater than a desired threshold value, and iteratively increasing the desired weight threshold and repeating the assignment of network elements to at least one of said plurality of domains until a desired number of domains having an accumulated weight less than the desired threshold value has been obtained. The method further identifies each of the network elements assigned to the domains providing communications between said domains.
US07769022B2
A system for scheduling the attribution of hardware output resources to data packets handled by different service providers is provided. The system includes an extraction device which extracts a Quality of Service parameter included in a packet header; a random value generator; a programmable key attribution device attributing a priority key to a packet depending on the Quality of Service parameter and on the generated random value, according to programmable rules; a scheduling device that includes a command generator generating packet switching commands in an order depending on the value of the priority key attributed to each packet header; and a switching device routing the packets towards hardware output resources in the order of the generated packet switching commands.
US07769014B2
A transmitting and receiving method of transmitting and receiving data between a transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus through a network that exchanges data using a packet includes: causing at least one of the transmitting apparatus and the receiving apparatus to secure a storage region corresponding to the data as a data region; and causing at least one of the transmitting apparatus and the receiving apparatus to store divided data, which is obtained by dividing the data in a size equal to or smaller than the size of the packet, in the data region to thereby perform the transmission and reception while managing the location of the divided data.
US07769001B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed for delivering messages that utilizes a message queue and a router/filter within a private data network. The private network is connected to an external data network such as the Internet, and has separate outbound resource servers to provide a high degree of scalability for handling a variety of message types.
US07768990B1
A method for acquiring signals received from multiple users in a single burst groups signals by power and sequentially processes the signal groups. A received sum of a plurality of user signals received in a burst is stored, and the transmitted symbols for each signal within a first group of the stored signals is estimated. A modified set of signals is then determined that excludes the signals of the first group. From the modified set of signals, the method continues by canceling multiuser interference among signals within a second group, and estimating transmitted symbols for each signal within the second group. The first and second groups includes all signals within a power band that defines the group, and the first band represents a higher power band than the second. Such iterative processing may continue for sequentially lower power bands until all signals are processed. A receiver is also detailed.
US07768985B2
Random access operation is performed under a communication environment in which a plurality of communication modes having different transmission rate coexist with small overhead. A high-grade communication station spoofs information of a packet length and a rate in a decoding portion so that a value of (packet length)/(rate) corresponds to a duration where the communication is hoped to be stopped. The other station receiving the spoofed information receives the rest of the packet with the designated rate during the interval designated by the value of (packet length)/(rate). In this case, the packet length and the rate are not those of actually transmitted packet so that this packet is discarded.
US07768984B2
In a communication system, information regarding a first modulation scheme applied to a frequency domain in a serving base station is received from the serving base station. A signal of the frequency domain is received. A second modulation scheme is set by estimating a modulation scheme applied to the frequency domain in at least one neighbor base station from the received signal. Channel state information is generated by estimating the received signal. An operation for selecting whether to use interference cancellation is performed using the channel state information, the first modulation scheme information and the second modulation scheme.
US07768976B2
The present invention provides a method that includes accessing a first identifier associated with an idle mobile unit having a first session with a first subnet and a second identifier associated with a second subnet and determining whether the idle mobile unit has moved from the first subnet to the second subnet based on first portions of the first and second identifiers. The method also includes determining whether the first and second subnets are included in a first plurality of subnets based on second portions of the first and second identifiers and selecting one of a plurality of call session transfer techniques for transferring the first session from the first subnet to the second subnet based on whether the first and second subnets are included in the first plurality of subnets.
US07768971B2
Methods for modifying a central frequency of a channel following a change in channel width between wireless devices are disclosed. The station desiring a channel width change notifies the AP and enters a constructive power management mode, which keeps the AP from sending frames to the station. This enables the station to move the central frequency without concern of data loss, then restores itself to a full-power state. Or, the station communicates the desire to switch channel modes after receiving a beacon frame from the AP, then switches the central frequency of the channel during a subsequent beacon, or during some predetermined time period prior to the subsequent beacon. While the central frequency is being changed, the station does not miss a frame intended to be communicated to the station.
US07768968B2
A method of optimising real cellular, wireless communication networks comprising the steps of providing location-referenced values of subscriber traffic for area elements; transmitting a reference signal of constant transmission power; providing a cell-referenced value of the power received from the reference signal; providing a model of the communication network having an original model network configuration, and iteratively optimising the model network configuration by accumulating and weighting the subscriber traffic values of the area elements and by locally adjusting the model network configuration, to provide an optimised model network configuration.
US07768965B2
A segmented access based signal transmitting/receiving method and a sequence allocating method for the same are disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of transmitting a signal of a user equipment in a communication system includes selecting a channel in accordance with at least one selected from the group consisting of a signal attenuation extent of a downlink signal to the αser equipment and a speed of the user equipment from channels differently provided based on at least one selected from the group consisting of the signal attenuation extent of the downlink signal and the speed of the user equipment and transmitting the signal using the selected channel.
US07768964B2
A method of operating a mobile wireless network is provided, in which, when there is a relocation, the connection may be continued essentially directly from the latest state before the relocation. User data is transmitted between a mobile station and a first base station, the user data being combined into data units, for example, packet data units, before being transmitted. For transmission of data units, transmission-specific information describing an instantaneous state of the transmission is stored in the mobile station, as well as in a first network unit at a higher level than the first base station. With the relocation of the mobile station from the first base station to a second base station having a second higher-level network unit, the transmission-specific information stored in the first higher-level network unit is transmitted to the second higher-level network unit to continue the transmission after the relocation essentially directly from its latest state.
US07768962B2
A method and equipment by which a radio access network of a wireless network communicates to a user equipment wireless communication device an indication that the user equipment is to flush one or more send buffers. A flag is included in a message to indicate that the one or more send buffers are to be flushed. The message is for example a message indicating reconfiguration is to be performed, and the flag (if set) is to be interpreted by the user equipment as indicating that the one or more send buffers are to be flushed prior to performing the reconfiguration. A corresponding method and equipment for a user equipment wireless communication device are also provided.
US07768957B2
A method of transmitting signals from a plurality of first stations to the same second station, said method comprising the steps of transmitting first signals comprising a first communication and first associated information from one of said plurality of first stations to said second station; transmitting second signals comprising said first communication, a second communication and second associated information, said second associated information differing at least partially from said first associated information, from another of said plurality of first stations to said second station; and receiving at said second station said first and second signals, wherein said second station processes said first and second signals in accordance with the first and second associated information.
