US07837440B2
A tip cap piece for use in a turbine bucket. The tip cap piece may include a cold side and a number of pins positioned on the cold side.
US07837428B2
Disclosed are apparatuses and methods for use thereof for loading bulk material into freight containers. One apparatus comprises a hopper configured to receive bulk material that is sized and shaped to be at least partially enclosable by a container to occupy a substantial volume of the container and a ram. The ram comprises a plate and a driver configured to move the plate from a back end of the hopper to an open end of the hopper to expel material into a container. Another apparatus comprises a hopper configured to receive bulk material that is sized and shaped to be at least partially enclosable by a container to occupy a substantial volume of the container and a reciprocating conveyor floor system. Optionally, the apparatuses further include a stand and/or collapsible legs to further support the hopper.
US07837426B2
A teeter beam assembly is provided for attachment to a pipe launcher that can be tilted towards or away from the pipe launcher to move joints of drilling pipe on to or off of the pipe launcher by rolling pipes with the assistance of gravity. The teeter beams assembly can consist of a frame, a pair of vertical guide assemblies on each of the outer and inner ends of the frame, a longitudinal beam glidably coupled to the guide assemblies and a pair of rams coupling the beam to the frame for raising and lowering either end of the beam with respect to the frame.
US07837417B2
A ceramic cutting insert, including a face ground top surface, and at least one peripheral clearance surface adjacent to an edge, from which a reinforcing chamfer surface extends inward. The chamfer surface forms a first acute angle with a reference plane that is parallel to the top surface. A generally concave unground intermediate surface is formed between the top surface and the chamfer surface, the intermediate surface at the transition to the top surface forming a second angle with the top surface that is greater than the first angle, and the width of the chamfer surface being greater than the width of the intermediate surface.
US07837415B2
A block having at least one front face, at least one back face, sides connecting the front and back faces, a top surface, a bottom surface and at least one cavity passing through the entire height of the block from the top surface to the bottom surface, wherein the cavity is positioned so that the centre of mass of the block lies closer to the back face than does the geometric centre of the block.
US07837407B2
A ball joint assembly for a vehicular steering or suspension application includes a cap-like housing in which is captured the articulating ball portion of a stud. A shank extends from the ball portion, outwardly from the housing cap, to provide a connection and anchoring interface for the suspension member or other anchoring component. The connection interface with the anchoring suspension member is characterized by a specially designed surface which is convenient to machine, provides increased surface-to-surface contact area, and provides additional advantages such as improved stress distribution and NVH benefits. A washer-like cone adaptor mates with a specially formed adaptor interface region on the stud. On its outer surface, the adaptor has a broad tapering feature designed to seat in a complementary-shaped receiving flare in the anchoring suspension member. The mating contact region between the adaptor and the stud is formed with spherical or spheroidal curvatures, or by single or multiple step configurations.
US07837405B2
The invention includes a combination of coupling clip structure and a plurality of binding elements for binding stacks of perforated sheets for delivery to an automated machine. The combination comprises at least two binding elements, and at least one coupling clip discrete from said at least two binding elements. At least one of the coupling clip or the binding element(s) comprises at least one recess, at least a portion of at least one said binding element being disposed in said recess in the coupling clip and/or at least a portion of the coupling clip being disposed in said recess in the binding element, the coupling clip coupling the at least two binding elements together in a predetermined adjacent spatial relationship. The coupling clip may be separated from the binding elements by the automated machine. The invention further includes a method of coupling a plurality of binding elements together with at least one coupling clip for delivery to an automated machine.
US07837403B2
A brush is configured with a housing provided with spaced apart inlet and outlet port units. The outlet unit controllably discharges fluid, which fills a chamber, formed within the housing through the inlet port and is pressurized therein in response to an external force applied to the inlet port unit.
US07837402B2
A bottle assembly has a bottle for storing a fluid, such as a cosmetic fluid. An applicator for applying the fluid is configured to be insertable and removable from the bottle along a path. A sealing body is configured to seal the bottle. The sealing body has a channel width movable between a first width and a second width. The first width is large enough to accommodate the applicator and the second width is smaller than the first width. The channel is resiliently biased toward the second width.
US07837395B2
An optical fiber adapter is provided. The adapter includes a plurality of walls which defines an accommodation room adapted for being coupled with an optical fiber connector. A protrusion in the accommodation room is disposed on one of the walls. The adapter further includes a shutter member having a first parallel portion, a second parallel portion substantially parallel to the first parallel portion and a connecting portion connecting the first and second parallel portions. The first and second parallel portions and the connecting portion together define a clamping portion. The clamping portion clamps the protrusion. An elastic shutter plate extends from the first parallel portion and into the accommodation room.
US07837394B2
A cage includes cage pockets for retaining rollers at plural positions along a circumferential direction of an annular plate. A projection extending in thickness direction of the cage is formed at a central part in the circumferential direction on an inner face of the cage pocket to pivotally support the roller. The projection is provided with a chamfered portion (non-contact portion) formed by chamfering an edge in the thickness direction, and a flat portion (contact portion) that is brought into contact with an opposing central portion in the thickness direction on a roller end face of the roller seated in o the cage pocket. The flat portion has a flat length almost equivalent to a displaceable distance of the cage in the thickness direction thereof.
US07837392B2
A wheel bearing arrangement which has at least two rows of rolling bodies for mounting a wheel hub which can be driven with the wheel bearing arrangement by a drive element. The wheel hub is connected to the drive element, and the wheel hub and the drive element engage positively into one another via a pair of mutually corresponding spur toothings. In the wheel bearing arrangement, a value of greater than three is obtained for a ratio of the diameter of a toothing reference circle of the spur toothing in the wheel bearing arrangement to the rolling body row spacing of the at least two rows of rolling bodies.
US07837391B2
A bearing retainer unit is formed by an insert-molding technique to cast a molded component of the bearing retainer unit utilizing a bearing bushing. A first mold die, having a circumferential surface shaped to correspond to at least a portion of the inner circumferential surface of a bearing-positioning portion of the molded component, and a second mold die, having an abutment that abuts against an axial end face of the first die, are readied. A molten material is then injected into the mold to form the molded part, thereby forming the die-parting line on the inner circumferential surface of the component's bearing positioning portion, positioned at the radially outer side of the abutment.
US07837388B1
A multi-substrate sheet for forming an at least partially open mesh fabric bag using a form, fill and seal machine and a bag formed of this sheet are provided. The sheet includes at least one strip formed of an open mesh polymeric fabric and at least one strip formed of a polymeric film. The fabric and film strips are secured to one another to form a web that can be formed into a roll and utilized with a form, fill and seal machine. The bag resulting from the processing of the web by the machine includes a substantial open mesh fabric portion to provide adequate ventilation to the product positioned within the bag and a printable film portion.
US07837371B2
A light source, such as for a projection system, having a plurality of semiconductor chips and at least two different, electromagnetic-radiation-emitting chip types with different emission spectra, each semiconductor chip having a chip coupling-out area through which radiation is coupled out. Furthermore, the light source has a plurality of primary optical elements, each semiconductor chip being assigned a primary optical element, which in each case has a light input and a light output and reduces the divergence of at least part of the radiation emitted by the semiconductor chip during the operation thereof. The semiconductor chips with the primary optical elements are arranged in at least two groups that are spatially separate from one another, with the result that the groups emit separate light cones during operation of the semiconductor chips. The separate light cones of the groups are superposed by means of a secondary optical arrangement to form a common light cone.
US07837368B2
A vehicular lamp includes a plurality of light sources; a lamp chamber for housing the plurality of light sources; and a bounding member for bounding the plurality of light sources in the lamp chamber. The bounding member includes a sheet-like material integrally formed into a predetermined shape so that one or more bounding walls are provided between or among the plurality of light sources. A vehicular lamp includes a plurality of lamp units; a lamp chamber for housing the plurality of lamp units; and a bounding member for bounding the plurality of lamp units in the lamp chamber. The bounding member includes a sheet-like material integrally formed into a predetermined shape so that one or more bounding walls are provided between or among the plurality of lamp units.
US07837367B2
An automobile headlight high-low switching device includes a fixing plate, an electromagnetic valve, a driven device and a light-shielding board. The fixing plate has a recess, a sliding slot and a pivotal pin. The electromagnetic valve is fixed on the fixing plate, provided with a valve shaft mounted with a spring. The driven device is connected with the valve shaft, having a projecting bar at a bottom to plug into the sliding slot. The light-shielding board has a pivotal hole used to be pivotally fixed with the pivotal bar of the fixing plate, a through hole to be inserted through by the projecting bar of the driven device. With the simple components, the automobile headlight high-low switching device can be not only operated smoothly but also assembled quickly to effectively lower manufacturing cost.
US07837355B2
An apparatus creating a flickering flame effect. The apparatus includes a housing with an interior space with first and second stages. A drive mechanism generates a time varying electromagnetic field extending into the first stage. A first pendulum member is pivotally mounted in the interior space of the first stage and includes first and second magnets on first and second ends, with the first end proximate to the drive mechanism such that the first magnet interacts with the varying electromagnetic field to cause movement of the pendulum member. The apparatus includes a second pendulum member pivotally mounted in the second stage with a magnet on a first end proximate to the second end of the first pendulum member. A flame silhouette element extends from the second pendulum member, and a light source transmits light onto the flame silhouette, which is moving due to the magnetic coupling of the pendulum members.
US07837349B2
A lens has a main body for use with at least one light source. The main body has a light-emitting face, a light-collecting face disposed opposite the light-emitting face, and a plurality of focal points, the latter of which form a focal ring. A central axis extends through the light-collecting face and the light-emitting face. The main body is substantially radially symmetrical about the central axis and the focal ring extends around the central axis of the main body of the lens.
US07837338B2
A mirror mounting assembly for mounting a mirror on a vehicle bulkhead. The assembly includes a mirror element and a main support arm having a first end and a second end. The mirror element is connected to the first end of the main support arm. The second end of the main support arm is mountable to the vehicle. A pair of brackets are configured to conform to an engine bay side wall of the vehicle. Each bracket has a center portion and two laterally extending flanges that extend at an angle from the center portion in opposite directions. One of the flanges of each bracket is connectable to the bulkhead of the vehicle in the engine bay. A first additional support arm has a first end connected to a first one of the brackets and a second end connected to the main support arm. A second additional support arm has a first end connected to the main support arm and a second end connectable to the vehicle. Finally, a third additional support arm has a first end connected to the main support arm and a second end connectable to the vehicle.
US07837327B2
It is an object to provide a novel system for supporting contact lens users, who has not been provided with an after-selling support sufficiently, which is able to provide an appropriate support to individual contact lens user so that he can use contact lenses with comfortable. In order to attain the object, an image signal of the user's currently used contact lenses (20) acquired by a user client apparatus (18) is transmitted via communication network means (38), to a server apparatus (12) of a supporting entity (10). The server apparatus (12) then obtains lens condition evaluation data, which are stored in memory means (14) and transmitted via the communication network means (38) to the user client apparatus (18) so that the user (16) can be provided with the lens condition evaluation data.
US07837313B2
A solid ink stick comprises an ink stick body formed of a phase change ink material. The ink stick body has a plurality of exterior surfaces arranged in a first ink stick body configuration. At least one simulation surface is formed in the ink stick body. The at least one simulation surface simulates a second ink stick body configuration. The simulation surface is functionally significant though may not extend around the full perimeter of the ink stick body or to the full plurality of exterior surfaces.
US07837310B2
A fluid deposition device including a platen and a cartridge mount assembly is described. The platen is configured to support a substrate upon which a fluid will be deposited. The cartridge mount assembly includes a receptacle configured to receive a print cartridge and multiple electrical contacts configured to mate with corresponding electrical contacts on the print cartridge. In one implementation, the cartridge mount assembly further includes a vacuum connector configured to mate with a vacuum inlet included on the print cartridge. When the print cartridge is received in the receptacle, the print cartridge can form connections with the electrical contacts and with the vacuum connector of the receptacle at substantially the same time.
US07837309B2
To provide a liquid ejecting head that has a simple structure for attaching an introduction needle holder to a case member and whose width in the main scanning direction can be reduced, and a method for assembling the same. A case member includes a head unit attachment portion to which a head unit is attached, a holder attachment portion that is located on the opposite side from the head unit attachment portion and to which the introduction needle holder is attached, and a supporting wall provided on one side of the holder attachment portion. The supporting wall has an engaging claw on the introduction needle holder side surface thereof. The introduction needle holder has an engaged claw capable of being engaged with the engaging claw at one end thereof. There is formed an introduction needle holder fixing portion that fixes the other end of the introduction needle holder to the holder attachment portion of the case member.
US07837305B2
A piezoelectric element includes a pressure chamber member that has an opening communicating with a nozzle, a vibrating plate that is disposed on the pressure chamber member so as to cover the opening, a lower electrode that is disposed on the vibrating plate, a piezoelectric body that is disposed on the lower electrode, an upper electrode that is disposed on the piezoelectric body and in a region opposed to the opening, and a lead electrode that is disposed on the piezoelectric body, that extends from the upper electrode, and that has a width smaller than that of the upper electrode. The piezoelectric body includes a groove portion that is disposed in a predetermined region along an edge portion of the opening and an inactive region (piezoelectric inactive region) that is a region other than the groove portion, that is disposed along the edge portion of the opening, and that does not substantially serve as a piezoelectric element. The lead electrode is disposed in the piezoelectric inactive region.
US07837300B2
A liquid jet head includes a nozzle forming member having a water repellent layer formed on a liquid drop jet side surface of a nozzle base having a nozzle hole configured to jet a liquid drop of recording liquid; wherein the water repellent layer is made of silicon resin; an oxide layer is not provided between the liquid drop jet side surface of the nozzle base and the water repellent layer; and the oxide layer is provided on a nozzle hole internal wall surface of the nozzle base.
US07837291B2
The invention relates to dissolving an anionic dye/cationic polymer complex including the step of applying to the complex a water-soluble solvent having a dielectric constant from 20 to 43 at standard temperature and pressure.
US07837290B2
A method of aligning a printhead is described herein. The method includes accelerating a media along a process path, controlling a first printhead to form a first mark upon the accelerating media, detecting the first mark on the accelerating media, comparing a first mark detection data with first printhead desired alignment data, determining a first correction based upon the comparison of the first mark detection data, and modifying an alignment of the first printhead based upon the determined first correction.
US07837285B2
A method for modifying an input digital image having one or more color channels corresponding to one or more color inks and a protective ink channel corresponding to a substantially clear protective ink, each channel having an (x,y) array of pixel values, to form a modified digital image including computing a first value responsive to corresponding pixel values of the one or more color channels; computing a second value responsive to the corresponding pixel value of the protective ink channel; and modifying the corresponding pixel value of the protective ink channel responsive to the first and second values.
US07837278B2
A vehicle brake system includes first and second central control units communicating with, respectively, first and second control networks, and a plurality of brake units. Each brake unit includes a brake component, a self-enforcing mechanism associated with and acting upon the brake component, and first and second actuation mechanisms acting upon the self enforcing mechanism, in response to, respectively, first and second actuation control signals, to cause actuation of the brake component. Each brake unit also includes first and second local control units in direct communication with, respectively, the first and second central control units via, respectively, the first and second control networks. The first and second local control units are in communication with, respectively, the first and second actuation mechanisms and transmit, respectively, the first and second actuation control signals to, respectively, the first and second actuation mechanisms, under certain circumstances, to cause actuation of the brake component.
US07837275B2
A multi-mode belt retractor including an interlocked attachment mechanism. The belt retractor and attachment mechanism are physically integrated in a single unit. In one embodiment, the retractor is shifted between modes by the operation by the attachment mechanism such that securing the attachment mechanism to an anchor point shifts the belt retractor into a locked mode. Releasing the attachment mechanism from the anchor point shifts the belt retractor into a free-wheel mode. In one embodiment, only a single user-operable button is provided, thus minimizing the opportunity for improper operation. One embodiment of the attachment mechanism is symmetrical, making it operable by a user's left or right hand.
US07837264B2
Children's safety seat comprises—a seat body comprising a sitting section and a back section, wherein the back section and the sitting section has an inner surface for the support of a child and an outer surface whereto a seat belt, is to be arranged, a base onto which the seat body is arranged, a carrying handle pivotally connected to the safety seat wherein the outer surface of the back section is provided with a guide for the seat belt, wherein the guide comprises at least a first guide portion providing for the seat belt to essentially follow the curvature of the outer surface of the back section, at least a second guide portion providing for the seat belt to be arranged angular to the outer surface of the back section. The carrying handle is provided with at least one tension device preferably for the first portion of a seat belt wherein the carrying handle in a first position places the tension device in a position wherein access is provided for the seat belt to be attached to or released from the tension device, and wherein the carrying handle in a second position places the tension device in a position wherein the seat belt is tensioned by the tension devices a belt receiving structure for a seat belt which belt receiving structure is arranged between the base and the seat body and comprises a belt twisting portion, which seat belt is twisted by the belt twisting portion and arranged to be passing between the belt receiving structure and the seat body and between the belt receiving structure and the base.
US07837262B2
A seating and lying arrangement for the passenger region of aircraft. The arrangement can be brought into a seating state and a lying state. In the seating state, the arrangement has a seating surface and a backrest. In the lying state, the arrangement provides a lying surface. The arrangement comprises a seating device and a lying device which is separate therefrom. In the seating state, the lying device is arranged next to the seating device. In the lying state, the lying device is arranged above the seating device. A change can be made between the seating state and the lying state of the arrangement.
US07837261B2
A seat arrangement for an aircraft seat includes a seat frame for mounting the seat on a cabin floor and a seat region. The seat arrangement has a backrest unit and is designed to improve stiffness of the backrest unit against one-sided torsional load. The backrest unit is coupled to the seat frame by a kinematic unit having at least first and second kinematic parts coupled to a first side and a second side of the backrest unit, respectively. A stiffening member is located in the seat region that couples the first and second kinematic parts and is provided for transmitting a torsional moment from the first side of the backrest unit to the second side of the backrest unit.
US07837260B2
A seat assembly constructed according to the present invention provides a seat assembly having a cover that is quickly and easily connected to the seat base. The tool and fastener free connection of the seat cover with the seat base provides for a convenient, repeatable, and secure connection of the seat cover with the seat base. A seat assembly constructed according to the present invention also provides for the convenient and expeditious connection of a plurality of seat assembly elements. The fastener free connection between the multiple components of the seat assembly provides for the economical manufacture and assembly of the seat assembly. Such a construction provides a multi-piece seat assembly wherein the components of the seat assembly can be connected without fasteners and without tools.
US07837258B2
The invention relates to a wind deflector for a roof opening of a vehicle, which can be closed an partially opened by means of a displaceable roof part, comprising a bow-like base element which can be arranged in a roof opening edge area of the motor vehicle, a bow-like deployment element which is arranged over said base element and which is arranged in such a manner that it can pivot in relation to the base element, a deflector element which can be clamped between the base element and the deployment element, and at least one sealing element which is secured to the deployment element for reducing vehicle noises. The deflector element is secured directly to the sealing element. The invention also relates to a method for producing said type of wind deflector.
US07837256B2
A front body structure for a vehicle including a substantially rectangular grid portion composed of a bulkhead upper center frame, front parts of a pair of upper members and a frame suspended between the pair of upper members and extending substantially parallel to the bulkhead center frame, where an opening of the grid portion is covered by a panel member formed of a rigid member such as Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics.
US07837240B2
A display includes a main frame, a support base, and a locking mechanism. The support base including a first locking member is selectively connected to the main frame. The locking mechanism selectively connected to the first locking member of the support base includes a base, a plate, a pivot, and a second locking member. The base with a hole is movably disposed on the main frame. The plate is connected to the base, and is neighboring the hole. The pivot including a raised edge is disposed on the main frame, through the hole, and is near the plate. The second locking member is connected to the base for selectively engaging with the first locking member. When the raised edge abuts against the plate, the base is moved towards the first direction, and the second locking member is detached from the first locking member.
US07837238B2
A grip element comprising a wedge-like structure supporting a metal plate, the exposed outer surface thereof being provided with an array of large and small gripping teeth. The large teeth project from the surface of said metal plate further than said small teeth. The invention further provides a grip element having a floor. The grip elements may be disposed around a ring for the purpose of pipe gripping. The ring is particularly useful in a pipe coupling to grip metal and plastic pipes.
US07837232B2
A hand held protective ski appliance including a ski no longer than 18″ inches long and including a handle extensive with the direction of the ski and spaced therefrom about 3″ inches.
US07837215B2
The present invention relates to polyurea composition coated trailers and methods of making the same. In an embodiment, the present invention is directed to a trailer comprising a frame having a front side and a back side, at least one axle coupled to the frame, a plurality of wheels coupled to the at least one axle, and a polyurea coating, wherein the polyurea coating encapsulates at least a portion of the frame. In an embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method for protecting a metal trailer from corrosion comprising cleaning the surfaces of a metal trailer and applying a layer of a polyurea composition to the surfaces of the metal trailer.
US07837210B2
A drive mechanism for a lever propulsion wheelchair includes at least one clutch and at least one gear set contained within a central hub housing operatively coupled to the drive surface of the main wheel being driven. In the preferred embodiment, there are additional clutches and gear sets contained within the hub housing and coaxial to the wheel. By locating the transmission components within the hub housing and providing the coaxial arrangement, various user capabilities may be enabled without a significant increase in wheelchair width, as compared to the width of conventional pushrim propulsion wheelchairs. Transmission components are cooperatively arranged to provide capabilities that may include forward, rearward and neutral “gears,” braking, anti-rollback, and quick-release removal.
US07837180B2
A gas spring suspension system that maximizes the travel of the suspension system. The suspension system includes an outer tube and an inner tube slidable within the outer tube. A piston assembly is slidably mounted in the inner tube to sealingly separate a positive spring and a negative gas chamber. A floating piston is slidably mounted in the inner tube to separate a gas chamber from the negative gas chamber. The positive spring biases the inner and outer tubes apart from each other and the negative gas chamber biases the inner and outer tubes toward each other. The floating piston is configured to slidably displace within the inner tube in response to pressure differentials between the negative gas chamber and the gas chamber.
US07837177B2
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a manually operated post handling assembly including a main body, a post driver that is integral with or connected to the main body and a post extractor being adapted to move between a deployed position and a stowed position within the main body.
US07837172B2
An electrical fixture mounting assembly is provided for quickly and easily mounting an electrical fixture to a bracket and brace assembly. The electrical fixture mounting assembly includes an electrical box, a brace assembly for attaching to a support structure and a bracket for attaching the electrical box to the brace. The brace assembly is typically and adjustable member that extends between ceiling joists located above an aperture in a ceiling. The bracket is connected to the brace by a snap fit. The bracket includes retention fingers that are resilient to snap onto the brace and prevent movement of the bracket with respect to the brace during installation of the electrical box. The bracket includes tabs with threaded apertures for receiving mounting screws. The electrical box includes circular apertures and at least one keyhole shaped slot aligned with the threaded apertures in the flanges of the bracket. At least one threaded screw is attached to the flange of the bracket which is then inserted through the keyhole shaped slot. The electrical box is then rotated slightly with respect to the bracket to temporarily secure the electrical box to the bracket and align all of the apertures in the electrical box with the threaded apertures and the bracket. The screws are then inserted through the bottom of the electrical box and tightened to secure the electrical box to the bracket. The flanges on the bracket are oriented and include cut-out portions to enable access to knockouts in the bottom wall of the electrical box.
US07837159B2
A positioning mechanism and a display device using the same are provided. The positioning mechanism comprises a fixed frame, a first buckling element, a second buckling element and a rotary component. The first buckling element is fixed to a first position of the fixed frame. The second buckling element is fixed to a second position of the fixed frame. The rotary component having a positioning pin is connected to an object and is pivoted to the fixed frame, such that the object and the rotary component are synchronously rotated with respect to the fixed frame. The object is in a first positioning state and a second positioning state when the positioning pin is buckled to the first buckling element and the second buckling element respectively.
US07837154B2
An apparatus for heat shielding and deceleration of a spacecraft comprises an unfoldable shield of individual panels made of a high temperature resistant fiber reinforced ceramic and pivotally mounted on the outer structure of the spacecraft. An unfolding ring slides axially along the body of the spacecraft. The panels are pivotally connected to the unfolding ring by compression struts acting as toggle levers. Tension springs pull the unfolding ring axially along the spacecraft body to toggle out the compression struts so as to outwardly pivotally deploy the panels. The unfoldable shield can be arranged on the forward end or the rear end of the spacecraft relative to its flight direction upon entry into the atmosphere.
US07837150B2
An aircraft component includes a first segment having a first leading edge surface that extends to a first end of the first segment. The aircraft component also includes a second segment having a second leading edge surface that extends to a second end of the second segment. The second end is substantially adjacent to the first end of the first segment, and is connected to the first end. The first leading edge surface includes electrical resistance heating that extends to the first end of the first segment. In addition, the second leading edge surface includes electrical resistance heating that extends to the second end of the second segment. The electrical resistance heating is capable of providing ice protection heating immediately on either side of a juncture between the connected first and second ends.
US07837143B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for disabling on-board pilot operation of an aircraft and transferring aircraft operation to an alternate source of control. The aircraft has at least one manually actuated control device for controlling at least one mechanical actuator, with the actuator causing movement of an aircraft attitude control surface or an aircraft engine throttle. The control device is mechanically connected to the actuator(s). The alternate source of control may be one or more of an autopilot, a flight control system and an off-aircraft human pilot. The method and apparatus for disabling on-board pilot operation provides for (a) receiving a signal indicative of an emergency condition requiring the disabling of on-board pilot control of the aircraft; (b) disconnecting the one or more control devices from their respective actuator(s) in response to the receipt of the emergency condition signal; and (c) connecting the actuator(s) to the alternate source of control.
US07837142B2
Jet engine inlet structure of a supersonic aircraft comprising the structure having an inlet ramp and an cowl lip spaced outwardly of the ramp so that entering air flows between the ramp and lip, the lip and ramp configured to produce a first oblique shock that extends outwardly from a forward portion of the ramp to pass ahead of the lip, and a terminal shock that extends outwardly from a rearward portion of the ramp to one of the following x0) a region just ahead of the lip x1) substantially to said lip. A non-uniform shock system is created that generates a central region of nearly isentropic compression and relatively ram recovery and an outer region of reduced ram recovery but entailing reduced cowl angle and drag. Translating cowl structure and also nozzle integration with the fuselage contour to reduce boat tail drag are also provided.
US07837141B2
In an exemplary variable area nozzle, a fixed duct section has an inlet and an outlet oriented approximately perpendicular to the inlet. A controllable nozzle member is disposed adjacent the outlet of the fixed duct section. The controllable nozzle member has an area that is adjustable to maintain a substantially constant nozzle pressure ratio. The controllable nozzle member may include first and second flap doors hinged and pivotable in opposite directions between an open position and a closed position and that also may be hinged and pivotable in a same direction so thrust from gas exiting the nozzle is vectorable. When disposed in rotor tips of an aircraft capable of rotary wing flight and fixed wing flight, the variable area nozzle may maintain a substantially constant nozzle pressure ratio near an optimized nozzle pressure ratio as the aircraft transitions from rotary wing flight to fixed wing flight.
US07837136B2
An atomizer including an air motor and a rotary atomizing head is mounted in a front side of a housing member, outer surfaces of which are covered in a cover member. Further, a high voltage discharge electrode assembly is provided around a front side of the housing member, with an outer periphery of the cover member circumvented by a blade ring of the high voltage discharge electrode assembly. An edge portion in the shape of a thin blade is provided at a projected rear end of the blade ring. Thus, an electric field is concentrated at the edge portion to induce a corona discharge on and around the entire blade ring.
US07837131B2
A modular automatic spray gun manifold is provided. The manifold includes a plurality of spray gun modules arranged in an array in laterally spaced relation from each other. A junction element is arranged at an upstream end of the manifold for introducing fluid into the manifold. A first support assembly is arranged between the junction element and a first spray gun module in the spray gun module array for supporting the first spray gun module relative to the junction element. The first support assembly includes a plurality of fluid conduits for supplying fluid to the first spray gun module. One or more second support assemblies with one second support assembly are arranged between each adjacent pair of spray gun modules in the array of spray gun modules for supporting the adjacent pair of spray gun modules relative to each other. Each second support assembly includes a plurality of fluid conduits for communicating fluid between the adjacent spray gun modules such that fluid introduced into the manifold through the junction element is communicated to each spray gun module. The first support assembly and each second support assembly include an interior space through which their respective plurality of fluid conduits extend and a heat transfer fluid inlet for communicating a hot heat transfer fluid into the interior space of the respective support assembly.
US07837125B2
Methods and apparatus for encoding information on a magnetic stripe of a transaction card are disclosed. According to one aspect, a transaction card includes a first surface and a second surface that substantially opposes the first surface. The second surface has a magnetic stripe. A first representation of a first pattern and a second representation of the first pattern can be encoded on the magnetic stripe. In one embodiment, the first representation can be encoded beginning at approximately a first distance from a first edge of the second surface, and the second representation can be encoded to within approximately the first distance from a second edge of the second surface.
US07837124B2
The invention relates to a flexible data support, comprising a support with at least first and second sheets (11, 12A, 12B, 12C) which can pivot relative to each other about an axis (P) along the edges of said sheets and a contactless chip housed in said support and comprising an electronic circuit (IC) and coupling elements (A1, A2) connected to said electronic circuit distributed about the first and second sheets which may be electromagnetically coupled to an external reading station. The electronic circuit comprises an information exchange section for exchange of information with the exterior, characterised in that said support is provided with a test device for verification by means of signals emitted by the coupling elements of a geometrical condition of the angular configuration of the first and second sheets and to generate, as function of the result of said test, a signal authorizing or preventing the activation of the exchange section of the electronic circuit.
US07837122B2
A method of producing a smart card having a reduced format in relation to a second standard format and an adapter with the second format, which is associated with the smart card. A card body has a zone for the extraction of the smart card and a zone for the extraction of the adapter. At least the smart card is extracted from the support. The smart card is extracted from a zone located outside the peripheral outline of the adapter extraction zone. The invention also relates to the support thus obtained.
US07837120B1
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided multiple embodiments of a memory card, each embodiment including a module comprising at least a printed circuit board having an electronic circuit device mounted thereto. The module is inserted into a complementary cavity formed within a case of the memory card, such case generally defining the outer appearance of the memory card. The module is secured within the cavity of the case through the use of an adhesive. In each embodiment of the present invention, the module is uniquely configured to prevent adhesive leakage from within the corresponding cavity of the case of the memory card when the module is secured within the cavity.
US07837115B2
A camera unit includes a display configured to display an image to be captured. An image sensor is configured to digitally capture the displayed image. A card reader is configured to read a removable card carrying distortion information. A printer is configured to print a distorted image on print media, the distorted image being a version of the captured image which has been distorted in accordance with the distortion information.
US07837114B2
Print jobs having a mixture of first image sheets and second image sheets are sorted to a first image forming device and a second image forming device. After image formation is performed on sheets by the respective image forming devices, radio frequency IC tags (RFID tags) are affixed to the sheets, in which attribute information including post-processing information and page identification information is written. Sheet bundles produced by the respective image forming devices are separately set to a post-processing device. The post-processing device reads out the attribute information stored in the radio frequency IC tags, and the sheets are selectively fed from the respective sheet bundles while conforming to the page order. Thereafter, the post processing is performed.
