US07810955B2

A linear LED light module and system includes a heat sink, a printed circuit board, a plurality of LEDs, a power supply housing, a flexible electrical conductor, a first electrical connector, a second electrical connector, and a power supply. The heat sink is elongated in an axial direction along a longitudinal axis that is parallel with a greatest dimension of the heat sink. The PCB is in thermal communication with the heat sink and includes circuitry. The plurality of LEDs mount to the PCB and are in electrical communication with the circuitry of the PCB. The power supply housing connects to the heat sink. The flexible electrical conductor includes at least two wires that are configured to accommodate an AC line voltage of at least 120 VAC. The first electrical connector is at a first end of the electrical conductor. The second electrical connector is at a second end of the electrical conductor. The second connector has a configuration that complements the first connector so that the second connector can connect to an associated adjacent first connector of an associated adjacent LED module to allow a plurality of similar LED modules to be mechanically and electrically connected to one another. The power supply is disposed in the power supply housing and in electrical communication with the circuitry of the PCB and the electrical conductor. The power supply is configured to receive the AC line voltage from the electrical conductor and to convert the received AC line voltage to a lower DC voltage for delivery to the circuitry of the PCB to drive the LEDs mounted on the PCB.
US07810953B2

An illuminating device includes a light source module and a power supply module. The light source module includes a substrate, at least one solid state light emitting element, and a plurality of first heat-conducting fins. The substrate has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The at least one solid state light emitting element is arranged on the first surface. The first heat-conducting fins are formed on the second surface. The power supply module includes a housing with a slot formed therein. The housing includes a heat-conducting bottom plate and a plurality of second heat-conducting fins formed on the heat-conducting bottom plate. The light source module is detachably inserted in the slot with the first heat-conducting fins interleaved with the second heat-conducting fins and in thermal contact with the heat-conducting bottom.
US07810952B2

A method and apparatus for modulating a particular light source used for laser display are provided. The apparatus includes a digital modulator digitally modulating light output from a semiconductor laser to a frequency higher than a repetition frequency required for laser image display; and a pixel brightness adjustor inserting at least one high-speed pulse into a period of the modulated output light, which is required for a single pixel, and adjusting a brightness of the pixel by adjusting the number of the inserted high-speed pulses.
US07810948B2

An illumination device is provided that has a superior decorative effect achieving a favorable dramatic effect and atmosphere. Sub-panels (2, 3, 4, 5) having the same shape as a main panel (1) are mounted pivotally to each side of the rectangular main panel (1) via hinges (6). Surface-emitting parts (1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) formed of organic EL elements are mounted on the main panel (1) and each of the sub-panels (2, 3, 4, 5). By changing a set angle between the main panel (1) and each of the sub-panels (2, 3, 4, 5) and by independently controlling the lighting of each surface-emitting part (1a to 5a), a favorable dramatic effect and atmosphere can be created.
US07810947B2

A white LED light source device and an LED backlight using the white LED light source can produce, among other features, white light with sufficient luminous intensity, uniform color tone, and high luminous utilization efficiency. A light path for producing white light with favorable color mixture can be shortened. The white LED light source device can be configured to include a bluish green LED lamp which can emit bluish green light by the combination of a blue LED device and a green phosphor material and a purple LED lamp which can emit purple light by the combination of a blue LED device and a red phosphor material. The bluish green light from the bluish green LED lamp and the purple light from the purple LED lamp are subjected to additive color mixture to produce white light with a spectrum containing three primary color wavelength components.
US07810937B2

A protective automatic darkening filter (ADF) and an associated tool, such as a welding torch, are controlled by a corresponding communication unit. The invention helps to ensure that the tool is not activated before the ADF has reached its dark state. A communication channel between the communication unit and the ADF may be established using a wired or wireless medium.
US07810926B2

This invention provides for the automatic determination of a human's gaze angle. The gaze angle is assumed to be the same as the head angle (i.e., eyes looking straight ahead). It is determined by comparing the observed eye separation relative to a maximal eye separation. The gaze angle is then determined to be the inverse cosine, or arc cosine, of the ratio of these two measurements.
US07810924B2

Eyeglass frames for people with Down syndrome, for others having facial characteristics similar to those with Down syndrome, and those with a depressed nasal bridge or a low nasal bridge, the eyeglass frames having a bridge lower than the normal higher placed bridge and in general alignment with the optical center of lenses mounted in the lens frames, extensions to widen the temple distance to accommodate the broader temples of people having Down syndrome or facial characteristics similar to those with Down syndrome, lower temples to maintain the general alignment of the location of the optical center with the pupils of the person wearing the eyeglass frames; and shorter temples than temples for normal caucasians to accommodate the ears as located on persons with normal facial features.
US07810919B2

The object of the invention to provide a recording ink with excellent discharge stability and storage stability, which rapidly penetrates into a recording medium and forms a coating, and which will never generate smearing upon high-speed printing or double-sided printing, and which excels in marker resistance, and which enables high quality image recording with less bleeding, and the ink cartridge, the ink record, the inkjet recording apparatus, and the inkjet recording method using the recording ink. The recording ink containing at least water, a colorant, a resin fine-particle, a water-soluble organic solvent and a penetrant, in which the penetrant is a diol compound whose carbon number is 7 to 11 and the resin fine-particle is a silicone modified acrylic resin not containing a hydrolyzable silyl group.
US07810914B2

A liquid jet head includes head modules each having a nozzle plate with a nozzle orifice and a passage-forming substrate having a pressure-generating chamber. The chamber communicates with the associated nozzle orifice and is pressurized by the pressure generating element so as to eject droplets. A head case is placed at the side of the passage-forming substrate opposite to the nozzle plate and has flow paths for providing a liquid to the pressure-generating chambers. The liquid jet head includes a fixing plate that has openings through which the nozzle orifices are exposed and carries the head modules positioned thereon. A connecting member is connected to the surface of the head module adjacent to the head case and has flow paths which communicate with the pressure-generating chambers. A reinforced portion made of an adhesive filling a clearance is positioned between adjacent head modules fixed to the fixing plate.
US07810910B2

A fluid-ejecting device with simplified connectivity is disclosed herein. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a common lead is provided such that a plurality of electrical contacts on a fluid-ejecting chip are connected to the common lead, which is located on a single-layer-flex circuit. Because a common lead is provided at an edge of the single-layer-flex circuit adjacent the fluid-ejecting chip, fewer signals need to be routed through the single-layer-flex circuit to such edge, thereby reducing the complexity of such circuit. Further, bond sites at the edge of the single-layer-flex circuit adjacent the fluid-ejecting device are arranged in a manner that minimizes the required length of wire bonds for connecting such contacts to the contacts on the fluid-ejecting chip.
US07810907B2

Provided is a configuration for connecting common wires (a common power supply wire for connecting a plurality of printing elements commonly to a power supply and a common ground wire for connecting the plurality of printing elements commonly to a ground) to the outside, which configuration does not obstruct a constitution for reducing resistances of the common wires. For this purpose, the common wires are directly connected respectively to electrode leads of an electric wiring tape for external connection without use of electrode pads. In the case of this configuration, the widths of the common wires need not be narrower in vicinities of the electrode pads which would otherwise be in an edge of the board, and accordingly reduction of resistances of the common wires is not obstructed.
US07810900B2

A printer including a recording head, a flushing box and a movement mechanism is disclosed. The recording head has a nozzle-forming surface in which nozzle openings are defined and ejects a liquid through the nozzle openings. The flushing box has an opening corresponding to the nozzle openings and is capable of receiving the liquid ejected from the nozzle opening as a waste liquid. The movement mechanism moves the flushing box between a receiving position at which the flushing box is capable of receiving the waste liquid and a non-receiving position at which the flushing box is incapable of receiving the waste liquid. The receiving position is a position at which the opening is closely opposed to the nozzle-forming surface, and the non-receiving position is spaced from the receiving position.
US07810878B2

A vehicle body structure, includes: a pair of front side members, front ends of which are joined to both ends of a front bumper via impact absorbing portions, respectively; front-side-member upper members, which are arranged above the front side members, and front ends of which are connected to the front side members, respectively; front-side-member lower members, which are arranged below the front side members, and front ends of which are connected to the front side members, respectively; and a dash cross member, which extends in a widthwise direction of a vehicle body, and to which rear ends of the front-side-member lower members are joined. The dash cross member includes wall portions with which parts of the rear ends of the front-side-member lower members can be brought in contact, on a rear side of the vehicle body.
US07810874B2

An instrument panel support structure is configured for locating an instrument panel assembly in a fore/aft direction and an up/down direction within a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The support structure includes a lateral support bracket and an end bracket. The lateral support bracket is attached to a body panel of the vehicle and presents a support surface that defines an up/down datum feature and includes a rear edge that presents a fore/aft datum feature. The end bracket is attached to an end of the instrument panel assembly. The end bracket presents a first edge and a projection that extends from the first edge. The first edge abuts the support surface of the up/down datum feature to locate the instrument panel assembly in the up/down direction. The projection abuts the rear edge of the fore/aft datum feature to locate the instrument panel assembly in the fore/aft direction.
US07810873B2

A dashboard support extending between the A-pillars of a motor vehicle includes a passenger-side beam member constructed to suit a load exposure on a passenger side, a driver-side beam member which is constructed to suit a load exposure on a driver side and connected to the passenger-side beam member; and an air guiding channel which is made of plastic and arranged in the driver-side beam member. The air guiding channel is supported on the inside by the driver-side beam member so as to be aligned in its three rotary degrees of freedom and its translational degrees of freedom in travel direction and vertical direction. The air guiding channel has a sidewall which is formed, for securement in a direction transversely to the travel direction, with an outwardly directed protuberance for engagement in a receiving member in the driver-side beam member when the air guiding channel is displaced transversely to the travel direction.
US07810871B2

A vehicle body side portion structure is disposed with a pair of right and left roof side rails disposed along a vehicle anteroposterior direction on both sides of a roof reinforcement that extends along a vehicle width direction of a roof and connection portions that bond together the roof side rails and the roof reinforcement. First fold portions in vehicle width direction outside end portions of the connection portions are disposed in a position higher in a vehicle vertical direction than second fold portions in vehicle width direction inside end portions of the connection portions. When a side load F equal to or greater than a predetermined value is inputted, the first fold portions rotate and move towards the vehicle upper side with the second fold portions acting as supporting points, the first fold portions become bent so as to become convex towards the vehicle upper side.
US07810857B2

A protector assembly for attachment to a vehicle such as a truck. The assembly includes a base member which is permanently attached to the truck and a cushion member which is retained adjacent the base member by retainer. The cushion member is slidable relative to the base member between the retention position and a release position whereby in the release position the cushion member is no longer retained by the retainer. The cushion member includes a mounting portion formed from a relatively hard material which engages the retainer, and a working portion formed from a relatively soft resilient elastomeric material.
US07810853B2

A vehicle door lock (1) is provided having a lock mechanism (3) cooperating with a striker (5) of a motor vehicle. The lock mechanism (3) has a fork (11), which can be set to a release position, in which it permits engagement and release of a respective seat (15) by the striker (5), and at least one lock position, in which it retains the striker (5) in, and prevents release of, the respective seat (15); a latch (12), which clicks onto the fork (11) to lock it releasably in the lock position; a release member (6) operated selectively to release the latch (12) from the fork (11) and allow the fork (11) to move into the release position; and interacting portions (42, 43) whereby the fork (11) and the release member (6) interact to define different indicating positions of the release member (6) corresponding to the release position and lock position of the fork (11) respectively.
US07810846B2

A flange structure (10′) for a fuel supply unit of a vehicle includes at least one non-electrically conductive plastic fuel port (16′) having first and second ends. A non-electrically conductive plastic flange (20′) is integral with the fuel port between the first and second ends. The flange is constructed and arranged to be coupled with a fuel tank of a vehicle. Electrically conductive grounding structure (32) is associated with the fuel port and has an elongated portion (36) extending within the fuel port so as to be exposed to fuel, and an end (40) connected with the elongated portion. An electrically conductive hose (30) is coupled with the first end of the fuel port and is in contact with the end of the grounding structure thereby defining a discharge path such that static electricity generated when fuel flows through the fuel port can be dissipated through the discharge path.
US07810833B2

A ski boot binding securable to an alpine ski. The binding includes a heel unit having a base heel release threshold in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the ski to which the binding is attached. The heel unit includes a compensation mechanism that dynamically changes the base heel release threshold as a function of force conditions encountered by the ski during skiing.
US07810819B2

The invention relates to a method for damping vibrations on chassis bearings of motor vehicles, and a device for implementing the process. A process and a device are to be presented with which outstanding vibration damping and vibration isolation and noise insulation can be achieved over a wide frequency range with consideration of the driving states and roadway conditions which occur in motor vehicles. For this purpose it is proposed that the driving state of the motor vehicle and/or the roadway conditions are detected by way of sensors and that the at least one chassis bearing is modified to different characteristics to change its stiffness and/or damping depending on the detected parameters. The device is formed with sensors for detecting the driving state of the motor vehicle and for roadway conditions, with an electronic control device for processing the acquired signals and for selection of various controllable characteristics and at least one chassis bearing, the stiffness and/or damping of which can be modified.
US07810818B2

An active suspension system for a vehicle includes an active suspension element that is substantially rigidly attached to a frame of the vehicle such that a motion of an armature of the active suspension element is mechanically decoupled from a lateral motion of a wheel of the vehicle. A control rod is attached between the active suspension element and the wheel of the vehicle.
US07810817B1

A holder for replaceable tools and having a body with an opening along a longitudinal axis for snugly and individually receiving various tools. Two balls are on the body for engagement with the tools, and there is a projection into the opening for contacting the tool in a location diametrically opposite the location of the balls. A sleeve member is slideable on the body, and has two sets of camming ramps and cylindrical surfaces extending radially over the balls for controlling the radially location of the balls relative to the tool. The tool has a surface for abutting the body projection to thereby hold the tool free of radial deviation relative to the holder axis.
US07810816B1

A seal is inserted into a space to be sealed. First and second end portions of the seal are engaged with first and second end surfaces of the space. The seal is compressed between the first and second end surfaces. The compression strains the seal. The strain includes the rotation of a cross-section of the seal so as to bias the seal into engagement with a surface forming one of an inboard surface and an outboard surface of the space.
US07810808B2

A register roller conveys a recording sheet to a transfer position. A sheet feed roller conveys the recording sheet toward the register roller. A conveyance control unit controls rotation-start timings of the register roller and the sheet feed roller in such a manner that a rotation-start timing of the sheet feed roller is prior to a rotation-start timing of the register roller at a time of starting a registering process to convey the recording sheet to the transfer position at a right timing with the image formed on the image carrier.
US07810804B2

In order to maintain stackability while taking printing conditions into consideration, a control method for controlling a printing system for a stacking unit stacking a sheet printed by a printing unit, includes: determining whether or not a predetermined number of sheets on which the same printed data is printed by the printing unit are stacked continuously by the stacking unit; and controlling, in a case where a predetermined number of the sheets on which the same printed data is printed are determined by the determining unit to be continuously stacked by the stacking unit, the stacking unit so as to not continuously stack more of the sheets on which the same printed data is printed than the predetermined number of sheets.
US07810803B2

An apparatus in an example comprises a sheet holder, a separator surface, a feed head, and one or more arms. The sheet holder supports one or more sheets of media. The separator surface receives a leading edge of a sheet of the one or more sheets of media. The feed head is selectively positionable against a face of the sheet. The one or more arms extend toward an intermediate location of the separator surface to constrain the sheet from movement away from the separator surface.
US07810801B2

An apparatus and method for separating and aerating sheets of material arranged in a stack include a stack support member on which the stack is retained in a generally flat condition, and a clamping member which clamps onto an edge portion of the stack. Upper and lower rollers are positioned above and below the stack of sheet material, and an adjustment member converges and diverges the same into and out of engagement with the stack. A conveyor member shifts the stack of sheet material between the upper and lower rollers. The upper roller and lower roller are arranged in a staggered relationship, such that an imaginary plane extending between the two rollers is disposed at an angle with respect to both the horizontal and the vertical.
US07810791B2

A servo motor driven hoist includes a float mode in which a load is raised lowered in response to manually applied forces on the load exerted by an operator in which forces applied to the load as a result of accelerations of the load generated by hoist movement of said load are compensated for by sensing the accelerations and computing the forces resulting therefrom, and subtracting those forces from the sensed total magnitude of forces acting on the load to eliminate the effects of dynamically generated forces when in the float mode.
US07810785B2

A female undersea hydraulic coupling member is equipped with a pressure-energized seal configured to seal between the body of the female member and the probe of a corresponding male hydraulic coupling member in response to ambient hydrostatic pressure. In one particular preferred embodiment, the pressure-energized seal is a metal J seal retained within a removable seal cartridge.
US07810778B1

A height adjustment assembly for furniture has a control member automatically engaging a movable member of a piece of furniture by gravity, so as to hold the movable member at a desired height. When operated, the control member releases the movable member so that the height of the furniture can be readjusted and reset.
US07810772B2

A column suction-holding head capable of inserting columns into all the holes of a mounting jig collectively at once. The body of the column suction-holding head has elongate holes at the same positions as those of electrodes installed on a ceramic substrate of a ceramic column grid array, and suction holes are provided at the bottoms of the elongate holes. The column suction-holding head is superimposed on an alignment jig having columns aligned therein, and suction is applied from the suction holes. Consequently, the columns in the alignment jig are sucked into the elongate holes of the column suction-holding head.
US07810765B2

In order to allow, in particular in the case of an industrial robot for a hose assembly to be used, a simply constructed guide element which is flexible is provided. The guide element has longitudinal compensation for the hose assembly and is formed by preferably four guide rods which are distributed uniformly on a circular line and are respectively fastened at their ends to a holding ring. The supply lines running in the hose assembly can be flexibly guided laterally out from the guide element, to any desired sides, between the guide rods. A helical spring which surrounds the hose assembly in the guide element, is provided for a restoring movement.
US07810762B2

An insulator comprises at least three sections hingedly connected to one another, including a center section and a pair of outer sections. The sections are shaped so that if the outer sections are folded in a first direction relative to the center section, the insulator can be used with a first tube of a first diameter, and if the outer sections are folded in a second direction relative to the center section the insulator can be used on second tube of a different diameter from the first diameter.
US07810760B2

An accessory decoder for a stationary switch machine is provided. The decoder comprises a printed circuit board including a plurality of input and output connectors in communication with a microcontroller. The microcontroller includes software that allows a user to designate at least one primary address and multiple route addresses for the decoder. The decoder receives digital control commands and, via the microprocessor, executes the commands to alter the output of the switch machine. In operation, one or more switch machines, each connected to a decoder, are coupled to the tracks of a railway system. A user transmits commands to the decoder, controlling the overall output of the system.
US07810757B2

The invention relates to a mounting device in an aircraft. In one aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed for assembling a metal securement member of the mounting device. In another aspect of the invention, a mounting device is disclosed. In another aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed for installing and using a mounting device in an aircraft.
US07810755B2

A hydraulic distributor 10 assembles in a single body an assembly of hydraulic components that assure the supply of actuators for controlling the movements of the moving elements of an airplane landing gear, for which the movements of the landing-gear legs and of the trap-doors are assured by hydraulic actuators. The airplane includes two or more landing-gear systems, each including a distributor 10 with a single body. The body of each single-body distributor is advantageously created by removing unused parts from a body that can satisfy the needs of all of the landing-gear systems of an airplane, or by addition of extensions onto a minimal body that can satisfy the needs common to all of the landing-gear systems of the airplane.
US07810752B2

A collapsible wire reel is disclosed. The device comprises a stationary arm that can connect the device to a building's rafters during use and two supporting arms that support a spool. The stationary and supporting arms are collapsible and enable the device to be easily folded for storage and transport.
US07810751B2

A reel assembly comprises a drum configured to rotate about a drum axis. The drum is configured to receive a linear material wrapped around a spool surface thereof as the drum rotates about the drum axis. A housing substantially encloses the drum, wherein a portion of the housing defines an aperture configured to receive the linear material therethrough. A reciprocating mechanism connects to the drum and reciprocatingly rotates the drum relative to the shell about a generally vertical axis as the drum rotates about the drum axis.
US07810750B2

Detachable wearable electronic eyeglasses and head mounted gear with a plurality of electronic functions and interchangeable electronic function, and a wearable computer with optimal weight distribution and stretchable arms.
US07810749B2

A gyratory cone crusher with a conehead centerline and a main centerline being skewed and non-coplanar with respect to each other. The conehead exhibits an elliptical movement path which results in faster throughput and enhanced cubicity performance.
US07810748B2

The present invention provides a multi-purpose scrapping machine suitable for the scrapping work for not only discarded automobiles but also various kinds of wastes such as construction wastes and piping wastes. The scrapping machine is equipped with a hydraulic-actuated arm/boom assembly mounted on an automotive vehicle, a nibbling pincher for scrapping work mounted to the tip of the arm/boom assembly, and a pair of right and left power-driven clamp arms mounted at the front or rear of the vehicle. The scrapping machine comprises a peeling tool to clamp a covered electric wire to be scrapped from the periphery thereof by the closing motion of the clamp arms and to slash and peel off the outer sheath of the wire in the state of clamping the wire in accordance with the drawing operation of the core of the wire with the nibbling pincher.
US07810742B2

An ultrasonic fog generator including a container including therein an ultrasonic nebulizer and a liquid, the ultrasonic nebulizer operative to vibrate at very high frequencies and thereby break down the liquid into a fog including tiny vapor particles, the container having an exit opening for the fog to pass therethrough, and a driver and a driving fluid, the driver being operative to cause the driving fluid to flow past the exit opening and draw out the fog through the exit opening without the driving fluid substantially entering the container.
US07810736B2

A transaction product, which is configured to interface with and receive electrical power from an electrical socket, includes a support member, an electrical circuit and an account identifier. The electrical circuit is coupled to the support member and includes an electrical plug and an electrically driven device electrically coupled with the electrical plug. The electrical plug includes at least two blades extending from the support member. The at least two blades are configured to interface with the electrical socket such that electrical power from the electrical socket is transferred to the electrically driven device via the electrical plug. The account identifier links the transaction product to an account or record, wherein the account identifier is machine readable. Other cards, products, assemblies and methods of using such cards, products and assemblies are also disclosed.
US07810734B2

A card reader housing (20) has an exterior surface configuration (22) that includes a plurality of distinct surface portions (24-38) aligned at oblique angles relative to each other. The exterior surface configuration (22) prevents the placement of a skimming reader over the top of the card reader housing (20). In a disclosed example, a finger-receiving notch (50) is directly aligned with a reader (60) and has a depth and a dimension sized for receiving at least a portion of a finger holding a card inserted into a slot (46) in the housing (20). Any alteration of the notch (50) dimensions prevents proper operation of the card reader.
US07810726B2

A method to verify a product produced by a manufacturer, the method comprising the steps of attaching a unique product code to a product prior to delivery to a retailer, storing the product code with product information in a first database linked to a verification system associated with the manufacturer, distributing the product to the retailer and selling the product from the retailer to a customer, the step of selling including the steps of using a first computer to obtain the unique product code from the product, providing the obtained product code to the verification system, comparing the obtained product code with the stored product code and when the obtained product code and the stored product code match, preparing a receipt including a verification code and providing the receipt to the customer.
US07810722B2

A refueling environment is coupled to a remote facility disposed apart from fuel dispenser locations and is connected to a network. A user identification is sent to the remote facility. The remote facility establishes an access connection with a network node, on behalf of the customer. The network communications follow a client-server session format and are correlated to the user ID. The remote facility sends a cookie element to the server that was previously set by the server during an initial Web site visit. The cookie contains state information. The remote facility associates the unique identification number with the relevant user ID. The server uses the received cookie element to identify the corresponding user profile record maintained at the server side. The server generates customized content from the retrieved user profile record and sends it to the customer.
US07810712B2

A method and a device transport multiple items, in particular mail items, to predefined destination points. The respective destination point and a value of a predefined feature of each item are measured and stored. The item is transported together with other items in a transport device to an intermediate point. The transport device is furnished with a label which has a machine-readable identification. The identification is read. The transport device in which an item was transported is determined by the measure. After transportation to the intermediate point a value of the feature is measured afresh. In order to find a stored data record, a restriction is implemented on the search space to the data records of those items which were transported in the same transport device.
US07810704B2

A method for joining component bodies of material over bonding regions of large dimensions by disposing a plurality of substantially contiguous sheets of reactive composite materials between the bodies and adjacent sheets of fusible material. The contiguous sheets of the reactive composite material are operatively connected by an ignitable bridging material so that an igniting reaction in one sheet will cause an igniting reaction in the other. An application of uniform pressure and an ignition of one or more of the contiguous sheets of reactive composite material causes an exothermic thermal reaction to propagate through the bonding region, fusing any adjacent sheets of fusible material and forming a bond between the component bodies.
US07810697B2

A robotic welding system is provided that includes multiple welding cells equidistantly spaced in a circular arrangement, multiple perimeter light curtains to provide safety protection around the welding cells, a turntable centrally located in the circular arrangement, and multiple welding robots attached to the turntable. The welding system further includes a first welding process and a second welding process whereby both the first welding process and the second welding process each include a primary welding operation and a secondary welding operation whereby the turntable rotates between the welding cells to perform the primary and secondary welding operations.
US07810692B2

A disposable loading unit for operable attachment to a surgical stapling apparatus. The disposable loading unit may have a carrier that supports a staple cartridge therein, an anvil assembly that is movably coupled to the carrier, and an axial drive assembly that is constructed to move in a distal direction from a start position to an end position through the staple cartridge in response to a drive motion imparted to the axial drive assembly from the surgical stapling apparatus. A firing indicator is provided on at least one of the anvil assembly and housing for indicating a position of the axial drive assembly as the axial drive assembly is driven from the start position to the end position.
US07810690B2

A surgical stapling instrument including a staple fastening assembly with a curved cartridge device and a curved anvil. The cartridge device has at least one curved open row of staples which are formed by a staple forming face of the anvil (12). The anvil can be moved relatively with respect to the cartridge device (10) the device further includes a handle in the proximal end region of the instrument and is operatively connected to the staple fastening assembly. A flexible backbone, preferably an endoscope, is arranged between the handle and the staple fastening assembly and guides force transmitters of the moving device and the staple driving device.
US07810687B2

A feeding mechanism for feeding a web of paper in a paper handling system includes a feeding nip assembly having a driven roller structured to be rotatably driven about a first axis, and an idler roller structured to rotate about a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis. In addition, the feeding nip assembly is structured to apply a force to the idler roller to push the idler roller toward the driven roller. The force is applied in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis. The idler roller is also structured to pivot about a third axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, the second axis, and the direction of the force.
US07810686B2

The invention is a watercraft carrier that can be easily loaded and secured. The carrier has a base and an arm with a belt that runs the length of both the base and the arm. A watercraft is placed within upon the base and against the arm. Then the belt is extended using a crank so that the belt come around the watercraft and the belt is secured using a fastener that is attached to the end of the belt. Then the belt is tightened to secure the watercraft by turning the crank the other direction or by use of a ratchet. In the preferred embodiment, the belt has a flexible stiffener added to make the belt stiffer, but still flexible enough to secure any shaped watercraft.
US07810680B2

The present invention is a top for a dispensing container. The top includes a base, a nozzle portion extending from a first end of the base, and a tab integrally formed with the nozzle portion at a neck down portion. The nozzle portion has an outer wall defining an internal conduit for passage of a liquid, powder and/or gel. The tab includes a tip end sealing the internal conduit and at least one shock absorbing portion. When the tab is twisted, the tip end is removed from the nozzle portion at the neck down portion, thereby opening the internal conduit. The shock absorbing portion can include a slot, an area with reduced thickness, a flex area, or a combination thereof. The top can be included on a container for storing liquids, powders and/or gels.
US07810674B2

A dispense apparatus and system for dispensing suspensions or emulsions. The system ensures uniformity of distribution of the dispersed phase within the continuous-phase liquid by moving the fluid through the dispense cartridge, such as with a continuous or pulsating flow. In one embodiment, peristaltic pumps are positioned upstream and downstream of the dispense cartridge, in fluid communication with and forming a single loop with a fluid source. Circulation between the fluid source and the dispense cartridge is maintained. In a second embodiment, a pump circulates fluid into and out of the dispense cartridge and is also in fluid communication with a fluid source such as with a pinch valve to allow proper filling of the dispense cartridge from the fluid source. In a third embodiment, a reversing pump is placed between the dispense cartridge and fluid source to continually or continuously pump fluid into and out of the dispense cartridge.
US07810662B2

A nursery bottle with an automatic shut off mechanism for inhibiting tooth decay. A nipple is attached to a shut off valve, and the shut off valve is attached to a bottle body. The nipple, the bottle body and the shut off valve are in fluid communication with each other. The shut off valve includes a timing mechanism, where the timing mechanism is coupled to a reset actuator that operates the timing mechanism to open the shut off valve for a feeding time period, and where the shut off valve closes to shut off fluid flow into the nipple after the feeding time period expires.
US07810657B2

A product display unit (10) has a product support surface of selectively adjustable area. The unit comprises an attachment (13, 14) for securing to a support structure (15) and a cantilevered support member (11) extending from the attachment in a first length direction. A plurality of elongate support arms (23) extend lengthwise in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first length direction. Each support arm (23) is pivotably attached to the cantilevered support member for movement between a first position and a second position to vary the area of the product display unit available to support product. Each support arm may also be telescopically movable from the second position to a third position to further vary the product support area.
US07810653B2

Apparatus and method for mounting a device to a rack system. One embodiment of a system comprises a frame assembly. At least two rails mounted on opposite sides of the frame assembly. A plurality of hangers provided on opposite sides of the device retracting to fit the device into the frame assembly between the at least two rails. The plurality of hangers engaging the at least two rails to support the device on the at least two rails in the frame assembly.
US07810652B2

The present invention discloses a novel method to improve the selectivities of polybenzoxazole (PBO) membranes prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. The PBO membranes that were prepared by thermal treating aromatic polyimide membranes containing between 0.05 and 20 wt-% of a poly(styrene sulfonic acid) polymer. These polymers showed up to 95% improvement in selectivity for CO2/CH4 and H2/CH4 separations compared to PBO membranes prepared from corresponding aromatic polyimide membranes without a poly(styrene sulfonic acid) polymer.
US07810646B2

A separation system includes an air separator that in one embodiment primarily receives Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) containing relatively light MSW recyclable materials such as paper, cardboard, plastic containers, and/or metal containers. The air separator blows the relatively light MSW recyclable materials up though a chamber and onto a first conveyer while the other relatively heavy MSW material drops down a chute onto a second conveyer. A separation screen receives the relatively light MSW recyclable materials from the air separator and separates the relatively flat paper and cardboard from the plastic and metal containers.
US07810637B2

A flat belt conveyor that is flexible along its length and has a chevron drive and a matching drive drum with helical drive surfaces on its periphery to drive and track the belt. The flat belt may comprise a series of flexible modules, or belt segments, of one or more lengths joined end to end to form an endless belt of desired length.
US07810632B2