US07768949B2
A communications system and protocol are described for wirelessly interconnecting a pair of bed and wall units that communicate the patient information, including bed exit alerts, from the patient supporting equipment to the hospital nurse call system. A linking procedure is provided for establishing a communications link to interconnect the pair of units, wherein the communications link fails upon detection of a third communications device simultaneously undergoing the link attempt mode. In one embodiment, the system provides for advanced collision detection by monitoring corruption of the end-of-packet byte within the periodic check-in message sequences between the linked units to prevent data corruption and future collisions. To ensure prompt interconnection of units, embodiments of the invention provide for a link reminder to alert the health care provider to initiate the steps for linking the bed and wall units whenever two or more unlinked units are in proximity.
US07768948B2
A method for transmitting data between a base station and at least one remote unit is provided. Conventional approaches to communication based on a predefined uniform transmission protocol do not function especially in open RFID systems with at least one base station and tags of a different (and variable) type and number, in which different customers are provided with one and the same tag solution. Primarily if several customers each wish to use a customer-specific solution, this can no longer be represented by a single uniform code. The method of the present invention makes it possible to introduce new, protocol-extending instruction sequences (protocol extensions) and to recognize these reliably as such, whereby these are not in conflict with the existing protocol.
US07768947B2
A plurality of communication channels are monitored to detect a failed communication channel. In response to detecting the failed communication channel, failover instructions are generated concerning an alternative communication channel. The failover instructions are provided to one or more client electronic devices.
US07768946B2
The present invention relates to a method, system and router device for determining resources in an IP-based network, wherein a probe functionality is provided at a specific router device (90) located in a predetermined area (RA) of the IP-based network (50). When a link state change is detected in the specific router device (90), the probe functionality (P) forwards a list of router devices located in the predetermined area (RA) to a resource managing function which then requests at least one of a topology information and a link information from the router devices indicated in the list. Thereby, the resource information at the resource managing function can be kept updated at reduced signaling load and fast response times due to the fact that resource information is requested only from predetermined areas and at times of change.
US07768940B2
A data delivery method for delivering data that are object of delivery, these data containing observation time and observation results of a prescribed object of observation, to a data-using terminal includes steps of: executing a delivery process when a delivery condition has been met; storing delivery history information that indicates the delivery history of the delivery object data; and, based on the delivery history information, generating packaged delivery information, which is information in which a plurality of delivery destinations to which the same delivery object data are simultaneously delivered are placed in correspondence. In the delivery process, based on the packaged delivery information, all types of delivery object data that have been placed in correspondence with the delivery condition that has been met are delivered to the data-using terminals of all delivery destinations that have been placed in correspondence with the delivery condition.
US07768935B2
Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide methods and systems to generate node-disjoint routing paths from a root node to each node in a network node set, identify potential intermediate office node (IO) candidate pairs from the generated node-disjoint routing paths, generate a per central office node (CO) serving cost estimate for each IO candidate pair, and identify a low cost IO candidate pair having at least two node-disjoint paths to the root node without traversing nodes along a diverse path between the low cost IO candidate pair and subtending CO nodes.
US07768920B2
The present invention discloses a policy managing device embedded in a network communication, adapted to dynamically regulate bandwidth in the segment between a user and a service provider for temporary providing of content. The invention also discloses a method for managing bandwidth allocation comprising receiving a request from the user or the service provider to increase the bandwidth, deciding whether or not to allow bandwidth increasing, increasing the bandwidth for a predetermined period of time and decreasing the bandwidth to the former bandwidth.
US07768918B2
A method for expanding a service VLAN space of a provider network is provided. A bit number occupied by a taq protocol identifier (TPID) in a TPID field is reduced to leave a plurality of spare bits. The spare bits of the TPID field is then used to represent a first portion of a service VLAN identifier. A VLAN identifier field of a tag control information (TCI) field is used to represent a second portion of the service VLAN identifier. The first and second portions are then combined to obtain the service VLAN identifier of the packets completely.
US07768912B2
To abolish grouping and realize a regulation of the whole terminal at a high accuracy in accordance with an optional regulation rate. A communication regulation state change instruction is output from the timer generator means 23 at a cycle corresponding to the regulation unit time communicated from a radio base-station apparatus 1 to a radio communication terminal unit 2. When the communication regulation state change instruction is output, a communication regulation state is determined in accordance with a result of comparison of the random number generated by the random-number generating means 25 with a predetermined regulation rate. A communication of the radio communication terminal unit is regulated in accordance with the determination. Thus, it is possible to autonomously determine whether the present state is a regulation state in accordance with the clock value of a timer by the terminal unit and change operation states.
US07768908B2
In at least some embodiments a system may comprise a first master device, a second master device, a redundancy manager coupled to the first and second master devices, and a slave device coupled to the redundancy manager. The redundancy manager is operable to receive a first data stream from the first master device and a second data stream from the second master device. The redundancy manager is further operable to selectively forward one of the first and second data streams to the slave device according to a prioritization of factors calculated to optimize an amount of valid communication to the slave device.
US07768905B2
To prevent communication between processes of different computers from being interrupted due to a trouble in one transmission route. A communication controller of a computer selects at least one of communication devices and establishes physical connections via the selected communication devices, in response to a connection request from a prescribed process. The communication controller defines the one or more established physical connections as a logical connection. When a trouble happens in a physical connection included in the logical connection, the communication controller establishes another physical connection via a communication device different from that of the troubled physical connection and includes this physical connection in the logical connection. When receiving a communication request applied to the logical connection, from the process, the communication controller performs communication via the physical connections included in the logical connection, in response to the communication request.
US07768902B2
Individual analog subcarrier signals are generated by processing one or more digital signals, e.g., symbols plus a cyclic prefix for each symbol, corresponding to the subcarrier to generate an analog subcarrier signal there from. In one embodiment, digital signals for each individual subcarrier are received and processed in parallel. Each generated analog subcarrier signal is subject to amplification, e.g., power amplification, prior to being combined with the other analog subcarrier signals. Power amplified subcarrier signals are generated in parallel, or, alternatively, some of the circuitry used to generate one subcarrier signal can be used on a time shared basis to generate one or more additional subcarrier signals with the results being buffered prior to being combined to form the transmitted signal.
US07768900B2
According to one embodiment, an information storage medium comprising a lead-in area, and a data area, wherein the lead-in area includes a control data zone storing physical format information which includes first information common to book types, second information peculiar to a book type, and third information peculiar to each kind of second information. The first information includes byte information indicating the book type and a version number, and the second information includes byte information indicating the major digit of a revision number and a disc indicator.