US07837111B2
An electronic nutrition journal that can include one or more portable units capable of reading barcodes and serving sizes on consumed food items either on menus or on items purchased. Portable units can communicate with either an intermediate computer or directly with a server computer that contains a master nutritional database relating nutritional data with bar codes. This master nutritional database can be updated by either user input such as user preferred menus or by visiting websites that contain this data. An external barcode generator can be operated to produce barcodes for commercial operations that sell food such as restaurants, food trucks, vending machines or others so that barcodes can be established for their menus or selections. The intermediate computer or the server can track food intake and provide computations of nutritional values, bench marks, etc. a particular user or for many users. The server and master nutritional database, as well as coding of restaurant menus, etc., can be run as a service that a user could subscribe to.
US07837108B2
An “inter-reader rule extracting portion” is provided to extract rules existing among the sets of ID acquired by the respective readers. In addition, the state in which a predetermined number of rules are invalid is defined as the time to change the service, and at the time of changing the service, the latest rules produced by an “inter-reader rule re-constructing portion” that reconstructs rules are used to monitor a system.
US07837101B2
An automated retail terminal in which a plurality of goods and/or services are provided in an integrated system. The integrated system generally avoids duplicating hardware or functions in the course of delivering the goods or services offered, so for example in a combination ATM and Internet kiosk the same credit card or smart card reader is used for both the ATM and the Internet kiosk functions, the same control screen activates the ATM functions and the Internet functions, and etc.
US07837098B2
Provided is a method and apparatus for establishing online a shared key that is required to perform a security communication between an automatic teller machine (ATM) and a host. Through this, it is possible to reduce costs and procedures that may be required to use or operate a certificate authority. Also, it is possible to reduce overheads that may occur in generating and verifying a certificate. Accordingly, it is possible to more securely prevent a leakage of the shared key.
US07837097B2
An automated banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records such as user cards to cause financial transfers. A transaction data object software component operating in a computer of the machine accumulates data as the transaction proceeds. Customer identifying data read by the machine and data corresponding to user inputs can be included in the transaction data object software component. The component can be passed form the machine to a server for determination of the customer being authorized to use the machine to perform a transaction. Upon approval, the server includes authorization data in the component which is then returned to the banking machine. The banking machine also includes in the component, data corresponding to operation of transaction function devices, such as a receipt printer and a currency dispenser. The automated banking machine can also pass the component having the transaction information included therein from the machine in providing an account of the transaction.
US07837096B2
A card activated automated banking machine is operative to conduct transactions for authorized users based on data read from cards through operation of a card reader. The machine includes a deposit accepting device. The deposit accepting device is operative to receive a stack of sheets and to separate each sheet from the stack through operation of a picker. Each sheet is aligned with the sheet path and analyzed by analysis devices including at least one magnetic read head, an imager and/or a validation device. Sheets determined not to have at least one property of a genuine sheet are returned to a user of the machine. Sheets determined to have at least one property of genuine sheets are processed and stored in the machine.
US07837095B2
A method and apparatus are provided relating to a secure bag assembly to secure cash in transit (“CIT”). In some implementations, the secure bag assembly is installed in a lockable, removable cassette that is fitted to a bill validator. The cassette and bill validator can be installed in an enclosure like those found in retail kiosks, self-checkout terminals, retail safes or gaming machines. In such an implementation, bank notes are deposited in the bill validator and once identified and validated, are securely stacked in the bag assembly within the cassette. The bag assembly can be used for capacities of one banknote up to the maximum capacity allowed by the cassette. The bag assembly is secured in place when installed and is sealed automatically upon removal from the cassette.
US07837087B2
A method of forming a brazed joint between an armature bar and a hydraulic header clip including the steps of: locating ends of a plurality of hollow strands and a plurality of solid strands within a cavity in an end fitting such that free ends of said hollow strands extend axially beyond free ends of said solid strands; and pre-placing an essentially phosphorous-free silver braze alloy around and between said ends of said hollow strands and said solid strands such that said braze alloy extends axially beyond the free ends of said solid strands.
US07837086B2
A ballistic armor uses shape memory alloys and novel joining techniques to form a solution from a combination of shape memory metallic alloys (SMA) and ceramic materials. The SMA allows a high amount of strain to be recovered through a low temperature heat treatment. The amount of strain recoverable is much higher than that available through conventional thermal expansion mismatch solutions. Solid state or low temperature bonding methods are used to join the dissimilar materials. This joining technique avoids introducing excessive heat that would cause the SMA to transform before the armor system is assembled.
US07837084B2
Adjustable, elongate, beam-offset jig structure for assisting in welding a pair of beam-end, column-interface components to the opposite ends of an elongate beam. The jig structure includes spaced, adjustable head-stock and tail-stock structures, each capable of holding such a component adjacent a beam end for adjustment to an infinite number of different, pre-weld angular-offset dispositions relative to such a beam end in order to accommodate planned horizontal and vertical beam offsets which will be encountered when such beams are installed in a building frame. A computer-controlled, robotic welder is preferably provided adjacent each end of the jig structure to implement appropriate welding when any and all offset angles have been jig-established.
US07837081B2
A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.
US07837079B2
A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.
US07837070B2
A simplified pump for dispensing fluid substances withdrawn from a container of said substances, comprising a cup-shaped body into which a hollow stem extends, an endpiece of the cup-shaped body, said cup-shaped body presenting a passage, closable by a valve, and a seat for housing one end of a dip tube, a piston, an elastic member and a movable valve for closing the stem cavity, an elongated rod, a first end of which is inserted into and retained in a seat provided at the second end of the cup-shaped body, an intermediate portion of the rod having a cylindrical profile of diameter less than the diameter of the stem cavity into which said rod portion extends, said movable valve for closing the stem cavity comprising a continuous elastic lip projecting from a second end of the rod towards the outside of said cylindrical chamber, said lip being sealedly slidable in contact with the cylindrical surface of the stem cavity.
US07837064B1
A fluid dispensing device includes a barrel having a hollow interior, an inlet opening at one end and an open second end. A plunger is slidably received within the hollow interior of the barrel through the open second end and has an outlet passage extending through its length to an outlet outside of the barrel. An inlet valve is disposed at the inlet opening of the barrel and an outlet valve is carried within the outlet passage of the plunger. A closure is secured to the barrel over the open end of the barrel and over the plunger, with the closure urging the plunger into the barrel against the inlet valve such that the plunger engages the inlet valve and holds the inlet valve closed. Opening of the closure permits the plunger to be withdrawn from the barrel to draw fluid into the barrel through the inlet opening and the inlet valve. Return of the plunger into the barrel closes the inlet valve and forces the fluid in the barrel through the outlet passage and the outlet valve in the plunger.
US07837063B2
A water dispensing device that is so small it fits on a kitchen countertop that provides very accurate measurements of water by using a pressure regulator on water coming in from a typical kitchen water faucet and then using a timer in order to better control the amount of fluid dispensed. In an alternative embodiment, the timer is eliminated and replaced with a flowmeter. The water dispensing device has an interactive panel to allow a user to input how much water to dispense, or to pre-set the device to dispense a specific amount of water at a specific time of day. It is contemplated that this system would be a convenient way to accurately dispense the exact amount of water to fill a particular user's favorite coffee mug, or to assist a small volume baker in quickly and accurately getting just the right of water for a baking recipe, where accuracy is critical.
US07837057B2
A dispenser for individual webs from a stack of such individual webs. The dispenser includes an outer housing defining an interior space; stacking elements mounted within the outer housing for holding a stack of individual folded webs within the interior space; a dispensing face defined in the outer housing proximate to an end of the stacking elements; a stack of individual folded webs, and at least one edge of a dispensing opening which contacts the stack of individual folded webs so that a portion of individually folded webs is exposed by the dispensing opening. In addition, a cross-section through dispensing face has a curved shape with an inflection point.
US07837040B2
An apparatus for acoustic concentration of particles in a fluid flow includes a substantially acoustically transparent membrane and a vibration generator that define a fluid flow path therebetween. The fluid flow path is in fluid communication with a fluid source and a fluid outlet and the vibration generator is disposed adjacent the fluid flow path and is capable of producing an acoustic field in the fluid flow path. The acoustic field produces at least one pressure minima in the fluid flow path at a predetermined location within the fluid flow path and forces predetermined particles in the fluid flow path to the at least one pressure minima.
US07837037B2
A two stacking position square container is provided having an upper stacking position and a lower stacking position. The upper stacking position is provided by inserting a bottom of an identical body into a square opening to provide lateral stability and engaging supports on a bottom exterior profile with supports on a top interior profile. A lower stacking position is provided by inserting the bottom of the identical body into the square opening to provide lateral stability and engaging the supports on the bottom exterior profile with recesses on the top interior profile and the supports on the upper interior profile with recesses on the bottom interior profile. The body is symmetrical about both an x axis and a y axis. A 90 degree relative rotation about a z axis being used to change between the upper stacking position and the lower stacking position.
US07837027B2
An electronic component conveying apparatus is provided in which an electronic component is accommodated in a through-hole of a conveyer table and is conveyed. The electronic component can be reliably picked up from the through-hole using a compressed gas in a short time. In addition, undesired exhaust of the electronic component due to a residual compressed air can be prevented, and the conveying efficiency can be increased. In an workpiece conveying apparatus, a first surface of a conveyer table includes a pressure relief groove that extends from a location at which the pressure relief groove overlaps with an exhaust hole in a direction crossing a conveying direction and communicates with a suction recess portion when the conveyer table is rotationally driven. Alternatively, the first surface includes a pressure relief hole for relieving pressure to the atmosphere.
US07837026B2
Containers (2) to be filled with liquid or powder products are processed by equipment (1) comprising at least one carousel (5) mounted on a floor-standing base frame (10) and set in rotation about a vertical axis (X) by drive components (9) housed internally of the frame (10); the carousel (5) is equipped with a number of peripheral stations (6), each accommodating a single container (2), and is positioned directly above a tank (20) with an open top (27) proportioned and contoured in such a way that washing liquids sprayed onto the carousel (5) in the course of during cleaning operations can be collected and carried away from the equipment.
US07837001B2
A vehicle including a steering system for moving a pair of wheels supported by a wheel support structure relative to a vehicle structure to achieve steering of the vehicle whilst the vehicle is travelling. The system including a pressure source for providing a supply of pressurized fluid through first and second steering valves to fluid operated first and second actuators, each of which includes an actuating member. The steering valves are operator controlled to provide the pressurized fluid, at least when the steering system is in a first operating mode, from both the first steering valve to the first actuator and from the second steering valve to the second actuator to achieve steering. When the steering system is operating in a second operating mode, only one of the first and second steering valves provides pressurized fluid from the source to a respective one of the actuators to achieve steering.
US07837000B2
An all terrain vehicle includes a caliper bracket that moves with the movement of a rear axle by the rotation of an eccentric hub. The eccentric hub rotatably supports the rear axle in a position eccentric to the radial center of an axle supporting section. The caliper bracket includes a range specifying section or, specifically, a first engaging portion, which engages with the rear arm, for specifying the rotating range of the eccentric hub according to the position of engagement with the rear arm. The rear arm includes a second engaging portion that engages with the first engaging portion.
US07836995B2
A seat belt apparatus is provided which includes a retractor having an electric motor to retract or draw out a seat belt, a motor information detecting means to detect an amount of rotation and a current value of the electric motor, a first condition detecting means to detect that an ignition switch is in an OFF state, a second condition detecting to detect that a getting on/off door located nearest to a seat to which a seat belt is attached is opened, a failure diagnosis timing judging means to start a failure diagnosing operation when a detecting signal is output from both the condition detecting means, and a failure diagnosing means to apply a driving current to the electric motor when the failure diagnosing operation is stated and to carry out a failure diagnosis of a driving system including a electric motor based on an output, in response to the application of a current, from the motor information detecting means. By configuring as above, the failure diagnosis can be carried out without causing a feeling of abnormality of discomfort to a vehicle occupant.
US07836992B2
A drivetrain for an all-wheel drive motor vehicle which includes a longitudinally arranged central transmission, a transfer box, a Cardan shaft and two drive axles arranged normal to the direction of travel. The transfer box includes a central differential, an input and two output shafts. The input shaft of the central transmission communicates with an engine crankshaft. The transfer box input shaft is connected to an output shaft and an input element of the central differential. The first output shaft of the transfer box is connected to a first output element of the central differential and the first drive axle. The second output shaft of the transfer box is actively connected to a second output element of the central differential and to the second drive axle. The two output shafts of the transfer box are coaxially arranged at an angle to the output shaft of the central transmission.
US07836991B2
Disclosed is a method for assisting the parking of a vehicle. The method includes determining a vehicle position relative to an obstacle. When the relative position meets a first set of criteria, a first torque pulse is delivered to the steering wheel in the first direction to cue an operator of the vehicle to turn the steering wheel in the first direction. When the relative position meets a second set of criteria, a second torque pulse is delivered to the steering wheel in the second direction, opposite to the first direction to cue the operator to turn the steering wheel in the second direction. A system for assisting the parking of a vehicle is also disclosed.
US07836989B2
Vehicles, such as all terrain vehicles, can be provided with a battery box. The battery box comprises a bottom wall, a top wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall which together define a battery retention chamber having a front opening configured for passage of a battery. Vehicles having a battery box are also provided.
US07836986B1
In a high speed mode of operating and electric-gas hybrid car, the combustion engine is directly engaged to the wheels without a transmission and that vehicle speed is controlled without a throttle by electric generator loading of the engine.
US07836985B2
A torque command for a first motor is set by setting a maximum torque restriction and a minimum torque restriction in a range, where the sum of the torques output from the first and second motors to a driving shaft be within a range from 0 to a required torque, the sum of the electric powers input from or output to the first and second motors be within a range of input and output restrictions of a battery, and the torque of the second motor be within a range from a value smaller than 0 by the permissible maximum amount of change to the sum of the permissible maximum amount of change and the previous torque command. A torque command for the second motor is set so that the required torque is output to the driving shaft within a range of the input and output restrictions of the battery.
US07836977B2
A drilling system for use in a well bore consists of a drill string, an electrically powerable pump (8), a connector (16) for supporting the pump (8) including a through bore (32) through which fluid can flow, and a power cable (15) to provide power to the electrically powerable pump. The cuttings are pumped up through the drillpipe (3). The drill bit (4) may also be powered by the pump. Part of the cable is disposed externally to the drill string where new pipe sections are added, before passing into the drill string through a cross-over means (40) further down the drillpipe to connect to the electrically powerable pump.
US07836968B2
A power tool system includes a two-handed power tool having first and second start actuators, one for each hand of an operator. A controller prevents the power tool from initiating an operating cycle unless both actuators are turned ON to reduce the possibility of the operator's hands being disposed in a hazardous position during operation of the power tool. To discourage manual override of the dual-start-switch system, the controller prevents the power tool from initiating an additional operating cycle until both actuators have been switched OFF and then ON again. The second actuator includes a tubular sleeve that extends over part of the power tool to allow the sleeve to slide axially relative to the power tool between ON and OFF positions. Axial movement of the sleeve from its OFF position to its ON position turns ON the second start actuator.
US07836964B2
An all-terrain fire fighting apparatus has a high power-to-weight ratio, a hydraulic skid steer drive system, a drive-by-wire control system, a proportionally joystick controlled nozzle turret, and a 1500 psi foam injecting water supply system which supplies the nozzle turret and a high-pressure hose mounted on a reel. To dissipate heat load from the fire fighting apparatus systems, the fire fighting apparatus cooling system employs a cooling shroud in the form of a box with multiple system radiators stacked on one face of the box and the remaining faces containing exhaust fans mounted to draw air out of the box and through the stacked heat exchangers. The fire fighting apparatus is capable of being operated remotely by means of onboard GPS, real-time imaging, and inputs to the joystick controller and fire fighting apparatus drive-by-wire system.
US07836944B2
The invention relates to a multi-channel flat tube for heat exchangers that contains at least two channels extending along its length and arranged essentially adjacent to each other along its width passable by fluid, or at least two channel sections formed by one or several of said channels, whereby between the channels or the channel sections over the length of the flat tube one region of reduced heat transmission in each case is provided, characterized by that the region of reduced heat transmission is defined by a connecting web and isolating channels arranged on both sides of the connecting web. The transverse heat conduction within the flat tube is reduced by this arrangement.
US07836942B2
A heat exchanger for a gas boiler for producing hot water is provided with a casing extending along a first axis and through which combustion fumes flow; a tube forming a plurality of turns along which water flows arranged inside the casing so as to form gaps between adjacent turns; a disk for guiding said fumes trough the gaps; and teeth integrally made with the tube for spacing adjacent turns apart and forming said gaps.
US07836941B2
Fouling of heat exchange surfaces is mitigated by a process in which a mechanical force is applied to a fixed heat exchanger to excite a vibration in the heat exchange surface and produce shear waves in the fluid adjacent the heat exchange surface. The mechanical force is applied by a dynamic actuator coupled to a controller to produce vibration at a controlled frequency and amplitude output that minimizes adverse effects to the heat exchange structure. The dynamic actuator may be coupled to the heat exchanger in place and operated while the heat exchanger is on line.
US07836938B2
One embodiment includes an insert including a body portion; a plurality of tabs extending from the body portion, wherein the tabs are tapered; and wherein the insert is constructed and arranged to provide damping.
US07836934B2
A substrate bonding apparatus for use in fabricating LCD devices substantially prevents substrates held to upper stages from sagging. The substrate bonding apparatus may, for example, include upper and lower stages having a plurality of passages for holding respective substrates; suction force applying means having one end mounted within each passage for transmitting a suction force to operably proximate portions of a substrate, wherein the one end of the suction force applying means is projectable from within each passage to a predetermined distance from the stage; and a vacuum pump for providing a suction force to the suction force applying means.
US07836930B2
Tire having two beads, at least one bead 1 of which has a seat 11 inclined toward the outside, this seat 11 being extended axially and radially to the outside by a lateral part 12. This bead 1 includes an anchoring device formed from at least one circumferential bead reinforcing element 5 and from a wedge-shaped profiled element 7 made of a rubber compound. A radial carcass reinforcement 4 is anchored in each bead to the circumferential bead reinforcing element 5, this tire being characterized in that the outwardly inclined bead seat 11 includes at least one circumferentially continuous rib 9 making at least one complete revolution, said at least one rib 9 being located axially to the outside of a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tire and axially tangential to the outside of the circumferential bead reinforcing element 5 in order to create a continuous line of contact pressure equal to or greater than the inflation pressure of the tire.
US07836927B2
Tire tread including a pattern formed by at two ridges of mean width L, which include a plurality of incisions whose traces on the contact surface extend between two points of intersection A and B, the segment AB making an angle with the transverse direction of the tread at most equal to 40°, the tread wherein each incision, of mean width E, includes a succession of incision portions, some of said incision portions having, on any surface parallel to the contact surface in the new condition and located between said surface in the new condition and ⅔ of the maximum depth of the incision, traces that make an average angle β at most equal to 15° with the longitudinal direction of the tread, said portions having a total length Lt which is at least equal to one-fifth of the ridge width; and in that the incision portions whose traces make an average angle β are provided on their opposite walls with relief elements of amplitude K designed to cooperate with one another to block relative movements between one incision wall and the opposite wall, the amplitude K of said relief elements being between 4 and 10 times the mean width E of the incision.
US07836924B2
The present disclosure includes methods for enhancing hardness and dimensional stability of a wood element. In one embodiment, the method includes placing the wood element in a compression assembly set to a compression temperature between about 365° F. and about 410° F., heating and compressing the wood element without exceeding the species' threshold pressure value to produce a compressed wood product, heating the compressed wood product to a post-compression temperature between about 275° F. and about 350° F., and holding the compressed wood product at the post-compression temperature for about 30 to about 48 hours. The disclosure also includes a wood product having enhanced hardness.
US07836919B2
A device and method for loading pellets into chemical reactor tubes.
US07836916B2
A shed-forming component (1, 3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28) of a shed-forming apparatus includes an information source (12, 16, 17, 18, 23, 29, 33) which may be connected to a control unit (13) for transmitting data about the specification of the component and/or data about operating parameters of the component during weaving to a control unit (13).
US07836909B2
A rotatable wedge valve mechanism has a valve body or valve cartridge defining a valve chamber and flow ports in fluid communication with the valve chamber. A valve seat is located within the valve chamber in registry with one of the flow ports. A non-rotatable core member having a convex external surface portion is supported within said valve chamber. A wedge member is mounted for rotation within the valve chamber and has a range of rotary motion between open and closed positions of said valve and a non-uniform wall thickness throughout said range of rotary motion. An actuator upon rotary movement achieves opening and closing rotation of said wedge member. A method is provided for machining concave and convex wedge member surfaces from selected center-points to achieve relative thicknesses of wall sections of the wedge member.
US07836901B2
An apparatus for wet processing individual wafers comprising; a means for holding the wafer; a means for providing acoustic energy to a non-device side of the wafer; and a means for flowing a fluid onto a device side of the wafer.
US07836896B2
A nontoxic, tobacco-less and flavored material for smoking, and a method of making the same. In one aspect, the invention is a tobacco-less material for smoking comprising: a shredded cellulosic paper having a weight; and a mixture of a humectant and a flavoring agent, the mixture having a weight and absorbed into the shredded cellulosic paper.
US07836895B2
A filtered cigarette possesses at least one breakable capsule in its filter element. The filter element can possess a central cavity extending from the cigarette tobacco rod towards the middle of the filter element. The central cavity may be defined by an inner filter portion. The inner filter portion can be surrounded by an outer filter portion comprised of filter tow material that is generally permeable to the smoke generated by the cigarette. At least one breakable capsule is disposed in the central cavity of the filter element. The breakable capsules are spherical in shape, and are composed of a gelatin outer shell that encloses a payload of triglycerides and flavoring agents. The breakable capsules are adapted to rupture in response to pressure applied by the smoker to the outside region of the filter element.
US07836893B2
Systems and methods provide for stabilizing the amount of laser energy delivered to a target from a laser device. Generally, delivered laser energy is measured over multiple laser pulses or over time in the case of a constant wave laser. A decrease is then calculated in the delivered energy, the decrease being caused by accumulation of one or more substances, such as ozone, along the laser beam delivery path due to passage of the laser beam along the path. Using this calculated decrease, a laser device may be adjusted to compensate for the decrease in delivered energy due to the accumulated substance(s), thus stabilizing the amount of energy delivered to the target.
US07836892B2
A method for controlling a device for the treatment or refractive correction of the human eye using an electronic data processing system. The method provides a simple overview of the influence of all of the parameters. To this end, once the operating parameters have been determined, a graphical simulation of the operating procedure is carried out in the form of a graphical visualization.
US07836891B2
This orthopedic orthosis, includes a textile article with first and second faces; the orthosis can be fitted in place such that either the first and second faces can equally well contact a patient limb. The orthosis has at least one fastening tab including an active face with fastening elements that may cooperate with first or second securing means arranged respectively on the first the second faces of the textile article, and an inactive face opposite the active face, said fastening tab being fixed non-removably via its inactive face on a zone contiguous to an edge of the textile article, so as to be able to pivot about an axis substantially parallel to this edge, between a first position, in which the active face catches by contact on the first securing means, and a second position, in which the active face catches by contact on the second securing means.
US07836888B2
A system and device for maintaining and/or creating patency in airways is disclosed. The methods of using the system and device are also disclosed. The system includes a power source that energizes a electro-active polymer implant. The energized polymer implant provides stiffness and shape to the airway, thereby minimizing collapse or deformation of the airway. A method of making the device is also disclosed.
US07836887B1
A personalized protective mask comprises a malleable wire frame, a filtration bag, and a tether. The filtration bag is positioned over the wire frame and the tether is attached at each end to an ear section of the wire frame. The mask is placed over the face of the individual who then bends the wire frame to force it to conform to the individual's own face contour. The tether pulls tight the filtration bag to the individual's face for creating a mask which fully covers the user's nose and mouth. The protective mask is comfortable to wear, whether in-use on the face or in a stand-by position around the user's neck.
US07836880B2
The present invention provides a pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) system, comprising a transparent or partially transparent canister which permits a patient to view the amount of medicament remaining in the pMDI system. The system of the present also comprises a dose counter which counts a dose when a dose is dispensed. The present invention provides a pMDI system which is improved over those currently used for treating respiratory diseases.
US07836878B1
An appliance heat isolation system for attachment to a vent hood has a mounting support with an upper mounting flange and a pair of curtain mounting rails that support the top side of a heat isolation curtain is disclosed. The curtain has front, back, right, left, top, and bottom sides. The upper mounting flange can be attached to the vent hood using screws, or chemically or mechanically adhered. There can be J-shaped channels at the ends of the inner and outer curtain mounting rails that the curtain mounting means engage. The curtain sides have flexible support members. The heat isolation curtain has an upper and lower panel of opaque washable fire resistant material and a middle panel of clear washable fire resistant material.
US07836868B2
A by-pass valve to regulate the passage of a gas towards two areas of a device, comprising a body coupled to said device, with an internal chamber in which the inlet gas is received through an inlet pipe, and two outlet pipes directed towards said areas and having a planar face with an access opening to its internal chamber through which there is inserted a planar plate on which the closing member and its actuation means are assembled, the closing member being duly positioned so as to close the outlet pipes.
US07836861B2
A variable valve mechanism for an internal combustion engine includes a rocker arm, a swing cam, and a transmission member which is interposed between the swing cam and a cam and transmits the displacement of the cam to the swing cam. The rocker arm is provided with a rolling roller member which includes a inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of rolling elements accommodated between the inner ring and the outer ring. The outer ring contacts with the swing cam. At least one of a first transmission part, in which the displacement of the cam is transmitted from the cam to the transmission member, and a second transmission part, in which the displacement of the cam is transmitted from the transmission member to the swing cam, includes a sliding roller member, wherein a sliding bearing mechanism is constituted between the sliding roller member and the support part.
US07836857B2
The invention relates to a valve and suitable hydraulic circuit, especially for camshaft adjusters of an internal combustion engine. The hydraulic circuit comprises a number of check valves or two-way valves operating as check valves, in order to provide a rapid camshaft adjuster with a high regulating quality.
US07836853B2
The present invention relates to a novel aquarium bottom surface substrate consisting of a biocompatible polymeric material with a granular aquarium substrate embedded into the polymer. In an embodiment of the invention there is also a means for attaching aquarium decorations to the aquarium bottom surface substrate to keep them firmly in position during use of the aquarium.
US07836852B2
A method of manipulating a spawning cycle of perch across multiple generations that includes identifying a desired out-of-cycle spawning period for perch, selecting a geographic strain of perch having a natural spawning period in proximity to the desired out-of-cycle spawning period, developing a first generation broodstock from the geographic strain, where the broodstock's natural spawning period has been shifted to the desired spawning period using at least one of temperature and photoperiod manipulation, identifying a second desired out-of-cycle spawning period, developing a second generation broodstock from the first generation broodstock, where the second generation broodstock's spawning period has been shifted from the desired out-of-cycle spawning period to the second desired out-of-cycle spawning period using at least one of temperature and photoperiod manipulation. Exemplary strains include strains from the East Coast of the United States, including strains from the Chesapeake Bay, the Sassafras River, and the Choptank River.
US07836850B2
Embodiments of a method and system are described for tracking and managing animals and/or food products. These embodiments can include entering into a computer system identification data for animals and location data for locations occupied by the animals. This data can be collected, for example, by a data service provider and transmitted to a data trustee. The data trustee may filter the data into official data and non-official data. The official data may be sent to an official database. When a public health issue arises, such as an occurrence of mad cow disease, the government may use an identifier for a diseased animal or a location identifier to request a trace report from the data trustee. The data trustee may then use the official data to provide a report showing, for example, which animals have commingled with the diseased animal. Based on this report, other sick or potentially sick animals can be treated, quarantined, or slaughtered. As another example, the disclosed embodiments may be used to facilitate commercial transactions by providing data that validates, for example, an animal's health and food quality.
US07836847B2
A system and method for use in applying a coating of a desired material onto one or more medical implant components. The system may include a thermal sprayer and a rotatable holding fixture having a plurality of mounting stations each operable to hold at least one medical implant component. The fixture may be operable to rotate about a central axis and each mounting station may be operable to rotate about a respective mounting station axis. The fixture may be arranged adjacent to the thermal sprayer so that during operation the desired material may be sprayed by the thermal sprayer upon an outer surface of each of the medical implant components while the fixture rotates about the central axis and while simultaneously therewith each of mounting stations having a respective medical implant component rotates about the respective mounting station axis.
US07836829B2
The invention relates to a rail-bound vehicle for an amusement park ride. The vehicle has an upper part 10 with vehicle seats 12, as well as a carriage 20 whose running wheels 22 and lateral wheels 23 run on rail-tubes, as do its lift-off rollers 24. The upper part 10 can rotate freely around a vertical axis 16 relative to the carriage 20. A brake disk 14′ made of a metallic material is provided on the underside of the upper part 10. Permanent magnets 31 connected to the rail system are assigned to this brake disk 14′. The brake disk 14, upon passing these permanent magnets 31, enters the latter's magnet field, with the result that the upper part 10 of the vehicle is braked and set into rotational motion due to the continued linear movement of the carriage 20.
US07836825B2
A method of controlling the luminance of a transmissive board at the moment of transmissive illumination by providing the steps of determining a criterion number of ink transfers by roughly controlling the luminance of the highest luminance at the moment of transmissive illumination to closely reflect the lowest transmissive luminance on the board, determining the criterion area-ratio by the minor control of the luminance on the board so that the higher luminance most closely reflects the luminance of the lowest luminance on the board, and equalizing the luminance of all luminance on the board so that all luminance is controlled to be the lowest luminance of the transmissive board at the time of transmissive illumination by a light source by the transfer of ink according to a prepared processing number. Also provided is the transmissive board wherein the transmissive luminance is controlled by the method of the invention.
US07836821B2
There is disclosed a dipper to hold a cookie or other material to submerge the cookie or material into milk or other desired liquid. In one embodiment, the dipper includes a perforated top cover, a perforated bottom spoon structure, a handle, and a slide mechanism to open an close the perforated top cover of the dipper.
US07836820B2
A drip coffee maker is provides including a means for delaying the release of brewed coffee from the brew basket assembly position in a brew basket housing. The brew basket assembly includes an upper basket portion vertically movably mounted with respect to a lower basket portion. A bias member is interposed between the basket portions, vertically biasing the upper basket portion with respect to the lower basket portion. A basket valve is included in the upper and lower basket portions, and is actuatable between an open and a closed position. A carafe is included, and has a lid portion with a lid aperture therein. The carafe is removably positionable under the brew basket assembly with the lid aperture proximal to the basket valve. The basket valve opens when the weight of the hot water and coffee grounds in the upper basket portion exceeds a threshold weight of the bias members.
US07836819B2
A cartridge for extracting a beverage from a particulate substance contained therein by means of water under pressure, the cartridge comprising: a main body comprising a cup portion and a lid portion, the cup portion comprising a base, a sidewall and a rim opposed to the base, the lid portion being fixedly attached to the rim of the cup portion so as to define an internal volume of the cartridge, the internal volume of the cartridge housing the particulate substance comprised within filtering means for retaining the particulate substance and for percolating fluid substances therethrough, the lid portion comprising a lid port defining a first passage for percolation fluid substances, the base of the cup portion comprising a cup port defining a second passage for percolation fluid substances, wherein the base comprises a plurality of ridges directly formed thereon and protruding towards the internal volume of the cartridge, so as to support the filtering means and the particulate substance and to define a fine canalization between the filtering means and the cup port.