A vibratory conveying apparatus has a simple structure and can align and sort parts to a desired posture. The vibratory conveying apparatus comprising a conveying chute having a first conveying surface that is connected to a driving source by a leaf spring that is reciprocatingly vibrated by the driving source. The vibratory conveying apparatus also comprises a linear return chute having a second conveying surface to return sorted parts dropped from the conveying chute during alignment or another sorting process performed on the conveying chute. A deflectable motion transmitter transmits vibration from the first conveying surface of the conveying chute to the second conveying surface of the return chute.
US07810625B2

A sintered clutch ring (1) is described, comprising a rim of clutch teeth (2) which comprise wedge-like face surfaces (3, 4) intersecting in an axial plane and flanks (5) sloping downwardly under an angle of inclination from the tooth back (6) against the tooth root, with the flanks (5) being relieved starting from a re-entrant, axially normal shoulder (7). In order to provide advantageous conditions for press forming the flank reliefs it is proposed that the planes of intersection between the wedge-like face surfaces (3, 4) extend outside of the center of the teeth and that the mutually axially offset shoulders (7) of the two flanks (5) of the clutch teeth (2) separate the relieved flanks (5) from a paraxial flank portion (8) which is substantially triangular and is adjacent to the face surfaces (3, 4).
US07810613B2

A cart braking device includes a swivel unit, a shaft unit and a braking unit which has a central shaft, an orientation member, a braking member and a base. The central shaft is coupled with the orientation member and has an elastic piece for moving the central shaft upward. A bottom of the orientation member has an orientation gear and a top of the braking member has a fixation gear corresponding to the orientation gear. The braking member is disposed in the base and includes two braking pads. An elastic member is disposed between the base and the braking member, and can move the braking member away from the base. When the braking pads are pressed against the wheel, the cart braking device stops the rotation of the wheel. When the orientation gear is engaged with the fixation gear, the cart braking device prevents the wheel from changing direction.
US07810609B2

An absorption muffler includes a metallic exhaust pipe including a plurality of perforations, a polymeric housing carried by the exhaust pipe and enclosing the plurality of perforations, and including axially opposed ends. Thermal insulation is carried radially between the exhaust pipe and the polymeric housing and axially between the axially opposed ends inclusive thereof. Acoustic insulation is carried between the thermal insulation and the polymeric housing.
US07810601B2

An all-terrain or utility vehicle having various combinations of left and right front wheels, left and right rear wheels, a differential rotationally variably coupling the left and right front wheels together with a variable coupling torque and a source of motive power being selectively coupled to the left and right rear wheels in one configuration and coupled to the left and right front wheels as well as to the left and right rear wheels in a second configuration. The coupling torque is relatively stronger when a speed of the vehicle is relatively slower and is relatively weaker when the speed of the vehicle is relatively faster. The second configuration is selectable from the first configuration while the vehicle is in motion and (1) a rotational difference in speed exists between at least one of the left and right front wheels and at least one of the left and right rear wheels and (2) a rotational speed of at least one of the left and right rear wheels exceeds a rotational speed of at least one of the left and right front wheels.
US07810600B2

A motorcycle has a duct that is simple in construction to introduce cooling air into a belt chamber while simultaneously preventing invasion of dust, etc. into the belt chamber. A rear fender defines a wall that separates the seat and a rear tire. An outside-air intake port of the duct is arranged in a space formed between the seat and the wall.
US07810596B2

In a cooling structure for the secondary battery, a first exhaust duct is connected to a first battery pack. The first exhaust duct includes a first center exhaust duct extending between the driver seat and the front passenger seat towards a vehicle rear side, and a first under seat exhaust duct extending under the driver seat. A second exhaust duct is connected to a second battery pack. The second exhaust duct includes a second center exhaust duct and a second under seat exhaust duct extending under the front passenger seat. By this structure, a cooling structure for a secondary battery that can ensure a favorable environment of interior comfort in the vehicle, free from any negative effect caused by the cooling air discharged from the battery pack, can be provided.
US07810578B2

The nutrient device of the present invention includes a ground having a ground surface. The coulter is mounted for rotation about a coulter axis and the coulter penetrates the ground and makes the ground penetration below the ground surface. A cleaning wheel is mounted for rotation about a cleaning wheel axis, and the cleaning wheel extends upwardly from engaging the coulter to a cleaning wheel point spaced away from the coulter. A conduit is positioned to deliver a nutrient onto the coulter for dispensing the nutrient into the ground penetration. A closing wheel is positioned adjacent the rear of the coulter and the cleaning wheel for closing the ground penetration.
US07810571B2

A ball type downhole lubricator valve features a ball rotating on its axis to open or close with control line pressure to an actuating piston. The ball is also shiftable to a locked open position. A cage surrounds the ball and retains opposed seats to it. The cage is made from one piece and tangential holes are drilled and tapped before the piece is longitudinally split with a wire EDM cutting technique. Fasteners to rejoin the cut halves properly space them to the original one piece internal dimension. Auxiliary tools allow determination of spacing of internal components so that a desired spring preload on the seats against the ball can be achieved.
US07810566B2

Methods of preparing improved settable compositions free of Portland cement and methods of using such compositions in subterranean operations are provided. An example of a method of preparing such compositions may comprise providing an unhydrated mixture of raw materials comprising a silica component, an aluminum component, a magnesium component, a sodium component, a calcium component, a ferrous or ferric component, a sulfurous component, and a potassium component, wherein the mixture has been formed without heating any of the components to above about 3000° F.; and adding water to the unhydrated mixture of raw materials to form a settable composition.
US07810558B2

A downhole tool for isolating zones in a well includes a mandrel, a sealing element disposed around the mandrel, an upper cone disposed around the mandrel proximate an upper end of the sealing element, an upper slip assembly disposed around the mandrel adjacent a sloped surface of the upper cone, a lower cone disposed around the mandrel proximate a lower end of the sealing element, a lower slip assembly disposed around the mandrel adjacent a sloped surface of the lower cone, and two element end rings. The two element end rings include a first element end ring disposed adjacent the upper end of the sealing element and a second element end ring disposed adjacent the lower end of the sealing element. The downhole tool includes two element barrier assemblies; each assembly disposed adjacent one of the two element end rings.
US07810553B2

A wireline cutter comprises a primary housing with a first axial bore configured to receive a wireline positioned within a well bore, and a first blade mounted within the primary housing and operable to cut the wireline. A method of cutting a wireline in a well bore comprises running a wireline cutter into the well bore, receiving the wireline within the wireline cutter, and cutting the wireline with the wireline cutter. A one-trip cutting system for use in a well bore comprises a wireline cutter, and a coiled tubing cutter. A method for cutting a coiled tubing with a wireline disposed therein comprises running a system comprising a wireline cutter and a coiled tubing cutter into the well bore, cutting the coiled tubing with the coiled tubing cutter, and cutting the wireline with the wireline cutter, wherein both cutting steps are performed in one trip into the well bore.
US07810548B2

A set of dies are composed in order to remove excess metal from a casting with a press. A method of removing the excess metal from the casting includes the steps of: attaching a cutter to one of the stationary die side or the movable die side; setting a work on the other side; and punching excess metal of the work into a recess shape by one punching motion of the movable die with a plurality of blades from the first blade, which is smaller, to the final blade, which is larger and protruded, when the excess metal of the work is removed by a punching motion of the movable die conducted on the stationary die.
US07810533B2

An internal wheel suspension and shock absorbing system, including a hub with radially extending rods or blades, cooperating with sector braces, fixedly mounted by hubs to the interior of the rim for a wheel. The rods and blades secure onto a hub, that mounts onto the vehicle axle, for rotation. When a force is encountered, the forces are absorbed by the blades that extend either through or cooperate with the braces and biasing springs, which are adjustable, that bias against the outer radial edges of the blades or telescoping rods, and absorb the vector forces generated from any impact.
US07810505B2

An electrical smoking system includes a lighter having a plurality of electrical heater elements and a system for electrically actuating the heater elements. The lighter is adapted to receive a cigarette with the heater elements at least partially superposing a portion of the cigarette. The lighter further includes an electromagnet arranged in proximity to magnetic portions of the heater elements, with the electromagnet being actuable to selectively repulse or attract the heater elements.
US07810502B1

An anti-snoring and obstructive sleep apnea device for preventing one's lower jaw from receding and preventing one's tongue from blocking the air passageway thus eliminating one's snoring. The anti-snoring and obstructive sleep apnea device includes an first support being removably retained by a user's upper teeth; and also includes a second support being supported by a user's lower teeth; and further includes an assembly being retained to the first support for positioning the second support and preventing the lower jaw from receding and the tongue from blocking the air passageway of a user and to allow the user to open one's mouth and to move one's lower jaw forwardly and laterally.
US07810498B1

A volume expansion system increases the storage volume for breathing gas in a closed-circuit breathing gas apparatus. A flow controller is coupled to an inhalation side of the closed-circuit breathing gas apparatus and is also coupled to an expandable reservoir. The flow controller defines a first flow path that allows breathing gas in the inhalation side to automatically flow into the expandable reservoir when pressure in the inhalation side exceeds a threshold. The flow controller can also include the means to define a second flow path that allows on-demand return of the breathing gas in the expandable reservoir to the inhalation side of the breathing gas apparatus.
US07810479B2

An improved internal combustion engine is provided with at least one channel or groove on its compression face. The at least one channel or groove can be open and of uniform width. The channel or groove can direct flow of an air-fuel mixture to increase combustion efficiency.
US07810476B2

The invention comprises a method and an article of manufacture to estimate exhaust gas temperature of an internal combustion engine during ongoing operation of the engine. This comprises determining states of a plurality of parameters of a combustion charge. A heat release of the combustion charge is estimated based thereon, and an exhaust gas temperature is estimated based upon the estimated heat release. Exemplary parameters of the combustion charge comprise engine speed, mass air flowrate, engine fueling and fuel injection timing, and, recirculated exhaust gas fraction.
US07810475B2

Systems and methods are provided for monitoring reverse flow of fuel vapors and/or air through a vehicle fuel vapor recovery system, said fuel vapor recovery system coupled to an engine intake of a boosted internal combustion engine. One example method comprises, during boost, when the fuel vapor recovery system is commanded to be sealed from the intake, indicating degradation based on a pressure value in the fuel vapor recovery system.
US07810471B2

A fuel delivery system comprises a fuel rail having an outlet, and a fuel injector cup associated with the fuel rail outlet. The fuel injector cup includes a cup portion and a ring portion. The cup portion comprises a body, and the body includes a base at a first end, an opening at a second end, and an inner cavity therein between the base and the opening. The cavity of the cup portion is configured to receive a fuel injector, and the first end of the cup portion is configured to be associated with the outlet of the fuel rail. The ring portion of the fuel injector cup is configured to be affixed to the cup portion, and the second end thereof, in particular. The ring portion is further configured to reinforce the second end of said cup portion.
US07810457B2

A system and method for controlling the temperature of the engine oil of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle are provided. The system includes an engine oil circuit for controlling the temperature of the engine oil, which engine oil circuit includes the internal combustion engine and a coolant/engine-oil heat exchanger; and a coolant circuit for controlling the temperature of the internal combustion engine, which coolant circuit in a main branch, includes the internal combustion engine, a coolant cooler and a first coolant pump and, in an auxiliary branch downstream of the coolant cooler, includes the coolant/engine-oil heat exchanger and a second coolant pump. The heat of the engine oil can thereby be dissipated via the coolant/engine-oil heat exchanger to the coolant and further via the coolant cooler to the environment. Specifically, in the case of a limited cooling capacity of the air/engine-oil cooler, it is thereby possible by the low temperature coolant and by the pumped coolant quantity to ensure suitable engine oil temperature control.
US07810455B2

The present disclosure provides an animal chew comprising an elongated central portion of a first material and a pair of end caps of a second material. The end caps may be connected by a shaft and may vary from the central portion or from each other by one or more properties such as, color, texture, hardness, toughness, functionality, flavor, odor or moisture level. The central portion of the dog chew may comprise a bladder, or a composite of materials such as one or more layers overlying the bladder, having an attractive design in the shape and/or texture of, e.g. a sports ball. The composite may comprise a soft or even fibrous cover overlying an elastomeric bladder, the bladder formed to fit relatively loosely over the shaft, the composite providing a soft and easily compressed central portion compared to the end caps.
US07810453B2

A poultry flooring system, comprising a housing structure having four walls and a floor; a substantially inelastic film member raised above the floor to provide a raised floor structure. The inelastic film member comprises apertures to permit waste products and ventilation to pass through the inelastic film member; wherein the inelastic film structure is maintained under tension to reduce need for independent support structures between the film member and the floor. In a preferred embodiment, an air bag system or other mechanical support system is used to reduce sag in the inelastic film supported under tension, whereby the inelastic film may be easily raised and lowered during use and harvest.
US07810440B2

A shelf cover for open-wire shelving is provided, comprising a semi-rigid sheet adapted to cover the top panel and front panel of the shelving, wherein the sheet further includes an extended portion adapted to wrap under the front panel, the extended portion further including a securing device for securing the extended portion to wires on the front panel. In one embodiment, the extended portion includes a plurality of tabs adapted to fit securely behind the wires of the front panel. In another embodiment, the extended portion includes a plurality of retaining buttons adapted to fit securely between adjacent wires of the front panel.
US07810436B2

A hinge system including a universal adapter for allowing a first member to be pivotally mounted to a second member having stationary brackets defining pivot axes arranged at different distances relative to the second member. The universal adapter defines multiple openings disposed in spaced, generally parallel relation relative to each other.
US07810432B2

A wad for a projectile cartridge comprises a holder for holding a projectile, such as a plurality of shot, a charge barrier, and a support for mounting the holder to the barrier. The wad is unitary and is formed from a biodegradable plastic material. The barrier is preferably compressible, and more preferably substantially more compressible than the support. The wad has a first moisture content and is adapted to be conditioned, prior to employment in a projectile cartridge, to have a second moisture content. After conditioning, the weight of the wad may be increased by up to 19%, or the size of the wad maybe increased in at least one dimension by up to 6%. A projectile cartridge employing the wad, and a method of making the wad and the projectile cartridge are also disclosed, together with tools for making the wad and sleeve.
US07810431B2

An explosive charge is disclosed which has a spatial shape comprising explosive material and, in the course of the explosion, unfolds a spatially anisotropic pressure action in at least one main action direction, in which the pressure action is greater than in the other action directions. The spatial shape comprising the explosive material has a surface area facing toward the at least one main action direction and extends in the at least one main action direction, particles are applied and/or a material layer disintegrating into particles during the explosion is applied to the surface area, the particles comprise a nonexplosive material, and a total mass of the particles is less than a mass of the explosive material.
US07810429B1

A consumable flash tube for encapsulating igniter material in the propellant beds of propelling charges or rocket motors. The flash tube is constructed of a combustible, plastic material such as cellulose nitrate plastic or ethyl cellulose plastic. The combustible material is furnished with a filler of electrical charge dissipating material which renders the flash tube conductive. The conductive flash tube functions as an environmental housing and additionally as a grounded electrical conductor or Faraday shield so as to bleed off any inadvertent electrical charge presented to the flash tube and thus limit the charge transferred to the igniter material. Formation of the flash tube is by continuous extrusion of a mixture of the plastic material and electrical charge dissipating material into the shape of a hollow tube. After curing of the extruded tube, one end of the tube is flared to allow joining of the tube to a primer after the igniter material is positioned in the flash tube.
US07810427B2

A circulation conveyor for foods and drinks effectively controls internal temperature of a tunnel section covering an upper portion of a circulation-type conveyor path for foods and drinks. The conveyor has a tunnel section covering an upper portion of and in the longitudinal direction of the carrying path. A cooling and heating pipe 24 inside the tunnel section in its longitudinal direction controls internal temperature of the tunnel section. In the tunnel section, upper and lower ventilation openings 32 and 33, disposed above and below, respectively, of the cooling and heating pipe 24 are provided. The ventilation openings communicate via communication pipes 30a to 30c to circulate air, and an air blowing section 34 circulates air in the tunnel section by drawing air from one of the upper or lower ventilation openings, into the pipes, and discharges the air from the other opening.
US07810420B2

The method of interrupting a tornado comprises the step of locating an area of ongoing tornadic activity. Ultra-cold substance is then released at low altitudes in the area of ongoing tornadic activity. In preferred embodiments, the ultra-cold substance is delivered to the area of ongoing tornadic activity by an airplane. The ultra-cold substance is preferably liquid nitrogen.
US07810411B2

A connecting rod assembly includes a first end and a second end having bore extending therethrough and adapted to be aligned with a piston pin bore and receive a piston pin. The second end further includes a terminal end and has a reduced width configuration. The reduced width configuration is formed by machining a pair of channels that are formed on opposite sides of the second end between each channel and the terminal end. The bushing includes at least partially annular grooves disposed on the contact surface along at least a portion of opposed distal ends, where the grooves substantially eliminate the need for the small end to undergo a deburring process after the second end is machined to provide a reduced width configuration.
US07810403B2

Methods and apparatus for engaging gears in motors are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for engaging gears in a motor includes an actuator; and an engagement assembly having at least one pawl axially movably configured to selectively couple the engagement assembly with a gear via operation of the actuator. The actuator may be a solenoid, and may further be a single-coil solenoid. The apparatus may further include a shaft having the actuator and engagement assembly disposed thereon; and a gear disposed on the shaft adjacent the engagement assembly.
US07810400B2

A method for determining one or more fluid flow parameters for a fluid flowing within a pipe is provided. The fluid is a mixture of solid particles and gas. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a meter operable to determine the velocity of the fluid flow through the pipe, which meter is substantially insensitive to the particulate/gas mass ratio of the fluid flow; b) determining the velocity of the fluid flow within the pipe using the meter; and c) determining a particulate/gas mass ratio using a density value for the gas within the flow and the determined fluid flow velocity.
US07810399B2

An ultrasonic flowmeter with a measuring tube through which flows a medium and which, viewed in cross section, has a split circumference forming two halves with two ultrasonic converter pairs, each with an associated ultrasound reflector. The converters of each pair are mounted on a common circumferential half in a mutually offset position as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the tube, while the reflector for each pair is positioned on the other, opposite circumferential half in the longitudinal direction of the measuring tube between the two converters, so that an ultrasound signal emitted by one converter of a pair travels along a V-shaped signal path via the reflector of the associated pair to the other converter of that pair. The first pair and the second reflector are positioned on one circumferential half of the tube while the second pair and the first reflector are positioned on the other, opposite circumferential half of the tube.
US07810398B2

An apparatus for detecting a change of a physical quantity by means of a conductor structure having a processor for applying a defined supply signal to the conductor structure so as to effect a current flow through the conductor structure, the current flow being changeable by the physical quantity, and a detector for detecting a magnetic field caused by the current flow through the conductor structure by means of a magnetoresistive element allocated to the conductor structure, a change of the physical quantity being associated with a change of the detected magnetic field.
US07810385B1

A process for determining a remaining useful life for a turbine airfoil that suffers from creep damage in order to reuse a component that still has acceptable remaining life. The process includes the steps of removing the damaged component, scanning the damaged component with an optical scanner such as a white light scanner to produce a 3D solid model of the damaged component, scanning a new or undamaged used component to produce a 3D solid model of the undamaged component, comparing the two 3D solid models to determine the amount of creep damage on the damaged component, determining the length of time the creep damaged component was used and the temperature at which it was exposed, and analyzing the 3D solid model of the creep damaged component to determine how much longer the part can be used before the component will suffer critical damage or the engine will suffer unacceptable performance.
US07810379B2

A microelectromechanical (MEM) device per the present invention comprises a semiconductor wafer—typically an SOI wafer, a substrate, and a high temperature bond which bonds the wafer to the substrate to form a composite structure. Portions of the composite structure are patterned and etched to define stationary and movable MEM elements, with the movable elements being mechanically coupled to the stationary elements. The high temperature bond is preferably a mechanical bond, with the wafer and substrate having respective bonding pads which are aligned and mechanically connected to form a thermocompression bond to effect the bonding. A metallization layer is typically deposited on the composite structure and patterned to provide electrical interconnections for the device. The metallization layer preferably comprises a conductive refractory material such as platinum to withstand high temperature environments.
US07810375B2

A sensor, in particular a gas sensor for determining a physical characteristic of a measuring gas, in particular the temperature of the concentration of a gas component, in particular in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, includes a sensor element which protrudes with a gas-side end section from a sensor housing and having a double protecting tube, which encloses the gas-side end section, and has an outer tube and an inner tube. For improved protection of the sensor element against thermal shock, a reduction in the heating power for the sensor element, and sufficiently high dynamics of the sensor, a cup-shaped central protecting tube is placed over the gas-side end section, the central protecting tube being provided with gas passage apertures in the tube casing, the gas passage apertures being positioned offset to the tube bottom with respect to the gas passage apertures present in the inner tube.
US07810348B2

A container has a thermal pack aligned on a central axis of the container. The thermal pack includes a material such as a phase change material for cooling (or heating) the liquid in the container. The thermal pack attaches to the container such as by a threaded connection in a receiving tube, which makes full circumferential contact with an end of the thermal pack. The container has a drinking or pouring opening aligned relative to the thermal pack, but completely separated from the thermal pack. Radial flow slots permit fluid to flow from the container interior through the drinking or pouring opening.
US07810343B2

A dispenser, a food dispensing appliance with a dispenser, and a system including a food dispensing appliance for providing at least one service to a consumer electronic device. The dispenser has a service interface providing at least one service for a consumer electronic device. The appliance comprises a cabinet, a door movably mounted to the cabinet and having a peripheral edge, and a dispenser on the door. A service interface is provided on the dispenser and provides at least one service for use by a consumer electronic device. The system comprises an appliance with a dispenser and service interface supplying the at least one service and an adapter capable of coupling to the service interface to receive the service and supply it to the consumer electronic device.
US07810342B2

A refrigerant circuit (10) is provided with two adsorption heat exchangers (31, 32) in addition to an outdoor heat exchanger (21) and an indoor heat exchanger (22). An adsorbent is carried on the surface of each of the adsorption heat exchangers (31, 32). In the adsorption heat exchanger (31, 32) serving as an evaporator, moisture in the air is adsorbed by the adsorbent. In the adsorption heat exchanger (31, 32) serving as a condenser, moisture is desorbed from the adsorbent and then applied to the air. Then, the air dehumidified or humidified by the adsorption heat exchanger (31, 32) is supplied to a room to cope with latent heat load in the room. On the other hand, in the indoor heat exchanger (22), air is cooled or heated. Then, the air cooled or heated by the indoor heat exchanger (22) is supplied to the room to cope with sensible heat load in the room.
US07810340B2

To provide a quick freezing apparatus and method making it possible to prevent a subtle reaction between an object-to-be-preserved and a gas inside its freezing store to prevent deformation and deterioration of the object-to-be-preserved as much as possible and freeze-preserve the object maintaining its freshness and quality at a high standard for a long term, and thereby applicable to a long-term preservation of a living tissue.A quick freezing apparatus includes a freezing store 11 including a door for bringing in or taking out an object-to-be-frozen 3, a freezer 17 capable of lowering a temperature inside the freezing store to a temperature equal to or less than approximately −30 degrees C., a pressure regulator 60 capable of adjusting a gas pressure inside the freezing store, and a ventilator 31 for sending cold air at a wind velocity of 1 to 5 m/sec toward the object-to-be-frozen placed inside the freezing store. The pressure regulator 60 includes an actuation controller 68 for detecting the temperature inside the freezing store; if the detected inside temperature is equal to or more than a predetermined value, then actuating a depressurizer 62 to decrease the inside gas pressure to a pressure equal to or less than the atmospheric pressure; and when the inside temperature drops below the predetermined value, stopping the depressurizer 62 and actuating the pressurizer 61 to increase the inside gas pressure to a pressure equal to or more than the atmospheric pressure.
US07810339B2

An air conditioner has a heat exchanger, an absorbing agent, and a controller. The absorbing agent performs an absorbing operation for absorbing moisture in passing air flowing through the heat exchanger functioning as an evaporator and a regenerating operation for desorbing moisture from passing air heated by the heat exchanger functioning as a condenser. The controller performs control such that the absorbing operation and the regenerating operation are switched at a predetermined switching time interval. The controller also performs control of a capacity of a compressor and control for changing the predetermined switching time interval such that a predetermined load out of a total heat load, which is the sum of the latent heat load and the sensible heat load, is preferentially processed.
US07810331B2

A method for capturing energy from mechanical actions associated with recovery of underground fluids, and for improving the economic feasibility of low producing, but viable, oil wells. The present method captures energy associated with an oil well pump device and waste water as each fall under the influence of gravity. This energy is converted into a premium form, stored in an easily verified and metered form, and sold on a market, in accordance with a legislative scheme.
US07810330B1

Power is generated from an ambient environment through the use of thermodynamic engines. A thermodynamic engine is disposed in the ambient environment and converts heat provided in the form of a temperature differential to a nonheat form of energy. Conditions in the ambient environment induce a phase transition in a heat-transport medium that causes the temperature differential. The heat-transport medium is renewed by allowing inducing a reverse phase transition in the heat-transport medium, permitting the heat-transport medium to repeatedly or continuously undergo the phase transition that causes the temperature differential.
US07810329B2

The invention relates to an internal combustion engine, especially of a motor vehicle, which comprises an air path for intake air in which a mechanically driven charge unit (20), especially a compressor, which can be connected and disconnected by means of a coupling (36), an exhaust gas turbocharger (18), an intake pipe (32), connected to air inlets of a cylinder block (10) of the internal combustion engine, and a charge cooler (34) are mounted. One pressure outlet (35) of the mechanically driven charge unit (20 is directly connected to the intake pipe (32) and one pressure outlet (24) of the exhaust gas charger (18) is connected to an intake inlet (28) of the mechanically driven charge unit (20). The pressure outlet (24) of the exhaust gas charger (18) is connected to the intake inlet (28) of the mechanically driven charge unit (20) via an on-off butterfly valve (26) and upstream of said on-off butterfly valve (26) to the intake pipe (32) via a load butterfly valve (30). The charge cooler (34) is integrated into the intake pipe (32) to give an intake/charge cooler module.
US07810309B2

The present invention provides a fuel system for an engine including a water supply source for providing water and a fuel supply source for providing fuel. A centrifugal pump is fluidly connected to the water and fuel supply sources, respectively at water and fuel inputs. The pump receives the water and the fuel from the inputs and produces a homogeneous mixture without using other pumps or mixing devices. A metering device is arranged between the pump and one of the supply sources, preferably the water supply source, to produce the desired ratio of water and fuel. The speed of the pump is varied to deliver the desired total volume and pressure of fuel and water to the engine through the pump output. The water metering device may be closed to deliver only fuel to the engine during special conditions such as engine startup and rapid load dumps. Operation of the system is simplified because only one pump and metering device is used.
US07810303B2

A human powered lawnmower includes a frame, a handle assembly having one end thereof pivotally secured to the frame and having an opposed end thereof extending in a rearward direction, a rear axle centrally secured on the frame at a rear end thereof, a rear wheel mounted on the rear axle for rotation thereabout, a pair of front ground cover engaging wheels are rotatably affixed in spaced apart relationship to the frame and a blade assembly having at least one blade thereof mounted on the frame and rotating in a substantially horizontal plane. A front axle is mounted on the frame for rotation thereabout and a pair of sprocket wheels and a drive chain are provided for rotating the front axle upon rotation of the rear wheel. A friction wheel mounted on the font axle and a plate attached to the blade's shaft are provided for rotating the blade.
US07810298B1

A bar support apparatus has a first body with a first clamping structure and a second clamping structure extending from a top thereof, and a second body having a first clamping structure and a second clamping structure extending downwardly from a bottom thereof. The clamping structures of the second body engage the clamping structures of the first body. The second body also has a third clamping structure and a fourth clamping structure extending upwardly from a top thereof. A rebar is received within first and second clamping structures of the first and second bodies.
US07810297B2

Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
US07810296B1

A sheathing assembly and method of sheathing for a roofing structure including at least one lower layer comprising at least one, but more practically a plurality of panels. The lower layer may be disposed in at least partially overlying relation to a framing assembly of the roofing structure. The sheathing assembly may further include at least one upper layer comprising at least one or more panels. The sheathing assembly may also include a substantially flat central member or layer disposed in an at least partially clamped orientation between the lower layer and the upper layer.
US07810292B2

A mortar and debris collection device for use within a cavity wall to prevent the blockage of weep holes at the base of the wall. The cavity wall assembly includes a masonry wall, an adjacent inner wall, a wall cavity therebetween, and a free-standing elongate strip of openwork material located within the cavity forming a debris collection surface a spaced distance above a base surface of the cavity. Preferably, the openwork material is inserted and positioned within the cavity after the inner wall and only a base portion of the outer masonry wall is constructed. Thereafter, the upper portion of the outer masonry wall is constructed and any mortar or debris falling into the cavity is caught and supported on the debris collection surface.
US07810286B2

A photovoltaic membrane system is provided for use on a building and, optionally, incorporated into the building envelope. One or more photovoltaic cells are provided at an upper layer of the system. A thermal barrier is disposed between the one or more photovoltaic cells and the building, isolating the two from one another. The thermal barrier may be provided as a series of wedges that are shaped and oriented to optimize electrical performance of the photovoltaic cells. An air channel assembly may be provided to ventilate heated air from beneath the one or more photovoltaic modules away from the system and the building. The system may be integrally associated with the building or removably coupled therewith. Components may be provided for assembly during installation or preassembled modules may be provided for installation.
US07810285B1

A building barrier system wherein a portion of the building barrier system can transition between an erect position and a substantially flat position thereby allowing access to the interior of the structure without having to disassemble the building barrier system and associated method.
US07810273B2

A sighting mechanism for a firearm, including two video cameras, a video screen, a digital sighting distance meter, a sensor for measuring environment, cartridge and/or weapon parameters, a biometric sensor, a memory module for biometric data and/or munitions data and a digital computer. The video cameras are arranged parallel to each other to capture the target sighting field. The computer has video inputs and an image processing unit enabling the video image data to be superimposed in real time in a pixel precise manner in relation to the target field on the screen. The computer includes a ballistic computer which enables the target image to reproduce on the screen. A graticule arranged on the screen can be positioned automatically and in real time according to the incoming data, such that the position of the graticule in the target field corresponds to a real projectile point of impact.
US07810265B2

A system, method and bracket for installing banners, including an improved bracket useful for mounting banners to a supporting structure is provided. The bracket is configured with a magnetic feature for facilitating installation of the bracket to a metallic support structure, and may receive banner mounting hardware, such as, for example, banner mounting arms and fastening members, and may be positioned and held on the structure to allow mounting straps to be installed in order to securely mount the bracket to the structure, and complete installation.
US07810251B1

A motorized leveling stage capable of adjusting the angular position of a work piece relative to a reference plane includes an upper stage, a lower stage, and a hinge coupling corresponding edges of the two stages together for relative pivotal movement of the stages. A first spring pivotally biases the upper and lower stages toward each other about the axis of the hinge. A slide is disposed for sliding movement on an upper surface of the lower stage in a direction generally perpendicular to the hinge axis. The slide includes an upper surface defining an inclined plane disposed in sliding abutment with a lower surface of the upper stage such that movement of the slide toward and away from the hinge respectively raises and lowers the upper stage relative to the lower stage. A motorized drive assembly is operable to control movement of the slide relative to the hinge.
US07810244B2

A machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system optical target assembly which incorporates an adaptor for attachment of an optical target to a vehicle wheel assembly. The adaptor includes a circular sinusoidal edge for seating in a non-determined position against surfaces of a vehicle wheel assembly, and a pair of pivoting arm assemblies capable of independent movement which are configured to position tire hooks for gripping the tread surfaces of a tire mounted to the wheel rim. Forces exerted between the pivoting arms are transferred to the tire hooks to hold the optical target assembly in contact with the wheel assembly surface. The optical target is integrated into the adaptor, and maintained in a stationary relationship to the wheel assembly thereby during a vehicle wheel alignment procedure.
US07810241B2

A scalpel is provided with a shield that is detachably connected to the handle of the scalpel and covers the blade of the scalpel. The scalpel includes a sliding assembly disposed on a portion of the handle of the scalpel. Movement of the sliding assembly causes the shield to rotate between a first position and a second position, wherein the blade is at least partially exposed.
US07810227B2

Using a beam of xenon ions together with a suitable mask, a GMR stack is ion milled until a part of it, no more than about 0.1 microns thick, has been removed so that a pedestal, having sidewalls comprising a vertical section that includes all of the free layer, has been formed. This is followed by formation of the dielectric and conductive lead layers in the usual way. Using xenon as the sputtering gas enables the point at which milling is terminated to be more precisely controlled.
US07810225B2

A method of making a wound field for a brushless direct current motor, direct current generator, alternating current motor or alternating current generator, includes steps of providing a base mold and a press mold. Another step comprises determining a number of phases. At least one strand of conductive material per phase is formed between the base mold and press mold into a conductive coil that has a shape that indicates the number of poles required. Each conductive coil is inserted into the stator core, and the stator core is installed into one of a brushless direct current motor, direct current generator, alternating current motor or alternating current generator.
US07810215B2

The invention relates to a hygienic, turning control element which is used to actuate a mechanism, such as a door opener. More specifically, the invention relates to a hygienic turning handle (12) which is intended to be fitted to a door and which is used to control the actuation of a mechanism, such as a lock. The invention is of the type that consists of a hub (18), a main body (20) and a left-hand form actuation segment (26) comprising an essentially C-shaped inner concave surface which extends from the plane of the door. The invention is characterized in that, in the handle (12) rest position, the concavity of the actuation segment (26) is essentially oriented upwards and can receive part of the arm, the wrist or the back of the hand of a user.
US07810207B2

An assembly of tubular sections each telescopically arranged in a tubular housing, each of the tubular sections having one end provided with a cylinder head, and comprising an inner tubular member telescopically displaceable in an outer tubular member respectively, such as a telescopic cylinder, a tubular section comprising a sealing joint between the outer tubular element and the inner tubular member in translation inside the outer tubular element, a pipe wiper, and a blade positioned in series in relation to the pipe wiper, wherein the blade has a sharp cutting edge and is mounted by adjusting a tool angle thereof and a pressure it creates on an outer surface of the inner tubular member so that when sliding on this outer surface it removes contaminants such as organic and mineral material off the outer surface.
US07810204B2

A cleaning implement for removing particulate soils from a compressible resilient surface is provided.The cleaning implement includes a ramp for pressing particulates against the compressible resilient surface and a collection member for collecting the particulates which are projected away from the compressible resilient surface when the cleaning implement is moved across the compressible resilient surface.
US07810203B2

An improved drain cleaning assembly (10) is provided having a coupling apparatus (18) designed to mate with the open end of a clogged drainpipe (12), an elongated, powered, axially-rotatable drain cable (16) passing through the apparatus (18) and into pipe (12), and water inlet and outlet lines (20, 26) coupled with apparatus (18) for delivery of water therethrough during the course of drain cleaning operations. The apparatus (18) includes a unitary main tubular body (38) receiving a drainpipe connection fitting (46) via quick-connect structure (44). The body (38) also has an internal sponge-type cable cleaning component (94) and a spray fitting (54) for directing incoming water onto cable (16). Preferably, the lines (20, 26) are each equipped with a check valve (21, 28) to control water flow through body (38) during drain unclogging and to facilitate visual verification of an unclogged condition. The inlet line (20) may also have a dispenser (24) for cleaning agent(s) such as soap, sanitizer and/or disinfectant liquids, so as to cleanse the cable (16) upon removal thereof.
US07810186B2

A device and method for motorized support of patient positioning are provided. The position of a patient bed and the setting of an electric motor drive are recorded which may differ due to elasticity and/or flexibility of the bed drive. A control signal for the electric motor drive is generated depending on the position of the patient bed and the setting of the electric motor drive. The drive can thus be activated for servo-support in case the patient bed is manually displaced, whereby the control signal is generated depending on a change in position of the patient bed, which does not correspond to a simultaneous change in the setting of the electric motor drive.
US07810184B2

The fitted sheet system is adapted for ship bunk systems and comprises either a single flat sheet or two single sheets sewn together. The sheet includes two opposed top ends and two opposed sides. The opposed ends include hospital corners to provide a tight fit. The top sheet is sewn along a side edge of the bottom sheet and is adapted to fold over the mattress top. Four equally spaced matching slots, two on each longitudinal side, are disposed on the bottom edges of the two sides for receiving straps. Alternatively, straps are provided at the bottom of the sheet for tightening the sheet over the mattress. A pillowcase is attached to the sheet. A decorative hem displaying a logo is disposed on the fitted sheet.
US07810181B2

A device for stabilizing the position of an infant while sleeping features a shell assembly including a base panel having two longitudinal sides and two lateral sides, an end wall extending generally upwardly from one of the lateral sides, two side walls extending generally upwardly from the longitudinal sides, a shell cover comprising an outer surface and conforming generally to the shell assembly, and a removable positioner insert disposed atop the base panel and comprising left and right nacelles attached to an insert base and separated by a distance selected to accommodate the width of an infant placed between the nacelles, to inhibit lateral motion of the infant while sleeping.
US07814562B2

In an information processing apparatus which is equipped with plural storage devices, there are provided a security information comparison unit for, in a case where data is moved from a movement source storage device to a movement destination storage device, comparing security information of the movement source storage device with security information of the movement destination storage device, and a data movement control unit for controlling the movement of the data based on a comparison result by the security information comparison unit. Thus, it is possible to strongly secure safety with respect to the movement and/or copy of the data among the storage devices by a user.
US07814560B2

An online publishing portal enables geographically-spaced common-brand users to publish locale-specific, content-controlled messages. The online publishing portal provides selective access to pre-constructed, digital, plate-ready macrotemplates. A dynamic document server stores the macrotemplates and authorizes selective access thereto based upon user-supplied credentials. The user, having authenticated credentials, may access a select macrotemplate, which necessarily comprises a plurality of digital, plate-ready microtemplates, including at least one restricted access template and at least one open access template. Authorized users may edit a select microtemplate as dictated by the user's level of authorization. The user may thus send the content-controlled digital, plate-ready file to a publisher for publishing information or messages compiled upon the macrotemplate. The portal thereby enables geographically-spaced common-brand users to publish locale-specific, content-controlled messages.
US07814558B2

An approach that proactively manages login security data is provided. The system selects requesters of a software application resource. A privileged requester is used to request login security data pertaining to the selected requesters. The login security data that is received is compared to one or more parameters that indicate which action(s) should take place. Based on this comparison, one or more actions are taken on behalf of the selected requesters. One of the actions that can be taken is a grace period. One of the actions that can be taken is an automatic security setting update. Another action that can be taken is an automatic notification that automatically informs a user or application that a requestor's access to the resource is about to expire.
US07814557B2

A folder containing at least one file can be created in a file storage (17) in response to a folder creation request from an owner (30) of an IC card (10), and an access authority to the folder can be set as an access control list (18A) of the folder in response to an access authority setting request from the owner (30). Then access to the file is controlled not only on the basis of the access authority to the file set by an issuer of a voucher (issuer of the file), but also on the basis of the access authority to the folder set by the owner (30).
US07814547B2

A method for detecting intrusions that employ messages of two or more protocols is disclosed. Such intrusions might occur in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems, as well as in systems in which two or more protocols support some service other than VoIP. In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a stateful intrusion-detection system is capable of employing rules that have cross-protocol pre-conditions. The illustrative embodiment can use such rules to recognize a variety of VoIP-based intrusion attempts, such as call hijacking, BYE attacks, etc. In addition, the illustrative embodiment is capable of using such rules to recognize other kinds of intrusion attempts in which two or more protocols support a service other than VoIP. The illustrative embodiment also comprises a stateful firewall that is capable of employing rules with cross-protocol pre-conditions.
US07814540B1

Methods and arrangements for implementing new email handling policies in gateway logic that is inserted upstream of the existing email system (which may or may not have an existing email gateway). By inserting the gateway logic upstream of the existing email system, it is unnecessary to reconfigure existing email handling logic since the remainder of the email system downstream of the newly inserted gateway logic is substantially undisturbed. Techniques and arrangements are proposed to ensure the remainder of the email system continues to function correctly after the insertion of the new gateway logic.
US07814539B2

Systems for providing information on network firewall policy configuration facilitation include a firewall facilitation coordinator configured to receive a request to add an application not currently supported by a user's firewall policy, and to generate a time window during which a user can run the application and observe which types of packets are utilized by the application. A policy modification agent associated with the firewall is configured to communicate with the firewall facilitation coordinator. The policy modification agent is further configured to receive a firewall modification request from the firewall facilitation coordinator, to accomplish the observation of packets flowing through the firewall during the time window, and to subsequently modify the user's firewall policy such that the application is able to communicate as needed through the firewall, rather than being blocked. Other systems and methods are also provided.
US07814536B2

The present invention authenticates a user for multiple resources distributed across multiple domains through the performance of a single authentication. User access requests for a protected resource in a first domain are received and redirected to a second domain. User authentication is performed at the second domain. In one embodiment, the system transmits an authentication cookie for the second domain to the user after authentication at the second domain. In another embodiment, the system further redirects subsequent resource requests for resources in the first domain or a third domain to the second domain. The second domain confirms the user's authentication for applicable portions of the first, second, and third domains using the cookie.
US07814534B2

The auditing of authorization decisions is facilitated by integrating or coupling an audit policy to access control decisions. In an example implementation, an audit policy of an auditing scheme is coupled to a semantic framework of an access control scheme such that the audit policy is specified using at least a portion of the semantic framework. In another example implementation, audit policy rules include audit content rules that specify what audit information from any of the inputs, the outputs, or the internal data of authorization decisions is to be included in an audit record. In yet another example implementation, a semantic of an audit trigger rule comports with a semantic framework of an access request and of a logical evaluation for an authorization decision.
US07814530B2

A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
US07814514B2

A digital broadcasting receiver includes a digital tuning section having a plurality of tuners which receive digital broadcasting and output video signals of programs as well as a copy control signal, and a controller which selects one of video signals supplied from the tuners based on the copy control signal supplied from the digital tuning section. The foregoing structure allows the receiver to output the videos of programs free from intermittence at the beginning of the program of which copy control signal is switched from the previous one.
US07814499B2

A system and method for expediting the replication of at least one specified object to a replica in a distributed computer system. A source object of a source replica determines that it has an urgent change to propagate through the distributed system, and informs a replication facility at the source replica of the urgent change. The facility extracts, or is provided with, the change information from that object, and the source replica communicates information representative of the change to a destination replica. A replication facility at the destination replica provides the change information to a destination replica object, which uses the information to make itself consistent with the source replica object.
US07814492B1

Systems and methods for resource management are provided. In one implementation a computing system is provided. The computing system includes a controller having an associated information base; the information base including a plurality of resource definitions, a partition definition defining a plurality of partitions, and a plurality of queues. Each partition includes a grouping of one or more resources available to process user jobs and each partition has a name. At least one queue of the plurality of queues is associated with each partition in the partition definition. The controller includes an administrative interface for managing partitions, resources and queues and an authorization routine operable to receive named jobs, a named job identifying a partition in the partition definition, and assign named jobs to an associated partition queue for processing by one of the resources in an associated grouping of one or more resources.
US07814490B2

The present invention concerns methods and apparatus for performing computer system maintenance and notification activities in an opportunistic manner during time periods identified by a user when the user expects not to be using the computer system. In methods and systems of the present invention, the user prioritizes computer system maintenance activities from high to low. When an opportunity arises to perform maintenance activities due to the user, for example, being away from the computer, the user specifies the length of time the user expects to be away from the computer using apparatus of the present invention. Methods of the present invention then initiate computer system maintenance activities beginning with the highest-priority maintenance activity that can be completed during the time period identified by the user. The method continues performing maintenance activities from highest to lowest priority for so long as there is enough time remaining to perform the next maintenance task. In the present invention notification activities using the computer system resource can be performed in an opportunistic manner. For example, in the present invention a user can specify a length of time the user expects to be away from the computer; during this period the computer system would automatically generate an “away from my desk” reply to anyone sending the user an e-mail.
US07814482B2

A file-based Message Passing Interface (MPI) job allocation apparatus for a middleware-based grid computing apparatus in which computers having a plurality of computing resources including an MPI program are distributed and connected to each other through a network, includes: a plurality of computational nodes each having a job execution service module for executing a job for the plurality of computing resources including the MPI program included in the distributed computers; and a middleware having a job submission service module for distributing a job to the plurality of computational nodes, receiving information necessary for MPI initialization, generating a file including the information, and transmitting the file to the MPI program.
US07814471B2

A method and apparatus include comparing a called DLL file with DLL file names listed in a database. If a file name of the called DLL file is one of the DLL file names listed in the database, a compatibility mode associated with a DLL file name that matches the called DLL file is referenced. Based on the referenced compatibility mode, an operation of a processor is affected using the compatibility mode associated with the DLL file name.
US07814469B2

The latencies associated with retrieving instruction information for a main thread are decreased through the use of a simultaneous helper thread. The helper thread is a speculative prefetch thread to perform instruction prefetch and/or trace pre-build for the main thread.
US07814467B2

A method of generating a software program executable binary file. A first file including source code therein is accessed. A second file including object code therein and further including object file summary information is accessed. The executable binary file is generated from at least the first and second files. The object file summary information is used in optimizing the executable binary file generated.
US07814465B2

A method for verification of an application for zones that includes determining an execution environment of the application, obtaining a list of permissions from the execution environment, analyzing the application to identify a restricted instruction within the application, wherein the restricted instruction is zone specific, and generating a report when a required permission of the restricted instruction is not in the list of permissions.
US07814464B2

A computer-implemented method is disclosed for reducing coding errors prior to runtime in the context of a managed code execution environment. The method includes providing a developer with access to a plurality of managed code resources. The method also includes verifying that a resource identifier input by the developer corresponds to one of the plurality of managed code resources.
US07814454B2

A system, method and program product that allows multiple devices to be placed between pads such that a Back End Of Line (BEOL) mask change can be used to select different device options. A system is disclosed for implementing a testsite for characterizing devices in an integrated circuit technology, and includes: a system for designing a plurality of device options for a set of chip pads; a system for designing a pseudo wiring layout for each of the plurality of device options; a system for selecting one of the device options; a system for mapping the pseudo wiring layout for a selected device option to a predetermined design level; and a system for outputting a configured mask design at the predetermined design level having a wiring layout mapped for the selected device option.
US07814453B2

An initial graph of nodes is created within a routing space, and the number and locations of the nodes in the graph are adjusted. Links are created between nodes of the graph, and traces between specified nodes are created through the linked graph.
US07814429B2

The method of collaborative work takes place between a first user working on a first object (1) on the basis of a visual representation of the first object displayed in an authoring environment of a first local computer; and a second user working in an authoring environment of a second local computer connected with the first computer via a computer network. The method comprising the steps of: a) selecting at the first computer one type among a plurality of types of data about the first object, each type of data comprising visual representation data about the first object; b) providing to the second computer data about the first object according to the selected type; c) displaying a visual representation of the first object in the authoring environment of the second computer.
US07814427B2

A designer tool that facilitates design of an object model. The tool takes as input a computer-readable representation of a graph of objects (e.g., classes), and creates automatically one or more diagrams that depict these classes as editable trees showing their relationships and properties. These graphs naturally have a tree-like structure which is exploited by the approach. The design tool system includes a layout component that receives as input one or more of the graphs, and converts the one or more graphs into the editable treelike structure. The system further comprises a presentation component that presents the editable treelike structure as a treelike structure diagram, and facilitates user interaction therewith. The tool can be used for opening, editing and saving existing object model files or to create new ones.
US07814418B2

Disclosed herein is a display apparatus including: a display control section configured to cause a display to display an image that contains a plurality of content indication marks each associated with a separate content, each of the plurality of content indication marks being arranged at a position corresponding to an impression of the content with which the mark is associated; and a selection section configured to select two or more content indication marks from the plurality of content indication marks arranged in the image. When the two or more content indication marks are selected by the selection section, the display control section displays, on the image, a line segment that joins the selected two or more content indication marks so as to indicate an order in which the contents corresponding to the selected two or more content indication marks are arranged.
US07814417B2

According to this invention, a document processing apparatus capable of editing document information includes an operation instruction input unit which can input an operation instruction to be saved, an operation instruction save unit which saves the operation instruction input by the operation instruction input unit together with document information, an operation instruction display unit which displays an image corresponding to the saved operation instruction, and an operation instruction execution unit which reads out, when the image displayed on the operation instruction display unit is designated, an operation instruction corresponding to the image from the operation instruction save unit, and executes the operation instruction for the document information.
US07814415B2

A system and method for localizing or translating computer program output is presented. Some aspects provide embedded localization markup tags in program output such that a localization bytecode engine can use the localization markup tags to look up and execute corresponding localization instructions kept in storage. In some aspects, the localization instructions are stored in vendor-specific instruction space areas, for example, in the Unicode Supplementary Private use Area-A.
US07814409B2

Embodiments of the present invention enable efficient presentation of user information. A user identifier is presented on a page. In response to a selection of a user identifier, one or more user information modules are utilized to return information relating to the user. The user information modules are modules that maintain user information in association with a user. In one embodiment, a configurable java server tag function generates the presentation of the user identifier, which can then be selected and utilized to request information from one or more information sources.
US07814408B1

A markup language document, such as an e-book, having a general format is converted into a simplified hierarchy of linked files. During this process, the file is pre-computed and encoded to accelerate run-time search operations and to minimize the computational requirements for run-time parsing and other forms of processing. The resulting e-book content is organized in a simplified file format hierarchy. The e-book file format hierarchy includes a root directory containing all of the files for a particular e-book. The root directory contains a content subdirectory linked to the root directory. The content subdirectory has nested therein at least one linked content file providing content information relating to the electronic book. The content file is pre-computed and encoded to minimize run-time processing.
US07814406B2

Provided is a display apparatus by which a user can immediately browse necessary information in a large schedule table, and can browse also distributed information such as electronic mail at the same time, without being prevented from browsing the schedule table. The display apparatus includes: a display priority decision unit which decides a priority regarding displaying for each cell included in the schedule table; a time table display unit which decides a row and a column which include a high-priority cell, among rows and columns in the schedule table, and creates and displays a displayed part of the table which includes a part having the high-priority cell in the decided row and column; an information receiving unit which obtains communication information via a communication network; and an information notice place decision unit which displays the obtained communication information on a low-priority cell among cells in the displayed part of the table.
US07814396B2

Checking an error recognition functionality of a memory circuit including a memory that stores a datum, and a check value circuit that executes the error recognition functionality, is performed by a monitoring circuit. The memory circuit provides the datum to the check value circuit, wherein the check value circuit checks the datum provided thereto for errors and outputs an error signal if an error is present. The monitoring circuit is coupled to the check value circuit and influences the check value circuit, the memory circuit or the datum provided to the check value circuit so that the check value circuit discovers an error in a check in a case of correct execution of the error recognition functionality, and outputs an alarm signal if the check value circuit does not output an error signal upon the influence of the monitoring circuit.
US07814393B2

Disclosed is a device and method for coding a block low density parity check (LDPC) code having a variable length. The a device and method include receiving an information word; and coding the information word into a block LDPC code according to a first parity check matrix or a second parity check matrix depending on a length to be applied when generating the information word into the block LDPC code.
US07814391B2

A rate matching method is provided for a mobile communication system that performs an adjustment to a code rate based on an optimal level by puncturing or repetition to respective bit streams of transport channels. The rate matching method is preferably applicable to uplink and downlink rate matching for channel coding including turbo coding, convolutional coding and the like. The rate matching method for uplink can include executing coding for bits of a transport channel, and branching off the bits into a plurality of sequences, constructing a first interleaving pattern for the plurality of sequences, constructing a virtual interleaving pattern for at least one sequence based on a mapping rule with a corresponding first interleaving pattern and calculating different bit shifting values in each column of each virtual interleaving pattern. Then, a bit position to be punctured is determined in each constructed virtual interleaving pattern using the calculated bit shifting values.
US07814389B2

A system for transmitting a digital broadcasting signal includes a Reed-Solomon encoder that encodes a dual transport stream including a normal stream and a turbo stream to obtain an encoded dual transport stream; an interleaver that interleaves the encoded dual transport stream to obtain an interleaved dual transport stream; and a turbo processor that detects the turbo stream from the interleaved dual transport stream to obtain a detected turbo stream, encodes the detected turbo stream to obtain an encoded turbo stream, stuffs the encoded turbo stream back into the interleaved dual transport stream to obtain a reconstructed dual transport stream, and compensates the reconstructed dual transport stream for a parity error due to the encoded turbo stream to obtain a parity-compensated dual transport stream.
US07814385B2

A built-in self-test (BIST) device tests multiple embedded memories of different characteristics. The BIST includes a BIST controller, a delay generator, multiple interface modules, and a memory wrapper. The BIST controller generates an initialization sequence and a memory test algorithm. The delay generator provides a delay of an expected data, a valid signal, a BBAD signal, a BEND signal, and a BFAIL signal. The multiple interface modules provide signal pipelining for multiple memories through a bus. The bus carries signals form the BIST device to multiple memories and vice-versa. The memory wrapper decodes a selected memory for decompressing a memory data signal generated by said BIST device and further compresses a memory output signal.
US07814381B2

A semiconductor memory device is adapted so that access time can be measured accurately when the device is in a test mode. A read or write operation of a memory array in the normal mode is performed in accordance with a first signal, a read or write operation of the memory array in the test mode is performed in accordance with a second signal, and a test of a plurality of items of output data from the memory array is conducted in the test mode and results of the test are output. It is so arranged that a desired test is conducted in the test mode based upon a third signal unrelated to the first signal and second signal.
US07814377B2

In a non-volatile memory system, test data may be retrieved by means of a circuit without the help of firmware. The circuit is triggered into action when it detects an abnormality in the processor or host interface. In such event, it formats the self test or status signals from the various blocks in the non-volatile memory system controller and sends a test message to the outside world without the assistance of the system processor or interface controller. When implemented in memory systems with multiple data lines, only one of the data lines may be utilized for such purpose, thereby allowing the testing to be performed while the system is still performing data transfer. Preferably, the system includes the test mode communication controller, which can select between a test channel and a host interface channel for the test message transfer so that the same testing may be performed when the memory system is in the test package as well as in an encapsulated package. The test message is transmitted repeatedly and the test message is structured so that it is easier for the receiver host to decipher the message without a handshake with the memory system. A communication controller preferably detects whether any of the communication channels is not used by the controller of a non-volatile memory system for sending signals and sends diagnostic signals through such channel.
US07814369B2

Methods and system are provided for detecting combinations of performance indicators that are associated with a root cause. The method comprises storing a plurality of error codes, each representative of at least one performance indicator, storing descriptive data associated with each of the plurality of error codes, storing a plurality of root causes, each associated with descriptive data that corresponds to the descriptive data of the plurality of error codes, identifying the error codes from the plurality of error codes that correspond to at least one of the plurality of root causes, and analyzing the error codes that correspond to at least one root cause to determine combinations of performance indicators that are associated with the root cause.
US07814365B2

A system and method for providing substantially concurrent mirroring of files across a network. A data file is selected for mirroring on a local computer system and one or more remote computer systems are designated to store a back-up copy of the selected data file. As changes to the selected data file occur, change information is captured by a mirroring driver, which is attached to the file system driver, and then forwarded from the local computer system across the network to the remote computer system or systems. Each remote computer system then updates the back-up copy of the data file.
US07814360B2

Synchronizing cluster time is described. Times of one or more nodes in the cluster to a master node of the cluster are synchronized. It is discovered that a node of a cluster has a clock time that is ahead of a master clock time of the master node. In response to discovering the node with the clock time ahead of the master clock time, the master node is replaced with the node ahead thereof in time, which thus becomes a new master node. The clock times of the cluster nodes are synchronized with the clock time of the new master node.
US07814351B2

A data storage system and associated method is provided within an enclosure supporting a self-contained plurality of discrete data storage devices configured for connecting with a network device via a network. The data storage system includes a redundant array of independent drives (RAID) container services module in the enclosure that allocates and manages a storage space of the data storage devices for storing primary and redundant data, and a policy engine in the enclosure that continuously and qualitatively characterizes the network load to the data storage system and manages a power distribution to each of the data storage devices based on a predicted utilization that differentiates between access commands for primary data and access commands for redundant data.
US07814350B2

A microprocessor control circuit continuously monitors core logic operating temperature and detects it has risen above a first temperature and responsively iteratively controls a system voltage source to output a next lower one of its N output voltage levels and controls clock generation circuitry of the microprocessor to output a lower one of its M core clock signal frequencies as necessitated by a transition to the next lower output voltage level until the temperature drops below the first temperature. The control circuit detects that the temperature has dropped below a second temperature and responsively iteratively controls the voltage source to output a next higher output voltage level and controls the clock generation circuitry to output a higher core clock signal frequency as permitted by the next higher output voltage level until the operating temperature rises above the second temperature. The M frequencies comprise a highest, lowest, and plurality of intermediate frequencies.
US07814348B2

In one aspect, there is disclosed a power management device that includes a housing, at least one input port, and at least one output port. Also included is a CPU and a user interface. Electrical circuitry connects the ports, CPU and user interface. The CPU includes a real-time operating system and programs actively controlling a power usage.
US07814341B1

A power supply that is housed in a case is provided. Outlets of the power supply are provided external to the case such that the case can be closed during operation of the power supply. The case can provide protection for components of the power supply as well as provide a mobile system that can easily be transported. One or more cooling fans and passageways can further be provided to cool components of the power supply. Additionally, two or more independent power systems can be provided in the power supply to allow for redundancy.
US07814336B1

A method and apparatus for improving enforcement of the time-limited operation of a programmable device. Two random number generators, e.g., linear feedback shift register (LFSR) circuits, are utilized in which a first LFSR provides free-running capability, while a second LFSR provides time-sensitive capability. The states of the two LFSR circuits are compared by various portions of the programmable device at each state transition in order to obtain authorization to continue operation. Authorized operation continues as long as the states of both LFSRs are equivalent, or at least equivalent, within a given phase offset. Once a terminal count of the time-sensitive LFSR is reached, then authorization for continued operation ends and at least a portion of the programmable device is disabled.
US07814326B2

Methods and systems are provided for generating and verifying signatures of digital messages communicated between signers and verifiers. Using bilinear mappings, such as Weil or Tate pairings, these methods and systems enable generation and verification of efficient multisignatures, identity-based ring signatures, hierarchical proxy signatures, and hierarchical online/offline signatures.
US07814319B2

Face-to-face information exchange and fostering of human relations implemented by communication through the virtual world are favorably supported. A user's personal information or other real-world information related to the user is taken one after another into a portable device with memory incorporated. Further, data is taken out of the device and matched with data from another user's device. Thus, information exchange and fostering of human relations are supported in the real world through the virtual world. For example, the present invention is used to provide places for intra-generational and intergenerational encounters or to build message boards for job hunting activities or looking for a match.
US07814316B1

A data encryption system with encryption integrity verification includes an encryption engine configured to receive an unencrypted data packet and generate an encrypted data packet based at least in part on the unencrypted data packet. The system also includes a decryption engine in electronic communication with the encryption engine, the decryption engine configured to receive the encrypted data packet and generate a decrypted data packet based at least in part on the encrypted data packet. The system further includes a comparator in electronic communication with the encryption engine and the decryption engine, the comparator configured to receive the unencrypted and decrypted data packets, determine whether the unencrypted and decrypted data packets are identical, and present the encrypted data packet as an output when the unencrypted and decrypted data packets are identical.
US07814312B2

An improved network architecture employs a super authority having an identity catalog to direct login authentication tasks to appropriate authorities. Authentication tasks may be performed by authorities across namespace boundaries if so directed by the super authority, such that a principal account may be moved without alteration of the account ID. In an embodiment of the invention, the identity catalog comprises a listing associating account IDs with appropriate authenticating authorities.
US07814311B2

Generating a binding between a source address and one or more roles of a user accessing the network and distributing the binding to a filter node. The source address is currently assigned to the device. The binding may be generated by one or more nodes on an ingress path used during authentication of the user. The binding may be distributed to the filter node on demand or without any request from the filter node. Responsive to a determination that the user is associated with a new source address, a new binding is generated to associate a new source address with the one or more roles for the user. The new binding is distributed to the filter node. Another aspect is a method of enforcing a role based security policy at a filter node, using bindings of source addresses to roles.
US07814310B2

A method and apparatus for optimizing IPsec processing by providing execution units with windowing data during prefetch and managing coherency of security association data by management of security association accesses. Providing execution units with windowing data allows initial parallel processing of IPsec packets. The security association access ordering apparatus serializes access to the dynamic section of security association data according to packet order arrival while otherwise allowing parallel processing of the IPsec packet by multiple execution units in a security processor.
US07814306B2

An information device has a storage medium storing information items which includes a first program provided on a first partition, a second program and data provided on a second partition to restore the first program on the first partition to a predetermined state, a boot block which causes system activation from one of the first partition and the second partition, and an active-partition switching program which indicates, to the boot block, one of the first and second partitions. An input/output system activates the active-partition switching program when a specific operation is performed. The active-partition switching program indicates to the boot block that system activation is to be executed from the second partition.
US07814299B2

A circuit arrangement and method support instruction target history based register address indexing, whereby register addresses to be used by an instruction are decoded using a target history table of previous target register addresses, and an index into the target history table supplied by an index value in the instruction. An instruction may include at least one index value that identifies a previously used register address. During execution of the instruction, the index is retrieved from the instruction, and then a register address is retrieved from the target history table using the index.
US07814287B2

A method and system for using writeable page tables to increase performance of memory address translation in computing environments utilizing a hypervisor. Guest operating systems are given temporary write-access to a page table page after the system confirms that such page is not part of the current address space (i.e., confirming that the page is part of a different page table from the one that is currently in use, such as a different user-space process). Alternatively, if the page is part of the currently running page table, the system invalidates the appropriate entry in the root page directory, thus “unlinking” it, and ensuring that the appropriate region of virtual address space is flushed from the translation lookaside buffer (TLB) in the current CPU and others that may be using it. After giving the OS write-access, the page is added to a validation queue. Validation of all 1024 entries and “re-hooking” of the page occurs whenever a page fault is taken due to the page being unhooked, or before context switching to another page table.
US07814284B1

