US08161541B2

An access node (e.g., DSLAM, OLT/ONT) is described herein that implements a trust verification method comprising the steps of: (a) filtering an up-stream message initiated by a non-trusted device (e.g., CPE); (b) intercepting the filtered up-stream message if the filtered up-stream message is a connectivity fault management message (e.g., LB message, LBR message, CC message); (c) inserting a trusted identification into the intercepted up-stream message; and (d) outputting the intercepted up-stream message with the inserted trusted identification. Thereafter, a trusted device (e.g., BRAS) receives and analyzes the outputted up-stream message with the inserted trusted identification message to ascertain a trustworthiness of the non-trusted device (e.g., CPE). Several different ways that an access network (e.g., IPTV network) can implement the trust verification method are also described herein.
US08161536B1

Techniques for authenticating users when an operation requested by a user in one of the systems of a distributed system is redirected to another system of the distributed system. The user is authenticated in the usual way to the one system but is authenticated to the other system for the redirected operation by an authentication proxy in the first system. The fact that the authentication proxy is providing a redirected operation means that the user who requested the operation has been authenticated to the one system. The other system is thus able to authenticate the user for the redirected operation with different authentication information than would otherwise be required. An example of how the techniques are used is a distributed database system where one of the database systems in the distributed system is a cache for another of the database systems.
US08161529B1

The present invention is directed to routing information between networks of differing security level. Communication to/from each network is handled by a dedicated Offload Engine (OE). Each OE interfaces to a Guard Engine through a Guard Data Mover (GDM) and includes an interface for connecting to an external network. A first OE receives a data packet from a first network intended to be transmitted to a second network. The Guard Engine analyzes the data packet. The Guard Engine includes an ACL (Access Control List) which are rules data packets must meet before being passed onto a destination network. If allowed, the Guard Engine delivers the data packet to the second network via a second OE utilizing a GDM associated with the first OE and a GDM associated with the second OE. The architecture of the present invention reduces the time and effort needed to attain high-assurance certification.
US08161522B1

A method and apparatus for using expiration information to improve confidential data leakage prevention is described. In one embodiment, a method for protecting confidential data from disclosure using expiration information, comprises processing the expiration information that is associated with a data specification for the confidential data, wherein the expiration information defines a time period in which the confidential data ceases to be confidential and examining the time period to determine an expiration of the data specification.
US08161517B2

A system and method for determining a fault in a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable network segment. A two-way client uses a two-way query interface to acquire information indicative of the two-way operational status of subscriber CPE units associated with a subscriber number from a two-way validation server. Using the operational status of the subscriber CPE units, a fault may be associated with either the CPE units or with network facilities other than the two or more CPE units.
US08161509B2

A television broadcasting device 1 transmits a television signal onto which control data for controlling a browser function of a television receiver 2 has been multiplexed. A television screen generating section 20 generates a television screen based on the received television signal. A browser display instruction obtaining section 71, a URL obtaining section 72, and a display style information obtaining section 73 extract the control data multiplexed onto the television signal. When a browser display instruction 111 is received, a microcomputer 51 receives a content 102 corresponding to a URL 112 from a server 3, and generates a browser screen based thereon. A screen combining section 30 combines the browser screen with the television screen in accordance with display style information 113 received from the microcomputer 51. Thus, it is possible to display the browser screen in a combined form with the television screen in accordance with a display style designated by a broadcaster of the television signal.
US08161506B2

Systems and methods for selecting a video transmission event to be blacked out and storing a data record with instructions to color code an element within a graphical user interface based on the blackout are disclosed.
US08161505B2

A method includes, providing a television, a reading device, an input device, and a printer. The reading device is connected to receive a digital signal transmitted by a television signal provider. The reading device is connected to provide a first output signal to the television and a second output signal to the printer under control of the input device. The method includes receiving a digital signal with the reading device wherein the digital signal is transmitted by the television signal provider. It also includes sending the first output signal from the reading device to the television for display to a viewer. If the viewer uses the input device to choose to print, it also includes printing information provided in the second output signal.
US08161501B2

Embodiments of this invention concern an apparatus, method and computer program product for managing the interoperability between objects in multiple virtual machines that are written to support different languages, such as .NET and Java. In particular, objects or programs running inside a virtual machine are allowed to create, control, and destroy objects running inside a separate virtual machine. The virtual machines interoperate using a proxy mechanism that utilizes function calls, rather than data passing, to run and access the desired objects.
US08161495B2

A system and computer program product for passing parameters of data structures where an API and corresponding stored procedures are at different version/release levels is provided. A received data structure is parsed for a version identifier of a caller. The parsed version identifier is compared to a stored procedure version identifier and a determination is made with regards to a data structure compatibility or a data structure incompatibility. If a data structure compatibility is determined, all received data structure elements are parsed. If, however, a data structure incompatibility is determined, only data structure elements known to both the caller and the stored procedures are parsed.
US08161494B2

A method and apparatus for offloading processing tasks from a first computing environment to a second computing environment, such as from a first interpreter emulation environment to a second native operating system within which the interpreter is running. The offloading method uses memory queues in the first computing environment that are accessible by the first computing environment and one or more offload engines residing in the second computing environment. Using the queues, the first computing environment can allocate and queue a control block for access by a corresponding offload engine. Once the offload engine dequeues the control block and performs the processing task in the control block, the control block is returned for interrogation into the success or failure of the requested processing task. The offload engine is a separate process in a separate computing environment, and does not execute as part of any portion of the first computing environment.
US08161492B2

A continuation based runtime participates in transactions that are not generated by the continuation based runtime, but rather are generated externally to the continuation based runtime. The continuation based runtime marshals in transaction data related to the pre-existing externally generated transaction. In one embodiment, the continuation based runtime itself may not do this, but perhaps may use a transaction enabled activity. Once the activity marshals in the data, the activity may request that the continuation based runtime enlist in the transaction, whereupon the continuation based runtime may then register and the transaction may be performed in the context of the continuation based runtime.
US08161485B2

A scheduling method for inputting jobs into queues provided for each of a plurality of information processing devices in a distributed processing system includes inputting jobs into each queue. A queue selection reference value is calculated for each queue, based on a predicted time at which processing of a job in execution in each information processing device is finished and a predicted time necessary for executing processing on high priority jobs input into the queue associated with the corresponding information processing device. A target job which was input into the corresponding queue at the earliest time is extracted from among the normal jobs input into all the queues. The target job is shifted to the queue having the smallest queue selection reference value. A new queue selection reference value of the queue to which the target job is shifted is calculated on the basis of a predicted time necessary for executing processing on the target job. Finally, a new target job is extracted.
US08161482B1

Methods and systems for a multi-core operating system are provided. A first operating system (OS) core can manage kernel services. The first OS core may include a first memory manager and a first scheduler for scheduling a process to be executed. The process can be associated with a plurality of threads. One or more second operating system (OS) cores can share a shared memory manager and a shared scheduler, and the shared memory manager and the shared scheduler can communicate with the first memory manager and the first scheduler to facilitate offloading of one or more of a plurality of threads from the first OS core to at least one of the one or more second OS cores for execution. The first OS core can be asymmetric with respect to the one or more second operating system cores, and the one or more second operating system cores may be asymmetric with respect to each other.
US08161480B2

Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for performing an allreduce operation using shared memory that include: receiving, by at least one of a plurality of processing cores on a compute node, an instruction to perform an allreduce operation; establishing, by the core that received the instruction, a job status object for specifying a plurality of shared memory allreduce work units, the plurality of shared memory allreduce work units together performing the allreduce operation on the compute node; determining, by an available core on the compute node, a next shared memory allreduce work unit in the job status object; and performing, by that available core on the compute node, that next shared memory allreduce work unit.
US08161463B2

A method for rendering software resistant to reverse engineering. Replace at least one first constant (mathematical expression, etc.) in a computational expression with a second mixed mathematical and bitwise-Boolean expression, the first constant being simpler than the second expression and the second expression being based on the value or the variables found in the first constant (or expression). Evaluation of the second mixed mathematical and bitwise-Boolean expression produces a value preserving the value of the first constant, either: with the original value of the first constant or the original value of the result of the first expression, in which case the second mixed mathematical and bitwise-Boolean expression is obtained from the first constant by converting the first constant by mathematical identities; or, in an encoded form, as a new value, which can be converted back to the original value of the first constant by applying an information-preserving decoding function, in which case the second mixed mathematical and bitwise-Boolean expression is obtained from the first constant by modifying the first constant by a combination of conversion according to mathematical identities and transformation according to an information preserving encoding function.
US08161462B2

A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that in an embodiment request a program or programs to tune themselves to run faster or slower if a service class is not meeting its performance goal. In an embodiment, the program is repeatedly requested to incrementally tune itself until the performance goal is met or until no further improvement occurs. In various embodiments, the programs to be requested to tune themselves are selected based on whether the programs are bottlenecks for the service class, whether the programs do the majority of work for the service class, whether the programs easily meet their own performance goals, or whether the programs are low priority. In this way, the programs may be performance tuned in a way that is more effective and less intrusive than by adjusting global, system-level resource allocations.
US08161460B2

In one embodiment the present invention includes a method of determining whether computer processes can interact without deadlocks. The computer processes may be modeled in a process modeling language. The method includes (optionally) generating state diagrams from the processes as modeled by process modeling language, generating step actions from the state diagrams, and executing model checking on the step actions. A computer program may implement the method, and a computer system may execute the computer program. Performing model checking on processes modeled by the process modeling language allows for increased interoperability checking.
US08161452B2

The invention comprises a system and method for employing video in development processes. A new theory of operation for mapping video to formal models is disclosed. The present invention combines a runtime component and an object memory with an transformer component and offers several inputs and outputs. At least one capture device allows input of video. Video is structurally decomposed into shots and annotated following a semiology-based video model and stored in object memory. A runtime component determines the shots that are played back on one or more displays. A spectator may influence the runtime component by changing its state via at least one controller. One or more downstream development processes can access the object memory to extract customary models for requirements specification.
US08161449B2

A method, computer program product, and data processing system that controls test packets that are sent to a coordinating computer system is provided. A node computer system runs a test case that results in one or more test result packets. Control data structures are received from one or more coordinating computer systems. The resulting test result packets are compared to the one or more received data structures. The comparison reveals whether one or more of the test result packets include results requested by the coordinating computer systems. Test result packets are selected when the comparison reveals that the selected test result packets include results requested by the coordinating computer systems. Selected test result packets are sent to one of the coordinating computer systems and unselected test result packets are discarded by the node.
US08161447B2

A method for designing an integrated circuit is disclosed. The method generally comprises the steps of (A) splitting a design layout of the integrated circuit into a plurality of tiles, (B) adding a plurality of tie-to cells to the design layout, wherein at least one of the tie-to cells generating a tie-to signal at a particular logical level is added into each of the tiles having at least one gate with an input fixed to the particular logical level and (C) routing the tie-to signal to each of the inputs within each of the tiles.
US08161444B1

Methods and apparatus are provided for implementing a programmable chip using a high-level language. Code sequences or subroutines provided in a high-level language are overloaded with information to specify the number of hardware resources such as logic elements or functional blocks used to implement the code on a programmable chip. Code sequences remain compliant with standard high-level language compilers while also being able to provide resource count information to high-level language to hardware compilers.
US08161435B2

Methods, circuits, and systems for converting reset mechanisms in a synchronous circuit design into a corresponding asynchronous representation are described. These may operate to convert synchronous state holding blocks that include reset signals to corresponding asynchronous dataflow logic blocks. A replicated reset token at a fraction of the operational frequency of the reset signal may be distributed to the locations of the asynchronous dataflow logic blocks. Additional methods, circuits, and systems are disclosed.
US08161429B1

A serial communications protocol is provided that has optional link initialization features such as an optional automatic lane polarity reversal feature and an optional automatic lane order reversal feature. A user that desires to create a protocol-compliant integrated circuit design can either choose to include or to not include the optional features. Integrated circuits in which the optional serial communications link features are implemented are able to perform the lane polarity reversal and lane order reversal functions. Integrated circuits in which the optional serial communications link features have not been implemented are not able to perform these functions, but can be fabricated using fewer circuit resources.
US08161425B1

An improved approach for implementing metal fill on an electrical device without causing creating cross-coupling capacitance problems is disclosed. Timing aware metal fill insertion is performed to avoid or minimize cross-capacitance problems on the IC design. A cost may be assigned to different candidate metal fill shapes. The cost is associated with the expected effect upon timing requirements by the metal fill shape, with lower costs corresponding to lower expected impacts upon the timing requirements. To meet density requirements, lower cost metal fill shapes are inserted prior to higher cost metal fill shapes.
US08161424B2

Some embodiments provide a system for accurately and efficiently modeling chemically amplified resist. During operation, the system can determine a quenched acid profile from an initial acid profile by applying multiple quenching models which are associated with different acid concentration ranges to the initial acid profile. One quenching model may be expressed as H=H0−B0, where H is an acid profile after quenching, H0 is an acid profile before quenching, and B0 is an initial base quencher profile. Another quenching model may be expressed as H=k·H0, where k is a constant. Next, the system can apply a smoothing kernel to the quenched acid profile to obtain a quenched-and-diffused acid profile. The smoothing kernel can generally be any weighted averaging function. The quenched-and-diffused acid profile can then be used to predict shapes that are expected to print on the wafer and to perform resolution enhancement techniques on a layout.
US08161404B2

A vehicle multimedia system includes a display that displays a hierarchically structured menu. The hierarchically structured menu may have a main menu and a plurality of submenus. Each menu has at least one menu item. Upon selection and activation of the menu item, a next level of a submenu is displayed on the display. Users may operate an operating element to select and activate the menu or menu item. The vehicle multimedia system includes a memory that stores information identifying the menu or menu items. Upon activation of the menu item, the identification information may be stored in the memory. The stored information may be retrieved upon activation of the operating element such as a key, a switch, etc. Upon no selection and/or activation of the menu item for a certain time period, the main menu may be automatically displayed. Upon activation of the operating element, the vehicle multimedia system may reach a specific menu such as a last accessed menu or menu item, a menu or menu item saved by users, etc.
US08161401B2

A method for viewing and controlling data intermediately between source and destination by receiving from a graphical user interface a user designation of a plurality of sets of copy command destination positions within contents of a computer file, wherein each destination point is allowed to be included in more than one set of destination points; displaying to the user information elements contained in an operating system clipboard transfer buffer; receiving a user selection of information elements in the clipboard transfer buffer; receiving a user definition of a subset of the previously-designated copy command destination positions; and automatically copying the selected information elements to positions in the computer file according to the user defined subset of copy command destination positions.
US08161397B2

In one embodiment, a method for operating a local virtual world proxy is provided. A virtual world view is received corresponding to a virtual world client. Information about resources available to the virtual world client is obtained. Virtual representations of one or more resources available to a virtual world client are fetched. Then the virtual representations are injected into the virtual world view. The virtual world view is then forwarded to the virtual world client for display to a user of the virtual world client.
US08161396B2

A visual mapping system and method facilitate communication and collaboration among users sharing visual maps or topics in visual maps. The visual mapping system tracks user presence in individual topics in the visual mapping system. User presence is tracked for users that are online. If an online user is present in a topic, the system displays an indication of such presence in the topic to other online users currently sharing the same topic. The visual mapping system also provides an interface in the visual map through which an online user can initiate communications with other online users that are present in a shared topic. Types of communications that can be initiated through the visual map include chat sessions, instant meetings, telephone calls, and email messages.
US08161392B1

A system and methods for connecting a computer and at least one computing appliance to a graphic user interface comprising a display and peripheral devices is disclosed. A user interface session is associated with a computer connected to the graphic user interface by a network connection. A second user interface session, comprising a display overlay and new user interface settings is established in response to a user event such as a telephony event associated with the computing appliance. In an embodiment, user settings are adjusted on an ongoing basis in response to input device events.
US08161385B2

The present invention provides a highly scalable architecture for a three-dimensional graphical, multi-user, interactive virtual world system. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of users interact in the three-dimensional, computer-generated graphical space where each user executes a client process to view a virtual world from the perspective of that user. The virtual world shows avatars representing the other users who are neighbors of the user viewing the virtual word. In order that the view can be updated to reflect the motion of the remote user's avatars, motion information is transmitted to a central server process which provides positions updates to client processes for neighbors of the user at that client process. The client process also uses an environment database to determine which background objects to render as well as to limit the movement of the user's avatar.
US08161377B2

Methods, machines, and machine-readable media for arranging images on pages of an album are described. In one aspect, an album has multiple potential states each corresponding to a respective arrangement of the images on the pages. In accordance with one method, the album is received in an initial state. A series of successive states from the initial state to an end state is determined. Each of the successive states is selected from candidate states in a respective neighborhood of a corresponding preceding one of the states in the series based on a heuristic evaluation of the candidate states.
US08161372B2

Individual cells within a spreadsheet may contain an extensible value as defined by an extensible value type. The extensible value type is a user defined value type that is incorporated into the spreadsheet as a supported data type. Generally, the extensible data types provide support for types that are not internally defined by a spreadsheet. When the extensible value type is defined, an associated set of functions are developed to operate on the type. These functions are added to the set of base functions supported by the spreadsheet. The functions, therefore, behave in a substantially similar manner to the set of base spreadsheet functions. The extensible values that are contained within the cells may be acted upon in the same way that supported base types are acted upon.
US08161360B1

Integrated interleaved encoding is performed by obtaining a first piece of input data and a second piece of input data. The first piece of input data is systematically encoded using a first generator polynomial to obtain a first codeword. A second codeword is generated based at least in part on the second piece of input data and the first codeword. This includes by systematically encoding information based at least in part on the second piece of input data and the first codeword using a second generator polynomial. The first codeword and the second codeword are output.
US08161359B1

A cyclic redundancy check generator includes a plurality of shift registers, each shift register corresponding to a coefficient of a general polynomial key word. A plurality of programmable registers are programmed based on a specific polynomial key word. The specific key word programmed to the plurality of programmable registers is compared to the general polynomial key word to determine which shift registers corresponding to coefficients of the general polynomial key word are to take a predetermined value in order to convert the general polynomial key word into the specific polynomial key word.
US08161357B2

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data regeneration. For example, a system for data regeneration is disclosed that includes a data input derived from the medium. A data detector and a data recovery system receive the data input. The data detector provides a first soft output, and the data recovery system provides a second soft output. The first soft output and the second soft output are provided to a multiplexer. A media defect detector performs a media defect detection process, and provides a defect flag that indicates whether the data input is derived from a defective portion of the medium. The defect flag is provided to the multiplexer where it is used to select whether the first soft output or the second soft output is provides as an extrinsic output.
US08161349B2

Provided is a data parallelizing receiver including an input signal receiver for externally receiving serial data as packets, sampling the serial data, aligning the sampled data in an input order, and converting the aligned data into parallel data to output the parallel data, a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) partial calculator for receiving the parallel data, classifying the parallel data into groups according to the input order, and performing a partial CRC calculation on each of the groups to sequentially output a plurality of partial CRC calculation results, and a CRC partial calculation merger for receiving the plurality of partial CRC calculation results and merging the partial CRC calculation results to output CRC calculation data.
US08161343B2

A wireless device to include a non-volatile memory to execute an encoding scheme to provide single-cell error detection and correction on program operations in which the initial nibble value is Fh and on program operations that result in a nibble value of 0h. The non-volatile memory uses multiple writes to program a nibble more than once with non-zero data between erase cycles.
US08161327B2

A method is for making an integrated circuit with built-in self-test. The method includes forming at least one nonvolatile read only memory (ROM) to store ROM code and forming a logic self-test circuit to verify a correct functioning of the at least one nonvolatile ROM. Moreover, the method includes defining, in the logic self-test circuit, a logic self-test core to process the ROM code and to generate a flag based upon a control signature and defining, in the logic self-test circuit, a nonvolatile storage block, coupled to the logic self-test core, to store the control signature. Furthermore, the method includes writing the ROM code to the at least one nonvolatile ROM and writing the control signature to the nonvolatile storage block, during a same fabrication step.
US08161315B2

A method for implementing a sparing policy for a server by a management module in communication with the server and a plurality of additional servers is provided. The server is designated as a spare server. The spare server is maintained in a powered-off, standby state. A need for the spare server is determined. At least one of a basic input output system (BIOS) and an operating system (OS) for the spare server is selected. A volume operational on the spare server is selected for a sparing operation.
US08161314B2

A method of and system for frequency clocking in a processor core are disclosed. In this system, at least one processor core is provided, and that at least one processor core has a clocking subsystem for generating an analog output clock signal at a variable frequency. Digital frequency control data and an analog signal are both transmitted to that at least one processor core; and that processor core uses the received analog signal and digital frequency control data to set the frequency of the output clock signal of the clocking subsystem. In a preferred implementation, multiple cores are asynchronously clocked and the core frequencies are independently set.
US08161302B2

An Apparatus, method, and system for transmitting data in a Wireless Local Access Network (WLAN) in a power management state are provided. The method includes registering a standby state entrance to an Access Point (AP), switching to an active state at a period, determining whether transmission standby data exists in the AP, transmitting, if the transmission standby data exist in the AP, a standby state entrance frame notifying the entrance to the standby state to the AP, transmitting an active request signal requesting a switching to an active state to the CPU, transmitting a signal notifying standby state release to the AP if a signal notifying switch completion to an active state is received from the CPU after the active request signal is transmitted, and receiving transmission standby data from the AP.
US08161301B2

A method and apparatus for waking up a remote main system. The method includes: certifying whether a user of a terminal which transmits a packet for waking up a main system that is in a sleeping state is a legitimate user of the main system; and transmitting a wake-up signal to the main system if it is certified that the user is legitimate. Access of uncertified users can be prevented by certifying a user who is in the process of logging on or logging into the main system before the main system wakes up.
US08161296B2

A method and apparatus for managing digital content, which can detect the leakage of an encryption key when the encryption key used for encrypting the digital content is leaked or cracked. When the encrypted digital content is decrypted by an illegal device, a module linked with the encrypted digital content is automatically driven and a digital content managing apparatus is then notified that the encrypted digital content has been decrypted by the illegal device such that the digital content managing apparatus can change the encryption key. Thus, it is possible to prevent the digital content from being continuously leaked due to the use of the same encryption key for encrypting subsequent digital content.
US08161293B2

A method and a circuit for protecting the execution of a program, including initializing at least one counter, carrying on with the normal program execution, interrupting this execution when the counter reaches a given value, and executing at least one integrity check of the calculation after this interrupt.
US08161291B2

A process for authenticating a user to control remote access to a service, data base or data network is provided, in which during an enrollment step, an initial voice sample provided by the user is analyzed to obtain an initial user-specific voice profile and, in a later verification step, a current voice sample of the user is analyzed and compared to the initial voice profile to generate an access control signal. An additional user-dedicated authentication is generated in a pre-enrollment period, and the additional authentication is used to authenticate the user in the enrollment step and/or in an access control step prior to and independent on the enrollment step, in a provisional or supplementary authentication procedure.
US08161290B2

Security is provided to a communication device configured to accept a physical key device. A public mode of operation is activated for the communication device when the physical key is not accepted by the personal communication device. The public mode of operation allows access to a first set of functions of the communication device, where the public mode of operation prohibits access to a second set of functions of the communication device. A personal mode of operation is activated for the communication device when the key is accepted by the personal communication device, where the personal mode of operation allows access to the first set of functions and the second set of functions of the communication device. A private mode may also be activated upon authentication of a user of the device, where the private mode allows access to a third set of functions. Other systems and methods are also provided.
US08161289B2

Method for a portable memory storage device is provided. The method includes, enrolling the device after the device interfaces with a host system and an application is launched that requests a user to provide voice input; receiving the user voice input and storing the voice input as a template for subsequent user access; wherein the template is stored in non-volatile memory cells of the device; and authenticating a user by receiving user voice input and comparing the voice input with the stored template, wherein access to user files is provided after the user is authenticated.
US08161283B2

A method for establishing a secure route in a wireless network as provided improves network efficiency. According to one aspect, the method includes receiving at a first node in the wireless network a route request message from a second node, where the second node and the first node have not been mutually authenticated. The route request message is then forwarded from the first node to a third node. A route reply message is then received at the first node from the third node. The first node is then mutually authenticated with the second node in response to receiving the route reply message at the first node.
US08161281B1

The present invention is a method and system for high-assurance data tagging for input/output feeds. The method may include executing a high-assurance tagging application on a microprocessor (e.g., the microprocessor being designed for use in a high-assurance embedded system). Further, the method may include analyzing a message with the high-assurance tagging application and generating and attaching a tag to the message. In addition, the method may include binding the tag to the message by applying a message authentication scheme and providing a mechanism for down-stream applications to identify information about data included in the message by reference to the tag.
US08161278B2

A technique for improving authentication speed when a client roams from a first authentication domain to a second authentication domain involves coupling authenticators associated with the first and second authentication domains to an authentication server. A system according to the technique may include, for example, a first authenticator using an encryption key to ensure secure network communication, a second authenticator using the same encryption key to ensure secure network communication, and a server coupled to the first authenticator and the second authenticator wherein the server distributes, to the first authenticator and the second authenticator, information to extract the encryption key from messages that a client sends to the first authenticator and the second authenticator.
US08161273B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that allocates registers in a processor. The system starts by commencing a transaction, wherein commencing the transaction involves preserving a pre-transactional state of registers in a first register file. The system then allocates one or more registers for temporary use during the transaction. Upon finishing using each allocated register during the transaction, the system executes an instruction that restores the allocated register to the pre-transactional state.
US08161269B2

A method, apparatus and system are disclosed for decoding an instruction in a variable-length instruction set. The instruction is one of a set of new types of instructions that uses a new escape code value, which is two bytes in length, to indicate that a third opcode byte includes the instruction-specific opcode for a new instruction. The new instructions are defined such the length of each instruction in the opcode map for one of the new escape opcode values may be determined using the same set of inputs, where each of the inputs is relevant to determining the length of each instruction in the new opcode map. For at least one embodiment, the length of one of the new instructions is determined without evaluating the instruction-specific opcode.
US08161265B2

A technique for performing data prefetching using multi-level indirect data prefetching includes determining a first memory address of a pointer associated with a data prefetch instruction. Content that is included in a first data block (e.g., a first cache line of a memory) at the first memory address is then fetched. A second memory address is then determined based on the content at the first memory address. Content that is included in a second data block (e.g., a second cache line) at the second memory address is then fetched (e.g., from the memory or another memory). A third memory address is then determined based on the content at the second memory address. Finally, a third data block (e.g., a third cache line) that includes another pointer or data at the third memory address is fetched (e.g., from the memory or the another memory).
US08161263B2

A processor includes a first address translation engine, a second address translation engine, and a prefetch engine. The first address translation engine is configured to determine a first memory address of a pointer associated with a data prefetch instruction. The prefetch engine is coupled to the first translation engine and is configured to fetch content, included in a first data block (e.g., a first cache line) of a memory, at the first memory address. The second address translation engine is coupled to the prefetch engine and is configured to determine a second memory address based on the content of the memory at the first memory address. The prefetch engine is also configured to fetch (e.g., from the memory or another memory) a second data block (e.g., a second cache line) that includes data at the second memory address.
US08161258B2

A method to qualify access to a block storage device via augmentation of the device's controller and firmware flow. The method employs one or more block exclusion vectors (BEVs) that include attributes specifying allowed access operations for corresponding block address ranges. Logic in accordance with the BEVs is programmed into the controller for the block storage device, such as a disk drive controller for a disk drive. In response to an access request, a block address range corresponding to the storage block(s) requested to be accessed is determined. Based on the BEV entries, a determination is made to whether the determined logical block address range is covered by a corresponding BEV entry. If so, the attributes of the BEV are used to determine whether the access operation is allowed. The method may be used to secure access to firmware stored on a disk drive, thus enabling a system configuration that does not require a conventional firmware storage device.
US08161249B1

An apparatus includes a programmable device that has an interface and command ports that can each receive commands, each command requesting an information transfer through the interface. A technique relating to the device involves: selecting during field programming a number of priority definitions; configuring each of the priority definitions during field programming to specify an order of priority for a group of the command ports; and using the priority definitions in succession and, for each of the priority definitions, causing a command to be accepted from the command port of highest priority that contains a command.
US08161246B2

A microprocessor includes a cache memory, a load unit, and a prefetch unit, coupled to the load unit. The load unit is configured to receive a load request that includes an indicator that the load request is loading a page table entry. The prefetch unit is configured to receive from the load unit a physical address of a first cache line that includes the page table entry specified by the load request. The prefetch unit is further configured to responsively generate a request to prefetch into the cache memory a second cache line. The second cache line is the next physically sequential cache line to the first cache line. In an alternate embodiment, the second cache line is the previous physically sequential cache line to the first cache line rather than the next physically sequential cache line to the first cache line.
US08161230B2

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.
US08161227B1

A non-volatile storage subsystem is capable of serving as a configuration controller for configuring/programming one or more field-programmable devices, such as FPGAs, of a target computer system. The storage subsystem may be in the form of a memory card or drive that plugs into a standard slot or external port of the target system. When connected to the target system, the storage subsystem uses the appropriate download interface/protocol to stream or otherwise send configuration data stored in its non-volatile storage to the target system's field-programmable device(s). Thus, the need for a configuration controller in the target system is avoided. Once the configuration process is complete, the storage subsystem preferably acts as a standard storage subsystem, such as an ATA storage drive, that may be used by the target system to store data.
US08161222B1

Systems, devices and methods for interfacing a single bus with multiple buses invisibly to devices using the single bus are presented. More specifically, in one embodiment an I/O bus may be interfaced with multiple other I/O buses of the same or different formats. Commands may be received on the first I/O bus and invisibly to a computing device or processor which issues the commands, translated into a set of commands configured to effectuate a received command in conjunction with storage media coupled to the other I/O buses. This set of commands may also be configured to implement additional functionality in conjunction with the storage media such as RAID or data encryption.
US08161210B1

A communication system includes a transmitter that transmits multiple data streams to a receiver in the communication system. Each of the data streams includes data and a skip ordered set. The receiver includes a deskew unit for each data stream, each of which includes multiple data queues. Each of the deskew units stores symbols of the data stream received by the deskew unit into the data queues of the data unit by distributing the symbols among the data queues. The deskew unit aligns data symbols across the data streams by deskewing symbols stored in the data queues of the deskew units based on skip ordered sets in the deskew units. Moreover, the receiver may deskew more than one symbol per clock cycle.
US08161203B1

Technologies are described herein for detecting the presence and activity of a mass storage device. A resistor divider circuit generates a voltage indicating whether a mass storage device has been mated to a mass storage backplane and whether the device is active. The circuit provides a voltage within a first range when the device is not mated to the storage backplane, and provides a voltage within a second range when the device is mated to the storage backplane but is inactive. The circuit also provides a voltage within a third range when the device is mated to the storage backplane and is active. The circuit can be connected to an integrated circuit that can determine, based on the output of the resistor divider circuit, whether the device has been mated to the storage backplane and whether the device is active.
US08161197B2

Method and system for efficient buffer management for layer 2 through layer 5 network interface controller applications are provided. Aspects of the method may comprise determining whether an active NIC connection is an L2 type, an L4 type, or an L5 type. At least one buffer descriptor may be cached locally on a network interface controller (NIC) managed by a NIC application. The buffer descriptor is associated with the determined type of the active NIC connection. If the at least one active NIC connection is of the L2 or L4 type, the buffer descriptor may comprise at least one of a receive (RX) buffer descriptor and a transmit (TX) buffer descriptor. If the NIC connection is of the L5 type, the buffer descriptor may comprise at least one of a upper translation page table (TPT) entry and a lower TPT entry.
US08161196B2