US07836816B2
A cylinder tube includes a cylinder hole therein through which a piston is displaceably inserted. A head cover and a rod cover are installed respectively into ends of the cylinder hole. Locking rings, each having a bent section, a pair of arm sections that extend from both ends of the bent section, and claw sections disposed on ends of the arm sections, are disposed in the cylinder hole. In addition, the locking rings are installed respectively in the cylinder hole through ring grooves, wherein the head cover and the rod cover are fixed by means of the locking rings.
US07836807B2
The present invention provides for a vertical band saw frame assembly having a support column having a top and a bottom, the support column having a lower band wheel attached thereto. The band saw frame further provides for a tilt plate having a plurality of apertures attached to the top of the support column and a mounting plate. The tilt plate provides a mounting platform for the upper band wheel, blade tensioning assembly, blade guide, and blade break sensor. In a preferred embodiment, the tilt plate is attachable to the mounting plate in two positions, a first position in vertical alignment with the lower band wheel and a second position in which the upper band wheel further from the support column and at an angle to the first position to create a canted cutting blade angle.
US07836795B2
A power tong (1) device, in which the power tong (1) includes two housing halves (2), pivotable relative to each other, the housing halves (2) being arranged to be pivoted between a closed, active position and an open, inactive position, and in which a radially divided drive ring (6, 8), which is provided with hydraulically activated clamping dies (14) directed towards the centre axis (10) of the power tong (1), is placed in the housing halves, the drive ring (6, 8) being supported and connected to a driving motor (12) for the rotation of the drive ring (6, 8) about said axis (10), the drive ring (6, 8) being provided with at least one locking means (16) which is arranged to interconnect the parts of the drive ring (6, 8) in a releasable manner.
US07836776B2
A micro-electromechanical capacitive strain sensor. The micro-electromechanical capacitive strain sensor comprises a first bent beam, a second bent beam, and a straight center beam. The first bent beam, second bent beam, and straight center beam are aligned in the X-axis with the straight center beam located between the first and second bent beams. The first bent beam, second bent beam, and straight center beam are disposed between two anchors. The two anchors are aligned in the Y-axis. The first bent beam is bent away from the center beam and the second bent beam is bent towards the center beam to provide a set of differential capacitors with respect to the center beam, wherein the center beam serves as a common reference with respect to the first and second bent beams.
US07836772B2
A method and apparatus for monitoring vibrations in a blade structure of a turbine including generating signals from a probe located adjacent to a radial outer edge of the blade structure to provide signals corresponding to vibrations at predetermined locations along the tips of the blades. A leading edge of a blade tip is detected during a blade tracking operation, and a known location along the length of the blade tips is monitored during a vibration measurement operation. The measurement operation may be performed simultaneously with the tracking operation to provide measurements as the axial location of the blades change during transitional modes of operation of the turbine.
US07836769B2
An apparatus and method for measuring the acoustical energy that will be applied to a substrate during cleaning. A substrate is provided that has placed upon it a piezoelectric member that is capable of sensing the acoustical power that is transmitted. This enables the detection and calibration of transducer assemblies that are used in the cleaning of substrates.
US07836766B2
The present invention relates to a method of acquiring an ultrasound image in an ultrasound imaging system having an array transducer, comprising: a) setting an image point at a predetermined depth on an ultrasound image acquired based on a reference speed of sound for a target object; b) setting a range of speed of sound with reference to the reference speed; c) setting a plurality of speeds of sound in a predetermined interval within the range of speed of sound; d) acquiring ultrasound images at each speed of sound; e) calculating an amplitude of an image point set at a predetermined depth of each ultrasound image; f) determining a real speed of sound in the target object based on the calculated amplitude; and g) acquiring an ultrasound image based on the determined real speed of sound in the target object.
US07836758B2
A deterioration diagnosis system for an air fuel sensor mounted to an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine. The air fuel sensor determines a mixture ratio of air and fuel fed into the internal combustion engine. In the system, an inclination of an output signal of the air-fuel ratio sensor is calculated; variance of the inclination is calculated; deterioration of the air-fuel ratio sensor is determined based on the variance of the inclination.
US07836750B2
An example of a gas detection system includes a gas chromatograph oven, a gas detector, a sample gas moving device, and a flow detector. An example of a method for detecting gas includes flowing a sample gas from the oven, determining whether the flow rate equals or is less than a minimum, and determining whether the concentration of a first gas of the sample gas, such as a combustible gas, equals or exceeds a maximum. If either the flow rate or the concentration indicates an error condition or is out of bounds, an alarm response is initiated. The alarm response may include shutting off the flow of the first gas to the oven, and flowing a second gas, such as a safe gas, to the oven.
US07836748B2
According to some embodiments, a test fluid may be provided into a chamber associated with a cooling system for an electronic integrated circuit. Moreover, a valve may be partially inserted into an opening of the chamber to seal the chamber. The valve may include a first sealing portion to seal the chamber at the opening when the valve shaft is inserted the first distance. The valve may then be inserted an intermediate distance, between the first distance and a second distance, to unseal the chamber. Note that the valve may include a second sealing portion, offset from the first sealing portion, to seal the chamber at the opening when the valve is inserted the second distance. The valve may further define a passage, between the first and second sealing portions, to permit a flow of the test fluid when the valve is inserted the intermediate distance.
US07836744B2
Die for high temperature forging of metal components, in particular intermetal components, including and upper an a lower die, characterized in that provided to each die part, at room temperature and with some clearance, is a surrounding reinforcing ring against which each die part is positioned when heated due to its thermal expansion and via which a compressive stress is exerted onto each die part (4).
US07836743B1
An improved system and method for material bending comprises first handle 51, second handle 61, pivot rod 70, roller 80, and brace 82.
US07836736B2
A lock mechanism to lock two parts relative to each other. The lock mechanism comprises a base plate (30) attachable to one said parts with a pivot pin (26) connected thereto, a keep (38) being defined in the pivot pin. A lock body (24) is also provided and this defines a channel (33) within which the pivot pin locates for rotation of the lock body relative to the pivot pin. A locking arrangement (36) is located within the lock body, and includes a movable bolt (37), which in extended and retracted positions engages with or disengages from the keep (38) to prevent or allow rotation of the lock body relative to the pivot pin. A latch plate (40) may be provided on the other part to cooperate with the lock body. This allows a wide variety of different parts to be secured relative to each other in such a way that they are securely held.
US07836726B2
Piece of jewellery including an outer ring (2) and an inner ring (4) arranged concentrically to the outer ring (2), the two inner (4) and outer (2) rings being able to pivot in relation to each other, the outer ring (2) comprising at least one aperture (6) through which at least one decoration (8), provided on the outer periphery of the inner ring (4), can appear, means being provided for the axial coupling of the two inner (4) and outer (2) rings, this piece of jewellery being characterized in that the axial coupling means include at least one ball (10) arranged in a housing (12) disposed on the external periphery of the inner ring (4) and capable of rolling in the inner periphery of the outer ring (2) and forming a rolling path for the ball (10).
US07836723B2
An air conditioning system that includes desiccant compartments for holding a desiccant; a heat exchanger, a blower and a vessel. The heat exchanger can be filled with a heat transfer medium, while the blower blows ambient air by the heat exchanger such that the blown air is cooled and the heat exchanger is warmed such that thermal energy increases and is transferred from the air to the heat transfer medium causing the heat transfer medium to turn into vapor. The vapor is then diffused to one of the desiccant compartments such that the vapor is adsorbed onto the desiccant creating a mixture. Then an energy source is applied to the mixture such that the vapor and desiccant are separated. The separated vapor is transported to the vessel where it is condensed and then sent back to the heat exchanger, such that the system is able to be continuously operating.
US07836722B2
A food container includes an upper wall, a lower wall, and a side wall extending between the upper wall and the lower wall. At least one of the upper wall, the lower wall, and the side wall includes a plurality of microcapsules containing a phase change material. The phase change material has a latent heat in the range of 40 J/g to 400 J/g and a transition temperature in the range of 0° C. to 100° C. The phase change material provides thermal regulation based on at least one of absorption and release of the latent heat at the transition temperature.
US07836719B2
An ice supply device is capable of supplying cubed ice, sliced ice, and grinded ice. The ice supply device is configured to supply cubed ice, sliced ice, or grinded ice based on a speed and direction of rotation of a rotary blade included in the ice supply device.
US07836717B2
A method and a system of temperature-control for an electronic component are provided, in which a plurality of temperature sensors is disposed in each area of the electronic component. The temperature-control method includes obtaining a plurality of sensed temperature values; looking up a temperature-control table recording the relationship between a temperature-control threshold and a temperature-control operation set for each area; selecting the temperature-control operation corresponding to sensed temperature values greater than the temperature-control thresholds depending on the temperature-control table; and starting the temperature-control operation to make the sensed temperature values being lower than or equal to the temperature-control thresholds.
US07836711B2
Based on a result of detection taken by the high-low pressure difference detection means (93, 97) for detecting a difference between a high and a low pressure of a refrigeration cycle, an estimate of whether there is leakage of refrigerant in an expansion valve (52) is made. Based on the result detected by the high-low pressure difference detection means (93, 97), a control means (81) sets a reference temperature (T3) to a value corresponding to the degree of refrigerant leakage in the expansion valve (52).
US07836709B2
A refrigerator for monitoring the status of another space by means of a display device mounted to the refrigerator, a monitoring system having the refrigerator and a control method thereof. The refrigerator includes a body which is formed with a storage chamber, a door for opening and closing the storage chamber, and a display device which is mounted to a front side of the door, the display device having a receiving part for receiving a monitoring image signal from a predetermined outside signal supply source, an image signal processing part for processing the received monitoring image signal, a display part for displaying the monitoring image signal and a control part for controlling the image signal processing part so that the received monitoring image signal is displayed on the display part.
US07836706B2
A thermal management system configured to maximize the potential of single and multiple atomizers to effectively cool microprocessors and other electronic devices. The thermal management system, which may be a heat spreader, provides surfaces that are disposed to increase the effectiveness of impinging coolant droplets, provide additional heat transfer area in some embodiments, and permit the efficient, customized and disparate thermal management of a recipient object of the thermal management.
US07836703B2
A turbine nozzle includes first and second vanes joined to outer and inner bands. The vanes include outboard sides defining outboard flow passages containing axial splitlines, and opposite inboard sides defining an inboard flow passage without axial splitline. The two vanes include different cooling circuits for differently cooling the inboard and outboard vane sides.
US07836702B2
An assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor and a vane assembly disposed downstream thereof. A portion of an outer platform of the vane assembly defines an axial sliding joint connection with the combustor, and includes a plurality of depressions located in an outer circumferential surface thereof opposite the combustor. The depressions are disposed in regions of expected higher thermal growth about the circumference of the outer platform such that thermal growth of the entire outer platform is substantially uniform circumferentially therearound.
US07836690B2
Between an air source and a first pressure chamber of a double-acting main cylinder having a length measurement sensor for measuring an acting position of a piston, a supply solenoid valve is connected; between the first pressure chamber and the atmosphere, an exhaust solenoid valve is connected; and between a second pressure chamber and the air source, a stop solenoid valve is connected. When a target acting position of the piston is inputted into a controller, the controller moves the piston to the target acting position so that a position measured by the length measurement sensor agrees with the target position by on-off controlling the solenoid valves. Upon reaching the target position, the piston is stopped and held in the stopped state by confining air within the pressure chambers.
US07836687B2
One embodiment is a method including maintaining a count based upon an engine operating condition, determining a soot level based upon a characteristic of a diesel particulate filter, and requesting deSoot based upon the count meeting or exceeding a threshold, or the soot level meeting or exceeding a threshold, or both. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the following description and drawings.
US07836682B2
A method for operating a pulse detonation engine, wherein the method includes channeling air flow from a pulse detonation combustor into a flow mixer having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a body portion extending therebetween. The method also includes channeling ambient air past the flow mixer and mixing the air flow discharged from the pulse detonation combustor with the ambient air flow such that a combined flow is generated from the flow mixer that has less flow variations than the air flow discharged from the pulse detonation combustor.
US07836668B2
A method of packing and shipping erosion control blankets that maximizes the use of the interior space of a shipping container. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the method relates to packing, handling, storing and shipping of erosion control blankets adapted for delivery to customers in generally cylindrical, rolled configurations.
US07836659B1
A floor plug (40) is disclosed having an upper portion (41) with a top plate (44) and a neck (48), a lower portion (42) with a bottom plate (51), and post (32) which coupled the two portions together and draws them towards each other sandwiching the floor therebetween. The upper portion is positioned within the bore hole (20) and the lower portion is coupled to the post so as to be threadably drawn against the underside of the floor. Once the adhesive has cured a viscous smoothing compound or concrete floor leveler is poured over the floor plug upper portion and surrounding concrete floor area. If necessary, the concrete floor leveler material is smoothed to provide a generally smooth or level surface.
US07836657B1
A combination stud and bridging member for use in a metal wall. The stud includes a web and a pair of flanges with the web including first and second sides and having a depression formed therein. Adapted to engage or extend through the web, the bridging member includes first and second end portions. One end portion includes a concave shaped recess that when disposed adjacent the stud accommodates the depression formed in the web. Disposed on the end portion of the bridging member having the concave recess is a projection receiver. Disposed on the opposite end of the bridging member is a projection. In a wall structure, the bridging members are adapted to extend between the studs. More particularly, the projections of the bridging members extend through openings formed in the web of the studs and into the projection receivers of adjacent bridging members to form an interlocked relationship.
US07836655B2
The present invention provides a 100% bamboo plank with an interlocking system and associated manufacturing methods. In one embodiment, the 100% bamboo plank comprises first, second, and third layers of 100% bamboo, wherein the layers are laminated together. The layers are independently preconditioned to control moisture content therein. Each layer can be preconditioned by alternately elevating and lowering the moisture content in a plurality of sequential cycles before the layers are laminated together. The middle layer is oriented so its grain is substantially perpendicular to the edges of the plank. The plank had joinery portions formed along the edges, and joinery includes an asymmetric upper joinery member and lower joinery member arrangement for, and at least a portion of the upper joinery member and lower joinery member portions are formed in the second layer.
US07836637B2
The leading wall of the valley diverter has a convex outer surface and is adapted to be axially aligned with a downwardly extending valley disposed between converging roof slopes. First and second generally straight side walls extend and taper downwardly from opposite ends of the leading wall and define an angle of ninety degrees or less. A support member extends between the leading wall and the side walls and comprises a canopy and an intermediate wall extending between the side walls, or a larger canopy that is coextensive with the side walls, or a mounting flange extending generally horizontally and inwardly from lower ends of the leading wall and the side walls.
US07836629B2
A method for securing a flexible line includes winding a first section of a flexible line from a first end to a second end of a helical coil so that the first section of the flexible line is received between a plurality of first volutes of the helical coil. A second section of the flexible line is then extended from the second end of the helical coil back to the first end of the helical coil. A third section of the flexible line is then wound from the first end of the helical coil to the second end of the helical coil so that the third section of the flexible line is received between the plurality of first volutes. A fourth section of the flexible line is passed between a pair of second volutes of a retaining formation extending from the second end of the helical coil.
US07836628B2
A fishing lure comprising a resilient soft bodied bait and a hook attaching device, wherein the soft bodied bait includes a first hole extending along the width of the soft bodied bait near its head portion and a second hole extending perpendicularly from the center of the first hole till the exterior of the bait and a slit dividing the head portion and the second hole. The hook attaching device comprises an elongated member adapted to be securely received in the first hole, a stem adapted to be securely received in the first hole and an eyelet on the stem. The stem extends perpendicularly from the center of the elongated member and is substantially of the same length of the second hole. The hook attaching device is inserted in the bait; and the nose portion of the soft-bodied bait is resiliently pushed back to expose the eyelet for inserting a fish hook.
US07836627B2
Fishing lure apparatus includes a weighted head, a body portion fixable to the head and a foam annulus disposed between the body portion and the head. The foam annulus has a dimension greater than a dimension of the head for enabling expansion thereof upon water impingement thereagainst during movement through a body of water. Expansion of the annulus is dependent upon the velocity of the head through the water body. The foam annulus is formed from a material capable of absorbing and temporarily retaining attractant and the attractant is displaceable by water in order to simultaneous disperse the fix attractant as the head is drawn through the water body.
US07836625B2
Embodiments include a method and apparatus for mounting one or more accessories to a rail of a firearm. A mounting member may be utilized for attaching the one or more accessories to the rail. Embodiments further include a method and apparatus for protecting a user from a discharging portion of a firearm. Some embodiments include a foregrip having a gripping portion and a guarding portion which may be used for protecting the user. In some embodiments, the guarding portion has a larger outer diameter than the gripping portion so that the guarding portion acts as a stop for the user's body parts.
US07836621B2
A label holder, that can be selectively mounted to an associated merchandise display shelf/includes a front panel and a rear panel. A hinge connects the front panel to the rear panel, creating a pocket between the front panel and the rear panel for receiving an associated label. A retaining member projects rearwardly from the rear panel. A first lip extends rearwardly from the rear panel, in a manner spaced from the retaining member. The first lip engages an angled forward portion of the associated display shelf when the label holder is in an installed position.
US07836619B2
An inflatable flag display includes a shaft having a hollow core and a sealed upper end. An aperture is located in the upper portion of the shaft and penetrates from an outer surface to the hollow core. A supporting base is connected to the shaft. A gas input connection is affixed to the shaft or the base and is in fluid communication with the core. An inflatable flag member is affixed to the shaft, formed of flexible material and has at least one inflatable chamber. The chamber is in fluid communication with the aperture and has an exhaust vent. A compressed gas source is in fluid communication with the gas input connection. A compressed gas modulator controls pressure or duration of gas flow, causing the flag to undulate. A variant includes means for rotating the shaft as the flag is inflated. Another variant includes an inflatable column replacing the shaft.
US07836615B2
Wear resistors adapted for use in wear parts comprising steel castings for replaceable attachment to snow plows, road machinery equipment, agriculture, and construction excavator teeth. The wear castings provide a replaceable member for wear affected parts of equipment used for cutting, scraping, digging, plowing, etc. Each replaceable wear part can comprise a hard, impact resistant metal of high shear strength having at least one cavity filled with an abrasion resistant weldment or resistor. The abrasion resistant weldment can be placed proximal to the wear edges or wear surfaces of the expendable and replaceable wear parts.
US07836613B2
A blade adjustment apparatus for a V-plow is provided. A plow tower and a tower adjustment assembly pivotally coupled to the plow tower serve to maintain a lower edge of at least one V-plow blade in a substantially horizontal relationship to a working surface.
US07836612B2
A ski boot is provided that includes an outer shell, an inner liner disposed within the outer shell and a functional shoe insertable into and removable from the inner liner by means of a rearforward to forward manner.
US07836584B2
A jig for tightening a bolt includes: a support unit standing on the floor of a work place and extending toward the bottom side of a car body which is conveyed by an overhead hanger; a movable unit connected to the support unit so as to be movable in a transverse direction, a longitudinal direction, and a height direction of the car body; a fastening part disposed in the movable unit to fasten chassis components to the bottom side of the car body; a load compensating part compensating load of the fastening part when the fastening part ascends/descends toward/from the bottom side of the car body; a tilting part adjusting a position of the fastening part; and a reaction force regulating part sustaining reaction force that is generated while the fastening part is operated.
US07836577B2
A method for making a feed structure for an antenna may include providing a polarizer body having a polarizer sidewall extending longitudinally between spaced apart ends. A portion of the polarizer sidewall is deformed to provide at least one polarizing structure that extends radially inwardly along an interior of the polarizer sidewall relative to adjacent portions of the polarizer sidewall. The method thus can be utilized to produce an antenna structure.
US07836564B2
Mechanically interlocking releasable fastener systems include a reinforced shape memory polymer for forming one of the interlocking components. The reinforced shape memory polymer includes a filler material in the form of a fiber and/or platelet. The filler can include an electrically conductive filler, a thermally conductive filler, a dielectric fillers, and mixtures thereof. Also disclosed herein are processes for using the releasable fastener systems.
US07836560B2
A fastener includes a frame, a handle and a reel inserted through the frame and handle so that a strap can be reeled when the reel is rotated. Two bushings are connected to the frame for protecting the reel from the handle or the frame. Two ratchet wheels are connected to the reel. A first detent is movable on the frame for engagement with the ratchet wheels. A second detent is movable on the handle for engagement with the ratchet wheels.
US07836559B2
A teething holder for use with a child's teething item, and more particularly a teething device having a flexible and elastic loop, a lock for releaseably locking the loop around a teething object, such as a biscuit, and an attachment element, for attaching the teething device, such as to a baby's bib or chair.
US07836556B1
The motorcycle battery carrying apparatus provides for the unique demands of handling, installing, and removing motorcycle batteries and batteries in other personally-sized vehicles which are equipped with motorcycle type batteries. The apparatus handles such batteries without extending beyond the dimensions of existing batteries, excepting above. Provided in both rigid and pliable handle embodiments, the apparatus attaches to the same terminals as do the battery cables of the vehicle. By attaching to the terminals of the battery without extending beyond the width or depth of the battery, the apparatus is assured of fitting the battery within existing tolerances. Dependant upon the given application and desire, the apparatus can remain on the battery or be removed and used repeatedly.
US07836552B2
A hold-down support structure is coupled to a stem of a pintle to form a hinge, and includes a support board and a sleeve. The support board has a support section forming a support face. The sleeve includes first and second brackets. When the sleeve is mounted to the support board, a stem receiving space is defined by by the support board and the first and second brackets. The stem is inserted into the stem receiving space and an outer circumferential surface of the stem is subject to constraint by the support face of the support board and the resilient retention forces respectively applied by the first and second brackets symmetrically in directions toward the support face so that a predetermined rotational friction is induced between the outer circumferential surface of the stem and the inside surfaces of the first and second brackets.
US07836549B1
A hinge providing multi-directional motion to a hinged object. In one embodiment, the hinge includes a first hinge member having at least one first outwardly-protruding mounting projection and a second hinge member defining a recess for movably receiving the projection. In one embodiment, the recess and mounting projection are complementary configured for non-rotational linear movement of the projection in a first portion of the recess, and for rotational movement of the projection in a second portion of the recess. A preferred embodiment includes a pair of spaced-apart recesses and projections. The hinged object may be squarely slid into engagement with a supporting unit or frame via the first portion of the recess, yet rotated or pivoted via the second portion to provide access to the supporting unit. The supporting unit or frame in one embodiment may be part of a module in an active antenna array.
US07836546B2
A dust-collecting unit for a vacuum cleaner is provided which detachably connected with a cleaner body of the vacuum cleaner. The dust-collecting unit includes a dust receptacle which is disposed under a dust separator disposed in the cleaner body, for collecting dust separated from air by the dust separator and dropping down from the dust separator, a dust receptacle ascending/descending part which is disposed under the dust receptacle and is pivoted in a direction or a reverse direction to ascend or descend the dust receptacle and to press-lock or unlock the dust receptacle to or from the dust separator, and a handle which extends from one side of the dust receptacle ascending/descending part along a lengthwise direction of the dust receptacle and has a gap with respect to a circumferential surface of the dust receptacle.
US07836544B2
A bare floor cleaner for wet and dry bare floor surfaces comprises a base with wet and dry suction nozzles and a handle pivotally connected to the base. A diverter mounted in the working air conduit between each of the dry suction nozzle and the wet suction nozzle to a recovery tank is movable by movement of the handle between a dry suction position and a wet suction position for selectively at least partially blocking working air flow from the wet suction nozzle and the dry suction nozzle, respectively, to the recovery tank.
US07836540B2
Applicant discloses a broom that comprises at least one particle capture sheet. In various embodiments, the particle capture sheet can comprise a nonwoven material, a woven material, a knitted material, or a synthetic polymeric membrane. The particle capture sheet can be air permeable or air impermeable, and can comprise an electret material and/or an adhesive.
US07836536B2
A floor section is formed at the rear of a vehicle body, at one side of the vehicle body. A lifting floor device having a floor body lifted and lowered by a lifting drive device is placed above the vehicle body. The floor body has a cutout at the left side of the floor body, at the rear half thereof. The right side of the floor body is used as a passage for a physically handicapped person. A stairway device is provided between the floor body and the floor section as a passage for an able-bodied person, on the floor body side in the cutout, and the stairway device is pivotable in a vertical plane. A lifting table is placed behind the vehicle body, on the left side thereof so that the lifting table can face the rear end of the passage for a physically handicapped person.
US07841014B2
In order to maintain the confidentiality of information at a high level even in cases where a confidential information processor in which multiple types of decryption sequences are applicable is used, decryption is performed according to the value of content decryption information 304. If the value of the content decryption information 304 is “0”, an encrypted content key 309 is decrypted with a selected authentication intermediate key 312 and encrypted contents 310 are decrypted with a content key 305. On the other hand, if the value of the content decryption information 304 is other than “0”, the selected authentication intermediate key 312 is converted by performing an arithmetic operation using that value, thereby generating a conversion intermediate key 315. An encrypted domain key 316 is decrypted with the conversion intermediate key 315, the encrypted content key 309 is decrypted with a domain key 306, and then the encrypted contents 310 are decrypted with a content key 305.
US07841012B2
A method and a system for processing multicast services, binding each user to a default profile for separately configuring the authority over programs for the user and a right suite profile which prefabricates combination of programs and authority, directly forwarding a program to the superuser; for a non-superuser, acquiring authority over the program by traversing all profiles to which the user is bound, not forwarding the program if the user does not have the authority over the program; if the user has the authority over the program, forwarding a program stream to the user in the case that the program stream has been forwarded to the multicast service processing system. By the invention, the flexibility of multicast service processing is improved, individualized services of a user are implemented. The invention also provides a mode for processing a superuser, which provides real highly efficient and convenient privilege processing to the superuser.
US07841003B1
A method for preventing phishing attacks is provided. The method in one aspect includes identifying a source image file that was used fraudulently, replacing the content of the source image file with a warning, and allowing the source image file having the warning to be accessed.
US07841001B2
Without modifying application programs in a smart card, data and functions of the application programs can be used by one authentication operation if an apparatus has an invented authentication information management function utilization part. Even if the apparatus not implemented with the invention can use the smart card in a similar manner to the conventional manner. An authentication information management program for managing information necessary for authentication of each application is introduced into the smart card. When each application is utilized, the authentication information management program acquires the application authentication information after an authentication request message from the application program is captured, and transmits the application authentication information to the application program. It is possible to realize a method of utilizing data and functions possessed by the application programs through one authentication operation.
US07840996B1
In general, techniques are described of enabling a client-based web browser application to browse a directory structure provided by a server on a private network via a secure gateway. In particular, an intermediate gateway device is positioned on a network path between the client device and a server device. The gateway device communicates with the client device via a secure network connection (e.g., a Secure Sockets Layer connection). When the gateway device receives a resource identifier that identifies a directory structure from either the client device or the server device, the gateway device alters the resource identifier. In particular, the gateway device alters the resource identifier in such a way that when the client device transmits a request to view the directory structure identified by the resource identifier, the client device transmits a request to view the directory structure in a networking protocol that the gateway device permits to pass through the gateway device.
US07840994B2
Revocation of digital certificates in a public-key infrastructure is disclosed, particularly in the case when a certificate might need to be revoked prior to its expirations. For example, if an employee was terminated or switched roles, his current certificate should no longer be valid. Accordingly, novel methods, components and systems are presented for addressing this problem. A solution set forth herein is based on the construction of grounded dense hash trees. In addition, the grounded dense hash tree approach also provides a time-communication tradeoff compared to the basic chain-based version of NOVOMODO, and this tradeoff yields a direct improvement in computation time in practical situations.
US07840979B2
A discovery interface facilitates the selection of available media content. Content-relevant graphical tiles are displayed in strips within the discovery interface. In this manner, a user can survey graphics associated with available content. When the discovery interface section (e.g., a row) is in focus, the graphical tiles are expanded as compared to the tiles in sections that are not in focus to provide easier viewing by the user. Furthermore, when an individual tile is in focus, then the tile expands further to be wider and taller than any of the other tiles in the associated tile strip. In one implementation, the focused tile is also highlighted, such as with a distinguishing border. In another implementation, metadata associated with the content of the focused tile is displayed in the proximity of the focused tile.
US07840977B2
When selecting a television program for recording, a user may configure the delivery of the selected television program and associated data and interactive applications to different user equipment devices in a home network, which may have different capabilities. Because the user equipment devices in the home network may have different capabilities, the user may wish to deliver different types and amount of content, different amounts of data, and different versions of interactive applications to the user equipment devices in the home network.
US07840973B2
An optical disc device capable of sensing exactly whether or not a disc is present is provided. In an optical disc device includes a main body having a disc slot, and a carrying roller for carrying a disc between the disc slot and a disc loading position of the main body, a swinging lever whose base end is supported turnably in an inside of the main body by a supporting shaft and to which a disc arriving switch is fixed, and a sensing lever whose base end is supported turnably by the supporting shaft and whose top end contacts the outer periphery of the disc, which is loaded in the disc loading position, to operate the disc arriving switch are provided.
US07840968B1
Client software is modified by a translator to use unique variant of linguistic interface of a service. An interceptor pre-processes subsequent client service requests from translated unique linguistic interface to standard linguistic interface implemented by service. Usage of linguistic interfaces of service is contained, rendering service incapable of executing arbitrary input, even if such input is crafted specifically for the service interface.
US07840967B1
A technique for allowing isolated JAVA applications (“isolates”) to share data between themselves is disclosed. According to one aspect, a shared object region, to which multiple isolates may attach, is defined in memory. A shared class loader associated with the region is stored in the region in conjunction with the region's creation. Isolates that can access the region can invoke that loader. The region only comprises objects whose type is defined by a bootstrap class loader or the region's associated shared class loader. Runtime representations of classes defined by the shared class loader are stored in the region. Thus, the types of objects stored in the region are known to all isolates that attach to the region. Isolates attached to the region may enter the context of the region to access objects stored therein. Within the context of a shared object region, all allocation instructions automatically allocate to that region.
US07840956B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for updating a candidate computer program file. An exemplary method includes loading a first and second revisions of a first computer program file, loading a first revision of a second computer program file, and generating a candidate computer program file. References are made to the first and second revisions of the first computer program file and the first revision of the second computer program file in generating the candidate computer program file.
US07840946B2
The invention finds matches in ordered sequences, e.g. program function call stacks from anomalous software program executions for discovering related or identical software flaws and possible known solutions. Call stacks are matched after removing recursive and uninformative subpatterns, e.g. names of common error handling routines, to see if they were generated due to the same possibly known problem. Sequences statistically unlikely to be matches are pruned from the search. Matches found earlier in the sequences may be weighted differently, e.g. to be more important in call stacks, than other matches. Sequences are indexed so that those relevant to a query are identified automatically without detailed exhaustive search. Maximum matches are found by optimizing a cost function based on weighted sequence similarity.
US07840944B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for testing software involve generating a software build of source files and initiating tests on the software build. Each test is performed using a portion of the software build that corresponds to one or more of the source files. Results data relating to the tests, such as an indication of errors identified in the tests, is stored. The results data further identifies source files associated with each of the tests. A notification message relating to the results data is sent to a user.