A data redundancy elimination system. In particular implementations, a method includes storing in a memory one or more aggregation trees, each aggregation tree comprising one or more base chunk nodes and one or more super chunk nodes, wherein each base chunk node comprises a chunk signature and corresponding raw data, and wherein super chunk nodes correspond to child base chunk nodes and include a chunk signature; receiving a data block; dividing the data block into a plurality of base chunks, each base chunk having a degree value characterizing the occurrence probability of the base chunk; computing chunk signatures for the plurality of base chunks; applying a super chunk rule to contiguous sequences of base chunks of the plurality of base chunks to create one or more aggregation trees, wherein the super chunk rule aggregates base chunks based on the respective occurrence probabilities of the base chunks; identifying one or more nodes in the one or more created aggregation trees that match corresponding nodes of the aggregation trees in the memory; compressing the received data block based on the identified nodes; and conditionally adding the one or more created aggregation trees to the memory.
US07814280B2

A shared memory is described having a plurality of receive ports and a plurality of transmit ports characterized by a first data rate. A memory includes a plurality of memory banks organized in rows and columns. Operation of the memory array is characterized by a second data rate. Non-blocking receive crossbar circuitry is operable to connect any of the receive ports with any of the memory banks. Non-blocking transmit crossbar circuitry is operable to connect any of the memory banks with any of the transmit ports. Buffering is operable to decouple operation of the receive and transmit ports at the first data rate from operation of the memory array at the second data rate. Scheduling circuitry is operable to control interaction of the ports, crossbar circuitry, and memory array to effect storage and retrieval of the data segments in the shared memory. The scheduling circuitry is further operable to facilitate striping of each data segment of a frame across the memory banks in one of the rows, and to facilitate striping of successive data segments of the frame across successive rows in the array.
US07814277B2

The apparent speed with which a media work is ripped to copy the work into a visible store is substantially reduced. When the media work is played, its content is cached onto a persistent, fast access storage media. If the user subsequently decides to rip the media work, the content of the cache is copied to a visible store in substantially less time than would be required to play the media work and convert it. The user thus perceives that the media work is ripped in a substantially shorter time, compared to that required for ripping the media work in a conventional manner. The ripping process may encode or transform the format of the content to a desired format for use within the visible store. Constraints may be imposed by the user to limit the cache, or the caching process may be hidden from the user.
US07814255B1

A device includes a connector having first and second signal pins adapted to, when the connector is being connected to a mating connector of another device, make a first connection using the first signal pin prior to making a second connection using the second signal pin, a first circuit operatively coupled to the first signal pin and configured to identify at least three pre-determined signal patterns receivable from the another device using the first connection, wherein each of the at least three pre-determined signal patterns corresponds to one of at least three pre-determined interface protocols, and a second circuit operatively coupled to the first circuit and the second signal pin, wherein the second circuit is configured, responsive to the first circuit identifying a pre-determined signal pattern of the at least three pre-determined signal patterns, to interface with the another device using at least the second signal pin, wherein to interface with the another device is according to a pre-determined interface protocol corresponding to the pre-determined signal pattern, wherein configuring the second circuit responsive to the first circuit identifying the pre-determined signal pattern is prior to the second signal pin making the second connection.
US07814242B1

An integrated circuit includes a plurality of tiles. Each tile comprises a processor; a switch including switching circuitry to forward data over data paths from other tiles to the processor and to switches of other tiles; a receive buffer to store the data received by the switch; and a sorting module to provide data to the processor from the receive buffer, the sorting module comprising one or more buffers that are each configured to store data from the receive buffer based on a tag in the data.
US07814241B2

A first free port present in a controller or a switch device is physically connected to a second free port present in a switch device (switch device in another storage device unit) other than the controller or switch device comprising the first free port. The possibility of logical connection via a physical path connecting the first free port and second free port is controlled.
US07814229B1

Systems and methods for providing dynamic DNS host services in regard to resolving a text-descriptive resource names of a network request into network addresses is presented. A network request corresponding to a network resource on the computer network is obtained. The network request comprises a text-descriptive resource name corresponding to the network resource. Resource criteria are also obtained. The resource criteria direct how to resolve the resource name of the network resource to a network address. A network address corresponding to the resource name is then selected according to the obtained resource criteria. Thereafter, the selected network address is returned in response to the network request.
US07814227B2

A technique calculates a shortest path for a traffic engineering (TE) label switched path (LSP) from a head-end node in a local domain to a tail-end node of a remote domain in a computer network. The novel path calculation technique determines a set of different remote domains through which the TE-LSP may traverse to reach the tail-end node (e.g., along “domain routes”). Once the set of possible routes is determined, the head-end node sends a path computation request to one or more path computation elements (PCEs) of its local domain requesting a computed path for each domain route. Upon receiving path responses for each possible domain route, the head-end node selects the optimal (shortest) path, and establishes the TE-LSP accordingly.
US07814225B2

Techniques for dynamically updating a live object with personalized content for clients are provided. The techniques include receiving a first message from a source including a first identifier and a second identifier. The first identifier may be unique to a client. The second identifier may be generic across many clients. The first message includes information for updating a property of a live object associated with the second identifier. A client specific to the first identifier may be identified. A second message may then be routed through a network to the client. The second message may include the first identifier and the second identifier and also may contain information for updating a property of the live object associated with the second identifier. The client may receive the second message and may be capable of causing an update of the property of the live object associated with the second identifier.
US07814222B2

A system and method that includes monitoring a state of a physical queue receiving data is shown. The system and method includes generating, queuing, and scheduling messages based on the state of the physical queue, sending the messages to a virtual queue system, and approximating the state of the physical queue in a virtual queue system based on the messages. The system and method includes modifying a transmission rate towards the physical queue based on a state stored in the virtual queue system.
US07814221B1

A system and method to support the transmission of static media, originating from an HTTP source, as a Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) stream to a caching proxy. A server-side gateway accepts RTSP requests, loads a requested resource from the HTTP source, and streams requested portions of a file via RTSP. A RTSP proxy caches received portions of media to avoid re-requesting those portions. The RTSP proxy may receive a RTSP TEARDOWN command to trigger removal of cached media and passes the RTSP TEARDOWN command to the server-side gateway. Further, the server-side gateway may receive a RTSP TEARDOWN command to trigger the server-side gateway to remove media loaded from the HTTP source.
US07814218B1

A system and method of processing data in a stateful protocol processing system (“SPPS”) configured to process a multiplicity of flows of messages is disclosed herein. The method includes receiving a first plurality of messages belonging to a first of the flows comporting with a first stateful protocol. In addition, a second plurality of messages belonging to a second of the flows comporting with a second stateful protocol are also received. Various events of at least first and second types associated with the first flow are then derived from the first plurality of received messages. The method further includes assigning a first protocol processing core to process the events of the first type in accordance with the first stateful protocol. A second protocol processing core is also assigned to process the events of the second type in accordance with the first stateful protocol.
US07814207B2

A method for a peer of a peer-to-peer network to search for an available resource is provided. The method initiates with representing a request for the available resource as a request bit string. The method includes transmitting the request to a parent of the peer. Then, an aggregate availability bit string associated with the parent is accessed. The aggregate availability bit string represents an aggregate resource availability for all children of the parent. Next, a logical operation is performed with the bits of the aggregate availability bit string and the bits of the request bit string. Then, it is determined whether any of the children of the parent are able to provide the available resource based upon a result of the logical operation. A peer-to-peer grid and a system for publishing and identifying an available resource in a peer-to-peer distributed network are also provided.
US07814205B2

A method for managing floor control in a network is disclosed. The method includes beginning a ballot timer when at least one of a) a first node packet is created at the node and b) a second node packet is received at the node from a second node. The first node packet comprises a first timestamp and the second node packet comprises a second timestamp. The ballot timer runs for a first predefined time interval. The method further includes determining a floor holder upon expiration of the first predefined time interval based upon an earliest time of the first timestamp and the second timestamp. Further, the node and the second node have a same absolute timing reference.
US07814204B1

Systems and methods are described for analyzing the content of resource requests. A tokenizer parses the resource request and derives a key therefrom. A database associates values of the key with categories of service. An association engine uses the key to obtain one or more matching entries from the database, and derive therefrom the desired category of service for the resource request. A cookie engine derives cookie information from a cookie located in the resource request. A session engine derives session information from a session identifier located in a handshake message associated with the resource request. The desired category of service, the cookie information, and the session information are each useful for allocating a resource to the resource request.
US07814197B2

In a method of transmitting an event notification, a first data packet that includes a first event code is transmitted to a first individual via a not-automatically receipt confirmed communication. Upon receiving a response communication from the first individual, the first individual is requested to respond with the first event code. If the first individual responds by transmitting the first event code, then the first event is identified from the first event code. Instructions relating to the first event are transmitted to the first individual. The status of notifications is displayed on a map which is displayed on a computer screen.
US07814190B2

A method of managing information technology (IT) tasks within an enterprise network is described. The method comprises receiving a user input specifying a filter definition, associating a table with the filter definition, and automatically evaluating entities of the network to determine which entities meet the filter definition. A label is assigned to any entity that meets the filter definition, and an IT task is caused to be executed with respect to an entity having the label assigned to it.
US07814189B2

A method and system for connecting multiple initiators to a storage area network (SAN) via a Fibre channel fabric using a single N_port fibre channel switch. The multiple initiators are associated with a common domain identification (DID), each initiator having a unique source identification (SID). The method includes initiating a communication exchange between at least one of the initiators and the SAN, the exchange including transmission of a command frame. The method also includes monitoring the initiated exchange communication exchange, and replacing the unique SID of one of the initiators with an SID of the fibre channel switch.
US07814180B2

A DNS server system provides IP addresses for a host in a computer network. Upon receiving a request from a client for an IP address associated with a domain name, the requested IP address is retrieved from an object oriented database and transmitted to the client. The DNS server system provides configuration access from a client in a computer network. Communicative coupling is established between a client web browser and a DNS server system web server. A user interface adapted to provide configuration access to a DNS server system is requested. The user interface is downloaded from the DNS server system over the computer network.
US07814178B2

The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for data configuration in a communication device, comprising the following steps of: a) the configuration data centralized unit filtering its internal data, so as to obtain the data to be configured for each configuration data distributed unit; b) the configuration data centralized unit sending said obtained data to each corresponding configuration data distributed unit; c) each configuration data distributed unit making the received data come into effect in it. An apparatus for data configuration of the present invention comprises a configuration data centralized unit and configuration data distributed units, wherein the configuration data centralized unit comprises a filtering sub-module, and one said configuration data distributed unit comprises an adaptation sub-module. During data configuration, the present invention utilizes filtering and adaptation, which leads to little modification to the existing systems and simple and flexible implementation, and significantly reduced redundant data volume for configuration.
US07814174B2

The invention is a flexible and adaptive application framework and method for providing media services via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable media services server device. A method of the preferred embodiment of the invention includes distributing or partitioning computation, data storage, and/or data transmission between the server and client devices to flexibly adapt to and take advantage of the available computing and/or network resources.
US07814170B2

A network distributed tracking wire transfer protocol for storing and retrieving data across a distributed data collection. The protocol includes a location string for specifying the network location of data associated with an entity in the distributed data collection, and an identification string for specifying the identity of an entity in the distributed data collection. According to the protocol, the length of the location string and the length of the identification string are variable, and an association between an identification string and a location string can be spontaneously and dynamically changed. The network distributed tracking wire transfer protocol is application independent, organizationally independent, and geographically independent. A method for using the protocol in a distributed data collection environment and a system for implementing the protocol are also provided.
US07814159B2

Chat messages in a chat session may be displayed in a timeline view. Messages are displayed in a first display region. Timestamps of the chat messages are displayed in a second region. The messages are aligned with their respective timestamps, akin to a timeline. Timestamps for all messages need not be displayed; a timestamp may be omitted if the corresponding message occurs in the “same” time as another message. Breaks of no messaging activity that are longer than a predefined amount of time are shown with graphical objects such as a line. The objects also indicate the length of the break.
US07814158B2

A method for delivering a time-sensitive message to a recipient includes receiving the time-sensitive message, the time-sensitive message having a rule set for delivering the time-sensitive message. The rule set is extracted from the time-sensitive message. The rule set specifies a starting time and an expiration time for the time-sensitive message. The time-sensitive message is provided to the recipient based on the starting time. A determination is made if a current time is within a threshold of the expiration time. An extension message is sent to a source of the time-sensitive message if the current time is within a threshold of the expiration time.
US07814156B2

A terminal operated by a user is connected to a server group, including a management server, a mail server, and a database server, via the Internet. In the database server, current account information, including a mail address of the user for mail exchange is registered. When the user registers a new mail address in the terminal, the new mail address is notified to the mail server and the database server. The database server updates the registered account information and also updates the account information registered in the mail server. The update of the account information in the server group is notified to the terminal. When the update of the account information is notified, the terminal apparatus requests the database server to send the account information. The terminal internally registers the account information sent from the database server in response to the request.
US07814155B2

A system and method are disclosed for producing a list of conversation as the result of a search query. Messages are received and associated with a conversation. Each of the conversations has a respective conversation identifier and includes one or more messages. Messages, and related message information, are indexed for text searching and information about the message is stored in a memory to associate the message to its respective conversation identifier. The index can be searched to identify one or more messages relevant a search query. At least some of the conversations to which the one or messages belong are identified and produced as the search result.
US07814153B2

The present disclosure provides a structure and method for client-side management of communications channels. In one example, the method includes determining a maximum number of simultaneous connections N supportable by a client. This may be based on such factors as network connection speed and processing power of the client. Between one and N entities that meet a predefined criterion may then be identified. For example, if the client is controlling an avatar in a virtual world, then the criterion may be a distance from the avatar. Permission to communicate with the client may then be granted to the identified entities, and permission to communicate with the client held by entities that are not among the identified entities may be revoked.
US07814143B2

A system and method applied to a communications network which transmits document portions in which an original document portion having an identifier portion and an information portion is replaced or swapped with a substitute null document portion. The reads the identifier portion of the original document portion, determines the information portion of the original document portion, and issue a swap order when an undesired original document portion is found. A modified document is created by inserting the substitute null document portion in place of the undesired portion and the modified document is passed on to the user set and displayed. Also, the system performs detection and replacement of undesired content in emails, such as junk mail, viruses and confidential material.
US07814141B2

A system and method of proxy domain name registration permits a would-be domain name registrant anonymity. A registrar affords customers the opportunity to use the proxy registration. If the customer seeking registration of a domain name requests, the registrar obtains contact information needed for registration from a proxy entity established for this purpose. The registrar completes the registration of the domain name with the appropriate registry (i.e. “.com, .net” etc.). The contact information published in WHOIS is that of proxy entity. Contractually the customer is afforded control over the domain name. Emails intended for the customer are received by the proxy entity who may filter them if the customer requests. Emails sent by the customer are sent to the proxy entity who in turn sends them to the indicated addressee.
US07814139B2

Methods and systems are provided herein for the analysis of clickstream data of online users. The analysis methods and systems allow for the creation of new offline business methods based on online consumer behavior. In embodiments, a third party is enabled to forecast offline demand for a good or service based on the online consumer behavior.
US07814138B2

According to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed in this application, decimal floating-point additions and/or decimal fixed-point additions may be implemented using existing hardware for binary number operations. The implementation can be carried out in software, in hardware, or in a combination of software and hardware. Pre-calculated constants that are approximations to negative powers of 10 and stored in binary format may be used for rounding addition results to a designated precision by multiplying the results with a pre-calculated constant. Additionally, several parts of a decimal multiplication may be carried out in parallel. Furthermore, a simple comparison with a constant instead of an expensive remainder calculation may be used for midpoint detection and exactness determination.
US07814135B1

A system implementable using a programmable processor includes a plurality of pre-stored commands for building an inventory of audio, musical, works or audio/visual works, such as music videos. A plurality of works can be collected together in a list for purposes of establishing a play or a presentation sequence. The list can be visually displayed and edited. A plurality of lists can be stored for subsequent retrieval. A selected list can be retrieved and executed. Upon execution, the works of the list are presented sequentially either audibly or visually. The works can be read locally from a source, such as a CD, or can be obtained, via wireless transmission, from a remote inventory. If desired, establishment of a predetermined credit can be a pre-condition to being able to add items to the list for presentation.
US07814133B2

A system implementable using a programmable processor includes a plurality of pre-stored commands for building an inventory of audio, musical, works or audio/visual works, such as music videos. A plurality of works can be collected together in a list for purposes of establishing a play or a presentation sequence. The list can be visually displayed and edited. A plurality of lists can be stored for subsequent retrieval. A selected list can be retrieved and executed. Upon execution, the works of the list are presented sequentially either audibly or visually. The works can be read locally from a source, such as a CD, or can be obtained, via wireless transmission, from a remote inventory. If desired, establishment of a predetermined credit can be a pre-condition to being able to add items to the list for presentation.
US07814125B2

Application development is facilitated by initializing a page token in response to receiving a request. The page token comprises an abstract model component containing a specification for obtaining data designated to be sent in a response to the request or a specification for updating data obtained from the request, and also a view component for providing referential format specifications for data provided in the abstract model component. The page token is passed between at least two components of a modified model-view-controller architecture via a standard interface. The components include a user interface controller, a user interface builder implementing a first standard interface, an application layer implementing a second standard interface, a data access manager implementing a third standard interface, and at least one data access utility implementing a fourth standard interface. Business logic is applied to contents of the page token as a result of the passing, and a response is presented to the request based upon results of applying the business logic.
US07814122B2

The invention relates to a system and a method for documentation processing, in particular for technical and industrial applications, with storage means (1) for storing documentation data (I1 . . . In) on several levels (E1 . . . Em) and with acquisition means (2) for acquiring real information (R), with access means for accessing the documentation data (I1 . . . In) and with evaluation means (A) for evaluating the real information (R) and for selecting the stored documentation data in dependence on the real information (R). As a result, for example for service applications in situ, i.e. for example the location of an automation system, structured and selective access to the documentation data is made possible by the integration of the documentation data (I1 . . . In) as augmented reality.
US07814121B2

A method of constructing an entity profile, having private and public portions with different access restrictions, commences with the assignment of a confidence level to content within an electronic document. The electronic document may be associated with a first entity. The content may be descriptive of the first entity. If the confidence level assigned to the content is less than a predetermined threshold, the content is automatically rejected for inclusion within the entity profile. If the confidence level assigned to the content exceeds the predetermined threshold, the content is included within the private portion of the entity profile. Thereafter, the content can be automatically presented to the first entity for authorization, by the first entity, for inclusion of the content within the public portion of the profile. The public portion of the entity profile may be freely accessible by other entities, whereas the private portion may have access restrictions.
US07814119B2

In the conventional technique for mainly performing access control, an entity (an individual) which provides information cannot grasp a state of use of personal information. In the conventional technique for encrypting stored data, a decryption key is always required when personal data is used and the personal data is not protected once decrypted. The invention constitute a system such that a purchase history is collected according to an anonymous ID and a response from a member card or an agent server is required for operation for associating the anonymous ID with a personal ID. Personal data itself is not encrypted but stored in a plain text with the personal ID and the anonymous ID as keys such that the anonymous ID is regenerated every time the anonymous ID is associated with the personal ID on a server side. At this point, the anonymous ID serving as a collection key for the purchase history, which is accumulated concurrently, is also regenerated.
US07814110B2

A computer program product and method for interrogating data attributes in a product development environment is provided. In one embodiment, a computer program product includes a product development application that includes an interrogate data selection device. A product development datastore stores attribute data associated with at least one of a part item and an annotation item created by the product development application. A data interrogator module is initiated by the interrogate data selection device and retrieves the attribute data associated with at the least one of the part item and the annotation item from the product development datastore. A graphical user interface manager module displays the attribute data in a user customizable presentation.
US07814109B2

A system and method to facilitate automatic categorization of events in a network, wherein one or more keywords are retrieved from a keyword database, each retrieved keyword matching a corresponding event unit of an event input by a user over a network. A dominant keyword corresponding to a highest parameter value calculated for each retrieved keyword is then selected. Finally, the event is categorized based on one or more categories associated with the dominant keyword. The dominant keyword may be selected based on one or more keyword categories associated with each retrieved keyword and an ambiguity parameter value calculated for each keyword. Alternatively, the dominant keyword may be selected based on a highest-ranked output value calculated for each retrieved keyword. One or more categories associated with the dominant keyword are subsequently retrieved from the keyword database and the event is categorized based on the category associated with the dominant keyword.
US07814103B1

A system performs cross-language query translations. The system receives a search query that includes terms in a first language and determines possible translations of the terms of the search query into a second language. The system also locates documents for use as parallel corpora to aid in the translation by: (1) locating documents in the first language that contain references that match the terms of the search query and identify documents in the second language; (2) locating documents in the first language that contain references that match the terms of the query and refer to other documents in the first language and identify documents in the second language that contain references to the other documents; or (3) locating documents in the first language that match the terms of the query and identify documents in the second language that contain references to the documents in the first language. The system may use the second language documents as parallel corpora to disambiguate among the possible translations of the terms of the search query and identify one of the possible translations as a likely translation of the search query into the second language.
US07814100B2

Searching electronic content in an instant-messaging application includes obtaining input that specifies a search criterion and that further identifies a first set of users. Each user in the first set has stored electronic content that provides information about that user. The stored electronic content associated with each user in the first set is searched, and a second set of users that includes users in the first set with stored electronic content that satisfies the specified search criterion is identified. An indication of the identified users within the second set is provided.
US07814093B2

A data query and reporting method and system are provided. The method and system allow non-technical computer users to build and execute complex database queries. The method and system accommodate the need for a simple, easy-to-understand interactive and iterative means for generating and validating database queries. The method and system reduce the complexity and costs associated with retrieving useful information for organizations of all sizes, especially smaller businesses. The method and system support a robust security model, enabling organizations to protect sensitive data while providing broad data access.
US07814092B2

A computer-implemented method of performing named entity recognition in a client-server environment includes providing a first named entity recognition module operable with a client machine in the client-server environment and a second named entity recognition module operable with a server in the client-server environment. The method also includes performing named entity recognition on the client machine to identify one or more domain dependent named entities in a set of tokens and data assessable to the client machine and performing named entity recognition on the server to identify one or more domain independent named entities in the set of tokens and data assessable to the server. A task is completed using at least information related to the identified named entities from the client machine and the server.
US07814090B2

A query generator for generating a query for retrieving data from a database comprising at least one table is disclosed. The query refers to one or more data items in a first view defined to expose a portion of the database and to one or more data items that are not exposed by the first view, at least one of which has an associated reach through flag set thereby defining it as a reach through item. The query generator is adapted to: receive user input indicating selected items to be retrieved from the database; ascertain whether any of the selected items that are not exposed by the first view are defined as reach through items; and, if so: create a second view that is a copy of the first view and add a copy of each reach through item to it; and create a query that refers only to the second view and the items exposed by it.
US07814085B1

A system and method for scoring documents is described. One or more documents are identified responsive to a search criteria. A text match score indicating a quality of match of the identified documents is determined. A category match score is determined over categories. A document-categories score is determined indicating a quality of match between an identified document and a plurality of categories. A search criteria-categories score is determined indicating a quality of match between the search criteria and the categories. An overall score is determined based on the text match score and the category match score.
US07814083B2

Method and system for supporting access to information and a recording medium are provided. The method of supporting access to information in a system connected to a user client through a network includes: (a) receiving an access application download request from the user client; (b) transmitting the requested access application to the user client, the access application serving to replace a first address bar existing in a web browser with a second address bar; (c) receiving keyword information among information input to the second address bar by a user, the keyword information being text information not directly including access information; and (d) transmitting at least one of address information corresponding to the keyword information and search result information on the keyword information to the user client. Accordingly, all the kinds of information can be accessed using an address bar, thereby giving convenience to a user.
US07814080B1

A method and apparatus identifies SQL statements in a first transaction that specify modification operations that are commutative and associative. The SQL statements are combined into one SQL statement, and the one SQL statement is submitted to a database system. Optionally, or alternatively, multiple transactions can be grouped together into one transaction.
US07814077B2

Provided are a method, system, and program for restoring a source file referenced by multiple file names to a restore file. An operation is processed to restore a source file having a first file name to a restore file, wherein the source file is in a state of being accessed by a process. A determination is made as to whether a second file name references the source file. A first temporary file name and a second temporary file name are created that both reference the restore file in response to determining that the second file name references the source file. The first temporary file name is renamed to the first file name and the second temporary file name is renamed to the second file name. After the renaming of the first and second temporary file names, the first and second file names reference the restore file.
US07814075B2

A secure database appliance leverages database security in a consistent framework provides consistent, flexible, and adaptable security using mandatory access controls in addition to user and role based security for access control and accountability. A database system comprises a plurality of database objects, each database object having a level of security, a plurality of factors, each factor representing a characteristic of a user of the database system, at least one database session of the user in the database, the database session having a level of security, the user connected to the database with a network domain, each network domain having a level of security, wherein the database system is operable to grant or deny access to the data to a user based on the factors associated with the user, based on the level of security of the data, based on the level of security of the database session, and based on the level of security of the network domain.
US07814043B2

This invention is to automatically extract noteworthy information from a large amount of information. First, a disclosure unit of an individual opinion such as a statement in a personal Web page or a bulletin board is extracted from collected content information, and information such as URL or statement number for specifying the disclosure unit of the individual opinion is registered. Next, an object such as company name or industry type of the individual opinion is specified. Then, the disclosed contents of the individual opinion are analyzed, so that an evaluation as to the object such as good evaluation or bad evaluation is specified. Besides, the reliability is determined based on referenced degree ranking and based on whether information to indicate the basis of the opinion or the identity of the speaker is included. Thus, the evaluation as to the object as characteristics of the individual opinion can be presented to requesters. Besides, for example, only a bad evaluation can be extracted from evaluations as to the object of the individual opinion. Furthermore, the opinion, which has a high influence degree and is noteworthy, can also be found based on the referenced degree ranking or the reliability.
US07814034B2

A method and system for automatically developing a fault classification system from time series data. The sensors need not have been intended for diagnostic purposes (e.g., control sensors). These methods and systems are functionally independent of knowledge related to a particular equipment system, thereby allowing seamless application to multiple systems, regardless of the suite of sensors in each system. Because this algorithm is totally automated, substantial savings in time and development cost can be achieved. The algorithm results in a classification system and a set of features that might be used to develop alternative classification systems without human intervention.
US07814029B1

An index for an item in a computer implemented merchandising system is computed as a function of objective data, e.g., transaction data, and subjective data, e.g., customer satisfaction ratings or reviews. The index may be extended with other data, including revenue, returns, refunds, discontinuations, and interactive shopping data. The index may further be weighted using a variety of weight factors for different components of the subjective and objective data. A display of the index places customer satisfaction data in the context of transaction data. The index may be used to provide prospective customers with a more balanced picture of consumer satisfaction than can be provided from customer satisfaction data alone, including prospective purchase comparisons and desirability.
US07814027B2

A matchmaking ring and method of communicating personal status to another person is provided. The matchmaking ring of the present invention includes means for identifying personal characteristics of the ring wearer. The matchmaking ring further includes means for identifying desired personal characteristics of a potential partner of the ring wearer. When one matchmaking ring is compared or abutted to another matchmaking ring, the engagement or non-engagement between the two rings determines if two people are compatible. Further, the ring itself acts as an indicator to other people that the ring wearer may be a potential partner. Thus, the invention provides a method of wearing the matchmaking ring and identifying others that are wearing a similar matchmaking ring as a potential partner. The ring may be worn as a wedding ring to stave off unwanted advances from individuals who do not know of the ring's significance.
US07814009B1

A method for a customer to anonymously purchase goods or services from an on-line merchant, including the steps of depositing currency in the form of cash with a depository, the depository issuing to the customer one or more randomly-generated serial numbers, the customer submitting at least one serial number to the on-line merchant and the depository transferring an amount of said currency corresponding to said at least one serial number to an account of said on-line merchant. Since the customer uses cash for payment and the serial numbers are randomly-generated, the customer's identity remains anonymous.
US07814001B2

A process for creating a modeling portfolio to model an actively managed exchange traded fund portfolio. The modeling portfolio comprises a first portfolio of securities and a supplemental portfolio of securities. The modeling portfolio does not reveal the actively managed exchange traded fund portfolio.
US07814000B2

Preferred embodiments of the subject invention comprise: (a) electronically receiving securities order-related data regarding a set of securities market participants; (b) electronically storing the received order-related data regarding the set of securities market participants; (c) electronically receiving a securities order-related query (or order parameters) from a first securities market participant; (d) based on the order-related query (or order parameters) received from the first securities market participant and on the securities order-related data regarding the set of securities market participants, computing a dissemination list of securities market participants based on ranking likely contras by probability of execution; and (e) transmitting that dissemination list to an entity who has been granted the privilege of receiving such lists in exchange for being contractually bound to respect confidentiality of the dissemination list and to use the list only for the purpose of sending securities-related information to members of the list.
US07813998B1

A graphical interface and method are provided for selectively displaying market information corresponding to a plurality of tradable objects. According to one example method, a scanning feature is provided in relation to a number of tradable object indicators. Upon detecting a predefined movement of a user input device in relation to the plurality of indicators, a graphical interface dynamically displays market information corresponding to the tradable objects as a predefined movement of the user input device is detected in relation to the tradable object indicators.
US07813996B2

A method and system for reducing the time it takes for a trader to place a trade when electronically trading on an exchange, thus increasing the likelihood that the trader will have orders filled at desirable prices and quantities. The “Mercury” display and trading method of the present invention ensure fast and accurate execution of trades by displaying market depth on a vertical or horizontal plane, which fluctuates logically up or down, left or right across the plane as the market prices fluctuates. This allows the trader to trade quickly and efficiently.
US07813976B2

In an on-line financial screening service, a database of financial and intellectual property information is searched to find at least one financial security matching user defined financial search criteria. Selection preferences for a financial security are defined as search criteria. The financial search criteria includes but is not limited to the following: Stock Price, Price/Earnings Ratio, Current Ratio, Debt/Equity Ratio, Cash/Price ratio, Earnings per Share Growth-1 Yr, Earnings per Share Growth-5 Yr, Insider Trades, Institutional Holdings %, Price/Book Ratio, Price/Cash Flow Ratio. The databases are repeatedly searched for records matching the financial selection criteria preferences of the user. Financial securities meeting the users search criteria are then matched to an intellectual property database to determine the number of patents a financial security has been issued.
US07813971B2

A system and method are provided for recommending at least one coating composition for coating substrates considering the particular geographical location and the environmental conditions associated with that location. The computer based system and the method can also consider the particular performance and optionally the appearance features desired by the end user.
US07813964B2

A method for selling and executing an application using a remote file system for a plurality of clients that includes receiving a purchase request for the application from a client of the plurality of clients, adding an application icon to the remote file system for the client, wherein the application icon allows access to the application and wherein the application icon is added after receiving the purchasing request, receiving an execution request for the application, wherein the execution request is received when the client accesses the application icon, and initiating execution of the application from the remote file system for the client, wherein the application is executed by the client from the remote file system.
US07813959B2

Systems and methods are provided for increasing user response to advertisements from advertisement suppliers obtained in response to keywords. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a base request from an advertisement requester; identifying a first and second keyword associated with the base request, the first and second keyword having both previously been used in advertisement requests to a first advertisement supplier; ranking the first keyword and the second keyword based on a user response history for each of the first keyword and second keyword; and identifying the higher ranked of the first keyword and the second keyword to be used to dynamically alter the base request to form an altered request to be sent to the first advertisement supplier.
US07813957B1