A mobile terminal capable of displaying data of e-mail etc. stored in an internal memory derived from usage by each user so that the difference of the users when acquiring the data becomes clear, wherein data of received mail acquired along with processing for reception of e-mail and identification data read out from a SIM card via a SIM card interface are stored in a flash ROM associated together and wherein when displaying each received mail stored in the flash ROM on the display, the received mail associated with the identification data read out from the currently attached SIM card and the received mail associated with the other identification data are displayed differently on the display unit 105.
US08161194B2

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for deriving at least one router configuration of at least one datacenter edge router and at least one provider edge router to support at least one datacenter managing at least one customer virtual private network. Specifically, the method comprises assigning at least one datacenter profile to the at least one datacenter, and assigning a datacenter profile route-target to the at least one datacenter profile.
US08161179B2

A computer-implemented method includes generating a user interface for displaying one or more images, receiving a request from a remote device to view the user interface, determining whether the remote device is a mobile device communicating over a wireless network, depending on a result of the determination, generating a low resolution version of the user interface that is computationally less intensive to render compared to the previously generated user interface, and transmitting the low resolution version of the user interface to the requesting device.
US08161168B2

The invention provides plug-in framework, enabling embedding of content-based processes to in a messaging paradigm provider service. In the preferred embodiment, the messaging paradigm is JMS and the invention provides a plug-able framework embedded in a JMS Provider. The plug-able server is particularly suited for efficient and secure transmission of real-time, streaming data.
US08161167B2

A highly scalable application layer service appliance is described herein. According to one embodiment, a network element includes a plurality of application service modules (ASMs), each providing one or more application services to network traffic, including layer 5-7 services, a lossless data transport fabric (LDTF), a network service module (NSM) coupled to each of the ASMs over the LDTF. In response to a packet of a network transaction received from a client over for accessing a server of a datacenter, the NSM is configured to perform layer 2-5 processes on the packet, generating a data stream. The NSM is configured to route the data stream to at least two ASMs over the LDTF to allow the ASMs to perform layer 5-7 services on the packet. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08161161B2

A certain process included in a first execution space requests a local resource manager to allocate a resource. The local resource manager obtains the authentication ID of the process issuing the request and determines whether or not the resource can be allocated. If the resource can be allocated and the resource previously secured in the execution space can suffice the request, the local resource manager allocates the resource to the process. If the resource is insufficient, the local resource manager requests a global resource manager to allocate the resource. The global resource manager obtains the authentication ID of the first execution space issuing the request and determines whether or not the resource can be allocated. If it is determined that the resource can be allocated, the resource is allocated to the first execution space.
US08161158B2

The present invention relates to a method and a communication system for transmission of multimedia streams. Multimedia streams are transmitted in the communication system from a sending communication device to a receiving communication device at least partly via a wireless communication network. Information about the multimedia stream is transmitted to the receiving communication device comprising at least one parameter of the transmission of the multimedia stream for reservation of network resources. The parameter is the maximum bit rate which is needed for the transmission or the maximum service data unit size to be used in the transmission. It is also possible that both the mentioned parameters will be transmitted as attributes of the session description protocol. In an advantageous embodiment the receiving communication device informs the sending communication device about the QoS profile parameters which the wireless communication network granted for the transmission.
US08161155B2

Traffic flow from a traffic source with a source IP address to a customer system with a destination IP address is filtered by comparing the source IP address to a customer blacklist. If the source IP address is on the customer blacklist, then traffic to the customer system is blocked; else, traffic to the customer system is allowed. The customer blacklist is generated from a network blacklist, comprising IP addresses of unwanted traffic sources, and a customer whitelist, comprising IP addresses of wanted traffic sources. The customer blacklist is generated by removing from the network blacklist any IP address also on the customer whitelist. The network blacklist is generated by acquiring raw blacklists from reputation systems. IP addresses on the raw blacklists are sorted by prefix groups, which are rank ordered by traffic frequency. Top prefix groups are selected for the network blacklist.
US08161148B2

Upon no completion of setting of a user ID and a password to be sent to a PPPoE server, in response to reception of a DNS request from a client, a communication device of the invention sends back a unique LAN IP address, which is allocated to the communication device, as a DNS reply to the client, regardless of the contents of the DNS request. The client then sends an HTTP request to the received LAN IP address, and the communication device sends back a Web page for entry of the user name and the password as an HTTP response to the client. The Web page for entry of the user ID and the password is displayed on an active Web browser of the client. This arrangement enables the user to readily complete setting for communication in the communication device.
US08161145B2

A method for managing attacks in a computer system is disclosed. The computer system is used in sending, receiving, or sending and receiving a plurality of packets, which include a plurality of administrative packets. The method includes determining whether a congestion of the administrative packets exists. Congestion of the administrative packets indicates that a potential attack exists. The method also includes discarding a portion of the plurality of administrative packets if it is declared that the congestion of the administrative packets exists. The portion of the plurality of packets is sufficient to ensure that a remaining portion of the plurality of packets transmitted is not more than a maximum administrative packet bandwidth limit and, if the plurality of administrative packets present a sufficient offered load, not less than a minimum administrative packet bandwidth guarantee.
US08161144B2

A system and method for defining a route through one or more switch devices based on signal requirements and/or resource dependencies. The user may interact with a graphical user interface to specify required signal characteristics for the route, such as signal bandwidth, voltage, carry current, etc. The required signal characteristics may then be used when selecting or determining channels to include the route. The required signal characteristics may affect both automatically selected channels and user-selected channels. For example, if the user specifies a portion of a route and the switch executive core automatically completes the route for the user, the switch executive core may choose a route including only valid channels, according to the required signal characteristics.
US08161142B2

A method, system, and article are provided to enable a Hyperswap operation in a clustered computer system. Each node in the system is configured with flash memory, with a hierarchical list of boot volumes therein. Following a Hyperswap operation, the current boot volume is communicated to each node in the cluster and each node joining the cluster. All previously inactive nodes that were booted from the improper boot volume are re-booted from the correct and the flash memory is amended to reflect the correct boot volume.
US08161141B2

Provided are a server, a system, and a method of distributing a load caused by health checks in a dynamic domain name server (DDNS) by separating a health check unit which causes the most load on the dynamic domain name server and a unit for processing a client query and registering equipment. The dynamic domain name server (DDNS) includes a main dynamic domain name server (DDNS that registers an identifier and a dynamic IP address for a piece of the equipment and responds to a client query request with the dynamic IP address of the piece of equipment; and at least one sub-DDNS for updating a status of the piece of equipment in response to a status notifying message sent from the piece of equipment.
US08161139B2

A network element (NE) includes an intelligent interface (II) with its own operating environment rendering it active during the NE boot process, and with separate intelligence allowing it to take actions on the NE prior to, during, and after the boot process. The combination of independent operation and increased intelligence provides enhanced management opportunities to enable the NE to be controlled throughout the boot process and after completion of the boot process. For example, files may be uploaded to the NE before or during the boot process to restart the NE from a new software image. The II allows this downloading process to occur in parallel on multiple NEs from a centralized storage resource. Diagnostic checks may be run on the NE, and files, and MIB information, and other data may be transmitted from the II to enable a network manager to more effectively manage the NE.
US08161134B2

The present invention describes various mechanisms which may be used for improving SAN device interoperability enforcement techniques implemented in SAN or Fiber Channel networks. In one implementation, the technique of the present invention allows a SAN to automatically enforce interoperability requirements between devices connected to a SAN by utilizing SAN zoning technology to implement one or more novel types of “smart” zones having different, customizable attributes. In one implementation, a first device and second device of the SAN may be automatically identified as being non-interoperable. The first device and the second device may then be included as members of a negative zone having a first associated negative zone attribute prohibiting communication between members of the first negative zone.
US08161129B2

Information of a terminal equipment used by a user among the pieces of terminal equipment connected to a network is registered in prescribed registering means and a transmission path from the terminal equipment of a transmitter to the terminal equipment of a receiver is determined based on the registered information of the terminal equipment, so that the user can assuredly transmit the information to the terminal equipment of the receiver in the transmission path suitable for the information without any consciousness of the user. The information of the terminal equipment used by a user and the terminal equipment connected to the terminal equipment used by the user among the pieces of terminal equipment connected to the network is registered in prescribed registering means together with information for identifying the user as available environmental information, and provided information is transmitted to the terminal equipment specified by the registered available environmental information.
US08161125B2

A workflow manager application transfers message data received from an originating device via a communication network to a target application for processing. A graphical user interface displays the received message data and allows the user to view and designate one or more target applications for processing the message data. The workflow manger application is responsive to user input to transfer message data to the designated one or more target applications for processing the message data. Alternatively, the workflow manager application analyzes received message data to identify one or more target applications, and transfers the message data to the identified one or more target applications for processing.
US08161123B2

A system whereby a first user can post messages securely to a central data server, which date stamps the messages and permanently records their content and dates. Other authorized users can access the account on the central data server, and preferably can post messages to the same. The dates and content of the messages posted cannot be changed. Thus, the system is a reliable source of information about the content of communications and the dates of receipt by the central data server. Notice can be sent to users by email or otherwise apprising them of a newly posted message.
US08161115B2

A system and method for rapidly transmitting a large volume of e-mails. Based on domain names obtained from destination mailing addresses, a server 10 for a sender sorts e-mails to be transmitted, generates transfer data for each domain name by grouping e-mail data, and uses FTP to transmit the transfer data to servers 30 for distributors whose domain names correspond to those for which the transfer data were generated. At this time, compression is effective for improving the transmission of the transfer data. The server 30, upon receiving transfer data, analyzes the received transfer data to obtain the data for individual e-mails, and distributes the e-mail data to the mail boxes of individual recipients.
US08161112B2

Delivering dynamic media content to collaborators, including providing collaborative event media content, where the collaborative event media content further comprises a grammar and a structured document; acquiring data representing a client's environmental condition; storing, in the context server in a data structure comprising a dynamic client context for the client, the data representing a client's environmental condition; detecting an event in dependence upon the dynamic client context; identifying one or more collaborators in dependence upon the dynamic client context and the event; selecting from the structured document a classified structural element in dependence upon an event type and a collaborator classification; and transmitting the selected structural element to the collaborator.
US08161104B2

In order to provide third party verification of the content and delivery of an electronic message such as an e-snail, a server receives the e-mail intended to be sent or forwarded to a specified addressee, and “tags” the message to indicate that it is “registered” with the provider of the service. The server then establishes a direct telnet connection with the addressee's Mail User Agent (MUA), and transmits the tagged email to the addressee's MUA, as well as to the MUA's of any other addressees. After receiving responses from the receiving MUA's that the message was successfully received, the server then creates and forwards to the message originator an electronic receipt. The receipt includes one or more, and preferably all of, the following: the original message including any original attachments; a delivery success/failure table listing which addressee's MUA's successfully received the message and at what time, and for which MUA's there was a delivery failure; and a digital signature corresponding to the message and attachments. By receiving the receipt at a later date and verifying that the digital signature matches the message and related information, the operators of the system can provide independent third party verification that the receipt is a genuine product of their system and that the information pertaining to content and delivery of the message is accurate, without the need to archive either the original message or the receipt.
US08161102B2

A method of submitting content on behalf of a client to multiple service providers includes the steps of receiving a request from a client to submit content to a plurality of service providers and retrieving client login information necessary to submit the content to the plurality of service providers, logging on to the service providers using the client login information. The method also includes the steps of identifying service providers that include a human verification request before submitting the content, developing a queue of the human verfication request, and dispatching the human verification requests to one or more processing consoles used by operators who do not have knowledge of the underlying content submission request. The method further includes the steps of submitting responses to the human verification request through a processing console and submitting the content to each of the plurality of service providers through a client device. The responses are routed through the client device to the service providers to submit the responses and the content submitted to a service provider is formatted in accordance with such sevice provider. The server performs the steps of proccssing, retrieving, logging on, and submitting automatically after the request is received without additional input from the client.
US08161100B1

Disclosed are various embodiments for self-service provisioning of multi-channel applications. A self-service provisioning of a channel application is implemented on at least one server for a merchant based on channel configuration data supplied by a merchant client, at least a portion of the provisioning being performed automatically, the channel application being associated with a channel of commerce and becoming operable to facilitate a customer interaction for the merchant through the channel of commerce. There is communication with at least one channel client to perform the customer interaction according to merchant data stored on the at least one server.
US08161091B2

A method for performing a decimal floating point operation including receiving a first operand having a first coefficient and a first exponent into a first register. A second operand having a second coefficient and a second exponent are received into a second register. An operation, either addition or subtraction, associated with the first operand and the second operand is received. Three concurrent calculations are performed on the first operand and the second operand. The three concurrent calculations include: applying the operation to the first operand and the second operand based on a first assumption; applying the operation to the first operand and the second operand based on a second assumption; and applying the operation to the first operand and the second operand based on a third assumption. A final result is selected from the first result, the second result and the third result.
US08161090B2

In a particular embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes receiving first and second operands at a floating-point fused add-subtract circuit. The method further includes simultaneously performing add and subtract operations on the first and second operands via the floating-point fused add-subtract circuit to produce a sum result output and a difference result output. The floating-point fused add-subtract circuit includes sign logic, exponent adjustment logic, and shift logic that are shared by an add/round and post-normalize circuit and a subtract/round and post-normalize circuit to produce the sum and difference result outputs.
US08161076B1

The technique introduced here includes generating a data structure for use in determining how responsibilities for services should be distributed amongst a plurality of resources in a network storage system. The technique includes an iterative process of optimizing the data structure for a plurality of performance/quality metrics, such as evenness of storage consumption across the storage system or a designated subset thereof, number of “hot spots”, degree of data scatter, and number of changes needed to reflect a change in storage system geometry. The data structure can be a striping table for striping logical containers of data across multiple storage resources, such as data volumes, or physical storage devices. The “responsibilities for services”, can include responsibility for storing a stripe of a logical container of data or responsibility for storing a segment of parity data for a logical container of data.
US08161065B2

Systems, methods, and computer storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that facilitate advertisement selection using advertising units. An entity that is a sequence of two or more words is referenced. The entity includes substrings comprising a portion of the entity. Search data in association with the entity is compared to corresponding search data in association with the substrings of the entity. Based on the comparison, it is determined that the entity comprises an advertisable unit that functions as a unit for purposes of selecting an advertisement for display. The advertisable unit is used to select an advertisement to be presented to the user.
US08161049B2

A system, method, computer program product, and a web site for evaluating a patent document by using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) have been provided. The patent document is characterized by patent indices arranged into a hierarchy, each index reflecting a different aspect of the patent document. The values of the patent indices are analyzed by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system, which generates a verbal conclusion regarding the value of the patent document based on the performed analysis. A reason associated with the generated conclusion may also be generated. The AI system is a decision tree based AI system, which is implemented so as to be accessible via a network. The value of the patent document may be additionally visualized by using a color coding of the patent document based on values of its patent indices.
US08161046B2

The invention relates to a system and/or methodology for selectivity estimation of set similarity queries. More specifically, the invention relates to a selectivity estimation technique employing hashed sampling. The invention providing for samples constructed a priori that can efficiently and quickly provide accurate estimates for arbitrary queries, and can be updated efficiently as well.
US08161044B2

A system and method of web searching is provided. The method comprises defining one or more user preferred categories and conducting a search within the one or more user preferred categories based upon search criteria by comparing the search criteria to content information within each of the one or more user preferred categories. The method further includes displaying search results associated with each of the preferred categories which have matching criteria based on the conducted search.
US08161039B2

A play list of songs or other media items is automatically generated (380) based on external factors (314, 324, 334) such as weather conditions, stock market conditions, sales of songs, or calendar data, e.g., day of week, holidays or user designated dates such as birthdays, anniversaries and the like. External data (310, 320, 330) relating to the external factors can be received (115) from a radio broadcast, Internet link, or link to a vehicle computer, for instance. The external data is mapped (360) to media items to obtain matching media items (370) for the play list. The mapping may also account for user preferences (145). The user may select (305) the external factor, which represents the mood and/or current preferences of the user in a much better way than the conventional criteria such as genre, artist or album alone.
US08161033B2

A scheduler for a search engine crawler includes a history log containing document identifiers (e.g., URLs) corresponding to documents (e.g., web pages) on a network (e.g., Internet). The scheduler is configured to process each document identifier in a set of the document identifiers by determining a content change frequency of the document corresponding to the document identifier, determining a first score for the document identifier that is a function of the determined content change frequency of the corresponding document, comparing the first score against a threshold value, and scheduling the corresponding document for indexing based on the results of the comparison.
US08161026B2

A method, computer program product and apparatus are provided for capturing inexact date information. In particular, a sophisticated date entry mechanism is provided that is capable of receiving, as input, date information associated with not only exact dates, but also “fuzzy” (i.e., partial or approximate) dates including, for example, “August of 2006,” or “about the first of June in the year 1996.” This date information may be input via any combination of a mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, or other input element, and in a plurality of different formats, including, for example, a plain language description of the exact or fuzzy date, and/or a relative description of the date. Once the date information has been received, the date entry mechanism is capable of determining in which format the date information was provided, and determining a date corresponding with the date information based on this format.
US08161023B2

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for inserting a PDF shared resource back into a PDF statement is provided. The method includes storing a set of statements, wherein each statement has been extracted from a document and each statement contains indirect objects. A set of resources is then stored, wherein the resources have been extracted from the document, and the resources include a set of indirect objects. All of the indirect objects in a selected one of the stored statements are then enumerated and a determination is made of which of the indirect objects contain keys. A key value for the enumerated indirect objects containing keys is then read, and the indirect objects in the stored set of resources associated with each key are identified. Stream data is then copied from the indirect objects in the stored set of resources into the selected ones of the stored statements.
US08161021B2

A recording apparatus, a reproduction apparatus, and a file management method are disclosed wherein the operability in management of a large number of files recorded on a recording medium using an index file can be improved significantly further than ever. An index file is formed from a series of entries of extract information from a large number of files. Information indicative of a relationship between the files is set to the index file. The index file is used to manage a large number of files and so forth recorded on a recording medium.
US08161016B2

A requester includes a business process history DB having recorded therein GBPIDs, input messages, and provider names, and each of providers includes a log DB having recorded therein log data containing DBPIDs and images before updates of the DB. Moreover, in the requester, an UNDO information creator and a REDO information creator refer to the business process history DB to respectively create UNDO information and REDO information for the provider in charge of the business process of a GBPID after the modification REDO. Furthermore, in the provider, an UNDO processor and a REDO processor refer to the log DB to respectively perform UNDO and REDO processes.
US08161009B2

When plural copy groups including pairs exist, remote copying for pairs belonging to copy groups is suspended selectively on a copy group-to-copy group basis, instead of suspending remote copying in all the copy groups at once. A computer system has a host computer, plural first storage systems comprising plural first logical disks, and plural second storage systems comprising plural second logical disks. A first logical disk and a second logical disk paired with the first logical disk, and each pair belongs to either a first copy group or a second copy group. To selectively suspend remote copying on a copy group-to-copy group basis, one of the copy groups is specified first and then pairs belonging to this copy group are designated. The first storage systems comprising first logical disks of the designated pairs suspend remote copy processing for the designated pairs.
US08161004B2

A new sub-document versioning method for record storages of XML documents which uses virtual cutting points to ensure that a search tree is able to support multiple versions of sub-documents and provide efficient mechanisms for XML updating. Record boundaries and virtual cut points divide the two-dimensional space, the horizontal axis representing node identifiers in document order and vertical axis representing version numbers, into rectangles. The bottom corner of the rectangle is used to represent the rectangles and the corresponding information of the corner is added to the search tree index.
US08161003B2

The invention relates generally to copying electronic data. More particularly, the invention provides a computerized method for identifying, in a first backup data set, a data item satisfying a selection criterion, and copying to a second backup data set at least a portion of the data item.
US08161002B2

A system, a method and a computer readable media for replicating virtual universe objects are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes determining a first set of VU objects associated with a first user. The method further includes determining replication priority values for the first set of VU objects utilizing predetermined priority value rules. Each VU object of the first set of VU objects has a replication priority value. The method further includes determining a second set of VU objects from the first set of VU objects based on the replication priority values associated with the first set of VU objects. The method further includes replicating the second set of VU objects from a primary VU computer server to a first device.
US08161001B2

Methods, devices and systems which facilitate the conversion of database objects from one schema version (e.g., an earlier version) to another schema version (e.g., a newer version) without requiring the objects be unloaded and reloaded are described. In general, data object conversion applies to both table space objects and index space objects. The described transformation techniques may be used to convert any object whose schema changes occur at the page-level.
US08160993B2

A method and system for determining a probability of inferring an unknown attribute value for an attribute of interest for a target node in a social network. The method comprises the steps of receiving as an input attribute values and link relationships for a plurality of additional nodes in the social network, creating a simplified network using the input values and relationships, and calculating the probability of inferring the unknown attribute value for the target node.
US08160982B2

A method for detecting people of interest from information sources. Method performs automatic community model generation based on uni-parity data. Correlation analysis is employed to identify links within the community. Method may be particularized for solving specific problems, for example, such as determining the activities between individuals within a money laundering ring.
US08160981B2

A time of occurrence of an interest event of multiple events is anticipated based on time intervals between at least two previously occurring events and a previous occurrence of the interest event and based on a new occurrence of at least one of the events. For a respective event, multiple inter-event interval pairs based on occurrence times of pairs of respective remaining events relative to an occurrence time of the respective event are memorized. For a respective event, a time of future occurrence of the interest event from the respective event is predicted based on the inter-event interval pairs that have been memorized. The predicted time of future occurrence is also based on the new occurrence of the respective event and at least one of the events to obtain multiple interest event predictions of times of future occurrences of the interest event. The predictions are processed to generate an anticipated time when the interest event will occur in the future. A user is presented at least one of the interest event predictions and/or the anticipated time when the interest event will occur in the future.
US08160976B2

Systems and methods for achieving PLMN continuity when moving between networks of different types through network selection are provided. When a mobile station moves from a first network type, such as cellular, to a second network type, such as GAN, if there is a PLMN discontinuity, this may result in a dropped call. In order to avoid this, networks for the first network type and the second network type are selected such that there is PLMN continuity. This can involve reselection of a different cellular network than one currently providing service to the mobile station.
US08160971B2

A computerized system and method for monitoring an order placed by a customer for a product produced by a supplier to be delivered to a retail location. The method includes presenting an order-entry interface to collect order information about the order to be transmitted to the supplier and store the order information in a computer-accessible order database. Warehouse information authorized by the supplier and transmitted to the warehouse is also stored. A carrier database stores a shipping rate of carriers for transporting the product ordered by the customer to the retail location, and a report generation subsystem collects at least a portion of the order information, the warehouse information and the shipping rate and generates a report displaying the collected information in a single display to be substantially simultaneously reviewed by a supervisor.
US08160970B2

A method for conducting online discussion and collecting point-of-view information on a topic of discussion that includes displaying a hierarchy of topics, each topic corresponding to a position statement representing a consensus point of view of one or more supporters of the topic. At each level of the hierarchy, topics are ordered based on user-selected attributes of the one or more supporters of the topic. A user is allowed to select a topic from the ordered hierarchy to display the corresponding position statement.
US08160963B2

One embodiment of the present invention enables delivery of “on-demand” high fidelity media content to computers via the Internet while restricting unauthorized users from directly retrieving media content from its source database. Once the computer receives the media, it is stored using hidden directories so that it may not be easily shared with others. Within the present embodiment, there are different functionality that are implemented in order to protect and monitor the media content source. For example, the actual address location of the media database is hidden from content recipients while its address directory is periodically change making past addresses obsolete. Additionally, an access key procedure and rate control restrictor may also be implemented to monitor and restrict suspicious media content requests. By implementing these and other functionality, the present embodiment restricts redistribution of delivered media content and provides a means for compensating owners of copyrighted media content.
US08160954B2

A market map interface displays market information and trader-related information associated with at least two tradable objects. In one embodiment, the at least two graphical interfaces may be linked, and a user may define one or more adjustment parameters to be used to adjust the view of information being displayed via the linked graphical interfaces. For instance, a user may initiate repositioning of one of the linked graphical interfaces, thus, effectively, causing other linked graphical interfaces to be repositioned according to the defined adjustment parameters.
US08160950B2

Method and apparatus for trading financial assets, such as foreign exchange and money market instruments, commodities and securities. The invention, which may be accessed over an interconnected data communications network, such as the Internet, using a standard Web browser, as well as via a proprietary user interface, receives customer requirements, automatically combines and organizes those requirements into a batch of orders according to a set of customer preferences, and displays the batch of orders to the customer, along with indicative or actual price quotes, such that the customer may select and process multiple orders and multiple requirements simultaneously. Orders are priced and booked automatically.
US08160932B2

An artwork-trading computer system includes a primary auction for trading an artwork put up by an artist for the first time and a secondary auction for the following reselling. A server judges whether a bidding is for the primary auction or the secondary auction. When the server judges it as the primary auction, the server sends the artist a signal for requesting to select a winning bidder among the bidding collectors. Meanwhile, when the server judges it as the secondary auction, the server decides the winning bidder who offers the best bid price.
US08160912B2

A method and computer program product for receiving an indication of a meeting being scheduled between a plurality of attendees. At least one of the attendees is designated a moderator of the meeting. The actions of the designated moderator are monitored to determine if the designated moderator is capable of performing one or more moderator responsibilities associated with being the designated moderator. If it is determined that the designated moderator is incapable of performing the one or more moderator responsibilities, an alternate moderator chosen from the plurality of attendees is designated.
US08160911B2

Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward providing a method utilizing project management software for creating a project plan utilizing a top-down strategy allowing a user to describe high-level objectives before filling in details for the underlying tasks of which the high-level objectives are comprised. As an alternative to basing summary task dates and durations solely on subtask data, the present invention allows a user to enter dates and duration values into summary tasks regardless of when the corresponding subtasks occur. By utilizing a top-down project management approach, embodiments of the present invention promote utilizing summary tasks as a starting point of project planning. Users are able to input high-level objectives of a project when more specific details of subtasks are unknown. Because summary task data is not rolled-up from the subtask data, a user may specify details such as dates and durations of subtasks at a later time.
US08160909B2

Site optimizer is a tool that enables A/B testing of merchandising offers for your online store to help you determine which offers work best on your storefront. A/B testing compares multiple offers simultaneously to randomly selected groups of shoppers. The A/B testing approach provides a unique and effective way to optimize online store performance because it is metrics-driven, objective, and more efficient than other site optimization techniques.
US08160906B2

A method and system are disclosed for managing a rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on automated processing of vehicle repair data corresponding to a disabled vehicle that is related to the rental vehicle reservation. For example, a preferred method and system can automatically compute from the vehicle repair data an amount of time that is likely to be needed by a repair facility to complete repairs to the disabled vehicle, which in turn can drive more accurate management of an authorization period for the rental vehicle reservation. A preferred method and system can also automatically schedule a callback reminder for the rental vehicle reservation based at least in part on the received vehicle repair data. Further still, detailed audit reports regarding how reservations are managed can be generated by the preferred method and system.
US08160904B1

Disclosed are systems and methods to provide process status update information. The systems and methods provide techniques to communicate with a party about a process in which the party has an interest, provide the party with an identifier, the identifier related to the party and the process, and provide a process status updater operable to provide information about the process to the party, wherein the information about the process is provided when the party accesses the process status updater using the identifier.
US08160901B2

The invention can be directed toward a method for personalized management and comparison of medical condition and outcome based on patient profiles of a community of patients. The method can include the steps of providing a database of patient profiles, providing a user interface for inputting a query of the database from a user, generating a query result including one or more matching patient profiles from the database, and displaying the query result as a correlation medical condition parameters of the user with a medical outcome.
US08160900B2

Methods and Devices to monitor the level of at least one analyte are provided.
US08160893B2

The invention provides a data visualization system comprising a data value memory in which is maintained a finite set of data values and display means arranged to display a contoured representation. One or more of the data values are displayed as contours around one or more data points and each data value is centered on a data point. The invention also provides a method of data visualization and a data visualization computer program.
US08160879B2

Systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media for enhancing speech recognition accuracy. The method includes dividing a system dialog turn into segments based on timing of probable user responses, generating a weighted grammar for each segment, exclusively activating the weighted grammar generated for a current segment of the dialog turn during the current segment of the dialog turn, and recognizing user speech received during the current segment using the activated weighted grammar generated for the current segment. The method can further include assigning probability to the weighted grammar based on historical user responses and activating each weighted grammar is based on the assigned probability. Weighted grammars can be generated based on a user profile. A weighted grammar can be generated for two or more segments. Exclusively activating each weighted grammar can include a transition period blending the previously activated grammar and the grammar to be activated.
US08160873B2

In a noise suppression apparatus for suppressing noise contained in a speech signal, the speech signal is converted to a first vector of spectral speech components and a second vector of spectral speech components identical to the first vector. A vector of noise suppression coefficients is determined based on the first vector spectral speech components. A vector of estimated noise components is determined based on the first vector spectral speech components, and a speech section correction factor and a nonspeech section correction factor are calculated from the estimated noise components and the first-vector spectral speech components to produce a combined correction factor. The noise suppression coefficients are weighted by the combined correction factor to produce a vector of post-suppression coefficients. The second vector spectral speech components are weighted by the post-suppression coefficients to produce a vector of enhanced speech components.
US08160871B2

A wideband speech coding apparatus which causes an input speech signal to be represented by spectrum parameters and an excitation signal. The apparatus includes a coding unit configured to select a plurality of pulses from given pulse position candidates, and to code the excitation signal with the selected pulses; an identification unit configured to identify whether the input speech signal is a wideband speech signal or a narrowband speech signal; and a control unit configured to control the coding unit to select a pulse position candidate having a time resolution which is set in advance in accordance with the wideband speech signal, when the identification unit identifies that the input speech signal is the wideband speech signal, and to control the coding unit to lower the time resolution of the pulse position candidate, when the identification unit identifies that the input speech signal is the narrowband speech signal.
US08160861B2

The system comprises a component model for modelling aspects of the hardware component, and feature extraction logic for extending the component model to cause the component model, when executing, to output one or more features identifying execution behavior of the component model. A statistical model is then arranged to receive the one or more features output by the component model, and to generate the output dependent on one or more features. The component model may not explicitly model features that can be used to effectively predict values of the observable property, features that a statistical model depends on may still be captured in the underlying logic and implementation of the component model. By extracting features identifying execution behavior of the component model, this can provide a suitable input to the statistical model.
US08160855B2

A method of simulating network activities includes building a model of the network, the model including data retrieved over a predetermined period of time. The method further includes running a plurality of queries against the model to determine their impacts on the network.
US08160850B2

A system and method for viewing models and model variables within a sophisticated modeling environment is disclosed. The system provides varying levels of insight into a modeling infrastructure to help the user understand model and model variable dependencies, usage, distribution, and/or the like. The method includes storing model and model variable data within a relational database system, receiving a request from a user interfacing with the system via a web interface, extracting search criteria and presentation preferences from the request, formulating and executing one or more queries on the database to retrieve the required data, formatting the data in accordance with the request, and retuning the data to the requesting user in the form of a web page.
US08160849B2

A system and method for viewing models and model variables within a sophisticated modeling environment is disclosed. The system provides varying levels of insight into a modeling infrastructure to help the user understand model and model variable dependencies, usage, distribution, and/or the like. The method includes storing model and model variable data within a relational database system, receiving a request from a user interfacing with the system via a web interface, extracting search criteria and presentation preferences from the request, formulating and executing one or more queries on the database to retrieve the required data, formatting the data in accordance with the request, and retuning the data to the requesting user in the form of a web page.
US08160845B2