US07840942B2
A method, system and computer-readable medium for configuration file sharing are presented. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: creating, in a controller, a superset registry file that includes old registry data, new registry data, and kindred registry data, wherein the old registry data and the new registry data are incompatible, and wherein the kindred registry data is compatible with both the old registry data and the new registry data; and contemporaneously downloading the kindred registry data and software version-specific registry data, selected from the old registry data and the new registry data, to a requesting client.
US07840938B1
A method for retaining state information of a digital filter object in a dynamically typed text-based programming environment is disclosed. The digital filter object retains state information which includes the minimal amount of information that is necessary to determine the output of the digital filter object. The digital filter object generates the output of the object in response to the input of the object depending on the state information of the object. The state of the filter is stored in a memory and provided to the object as an initial value of the state of the object.
US07840934B2
A method and system for integrating workflow management systems with business-to-business interaction standards. An automatic business-to-business (B2B) template generator is provided for supporting workflow design. The B2B template generator automatically generates process templates and service templates based either on a description of a business-to-business interaction standard is received or a structured representation of the business-to-business interaction standard. When the (B2B) template generator receives the description of business-to-business interaction standard as the input, the (B2B) template generator first converts the description of the business-to-business interaction standard into a structured representation of the business-to-business interaction standard. At least process template is automatically generated based on the structured representation of the business-to-business interaction standard. The template (e.g., B2B service template or B2B process template) can be utilized by a user to design both quickly and efficiently a complete process (e.g., a workflow with B2B interaction points).
US07840933B2
A method for managing a plurality of software applications. An application assessment score is computed for each application. A delivery model is selected for each of said applications. The delivery model is a Local model, a Remote model, or a Local-Remote model. The Local model, the Remote model, and the Local-Remote model are each relative to a local geographical area. The delivery model is selected as function of the application assessment score. The method may be implemented using a computer program product that includes a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein. The computer readable program code is adapted to execute the steps of the method.
US07840925B1
A computer-implemented method of performing timing analysis upon a circuit design having synchronous circuit elements can include selecting a destination pin having a plurality of source pins, wherein each source pin of the plurality of source pins defines a data path to the destination pin. A slack of a selected path of the data paths to the destination pin can be determined. A timing adjustment of each of the plurality of source pins can be compared to the slack of the selected path, wherein each timing adjustment is determined using static timing analysis. A simulation node can be selectively included within the circuit design according to the comparison. The circuit design can be output.
US07840921B1
A method and apparatus for providing a protection circuit for protecting an integrated circuit design is described. In one example, a sequence generator is defined to produce a pseudorandom sequence of output vectors. A plurality of output vectors is selected from the sequence of output vectors. Bits from the plurality of output vectors are randomly selected to define a terminal vector. Detection logic is generated for detecting the terminal vector. In another example, a protection circuit is defined for asserting a signal after a plurality of clock cycles. At least one lookup table (LUT) is identified in the implemented circuit design having at least one unused input terminal. The signal is coupled to the at least one unused input terminal of the at least one LUT. The protection circuit and the circuit design are then implemented.
US07840920B2
According to the present invention, even a user lacking the knowledge of semiconductor testing apparatus can easily generate a test program, and easily perform alternation and correction of the test program. In the present invention, a microprogram of a spreadsheet software being one of the commonly used application software is used to create the test program. Therefore, even a user lacking the knowledge of semiconductor testing apparatus can easily generate a test program, and easily perform alternation and correction of the test program. When the alternation and the correction of the test program are performed, only setting conditions of each sheet are altered and corrected, and the alternation and the correction of the test program are easily performed.
US07840918B1
In a method of optimizing power consumption in an integrated circuit, a physically implemented circuit design meeting at least one timing constraint is provided. A design block of the physically implemented circuit design having a high toggle rate pattern is identified. A power optimized transformation type of numerous power optimized transformation types is selected. The power optimized transformation type is applied to the design block of the physically implemented circuit design. A modified physically implemented circuit design is generated, where the modified physically implemented circuit design is power optimized.
US07840911B2
A method and apparatus for enhanced browsing of electronic data (e.g., web pages, documents, electronic mail). When a first page is displayed in a browser, content identified by links to other pages is prefetched. If the page contains a list of links (e.g., search results), an enhanced browsing stripe is superimposed on the links. The stripe is transparent or semi-transparent, so that a user can identify individual links in the list. As long as a user interface cursor remains within the stripe, whenever the cursor is placed over or adjacent to a link, an enhanced browsing window containing the prefetched content for that link is displayed. The stripe extends at least the length of the list of links. If the cursor reaches the end of the browser window, the browser page is automatically scrolled as necessary to view additional links or page content, and the stripe is extended accordingly.
US07840909B2
A portable computing apparatus and a processing method using the same, the portable computing apparatus including a management module and a processing module, wherein the management module provides a predetermined function list to a sub-display module when a specific event occurs, and the processing module processes a function selected from the function list by a user.
US07840906B2
A display control unit that is used to display a current portion of a document on a screen when an interactive or scrollable page of said document requires a larger display area than that of the screen. The display control unit includes a unit which is connected to a remote server configured to deliver interactive documents including principal and secondary documents. The display control unit also includes a display unit used to control the display of a current portion of the scrollable interactive page on the screen, and a memory control unit including a priority level allocation unit configured to assign a priority level to each secondary document of the scrollable interactive page and a memory control unit used to control the storage of secondary documents with the highest priority levels in the memory.
US07840902B2
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for automatic creation of secure connections between segmented resource farms in a utility computing environment. According to one embodiment, farms are automatically created using visual representations of the farms as a specification. A shared subnet is created as the basis of a secure connection, visual representations of one or more farms are associated with the shared subnet to form the secure connection between the one or more farms.
US07840901B2
A media engine for creating a graphical interface for an application on a device is disclosed. The media engine comprises an interaction interface for notifying the media engine of changes to the application, a renderer for rendering the graphical interface, a parser for parsing, from a template file, template information for controlling how the renderer renders the graphical interface, and a layout manager for optionally controlling the display of template information.
US07840899B2
A list navigation module (LNM) is described that allows a user to navigate among a filtered list of items, yet, in addition, also discover items within an original list items. In operation, a user inputs a search selection, which prompts the LNM to cull a filtered list of items from the original set of items. When the user enters navigation selections of a first kind, the LNM advances to only items in the filtered list. When the user enters navigation selections of a second kind, the LNM advances to items in the unfiltered original list. Further, when the user attempts to navigate past an end of the presented filtered list, the LNM advances to items in the unfiltered original list. The LNM can provide a visual indicator which conveys that one or more items in the original list of items do not appear in the filtered list of items.
US07840893B2
A system for displaying and re-ordering web page search results. Results obtained from a search engine site are displayed with same-type fields in same columns. A button at the top of each column allows result entries to be organized alphanumerically depending upon values for the fields in the column. A subsearch feature allows additional searching of a base search. The subsearch can be performed on any one or more of the fields.
US07840890B2
A computer system and method for generating a plurality of unique, randomly structured forms, such as invoices, that may be populated with data to produce test forms for testing automatic document processing systems. The forms may have major blocks such as a header, a body and a footer, and the major blocks may have randomly selected sizes. For each block, the locations of data fields and the ordering of the data fields within the block are defined randomly, the data locations within the fields and the data formats are randomly defined, and a blank image and an XML file of the randomly structured form are produced. The forms generated may be populated with data for the testing document processing system.
US07840878B1
A system includes a host first-in first-out (FIFO) module, a first encoder module, a control module, a disk FIFO module, and a second encoder module. The host FIFO module receives a block having data and selectively receives a host logical block address (HLBA). The first encoder module generates a first checksum based on the data and the HLBA and generates a first encoded block. The control module appends the HLBA to the first encoded block and generates an appended block. The disk FIFO module receives the block from the host FIFO module. The second encoder module selectively generates a second checksum based on the HLBA and the data in the block received by the disk FIFO module. The second encoder module compares the block received by the disk FIFO module to the block received by the host FIFO module based on the first and second checksums.
US07840862B2
Chain or logic diagnosis resolution can be enhanced in the presence of limited failure cycles using embodiments of the various methods, systems, and apparatus described herein. For example, pattern sets can be ordered according to a diagnosis coverage figure, which can be used to measure chain or logic diagnosability of the pattern set. Per-pin based diagnosis techniques can also be used to analyze limited failure data.
US07840860B2
A method and system is presented for correcting a data error in a primary Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) in a Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM). Each DRAM has a left half (for storing bits 0:3) and a right half (for storing bits 4:7). A determination is made as to whether the data error was in the left or right half of the primary DRAM. The half of the primary DRAM in which the error occurred is removed from service. All subsequent reads and writes for data originally stored in the primary DRAM's defective half are made to a half of a spare DRAM in the DIMM, while the DRAM's non-defective half continues to be used for subsequently storing data.
US07840851B2
A method and system for annotating an object on the graphical user interface (GUI) (“a GUI object”) during automated testing of an application. In one embodiment, the GUI of an application is tested with a test automation tool. During runtime of the automated test, the test automation tool automatically overlays a visual cue on the GUI. The visual cue points to a GUI object of the application and contains a comment regarding an event relating to the GUI object that is expected to occur in runtime.
US07840847B1
A method and system are disclosed to quickly and inexpensively (in terms of computational overhead) detect when a data shift corruption event or a short read has occurred and to transparently retry the failed read operation. The method seeds the memory read buffer, into which read data will be written, by placing known values (a “seed pattern”) at the end of the buffer prior to initiating the read operation. If the seed pattern is still in the read buffer when the read operation completes, the read operation has encountered a data shift corruption event and should be retried. If the read operation completes correctly, the seed pattern will be overwritten by the data read from the disk. The particular seed pattern used and the size of the seed pattern are chosen to be discriminating (i.e., no false positives) and cheap to write and verify (i.e., no performance impact).
US07840836B2
A storage device capable of meeting the reliability has a storage capacity and the reliability of the storage device is defined. The storage device includes at least one first storage unit, at least one second storage unit, and a control unit. The first storage unit forms the storage capacity of the storage device. The second storage unit is allocated to form a spare capacity according to the storage capacity and the reliability. The second storage unit replaces the bad blocks in the first storage unit. The control unit controls the first storage unit and the second storage unit to transmit and convert the data with an application system. Thereby, by allocating the spare capacity of the second storage unit, the different reliability requirement is met, and the storage capacity of the first storage unit is unaffected.
US07840835B2
In a network computer system, recovery may be impossible from a fault when the fault occurs in a network switch in a network or a device such as an external disk device. Provided is a computer system that includes a plurality of servers, a plurality of network, a plurality of external disk devices, and a management computer, in which the management computer detects a fault which is occurred, retrieves an application stop server inaccessible to the used disk due to the fault, retrieves the disk for storing the same contents as contents stored in the disk used by the retrieved application stop server and the external disk device including the disk, retrieves an application resuming server capable of accessing the retrieved external disk device, and transmits an instruction to boot by using the retrieved disk to the retrieved application resuming server.
US07840828B2
This demodulator for signals transmitted by bursts of data packets and the corresponding method comprise receiving from a separate processor identifiers of bursts to be processed, filtering the signals to retrieve the bursts whose identifiers were received, processing said retrieved bursts, receiving from said separate processor timing information associated with the identifiers of bursts to be processed; and power management to drive at least some components of said demodulator between an idle state and an active state depending upon said timing information.
US07840816B2
A method of identifying material which includes the step of inserting an identifying code into a signal as a watermark, and deriving a signature from the material. The code and signature are stored in a database. The watermarked signal may be distributed and/or transmitted through a network. The signal may be processed in the network. A monitor derives from the received signal, the signature and the code. The derived signature and the derived code are compared with the stored signature and code to check the provenance of the material. The watermark contains an authorization code allowing duplication of the material.
US07840806B2
Zero-knowledge authentication proves identity without revealing information about a secret that is used to prove that identity. An authentication agent performs authentication of a prover agent without knowledge or transfer of the secret. A non-centralized zero-knowledge authentication system contains multiple authentication agents, for access by multiple computers seeking access on a computer network through local prover agents. Once authenticated, those multiple computers may also implement authentication agents. The secret may periodically expire by publishing a new encrypted secret by a trusted source, thwarting attempts to factor or guess information about the secret.
US07840805B2
A method of secure communication of digital data between devices, including validating, by a security module, the devices using device identifiers, generating a random key in the security module, and transmitting the random key to the devices.
US07840802B1
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for controlling access to an electronic document. A document management system receives a request from a first user at a first user location for an electronic document. The first user is authenticated using a set of access policies for the electronic document, to verify that the first user is authorized to obtain the electronic document. If so, an encrypted rendition is passed to the first user. A request for access to the encrypted rendition from a second user is then received. The second user is authenticated, using the set of access policies, to establish which operations the second user may perform on the encrypted rendition. A voucher including an electronic key for decrypting the encrypted rendition and the set of access policies is created at the document management system. The voucher is passed to the second user location.
US07840801B2
The presented method allows a virtual TRUSTED PLATFORM MODULE (TPM) instance to map the Platform Configuration Registers (PCR) register state of a parent virtual TPM instance into its own register space and export the state of those registers to applications inside the virtual machine associated with the virtual TPM instance. Through the mapping of PCR registers, the procedure of attesting to the overall state of a virtual machine can be accelerated, since the state of all measurements relevant to the trustworthiness of a virtual machine are all visible in the combined view of mapped and non-mapped PCR registers. Registers that are mapped into the register space of a virtual TPM instance reflect the state of trustworthiness of those virtual machines that were involved in the creation of the virtual machine that is being challenged.
US07840796B2
A system, computer program product and method for booting to a partition in a non-volatile storage unit without a local operator. In one embodiment, one or more bits in a BOOT register may be set by an operating system indicating if the BIOS should boot to the partition. The BIOS may then read the BOOT register to determine if the BIOS is to boot to the partition as well as any activities to perform if the BIOS is to boot to the partition. In another embodiment, a network interface card may insert directive information received from a packet in a register within the network interface card. The BIOS may then read the register within the network interface card to determine if the BIOS is to boot to the partition as well as any activities to perform if the BIOS is to boot to the partition.
US07840788B1
A process which automatically inserts commands that test for and raise exceptions indicating floating point status exceptions into a sequence of instructions to be executed, re-ordering a pipelined instructions by moving a floating point instruction from after a branch instruction to before the branch instruction, and responds to exceptions in execution of the sequence of instructions by returning execution to a point in the sequence of instructions at which correct state is known and then executing each instruction in the sequence singly to completion so that exceptions in pipelined floating point instructions can be automatically-detected and handled precisely.
US07840782B2
A processor (e.g., a co-processor) executes a stack-based instruction set and another instruction in a way that accelerates the execution of the stack-based instruction set, although code acceleration is not required under the scope of this disclosure. In accordance with at least some embodiments of the invention, the processor may comprise a multi-entry stack usable in at least a stack-based instruction set, logic coupled to and managing the stack, and a plurality of registers coupled to the logic and addressable through a second instruction set that provides register-based and memory-based operations.
US07840777B2
A general purpose computing system comprises a novel apparatus and method for data processing. The computing system design of one application of the present invention includes an instruction pipe having a decompression circuit, a reprogrammable logic unit and a data bus. Instructions and data may be accessed via a shared bus or via a separate instruction bus and data bus. The decompression circuit accepts compressed instructions and memory management directives from the instruction bus, decompresses each instruction, and transmits the decompressed instruction to the reprogrammable logic unit. A software compiler is provided that accepts high level programming language source code and creates instructions that are coded for acceptance and execution by the reprogrammable logic unit.
US07840764B2
A logically-partitioned computer system provides support for multiple logical partitions to access a single file system, thereby allowing the logical partitions to share a file without the overhead of communicating over a VLAN. An area of shared memory is defined that multiple logical partitions may access. One or more file control blocks that control access to the files in the file system are then created in the shared memory. Existing mechanisms for locking a file system between processes may then be used across logical partitions to serialize access to the file system by all processes in all logical partitions that share the file system. In this manner the sharing of files in a file system is enabled by leveraging existing technology that is used within a single logical partition to extend across multiple logical partitions.
US07840762B2
A multipath accessible semiconductor memory device having a mailbox area and a mailbox access control method thereof are provided. The semiconductor memory device includes N number of ports, at least one shared memory area allocated in a memory cell array, and N number of mailbox areas for message communication. The at least one shared memory area is operationally connected to the N number of ports, and is accessible through a plurality of data input/output lines to form a data access path between the at least one shared memory area and one port, having an access right to the at least one memory area, among the N number of ports. The N number of mailbox areas are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the N number of ports and are accessible through the plurality of data input/output lines when an address of a predetermined area of the at least one shared memory area is applied to the semiconductor memory device. An efficient layout of mailboxes and an efficient message access path can be obtained.
US07840760B2
Methods for a treatment of cached objects are described. In one embodiment, management of a region of a cache is configured with an eviction policy plug-in. The eviction policy plug-in includes an eviction timing component and a sorting component, with the eviction timing component including code to implement an eviction timing method, and the eviction timing method to trigger eviction of an object from the region of cache. The sorting component includes code to implement a sorting method to identify an object that is eligible for eviction in the region of cache. The sorting method involves identifying an object that has been cached in the region of cache for a longer time period than other objects that are cached in the cache region.
US07840758B2
A processor includes at least one instruction execution unit that executes store instructions to obtain store operations and a store queue coupled to the instruction execution unit. The store queue includes a queue entry in which the store queue gathers multiple store operations during a store gathering window to obtain a data portion of a write transaction directed to lower level memory. In addition, the store queue includes dispatch logic that varies a size of the store gathering window to optimize store performance for different store behaviors and workloads.
US07840757B2
Computer systems with direct updating of cache (e.g., primary L1 cache) memories of a processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or graphics processing unit (GPU). Special addresses are reserved for high speed memory. Memory access requests involving these reserved addresses are routed directly to the high speed memory. Memory access requests not involving these reserved addresses are routed to memory external to the processor.
US07840747B2
A nonvolatile memory system comprises a nonvolatile memory having a plurality of data areas; and a memory controller operative to control read and write operations to the nonvolatile memory. The memory controller successively executes read/write operations to plural sectors within a selected data area in the nonvolatile memory in accordance with a command and a sector count and sector address fed from a host device.
US07840746B2
A encoding method for a flash memory is provided, which can be used for reducing the memory wear and extend the endurance of the memory. The encoding method includes the steps as follows (A) receiving a set of information bits; (B) counting an amount of the information bits needed to be programmed in the set; (C) reversing the set of information bits if the amount of information bits needed to be programmed is less than half of the amount of whole information bits in the set, so that there are more than half of the information bits needed to be programmed in the reversed set; and (D) programming the information bits needed to be programmed in the reversing set, including the reverse flag bit for read out check.
US07840744B2
In an aspect, a first method of interfacing a processor and memory is provided. The first method includes the steps of (1) generating a first command and associated address of a first type that does not indicate a rank of memory targeted by the first command; (2) determining whether the memory includes a plurality of ranks; (3) if the memory includes a plurality of ranks, employing the processor to update the address associated with the first command to indicate a memory rank targeted by the first command; (4) if the memory does not include a plurality of ranks, employing the processor to update the address associated with the first command to indicate the memory does not include a plurality of ranks; and (5) converting the first command and associated updated address to a second command and associated address that are employed to access the memory. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US07840739B2
Provided is a technique for preventing a loss by storing a universal plug and play (UPnP) control request and delaying handling of the UPnP control request. A method of handling a UPnP control request in a UPnP control point includes storing a UPnP control request that is not handled in the UPnP control point, receiving a message informing that a UPnP control device has participated in a network from the UPnP control device, receiving information about capability of the UPnP control device from the UPnP control device, determining whether the UPnP control device can perform the UPnP control request that is not handled based on the information about capability of the UPnP control device, and transmitting the UPnP control request to the UPnP control device that is determined to be able to perform the UPnP control request.
US07840730B2
Described is a technology by which a storage volume is shared by cluster nodes of a server cluster. In one implementation, each node includes a redirector that provides shared access to the volume from that node. The redirector routes file system metadata requests from applications and the like through a first (e.g., SMB) communications path to the owning node, and routes file system read and write data to the storage device through a second, high-speed communications path such as direct direct block level I/O. An owning node maintains ownership of the storage device through a persistent reservation mechanism that writes a key to a registration table associated with the storage device. Non-owning nodes write a shared key. The owning node validates the shared keys against cluster membership data, and preempts (e.g., removes) any key deemed not valid. Security mechanisms for controlling access are also described.
US07840727B2
Disclosed is a serial-to-parallel converter/parallel-to-serial converter/FIFO unified circuit which includes a register, a selector and a counter. The register receives serial input data and converts the serial data into parallel data based on frequency-divided multi-phase clock signals from a counter. The selector receives the parallel data from the register to select one of the data in accordance with a control signal. The counter generates the control signal for the selector so that plural items of data will be output serially from the selector in the sequence in which the plural items data have been serially supplied to the register.
US07840726B2
A system and method is disclosed for programming a field programmable gate array. The system involves the recognition of the next following bit sequence to be transmitted to the FPGA through a general purpose input output device. Once the bit sequence is identified, the data line is only changed at the GPIO in those instances in which the next succeeding data bit in the bit sequences is different from the preceding data bit. In those situations in which the next following bit sequence is not different, the clock line is triggered without the necessity of testing, and changing the logic level of the data line.
US07840725B2
The invention relates to packet tracing in computer networks. Data packets are captured when entering or exiting the network or at any point within the network protocol stack. Buffers in computer kernel space memory store the packets until the contents of the buffers are written to persistent memory. Each buffer holds one or more data packets and the contents of a buffer are written to persistent memory when a status flag associated with the buffer indicates that it may hold no further packets. Data packets may be continuously captured, or capture may be initiated and/or terminated in response to a special event.
US07840708B2
A method and system for the assignment of security group information using a proxy is disclosed. The method includes receiving an address of a network device at a first network device, receiving a security group of the network device at the first network device and associating the address information and the security group information with one another at the first network device. The first network device is coupled to a second network device. The address is represented by address information, which is received from the second network device. The security group is identified using the security group information, which indicates the network device is a member of the security group. The address information and the security group information are associated with one another by storing the address information and the security group information at the first network device.
US07840706B1
A method and system for supporting Wake-on-LAN (WOL) in a team of network interface cards (NICs) in a computing device is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method, which includes the steps of programming each of the NICs on the team with a team Media Access Control (MAC) address after having backed up the NIC MAC addresses of the NICs but before the computing device enters a low power state, and causing modification of address resolution protocol (ARP) caches associated with a plurality of client devices coupled to the team of NICs to use the team MAC address.
US07840695B2
Capacity management is described. In an implementation, a method includes executing a module on a computing device to monitor use of a product during a measurement interval to determine a maximum capacity of the product used during the measurement interval and whether a capacity failure point is reached during the measurement interval. A learned capacity limit is set based on the monitoring for determining whether one or more of a plurality of clients, if any, are to receive a list which references at least the monitored product, wherein the learned capacity limit is set such that when the capacity failure point is not reached, the learned capacity limit is set according to the maximum capacity.
US07840694B2
This is a converter which converts communication methods and/or protocols in order to enable communications between at least one medical equipment (ME) and a medical support control device (MSCD), comprising: a first communication interface corresponding to a communication interface of the MSCD; a plurality of second communication interfaces corresponding to a communication interface of each piece of ME in order to connect the MSCD and a plurality of pieces of ME whose communication methods and/or protocols are different; a determination unit for determining whether a communication connection can be established between each of the plurality of pieces of ME connected through the second communication interface and the converter; and a communication control unit for obtaining a difference between the communication program corresponding to the ME and the connection program and converting the communication protocols of the ME and the MSCD with each other.
US07840692B1
A system, device, and method for bandwidth management in an optical communication system uses an optical service agent to provide bandwidth management services on behalf of a user. The optical service agent may monitor bandwidth utilization on a connection, control bandwidth utilization on a connection, obtain additional bandwidth for a connection, relinquish excess bandwidth for a connection, and allocate bandwidth among multiple connections, to name but a few. The optical service agent may interact with an optical communication network and/or various peer users in order to obtain and reserve communication services.
US07840690B2
Systems of the present invention allow for managing multiple social websites. An exemplary system may comprise a Personal Portal Website hosted on a server that may be communicatively coupled to a Network. The Personal Portal Website may resolve from a domain name registered to a Registrant. The Personal Portal Website also may have means for authenticating the Registrant and a Management Webpage, which is accessible only to the Registrant after successful authentication. The Management Webpage may also have means for selecting a plurality of social websites. A Portal Webpage also may be accessible via the Personal Portal Website, and may have links to the social websites selected by the Registrant on the Management Webpage.
US07840682B2
An improved distributed operating system over a network of computer systems is described. Existing distributed operating systems have transmission performance limitations dictated by their inability to (1) reliably handle transient communication failures and rapid node reboots, (2) provide a transmission protocol that adapts to link reliability, and (3) allow transmissions to occur over an arbitrary combinations of communication links. The systems and methods described herein solve these problems by providing a reliable node-to-node session protocol that offers high performance message delivery and multi-interface management and support. This is done by transmitting all data between two nodes of the operating system over a single connection that may dynamically exploit multiple interfaces between the nodes.
US07840672B2
In a computer network environment, a server protocol is provided to process read requests from clients. Rather than all read requests being processed synchronously or all read requests being processed asynchronously, an attempt is first made to perform a synchronous read. If the synchronous read is unsuccessful, the connection through which the request was received by the server is registered with a monitoring service. When the data is ready to be read, an appropriate callback is called and the data transmitted. An optional delay may be imposed before the synchronous read is attempted to increase the likelihood that the attempt will be successful. A series of delays/read attempts may also be employed in order to increase the likelihood still further that an attempt will be successful.
US07840668B1
A method and apparatus for managing communication between participants in a virtual environment enables the participants to elect to automatically connect with each other via a preferred communication mechanism, manually connect with each other, or choose not to connect with each other. The connection may be point-to-point between two participants or may include multiple participants. Establishment of a connection, or the ability to establish a connection, may be based on the proximity of the participants, or the Avatars representing the participants, in the virtual environment. Once the connection is established, the connection may be managed so that the connection is maintained while the Avatars remain proximate each other and is automatically severed once the Avatars move away from each other. Environmental noise and other audio aspects may be included in the connection to simulate a real-world conversation.
US07840665B1
A system and method for providing automated network management is provided. At least one network is monitored for one or more assets. At least one unmanaged asset is identified from the one or more assets. One or more access protocols associated with the at least one unmanaged asset are determined. The at least one unmanaged asset is accessed based on the one or more access protocols. At least one compliance policy is automatically applied to the at least one unmanaged asset.
US07840655B2
Data processing systems, computer implemented methods, and computer program products are provided for updating an address resolution protocol table. Updates received for the address resolution protocol table are comprised of an internet protocol address, a media access control address, and a unique identifier.
US07840651B2
A system and method for broadcasting multicast transmissions of data content over a unidirectional network between a single server that executes a server process application and a plurality of clients, each of which executes a client process application. On the server side, the server includes a client emulator that executes a client emulator process application to convert unicast form data to multicast form data and on the client side each client operates in response to an emulator that executes a server emulator process application. Transmission of the data content takes place between the client emulator process on the server side and the server emulator process on the client side. Each client also includes and operates a client process application that receives data content from the server emulator process on the client side. On the client side, each client can have its own server emulator process or there can be a common server emulator process used by the client process application of all of the clients or groups of clients using a dedicated server emulator process for each group. The invention achieves multicast broadcast over a unicast network replacing the need for bi-directional networks and eliminates the need for a back channel and the need to send multiple copies of the data, thereby reducing the need for bandwidth and solving the problem of scalability of existing systems to broadcast multicast.
US07840650B2
A method (and a system) for a computer user to share files by publishing references to them at websites, e.g., by filling HTML forms. This method allows the user to transparently upload said files to a third party hosting service. Files which originally reside on the user's computer are automatically uploaded to the third party hosting service and references to them are inserted into the HTML form at the publishing website.
US07840647B2
Described herein are systems, methods, computer program products, and combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for executing scripts that can be loaded on mobile devices (as well as other types of devices), and for users of mobile devices to interact with such scripts on their devices in an interactive manner. According to embodiments, the present invention performs script operations for mobile devices including steps for sending a request for an object and a list of support languages, and receiving the object and any related scripts in the supported languages.
US07840641B2
A method, an electronic device (110), a computer program product, and a computer readable medium for obtaining an evaluation of an electronic document that is referred to in an acquired electronic document. The electronic device (110) comprises an acquiring unit (111) adapted to acquire an electronic document including one or more references to one or more other electronic documents. The electronic device (110) also comprises a processing unit (112). The processing unit (112) is adapted to retrieve the reference(s) from the acquired electronic document. Furthermore, the processing unit is adapted to send to a second server (130) a request for an evaluation of the electronic document(s) associated with the retrieved reference(s), and receive from the second server (130) a response including the result of the evaluation.
US07840639B1
The present invention includes a method and article of manufacture for communicating via an application program included as a payload of an electronic message received over a network. First, the application program is initialized after a first electronic message is selected by a first user on an electronic mail browser. After initialization, the application program of the first electronic message is executed. Such execution includes displaying text included with the first electronic message, changing a non-textual aspect of the first electronic message based on the input from the first user, allowing entry of text, and sending the entered text and the application program over the network in a second electronic message to a second user.
US07840638B2
A multimedia conference technique is disclosed that allows physically remote users to participate in an immersive telecollaborative environment by synchronizing multiple data, images and sounds. The multimedia conference implementation provides users with the perception of being in the same room visually as well as acoustically according to an orientation plan which reflects each remote user's position within the multimedia conference environment.
US07840632B2
A kind of portable multimedia network learning machine, includes a microprocessor and a memory connected to the microprocessor, input unit and display, communication and download module, multimedia driving device and multimedia player. The said communication and download module are used for communicating with the calculator connected to the hand-held multimedia network learning machine, uploading effectiveness of instruction message file, and may download multimedia cartoon menu file and multimedia packages in step with teaching in the far end database server, transmit learning situation result to the learning situation receiving terminal. While multimedia driving device and multimedia player are used for driving and playing the said downloaded cartoon menu file and courseware. The present invention also provides a kind of system and method realizing remote information transition between hand-held multimedia network learning machines. The present invention also provides a kind of method for producing multimedia document which can be played in the hand-held multimedia network learning machine. The present invention could expediently produce multimedia document or swap data with remote server.
US07840626B1
Several full-spectrum imaging techniques have been introduced in recent years that promise to provide rapid and comprehensive chemical characterization of complex samples. One of the remaining obstacles to adopting these techniques for routine use is the difficulty of reducing the vast quantities of raw spectral data to meaningful chemical information. Multivariate factor analysis techniques, such as Principal Component Analysis and Alternating Least Squares-based Multivariate Curve Resolution, have proven effective for extracting the essential chemical information from high dimensional spectral image data sets into a limited number of components that describe the spectral characteristics and spatial distributions of the chemical species comprising the sample. There are many cases, however, in which those constraints are not effective and where alternative approaches may provide new analytical insights.For many cases of practical importance, imaged samples are “simple” in the sense that they consist of relatively discrete chemical phases. That is, at any given location, only one or a few of the chemical species comprising the entire sample have non-zero concentrations. The methods of spectral image analysis of the present invention exploit this simplicity in the spatial domain to make the resulting factor models more realistic. Therefore, more physically accurate and interpretable spectral and abundance components can be extracted from spectral images that have spatially simple structure.