A system and method for delivering a plurality of payloads such as ads in response to a plurality of requests. The system comprises a data structure defining a target profile for each ad which target profile specifies characteristics of a request to which the ad may be provided in response and an ad server for delivering one or more of the plurality of payloads in response to a request from a target. The number of times each payload is delivered to a target is tracked. A payload priority is assigned for each of the payloads as a function of a delivery goal of the payload and as a function of the number of times the payload has been delivered to a target. A particular request is received from a particular target having particular characteristics. A particular payload is selected for delivery to the particular target as a function of the particular characteristics and as a function of the payload priorities.
US07813956B2

A method of and system for providing customer-specific information involving a) obtaining customer identification information for identifying a customer to be served at the weigh station; b) storing a plurality of customer profiles for a plurality of customers wherein each customer in the plurality of customers has an associated customer profile; and, c) when the customer is in the plurality of customers, retrieving the associated customer profile for the customer using the customer identification information and providing associated customer-specific information based on the associated customer profile to a weigh station display.
US07813951B2

A graphical user interface is provided for using a computer to manage customer loss. The graphical user interface includes an overview window and a customer profile window. The overview window is for customer churn information that is associated with a period of time. Customer churn information may include information related to customer churn rates, lost profits, likelihood-to-churn rates, and likelihood-to-churn rates for important customers. The customer profile window is for customer information associated with each of several groups of customers for which customer churn information is displayed in the overview window. Customer information may include information related to customer demographics, such as characteristics of customers who are likely to churn, are loyal or are valuable, or the geographic distribution of customers or a subset of customers.
US07813949B2

A system and method of budgeting in a purchase order system are disclosed. The method of budgeting includes allocating a budget according to one or more planning levels and selecting or defining one or more keys, each key corresponding to one or more planning levels.
US07813948B2

Computer-implemented methods and systems for use in analyzing costs associated with cost flow models having components of relationships and entities. Reduction criteria is received for use in reducing number of components that are in a first cost flow model. The reduction criteria is used to generate a reduced cost flow model. The reduced cost flow model has less components than the number of components that are in the received first cost flow model.
US07813938B2

A method and system for enhanced prescription distribution security wherein a prescription form is provided with one or more of: (1) a bar code corresponding to a data base location for a physician's signature; (2) a bar code corresponding to the pharmaceutical/medication to be dispensed and (3) a bar code unique to each prescription form.
US07813937B1

Transaction-based behavioral profiling, whereby the entity to be profiled is represented by a stream of transactions, is required in a variety of data mining and predictive modeling applications. An approach is described for assessing inconsistency in the activity of an entity, as a way of detecting fraud and abuse, using service-code information available on each transaction. Inconsistency is based on the concept that certain service-codes naturally co-occur more than do others. An assessment is made of activity consistency looking at the overall activity of an individual entity, as well as looking at the interaction of entities. Several approaches for measuring consistency are provided, including one inspired by latent semantic analysis as used in text analysis. While the description is in the context of fraud detection in healthcare, the techniques are relevant to application in other industries and for purposes other than fraud detection.
US07813933B2

Loudspeakers in domestic or automotive environments are rarely placed ideally with respect to the sources supplying them, and the stereo and surround images are seldom satisfying. According to the invention there is provided a method and apparatus for combining a precise knowledge about the relative positions of the loudspeakers that were intended (the virtual loudspeakers) and a precise knowledge about the actual placement of listening loudspeakers into a vector space that enables calculation of running corrections to the signals used in order to simulate the presence of the virtual loudspeakers. Specifically the corrections may comprise gain/attenuations determined based on the distances in vector space between the virtual and actual loudspeakers and delays determined from these distances.
US07813931B2

A system and method are provided for improving the quality and intelligibility of speech signals. The system and method apply frequency compression to the higher frequency components of speech signals while leaving lower frequency components substantially unchanged. This preserves higher frequency information related to consonants which is typically lost to filtering and bandpass constraints. This information is preserved without significantly altering the fundamental pitch of the speech signal so that when the speech signal is reproduced its overall tone qualities are preserved. The system and method further apply frequency expansion to speech signals. Like the compression, only the upper frequencies of a received speech signal are expanded. When the frequency expansion is applied to a speech signal that has been compressed according to the invention, the speech signal is substantially returned to its pre-compressed state. However, frequency compression according to the invention provides improved intelligibility even when the speech signal is not subsequently re-expanded. Likewise, speech signals may be expanded even though the original signal was not compressed, without significant degradation of the speech signal quality. Thus, a transmitter may include the system for applying high frequency compression without regard to whether a receiver will be capable of re-expanding the signal. Likewise, a receiver may expand a received speech signal without regard to whether the signal was previously compressed.
US07813924B2

It may be desirable to provide a way to collect high quality speech training data without undue burden to the user. Speech training data may be collected during normal usage of a device. In this way, the collection of speech training data may be effectively transparent to the user, without the need for a distinct collection mode from the user's point of view. For example, where the device is or includes a phone (such as a cellular phone), when the user makes or receives a phone call to/from another party, speech training data may be automatically collected from one or both of the parties during the phone call.
US07813920B2

Learning to reorder alternates based on a user's personalized vocabulary may be provided. An alternate list provided to a user for replacing words input by the user via a character recognition application may be reordered based on data previously viewed or input by the user (personal data). The alternate list may contain generic data, for example, words for possible substitution with one or more words input by the user. By using the user's personal data and statistical learning methodologies in conjunction with generic data in the alternate list, the alternate list can be reordered to present a top alternate that more closely reflect the user's vocabulary. Accordingly, the user is presented with a top alternate that is more likely to be used by the user to replace data incorrectly input.
US07813918B2

A training system for text to text application. The training system finds groups of documents, and identifies automatically similar documents in the groups which are similar. The automatically identified documents can then be used for training of the text to text application. The comparison uses reduced size versions of the documents in order to minimize the amount of processing.
US07813912B1

A method of profiling a hardware system can include compiling a high level language program into an assembly language representation of the hardware system and translating instructions of the assembly language representation of the hardware system into a plurality of executable, software models. The models can be implemented using a high level modeling language for use with cycle accurate emulation. The method also can include instrumenting at least one of the plurality of models with code that, when executed, provides operating state information relating to the model as output and indicating expected behavior of the circuit by executing the models in an emulation environment.
US07813906B2

A method that utilizes signals from an accelerometer in resonant frequency bands or high frequency bands to, in a cost-effective manner, measure wear particle penetration of lubricant and lubricant degradation, both of which greatly affect prediction of residual service life; and, using as a basis these measurements of wear particle penetration and lubricant degradation, enables accurate estimation of residual service life for rolling bearings in the early stages.
US07813904B2

This is to provide a computing method of motor model, a motor simulation method and a motor simulation apparatus in which high-speed real-time simulation is made feasible while saving computer resources. A motor model is formulated, motor model which uses a motor model of alternate-current motor which virtually includes the inverse matrix of an inductance matrix L(θ), which is a predetermined function whose variable is a rotary angle θ, and, in the computation of this motor model, the value, which is obtained by computing a matrix λ(θ) which is equal to the inverse matrix of the inductance matrix L(θ), is used as the value of the inverse matrix of the inductance matrix L(θ).
US07813894B2

A methodology and system is disclosed which addresses outstanding needs of refiners to process cheaper crudes or blends of crudes. This method and system comprises a number of steps, including characterizing the impact of various constituents in the crude which result in fouling of heat exchangers; estimating model parameters; monitoring and predicting qualitative and quantitative performance; and determining optimal dosage of chemical treatments.
US07813881B2

The present invention provides a method useful for analysis of punctate distribution of supramolecular complexes that are compartmentalized in nuclear microenvironments. In preferred embodiments the method provides quantitative analysis of the assembly of regulatory machinery within the context of nuclear architecture and to provide a mechanistic link with biological control. In other embodiments, the invention provides a method of identifying a molecule by parameters of its subnuclear distribution, comprising the steps of quantifying organizational parameters of domains within subnuclear distributions of a molecule; performing factor analysis on the quantified organizational parameters; performing discriminant analysis on the quantified organizational parameters; comparing the results of the factor analysis and the results of the discriminant analysis to one or more standards, thereby identifying a molecule by parameters of its subnuclear distribution.
US07813874B2

The invention provides an on-vehicle navigation system, route guide method, and computer-readable recording medium capable of setting an optimum guide point corresponding to proposed actions set as destinations or way points, and performing route guidance based on the setting. The on-vehicle navigation system includes a function of searching for a guide route leading to a set destination or the like and displaying the searched guide route on a screen of a display to guide the vehicle. The route guide method includes: registering information organized in a list form in a storage means, in which each of the places prepared as candidates for destinations or the like is associated in advance with proposed actions at the place; when a destination or the like is selected, extracting the information on the proposed actions at the place to display it in a list form on the screen of the display; when any of the proposed actions is selected, referring to a map database to search for a guide point corresponding to the selected proposed action; and setting the searched guide point as the destination or the like.
US07813864B2

A control apparatus (100) controls the operating condition of an engine (200) comprising a valve operating apparatus (10) capable of changing valve operating characteristics of an intake valve (203) and an exhaust valve (204). This is provided with: an intake valve control device (110) for controlling the valve operating apparatus (10) to set the intake valve (203) continuously open, during a cranking operation of the engine (10); and an exhaust control device (120) for controlling the valve operating apparatus (10) to set the exhaust valve (204) continuously close, during the cranking operation.
US07813861B2

A cruise control device has an activation device embodied as a key button. By activating the activation device it is possible to transfer the cruise control device, from a switched off operating state to a switched on standby operating state, and by a further activation of the activation device it is possible to transfer the cruise control device from the standby operating state to a switched on control operating state. The cruise control device has a storage device storing a state of the cruise control device immediately before the motor vehicle is switched off and a readout device which reads out the stored state of the cruise control device immediately after the motor vehicle is switched on. If the cruise control device had a switched on operating state immediately before the ignition device is last switched off, the cruise control device is transferred automatically to the standby operating state.
US07813856B2

A seatbelt monitoring system is provided for use onboard a vehicle having a seat assembly including at least one seat and corresponding seatbelt. The seatbelt monitoring system includes a wireless seatbelt status detector and a vehicle seatbelt status indicator. The wireless seatbelt status detector includes a seatbelt latch sensor, a first wireless transceiver, and a controller coupled to the seatbelt latch sensor and to the wireless sensor. The controller is configured to send a seatbelt latch signal via the first wireless transceiver when the seatbelt latch sensor indicates a change in seatbelt latch status. The vehicle seatbelt status indicator includes a second wireless transceiver and a processor coupled to the second wireless transceiver. The processor is configured to send a receipt signal to the wireless seatbelt status detector after receiving the seatbelt status signal via the second wireless transceiver.
US07813854B2

The present invention discloses an auxiliary steering system, which is installed in the steering wheel of a vehicle. In the present invention, a gear-operation device is installed in the steering wheel; a dynamic device is installed in steering column of the steering wheel and utilizes a transmission device to drive the gear-operation device; and a controller is connected to the dynamic device and controls the dynamic device to operate the steering wheel. The present invention enables a common vehicle to achieve automatic driving without changing the original vehicle structure. Further, the assistant mechanism of the present invention makes manual driving easier, and the safety mechanism of the present invention makes automatic driving safer.
US07813846B2

A system and method for generating a computer-aided rail yard plan for the movement of plural railcars through a rail yard, the rail yard having tracks that are used as receiving tracks, classification tracks and departure tracks and the plural railcars arriving on inbound trains and departing on outbound trains, the plural railcars required to undergo a sequence of tasks to move through the rail yard, the yard plan providing (a) a schedule for receiving trains, (b) a schedule for inspecting cars on receiving tracks, (c) a schedule for humping cars from receiving tracks into classification tracks, (d) a schedule for pulling trains onto departure tracks, (e) a schedule for testing trains, and (f) a schedule for departing trains.
US07813844B2

In the case of a system for automatically bringing a motor vehicle into a target position, having a sensor system and an analyzing unit for determining the position of the motor vehicle relative to the target position as well as devices for planning a collision-free drive from the current position to the target position, and devices for implementing the planned drive, a first part of the sensor system is arranged at or in the motor vehicle, and a second part of the sensor system is arranged in a stationary manner in a defined position close to the target position.
US07813836B2

A robotic system that includes a robot and a remote station. The remote station can generate control commands that are transmitted to the robot through a broadband network. The control commands can be interpreted by the robot to induce action such as robot movement or focusing a robot camera. The robot can generate reporting commands that are transmitted to the remote station through the broadband network. The reporting commands can provide positional feedback or system reports on the robot.
US07813833B2

A system for automatic preparation of mail pieces for special service mailing has a transport device for transporting a series of mail pieces such as envelopes one-by-one in a first path, each envelope having imprinted information. A scanner in the first path reads predetermined information off each envelope. Return receipts are simultaneously fed in a second path past at least one printer, the second path joining the first path at a junction after the printer. The scanner is linked directly to the printer so that the information read from an envelope is immediately applied by the printer to the return receipt, and the prepared return receipt is then secured to the envelope.
US07813826B2

Audio files for an audio piece are stored in cross-scene optimized manner, so that when reading out audio files for a scene entailing high utilization of a wave field synthesis system, very short memory access times are achieved, whereas for scenes not entailing such a high utilization of the wave field synthesis system, longer memory access times in turn are accepted.
US07813824B2

A transmission signal processing device 10 includes a transmission signal data demultiplexing circuit RX for receiving multiplexed transmission signal data and demultiplexing the transmission signal data into video signal data and multi-channel audio signal data, a decoder circuit 100 for decoding the multi-channel audio signal data to obtain a plurality of multi-channel audio signal data including at least front center channel audio signal data, and a transmission signal data multiplexing circuit TX for multiplexing the video signal data and the front center channel audio signal data to obtain output transmission signal data.
US07813808B1

A medical system includes an implantable sensor; and a medical device having a communication link with the sensor. The medical device further including a controller, wherein operating parameters for controlling sampling of a physiological characteristic or other parameter by the implantable sensor are calculated by the controller and communicated to the sensor dynamically.
US07813802B2

An implantable neurostimulator system for treating movement disorders includes a sensor, a detection subsystem capable of identifying episodes of a movement disorder by analyzing a signal received from the sensor, and a therapy subsystem capable of applying therapeutic electrical stimulation to treat the movement disorder. The system treats movement disorders by detecting physiological conditions characteristic of an episode of symptoms of the movement disorder and selectively initiating therapy when such conditions are detected.
US07813797B2

One embodiment of the present invention provides an implantable cardioverter defibrillator for subcutaneous positioning between the third rib and the twelfth rib within a patient, the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator including a housing; an electrical circuit located within the housing; a first electrode coupled to the electrical circuit and located on the housing; and a second electrode coupled to the electrical circuit.
US07813794B2

In a body fat measuring apparatus, a constant electric-current is flowed between hand electric-current electrodes and leg electric-current electrodes. From two detected voltages generated between an annular-shaped voltage electrode placed on an abdominal portion and two voltage electrodes placed at the both sides of a lumbar portion, two abdominal impedances are determined. Two electric-current electrodes and two voltage electrodes are placed such that they are spaced apart by a small interval from one another at an umbilicus portion. A constant electric current is flowed between the two electric-current electrodes and the impedance in the vicinity of the subcutaneous of the abdominal portion is determined from the detected voltage generated between the two voltage electrodes. From the two abdominal impedances, the impedance in the vicinity of the subcutaneous of the abdominal portion, and the input physique information, a viscera impedance is calculated.
US07813793B2

A system and method for detecting and predicting neurological events with an implantable device uses a relatively low-power central processing unit in connection with signal processing circuitry to identify features (including half waves) and calculate window-based characteristics (including line lengths and areas under the curve of the waveform) in an electrographic signal received from a patient's brain. The features and window-based characteristics are combinable in various ways according to the invention to detect and predict neurological events in real time, enabling responsive action by the implantable device.
US07813788B2

A handheld confocal imaging system for in vivo observation of dermal and subdermal tissue allows diagnosis of conditions substantially beneath the surface of the skin. A confocal head has optics which scan the tissue so as to provide images of vertical sections of the tissue. Both two and three dimensional imaging may be provided for diagnosis and location of basal cell carcinomas and melanomas, and so as to enable visualization of tumor borders prior to excision.
US07813783B2

Methods and systems for imaging a patient are provided. The method includes scanning a patient and acquiring a plurality of frames of cine computed tomography (CT) images during one complete respiratory cycle. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes selecting an organ of interest in the cine CT data and selecting a value for each pixel in the organ of interest that represents the maximum density measurement. An attenuation corrected positron emission tomography (PET) image is constructed based on the maximization of the pixel intensity of the organ of interest in the CT attenuation correction map. Incorrect attenuation correction values for PET images can be avoided by utilizing the CT attenuation correction map.
US07813778B2

An implantable ischemia detection system in which a white LED (105) produces a continuous, visible, broadband light illuminating a target site (125). Light backscattered by the target is collected by a sensor (155), allowing for an index of ischemia to be determined, and subsequently transmitted by a sending unit (167). Power is provided by an internal power source (179). The entire implantable device is encapsulated by a biocompatible shell (102) to add long-term safety with regard to implantation.
US07813753B2

Systems and methods for estimating transmit power in a communication system are disclosed. An estimate of a reverse channel condition is based on a received signal from an access point. A correction factor is determined based on at least one of the number of access points detected, a Rise-over-Thermal (RoT) at the access point, a message error rate, and a message size. Then the correction factor is applied to the transmit power determination.
US07813738B2

A method for communication includes deploying a plurality of access points, which have respective coverage areas and are configured to operate on a common frequency channel, in a service region of a wireless local area network (WLAN), so that the coverage areas of the access points overlap. A first access point is selected to transmit downlink signals to a station in the service region of the WLAN at a certain downlink data rate. The station is instructed to transmit uplink signals at an uplink data rate that is less than the downlink data rate, so that the uplink signals can be received and decoded by both the first and second access points.
US07813737B1

An apparatus and method for mapping a newly assigned Universal Fleet Member Identifier (UFMI) to a previously assigned UFMI is disclosed. In an embodiment, an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) routing request message is received from a dispatch application processor (DAP) associated with a calling party at a serving home location register (HLR) of a called party. The routing request message includes a previously assigned UFMI of the called party. A newly assigned UFMI of the called party is obtained by the HLR by consulting a subscriber table stored in the HLR. An iDEN routing response message is transmitted to the DAP by the HLR, where the routing response message includes the newly assigned UFMI associated with the called party.
US07813735B2

A method and apparatus for performing a power efficient cell search in a multi-cell wireless communication system are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) having a memory that stores a cell identification list of prioritized previously top-ranked cell identities (IDs) is used to perform the cell search. A primary synchronization code (PSC) correlation peak location on a received signal is selected. A common pilot channel (CPICH) correlation value is determined by non-coherent integration of a local signal created based on a first cell ID on the cell identification list to the received signal. If the CPICH correlation value is greater than a noise threshold, thus indicating that the first cell ID is a newly found cell ID, or if a last cell ID in the cell identification list is reached, an additional determination is made as to whether there is more than one cell ID on the list having the same timing.
US07813733B2

In a wireless network in which a client has access to multiple Access Points the client usually attaches to one of the Access Points (AP) and stays attached even though signal transmission is impaired, whereas transmission would not be impaired if the client attaches to another one of the multiple APs. Apparatus and method are described to detect interference noise level and force the client to roam and attach to another AP if interference noise level impairs signal transmission.
US07813723B2

A method for connecting a telephone call includes receiving, at a server, from a communication terminal, a first message including at least one word corresponding to a name of an individual or an organization, wherein the first message is transmitted using an Internet-compatible protocol; searching for the at least one word in a server database; at the server, comparing the at least one word with domain names stored in the database and, if domain names are found such that at least a part of the domain name matches the word, transmitting to the communication terminal a list of domain names, each domain name including an identifier of an Internet resource; receiving, at the server, a second message containing the domain name selected by the user from the list; identifying a phone number associated with the selected domain name; at the server, transmitting the phone number to the communication terminal; and connecting the communication terminal to the phone number via the communications network.
US07813722B2

A real-time exchange (RTX) interfaces to a wireless communications system to provide enhanced features for advanced voice services (AVS), which include location-based information, voice portal integration, push ring tones and voice message screening.
US07813717B2

A method and system for authenticating a mobile station, such as a dual mode cellular telephone, for access to a wireless local area network is disclosed. The mobile station can be authenticated by registering, and thus pre-authenticating, it with the wireless area network. Registration can comprise providing identifying information regarding the mobile station to the local area network. Access to the local area network facilitates the use of the local area network for communications by the mobile station, such as using VoIP over the Internet.
US07813716B2

An information fulfillment system and method for providing information to a caller having a wireless communication device. Upon receipt of sensory prompting and manual or automatic input of access codes to the wireless communication device, the caller's identity and the input access code are verified. Thereafter, the call is connected through the PWN and along the PSTN to the system messaging or fulfillment center for automatic or live-operator delivery of the requested information. Automatic verification, connection, and billing modification processes are provided for implementation of the system and method.
US07813710B2

The present invention is a receiving circuit used for a cellular phone that is reduced in size and can realize low power consumption. In a signal reception circuit that is used in a cellular phone that perform transmission and reception of a plurality of band wireless signals and includes a low-pass filter for removing blockers unnecessary for signal reception, the low-pass filter 104 is composed of a plurality of filters composed of a plurality of different circuit configurations and having a plurality of different pole positions, switching between a filter for blocker removal and a filter configuration with reduced sensitivity degradation is performed by combining a plurality of filters for each signal reception band, and by performing power-off of an unnecessary filter portion in the filter configuration, power consumption is reduced. By constituting a plurality of different filters using filters mutually complementing their characteristics, a redundant filter configuration can be avoided, so that the area thereof can be suppressed to necessity minimum, and cost can be reduced.
US07813706B2

An impedance matched lane reversal switching system including first and second transceiver pairs, each of the pairs including a transmitter connected to a receiver, the output of the transmitter connected to the input of the receiver and to a node, the node of each pair interconnected with a transmission line and a switching circuit for selectively enabling one of the transmitters of one of the transceiver pairs and disabling the other and selectively utilizing one of the receivers of the other of the transceiver pairs and not the other to selectively reverse an egress side and an ingress side of the lane.
US07813704B1

In a radio system, in particular a CDMA mobile radio system, a receiver evaluates a signal received from a transmitter and produces power control information for setting the transmission power as a function of this evaluation. In order to improve the transmission reliability of the power control information, it is coded, and is transmitted to the transmitter, together with further data from the said timeslot, for example with bits from the format identification information.
US07813703B2

A communication system includes mobile stations carrying out transmission at report cycles selected from a group consisting of 0, 1 and other integers without having a relation of a multiple and including a lot of prime numbers.
US07813699B2

An electronic toll collection system wherein the reader includes a switching network and a plurality of transceivers operating under the control of a controller. The reader further includes failure detection circuitry for determining whether any of the transceivers have failed based upon the RF outputs of the transceivers. If the controller determines that a transceiver has failed, then it alters the switching pattern such that the switching network excludes the failed transceiver from being connected to the antennas. The reader thereby provides for adaptive RF channel assignment, as the particular transceiver used to excite a particular antenna may be dynamically altered, and the provision of at least two transceivers in the reader ensures transceiver redundancy.
US07813689B2

A disclosed fixing device fixes unfixed toner onto a recording sheet with the use of toner fixing liquid including a softening agent for softening toner. The fixing device includes a sprayer configured to spray the toner fixing liquid as liquid droplets and a liquid droplet charging unit configured to apply an electric charge to the sprayed liquid droplets. The sprayer sprays the liquid droplets onto the unfixed toner placed on the recording sheet. The liquid droplet charging unit applies, to the sprayed liquid droplets, an electric charge of an electric charge polarity that is the same as that of the unfixed toner.
US07813686B2

A roller member includes a cylindrical core bar. The roller member is rotatably supported at both ends, and forms a nip, to which a recording medium is conveyed, by making a contact with another member. The core bar satisfies 1.0≦ΔD/D1×100≦3.0, where D1 is an outer diameter of the core bar in millimeters and ΔD is an outer diameter deformation value of a convey direction in millimeters.
US07813685B2

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an endless moving member configured to receive the image thereon from the image bearing member, and a brush member that includes a fiber portion including a plurality of fibers arranged in a standing condition with respective fiber tips held in contact with an inner surface of the endless moving member. A supporting member is configured to support the fiber portion on a brush surface thereof. The brush member is configured to have a whole brush current value per unit area of the whole brush surface equal to or smaller than 2.5 μA/cm2, and one of a maximum sectional current value per unit area of a portion of the whole brush surface equal to or smaller than 22.0 μA/cm2 and a ripple of brush sectional current values less than 34%.
US07813681B2

A contact pressure setting method of setting a contact pressure between contact members of an image forming apparatus. A film member is inserted into a gap between the contact members and the contact pressure is set so that a pulling force to pull out the film member lies within a predetermined range. Thus, the contact pressure can be accurately and easily recognized and the contact pressure can be set to be uniform.
US07813678B2

A ball valve device for filling pressurized hoppers includes (a) a valve housing having a wall defining a chamber, a first port and a second port; (b) a valve ball rotatable within the chamber and including a through-bore for material flow from a refill container through the second port into the hopper, the valve ball having a horizontal, first hopper sealing position for pressure sealing the second port, and a vertical, second hopper opening position for opening the second port to the through-bore; and (c) a pressure release assembly including (i) a pressure release port formed through the valve housing wall and spaced from the first port and the second port; and (ii) a pressure release and particle catch assembly connected externally to the pressure release port for receiving pressure and remnant carrier particles from the refill container, thereby allowing safe release of pressure from the through-bore and from the refill container following refilling of the pressurized hopper.
US07813666B2

When a developing cartridge is accommodated in an accommodating section of a process unit casing, an electrode of the developing cartridge for inputting a bias to a developer carrier enters an engagement portion of the process unit casing to be engaged with and fixed to the engagement portion. A joint member joins the electrode to a developing cartridge casing so that the developing cartridge casing is movable relative to the process unit casing in a state in which the electrode is engaged with and fixed to the engagement portion.
US07813665B2

A fixing unit mounting section is formed to a main body frame. A fixing unit is mounted to the fixing unit mounting section by inserting the fixing unit into the main body along a predetermined inserting direction. An electric power supply section configured to supply electric power to the fixing unit is arranged at a near side of the fixing unit mounting section in the inserting direction. A connecting section configured to establish electric connection to the electric power supply section is formed at the near side of the fixing unit in the inserting direction.
US07813659B2

This invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of more reliably detecting patches formed on a recording medium while suppressing an increase in the consumption of printing media and toners. In an image forming apparatus which detects the density or color of each patch of a patch array fixed on a recording medium that is conveyed and corrects an image formation condition based on the detection result, the patches are formed as the patch array so that the conveyance-direction length of each patch gradually increases in an order of detection by the patch detection unit, and the conveyance-direction length of each patch gradually increases according to increasing of a detection position variation amount of a patch in the order of detection by the patch detection unit.
US07813658B2

An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member which carries an electrostatic latent image; a charger comprising a charging wire extended in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the photosensitive member, the charger serving to charge the photosensitive member, and a promoting unit which is provided on at least one side of a region of the charger which is opposite to an image forming region in which the electrostatic latent image is formed, the promoting unit promoting a leakage current of the charger; detecting unit which detects a leakage current of the charger; and a correction unit which corrects the charging wire if the leakage current is detected.
US07813652B2

The present invention is an optical pulse time spreading device comprising a plurality of optical pulse time spreaders that output an input optical pulse as a series of chip pulses stream that are sequentially arranged time-spread on a time axis in accordance with optical phase code. Each of the optical pulse time spreaders comprises phase control means that supplies a phase difference between adjacent chip pulses. Identification parameters are introduced to realize channel discrimination by changing the phase difference conditions supplied between adjacent chip pulses for each of the phase control means. The phase control means have a structure in which an SSFBG is fixed to the core of the optical fiber, for example. The SSFBG has unit FBGs that are arranged in series in the waveguide direction of the core. The code values of the optical phase code established for the phase control means correspond each one-on-one with each of the unit FBGs.
US07813646B2

A system for providing power to remote equipment where a transmit unit having lasers transmits laser light over optical fiber to a receive unit having photovoltaic receivers. The photovoltaic receivers convert the laser light to electrical energy for the remote equipment. The receive unit also sends a feedback signal to the transmit unit which the transmit unit uses to determine whether the lasers should be enabled for full power.
US07813645B2

An infrared light emitting and receiving system (10) includes an infrared light emitting device (100), and an infrared light receiving device (200). The infrared light emitting device including a heat sink (102), at least a heat pipe (104), a metallic plate (106), and at least an infrared light source (108) in thermal connections with one other in that order. The infrared light receiving device receives infrared light beams (300) emitted from the infrared light emitting device, the infrared light receiving device comprising a lens barrel (202), at least one lens (204) received in the lens barrel, an infrared passband filter (220) formed on the at least one lens, a sensor housing (212) coupled to the lens barrel, and an image sensor (230) received in the sensor housing.
US07813640B2

An optical connection switching according to the present invention comprises an optical connection switching facility capable of making a connection between any one of optical input ports and any one of optical output ports, one or more optical transmitting/receiving units connected to a portion of the optical input/output ports, and management control units for controlling the optical connection switching facility to make a connection between the optical input/output port connected to the optical transmitting/receiving unit and the optical input/output port connected to equipment for acquiring and managing information on the equipment by making a communication with the equipment through the use of the optical transmitting/receiving unit. This enables acquiring the information on the equipment having an optical communication interface to be optically connected, thereby automating the connection management of the equipment.
US07813633B2

An imaging device includes an autofocusing section, which moves at least a part of an imaging lens as a focusing lens, and focuses the imaging device on a subject, a photographing distance range setting section, which sets a predetermined distance range including a subject distance to the subject obtained by the autofocusing section as a photographing distance range for photographing, a continuous shooting section, which continuously photographs at a plurality of focused positions in the photographing distance range while moving and stopping the focusing lens according to input of a photographing instruction, and a display section, which displays an image of the subject focused by the autofocusing section and the photographing distance range set by the photographing distance range setting section.
US07813624B2

A recording apparatus for recording digital audio/video signals on a removable rewritable disc like recording medium has been proposed. The apparatus comprises writing means (21, 22, 25) for recording the digital information signals and control means (20) for controlling the recording. The apparatus is capable of performing initialization, formatting and defect management of a rewritable medium. Further, the apparatus is capable of storing data in replacement areas instead of defect areas, which have been determined to be defective according to rules of the defect management. The control means (20) are adapted to re-record data from the replacement areas in the defect areas in order to improve playability of digital audio/video signals stored on the medium.
US07813613B2

In one embodiment, method of forming fibers is provided. The method includes modifying a first exposed edge of at least one core of a first fiber. The first fiber has a first end, a second end, and a length between the first end and the second end. The second end has the first exposed edge of the core, and the first exposed edge has a first diffusion state. The first fiber may transmit light along the core. The modification of the first exposed edge includes modifying the first diffusion state of the first exposed edge of the core to a second diffusion state such that light exiting the first exposed edge in the second diffusion state is spread over a greater number of angles relative to angles of the light exiting the first exposed edge in the first diffusion state.
US07813607B2