Techniques for emulating operating system jitter on a platform using a given trace are provided. The techniques include calculating a scale factor, wherein the scale factor is equal to a maximum of measured overhead of introducing synthetic jitter on the platform and a resolution of one or more timer calls on the platform, scaling up each of one or more jitter values and each of one or more gaps between each of one or more jitter instances in the trace and an execution period of a benchmark parallel application using the scale factor, introducing synthetic jitter using each of the one or more scaled jitter values and each of the one or more scaled gaps from the trace while running the benchmark parallel application for the scaled execution period to emulate operating system jitter on a platform, and scaling down one or more final time measurements from the benchmark parallel application by the scale factor.
US08160844B2

In one embodiment, a processing block of a block diagram receives input data including a plurality of data elements organized as a matrix of a first size. At least a portion of the input data is partitioned into a plurality of data blocks in response to user-selected parameters. A data block includes selected ones of the plurality of data elements organized as a matrix of a second size. The data processing block performs a data processing function on the plurality of data blocks in a user-specified order to yield processed data corresponding to each data block. The processed data corresponding to each data block is then reassembled to form output data corresponding to the input data and the output data is output from the processing block to another block of the block diagram.
US08160843B2

A device for planning a production unit with a production building and a manufacturing facility, wherein the manufacturing facility has machines with equipment for automation systems integrated at least partially in a communication network, wherein the device has a product data management system, in which data relating to the product to be manufactured and further manufacture-related data is stored in a database and with planning tools that are called up from a planning platform which allow at least partially virtual mapping of the product, the production building and the manufacturing facility by accessing the database, a network planning tool for the communication network being integrated in the planning platform, data characterizing the communication network being available based upon the product data management system.
US08160838B2

Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for visualizing environmental conditions in a data center using wireless sensor networks. An example embodiment includes: establishing communication with a plurality of networked environmental sensors deployed at particular points in one of a plurality of pre-defined layers for a facility; periodically obtaining measured environmental data values from each of the plurality of networked environmental sensors using a wireless sensor network; using the measured environmental data values at the particular points to extrapolate computed environmental data values at intermediate points in the facility; and using the measured environmental data values and the computed environmental data values to generate a visualization of environmental conditions in the facility.
US08160833B2

One embodiment of the present invention comprises a mass flow controller. The mass flow controller may comprise a pair of thermal sensing elements, a bridge circuit adapted to receive at least one first signal from the pair of thermal sensing elements and a differential amplifier adapted to (i) receive at least one bridge signal from the bridge circuit, and (ii) emit an output signal generally proportional to a flow rate of fluid passing through the mass flow controller. The mass flow controller is also comprised in one embodiment of a filter portion of a control module having one or more first filters comprising substantially permanent parameters adapted to provide a more accurate output signal for a baseline fluid upon a change in the flow rate and one or more second filters comprising variable parameters, with each of the one or more second filters being adapted to provide a more accurate output signal for non-baseline fluids upon a change in the flow rate.
US08160830B2

A method of yield management for semiconductor manufacture and an apparatus thereof are provided. The method includes the following steps. Defect data of a layer of a semiconductor wafer is obtained, wherein the defect data includes sizes and locations of defects with respect to the layer. A layout with respect to the layer is obtained. And a critical area analysis is performed in parallel for the layer by a plurality of processing devices according to the defect data and the layout to determine locations of defects falling into a critical area of the layer among the locations of the defects.
US08160827B2

A sensor module for a compressor, having an electric motor operating at a first voltage, the sensor module operating at a second voltage, is provided. The sensor module includes a plurality of inputs connected to a plurality of sensors that generate a plurality of operating signals associated with operating conditions of the compressor. A processor is connected to the plurality of inputs and records multiple operating condition measurements from the plurality of operating signals. A communication port is connected to the processor for communicating said operating condition measurements to a control module that controls the compressor. The processor is disposed within an electrical enclosure of the compressor, the electrical enclosure being configured to house electrical terminals for connecting a power supply to the electric motor. The second voltage is less than said first voltage.
US08160825B1

A system to monitor power line temperatures, ground moisture levels, to visually inspect the area around said power line poles and to transmit said data over short, mid, or long range to a monitoring base station for analysis. Said means for monitoring power line conditions are a non-contact temperature sensor, a photo-interrupter, and a digital camera. The camera will be capable of responding to motion automatically or be used in a remote fashion either by day or night. By utilizing the current monitoring setup the potential errors, dangers, or threats of power line failure may be avoided. Further, through the following set up analysis of a failure event at a specific (or group of) power line may be done on site, or remotely and will greatly increase the efficient analysis and repair of failure events.
US08160823B2

A contact pressure and position detecting device includes a first sensing layer, a second sensing layer located on the first sensing layer, and a processor. The first sensing layer includes a number of parallel first pipes, and the second sensing layer includes a number of parallel second pipes perpendicular to the first pipes. Each first pipe includes a first pressure sensor received therein for generating a first electrical signal according to the gas pressure therein. Each second pipe includes a second pressure sensor received therein for generating a second electrical signal according to the gas pressure therein. The processor compares the first electrical signals with a first threshold value, and the second electrical signals with a second threshold value to judge which first pipe and second pipe is pressed, and then obtains the contact position on the detecting device.
US08160820B2

Scoring functions can be markedly improved by taking into account the status environs of ligand rings (or indeed other bulky rigid ligand structures) on the ligand when the ligand is complexed with the receptor. In its most general form, the invention features, quantifying a particular component of binding affinity between a ligand and a receptor molecule. Specifically, the component in question takes into account the spatial relationship between ligand ring structure(s) (or bulky rigid ligand structures) and their ambient surroundings when the ligand is bound to the receptor molecule. The method steps may be used when quantifying a component that reflects these particular ligand features alone, or the steps may be part of a comprehensive method of quantifying binding affinity which includes numerous other factors that relate to binding affinity in addition to the component. For example, one may calculate an initial binding affinity and then adjust the initial binding affinity by a factor obtained at least in part based on the classification of the ring structure.
US08160801B2

A valve drive system comprises a power transmitting mechanism (13) that converts rotary motion of an electric motor (12) into opening and closing motion of an intake valve (3) provided in a cylinder (2) of an internal combustion engine (1) to transmit power from the electric motor (12) to the valve (3) via a cam (152); and a rotational angle restricting mechanism (16) that is provided in a motion transmission path that extends from the electric motor (12) to the cam (152) and restricts rotation of the cam (152) within a predetermined angular range that is set so that a piston (5) of the engine (1) and the intake valve (3) do not interfere with each other. The rotational angle restricting mechanism (16) comprises a flange (161) that rotates as a unit with a camshaft (151) and forms a slotted groove hole (161a) thereon; and a stopper pin (162) that is inserted into and retracted from the groove hole (161a).
US08160798B2

A method and a device are described for regulating the velocity of a vehicle, which include a hysteresis function and prevent an unwanted activation and deactivation of the engine brake. For this purpose, a setpoint velocity (V-setpoint) of the vehicle is predefined. An actual velocity (V-actual) of the vehicle is detected and, as a function of the difference between the actual velocity (V-actual) and the setpoint velocity (V-setpoint), an output quantity (Msetpoint) of a drive unit of the vehicle is predefined in such a way that the actual velocity (V-actual) is approximated to the setpoint velocity (V-setpoint). A first lower limiting value (uG1) for limiting the output quantity (Msetpoint) toward the lower end is predefined as long as the actual velocity (V-actual) exceeds the setpoint velocity (V-setpoint) by less than a first predefined threshold value (offs1). When the actual velocity (V-actual) exceeds the setpoint velocity (V-setpoint) by more than the first predefined threshold value (offs1), the first lower limiting value (uG1) is replaced by a second lower limiting value (uG2) for limiting the output quantity (Msetpoint) at the lower end, this second lower limiting value being lower than the first lower limiting value (uG1).
US08160794B2

An inverted wheel type moving body that can enhance convenience and a method of controlling the same. The inverted wheel type moving body includes a right chassis and a left chassis rotationally supporting a right driving wheel and a left driving wheel, motors rotationally driving the right driving wheel and the left driving wheel, a body rotatably supported on the right chassis and the left chassis through a right arm and a left arm, a pressure-sensitive sensor provided to judge whether a transportation object dismounts, and a control unit controlling the motors to reduce velocity upon judgment that the transportation object dismounts based on the output from the pressure-sensitive sensor when the moving body travels faster than a certain velocity, in which overturn preventing operation is executed after an absolute value of the velocity is lower than a threshold value.
US08160793B2

A vehicle brake system can include a service brake system and a park brake system wherein, the service brake system includes a service brake chamber is delimited by a service brake displaceable wall upon which a brake pushrod is fixed, the brake pushrod is connected to a vehicle braking arrangement and is capable of moving under a pneumatic pressure from a first position whereby the braking arrangement is released to a second position whereby the braking arrangement is actuated, the park brake system having an actuating arrangement capable of pushing the brake pushrod into its second position. This method is based on measuring the volume of the service brake chamber as the volume of the service brake chamber is a parameter which is representative of the actual position of the brake push rod and thus is representative of the actual park brake status.
US08160790B2

A vehicle speed control system for a vehicle including a failure detector configured to determine whether or not a failure occurs in the vehicle, a vehicle speed restriction controller configured to control a driving power source to decrease a vehicle speed of the vehicle when the failure detector detects the failure, and a driving state detector configured to detect a driving state of the vehicle. The vehicle speed restriction controller is configured to determine a deceleration pattern according to the driving state detected by the driving state detector at detection of the failure.
US08160788B2

If a control portion determines that the direction of travel of the vehicle with a range selected by the driver is different from the direction intended by the driver to move the vehicle, a vehicle inhibiting mechanism is activated to inhibit the movement of the vehicle. The activation of the vehicle inhibiting mechanism is based on a detection signal of the range selected by the driver from a range detecting portion, and a driver state detection signal from a driver state detecting portion.
US08160787B2

The control system comprises detectors or estimators capable of supplying electrical signals or data indicative of the values of predetermined state variables including the angular velocity of the crankshaft of the engine, the difference between this angular velocity and the angular velocity of the primary shaft of the gearbox, and the torque delivered by the engine crankshaft and the torque transmitted by the friction clutch; calculating devices capable of supplying signals indicating the errors between the values of the state variables and respective reference values; filter devices capable of incrementing, within a predetermined frequency band, the relative weight selectively of the error of angular velocity of the crankshaft of the engine, and of the error of the abovementioned difference of angular velocity; processing devices capable of generating, in accordance with predetermined transfer functions, output signals or data indicating a torque partial value or contribution to be delivered by the engine and a torque partial value or contribution to be transmitted to the primary shaft of the gearbox by the friction clutch; and an adder capable of adding the torque partial values or contributions to corresponding other torque partial values or contributions, to be delivered or transmitted as relevant, determined by predetermined methods, in order to supply in the total output signals or data indicating the torque to be generated in the engine crankshaft and signals or data indicating the torque to be transmitted by the friction clutch.
US08160785B2

A vehicle and work attachment for the vehicle are disclosed in which the vehicle is of the type having a vehicle body, forward extending support arms, a motor-driven hydraulic fluid pump, hydraulic lines for carrying hydraulic fluid, a hydraulic fluid reservoir, and hydraulic cylinders for moving the arms with respect to the body. Controls may be provided for controlling the valves that control supply of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinders. These hydraulic valves may be mounted on the work attachment. Additionally, the work attachment may include hydraulic cylinders that are controlled by a control on the vehicle via valves mounted on the attachment. Processing circuitry on the attachment conditions the valve control signals. The attachment may also carry valves that control the supply of hydraulic fluid to hydraulic cylinders on the attachment for effecting movement of attachment elements. Quick connect hydraulic couplings facilitate changing attachments.
US08160763B2

Vehicle creep control includes executing a first control scheme to determine a preferred output torque as a first function of the operator input to the brake pedal when the actual direction of vehicle travel is a first direction and the operator-selected direction of vehicle travel is also the first direction, and executing a second control scheme to determine the preferred output torque as a second function of the operator input to the brake pedal when the actual direction of vehicle travel is a second direction and the operator-selected direction of vehicle travel is the first direction.
US08160750B2

An irrigation controller includes a user interface capable of presenting information to a user and allowing the programming of the controller in a simple and intuitive fashion. Information presented may include values of all programmable irrigation parameters associated with an irrigation zone. Information presented may include values of irrigation parameters associated with multiple irrigation zones. Information may also be presented graphically, in color, and/or in a plurality of languages.
US08160746B2

System and method for graphically allocating robot's working space are provided. The system includes an image extractor, a task-allocating server and a robot. A graphic user interface (GUI) of the task-allocating server includes a robot's working scene area, a space attribute allocating area and a robot's task area. Thus, a user assigns one certain space area in the robot's working scene area with a “wall” attribute, or another space area with a “charging station” attribute. Meanwhile, by using the GUI, the user directly assigns the robot to execute a specific task at a certain area. Hence, the user or remote controller facilitates the robot to provide safer and more effective service through his/her environment recognition.
US08160739B2

A method of transferring storage devices within a storage device testing system includes actuating an automated transporter to substantially simultaneously retrieve multiple storage devices presented for testing, and actuating the automated transporter to substantially simultaneously deliver each retrieved storage device to a respective test slot of the storage device testing system and substantially simultaneously insert each storage device in the respective test slot.
US08160738B2

A workpiece measuring apparatus includes a programmable controller which acquires positional data of a measuring head. At the same time that the programmable controller acquires the positional data, a pulse output unit outputs timing pulses. The measuring head measures a workpiece on a machine tool according to a measurement command which is output positively earlier than the timing of predetermined time intervals by a time difference which is preset by a predictive system. As a result, a first time at which the programmable controller acquires the positional data of the measuring head and a second time at which the measuring head measures the workpiece in response to the measurement command synchronize. The workpiece measuring apparatus is capable of measuring the workpiece highly accurately in a three-dimensional space according to a minimum required amount of measured data without the need for modifying an existing NC apparatus combined with the machine tool.
US08160734B2

A method of processing audio information for broadcast to an audience can include changing first audio information from occurring in a first time interval to occurring in a second time interval to provide time-changed audio information. The time-changed audio information can be combined with second audio information that is responsive to the first audio information to provide broadcast audio information.
US08160732B2

In a method for suppressing a noise by the spectrum subtraction method, it is possible to improve the noise suppression capability by simultaneously obtaining a frequency resolution required for the noise estimation spectrum and a temporal resolution required for the noise suppression spectrum. The signal length of an observation signal cut out for analyzing the spectrum of the observation signal used for estimation calculation of the noise spectrum is set longer than the signal length of an observation signal cut out for analyzing the spectrum of the observation signal as a value to be subtracted for performing subtraction with the noise spectrum.
US08160728B2

A method of determining complete sensor requirements for autonomous mobility of an autonomous system includes computing a time variation of each behavior of a set of behaviors of the autonomous system, determining mobility sensitivity to each behavior of the autonomous system, and computing a change in mobility based upon the mobility sensitivity to each behavior and the time variation of each behavior. The method further includes determining the complete sensor requirements of the autonomous system through analysis of the relative magnitude of the change in mobility, the mobility sensitivity to each behavior, and the time variation of each behavior, wherein the relative magnitude of the change in mobility, the mobility sensitivity to each behavior, and the time variation of each behavior are characteristic of the stability of the autonomous system.
US08160722B2

A medical device that includes a lead having a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a housing having a connector block for receiving the proximal end of the lead body. A fixation mechanism is positioned proximal to an electrode coil located at the distal end of the lead body, and a fixation member or a plurality of fixation members extend from the fixation mechanism from a fixation member proximal end to a fixation member distal end. The fixation members are advanceable from a first position corresponding to the fixation member distal end being positioned along the lead during subcutaneous placement of the lead, to a second position corresponding to the fixation member distal end being positioned away from the lead to fixedly engage the lead at a target site.
US08160717B2

Systems and methods of dynamically controlling an implanted medical device located within a patient's body in the presence of a gradient magnetic field or other external interference are disclosed. The system can include a reference model of the implanted medical device and of body tissue within the patient's body in the absence of a gradient magnetic field, and a control unit configured to dynamically control voltages or currents applied to a lead of the implanted medical device based on predicted parameters determined by the reference model.
US08160710B2

Implantable medical devices to relieve problems associated with incontinence and related pelvic disorders and methods of implanting same are disclosed. Stimulation leads for placement in the pelvic floor have fixation mechanisms for stabilization of the stimulation electrodes to inhibit dislodgement from a selected stimulation site. In certain embodiments, the fixation mechanisms encourage fibrosis about the lead to chronically stabilize the position of the stimulation lead and/or stimulation electrode(s). In certain embodiments, the fixation mechanisms are isolated from body tissue during routing of the stimulation lead through a tissue pathway and then exposed to body tissue to encourage fibrosis.
US08160708B2

A feedthrough assembly for use with implantable medical devices having a shield structure, the feedthrough assembly engaging with the remainder of the associated implantable medical device to form a seal with the medical device to inhibit unwanted gas, liquid, or solid exchange into or from the device. One or more feedthrough wires extend through the feedthrough assembly to facilitate transceiving of the electrical signals with one or more implantable patient leads. The feedthrough assembly is connected to a mechanical support which houses one or more filtering capacitors that are configured to filter and remove undesired frequencies from the electrical signals received via the feedthrough wires before the signals reach the electrical circuitry inside the implantable medical device.
US08160706B2

Embodiments of the invention are related to systems for interfacing with implantable medical devices, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes an external medical system including a processor and a telemetry circuit in communication with the processor, the processor configured to communicate with an implanted medical device. The system can be configured to query a system user after a first period of time in which indicators of system use are not detected. The system can be further configured to deactivate one or more data transmission features of the implanted medical device after a second period of time in which one or more indicators of system use are not detected. Other embodiments are also included herein.
US08160696B2

An apparatus and method for stimulating animal tissue (for example to trigger a nerve action potential (NAP) signal in a human patient) by application of both electrical and optical signals for treatment and diagnosis purposes. The application of an electrical signal before or simultaneously to the application of a NAP-triggering optical signal allows the use of a lower amount of optical power or energy than would otherwise be needed if an optical signal alone was used for the same purpose and effectiveness. The application of the electrical signal may precondition the nerve tissue such that a lower-power optical signal can be used to trigger the desired NAP, which otherwise would take a higher-power optical signal were the electric signal not applied. Some embodiments include an implanted nerve interface having a plurality of closely spaced electrodes placed transversely and/or longitudinally to the nerve and a plurality of optical emitters.
US08160689B2

Apparatus for monitoring muscle activity, apparatus comprising means for providing signals indicative of muscle activity, for example EMG-signals, means for processing of signals in order to detect a particular activity and means for providing a feedback signal, wherein device is designed in order to be individually adaptable in a set-up mode. The apparatus can be used for detecting and prevention of undesired activities such as bruxism, movements that are damaging or unwanted etc. The detection can be performed with great certainty since the individual parameters of the user are utilized for laying down reference values, threshold values, criteria for triggering of feedback signals, etc., which may take place at a set-up procedure.
US08160686B2

Methods, systems, and devices for signal analysis in an implanted cardiac monitoring and treatment device such as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. In illustrative examples, captured data including detected events is analyzed to identify likely overdetection of cardiac events. In some illustrative examples, when overdetection is identified, data may be modified to correct for overdetection, to reduce the impact of overdetection, or to ignore overdetected data. New methods for organizing the use of morphology and rate analysis in an overall architecture for rhythm classification and cardiac signal analysis are also discussed.
US08160673B2

A medical electrode for bonding to the skin of a patient comprises a support which adheres to the skin and a holding element for at least one electrically conducting connection piece, wherein the skin side of the connection piece is covered with an electrically conducting gel, in particular in a sponge, wherein the gap on the skin side between the holding element and the electrically conducting connection piece is closed by a sealing element which is preferably ring-like.
US08160661B2

An exemplary slide mechanism (100) includes a rear cover (10), a front cover (20), and a magnetic assembly (80) connected to the rear cover and the front cover. The front cover is slidably attached to the rear cover. Each of the at least one magnetic assembly includes a first magnetic member (44) and a second magnetic member (74). A magnetic force created between the first and second magnetic members forces the front cover sliding relative to the rear cover. The magnetic members are arranged such that the height of the space occupied by the magnetic members is less than an arithmetic sum of the height of each of the magnetic members.
US08160659B2

A portable device including a transparent cover (1) having a light transmittance of not less than 50%. A circuit pattern of a conductive material is provided in the cover between two sheet-like transparent substrates (5a). A device main body (2) is coupled to the transparent cover 1 thereto in an openable/closable manner such that members provided on a surface thereof are concealed or exposed by the transparent cover (1) being opened or closed. An open/close determination part (7) is provided for determining whether the transparent cover is open or closed, and function switching parts (22, 23) are provided for switching functions of the circuit pattern based on the determination of the open/close determination part as to whether the transparent cover is open or closed.
US08160651B2

The present invention envisages a GSM mobile telephone in which a line of icons is displayed on a display. As a user navigates through the displayed line of icons, the positions of the icons alter so that the selectable icon moves to the head of the line. This approach makes it very clear (i) which icon is selectable at any time and (ii) where that icon sits in relation to other icons at the same functional level (e.g. only first level icons will be present in one line). First level icons typically relate to the following functions: phonebook; messages; call register; counters; call diversion; telephone settings; network details; voice mail and IrDA activation.
US08160649B2

A method and mobile device for initiating telephone calls through a wireless communication network are provided. Number strings are identified in text displayed on a visual display of the mobile device. Number strings may be hyperlinked when the strings meet predetermined criteria. The mobile device monitors for a predetermined user input and upon detecting the predetermined user input causes a list of user selectable functions to be displayed on the visual display. The list of user selectable functions includes a telephone call function for initiating a telephone call to a selected number string. A telephone call to the selected number string can be initiated through the wireless communications network when the telephone call function is selected.
US08160644B2

A processing device (1; 14) having a housing (4) includes first communication means (2, 6) for receiving and/or transmitting an information signal (AS) and processing means (7) for processing the information signal (AS) received and/or to be transmitted, as well as second communication means (10, 11) for the contactless retrieval of control information (BI, TI) stored in a data carrier (12) which is detachably connected to the housing (4) of the processing device, which processing of the information signal (AS) by the processing device (1; 14) can be influenced with the aid of the retrieved control information (BI, TI).
US08160626B2

A method of operating a Data Base (DB) server for storing spectrum condition information on a licensed system in a Cognitive Radio (CR)-based wireless communication system and a CR-based wireless communication system are provided. The method includes determining changes in the spectrum condition information on the licensed system, recalculating maximum Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP) allowed for each channel of CR-based devices registered in a list, and transmitting information regarding the recalculated maximum allowed EIRP.
US08160622B2

A unit for realizing a TV phone by using an image and a character message by a relatively simple method in a manner mode is provided. In the manner mode of one mobile TV phone terminal, a control unit for controlling the operation of the one mobile TV phone terminal prohibits the sound input via a microphone of the one mobile TV phone terminal and the sound output via a speaker and operates an SMS function with a TV phone function. A line between the one mobile TV phone terminal and another one is connected, an SMS message is created by operating a key input unit of the one mobile TV phone terminal, and a send key is pressed. Then, the message data is sent to the other mobile TV phone terminal via one base station, an SMS server, and another base station. A display unit of the other mobile TV phone terminal displays the message together with the image sent via a TV phone exchange.
US08160621B2

A method for writing a character message in a mobile telecommunication handset, including writing a message, inputting a page divider transferring a current page to a next page at any area of the current page on which the message is being written, displaying page information on the message, transmitting the written message, determining if the page divider is inputted, enabling the current page on which to write the short message to be changed if the page divider is input; and displaying the updated page information on the short message if the current page is changed. Thus, it is possible to change a current page at any area of the current page during the writing of a short message, and continue to write the short message on a new page of a message-writing window during the writing of the short message.
US08160620B2

The present invention detects whether an initial mobile number assignment is suboptimal, resulting in excessive roaming. If excessive roaming is encountered, the telematics service provider determines the effective home area of the telematics unit and assigns an appropriate replacement number to the unit. In this way, the disclosed principles allow a telematics service provider to decrease its roaming charges, and/or those of its users, and more optimally manage its mobile phone number assignments.
US08160610B2

A method is provided for determining a location of a mobile device in a wireless network. The method includes receiving global navigation satellite system (GNSS) measurements from the mobile device, and receiving terrestrial measurements from corresponding transceivers in the wireless network, each terrestrial measurement indicating a distance between the corresponding transceivers and the mobile device. The method further includes selecting at least one terrestrial measurement having an uncertainty value within a predetermined accuracy threshold. The location of the mobile device is determined as a function of the GNSS measurements and the selected terrestrial measurement.
US08160603B1

A mobile device requests streaming media content while being served by a first radio access network in a market area. A content streaming system obtains the requested media content, adapts the media content using a first total bandwidth availability curve (TBAC) to provide adapted media content, and streams the adapted media content to the mobile device. The first TBAC is determined from actual or projected network conditions in the market area. While receiving the media content, the mobile device roams to a second radio access network in the market area. The mobile device provides a roaming indication to the content streaming system. In response to the roaming indication, the content streaming system adapts the media content using a second TBAC to provide roaming-adapted media content and streams the roaming-adapted media content to the mobile device. The second TBAC indicates reduced bandwidth availability relative to the first TBAC.
US08160600B2

A method and apparatus for allocating resources to a node in an ad-hoc communication system is provided herein. During operation, nodes of the system will receive resource allocations from their parent node. The resource allocation comprises a portion of available resources that may vary in size. Each node will determine the resource needs for its children nodes only and then dynamically assign resources to them. The resources assigned to the children nodes comprise a portion of the resources assigned to the node by its parent node. Additionally, knowledge as to how the children further allocate resources to their own children is not known by the parent, however, the children nodes must allocate a portion of their resource to their children nodes.
US08160599B2

A registration system for secondary radio systems that use spectrum that is interleaved with spectrum used by primary radio systems may include an interface to communicate with the secondary radio systems over a network. The registration system also may receive a registration request from a requesting one of the secondary radio systems and generate a spectrum certificate for the requesting secondary radio system. The spectrum certificate may contain a channel map identifying available channels that may be used for wireless communications activity of the requesting secondary radio system and may contain, for each available channel, a guidance indicator that identifies relative channel desirability to the requesting secondary radio system.
US08160597B2

An apparatus and method for allocations segments in a broadband wireless communication system is provided. Sector pairs are generated with respect to all sectors existing in different cells and the generated sector pairs are sorted according to priority based on a proximity. A sector pair having a top priority among unselected sector pairs is selected. Segments are allocated to all sectors of a cell including each sector of the selected sector pair. Accordingly, segments can be allocated to sectors while minimizing downlink throughput deterioration caused by segment duplication.
US08160591B2

Disclosed is a method for a femtocell to reduce interference with an overlapping macrocell. The femtocell determines soft-frequency-reuse (“SFR”) information of the macrocell. From that information, the femtocell determines which frequency sub-channels are assigned by the macrocell for its cell-center users and which frequency sub-channels are assigned for cell-edge users. (Cell-edge users are given a higher transmission power profile in order to overcome potential interference with neighboring macrocells.) Then, the femtocell selects from the cell-center user frequency sub-channels for transmission to the femtocell's users. By transmitting on the cell-center user frequency sub-channels, the femtocell reduces interference with the overlapping macrocell. The femtocell continues to update its knowledge of the macrocell's SFR information and re-assigns frequency sub-channels as the SFR changes. If the macrocell detects that one of its cell-center users is “close enough” to the femtocell, then the macrocell re-assigns the cell-center user as a cell-edge user to overcome interference.
US08160585B2

Apparatus and method are disclosed that enable an organization's enterprise-wide network to accommodate roaming wireless terminals that are affiliated with the local enterprise networks within the enterprise-wide network. An embodiment of a system is capable of handling a wireless terminal, such as a cellular telephone, that is able to use different SIM cards in different geographic regions or service-provider networks. A mobility client that is part of the wireless terminal registers when it detects that a new SIM card has been installed at the wireless terminal, whereby the client provides the subscriber-specific information that the wireless terminal reads from the SIM card. The mobility client identifies itself to the server by a user identifier, such as the station extension with which the terminal is affiliated back at the home local enterprise network. Upon successful registration, the client receives an access number suitable for its current location.
US08160584B2

A cellular communications system may include at least one base station and at least one mobile cellular communications device. More particularly, the at least one mobile cellular communications device may include a controller, at least one user input device connected to the controller, and a wireless transceiver cooperating with the controller for attempting to establish a wireless communications link with at least one base station, and if the wireless communications link cannot be established, then continuing to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a first attempt rate. Moreover, if a user provides a request to access the at least one base station via the at least one user input device, then the controller may continue to attempt to establish the wireless communications link based upon a second attempt rate greater than the first attempt rate.
US08160575B2

Methods that test multibeam satellite communication systems, including its antennas and transponders. The methods use input power telemetry and output noise power to test satellite transponders and antennas while the satellite is in orbit. One method that tests a satellite receive antenna employs at least two earth stations, one for RF testing and one for telemetry and commanding, with each providing a backup for the other. Other methods may use one or more earth stations to perform testing. Methods are disclosed that generate receive antenna pattern measurements, transmit pattern measurements, input chain frequency response curves, input chain transfer curves, and output chain frequency response curves.
US08160573B2

A portable communications device (PCD) is coupled to a first network by way of a second network. The PCD is normally in radio communication with the first network, and is coupled to the first network by way of the second network when the PCD is out of radio communication with the first network. In particular, the PCD is coupled to the second network, and is caused to leave a first network mode and enter a second network mode. A network connection is established with the first network by way of the second network, and communication with the first network is entered into by way of the second network.
US08160564B1

Embodiments described herein are directed to controlling an application on a computing device with a mobile device. The mobile device captures an image of the application (i.e., by taking a photograph of the computing device's screen). A request is made to the computing device for bitmap information and the available options of the application. Once received by the mobile device, the options are associated with the bitmap representation and hard and/or soft keys are assigned on the mobile device. The user can then view the image of the application and select any of the keys, which, in turn, initiates requests for action that are submitted to the computing device. The computing device associates the actions with the corresponding options in the application and processes the actions accordingly.
US08160562B2

A portable terminal apparatus which can select terminal operations such as the activation of programs, the switching of the programs and the ending of the programs with a reduced number of times of operation of the operation buttons is provided. The portable terminal apparatus includes link information storage means 14 for storing therein a linkage table containing information about the linkage between operation buttons to be selected by a user and programs to be activated by the selection of the operation buttons, and an activation program monitor part 14 for dynamically monitoring the operation states of two or more programs activated at a terminal end, wherein the operation button having emitted its backlight according to the monitoring result obtained by the activation program monitor part 14 can be selected by the user, so that the programs linked to the respective operation buttons can be easily activated, switched and ended.
US08160547B2

A system and method for making vehicle originated calls to a telematics service provider or other call center. The method includes identifying a call type associated with a desired wireless communication of speech or data to the call center, and then carrying out one of a number of different call connection processes depending on the call type. For voice channel cellular connections, an in-band modem cellular connection is preferably established in most instances using a connection retry strategy that includes primary, secondary, and possibly tertiary connection attempts. Cell selection can be carried out using an acquisition task, background scan and inter-country PLMN reselection process that are used to select among available PLMNs and base stations. The system and method can be carried out in connection with various cellular system technologies, but is especially suited for use with GSM systems.
US08160542B2

A system for reducing location-related messages in a mobile a network includes: (a) a mobile communicator; (b) a location server coupled with the mobile communicator and the mobile a network; and (c) a location determiner coupled with the mobile communicator or the location server. The location determiner occasionally collects location information relating to an extant location of the mobile communicator. The mobile communicator or the location determiner effects location-related messages to convey location information to the location server. The mobile communicator or the location server employs the location-related messages to compile a locations schedule for the mobile communicator in a time-location almanac coupled with the mobile communicator. The mobile communicator occasionally compares the extant location with the locations schedule. Neither of the mobile communicator and the location determiner effects the location-related messages when the extant location is within a predetermined variance from the locations schedule.
US08160531B2