US07768899B2
An information recording medium (100) is provided with: a record information area (106) to record therein record information; an edge portion area (104, 108, 109) which is located in at least one edge portion of the record information area; and a flag area (121) to record therein a first pre-record flag for indicating whether or not predetermined pre-information is pre-recorded in at least one portion of the edge portion area.
US07768894B2
The present invention relates to a holographic storage medium, and more specifically to a holographic storage medium with an improved servo architecture for precise positioning of a laser beam in radial, axial and tangential direction. According to the invention, a holographic storage medium includes a holographic layer for storing holograms and a servo layer with a track structure for positioning a light beam for reading and/or recording of a hologram relative to the holographic recording medium, wherein the track structure includes a pack of two or more tracks.
US07768893B2
A recording medium comprising a recording area, the recording area includes a first area and a second area, the first area includes a frame area, the frame area includes an area in which a second synchronization code sequence and at least a portion of data are to be recorded, and the second area includes an area in which a third synchronization code sequence and a fourth synchronization code sequence are to be recorded.
US07768890B2
The present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for calibrating focus balance in an optical disk drive. A focus servo unit controls a pick-up head to focus and read a mark for generating an RF signal. A jitter generator separates a jitter signal from the RF signal to form a jitter frequency. A focus balance unit compares sequential jitter frequencies to check the convergence and the goal, and determines the direction and variable of calibrating focus balance to generate an error signal. A compensator receives the error signal through the focus servo unit to control the pick-up head for calibrating focus balance.
US07768887B2
When user data fails to be recorded in an address of a user data area, the same data is recorded in an address of a spare area. Information indicating that the data for the address of the user data area is recorded in the address of the spare area is registered in a DL that is loaded in a buffer memory, and the information is recorded in a currently-valid DL area of DMA1. As similar thereto, the information is recorded in a currently-valid DL area of DMA2. If the recording fails, the DL is alternatively recorded in another DL area of the same DMA2. Thereafter, DDSs of DMA2 are deleted, and then, without changing information of the number of times of updating the DDSs, only the staring address of the DL of the DDSs is updated. According to the updating method, it is possible to shorten the time required for updating management information of a medium in an information recording/reproducing apparatus. In addition, it is possible to reduce the number of times of updating management information of an optical disk medium.
US07768879B2
An optical pickup includes a lens holder holding an objective lens for converging a light beam on a signal recording layer of an optical disk; elastic support members supporting the lens holder such that the lens holder can freely move in three driving directions, i.e., a tracking direction, a focusing direction, and a tilting direction; a pair of coil units attached to two sides of the lens holder, the two sides being spaced in a tangential direction orthogonal to the focusing direction and tracking direction; and a pair of magnets arranged to face the corresponding coil units. Each coil unit includes a tracking coil, a focusing coil, and a tilting coil for driving the lens holder in the three driving directions. The focusing coil and the tilting coil are formed by winding a focusing conductor of the focusing coil and a tilting conductor of the tilting coil together in parallel.
US07768876B2
A method of estimating the impulse response of a channel is disclosed. The method includes transmitting an impulse signal to the channel, detecting a received signal from the channel, and calculating an estimate of the impulse response of the channel by applying a calculated inverse matrix of the impulse signal to the received signal.
US07768871B2
A seismic processing method of the migration type, comprising the steps of:linearly combining downgoing waves generated at a plurality of shotpoints, and also upgoing waves recorded by a plurality of seismic sensors; notionally propagating the composite waves as obtained in this way in order to obtain migrated downgoing and upgoing waves for different depths; and determining at a plurality of depths at least one characteristic of the subsoil as a function of the upgoing and downgoing waves propagated in this way; the downgoing (resp. upgoing) composite waves being calculated by a linear combination of downgoing (resp. upgoing) waves in which said downgoing (resp. upgoing) waves are weighted by the coefficients of a spatial modulation matrix which is a function of the positions of the shotpoints.
US07768859B2
A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device having memory cells is operated in a self-refresh mode and a normal mode. A mode detector provides a self-refresh mode signal in the self-refresh mode of operation. It includes a free-running oscillator for generating an oscillation signal independent of the self-refresh mode signal. In response to the oscillation signal, a self-request controller provides a self-refresh request signal in the self-refresh mode. The self-refresh signal is asynchoronized with the self-fresh mode signal and is provided to an address circuit to select a wordline for refreshing the memory cells thereof. The self-refresh request controller includes logic circuitry for arbitrating timing between initial active edges of the oscillation signal and the self-refresh mode signal and providing the self-refresh request and ceasing it, regardless of conflict between the self-refresh mode signal and the oscillation signal upon self-refresh mode entry and exit. The DRAM devices perform and achieve reliable self-refresh for variable DRAM cell retention time.
US07768852B2
A precharge circuit in a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a burst setting unit for controlling a state of a burst setting signal using delay elements in response to a burst start signal, wherein the delay elements operate in synchronization with a clock signal when the burst setting signal is deactivated, a burst termination unit for generating a burst termination signal in response to the burst setting signal, a precharge control unit for generating a read precharge control signal and a write precharge control signal in response to the burst termination signal, and a precharge signal generating unit for generating a precharge signal using the read precharge control signal or the write precharge control signal according to a read or write operation.
US07768851B2
A SRAM cell write performance evaluation circuit includes a SRAM core where each wordline is connected to only one bit column. A ring oscillator circuit is used to generate wordline pulses. A state machine controls operations for the SRAM cell write performance evaluation circuit including the ring oscillator circuit and the SRAM core. A control signal is applied to the state machine to select a first write operation, where the circuit simultaneously writes all the cells to a known state with wide wordlines to ensure all cells are written. Then a second write operation is selected, and all the wordlines are launched simultaneously to write the cells to the opposite state. From these write operations, a required wordline pulse width to write the cell is identified.
US07768847B2
The present disclosure provides semiconductor devices and methods, systems, and apparatus for testing and operating the same. A semiconductor memory device includes data storage elements and a repair circuit. The data storage elements include primary data storage elements and one or more redundant data storage elements, the primary data storage elements having respective addresses for memory access operations. The repair circuit is programmable by another semiconductor device separate from the memory device to recognize a malfunctioning address of the primary data storage elements and the programmed repair circuit is configured to reroute memory access from a primary data storage element having the recognized malfunctioning address to a corresponding redundant data storage element.