An optical fiber bundle unit is provided for transmitting ultraviolet light in which the increase of the transmission loss caused by radicals generated in the optical fiber by irradiation or transmission of ultraviolet light is suppressed and a stable energy state is maintained even after the irradiation or transmission of ultraviolet light. The optical fiber bundle unit for transmitting ultraviolet light includes an optical fiber bundle and a sealed container in which the optical fiber bundle is held. A diffusion of hydrogen gas is suppressed by putting the optical fiber bundle pretreated in a hydrogen atmosphere into the sealed container, followed by filling the sealed container with a mixed gas including a hydrogen gas and a gas which is not combustible, will not support combustion, and will not explode.
US07813599B2

A method of determining the shape of an unbound optical fiber includes collecting strain data along a length of the fiber, calculating curvature and bending direction data of the fiber using the strain data, curve-fitting the curvature and bending direction data to derive curvature and bending direction functions, calculating a torsion function using the bending direction function, and determining the 3D shape from the curvature, bending direction, and torsion functions. An apparatus for determining the 3D shape of the fiber includes a fiber optic cable unbound with respect to a protective sleeve, strain sensors positioned along the cable, and a controller in communication with the sensors. The controller has an algorithm for determining a 3D shape and end position of the fiber by calculating a set of curvature and bending direction data, deriving curvature, bending, and torsion functions, and solving Frenet-Serret equations using these functions.
US07813598B2

The present invention relates to a device comprising a fiber-reinforced part and including at least one system comprising at least one optical fiber as well as connecting means adapted for connection of light emitting means and light receiving means to the optical fiber, said optical fiber comprising a number of reflecting structures. One object of the invention is to provide means suitable for use in providing compensation for temperature change in strain measurement, which may be built into fiber-reinforced parts of a device. This is obtained by having holding means adapted to hold one or more loops formed on the optical fibre, in a way where at least one loop may substantially freely change length when subject to a change in temperature.
US07813596B2

A system and method synthesizing images of a locale to generate a composite image that provide a panoramic view of the locale. A video camera moves along a street recording images of objects along the street. A GPS receiver and inertial navigation system provide the position of the camera as the images are being recorded. The images are indexed with the position data provided by the GPS receiver and inertial navigation system. The composite image is created on a column-by-column basis by determining which of the acquired images contains the desired pixel column, extracting the pixels associated with the column, and stacking the columns side by side. The composite images are stored in an image database and associated with a street name and number range of the street being depicted in the image. The image database covers a substantial amount of a geographic area allowing a user to visually navigate the area from a user terminal.
US07813594B2

A system and method for managing the archival and retention of data in a multiple-node PACS network. Data is distributed among network nodes such that a secondary node will not delete a received image study it has received from a primary node if the primary node is an originating source. Instead, the secondary node will execute data retention. Data retention is achieved by including a delete retention attribute within the metadata associated with the received image data on the secondary node and requiring that the secondary node enforce data retention if a data retention attribute is identified within the metadata stored on the secondary node.
US07813589B2

A method and system for blending images into a single image. Initially two images of a view are selected, wherein the images have overlapping content of the view. The images can differ from each other in such characteristics as time, camera location, camera settings, and lighting. The images are divided into strips along a common plane in a region of each image where the images overlap. A strip from each image is selected where the images are a close match. Pixel by pixel difference values between the two strips are calculated, and a cut line is determined where the differences between the two strips are minimized. Each image is cut along the corresponding cut line, and the cut images are blended together to form a single image of the view. The blended single image can be further processed by warping the image along the cut line to provide for a smoother fit between the two images.
US07813587B2

A general shoot suppression method and system for image detail enhancement that provides good suppression in shoot areas while preserving the enhancement (with less or no suppression) in non-shoot areas. Asymmetry checker checks the luminance variation of pixels around the current pixel within a filtering range. Based on the checking result, different patterns of luminance variation in the neighborhood of the current pixel are categorized. Higher suppression is applied to those patterns that are more likely to cause overshoot/undershoot. Optionally, suppression is further associated with the intensity of detail signal at each pixel position. An intensity checker checks the magnitude of the detail signal. If the detail signal is weak at a current pixel position, it is unlikely that obvious shoot artifacts appear at that position, and little or no suppression is applied. Such a method and system provide shoot suppression only in shoot areas while maintaining good enhancement in non-shoot areas.
US07813586B2

A target digital image is received from an image sensor. The image is contaminated by noise of unknown magnitude that is represented by a reference digital image. A process is applied that uses statistical analysis of the target digital image and of the reference digital image to estimate a magnitude of the noise for at least some pixels of the target digital image.
US07813576B2

A difference image is obtained between two images which are objects of comparative viewing, regardless of whether the images are processed images. A judgment means judges whether the two images are processed images, based on process confirmation data attached thereto. A correction means corrects images which have been judged to be processed images by the judgment means to a state equivalent to that of the images prior to image processes. The correction is performed based on image processing condition data which are attached to the processed images. A positional alignment means aligns the positions of the two images. An inter image calculation means performs inter image calculation between unprocessed or corrected images.
US07813572B2

A method for compressing/restoring image data free from degradation of image quality caused by compression/decompression, a method for compressing image data at high compression ratio, and its restoring method are disclosed. In the image data compressing method, image elements contained in a digital image read from a sheet of paper are extracted, each of the extracted image elements is subjected to data compression by a compression method of corresponding to the type of the image element, and the compressed image element data are stored.
US07813569B2

An MPEG video decoding method and an MPEG video decoder are provided. The method includes determining whether to perform motion compensation on motion-vector-decoded data or not depending on a value of a decoded motion vector, determining whether to perform inverse discrete cosine transformation (IDCT) on motion-compensated data or not depending on values of decoded DCT coefficients, and generating a decoded image based on the results of the two determinations.
US07813555B1

A method generates a distance field of an object, where the distance field includes a set of cells and the object includes a set of outlines. A processor is included for performing steps of the method. A first cell of the set of cells enclosing the object is determined. An outside reconstruction method is associated with the first cell. A set of boundary cells of the set of cells is determined, where each boundary cell encloses a portion of a particular outline in the set of outlines. A boundary reconstruction method is associated with each boundary cell. A final cell of the set of cells is determined enclosing the object. An inside reconstruction method is associated with the final cell. The outside and boundary reconstruction methods are used to determine combined distances, which are further processed by the inside reconstruction method to generate the distance field of the object.
US07813549B2

Coronary artery segmentation is a crucial task in cardiac CT image processing. This is often a tedious task performed manually by an operator. According to the present invention, a method is provided which combines data from multiple cardiac phases during the segmentation process in order to deliver a complete and continuous coronary vessel tree. Advantageously, this may allow for an improved visualization and segmentation of vessels, for example, in coronary CTA.
US07813544B2

An estimation device estimates a hidden state of an estimation subject from an observable state in a manner of a time series. The observable state is observed from the hidden state of the estimation subject under a procedure that has a hierarchical structure, which includes the hidden state of the estimation subject, the observable state, and an intermediate hidden state therebetween. The estimation device includes an estimation subject hidden state predicting means, an intermediate hidden state predicting means based on the state transition structure of the hidden state of the estimation subject, an intermediate hidden state likelihood observing means, an intermediate hidden state estimating means, an estimation subject hidden state likelihood observing means, estimation subject hidden state estimating means, an intermediate hidden state predicting means based on the state transition structure of the intermediate hidden state, and the mixing means.
US07813537B2

Myocardial tissue tracking techniques are used to project or guide a single manually-defined set of myocardial contours through time. Displacement encoding with stimulated echoes (DENSE), harmonic phase (HARP) and speckle tracking is used to encode tissue displacement into the phase of complex MRI images, providing a time series of these images, and facilitating the non-invasive study of myocardial kinematics. Epicardial and endocardial contours need to be defined at each frame on cine DENSE images for the quantification of regional displacement and strain as a function of time. The disclosed method presents a novel and effective two dimensional semi-automated segmentation technique that uses the encoded motion to project a manually defined region of interest through time. Contours can then easily be extracted for each cardiac phase.
US07813534B2

The invention relates to an arrangement for sensing ambient conditions in electric equipment. These conditions may include verification of the user, the location of the equipment and various properties of the environment. The invention is preferably applied in mobile terminals. One idea of the invention is to provide a sensor arrangement with a substrate (663) that forms at least part of a sensor, and also serves as a substrate for other sensors (695-698). The substrate is preferably flexible so that it can be formed in a shape which is follows the shape of the device cover. The invention also describes a way to create two- or three-dimensional electrode structures that can be used to optimize the performance of the sensor. When the surface structure is designed to follow the shape of a finger, a very small pressure is required when sliding the finger along the sensor surface. This way the use of the sensor is ergonomic and the measurement is made very reliable.
US07813533B2

The recognition apparatus shoots pictures of at least a portion of a subject including a human face and obtains a sequence of image data. The facial portion is recognized from the image data. Each image data in the sequence of image data is processed successively. From the image data, an image region including the facial portion is identified. Either a color of the subject within a region defined based on the identified image region or the result of detection of moving regions is used for processing for identifying the image region including the facial portion.
US07813532B2

Provided are an apparatus and a method for recognizing a fingerprint dually. In the method, an optical sensor unit and a semiconductor sensor unit are prepared such that they are adjacent to each other. The optical sensor unit is driven to obtain a first fingerprint image of a user's fingerprint according to an optical fingerprint recognizing method. A second fingerprint image of the fingerprint is obtained using the semiconductor sensor unit. First fingerprint data is generated from the first fingerprint image, and second fingerprint data is generated from the second fingerprint image. Data that matches with the first fingerprint data and the second fingerprint data are searched for from registration fingerprint data registered in advance so that authentication is performed. When authentication of the first fingerprint data and authentication of the second fingerprint data succeed, it is judged that authentication for the user's fingerprint has finally succeeded.
US07813530B2

A motion detection apparatuses and method where a characteristic region is extracted from an image produced by an imaging device are described. A modified region is formed by modifying the characteristic region. Voting occurs so as to count up to increase a count value at a memory address corresponding to a location inside the modified region and to reset a count value at a memory address corresponding to a location outside the modified region. At least one of the moving direction and the moving speed of the modified region is calculated based on a difference among accumulated count values for adjacent locations. The position of the modified region can be calculated based on count values and locations in the modified region.
US07813528B2

A method detects an object left-behind in a scene by updating a set of background models using a sequence of images acquired of the scene by a camera. Each background model is updated at a different temporal scales ranging from short term to long term. A foreground mask is determined from each background model after the updating for a particular image of the sequence. A motion image is updated from the set of foreground masks. In the motion, image, each pixel has an associated evidence value. The evidence values are compared with a evidence threshold to detect and signal an object left behind in the scene.
US07813511B2

Providing a mobility key for a communication session for a mobile station includes facilitating initiation of the communication session. A master key for the communication session is established, where the master key is generated at an authentication server in response to authenticating the mobile station. A mobility key is derived from the authentication key at an access node, where the mobility key is operable to authenticate mobility signaling for the communication session.
US07813500B2

A method and apparatus is provided for ring-trip detection in a line card having an analog-to-digital converter for processing voice signals. The method includes receiving a ringing control signal, transmitting a ringing signal to a subscriber line in response to the ringing control signal, and receiving a portion of the ringing signal from the subscriber line. The method includes converting the portion of the ringing signal to a digital signal using the analog-to-digital converter, and providing a ring-trip indication in response to the digital signal. The apparatus includes first circuitry capable of processing a voice signal, the circuitry including a analog-to-digital converter for processing the voice signal. The apparatus includes a ringing generator, second circuitry, and ring-trip detection logic. The generator is capable providing a ringing signal to a subscriber line in response to receiving a ringing control signal. The second circuitry is capable of delivering the portion of the ringing signal to the analog-to-digital converter of the first circuitry, wherein the analog-to-digital converts the portion of the ringing signal to a digital signal. The ring-trip detection logic is capable of providing a ring-trip indication in response to the digital signal.
US07813499B2

A regression-based residual echo suppression (RES) system and process for suppressing the portion of the microphone signal corresponding to a playback of a speaker audio signal that was not suppressed by an acoustic echo canceller (AEC). In general, a prescribed regression technique is used between a prescribed spectral attribute of multiple past and present, fixed-length, periods (e.g., frames) of the speaker signal and the same spectral attribute of a current period (e.g., frame) of the echo residual in the output of the AEC. This automatically takes into consideration the correlation between the time periods of the speaker signal. The parameters of the regression can be easily tracked using adaptive methods. Multiple applications of RES can be used to produce better results and this system and process can be applied to stereo-RES as well.
US07813491B2

A method of AIN query redirection is performed by a first SCP in a telecommunication network. The first SCP receives a query from an originating SSP and determines that a second SCP should service the query. The query is then populated with information from the originating SSP as well as appropriate routing information to send the query to a second SCP where a response is generated by the second SCP. The query response is sent back from the second SCP to the originating SSP without passing through the first SCP.
US07813489B2

Queue callback systems and methods handle scheduled callbacks to requesters in the absence of resources by providing a pre-established message soliciting the establishment of an alternate callback. Non-callback options can also be presented to the respective requester. Agents can also be organized in a plurality of queues, each of a selected size, to more effectively use callback resources.
US07813486B2

Separate processors, a PDA processor, and a baseband processor are maintained in a PDA having an integrated telephone device. The PDA processor runs PDA related programs and a user interface for the telephone device. A link between the PDA processor and baseband processor transfers data and commands from the user interface to a phone control program executing on the baseband processor. The base band processor is connected to the telephone device, and the phone control program controls operation of the telephone device. The separation of processors reduces vulnerability of the telephone device to hacker rogue applications that invade or program crashes that occur on the PDA processor.
US07813480B2

A phone terminal is provided which allows more efficient use of a record area for recording call data than before. A complex apparatus is capable of suspending recording of call data during a period in which a no-service state is detected. As a result, the recordation of call data is not performed while the call is interrupted. The call data no longer contains a voiceless area. The size of the call data can be minimized, resulting in that the effective use of the record area is promoted.
US07813476B2

An x-ray beam processor and system that includes an x-ray beam generator for generating x-ray beams; a mirror shield for shielding the x-ray beams from select areas; a cylindrical waveguide for guiding x-ray beams traveling through the waveguide, which includes a plurality of entry ports and exit ports; a plurality of ring-shaped mirrors disposed adjacent to and generally parallel with the entry ports and the exit ports and sharing a common axis “X” with the waveguide; and mountings for mounting the mirrors to the waveguide.
US07813466B2

A system and method are provided for jitter-free fractional division. The method accepts a first plurality of first signal phases, each phase having a first frequency. To make the division jitter-free, a phase is selected subsequent to deselecting a previous phase selection. The selected phase is divided by the integer N, supplying a second signal with a second frequency. Using the second signal as a clock, a first plurality of counts is triggered in series, and the counts are used to select a corresponding phase. The first signal may separate neighboring phases by 90 degrees. Then, for (N+0.25), a first count triggers a second count and selects the first phase, the second count triggers a third count and selects the second phase, the third count triggers a fourth count and selects the third phase, and the fourth count trigger the first count and selects the fourth phase.
US07813460B2

Method and apparatus for sampling a high-speed digital signal include providing a data signal to a differential data input circuit, an offset control signal, and a strobe pulse. In response to the strobe pulse, the data signal is resolved into an output logic state based to a relatively greater extent on the differential data signal and to a relatively lesser extent on the offset control signal.
US07813455B2

A MIMO wireless communication system and method reduces the number of recursive operations when decoding received data symbols by decoding the data symbols in pairs rather than on a per symbol basis. Decoding in pairs is facilitated by the determination that errors between selected pairs of data symbols are uncorrelated and identically distributed with a determined variance. Additionally, the system and method can order the pairs and provide decoding rules that result in an insignificant loss of performance for a wide range of signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Furthermore, the system and method exploit the structure of the error covariance matrix to reduce computational demands.
US07813451B2

Systems, methods and apparatus for improving the coverage of a wireless network based on frequency shifting scheme. A wireless signal in a frequency band is shifted to another distinct band, and carried in the shifted band, using wired or wireless mediums to another location, wherein the wireless signal is shifted back to the original frequency band. The frequency shifting may make use of a conventional frequency shifting schemes such as mixer/filter and heterodyne. In one embodiment the wireless signal is frequency shifted by converting it to other representing signals (such as I/Q components) and forming the frequency-shifted signal from the representations. The system is may be used to increase in-door or outdoor coverage, as well as bridging between in-door and outdoor networks. The medium may use dedicated wiring or existing service wiring in a residence or building, including LAN, telephone, AC power and CATV wiring. The system (in whole or in part) may be enclosed as a stand-alone unit, housed in integrated form as part of a service outlet or as a snap-on/plug-in module. Methods and other systems with different advantageous configurations are also described. This abstract is not intended to limit or construe the scope or meaning of the claims.
US07813450B2

In a method for reducing RFI interference in a DMT data transmission a compensation signal for the purpose of reducing an RFI interference signal superposed on a transmitted DMT reception signal is generated. Only carrier frequencies of the DMT reception signal in the vicinity of the interference frequency of the interference signal which are not utilized for the data transmission are used, at least one normalized complex spectral function for all the carriers of said interference signal is provided, an FFT for the purpose of obtaining spectral values of said DMT reception signal is carried out, and an observation window to a current DMT frame of the DMT reception signal is assigned. A complex evaluating coefficient for the current DMT frame is calculated and the complex evaluating coefficient resulting from the spectral values of said DMT reception signal within the observation window and the complex evaluating coefficient are identical for all frequencies within the current DMT frame. The compensation signal is calculated by multiplying the normalized complex spectral function with the complex evaluating coefficient.
US07813449B2

An antenna system for receiving radio waves and for operation in conjunction with a remote controller that transmits control data including gain state data. The antenna system includes an antenna that receives the radio waves and outputs a radio frequency signal and a radio frequency amplifier coupled to receive and amplify the radio frequency signal to a gain level controlled through a gain control input. A remote control receiver receives the control data and a controller is coupled to the gain control input and the remote control receiver. The controller couples the gain state data to the gain control input, thereby remotely controlling the gain level of the radio frequency amplifier. A remotely controlled antenna rotor is also taught.
US07813446B2

A transmitter includes a polar modulator that creates phase and amplitude signals which in turn drive a power amplifier. To compensate for AM to PM conversion of the amplitude signal into the amplified signal, a compensation signal is generated from the amplitude signal and combined with the phase signal such that when amplified, the compensation signal cancels the AM to PM conversion. The compensation signal may have an offset term, a linear term, a quadratic term, and a cubic term. A second embodiment comprises a technique by which AM to AM conversion may concurrently be addressed using a second compensation signal.
US07813444B2

A method and arrangement is shown for measuring an indicator of delay mismatch between a phase information path and an amplitude information path of a polar modulator. In the solution according to the invention a substantially sinusoidal measurement signal (301, 302) is injected both into the amplitude information path (351) and into the phase information path (352). An indicator of the delay mismatch is obtained by measuring a quantity that is proportional to a difference between power represented by a lower side band of a spectrum of a polar modulated signal and power represented by an upper side band of the spectrum.
US07813442B2

A technique to determine carrier frequency offset (CFO) phase shift and perform channel estimation for symbols of a signal communicated across a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communication channel, in which preambles utilized for channel estimation are sent over more than one time block. Because the transmission of preambles used for channel estimation are sent over multiple time blocks, a CFO phase shift that is flat across tones of an OFDM signal is experienced between preambles of the two time blocks. Upon detection of the CFO phase shift, a weighting matrix used for channel estimation is modified to account for the CFO phase shift, in order to perform the channel estimation with correction for the CFO phase shift.
US07813441B2

For certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a method and apparatus for transmitting in a multi-antenna communication system is provided. The method comprises modulating a plurality of signals to be transmitted from each antenna of a plurality of antennas with at least one subband of a different one of a plurality of groups of subbands, wherein each of the plurality of groups includes a different subset of the plurality of subbands and wherein the plurality of subbands of a first group are noncontiguous, and transmitting at least some the plurality of signals substantially simultaneously from different ones of the plurality of antennas.
US07813429B2

A method for processing a video stream is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) checking a respective first motion vector for each of a plurality of blocks in a group within an inter-coded picture of the video stream, (B) loading first motion compensation data for the group from a memory to a motion compensation process in a first bus transfer in response to all of the blocks in the group having both (i) a same first reference frame and (ii) a same first motion vector in at least one of a reference picture list 0 and a reference picture list 1 and (C) reconstructing the blocks from the first motion compensation data and the same first motion vector.
US07813426B2

A digital broadcast transmitter/receiver, and a signal processing method thereof, includes a randomizer randomizing a dual transport stream which includes a normal data packet and a robust data packet and into which stuff bytes are inserted, a stuff-byte exchanger replacing the stuff bytes of the randomized data with known data, a first RS encoder performing RS-encoding of data output from the stuff-byte exchanger, a packet formatter performing an interleaving of the robust packet of the data output from the first RS encoder and reformatting the packet, an interleaver interleaving data output from the packet formatter, a trellis encoder performing a trellis encoding of interleaved data, a second RS encoder changing a parity by performing an RS encoding of the robust data of the trellis-encoded data, and a modulator modulating data output from the trellis encoder and RF up-converting the modulated data.
US07813421B2

A receiver module includes an input that receives a data message from a wireless communication channel. The data message has a plurality of training fields and data. A channel estimator module recursively estimates a matrix H that represents the channel based on the plurality of training fields. The recursive estimation is performed as the plurality of training fields are being received. An equalizer module applies coefficients to the data based on the matrix H.
US07813417B2

The invention relates to methods and a high speed communication device that allow one of a plurality of high speed communication devices connected to a transmission line having a normal impedance to effectively receive data.The high speed communication device can include a transmission line interface connected to the transmission line, a receiver connected to the transmission line interface, and a transmitter selectively coupled to the transmission line interface. The transmitter can have an impedance substantially equal to the normal line impedance.The high speed communication device can present a high impedance to the transmission line with respect to the normal line impedance when the transmitter is not coupled to the transmission line interface, and the high speed communication device can present an impedance to the transmission line that is substantially equal to the normal line impedance when the transmitter is coupled to the transmission line interface.
US07813416B2

A method for coordinating and synchronizing a mode transition in a Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT) communication system operating over a range of tones. The method includes allocating a set of one or more of the tones in the range to serve as monitor tones for signaling the mode transition. The mode transition is signaled by transmitting a known transition sequence on the monitor tones over two or more successive symbol intervals while simultaneously transmitting data on at least some of the tones in the range other than the monitor tones.
US07813412B2

The radio base station apparatus includes a first despreading processing circuit for despreading a first control channel (DPCCH) signal; a second despreading processing circuit for despreading either a second control channel (HS-DPCCH) signal or a third control channel (E-DPCCH) signal; a third despreading processing circuit capable of despreading the first control channel signal, the second control channel signal and the third control channel signal; a first scrambling code generation circuit for supplying a common scrambling code to both the first despreading processing circuit and the second despreading processing circuit; and a second scrambling code generation circuit for supplying to the third despreading processing circuit a scrambling code which is different from the scrambling code generated in the first scrambling code generation circuit.
US07813393B2

A light source device includes a semiconductor laser, and a drive circuit supplying the semiconductor laser with a pulsed drive current, and in the semiconductor laser, a laser emitting element and a free wheel diode are formed on the same substrate, and a cathode of the free wheel diode is connected to a current input terminal of the laser emitting element, and an anode of the free wheel diode is connected to a current output terminal of the laser emitting element.
US07813392B2

A light transmitter and an auto-control circuit thereof are provided. The circuit includes a driving module and a feedback module. The driving module is coupled to the feedback module and a load. The driving module provides a driving current for driving the load. The feedback module provides a bias signal to the driving module according to the change of the temperature, for adjusting the driving current and stabilizing an output power.
US07813384B2

In one embodiment, a method and a system for reducing synchronization of data in a network is disclosed. The method includes generating a string based on the configuration in a first network device. Thereafter, the generated string is hashed to form a first integer. The first integer is used to identify an object. Subsequently, the identified object is utilized for synchronization between the first network device and a second network device. As a result, the need for synchronization of the data is reduced.
US07813380B2

A method and apparatus for signal processing which enable data compression and recovery with high transmission efficiency are disclosed. Data coding and entropy coding are performed with correlation and grouping is used to increase coding efficiency. A method for signal processing, the method indues decapsulating the signal received over an Internet protocol network, obtaining a group reference value corresponding to a plurality of data included in one group through grouping and a difference value corresponding the group reference value from the decapsulated signal and obtaining the data using the group reference value and the difference value.
US07813367B2

A switching device comprising one or more processors coupled to a media access control (MAC) interface and a memory structure for switching packets rapidly between one or more source devices and one or more destination devices. Packets are pipelined through a series of first processing segments to perform a plurality of first sub-operations involving the initial processing of packets received from source devices to be buffered in the memory structure. Packets are pipelined through a series of second processing segments to perform a plurality of second sub-operations involved in retrieving packets from the memory structure and preparing packets for transmission. Packets are pipelined through a series of third processing segments to perform a plurality of third sub-operations involved in scheduling transmission of packets to the MAC interface for transmission to one or more destination devices.
US07813365B2

In a multi-QOS level queuing structure, packet payload pointers are stored in multiple queues and packet payloads in a common memory pool. Algorithms control the drop probability of packets entering the queuing structure. Instantaneous drop probabilities are obtained by comparing measured instantaneous queue size with calculated minimum and maximum queue sizes. Non-utilized common memory space is allocated simultaneously to all queues. Time averaged drop probabilities follow a traditional Weighted Random Early Discard mechanism. Algorithms are adapted to a multi-level QOS structure, floating point format, and hardware implementation. Packet flow from a router egress queuing structure into a single egress port tributary is controlled by an arbitration algorithm using a rate metering mechanism. The queuing structure is replicated for each egress tributary in the router system.
US07813357B2

A method is provided to communicate regional services to a telephone gateway device over a public computer network. The method includes a distribution server sending a list of entities offering a desired service in a desired region to the telephone gateway device. The list includes probability parameters that the telephone gateway device uses in a lottery to arrange the order in which the entities are displayed. A service server adjusts the probability parameters based on the amount of information about the respective businesses accessed by the consumers and the price the respective businesses pay for the access.
US07813356B2

New switching technology relies upon state information for providing a previously unavailable degree of quality of service. In particular, by providing the ability to give service guarantees to uniquely identifiable sets of packets (“micro-flows”), different qualities of service can be offered for each transmission. The QoS associated with each micro-flow is characterized by a set of descriptors. These descriptors are communicated to each switch by the first packet of the micro-flow associated with the descriptors.
US07813355B2

A method for activating a packet data protocol context in a wireless telecommunication system comprising at least one terminal and at least one network element. The network element is arranged to deliver packets between the wireless telecommunication system and other packet data networks. Direction-specific service conditions are stored in the telecommunication system for packets received by the network element and designated to at least one terminal. The stored direction-specific service conditions determine what kind of service is provided for packets received from different directions. The direction of a received packet is determined and the direction-specific service conditions relating to the determined direction of the packet are checked. The packet data protocol context is activated according to the direction-specific service conditions.
US07813352B2

Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to enhanced packet load shedding mechanisms implemented in various network devices. In one implementation, the present invention enables a selective load shedding mechanism that intelligently discards packets to allow or facilitate management access during DoS attacks or other high traffic events. In one implementation, the present invention is directed to a selective load shedding mechanism that, while shedding load necessary to allow a network device to operate appropriately, does not attempt to control traffic flows, which allows for other processes to process, classify, diagnose and/or monitor network traffic during high traffic volume periods. In another implementation, the present invention provides a packet load shedding mechanism that reduces the consumption of system resources during periods of high network traffic volume.
US07813345B2

A telecommunication system comprises a first plurality of virtual circuit label switched paths (VC-LSPs) dedicated to communicate broadcast and unknown frames. The known frames have an encapsulated source site identifier used for media access control (MAC) address learning.
US07813342B2

An apparatus receives packets from a network and inserts the packet data into the memory of a computer system. The invention reduces the amount of computer system memory bandwidth required to receive packets through the use of a retained data buffer. Packet headers and a summary of packet validation results are processed by network stacks within the computer system to identify the intended memory buffer in which the packet payload is to be placed. Packet payload data is directly placed from the retained data buffer to the intended memory buffer without the use of intermediate buffers. A preferred embodiment includes a data retention network interface card (DRNIC) which includes the required data retention buffer for use in direct placement of received data.
US07813339B2

A system and method for direct assembly of data payload in an application memory. A transmission control protocol offloading process is applied by network interface card components on a packet header to provide a direct memory access (DMA) task with precise application memory location pointers to a DMA engine. The DMA engine uses the DMA task to place the data payload directly in the application memory.
US07813337B2

Methods and systems for processing packets in data network using multistage classification are disclosed. An example method for processing packets includes receiving a data packet at a first processing stage and examining the packet at the first processing stage to determine a first attribute of the packet. Based on the first attribute, a first classification is assigned to the packet. In the example method, the packet and the first classification are communicated from the first processing stage to a second processing stage and the packet is examined at the second processing stage to determine a second attribute of the packet. Based on the second attribute, a second classification is assigned to the packet. The example method further includes processing the packet based on the first classification and the second classification.
US07813336B2

In a communication system, a request is generated from a Web browser as a call attempt. A call attempt manager is booted in response to the request under the HTTP protocol. The request is turned by cooperative managers into a request under the SIP protocol, which will be processed by another call attempt manager. A response to the result of processing by the other manager is sent to a Web browser in a reverse direction on the transmission path of the request for display on the Web browser. Service proxy UA managers and the cooperative managers on both systems are brought into play in order so that the response is registered in a service proxy user agent. The result of the registration is returned to the Web system in the direction reverse to the processing result. A task is subsequently executed from the Web system to establish a call.
US07813334B2

A network based communication system allows a voice-over-IP (VoIP) packet data connection to be established by sending a subscriber address to a remote database server. The database server converts the subscriber address to an Internet address and informs the wireless handset of an active Internet address to be used to complete the call. In some embodiments the subscriber address is a telephone number that can also be used to reach the subscriber using the public switched telephone network. Other types of media are also supported like digital pictures, digital video, chat sessions, and application sharing sessions.
US07813333B2

A communication system method allows a voice-over-IP (VoIP) packet data connection to be established by sending a subscriber address to a remote database server. The database server converts the subscriber address to an Internet address and informs the wireless handset of an active Internet address to be used to complete the call. In some embodiments the subscriber address is a telephone number that can also be used to reach the subscriber using the public switched telephone network. Other types of media are also supported like digital pictures, digital video, chat sessions, and application sharing sessions.
US07813314B2

A wireless mobile router (140) includes wireless network interfaces (202) and (218) attached to a network controller (142). The wireless network interface (202) communicates with a cellular network (110) to access cellular network services. The wireless network interface (218) and the network controller (142) comprise a WLAN (170) or PAN (180) network router hosting a plurality of client devices. Each client device may access a wide area network, WAN over the cellular network. The wireless mobile router (140) is configured to exchange various cellular network signals with various WLAN and PAN networks. The wireless mobile router (140) is particularly suitable for use in a vehicle or at locations where WAN access is not readily available.
US07813312B2