A receiving device is provided capable of avoiding reception of unnecessary energy when a signal waveform actually changes on a receiving side. An impedance control circuit includes a sensing unit to sense one or more of a voltage, current, or power of a signal to be received by a receiving circuit. The impedance control unit varies an input impedance according to the change in the sensed one or more quantities so that the received signal will be reflected. Thus the excess energy of the signal is reflected and fed to any other receiving circuit achieving stable communications.
US08160530B2

In an exemplary embodiment, a phased array antenna comprises multiple subcircuits in communication with multiple radiating elements. The radio frequency signals are adjusted for both polarization control and beam steering. In a receive embodiment, multiple RF signals are received and combined into at least one receive beam output. In a transmit embodiment, at least one transmit beam input is divided and transmitted through multiple radiating elements. In an exemplary embodiment, the phased array antenna provides multi-beam formation over multiple operating frequency bands. The wideband nature of the active components allows for operation over multiple frequency bands simultaneously. Furthermore, the antenna polarization may be static or dynamically controlled at the subarray or radiating element level.
US08160529B1

A radio frequency (RF) receiver includes a local oscillator (LO) module that receives a control signal and that generates a LO signal at a LO frequency that is based on the control signal, a LO mixer module that generates an intermediate frequency (IF) signal based on a radio frequency (RF) signal and the LO signals, a complex intermediate frequency (IF) mixer module that generates a baseband signal based on the IF signal and an IF oscillator signal, and a channel monitoring module that generates the control signal based on the baseband signal.
US08160526B2

A filter arrangement for a receiver for multiple broadcast signals includes a first filter for receiving a broadcast signal from a tuner, a second filter coupled to an output of said first filter, said second filter having a variable bandwidth response, said second filter providing an output for a demodulator; and a filter control responsive to said broadcast signal for controlling said variable bandwidth response of said second filter.
US08160521B2

Signals are received with a wider power range even through the use of existing AGCs than by conventional mobile communication terminals. In an AGC on one antenna side, in order to enable reception of a signal at a higher level, a target TA of a dynamic range DA of this AGC is changed to a value 5 dB higher than a value defined as a standard TS. On the other hand, in an AGC on another antenna side, in order to enable reception of a signal at a lower level, a target TB of a dynamic range DB of this AGC is changed to a value 5 dB lower than the value defined as the standard TS.
US08160519B2

Apparatus includes an equalizer having a signal input, a control input and an output; a controllable power supply having a control input and an output, the input of the controllable power supply being coupled to the output of the equalizer; a power amplifier having a main signal input, a power supply input, and an output, the power supply input being coupled to the output of the controllable power supply; and a controller having first and second inputs and an output, the first input being coupled directly or indirectly to the output of the controllable power supply, the second input being coupled to a node upstream of the equalizer, and the output being coupled to the control input of the equalizer; the equalizer being configured to apply equalization to an envelope signal received at its input and to provide a resulting equalized envelope signal at its output, the controllable power supply being configured to provide a power signal at its output based on the equalized envelope signal received at its input, the power amplifier being configured to utilize power received at its power supply input to provide on its output a modulated transmission signal representative of a signal received at the main signal input, and the controller being configured to compare input signals received at its first input to signals received at its second input, and to utilize the results of the comparison to configure the equalizer to correct for variations in the response of the controllable power supply at different frequencies.
US08160518B2

A transceiver includes a harmonic termination circuit that receives a tunable harmonic voltage from a power amplifier control. The harmonic termination circuit includes a variable capacitor that is capable of adjusting its capacitance in response to the tunable harmonic termination voltage to achieve at least two modes of operation. The at least two modes of operation may be EDGE mode and GSM mode. In this embodiment, the harmonic termination circuit allows for linearity specifications of EDGE to be met, while not degrading the efficiency of the transceiver when operating in GSM mode. In one embodiment, the harmonic termination circuit further includes an inductive element in series with the variable capacitor.
US08160516B2

A low flicker noise active mixer comprises a trans-conductance section, a switching quad, and a load section. The trans-conductance section converts a voltage signal pair into a first current signal pair. The switching quad converts the first current signal pair into a second signal pair in a manner controlled by a LO (local oscillator) signal pair. The load section provides a loading to the second current signal pair using a pair of commutative active loads to convert the second current signal pair into an output voltage signal pair.
US08160515B1

A polar transmitter includes a phase monitoring unit for monitoring input modulating data. When a phase transition exceeds a phase transition threshold, the phase monitor unit can signal an amplitude negation unit to invert the amplitude data coupled to the polar amplifier. The phase monitoring unit can also add an offset to the phase data that is provided to a frequency synthesizer. In another embodiment, when the phase transition threshold is exceeded, the phase monitoring unit can trigger inverting differential frequency data coupled to the polar amplifier. In one embodiment, the phase offset and the amplitude negation are applied until a second phase transition value exceeding the phase transition threshold is detected. If such an event is detected, then the input amplitude data is no longer inverted and the phase offset value is no longer added to the modulating data.
US08160505B2

A wireless communication apparatus includes a transmitting portion to transmit a data signal to other wireless communication apparatus, a receiving portion to receive a reception confirmation signal indicating reception of the data signal by the other wireless communication apparatus from the other wireless communication apparatus during a specified period, a determination portion to determine that a predetermined requirement is satisfied if the receiving portion receives a given signal during the specified period, and a control portion to control the transmitting portion to request the other wireless communication apparatus to retransmit the reception confirmation signal if the receiving portion does not normally receive the reception confirmation signal and the determination portion determines that the predetermined requirement is satisfied.
US08160499B2

Methods and apparatus relating to reducing exposure of radio devices to interference through adaptive selection of repetitive symbols are described. In an embodiment, a symbol may be selected for transmission to a display based on the operating frequency of a wireless device receiver. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08160497B2

A microradio is provided with a hysteretic switch to permit an optimum range increasing charging cycle, with the charging cycle being long relative to the transmit cycle. Secondly, an ensemble of microradios permits an n2 power enhancement to increase range with coherent operation. Various multi-frequency techniques are used both for parasitic powering and to isolate powering and transmit cycles. Applications for microradios and specifically for ensembles of microradios include authentication, tracking, fluid flow sensing, identification, terrain surveillance including crop health sensing and detection of improvised explosive devices, biohazard and containment breach detection, and biomedical applications including the use of microradios attached to molecular tags to destroy tagged cells when the microradios are activated. Microradio deployment includes the use of paints or other coatings containing microradios, greases and aerosols. Moreover, specialized antennas, including microcoils, mini dipoles, and staircase coiled structures are disclosed, with the use of nano-devices further reducing the size of the microradios.
US08160492B2

A wireless communication device having extremely simple constitution is used, and a low-cost and low power consumption wireless network system with high-quality signals is provided. The wireless network system comprises a plurality of wireless communication devices (101) each comprising a radiating oscillator (1) configured to integrate a transistor into a microwave oscillating resonator to generate a negative resistance and to commonly use a function of an antenna (11), an intermediate frequency signal generating section (4) and a receiving signal detecting section (7). In the wireless network system, the wireless communication devices are arranged to face at a position, at least one of the wireless communication devices has an intermediate frequency signal generating section having a frequency band signal generating function different from that of others, the receiving signal detection section having a function that can discriminate and receive a frequency band different from that of others, a signal transmitted from the one wireless communication device is transmitted to the other facing wireless communication device, and the other facing wireless communication device receives and extracts the signal by the receiving signal detecting section.
US08160487B2

The image-forming device includes an image-forming unit, a fixing unit, a pair of first guides, and a pair of second guides. A sheet conveying path is provided from the image-forming unit to the fixing unit. The pair of first guides are disposed on the conveying path and configure to contact with an image-forming side of the recording sheet at both widthwise edges thereof, for restraining the recording sheet from being displaced toward the image-forming side. The pair of second guides are disposed on the conveying path and configure to contact with the image-forming side of the recording sheet at both widthwise edges thereof for restraining the recording sheet from being displaced toward the image-forming side, a distance between the pair of first guides in the widthwise direction being greater than a distance between the pair of second guides in the widthwise direction.
US08160470B2

A cleaning roller for cleaning a charging roller in an image forming apparatus is disposed in contact with an outer peripheral surface of a charging roller to remove foreign matters attached to the outer peripheral surface of the charging roller. The cleaning roller has a metal core and a polyurethane foam layer covering an outer peripheral surface of this metal core. The polyurethane foam layer includes a number of cells. The number of cells per inch is 40 or more and 80 or less, and an open ratio of a wall surface of cells is 3% or more and 50% or less.
US08160466B2

In one embodiment of the present invention, a fixing apparatus that causes a recording material to pass through a nip portion formed by a rotating heat roller and a rotating pressure roller being in contact so as to perform a fixing operation is configured including a pressing mechanism that can switch between a pressure applied state in which the pressure roller presses against the heat roller using a bias and a pressure cancelled state in which the pressure is cancelled, a pressure state detection unit, and a control unit that performs a pressure cancelation operation and a pressure application operation. If the pressure state detection unit does not detect the pressure cancelled state even when the control unit has performed pressure cancellation control for a certain time period with respect to the pressing mechanism in the pressure applied state, the control unit permits a fixing operation in only the pressure applied state after performing pressure application control for a certain time period with respect to the pressing mechanism.
US08160462B2

A disclosed image forming apparatus includes a transport unit configured to transport a recording medium along a transport path, a transport status detection unit disposed on the transport path and configured to detect a transport status of the recording medium, a control unit configured to control transport by the transport unit according to the transport status of the recording medium detected by the transport status detection unit, and a container unit configured to hold the recording medium. If the transport status detection unit detects a delay in transporting the recording medium, the control unit controls the transport unit to discharge the recording medium or another recording medium in the transport path into the container unit.
US08160461B2

A toner container detachably attached to a toner-container holder of a main body of an image forming apparatus includes a container body that includes an opening, and discharges toner contained in the container body, from the opening; and a held portion that is held by the toner-container holder in a non-rotating manner. The held portion includes an open/close member for opening/closing the toner outlet in synchronization with an attachment/detachment operation of the held portion to/from the toner-container holder.
US08160455B2

An optical transmitter is disclosed wherein a signal processor receives a data stream and outputs a drive signal for a laser, where the drive signal encodes each bit of the data stream according to the values of adjacent bits effective to compensate for spreading of bits within the fiber. The output of the laser is input to an optical spectrum reshaper that outputs a signal having an enhanced extinction ratio.
US08160451B2

Pluggable ONU transceiver modules are disclosed that include an optical connector configured to connect to an optical network. The pluggable ONU transceiver modules further includes a transmit line including a laser driver and a laser. The pluggable ONU transceiver modules further includes a first receive line including a first optical receiver and a first post amplifier. The pluggable ONU transceiver modules further includes a second receive line including a second optical receiver and a second post amplifier. The pluggable ONU transceiver modules further includes a combined input/output (I/O) and video contacts electrically coupled to the laser driver, first post amplifier, and second post amplifier.
US08160443B2

Systems and methods are described that measure the OSNR of an optical channel. Embodiments provide OSNR measurement methods that distinguish the intensities of the coherent modulated signal from the incoherent noise intensity occupying the same optical band using a calibration factor ζ.
US08160441B2

The present invention relates to an optical fiber access network and a communication protection method thereof. The optical fiber access network comprises an optical fiber communication system, a wireless communication system, a communication service switch device, a second optical network unit and a protection optical fiber. The wireless communication system is introduced to protect the optical fiber between the optical branching divider and the optical network unit in the optical fiber communication system. The protection optical fiber or the wireless communication system is used to protect the communication service respectively when there is a broken failure between the optical line terminal and the optical network unit in the optical fiber communication system. This invention overcomes the limit of the resource, protects communication service of the optical fiber communication system and improves the bandwidth utility of the communication system.
US08160439B2

Method and apparatus for full-resolution light-field capture and rendering. A radiance camera is described in which the microlenses in a microlens array are focused on the image plane of the main lens instead of on the main lens, as in conventional plenoptic cameras. The microlens array may be located at distances greater than f from the photosensor, where f is the focal length of the microlenses. Radiance cameras in which the distance of the microlens array from the photosensor is adjustable, and in which other characteristics of the camera are adjustable, are described. Digital and film embodiments of the radiance camera are described. A full-resolution light-field rendering method may be applied to light-fields captured by a radiance camera to render higher-resolution output images than are possible with conventional plenoptic cameras and rendering methods.
US08160438B2

An imaging device disclosed herein is a device for acquiring image data about a subject, comprising an image acquisition section, a housing, a flash device, and a flash controller. The image acquisition section is configured to continuously acquire a plurality of image data from an optical image of a subject. The housing holds the image acquisition section. The flash device is configured to emit a flash of light, with which the emission angle of the flash light with respect to the housing can be varied. The flash controller is configured to control the flash device so that the emission angle of the flash light when the plurality of image data are being continuously acquired will differ for at least two image data out of the plurality of image data.
US08160435B2

A flash unit of the present invention is capable of being used as a supplementary light source for taking photographs, and comprises a light emitting section capable of changing an illumination area of a flash, an imaging section capable of imaging a picture, including a subject of the illumination area, a display section capable of displaying setting values for the flash unit, or the illumination area, and a display control section for causing display of the illumination area on the display section.
US08160433B2

A medical fluid heating system operable with different supply voltages including first and second heater elements: first and second power lines, first, second and third switches in electrical communication with the first and second power lines, the switches configured such that (i) in a first switch state the first and second heater elements are placed in series, solely via a closing of the first switch, for operation with a first supply voltage applied to the first and second power lines, and (ii) in a second switch state the first and second heater elements are placed in parallel, via the second and third switches, for operation with a second supply voltage applied to the first and second power lines, and a control element configured to automatically set the switches in the first or the second switch state based upon a signal sent to the control element indicative of the first or the second supply voltage.
US08160432B2

An information recording medium achieves high speed conversion of a signal input externally from MPEG-TS to MPEG-PS complying with the DVD standard. An apparatus and a method are used to record information to the information recording medium. A constrained format which enables conversion from a first stream (for example, MPEG transport stream) to a second stream (for example, MPEG program stream) is provided. The constrained format defines that a presentation order of the video information of continuous complete data blocks starts at a top field and ends at a bottom field. The continuous complete data blocks are included in a reference time of continuous presentation of video information and audio information with the reference time including at least one data block.
US08160431B2

An image reproduction system configured by an image reproduction device that can accumulate a still image or a moving image for reproduction, and an information processing device that makes a setting to the image reproduction device. The image reproduction device includes: image data recording means recorded with image data; audio data recording means recorded with audio data; setting information recording means recorded with setting information about the audio data recorded on the audio data recording means; a display section displaying thereon the image data recorded on the image data recording means; an audio output section outputting the audio data recorded on the audio data recording means; and a control section making a selection from the audio data for output from the audio output section based on preset details when the image data is displayed on the display section in a predetermined manner, and the information processing device includes: an identification section acquiring, for identification, the setting information about the audio data recorded on the setting information recording means in the image reproduction device; an audio data recording section recorded with audio data; and an audio data process section converting the audio data recorded on the audio data recording section into a predetermined format based on the setting information about the audio data identified by the identification section, and forwarding resulting audio data to the image reproduction device for recording to the audio data recording means.
US08160424B2

A host includes a controller configured to collect video data recording device diagnostic information from a video data recording device. The controller is further configured to control displaying of the video data recording device diagnostic information.
US08160416B2

An optical device wherein an optical waveguide is formed on a dielectric substrate, the optical device includes an input part and an output part where the optical waveguide and corresponding optical fibers are connected. A stress layer is provided for at least one of the input part and the output part. The stress layer applies a stress to the optical waveguide so that an index of refraction of the optical waveguide is reduced.
US08160412B2

An optical fiber with long period fiber gratings includes an optical fiber axis, a core region extending along the fiber axis, the core region having a core refractive index, a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding having a cladding refractive index, and a plurality of microholes perpendicular to the fiber axis with a portion of the core region removed, the plurality of microholes are spaced apart by a grating period.
US08160411B2

A diffractive beam expander (50) comprises an input grating (10), a crossed grating (20), and an output grating (30) implemented on a planar transparent substrate (7). The crossed grating (20) comprises a plurality of diffractive features (23) arranged along the lines of a first set of parallel lines (25) and along the lines of a second set of parallel lines (26) such that the lines (25) of the first set are parallel to the lines (26) of the second set. The lines of the first set have a first grating period and the lines of the second set have a second grating period. A light beam (B1) coupled into the substrate (7) by the input grating (10) impinges on the crossed grating (20) at a first location (EC1) and further locations (EC2). Interaction at the first location (EC1) provides several sub-beams (S00, S01, S10) which propagate in different directions. Further interactions at second locations (EC2) provide further sub-beams (V01, U10) which propagate in the same direction as the original in-coupled light (B1). Light is subsequently coupled out of the substrate (7) by the output grating (30) to provide a light beam (B2) which is expanded in two directions (SX, SZ) with respect to the beam (B0) impinging on the input grating. A virtual display device (200) may comprise said diffractive beam expander (50).
US08160407B2

A computer including: a casing, at least a portion of which contains a potting material acting as an optical waveguide material; a transmitter for transmitting a pulse based signal at least partially through the potting material acting as the optical waveguide material; and a receiver for receiving the pulse based signal after one or more reflections of the pulse based signal from interior surfaces of the casing; the pulse based signal having a pulse rate configured such that a subsequent pulse doesn't interfere with reflections from an immediately previous pulse.
US08160394B2

A method of transforming an input image from a hemispherical source to an output image in rectilinear coordinates is disclosed. The method includes receiving data representative of an input image originating from a hemispherical camera and having a size defined by an input image height and an input image width. Once the data is received, an output image width and output image height representative of a size of a rectilinear output image is calculated based on the size of the input image. A rectilinear output image is then generated by mapping input image pixels to locations within the width and height of the output image, without reference to the optical characteristics of the hemispherical camera.
US08160389B2

Image editing tools are commonly used to assist with manipulating and saving visual compositions. Many image editing tools provide slicing functionality to create images slices (sub-images) of the visual composition. As provided herein, a slice representation of a visual composition is defined by an arbitrarily chosen set of coordinates within the visual composition. This slice region may be defined independent of other slice regions (e.g. the slice region may or may not overlap, abut, etc. other slice regions). The slice representation comprises the slice region and one or more objects or portions thereof within the slice region. Slice representations may also comprise overlapping objects and/or slice region coordinates. Objects may be manipulated within a slice representation without affecting that object within other slice representations.
US08160383B2

A tone correcting apparatus includes: a first determination unit that determines which one of first brightness levels that are previously defined a focused region corresponds to, the focused region being selected from among a plurality of block regions that are set to cover an entire area of the image; a second determination unit that determines which one of second brightness levels that are previously defined an adjacent block region corresponds to, the adjacent block region being at least one of the block regions that is adjacent to the focused region; and a correction unit that corrects a brightness of pixels included in the focused region based on a combination of the first brightness level determined by the first determination unit and the second brightness level determined by the second determination unit.
US08160382B2

Methods for detecting areas of interest in an image using combined edge magnitude and edge direction analysis techniques are presented. One embodiment features using thermal imaging data to detect hotspots in maritime settings that may be potential targets for tracking or weapons systems. The edge magnitude and edge direction data are derived from the intensity image and then combined with the intensity image and analyzed morphologically to remove noise and background elements. The combined image data is then selectively filtered to remove horizontal non-target elements and then analyzed further against target size information to determine which detected and analyzed hotspots are valid targets. Another embodiment features receiving as input an intensity image along with its associated edge magnitude and edge direction images, which have both been created by a means outside the detection method. Yet another embodiment features a detection method that does not selectively filter out horizontal image elements.
US08160380B2

Application of an image filtering algorithm, which defines an algorithm window within which a center pixel is processed relative to the other pixels within the algorithm window, is improved by use of an extended window larger than and encompassing the algorithm window. This approached is applied with an edge preserving filter that works on the principle of matting affinity and allows a better representation of the range filter term in bilateral class filters. An approximate bi-affinity filter whose output is shown to be very similar to the traditional bilateral filter is defined. The present technique has the added advantage that no color space changes are required and hence an input image can be handled in its original color space.
US08160378B2

An apparatus, method, and system for image processing are provided, each capable of consecutively capturing a plurality of images of an object, and selecting a mostly focused image from the plurality of images while compensating for the shift in the position of the object among the plurality of images.
US08160372B1

A system (and a method) are disclosed for optimizing lossless data compression in digital images systems. The system includes an optimized backward reference selection module and an entropy encoder. The optimized backward reference selection module selects the backward references that the backward reference distances and/or lengths are an integer multiple of size of data elements. The optimized backward reference selection module further compacts the entropy code of the backward references by favoring backward references that have the intrinsic locality of source data stream. The optimization offered by the backward reference selection module allows an improved compression ratio and faster compression speed for lossless image compression.
US08160371B2

A system includes a motion detection processor, a motion tracking processor, a people detection processor, a controller, a fusion processor, an appearance model generator processor, a database, a fast search processor, and a matching processor. The motion detection processor, the motion tracking processor, the controller, the people detection processor, the fusion processor, and the appearance model generator processor comprise an analytics pipeline, and the database and the fast search processor comprise a data index pipeline.
US08160369B2

An image processing apparatus for processing a previous image having first pixels and a present image having second pixels. The image processing apparatus includes: a pixel difference calculating unit which calculates pixel differences between corresponding pairs of the first and second pixels, and outputs pixel difference values; an edge processing unit which detects and compares edge types of the first and second pixels, sums a number of the edge types that are the same, and outputs a sum value; a noise level processing unit which calculates a noise level of the present image according to the sum value and the pixel differences; a blending value determining unit which determines a blending value according to the noise level; and an output unit which adds weights of the present and previous images according to the blending value and outputs an output image. An image processing method is also disclosed.
US08160359B2

An information storage medium including graphic data and presentation information, and an apparatus and method of processing the graphic data are provided. The information storage medium includes the graphic data, page composition information which defines page composition of the graphic data, and the presentation information indicating when graphic screen data, which is composed with reference to the page composition information of the graphic data, is output to a display screen. Therefore, a graphic object is reusable in graphic data processing, and accordingly, a time taken to process the graphic data is reducible and memory area may be saved.
US08160358B2

A method and apparatus for generating a mosaic image by mosaic processing of an image are provided, in which an object to be used in a mosaic is acquired from a received image, the object is stored in a storage medium, a target image to be mosaic-processed is received, a mosaic block size is set, at least one object selected from among objects stored in the storage medium is received for use as a mosaic block, the target image is divided into a plurality of areas each having the mosaic block size, and the object is set as a mosaic block by reflecting a color of each divided area in the object.
US08160351B2

The invention addresses the lack of comprehensive and quantitative methods for measurements of unwanted visual “mura” effects in displays and image sensors. Mura is generated by errors that are significantly smaller than what is needed for the function of the device, and sometimes smaller than the random variations in the patterns or structures. Capturing essentially all mura defects in a workpiece in a short time requires a daunting combination of sensitivity, statistical data reduction and speed. The invention devices an inspection method, e.g. optical, which maximizes the sensitivity to mura effects and suppresses artifacts from the mura inspection hardware itself and from noise. It does so by scanning the sensor, e.g. a high-resolution camera, creating a region of high internal accuracy across the mura effects. One important example is for mura related to placement errors, where a stage with better than 10 nanometer precision within a 100 mm range is created. A sampling scheme reduces the data volume and separates between instrument errors and real defects based on their different geometrical signatures. The high-resolution camera scans sparse lines at an angle to the dominating directions of expected mura defects, creating extended sensor fields with high internal precision, and quantifying edge placements in small windows in said extended fields. The mura is classified and presented as type, location and severity.
US08160350B2

A method and system are presented for evaluating a variation of a parameter of a pattern. The method includes processing data indicative of an aerial intensity image of at least a portion of a patterned article, and determining values of a certain functional of the aerial image intensity for predetermined regions within the at least portion of the patterned article. The values of the aerial image intensity functional are indicative of a variation of at least one parameter of the pattern within the at least portion of the patterned article or are indicative of a variation of at least one parameter of a pattern manufactured by utilizing the patterned article.
US08160347B2

A computer implemented method for automatically selecting an algorithm for image analysis in a computer-aided detection/diagnosis (CAD) system includes receiving image data for a study involving a patient, querying a radiology information system (RIS) for an IHE (Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise)-worklist for the study of the patient, receiving the IHE-worklist from the RIS, analyzing the worklist to select one or more CAD algorithm for analyzing the image data, executing the selected one or more CAD algorithms to analyze the image data, and outputting results of the analysis of the image data.
US08160346B2

The invention relates to a method of correcting a digital mammogram of a breast containing an implant. According to the invention, brightnesses situated at and around the implant peak (PI) in the low frequency component of the image (XLP) are attenuated (ATT) as compared with a function (P1) that is applied to the other brightnesses, thereby attenuating the implant.The invention also provides a method of segmenting an implant in a radiographic image, the method being characterized by the following steps: smoothing the image by a noise-reducing lowpass filter, applying a non-directional spatial derivative filter, pixel thresholding, and selecting an outline to define the segmented portion of the image that corresponds to the implant.
US08160329B2

A medical image processing device of the present invention has an image dividing unit which divides an image into a plurality of regions, a feature value calculating unit which calculates a color tone feature value which is a feature value based on a color tone of the image in each of the plurality of regions, a first color tone reference value calculating unit which calculates a color tone reference value based on the color tone feature value which each of the plurality of regions has, a lesion detection reference calculating unit which properly calculates a lesion detection reference for detecting a lesion finding in accordance with the color tone reference value, and an image region detecting unit which detects a region in which an image of the lesion finding is picked up among the respective plurality of regions, based on the lesion detection reference and the color tone feature value which each of the plurality of regions has.
US08160328B2

In general, the disclosure is related to characterization of implanted electrical stimulation electrode arrays using post-implant imaging. The electrode arrays may be carried by implanted leads. Characterization of implanted electrode arrays may include identification of the type or types of leads implanted within a patient and/or determination of positions of the implanted leads or electrodes carried by the leads relative to one another or relative to anatomical structures within the patient. In addition, the disclosure relates to techniques for specifying or modifying patient therapy parameters based on the characterization of the implanted electrode arrays.
US08160323B2

A landmark location system for locating landmarks in volumes includes a medical image database including volumes of medical images, a learning unit that trains a multi-class classifier to locate a landmark point in each volume from extracted features of the volumes near a sample point offset from the landmark point and discrete displacements of the sample point to the landmark point, and a landmark locator that locates the landmark point in an input volume using the trained multi-class classifiers.
US08160316B2

The extraction processor of the medical image-processing apparatus sets landmarks of each medical image based on volume data of two medical images. The positional relationship information-generating part generates positional relationship information that indicates positional relationship of the landmarks for each of the two medial images. The landmark-coordinating part eliminates one or more landmarks from each medical image based on the positional relationship information. Further, the landmark-coordinating part coordinates the landmarks of two medical images that remained after the elimination. The image-aligning part aligns the two sets of volume data based on the result of the coordination of landmarks.
US08160312B2

Within a digital acquisition device with a built in flash unit, the exposure of an acquired digital image is perfected using face detection in the acquired image is provided. Groups of pixels that correspond to plural images of faces are identified within a digitally acquired image, and corresponding image attributes to the group of pixels are determined. An analysis is performed of the corresponding attributes of the groups of pixels. It is then determined to activate the built-in flash unit based on the analysis. An intensity of the built-in flash unit is determined based on the analysis. Alternatively based on similar analysis, a digital simulation of the fill flash is performed on the image.
US08160307B2

A method for identifying persons based on biometric data achieves enhanced security and increased accuracy compared with other systems by distorting one or more biometrics prior to detection and recognition. The method includes detecting a distorted biometric for input into an identification system, comparing the distorted biometric to one or more distortion patterns, and determining an identity of the person based on results of the comparison. The biometric may be an eye pattern, a fingerprint or palm print, a voice print, a handwriting sample, a DNA sample, a facial image, or any other type of characteristic or behavioral attribute of a person. The biometric may be distorted in any one of a variety of ways for comparison to previously enrolled biometrics which have been distorted using the same or similar element. A system and program embodied within a computer-readable medium performs the steps of the method.
US08160306B1

A patent analyzing system for efficiently reviewing and analyzing a patent document (e.g. patent application, published patent document or patent). The patent analyzing system includes identifying the element names within a patent document and modifying patent drawing sheets to include element names and figure descriptions.
US08160304B2

A user gestures with a wireless mobile phone device to control some aspect of its operation, or the operation of a remote system with which the device communicates. (The gestures may be sensed by tracking movement of a feature across a field of view of a mobile phone device camera.) The resultant operation may additionally depend on other data obtained by the wireless device, e.g., obtained from an electronic or physical object, or sensed from the environment. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US08160298B2

A display device includes a display panel and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control a display condition of the display panel by successively switching a plurality of frames, thereby to display a pointer image indicating a pointer and a path image indicating a path of motion of the pointer image. The path image of a first frame, which is any one of the plurality of frames, is provided continuously from a second location where the pointer image of a second frame, which is another one of the multiple frames and immediately before the first frame, is displayed to a first location where the pointer image of the first frame is displayed.
US08160290B2

The assembly includes a miniature electroacoustic transducer and a flexible electrical wire. The flexible electrical wire is terminated by a connecting element with an electrically conductive shoulder portion. The miniature electroacoustic transducer comprises an electrically conducting, externally accessible terminal having a slot structure formed therein. The slot structure is configured to mechanically and electrically engage the electrically conductive shoulder portion of the connecting element.
US08160280B2

In a reproduction environment, speakers are grouped in directional groups, wherein the directional groups overlap with respect to the associated speakers so that speakers are present which have a speaker parameter having different values for the first directional group and the second directional group. A controller for controlling a plurality of speakers has a provider for providing a source position of an audio source, wherein the source position is located between the first directional group position and the second directional group position. The apparatus further has a calculator for calculating a speaker signal for the at least one speaker, based on the first parameter value for the speaker parameter and based on the second parameter value for the speaker parameter.
US08160279B2

Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a dental patch are disclosed herein. The patch assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded intra-orally on a tooth or oral tissue. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.
US08160278B2

A system automatically mixes a first audio signal and a second audio signal. The system includes a correlator that determines whether the first signal and the second signal are correlated according to a predetermined correlation criterion. If the predetermined correlation criterion is fulfilled, the correlator determines whether the first and the second signal are delayed. A delay circuit compensates for the delay between the first signal and the second signal. A mixer mixes the first signal and the second signal that includes a compensation.
US08160267B2

In order to enable a driver to obtain traffic jam information or to listen to a navigation guidance voice from a car navigation system without interrupting the reproduction of music when a passenger enjoys music reproduced by a CD player and the like through cabin loudspeakers, the present invention provides car audio equipment in which a pair of loudspeakers is disposed on both sides of a headrest of a driver's seat. The equipment processes at a decoder thereof a sound signal from a radio tuner, a car navigation device, a mobile phone and the like selected by a selector using a changeover switch, and the sound signal is reproduced through the loudspeakers.
US08160265B2

A headphone device includes a first and a second ear piece coupled to an assembly, wherein the assembly facilitates the placement of the first and second ear piece in relation to a user's ears. A motion transducer is coupled to the first or second ear piece, whereby the motion transducer measures real-time pitch and roll movement associated with the user's head. An electronic compass is also coupled to the first or second ear piece, and measures real-time yaw movement associated with the user's head. A processing device associated with each of the first and second ear piece processes an audio signal according to a head-related-transfer-function selected from a plurality of head-related-transfer-functions on the basis of the measured pitch, roll, and yaw movement of the user's head. The processed audio signal is then applied to the first and second ear piece, and generates a virtual three-dimensional sound corresponding to the selected head-related-transfer-function.
US08160264B2