US07840622B2
Method to convert a hexadecimal floating point number (H) into a binary floating point number by using a Floating Point Unit (FPU) with fused multiply add with an A-register a B-register for two multiplicand operands and a C-register for an addend operand, wherein a leading zero counting unit (LZC) is associated to the addend C-register, wherein the difference of the leading zero result provided by the LZC and the input exponent (E) is calculated by a control unit and determines based on the Raw-Result-Exponent a force signal (F) with special conditions like ‘Exponent Overflow’, ‘Exponent Underflow’, and ‘Zero Result’.
US07840621B2
In an electronic apparatus having multiple functions such as a scientific electronic calculator, some of the multiple functions are set to be disabled according to need. Function disabling information (protection data) including disabled applications, protect display screen and protection period is stored on a memory card. When the memory card installed in a card slot of the electronic apparatus is detected, the function disabling information is read out and transferred onto corresponding memory areas of a system area in a flash ROM of the apparatus, and a protection display screen is displayed on a display unit, indicating that some of the multiple functions are disabled. Then, only “EXE” key operation is accepted and the function corresponding to the disabled application is disabled, and a function selecting menu screen is displayed, in which a start-up disabled mark M is added to an icon of the disabled application and a protection remaining time T is added.
US07840619B2
A computer data processing system including a central processing unit configured with a novel integrated computer control software system for the management of data objects including dynamic and automatic organization, linking, finding, cross-referencing, viewing and retrieval of multiple objects regardless of nature or source. The inventive system provides underlying component architecture having an object-oriented database structure and a metadata database structure which is unique in storing only one instance of each object while linking the object to multiple collections and domains by unique metadata links for the grouping into and retrieval from any of the collections. The system employs configurable, extensible attribute/properties of data objects in metadata format, and a truly user-friendly configurable interface that facilitates faster, more unified, comprehensive, useful and meaningful information management. Additional features include a sticky path object hierarchy viewing system, key phrase linking, viewing by reference, and drag-and-drop relationship link creation.
US07840614B2
An application program interface (API) embodied on one or more computer readable media, comprising a first group of services related to integrating content repositories into virtual content repositories (VCRs), a second group of services related to manipulating information in VCRs, a third group of services related to searching VCRs, a forth group of services related to configuring VCRs, and wherein the application program interface is compatible with a content repository service provider interface (SPI).
US07840612B2
According to the present disclosure, one or more processors of a computer device (e.g. a mobile communication device) are operative to execute a garbage collection program and an application program concurrently with execution of the garbage collection program. The garbage collection program is operative to identify a root set of referenced objects of an application program, where a reference indicator in a reference indicator array is set as referenced for each one of such referenced objects, and to perform a mark and sweep process based on the root set of referenced objects. The application program has computer instructions which includes a predefined computer instruction (e.g. a GETREF instruction) adapted to retrieve a reference from a target object and to set a reference indicator in the reference indicator array as referenced for the target object when executed. Advantageously, execution of the application program need not be unreasonably suspended during garbage collection processes. In one illustrative example, the application program is adapted to receive and/or provide information via a user interface of the computer device, and the concurrent processing allows for the receiving and/or providing of the information via the user interface without interference (e.g. suspension or delay) during the mark and sweep process.
US07840609B2
A method and apparatus are provided for using sibling-counts in XML indices to optimize single-path queries. Using a b-tree XML index with a SQL query logarithmically reduces the number of disk accesses by passing over index entries where it is determined that a match will not be found. However, because certain index entries are passed over, it is impossible to ascertain if a path expression occurs more than once in the XML index, as certain queries sometimes require. This hurdle can be overcome by maintaining a sibling count with each node entry in the XML index. Because the sibling count is stored with the index entry, the index will reveal whether the matching node is single or has other siblings. In additional to re-writing the original query for optimization by use of an XML index, it will be re-written to check for a single-path condition in the index.
US07840608B2
A method of generating a poet personality including reading poems, each of the poems containing text, generating analysis models, each of the analysis models representing one of poems and storing the analysis models in a personality data structure. The personality data structure further includes weights, each of the weights associated with each of the analysis models. The weights include integer values.
US07840606B2
A computer-implemented method performs a product availability check. The method comprises receiving a plurality of first data sets. The method further comprises deriving, based on the first data sets, one or more second data sets. Based on the second data sets, result information on the availability of one or more products in dependence of time is then derived.
US07840604B2
Data is processed at a central data processor using multiple processing steps. The data is processed for the extraction of entities. Relationships between the extracted entities are also extracted. A system map is built using one or more factors derived from the extracted entities and relationships and organized by influence relationships. Each factor is associated with one or more options.
US07840597B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates managing metadata associated with entities and entity types in a computing system. During operation, the system initializes a global static metadata cache containing global static metadata at the computing system. Next, the system initializes a global dynamic metadata cache containing global dynamic metadata at the computing system. The system then receives a command to initialize a session at the computing system. In response to the command, the system determines a realm for the session, wherein the realm is a virtual private partition of the computing system. The system then initializes a realm-scoped dynamic metadata cache containing realm-scoped dynamic metadata associated with the realm at the computing system. Finally, the system executes operations on the computing system in compliance with the global static metadata, the global dynamic metadata, and the realm-scoped dynamic metadata.
US07840594B2
Techniques for communicating between an embedded device and remote database(s) for a wide variety of applications, including human machine interface, supervisory control, data acquisition, and B2B applications. An application program interface (API), interfacing an application program seeking access to a predetermined database, operates on an operating system (OS) not operating a database driver program. A parser translates communications with the API into and from commands and formatted data of an OS independent form. A protocol stack formats the commands and formatted data into header formatted communications signals to accord with a predetermined protocol. Another protocol stack receives the header formatted communications signals, removes header data, and generates database communications signals. Another parser receives the database communications signals and generates and communicates a plurality of database formatted SQL commands. A database interface interfaces the predetermined database and communicates the database formatted SQL commands with the predetermined database.
US07840590B2
Techniques for efficiently processing a query are provided. A query may specify a location path and a content path. The location path identifies the hierarchical location of a set of documents within a resource repository. The content path identifies hierarchical location of one or more nodes within the content of the set of documents. Computing the query includes using a repository index, based on the location path and the content path, to generate first results corresponding to the set of documents and second results corresponding to the one or more nodes. Final results of the query are based on the first results and second results. Another technique is provided for formatting a locator value in the repository index to support data that is stored object-relationally. Another technique is provided for storing index information about virtual content.
US07840582B2
A system and associated method for retrieving information from the Internet by an end user through use of an Intelligent Search Agent. Creating an index comprising a least one data structure corresponding to a respective forum. Next, submitting a query to at least one search engine located on a respective Internet server. After submitting the query, posting a question to at least one forum located on a respective Internet server. After posting the question, subscribing to at least one web syndication corresponding to at least one respective forum. After subscribing to at least one web syndication, receiving information from at least one web syndication. Finally, sending the information to said end user.
US07840580B2
A peripheral device that includes: a search condition transmitting unit that transmits a search condition by using a protocol, in which support for a method of designating to an external device the number of an information piece from which information pieces are returned when the plural information pieces exist as search results is not defined to be indispensable to all compatible devices; a receiving unit that receives information transmitted from the external device; a storage unit that stores a predetermined number of search result information pieces transmitted from the external device; a storage starting number determining unit that determines the number of a search result information piece from which storage of the search result information pieces is started; and a storage control unit that stores the search result information pieces received by the receiving unit into the storage unit from the number determined by the storage start number determining unit.
US07840578B2
There are provided a method and system for determining the validity of a command, which includes: a first step of receiving a command including a predetermined query from a terminal of a user; a second step of generating log information associated with the command, in which the log information includes at least one of the query included in the command, input time point information on a time point of inputting the command, and a network address of the terminal; a third step of recording the log information in a log database; a fourth step of calculating a first determination result with respect to the validity of the command according to a predetermined first determination standard; a fifth step of including identification information determined according to the first determination result in the log information and recording in the log database; a sixth step of periodically searching for log information recorded for a first period with reference to the log database; and a seventh step of determining again the validity of the command by using the searched log information according to a predetermined second determination standard and calculating a second determination result.
US07840574B2
Provided are techniques for drawing mapping lines between source and target objects. A main view is displayed that shows one or more source objects, one or more target objects, and zero or more mappings between the one or more source objects and the one or more target objects, wherein a mapping line represents each mapping. Input that modifies the main view is received. In response to receiving the input, the mapping lines are sorted with a mapping strategy, and the mapping lines are drawn based on the mapping strategy.
US07840554B2
Methods are described to simultaneously apply conjugates of equality, range, and in-list predicates. A first set of methods are described for the simultaneous application of equality predicates. A second set of methods are described for the simultaneous application of a mixture of range and equality predicates. A third method is described for the simultaneous applying a mixture of in-list predicates. The described methods allow for quick evaluation of complex predicates as they efficiently implement the computation done per record, while maintaining the same execution time irrespective of the number of fields.
US07840550B2
A queries management system to be accessed by a user submitting queries against databases. The system comprises a system for defining a set of parameters associated to the user and including user profile parameters and queries structure parameters, a notifications storing system for storing results availability notifications, and a results storing system for storing database queries results. The queries management system further comprises a control system coupled to the defining system and to the storing system for controlling the queries submissions against the databases using the user profile parameters and the queries structure parameters defined for the user, for controlling the results availability notifications using the user profile parameters defined for the user, and for controlling the database queries results histories based on the user profile parameters defined for the user.
US07840547B1
Methods and systems for efficient query rewriting and the like are described here. One such described method comprises: offline mapping frequently-seen search queries to rewritten queries that may be better for searching; offline caching the mapping in a cache memory; and upon receiving a search query from a user similar to one of the mapped search queries, obtaining a corresponding rewritten query from the mapping in the cache memory based on predetermined conditions, and issuing a search of the rewritten query to the backend data system in order to avoid having to issue a search query to the backend data system twice while the user is online.
US07840531B2
For a data processing system having memory for storing a database, a method, a system and a computer program product for directing the data processing system to process a record to be inserted into the database is disclosed. The database includes a plurality of base tables. The method includes the steps of making a record copy matching the record, for each base table to be selected from the plurality of base tables: providing a base table candidate indication for a selected base table, the base table candidate indication indicating whether the selected base table is a candidate base table that may receive the record, the base table candidate indication being determined on an outcome of executing before triggers and an outcome of testing constraints in association with the record copy, the before triggers and the constraints being associated with the selected base table; and restoring the record copy so that the record copy matches the record before providing a next subsequent base table candidate indication for another base table to be selected.
US07840528B2
A handheld device includes a host database having first and second API associated therewith, a client database and a notification handler. The notification handler sends a request for notification of a change in the host database to the first API and receives the notification of the change in the host database after the change has occurred in the host database. The notification handler then requests contents of the host database from the second API and requests contents from the client database. These contents are then compared by the notification handler to identify the change in the host database. The notification handler then sends a command to update the client database based upon the change in the host database such that changes made in the host database of the handheld device may be continuously synchronized with the user's desktop computer via a wireless communication network.
US07840522B2
A method and system for rank aggregation of entities based on supervised learning is provided. A rank aggregation system provides an order-based aggregation of rankings of entities by learning weights within an optimization framework for combining the rankings of the entities using labeled training data and the ordering of the individual rankings. The rank aggregation system is provided with multiple rankings of entities. The rank aggregation system is also provided with training data that indicates the relative ranking of pairs of entities. The rank aggregation system then learns weights for each of the ranking sources by attempting to optimize the difference between the relative rankings of pairs of entities using the weights and the relative rankings of pairs of entities of the training data.
US07840520B2
Online fraud prevention including receiving a rules set to detect fraud, mapping the rules set to a data set, mapping success data to members of the rules set, filtering the members of the rules set, and ordering members of the data set by giving priority to those members of the data set with a greater probability for being fraudulent based upon the success data of each member of the rule set in detecting fraud. Further, a receiver coupled to an application server to receive a rules set to detect fraud, and a server coupled to the application server, to map the rules set to a data set, and to map the success data to each members of the rules set. The server is used to order the various members of the data set by giving priority to those members of the data set with a greatest probability for being fraudulent.
US07840519B2
Methods of analyzing data are provided. An expert system receives input from at least a first source. Data is imported and analyzed by an expert system, wherein the expert system makes at least one first decision, which characterizes the data based on a rule base. The at least one first decision is displayable and modifiable by a first input from a first source. In response to the first input from the first source, the rule base may be re-applied to make at least one second decision, wherein the at least one second decision is different from the at least one first decision, or the at least one first decision may be accepted. The at least one first decision or the at least one second decision is then displayable and modifiable in response to a first input from a second source. In response to the first input from the second source, the rule base is either re-applied to make at least one third decision, wherein the third decision is different from the second decision, or either the first or second decisions are accepted.
US07840518B1
A method for object recognition includes generating a set of rules, using multiple systems to recognize a target object, applying the set of rules to a set of responses to determine an output, and displaying the output to a user. Each rule contains predicates and a consequent, each predicate comprising a rule token identifier and a rule probability of recognition. The rule token identifiers are generated from multiple systems. Each rule token identifier represents a system recognized object. Each rule is derived by associating a range of rule probabilities of recognition for one or more rule token identifiers to a known object. The range of rule probabilities of recognition is determined by at least one system and by combining multiple rule probabilities of recognition. Each system produces a response having a response token identifier and a response probability of recognition. Responses are combined to form the sets of responses.
US07840512B2
Medical ontology information is used for mining and/or probabilistic modeling. A domain knowledge base may be automatically or semi-automatically created by a processor from a medical ontology. The domain knowledge base, such as a list of disease associated terms, is used to mine for corresponding information from a medical record. The relationship of different terms with respect to a disease may be used to train a probabilistic model. Probabilities of a disease or chance of indicating the disease are determined based on the terms from a medical ontology. This probabilistic reasoning is learned with a machine from ontology information and a training data set.
US07840505B2
A classification system that includes a first input module, a marker module, unclassified Lagrange multiplier calculation module, and a classification module. The unclassified vector describes a physical condition. The marker module assigns a marker to the unclassified vector. The marker should place the unclassified vector into one of two classes. The unclassified Lagrange multiplier calculation module calculates a classifying Lagrange multiplier for the unclassified vector using the marker and a classification rule. The classification rule may be generated using a training system for classifying the physical condition. The classification module is configured to determine that the marker places the unclassified vector in the proper class if the classifying Lagrange multiplier is small.
US07840500B2
The present invention relates to a control system, method and computer program product to control a process having a large dead time. An exemplary process controllable by embodiments according to the invention is the glass manufacturing process, where fuzzy logic is used to control a level of molten and melting raw materials in a furnace during a glass-manufacturing process by controlling the rate at which raw materials enter the furnace.
US07840496B2
An electronic system for payment via a telecommunications network between firstly a vendor having a server suitable for implementing a secure protocol for payment by smart card, and secondly a client having navigation and electronic payment means suitable for making a payment to said vendor using client software for handling payment that includes the secure payment protocol. The client software for handling payment is installed on a payment server on the telecommunications network. The system comprises, at the client end, navigation means, electronic payment means constituted by a mobile terminal connected to the network and including a reader for reading payment smart cards, and means for redirecting messages suitable for transmitting at least the call number of the mobile terminal to the payment server.
US07840493B2
The present invention refers to the use of a meter completely integrated on a single piece, totally covered and without contact with the exterior that incorporates a prepayment system and a more efficient method to control the electric energy supply and obtains excellent information from the meter by means of contactless intelligent cards.
US07840488B2
A method, system, device, and computer program product for processing plural rights expressions associated with an item for use in a system for controlling use of the item in accordance with the rights expressions, including receiving a request to use an item, the item having associated rights expressions governing use of the item; returning one or more rights expressions including conditions that must be satisfied in order to use the item; and processing the returned rights expressions in a manner to facilitate selection of the returned rights expressions in order to use the item in accordance with the selected rights expressions.
US07840484B2
Share of Wallet (“SOW”) is a modeling approach that utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a consumers spending capability, tradeline history including balance transfers, and balance information. These outputs can be appended to data profiles of customers and prospects and can be utilized to support decisions involving prospecting, new applicant evaluation, and customer management across the lifecycle. The outputs can be used as attributes to consider in developing a credit bureau scorecard.
US07840481B2
A method and system for aging orders, increasing securities market liquidity.
US07840478B1
The present invention generally relates to brokerage systems and methods, and more particularly, to a multi-tiered trading system and corresponding methods which allow multiple customers and multiple dealers to transact on a single platform while maintaining the distinction of an inter-dealer system and a dealer-customer relationship.
US07840476B1
A system and method of transformation bidding in an electronic auction system. The system acquires lot data including tooling information for a lot, receives a bid from a bidder, and transforms the lot data and the bid into a true cost of procuring the lot from the bidder. The system also presents the true cost to a sponsor.
US07840472B1
A method and apparatus are provided for conducting a live auction that combines various features of traditional and online auctions. According to one aspect of the present invention, the live auction includes a live, in-person auction component and a real-time online bidding environment component. Bidding information associated with an item in the online bidding environment is updated to reflect a current bid associated with the item in the live, in-person auction. During the live, in-person auction, a bid is be accepted from an online bidder in the online environment that reflects the online bidder's bid price for the item. Subsequently, the system bids on behalf of the online bidder against other online bidders as well as one or more live bidders that are participating in the live, in-person. As such, the live auction enables real-time online bidding in a live, in-person auction.
US07840470B2
A computer-implemented retirement planning system comprises data collection logic, modeling logic, and report generation logic. The data collection logic is configured to receive data pertaining to an individual planning for retirement. The retirement modeling logic is configured to process the data to generate parameters of a retirement plan. The retirement plan comprises a retirement income arrangement in which the amount of inflation-adjusted retirement income (from sources other than long term care insurance and health insurance) is larger during early years of the retirement plan and decreases as the maximum life expectancy of the individual is reached. The report generation logic being configured to generate a retirement plan report describing the retirement income arrangement.
US07840463B1
Systems, devices, apparatus and methods of allowing one to use a handheld type calculator and/or computer based program having factory pre-set and preprogrammed color indicia buttons/keys to allow the user to easily and quickly do a variety of specialized calculations for financial planning results that include retirement planning, wealth accumulation, pension analysis, mortgage comparison shopping and funding future education.
US07840451B2
Operations to manage statements relating to a computer system state include obtaining, in a computer system and from any of several sources, statements that relate to a current state of the computer system. Each statement comprises several elements. The operations comprise assigning focus values to the elements of each statement, each focus value indicating a relevance of the element to the current state of the computer system. The operations comprise identifying a subset of the statements based on the focus values. The operations comprise making a first output to a user, the first output being selected from several predefined outputs using the subset of the statements. The output may represent the current state to the user or it may present at least one of several predefined goals to the user for selection, the at least one goal being identified as being possible to accomplish based on the current state.
US07840448B2
A system and method for automatically generating a naturally reading narrative product summary including assertions about a selected product. The method includes the steps of determining an attribute associated with the selected product, retrieving an assertion model defining forms in which an assertion can be manifested to describe the product in a natural manner, and generating a naturally reading narrative by combining the attribute with the retrieved assertion model. A product summary generator comprises a product attribute module adapted to determine an attribute, an assertion model module adapted to retrieve an assertion model, and a summary generation module adapted to generate a naturally reading narrative by combining the attribute with the retrieved assertion model. A computer readable medium for automatically generating a naturally reading narrative product summary including assertions about a selected product is also provided.
US07840446B2
An integrated database and information server are provided that efficiently share information and tasks between various stored value programs. A server is configured to provide reusable objects and data structures that are suitably shared between various stored value products. A database at the server allows data to be shared between various programs so that each consumer associates with only one database record even though that consumer may use multiple shared value products. By integrating modules and avoiding duplicate records, the record communicates with all stored value programs, so the information does not need to be repeatedly entered into the database. Moreover, new stored value products are quickly and easily created through selection and arrangement of various shared objects preferably maintained within the database.
US07840444B2
A method for ordering a corrective clip having corrective lenses. The clip corrects a wearer's view of a head mounted video display. When customers purchase an HMD, they are provided with clip ordering information. This includes information allowing the users to determine if a clip is required for their personal use. By providing at least SV and PD data customers can place their own orders which are transmitted to the lab. The completed corrective clip is delivered directly to the customer. Since the clip mounts on the viewer, a fitting session is not required. In use, the corrective clip reside between the user's eyes and an HMD display, without contacting the user.
US07840439B2
A method for using electronic product identification devices to track product sales and enable sales transactions to be registered in an electronic registration (ER) system without causing privacy or security concerns for the purchasers. RF-ID devices are placed on products being sold and include detailed information about the products. When the products are purchased, the detailed information is loaded into an ER database and all but a limited amount of information is removed from the RF-ID device. The limited information is sufficient to enable the detailed information to be located in the ER database by authorized individuals in connection with a return transaction or the like.
US07840436B1
A modeling tool for determining the impact that a data warehouse solution will have upon a business organization considering implementing a data warehouse solution. The modeling tool is implemented on a server computer with restricted access through a client computer. A server computer includes: a business impact model comprising a mathematical representation of a data warehouse solution, and an assessment questionnaire; and a modeling application for calculating a value of a data warehouse solution to a business organization from the business impact model and assessment questionnaire answers. A client computer is connectable to the server computer for receiving a copy of the business impact model, and providing offline collection of answers to the assessment questions, and offline calculation of a value of the data warehouse solution to the business organization. An application residing on the server computer keeps a record of the business impact model received by the client computer.
US07840432B2
A computer implemented method and computer program product for managing commodity data. In one or more embodiments, a commodity type and parts corresponding to the commodity are identified. A part cost analysis is generated for each part based on part history data. The part history data is obtained from a set of data sources using data mining techniques to filter relevant part data from a plurality of part data. Cost-related failure data is created using the part cost data and the keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence. The cost-related failure data is displayed in a commodity database based on the keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence. A user can obtain information regarding future cost trends for the commodity and corresponding parts based on a demand for the commodity and a demand for the parts.
US07840425B2
A travel product reservation system having a central computer system for processing the user requests, includes elements for calculating and returning to the user selling price information relating to travel products, the central computer system being accessible from at least one user station. The reservation system includes: database containing rules for determining the association with a fare family for each travel fare, a search engine for products that meet the input criteria of a user request and associated fares, the search engine being in communication with the database for accessing the determination rules and applying them to the travel products that meet the input criteria, for returning to the user station, for display, a reply containing information relating to the products that meet the input criteria, sorting them into fare families.
US07840422B1
Methods and systems for managing insurance claims include facilitating prepayment decisions, provider bill auditing, and recovery of paid claims. Prepayment decisions include, for example, determining whether to pay, deny, or defer an insurance claim submitted by an insured. Provider bill auditing may include, for example, examining bills related to an insurance claim for accuracy. Recovery of paid claims may include managing litigations and calculating fees due for recovery services.
US07840418B2
Amongst other things, the availability of service providers is tracked across one or more service provider networks. A status change of the service provider is identified on one or more of the service provider networks and the other service provider networks associated with the service provider is sent data indicating the changed status of the service provider.
US07840398B2
Techniques for unified management communications for virtual systems are described. An apparatus may comprise a first server emulated using a first virtual machine, a second server emulated using a second virtual machine, and a virtual machine monitor. The virtual machine monitor may communicate information with one or more emulated servers using a Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) message. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07840387B1
A method for determining a design of an inflatable module including a rigid member disposed in a restraint layer, wherein the restraint layer includes orthogonal straps, includes modeling a strap adjacent to the rigid member and a strap connected to the rigid member. The adjacent strap and the member strap extend in a first direction. The method further includes selecting a first length of the member strap such that the adjacent strap carries load before the member strap during pressurization of the inflatable module, modeling tensions in the member strap with the first length and the adjacent strap during pressurization of the inflatable model, and outputting the modeled tensions in the member strap with the first length and the adjacent strap. An inflatable module includes a member strap having a length such that an adjacent strap carries load before the member strap during pressurization of the inflatable module.
US07840385B2
A system for the identification of sinusoidal interference signals from a noise signal is provided. The system includes a unit for the estimation (51, 52, . . . , 5NFFT) of an autocorrelation matrix ({circumflex over (R)}v) of a measured signal (x(t), x(μ·Δt)), composed from the sinusoidal interference signals (Ak·ej(ωkt+φk), Ak·ej(ωkμ·Δt+φk)) and the noise signal (w(t), w(μ·Δt)), a unit (81, 82, . . . , 8NFFT) for frequency estimation, and a unit (91, 92, . . . , 9NFFT) for power-level determination of the spectral lines associated with the sinusoidal interference signals (Ak·ej(ωkt+φk), Ak·ej(ωkμ·Δt+φk)) A Fast Fourier Transform filter bank (1) is additionally provided for the generation of several frequency bands (v) for the measured signal (x(t), x(μ·Δt)), composed of the sinusoidal interference signals (Ak·ej(ωkt+φk), Ak·ej(ωkμ·Δt+φk)) and the noise signal (w(t), w(μ·Δt)).
US07840364B2
Potentials at both ends of an exciter coil to which an exciting signal is sent by a push-pull method are compared, and at least one of a short circuit to ground and a short circuit to a power supply of a signal line for the exciting signal is detected based on the duty cycle of a rectangular-wave signal indicating the result of comparison. Alternatively, a predetermined reference potential is compared with a potential of at least one of two phase detection signals before detection, and at least one of a short circuit to the ground and a short circuit to the power supply of a signal line for the at least one of the detection signals is detected based on the duty cycle of a rectangular-wave signal indicating the result of comparison.
US07840356B2
Method for completely specifying orientation of electromagnetic receivers dropped to the ocean bottom in an electromagnetic survey. Survey data are selected, rejecting noisy data with long offsets and data where the receiver has saturated with short offsets (61). A model is developed comprising three independent receiver orientation angles completely specifying the receiver orientation in three dimensions, and an earth resistivity model including a water layer and possibly an air layer (62). Maxwell's equations, applied to the model and the selected data, are then inverted to determine the receiver orientations (63).
US07840353B2
A system and method are disclosed for managing a network of sensors (100). A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a sensor (102) belonging to the network of sensors operating in a geographic space having a controller (210) that manages a sensing device (204). The controller can be programmed to locate (302) itself in the geographic space, and assign (304) itself according to its location a zone within a portion of the geographic space and a corresponding data range for storing sensed information. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US07840351B2
Provided is a method of correcting an ionosphere error, a system of a precise orbit determination using the same and a method thereof. The method includes the steps of: a) determining a time of a highest elevation angle of a GPS satellite per one pass of each GPS satellite received at a LEO satellite or a receiver on a ground; b) determining a minimum total electron content found from an ionosphere model of the determined time per one pass of each GPS satellite; c) determining a total electron content directly calculated from the LEO satellite or a single frequency GPS data; d) determining an ionosphere error value of a single frequency GPS data by combining the minimum total electron content and the directly calculated total electron content; and e) correcting pseudorange data or carrier phase data based on the determined ionosphere error value.
US07840344B2
Detailed herein is a technology which, among other things, allows multimedia content associated with a particular geographic area to be viewed and accessed through an appropriate geographic map. In one approach to this technology, multimedia content is received. This content has an associated geographic tag. A geographic map is displayed, and can be used to gain access to the multimedia content.
US07840340B2
Systems and methods are provided for generating a reference location data set, such as a reference longitude and latitude point, for each of a plurality of point addresses. A reference location data set can be determined for a point address based on a history of prior geocode samples, such as GPS readings, that have been obtained using a portable computing device during a prior delivery to or pickup from the point address. A location data service collects such geocode samples and processes the samples to generate a reference location data set, such as a reference longitude and latitude and a zone of confidence around the reference longitude and latitude, for each unique point address. To determine whether an item is being delivered to a wrong address, current location data obtained during a delivery can be compared against the reference location data generated by the location data service for the delivery address.
US07840333B2
An event-driven starter controller regulates the speed of a gas turbine engine based on detected events. The event-driven starter controller is used to supply motive force to the gas turbine engine prior such that the gas turbine engine is able to ignite (i.e., achieve light-off). In particular, in response to engine speed reaching a defined threshold, the event-driven starter controller causes the speed of the starter motor to ramp or increase through a defined range of speeds suitable for engine light-off (i.e, light-off window). Upon reaching an upper threshold of the light-off window, the event-driven starter controller causes the speed of the starter motor to decrease through the range of speeds suitable for engine light-off. If at any time during the light-off window the event-driven starter controller detects a successful light-off condition, the event-driven starter controller causes the speed of the gas turbine engine to increase toward a second threshold.
US07840331B2
The invention is a travel support system using notified non-equipped vehicle information, and including an equipped-vehicle detecting unit detecting a presence and a position of an vehicle equipped with a communication module for communicating with another vehicle, a non-equipped-vehicle detecting unit detecting a presence and a position of a non-equipped vehicle without any communication module, and an information-holding vehicle identifying unit identifying an information-holding vehicle that is the equipped vehicle and holding non-equipped-vehicle information including the position of the non-equipped vehicle, based on the position of the equipped vehicle and the position of the non-equipped vehicle. The system also includes a non-equipped-vehicle information providing unit providing the non-equipped-vehicle information for the identified information-holding vehicle, and a communicating unit holding the provided non-equipped-vehicle information and providing the held non-equipped-vehicle information for another equipped vehicle via the communication module of the identified vehicle.
US07840330B2
System for evaluating the traffic environment of a motor vehicle and for influencing the speed of the motor vehicle in its own traffic lane, comprising an electronic control unit (ECU), which is connected to a signal transmitter that produces a signal characteristic of the desired speed of the motor vehicle, a signal transmitter that produces a signal characteristic of the yaw of the motor vehicle about its vertical axis, a signal transmitter that produces a signal characteristic of the articles situated, in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle, in front of the motor vehicle in terms of their spacing and orientation relative to the motor vehicle and which reproduces the speed relative to the speed of the system motor vehicle and/or the spacing relative to the system motor vehicle and/or the angular offset or the cross track distance relative to the vehicle longitudinal axis of the system motor vehicle, and a signal transmitter that produces a signal characteristic of the speed of at least one wheel of the motor vehicle, and which is connected to at least one control device, which influences the performance of the motor vehicle, in order to supply said device with output signals derived from the performance of the motor vehicle situated in front of the system motor vehicle, in which in the electronic control unit (ECU) the width of the system motor vehicle traffic lane is modified in dependence upon the distance of articles detected in the space in front of the system motor vehicle from the system motor vehicle, wherein the width in the close range and in the remote range is smaller than in the medium range.
US07840307B2
A dispenser for dispensing prescription pharmaceuticals contained therein includes: a bin, the bin including an access opening; a door adjacent to the opening and movable between open and closed positions to allow access for filling the bin through the opening, wherein one of the bin and the door includes a first identifier corresponding to the identity of units of a single prescription pharmaceutical contained in the bin; a locking assembly configured and positioned to engage the door in the closed position and prevent the door from moving to the open position; an identifier reading device operably associated with the locking assembly to scan the first identifier and a second identifier on a bulk container, the second identifier corresponding to the identity of the contents of the bulk container; and a controller having a data storage unit and configured to receive and compare signals from the identifier reading device corresponding to the first and second identifiers. The controller is operably associated with the locking assembly such that the locking assembly disengages from the door responsive to a positive comparison by the controller, thereby enabling the door to be moved to the open position.