US07768844B2
This disclosure concerns a memory including memory cell arrays including word lines extending in a first direction, bit lines extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, and memory cells provided to respectively correspond to cross-points in form of a lattice constituted by the word lines and the bit lines; sense amplifiers provided to respectively correspond to the bit lines and reading data stored in the memory cells; and bit line drivers provided to the bit lines and operating the bit lines when data is written to the memory cells, wherein the bit line drivers access the memory cells adjacent to a first memory cell diagonally with respect to the form of the lattice for writing the data to the adjacent memory cells during a data write operation without changing data stored in the memory cells adjacent to the first memory cell in the first and the second directions.
US07768814B2
The present invention provides a method for measuring statistics of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) process parameters for improving yield and performance of a DRAM. The basic principles for measuring capacitance are similar to charge based capacitance (CBCM), however the present invention differs in several fundamental aspects. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a selection of a storage cell of the DRAM; measuring a storage cell capacitance (Ccell) of the storage cell; measuring a local bitline capacitance (Cbl) of the storage cell; measuring a transfer device voltage (VT) of the storage cell; computing a transfer ratio (TR) for the storage cell; and measuring a data retention time for the storage cell.
US07768808B2
A controller for controlling a controlled switching device functioning as a synchronous rectifier of alternating current, the controller comprising a control circuit for sensing the direction of current through the controlled switching device, the controlled switching device comprising a MOSFET having a conduction channel and a parasitic body diode and having two main current carrying terminals and a control terminal, the control circuit generating a control signal provided to the control terminal to turn on the controlled switching device approximately when current begins to flow in a first direction through the controlled switching device and turn off the controlled switching device approximately when current begins to flow in a second opposite direction through the controlled switching device, further wherein the control circuit for sensing the direction of current through the controlled switching device main current carrying terminals comprises a sensing circuit coupled across the controlled switching device for comparing a voltage across the controlled switching device to first and second thresholds, the sensing circuit causing the control signal to be generated to turn off the controlled switching device at the first threshold and to turn on the controlled switching device at the second threshold.
US07768805B2
The present invention relates to the control of active rectifiers for UPS systems. Aspects of the present invention relate to a control algorithm that is implemented to realize a fast rectifier control operation that results in the improved life of a battery that is linked to the active rectifier of the UPS system. Within aspects of the present invention under unbalanced load conditions, it is possible to select (he desired behavior between the two possible extreme conditions, i.e. implement a clean power input that results in the reduced life of the battery or implement a non-clean power input resulting in the improved life of the battery. Additionally, the present invention utilizes fast rectifier control and specific feed-forward action to make it possible to obtain the very rigid control of a dc link voltage, even under extreme step load variations.
US07768796B2
A flex circuit is populated on one or both sides with plural integrated circuit die. In a preferred mode, the flex circuit is populated with flip-chip die. One side of the flex circuit has a connective facility implemented in a preferred mode with edge connector contacts. The flex circuit is disposed about a substrate to form a circuit module that may be inserted into an edge connector such as ones typically found on a computer board.
US07768795B2
Electronic circuit device (100) is structured so that a substrate module unit that are formed by stacking substrate modules made of a first resin sheet with electronic component (190) embedded thereinto is inserted into housing (150) including connecting terminal (120), control circuit (130), and first wiring pattern (140), where the substrate modules are connected to each other electrically and mechanically. This electronic circuit device (100) dispenses with a mother substrate. Further, with slimming down of a substrate module, a substrate module unit with a large number of substrate modules stacked can be loaded in a limited packaging space, thus mounting greater storage capacity and higher functionality.
US07768782B2
An improvement for an assembly for use in a computing device which includes a microprocessor and a motherboard and a socket for receiving and making electric contact with the microprocessor. A heat sink is included which is in thermal contact with the microprocessor whereby a water barrier is applied to and proximate the socket for preventing water of condensation from contacting areas covered by the water barrier and a moisture absorbent surrounding the heat sink.
US07768776B1
An information storage device includes a housing having a cavity, and a sliding door partially covering the cavity. The housing has a first groove and a second groove on opposite sides of the cavity. The sliding door includes first and second edges adjacent the first and second grooves, respectively. The sliding door also includes first and second tabs protruding from the first and second edges into the first and second grooves, respectively. The first and second tabs define first and second tab lengths measured parallel to the first and second edges, respectively. There are first and second through-slots in the sliding door adjacent the first and second tabs, respectively. The first and second through-slots define first and second through-slot lengths measured parallel to the first and second edges, respectively. The first and second through-slot lengths are greater than the first and second tab lengths, respectively.
US07768771B2
A laminate electrode of a bendable supercapacitor has a carbon fabric element and an electrically conductive current collector element secured by staple-shaped metallic fasteners or metallic wires so as to prevent two elements from being taken apart when the laminate electrode is bent.
US07768770B2
A connecting structure of a lead wire is electrically connected to an electrode in which a polarized electrode layer is formed on a surface of a current collector plate. A region of the electrode, to which the lead wire is to be joined, is free from the polarized electrode layer. The lead wire is joined to the current collector plate by means of stitching and then compressed thereto. This connecting structure may keep a capacitance of a capacitor and improve contact reliability. An electric double layer capacitor having the structure and a method for manufacturing the capacitor are also provided.
US07768760B2
Power distribution busses and methods are disclosed that provide flexible protection and alarming capabilities. Various embodiments provide interchangeability of fuses and circuit breakers within the same power distribution bus configuration. These various embodiments also provide discrete alarming for fused lines, discrete alarming for lines with circuit breakers, combined alarming for lines having mixed forms of protection, and/or selectable alarming such as combined versus discrete in relation to employing all fused lines, employing all circuit breaker protected lines, or employing mixed line protection.
US07768752B2
An overvoltage protection circuit includes an output transistor connected between a first power supply and an output terminal, a load connected to the output terminal, a dynamic clamping circuit for controlling a voltage difference between the first power supply and the output terminal, and a clamp selection switch electrically connected between the dynamic clamping circuit and the output terminal, and a conductive condition of the clamp selection switch is determined according to a comparison between a reference voltage and a voltage of the output terminal.