A transfer function estimating device for estimating a transfer function of a sound, includes: a sound receiving module receiving a sound from a given sound source and converting the sound into a tone signal; a storage module storing first transfer functions of the sound propagating from the given sound source to the sound receiving module and transformation coefficients for converting the first transfer functions into given second transfer functions so as to associate with each other; a reference tone signal acquiring module acquiring a reference tone signal of the sound source; an acquiring module acquiring a transfer function of the sound received by the sound receiving module on the basis of the tone signal and the reference tone signal; a specifying module acquiring a cross-correlation value between the transfer function acquired by the acquiring module and each of the first transfer functions stored in the storage module.
US08160262B2

A method is provided for estimating a reverberation signal component of an acoustic signal detected by a microphone where the acoustic signal is comprised of a direct sound component and a reverberation signal component. A method for dereverberation of an acoustic signal is further provided.
US08160250B2

Embodiments include a method and system for monitoring usage of an encrypted broadcast service, such as an encrypted television program, in a secure client module such as a SIM card. An encrypted entitlement control message is received from a head-end system via the intermediary of a client device. A service identifier indicative of the encrypted broadcast service is obtained from the decrypted entitlement control message and, in dependence of the decrypted entitlement control message, status data being indicative of a status of the broadcast service is generated. The service identifier and the status data are stored in a memory of said secure client module and can be transmitted to an external server.
US08160246B2

An apparatus and method for generating a key for a broadcast encryption. The apparatus includes a node secret generator for managing a user that receives broadcast data in a tree structure and for generating a unique node secret for each node in the tree structure. The apparatus also includes an instant key generator for temporarily generating an instant key used at all nodes in common in the tree structure, and a node key generator for generating a node key for each node by operating the node secret generated at the node secret generator and the instant key generated at the instant key generator. Thus, key update can be efficiently achieved.
US08160245B2

For an Elliptic Curve Scalar Multiplication (ECSM) operation to be performed on a scalar and a base point, a given previous set of parameters that was used to split the scalar for a previous ECSM operation and a selected random integer are used to determine a new set of parameters for splitting the scalar. By basing the new set of parameters on the previous set of parameters, repeated use of the scalar to determine key-splitting parameters is avoided and susceptibility to a Differential Power Analysis Side Channel attack is minimized.
US08160233B2

Methods and systems are presented for detecting business transactions from sequences of call center agent activities. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: receiving a plurality of agent activity events; matching a sequence of events within the received events with one of a plurality of transaction definitions; creating a transaction from the matching sequence; and displaying the transaction.
US08160232B2

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to message response systems for customer service environments and provide a method, system and computer program product for dynamic message context driven application assembly in a customer service agent productivity suite of applications. In one embodiment of the invention, a message context driven application assembly method for a customer service agent productivity suite can be provided. The method can include determining a context of an inbound message in a message list of an agent user interface for the customer service agent productivity suite; selecting at least one application based upon the determined context; providing an activatable reference to the at least one application in the agent user interface; and, displaying the agent user interface to provide access to the at least one application through the activatable reference.
US08160230B1

A computer system receives a first message from an originating communication node indicating a telephone number for a user. The computer system processes the telephone number, number portability data, and user mobility data to identify a first route number for a home communication node and a second route number for a visited communication node currently serving the user. The computer system transfers a second message to the originating communication node indicating the first route number and the second route number. The call may be routed from the originating communication node to the visited communication node based on the second route number, but if the visited communication node is unable to complete the call, the call may be routed from the originating communication node to the home communication node based on the first route number.
US08160225B1

A system and method for initiating calls via electronic calendar is disclosed. A call list is associated by a user to a particular time and day within the electronic calendar. When the particular day and time arrives, the call list is forwarded to a service which executes the call list, and subsequently contacts the members of the call list. The system may initially query the callees through a prerecorded voice messaging system to determine which callees are present, and then establish a telephone connection based on responses to the queries. Once a connection is established, the user and the members of the list are linked to a conference bridge.
US08160224B2

An apparatus and a system for implementing the conference service is disclosed. The method includes: a conference initiator sends a conference operation message that carries conference information which includes conference initiator information and information of at least one conference participant, or includes information of more than one conference participant; adds more than one user terminal denoted by the conference information to the conference. With the present invention, only one operation is needed to set up a conference. The implementation of conference service is greatly simplified.
US08160220B2

A request is received from a user of a communication device to block a use of a ring tone remotely selected by another user for an incoming call to the communication device. The ring tone remotely selected by the other user is blocked from being played to the user of the communication device on the incoming call to the communication device.
US08160216B2

A method and system are provided for creating and utilizing subscriber specific memory locations or storage folders for storing incoming voicemail messages in a telecommunications system voicemail system. A subscriber to voicemail services creates subscriber or user-specific memory locations or storage folders to which callers may direct a voice message. When a caller calls the subscriber's directory number and is forwarded to the subscriber's voicemail service, the caller is given the option to save the message in one of a number of previous created voice message folders. For example, the caller may receive a prompt like “Press 1 to leave a message for Jane.” If messages are inadvertently left in the wrong voice message folder, the user having authorized access to that folder may move the message to the appropriate folder. If desired, personal identification numbers (PIN) may be assigned to each voice message folder to control access to messages saved therein.
US08160209B2

A call routing test and verification system for an interactive voice response (IVR) system including an automated test driver (ATD) for connecting to a IVR system over a public switched telephone network (PSTN) configured to provide signals representative of content of utterances appropriate for responding to prompt signals of an IVR menu and a test module to enable a test mode of the IVR system in response to the connection by ATD, wherein the test mode allows the IVR system to transmit a call routing string to the ATD prior to transfer of the connection to one of a plurality of agent terminals in response to reaching a call routing point of the IVR menu, where the ATD is further configured to compare at least a portion of the transmitted call routing string to an expected routing string for the call routing point.
US08160206B2

The present disclosure relates to the generation of dual-energy X-ray data using a data sampling rate comparable to the rate utilized for single-energy imaging. In accordance with the present technique a reduced kVp switching rate is employed compared to conventional dual-energy imaging. Full angular resolution is achieved in the generated images.
US08160205B2

A robotic patient positioning assembly including a patient treatment couch, and a robotic arm coupled to the patient treatment couch. The robotic arm is configured to move the patient treatment couch along five rotational degrees of freedom and one substantially vertical, linear degree of freedom.
US08160197B2

A nuclear power plant with an improved cooling system using nanoparticles in solid or fluid form to improve heat transfer and reduce corrosion is provided. The nanoparticles are delivered to a closed cooling circuit such as a CCWS. Methods for providing the nanoparticles are also provided.
US08160186B2

Provided is automatic gain control (AGC) in which a feedback filter has a parameter that is changed based on information regarding data-packet boundaries. In one representative embodiment, the bandwidth of the filter temporarily is increased, or the time constant of the AGC filter temporarily is decreased, within a vicinity of each actual or potential packet boundary.
US08160182B2

A symbol detector with a sphere decoding method implemented therein. A baseband signal is received to determine a maximum likelihood solution using the sphere decoding algorithm. A QR decomposer performs a QR decomposition process on a channel response matrix to generate a Q matrix and an R matrix. A matrix transformer generates an inner product matrix of the Q matrix and the received signal. A scheduler reorganizes a search tree, and takes a search mission apart into a plurality of independent branch missions, wherein the search tree defines a full search depth Nfull. A plurality of Euclidean distance calculators are controlled by the scheduler to operate in parallel, wherein each has a plurality of calculation units cascaded in a pipeline structure to search for the maximum likelihood solution based on the R matrix and the inner product matrix.
US08160181B1

A non-linear detector for detecting signals with signal-dependent noise is disclosed. The detector may choose a data sequence that maximizes the conditional probability of detecting the channel data. Since the channel may be time-varying and the precise channel characteristics may be unknown, the detector may adapt one or more branch metric parameters before sending the parameters to a loading block. In the loading block, the branch metric parameters may be normalized and part of the branch metric may be pre-computed to reduce the complexity of the detector. The loading block may then provide the branch metric parameters and any pre-computation to the detector. The detector may then calculate the branch metric associated with the input signal and output the channel data.
US08160177B2

In this invention, several open-loop solutions that encompass the small delay CDD codeword cycling, codeword cycling between different re-transmissions of both small and large delay CDD are proposed. In addition, an open-loop codeword cycling method for SFBC+FSTD scheme, as well as its extension to SFBC+FSTD based HARQ, are proposed. In one method, a plurality of information bits are encoded, scrambled and modulated to generate a plurality of modulation symbols. The plurality of modulation symbols are mapped onto the subcarriers in at least one transmission layer of a transmission resource. The modulation symbols are then precoded by using a matrix for cyclic delay diversity and a set of codewords from a certain codebook to generate a plurality of precoded symbols. The codewords are cycled for every a certain number of subcarriers. Finally, the precoded symbols are transmitted via a plurality of transmission antennas.
US08160174B2

Disclosed is a method of detecting signals at a receiver of a communication system with a multiple input multiple output antenna. With the signal detection method, a square of the distance between a received signal vector and a channel status-considered transmission symbol vector is calculated first, and the square of the distance is then classified into first and second components. The first component is minimized to calculate a plurality of first soft symbol estimates. A solution set of the first component is calculated on the basis of the plurality of first soft symbol estimates. The second component is minimized to calculate a plurality of second soft symbol estimates. A solution set of the second component is calculated on the basis of the plurality of second soft symbol estimates. A final solution set is calculated by doing the sum of the first component solution set and the second component solution.
US08160168B2

A first oscillating signal may be generated via a first direct digital frequency synthesizer of a communication device. One or more second oscillating signals may be generated via one or more second direct digital frequency synthesizers of the communication device. Signals received via a plurality of antennas may be processed utilizing the first oscillating signal. Signals to be transmitted via the plurality of antennas may be processed utilizing the first oscillating signal and the one or more second oscillating signals. The communication device may comprise a plurality of receive channels, a plurality of transmit channels, and a multiplexer. The first oscillating signal may be coupled, via the multiplexer, to the plurality of receive paths and one of the transmit paths. During time intervals in which the communication device is configured to receive signals via the plurality of antennas, the multiplexer may route the first oscillating signal to the first one or more direct digital frequency synthesizers.
US08160159B2

The process for coding a mosaic of images giving a stream of coded data the mosaic being composed of subimages, the subimages being composed of image elements, resynchronization markers in the stream allowing resynchronization of the data at reception level, wherein the subimages are placed under one another in the image to be coded so as to give a mosaic, the mosaic is coded element by element according to a TV-type scan so as to provide data of the stream, the first element of each subimage being identified, and a resynchronization marker is placed in the stream, before each first element of a subimage, so as to identify the data relating to the subimage.
US08160155B1

A picture decoding method and apparatus for decoding a bit stream, the bit stream being compatible with MPEG 1 moving picture video standard. The method includes receiving, via an input terminal, from the bit stream that includes extension data added in a header of a picture layer of the bit stream when the header includes control data newly added in MPEG 2 standard format, a picture coding type and the extension data of an anterior header of the picture layer. The bit stream in the picture layer is decoded using the picture coding type and the extension data of an anterior header of the picture layer when an extension start code indicating the beginning of the extension data of the current header is not received from the bit stream.
US08160151B2

A motion vector detection apparatus includes: a base luminance value production section configured to produce a base luminance value of the base block; an effectiveness calculation section configured to calculate an effectiveness degree of each of the pixels of the base block based on luminance values of the pixels of the base block and the base luminance value; a correlation calculation section configured to calculate a correlation degree of the reference block with the base block for each of the reference blocks; a position acquisition section configured to acquire the position of that one of the reference blocks set in the reference frame which exhibits the highest correlation degree with the base block; and a motion vector calculation section configured to calculate a motion vector based on the position of the reference block acquired by the position acquisition section and the position of the base block.
US08160148B2

A method for motion estimation comprising the steps of (A) determining whether a cost of encoding one or more prediction parameters for a current search position is less than a current best cost, (B) when the cost of encoding the one or more prediction parameters for the current search position is less than the current best cost, updating the current best cost if the current best cost is greater than or equal to a sum of the cost for encoding the one or more prediction parameters for the current search position and a distortion measurement for the current search position and (C) ending the search when the current best cost is less than or equal to the cost of encoding the one or more prediction parameters for the current search position and less than a minimum cost for encoding one or more prediction parameters for one or more remaining search positions.
US08160147B2

A motion vector coding method and apparatus that improves efficiency of coding motion vectors when a current block is coded using a plurality of motion vectors. The apparatus includes a motion vector coding unit that codes a motion vector inputted from a motion vector detecting unit. A motion vector for each current block is coded based on a difference between the motion vector and a predicted vector obtained from motion vectors for previously coded neighboring blocks. The predicted vector is generated by one of the following processes: (A) the motion vectors which refer to the same picture are selected from among the motion vectors for the neighboring blocks so as to generate the predicted vector; (B) the motion vectors for the respective neighboring blocks are ordered in the predetermined order, and the motion vectors of the same order rank are selected from the ordered motion vectors so as to generate the predicted vector; and (C) the predicted vector for the second motion vector of the current block shall be the first motion vector, and if the second motion vector and the first motion vector refer to different pictures, the first motion vector is scaled according to the temporal distance between the pictures so as to generate the predicted vector.
US08160137B2

An exemplary image data compression apparatus includes a compression circuit, a characteristic value extracting circuit, and a selecting circuit. The compression circuit is utilized for applying a plurality of different compression approaches to a first block, and accordingly generating a plurality of first candidate compression results of the first block. The characteristic value extracting circuit is coupled to the compression circuit, and utilized for deriving a plurality of first characteristic values from the first candidate compression results, respectively. The selecting circuit is coupled to the compression circuit and the characteristic value extracting circuit, and utilized for selecting a target compression result of the first block from the first candidate compression results according to the first characteristic values and at least one characteristic value threshold.
US08160136B2

A method of video encoding is provided that includes computing spatial variance for video data in a block of a video sequence, estimating a first bit-rate based on the spatial variance, a transform coefficient threshold, and variance multiplicative factors empirically determined for first transform coefficients, and encoding the block based on the first bit-rate.
US08160135B2

A video-information encoding apparatus and decoding apparatus with a guarantee of a fixed processing time. By limiting the amount of data to be input into/output from a CABAC encoding unit and decoding unit on a unit-of-encoding basis, such as one picture, slice, macroblock or block, and by encoding uncompressed video data, it is possible to provide a video-information encoding apparatus and decoding apparatus with a guarantee of a fixed processing time. Thereby, an apparatus with a guarantee of the processing time can be mounted.
US08160134B2

The present invention relates to an encoding system for encoding input video data and a multiplexing system for multiplexing a plurality of encoded streams. More particularly, it proposes a system and method that involve describing, in encoded streams, information on the picture order of input video data, and using the picture order information when generating packetized elementary stream (PES) packets, to prevent delays associated with the PES packet generation.MPEG encoders generate PTS_count and DTS_count based on the information obtained from the number of fields in the input video data and describe the PTS_count and DTS_count data as picture order information in encoded streams. The packetizers for generating packetized elementary stream take out PTS_count and DTS_count described in the encoded streams, generate presentation time stamps and decoding time stamps based on PTS_count and DTS_count, and add these time stamps as PES header data.
US08160131B2

An image processing apparatus includes a decoding unit configured to decode coded image data; a filtering unit configured to filter the image data; an analog-image output unit configured to convert the image data into analog signals and output the analog signals in an analog manner; a digital-image output unit configured to output the image data in a digital manner; an output determination unit configured to select the analog-image output unit or the digital-image output unit for outputting the image data to an external device; and a filter control unit configured to switch a characteristic of a filter used in a filtering unit in accordance with the selection made by the output determination unit.
US08160126B2

A method, a device and a system for Upstream Power Back-Off (UPBO) in a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) are provided. The method includes: collecting subscriber line information (S50); determining a reference line length according to the subscriber line information (S52); obtaining UPBO parameters of each upstream band of each subscriber line according to the determined reference line length (S54), where the UPBO parameters include an original point parameter, a back-off slope parameter, and a maximal close frequency point (UPBOFMAX) corresponding to the band; and executing an UPBO process on the band of the corresponding subscriber line below the UPBOFMAX according to the UPBO parameters (S58). Thus, the stability of longer lines can be ensured, an upstream rate of short lines is maximally increased, and the existing UPBO mode is fully compatible.
US08160122B2

A method for conserving bandwidth in a communication system includes spreading a data frame using a first pseudo-noise (PN) spreader. A broadcast frame is spread using a second PN spreader. A complex data stream having a first component and a second component is generated. The data frame is assigned to the first component and the broadcast frame is assigned to the second component. The complex data stream is transmitted to a tag.
US08160115B2

It is demonstrated that substantial operating-parameter-dependent temperature-differences can exist between diode-laser bars in pulsed operation of a stack of such bars arranged to provide a two-dimensional array of diode-laser emitters. These differences can produce distortion of the aggregate output spectrum of the stack. By selecting particular nominal emitting wavelengths of the diode-laser bars for specific positions in the stack, the aggregate emission-spectrum can be tailored to a desired shape for one or more sets of operating parameters of the stack.
US08160113B2

Output pulses from an optical system having a seed source and an optical amplifier coupled to the seed source may be controlled by controlling a power of a seed signal from the seed source. The seed signal may be varied between a minimum value and a maximum value in a way that the seed signal exhibits one or more pulse bursts. Each pulse burst may contain one or more pulses. During an inter-pulse period between successive pulses within a pulse burst or between successive pulse bursts, the power of the seed signal may be adjusted to an intermediate value that is greater than the minimum value and less than the maximum value. The intermediate value is chosen to control a gain in the optical amplifier such that a pulse or pulse burst that follows the period exhibits a desired behavior.
US08160104B2

A method to be used with first and second devices where the first device communicates with the second device via numbered data packets where the second device needs to know the number of each received packet upon reception, the method comprising the acts of at the first device, forming a plurality of separate initial data packets, for each initial data packet, associating a unique number with the initial data packet, combining the initial data packet with its associated unique number to form a numbered packet, calculating a checksum for the numbered packet, combining the checksum with the initial data packet to form a transmission packet that fails to include the associated unique number and transmitting the transmission packet to the second device.
US08160102B2

Upper level protocol message transmitting method and apparatus are provided based on a new management message to be used in a portable Internet system. When a base station receives the upper level protocol message to be broadcast, it includes the same in the management message and transmits the included message to all the mobile terminals of a cell, and thus, the total number of the transmissions is decreased, thereby increasing a wireless efficiency.
US08160098B1

In one example, a bandwidth allocation device allocates physical channel bandwidth between local interfaces. Thereafter, at a polling time, the bandwidth allocation device determines whether there is communication activity between each local interface and the physical channel. The bandwidth allocation device can then dynamically reallocate the physical channel bandwidth at the polling time according to the communication activity determinations.
US08160096B1

Methods and systems for reserving bandwidth in communications networks (e.g., time-division multiplexed (TDM) networks). A bandwidth request on a forward path of the communications network is temporarily held without any fixed slot timings. The bandwidth request is held for a time long enough for the request to travel the forward path end-to-end. Once the request reaches the destination of the forward path, the temporary bandwidth is confirmed by sending a bandwidth confirmation message back from destination to the source of the path. Each slave node along the path performs an allocation confirm with its associated master node, which responds by converting the temporary holds to full allocations by fixing slot timings.
US08160093B2

A modular Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) includes a packet shelf operating a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) Media Access Control (MAC) framer. One or more downstream Physical Interface (PHY) shelves receive DOCSIS data from the packet shelf over a packet switched network and modulate the DOCSIS data for sending on a downstream path of a cable plant. One or more upstream PHY shelves send DOCSIS data received from an upstream path of the cable plant over the packet switched network to the packet shelf. By separating the PHY components from the MAC and from the system software, the PHY components for a Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) plant may be replaced with different PHY components for other access technologies such as wireless, Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL), Ethernet-to-the-Home, Fiber-to-the-Home, or fiber Passive Optical Networks (PONs).
US08160086B2

A data switch for an integrated circuit comprising at least one link for receiving input data packets from an independently modulated spread spectrum clock (SSC) enabled source having predetermined spread spectrum link clock frequency characteristics, and at least one output for transmitting the data packets after passage through the switch, the switch further comprising at least one receive buffer having a link side and a core side for receiving the SSC modulated input data packets from the link, at least one transmit buffer and a core clock, wherein the core clock operates at a given frequency between predetermined error limits determined by oscillation accuracy alone and is not SSC-enabled, the core clock frequency being set at a level at least as high as the highest link clock frequency such that the receive buffer cannot be filled faster from its link side than it can be emptied from its core side.
US08160079B1

The present invention provides a local agent operating in association with a communication client. The local agent acts on behalf of the communication client to enable capabilities the communication client is not capable of providing, by serving as a liaison between the communication client and the remainder of the communication network. By enabling additional capabilities and functionality, the local agent makes the communication client compatible with other communication clients and intermediate devices and systems through which communications are established. The local agent may process both messages and media streams to ensure compatibility, as well as facilitate interaction with other applications or a user to gather information sufficient to respond to requests from the other communication devices and systems.
US08160076B1

Principles of the invention are described for providing multicast virtual private networks (MVPNs) across a public network that are capable of carrying high-bandwidth multicast traffic with increased scalability. In particular, the MVPNs may transport layer three (L3) multicast traffic, such as Internet Protocol (IP) packets, between remote sites via the public network. The principles described herein may reduce the overhead of protocol independent multicast (PIM) neighbor adjacencies and customer control information maintained for MVPNs. The principles may also reduce the state and the overhead of maintaining the state in the network by removing the need to maintain at least one dedicated multicast tree per each MVPN.
US08160066B2

A method for mobile IPv6 data traversing a state firewall includes: creating an entry item of a firewall including a source HoA, a source CoA, a destination HoA, a destination CoA, a source port, a destination port and a protocol number; matching the source CoA, destination CoA, source port, destination port and protocol number of the data packet with those in the entry item; if unsuccessful, matching the source HoA or CoA, destination CoA or HoA, source port, destination port and protocol number of the data packet with those in the entry item; if successful, replacing the source CoA or destination CoA in the entry item by those of the data packet, and allowing the data packet to traverse the firewall, which improves the efficiency of a data packet traversing a firewall and guarantees that the data packet passing the filtering of firewall is able to traverse the firewall normally.
US08160064B2

The invention relates, in various aspects, to systems and methods for linking content stored on a computer network with content broadcast over a television network. The system includes a database, a trigger mechanism, a communications interface, and a packet generator. The database stores tokens representative of links to the stored content and delivery information representative of at least a duration for delivering the token. The trigger mechanism indicates an instruction to deliver a token over the television network, generating a signal indicating a respective one of the stored tokens and a time for starting the delivery of the respective token. The communications interface has a channel in communication with a television set top box device for transferring the respective token to the television set top box device. The packet generator generates packets within a stream of television content to be broadcast over the television network.
US08160059B2

A wireless networking communication system is disclosed. The wireless networking communication system includes a wireless communicating gateway connected to a personal computer, which in turn connects with a network, and a handheld communicating device in communication with a first communicating transceiver. The wireless communicating gateway includes the first communicating transceiver, and a first processor for determining type of operating system of the computer and detecting connection of the computer to the network. The handheld communicating device includes a second communicating transceiver in communication with the wireless communicating gateway, and a second processor for converting voice signals into digital signals and detecting connection of the wireless communicating gateway to the network.
US08160057B2

Systems and methods are provided for multi-channel ITU G.709 optical transport network (OTN) communications. The transmission method accepts an ITU G.709 OTN frame including an OTU overhead (OH) section and an ODU section. A forward error correction (FEC) parity section with a training signal is appended to the ITU G.709 OTN frame, to create a training-enhanced (TE) OTN frame. All, or a portion of the TE OTN may be buffered in a tangible memory medium in preparation for striping. The training-enhanced OTN frame is then striped into n parallel streams, and n TE_OTN-PFs (Parallel Frames) are supplied.
US08160054B2

A system for instant voice messaging comprising an IVM server operative to essentially simultaneously receive from an initiating user at least one voice message fragment and stream the at least one voice fragment to at least one target user; and a switch coupled to the IVM server and operative to effect communications between the initiating user and each target user and the IVM server, as well as between the users themselves. The streaming operation ends with an entire instant voice message being transmitted to the target user(s). Each target user may instantly retrieve a message by using a smart notification provided by the IVM server. Special numbering systems facilitate both the instant voice messaging and the instant message retrieval aspects.
US08160045B1

A system including a receive module, a beacon sensing module, and a control module. The receive module is configured to transition from a power save mode to an active mode based on a first clock to receive a delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) beacon. The beacon sensing module is configured to sense a first number of DTIM beacons missed by the receive module during a first predetermined period. The control module is configured to selectively adjust the first clock when the first number is greater than a first threshold. The control module is further configured to generate a second number of synchronization requests (i) during a DTIM beacon interval and (ii) after the first predetermined period to adjust the first clock.
US08160044B2

In order to enhancing system efficiency of radio resource control, the present invention provides a method for a user equipment in a wireless communications system for improving functions of continuous packet connectivity. The method includes configuring a first HS-PDSCH code of a user equipment according to a variable “HS-PDSCH Code Index” of an information element “HS-SCCH Less Information” before the user equipment activates an HS-SCCH less operation, and configuring a second HS-PDSCH code of the user equipment according to a Boolean variable of the information element “HS-SCCH Less Information”, wherein the Boolean variable is indicated by one bit and the second HS-PDSCH code is an adjacent channel code of the first HS-PDSCH code.
US08160041B2

A radio communication terminal and a radio communication system which can avoid an obstacle that is caused by a malicious wormhole while using a harmless wormhole. There are provided: a radio communication terminal in which a relay route about a certain node is stored as a backup route about the node and the backup route is changed and set as a relay route about the node in accordance with a detection of an obstacle caused by application data; and a radio communication system in which a sink node transmits a transfer destination change command in association with the change setting and a node which received the command sets a node of a transferring source of the command as a transfer destination node.
US08160029B2

A method for detecting transmission power reduction in a physical channel including at least a non-enhanced data channel portion, a non-enhanced control channel portion, an enhanced control channel portion and an enhanced data channel portion is provided. The method includes estimating a ratio of a transmission power associated with the enhanced data channel to transmission power associated with the non-enhanced control channel portion, comparing the estimated ratio with a threshold, the threshold being determined based on a format indicator associated with the enhanced data channel portion, and detecting a transmission power reduction in the enhanced data channel portion based on the comparing step.
US08160024B1

A method is disclosed that can be carried out in an access network comprising a plurality of coverage areas, each coverage area being served by an RNC. The method involves making a determination that an access terminal is located in an inter-RNC boundary zone, and then, during a communication session: (i) determining that a handoff from a source coverage area to a target coverage area should be performed; (ii) determining whether or not the target coverage area is served by the same RNC as the source coverage area; (iii) if the target coverage area is not served by the same RNC as the source coverage area, delaying handoff until a current segment of the communication session is complete; and (iv) if the target coverage area is served by the same RNC, handing off the communication session to the target coverage area.
US08160020B2

In connection with a mobile wireless subnetwork having multiple radio network controllers and multiple radio nodes, a session established for an access terminal is associated with a serving radio network controller. The association is maintained as the access terminal moves from the coverage area of one radio node to the coverage area of another radio node within the same subnetwork. Access channel packets are routed from an access terminal having an existing session to the serving radio network controller by determining the IP address of the serving radio network controller using a session identifier.
US08160008B2

A technique of operating a wireless communication device includes receiving an assigned starting point index and an assigned reference signal bandwidth for a reference signal. The reference signal is then transmitted multiple times, beginning at an initial resource block that is associated with the assigned starting point index and in accordance with the assigned reference signal bandwidth, across a shared channel.
US08160007B2

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate scheduling uplink transmissions. For instance, a time sharing scheme can be utilized such that differing mobile devices can be scheduled to transmit during differing time slots; however, it is also contemplated that a static scheme can be employed. Pursuant to an illustration, an interference budget can be combined with a time varying weighting factor associated with a base station; the weighting factor can be predefined and/or adaptively adjusted (e.g., based upon a load balancing mechanism). Moreover, the weighted interference budget can be leveraged for selecting mobile devices for uplink transmission (e.g., based at least in part upon path loss ratios of the mobile devices). Further, disparate interference budgets can be utilized by differing channels of a sector at a particular time. Also, for example, a base station can assign a loading factor to be utilized by wireless terminal(s) for generating channel quality report(s).
US08160002B2

Embodiments describe reducing interference in a wireless communication network, including an ad hoc network. According to an embodiment, a method for reducing interference includes receiving a data packet and determining a channel quality level of the received data packet. The method further includes calculating a number of groups to divide the data packet into based on the channel quality level and determining a slot position within each group. The positioning of an acknowledgment channel within each group can be optimized to reduce the amount of overhead channels or to provide time to decode a traffic channel.
US08159998B2

The invention relates to improving the quality of a received downlink signal in a time division multiple access wireless cellular communications network. The method of the invention comprises measuring a signal quality characteristic at a user equipment and comparing this to a threshold to determine it a desired signal quality level exists. It so then a certain level or type of service on the downlink can be effected. It not, the method comprises identifying an interferer signal or signals and removing at least one of such interferer signals by arranging for it to either not be transmitted on the same TDMA timeslot as the downlink signal or to be transmitted at a lower power, for example, in said timeslot.
US08159993B2

Use of multi-user detection (MUD) with a frequency-multiplexed satellite return link (scheduling algorithms, etc) is described. The satellite return link may utilize multi-frequency time division multiple access (MF-TDMA). The satellite return link may include a plurality of return sub-channels, wherein one or more of the return sub-channels may operate in a contention mode during some time periods and a non-contention mode at different time periods.
US08159990B2

Embodiments include a method of communicating an audio stream from an audio source terminal to a plurality of speaker terminals. A broadcast channel is established for communication from an audio source terminal to a plurality of speaker terminals. A plurality of bidirectional point-to-point control channels are established for controlling wireless communications between the audio source terminal and the speaker terminals, where each of the point-to-point control channels interconnect the audio source terminal and a different one of the speaker terminals. An audio stream is transmitted as a sequence of blocks of audio data in messages from the audio source terminal through the broadcast channel for receipt by all of the speaker terminals. A quality of reception feedback message is received at the audio source terminal from individual ones of the speaker terminals through respective ones of the point-to-point control channels. The audio data messages are adapted for transmission from the audio source terminal through the broadcast channel in response to the quality of reception feedback message.
US08159983B2

A method communicates packets in a relay network. Multiple packets are communicated between a set of mobile stations and a relay station using a set of connections. There is one connection between each mobile station and the relay station. The multiple packets are aggregated on single connection between the relay station and a base station.
US08159981B2

In a TBS (Transport Block Size) determination apparatus, a CQI (Channel Quality Indicator) value setting section sets a CQI value which is transmitted from a UE (User Equipment) which communicates based on a packet transmission standard HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access). A TBS acquiring section acquires a TBS by referring to a CQI mapping table based on the set CQI value. A BLER (BLock Error Rate) setting section sets a BLER before, simultaneously, or after the setting a CQI value, and before, simultaneously, or after the acquiring a TBS. A TBS changing section changes the TBS based on the BLER.
US08159977B2

A power management method that divorces multicast frames for power save stations from DTIM beacons. An access point associates power save stations with a multicast group. Each station has an associated power save interval, the station being in a power save state during the interval, otherwise in an active state. The access point maintains a timer for each station in order to determine whether the station is in an active or power save state. The timer can be reset whenever the station sends an inbound frame. When the access point receives a multicast frame for the group, it buffers the frame until the timer for each member of the group expires, thereby ensuring each member of the group is in an active state, and broadcasts the multicast frame.
US08159960B2