The present invention is related to a method and system for preventing high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) transmission loss due to transmission gap in compressed mode in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). In accordance with one embodiment, a Node-B receives a compressed mode transmission gap schedule of a WTRU, identifies HSDPA transmission time intervals (TTIs) that are affected by the WTRU compressed mode transmission gap schedule and schedules the HSDPA transmissions not to overlap the WTRU compressed mode transmission gap schedule. In accordance with another embodiment, the Node-B may inform the HSDPA transmission schedule to a radio network controller (RNC) and the RNC coordinates the HSDPA transmission schedule and a compressed mode transmission gap schedule of the WTRU.
US07813308B2

A system and method for location-based configuration of an information handling system are disclosed. A method may include detecting an available network for communication with the information handling system. Based on at least the detected available network, a current location of the information handling system may be determined. Based on the determined current location of the information handling system, one or more parameters of the information handling system associated with the determined current location may be automatically configured.
US07813302B2

When each of a plurality of peers mutually connected through a network receives connection of a new peer, each peer forms group information in which the new peer has been grouped on the basis of comparison of distances on the network among three peers of the own peer, a representative peer of an existing group, and the new peer. When the data is transmitted from the own peer, path information in which destination information of each group which has been grouped on the basis of the group information and the own peer have been registered is formed and transmitted together with the data to the representative peer of each group. When distribution information is relayed from another peer, if the own peer is included in the destination information, the reception data is fetched and the own peer is deleted, thereafter, distribution information in which the destination information of each group which has been grouped on the basis of the group information and the own peer have been registered is formed and transmitted together with the data to the representative peer of each group.
US07813301B2

A computer-implemented method receives a list of polygonal vertices associated with multiple polygons located in proximity to one another in a two-dimensional region and analyzes the polygonal vertices. The method automatically generates, based on the analysis, a polygonal hull that encloses the multiple polygons such that a line segment connecting any two polygonal vertices of the multiple polygons falls completely inside the generated polygonal hull. The multiple polygons may correspond to a two-dimensional geographic region. The computer-implemented method may be used for geographic regional segmentation.
US07813292B2

A method includes representing a communication endpoint as a protocol stack having a plurality of protocol software modules, each of the plurality of protocol software modules providing associated protocol services for a packet flowing through the protocol software module, and enabling a test application to access internal state information of the packet as the packet moves between the plurality of protocol software modules. A computer program product and system are also provided.
US07813289B2

An electrical idle detection circuit including a full wave rectifier and a first amplifier. The full wave rectifier is configured to receive differential input signals and provide a rectified output signal based on the differential input signals. The first amplifier is configured to receive a first input signal based on the rectified output signal and a second input signal based on a reference signal. The first amplifier is configured to provide an output signal that indicates the differential input signals are one of active and in electrical idle based on the first input signal and the second input signal.
US07813288B2

A transaction detection device is described having inputs to couple to communication lines. Each communication line to transport notification of a packet observed by a link probe within a computing system containing point-to-point links between nodes. Each of said nodes having at least one processing core. The transaction detection device also comprises logic circuitry to determine from said notifications whether a looked for transaction has occurred within said computing system.
US07813260B2

A method of configuring a sub-slot having a layer-modulated multi-user packet (MUP) is disclosed. More specifically, the method comprises modulating symbols associated with a first layer by using non-layered modulation scheme, and modulating symbols associated with a second layer and a third layer using a different layered-modulation scheme. Here, the symbols associated with the second layer and the third layer are multiplexed by any one of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, a code division multiplexing, a multi-carrier code division multiplexing, or a time division multiplexing.
US07813258B2

A disc structure for making an inverted optical response through a super-resolution process using a recorded mark portion and a space portion, which is realized to amplify a signal amplitude and solve a conventional problem that a conventional super-resolution technique can obtain only small signals, since the super-resolution area is reduced to realize high density recording of data.
US07813257B2

An optical recording medium allowing high-density recording, where a groove having a shallow U-shaped cross section wider than certain width, a master for manufacturing optical recording medium, a manufacturing apparatus thereof, and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A exposure beam (61) and a exposure beam (62) are recombined together with a first exposure beam (60) in a second PBS (47) so that traveling directions thereof may be the same direction. At this time, the exposure beam (61) and the exposure beam (62) are arranged so that both optical axes may be aligned at certain distance. Thereby, a width of a spot formed by combining these beams can be extended, and light exposure of the spot can be proper to form a shallow groove, as typically showed in FIG. 3.
US07813255B2

A method for settling on a target track of a servo system in a storage device (110) comprising a scanning probe (e.g., a scanning probe array system (124)) is disclosed, as well as a corresponding storage device (110). A data format is employed for the data stored in servo fields (18), consisting mainly of a preamble for assisting the settle process.
US07813251B2

Providing an objective lens with a large numerical aperture (NA), the present invention records or plays conventional optical disks such as CDs and DVDs at high light usage efficiency, using an optical head capable of recording or reproducing high-density optical disks. A diffraction optical element (8) is disposed in a light path of a first light beam of a first wavelength λ1 (400 nm to 415 nm) and a second light beam of a second wavelength λ2 (650 nm to 680 nm). And, the present invention principally emits 5th order diffracted light with respect to the first light beam, and principally emits 3rd order diffracted light with respect to the second light beam, from the diffraction optical element (8). Thus, a high diffraction efficiency of substantially 100% can be obtained with respect to both wavelengths.
US07813248B2

When a data recording process fails to normally complete on an information recording medium, for example, because of a power interruption, a record controlling apparatus resumes recording immediately when power is turned back on, while protecting data that was recorded prior to the power interruption. The record controlling apparatus acquires, from a file system, a list of files that underwent a simple-salvage process, generates a tentative file name unfound in the list, and then generates a file with that tentative file name having, as the content thereof, data recorded in an area indicated by a new allocation area allocation descriptor contained in backup information in a backup memory. The file system that is updated with the generated file is recorded onto an optical disk as the information recording medium. The backup information is then deleted from the backup memory. The record controlling apparatus finds applications in video cameras, video recorders, etc., each of which uses an information recording medium with a file thereof managed by a file system.
US07813243B2

An optical disc of write once type, a method and an apparatus of managing defect information on the optical disc of write once type, e.g., a BD-WO, are provided with a temporary defect management area (TDMA). The method includes preparing the temporary defect management area (TDMA) in which a temporary defect list (TDFL) is recorded as defect management information for managing a defective area on the optical disc, recording the most recent temporary defect list cumulatively with the previous temporary defect list in the temporary defect management area, and recording position information for indicating a position of the most recent temporary defect list in the temporary defect management area along with the temporary defect list to more effectively manage the temporary defect list.
US07813240B2

An optical disk recording apparatus having (1) an optical pickup that emits laser light to illuminate a recording surface of an optical disk, receives reflected light resulting from the laser light reflected off the recording surface, and generates a light reception signal based on the thus received reflected light; (2) a laser power controller that sets a laser power setting and controls the power of the laser light emitted from the optical pickup based on the thus set laser power setting; and (3) a signal generator that, when a plurality of trial write areas provided on the recording surface of the optical disk are successively illuminated with the laser light in order to write trial write data, generates a timing notification signal that sets laser arrival timing when the laser light sequentially reaches trial write start positions of the plurality of trial write areas based on the light reception signal generated by the optical pickup.
US07813237B2

The recording medium includes a data area storing at least multiple audio streams in at least one portion thereof. The multiple audio streams are multiplexed, and each audio stream is a transport stream stored as one or more packets. Each packet has a packet identifier, and the packets of the same audio stream have the same packet identifier.
US07813225B2

A time adjustment device has a reception unit that receives a prescribed signal containing time information transmitted by a base station, a display time information adjustment unit that adjusts the time information displayed by a time information display unit based on the time information, a base station identification information acquisition unit that gets base station identification information contained in the prescribed signal, and a time adjustment execution determination unit that decides based on the base station identification information whether the display time information adjustment unit adjusts the displayed time information using the time information from the prescribed signal.
US07813217B2

A semiconductor memory device is capable of generating a desired output enable signal without increasing an initial count value and bit number and generating a desired final output enable signal, without unnecessary reset operations, by reflecting column address strobe (CAS) latency information on an external clock count value. The semiconductor memory device includes a first output enable signal generating unit and a final output enable signal generating unit. The first output enable signal generating unit is configured to compare a first count value, which is obtained by counting a delay locked loop (DLL) clock, to a second clock count value, which is obtained by counting an external clock until a read command is input, and to output a first output enable signal. The final output enable signal generating unit is configured to output a final output enable signal generated by shifting the first output enable signal, according to CAS latency.
US07813209B2

A method for reducing power consumption in a volatile memory includes switching off a bitline voltage provider according to a leakage control signal when a bitline array corresponding to the bitline voltage provider is dysfunctional due to a wordline to bitline short, controlling connections between a plurality of first bitline arrays corresponding to the bitline voltage provider and a plurality of sense amplifiers according to an access control signal, controlling connections between a plurality of second bitline arrays corresponding to the plurality of first bitline arrays and the plurality of sense amplifiers according to the access control signal, and providing power to the plurality of corresponding sense amplifiers according to the access control signal.
US07813206B2

Time-switch carrying removable storage includes a memory cell array, a bit line decoder connected with bit lines of the memory cell array, a word line decoder connected with word lines of the memory cell array, a bit line system amplifier connected with the bit line decoder, a word line system amplifier connected with the word line decoder, a semiconductor time switch clamped or bridged between the bit line system amplifier and the bit line decoder, and performing time management of access of the bit line amplifier and the bit line decoder to/from each other without a power supply, a time switch initializer which sets an operation period of the semiconductor time switch, and a controller connected with the bit line system amplifier and the word line system amplifier to control the amplifiers, and having an I/O terminal which transmits/receives an input/output signal.
US07813203B2

A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of active areas each extending in a first direction and including a memory cell string which includes select transistors and memory cells, current paths of which are connected in series, a first extension portion which is provided between one-side terminal end portions of two active areas neighboring in a second direction that crosses the first direction, and a second extension portion which is provided between other-side terminal end portions of the two active areas neighboring in the second direction, the first and second extension portions connecting the two active areas in a loop configuration.
US07813195B2

A method for testing a semiconductor memory device is provided. The semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, and a plurality of memory cells. Each word line is controlled by a corresponding control line and a corresponding driving line. The method includes selecting a plurality of word lines controlled by one driving line; enabling a plurality of control lines respectively corresponding to the selected word lines; actuating one of the selected word lines; and adding a disturbing signal on the actuated word line and measuring signals on the plurality of bit lines.
US07813191B2

A semiconductor memory device overdriving for a predetermined period when sense amplifying a bitline. An overdriving control unit generates an overdriver enabling signal having an enabling period including a point to enable a bitline sense amplifier and a point to select a column. An overdriver provides an overdrive voltage of a level higher than that of a normal pull-up drive voltage to a pull-up node of the bitline sense amplifier in response to the overdriver enabling signal. The data line pair provides a sufficient difference in potential even for a tRCD_min condition by preventing a drop in the potential of the bitline using the overdrive operation when selecting a column.
US07813188B2

A method of programming a multi level cell in a non-volatile memory device includes providing different data to main cells and indicator cells. The main cells and indicator cells have different threshold voltages in accordance with the data. A program operation is performed on a main cell and an indicator cell. A first verifying operation is performed based on a first verifying voltage of the main cell and the indicator cell. The program operation and the first verifying operation are performed repeatedly until a threshold voltage of a first cell of the indicator cells is higher than the first verifying voltage. A second verifying operation is performed on the main cell based on a second verifying voltage when the threshold voltage of the first cell is higher than the first verifying voltage.
US07813186B2

A flash memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, a page buffer unit including a plurality of page buffers connected to bit lines of the memory cell array, a data line mux unit connected between the page buffer unit and a data line and configured to receive verification data through a page buffer during a verify operation. The flash memory device also includes a fail bit counter unit for counting the verification data, comparing counted fail bits and the number of ECC allowed bits, and outputting a pass or fail signal of a program operation according to the comparison result.
US07813180B2

Example embodiment non-volatile memory devices may be capable of increased integration and reliability and may provide example methods of operating non-volatile memory devices. Example embodiment non-volatile memory devices may include a first control gate electrode on a semiconductor substrate. A first charge storing layer may be between the semiconductor substrate and the first control gate electrode. A source region may be defined in the semiconductor substrate at one side of the first control gate electrode. A first auxiliary gate electrode may be at the other side of the first control gate electrode and may be recessed into the semiconductor substrate. A first drain region may be defined in the semiconductor substrate at one side of the first auxiliary gate electrode opposite to the first control gate electrode. A bit line may be connected to the first drain region.
US07813176B2

The invention provides a method of updating a stored data value in a non-volatile memory. The method includes reading the stored data value from the non-volatile memory; reading a stored differential value from a volatile memory; receiving an updated data value; calculating a calculated differential value from the difference between the updated data value and the sum of the stored data value and the stored differential value; comparing the calculated differential value with a threshold differential value; and writing the updated data value to the non-volatile memory if the calculated differential value exceeds the threshold differential value. The invention further provides a related memory system.
US07813172B2

A group of memory cells is programmed respectively to their target states in parallel using a multiple-pass programming method in which the programming voltages in the multiple passes are correlated. Each programming pass employs a programming voltage in the form of a staircase pulse train with a common step size, and each successive pass has the staircase pulse train offset from that of the previous pass by a predetermined offset level. The predetermined offset level is less than the common step size and may be less than or equal to the predetermined offset level of the previous pass. Thus, the same programming resolution can be achieved over multiple passes using fewer programming pulses than conventional method where each successive pass uses a programming staircase pulse train with a finer step size. The multiple pass programming serves to tighten the distribution of the programmed thresholds while reducing the overall number of programming pulses.
US07813171B2

In a memory cell array, a plurality of memory cells which store data in the form of n values (n is a natural number which is not smaller than 2) which are in first and second to nth states are arranged in a matrix form. Before a write operation of storing data in a first memory cell in the memory cell array, when at least one second memory cell which is adjacent to the first memory cell is in the first state and does not reach a first threshold voltage, a control circuit performs a write operation in the second memory cell up to the first threshold voltage.
US07813140B2

The present invention describes methods for enhancing the performance of two-capacitor low-pass filters. In certain embodiments of the invention, the capacitors are placed on opposite sides of a PCB board.
US07813135B2

The semiconductor device includes a circuit board. The circuit board has an insulating substrate, a metal circuit fixed on a first side of the insulating substrate, and a metal plate fixed on a second side of the insulating substrate. The semiconductor device further has a semiconductor element mounted on the metal circuit, a stress reducing member fixed on the metal plate, and a heat sink fixed on the stress reducing member. The stress reducing member is plate-shaped and has round-shaped corners.
US07813127B2

There is provided a digital broadcasting receiver apparatus in which a temperature in the area surrounding a removable HDD does not become a high temperature during an operation regardless of whether it is disposed horizontally or vertically. A component with a large heat generating quantity and a component with a small heat generating quantity are installed in respective spaces inside a case. An adapter of the removable HDD is mounted to dispose the removable HDD in a space in which a component with a small heat generating quantity is mounted, thereby preventing the temperature in the area surrounding the removable HDD from becoming a high temperature.
US07813116B2

The present invention discloses a heart shaped structure with altering appearance comprising: a right base with an accommodating cavity; a left base flippable and pivot-jointed to the accommodating cavity of right base; a right upper cover pivot-jointed to the side of right base, with a fingerprint recognition device and a locking mechanism; and a left upper cover flippable and pivot-jointed to the side of left base. The interior of the right base selectively includes a processing unit, a decoder, a digital to analog converter (DAC), a rechargeable battery, a storage unit, and a display monitor located within the cavity. In addition, an internal speaker, an audio output port, a data transmission port, a recharge port, a power switch and a control panel is selectively located on the outer casing of the right base.
US07813112B2

A cover latching assembly (60) for a portable electronic device (100) is provided. The portable electronic device includes a housing (10) and a cover (20) configured for attaching to the housing. The cover has a latching portion (26) formed thereon. The cover latching assembly includes a button (30) and an elastic member (40). The button includes a recessed portion (344), and the button is slidably secured on the housing. The elastic member enables the latching portion of the cover to engage with the recessed portion of the button.
US07813104B2

A ceramic element, including: a ceramic body having an internal electrode layer and a ceramic layer; an external electrode having a base electrode which is provided on the outside of the ceramic body so as to be electrically connected with the internal electrode layer, and a plating layer covering the outer surface of the base electrode; and a protective layer for covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the ceramic layer other than the portion covered by the external electrode, wherein the protective layer includes a first layer that is an insulating layer containing an insulating oxide, and a second layer that is an insulating layer containing the same insulating oxide as the first layer and an element that is the same as at least one of elements forming the ceramic layer, and the first layer and second layer are formed in that order from the inside.
US07813102B2

An apparatus and method for minimizing contamination buildup on corona emitters that are employed in an ionizer. Contamination buildup control is accomplished with solely electronic means. High voltage is applied to the emitters with waveforms that serve to push contaminants away from the emitter, rather than attracting contaminants toward the emitters. The results are fewer cleaning cycles, more time between cleaning cycles, and more stable ionizer operation.
US07813099B2

A powerstrip apparatus having powerline networking capability. The apparatus has a housing member, which an outer region and an inner region. An AC power line is coupled to the housing member. In a specific embodiment, the AC powerline includes a male connector device, e.g., two prong, three prong. The apparatus has a surge protector coupled to the AC power line. The surge protector is within a first portion of the inner region of the housing member. The apparatus has one or more AC power outlets coupled to the surge protector. The one or more AC power outlets is spatially disposed on a first portion of the outer region of the housing member. An on/off switch is coupled between the one or more AC power outlets and the surge protector. A power line device is coupled to the AC powerline. The power line device is adapted to process a data signal from the AC powerline in a first format to a second format. A switching power supply is coupled to the AC powerline. The switching power supply is adapted to convert an AC power signal into a DC signal for use with the power line device. The apparatus also has a first output port coupled to an first input/output of the PLC device and may also have an Nth output port coupled to a second input/output of the PLC device; where N is an integer greater than 1.
US07813098B2

An in-rush current limiting circuit is disclosed. An apparatus according to aspects of the present invention includes a power switch having a first, second and third terminals. A capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal is also included. The second terminal of the capacitor is coupled to the first terminal of a current source. The second terminal of the current source is coupled to a second input terminal of the in-rush current limit circuit. A power switch is also included. The first terminal of the power switch is coupled to the anode of a diode. The cathode of the diode is connected to the first terminal of the current source. The second terminal of the power switch is coupled to a second input terminal of the in-rush current limit circuit. The third terminal of the power switch is coupled to be responsive to a voltage across the current source circuit in response to a rate of change of voltage between first and second terminals of the power switch.
US07813079B2

Thin film perpendicular magnetic head with a narrow main pole capable of a high recording density in excess of 100 gigabits per square inch and generating a high magnetic recording field, while also being modified to suppress remanent magnetic fields occurring immediately after writing operation. A return path is provided for supplying a magnetic flux to the main pole, and an conductive coil for excitation of the main pole and return path. The main pole has a pole width of 200 nanometers or less, and a magnetic multilayer made up of a high saturation flux density layer and low saturation flux density layer. The low saturation flux density layer and the high saturation flux density suppress remanent magnetization and prevent erasing after writing by utilizing a closed magnetic domain structure in the pole.
US07813075B2

Techniques for performing metrology on magnetic media disk formations that are arranged in curvilinear patterns are disclosed. Small integrated test patterns having rectangular or hexagonal periodicity are integrated among the concentric circles of patterned media formations. The test patterns cover only very small areas of the disk so as to not significantly affect disk capacity. The periodicity of the test patterns allows their formations to be more readily measured by metrology technology than those having a curvilinear periodicity.
US07813068B2

One embodiment of the invention includes a preamplifier system for a magnetic disk-drive. The system includes a current distributor configured to generate a reference current and to decay the reference current from a first magnitude to a second magnitude during a degauss period to degauss a magnetic disk write head. The degauss period defines a transition from a write cycle to a read cycle of the magnetic disk-drive and has a predetermined time duration that is independent of the first magnitude of the reference current during the write cycle. An output driver is configured to provide a write current to the magnetic disk write head having a magnitude with an absolute value that is based on the reference current.
US07813066B2

A magnetic recording and reproduction method includes the steps of recording a plurality of tracks which make a unit for a signal process for data detection by means of a recording head on a magnetic recording medium, and reproducing signals of the plural tracks by a plural number of times in different positional relationships to the tracks by means of a reproduction head which can reproduce a signal across the plural tracks of the magnetic recording medium, collecting the reproduction signals in the unit and performing a signal process for the unit to produce reproduction signals for the individual tracks.
US07813063B2

The present invention relates to a driving unit capable of implementing a long stroke drive while achieving height reduction of the driving unit. The driving unit is provided with a driving mechanism for driving a driven body. The driving mechanism includes: a bendable displaceable member that is fixated at one end and, through electric control, bent and displaced at the other end; a driving direction-changing member changing a direction of the bending and displacement of the bendable displaceable member to a driving direction of the driven body, the driving direction of the driven body being perpendicular to the direction of the bendable displaceable member; a contact member frictionally engaged with the driving direction-changing member and driving the driven body; and a precompression member mounted in the driven body and precompressing the contact member towards the driving direction-changing member.
US07813062B2

An exemplary apparatus for assembling a lens group comprise a lens tray, a plurality of cylindrical holes and a plurality of guiding grooves. The lens tray has a first surface and an inner side surface in each hole. The cylindrical holes are defined in the first surface for receiving a plurality of optical elements therein. The guiding grooves are defined in each inner side surface and exposed at the first surface, each groove communicats with the corresponding hole for allowing air to flow therethrough.
US07813046B2

Methods and apparatus for sampling techniques can constantly monitor a spectral output from a broadband source in order to control a central wavelength of interrogation light supplied by the source for input to a sensor. A first portion of light output from the broadband source passes through a controller module for spectral analysis and referencing to provide measurements that can be used as feedback to actively modify a second portion of the light from the source. This modified second portion thereby controls the central wavelength to ensure accurate determination of sensor response signals received at a receiver.
US07813043B2

A lens assembly comprises a spacer plate having first and second surfaces, and an array of lens barrels that each comprise a lens opening extending inward from the first surface of the spacer plate and a sensor cavity extending inward from the second surface of the spacer plate. An alignment tool comprising an array of alignment holes or prongs is used to align the lens to the orifices of the lens openings.
US07813029B2

The color reflected by an interferometric modulator may vary as a function of the angle of view. A range of colors are thus viewable by rotating the interferometric modulator relative to an observer. By placing a textured layer between an observer and an interferometric modulator, a pattern which includes the range of colors may be viewed by the observer, and the range of colors may thus be viewable from a single viewing angle.
US07813026B2

A system and method of reducing color shift in a display includes an interferometric modulator display configured to reflect light from at least one light source and through at least one converging optical element in an optical path from the light source to a viewer via the display. In one embodiment, the converging optical element comprises a diffractive optical element.
US07813023B2

A reflective element assembly for an interior rearview mirror of a vehicle includes front and rear substrates with a perimeter seal that spaces said front substrate from said rear substrate and establishes an interpane cavity therebetween for an electro-optic medium. The front substrate has a first connecting tab that extends outboard from a perimeter edge of the rear substrate and the rear substrate has a second connecting tab that extends outboard from a perimeter edge of the front substrate. The first and second connecting tabs may extend partially along the same perimeter edge region of the reflective element assembly or along adjacent perimeter edge regions of the reflective element assembly. The first and second connecting tab facilitate electrical connection to the transparent conductive coating of the second surface of the front substrate and the conductive coating of the third surface of the rear substrate, respectively.
US07813022B2

A light irradiation apparatus includes a light modulation element which modulates a phase of an incident light beam to obtain a V-shaped light intensity distribution having a bottom portion of a minimum light intensity, and an image formation optical system which applies the modulated light beam from the light modulation element to an irradiation target surface in such a manner that the V-shaped light intensity distribution is provided on the irradiation target surface. The light modulation element has such a complex amplitude transmittance distribution that a secondary derivative of a phase value of a complex amplitude distribution becomes substantially zero at the bottom portion of the V-shaped light intensity distribution in an image space of the image formation optical system.
US07813020B2

A hydrodynamic bearing unit using oil includes a shaft to be driven, a bearing member configured to support the shaft in a non-contact manner through a bearing gap by a hydrodynamic pressure of the oil, which is generated in the bearing gap while the shaft relatively rotate with respect to the bearing member, a housing configured to house the bearing member and having an opening at one end thereof, another end thereof being enclosed, a sealing member configured to seal a part of the opening of the housing, a channel configured to communicate a space formed between the shaft, the bearing member and the housing with an outside air, and a pressing member configured to press and fix the bearing member on the housing. At least one open part configured to release an air bubble contained in the housing is provided between the bearing member and the sealing member.
US07813006B2

The present invention relates to expanding the range of image densities over which the manipulation of differential gloss as may be inherent in halftoned images may be achieved. By selectively applying halftones with anisotropic structure characteristics which are significantly different in orientation while remaining identical in density, a gloss image may be superimposed within an image without the need for special toners or paper. This technique may be enhanced across low and high density areas by application of clear toner to expand the range of image densities over which a desired glossmark image will bear an effect.
US07813001B2

A color image processing method, which is adapted to convert a first color signal including a solid color signal to a second color signal including a solid color signal, includes: determining a device independent color signal on a color coordinate in a color system from the first color signal; determining a solid color signal of the second color signal having the minimum or substantially minimum color difference from the solid color signal of the first color signal; and determining a color signal other than the solid color signal of the second color signal to be calorimetrically equal to the device independent color signal from the device independent color signal and the solid color signal of the second color signal.
US07812997B2

A number of different print jobs having different print quantities can be combined into a single job that results in reduced bindery costs. An imposition is produced with the print patterns for the different print jobs in different print positions. Jobs with larger print quantities can occupy a greater number of print positions. The allocation of print positions among the different print jobs can be based on quantity ratios. A print job having twice the quantity of another should occupy twice the number of print positions. Proper allocation of print positions results in maximizing the number of sheets that can be printed with a single imposition. Maximizing the number of identically printed sheets results in reduced bindery costs.
US07812993B2

A recursive scheme is employed to compress image data, wherein areas of a pixel grid corresponding to the image data are divided into increasingly smaller triangles based on the level of detail contained within each triangle. Data is stored defining each of the triangles and actual/predicted component values corresponding to pixels within each triangle. For each triangle, a set of predicted component values are determined, based on actual component values at the vertices of the triangle or actual component values on or proximate to the edges of the triangle. The predicted component values for the pixels are compared with the corresponding actual component values to see if a similarity threshold is met. If met, the processing of a current triangle is complete and the processing of a next triangle begins. If not, the current triangle is divided, and the foregoing process is then repeated. Texture mapping may also be applied.
US07812987B2

A system for composition and transmission of an e-mail message to a recipient address via a computer system is provided. The system comprises: a printer for printing an e-mail form onto a substrate, the printed form comprising graphic e-mailing information and coded data; and an optically imaging pen configured for sensing the coded data, generating interaction data using the sensed coded data, and transmitting the interaction data to the computer system. The interaction data represents interaction between the pen and the form.
US07812982B2

Desired application data can be printed in a desired printing condition even if a computer being used does not have appropriate application software or a printer driver installed therein. Each of proxy printing transmission units sends proxy printing request information comprising the application data to be printed and printing setting information as the printing condition to a network. Each of proxy printing judgment and processing units receives the proxy printing request information from the network, and compares the proxy printing request information with proxy printing enabling information comprising the type of application software and printing enabling setting information in a printer driver installed in a corresponding one of computers. If the proxy printing enabling information matches the proxy printing request information, the application data are sent to the computer having the match and converted into PDL data that are printed from a corresponding printer.
US07812978B2

An application executing method makes an information processing apparatus coupled to an image forming apparatus via a network to execute an application that functions in the image forming apparatus. The application executing method downloads the application from the image forming apparatus by the information processing apparatus, starts the downloaded application by the information processing apparatus, and absorbs differences in an execution environment of the application between the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus, by the information processing apparatus, so as to realize functions of the application in the information processing apparatus.
US07812977B2

A job-receiving section receives a job with regard to a first-type image. A job-setting-receiving section receives a command for selecting, with regard to the job of the first-type image to which a second-type image is related, either a merging setting or a non-merging setting. A job-processing section processes the received job. The merging setting is a setting for merging the first-type image and the second-type image, and the non-merging setting is a setting for not merging the first-type image and the second-type image. The job-processing section displays on an output section, with regard to the job of the first-type image to which the second-type image is related, either the first-type image, or a composite image of the large first-type image and the second-type image, in accordance with the command received by the job-setting-receiving section.
US07812975B2

An image printing/reading apparatus in which a reference white board for prescanning can be prevented from being soiled with ink, and the influence of stray light from a paper discharge port can be reduced. A commonality of a print sheet path for conveyance of print sheet and a document path for conveyance of document is at least partially realized as a common path. A reading unit is provided with a reference white board for shading correction used upon execution of prescanning. Upon execution of document reading, the reading unit and the reference white board are moved to a document reading position. On the other hand, upon execution of prescanning, the reading unit and the reference white board are moved to a retreat position where the influence of ambient light is reduced. Further, upon printing, the reading unit and the reference white board are also moved to the retreat position for preventing the reference white board from being soiled with ink.
US07812971B2

An autofocus system and method that includes a controllable light source having at least two selectively activated substantially monochromatic output wavelengths adapted for illuminating an object; a camera receiving light from said light source reflected from a portion of said object and generating output signals responsive to said received light; a controller connected to said camera and said controllable light source for positioning said camera and sequentially illuminating a first portion of the object with at least two selectively activated substantially monochromatic output wavelengths, moving the camera to a second position and sequentially illuminating a second portion of the object with at least two selectively activated substantially monochromatic output wavelengths; and a data processor connected to said camera and receiving said output signals and for each portion, comparing the output signals associated with each wavelength and determining a focus parameter from said comparison.
US07812969B2

A three-dimensional shape measuring apparatus includes a measuring section and a data integrating section. The measuring section has three-dimensional measurement dimensions, and measures a three-dimensional shape of a measurement object in a non-contact state. The measuring section measures a three-dimensional shape of a part of the measurement object multiple times by shifting the measurement dimensions to obtain multiple measurement data. The measurement dimensions are shifted in such a manner that at least portions of consecutive measurement dimensions by the shifting are lapped one over the other. The data integrating section integrates the multiple measurement data to obtain the three-dimensional shape of the measurement object. The data integrating section executes the data integration, using reliability information attributed to the respective measurement data.
US07812959B1

The present invention provides for a digital holographic microscope using a holographic interferometer and incorporating a TIR sample mount and microscopic imaging optics. The microscope uses phase shifting from frustrated internal reflection within a prism to measure nanometric distances. The invention also provides for a numerical reconstruction algorithm of an inclined surface of the object/prism.
US07812951B2

Embodiments include an apparatus including a color sensor including a transmitter portion and a receiver portion, the transmitter portion including a light source operable to generate and transmit a light having a particular range of wavelengths, the receiver portion including a first detector operable to receive a first portion of the light emitted from the transmitter portion and to measure a luminance of the received first portion of the emitted light, and a second detector including a polarization filter, the second detector operable to receive a second portion of the light emitted from the transmitter after the second portion has passed through the polarization filter, and operable to measure a pure color of the received second portion of transmitted light.
US07812945B2