US07768750B2
To provide a cordless power tool which can suppress heat generation of a protection unit and prevent the erroneous operation. A cordless power tool 1 includes a body casing 10; a battery 20 which is detachably attached to the body casing 10 and can supply electric power; a motor 30 which is housed in the body casing 10, and generates rotation force by the electric power of the battery 20; a cooling fan 40 which rotates by the rotation force of the motor 30; and a protection unit 50 which shuts off the power supply to the motor 30, in accordance with a detection result of the state of the battery 20, so that the battery 20 does not enter an overdischarge state or an overcurrent state. Herein, a passage of cool air generated by the cooling fan 40 is formed in the body casing 10, and the 16 protection unit 50 is arranged so that at least its part is located in the passage of the cool air.
US07768749B2
In a tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR) device, free stack sublayers are separated by an intermediate spacer layer that serves to ensure a uniform circumferential magnetization in the free stack, counterbalancing orange-peel coupling by antiferromagnetic exchange coupling. On top of the upper free stack sublayer a thin upper antiferromagnetic layer may be formed to act as a hard bias layer and suppress side reading. The thickness of the upper AF layer is established to tune sensor sensitivity to external fields as well as to promote greater sensor sensitivity.
US07768748B2
An improved magnetic head for a hard disk drive including a lead overlaid read head in which the read width and read gap are reduced. The read width, which corresponds to the distance between the inner ends of the overlaid electrical leads, is reduced by the fabrication of a thin read width insulation member prior to the fabrication of the overlaid electrical leads. The read gap is reduced by fabricating the overlaid electrical leads from a magnetic, electrically conductive material such as NiFe, whereby the overlaid electrical leads also function as a magnetic shield. The read gap, which is the distance between the first and second magnetic shields is thus reduced as compared to the prior art by the thickness of the electrical leads and the thickness of the prior art second insulation layer formed between the electrical leads and the second magnetic shield.
US07768746B2
A head gimbal assembly includes a micro-actuator, a slider, and a suspension that supports the micro-actuator and the slider. The micro-actuator includes a metal frame including a top support to support the slider, a bottom support to connect to the suspension, and a pair of side arms that interconnect the top support and the bottom support. The top support includes a rotatable plate and connection arms that couple the rotatable plate to respective side arms. A PZT element is mounted to each of the side arms. Each PZT element is excitable to cause selective movement of the side arms. The suspension includes a load beam having a dimple that engages and supports the rotatable plate in use.
US07768740B2
Apparatus for attaching a disk to a spindle of a spinstand includes a spindle having a fluid pressure port therethrough for delivery of fluid pressure. A spindle adapter is adapted to be attached to the spindle and for holding a disk. The spindle adapter has a piston movable therein to clamp a disk between the piston and an opposing surface in response to fluid pressure applied through the spindle fluid pressure port. A disk can be attached to the spindle by offering the disk up to the spindle adapter, and applying fluid pressure to the spindle fluid pressure port to cause the piston to clamp the disk against the opposing surface. The disk can then be spun up on the spindle.
US07768734B2
In a storage device, before activating a spindle motor (SPM) or continuously from activation until the SPM is stabilized at a target number of rotations, a voltage and temperature monitoring unit monitors the temperature in a disk enclosure unit and the voltage to be applied to an SPM driver. A current limit value calculating unit calculates an optimum current limit value not exceeding a rated current of the SPM driver, and a motor controlling unit controls the SPM driver and changes the current to be applied to the SPM so that the current does not exceed this optimum current limit value.
US07768733B2
Disclosed is a method, for erasing data from a magnetic tape storage medium (92) housed in a cartridge (86) containing a memory in which are stored the last written track position (yy) of the last written, most recent information and the last track position (xx) of past information written in the past and remaining unerased, comprising: the step of reading out of the memory (91) the last written track position of the most recent information and the last track position of the past information; the step (S124) of determining whether the data should be erased up to the last written track position of the most recent information or up to the last track position of the past information; and the step (S126, S128) of erasing the data up to the determined position, thereby shortening the data erase time of the magnetic tape while completely solving a security problem by making provisions to completely erase the data of the most recently written information or the data of the past information written in the past and remaining unerased.
US07768728B2
A disk drive that includes a head and a disk. The disk drive also includes a circuit that can detect head/disk contact from a jitter determined from a read signal provided by the head. The jitter may correspond to the time interval between two detected sync marks. Alternatively, the jitter may correspond to a change in frequency of a read clock generated from the read signal. These approaches allow for detection of head movement in a down track direction. Down track is a direction that is essentially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the head.
US07768707B2
An electro-optic device having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix pattern, including: a converging substrate formed of a transparent substrate having groove-shaped prism elements formed in an array pattern, wherein the prism elements are arranged along boundary areas of the pixels, wherein the prism elements each include a plurality of beveled portions arranged on side walls thereof in the direction of the thickness of the converging substrate, and wherein the inclination angle of the beveled portions arranged on an opening end side of each of the prism elements with respect to the normal line of the converging substrate on which the prism elements are formed is smaller than the inclination angle of the other beveled portions.
US07768703B2
A dual field of view sighting system uses liquid crystals, flip-polarizers and/or flip-mirrors to select between at least two fields of view.
US07768699B2
A phase difference detecting device includes a splitter for splitting laser beams into a first group which will travel along a first path and a second group which will travel along a second path, a beam selection/extraction unit for selecting, as reference light, one beam from the first group to allow it to pass therethrough, a path length changing unit for changing the length of the first path, a combining unit for combining the reference light and beams which construct the second group to produce interference light, and a detector for detecting the intensity of the interference light. The device changes the length of the first path using the path length changing unit to detect a path length which maximizes the intensity of the interference light for each of the beams which construct the second group, and determines a phase difference among the beams from the detected path length.
US07768687B2
A photoelastic modulator, comprising a driving block and a driver transducer for perturbing said block in a predefined direction to establish a standing wave extending longitudinally in said block and hence perpendicularly to said predefined direction. The transducer is affixed to said block at two regions of the transducer mutually displaced in said predefined direction, to minimize the coupling of lateral perturbation perpendicular to the predefined direction. A recess or gap may be provided under the transducer.
US07768682B2
A multi-dimensional printer profile look-up table for color correction is generated. First, an initial estimate for a black (K) component in a four-color color space for received color signals in the device independent color space is generated by using a three-dimensional parametric function. Next, initial estimates for the three non-black color components of the four-color color space are generated from the generated initial estimate for the black (K) component and the received color signals. Then, a printer profile including a map that maps the device independent color space to the four-color color space is generated using the generated initial estimates for the black (K) and the three non-black color components in the four-color color space.