A system, method, and apparatus for monitoring performance of a content processing device are disclosed. A system may include a content processing device and a customer premises management system (CMS) in communication with the content processing device. The CMS generally monitors hardware performance, network performance, and video quality parameters of the content processing device. The CMS may determine an operating status of the content processing device from at least one of the hardware performance,network performance, and video quality parameters.
US08159950B2

Methods and computer readable mediums are provided for determining the processor occupancy of a cluster of HLR registers. A deterministic-based performance model is utilized to determine the processor occupancy based on a number of nodes in the cluster, a number of call attempts per unit time, a number of autonomous registrations, a processor utilization for processing each call attempt and a processor utilization for processing each autonomous registration. The models may be utilized to determine the processor occupancy of each node in the cluster if a selected number of HLR nodes are utilized, such that an iterative process may be employed to select a number of HLR nodes in order for each HLR node to operate under a node processor occupancy threshold.
US08159947B2

The present invention provides a traffic engineering apparatus which performs traffic engineering, including: an optimal branch point determination unit which determines an optimal branch point in a network to realize a predetermined policy; and a traffic flow regulation unit which regulates a traffic flow rate into the local node during reception of traffic based on the optimal branch point determined by the optimal branch point determination unit.
US08159944B2

Smart routing packet handling across multiple networks achieves end-to-end (ETE) quality of service (QOS) when complementing or replacing conventional priority-based scheduling algorithms. Packets are “tagged” with a time code that indicates a time is allotted for the packet to transmit from a source to a destination and/or a measure of transmission time. Buffers at routers and/or switches utilize this information to order a transmission queue. In this way, queues may be intelligently scheduled to achieve a maximum ETE QOS.
US08159942B2

The application discloses a system and a method of selecting a profile of a digital subscriber line. In a particular embodiment, the method includes setting a threshold for voice quality and determining a number of acceptable code violations that can occur without compromising the voice quality of the digital subscriber line. When the actual number of code violations exceeds the determined number of code violations an alternate profile is selected for the DSL line.
US08159939B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, can include transmitting data packets on multiple flows through a network to an endpoint in accordance with a congestion window where each flow is assigned a different priority level for transmission and a corresponding different congestion window adjustment technique for use with that flow, monitoring for acknowledgements in response to the transmitted data packets; determining, based on a result of the monitoring, a delivery status for one or more of the transmitted data packets that corresponds to one of the multiple flows; and adjusting, responsive to the determined delivery status for the one flow, the congestion window based on the delivery status and the congestion window adjustment technique corresponding to the one flow.
US08159937B2

In an example embodiment, a beacon is sent on all available interfaces of a device comprising data indicating the operating parameters of all interfaces of the device. A beacon containing data about the configuration of a first interface and a second interface is sent on both the first interface and the second interface. The beacon may suitably comprise data indicating the protocol, channel, and spanning trees for the interface. If communication on the primary interface becomes unavailable, the data in the beacons can be used to facilitate switching communication to the secondary interface.
US08159936B2

In response to a network topology change, packets are initially flooded on ports of a network device. In addition, a bit array is cleared in response to the topology change. Each bit in the bit array is associated with a particular forwarding entry on the network device. In connection with the clearing of the bit array, the flooding of packets on ports of the network device is made conditional, reducing failover time of the network.
US08159932B1

An apparatus for and a method of wirelessly receiving a signal, and detecting a start of packet (SOP) from the received signal using at least one SOP detection criterion. In the case an SOP is detected, determining a plurality of metrics from the received signal, and using at least two of the plurality of metrics to determine an initial timing for a received packet. Different versions combine the metrics in different ways to determine the initial timing. The apparatus includes a processing circuit coupled to a radio receiver to determine a plurality of metrics from a wirelessly received signal, and an initial time determining circuit coupled to the SOP detector and the processing circuit. In the case an SOP is detected, the initial time determining circuit uses at least two of the plurality of metrics to determine an initial timing for a received packet.
US08159930B1

Systems, devices, and techniques for MIMO (Multiple-In-Multiple-Out) based space-frequency coding can include, in at least some implementations, techniques that include receiving a selected spatial multiplexing rate M, the spatial multiplexing rate corresponding to a number of data streams for transmission on two or more antennas; for a first data tone, applying a first mapping to map a first number of data streams to a first portion of the antennas; and for a second data tone, applying a different second mapping to map a second number of data streams to a different second portion of the antennas. The first number and second number correspond to the spatial multiplexing rate.
US08159929B2

A method of TMCC information acquisition in an ISDB-T/TSB receiver comprises detecting coarse frequency offset in the receiver to identify bins that have TMCC information; and acquiring TMCC and symbol number information from the identified bins. The detecting process may be conducted using different methods and the acquiring process may be conducted using different methods. The TMCC information acquisition method saves memory space and provides enhanced performance by using coarse frequency offset to identify the bins that have TMCC information and obtaining the TMCC and symbol number information from the identified bins.
US08159918B2

A reproduction signal evaluation method evaluates the quality of a reproduction signal reproduced from an information recording medium based on a binary signal generated from the reproduction signal using a PRML signal processing system. The method includes a pattern extraction step of extracting, from the binary signal, a specific state transition pattern which has the possibility of causing a bit error; a step of computing a differential metric based on the binary signal; an extraction step of extracting the differential metric which is not greater than a predetermined signal processing threshold; a step of determining a mean value of the differential metrics which are not greater than the signal processing threshold and extracted in the extraction step; a standard deviation computing step of determining a standard deviation which corresponds to an error rate predicted from the mean value; and an evaluation step of evaluating a quality of the reproduction signal using the standard deviation.
US08159915B2

A write-once disc includes: a plurality of update areas in which a predetermined kind of updated information is recorded; at least one main access information area in which main access information is recorded, the main access information indicating a final update area in which finally updated information is recorded among the plurality of update areas; and at least one sub access information area in which sub access information is recorded, the sub access information indicating a location of the finally updated information recorded in the final update area. Accordingly, an access time for reading a predetermined kind of information required to use the write-once disc can be reduced.
US08159907B2

An optical pickup device includes a photodetector which receives laser light reflected on a recording medium, and an optical system which guides laser light to the photodetector as convergent light. A light transmitting plate which imparts astigmatism to the laser light is disposed between the optical system and the photodetector with an inclination with respect to an optical axis of the laser light. The optical pickup device further includes an optical element which separates four light fluxes of the laser light from each other. The four light fluxes are obtained by dividing the laser light by two straight lines respectively in parallel to a first focal line direction of the laser light transmitted through the light transmitting plate, and a second focal line direction orthogonal to the first focal line direction.
US08159906B2

Recording capacity per layer is detected from a disc and bit allocation of wobble addresses in a conventional optical disc and bit allocation in a high-density optical disc are controlled selectively to detect physical position addresses on the disc. Address detection can be performed for two kinds of discs which are equal in structure of addresses embedded in wobbles but different in bit allocation of addresses.
US08159904B2

A broadband weak-motion seismometer includes: a frame, a mass, a suspension means for movably connecting the mass to the frame, a sensing transducer for measuring displacement of the mass with respect to the frame and for generating a sensing transducer output signal, which is a function of the measured displacement, a forcing transducer for applying a feedback force in a predetermined direction to the mass, and a control circuit. The control circuit receives the sensing transducer output signal and generates a forcing transducer input signal that includes a self-noise component. The forcing transducer input signal is processed by the forcing transducer to apply the feedback force to maintain the mass at rest with respect to the frame. The feedback force is sufficient to counterbalance a constant acceleration of the frame of at least 0.2 m/s2 in the predetermined direction of the feedback force. The self-noise component of the forcing transducer input signal, when processed by the forcing transducer, produces variable acceleration of the mass with spectral density less than −150 dB with respect to 1 m2/s3 at 0.01 Hz.
US08159900B2

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for testing acoustic systems. According to one embodiment, a method for testing an acoustic system can comprise receiving a signal from the acoustic system at a testing device coupled with the acoustic system via one of a plurality of channels between the acoustic system and the testing device. The signal can include a pattern of pulses. At least one pulse from the pattern of pulses of the signal can be detected with the testing device. A response to the signal from the acoustic system can be provided by generating an echo pulse with the testing device based on the detected at least one pulse. The echo pulse can mimic a response to the detected at least one pulse for a selected acoustic probe.
US08159896B2

Memories, memory arrays, and methods for selectively providing electrical power to memory sections of a memory array are disclosed. A memory array can be operated by decoupling row decoder circuitry from receiving electrical power while the memory array is not being accessed. Portions of the memory array to be accessed are determined from external memory addresses and the row decoder for the portions of the memory array to be accessed are selectively provided with electrical power. The section of memory is then accessed. One such array includes memory section voltage supply rails having decoder circuits coupled to receive electrical power, and further includes memory section power control logic. The control logic selectively couples the memory section voltage supply rail to a primary voltage supply to provide electrical power to the memory section voltage supply rail in response to being selected based on memory addresses.
US08159894B2

A one-time programmable memory. The one-time programmable memory has an antifuse and a read circuit configured to read the antifuse. An isolation transistor couples the antifuse to the read circuit. The read circuit and the isolation transistor have different power domains.
US08159887B2

A system and method for synchronizing a strobed memory system 10. During memory read and/or memory write operations the corresponding data strobe is sampled at the data destination 50/55 according to a local clock signal 71/73. Based on the results of the sampling, the data strobe and local clock signal are synchronized. In this manner, the data is synchronized to the local clock signal so that sampling of data at the data destination can be performed according to the local clock signal rather than the data strobe.
US08159881B2

A system includes a voltage generator and a reference voltage setting module. The voltage generator is configured to generate K voltages to be applied to memory cells. The K voltages are used to determine a reference voltage used to read the memory cells, where K is an integer greater than 1. The reference voltage setting module is configured to selectively set the reference voltage to a value between two adjacent ones of the K voltages or one of the two adjacent ones of the K voltages.
US08159876B2

A non-volatile memory device and power-saving techniques capable of reading and writing a large number of memory cells with multiple read/write circuits in parallel has features to reduce power consumption during sensing, which is included in read, and program/verify operations. A sensing verify operation includes one or more sensing cycles relative to one or more demarcation threshold voltages to determine a memory state. In one aspect, coupling of the memory cells to their bit lines are delayed during a precharge operation in order to reduced the cells' currents working against the precharge. In another aspect, a power-consuming precharge period is minimized by preemptively starting the sensing in a multi-pass sensing operation. High current cells not detected as a result of the premature sensing will be detected in a subsequent pass.
US08159859B2

A semiconductor storage device includes: a memory cell array including memory cells, each of the memory cells having a variable resistance element; and a control circuit configured to apply a control voltage, which is necessary for the variable resistance element to transit a resistance state, to a selected memory cell. When applying the control voltage plural times, the control circuit operates to set a value of the control voltage applied in a first control voltage application operation to be substantially equal to a minimum value of distribution of the voltage values of all the memory cells in the memory cell array required to transit the resistance state of the variable resistance element from a high resistance state to a low resistance state. The control circuit operates to perform a plurality of control voltage application operations by increasing the value of the control voltage by a certain value.
US08159850B2

A converter control device includes a converter device formed by three converter circuits connected together in parallel between a secondary battery as a first power source and a fuel cell as a second power source. A control unit includes: a PID control module for controlling the converter device by PID control and executing a desired voltage conversion; a drive phase quantity changing module for changing the number of drive phases of the converter device in accordance with the passing power of the converter device; and an integration term correction function switching module which switches the PID control integration term correction function when changing the number of drive phases.
US08159847B2

A method of controlling a brake chopper and a control arrangement, the brake chopper being connected between the positive and the negative rails of an intermediate voltage circuit feeding an inverter bridge, wherein current measurement means are arranged between a DC voltage source and the brake chopper and adapted to measure DC current flowing in the intermediate voltage circuit, which method comprises steps of forming with the inverter bridge an output voltage to a load connected to the output of the inverter bridge, determining a time instant when the DC current of the intermediate circuit is sampled, and preventing the use of the brake chopper at the determined time instant.
US08159840B2

The present invention relates to a multilevel inverter comprising: a converter unit converting an inputted AC power source to a direct current (DC) power source; a film capacitor rectifying the DC power source converted by the converter unit; an inverter unit converting the rectified DC power source to a three-phase current in response to a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal and outputting the current; a current detector detecting a current outputted from the inverter unit; a power cell main controller generating a voltage instruction and a voltage instruction using the detected current; and a PWM controller generating the pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal using the voltage instruction and frequency instruction.
US08159831B2

A PCB (printed circuit board) for manufacturing a semiconductor package. The PCB includes a plurality of semiconductor package unit frames; a scribe lane dividing the plurality of semiconductor package unit frames; and a printed circuit pattern for plating directly connected to a plurality of bond fingers on the semiconductor package unit frames and disposed to cross the scribe lane between adjacent semiconductor package unit frames.
US08159824B2

A printed circuit board is disclosed. The printed circuit board includes a first board unit and a second board unit disposed with a gap in-between, and a flexible optical board configured to transmit optical signals, which has one side stacked on the first board unit and the other side stacked on the second board unit, where the flexible optical board includes a core through which the optical signals travel, a cladding surrounding the core, and a circuit pattern buried in the cladding which transmits electrical signals. By forming the rigid boards and the flexible optical board as an integrated structure, the need for separate connectors is obviated, and thus the cost of the product can be lowered.
US08159818B2

A docking apparatus for a portable device, comprising a base and a mounting part which is connected to the base, wherein the mounting part is pivotally mounted within said base and consists of a cover portion which in a first position lies in substantially co-planar relationship with a lip of said base, said cover portioncapable of being pivoted to a second positionwherein part of the cover portion extends substantially from the docking apparatus, said pivotal motion also revealing a fin part depending from the underside of said cover portion so that in said second position, said fin part lies in substantially co-planar relationship with said lip instead of said cover portion.
US08159817B2

A hard disk device includes a hard disk having two opposite first sides, a second side interconnecting the first sides, and two corner portions defined by the first and second sides, and a slide rail mechanism including two first plates to be disposed slidably in a housing, and a second plate. Each first plate has a first section connected to the second plate, and a second section connected to the first section. The first section is spaced apart from the respective first side and is provided with a first support element for abutting against the corresponding corner portion. The second section abuts against the corresponding first side and is provided with positioning pins for engaging positioning holes in the corresponding first side. The second plate is spaced apart from the second side and is provided with second support elements for abutting against the second side.
US08159815B2

Disclosed is an electrochemical capacitor comprising a positive electrode exhibiting an irreversible capacity for extending the potential range during a charge/discharge cycle, a negative electrode composed of a material which is capable of reversibly adsorbing/desorbing lithium ions, and an electrolyte solution composed of an organic solvent containing lithium ions.
US08159812B2

A capacitor element for a power capacitor. The capacitor element includes a plurality of series-connected cylindrical sub-elements. Each sub-element includes at least two strips of dielectric material wound in a number of turns. A layer of electrically conductive material is disposed between the turns of the winding. The sub-elements are disposed one outside the other as seen in a direction transversely to the plane of the strip. A strip in an outermost sub-element is longer than the strip in each inwardly lying sub-element. A power capacitor includes a plurality of the capacitor elements, and a capacitor battery includes a plurality of the power capacitors. A method of manufacturing the inventive capacitor element and the use of the inventive power capacitor.
US08159807B2

A method is disclosed for operating a switching device using at least one electromagnetic drive, which has a displaceable armature for opening and closing at least one main contact of the switching device. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, a modification of the magnetic flux between a first position, when the main contact is deactivated, and a second position, when the main contact is activated, is identified in the electromagnetic drive and a solenoid current of the electromagnetic drive is restricted to a predetermined minimum current value in the second position, if the magnetic flux modification exceeds a predeterminable value. One advantage of at least one embodiment is that an actuation displacement of the armature can be identified as reliable, if an associated modification of the magnetic flux is also measured. The metrological recording of the magnetic flux is contactless.
US08159801B2

The invention describes an electric circuit (100), a method and a computer program for hot-swapping an electronic board in a telecommunication system, where the increase in current in the electric circuit is controlled by a microcontroller (130) switching a power transistor in a switching circuit (150) so as to gradually increase the capacitor voltage for the electronic board. The current level is measured either in the microcontroller (130) itself or in an external current sense circuit (140) and compared to a maximum current level.
US08159800B2

In a semiconductor device, low-level signals are output from a terminal voltage detecting circuit when the connection between an external terminal and a resistor is cut off, or when the connection between the resistor and a ground voltage is cut off, or when the external terminal short-circuits to the ground voltage. Accordingly, a PMOS transistor is turned on so that an oscillating circuit stops oscillating and outputs high-level signals from its output terminal.
US08159799B2

This invention mainly involves in the consumer electronic product fields, especially in the protective devices against abnormality for positive and negative power circuits of TV and audio technology field. In one embodiment, in the last stage output port load (RL) circuit of the dual power supply, a series current negative feedback resistor R371 is added or used as the detection source, by the integration of Resistor R46V and Capacitor C46V, and then through the pressure-sensitive switching unit VD46 or Diode D46 branch circuit, is connected with normally closed and overload conducting overload shutdown devices so as to perform timely and effective protection against OCL circuit over current or other abnormalities in the positive and negative power supply.
US08159781B2

According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a main pole configured to produce a recording magnetic field, a return pole opposed to a trailing side of the main pole across a write gap and configured to return magnetic flux from the main pole, a coil configured to excite the main pole, a spin-torque oscillator between the main pole and a surface of the return pole, configured to produce a high-frequency magnetic field, and side shields individually on opposite sides of the main pole transversely relative to a track, magnetically separated from the main pole, and located at a height position above the recording medium higher than that of the spin-torque oscillator.
US08159780B2

Recording heads for a data storage system include a first diode, a second diode, and a first electrical component. The first electrical component is electrically connected in series to the first and second diodes. In another embodiment, recording heads include first, second, third, and fourth electrical connection points. A read transducer is electrically connected to the first and second electrical connection points. A write transducer is electrically connected to the first and third electrical connection points. A first heater and a second heater are electrically connected to the first and fourth electrical connection points.
US08159773B2

A method for forming servo patterns on a magnetic-recording disk. The method includes moving a magnetic-recording head in an opposite direction to a pattern development direction, when there is a faulty servo pattern. The method also includes positioning a write element of the magnetic recording head on a track of the faulty servo pattern and forming a reserve servo pattern at a different circumferential location from that of the faulty servo pattern. The method includes moving the magnetic-recording head in the pattern development direction. The method further includes positioning the read element on the track of the faulty servo pattern and forming a new servo pattern in the pattern development direction at the circumferential location of the faulty servo pattern on a track disposed between the track of the faulty servo pattern and an outside diameter of the magnetic-recording disk, based on data read from the reserve servo pattern.
US08159771B2

The disclosure is related to pulse width modulating a power signal to a heat resistive element of a transducer. The power signal may be a power output signal of preamplifier. The power signal may be provided to a heat resistive element in a transducer that is operable to read data from or write data to a data storage medium. The pulse width modulated power signal can allow for controlling the heating of the heat resistive element based on a thermal time constant of the heat resistive element and based on adjustable components of the pulse width modulated power signal.
US08159769B2

Devices and methods are provided for heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). In an illustrative example, a device includes a magnetic write pole having a convex pole tip; a magnetic opposing pole longitudinally displaced from the magnetic write pole; and a thermal-source component disposed proximate to the magnetic write pole and comprising a laterally elongated thermal-source peg disposed proximate to the convex pole tip.
US08159767B2

According to one embodiment, a stamper has three-dimensional patterns in a dummy region. The three-dimensional patterns have a repeatable run out of 1 nm or less between the 15th and 40th orders when the rotational frequency is the first order as a reference.
US08159761B2

Apparatus for concentrating light rays arriving from at least one external source onto a receiver, individual beams of the light rays each arriving at the apparatus substantially collimated, the apparatus including a respective Fresnel lens assembly for each of a plurality of openings, the Fresnel lens assembly including a first Fresnel lens, and a second Fresnel lens, the first Fresnel lens being located between a respective one of the openings and the receiver, the second Fresnel lens being located between the first Fresnel lens and the receiver, the first Fresnel lens for making the light rays arriving from the respective one of the openings parallel with an optical axis of the first Fresnel lens, the second Fresnel lens converging the collimated light rays onto the receiver, each opening being located in front of the Fresnel lens assembly, on the focal plane of the first Fresnel lens, centered on the focal point of the first Fresnel lens, and the receiver being located behind the Fresnel lens assembly, on the focal point of the second Fresnel lens.
US08159760B2

A projector includes: a projection lens which includes a zoom mechanism capable of controlling a projection view angle; a zoom drive unit which drives the zoom mechanism; a zoom amount storing unit which stores a zoom amount provided by the zoom drive unit; an operation signal receiving unit which receives a predetermined operation signal; and a zoom control unit which controls the zoom drive unit in such a manner as to set an initial zoom condition determined based on the zoom amount stored in the zoom amount storing unit when the operation signal receiving unit receives the predetermined operation signal.
US08159759B1

A zoom lens and a photographing apparatus having the zoom lens including a first lens group having a positive refractive power; a second lens group having a negative refractive power; a third lens group having a positive refractive power; and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power, wherein the first lens group, the second lens group, the third lens group, and the fourth lens group are arranged sequentially from an object side, wherein the second lens group includes a first aspherical lens having a negative refractive power, and a second aspherical lens having a positive refractive power.
US08159757B2

A zoom lens includes, sequentially from an object side, a positive first lens group; a negative second lens group; a positive third lens group; and a positive fourth lens group, where 2.0≦D23W/FW≦3.0 is satisfied. D23W is an interval, at a wide angle edge, between a lens that among lenses of the second lens group, is farthest on an imaging plane side and a lens that among lenses of the third lens group, is farthest on the object side. FW is a focal length of an optical system of the zoom lens at infinity focus, at the wide angle edge.
US08159753B2

An optical lens which, in a controlled manner, and without altering either the resolution or luminous capture, helps to extend the depth of field of any other optical system. The optical lens of the present invention is composed of two optical lenses that form a pair. Each of the lenses of the pair produces a change of optical path with a symmetrical distribution. If there is no relative displacement, the lenses of the pair generate an optical path difference equal to zero. When there is relative displacement, the lenses of the pair generate a change of optical path with asymmetric distribution, which helps to extend the depth of field without reducing either the resolution or luminous capture. The optical lens of this invention, in the form of an optical pair, serves any other optical system to capture images without loss of modulation, but with attenuated modulation which can be retrieved with digital processing algorithms known in the art.
US08159749B2

An antireflection coating is formed on a transparent substrate and includes an Al film having a transmittance of lower than 10% at a wavelength of 550 nm with a thickness of 25 nm and predominantly composed of aluminum (Al), and an Al—N film formed in at least one of an upper layer and a lower layer of the Al film, having a transmittance of equal to or higher than 10% at a wavelength of 550 nm with a thickness of 25 nm, predominantly composed of Al and at least containing a nitrogen (N) element as an additive. A specific resistance of the antireflection coating is equal to or lower than 1.0×10−2 O·cm, and a reflectance of a surface of the Al—N film is equal to or lower than 50% in a visible light region.
US08159717B2

Combining section 21 creates the composite image data by combining the image data of the original image and the additional image, and log management section 22 stores the condition of composite images at the time of image combining as log information 40. Printer section 18 prints the composite image based on the composite image data, and a scanner section 16 optically reads the printed composite image. Judgment section 23 judges the condition of adding the additional image in the composite image (presence or absence of overlapping, etc.,) based on stored log information 40 and on the image data obtained by reading out the composite image, and notification control section 24 notifies the user of the judgment result either by displaying or by printing out.
US08159684B2

An image processing apparatus can process a plurality of printer languages having respectively different ROP calculation rules, and inputs a drawing command written in any one of the printer languages and performs rasterization into drawing data corresponding to the drawing command. An interpreter converts a target ROP code and ROP calculation rule of the print data into another ROP code and ROP calculation rule that produce substantially the same drawing data.
US08159681B2

A measuring device for determining the relative offset between two components in a z-direction includes two measuring members. A first measuring member is affixable on a first component, and the second measuring member is affixable on a second component. Furthermore, the measuring device includes a sensor device for determining the relative position of the two measuring members. The first measuring member and the second measuring member are affixable on the first components at a rigid angle. At least one of the measuring members is able to be brought into adhesive contact with the first component or the second component. The measuring device includes support members for at least one measuring member so that the measuring member is able to assume a parking or an operating position. The measuring members are precisely and reproducibly aligned in space relative to each other in the parking position.
US08159676B2

The present invention includes methods for ratiometric detection of analytes by surface plasmon coupled emission detection that includes disposing a target on the metal layer of a surface plasmon resonance detection system; coupling a first analyte to a first fluorescent dye and a second analyte to a second fluorescent dye; contacting the first and second analytes to the target on the surface plasmon resonance detection system; and measuring the intensity of a first and a second surface plasmon resonance enhanced fluorescence emission ring, wherein the first and second rings, respectively, quantitatively represents the amount of first and second analyte within 50 nanometers of the metal surface.
US08159670B2

A method for increasing the throughput, or the precision, or both the precision and the throughput, of a flow cytometer, or of a hematology analyzer employing a flow cytometer, and for further reducing the complexity of such a cytometer or analyzer, by utilizing the technique of laser rastering in combination with a lysis-free single-dilution method. Laser rastering involves sweeping a laser beam across a flowing sample stream in a hematology analyzer. A lysis-free single-dilution method involves performing all the flow cytometer measurements on a sample using a single aliquot, a single lysis-free reagent solution, a single dilution, and a single pass of said dilution through the measurement apparatus. An apparatus suitable for carrying out the method of this invention comprises an optical module comprising a source of light, a scanning device, a lens or system of lenses, a flowcell, detectors, and filters; and an electronic module comprising preamplifiers, analog signal conditioning elements, analog-to-digital converters, field-programmable gate arrays, digital signal processing elements, and data storage elements.
US08159663B2

To enable both observations of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering light and multiphoton fluorescence in a same apparatus so as to observe a specimen by various observation methods. There is provided a laser microscope apparatus comprising: two optical paths for guiding pulsed laser beams having two different frequencies whose frequency difference is approximately equal to a specific molecular vibration frequency in a specimen; a multiplexer for combining the pulsed laser beams guided through these two optical paths; and a frequency dispersion adjuster which is provided on at least one of these two optical paths, and is capable of adjustment to approximately equalize frequency dispersion quantities of the pulsed laser beams guided through the two optical paths.
US08159661B2

Method for hyper-spectral imaging and analysis of a sample of matter, for identifying and characterizing an object of interest therein. Preparing test solution or suspension of the sample, including adding thereto a spectral marker specific to object of interest, such that if object of interest is in test solution or suspension, object of interest becomes a hyper-spectrally active target which is hyper spectrally detectable and identifiable; adding to test solution or suspension a background reducing chemical, for reducing background interfering effects caused by presence of objects of non-interest in test solution or suspension, thereby increasing hyper spectral detectability of hyper spectrally active target in test solution or suspension; generating and collecting hyper-spectral image data and information of test solution or suspension; and, processing and analyzing thereof. Exemplary objects of interest are biological agents—bacteria (Bacillus anthracis), viruses, fungi, toxins, or, chemical agents—nerve agents (sarin, tabun, soman), and chemical poisons.
US08159652B2

A positioning apparatus including a movable member having a plurality of magnets, and a plurality of coils arranged in X- and Y-axial directions, for displacing the movable member in the X- and Y-axial directions, and in a rotational direction around the Z-axis.
US08159638B2

Disclosed is a selective reflection/transmission optical device including a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) film that selectively transmits a first light having a first circular polarization and reflects a second light having a second circular polarization; a first phase compensation film at the front of the CLC film that generates a phase difference of about λ/4 with respect to an incident light; and a second phase compensation film at the rear of the CLC film, for generating a phase difference of λ/4 with respect to an incident light; a controller for controlling the direction in which an image is displayed, and wherein the CLC film, the first phase compensation film, and the second phase compensation film are disposed in a light path of a dual display liquid crystal display device.
US08159637B2

A liquid crystal display and a substrate thereof are provided. The substrate of the liquid crystal display has a plurality of first pixel areas, second pixel areas, and third pixel areas. The substrate of the liquid crystal display has a plurality of first insulating films disposed on the first pixel areas, a plurality of second insulating films disposed on the second pixel areas, and a plurality of third insulating films disposed on the third pixel areas. The dielectric coefficient of the first insulating film is greater than the dielectric coefficient of the second insulating film, and the dielectric coefficient of the second insulating film is greater than the dielectric coefficient of the third insulating film.
US08159636B2

The present invention relates to reflective displays and processes for their manufacture.
US08159634B2

A liquid crystal display device includes: a backlight; a liquid crystal cell; a first polarizing plate provided between the liquid crystal cell and the backlight; a second polarizing plate provided in opposite side to the first polarizing plate with respect to the liquid crystal cell; a first retardation film provided between the first polarizing plate and the liquid crystal cell; and a second retardation film provided between the second polarizing plate and the liquid crystal cell, wherein a relationship represented by the following formula (1) is satisfied: 1×10−6/° C.≦EC2max−EC1max≦50×10−6/° C.  (1) in which EC1max represents a maximal linear thermal expansion coefficient of the first retardation film, and EC2max represents a maximal linear thermal expansion coefficient of the second retardation film.
US08159623B2

A vehicle entertainment system and method to prevent a mechanical connection between certain components of an entertainment system for a vehicle can include an entertainment system housing containing a plurality of entertainment components and a remote control module. The remote control module can include a user interface on a surface of the remote control module. In addition, the remote control module can be configured to prevent secure mounting of the remote control module to the entertainment system housing when the remote control module is not the appropriate remote control module for the particular vehicle entertainment system.
US08159620B2

A receiver can handle different types of reception signals, such as, for example, TV and FM-radio signals. In the receiver, a mixer (MIX) mixes a reception signal with an oscillator signal (OOS) so as to obtain a mixer output signal (MOS), which comprises a frequency-shifted version of the reception signal. An intermediate frequency amplifier (IFAMP) applies an amplified mixer output signal (MOSA) to two different intermediate frequency filters: one for first type reception signals and another for second type reception signals. A switchable coupling section (DBTP, SWA) is coupled between the mixer (MIX) and the intermediate frequency amplifier (IFAMP). The switchable coupling section (DBTP, SWA) is switchable to a first state and a second state. In the first state, the mixer output signal (MOS) substantially reaches an input (IAD) of the intermediate frequency amplifier (IFAMP) via a first coupling path (DTBP). In the second state, the mixer output signal (MOS) substantially reaches the input (IAD) of the intermediate frequency amplifier (IFAMP) via a second coupling path (SWA).
US08159619B2

A multi-standard integrated television receiver is disclosed. According to the invention, a RF tracking filter is provided to receive a RF signal and then filter out a fifth order and above harmonics and a band-pass filter is provided to further eliminate harmonics. Moreover, a double quadrature mixer is provided to remove third order harmonics. Accordingly, the quality factor requirement of the RF tracking filter and the linearity requirement of the band-pass filter are relaxed. Thus, the RF tracking filter and the band-pass filter can be fully integrated without any external components.
US08159617B2

An apparatus and method for processing a video signal includes means for receiving the video signal, means for analyzing the video signal based upon a user supplied set of instructions, means for processing the video signal in accordance with the analysis, and means for outputting the processed video signal.
US08159612B1

Apparatus, system, and method for processing digital audio/video signals are described. In one embodiment, a decoder is configured to process an input signal having an analog television format. The decoder includes a signal detector, and the signal detector is configured to determine whether the input signal incorporates a digital television signal. The decoder also includes a signal extractor connected to the signal detector, and the signal extractor is configured to extract the digital television signal from the input signal based on determining that the input signal incorporates the digital television signal.
US08159609B2