A fluorescence optical tomography system and method uses a photon migration model calculator for which absorption and reduced scattering coefficient values are determined for each source/detector pair. The coefficient values may be determined by measurement, in which a time resolved detector detects the excitation wavelength and generates temporal point spread functions from which the coefficient values are found. Alternatively, the coefficient values may be determined by calculating them from a dataset containing a spatial distribution of absorption and reduced scattering coefficients in a volume of interest. The fluorescence detection may be continuous wave, time resolved, or a combination of the two. An estimator uses a detected fluorescence signal and an estimated fluorescence signal to estimate the image values.
US07812944B1

The invention relates to an array for optical evaluation of an object array, to which a microlens array (MLA), preferably an exchangeable and/or rotational microlens array, and a field lens with an illuminating device coupled by means of a beam splitter, preferably a rotational beam splitter, are pre-assigned in the direction of a detector array, wherein said illuminating device is coupled between the field lens and an objective.
US07812933B2

An electro-optical range finder (4) having a trapezoidal laser (1) as a laser source, a laser source controller (6) for generating pulsed laser radiation, receiving optics (7) and a detector (8) with an evaluation unit (9) for receiving and evaluating the measuring radiation (RS) reflected by a target (ZI), in order to measure distance, has a separate supply for the guided waveguide region (2) and the trapezoidal region (3) as well as transmitting optics (5) with astigmatism compensation and for collimating the laser radiation.
US07812932B2

A test station for testing a laser range finder is disclosed. The test station may be a mobile test station. The test station may include an optical system having a first portion which aligns an eyepiece of the test station to the laser range finder, a second portion which aligns the eyepiece to a first range target spaced apart from the test station, and a third portion which aligns the laser range finder to the first range target.
US07812927B2

A scanning exposure apparatus for performing exposure of a substrate to light includes a projection optical system to project light from the original onto the substrate, a stage to hold the substrate and to move in a scanning direction, and a focus detector to detect a position of a surface region of the substrate in a direction of the optical axis. The apparatus (i) detects the position of the surface region with respect to each of a plurality of measurement points and with respect to each of a plurality of shot regions of the substrate, (ii) averages the detected positions, (iii) obtains a function which approximates the averaged positions, (iv) calculates a difference between each of the averaged positions and a value of the obtained function, (v) offsets a detected position with a corresponding one of the calculated differences, (vi) controls a position of the stage based on the offset positions, and (vii) logs the obtained function.
US07812921B2

A color filter-on-thin film transistor substrate includes gate data lines crossing each other and defining pixel areas, thin film transistors is located at crossings of gate and data lines, pixel electrodes connected to the thin film transistors and formed within the pixel areas, and stripe-shaped color filters overlapping a plurality of pixel areas and oriented parallel to one of the gate and data lines.
US07812920B2

A production method of a substrate for a liquid crystal display in which an exposure pattern of a color filter or a black matrix is formed in a predetermined position of a TFT substrate at a high level of precision. Therefore the production method includes following steps: applying a photosensitive material for a color filter or a black matrix onto a TFT substrate; image-capturing a pixel region by an imaging unit while transporting the TFT substrate coated with the photosensitive material at a predetermined velocity by a transporting unit; detecting a reference position preset in the pixel region image-captured by the imaging unit at an image processing section of a control unit; and controlling irradiation timing of a light source in an exposure optical system by a lamp controller with reference to the detected reference position, and forming an exposure pattern of a color filter or a black matrix at a predetermined position of the TFT substrate.
US07812917B2

Bead spacers, which are disposed on at least one principal surface of a pair of substrates forming a liquid crystal display device, are bonded to the principal surface by an alignment film or an organic material film. Specifically, the bead spacers disposed on the principal surface are covered with the alignment film, or the bead spacers are bonded by the organic material film to the alignment film formed on the principal surface of the substrate.
US07812896B2

A liquid crystal display includes a gate driver, a data driver and a pixel matrix. The gate driver is for outputting a plurality of gate signals successively. The data driver is for providing a plurality of data signals. The pixel matrix includes a number of pixels. Each pixel includes a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel and a voltage coupling device. The voltage coupling device is coupled between the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel such that pixel voltages of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel are different and have relevant variation.
US07812891B2

Front cabinets of different sizes have been prepared for each of display apparatuses of different screen sizes. A front cabinet 20 of a size capable of accommodating each of a PDP 31 and a PDP 32 of different screen sizes is provided and it is made possible to select, depending on whether the display accommodated therein is the PDP 31 or the PDP 32, one of a decoration frame 11 whose size of opening corresponds to a screen 31a of the PDP 31 and a decoration frame 12 whose size of opening corresponds to a screen 32a of the PDP 32 is selected and attached to the front cabinet 20. Therefore, one type of front cabinet 20 can be used in each of the cases where the PDP 31 or the PDP 32 is accommodated therein. Thus, the cost for manufacturing plasma televisions of different screen sizes can be reduced.
US07812888B2

A synchronization processing circuit separates synchronizing signals from an input video signal, provides the synchronizing signals to a detection circuit, and further provides the input video signal that has no synchronizing signal to a scaler circuit. The detection circuit detects the horizontal synchronization frequency, the vertical synchronization frequency, the synchronization polarity, the synchronization type (Sep, CS, or GSync), the scan type, the image line number, the synchronization type (TriSync), and the vertical synchronization width from the synchronizing signals. A CPU determines the type of input video signal based on the detection results of the detection circuit. Based on the determination results, the CPU sets the signal processing for the input video signal in the synchronization processing circuit and in the scaler circuit.
US07812887B2

Systems and methods are provided for receivers of digital broadband broadcast signals to determine a time of delivery and a version of a particular signaling table. The receiver is able to determine whether an update of the signaling table is needed based on factors such as whether the update applies (e.g., a DVB-H specific change for a mobile terminal in a DVB-H network). The receiver may power down while awaiting delivery of the signaling table (or utilize the radio for other purposes), powering back up in time to receive the signaling table.
US07812886B2

In synchronization of a conventional AV system, when a stream as the master stops, a system clock cannot be corrected for synchronization. Since the correction is consistently performed even when an error is small, overhead of correction is large. On the other hand, when an error is large, sharp correction causes a feeling that something wrong. In the present invention, when the stream as the master stops, previously registering the degree of priority regarding the master, consideration of a corrected period or a previous error for the system clock, or transmitting a stream containing information regarding the master can allow for other process to serves as the master. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a method for synchronization with maintaining correction of the system clock. When a corrected error is large, gradual correction or reference can provide a system with normal feeling. Furthermore, when an error of correction is small, omission of correction or reference can provide a system with less overhead.
US07812884B2

A de-interlacer includes recursive motion history map generating circuitry operative to determine a motion value associated with one or more pixels in interlaced fields based on pixel intensity information from at least two neighboring same polarity fields. The recursive motion history map generating circuitry generates a motion history map containing recursively generated motion history values for use in de-interlacing interlaced fields wherein the recursively generated motion history values are based, at least in part, on a decay function.
US07812882B2

A camera lens shuttering mechanism includes an image conducting unit disposed within a shutter housing when the camera is in a closed position so that the camera cannot record images. When moved to an open position, the shutter housing does not block the image conducting unit from imaging objects. The image conducting unit may be one or more lenses or one or more mirrors that reflect images to one or more lenses. When in the closed position, it is apparent to users that the camera is unable to transmit images.
US07812880B2

An optical apparatus is disclosed which achieves high focusing accuracy and favorable responsiveness in AF control. The apparatus includes a signal generator which extracts signals in a plurality of frequency bands from an output from an image-pickup part and generates focus signals from the extracted signals, and a controller which performs focus control such that the focus signal approaches the highest value. The controller uses a first focus signal and a second focus signal in the focus control. The second focus signal is a synthesis signal formed by synthesizing a focus signal in a relatively high or the highest frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands and a focus signal in another frequency band and contains a component of the focus signal in the relatively high or highest frequency band at a higher ratio as compared with the first focus signal.
US07812878B2

A solid-state imaging device with a multi-pixel sharing structure, wherein the area of each photoelectric conversion element can be secured independent of a reduction in area of each pixel. A solid-state imaging device including photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a two-dimensional array and voltage conversion elements for converting charge produced by photoelectric conversion through the corresponding photoelectric conversion elements into voltage.
US07812867B2

An image processing apparatus is configured to include a first storage unit, a second storage unit, and a control unit. The control unit is adapted to perform a control operation to divide, into first data and second data, correction data which is used to correct a defective pixel signal included in an image signal representing one shot image, to transfer the first data from the first storage unit to the second storage unit before starting to shoot an image, and to transfer the second data from the first storage unit to the second storage unit after starting to shoot an image.
US07812865B2

An image pickup system has a noise estimating unit which estimates the amount of noise contained in a digitized signal from an image pickup element composed of an array of a plurality of pixels, either for each pixel or for each specified unit area made up of a plurality of pixels, and a shooting conditions estimation unit which estimates the shooting condition when an image based on the signal is acquired. The amount of noise estimated by the noise estimating unit is corrected on the basis of the shooting conditions estimated by the shooting conditions estimation unit, and the noise in the signal is reduced on the basis of the corrected amount of noise.
US07812859B2

To display a print preview to which an operating instruction from an operation panel provided for an external operating apparatus, an interruption event which is transferred from the external operating apparatus 111 to a host computer 101 is detected every instruction of the operation panel provided for the external operating apparatus 111, image data which is read out from a memory card which can be loaded into the external operating apparatus 111 and a print setting which is set are obtained in accordance with the detected interruption event, and a preview display unit 305 controls a print preview display in which the print setting has been reflected to a display device of the host computer 101 and an updating display of the print preview display.
US07812856B2

Methods and systems for providing multiple perspectives of a venue activity to electronic hand held devices are disclosed. A system for providing venue-based data to venue-based wireless hand held device can include at least one processor for processing data captured by at least one venue-based video camera for transmission to remote wireless hand held devices and at least one transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the data to a the remote wireless hand held devices. Wireless hand held devices include a display screen for displaying received venue video data. A method for transmitting venue-based data to hand held devices includes steps of capturing video images from at least one perspective of a venue-based activity using at least one video camera, processing the video images into venue-based data formatted for transmission and use by at least one hand held device and transmitting the venue-based data to at least one hand held device. Hand held devices receive venue-based data, process the data for display on a display screen associated with hand held devices, and display processed data on the display screen, thereby enabling users of the hand held devices to view at least one perspective of venue-based data through the hand held devices.
US07812851B2

An image processing apparatus includes a first display control unit for generating first image data to be displayed on a first image layer, a second display control unit for generating second image data to be displayed on a second image layer, a display update unit for controlling the second display control unit in accordance with a display position of the first image data to be displayed on the first image layer and extended information on the type for processing the first image data, and a combining unit for combining the first image data output from the first display control unit and the second image data output from the second display control unit so as to generate display image data.
US07812843B2

A distributed resource system comprises a plurality of compute resource units operable to execute graphics applications and generate graphics data, and a plurality of visualization resource units communicatively coupled to the plurality of compute resource units and operable to render pixel data from the graphics data. A first network couples a network compositor to the plurality of visualization resource units. The network compositor is operable to synchronize the received pixel data from the plurality of visualization resource units and receive the pixel data from the visualization resource units and to composite the synchronized pixel data into at least one image. A plurality of display devices, at least one of which is located remotely from the plurality of compute resource units, are coupled to the network compositor and operable to display the at least one image.
US07812835B2

A display apparatus having a monitor functional mode and a network functional mode, includes a first voltage switching part that controls a first operation voltage; a second voltage switching part that controls a second operation voltage; a voltage drop converting part that generates and supplies a third operation voltage; and a controlling part that controls at least one of the first voltage switching part and the second voltage switching part depending on a functional mode, and controls the voltage drop converting part to maintain a work file related to the network functional mode if the monitor functional mode is selected.
US07812827B2

Multi-touch touch-sensing devices and methods are described herein. The touch sensing devices can include multiple sense points, each located at a crossing of a drive line and a sense line. In some embodiments, multiple drive lines may be simultaneously or nearly simultaneously stimulated with drive signals having unique characteristics, such as phase or frequency. A sense signal can occur on each sense line that can be related to the drive signals by an amount of touch present at sense points corresponding to the stimulated drive lines and the sense line. By using processing techniques based on the unique drive signals, an amount of touch corresponding to each sense point can be extracted from the sense signal. The touch sensing methods and devices can be incorporated into interfaces for a variety of electronic devices such as a desktop, tablet, notebook, and handheld computers, personal digital assistants, media players, and mobile telephones.
US07812825B2

A device for detecting the position of a human finger or other object on a touch-sensitive scrolling pad. Dual independent oscillators may be used to generate two pulse trains at frequencies dependent upon the capacitance of two conductors resulting from the position of the finger on the conductors. The pulses from each oscillator may be counted over a time interval. A ratio-metric measurement may be taken by calculating the ratio of the two counts, and a sum may also be calculated. The ratio of the two counts relates to finger position on the device, and their sum relates to finger pressure upon the device.
US07812823B2

A user interface for communication equipment facilitating communication via the Internet and preferably providing other audio/video services and including a monitor or TV screen (S) for display of a user interface. The user interface comprises display of symbols (1, 2, 3, 4) resembling the keys of a keypad, each symbol including one icon symbolizing an associated service and also at least a number or symbol (e.g. 0-9;*,#) as associated with the keys of a keyboard and/or a short descriptive text for associated service. User input identified as the number/symbol displayed results in display of at least one further screen image related to chosen alternative. At least the first displayed screen (S) includes preferably at least one additional group of symbols (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) resembling keys, extending as a vertical and/or horizontal row of keys, each key symbol preferably only including an icon and/or a short descriptive text, said group(s) preferably related to services for control and setting of parameters related to the communication equipment used.
US07812819B2

An information processing apparatus includes a first display control unit configured to display information on a display screen, a detection unit configured to detect the operation direction and an operation amount of a direction inputting operation, a scroll control unit configured to scroll the information displayed on the display screen in the operation direction detected by the detection unit, and a second display control unit configured to control the display of information so that the higher the operation amount detected by the detection unit, the wider a display area becomes in the operation direction detected by the detection unit.
US07812818B2

An inertial sensing method is disclosed, which is capable of detecting tilting of an inertial sensing apparatus with respect to a specific level surface while using the detection for defining/controlling movements of a cursor displayed on a display, In a preferred aspect, as it is capable of acting as an hand-held input device, a swing of a hand holding the inertial sensing apparatus can be detected thereby and is used for controlling a page change of a display. Operationally, a micro inertial sensing module of the aforesaid inertial sensing apparatus detects changes of gravity caused by tilts of the inertial sensing apparatus and then generates inclination signals accordingly while enabling a wireless transmitter to send the same to a micro processing unit where the inclination signals are filtered and then compared with predefined datum signals so as to enable a cursor control circuit to define/control movements of a cursor displayed on a display according to the comparison. In addition, an effect of vibration measured along an axis of a Cartesian coordinate system of X-, Y-, and Z-axes defining the inertial sensing apparatus can be eliminated by the use of variations of signals measured along other axes of the Cartesian coordinate system. Preferably, by using two Y-axis accelerometers of the micro inertial sensing module to measure a difference of centrifugal forces detected respectively thereby, the adverse affection of centrifugal forces exerting upon the Y-axis can be eliminated.
US07812814B2

A device is provided with a user interface, a control unit for controlling the operations of the device including changeable parameters of the user interface, and a game platform for running a game. The control unit is configured to change parameters of the user interface based on events occurring in the game.
US07812813B2

A method and apparatus are provided for stamping a piece of ePaper. A grid is positioned within a selected distance to a first side of the piece of ePaper. A grounding pin conductively connects a conductive backing plate located on a second side of the piece of ePaper. The grounding pin completes a voltage path from the grid through the piece of ePaper to the conductive backing plate. A voltage is supplied to the grid and supplying the voltage to the grid changes the appearance of the piece of ePaper to form a stamped image.
US07812808B2

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel assembly having a plurality of scanning regions that include a plurality of pixels, respectively; a plurality of light source units that include a plurality of light sources supplying light to the plurality of scanning regions, respectively; a data driver that selects gray voltages corresponding to image signals and applies the selected gray voltages to the plurality of pixels as data signals, respectively; and a light source controller that controls the turning on and off of the light sources. One frame is divided into red, green, blue, and black fields, and the light source controller turns off the light source during the black field. Accordingly, the color mixing phenomenon is reduced, and the lighting time of the light source and the charging time of the pixels increase, thereby improving the image quality.
US07812806B2

A liquid crystal display device with low power consumption is provided by using a driver circuit and a pixel that have novel circuit structures. In a liquid crystal display device using n (n is a natural number and satisfies n≧2) bit digital video signals to display an image, n×m (m is a natural number) memory circuits and n×k (k is a natural number) non-volatile memory circuits are provided in each pixel, thereby giving the device a function of storing m frames of digital video signals in the memory circuits and a function of storing k frames of digital video signals in the non-volatile memory circuits. Once stored in the memory circuits, the digital video signals are repeatedly read out for every new frame to display a still image, so that driving of a source signal line driver circuit can be stopped during still image display. Moreover, digital video signals stored in the non-volatile memory circuits are kept stored after power supply is shut off and hence the image of the stored data can immediately be displayed next time the display device is turned on.
US07812800B2

A design approach for a panel including a luminiferous unit and a driving unit. The luminiferous unit comprises first and second color components respectively constituting first and second light component sources. First and second light components are emitted from the first and the second light component sources. The color of the first light component differs from that of the second light component. The design approach comprises defining a specific relationship according to a characteristic between the first and the second color components; and designing the driving unit according to the specific relationship.
US07812793B2

An active matrix electroluminescent display device uses a stepped voltage waveform to the input of the pixel, the stepped voltage waveform being voltage-shifted by a previously stored pixel drive voltage before application to the gate of a drive transistor. The level of the voltage shift determines the duty cycle with which the display element is driven, and thereby controls the grey level output. The height of the steps in the stepped voltage waveform is greater than the voltage width of linear operating region of the drive transistor, so that a selected step of the stepped waveform defines a transition from the drive transistor between fully on and fully off. In this way, the drive transistor is never driven in the linear region.
US07812754B2

A digital to analog converter (DAC) has a plurality of transistor-resistor units connected in a string. Each of the transistor-resistor units of the DAC has a pair of transistors that are turned on/off by a pair of complementary control signals. Since the two transistors of each transistor-resistor unit are positioned symmetrically, an equivalent resistance would be determined precisely according to received digital codes, such that an output voltage of the DAC could be adjusted precisely based on the equivalent resistance.
US07812751B2

The invention relates to a device and a method for converting a digital signal having a plurality of data-bits into a filtered analog signal. A device according to the invention includes a delay element arranged to produce one or more differently delayed version of the digital signal and a digital-to-analog conversion circuitry arranged to convert the digital signal and the one or more differently delayed, and possibly differently scaled, versions of the digital signal into analog signals and to produce the filtered analog signal as a combination of the analog signals. Therefore, the device constitutes not only a digital-to-analog-converter but also a finite impulse response filter.
US07812745B2

A general purpose of the present invention is to improve a DC-free property with a further reduced circuit scale while satisfying a run-length limit. An RLL/DC-free coding unit coding includes a first RLL coding unit, a first signal processing unit, a second RLL coding unit, and a DC component removal coding unit. The first RLL coding unit generates a first coded sequence by subjecting a digital signal sequence outputted from a scrambler to run-length limited coding. The first signal processing unit performs a predetermined signal processing on the digital signal sequence without changing the number of a plurality of bits contained in the digital signal sequence outputted from the scrambler 302. The second RLL coding unit generates a second coded sequence by subjecting the digital signal sequence, which is outputted from the first signal processing unit and on which the predetermined signal processing has been performed by the signal processing unit, to run-length limited coding.
US07812744B2

In a method for error handling in transmission of a datum over a communications system, at least two data words consisting of bits are generated for the datum in accordance with a predefined coding rule, and one of the generated data words is selected taking into consideration a running digital sum formed over the corresponding data word, and the running digital sum of the selected data word is used for the formation of a first running digital sum. The selected data word is converted into a code data word, and a bit of the data word is in each case assigned a two-bit string with two different single-bit values. The code data word and the first running digital sum are transmitted. The received code data word is examined to ascertain whether an erroneous two-bit string exists, in which case the error is corrected using the first running digital sum.
US07812737B1

An apparatus, method, and computer program product are provided for conditionally actuating an illuminator, based on a connector status. In use, a status is determined for a connector adapted for being releasably connected to an input line. Further, an illuminator is conditionally actuated, based on the status.
US07812727B2

A system and method for determining a failed wireless tag includes capturing images of articles having wireless tags, recognizing an image including wireless tags from among captured images calculating a number of wireless tags and distance information from the reader to each wireless tag based on the recognized image including wireless tags; changing a read range of the reader based on a location wireless tag having a predetermined distance information from the reader; and changing the read range of the reader when a number of wireless tags read by the reader and a number of wireless tags calculated do not match and determining a failed wireless tag based on the changed read range and distance information calculated.
US07812722B2

An ergonomically designed metal detector is provided. The metal detector allows for operation of the metal detector between two modes of operation while maintaining an operator's hand position relative to the surface.
US07812716B1

An apparatus and method for monitoring seat belt use in a vehicle from the exterior of the vehicle is provided. Seat belt use indicator lights are positioned on the exterior of a vehicle and wirelessly connected to or hardwired to sensors located in seat belt buckle assemblies to provide information about the use of the seatbelt. One or multiple indicator lights grouped in cluster arrangements to simulate the seat arrangement in a vehicle can be implemented. The apparatus may also be used in aircraft to monitor seat belt use remotely from within the aircraft.
US07812707B2

A communication system including: (a) a plurality of interrogators; and (b) at least one transponder operable, upon reception of an interrogating wave transmitted from each of the interrogators, to respond to the interrogator with a reflected wave which is generated by modulating the interrogating wave. Each of the interrogators is operable to communicate with the other of the interrogators in a wireless manner. A frequency band of the reflected wave transmitted from the transponder to each of the interrogators is preferably separated from a frequency band of a communication wave transmitted from the interrogator to the other of the interrogators, and is preferably closer to a frequency of the interrogating wave transmitted from the interrogator to the transponder, than the frequency band of the communication wave.
US07812703B2

A material for forming a conductive structure for a MEMS device is described, which is an alloy containing about 0.01% manganese and the remainder nickel. Data shows that the alloy possesses advantageous mechanical and electrical properties. In particular, the sheet resistance of the alloy is actually lower than the sheet resistance of the pure metal. In addition, the alloy may have superior creep and higher recrystallization temperature than the pure metal. It is hypothesized that these advantageous material properties are a result of the larger grain structure existing in the NiMn alloy film compared to the pure nickel metal film. These properties may make the alloy appropriate for applications such as MEMS thermal electrical switches for telecommunications applications.
US07812701B2

Example embodiments of the invention may provide systems and methods for multiple transformers. The systems and methods may include a first transformer that may include a first primary winding and a first secondary winding, where the first primary winding may be inductively coupled to the first secondary winding, where the first transformer may be associated with a first rotational current flow direction in the first primary winding. The systems and methods may further include a second transformer that may include a second primary winding and a second secondary winding, where the second primary winding may be inductively coupled to the second secondary winding, where the second transformer may be associated with a second rotational current flow direction opposite the first rotational current flow direction in the second primary winding, where a first section of the first primary winding may be positioned adjacent to a second section of the second primary winding, and where the adjacent first and second sections may include a substantially same first linear current flow direction.
US07812695B2

A multipole switching device selectively switches electrical power from an electrical power source to a load circuit. A first control device comprises a housing mountable in a panel, an electromechanical actuator in the housing including a movable plunger, and an electrical switch in the housing operated by the plunger. A second control device comprises a housing mountable in a panel, adjacent the first control device, a mechanical actuator in the housing including a movable link, and an electrical switch in the housing operated by the movable link. A third control device comprises a housing mountable in a panel, adjacent the second control device, an electromechanical actuator in the housing including a movable plunger, and an electrical switch in the housing operated by the plunger. A tie linkage mechanically ties the first control device plunger and the third control device plunger to the movable link.
US07812690B2

The invention relates to a compact power-agile filter. The filter is a capacitance-weight filter comprising two electromagnetically-coupled oscillating circuits. Each oscillating circuit comprises capacitance weights. Each capacitance weight is controlled by signals. The filter comprises at least one motherboard and one daughterboard which are physically separate. The daughterboard comprises the capacitance weights, the motherboard comprises all the oscillating circuits. In particular, the invention applies to the power filter included in a radiocommunication system amplification module. For example, the invention can be used by a radiocommunication system that can be programmed by software means adapting to a range of signals extending over a wide frequency band.
US07812687B2

A high-frequency switching circuit module includes a high-frequency switch that includes an FET switching element and that selectively connects between a common input/output terminal and one of input/output terminals, and a matching circuit that is provided to the common input/output terminal Pc and is not provided to the input/output terminals. Although a non-selected input/output terminal of the high-frequency switch acts as a capacitor and the impedance between the common input/output terminal and a selected input/output terminal is displaced from a normal impedance, the displacement is corrected by the matching circuit connected to the common input/output terminal such that the impedance viewed from the common input/output terminal Pc to the high-frequency switch is made equal to the normal impedance. Accordingly, a high-frequency switching circuit module having a small overall size and achieving impedance matching for each terminal is provided.
US07812680B1

Disclosed herein are devices and methods for generating a modulated signal with a MEMS resonator, or microresonator. A bias, or polarization, voltage for activating the MEMS resonator is determined by a control signal, or input voltage, indicative of information to be carried by the modulated signal. In some cases, the MEMS resonator may be driven by an oscillator circuit to facilitate operation of the MEMS resonator. The control signal may include an amplitude modulated voltage or a digital data stream such that output signals of the MEMS resonator or oscillator circuit may carry information via frequency modulation, such as frequency shift keying modulation.
US07812679B2

A frequency generation unit (FGU) 100 includes a plurality of selectable voltage controlled oscillators (110) whose output frequencies are chosen in relationship with a predetermined intermediate frequency (IF) and frequency divider value (M) to provide multi-band frequency generation capability in a single communication device. A programmable reference divider (104), phase detector (174) and programmable charge pump (106) take an incoming reference frequency (120) and generate a charge pump output (124) to optimize the in-band phase noise in the FGU 100. A fixed loop filter (108) filters the charge pump output (124) to generate a control voltage (126) for the selectable VCOs (110). The desired frequency band is selected and enabled using control logic (128).
US07812678B2

An apparatus includes phase detection circuitry that generates control signals in response to an input clock signal and a feedback clock signal. The apparatus also includes a clock signal generation circuit that includes fine and coarse capacitors. The clock signal generation circuit changes a capacitance of the capacitors that are affecting the output clock signal in response to a change in the control signals. The apparatus also includes measurement circuitry that determines a calibration number of the fine capacitors having a combined capacitance that most closely matches a capacitance of one of the coarse capacitors.
US07812673B1

An amplifier has an input section with one or more input cells and an output section with one or more output cells. Either the input section or the output section includes at least two cells that may be selected to provide discrete gain settings. A loop amplifier is configured in a feedback arrangement with the input section. The input and output sections may have multiple selectable cells to provide coarse and fine gain steps. The gain of the loop amplifier may be coordinated with the gain of the input section to provide constant bandwidth operation.
US07812662B2

A voltage regulation module which includes an adjustable voltage which reduces the positive supply voltage and increases the negative supply voltage during a lower power mode. The voltage regulation module includes a voltage generator which provides an N-type substrate bias voltage at the normal operating voltage level of the positive supply voltage and which provides a P-type substrate bias voltage at the normal operating voltage level of the negative supply voltage during the lower power mode. Thus, the supply voltage levels are adjusted rather than the substrate bias voltages during the lower power mode. The voltage generator may be implemented as a voltage regulator, or may be implemented as a bias generator or charge pump or the like.
US07812661B2

An electronic system includes an integrated circuit, powered by a first voltage, with a first device provided therein; a detection device coupled to the first device to detect an output deviation of the first device attributed to process, voltage and temperature (PVT) effects; and a compensation device coupled to the detection device, adjusting the first voltage in response to the output deviation and outputting the first voltage to the integrated circuit to compensate for the PVT effects. The electronic system further comprises a conversion device, coupled between the detection device and the compensation device, to generate an indication signal corresponding to the output deviation for the compensation device to adjust the first voltage. In addition, the compensation device may compare and amplify a difference between a voltage level of the indication signal and a reference to linearly adjust the first voltage for compensating for the PVT effects.
US07812656B2

A data driver circuit and a delay-locked loop (DLL) are provided. The data driver circuit and DLL can operate normally in spite of errors, etc., caused when an analog data signal is applied to a display panel. The DLL, which receives a first clock signal and outputs a second clock signal, includes a phase detector for outputting a phase difference signal according to the first clock signal, the second clock signal and at least one delay signal, and a delay line for generating the second clock signal and the delay signal by delaying the first clock signal. Here, the phase difference signal has a value corresponding to a phase difference between the first clock signal and the second clock signal, according to the first clock signal or the second clock signal, and a value corresponding to a case in which there is no phase difference according to the delay signal, and a first delay that is a delay of the second clock signal with respect to the first clock signal changes according to the phase difference signal.
US07812652B2

Locked loops, bias generators, charge pumps and methods for generating control voltages are disclosed, such as a bias generator that generates bias voltages for use by a clock signal generator, such as a voltage controlled delay line, in a locked loop having a phase detector and a charge pump. The charge pump can either charge or discharge a capacitor as a function of a signal from the phase detector to generate a control voltage. The bias generator can receive the control voltage from the capacitor, and it generates bias voltages corresponding thereto. A portion of the bias generator can have a topography that is substantially the same as at least a portion of the topography of the charge pump. As a result, it can cause the charge pump to charge the capacitor at the same rate that it discharges the capacitor over a relatively wide range of control voltages. The charge pump and the bias generator can also include circuitry for limiting the charging of the capacitor when the control voltage is relatively low.
US07812647B2

A gate driver for a power MOSFET in, for example, a DC-DC converter switches the MOSFET between a fully-on condition and a low-current condition instead of switching the MOSFET between fully-on and fully-off conditions. The amount of charge that must be transferred to charge and discharge the gate of the MOSFET is thereby reduced, and the efficiency of the MOSFET is improved. A feedback circuit may be used to assure that the magnitude of current in the power MOSFET in its low-current condition is correct. Alternatively, a trimming process may be used to correct the magnitude of the voltage supplied by the gate driver to the gate of the power MOSFET in the low-current condition.
US07812631B2

In some embodiments, an array of sleep transistors is provided, wherein a combination of said transistors may be enabled during an active mode to reduce leakage depending on the leakage characteristics of a chip or associated chip.
US07812626B2

An improved interconnection system is described, such as for electrical contactors and connectors, electronic device or module package assemblies, socket assemblies, and/or probe card assembly systems. An exemplary connector comprises a first connector structure comprising a contactor substrate having a contact surface and a bonding surface, and one or more electrically conductive micro-fabricated spring contacts extending from the probe surface, a second connector structure comprising at least one substrate and having a set of at least one electrically conductive contact pad located on a connector surface and corresponding to the set of spring contacts, and means for movably positioning and aligning the first connector structure and the second connector structure between at least a first position and a second position, such that in at least one position, at least one electrically conductive micro-fabricated spring contact is electrically connected to at least one electrically conductive contact pad.
Patent Agency Ranking