US07768681B2
A CPU 200 obtains and analyzes one or multiple image data GD, which are to be laid out on ornamental image data FD. The CPU 200 also obtains and analyzes desired ornamental image data FD to acquire a color distribution characteristic (representative color Fc). The CPU 200 sets an analyzed correction level according to the result of the analysis of the image data GD and modifies the analyzed correction level based on the acquired color distribution characteristic, so as to set a modified color balance correction level. The CPU 200 adjusts the color balance of the image data GD with the modified color balance correction level and pastes the color balance-adjusted image data GD onto the ornamental image data FD according to layout control information LI to generate output image data.
US07768675B2
An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes: a media sensor that detects a type of a recording paper; a development unit configured to develop an image on the recording paper; a pair of rollers that fixes the image on the recording paper by nipping the recording paper bearing the image developed in the development unit and forcing the recording paper to pass by; a main heater that heats the pair of rollers by passing a current therethrough when the recording paper passes by; and an auxiliary heater that selectively heats at least one of the pair of rollers by passing a current therethrough when the recording paper passes by the pair of rollers in a case where the media sensor detects that the weight per unit of the recording paper or the thickness of the recording paper is equal to or greater than a specific value.
US07768674B2
There is provided an exposure determining device that determines whether exposure of an image represented by image data is appropriate. The exposure determining device includes a first evaluation value deriving unit that derives a maximum luminance reference value for each of blocks obtained by dividing the image into a plurality of blocks of the image data on the basis of luminance values of pixels constituting each block, and derives a first evaluation value for the image on the basis of the derived maximum luminance reference values for the blocks, and an exposure determining unit that determines whether exposure of the image is appropriate, on the basis of the derived first evaluation value.
US07768670B1
A system and method processes object oriented image data by initially parsing the object oriented image data into non-neutral image data and neutral image data. A second parser circuit parses the neutral image data into black image data, grey image data, and white image data. A neutral processing circuit processes the black image data, grey image data, and the white image data. The system also classifies object oriented image data to be rendered by an object oriented rendering system. To perform the classification, the object oriented image data to be rendered is received and classified and assigned as one of a plurality of possible first level object types. The process further classifies and assigns, to the object oriented image data to be rendered, one of a plurality of possible second level object types related to the first level object type assigned to the object to be rendered.
US07768662B2
A system for controlling access to devices using direct connect protocols includes a network of computers, printers, personal digital assistants and servers. Client devices are programmed to embed one or more access codes in job streams (e.g., a word-processing file to be printed) when requesting services from other devices. A method includes a device (e.g., network printer) parsing a job stream received from a client device (e.g., computer) to find one or more embedded access codes, identifying each embedded access code that matches a stored access code, and authorizing one or more device features associated with each identified matching access code.
US07768647B2
A multi-color cavity ringdown based spectrometer is housed in a light tight enclosure to detect the presence of trace quantities of gas phase molecules emanating from explosives, drugs, or hazardous materials being transported through the enclosure or compounds contained in a patient's breath. A method is also disclosed for detecting gas phase molecules emanating from explosives, drugs, hazardous materials, or a patient's breath.
US07768642B2
An imaging catadioptric spectrometer using a Mangin type lens and pupil lens adjacent to a grating. Electromagnetic radiation received by aperture slits is directed to a reflective portion of a Mangin type lens and redirected to a pupil adjacent a diffraction grating. Diffracted light is transmitted through a refractive portion of the Mangin type lens and through a corrector lens to image the spectral components of electromagnetic radiation onto a detector. The detector may be an enhanced detector utilizing an array of smaller spaced detectors. By balancing the powers of the lens elements, a single optical material may be used. In one embodiment, multiple aperture slits are spaced apart and decentered with respect to the optical axis permitting collection of opposing diffraction orders on two detectors. A wide field of view having a low F number is obtained with an operating wavelength range in the infrared from approximately 7.5 to 13.5 microns. The spectrometer is particularly suited to airborne applications.
US07768638B2
Systems and methods for facilitating focusing of an image scanner, such as a confocal microscope, are disclosed. Measurement of optical characteristics in certain areas of a test sample are compared to stored or baseline optical characteristic profiles to determine an appropriate correction to properly focus the scanner. In one aspect, the method includes obtaining a dynamic profile at a current detection region of a test sample and associating the dynamic profile to a profile selected from a set of stored baseline profiles. Each of the stored baseline profiles is associated with a correction.
US07768634B2
An inspecting apparatus and method including first and second illuminating units for illuminating a surface of a specimen to be inspected with different incident angles and first and second detecting optical units arranged at different elevation angle directions to the surface of the specimen for detecting images of the specimen illuminated by the first and second illuminating units.
US07768629B2
Device and process for determining a distance to an object. The device includes a low coherence light source, at least one lens arranged to focus light from the low coherence light source onto the object and to collect light reflected and scattered from the object, and a window arranged between the lens and the object. An apertured element includes a circular aperture structured and arranged to form a circular light beam from the reflected and scattered light, and a detector system is structured and arranged to receive the circular light beam. The detector system is sensitive to light beam diameter. Further, a determining device is structured and arranged to determine a distance to the object based upon signals from the detector system.
US07768624B2
The present invention is directed towards a method for determining deformation parameters that a patterned device would undergo to minimize dimensional variations between a recorded pattern thereon and a reference pattern, the method including, inter alia, comparing spatial variation between features of the recorded pattern with respect to corresponding features of the reference pattern; and determining deformation forces to apply to the patterned device to attenuate the dimensional variations, with the forces having predetermined constraints, wherein a summation of a magnitude of the forces is substantially zero and a summation of moment of the forces is substantially zero.
US07768621B2
There is provided a liquid crystal display device in which the wiring resistivity of signal lines is reduced. The liquid crystal display device includes substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween, a thin film transistor to be driven by a scanning signal supplied from a gate signal line, and a pixel electrode to be supplied with a video signal from a drain signal line via the thin film transistor, the thin film transistor and the pixel being provided in each pixel area on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of the substrates. The gate signal line is made of a multi-layered structure including at least an ITO film formed on the liquid-crystal-side surface and a Mo layer formed to overlie the ITO film.
US07768620B2
A method of fabricating a light weight and small size LCD, and an LCD fabricated by the same. The method of fabricating an LCD includes providing assembled mother substrates, wherein at least one of the mother substrates includes a polarizer, a buffer layer, and a transparent film sequentially stacked on an out-side thereof, and fabricating the assembled mother substrates as individual units by cutting the assembled mother substrates into unit cells.