The invention relates to an image processing chip and related method. The image processing chip includes a pin for receiving a composite signal; a synchronization signal detecting circuit, coupled to the pin, for extracting a synchronization signal from the composite signal; a clamping circuit, coupled to the pin, for adjusting a voltage level of the composite signal according to the synchronization signal; and an analog to digital converter, coupled to the pin, for generating a video signal by sampling the composite signal.
US08159607B2

A video signal display system includes: a reproducing apparatus including a decoder that decodes input video data to produce a video signal, an IP converter that, when the video signal produced by the decoder is an interlaced video signal, converts the interlaced video signal into a progressive video signal, a pseudo-interlacing unit that performs pseudo-interlacing in which the progressive video signal converted by the IP converter undergoes pseudo-interlacing so that the progressive video signal is converted into a pseudo-interlaced signal, and a first controller; and a display apparatus including a display processor that carries out a display process for displaying a video signal, and a display that can at least display the video signal that has undergone the display process in the display processor.
US08159583B2

A correlated double sampling unit in an image sensor includes a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a capacitor switch. The first capacitor is coupled between a first node and an input node of a tripping unit. The second capacitor is coupled between the first node and a second node having a ramp signal switched thereon. The capacitor switch is coupled between the second node and the input node of the tripping unit for coupling the first and second capacitors in parallel as a final pixel signal is developed at the input node of the tripping unit for minimizing signal loss from a parasitic capacitance at the input node of the tripping unit.
US08159573B2

A photoelectric conversion device includes a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels including a photoelectric conversion unit are arrayed, a first storage unit and second storage unit which store pixel signals read out from the pixel array, a first read switch which reads out the pixel signal stored in the first storage unit to a first common signal line, a second read switch which reads out the pixel signal stored in the second storage unit to a second common signal line, and a third read switch which has an input terminal electrically connected to the output terminal of the second storage unit, and an output terminal electrically connected to the output terminal of the first read switch, and reads out the pixel signal stored in the second storage unit to the first common signal line.
US08159570B2

An image sensing apparatus includes an image sensor including a pixel array, on which a plurality of pixels are arranged, and a reading section configured to read a signal from the pixel array, a detection unit configured to detect a defective pixel in the pixel array based on a signal read from the pixel array by the reading section under a condition that the pixel array is shielded from light, and a control unit configured to control the reading section to read a signal from the pixel array under a condition that a defect tends to occur when the detection unit detects the defective pixel.
US08159566B2

Provided are an apparatus and a method for compensating signal distortion caused by noise. The apparatus comprises a noise reduction unit which reduces noise of an input signal including non-zero mean random noise, and a signal compensator which compensates the output signal of the noise reduction unit so that a signal distortion due to the non-zero mean random noise is removed from the output signal of the noise reduction unit.
US08159561B2

This invention includes an imaging device that photographs a subject image, a first storage device that stores image data output from the imaging device at a first time interval, a display device that reads the image data stored in the first storage device at the first time interval and display the image data, a second storage device that reads the image data stored in the first storage device at a second time interval and stores the image data and a feature extraction device that extracts a feature section of the subject based upon the image data stored in the second storage device. Therefore, image data output from the imaging device for an image display is once stored in the second storage device and the feature section is extracted from the stored image data, so an extraction is not affected by an update of the first storage device.
US08159556B2

It is an object of this invention to reduce image sensing errors due to wrong white balance control using wrong color temperature information in an image sensing device capable of performing white balance control using a color image signal from an image sensing device. In order to attain the above object, when the color in the vicinity of the locus of a blackbody cannot be extracted in detection of a color temperature in a color image signal, color temperature information is corrected on the basis of a piece of color temperature information output from a calorimetric sensor, thereby controlling the white balance of a color image signal output from an image sensing element. The number of achromatic data extracted from the color image signal is counted. The color temperature is calculated by weighting a color temperature obtained from the color image signal and that obtained from the calorimetric sensor in accordance with the count, thereby performing white balance control.
US08159554B2

Provided is an image processing apparatus, comprising an image generating section that generates a converted image by performing a coordinate conversion on a captured image captured through an optical system, such that a spread of light from the optical system has a shape that is spatially substantially uniform; a correcting section that corrects the converted image based on the spread of the light modified by the image generating section to have the shape that is substantially uniform; and an inverse converting section that performs an inverse conversion of the coordinate conversion on the converted image corrected by the correcting section.
US08159551B2

Apparatus and method provide a hold on function in a mobile phone or other portable electronic equipment keeps the display thereof turned on in spite of a screensaver or other power saving feature while a user is reading or watching the display and allows activating of power saving facilities of the mobile phone or equipment only when a user no longer is reading or watching the display. Also, a computer program product stored in a storage medium, includes a storage medium, a computer program including face recognition software to recognize whether an input image represents that of a human face, and a control program to control operation of portable electronic equipment depending on whether or not an input image represents a human face.
US08159530B2

A stereoscopic image display apparatus displays stereoscopic images generated from a plurality of images obtained by photography of subjects from different viewpoints. The stereoscopic image display apparatus is constituted by: an interpolative image generating section, for generating at least one pair of interpolative images, which have smaller degrees of parallax than the degree of parallax among the plurality of images; a stereoscopic image generating section, for generating at least one interpolative stereoscopic image from the at least one pair of interpolative images; and a display control section, for sequentially displaying the at least one interpolative stereoscopic image at at least one of a timing prior to and following display of the stereoscopic images.
US08159519B2

Video communication systems and methods for operating the same are provided with the method determining privacy settings for a video communication event; establishing a video communication link with a video communication system at a remote site; capturing video images of a field of view of at least one image capture device; determining a video context based at least in part upon a determined contextual classification for the communication event; analyzing the captured video images to identify privacy sensitive areas in the captured video images, using a scene analysis algorithm which examines a content of the video images and image context characteristics of the video images based upon the determined privacy settings; modifying the image characteristics in identified privacy sensitive image areas of captured video images, to control the image and image context characteristics to an extent consistent with the determined privacy settings; and transmitting the modified video images.
US08159514B2

A printing apparatus includes an image transfer unit thermally transferring a plurality of color materials onto a recording medium to superimpose images in respective color materials, a medium conveyance unit conveying the recording medium through the image transfer unit using a stepper motor, a synchronism loss detection sensor detecting a loss of synchronism with the stepper motor, a reference position detection sensor detecting that the recording medium is located at a predetermined reference position, and a conveyance control unit making the medium conveyance unit repeat a forward conveyance and a reverse conveyance of the recording medium and, if the loss of synchronism is detected in the repeating process, making the image transfer unit resume the color printing on the recording medium through positioning the recording medium to the reference position and conveying the recording medium from the reference position to the transfer start position.
US08159487B2

A plasma display device includes a scan electrode drive circuit including a sustain pulse generating circuit, which includes an electric power recovery capacitor, a first recovery switch and a first recovery inductor connected in series so as to form an electric current passage in which an electric current is allowed to flow from the electric power recovery capacitor to a scan electrode, a second recovery switch and a second recovery inductor connected in series so as to form an electric current passage in which an electric current is allowed to flow from the scan electrode to the electric power recovery capacitor, a first damper capacitor connected to a node between a diode of the first recovery switch and the first recovery inductor, and a second damper capacitor connected to a node between a diode of the second recovery switch and the second recovery inductor.
US08159481B2

The present invention discloses a display driver and related display. The display driver includes: a plurality of level shifters, respectively receiving input signals for outputting shifted signals; a plurality of switches; and a digital-to-analog converter, having a plurality of input terminals electrically connected to outputs of the level shifters respectively via the switches directly; wherein the switches are turned off while the level shifters are in a transition to convert the input signals into the shifted signals.
US08159473B2

The present invention relates to a method for detecting touch points and a touch panel using the same. The method includes the steps of: providing a resistive pressure-sensing matrix includes M X-axis sensing lines and N Y-axis sensing lines, wherein the ith X-axis sensing line and the jth Y-axis sensing line are short-circuited when a preset range covering an overlapped region between the ith X-axis sensing line and the jth Y-axis sensing line is pressed; applying a scanning voltage to the pth Y-axis sensing line in a pth scanning period; detecting the M X-axis sensing lines to judge whether the scanning voltage is detected; and determining a touch coordinate as (q, p) when the qth X-axis sensing line receives the scanning voltage in the pth scanning period, wherein M, N, i, p and q are positive integers, 0
US08159471B2

Provided is a coordinate input device including: a plurality of detection electrodes which are arranged in a planar shape in a detection area of a substrate; a plurality of routed wires connected to the plurality of detection electrodes; a coating film which coats the plurality of detection electrodes; a detection unit which detects a capacitance variation between the plurality of detection electrodes via the coating film; and a calculation unit which calculates a capacitance forming position from the detected result of the detection unit, wherein the plurality of detection electrodes are formed in the detection area in a first direction and are arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction so as to configure a plurality of detection electrode pairs, each of which is composed of a pair of adjacent detection electrodes, a ratio of the width of one-side detection electrode of the pair of detection electrodes to the width of the other-side detection electrode of the pair of detection electrodes configuring each of the detection electrode pairs is changed according to the first direction, and the plurality of routed wires are connected to one ends of the first direction of the detection electrodes and are formed on the same layer as the plurality of detection electrodes.
US08159469B2

In one embodiment, a user interface is presented for initiating activities in an electronic device. The user interface includes an element referred to as a “launch wave”, which can be activated at substantially any time, even if the user is engaged with an activity, without requiring the user to first return to a home screen. In various embodiments, the user can activate the launch wave by performing a gesture, or by pressing a physical button, or by tapping at a particular location on a touchscreen, or by activating a keyboard command. In one embodiment, activation of the launch wave and selection of an item from the launch wave can be performed in one continuous operation on a touch-sensitive screen, so as to improve the expediency and convenience of launching applications and other items.
US08159466B2

A touch panel and a portable electronic device thereof are provided. The present invention can accurately determine a position touched by a user on the touch panel by judging whether or not a potential voltage value between a reference capacitor and a sensing capacitor of a pixel having a sensing area being changed, or to determine whether a switch of a pixel having the sensing area being conducted.
US08159464B1

An enhanced flight display system for an aircraft, including primary display controls, a flight display, and processing elements. The primary display controls provide a primary capability for performing defined display functions. The flight display includes a touchscreen input device being partitioned into a plurality of fixed touch regions that are responsive to touch so as to provide a secondary capability for performing defined flight display functions. The processing elements are operatively associated with the primary display controls and the flight display for implementing the defined flight display functions in response to utilization of the primary display controls or the touch of one of the touch regions, wherein operation of the fixed touch regions is configured to be independent of the primary display controls. This system provides an intuitive, aircraft optimized touchscreen interface to an aircraft flight display with no or minimal display design changes.
US08159462B1

Apparatus and methods for offsetting the reference voltage range of a relaxation-type oscillator decreases sensing time and reduces noise-induced jitter.
US08159461B2

Products and processes for providing tactile sensations to input devices or electronic devices are provided. Input devices include mechanical input devices (such as, for example, mechanical switches) and non-mechanical input devices (such as, for example, touchpads). Tactile feedback is provided by using an actuator or other means in communication with the input device or electronic device. A controller may be employed to receive signals from the input devices and control the actuator. Tactile feedback to an input device or electronic device may be provided in response to one or more events or situations. Such an event or situation may be any one designated. Examples of such events and situations include the level of pressure placed on an input device; the availability or lack of availability of a function associated with an input device; and the function, menu, or mode of operation associated with an input device's activation. A variety of feedback types and combinations may be selected.
US08159460B2

A four axles center wheel module for mouse comprising a coder assembly for outputting a encoded pulse electronic signal, a center wheel, and a mouse circuit board, the coder assembly is set on the center shaft of the center wheel; a swing component is installed in a slot on a mouse motherboard or the mouse circuit board, a front end supporting shaft of the swing component is installed on the front support of the mouse motherboard or circuit board, and a groove is set at both sides of the swing component to support the center wheel, touch arms for cooperating with two switches mounted on the mouse circuit board are set on both sides of the swing component, and a wheel downward press key touch arm is set at the trailing end of the swing component while a wheel downward press key switch is set on the mouse circuit board below the wheel press downwards key touch arm. To prevent the center wheel module involved in the above technical solution from making a misoperation in use, the following structures are set in the present invention: a position limiting device, or a lever component and a touch arm cooperated with it, or a swing composite switch, or a headstand switch.
US08159457B2

A method is described for activating an application without specific positioning of a mouse or clicking a mouse button (“zero-click activation”). This is done by evaluating motion of an input device with regard to predetermined criteria; detecting a rapid, multi-directional motion (a shaking motion) of the input device, and initiating a preconfigured application in response thereto. In an embodiment, the input device is a mouse, and the method is performed without actuating a button on the mouse. The preconfigured application may be a search function, and in particular may be a Web search invoked when a shaking action is detected while the user is viewing a Web site.
US08159450B2

In the case where a screen divided display is performed on a liquid crystal panel, a change in brightness or chromaticity between sub regions divided may be reduced. A display includes: a display panel; a backlight arranged corresponding to each of sub regions, and selectively illuminating the corresponding sub region, the sub regions being defined by dividing a display region of the display panel into a plurality of parts; a monitoring means for monitoring the light emission state of the backlight corresponding to each of the sub regions; and a display control means for determining a sub region on which an image is to be displayed, on the basis of the monitoring result of the monitoring means, to fit the image into the determined sub region, and controlling a backlight corresponding to the determined sub region to emit light.
US08159445B2

A driving device for a display device includes a gray voltage generator generating a plurality of gray voltages, a voltage selector selecting an output voltage from the plurality of gray voltages, a voltage level converter converting a level of the output voltage selected by the voltage selector and applying the output voltage with a converted level to data lines, a first switching unit connecting the voltage level converter to the voltage selector and the data lines, and a second switching unit directly connecting the voltage selector and the data lines. Operating times of the first and second switching units are different. Accordingly, when a data voltage is charged in or discharged from a data line, since a separate discharging transistor or a separate discharging amplifier is not used, power consumption and an area of a data driver are reduced.
US08159440B2

A controller/driver is composed of a work memory, a graphic engine, a display memory, and a driver circuit. The graphic engine converts externally received image data into first bitmap data, and stores the first bitmap data in the work memory. The display memory receives and stores second bitmap data developed from the first bitmap data stored in the work memory. The driver circuit drives a display panel in response to the second bitmap data received from the display memory.
US08159431B2

An electrooptic device including a plurality of scanning lines; a plurality of m image signal lines; m connecting signal lines provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the m image signal lines; a plurality of data lines blocked by m lines, m data lines in one block being provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the m image signal lines; a scanning-line driving circuit; a block selecting circuit; a sampling switch provided for each of the plurality of data lines; and pixels provided at the intersections of the plurality of scanning lines and the plurality of data lines. Each pixel becomes a gray level corresponding to the data signal sampled to the data line when the scanning line is selected.
US08159419B2

A display apparatus is provided to operate a light emitting unit with a small number of power drivers. The display apparatus has a plurality of light emitting units, a power driver, whose total provided therein is less than the total of light emitting units, that outputs driving power to the light emitting units. A power switch is switched on and off to supply the driving power to one of the plurality of light emitting units, and a controller controls the power switch to sequentially supply the driving power to the plurality of light emitting units.
US08159410B2

A reflective antenna is provided according to one or more embodiments of the invention. In one embodiment, the reflective antenna may include a radome having a fixed orientation within the elevation plane. According to another embodiment, a reflective antenna positioned within the radome. The reflective antenna may include a feedhorn configured to provide electromagnetic energy at an operation frequency. In another embodiment, the reflective antenna may include a reflective surface having multiple electromagnetically loading structures. The reflective surface may be curved in the azimuth plane and configured to reflect the electromagnetic energy relative to at least one focal point. According to another embodiment, the reflective antenna may include a support structure configured to position the feedhorn and reflective surface within the radome in order to angularly steer the electromagnetic energy with respect to the elevation plane.
US08159403B1

The present invention is a multi-element anti-jamming (A/J) antenna array. The antenna array includes a first antenna assembly configured for being fuse-mounted a first distance from an aft end of at least one of an artillery shell and a munition. The antenna array further includes a second antenna assembly configured for being fuse-mounted a second distance from an aft end of at least one of the artillery shell and the munition, the second distance being lesser than the first distance. Further, the antenna array includes multi-band functionality.
US08159399B2

Antenna diversity systems are provided for portable electronic devices that have wireless communications circuitry and environment sensors. The wireless communications circuitry may include multiple redundant antennas that operate in one or more overlapping radio-frequency communications bands. The environment sensors and redundant antennas may be used in implementing an antenna diversity system. For example, an electronic device may use environment sensors to select an antenna for use in handling wireless communications. The electronic devices may monitor the wireless performance of an active antenna. When the wireless performance of the active antenna degrades, the electronic devices may select a new antenna for wireless communications using the antenna diversity system and environment sensors. Antenna selection may also be made based on which features are being used in the electronic device.
US08159398B2

A built-in multi-antenna module includes a grounding unit, a plurality of first radiating units and a plurality of second radiating units. The first and the second radiating units are disposed on the grounding unit. Each first radiating unit has a first radiating body, a first feeding pin extended downwards from the first radiating body, and a first shorting pin extended downwards from the first radiating body and connected to the grounding unit. Each second radiating unit has a second radiating body, a second feeding pin extended downwards from the second radiating body, and a second shorting pin extended downwards from the second radiating body and connected to the grounding unit. The first radiating units and the second radiating units are alternately and symmetrically arranged on the grounding unit, and many included angles respectively formed between each first radiating unit and each second radiating unit are the same.
US08159390B2

A temporal nuller for removing or minimizing narrow band interference/jamming power from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver's input includes a first signal path having a first input and a first output, at least one time delay device and an adjustable phase shift device located within the first signal path, and a second signal path having a second input and a second output. The first signal input is connected to the second signal input, and the first signal output is connected to the second signal output. Further, the at least one time delay device is operative to introduce a time delay between a signal at an output of the at least one time delay device relative to a signal at an input of the at least one time delay device.
US08159382B2

With Successive Approximation Register (SAR) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), there are several different architectures. One of these architectures is a “convert and shut down” architecture, where an internal amplifier is powered down during the sampling phase to reduce power consumption. This powering down comes at a price in that a portion of the convert phase is lost waiting for the amplifier to be powered back up. Here, an apparatus is provided that makes use of the entire convert phase by coarsely resolving a few bits during the period in which the amplifier is powering up to have an increased resolution over conventional SAR ADCs with “convert and shut down” architecture, while maintaining low power consumption.
US08159371B2

A system and method for semi-automated dialing is provided. The system includes a display, and a standard keyboard upon which some keys have both a numeric and alphabetic interpretation. An input is received from the keyboard. A determination is made if the input consists only from the keys that have both numeric and alphabetic interpretation. If this is the case, then a numeric analysis is performed. Otherwise, a word analysis is performed. The numeric analysis includes determining if the input has an alternate interpretation, and if so then displaying them so that the user may select the intended input. Determining alternate interpretations includes comparing the input with a dictionary. The word analysis includes searching for word matches between the received input and words in a dictionary, and then converting the matched words into numbers using telephone convention. Results from the analyses may be dialed.
US08159365B2

An apparatus to update data in a well control system includes a central control unit in communication with a communications network, the central control unit comprising a first display database, an end device in communication with the communications network, the end device comprising a local hardware database, and an operator's panel in communication with the communications network, the operator's panel comprising a second display database, wherein the local hardware database is configured to automatically update data to a primary display database designated from one of the first and the second display databases, wherein the primary display database is configured to automatically update the data to the other of the first and the second display databases.
US08159351B2

A radio frequency identification (RFID) device has multiple modes of operation. One of the modes of operation is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) mode, which is used to allow use of the RFID device as an EAS device. Another mode of operation is an RFID mode, which allows normal function of the RFID device in RFID communications. The EAS mode has greater sensitivity than the RFID mode, requires less power than the RFID mode to operate the device, and requires less current and/or voltage for operation. The EAS mode may achieve these different characteristics by one or more of: switching off some digital blocks in the circuitry of the RFID device; reducing power storage required to respond to incoming signals; reducing the length of response to incoming signals; reducing modulation required for a response; changing chip input impedance; and having multiple chip ports with different impedances.
US08159342B1

A system for object tracking may comprise at least one subsystem that couples an electronic signal emitting and receiving device to an object to be tracked, at least one subsystem that assigns an identifier to the object, at least one subsystem that registers the identifier of the object with a second object, and at least one subsystem that establishes electronic communication between the object to be tracked and the second object via the electronic signal emitting and receiving device. Also a system for object tracking may comprise at least one subsystem that detects at a first object an electronic signal from a second object, and at least one subsystem that emits an electronic alert beacon from the first object when said first object is determined to be out of range of the second object.
US08159339B2

Disclosed is a child monitoring system. The child monitoring system includes a plurality of caregiver units and a child monitoring unit. The child monitoring unit is communicably coupled to the plurality of caregiver units and the plurality of caregiver units are configured to communicate amongst each other. The child monitoring unit is configured to detect an audible sound of the child. A signal responsive of the audible sound of the child is generated and transmitted to at least one caregiver unit of the plurality of caregiver units. Further, the child monitoring unit is configured to receive a signal responsive of instructions of the at least one caregiver of the plurality of caregivers from the at least one caregiver unit.
US08159338B2

Arrangement and method for monitoring an asset includes a location determining system and a self-powered interior sensor and communication system which data about contents in the interior of the asset and transmits the data and the location of the asset. It includes a transmitter and receiver for communicating directly with a wireless ISP such that the data about the contents and the location of the asset are available to a user having access to the Internet and a user having access to the Internet can direct communications to the interior sensor and communications system. A triggering device is coupled to the interior sensor and communication system and arranged to detect an event which might cause a change in the contents or condition of the asset. The triggering device directs the interior sensor and communication system to obtain data about the contents when such an event is detected.
US08159325B2

In response to continuous operation of an operation key on a remote control transmitter, the transmitter repetitively transmits a corresponding remote control signal with a predetermined cyclic period. The signal is received and analyzed by a remote control receiver and transmitted via a wired transmission path to a remote control re-transmitter. Then, the signal is re-transmitted by the re-transmitter via the wired transmission path. Due to a low transmission speed of the transmission path, the transmission path can not transmit all data of the remote control signal to the re-transmitter. Thus, until the next data are received from the transmission path, the re-transmitter interpolates the remote control signal based on the last data, and repetitively transmits the interpolated signal with the predetermined cyclic period.
US08159323B2

A transformer includes a first bobbin having a first primary winding and a first secondary winding wound therearound, having a first through hole; a second bobbin having a second primary winding and a second secondary winding wound therearound, having a second through hole; and two divided magnetic cores. A divided magnetic core is composed of center magnetic leg formed from a vertical wall and a side wall vertically linked to rear magnetic plate, with a T-shaped cross section; a first outer magnetic leg placed at one side separated by the vertical wall; and a second outer magnetic leg placed at the other side. The first and second outer magnetic legs are inserted from both sides of the first and second through hole.
US08159317B2

A variable impedance adapter that has a value of characteristic impedance that is responsive to changes in the configuration of the adapter. In one embodiment, the variable impedance adapter includes an elongated section and a telescoping section that surround a center conductor that transmits an electrical signal across the adapter. A pair of tuning elements is disposed on a portion of the center conductor, one or more of the elements being shaped and configured to move along the center conductor amongst a plurality of positions in response to relative movement between the elongated section and the telescoping section. The first position and the second position correspond to different values of characteristic impedance of the variable impedance adapter.
US08159302B2

A differential amplifier circuit includes: P-type and N-type differential input units outputting respectively first and second outputs in response to first and second input voltages; a P-type current mirror circuit driven by the second output; an N-type current mirror circuit driven by the first output; an output unit outputting an output voltage in response to control outputs from the P-type and N-type current mirror circuits; a first sub-current source including first and second P-type transistors connected in series; and a second sub-current source including first and second N-type transistors connected in series. Control ends of the second P-type and second N-type transistors receive the control outputs from the P-type and N-type current mirror circuits, respectively. Control ends of the first P-type and first N-type transistors are coupled to a common node between the first and second P-type transistors, and a common node between the first and second N-type transistors, respectively.
US08159300B2

A signal conversion circuit 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a difference amplifier 10 and a source follower 20. The difference amplifier 10 has first and second resistors 11, 12 connected in series, third and fourth resistors 13, 14 connected in series, first and second PMOS transistors 15, 16, and a current source 18. The source follower 20 has first and second NMOS transistors 22, 24. A source of the first NMOS transistor 22 is connected between the first and second resistors 11, 12, while a source of the second NMOS transistor 24 is connected between the third and fourth resistors 13, 14.
US08159296B2

A method and apparatus for a power amplifier module is described. The module includes a power amplifier and a power supply modulator coupled to the power amplifier. In addition, the module includes an inverter coupled between the power amplifier and the power supply modulator. The inverter provides a predistorted signal to the power amplifier to cancel distortion in the power amplifier provided by the power supply modulator. In addition, the module can include a driver coupled between the power amplifier and the inverter wherein the driver supplies the predistorted signal to the power amplifier.
US08159286B2

An event time stamping system comprising a current source, an integrator comprising an input and an output, and configured to output a voltage proportional to the length of time the current source is coupled to the input, and one or more switches configured to couple the current source to the input of the integrator upon receipt of an event signal and configured to de-couple the current source from the input of the integrator upon receipt of a control trigger. The system further comprises a lock-out signal generator configured to generate a lock-out signal, and a controller coupled to the one or more switches, wherein the controller is configured to generate the control trigger based on the lock-out signal to ensure a minimum integration time.
US08159276B2

A circuit comprises a digital phase locked loop for generating a synchronization signal and a voltage regulator for providing regulated output voltage responsive to the synchronization signal from the digital phase locked loop.
US08159269B2

A single terminal is used to configure an integrated circuit into one of three states. A circuit within the integrated circuit is coupled to the terminal and determines whether the terminal: 1) is coupled by a low impedance to a voltage source, or 2) is coupled by a medium impedance to the voltage source, or 3) is floating or substantially floating. The circuit asserts a first digital logic signal when the circuit determines that the terminal is coupled by the low impedance to the voltage source. The circuit asserts a second digital logic signal when the circuit determines that the terminal is coupled by the medium impedance to the voltage source. The circuit asserts a third digital logic signal when the circuit determines that the terminal is floating or substantially floating. The terminal and circuit are particular suited for use in a Power Management Unit (PMU) Integrated Circuit.
US08159268B1

Interconnect structure comprising buffers for a semiconductor device is disclosed. The buffer comprises: an input and an output; and a programmable interconnect structure comprising: a plurality of fixed interconnects including metal and via geometries; and a plurality of selectable interconnect geometries, wherein selecting a selectable geometry connects a first of said fixed interconnects to a second of said fixed interconnects; wherein said input and said output can electrically connect to a subset of said fixed interconnects by the selectable geometries; and a programmable signal restoring unit comprising a plurality of transistors, at least one said transistor having: a common gate region and a common source region; and a first drain region coupled to the buffer output comprising a said fixed interconnect; and a second drain region comprising a said fixed interconnect, said first and second drain regions isolated from each other, wherein a said selectable interconnect geometry can electrically connect the first and second drain regions; wherein, selecting a subset of the selectable interconnect geometries program the buffer input and output connections, and the buffer signal drive strength.
US08159260B1

A circuit and method increases the repeatability of physically undetectable functions (PUFs) by enhancing the variation of signal delay through two delay chains during chip burn-in. A burn-in circuit holds the inputs of the two delay chains at opposite random values during the burn-in process. All the PFETs in the delay chains with a low value at the input will be burned in with a higher turn on voltage. Since the PFETs affected in the two delay chains are driven by opposite transitions at burn-in, alternating sets of delay components in the two delay chains are affected by the burn-in cycle. Under normal operation, both of the delay chains see the same input so only one chain has an increase in delay to achieve a statistically reliable difference in the two delay paths thereby increasing the overall repeatability of the PUF circuit.
US08159250B2

A testing device of a semiconductor device includes a first board having a plurality of openings; a frame body provided in the openings, the frame body having a frame in which a plurality of probe needles is provided; and a plurality of second boards provided perpendicular to the first board in the periphery of the openings, the second boards being connected to the first board; wherein the probe needles pierce the frame so as to be connected to the second boards from the periphery of the frame body via the openings.
US08159249B2

An inspection unit includes: a metal block having a through hole; a contact probe for grounding which is coaxially arranged in through hole; and a coil spring having electrical conductivity at least on a surface thereof and provided between an inner peripheral face of the through hole and an outer peripheral face of the contact probe. The coil spring includes: a first coil part a part of which is in contact with the inner peripheral face of the through hole; and a second coil part a part of which is in contact with the outer peripheral face of the contact probe.
US08159247B2

A set of first substrate and second substrate are manufactured with a built-in N-fold rotational symmetry around the center axis of each substrate, wherein N is an integer greater than 1. A set of N different interposers is provided such that an i-th interposer provides electrical connection between the first substrate and the second substrate with a rotational angle of (i−1)/N×2π. The first and second substrates are tested with each of the N different interposers therebetween. Once the rotational angle that provides the highest stacked chip yield is determined, the first and the second substrates can be bonded with an azimuthal rotation that provides the highest stacked chip yield.
US08159246B2

A testing device suitable for a testing apparatus with light inspection of a display panel is provided, in which the testing device includes a main part and two contact parts. The testing device is fixed to the testing apparatus with light inspection by the main part. Two contact parts are respectively extended from two ends of the main part along a first direction, and each of the contact parts has a plurality of tips. The tips of each contact part have different heights. Besides, a testing apparatus is also provided. Therefore, the abovementioned testing device and the testing apparatus are able to drastically extend the user lifetime, improve the inspection accuracy and save cost.
US08159243B2

A method of performing alignment of an array of probe tips of a probe card to corresponding contact pads for wafer probing applications by performing the steps of: obtaining a backside image of the wafer; overlaying a mapping of the contact pads over the backside image; selecting contact pads as landing points; obtaining an image of the probe tips array; comparing the landing points to corresponding positions of probe tips; and, if the positions of probe tips are not aligned with the landing point, rotating the probe card to align the positions of probe tips to the landing points.
US08159239B2

The invention relates to a testing apparatus for testing a 5-wire resistive touch panel of an electronic system. The testing apparatus comprises a voltage control unit, a signal control unit, an electronic unit and a determining unit. The electronic unit is used for generating at least one output signal corresponding to a first voltage level and a second voltage level generated by the voltage control unit and a detecting signal generated by the signal control unit. The determining unit coupled to the electronic unit is used for determining the status of the electronic unit according to the at least one output signal.
US08159238B1

Some embodiments of the present invention describe an apparatus that includes an oscillator, a ramp generator, and an inverter. The apparatus includes an oscillator, an inverter, and a ramp generator. The oscillator is configured to generate a waveform comprising a low time and a high time. The inverter is configured to receive the waveform generated by the oscillator, and invert the waveform. The ramp generator configured to increase a gate control voltage of a transistor connected to a solar cell, and rapidly decrease the gate control voltage of the transistor. During the low time of the waveform, a measurement of a current and a voltage of the solar cell is performed as the current and voltage of the solar cell are transmitted through a first channel and to a second channel. During the high time of the waveform, a measurement of a current of a shorted cell and a voltage reference is performed as the current of the shorted cell and the voltage reference are transmitted through the first channel and the second channel.
US08159235B2