US07840295B2
A computer system and implemented method for defining an input product to be manufactured into an output product, comprises steps of: (a) receiving an output product having attributes and comprising at least one sub-product, said sub-product having attributes; (b) associating to said output product a manufacturing operation identified among a plurality of manufacturing operations; (c) defining attributes of said input product, said input product attributes deriving from modification of attributes of the at least one sub-product according to the associated manufacturing operation. The computer implemented method of the invention thus derives input products from the output product to be manufactured with a process oriented approach. Design modifications on output product can be directly and automatically taken into account in input products.
US07840291B2
A recorder includes a processing device that runs numerous processes which include a process of inputting music sound stored in a storage device, a process of inputting music sound stored from the recording process in the storage device, a replay process which replays the musical sound stored in the storage device from that recording process. The recorder includes one or more switches and a scanning device that routinely detects the operating conditions of the one or more switches. A process is run from the processing device in response to the operating conditions of the switch detected by the scanning device. A control device can change the switch scan interval of the scanning device in response to that process.
US07840289B2
Creating a playlist of media items for a desired perceiving experience requires many actions for searching and selecting media items that fit the desired perceiving experience. The invention provides an alternative for creating a perceiving experience without the use of a playlist. To this end, the invention provides a method (1) for selecting a media item from a plurality of media items, each of the plurality of media items being linked to at least one out of a plurality of content related attribute-value pairs, the method (1) comprising the steps of defining (10) for at least one attribute of said plurality of attribute-value pairs at least two desired probabilities of selecting a media item having a predetermined value for said at least one attribute, resulting in a desired probability distribution (22) of at least two predetermined values for which a desired probability has been defined, selecting (14) an actual value from said at least two predetermined values in accordance with said desired probability distribution (22), and selecting (16) one of said plurality of media items having an attribute-value pair corresponding to said actual value and the attribute linked to said actual value. The invention further provides a system (1) and a media player (5) for selecting a media item.
US07840283B1
An implantable active fixation lead includes an outer sheath, a protector member having a peripheral surface extending between its distal and proximal end surfaces with a helical groove formed in the peripheral surface, and a fixation helix integral with the outer sheath. The fixation helix includes a tip end engageable with body tissue and slidably engaged with the helical groove for relative translation and rotation. A longitudinal force on the lead firmly engages the protector member's distal end surface with the body tissue. With the fixation helix initially retracted proximally of the protector member's distal end surface and disengaged from the body tissue, upon application of torque to the outer sheath, the distal end surface of the protector member is moved proximally with respect to the fixation helix which, simultaneously, is extended distally beyond the distal end surface of the protector member to an extended position into engagement with the body tissue.
US07840280B2
Disclosed is a method of treating a patient having a vocal cord disorder, comprising coupling at least one electrode to at least one cranial nerve of the patient, wherein the cranial nerve is selected from the group consisting of a vagus nerve, a trigeminal nerve, and a glossopharyngeal nerve, and applying an electrical signal to the cranial nerve using the electrode to treat the vocal cord disorder. The electrode may be coupled to a branch of the vagus nerve selected from the group consisting of a recurrent laryngeal nerve, the external branch of a superior laryngeal nerve, the internal branch of a superior laryngeal nerve, and a pharyngeal plexus. Also disclosed is a computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform the method, and a medical device and a vocal cord disorder treatment system that may be used in performance of the method.
US07840279B2
An implantable microstimulator arrangement includes at least one implantable microstimulator unit; an implantable battery unit separate from the implantable microstimulator unit(s); and at least one lead coupling the microstimulator unit(s) to the battery unit. The microstimulator unit(s) are operated to treat body tissue.
US07840276B2
A generic device programmer network interface is disclosed. Some embodiments include multiple connectors that are configured to connect to output hardware of multiple programmers and a transmitter that is configured to automatically transmit data received from the programmers to a server. Many embodiments serve to reduce or eliminate barriers to storing IMD and patient data on a server.
US07840269B2
Diet evaluation gastric apparatus (18) is provided, which detects when a patient (10) swallows, and detects the type and amount of matter ingested. The apparatus includes electrodes (74, 100) adapted to be coupled to the fundus and antrum of the patient and to measure electrical and mechanical activity therein, and a control unit (90) to analyze such electrical and mechanical activity and optionally apply electrical energy to modify the activity of tissue of the patient.
US07840265B2
A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and an external system. The ICD detects a tachyarrhythmia episode and classifies the detected tachyarrhythmia episode using none, one, or more of detection enhancements selected according to a selection command including a classification mode. The detection enhancements are each an algorithm for detecting and analyzing one or more indications of a type of the detected tachyarrhythmia episode. The external system allows a user to select the classification mode from a plurality of available classification modes each using none, one, or more of the detection enhancements.
US07840255B2
An X-ray CT apparatus 1 for radiating X-ray to a subject P so as to scan the subject P and reconstructing a image within the subject P based on an obtained projection data comprises an image generating unit and a blood-flow image generating unit 24e. The image generating unit generates the image based on the projection data in a state in which a concentration of a contrast medium in a myocardial portion of a subject P continuously injected the contrast medium can be considered to be constant. The blood-flow image generating unit 24e generates a blood flow image by removing components of a myocardial tissue from a portion of a myocardial region of the image generated by the image generating unit.
US07840243B2
There is provided a mobile terminal apparatus in which downsizing of the mobile terminal apparatus can be achieved and an antenna characteristic can be suitably supplied.In a mobile terminal apparatus 10, upper and lower housing 13 and 15 are coupled with each other by a coupling part 18 so as to be openable and closable, upper and lower circuit boards 21 and 24 are provided in the upper and lower housing 13 and 15, upper and lower protective cover parts 31 and 32 cover the upper and lower housing; and a flexible part 33 couples the upper and lower protective cover parts so as to be openable and closable and covers the coupling part. In the mobile terminal apparatus 10, an antenna power feeding land 51 is provided in one of the upper and lower circuit boards, a power feeding terminal of the antenna part 40 is electrically connected to this one circuit board via the antenna power feeding land, and the antenna part is housed in the flexible part.
US07840229B2
A method for managing communication resource assignment includes: determining a resource assignment policy based on information for requesting resource assignment policy in a session setup request for a multiparty communication service from a User Equipment, and assigning, according to the resource assignment policy, communication resources; A method for managing communication resource assignment includes: modifying a resource assignment policy based on information for requesting resource assignment policy in a session modification request for modifying a resource assignment policy and assigning, according to the modified resource assignment policy, the communication resources. A communication resource policy system is also provided. With the method and system above, the communication resources of multiparty communication services can be managed flexibly according to the resource assignment policies.
US07840224B2
Techniques are described for providing location-based information and functionality to people and computing devices in various ways. In at least some situations, the techniques include enabling multiple people in a common geographic area to interact in various ways, such as via devices capable of communications (e.g., cellular telephones, computing devices with wired and/or wireless communications capabilities, etc.). In addition, the techniques include enabling the creation and maintenance of location-based virtual groups of users (also referred to as “clouds”), such as for users of mobile and/or fixed-location devices. Such clouds may enable various types of interactions between group members, and may be temporary and/or mobile.
US07840216B2
The invention concerns a method for determining the appropriate moment for carrying out a handover of a connection of a mobile terminal in a mobile network whereby if no user related data or no probe data have been sent for a certain time interval from an access point to the mobile terminal, probe data are sent from the access point to said mobile terminal and/or if no user related data or no probe data have been sent for a certain time interval from said mobile terminal to said access point, probe data are sent from the mobile terminal to said access point, a mobile terminal, an access point and program modules therefor.
US07840214B2
The present invention provides methods involving at least one access terminal and at least one access network. The methods may include providing or receiving information indicative of future accessibility of at least one access network.
US07840213B2
A system, an apparatus and a method for coping with mobile switching node failure are disclosed. The method includes: an HLR (Home Location Register) detects that a first MSC (Mobile Switching Center) is not able to operate; the requesting party of a terminating service submits a request to the HLR for obtaining required location information for a called party registered on the first MSC, and the HLR selects a second MSC for the requesting party and requests for location information from the second MSC; the second MSC returns the location information to the HLR; the HLR returns the location information to the requesting party of the terminating service; and the requesting party of a terminating service performs subsequent service according to the location information.
US07840206B2
A wireless communication apparatus which wirelessly communicates with other communication apparatus or apparatuses, comprises a setting unit that sets a maximum number of other communication apparatus or apparatuses up to which the wireless communication apparatus authenticates to perform wireless communication, a storage unit that stores said maximum number set by said setting unit, and an authentication unit that authenticates other communication apparatus or apparatuses within said maximum number stored in said storage unit.
US07840204B2
An exemplary method for unlocking a wireless communications device comprises entering a backdoor screen, prompting input of a backdoor code, receiving the backdoor code, comparing the received backdoor code to a service validation code, and resetting an unlock code of the wireless communications device if the received backdoor code matches the service validation code. The service validation code may be, for example, a one time subsidy lock code, an operator master subsidy lock code, another service programming code or any other stored code not generally known to the user. The method may further comprise unlocking the wireless communications device if the received backdoor code matches the service validation code.
US07840200B2
The present invention relates to an antenna matching device that varies a frequency bandwidth according to mobile communication services, and to a transceiver having the same. To this end, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a transceiver that varies a frequency band and a bandwidth according to required services in a mobile communication system, the transceiver including an antenna matching controller that generates a prescribed switch control signal according to a service requested by a user, an antenna variable matching unit that variably forms a matching circuit according to the switch control signal to be transmitted from the antenna matching controller and varies the frequency band and the bandwidth, an analog processing unit that processes a signal to be transmitted/received through the antenna variable matching unit, and a wideband antenna that transmits/receives a radio frequency according to the frequency band and the bandwidth set by the antenna variable matching unit. Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an antenna matching device including a resistor that reduces a frequency bandwidth, an inductor that reduces a frequency passing band, a capacitor and a resistor that increase the frequency passing band, and switches that control the operations of the inductor and the capacitor. According to the present invention, unnecessary radiation power of a variable matching unit can be minimized, and maximum transmission power required according to services can be reduced. In addition, system construction costs can be reduced, and a user capacity can be increased.
US07840187B2
The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for dynamic frequency selection based on spectrum etiquette. In one example, the method includes identifying multiple frequencies usable by a central subdivision in a wireless communication system that are not in use by neighboring subdivisions. The method may determine whether the frequencies include a frequency that cannot be used by the neighboring subdivisions and, if the frequency exists, may select the frequency for use by the central subdivision. If such a frequency does not exist, the method may identify a frequency that can be used by fewer of the neighboring subdivisions than other frequencies and select the identified frequency for use by the central subdivision.
US07840182B2
Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus including, a wireless communication block configured to execute wireless communication with a mate terminal device, an information exchange generation condition storage block configured to record a condition of information exchange with the mate terminal device, an information exchange log storage block configured to record a log of information exchange with the mate terminal device, and an information exchange generation determination block configured to determine whether to execute information exchange with the mate terminal device by referencing the information exchange condition recorded in the information exchange generation condition storage block and the log of information exchange recorded in the information exchange log storage block.
US07840179B2
There are a step in which, when the video data distribution request is received from the mobile station, the base station determines whether the requested video data can be distributed or not, on the basis of the wireless transmission capacity required for distributing the requested video data and the wireless transmission capacity that is available at that point of time, a step in which the base station notifies the mobile station of a result of possibility determination about distribution, a step in which, when it is determined that distribution cannot be performed, the base station sends an inquiry about a base station capable of performing distribution, to the transmitted-data capacity management device, a step in which the transmitted-data capacity management device selects base stations capable of performing the distribution, on the basis of the wireless transmission capacity required for distributing the video data and the wireless transmission capacity being used for distribution performed by a plurality of base stations, and replies with the selected base stations, and a step in which the base station notifies the mobile station of the base stations capable of performing the distribution.
US07840178B2
A media broadcast and distribution system is disclosed which substitutes storage for communications, allowing more efficient use of scarce bandwidth resources. One embodiment allows a terrestrial FM broadcaster to offer a larger number of higher quality audio channels than current satellite radio services such as Sirius and XM Satellite Radio. This embodiment also has features that offer a better user experience than with personal audio devices such as Apple's iPod™. Another embodiment allows satellite radio services to expand their video offerings.
US07840173B2
A sheet moisturizing device, including: paired moisturizing rollers which form a nipping section to apply water onto a sheet when the sheet is conveyed through the nipping section; two water supplying rollers, each being in pressure contact to each of paired moisturizing rollers respectively; and two water supplying tanks, each arranged to face one of the water supplying rollers, wherein each of the two water supplying tanks is structured of a first tank which supplies water to the water supplying roller, and a second tank which is formed around the first tank and accommodates the water overflowed from the first tank.
US07840171B2
A developing unit includes a waste toner housing having an upper housing and a lower housing which face each other, at least one support unit to allow connection between the upper and lower housings, and to support facing surfaces of the upper and lower housings, and a toner housing which is disposed on a lower part of the waste toner housing and is spaced apart from the waste toner housing at a predetermined distance. Accordingly, the waste toner housing is prevented from being deformed by heat and pressure, and thus white lines on images, flowback of waste toner and insufficient cleaning, which are caused by interference with the light path due to deformation of the waste toner housing, can be reduced. Additionally, tolerance can be greatly reduced as a result of resolving the problem of deformation of the waste toner housing, so a developing unit having a smaller size can be provided.
US07840162B2
An image forming apparatus includes a main body and a rotating member unit having a rotating member. The rotating member unit is detachably held in the main body. The main body of the image forming apparatus has a retainer which retains a shaft penetrating and supporting the rotating member, and the retainer has a first shaft retaining member which supports the shaft at a front side as seen from the insertion direction of the rotating member unit.
US07840157B2
To improve the user maintainability and cost performance with respect to replacing replaceable components in an image forming apparatus using a tandem type intermediate transfer member. In an image forming apparatus provided with: primary transfer rollers that successively transfer toner images formed on a plurality of photosensitive members to an intermediate transfer belt on a surface of which the images are moved; and a secondary transfer roller that transfers in one operation the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt to a recording medium, and the plurality of photosensitive members are formed as a plurality of image carrier units that are removable with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus, a belt cleaning member that cleans secondary transfer residual toner from the intermediate transfer belt is disposed upstream, relative to the direction of movement of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt, of the image carrier unit that is disposed uppermost in the upstream direction, and the belt cleaning member is capable of being integrally removed.
US07840150B2
An image forming apparatus has: a first heating device which heats recording sheet formed with a developer image; a cooling device which cools the recording sheet passing through the first heating device; a second heating device which heats the recording sheet cooled by the cooling device and gives a gloss to the image on the recording sheet; a conveying device which conveys the recording sheet passing through the first heating device to the second heating device through the cooling device; and a controller which controls a cooling ability of the cooling device in accordance with a conveying time required until the recording sheet is conveyed from the first heating device to the second heating device.
US07840144B2
An optical transceiver is provided for optical communications with additive noise compensation. The system and method are disclosed for the additive noise cancellation, which is typically a vibration noise, caused by moving platform, where the transceiver is located. The transceiver comprises an additive noise sensor and a digital signal processing (DSP) unit which implements variable step size technique to adjust the filter weight in the least square estimate of the noise signal. In the preferred embodiment the digital signal processing is applied both at the transmission and the receiving side. The optical device is packed for ground-satellite and inter-satellite communications applications with resistance to high-energy X-rays, gamma rays and cosmic rays. The optical device sustains its operation characteristics under launch load.
US07840143B2
Demodulating an optical Differential Phase-Shift Keying (DPSK) signal is accomplished using a self-homodyne receiver for receiving the optical signal. A converter converts the optical signal received by the self-homodyne receiver into a representative electrical signal. A processor that processes the representative electrical signal using decision feedback multi-symbol detection in order to obtain a decision variable that indicates a differential phase-shift in the optical signal.
US07840141B2
The present invention is a miniaturized differential M phase-shift modulator (M=2n: n is 2 or more) in which a plurality of Mach-Zehnder type light modulators each adapted to output a DPSK-modulated signal light by applying a driving voltage signal are arranged in parallel and that comprises a multiplexing waveguide adapted to output a DMPSK-modulated light by multiplexing outputs of the plurality of the Mach-Zehnder type light modulators, wherein a phase-shift voltage to produce a phase shift difference of substantially 2π/M for a plurality of the signal lights multiplexed by the multiplexing waveguide is applied to the plurality of the Mach-Zehnder type light modulators together with the driving voltage signal.
US07840138B2
Gigabit Ethernet connectivity is realized using off-the-shelf GIGABIT INTERFACE CONVERTER transceivers, wave division multiplexer/demultiplexers, and a single optical fiber. Simultaneous and bi-directional optical communication over a single optical fiber connecting two or more nodes is achieved by using at least one GIGABIT INTERFACE CONVERTER transceiver having at least one optical signal output and an optical signal input that are of different wavelengths from each other.
US07840137B2
A station-side apparatus adapted for use in a passive optical network (PON) system is disclosed, which remotely collects inside information of optical network terminals (ONTs) even before completion of start-up of an optical network unit (ONU), permits an obstruction-detected ONU to send out an emergency notification message to the station-side apparatus, e.g., optical line terminal (OLP), and permits the OLT that received this message to interrupt the transmission of an upload signal toward another ONU after the elapse of a fixed length of time while at the same time receiving information from the obstruction-suffering ONU to thereby facilitate cut-and-divide or “segmentation” of obstruction. A subscriber-side device for use in the PON system is also disclosed.
US07840135B2
A method for detecting a failure network terminal in a Passive Optical Network includes: changing timeslots assigned to potential failure network terminals one by one; and determining the failure network terminal according to uplink data frames sent by the potential failure network terminals whose timeslots are changed. Embodiments of the present invention also disclose an apparatus and system for detecting a failure network terminal. The solution of the present invention may detect which Optical Network Unit/Terminal (ONU/ONT) fails and perform the corresponding processing in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, which recovers the system health and improves the network security, stability and self-healing ability.
US07840129B2
An imaging apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes: (a) an imaging device subunit having an imaging device for creating an image signal associated with a subject and a light-transmitting member mounted ahead of a photosensitive surface of the imaging device; (b) a first driver circuit for driving a first actuator that moves the imaging device subunit in a first direction; (c) a second driver circuit for driving a second actuator that moves the imaging device subunit in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and (d) first dust-removing means for shaking off dust adhering to the light-transmitting member by driving a given actuator so as to vibrate the light-transmitting member; wherein the given actuator is driven using the first driver circuit or the second driver circuit.
US07840128B2
An image-blur compensating device includes an optical component configured to compensate blur in an image, an actuator driving the optical component, a displacement detector detecting a position of the optical component changed by the actuator, an angular velocity detector detecting an angular velocity applied from outside, and a target displacement calculator calculating a driving amount when the actuator has driven the optical axis changing unit based on the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity detector and the position detected by the displacement detector. The target displacement calculator then obtains, as a result of compensating an amount of influence on the position of the optical component, a driving amount when driving the actuator based on the calculated driving amount. The image-blur compensating device further includes a driver driving the actuator based on the driving amount calculated by the target displacement calculator.
US07840123B2
A diffusion device includes a housing and an opening in the housing adapted for insertion of a container having an active material therein and a wick extending therefrom. The device further includes a heater disposed in a rear portion of the housing and spaced from the wick when a container is inserted into the housing. A vent is disposed in a front portion of the housing. An active material diffusion-interference member is disposed directly above and axially aligned with the wick when the container is inserted into the device, wherein the diffusion-interference member inhibits diffusion of the active material from the housing such that heat generated by the heater is trapped around the wick, thus increasing volatilization and dispersion of the active material from the diffusion device as compared to a diffusion device that does not have a diffusion-interference member.
US07840118B2
Data is recorded in a data area of a disk in a hierarchical structure of program chains, programs, cells and packs, each pack is constructed by a pack header for identifying the pack and a packet having a data stream recorded therein, the packet has a packet header having a stream ID indicating at least a private stream and a sub-stream ID indicating the classification of the private stream described therein, and the classification indicates packet data of Dolby AC3 audio data, packet data of linear audio data, packet data of sub-picture data, or packet data of computer data.
US07840115B2
An optical disc recording apparatus for recording a video object onto an optical disc. A recording area of the optical disc is divided into a plurality of zones which each include a plurality of adjacent tracks. The optical disc recording apparatus includes: a reading unit for reading from the optical disc the sector information showing data assignment for sectors on the optical disc; a recording unit for recording the video object onto the optical disc; and a control unit for controlling the reading unit and the recording unit. The control unit detects at least one series of consecutive unassigned sectors on the optical disc by referring to the read sector information. Each series has a total size greater than a minimum size and is located within a single zone. The minimum size corresponds to a data amount that ensures uninterrupted reproduction of the video object. The control unit also controls the recording unit to record the video object into the detected series.
US07840113B2
An optical disk reproducing apparatus that plays back information recorded on an optical disk, includes: a system controller; and a controller that is operated in accordance with an instruction of the system controller, wherein: when a user operation of skip up/skip down is performed during reproducing of information recorded on the optical disk, the system controller determines whether the skip up/skip down is restricted/permitted; and if it is determined that the skip up/skip down is restricted, the system controller pauses the reproducing and then performs a process with respect to the user operation so as to reproduce designated information.
US07840105B2
A fiber optic towed array is provided. The array includes a flexible core upon which is disposed a semi-rigid mandrel. The semi-rigid mandrel has a helical groove formed therein, in which is disposed an optical fiber, the optical fiber including a plurality of fiber gratings. The mandrel is in turn covered with a nylon or fiber screen and encased in a layer of open cell foam, which is encased in a protective covering that includes at least one strength member disposed along a longitudinal axis of the array.
US07840102B2
Disclosed herein is a carrier for an optical fiber having a plurality of optical sensors located thereon. Such carrier can be a thick-walled capillary tube or other shapes. The carrier has a sealed hollow body with a side wall. The side wall is profiled at least one predetermined location to form a thin-walled section and at least one optical sensor is attached to said thin-walled section. As the thin-walled section flexes in response to a pressure difference across it, the pressure difference is sensed by the optical sensor. The carrier may also have a slot defined on its side wall to receive the optical fiber. A temperature optical sensor may also be provided adjacent to the pressure optical sensor.
US07840099B2
An optical modulator structure includes at least two waveguide structures for inputting and outputting an optical signal. At least one ring resonator structure provides coupling between the at least two waveguide structures. The at least one ring resonator structure includes Ge or SiGe.
US07840096B2
A directional interpolation method and a video encoding/decoding apparatus and method using the directional interpolation method. The directional interpolation method includes selecting one of a plurality of directional interpolation modes for a predetermined-size block based on the characteristics of input image data, performing directional interpolation on the predetermined-size block based on the selected directional interpolation mode, and generating mode information indicating the selected directional interpolation mode.
US07840095B2
An image processing apparatus is provided. The image processing apparatus converts moving image data including plural first image data of a first resolution into moving image data including plural second image data of a second resolution. The apparatus generates position alignment data between the target first image data and another first image data other than the target first image data; aligns candidate image data having the second resolution corresponding to the target first image data with the other first image data according to the position alignment data generated; updates the candidate image data to minimize a first difference between the other first image data and the candidate image data position-aligned; and executes the aligning and the updating at least one time, and using the candidate image data having the difference equal to or smaller than a reference value, as the second image data corresponding to the target first image data.
US07840090B2
A background image wherein areas in which still images are to be rendered have been defined is prepared. Product images are obtained by multiplying mask images and positioned still images together. The background image and the product images are added to obtain a sum image that constitutes one frame of a slideshow. A plurality of still-image portions obtained from a plurality of still images in one frame are contained in the sum image. An advanced slideshow is thus obtained.
US07840087B2
To provide adaptive image processing for a portrait, face information about the face of a person contained in an image is acquired, and it is determined on the basis of the face information whether a significant personal face is contained in the image. If there is face information representing the presence of a significant personal face, adaptive processing adjustment information which adjusts the contents of high quality processing for a portrait, which should be executed for the process target image, is generated from the face information about the face of the person contained in the image. The high quality processing adjusted on the basis of the adaptive processing adjustment information is executed for the image.
US07840079B2
A “seamless multiplexer,” as described herein, provides a flexible and efficient system and method for multiplexing embedded coded bitstreams. Further, unlike the conventional JPEG 2000 standard, the seamless multiplexer is capable of decoding multiplexed encoded bitstreams without the need to use a demultiplexing aide as overhead in the encoded signal. In general, the seamless multiplexer provides a novel approach for multiplexing code block bitstreams by using a “decoder pointer,” for multiplexing multiple embedded bitstreams without the use of a demultiplexing aide. Consequently, the seamless multiplexer not only reduces any multiplexing overhead, but also allows much smaller granularity of access in reshaping the compressed input signal. In addition, in one embodiment, the seamless multiplexer also uses dependencies between coefficient blocks to further improve overall compression efficiency.
US07840077B2
An E8-VSB reception system, apparatus for generating data attribute and method thereof, and apparatus for channel encoding and method thereof are disclosed. In the present invention, E8-VSB data resulting from multiplexing a plurality of enhanced data encoded at different coding rates with main data is received. And, the main data and a plurality of the enhanced data are identified to be modulated from the received E8-VSB data. In particular, by generating M/E packet attribute information, enhanced packet attribute information, enhanced byte attribute information and E8-VSB symbol attribute information from the E8-VSB data attribute generating apparatus, the channel decoding apparatus can correctly identify to decode the main data, ½ enhanced data and ¼ enhanced data from one another.
US07840076B2
An image retrieval program (IRP) may be used to query a collection of digital images. The IRP may include a mining module to use local and global feature descriptors to automatically rank the digital images in the collection with respect to similarity to a user-selected positive example. Each local feature descriptor may represent a portion of an image based on a division of that image into multiple portions. Each global feature descriptor may represent an image as a whole. A user interface module of the IRP may receive input that identifies an image as the positive example. The user interface module may also present images from the collection in a user interface in a ranked order with respect to similarity to the positive example, based on results of the mining module. Query concepts may be saved and reused. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07840043B2
A method is for determining a parameter in an image area as a measure of a homogeneity of a substance in an object, and to a method for segmenting a substance in an image that uses the parameter as an additional segmentation criterion. In the method, at least two X-ray images are acquired in relation to different energies E1, E2 of an X-radiation, and the parameter is determined from the statistical distribution of attenuation values Di(E1),Di(E2) where i=1, . . . , N in the image area such that faulty classifications can be avoided in a simple way during the segmentation.
US07840039B2
The present invention involves the creation of an appropriate model and the use of that model to generate a best fit dipole represented by a vector (x, y, z). Once the best fit dipole is generated, a best fit field distribution and a field distribution of a modified dipole is created. Using a difference between the field distributions, a Singular Value Decomposition is used to compute the main axes of the confidence ellipsoids.
US07840037B2
A method and system for efficiently detecting faces within a digital image. One example method includes identifying a digital image comprised of a plurality of sub-windows and performing a first scan of the digital image using a coarse detection level to eliminate the sub-windows that have a low likelihood of representing a face. The subset of the sub-windows that were not eliminated during the first scan are then scanned a second time using a fine detection level having a higher accuracy level than the coarse detection level used during the first scan to identify sub-windows having a high likelihood of representing a face.
US07840029B2
In an information embedding apparatus, an image compositing portion selectively reads an embedding pattern from a plurality of types of the embedding patterns in accordance with an embedding information for a background of a document image. The image compositing portion further composites the read embedding pattern into the background of the document image in a document image data generated based on a document data and outputs the composite document image data. The embedding pattern includes a data dot placed at a position in accordance with the embedding information, a position dot placed at a position for instructing a reference position used for identifying the position of the data dot, and an assisting dot placed at a position for assisting the instruction of the reference position by the position dot.
US07840024B2
A wide dispersion speaker system 1 comprises a cone type speaker unit 2, and a restricting element 10A. The restricting element 10A is provided with a center hole 11 at a center section thereof, and a peripheral hole 12 located outward relative to the center hole 11. The restricting element 10A has an annular sound travel inhibiting portion 19 positioned radially outward relative to the center hole 11 and radially inward relative to the peripheral hole 12. An outer end in a radial direction of the sound travel inhibiting portion 19 is positioned at a substantially middle point between an outer end in the radial direction of the center hole 11 and an outer end in the radial direction of the peripheral hole 12 or positioned radially outward relative to the substantially middle point.
US07840023B2
Micro-speaker assemblies and mobile terminals including micro-speaker assemblies are provided. The micro-speaker assemblies include a micro-speaker positioned in a housing. A first forward tuning volume is positioned adjacent a front face of the micro-speaker. A passageway extends from the first forward tuning volume to an opening in the housing. A second forward tuning volume in fluid communication with the passageway is positioned at a location between the first forward tuning volume and the opening in the housing. The second forward tuning volume, the first forward tuning volume and the passageway define a double-resonator that tunes a frequency response of the micro-speaker. Methods for tuning micro-speakers are also provided.
US07840018B2
An in-wall speaker system having at least one pair of active transducers mounted in a wall section. The active transducers may be mounted in at least one enclosure. Each active transducer has a sound radiating surface. Each active transducer is also mounted substantially perpendicular to a surface of the wall section with the sound radiating surfaces substantially parallel to each other. The sound radiating surfaces may be facing each other or away from each other. The in-wall speaker system may also include one or more pairs of passive radiators to generate sound from sound pressure generated by the active transducers. The pairs of speakers in the wall section may be mounted vertically or horizontally within the wall, with a slot or a vent at the opening at the space between the speaker pairs.
US07840017B2
Sheet-like audio information recording/reproducing means capable of recording/reproducing audio information is sandwiched between two support sheets from front and back only in part of the area thereof and these two support sheets are further sandwiched between two surface sheets and the support sheets and surface sheets are bonded together.
US07840014B2
An acoustic system that eliminates the howling that occurs when the sound outputted by the speaker feeds back to the input device. The acoustic system comprises a digital signal processor (DSP) that divides the input audio signal into different frequency bands, and reduces the audio levels for the frequency bands where howling is most likely to occur. In one embodiment, the acoustic system comprises a sound source section that generates a test tone that substantially covers the entire human audible range such that the DSP can set the filter levels according to the feedback of the test tone. In another embodiment, the sound source section stores one waveform at a given pitch and generates waveforms of other pitches based on the stored waveform. In yet another embodiment, the pitches of the generated waveforms are dispersed into four frequency bands to create a test tone that resembles a chord or a musical tone.
US07840011B2
Apparatus and methods for computer file management including components and steps for distributing to servers a plurality of mixed images that are generated for each of N, where N≧3, sets of distributed information generated by distributing secret information using a threshold secret sharing scheme, the plurality of mixed images being generated by mixing at different mixing ratios an image based on the distributed information with (Ka−1) images, where Ka satisfies 1
US07840010B2
An interactive system for managing access via a communications network by one or more users to multiple secured Locations. The system comprises a plurality of entry control Devices assigned for use in gaining access to the Locations by multiple users with multiple keys assigned in a hierarchy to the Locations, a searchable database configured to store information on said keys and said entry control Devices, and Software stored on a readable medium and configured to produce a graphical hierarchy report on the keys depicting the hierarchy of the keys and their respectively assigned Locations and/or entry control Devices.