US07768615B2
Apertures are formed in the common electrode or in the pixel electrode of a liquid crystal display to form a fringe field. Storage capacitor electrodes are formed at the position corresponding to the apertures to prevent the light leakage due to the disclination caused by the fringe field. The apertures extend horizontally, vertically or obliquely. The apertures in adjacent pixel regions may have different directions to widen the viewing angle.
US07768605B2
A display stack-up (300) is provided for a mobile electronic device (100) having an internal and external display, for example, a clamshell style mobile phone. The display stack-up comprises a backlight unit (114) and an external display device (110) having bi-stable optical states. The external display device (110) is placed in contact with, and is optically coupled to, the backlight unit (114). The display stack-up further comprises an internal display device (106) which is placed in contact with, and is optically coupled to, the external display device (110).
US07768604B2
A transflective liquid crystal display having a plurality of pixels, each pixel having a plurality of color sub-pixels. Each sub-pixel comprises a reflective electrode, a transmissive electrode connected to a secondary reflective electrode. The transmissive electrode is associated with a color filter, while one only of the reflective electrode and the secondary reflective electrode is associated with a color filter. The transmissive electrode is associated with a first charge storage capacitance. The reflective electrode is associated with a second charge storage capacitance which is adjustable depending on the operating states of the liquid crystal display.
US07768597B2
A liquid crystal display is disclosed. A first substrate and a second substrate correspond to each other. A plurality of first common electrode and a second common electrode are arranged on the first substrate. A plurality of first pixel electrodes and a second pixel electrode correspond to the first common electrodes and the second common electrode separately, and each of the pixel electrodes includes a plurality of electrode portions having a width l, tilted an angle θ, and separated by a distance w. A plurality of first color units and a second color unit are arranged on the second substrate and correspond to the first pixel electrodes and the second pixel electrode separately, wherein at least one of the width l, the distance w and the angle θ in the first color units is different from that in the second color unit.
US07768595B2
A display device includes a substrate, a pixel electrode formed on the substrate and allowing light to be transmitted therethrough, a micro-shutter electrode formed on the pixel electrode to be opened and closed, and a reflection preventing layer formed on an upper surface of the micro-shutter electrode. Because the reflection preventing layer is formed on the upper surface of the micro-shutter electrode to prevent light incident thereon from being reflected to be leaked out, the black color does not dim the display, thereby increasing the contrast ratio (CR), and sharpness is not degraded when displaying colors.
US07768589B2
A plurality of display elements each includes two signal lines: S1 and S2. An electrode 4, which is one of the electrodes constituting an element capacitor Cp, is connected to the signal line S1 via a switching element TFT1, while the other electrode 5 is connected to the signal line S2 via a switching element S2. The gate electrodes of the switching elements TFT1 and TFT2 are connected to a single common scanning line G. With this structure the drive voltage applied to the element capacitor can be increased even when a TFT has a limited withstand pressure.
US07768584B2
An active matrix substrate includes a substrate, a TFT formed on the substrate, a storage capacitor element formed on the substrate, an interlayer insulating film covering the storage capacitor element, and a pixel electrode formed on the interlayer insulating film. The storage capacitor element includes a storage capacitor line, an insulating film formed on the storage capacitor line, and two or more storage capacitor electrodes opposed to the storage capacitor line with the insulating film interposed therebetween. The two or more storage capacitor electrodes are electrically connected via associated contact holes formed in the interlayer insulating film to the pixel electrode and electrically continuous with a drain electrode of the TFT.
US07768582B2
A liquid crystal display comprises a first substrate having a pixel electrode, a second substrate adjacent to the first substrate and having a common electrode, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein a black voltage applied to the pixel electrode is in a range of from about 3V to about 4.4V and a perpendicular direction dielectric constant ∈⊥ of liquid crystals in the liquid crystal layer is greater than or equal to about 0.27 times of a horizontal direction dielectric constant ∈∥ of the liquid crystals.
US07768579B2
A power supply of a video and audio system is coupled to a first switch and a second switch. A power management unit is coupled between the first switch and at least one electronic device. An integrated circuit includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit is coupled to the power management unit and the at least one electronic device for controlling the operation of the at least one electronic device. The second circuit is coupled to a battery, the first switch, the second switch, and the first circuit for controlling the first switch and the second switch.
US07768576B2
There is provided a multi-screen synthesis apparatus that can execute display of video data and update of an OSD image without causing a user to feel a visual sense of incongruity, and reduce system costs. Periodic video source data and aperiodic OSD image data are written into a unified memory reserved for planes. The video source data and the OSD image data are read from the unified memory, based on a synthesis layout, for simultaneous display on a single display in a synthesized state. Video data to be written into the unified memory is decimated in units of a frame on an input video source-by-input video source basis. The decimation of the data is controlled based on display priority of the video data determined based on a multi-screen display layout.
US07768569B2
A color filter array (CFA) and image processing system wherein a color filter overlaying an image sensor has a luminance element (i.e. green filter in RGB space, or yellow in CMY space) that is made larger than the other two chrominance elements (i.e. red, blue or cyan, magenta). Additionally, overlaying micro-lenses may be sized to correspond to the relative sizes of the underlying color filters. The optimized filter array is compatible with existing de-mosaic image processing.
US07768568B2
An imaging module (1) comprises an upper portion (20, 60, 70, 80) and an under portion (10, 30, 40, 50), which are movable with respect to each other.The under portion (10, 30, 40, 50) holds an image sensor chip (10) and has a toothed recess (52) comprising alternating short slots (53) and long slots (54).The upper portion (20, 60, 70, 80) holds a lens (20) and has a rotatably arranged rotor (80). Protrusions (82) of the rotor (80) are positioned in the recess (52) of the under portion (10, 30, 40, 50), wherein the upper portion is pressed upwards under the influence of a spring (90).Every time the upper portion (20, 60, 70, 80) is pressed towards the under portion (10, 30, 40, 50) and subsequently released, the protrusions (82) of the rotor (80) are received by another slot (53, 54). In this way, the distance between the lens (20) and the image sensor chip (10) can be varied.
US07768564B2
This invention can reduce the circuit scale by synthesizing OSD data to be superposed on a picture of each resolution by using common OSD data. According to this invention, a video resolution converter converts an HD (High Definition) video signal into an SD (Standard Definition) video signal such as an NTSC or PAL video signal. A memory controller receives a sync signal identical to an SD picture obtained by frequency-dividing an HD video signal, and a sync signal based on an SD video signal, and reads out OSD data (4 bits per pixel) from the memory on the basis of these sync signals. The OSD data read out on the basis of the SD video signal is synthesized with the SD video signal by an SD_OSD_MIX unit, and then output. The OSD data read out on the basis of the SD sync signal synchronized with the HD is multiplied by an integer by an OSD resolution converter, synthesized with an HD video signal by an HD_OSD_MIX unit, and then output.