The present teachings relate to the application of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to demonstrate the multifunctionality of carbon nanocomposite thin films under various types of environmental stimuli. Carbon nanotube (CNT) thin films are fabricated by a layer-by-layer (LbL) technique or other techniques and mounted with electrodes along their boundaries. The response of the thin films to various stimuli determined by relying on electric current excitation and corresponding boundary potential measurements. The spatial conductivity variations are reconstructed based on a mathematical model for the EIT technique. Here, the ability of the EIT method to provide two-dimensional mapping of the conductivity of CNT thin films is validated by (1) electrically imaging intentional structural defects in the thin films and (2) mapping the film's response to various pH environments.
US08159231B2

An opening and closing apparatus is disclosed. The opening and closing apparatus includes an opening and closing body, a capacitance sensor, and a sensor support member. The dynamic capacitance sensor has a conductive sensor electrode, and outputs a detection signal that corresponds to the capacitance between the sensor electrode and a conductive object located close to the sensor electrode. The sensor support member includes a guard electrode, a holding portion, an attaching portion, and a conductive reinforcing member. The reinforcing member is embedded in the main body. At least a part of the reinforcing member is embedded in the guard electrode such that the reinforcing member is integrated with the guard electrode.
US08159229B2

A load compensation method for phase-to-ground loops in distance protection. A first reactive reach is estimated assuming zero fault resistance or with a positive sequence current. A second reactive reach is estimated with a zero sequence current. A third reactive reach is estimated with a negative sequence current. An import or export condition is estimated. A fourth reactive reach for import or export condition is estimated based on the first, second and third reactive reach. A fault impedance is estimated based on the estimated fourth reactive reach.
US08159211B2

A clamp jaw assembly for a clamp meter is provided. The clamp jaw assembly comprises a housing containing a clamp jaw core disposed within a shield. The housing, shield, and core of the clamp jaw assembly are configured to provide an extended creepage and clearance path from an exterior of the housing to a surface of the core.
US08159186B2

The present invention provides a power source system that increases the power supply capacity of a power source device and continuously supplies the power necessary for a load device when a power source device stops. A control unit has a state quantity setting unit that sets a first target state quantity indicating a state of charge of the power storage device that is to be a target value when charge and discharge of the power storage device are controlled. When the power source device stops, the state quantity setting unit can change the first target state quantity to a second target state quantity that is to be a target value exceeding the first target state quantity and can increase the target state quantity of the power storage device. As a result, when the power source device stops, charge and discharge of the power storage device are controlled on the basis of the target state quantity exceeding that during the operation of the power source device. Therefore, the state of charge of the power storage device can be improved over that during the operation of the power source device. As a result, the power supply capacity of the power source device can be increased and the power necessary for the load device can be continuously supplied, in place of the power source device.
US08159182B2

A contactless power transferring coil unit is provided. The contactless power transferring coil unit includes a flat coil, a magnetic film, and a leaking flux detecting coil. The flat coil is formed by winding a conductive wire into a spiral on a substantially flat plane. The magnetic film is disposed so as to cover one entire flat surface of the flat coil. The leaking flux detecting coil is disposed in a periphery outside an outer edge of the flat coil and the magnetic film and detects leaking magnetic flux from the flat coil.
US08159178B2

A control strategy for distributed power generation modules in a power system that varies the line frequency or voltage according to a predetermined pattern to cause a PV inverter to modify its power output and thereby avoid overcharging a battery. When the power system operates in islanded mode, the AC load demand can be lower than the available energy from the PV array, causing the battery to become overcharged. To avoid this scenario, a hybrid inverter executes a pattern generator algorithm that varies the line frequency or voltage linearly, exponentially or any mathematical function or look-up tables. The PV inverter executes a pattern detection algorithm that detects the linear, exponential, or any mathematical function or look-up table change in the line frequency. In response, the PV inverter modifies its power output until an overcharging condition of the battery is removed. The line frequency/voltage can be varied within the anti-islanding limits.
US08159174B2

A method is provided for adapting controller parameters of a drive to different operating states. A control loop includes a PID controller whose I gain factor is adapted to a drive velocity and/or whose D gain factor is adapted to a drive current, and consequently to a drive load. The I gain factor is determined based on the drive velocity and the D gain factor is determined based on the drive current, in each case at least in one area, the I gain factor falling with the drive velocity and the D gain factor rising with the drive current.
US08159173B2

A control device for a travel motor mounted to a vehicle has a resolver which works as a rotation-angle sensor. The control device has a RDC which calculates a rotation-angle output value φ based on rotation detection signals Sa, Sb transferred from the resolver. The control device supplies electric power to the travel motor based on the rotation angle output value φ. The RDC calculates “sin(θ−φ)” as an error deviation ε based on the signals Sa and Sb and the rotation-angle output value φ. The RDC calculates an angular acceleration by multiplying the error deviation ε with a gain (=Ka·Kb), and integrates the angular acceleration two times in order to obtain a next rotation-angle output value. A gain control part of the RDC decreases the gain when the judgment means judges that the travel motor rotates at a constant rotation speed.
US08159167B2

An electronically commutated motor (20) has a rotor (28) and a rotor position sensor (30), which sensor, during operation, furnishes a rotational position signal (34). A stator interacts with the rotor (28). The stator has a stator winding strand (26) in an H bridge (22), and a control apparatus (36) which, during operation, performs the steps of: (A) controlling the H bridge (22) so that current pulses (+i1, −i1) flow through the stator winding strand (26), in alternate directions, each pulse starting at a first point in time (t1); (B) at the beginning of each commutation, starting from a second point in time (t2), operating in short circuit the winding strand (26), in order to cause a decreasing loop current (I*) through the stator winding strand (26), which loop current (I*) reaches zero at a third point in time (t3); and (C) stepwise modifying, toward a minimum, the time interval (TCC) between the first and third points in time (t1, t3).
US08159165B2

A first semiconductor switching element connects to a high side of a motor and includes a diode whose cathode faces the high side. A second semiconductor switching element having a diode resides on a low side of the first semiconductor switching element. A third semiconductor switching element having a diode resides on a low side of the motor. A fourth semiconductor switching element is connected in parallel to the motor and configures a return current circuit that includes a return current element and causes a return current that arises when the first semiconductor switching element turns off to flow through the return current element. A control portion controls on-off states of the first to the fourth semiconductor switching elements and performs return current circuit failure detection based on a first monitor voltage that is an electric potential of a connecting point between the first semiconductor switching element and the motor.
US08159160B2

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for controlling fan speed in a power supply. The apparatus measures input power to the power supply and measures the output power provided by the power supply over an interval. The apparatus determines values for the input power and output power and, using the two, determines how much power has been dissipated in the power supply. Power dissipation values are associated with particular fan speeds, and the apparatus adjusts the speed of the fan in the power supply based on how much power was dissipated during the interval. Increasing levels of power dissipation increases the fan speed, and decreasing levels of power dissipation decrease the fan speed.
US08159155B2

The present invention relates to a control system (12) for controlling the light output of a light emitting unit (10), which light emitting unit comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED) (14) and is adapted to emit light of at least one color, the control system comprising: a sensor unit (18) adapted to detect the light output of the light emitting unit and provide a corresponding feedback signal; and a control unit (22) adapted to control the light output of the light emitting unit based on a comparison between the feedback signal and a corresponding reference signal representing a desired light output, in order to provide an improved light output, wherein the control unit is further adapted to: determine a random switching period; determine on-time(s) for the LED(s) within the random switching period for providing the improved light output; and control energizing of the LED(s) according to the determined period and on-time(s). The present invention also relates to an LED light emitting unit arrangement, and a method for controlling the light output of an LED light emitting unit.
US08159154B2

An apparatus and a method of driving a backlight unit and a display apparatus employing the same. Wherein a driving current, which is divided in a step-by-step fashion, is sequentially changed and output according to a current control signal. The current control signal is divided into low levels and high levels that are consecutively and repeatedly applied to a backlight controller. The driving current is reduced from a reference current corresponding to a number of the high levels during a time period that starts when the low level is applied for at least a first reference time interval and ends when the high level is applied for at least a second reference time interval.
US08159153B2

A compound light source that compensates for changes in electrical conversion efficiency with increasing operating temperature is disclosed. The compound light source generates light of a design intensity at a design temperature in response to a drive current flowing through the light source. The light source includes a primary light source and a compensating light source. The primary and compensating light sources convert an electrical current passing therethrough to light, each light source being characterized by an electrical conversion efficiency that decreases with increasing temperature and that also decreases with increasing current. The compound light source includes a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the primary light source and a current splitting circuit that divides the drive current between the primary and compensating light sources to compensate for the decrease in efficiency of the primary light source with temperature above the design temperature.
US08159144B2

A motor vehicle headlight element is specified which has at least one light-emitting diode and at least one control apparatus. The control apparatus is suitable for processing a signal which is dependent on a measurement variable and for applying a current corresponding to the signal, to the light-emitting diode. The control apparatus and the light-emitting diode are arranged on a common mount.
US08159127B2

Display apparatuses are enhanced in reliability in such a manner that external moisture is prevented from penetrating display regions and planarization layers are prevented from being stripped off. In particular, in a display apparatus including a display region containing organic light-emitting devices arranged on a circuit substrate, a bank-separating region separating a bank is provided in a planarization layer-separating region separating a planarization layer, an end portion of the planarization layer is covered with the bank, an end portion of an organic protective layer extending over the display region is spaced from a portion of the planarization layer that is located outside the bank-separating region and a portion of the bank that is located outside the bank-separating region, and the inorganic protective layer and an end portion of the bank that is disposed in the display region are covered with an inorganic protective layer.
US08159119B2

Disclosed are a vacuum channel transistor including a planar cathode layer formed of a material having a low work function or a planar cathode layer including a heat resistant layer formed of a material having a low work function, and a manufacturing method of the same. In the vacuum channel transistor, electrons can be emitted even when a low voltage is applied to a gate layer, a voltage of an anode layer has a small influence on electron emission of a cathode layer, and instability of emission current is obviated. Accordingly, high efficiency and a long lifespan can be achieved, and thus operational stability is secured.
US08159116B2

A piezoelectric device according to the present invention includes lead wires (12) each having one end electrically connected to a circuit pattern, and a piezoelectric oscillator (13) having terminals (13a) electrically connected to the other ends of the lead wires (12), wherein the piezoelectric oscillator (13) is retained in suspension by the other ends of the lead wires (12), and a support member (14) is provided on surfaces (12b) opposite to connecting surfaces (12a) of the lead wires (12) connected to the piezoelectric oscillator (13) at the other ends thereof.
US08159115B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a crystal resonator capable of maintaining its resonating characteristic and ensuring electrical connections between end surface electrodes using a simple method. Provided is a stacked crystal resonator including: a framed crystal plate, a frame section of which surrounds a resonating section, and to which both of these resonating section and frame section are connected by connecting sections; a first metallic film and second metallic film formed on both of the principle surfaces of the frame section of the framed crystal plate; and a base and cover stacked on both of the principle surfaces of the framed crystal plate. A crystal plate end surface electrode, which is electrically connected to the first metallic film, is electrically connected to a crystal plate auxiliary electrode; the crystal plate auxiliary electrode is electrically connected by a eutectic alloy while facing a base auxiliary electrode; the width of the frame section of one side on one end side of the framed crystal plate where the crystal plate auxiliary electrode is formed, differs from the width of the frame section of at least one other side; and a blocking film which blocks flow of the eutectic alloy to exciting electrodes, is provided on the conducting paths.
US08159113B2

An ultrasonic actuator may be provided in which generation of a stress is prevented in the connection face of the piezoelectric element between the electrodes and the conductive members. The ultrasonic actuator includes a piezoelectric element (P1) and flexible cables (F1). The piezoelectric element (P1) includes: a piezoelectric layer (1); a power supply electrode (2) provided on a principal surface of the piezoelectric layer (1); a counter electrode (3) provided to face the power supply electrode (2) with the piezoelectric layer (1) interposed therebetween; a power supply external electrode (4) which is provided on a short-side surface of the piezoelectric element (P1), and is electrically coupled to the power supply electrode (2); and a counter external electrode (5) which is provided on a short-side surface of the piezoelectric element (P1), and is electrically coupled to the counter electrode (3). The flexible cables (F1) include a first flexible cable (F11) connected to the power supply external electrode (4), and a second flexible cable (F12) connected to the counter external electrode (5).
US08159106B2

A stator 13 on whose outer circumference a plurality of magnetic poles 13a are arranged is mounted on a substrate 11, and a rotor 14 is rotatably disposed around the stator. The inner circumferential face of the rotor is provided with a magnet 15 magnetized to have alternately opposite polarities in a direction opposing the stator, and magnetized to have alternately opposite polarities in a direction opposing the substrate. The outer circumferential ends of the magnetic poles of the stator are provided with a first extended portion 13c that extends from a magnetic pole base 13d to the substrate side, and a second extended portion 13b that extends from the magnetic pole base to a side opposite the substrate side. A face of the substrate opposing the rotor is provided with a FG pattern 19 outside the outer circumferential face of the stator such that the FG pattern opposes the magnet. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the precision in detecting the rotational speed by reducing noise superimposed on the FG signal, while securing a high driving efficiency.
US08159101B2

To provide a driving force transmission mechanism in which the thickness can be reduced as well as the positioning between a driven shaft, a driven structure, and a motor shaft of a motor is easy. The driving force transmission mechanism as disclosed includes a plate through which a reference hole is pierced, a driven shaft vertically standing with respect to an inner surface on the side of the inner surface of the plate, a driven gear pivotally provided around the driven shaft, a bracket fixed to the plate so as to cover the reference hole on the side of the inner surface of the plate, and a stepping motor protruding a motor shaft toward the reference hole, being fixed to the bracket. The motor shaft is positioned through the reference hole with driving teeth formed at the motor shaft to be directly engaged with the driven gear.
US08159100B2

There is provided an integrated electric compressor that is improved in reliability. Bus bar connection is employed for electrical connection between a power board 16 and the power source side and between the power board 16 and the motor side, and welding is employed for joining a bus bar to a capacitor 13 and a reactor 14, for joining board-side terminal parts of the bus bar to PN terminals 20a and 20b, and for joining UVW terminals 25a, 25b and 25c to housing-side terminals 28a, 28b and 28c. By employing resistance welding for the welding, the terminals can be joined to each other with stabilized quality. Further, since flat joint plates are provided on one end side of the housing-side terminals 28a, 28b and 28c, and the UVW terminals 25a, 25b and 25c are welded thereto, reliable joints between terminals can also be attained in these portions.
US08159085B2

A wall-mountable electrical power supplying device for supplying electrical power to a group of electrical appliances located in an environment. The wall-mountable device includes a power supply cord for plugging into a standard power receptacle by way of a supply power plug, and has a base housing portion having a bottom surface and a 3D interior volume. A power-ring subassembly is supported within the base housing portion, has a central aperture defining the boundaries of 3D interior volume, and is adapted for supporting a plurality of electrical receptacles and one or more electronic circuits, which are electrically connected to the power supply cord. A power-ring housing portion covers the power-ring subassembly and has a set of plug apertures allowing appliance power plugs associated with the electrical appliances to plug into the electrical receptacles mounted behind the plug apertures. A power cord portal allows a group of electrical power cords associated with the group of electrical appliances to enter/exit the 3D interior volume in a bundled manner. A cover housing portion is provided and adapted to cover the central aperture of the power-ring subassembly, and conceal appliance power plugs plugged into the electrical receptacles and appliance power cords associated with the electrical appliances. Also, a wall-mounting bracket, operably connectable to the base housing portion, is provided for mounting the electrical power supplying device on the wall surface in proximity to the standard wall receptacle.
US08159081B2

An engine having at least one stage of propeller rotor blades, and a load, the at least one stage being associated with electrical generation means to generate electricity for the load. The load is switchable into a high load state in the event of an overspeed signal from the rotor blades. Also a method of controlling rotor overspeed of an engine, characterized by the steps of: i. detecting an overspeed signal from the at least one stage, and ii. switching the load into a high load state to apply torque to the at least one stage to counteract the overspeed.
US08159078B2

A portable generator system having a generator for generating an electrical output signal, an internal combustion engine for driving the generator, a starter for starting the internal combustion engine, an alternator for generating an AC signal for powering a charger assembly, a battery pack, and a charger subsystem. The charger system has a charger assembly that receives the AC signal and generates a DC charging signal for recharging the battery pack. The charger assembly has a first switch and a second switch. The first switch is used to apply an output of the battery to energize the starter. The second switch, when placed in a Start position, enables current from the battery pack to energize the starter while inhibiting the application of the DC charging signal to the battery pack. When placed in the Charge position, the second switch inhibits the battery pack output from energizing the starter while enabling the DC charging signal to be applied to the battery pack.
US08159075B2

A semiconductor chip stack includes a first chip and a second chip. The first chip includes a first circuit formed in the first chip with a first integration density, and the second chip includes a second circuit in the second chip with a second integration density smaller than the first integration density. The first chip further includes at least a through-silicon via formed therein for electrically connecting the first chip and the second chip.
US08159073B2

The interposer chip includes a chip mounting region on which a semiconductor chip is mounted via a fixing material made of resin. The interposer chip has an insulator film, and wiring layers formed on the insulator film. At a position corresponding to a rim of the chip mounting region, a reinforcing region in which an adhesive force between the insulator film and the wiring layers are increased is provided.
US08159071B2

Disclosed are a semiconductor package and a manufacturing method thereof. The semiconductor package can include a semiconductor substrate, having one surface on which a conductive pad is formed; an insulating layer, being formed on one surface of the semiconductor substrate; a metal post, penetrating through the conductive pad, the semiconductor substrate, and the insulating layer; and an outer-layer circuit, being electrically connected to the metal post. With the present invention, it can become unnecessary to form an additional via for electrically connecting both surfaces of the semiconductor substrate, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process, reducing the manufacturing cost, and improving the coupling reliability.
US08159068B2

A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor layer composed of one of GaAs based semiconductor, InP-based semiconductor, and GaN-based semiconductor; a first silicon nitride film that is provided on the semiconductor layer, and of which an end portion is in contact with a surface of the semiconductor layer; a protective film that is composed of one of polyimide and benzocyclobutene, and is provided on the semiconductor layer and the first silicon nitride film, the protective film covering the end portion of the first silicon nitride film; and a first metallic layer that is composed of one of titanium, tantalum and platinum, and is continuously provided from a first portion located between the semiconductor layer and the protective film to a second portion located between the end portion of the first silicon nitride film and the protective film, the first metallic layer being in contact with the surface of the semiconductor layer and a surface of the end portion of the first silicon nitride film.
US08159067B2

Underfill flow guide structures and methods of using the same are provided with a module. In particular the underfill flow guide structures are integrated with a substrate and are configured to prevent air entrapment from occurring during capillary underfill processes.
US08159066B2

A semiconductor package having a heat dissipation member capable of efficiently conveying excess heat away from semiconductor chips is presented. The semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip, through-electrodes, and a heat dissipation member. The semiconductor chip has a first surface, a second surface facing away from the first surface, and bonding pads which are disposed on the first surface. The through-electrodes are electrically connected with the bonding pads and passing through the first and second surfaces of the semiconductor chip, and protrude outward from the second surface. The heat dissipation member faces the second surface of the semiconductor chip and is coupled to the through-electrodes.
US08159057B2

The mounting height of a semiconductor device is reduced. A wiring substrate has an upper surface with multiple bonding leads formed therein and a lower surface with multiple lands formed therein. This wiring substrate is a multilayer wiring substrate and multiple wiring layers and multiple insulating layers are alternately formed on the upper surface side and on the lower surface side of the core material of the wiring substrate. The bonding leads are formed of part of the uppermost wiring layer and the lands are formed of part of the lowermost wiring layer. The insulating layers include second insulating layers containing fiber and resin and third insulating layers smaller in fiber content than the second insulating layers. The second insulating layers are formed on the upper surface side and on the lower surface side of the core material. The third insulating layers are formed on the upper surface side and on the lower surface side of the core material with the second insulating layers in-between. The uppermost wiring layer and the lowermost wiring layer are formed over the third insulating layers.
US08159056B1

A method of forming a device is provided. A substrate having a component is provided and a sacrificial layer is formed over the component. The sacrificial layer includes a cavity portion disposed about the component and a tunnel portion adjacent to the cavity portion. In addition, an encapsulation layer having a cover portion and a perimeter portion is formed over the sacrificial layer. The cover portion encapsulates the cavity portion such that the cavity portion forms a cavity within the cover portion. The perimeter portion is disposed over the tunnel portion. Moreover, an access hole is formed in the perimeter portion of the encapsulation layer.
US08159051B2

In one aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor device may include a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type and having a main surface that has a first plane orientation, a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type and having a main surface that has a second plane orientation different from the first plane orientation, the second semiconductor layer being directly provided on the first semiconductor layer, a third semiconductor layer having a main surface that has the first plane orientation, and being formed on the first semiconductor layer and on a side face of the second semiconductor layer, a gate electrode formed on the second semiconductor layer via a gate insulating film, first impurity diffusion regions of a second conductivity type, and being formed in the second semiconductor layer so that the gate electrode is located on a region sandwiched in a gate length direction between the first impurity diffusion regions, the first impurity diffusion regions extending to an interface between the first and second semiconductor layers, and second impurity diffusion regions of a second conductivity type, and being formed so as to extend from the third semiconductor layers to the first semiconductor layer, respectively, so that both the first impurity diffusion regions is sandwiched in the gate length direction between the second impurity diffusion regions.
US08159048B2

Embodiments of methods, apparatus, devices and/or systems associated with bipolar junction transistor are disclosed.
US08159040B2

A semiconductor structure and a method for fabricating the semiconductor structure provide a field effect device located and formed upon an active region of a semiconductor substrate and at least one of a fuse structure, an anti-fuse structure and a resistor structure located and formed at least in part simultaneously upon an isolation region laterally separated from the active region within the semiconductor substrate. The field effect device includes a gate dielectric comprising a high dielectric constant dielectric material and a gate electrode comprising a metal material. The at least one of the fuse structure, anti-fuse structure and resistor structure includes a pad dielectric comprising the same material as the gate dielectric, and optionally, also a fuse, anti-fuse or resistor that may comprise the same metal material as the gate electrode.
US08159035B2

A semiconductor structure includes a refractory metal silicide layer; a silicon-rich refractory metal silicide layer on the refractory metal silicide layer; and a metal-rich refractory metal silicide layer on the silicon-rich refractory metal silicide layer. The refractory metal silicide layer, the silicon-rich refractory metal silicide layer and the metal-rich refractory metal silicide layer include same refractory metals. The semiconductor structure forms a portion of a gate electrode of a metal-oxide-semiconductor device.
US08159033B2

A junction forming region is formed between a drain region of a MOS structure and a device isolation region which surrounds the MOS structure and is in contact with the drain region, to form a PN junction together with the drain region. As a consequence, it is possible to adjust a breakdown voltage of an ESD protection device which is fabricated in the same process as that for an internal device without varying basic performance of the internal device even at a final stage of an LSI manufacturing process.
US08159032B2

The electronic device comprises an ESD device (20) for protection against electrostatic discharge and provided with suitable protection elements (22) in combination with an integrated circuit (10). The integrated circuit (10) is particularly a so-called bridging circuit or driver circuit for external devices such as SIM cards, memory sticks, USB busses or 12C busses. The ESD device (20) is provided with a chip scale package in that the bumps (40) can be placed on a printed circuit board directly. The integrated circuit (10) is stacked on the ESD device (20).
US08159027B2

A semiconductor device including: a SiC substrate; an AlGaN layer formed on the SiC substrate; a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the AlGaN layer so as to be spaced from each other; an insulation film formed between the source electrode and the drain electrode and having a band-like opening in parallel to the source electrode and the drain electrode; a gate electrode formed at the opening in the insulation film; and a drain-side field plate electrode formed integrally with the gate electrode on the drain electrode side of the gate electrode and having a drain electrode side end portion spaced from the insulation film, thus restraining degradation in performance.
US08159016B2

A capacitor of a semiconductor device, and a method of manufacturing the capacitor of the semiconductor device, include a lower electrode layer, a dielectric layer, and an upper electrode layer, wherein the dielectric layer includes tantalum (Ta) oxide and an oxide of a Group 5 element, such as niobium (Nb) or vanadium (V).
US08159012B2

Provided is a semiconductor device including an insulating layer of a cubic system or a tetragonal system, having good electrical characteristics. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including an active region, a transistor that is formed in the active region of the semiconductor substrate, an interlevel insulating layer that is formed on the semiconductor substrate and a contact plug that is formed in the interlevel insulating layer and that is electrically connected to the transistor. The semiconductor device may include a lower electrode that is formed on the interlevel insulating layer and that is electrically connected to the contact plug, an upper electrode that is formed on the lower electrode and an insulating layer of a cubic system or a tetragonal system including a metal silicate layer. The insulating layer may be formed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode.
US08158992B2

Failure light emission of an EL element due to failure film formation of an organic EL material in an electrode hole 46 is improved. By forming the organic EL material after embedding an insulator in an electrode hole 46 on a pixel electrode and forming a protective portion 41b, failure film formation in the electrode hole 46 can be prevented. This can prevent concentration of electric current due to a short circuit between a cathode and an anode of the EL element, and can prevent failure light emission of an EL layer.
US08158990B2

A light emitting device is constituted by flip-chip mounting a GaN-based LED chip. The GaN-based LED chip includes a light-transmissive substrate and a GaN-based semiconductor layer formed on the light-transmissive substrate, wherein the GaN-based semiconductor layer has a laminate structure containing an n-type layer, a light emitting layer and a p-type layer in this order from the light-transmissive substrate side, wherein a positive electrode is formed on the p-type layer, the electrode containing a light-transmissive electrode of an oxide semiconductor and a positive contact electrode electrically connected to the light-transmissive electrode, and the area of the positive contact electrode is half or less of the area of the upper surface of the p-type layer.
US08158989B2

An organic light emitting diode display includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a light emitting element and a driving transistor coupled to the light emitting element. The pixels may be arranged in a matrix. The pixels include first pixels, second pixels, and third pixels, the driving transistors of the first to the third pixels occupy different areas, and the light emitting elements of the first to the third pixels occupy substantially equal area.
US08158979B2

An organic light emitting display is disclosed. The display comprises a transistor with an active layer comprising an oxide semiconductor material. The oxide semiconductor material has conductivity suitable for the transistor because of a diffusion path allowing hydrogen to escape from the active layer.
US08158972B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide an organic photosensitive optoelectronic device comprising at least one tetra-azaporphyrin compound of formula (I) are disclosed herein.
US08158971B2

The present invention provides a transparent substance formed with a plurality of continuous half-spherical convexes having a diameter of 25˜1,000 nm on its first main surface; an organic light-emitting device comprising a substrate, a first electrode, an organic material layer(s) and a second electrode, sequentially, characterized by having a plurality of continuous half-spherical convexes having a diameter of 25˜1,000 nm on the underside of the substrate that does not contact the first electrode and/or the upside of the second electrode that does not contact the organic material layer; and a method for preparing same using a porous aluminum oxide layer forming process.
US08158966B2

A phase change memory device includes a plurality of phase change structures, each with a phase change material layer, disposed on a semiconductor substrate, a first protective layer formed to cover surfaces of the plurality of phase change structures, an atom adsorption enhancement layer formed on a surface of the first protective layer, and a second protective layer formed on a surface of the atom adsorption enhancement layer.
US08158953B1

A position-sensitive radiation counting detector includes a first and a second substrate. A gas is contained within the gap between the substrates. A photocathode layer is coupled to the first substrate and faces the second substrate. A first electrode is coupled to the second substrate and a second electrode is electrically coupled to the first electrode. A first impedance is coupled to the first electrode and a power supply is coupled to at least one electrode. A first discharge event detector is coupled to one of the electrodes for detecting a gas discharge event in the electrode. The radiation counting detector further includes a plurality of pixels, each capable of outputting a gas discharge counting event pulse upon interaction with radiation received from the photocathode. Each gas discharge pulse is counted as having an approximately equal value. The detector further includes circuitry for detecting if a gas discharge counting event pulse is output from the pixels, and for counting each such gas discharge pulse as an individual event.
US08158945B2

A detector arrangement for detection of a measuring gas component in a gas mixture is provided. The arrangement includes a gas analyzer, a first single-layer receiver and a further single-layer receiver, the first single-layer receiver containing the measuring gas component and the further single-layer receiver containing a transverse gas. A concentration of the measuring gas component in the gas mixture is determined from signals delivered by sensors of the single-layer receivers. An evaluating device includes an n-dimensional calibration matrix for obtaining matrix signal values. Signal values of different known concentrations of the measuring gas component in the presence of different known transverse gas concentrations are stored as n-tubules in the evaluating device. The concentration of the measuring gas component in the presence of unknown transverse gas concentrations is determined by comparing n-tuples of signal values thereby obtained with the n-tuples of signal values stored in the calibration matrix.
US08158936B2

The invention relates generally to sample ionization, and provides ionization probe assemblies, systems, computer program products, and methods useful for this purpose.
US08158924B2

An optical encoder assembly has an encoder sensor, a code strip, and a base having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the encoder sensor is mounted on one of either the first portion or the second portion and the code strip is mounted on the other portion. An optical encoder assembly has a base having an upper base and a lower base, the upper base joined to the lower base with at least one flexible beam, an encoder sensor mounted to one of the upper base or the lower base, and a code strip mounted to the other of the upper base or the lower base. A method includes mounting an encoder sensor to a first mating surface on the first side of a base, mounting a code strip to a second mating surface on the second side of the base with the first and second sides of the base connected by at least one flexible beam, and attaching the base to an object to be measured such that deflections between the first and second mating surfaces can be measured using the encoder sensor.
US08158922B2

A light fixture (200) comprises a mounting fixture (501) that is configured and arranged to facilitate mounting the light fixture to a mounting surface other than ground along with at least a first light socket (502) and a plurality of permanently mounted light emitting diodes (LED's) (503). The light socket and the LED's are supported by the mounting fixture. The LED's are configured in an array and are oriented towards the mounting surface when the light fixture is installed on the mounting surface. This light fixture can further comprise an ambient light sensor (504), an animate object detector (505), and/or a timer (506). The wall-washing LED's can be switched on and off automatically (103) to provide the desired decorative effect during the evening hours. In addition, the light socket can be rendered controllable (105) as a function of whether it is dark out and whether an animate object has been detected.
US08158920B2

A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprises: a plurality of pixels; a signal line; a holding block; an output unit; and a control unit, wherein the control unit selectively operates the holding block in a first mode or a second mode, the first mode being a mode in which a first signal is held in a first holding unit and then transferred from the first holding unit to a second holding unit via a first impedance conversion unit, and in which a second signal is held in a third holding unit and then transferred from the third holding unit to a fourth holding unit via a second impedance conversion unit, and the second mode being a mode in which the first signal is transferred to the second holding unit via the first impedance conversion unit and the second signal is transferred to the fourth holding unit via the first impedance conversion unit.
US08158918B2

Foreign substance information about at last including a position of a foreign substance adhered to an optical element disposed in front of an image sensor is detected, and whether the position of the foreign substance overlaps a predetermined area of an object is determined by analyzing an image signal of the object generated by the image sensor. When it is determined that the position of the foreign substance overlaps the predetermined area of the object, a relative position of the image of the object formed on the image sensor and the image sensor is changed.
US08158914B2

A microwave energy interactive heating sheet includes at least two susceptor layers and a plurality of expandable insulating cells. At least some of the expandable insulating cells inflate when exposed to microwave energy.
US08158910B2

A medical warming cabinet and a method of installing a controller into a medical warming cabinet is disclosed that allows for easy transfer of operation parameters between controllers. Should a controller fail, the removable memory device can be removed from the failed controller and inserted into the replacement controller. This provides the benefits of a generic controller (e.g., low cost and good availability), but eliminates the tedious and costly necessity of having to reprogram the controller during maintenance.
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