US07840005B2
A method for synchronization of a media signal computes features of the media signal and determines redundancy of the features to establish synchronization. The synchronization method is adapted for both temporal and spatial synchronization. For spatial synchronization, spatial redundancy is used to detect geometric distortion of a signal using an autocorrelation method to detect peaks caused by the redundancy of features of the signal. These peaks are then analyzed with a histogram method to detect rotation and scaling of the host media signal. The spatial synchronization process is applied for both intra-coded frames of video (I-frames) as well as still images.
US07840002B2
Apparati, methods, and computer-readable media for strengthening a one-time pad encryption system. A method embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of encrypting plaintext (1) with an OTP key (2) in an XOR operation to produce ciphertext (3); and obfuscating the ciphertext (3) with an AutoKey (4) in an XOR operation to produce AutoKeyed ciphertext (5), wherein the AutoKey (4) is a reusable key.
US07840001B2
Data processing apparatus and methods are provided. One data processing apparatus comprises: a plurality of pipelined stages, each of the plurality pipelined stages being operable in each processing cycle to receive a group of data elements from an earlier pipelined stage; permute logic operable to buffer ‘n’ of the groups of data elements over a corresponding ‘n’ processing cycles thereby creating a bubble within pipelined stages, and forwarding logic operable, once the ‘n’ of the groups of data elements have been buffered by the permute logic, to forward permuted groups of data elements comprising the data elements reordered by the permute logic to fill the bubble within the pipelined stages. By forwarding the data elements to fill the bubble an improved throughput can be achieved and since a constant stream of data can be transformed without the need to increase the number of input or output registers required to support the permute logic, the need to duplicate the permute logic or the need to introduce any additional storage elements.
US07839999B2
An encryption device includes a first unit that acquires value information denoting a value of information to be encrypted, and a second unit that calculates a strength parameter denoting an encryption strength, based on the value information. It is thus possible to determine the strength parameter reasonably according to the information to be encrypted.
US07839995B2
A playback characteristic of a ringback tone, played to a calling communication device employed by a user for a call to a called communication device, is changed based on input from the user of the calling communication device.
US07839986B2
A process that can be used to process the calling line presentation supplied to a called user following a call made by a calling user in a fixed and/or mobile communications network (for example, GSM, GPRS or UMTS in the latter case). A corresponding code for identifying an operator, such as a long-distance operator, which can be used by the called user for calling back the calling user, is identified, for example, during the registration of the user who is intended to act as the called user with a corresponding operator. This corresponding identification code is inserted automatically into the calling line presentation supplied to the called customer following the call made by the calling user. The call can be a voice call, a data call or a message, such as an SMS or MMS message. The called user is thus able to call back the calling user without having to insert the user's identification code to be used for calling back.
US07839970B2
A dental or orthopedic densitometry modeling system includes a computer with a digital memory adapted for storing patient densitometry information, an input and an output. A dental or orthopedic input device includes energy source and an energy sensor, both of which can be either external or intraoral to the patient. The sensor transfers densitometry signals to the computer, which creates, stores and compares digital densitometry models. A densitometry modeling method includes the steps of creating a densitometry database consisting of dental or orthopedic information and obtaining current dental or orthopedic densitometry information from a patient. The current information is compared to the database, which can include the patient's previous densitometry models, and an updated patient densitometry model is created.
US07839953B2
A transmission signal generating unit has a window function calculator that generates a window function that makes all frequencies without a center frequency of an input signal and its adjacent frequencies zero and makes the signal to noise ratio of the center frequency maximum; and a transmission signal generator that generates a transmission signal whose amplitude is modulated in a shape of an envelope curve based on the window function generated by the window function calculator.
US07839952B2
A method for communication includes sending first data over a first communication link to a destination communication system at a first data rate, which can be varied. Second data, including at least a portion of the first data, is sent over a second communication link from the source communication system to the destination communication system at a second data rate, which can be varied. First and second data rates of the respective first and second communication links are dynamically set. At least the portion of the first data is selectively extracted from one of the first and second data at the destination communication system. In some embodiments, the first data equals the second data, and the data is extracted without data loss.
US07839940B2
A first data symbol that includes a kth data bit is received over a multicarrier system. A first channel quality parameter is estimated for the first data symbol. A second data symbol that includes a retransmitted kth data bit is received. A second channel quality parameter for the second data symbol is estimated. A probable value of the kth data bit is determined based on both the first channel quality parameter and the second channel quality parameter. In response to an ARQ for data symbols communicated over a multicarrier system, the following are performed: determining channel quality parameters, each of the channel quality parameters corresponding to at least one of the transmitted data symbols; selecting a subset of the channel quality parameters exhibiting a worst quality; constructing a block of data symbols corresponding to the subset; and communicating the block of data symbols over a plurality of subcarriers.
US07839938B2
A feedback method and apparatus for cancellation of magnetizing inductance current are presented. A voltage driver applies a voltage signal to a primary of a transformer. Feedback apparatus detect changes in the voltage driver output current that are attributable to magnetizing inductance current. Changes in output current are used to obtain a current error, which is integrated to control a current ramp generator. The output of the current ramp generator is applied to the transformer primary as a compensating current for canceling the magnetizing inductance current.
US07839936B2
A method and system for determining a number of non-power of two sized data packets required to transport a data block. A data block size is shifted rightward by a number of bits equal to a base-two exponent of a divisor, with the bits remaining stored as a first value, and the bits removed stored as a second value. At least one binary shift is performed to calculate a third and fourth value. The fourth value is shifted and added to the second value to calculate a fifth value. At least one comparison is performed on the fifth value to process a sixth and seventh value. A number of non-power of two sized data packets is determined by summing the first, third, and sixth values, then adding one if the seventh value is not zero.
US07839930B2
Techniques and tools for coding/decoding of digital video, and in particular, for determining, signaling and detecting entry points in video streams are described. Techniques and tools described herein are used to embed entry point indicator information in the bitstream that receivers, editing systems, insertion systems, and other systems can use to detect valid entry points in compressed video.
US07839928B2
An improved method and block transform for image or video encoding and decoding, wherein transformation and inverse transformation matrixes are defined such that computational complexity is significantly reduced when encoding and decoding. For example, in the two-dimensional inverse transformation of de-quantized transform coefficients into output pixel information during decoding, only four additions plus one shift operation are needed, per co-efficient transformation, all in sixteen-bit arithmetic. Transformations provide correct results because quantization during encoding and de-quantization (sixteen bit) during decoding, via the use of one of three tables selected based on each coefficient's position, have parameter values that already compensate for factors of other transformation multiplications, except for those of a power of two, (e.g., two or one-half), which are performed by a shift operation during the transformation and inverse transformation processes. Computational complexity is significantly reduced with respect to other known transforms without adversely impacting compression or quality.
US07839926B1
A camera system comprises a camera that produces a video signal, a video compressor that compresses the video signal, a system control processor that passes the compressed video signal, and a network interface that receives the compressed video signal, wherein the video compressor comprises configurable parameters that affect a bandwidth of the compressed video signal.
US07839925B2
In the packet stream receiver, transport streams are sequentially input, discontinuity of continuity counters described in packet headers of transport stream packets in the stream is detected and a loss of a transport stream packet is determined. A terminator is added to part of NAL units extracted from a packet immediately before the transport stream packet is lost, and data on NAL units up to a NAL unit whose start code is detected is discarded after the start code of the NAL unit contained in the transport stream packet is detected and a terminator is added thereto. Thus, a packet stream receiver can obtain appropriate data even when part of packets is lost during transmission.
US07839922B2
An equalization circuit adjusts (e.g., equalizes) an input signal according to the value of one or more adjustment signals (e.g., equalization coefficients) without a multiplication operation. For example, the circuit may add or subtract a value of a coefficient signal to the amplitude of an input signal. Here, whether the coefficient is added or subtracted may depend on the sign of a control signal.
US07839921B2
A baseband processing module of a Radio Frequency receiver produces time domain equalizer coefficients and calculates a power threshold based upon a total power of a plurality of taps of the time domain equalizer coefficients. The baseband processing module then performs a plurality of iterations, during each of which it identifies at least one minimum power tap and determines a total power figure based upon zeroing the at least one minimum power tap. When the total power figure compares favorably to the power threshold, the baseband processing module modifies the plurality of taps by zeroing the at least one minimum power tap and continuing iterating. When the total power figure compares unfavorably to the power threshold, the baseband processing module ceases iterating without modifying the plurality of taps by zeroing the at least one minimum power tap and then produces modified time domain equalizer coefficients.
US07839917B2
A receiver of a CDMA system, receiving a signal transmitted through a multi-path channel, with a path alignment circuit is disclosed. The path alignment circuit has a pack-based memory device serially inputting samples of low over-sampling rate than that required by the CDMA system and outputting data packs pack by pack to reduce access rate of the memory device. In addition, the path alignment circuit has an interpolation device which reads the data packs from the memory device and performs interpolation to raise the resolution of the low over-sampling samples and generate interpolated samples of high resolution for de-spreading requirement of the CDMA system.
US07839915B2
The present invention relates to a receiver for receiving a spread spectrum modulated signal, comprising a sampler for forming samples of a received signal, at least one reference code block for generating at least first and second reference codes, and a correlation block. The correlation block forms first and second reference code parts from at least one reference code, and correlates the first reference code part with the sample string to form first correlation part results, and correlates the second reference code part with the sample string to form second correlation part results, wherein the correlations are arranged to be performed at different times and by using the same sample string. The invention also relates to an electronic device comprising a receiver, a module to be used with a receiver, a system comprising a transmitter and a receiver for receiving the transmitted signal, a method and a computer software product.
US07839907B2
Laser driving apparatus in which a temperature is controlled such that an optical output is maximum, even when a laser device using an optical wavelength conversion element is used in a backlight source of a liquid crystal display that adjusts light dynamically. Current detection section 5 detects an average value of a driving current by which laser device 1 is pulse-driven. Optical detection section 3 detects an average value of an optical output from laser device 1. Efficiency detection section 9 calculates a ratio of an output from optical detection section 3 to an output from current detection section 5. A temperature setting value at which an efficiency value which is a result of the computation is maximum is provided to temperature control section 7 and a temperature of nonlinear optical crystal 12 of laser device 1 is controlled, whereby laser device 1 is driven such that the optical output from laser device 1 is always maximum.
US07839906B1
Exemplary embodiments provide a method and system for controlling laser power in an optical disc drive. The exemplary embodiment of a control system includes at least one control component for generating a control signal; a plant for generating a control output responsive to the control signal; and a dual feedback control loop coupled between the control output of the plant and the control component, the dual feedback control loop comprising a combination of a running optimal power control (ROPC) loop, and an automatic power control (APC) loop that run concurrently for generating respective feedback control signals that are input to the control component for generation of a combined control signal adjustment that is used at least in part to generate the control signal.
US07839899B2
A method of updating routing information in a network where reboot information of other nodes in the network is used to determine whether a given node has recent route updates. If the reboot information indicates the given node has not recently rebooted, then routing information from that given node is used to update the routing information of the comparing node. The reboot information may be a reboot counter which is incremented by a node in response to the node going through a reboot process. When a node reboots, it may request the reboot counter from neighboring nodes. The received reboot counter is compared to the stored reboot counter for at least one node. The rebooting node may choose to receive routing information from a node which has not had its reboot counter changed from the stored reboot counter. In the event none of the neighboring nodes have an unchanged reboot counter, requests may be made for the reboot counters of other nodes, which may be compared to the corresponding stored reboot counters, until the rebooting node discovers a node which has not recently rebooted according to the reboot counter, and may then download routing information from that node.
US07839896B2
In transmission of video signals of a plurality of channels using a digital interface in conformity with the high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) standard, a transmission minimized differential signaling (TMDS) mixing circuit and a TMDS separation circuit are provided, to perform time-division transmission of TMDS data of the video signals of the plurality of channels at a frequency higher than the transmission rate of the video signals. Video signals of a plurality of channels are therefore transmitted via an inexpensive type A connector and cable.
US07839889B2
Methods and systems for transmitting user part messages between signaling system seven (SS7) signaling points over an internet protocol (IP) network include receiving, at a signal transfer point, a first SS7 user part message. The first SS7 user part message can be received from a first SS7 signaling point, such as a service switching point (SSP). The first SS7 signaling point is encapsulated in a first IP packet. The first IP packet is transmitted to a second SS7 signaling point over an IP network.
US07839884B2
A contention resolution system and method are disclosed that can be used in a station having a data packet to send in a wireless telecommunications network. After a predetermined maximum number of selection rounds, it is determined whether the station is authorized to send the packet. In each of the rounds, a value of a binary random variable is drawn, which represents authorization or prohibition, to send the packet during the round. The probability of the binary random variable value assuming a predetermined value is adjusted taking into account authorizations and prohibitions to send the packet obtained by the station during preceding selection rounds.
US07839883B2
The present invention concerns methods and apparatus for implementing a multi-user advance reservation system where reservations are specified in terms of flexible constraints, inflexible constraints and business values. The specification of reservations in this manner allows an entity managing the reservation system to arbitrate among reservations received from a user population with a view toward maximizing business value across the user population. In methods and apparatus of the present invention, penalties and rewards associated with various reservation outcomes can be specified in reservations to assist in business value maximization. In an example, a reservation having a low business value may be declined when there is a significant possibility that a reservation having a high business would be submitted during the pendency of service delivery to the user issuing the reservation with a low business value.
US07839876B1
A method comprises receiving packets; transferring the packets to an output circuit when aggregation of the packets is not enabled; transferring the packets to a queue when aggregation is enabled; enabling aggregation when a rate of receiving the packets into the queue is greater than a predetermined rate or a number of the packets in the output circuit>a first number; and generating aggregate packets each comprising packets in the queue, transferring each aggregate packet to the output circuit when a number of packets in the aggregate packet>a second number, and transferring the aggregate packet to the output circuit when a number of packets in the aggregate packet≦the second number, when a predetermined interval elapses, wherein the interval begins when the queue is empty when receiving a packet or a number of aggregate packets in a device receiving the aggregate packets
US07839874B2
A network control module includes an access module that determines whether a first packet data network gateway communicating with a first packet data network also communicates with a second packet data network. The network control module also includes a selection control module in communication with a mobile wireless terminal. The mobile wireless terminal attempts to access the second packet data network by establishing a connection with a second packet data network gateway that communicates with the second packet data network. In response to the access module determining that the first packet data network gateway also communicates with the second packet data network, the selection control module commands the mobile wireless terminal to access the second packet data network through the first packet data network gateway.
US07839867B2
In a first node in a system having nodes connected to each other as a network, request information including identification information and request number of location information indicating a location in the network of information saving nodes is transmitted to a second node. In the second node, the location information and identification information are saved. At least the location information whose number corresponds to the request number is transmitted to the first node when the number of the saved location information meets the request number. Otherwise, the location information whose number corresponds to the number of the saved location information is transmitted to the first node. The received request information is transferred when the second node itself is not a management node, to a node interposed between the second node and the management node, or to the management node when there is no node therebetween.
US07839864B1
According to various embodiments, high priority traffic is obtained from one of a plurality of virtual channels servicing high priority traffic. High priority traffic is placed in a high priority queue. Low priority traffic is obtained from one of a plurality of virtual channels. A weighting value associated with an element in the active queue is determined. The element corresponds to a virtual channel associated with the low priority traffic. The low priority traffic is placed either in a low priority traffic active queue or a low priority traffic pending queue based on the weighting value.
US07839854B2
The present invention provides a cost effective method to improve the performance of communication appliances by retargeting the graphics processing unit as a coprocessor to accelerate networking operations. A system and method is disclosed for using a coprocessor on a standard personal computer to accelerate packet processing operations common to network appliances. The appliances include but are not limited to routers, switches, load balancers and Unified Threat Management appliances. More specifically, the method uses common advanced graphics processor engines to accelerate the packet processing tasks.
US07839853B2
A transmitting apparatus includes a network interface for connecting between networks; an information embedding unit that embeds, in a frame output from the network interface, first port information for identifying a first port through which the frame is received; and a path deciding unit that decides, when second port information for designating a second port that is an output destination of the frame is embedded in the frame received through the network interface, to output the frame to the second port.
US07839846B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to the identification of messages relating to a particular communications session from a stream of messages, and more particularly to tracking voice and/or data call messages in packet data networks such as a UMTS mobile phone network. Various embodiments include a method of identifying messages associated with a communications session in a stream of messages captured from an interface within a network, the network including a fixed station in wireless communications with a plurality of mobile stations, said communications session being associated with one of said mobile stations and said stream of messages including messages for a plurality of communications sessions.
US07839839B2
A system and method are provided for deinterleaving differential inverse multiplexed (DIM) virtual channels in a 40G Ethernet receiver. The method accepts a 10.3125 gigabits per second (Gbps) (10G) Ethernet virtual channel with 64B/86B blocks, including periodic Lane Alignment Marker (LAM) blocks. The 10G virtual channel is deinterleaved into two 5.15625 Gbps (5G) virtual channels by: 1) deinterleaving consecutive blocks from the 10G virtual channel into the 5G virtual channels in an alternating order, and 2) reversing the order of deinterleaving in response to each detected LAM block. Then, the method supplies the 5G virtual channels (i.e. to a MAC module).
US07839833B2
A reduced complexity short range wireless communication system and method are described providing a very low complexity, low cost, and low power version of Bluetooth Wireless Technology. In one embodiment, the low complexity version relies upon mechanisms and procedures already present in existing standards, such as Version 1.2 of the Bluetooth Specification. In this embodiment, the inventive method and apparatus take advantage of essential mechanisms and procedures already present in the Bluetooth Specification, while eliminating the need for the parts of the Bluetooth Specification that are not required by very low complexity devices.
US07839831B2
Methods and apparatus for time tracking using assistance from TDM pilots in a communication network. In an aspect, a method is provided for time tracking in a device operating on a communication network, wherein the device performs a time tracking algorithm. The method includes determining a delay spread, and modifying at least one parameter used by the time tracking algorithm based on the delay spread. In another aspect, an apparatus is provided for time tracking in a device operating on a communication network, wherein the device performs a time tracking algorithm. The apparatus includes computation logic for determining a delay spread, and control logic for modifying at least one parameter used by the time tracking algorithm based on the delay spread.
US07839821B2
A packet transmission control device and a packet transmission control method for reducing degradation of system throughput due to a wireless mobile station in an abnormal state, in controlling transmission of packets to each of a plurality of wireless terminals. A channel is assigned based on an evaluated value from an evaluation function containing an average transmission rate value for the wireless terminal in its denominator, and if the evaluated value falls in an abnormal value, the average transmission rate value is initialized to reduce the frequency of assigning packets to the wireless terminal if one of multiple wireless terminals transitions to an abnormal state. By initializing the average transmission rate value, a phenomenon that an unnecessarily large number of shared channels are assigned to a wireless mobile station in an abnormal state may be avoided to prevent degradation of overall system throughput.
US07839817B2
An apparatus for detecting uplink ranging codes includes a first transform unit for transforming data received from a mobile station to generate first outputs; a cross-correlation unit for comparing the first outputs with possible ranging codes to generate second outputs; a screening unit for selectively passing the second outputs representing parts of the received data that match the possible ranging codes; a second transform unit for transforming the second outputs from the screening unit to generate third outputs; and a detection unit for detecting the ranging codes for the received data based on the third outputs.
US07839801B2
A computing-device implemented network planning process distributes access links associated with customer locations to selected nodes of a provider network. The network planning process distributes the access links associated with the customer locations to the selected nodes of provider network such that overall latency goals for the network are met and such that the density of the connected customer locations to the network nodes in the network satisfy density requirements. The network planning process seeks diversity in customer location assignments by creating additional capacity through the re-assignment of customer locations to alternate network nodes in order to free up space on network nodes needed to off-load customer locations from other over-loaded network nodes. The network planning process permits an expanded ring of network nodes to accommodate dense customer traffic load across a wide area while meeting both individual connection and overall system requirements.
US07839792B2
A system and a method for simultaneous measurement and analysis of network signals on multiple communication networks are described. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the system accepts signals from two communication networks. The two networks may be following different protocols. A time-correlated measurement of corresponding frames of two protocols may be provided. Information pertaining to message frames of different networks may be displayed simultaneously.
US07839789B2
Techniques for providing a method and system for multi-layer network analysis and design are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method, comprising determining, using a computer model of a network, a minimum probability of failure path between a pair of network nodes at a first network layer for one or more pairs of network nodes, calculating, using a processor and stored network data, a value for the minimum probability of failure for the identified minimum probability of failure path between the pair of network nodes at the first network layer for the one or more pairs of network nodes. The method may include identifying a maximum of the determined minimum probability of failure values for the one or more pairs of network nodes for the first network layer. The method may include probability of failure calculations for one or more secondary network layers.
US07839778B2
The system and method for adaptive flow control transmits pause off packets to network nodes after a calculated time based on switch resource usage thereby alleviating congestion is a network switching system.
US07839771B2
A method and corresponding system for providing for recovering from a failure of a wired link used for communication between the first access point and a wired network. The first access point has at least two radios including a first radio and a second radio each for providing a wireless communications link. The method including selectively configuring the radios in an access mode for enabling a communications path with a corresponding client node to enable each client node to have a communication path via the first access point to the wired network, wherein the first and second radios are enabled to be associated with a first and second client node, respectively. The method and system includes providing communications paths for the client nodes to the wired network in response to detection of loss of the wired link to the first access point by selectively reconfiguring the second radio to a backhaul mode.
US07839765B2
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a host bus adapter for implementing a first port of a node on a network of nodes interconnected through an intelligent connection system comprising: a transceiver providing a physical interface for the first port; and a protocol controller that transmits a notification to the intelligent connection system on behalf of a remote second port indicating that the second port may have failed when the second port fails to communicate with the first port.
US07839763B2
Disclosed is a radio transmission device for lightening the waveform distortion of a received signal in a single-carrier transmission irrespective of a fading state. In this device, an FFT unit (103) converts a modulation signal outputted from a modulation unit (102), into a signal of a frequency range, and a repetition unit (104) repeats the frequency range signal outputted from the FFT unit (103), and arranges a plurality of frequency range signals adjacent to each other on a frequency axis. A tooth-shaped waveform forming unit (105) shapes the waveform of the frequency range signals outputted from the repetition unit (104), into a tooth-shaped waveform, and an IFFT unit (106) converts the frequency range signal outputted from the tooth-shaped waveform forming unit (105), into a signal of a time range.
US07839762B2
A vector-based Walsh code sequence generator provides for a general architecture that can be easily adapted to any random length sequence and any random number of bits per access. The Walsh code sequence generator can produce a new access on every hardware clock cycle, thereby maximizing the efficiency of the bit sequence requesting process.
US07839757B2
An environmental load information of an information recording medium is recorded on the information recording medium so as to recycle or dispose properly an information recording medium, which is not necessary any more. The information recording medium comprises a main information area (102) for recording or reproducing information and a recording area (101) for environmental load information, which is recorded with an environmental load information of the information recording medium.
US07839754B2
An optical head includes a first laser diode configured to generate a laser beam with a wave length of λ1, a second laser diode configured to generate a laser beam with a shorter wave length of λ2 than the wave length λ1, a collimator lens arranged so that the laser beams are incident on it, an aperture filter arranged on an optical axis of the collimator lens, and an object lens 0 arranged on the optical axis so that the laser beams passing through the aperture filter are incident on it, wherein the second laser diode is arranged at a position on the optical axis further away from collimator lens than the first laser diode is away from the collimator lens.
US07839747B2
Method and recording device for recording marks in an information layer of an optical record carrier
Recording devices and methods are provided for recording marks on an information layer of a record carrier using a 2T write strategy, which enable recordation of marks on the information layer when no write parameter settings specifically tuned for the record carrier are available for use in the 2T write strategy.
US07839746B2
An optical disc apparatus includes: an obtaining unit obtaining a sensitivity coefficient indicating a relation between a light power of a semiconductor laser and a monitor value; a first deriving unit deriving a first monitor value in setting the light power at a peak power; a second deriving unit deriving a second monitor value in setting the light power at an erase power; a converting unit converting the first and the second monitor values into first and second light power values based on the sensitivity coefficient; a first calculating unit calculating a ratio between the first and the second light power values; a second calculating unit calculating a correction coefficient based on a setting value of a ratio between the peak power and the erase power and a calculation value of the ratio between the first and the second light power values; and a correcting unit correcting the light power of the semiconductor laser based on the correction coefficient.
US07839745B2
An optical disc of a recordable type or a rewritable type has a plurality of recording layers including first and second recording layers. A laser beam is applied to the second recording layer through a used area in the first recording layer to record arbitrary information on at least a part of the second recording layer. The used area in the first recording layer has been used for at least one of information recording and data recording. Positional information is generated. The generated positional information is of a blank area in the second recording layer which occurs due to the presence of an unused area in the first recording layer. The blank area adjoins the unused area. The generated positional information is recorded on a predetermined area in the optical disc.
US07839730B2
An optical pickup includes an objective lens, a protection member for protecting the objective lens, and a lens holding member configured to hold these members. The optical pickup records and/or reproduces an information signal on and/or from an optical recording medium by condensing laser light through the objective lens. The protection member includes a bearing surface to contact a surface of an edge portion of the objective lens not facing the optical recording medium, an aperture to control a diameter of laser light to be incident on the objective lens, and a protection portion protruding toward the optical recording medium with respect to the objective lens. The bearing surface, the aperture, and the protection portion are integrally formed with one another.
US07839725B2
A radio wave timepiece A and a quadrature detection device for executing a quadrature detecting method are disclosed including a receiving antenna 14 for receiving a carrier wave of a long wave standard radio wave on which time information is multiplexed, a quadrature detection circuit 18 for performing quadrature detection of the carrier wave in response to a reference clock CK1, commonly used for timekeeping by a time counter 8, to obtain an in-phase component I and a quadrature component Q of the carrier wave for obtaining an amplitude AN,m of the carrier wave, and a time correction means 22, 24, 26 for obtaining time information depending on the amplitude of the carrier wave from the quadrature detection circuit 18. The time counter 8 is responsive to time information delivered from the time correction means to correct current time.
US07839724B2
A calendar date display comprises a ten-day indicator (2) and a unit indicator (1) driven by a program drive (8), which is provided with a calendar date display (9) whose toothing is engaged with the beak (15) of a lever (16) in such a way that a wheel is moved one step forward by one date number change. Between each calendar number change, the beak (15) is engaged between the first and second teeth (11, 12) of the wheel (9). At the time of the calendar number change, the beak (15) is disengaged from said first and second teeth (11, 12) in such a way that it is engaged between the second and third (12, 13) teeth of the wheel (9), thereby moving said wheel one step forward.
US07839723B2
A method of controlling reminders for an electronic calendar event record includes: generating a reminder notification at a first electronic device, the reminder notification associated with the calendar event record, providing an option at the first electronic device for taking a first action at the first electronic device and taking a second action at a second electronic device, the first action differing from the second action, generating an update command at the first electronic device for taking the second action at the second electronic device in response to receipt of selection of the option at the first electronic device, and sending the update command from the first electronic device for the second electronic device.
US07839721B1
The present invention, as typically embodied, represents a novel methodology for effecting linear processing of output signals that are received from one or more acoustic vector sensors. First, as pertains to each modal beam, the modal beam amplitude response bmn, is calculated as the matrix product of a data vector d and a modal weighting vector wmn, wherein the weighting vector wmn is uniquely defined in terms of three different linear modal weighting vector equations corresponding to wmnx, wmny, and wmnz, respectively. Second, as pertains to all of the modal beams, the directional beam amplitude response bdirMN is calculated as the sum of all of the individual modal beam amplitude responses bmn. Because the inventive processing methodology is linear in nature (as distinguished from non-linear, e.g., quadratic, in nature), inventive practice is highly effective for performing quantitative acoustic measurements of sound fields.
US07839717B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a cell core storing data, a plurality of peripheral circuit components, collectively driving data to/from the cell core and providing a default state at an output signal state during an initialization process upon power-up, and an initialization circuit detecting a standby mode of operation for the semiconductor memory device, and upon detecting the standby mode controlling operation of the plurality of peripheral circuit components to provide the default state as the signal state during standby mode.
US07839715B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a method of separating an early clock pulse and a late clock pulse into two different latches, wherein the early clock pulse is generated through a bit line. In response to the early clock pulse rising, a first data waveform is sent to a fourth data waveform. In response to a third data waveform rising, an early precharge is turned off. In response to the turning off of the early precharge and in response to a fifth data waveform dropping, an eighth data waveform rises if the first data waveform has a value of 1. In response to a sixth data waveform rising, a first pulse latch is opened.
US07839709B2
A semiconductor memory device is capable of reducing a test time upon the same condition of the actual operation thereof. The semiconductor memory device includes an output data select unit and a data output unit. The output data select unit selectively outputs valid data, which are loaded on a plurality of global lines, in response to an output control signal activated after a delay time corresponding to an additive latency from entry of a read operation in a test mode. The data output unit aligns data outputted from the output data select unit and outputs the aligned data through data pads.
US07839704B2
A memory circuit having a global signal driving circuit, which, when a first read signal is inputted from a first bit signal line with a column signal inputted from a column signal line, outputs the first read signal as a global signal from a global signal line, and, when a first driving write signal is inputted from the first bit signal line, inhibits the first driving write signal from being outputted to the global signal line on the basis of a first write signal inputted from a first write signal line.
US07839695B2
Methods are described for improving the retention of a memory device by execution of a retention improvement procedure. The retention improvement procedure comprises a baking process of the memory device in a high temperature environment, a verifying process of the memory device that checks the logic state of memory cells, and a reprogramming process to program the memory device once again by programming memory cells in a 0-state to a high-Vt state. The baking step of placing the memory device in a high temperature environment causes a charge loss by expelling shallow trapped charges, resulting in the improvement of retention reliability.
US07839691B2
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes: cell strings connected to respective bit lines; each of the cell strings having a string select transistor connected to a string select line, a ground select transistor connected to a ground select line, and memory cells connected to corresponding word lines and connected in series between the string select transistor and the ground select transistor; a first voltage drop circuit configured to reduce an applied read voltage during a read operation; a second voltage drop circuit configured to reduce the applied read voltage; a string select line driver circuit configured to drive the string select line with the reduced voltage provided by the first voltage drop circuit; and a ground select line driver circuit configured to drive a ground select line with the reduced voltage provided by the second voltage drop circuit.
US07839688B2
A flash memory device which comprises a memory cell array having memory cells arranged in rows and columns; a word line voltage generator circuit configured to generate a program voltage, a dielectric breakdown prevention voltage, and a pass voltage at a program operation; and a row selector circuit that receives the program voltage, the dielectric breakdown prevention voltage, and the pass voltage and selecting one of the rows in response to a row address. The dielectric breakdown prevention voltage is lower than the program voltage and higher than the pass voltage; and the row selector circuit drives the selected row with the program voltage, drives at least one row just adjacent to, or neighboring, the selected row with the dielectric breakdown prevention voltage and drives remaining rows with the pass voltage.
US07839684B2
The block groups of a multiple data channel flash memory storage device are detected for defective blocks. The block group containing any defective blocks is divided into subgroups, each of which contains only defective blocks or only good blocks. The subgroups containing only good blocks are selected to establish a new block group having the same amount of blocks as that of the original block groups.