US07768560B2
A multiband camera control apparatus comprises a multiband camera section configured to be capable of capturing a plurality of color bands, a computer configured to control the multiband camera section, a user interface configured to transmit instruction information for the control from the user to the computer, and parameters configured to control the corresponding band in each of the plurality of bands. The user interface includes a switching instruction section configured to switch between the plurality of bands. The computer is configured to control the multiband camera section by using the parameter corresponding to the band selected according to the instruction to switch between the plurality of bands from the switching instruction section.
US07768559B2
Surface generation and positional gain adjustment techniques for an imager are described. Embodiments of the techniques use zones having flexible boundaries which can be reconfigured depending upon the type of lens being used in a given application. Each pixel within each zone is multiplied by a correction factor dependent upon the particular zone while the pixel is being read out from the array. The correction factors comprise coefficients that are different for each color channel and in some instances different for each corner of each color channel.
US07768557B2
An image capturing apparatus is provided having an image capturing device, an image compressing device, a recording device, a definition calculating device, and a residual recordable number calculating device. The image capturing device outputs a captured image. The image compressing device compresses the captured image using flexible compression. The recording device records the compressed captured image into a memory medium. The definition calculating device calculates a definition by summing the absolute value of higher frequency components in the compressed captured image before the higher frequency components are rounded off. The residual recordable number calculating device calculates a residual recordable number of images in the memory medium using the definition of a standard image, the file size of a standard image, and a residual recordable amount of the memory medium.
US07768549B2
A safety system receives access monitoring information from sensors to detect intrusion into a mutual exclusion zone by either an operator or mechanical equipment. The border of the mutual exclusion zone is segmented into portals that allow both the operator and equipment to access a common work area such as for loading material. When intrusion into one of the portals is detected, intrusion into any other selected portals triggers a safety violation. Access to the mutual exclusion zone via the other portals is prohibited until the interior of the zone is determined to be empty again.
US07768547B2
A monitoring system including N cameras, a digital video recorder (DVR), a monitor, a remote controller, a receiver and a host is provided. N is a positive integer. The N cameras successively shoot N sceneries, and output N successive images accordingly. The DVR receives and stores the N successive images. The monitor displays a monitoring screen. The remote controller outputs a wireless remote signal. The receiver receives the wireless remote signal and outputs a wire transmit signal accordingly. The host controls the monitor to display at least the successive image in the monitoring screen. The host has an on screen display (OSD) program. When the controller receives the wire transmit signal, the host utilizes the OSD program to process the wire transmit signal to become a screen adjusting signal. The host adjusts the monitoring screen according to the screen adjusting signal.
US07768530B2
A method and apparatus for verifying operation of process variable transmitters in process control or monitoring systems is provided. A process variable is measured with a process variable transmitter to verify operation of the process variable transmitter by comparing the process variable with a reference. A data entry is placed in a database which indicates operation of the process variable transmitter has been verified.
US07768529B2
A method and a system for image editing are provided. The method includes the following steps: firstly, search for characteristic curves of an image; next, approximate the characteristic curves with spline functions; then, when editing the image, manipulate the characteristic curves through control points of the corresponding spline functions; and then, reconstruct the image according to the manipulated characteristic curves.
US07768526B2
A method of propagating changes in a design model identifies a change to a changed element, creates steps to carry out the change, creates additional steps based on the change and on relationships between the changed element and other elements in the design model, and executes the steps to alter the model in a manner that reflects the change. The steps may be created in a manner that depends on other steps that have been created. A system for regenerating a design model comprises a model element, a step propagator, and a step executor. The step propagator receives a first step that represents changes in the model element, and produces a second step that represents other changes in the model element that are dependent on the first step, and the step executor executes the first and second steps.
US07768524B2
Systems and methods are provided for variable source rate sampling in connection with image rendering, which accumulate and resolve over all samples forward mapped to each pixel bin. In accordance with the invention, the textured surface to be rendered is sampled, or oversampled, at a variable rate that reflects variations in frequency among different regions, taking into account any transformation that will be applied to the surface prior to rendering and the view parameters of the display device, thus ensuring that each bin of the rendering process receives at least a predetermined minimum number of samples. In one embodiment, the sampling rate is variably set such that each bin is assured to have at least one sample point. In another embodiment, a tiling approach to division of the surface is utilized. In accordance with the architecture provided, the sample points of the surface are forward mapped to sample squares, other regions, of a rendering device, taking into account any transformations applied to the surface and the view parameters of the rendering device, such that each bin receives at least the predetermined minimum number of samples. A filter determines the value(s) to assign to each pixel based upon accumulation and resolution of all of the sample points that fall within the pixel bin(s), rather than assigning a value by selecting only the point sample that corresponds to the center of the pixel.Gaps or holes left by conventional forward-mapping techniques are eliminated by oversampling the source(s), and interpolated points are generated at a higher rate than the original source signal(s) to adequately cover the destination bins. A pixel, or sub-pixel, binning approach is used that accumulates and resolves over all samples, and performs particularly well compared to prior architectures in areas that have higher frequency content, solving the minification antialiasing problem and producing a high quality result. Anisotropic filtering is handled simply with the forward mapping approach by filtering over all samples that naturally accumulate after the forward map, and via variable control of the number of samples forward mapped to the bins.A variety of image processing applications are contemplated wherein variable rate source sampling, and accumulation and resolution of forward mapped point samples can be applied, ranging from 3-D graphics applications to applications wherein images recorded in a recording/storage environment are mapped to the arbitrary requirements of a display environment.
US07768520B2
In a video application, a method and system provide different sizes of data-fetch where the data transfer rate between a decoder and an external memory (e.g., DDR memory) is extremely high, as for example in HDTV systems. The invention in one form divides a reference frame into different tiles where each tile is hierarchically divided into smaller tiles to a level where the minimum tile size is the same as the fixed burst size of the DDR memory. The method also provides for arranging the biggest tiles into different banks and pages so that even if the block to be fetched falls across tile boundaries, the latency penalty in the tile transition will be minimized. The invention provides advantages also for progressive and interlaced data fetch.