US07839682B2
An array of non-volatile memory cells is arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, wherein each memory cell has at least three terminals: a first terminal for the read out of the signal from the memory cell, a second terminal to which high voltage is supplied during certain operation, and a third terminal to which low voltage is supplied in all operations. The cells in the same column have a common bit line connected to the first terminal of memory cells in the same column. The array comprises a first and second sub arrays of memory cells arranged adjacent to one another in the same row. A first decoder is positioned to one side of the first sub array in the same row as the first sub array. A second decoder is positioned to another side of the second sub array in the same row as the second sub array. A first high voltage line is connected to the second decoder and to only the second terminal of the memory cells in the same row in the first sub array. A second high voltage line, different from the first high voltage line, is connected to the second decoder and to only the second terminal of the memory cells in the same row in the second sub array. A low voltage line is connected to the first decoder and to the thirds terminal of the memory cells in the same row of the first and second sub arrays.
US07839681B2
A flash memory cell includes a p-channel flash transistor having a source, a drain, a floating gate, and a control gate, an n-channel flash transistor having a source, a drain coupled to the drain of the p-channel flash transistor, a floating gate, and a control gate, a switch transistor having a gate coupled to the drains of the p-channel flash transistor and the n-channel flash transistor, a source, and a drain, and an n-channel assist transistor having a drain coupled to the drains of the p-channel flash transistor and the n-channel flash transistor, a source coupled to a fixed potential, and a gate.
US07839680B2
In a method of reading data in an EEPROM cell, a bit line voltage for reading is applied to the EEPROM cell including a memory transistor and a selection transistor. A first voltage is applied to a sense line of the memory transistor. A second voltage greater than the first voltage is applied to a word line of the selection transistor. A current passing through the EEPROM cell is compared with a predetermined reference current to read the data stored in the EEPROM cell. An on-cell current of the EEPROM cell may be increased in an erased state and the data in the cell may be readily discriminated.
US07839668B2
A multiple output AC/DC power adapter is provided. The adapter includes an adapter body with an output connector and more than one output plugs configured for connecting with the output connector. The adapter body includes a DC-DC converting circuit having an input terminal, an output terminal, a first adjustment terminal. The output connector includes a positive terminal, a second adjustment terminal and a negative terminal configured for connecting to the output terminal and the first adjustment terminal of the DC-DC converting circuit and ground correspondingly. The output plugs each includes an adjustment resistor having a resistance value different from the other output plugs. Therefore, when equipped with a plurality of output plugs each of the plurality of plugs having different resistor R0, the adapter can supply different output DC voltages for different electronic device.
US07839667B2
In an adaptive leading-edge blanking circuit and method for a switching mode power converter, an inductor current of the converter is sensed and compared with a threshold to decide an end point of a leading-edge blanking time. Circuit and method are further provided for preventing the converter from entering pulse skipping mode, which employs a current trimming circuit in an oscillator for a PWM controller in the converter to reduce a charging current in the oscillator if the output voltage of the converter is excessively high, to thereby reduce the oscillator frequency and in turn lower the switching frequency of a high-side power switch of the converter.
US07839665B2
A system interconnection inverter includes a step-up converter and an inverter. Moreover, the system interconnection inverter includes a short-circuit current-interrupting diode with a cathode connected to an input terminal of a negative bus, a semiconductor switch connected to an anode of the short-circuit current-interrupting diode, a semiconductor switch drive circuit that drives the semiconductor switch, a semiconductor switch-off circuit that turns off the semiconductor switch drive circuit when negative power is applied such that electric current flows from a cathode toward an anode of the input terminal, and a control circuit that controls the semiconductor switch drive circuit.
US07839656B2
A shielded circuit assembly includes first and second circuit support structure, e.g. circuit boards having electrical or electronic components thereon, flexible connection between the circuit support structures, e.g., a flexible printed circuit (FPC), flat flexible cable (FFC), or other connection, the first and second circuit support structures adapted for positioning in generally overlying spaced apart relation with the flexible connection providing electrical connection therebetween while having floor plans that tend to efficiently conserve space between the circuit support structures, and electromagnetic energy shielding adapted to provide shielding of space between the circuit support structures in such generally overlying spaced apart relation. A method of making a shielded circuit assembly includes folding one printed circuit board that is flexibly attached to another printed circuit board to a generally parallel spaced apart relation and providing shielding of space between the circuit boards.
US07839651B2
In a multilayer ceramic electronic component, a ceramic laminate is defined by a ceramic base layer and ceramic auxiliary layers arranged on both main surfaces of the ceramic base layer, the ceramic base layer and the ceramic auxiliary layers being co-fired. The ceramic base layer and the ceramic auxiliary layers are made of ferrite materials having substantially the same compositional system and have substantially the same crystal structure. The linear expansion coefficient of the ceramic auxiliary layers is less than the linear expansion coefficient of the ceramic base layer.
US07839638B2
A power supply assembly includes two brackets, a fan detachably mounted between the brackets, and a main body. Each bracket includes an elastic member extending from an end of the bracket. The main body includes a receiving space, and two opposite mounting walls bounding the receiving space. The brackets together with the fan can be detachably mounted to the main body via being received in the receiving space and the elastic members engaging with the mounting walls.
US07839632B2
An electronic handheld device includes: a case that is formed in a longitudinal boxed shape; a first operation key that is provided on a front face of the case at a position that is located at an approximate center of the front face; and a first concave portion that is formed on a back face of the case at a first position opposite the position of the first operation key, the first concave portion being arched toward a top end of the case.
US07839623B2
A modular power distribution system comprises a chassis and a backplane including a power input, and a plurality of module connection locations. A plurality of modules are mounted in the chassis, each module mounted to one of the module connection locations. Each module includes: (i) a circuit protection device; and (ii) a power output connection location. Bus bars connect front power inputs to the backplane.
US07839615B2
Nanotube ESD protective devices and corresponding nonvolatile and volatile nanotube switches. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for protecting a protected circuit is coupled to an input pad. The ESD circuit includes a nanotube switch electrically having a control. The switch is coupled to the protected circuit and to a discharge path. The nanotube switch is controllable, in response to electrical stimulation of the control, between a de-activated state and an activated state. The activated state creates a current path so that a signal on the input pad flows to the discharge path to cause the signal at the input pad to remain within a predefined operable range for the protected circuit. The nanotube switch, the input pad, and the protected circuit may be on a semiconductor chip. The nanotube switch may be on a chip carrier. The deactivated and activated states may be volatile or non-volatile depending on the embodiment. The ESD circuit may be repeatedly programmed between the activated and deactivated states so as to repeatedly activate and deactivate ESD protection of the protected circuit. The nanotube switch provides protection based on the magnitude of the signal on the input pad.
US07839612B1
Circuits, systems, and methods for protecting an integrated circuit device having a first power rail and a second power rail from electrostatic discharge (ESD) events. The ESD protection circuit generally comprises an ESD shunt device coupled to the first power rail and a ground potential, a bias circuit configured to provide a bias voltage to the ESD shunt device during a normal mode of operation and to disable the bias voltage during an ESD event on the first power rail, and an isolation circuit configured to isolate the second power rail from the ESD shunt device during the normal mode of operation and to couple the second power rail to the ESD shunt device during an ESD event on the second power rail. The present invention advantageously provides ESD protection that can be shared by independent power supply rails with minimal current leakage through the ESD device, thereby reducing the total number of ESD protection circuits on a mixed supply integrated circuit device.
US07839608B2
A tunnel-type magnetic detecting device is provided. The tunnel-type magnetic detecting device is capable of stably reducing the surface roughness of an insulating barrier layer, and capable of properly improving an MR effect typified by a resistance changing rate. A seed layer is formed in a laminated structure of an NiFeCr layer and an Al layer. This makes it possible to stably reduce the surface roughness of the insulating barrier layer as compared with a related art in which a seed layer is formed in a single-layer structure of an NiFeCr layer. Accordingly, according to the tunnel-type magnetic detecting device of the invention, the MR property typified by an excellent resistance changing rate (ΔR/R) can be obtained stably.
US07839604B1
A disk drive head-gimbal assembly (200) is disclosed, which includes what may be characterized as a flexure (215) with an integrated trailing edge limiter. The head-gimbal assembly (200) includes a deflectable flexure tongue (228) and a bond pad platform (230) that is spaced from this flexure tongue (228). At least one bridge (234) extends between and structurally interconnects the flexure tongue (228) and bond pad platform (230). A slider assembly (136), including a slider positioner (156) and a slider (140), is mounted on the flexure tongue (228). The bond pad platform (230) is used to establish an electrical connection with the slider (140).
US07839588B1
Defects are identified in a disk drive by first writing a pattern of tracks to a disk surface in the disk drive, the pattern of tracks including written tracks alternating with unwritten tracks. The written tracks of the pattern of tracks are read, and a defect in a portion of a first written track is detected. An unread portion of a first unwritten track is then identified as comprising a defect based at least in part on the defect in the first written track, the first unwritten track located proximate the first written track.
US07839575B2
Substrate-guided relays that employ light guiding substrates to relay images from sources to viewers in optical display systems. The substrate-guided relays are comprised of an input coupler, an intermediate substrate, and an output coupler. In some embodiments, the output coupler is formed in a separate substrate that is coupled to the intermediate substrate. The output coupler may be placed in front of or behind the intermediate substrate, and may employ two or more partially reflective surfaces to couple light from the coupler. In some embodiments, the input coupler is coupled to the intermediate substrate in a manner that the optical axis of the input coupler intersects the optical axis of the intermediate substrate at a non-perpendicular angle.
US07839565B2
An optical deflector made of an electro-optic material has one or more pairs of electrodes on opposite surfaces. Each pair of electrodes defines an interaction region in which an electric field applied from the electrodes produces a linear refractive-index gradient in the direction of the electric field. An incident light beam is refracted in this direction within the interaction region. The interaction region is shaped so that the light beam is also refracted in an orthogonal direction when it enters or leaves the interaction region. The light beam is thereby deflected three-dimensionally.
US07839556B2
Light in the visible spectrum is modulated using an array of modulation elements, and control circuitry connected to the array for controlling each of the modulation elements independently, each of the modulation elements having a surface which is caused to exhibit a predetermined impedance characteristic to particular frequencies of light. The amplitude of light delivered by each of the modulation elements is controlled independently by pulse code modulation. Each modulation element has a deformable portion held under tensile stress, and the control circuitry controls the deformation of the deformable portion. Each deformable element has a deformation mechanism and an optical portion, the deformation mechanism and the optical portion independently imparting to the element respectively a controlled deformation characteristic and a controlled modulation characteristic. The deformable modulation element may be a non-metal. The elements are made by forming a sandwich of two layers and a sacrificial layer between them, the sacrificial layer having a thickness related to the final cavity dimension, and using water or an oxygen based plasma to remove the sacrificial layer.
US07839550B1
A narrowband filter with a wide acceptance angle which utilizes two holographic filter elements connected in series. The filter blocks light outside of a narrow spectral band of interest, while enabling light to be seen over a wide range of angles incident on the filter.
US07839542B2
A plurality of subsystems having diverse individual functions can be connected to an image forming apparatus. Each of the subsystems is made up of, for example, plural kinds of units which are different in performance from each other. Each of the units has inherent information related to the performance, and decides the operation specification of the entire image forming apparatus according to the combination of those units.
US07839540B2
In a print server, when page setting is made, a spot color name is extracted from a comment in an image drawing command and image data or a code of a job on a page (page layout) unit basis and a list for a spot color name of each page is generated. After that, a color separating process and an RIP are performed on the page unit basis, raster data of each of colors C, M, Y, and K and corresponding raster data of a spot color name is generated, after that, on the basis of CMYK values designated by the spot color name, the raster data of the spot color is composed with the raster data of each of the colors C, M, Y, and K, and the resultant is output. In such a manner, an overprint of an object designated in a spot color can be reproduced accurately.
US07839533B2
There is provided an image processing device carrying out image processing on one of image data and an image-drawing command inputted from an image processing terminal. The image processing device has: an extracting section that extracts finished dimension information according to the one of the image data and the image-drawing command; and an image-drawing section that draws a finish line on a page layout which corresponds to the one of the image data and the image-drawing command, on the basis of the finished dimension information extracted by the extracting section.
US07839532B2
Methods and apparatus for imaging systems according to various aspects of the present invention provide a system for making physical copies of images and, substantially concurrently, generating electronic images. The imaging system suitably includes a scanner and a control system. The scanner makes copies of the documents or other images and substantially concurrently stores image data corresponding to images. The control system controls the scanning process and/or the handling of the generated images.
US07839521B2
A print system may include a job management server and a plurality of print stations. The job management server may receive, from a first network, a print stream that is representative of a document or graphic. The print stations may be located remotely from the job management server and may be in communication with the job management service via a second network. The job management server may deliver a copy of the print stream to one of the print stations for printing when a user who is authorized to access the print stream enters identifying information and selection data at the selected print station.
US07839515B2
In a secured printing system including an information processing apparatus and a printer, when the information processing apparatus issues a print job in a suspended state to the printer, the printer having accepted the print job suspends and holds the print job until release of suspension of job is instructed, and returns job designation information peculiar to the accepted print job to the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus writes the job designation information returned from the printer in a detachable storage medium. The printer reads out the job designation information from the detachable storage medium, in which the job designation information is written, and, then, releases the suspended state of the corresponding print job.
US07839514B2
A multifunction apparatus performs a printing process when the apparatus succeeds in user authentication upon receiving a print request from a PC. The multifunction apparatus calculates an expected print start time based on past usage data thereof, that is, an elapsed time required in the past from the print request to user authentication. The multifunction apparatus further calculates an expected operation time required for preparations for the printing process, based on an current operation status thereof, such as standby mode, color registration adjustment, and the like; and sets as a delay time a time derived from subtracting the expected operation time from the expected print start time. The multifunction apparatus starts warm-up when the delay time elapses.
US07839513B2
A hybrid document automation system manages a hybrid printing job, such as PostScript (PS) job with a mix of color and monochrome (B/W) sheets containing variable data. The print job may contain any number of sets, each differing in size and ratio of color and B/W sheets. The system includes a color printer, a monochrome printer, a print manager, a splitter for separating color pages from monochrome pages in the print job and automatic jam recovery. A graphical user interface (GUI) may be provided to give a user/operator information on the status of the print job. The system may also include a document integrity system for insuring the correct output of the merged color and monochrome pages.
US07839510B2
An information processing apparatus that can be connected to an image-forming apparatus, a method, and a program used for the information processing apparatus are disclosed. The information processing apparatus comprises a control unit for controlling print-setting information set for document data to be printed, a recognition unit for recognizing information about a first function specified by the print-setting information by translating the print-setting information controlled by the control unit, an obtaining unit for obtaining information about a second function of the image-forming apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus, a determination unit for determining whether or not the image-forming apparatus can perform the first function recognized by the recognition unit based on the second-function information obtained by the obtaining unit, and a modification unit for modifying the print-setting information controlled by the control unit based on the determination result.
US07839502B2
Methods for wavelength calibration of spectrometers are provided which achieve better calibration accuracies than conventional peak search methods. The methods are based on the principle of a stepwise relative shift of corresponding measured-value blocks of a model and calibration spectrum where a correlation value is calculated for each shift step. A shift value is determined for each measured-value block at which the correlation value reaches an optimum. A value pair consisting of a position marker of the measured-value block and the associated shift value is determined for each measured-value block. These value pairs represent the design points for fitting to a suitable assignment function. Coefficients obtained in this manner can be used directly as coefficients of a wavelength assignment or be combined with the coefficients of an existing first wavelength assignment in that they for example replace or are offset against the coefficients of an existing first wavelength assignment.
US07839500B2
The present invention relates to a spectroscopic method and associated apparatus and computer program for measuring and analysing intensities of fluorescent molecules excited by an energy pulse. The method includes the steps of: a) generating a transient state build-up in the fluorescent molecules by means of an excitation pulse, within which pulse repetitive excitation-emission cycles are induced in the fluorescent molecules between their ground, typically singlet (So) and excited, typically singlet (SO states, resulting also in transition from S] to the transient state, b) relaxation of population of the transient state by transition back to the ground state in a time period following directly after the excitation pulse, c) determination of the transient state population by recording the fluorescence. The invention is characterised by varying pulse characteristics from one sequence of pulses to the next so as to circumvent the need of time-resolution in the detection.
US07839492B2
Apparatus for detecting fuel in oil includes an excitation light source in optical communication with an oil sample for exposing the oil sample to excitation light in order to excite the oil sample from a non-excited state to an excited state and a spectrally selective device in optical communication with the oil sample for detecting light emitted from the oil sample as the oil sample returns from the excited state to a non-excited state to produce spectral indicia that can be analyzed to determine the presence of fuel in the oil sample. A method of detecting fuel in oil includes the steps of exposing a oil sample to excitation light in order to excite the oil sample from a non-excited state to an excited state, as the oil sample returns from the excited state to a non-excited state, detecting light emitted from the oil sample to produce spectral indicia; and analyzing the spectral indicia to determine the presence of fuel in the oil sample.
US07839490B2
A single-aperture passive rangefinder and a method of determining a range. In one embodiment, the single-aperture passive rangefinder includes: (1) an imaging system configured to form a first image that includes a point of interest at a first position and a second image at a second position that includes the point of interest and (2) a processor associated with the imaging system and configured to acquire and store the first image and the second image and determine a range to the point of interest based on a separation between the first position and the second position and a position of the point of interest relative to virtual axes of the imaging system at the first position and at the second position.
US07839488B2
In order to adjust the optical axis of a light beam L1 in an exposure apparatus, on a support body in an XYZ three-dimensional coordinate system are mounted: a first mirror 10 having a reflective surface M1 obtained by rotating a plane parallel to the XY plane around an axis 11 parallel to the Y axis by an angle of α; and a second mirror 20 having a reflective surface M2 obtained by rotating a plane parallel to the XZ plane around an axis 21 parallel to the X axis by an angle of β. There are provided: position adjustment means for moving the entire support body having the two mirrors parallel to the XY plane; and angle adjustment means for adjusting the angle of the second mirror 20. The incident light L1 is reflected on the reflective surfaces M1 and M2 to be output as an outgoing light L3, where it is possible to perform an optical axis adjustment concerning position and angle by controlling the position adjustment means and the angle adjustment means.
US07839480B2
Where a framed pellicle is mounted on a photomaps, the framed pellicle comprises a pellicle frame and a pellicle membrane coupled to the pellicle frame, the pellicle frame has first and second apertures each communicating a first space surrounded by the photomask and the framed pellicle with a second space outside of the framed pellicle, exposing a photoresist layer formed on a substrate by flowing gas from within the first space to outside the framed pellicle through the first aperture while simultaneously exposing the photoresist layer to ultraviolet light through the pellicle membrane and the photomask.
US07839477B2
A substrate bonding apparatus for a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel is disclosed that subdivides its venting holes, thereby achieving an enhancement in uniformity of venting. The substrate bonding apparatus that bonds a first substrate and a second substrate using a venting process, includes a lower chucking plate which chucks the second substrate, and an upper chucking plate which includes a plurality of blocks each including a main venting hole, wherein the upper chucking plate chucks the first substrate in accordance with a chucking operation of the blocks, and subsequently releases the chucked first substrate such that the first substrate falls down toward the second substrate.
US07839474B2
An antiglare film includes an antiglare layer having particles and a binder matrix on a transparent base material. An antiglare film surface on the antiglare layer side has a concave-convex structure with a ten-point average roughness (Rz1) equal to or larger than 0.08 μm and equal to or smaller than 0.10 μm at a cutoff wavelength (λc) of 0.008 mm, the antiglare film surface on the antiglare layer side has a concave-convex structure with a ten-point average roughness (Rz2) equal to or larger than 1.90 μm and equal to or smaller than 2.50 μm at a cutoff wavelength (λc) of 0.8 mm, and the antiglare film surface on the antiglare layer side has a concave-convex structure with an average spacing (S) between local peaks equal to or larger than 0.033 mm and equal to or smaller than 0.050 mm at a cutoff wavelength (λc) of 0.8 mm.
US07839473B2
In a multi-gap semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device, the width of a black matrix (6) is made larger above the region between adjacent ITO transparent electrodes (3) and is made smaller above the region between adjacent Al reflective electrodes (4). This enables a transmissive portion to offer a display with high contrast that does not suffer from afterimage or the like by shielding light from the domain lying between the adjacent pixels, and the reflective portion to offer a brighter display by increasing the aperture ratio thereof by making the black matrix width as small as possible or forming no black matrix.
US07839472B2
Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal device including: first and second substrates which face each other; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a reflection display region which is provided in one region of a sub-pixel configuring a control unit of a driving display by the first and second substrates with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween and performs a display by reflected light; a transmission display region which is provided in the other region of the sub-pixel and performs a display transmitted light; a layer thickness adjustment film which is provided on the second substrate in correspondence with the reflection display region and defines the thickness of the liquid crystal layer to be different from that in the transmission display region; and an alignment film which is provided between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer so as to cover the layer thickness adjustment film and is subjected to a rubbing process, wherein the layer thickness adjustment film has a step difference surface at a boundary between the reflection display region and the transmission display region, and, when the rubbing process is performed in a direction opposed to the step difference surface and an angle between an extending direction of the step difference surface and a rubbing direction is α, a relationship of 70°≦α≦110° is satisfied.
US07839469B2
A color filter substrate, a method for manufacturing the same, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel using the same are provided. The color filter substrate includes a base material, a filter structure, and a common electrode layer. The filter structure includes a sheltering matrix and a plurality of color filter layers. The sheltering matrix disposed above the base material includes a black resin layer and a conducting material layer. The black resin layer has a plurality of openings for exposing a partial surface of the base material. The conducting material layer is disposed on the black resin layer. The color filter layers are disposed in the plurality of openings of the black resin layer. The common electrode layer is disposed on the filter structure.
US07839468B2
A white phosphor, a light emission device including the same, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) including the light emission device as a backlight unit. The white phosphor includes: 40 to 50 parts by weight of a blue phosphor selected from the group consisting of ZnS:(Ag,Cl), ZnS:(Ag,Al), ZnS:(Ag,Al,Cl), and a combination thereof; 23 to 36 parts by weight of a green phosphor including (Sr1-xCax)Ga2S4:Eu (0≦x<0.2) and a compound selected from the group consisting of ZnS:(Cu,Al), ZnS:(Cu,Au,Al), and a combination thereof; and 20 to 30 parts by weight of a red phosphor selected from the group consisting of Y2O3:Eu, Y2O3:(Eu,Tb), Y2O2S:Eu, Y2O2S:(Eu,Tb), and a combination thereof.
US07839467B2
The present invention replaces conventional lighting devices, such as incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, and LED lamps, with an integrated electro-luminescent film structure, subdivided into electrically isolated micro-panels. Ideally, the electro-luminescent structure comprises separate red, green and blue micro-panels providing a full range of color adjustment. Alternatively, the electro-luminescent film structure includes stacked groups of layers, in which each group emits a different color and is independently controllable.
US07839465B2
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel. A backlight unit has a light guide plate and light source positioned on a back surface of the liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel and the backlight unit are assembled on a mold frame. A bezel formed in a frame shape covers the external sides of the mold frame.
US07839455B2
There is provided an image processing apparatus, an image display and an image processing method which are capable of preventing an unnatural change in image quality to image processing. A luminance distribution detecting circuit detects a luminance distribution as the histogram distribution of YUV signals. A gain calculating circuit and a gain limiter detect a gain variation on the basis of luminance distribution data. The gain limiter limits the gain variation to a gain variation threshold or less. The gain limiter and a delay circuit carry over the gain variation of a portion exceeding the gain variation threshold to the next image frame so as to modify the gain variation. A γ correction circuit performs image processing (contrast control) on the YUV signals on the basis of the gain variation modified.
US07839454B2
Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for preventing and eliminating undesirable effects in displayed video. The method may include receiving video information and decoding the video information. The method may also include processing the number of illuminable lines associated with a video frame and blanking a remainder of the illuminable lines. Blanking the remainder of the illuminable lines may prevent and eliminate undesirable effects in the displayed video. The illuminable lines may be processed, such that each field may comprise an even number of corresponding, illuminable lines 530. The fields, however, are not required to have the same number of lines. In an embodiment according to the present invention, no active lines in one field may be below a blanked line in a corresponding field. The apparatus may include a video processor including a video post-processing unit adapted to determine a number lines to be illuminated on a particular video display device and a number of lines to be blanked in order to prevent and eliminate undesirable effects in the displayed video.
US07839452B2
Disclosed is an image display device in a digital TV that is capable of carrying out the conversion into various kinds of resolution by using single bit map data in the digital TV. The image display device includes: a data processing part for executing bit map conversion, compression, restoration and format-conversion for text data; a memory for storing the bit map data obtained according to the bit map conversion and compression in the data processing part and image data inputted from an arbitrary receiving part, the receiving part receiving one of digital image data and analog image data; an image outputting part for reading the image data from the memory; and a display processing part for mixing the image data read from the image outputting part and the bit map data converted in format from the data processing part. Therefore, the image display device according to the present invention can convert text data in such a manner as to correspond with various resolution, carry out the compression for bit map data, thereby reducing the memory space, and support text data of an HTML format, thereby providing the image with the text data of various shapes.
US07839445B2
A photographic apparatus and method are disclosed in which a preview of an acquired image and at least one image quality variable image are displayed in a multiview image. The image quality variable image is an image wherein the acquired image is coded, compressed and decoded according to at least one plurality of quantizing coefficients, and is displayed as part of the multiview image according to the user's selection of image quality. Upon the user's selection of image quality, the corresponding image quality variable is stored in memory thereby enabling a user to select image quality in real time before storing an image.
US07839441B2
An control unit of the amplification type solid-state image pickup device, during a first period T2, controls the gate voltage of the transfer transistor to a first gate voltage V1 to make electrons as signal charge transferred from the phototransistor to the charge detection part. Also, the control unit, in a second period T3 subsequent to the first period T2, sets the gate of the transfer transistor to a high impedance and moreover, in a period TPU within the second period T3, controls the gate voltage of the transfer transistor to a second gate voltage V2 which allows power of transferring the signal charge to the charge detection part to be enhanced than the first gate voltage V1.
US07839440B2
There is provided an imaging unit: including an image sensor with a number of pixels arranged in a matrix, the pixels having color pixels where color filters are disposed, and white pixels where the color filters are not disposed; a sampling circuit section for sampling pixel signals generated in the image sensor; and a main controller for controlling the image sensor and/or the sampling circuit section to sample the pixel signals generated in the white pixels or the pixel signals generated in the color pixels sequentially in a time-series manner.
US07839431B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to a dome camera assembly that is able to ensure repeatability. The dome camera assembly includes a nonvolatile storage mechanism including a stored video image and a corresponding stored camera position. The assembly may further include an image capturing device for capturing a current video image after the camera moves to the stored camera position. An image processing component compares the current video image with the stored video image and determines an offset amount between the current video image and the stored video image. An adjustment mechanism adjusts a current camera position in accordance with the determined offset amount to facilitate repeatability.
US07839429B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for accomplishing in-camera stitching of a high-resolution panoramic photograph from a set of component photographs while providing a satisfactory user experience. A low-resolution panorama is stitched, and a user of the camera performs a review of the low-resolution panorama using a display comprised in the camera. During the review, a high-resolution panoramic photograph is stitched by the camera in a background process.
US07839421B2
A system and method is provided for assembling graphics information as a graphics display for presentation on a visual interface, the graphics information including a plurality of image tiles stored in a data store. The system and method comprise a management module for receiving a graphics request message and for coordinating processing of a selected number of the image tiles to generate at least one representative image tile as the graphics display in response to the graphics request message. The system and method also comprise a graphics system coupled to the management module for receiving processing information from the management module to facilitate access to the selected number of the image tiles. The selected number of image tiles are processed as a combination to generate the least one representative image tile, such that the graphics system includes graphics hardware such as a GPU/VPU configured for processing the graphics information.
US07839417B2
A virtual coatings application system has several features to enhance the realism of simulated spray painting. The system generally includes a display screen on which is defined a virtual surface (such as a truck door) that is intended to be virtually painted or coated by the user. Alternatively, the system includes a head-mounted display unit that displays a virtual spray painting environment in which the virtual surface is defined. The user operates an instrumented spray gun controller that outputs one or more signals representing data as to the status of the controls on the spray gun controller. The system also has a motion tracking system that tracks the position and orientation of the spray gun controller with respect to the virtual surface. Simulation software generates virtual spray pattern data in response to at least the data from the spray gun controller and the position and orientation data received from the tracking system. Virtual spray pattern images are displayed in real time on the virtual surface in accordance with the accumulation of virtual spray pattern data at each location on the virtual surface.
US07839411B2
Graphics resources are virtualized through an interface between graphics hardware and graphics clients. The interface allocates the graphics resources across multiple graphics clients, processes commands for access to the graphics resources from the graphics clients, and resolves conflicts for the graphics resources among the clients.
US07839402B2
In a virtual endoscopy method, an unfolding axis (100, 100′) substantially along an elongated lumen (150) is divided into axis segments (110). Ray casting directions (104) are selected extending generally radially from the axis segments. At least some of the ray casting directions are tilted away from a camera position (102). Ray casting is performed along the tilted ray casting directions to define pixel values that are arranged into an unfolded view. The ray casting employs at least one of (i) volume rendering and (ii) computing a statistical characteristic of voxels (238) over a preselected distance (dinterval) along the ray casting direction into the lumen-defining structure.
US07839401B2
An approach that manages enterprise systems and applications using three-dimensional visualization technology is described. In one embodiment, a system for streaming visual representations of an enterprise in near-real time. A multitude of geographically distributed enterprise datacenters are each configured to obtain event data from hardware and software elements in the enterprise. A virtual command center is configured to receive the event data, aggregate the event data into a composite dataset representative of the current operation of the enterprise, compare the composite dataset to at least one three-dimensional model representative of the operation of the geographically distributed enterprise, and provide a visualization of the composite data and any difference that may exist. The visualization is a composite of a three-dimensional visual image of the current operation of the geographically distributed enterprise.
US07839398B2
A gate driving circuit and a power control circuit are disclosed. The gate driving circuit includes a gate driver and the power control circuit. The gate driver is adapted for receiving a starting signal and sequentially outputting a plurality of scan signals accordingly. The power control circuit includes a delay circuit, a level shifter and a switch unit. The delay circuit is adapted for receiving and delaying the starting signal for a predetermined period and then outputting the delayed starting signal. The level shifter receives and adjusts a voltage level of the delayed starting signal, and outputs a starting voltage accordingly. The switch unit provides the first power to the gate driver after being delayed for the predetermined period according to the starting voltage.
US07839396B2
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a display device is provided that includes a display panel configured to display an image, a plurality of driver integrated circuit packages that include a base film and an integrated circuit chip mounted on the base film and of which one side is attached to an edge of the display panel, and a supporting member that fixedly supports the display panel. The supporting member includes a supporting body that fixedly supports the display panel, and a contact heat dissipating portion that protrudes from the supporting body and comes in contact with the driver integrated circuit packages in an area where the integrated circuit chip is formed.
US07839393B2
A control device for a capacitive touch panel has multiple voltage driving/current detecting circuits respectively connected to four corners of a top conductive layer of the touch panel. An auxiliary voltage driving/current detecting circuit is connected to a bottom conductive layer of the touch panel. When the touch panel is pressed, all voltage driving/current detecting circuits detect first current values at four corners of the top conductive layer. The auxiliary voltage driving/current detecting circuit also detects a second current value from the bottom conductive layer. The second current value is used to compensate all first current values so that the coordinate information of the position being pressed can be exactly calculated.
